Each had his own calculations
Before Lin Yanzhou's official car had even returned to the municipal government compound, his thunderous methods had already stirred towering waves in Jingzhou's inner circle of power.
After venting his fury at the scene, Ding Yizhen only felt angrier. He offered Cheng Du and Zhao Donglai a few formalities about "investigating according to regulations and making prompt corrections," then climbed into his car.
The moment the door closed, the deference vanished from his face, replaced by a dark expression.
He went neither to the municipal government nor to the Guangming Peak Project office, but headed straight for an inconspicuous private teahouse on the outskirts.
Meanwhile, Municipal Public Security Bureau Director Zhao Donglai was in his car on the way back to the bureau. He took out his phone and called Municipal Party Secretary Li Dakang's secretary.
"Is the secretary available now? I have an urgent situation to report." Zhao Donglai's voice was steeped in caution.
Li Dakang's secretary answered, "Director Donglai, please hold on. The secretary is listening to a report. I'll go in and ask him now."
A moment later, the secretary replied, "The secretary said that if this concerns the Qingshui River pollution, he already knows. His instructions are: do as Mayor Lin requires. The Municipal Public Security Bureau must resolutely carry out the municipal government's arrangements without cutting any corners. The municipal Party committee respects decisions made within the municipal government's authority."
The secretary paused briefly, and his tone shifted subtly as he relayed the rest. "The secretary particularly emphasized that you must exercise proper restraint. The priority is to stabilize the situation and keep developments under control. There must be no new complications, especially none that affect the overall interests of the Guangming Peak Project. Also, the municipal bureau should handle and report all follow-up work strictly according to prescribed procedures."
Li Dakang's response appeared to give him a completely free hand, but concealed a sharp edge. "Do as Mayor Lin requires" was overt support, but "the municipal Party committee respects the municipal government's decisions" deftly drew a boundary of responsibility, removing the Party committee, and especially Li himself, from the specific affair. It was a sophisticated form of watching from the sidelines and potentially cutting ties.
The reminder to "report strictly according to prescribed procedures" was even more laden with meaning. As director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau, Zhao Donglai's operational work fell under the municipal government's leadership-he normally reported to the deputy mayor responsible for political and legal affairs or to the mayor himself-while also receiving coordination and guidance from the municipal Party committee's Political and Legal Affairs Commission. Reporting a specific matter within the government's authority directly to the municipal Party secretary meant bypassing the chain of command. Li Dakang's words both reminded Zhao Donglai to observe organizational procedures and avoid giving others a handle against him, and hinted that the municipal Party committee could not conveniently intervene directly: he should report to the government himself, without coming around to Li again.
The final line, "must not affect the overall interests of the Guangming Peak Project," drew the ultimate red line and gave Zhao Donglai his real task: investigate however he liked, but do not shake the foundations.
Zhao Donglai was a clever man. He instantly discerned these layers of meaning, and a fine sweat broke out across his back. He immediately replied, "Yes! Please tell the secretary that I understand. I'll handle it properly and ensure the overall situation remains stable."
After hanging up, Zhao Donglai leaned against the seat and closed his eyes. Li Dakang's attitude let him clearly scent danger-this leader was preparing for a possible storm and might even sacrifice a rook to save the king at any moment. If Ding Yizhen really did have a problem now, he was certain Li Dakang would be the first to agree to taking action against him. Li guarded his political plumage with the utmost care.
The new Mayor Lin had an unfathomable background and an even more overbearing way of doing things, utterly disregarding the usual rules of officialdom. Li Dakang clearly had no wish to clash with him head-on before the situation became clear and had chosen to avoid his cutting edge for now.
What worried him even more now was whether Lin Yanzhou had taken note of his momentary hesitation and attempt to intervene at the scene.
What would this powerful mayor do next with a public security bureau director who was not "of one mind" with the municipal government?
The municipal Party committee controlled the "official hats," while the municipal government held the "purse strings." For a mayor, keeping public order under control and preventing major mass incidents was one of the core red lines of his term, and the public security bureau director played a crucial role. If he lost the mayor's trust, his days would certainly not be easy.
