Chapter Fifty-two Confrontation

  He believed that this was absolutely a conspiracy planned by Leng Yun for a long time, and the purpose was to target him through Wen Dahai's family. He didn't want to intervene, after all, it wasn't reasonable, but he was worried that people in the circle would laugh at him, and as the second-in-command, he wouldn't dare say anything if he was bullied by the third-in-command, and it would become a joke. But he couldn't bear to yield to Leng Yun either.

  He was so anxious that he couldn't sit still, pacing back and forth in the office, circling many times, thinking for a long time before picking up the phone and dialing Leng Yun's office.

  It just so happened that Leng Yunying was still at the Fei Yuan International Hotel discussing matters with Zhu Jianjun, and not in his office. Even his secretary, Du Guoping, was nowhere to be found, and no one answered the phone. Hong Gang was so angry he almost smashed the phone. He thought Leng Yunying was deliberately avoiding him, which further convinced him that this time's action was aimed at him.

  He thought for a moment, then had his secretary get the car ready and drove directly to the Municipal Public Security Bureau. At this point, all he could do was put pressure on the Discipline Inspection Commission and the Public Security Bureau, hoping to force them to release the person. After all, it's rare for someone to dare resist the mayor head-on. In this city, he was in charge, whether it was the Discipline Inspection Commission or the Public Security Bureau, they were all his subordinates.

  As soon as he saw Song Zuyun, Hong Gang's face sank and he said harshly: "Song Zuyun, what are you doing? Arbitrarily detaining grassroots cadres has caused a very bad influence at the grassroots level. The complaint calls that have been made to me are almost bursting."

  Song Zuyun said seriously: "Mayor Hong, I don't understand what you mean. We haven't detained any grassroots cadres, we are just cooperating with the municipal discipline inspection commission to carry out normal investigation work."

  "What's the investigation for? Is it just an excuse to detain and arrest people?" Hong Gang said somewhat unreasonably.

  "It is the responsibility of the Discipline Inspection Commission to investigate cadres, and it is our responsibility to investigate crimes. As for what party discipline this cadre has violated, you should ask Secretary Xu of the Discipline Inspection Commission about that. As for what national laws Wen's father and son have violated, there are truly many, so many that they cannot be counted, and based on what we currently know, it is enough to sentence them to more than ten years in prison." Song Zuyun's face was expressionless, but his words were sharp.

  After receiving the order from Leng Yun'ai, he was prepared to face Mayor Hong Gang. Although Leng Yun'ai let them push problems onto himself, as a subordinate, can't help leaders solve difficulties, is that a qualified subordinate? Song Zuyun, who came from a military background, was very straightforward. Since there were instructions from Leng Yun'ai, even if the director was removed, he would still do it this way.

  "You arrest cadres without notifying me first? Am I still the mayor?" Hong Gang's face turned green with rage, his eyes blazing. A municipal public security bureau chief dared to be so arrogant, which made him very dissatisfied.

  At this time, Xu Feng walked in and said with a strange tone: "Mayor Hong must have been confused and forgot that our Discipline Inspection Commission and Public Security are separate law enforcement agencies. As long as there is a case, we will investigate, no need to inform the mayor in advance? Moreover, Mayor, you are busy with millions of things, if we want to investigate a village branch secretary, do we need to apply to you in advance? I don't know if you can handle it?"

  "You...hmm!" Hong Gang was so angry that his whole body was trembling.

  According to the regulations, both the Discipline Inspection Commission and the Public Security Bureau are under dual leadership. In law enforcement, they can be independent of the government, which is also to avoid interference in law enforcement. However, in reality, after all, the Discipline Inspection Commission and the Public Security Bureau have to accept the leadership of the municipal party committee and the municipal government in their duties. Basically, no one will dare to disobey the second-in-command and stick to one way to the end, offending the leaders, and no one will have a good life.

  But today Xu Feng brought this out and said, it really left Hong Gang speechless. Of course, if they hadn't misunderstood Leng Yun's meaning, they wouldn't have dared to resist the mayor's authority like this.

