The Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission Steps In
Cheng Du sat alone in the director's office at the Guangming Branch Bureau, the latest interrogation report laid out before him.
As the investigation deepened, the shadows looming behind it grew increasingly terrifying. They pointed vaguely toward several names he ordinarily would not even dare think about, even reaching certain levels of the provincial hierarchy.
This was no longer an opportunity to earn merit, but a bundle of explosives! One careless move, or the slightest leak, and never mind his official's hat-even escaping unscathed would probably become a vain hope.
He could not hesitate any longer. He had to report this to Lin Yanzhou face-to-face, and he dialed the number of the mayor's secretary, Chen Mo.
"Director Chen," Cheng Du said, his voice somewhat hurried.
"There have been new developments in the case. I need to report to Mayor Lin in person."
Chen Mo had clearly recognized the gravity of the situation from Cheng Du's tone. "Understood. Come straight to the mayor's office, and keep your phone available."
Lin Yanzhou studied the list. The environmental protection bureau director, the water group's general manager, the executive deputy head of Guangming District, and a standing committee member and deputy head of Qingshan District-these were no longer small fry.
Lin Yanzhou set the document gently on the desk. "Chen, forward this material to Comrade Shuli at the discipline inspection commission."
"Yes, sir," Chen Mo answered. He then brought over a cup of tea and set it steadily on the coffee table in front of Cheng Du. "Director Cheng, please have some tea."
Cheng Du immediately half rose and accepted the cup with both hands. "Thank you, Secretary Chen."
Lin Yanzhou casually raised a hand and pressed it downward, signaling him to relax. "Sit. How long have you been at the Guangming District branch bureau?"
Cheng Du leaned forward, occupying only the front third of the chair, his tone tense. "Reporting to you, Mayor: four years and seven months."
At that, Lin Yanzhou smiled gently. "Relax. Don't be nervous. The organization sees your ability and the responsibility you've shouldered this time. Keep up the good work. The organization won't let anyone with real talent who genuinely gets things done go unrecognized."
Cheng Du immediately stood and straightened his back, declaring firmly, "Rest assured, Mayor! The Guangming District branch bureau will resolutely carry out every directive from the municipal government. We will never betray your trust!"
Meanwhile, in his office at the discipline inspection commission, Zhang Shuli held the investigation report forwarded by the municipal government's general office. Everyone on the list was a prominent figure in Jingzhou, and behind all of them stood Ding Yizhen, the very embodiment of Li Dakang.
This material had forced him onto a razor-sharp tightrope, with bottomless abysses on either side and the wire beneath his feet already threatening to slice through his soles.
To his right stood the mayor. This document had been forwarded by the mayor, which meant Lin Yanzhou was watching him, waiting to see whether he, as secretary of the discipline inspection commission, would enforce discipline with an iron face and no favoritism.
To his left stood the municipal Party secretary. Li Dakang's instructions had been forceful, but who exactly was the target of "show no leniency"? The people on the list, or the bigger figures who might be implicated behind them? Zhang Shuli had not actually fully grasped that either.
If he delayed or entertained other ideas, that wire would slice straight through his soles, sending him plummeting into the abyss to die without even an intact corpse.
He picked up the internal phone, his tone more serious than ever before. "Notify the members of the municipal discipline inspection commission's standing committee and the directors of all supervisory offices. Emergency meeting in ten minutes!"
In the municipal discipline inspection commission's small conference room, Zhang Shuli dispensed with pleasantries and distributed the report directly to everyone.
"Comrades, you all know the situation. The Qingshui River pollution incident has had an extremely damaging public impact. The municipal Party committee's principal leadership attaches great importance to it and has issued clear instructions. We now have some preliminary leads." He pointed at the report. "But when our commission handles a case, we cannot rely entirely on the police investigation's findings, much less let someone use us as their gun!"
His gaze swept over everyone present. "Our task is to ground ourselves in our disciplinary inspection duties and conduct an independent investigation and review the evidence concerning possible dereliction of duty, abuse of office, transfers of benefits, and collusion between officials and businesses. In the end, we will let the facts, Party discipline, and the laws of the nation speak!"
On the spot, he approved the establishment of a "Special Working Group for Accountability in the Qingshui River Pollution Incident," personally assuming leadership and drawing absolutely reliable key personnel from each office. He ordered, "All investigative operations must be kept strictly confidential and reported directly to me. Without my permission, no one is to reveal the slightest progress to anyone outside, including the sources of so-called 'leads'!"