After a moment's thought, he picked up his phone. "Comrade Cheng Du, Mayor Lin attaches great importance to the Qingshui River pollution case. You must investigate strictly and swiftly, in accordance with the law and regulations. Report any progress directly to Mayor Lin and me. If you need any support from the municipal bureau, ask at any time."
He deliberately emphasized "report to Mayor Lin." It was a clear signal of his obedience, as well as a gesture of goodwill toward Lin Yanzhou. He hoped Cheng Du would convey it when reporting on the case and make up for his earlier misstep.
At that moment, Cheng Du, director of the Guangming Branch Bureau, was caught in a complicated mixture of excitement and tension: excitement at the chance to board an aircraft carrier, and worry that he might offend another aircraft carrier.
But he could not concern himself with too much. As he directed officers to escort the project office personnel into police cars, he understood Zhao Donglai's call as clearly as if looking into a mirror.
Zhao Donglai had wanted to intervene but failed. His instructions over the phone now were nothing more than a request for Cheng Du to pass on a message. But Mayor Lin had personally placed the imperial sword in his hands. This was undoubtedly an opportunity dropped from heaven; handled poorly, it would become a hot potato.
Back at the Guangming Branch Bureau, he personally took command, selected several trusted core officers with clean backgrounds, formed a special task force, and issued an ironclad order: "Disregard all interference. Recognize only facts and the law. The mayor is personally overseeing this case.
"Find out everything about the Qingshui River pollution as fast as possible-who ordered the discharge, who approved it, and how it bypassed oversight. Get to the bottom of it! The interrogation records and chain of evidence must be as solid as iron!"
He understood perfectly well that investigating the case was the means; choosing a side was the essence. Since Mayor Lin had bypassed the municipal bureau and handed the matter to him, he wanted far more than a few small fry.
Inside a secluded private room at the suburban teahouse, Ding Yizhen slammed his phone onto the huanghuali tea table with almost the force of a throw. The screen shattered instantly.
"He's gone too far! What does Lin Yanzhou think he's doing? A new official lights three fires on taking office, and his very first one burns straight toward me? He dressed me down like a grandson in front of Zhao Donglai and Cheng Du!" His chest heaved violently, and veins bulged on his forehead.
Across from him sat a middle-aged man with an effeminate air, pouring tea unhurriedly. It was Zhao Ruilong, Handong's former crown prince and the man behind the Shanshui Group.
"Old Ding, calm down." Zhao Ruilong pushed a cup of tea toward him. "Getting angry won't solve anything. This Mayor Lin hasn't come with good intentions. To put it bluntly, you aren't remotely qualified to be his opponent. He isn't coming for you. He's coming for the Guangming Peak Project behind you, for Secretary Dakang behind you, and perhaps even for Handong's existing order."
"I don't care who he's coming for!" Ding Yizhen abruptly gulped down the tea. "He's giving me two days to resolve this, and he wants an on-site meeting to report to the public? He's putting me over the fire to roast! And that Cheng Du-isn't he your man? Put in a word with him. Let him know what he should and shouldn't say."
"Two days is enough." Zhao Ruilong poured Ding Yizhen another cup. "We'll cut off the wastewater tonight. Purification of the water source can begin tomorrow. Window-dressing projects are what we do best. As for resolving it completely, isn't that just a matter of writing a report? Make it sound impressive, list a few more long-term plans, and bluff our way past the hurdle in front of us first."
He lowered his voice further. "The key is to let Mayor Lin know that things in Jingzhou can't be accomplished through brute force alone. Move some plates too hastily, and they're liable to fall. Pull some threads too quickly, and they're liable to snap."
Ding Yizhen's eyes flickered as he caught the meaning beneath the words. "You mean?"
"Doesn't he want to investigate? Let him." Zhao Ruilong sneered. "Let Cheng Du investigate. It's the perfect chance for him to sweep those corners that need cleaning once more. Cut the threads that need cutting ahead of time.
"We've made most of the money there is to make under the table from the Guangming Peak Project. Keeping those people around will only leave us endless trouble down the line. While we're all still onstage, we should deal with them early. We'll sleep more soundly too."