Shedding the Tail to Survive

Smoke wreathed the private room of the teahouse on the outskirts, the fragrance of tea long since displaced by the pungent smell of cigars.

"Cut the connections?" Ding Yizhen repeated reflexively. Of course he understood that this meant sacrificing pawns to save the rook, or perhaps even sacrificing the rook to save the king.

Those "insiders" who had once done their dirty work and handled their gray-money chains had now become liabilities they had to cut loose as quickly as possible.

"What else?" Zhao Ruilong blew a smoke ring. "Wake up, Old Ding. Even my old man couldn't find out Lin Yanzhou's background. All he got was a vague reply: 'So red it's purple.' Even leaving his background aside, given his position, we have to comply with his orders."

"We should be thankful that what he holds isn't the sword of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, but the authority of the mayor. That means he can't simply flip the table. He has to seek stability; economic development and social stability are his primary goals. As far as I know, the central leadership will soon strike hard against corruption and for clean government. This is the perfect opportunity to wipe our asses. If we wait until the inspection team or the Anti-Corruption Bureau comes to investigate, we'll be in danger."

"That dog Cheng Du has orders from a new master. He won't turn on us, will he?" Ding Yizhen took a drag on his cigar and continued, "What if he follows the vine to the melons, digs up those ledgers and agreements that can't bear the light of day, and puts them on Lin Yanzhou's desk, taking both of us down?"

Zhao Ruilong leaned forward and lowered his voice almost to a whisper. "That's why we let Cheng Du investigate now, before the fire reaches the core. Let him earn his credit. Let him turn up a few project managers who broke the rules, section chiefs and division chiefs who took kickbacks, or even some deputy bureau chief or bureau chief under you who was too hungry for quick results."

Zhao Ruilong took a sip of tea and continued, "Seal their mouths and balance the books. Trade their punishment under the law for Lin Yanzhou's temporary satisfaction, for 'overall stability' in the Guangming Peak Project. This is a gecko shedding its tail to stay alive!"

Ding Yizhen's face went from ashen to white. He knew all too well how ruthless and resolute Zhao Ruilong's methods were, and he also understood that this was currently the least costly plan and the one best able to preserve their core interests.

"What if he still isn't satisfied? Those people have been with us for so long. They know too much. What if they start talking?" Ding Yizhen still had reservations.

"He'll agree. Li Dakang wants to become provincial governor, and the Guangming Peak Project is the political achievement he's pinned such high hopes on. He doesn't want an unstable Jingzhou." A cold gleam flashed through Zhao Ruilong's eyes. "As for those who go inside, I'll arrange for people to work on them. Those who should receive money to settle their families will get the full amount, and the families we should look after will be well looked after. If anyone really refuses to understand..." He paused without finishing, merely running a hand across his neck. His meaning needed no explanation.

Ding Yizhen nodded with difficulty. "All right. We'll do as you say. I'll send people down to cooperate with the investigation right away."

While Ding Yizhen and Zhao Ruilong were plotting to "shed the tail," Zhao Donglai's car drove into the municipal Public Security Bureau compound.

He had barely returned to his office when the bureau's office director followed him in and reported quietly, "Chief, Cheng Du is moving fast. He's already separated the detainees and is personally leading the interrogations. They're keeping a tight lid on things; our people haven't been able to find out anything. It looks like he really wants to make a big splash and claim credit with the new mayor."

Zhao Donglai gestured for him to sit. Li Dakang's attitude and Lin Yanzhou's warning would not leave his mind.

At this point, he absolutely could not obstruct Cheng Du again, or even show any interest. Otherwise, he would offend both heavyweights at once.

He considered for a moment. "Send word to every department and detachment in the municipal bureau: cooperate unconditionally with the Guangming Branch Bureau's investigative needs. If they need personnel, provide personnel. If they need technical support, provide technical support. However-"

His tone grew more emphatic. "All cooperation must strictly follow procedure and leave a written record. How individual cases are handled and how far they proceed are the Guangming Branch Bureau's own business. We will not ask, interfere, or make inquiries."