  Generally speaking, it's inevitable to have struggles within the circle, but most of them are hidden from view and rarely exposed like this. When the struggle reaches this point, it's already a life-and-death situation, completely intense and heated. At this time, it's either you die or I live, there is no third outcome.

  In the end, Hong Gang steeled himself and gazed coldly at Xu Feng: "What if I insist on taking someone away today?"

  "Go ahead, Mayor Hong. If you really want to take people away, it's not impossible. You have to go through a procedure, right? Otherwise, we can't account for it either." Xu Feng handed a paper to Hong Gang and said, "Just sign this and you're done."

  Hong Gang felt relieved after listening, and thought to himself: You know how to behave. But when he took a closer look at the paper, he almost got his nose twisted off - it was a letter of guarantee, stating that he would take responsibility for interfering with the normal law enforcement of the Discipline Inspection Commission and the Public Security Bureau, and forcibly taking people away, and that he would bear all consequences arising from this.

  Only a brainless person would sign such a suicidal thing. Hong Gang wouldn't have known that he was being fooled by Xu Feng, so he snorted heavily, threw the paper away, turned around with an iron face and left, cursing in his heart, naturally attributing all the reasons to Leng Yunyi.

  From this moment on, Hong Gang and Leng Yunya were completely at odds with each other.

  Hong Gang stormed back into his office, his secretary Gan Jian had never seen Mayor Hong so flustered before. He couldn't help but think of the rumor he had overheard from another office earlier that day about Secretary Leng Yunying and Mayor Hong having a falling out. At first, he didn't believe it - why would two high-ranking city officials be at odds with each other? But now, it seemed like there might be some truth to it after all; otherwise, why would Mayor Hong be so upset?

  Although he has always been by Mayor Hong's side, as an onlooker, he clearly knows that although Mayor Hong is the mayor and his position is higher than Secretary Leng's, if they were to really compare, Mayor Hong is not a match for Secretary Leng. And as his secretary, even if he wanted to run away, he couldn't, and would definitely rise and fall together with Mayor Hong. If he didn't take a firm stance, even if he got through this ordeal, violating the principles of the circle, he would absolutely be like a rat crossing the street, with everyone shouting and hitting him, not only becoming a stinky egg, but also no one would use him again.

  So he can only pray to the heavens at this time, all he hears are some rumors, between Leng Secretary and Hong Mayor, there is nothing more than some differences in political views, just like before, nothing big.

  What to do next? Hong Gang's face turned iron-green as he smoked silently, lost in thought. Today's scene at the Municipal Public Security Bureau would spread throughout the entire system of Changfu before the end of work, and everyone would know that he had lost face in front of Lao Da. If he couldn't regain it, how could he continue to be the mayor? Who would still take his words seriously? Even the officials who were currently leaning towards him would immediately turn to support Ling Yunxiang. By then, even if he was still nominally the mayor, he would no longer see any hope or future.

  After thinking for a long time, he finally dialed Wang Peiyuan's phone number.

  Wang Peiyuan was an official who had a smooth career. He served as the mayor of Shudu City and deputy secretary of the municipal party committee for less than two years, before being promoted again in 1989 to become the secretary of the Shudu Municipal Party Committee, also serving as a standing member of the Sichuan Provincial Committee, thus crossing from the rank of department head to that of deputy minister, which was indeed a great honor.

  However, Wang Peiyuan still did not forget his hometown of Changfu City, which was still his old base. Almost all the leading cadres were promoted by him, so the connection between them was still relatively close. The officials in Changfu also mostly looked up to him as their leader.

  Hong Gang dialed Wang Peiyuan's phone, first asking the old leader how he was doing, and after some small talk, naturally poured out his grievances, scolding Leng Yunying for disregarding the overall situation, destroying unity, stirring up trouble, and fighting for power and profit without regard for being the old leader's personally chosen successor. Not only did he trample on his own authority, but also arbitrarily detained grassroots cadres, causing extremely bad influence... Anyway, he added fuel to the fire, recounting the whole process of events, while he was naturally the wronged party. But Leng Yunying's behavior not only targeted himself - these things he could still tolerate - the key point was that it didn't give Wang Peiyuan this old leader face, and this made him really unable to accept.

