Chapter 99: The Standing Committee Situation

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Tan Long was surprised by this and found nothing wrong with it.

The internet wasn’t very advanced yet—not to the extent that a person’s identity could be widely known through online searches.

Besides, the Municipal Party Committee building wasn’t like a hospital, where doctors from various departments had their information displayed on boards for patients to see.

The Municipal Party Committee building didn’t have the custom of posting officials’ profiles on exhibition boards.

Especially since, although Tan Long and Yang Dong were both members of the Municipal Standing Committee, as the Party Secretary of Kaiyang County, Tan Long should have been quite unfamiliar to grassroots cadres in Lingyun City.

Therefore, it was naturally surprising that Yang Dong could immediately state his identity so clearly.

“Secretary Tan, my hometown is Kaiyang County. You even personally delivered my university admission letter before,” Yang Dong said frankly.

Listening to Yang Dong, Tan Long became more surprised and astonished.

He had indeed delivered a university admission letter to this young comrade?

That must have been seven or eight years ago.

Suddenly, a vague memory surfaced as he scrutinized Yang Dong for a moment, and then he realized.

“Oh, I remember now. You were the top liberal arts scorer in the Kaiyang County college entrance exam eight years ago, and your name is Yang Dong?”

Back then, he was not the county Party Secretary but merely the deputy county magistrate overseeing culture, education, and health.

Thus, he had a particularly deep impression of the county’s top college entrance exam scorer.

In the early 2000s, there was still a strong emphasis on cultural governance and education.

If someone achieved the top score in the province, city, or county exams, it would attract the attention of provincial, city, and county leaders responsible for education.

Depending on the level of the top scorer, leaders of different ranks would personally deliver the university admission letters.

“Yes, Secretary Tan. I was fortunate that you personally delivered my university admission letter,” Yang Dong smiled and nodded in response.

Tan Long smiled warmly and nodded, feeling somewhat more approving of Yang Dong.

“Old Tan, Yang Dong is the secretary of our Municipal Government Office,” Mayor Hou Yong said, noticing how warmly the two ‘fellow townsmen’ were chatting.

“But now, he is the head of our Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection’s investigative team,” added Guan Mushan, Secretary of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection, right after Hou Yong spoke.

Tan Long glanced at Hou Yong and Guan Mushan with a complex expression, then looked at Yang Dong with a strange look.

But he quickly refocused and asked Yang Dong, “Comrade Yang Dong, in the Gu Santong case, are any cadres from Kaiyang County involved?”

He deliberately used the phrase “our Kaiyang County” to create a sense of closeness.

“If so, you must tell the truth.”

“You are also from Kaiyang County, so you should actively cooperate with the anti-corruption efforts in our hometown and not conceal anything.”

As the Party Secretary of Kaiyang County, the only thing about the Gu Santong case that could attract or demand his attention was whether any county cadres were involved.

If so, he, as the county Party Secretary, had to know immediately; otherwise, the county would be at a disadvantage.

A massive corruption case involving embezzlement of over twenty million yuan by a city education bureau director could hardly avoid involving cadres or schools in Kaiyang County.

“Comrade Tan Long, don’t just think about your own little patch of land. You’re not only a county Party Secretary but also a member of the Municipal Standing Committee. You should view issues from the perspective of the entire Municipal Party Committee,” said Municipal Party Secretary Wu Xinkai, cutting off Yang Dong’s chance to answer Tan Long’s question.

Tan Long’s expression stiffened. He slightly turned his body to look at Wu Xinkai.

“Secretary Wu, earlier when discussing the Yin Tiejun case, I wanted to express my opinion, but you told me to just mind my own patch of land.”

“Now that I want to inquire about my own little patch of land, you want me to consider the issue from the Municipal Party Committee’s perspective?”

Yang Dong felt a shiver run from his heels straight up his spine.

Is this Secretary Tan really so reckless?

A county Party Secretary—even if he’s a deputy department-level member of the Municipal Standing Committee—daring to challenge the Municipal Party Secretary?

This time, he truly understood what it meant to have a needle’s point meet a wheat’s awn.

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Tan Long’s words directly embarrassed Wu Xinkai, causing him to lose face.

Yang Dong felt as if sharp slaps echoed in the air, crisp and clear.

“Comrade Tan Long, times have changed. We must view issues dialectically,” smiled Zhu Yangming, Secretary-General of the Municipal Party Committee, aiming to help Wu Xinkai save face as he looked at Tan Long.

“That’s right, Old Tan, we’re discussing the Gu Santong case now. Why are you bringing up Yin Tiejun?” said Zhou Wu, member of the Municipal Standing Committee and Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, bluntly addressing Tan Long.

Tan Long chuckled lightly, then straightened up and remained silent.

“Enough with the quarrels. It’s already midnight; let’s talk about serious matters,” Wu Xinkai waved his hand authoritatively, regaining control of the discussion.

He glanced proudly at Tan Long, thinking to himself that if he didn’t show some strength, Tan would really think he was a toothless tiger.

You’re just a mere county Party Secretary, even if upgraded to a member of the Municipal Standing Committee—you can’t just disregard me like that.

Where is your sense of party loyalty? Where is your discipline as a cadre?

Wu Xinkai then turned to Su Tongzhou and asked, “Does your Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection still have other evidence regarding the Gu Santong case?”

What did “other evidence” mean?

Su Tongzhou half understood but chose to respond truthfully.

“Secretary Wu, the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection’s investigative team is currently carefully examining the Gu Santong case. We will handle it seriously and uncover all individuals involved in the corruption.”