This order appeared to offer full support, but in fact completely disentangled both him and the municipal bureau. It demonstrated cooperation to Lin Yanzhou while strictly obeying Li Dakang's instruction to "follow procedure," and also left a clear procedural boundary of responsibility.

Whatever earth-shattering revelations the investigation might uncover in the future, Cheng Du would have handled it all himself. It would have nothing to do with Zhao Donglai or the municipal bureau.

The bureau's office director understood at once, nodded, and went to carry it out.

Meanwhile, in the mayor's office at the municipal government, Lin Yanzhou was listening to a report from his secretary, Chen Mo.

"Sir, Chief Cheng Du has begun internal interrogations, but there's no progress yet. After Chief Zhao Donglai returned to the municipal bureau, he ordered the entire bureau to give the Guangming Branch Bureau its full cooperation in handling the cases, but he specifically stressed procedural compliance and written records."

Zhao Donglai's little calculations were transparent to him. This was typical bureaucratic self-preservation, but it also counted as a temporary submission.

"It seems Secretary Dakang has given Chief Donglai some new guiding instructions," Lin Yanzhou said mildly. "That's fine. Let Cheng Du perform this show. Follow up on it. I want to know whose shadows are behind every 'tail' they throw out."

"Yes." Chen Mo nodded, then handed over another document. "Also, this is the schedule of key upcoming work forwarded by the municipal Party committee office. One item is the demolition and relocation of Dafeng Factory for the Guangming Peak Project. They haven't been able to move it forward, and it's seriously affecting overall progress at Guangming Peak."

Without even looking at the document, Lin Yanzhou said directly, "Tell the municipal Party committee office that Secretary Dakang heads the Guangming Peak Project and Ding Yizhen oversees it. The municipal government firmly obeys and supports the municipal Party committee's decisions. Forward it directly to Ding Yizhen to handle. My priorities for the near future are resolving the Qingshui River pollution incident and conducting field research in Jingzhou's various districts. Until there is an outcome in the Qingshui River pollution incident, suspend approval of all nonurgent new projects and investments throughout Jingzhou. Urgent projects and priority projects such as those concerning people's livelihoods must have my signature before taking effect. Every project that has not yet broken ground must be reviewed again."

This move was exceedingly ruthless. It seized the financial throat of Jingzhou's projects while disentangling him from the "Dafeng Factory bomb."

It also told Jingzhou's power blocs that their vulnerable spots were all in his grasp.

It also told Ding Yizhen and the forces behind him that if he refused to obey, everyone else in Jingzhou would suffer along with him, instantly multiplying the pressure on them.

Chen Mo's heart jolted, and he immediately noted it down. "Understood. I'll notify them right away."

Word soon spread, and everyone watching from the sidelines understood: with a mere written order, the new mayor could force an enormous interest group to bow its head and admit its mistakes.

When Ding Yizhen learned the news, he completely lost his composure and called Zhao Ruilong again. "Ruilong! He's halted all project investment! He's trying to drive us to our deaths!"

Zhao Ruilong was silent for a few seconds, and a trace of gravity entered his voice. "It looks like this mayor of yours has quite an appetite. A few small fish won't satisfy him anymore. Get ready. I'm afraid we'll have to sacrifice an 'arm' or two."

"Ruilong, isn't that too high a price? The Environmental Protection Bureau, the water company, and the urban construction company are all crucial departments, and then there's an executive deputy district head on top of that. That's damage to our sinews and bones! If we do this, people will lose heart, and the team will be hard to lead afterward."

"We have to show them that 'damage to our sinews and bones' so they can see we have the resolve of a 'warrior cutting off his own wrist'! You can't snare the wolf without risking the child. Do it this way for now. This is the last step. If he still isn't satisfied-"

Zhao Ruilong's voice turned utterly cold. "Then I'll have no choice but to ask my old man to have a chat with Secretary Dakang."