  Hong Gang was not unaware of the relationship between Wang Peiyuan and Leng Yunying, but he thought that Wang Peiyuan would not want the situation in Xichang to become chaotic. Would he let all the cadres in Changfu say that the old leader had eyes but no beads? That's why he chose Hong Gang as his successor. The cause of this matter was entirely due to Leng Yunying. If Wang Peiyuan stepped forward, Leng Yunying would not dare to go against Wang Peiyuan's intentions under any circumstances. This matter could be resolved properly, and his own face could also be saved.

  On the other end of the phone, Wang Peiyuan listened to his words and fell silent for almost a minute, until Hong Gang's heart was in his throat, before saying: "Old Hong, it seems that Changfu is not suitable for you. Coincidentally, the deputy director of the Provincial Forestry Department here is about to retire, so let you take over. Get ready, the appointment will arrive soon."

  Hong Gang was as if struck by lightning, his entire brain was a blank slate, he didn't even know when the phone call ended. His whole spirit and energy dissipated in an instant, his body felt icy cold all over, his fingers were shaking violently, and his heart kept sinking, making his entire chest feel empty.

  He didn't expect that the action he carefully planned would end up like this, it's really lifting a rock to crush one's own foot. It seems that I still underestimated Cold Yun's position in Wang Peiyuan's mind.

  From a prefecture-level city mayor to the deputy director of the provincial forestry department, it seems like a lateral transfer. But even if it's in the provincial capital, how can it be compared to being the mayor who has all the power? If one is content with their current situation and doesn't stir up trouble, this mayor position should still be quite stable. So why can't they just calm down?

  Unfortunately, there is no pill for regret in this world.

  When he came out of the office again, Secretary Gan Jian felt that Hong Gang seemed to have aged ten years in an instant, his straight back was slightly hunched, and his pace was also a bit unsteady.

  Three days later, Gao Mingyuan, the deputy director of the Provincial Party Committee Organization Department, arrived in Changfu with a transfer order and announced that from that day on, Hong Gang's position as Mayor and Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee would be revoked, and he would be transferred to serve as Deputy Director of the Provincial Forestry Department; Leng Yunyi was appointed as the Acting Mayor of Changfu.

  A game of officialdom triggered by a careless remark from Leng Bing, and responded to by Leng Yun without thinking, has come to an abrupt end. It shocked everyone who was paying attention to the matter. Although it was clear that the strength was uneven, Hong Gang was no match for Leng Yun, but no one could have imagined that in just three short days, Mayor Hong would make a dismal exit. The power behind Leng Yun's back is really too strong and too sinister.

  Although the title of mayor still has a prefix, everyone knows that the mayor is elected through the People's Congress, but it is all equal election, and there are representatives who dare not follow the arrangement to jump votes? That would be a major political event. Therefore, the election is just a formality, and this prefix will eventually be removed.

  The municipal party secretary, after experiencing the sorrow of a rabbit dying and a fox grieving, repeatedly warned himself to stick to his own duties and fully support Leng Yunyi's work. Through this matter, he could also see that Leng Yunyi would absolutely not be confined to this small place in Changfu. This 47-year-old mayor still had higher and farther development prospects. Leng Yunyi achieved results, and as the municipal party secretary, he also had a share of it. If he didn't know his place, he would definitely be treated like Hong Gang, being made into a stumbling block for Leng Yunyi's progress, and ruthlessly discarded and overthrown.

  A few days later, at the party committee meeting, Leng Yunying voluntarily resigned as secretary of the political and legal committee because he is now the mayor and cannot concurrently serve as secretary of the political and legal committee according to regulations. He also proposed that Song Zuyun, director of the municipal public security bureau, take over as secretary of the political and legal committee. Leng Yunying's proposal was naturally passed unanimously, and Song Zuyun was obviously Leng Yunying's trusted subordinate. At this time, no one dared to provoke Leng Yunying for fear of becoming the second Hong Gang, and everyone raised their hands in agreement, each trying to be faster than the others.

  Song Zuyun became the secretary of the municipal political and legal committee, in this way, the municipal party committee members walked a Hong Gang, came a Song Zuyun, still 13 members unchanged. Following Leng Yunyi for less than two years, Song Zuyun completed two consecutive jumps, from a deputy department to a deputy hall, making everyone envy and admire, also made him more determined to follow Leng Yunyi.