Su Tongzhou answered from the perspective of the disciplinary investigation team.

If his answer was inaccurate, Wu Xinkai had no grounds to challenge him.

Wu Xinkai was somewhat disappointed that Su Tongzhou did not address the key points, so he immediately turned his gaze to Yang Dong.

Although he disliked this young man because Yang Dong had ruined several of his plans, no matter what, uncovering the Gu Santong corruption case was like stemming the bleeding for Lingyun City.

As Municipal Party Secretary, he owed Yang Dong both gratitude and reason.

“Comrade Yang Dong, you are the team leader specifically responsible for the Gu Santong case. How did you discover this villa?”

Wu Xinkai asked Yang Dong solemnly.

Immediately, all other Standing Committee members focused their gaze on Yang Dong.

Yang Dong felt the pressure intensify but remained calm. After careful thought, he replied, “Secretary Wu, esteemed leaders, previous reports on Gu Santong only mentioned the existence of a bribe in the form of a villa but lacked a specific location.”

“I analyzed the case comprehensively, made judgments, conducted interrogations, and then conducted a process of elimination, narrowing down the suspicions until I pinpointed the villa’s location.”

Guan Mushan lowered his head slightly, pressing his lips.

Such a young age, yet so many bureaucratic platitudes...

He seemed to say everything while actually saying nothing.

What exactly was comprehensive analysis? What was comprehensive judgment? What was comprehensive interrogation?

But that was fine—it was prudent and cautious, at least avoiding mistakes.

“Comrade Yang Dong, be specific. How did you analyze it? How did you judge? How did you interrogate?” asked Zhou Wu precisely.

Yang Dong shook his head and answered, “Secretary Zhou, according to the ‘Regulations on Discipline Inspection Investigation and Case Handling,’ I cannot provide further explanation to you.”

“I need authorization from my superiors to disclose more, as this involves confidential information of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection.”

“You, Yang...” Zhou Wu frowned and was about to criticize Yang Dong.

But Wu Xinkai waved his hand.

“All right, it’s late, no need to get hung up on such details.”

“We must respect the confidentiality and independence of the Discipline Inspection work.”

He defended Yang Dong because Yang Dong was following the investigation regulations and had done nothing wrong.

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“Has everyone finished reviewing the materials?” Wu Xinkai looked up at all the Standing Committee members and asked.

Gradually, everyone raised their heads and nodded toward Wu Xinkai.

They all had a clear understanding of the background, sequence of events, and specific details.

“Then let’s vote. Those who agree to seriously handle Gu Santong and transfer the case to judicial authorities according to legal procedures, please raise your hand.”

After Wu Xinkai spoke, he raised his hand first and then looked to his left and right.

Zhou Wu, Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission; Tang Hongyun, Minister of the Propaganda Department; and Zhu Yangming, Secretary-General of the Municipal Party Committee, quickly raised their hands in support of Wu Xinkai.

Wu Xinkai frowned slightly.

But then Mayor Hou Yong raised his hand.

Swiftly, after Hou Yong raised his hand, Executive Vice Mayor Qi Xiuping, Secretary of the Commission for Discipline Inspection Guan Mushan, Organization Minister Gu Tong, and Kaiyang County Party Secretary Tan Long also raised their hands.

Three against four.

There were only three Standing Committee members following Wu Xinkai’s lead, all ranked relatively low.

Whereas the four Standing Committee members following Mayor Hou Yong included the Discipline Inspection Secretary, Executive Vice Mayor, Organization Minister, and Kaiyang County Party Secretary.

Only Deputy Municipal Party Secretary and United Front Minister Wei Liming, and Military Subdistrict Political Commissar Zhang Hao had yet to raise their hands.

Wei Liming, towards the end, slowly raised his hand.

“I abstain!”

Zhang Hao, dressed in military uniform, spoke briefly and decisively.

He was a military man and did not participate in local affairs.

Yang Dong stood at the back of the conference room, watching the voting unfold from afar.

A very clear picture had already formed in his mind.

The city’s political landscape was basically laid bare.

Municipal Party Secretary Wu Xinkai controlled three votes: Political and Legal Affairs Commission, Propaganda Department, and Secretary-General.

Mayor Hou Yong controlled four votes: Discipline Inspection Secretary, Organization Minister, Executive Vice Mayor, and Kaiyang County Party Secretary.

Deputy Party Secretary Wei Liming was clearly near retirement and preferred to remain neutral so as not to offend either side.

Military Subdistrict Political Commissar, due to independence, was not counted.

Yang Dong was somewhat surprised.

If Mayor Hou Yong had seemed strong and in control of the Municipal Party Committee’s overall situation, then the former Discipline Inspection Secretary Lu Zheng was supposed to be aligned with Wu Xinkai.

Before Guan Mushan arrived, wasn’t the situation a balanced four against four?

Why did Hou Yong seem to suppress Wu Xinkai?

Was the situation before even more complicated than this?

Was it because of Guan Mushan’s appearance or some other event that changed the balance?

Although reborn, Yang Dong had always been a minor figure and couldn’t fully grasp the city’s political situation, so these questions lingered in his mind.

“All right, passed. Meeting adjourned!” Wu Xinkai waved his hand and called the meeting to a close.

“Secretary Wu, please wait!” Mayor Hou Yong suddenly raised his hand and spoke.

Wu Xinkai, who had been preparing to stand, sat back down and looked at Hou Yong.

“Mayor Xiao Hou, you have something else to say?”