Zhang Shuli's strategy was clear: investigate, but also retain the initiative. He wanted to investigate not only the problems involving the people on the list, but also whether behind those problems lay a chain of corruption reaching higher up. He wanted the commission's blade to strike where it should, rather than become a mere tool in a power struggle.
As the commission quietly set its investigation in motion, the atmosphere in Deputy Mayor Ding Yizhen's office was oppressive.
His confidant, a deputy secretary-general of the municipal government, reported cautiously, "Everything has been discussed with them. They've expressed their willingness to take responsibility, on the condition that..."
"Conditions?" Ding Yizhen interrupted irritably. "What right do they have to negotiate conditions now? Tell them someone will take care of their families, young and old. But if they dare say one word out of line, they'll bear the consequences!"
The deputy secretary-general hurriedly nodded. "Yes, yes! They understand. But the discipline inspection commission has suddenly stepped in too, with Zhang Shuli personally taking command. I'm afraid some of the materials we prepared earlier won't stand up to the commission's scrutiny."
What Ding Yizhen feared most had happened after all. With a police investigation, there were still rules and procedures to follow, and things could often be explained away as "procedural violations" or "operational errors."
But once the discipline inspection commission stepped in, its sights were set on the officials' personal integrity, and it investigated their adherence to Party principles. Its methods and the depth of its investigations were entirely different.
Ding Yizhen signaled for him to leave. Once he saw that the door was properly closed, he took out his phone and called Zhao Ruilong. "The discipline inspection commission has stepped in. Are you sure nothing will go wrong?"
"Ding, put your heart back in your belly. Everyone at the commission takes their orders from Li Dakang. Li Dakang won't let this fester or spread. But you absolutely must wipe your ass clean, especially every trace related to the movement of project funds."
Ding Yizhen felt a wave of dizziness. Wipe it clean? Easier said than done! So many financial transactions, so many interlocking interests-how could they be erased just because someone said so? And who could withstand an investigation by the discipline inspection commission?
A few days later, Zhang Shuli personally came to Lin Yanzhou's office with a preliminary verification report. "Mayor Lin, according to the commission's preliminary verification, the comrades mentioned in the Guangming Branch Bureau's report did indeed commit serious dereliction of duty and abuse of office in the Qingshui River pollution incident. We have also uncovered preliminary leads suggesting they accepted benefits from businesses and provided protection for illegal discharges. The commission recommends immediately placing these individuals under shuanggui."
Zhang Shuli delivered his report in a strictly official manner, presenting an attitude of complete adherence to disciplinary rules and regulations.
As Lin Yanzhou listened to Zhang Shuli's report, it was still the same few people. He already understood that Li Dakang had made his decision: stop there.
"Thank you for your efforts, Comrade Shuli. The commission's work has been both timely and necessary."
"I fully agree with the commission's recommendation. We must never show mercy to the black sheep." As for this report-
He picked up the report, glanced at it, and suddenly changed tack. "I believe this report could be more comprehensive. For instance, how did these businesses operating in violation of regulations get their approvals? Were there gaps in oversight of where the enormous project funds went? Were there other beneficiaries behind these problems? These few people alone couldn't have gotten the projects approved by the municipal government, could they?"
Lin Yanzhou fixed Zhang Shuli with a piercing gaze. "Comrade Shuli, my view is this: the evidence against the people on the list is conclusive, so proceed with shuanggui as planned. But the scope and depth of the investigation must not be limited to these few people. Follow the vine to the melon and investigate all the way to the bottom. The municipal government will stand firmly behind the commission and eliminate all interference."
Zhang Shuli's heart jolted. Lin Yanzhou was explicitly rejecting the plan to "stop there" and demanding that they expand their gains. After a moment's consideration, he nodded solemnly.
"Understood, Mayor Lin. Your instructions are clear. The commission will resolutely carry out the decisions of the municipal Party committee and municipal government, overcome every difficulty, and investigate this case thoroughly!"
After Zhang Shuli left, Lin Yanzhou walked to the window and looked down over the municipal government compound. They really think too little of me. They won't even hand over a single deputy mayor responsible for the work. Do they really think I'm that easy to fool?
The real contest was only now officially beginning. His opponents had already "severed an arm"; he had to press the advantage and pursue them, finding out where their bottom line lay. He would see whether, to preserve their core, they would even be willing to rip out their "vital organs."