  Disciplinary Committee Secretary Xu Feng, although not further promoted, his ranking within the Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee has also risen with Leng Yunfei's influence. Everyone knows that Municipal Disciplinary Committee Secretary Xu Feng, Municipal Political and Legal Affairs Committee Secretary, Municipal Public Security Bureau Director Song Zuyun, Municipal Finance Bureau Director Feng Shaohua, and Municipal Economic and Trade Bureau Director Jiao Yunfei are Leng Yunfei's "Four Great Kings". Even ordinary municipal party committee deputy secretaries dare not underestimate them.

  From then on, Leng Yun became the second powerful mayor of Changfu after Wang Peiyuan. Perhaps this was not his original intention, but step by step, it naturally became this situation.

  After Hong Gang was transferred out of Changfu, Wen Dahai and his son were immediately arrested. The case was quickly investigated: Wen Dahai was found guilty of corruption, misappropriation of public funds, dereliction of duty, and other crimes, and was expelled from the party, removed from his position as village branch secretary, and sentenced to 15 years in prison; his two sons, Wen Bing and Wen Yong, were suspected of being involved in organized crime, and were found guilty of extortion, rape, and assault. They were sentenced to 15 and 20 years in prison respectively, and all their personal property was confiscated.

  Due to the Wen family father and son case, 7 government officials at all levels and police officers from the police station were also involved, and they all received dismissal from public office, party internal warning and other punishments, making them regretful.

  The public trial was held in Zhangmu Village, and when the long-awaited verdict was announced, thousands of villagers erupted into thunderous applause. The notorious tyrant who had terrorized the countryside finally received his due punishment, a truly satisfying outcome that left the villagers so excited they couldn't help but spontaneously shout "Long live GCD!" - a slogan that hadn't been heard since the introduction of household contract responsibility system many years ago.

  Mr. Zhao and his family not only got back the fish pond that belonged to them, but also received 3,000 yuan in compensation from the Wen family through a court judgment. The whole family was overwhelmed with emotions as they looked at the judgment and the money, and burst into tears.

  The next day, Old Zhao brought his whole family to the front of the city government building again. This time they didn't come to appeal, but came with drums and gongs to present a banner to the government.

  Leng Yun accepted the banner, but didn't show any sign of pride. He said solemnly: "We just corrected our work mistakes, there's nothing to be proud or arrogant about. The occurrence of such an event is closely related to the insufficient regulatory intensity within our system. As the ancient saying goes: 'If officials don't serve the people, they might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes.' To truly do a good job in their duties, we must strengthen party conduct construction and cadre accountability construction..."

  The cadres present seemed to feel something from Leng Yun's speech, which was shrouded in a cold cloud.

  Sure, here is the translation:

  As expected, a few days later, Leng Yunyi proposed a motion, and the municipal party committee passed with unanimous votes the plan to promote the construction of party conduct and accountability system for cadres throughout the city. The notice was sent to all units and cadres in the city, implementing work plans, signing target responsibility books at each level, checking implementation every month, and holding accountable the leaders of the three units with the most complaints from the public: verbal warning in the first month, public criticism across the city in the second month, and automatic resignation of leaders in the third month.

  At the same time, a team led by Xu Feng, Secretary of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection, was dispatched to various parts of the city to conduct investigations. The investigation was divided into two groups: open and secret. A comprehensive and thorough investigation was conducted on the work status, efficiency, attitude, etc. of cadres at all levels. Those who were not up to standard were removed from their posts for Party discipline construction learning. After passing the assessment, they could return to their posts. If they failed to pass the assessment or still had problems after returning to their posts, they would be directly dismissed from public office. Those with good performance records would have their achievements recorded in their files and given priority consideration when adjusting job positions.

  For a time, the officialdom of Changfu was in an uproar, with rumors flying everywhere, but the work style and state of affairs were completely new, and the people's satisfaction rate was greatly improved. Everyone praised this change to no end. As for Leng Yun'ai, the new mayor, they couldn't help but give a big thumbs up and praise him to their heart's content.