Winning the people's support, riding the momentum

The cries outside the municipal government compound rose wave upon wave.

Those cries of "Find Mayor Lin!" and "We want to see Upright Official Lin!" were no longer merely demands, but the people's trust.

But they also pushed Lin Yanzhou to the very forefront of the storm.

Inside the office, Chen Mo and the secretary-general watched Lin Yanzhou nervously.

Going out meant directly facing the crowd's uncontrollable emotions, an enormous risk; staying inside would cement his reputation as a "bureaucrat," and the authority he had just established might collapse in an instant.

There was not the slightest trace of panic on Lin Yanzhou's face.

He walked to the window and drew back the curtains, his gaze continually scanning the banners outside to learn what the people wanted, so he could prescribe the right medicine and cure the disease.

His gaze lingered longest on the banner that read, "Unscrupulous profiteers cut corners-who will pay for the people's safety?"

He found it somewhat unbelievable. The explosion in the Jingzhou Zhongfu Shantytown Redevelopment Zone had shocked the nation six months ago. Not even six months had passed since the former mayor and the head of a vice-ministerial-level state-owned enterprise had fallen from power, yet someone still dared to commit offenses in the teeth of the crackdown, reaching into projects meant to safeguard people's livelihoods.

If this was true, it was another blade delivered into his hands, one that could bring him unexpected gains and value.

"The people's support can be harnessed, but their trust must never be betrayed," he said quietly.

Then he turned. "Chen Mo, pass the word down. I'm going downstairs to meet everyone right away. Have our colleagues from the petitions office and public security maintain order, and invite a few resident representatives into the first-floor conference room to explain their demands in detail. Notify reporters from the municipal television station and Jingzhou Daily to come and record the entire process."

"Sir, this is too dangerous! The crowd is agitated. What if..." the secretary-general hurriedly tried to dissuade him.

"There is no what-if," Lin Yanzhou interrupted, putting on his suit jacket.

"Hiding here is the most dangerous thing we could do. They're asking for me by name, which means they still believe this government can solve their problems. If I won't even show my face, that would truly push them into opposition."

Five minutes later, Lin Yanzhou emerged, accompanied by the secretary-general, Wen Zhiyuan, and Zhao Donglai. He carried no megaphone and did not stand on higher ground, simply walking straight onto the open space in front of the crowd.

His appearance brought a brief silence to the noisy crowd.

No one had expected the new mayor to actually dare to walk straight out.

"Everyone! I'm Lin Yanzhou, Jingzhou City's newly appointed mayor!"

"I've only just taken office, and I'm not yet very clear on the specifics. When you wanted to see me this morning, I urgently contacted the people responsible to get a preliminary understanding. You've suffered!"

There was no bureaucratic jargon, no passing the buck. Those words, "You've suffered," instantly closed the distance between them.

"The problems in Jingzhou's shantytown redevelopment area have dragged on for so many years. That is a failure of the government! Here and now, I once again offer everyone my solemn apology!" Lin Yanzhou bowed slightly.

The gesture stunned everyone present. Even the officials and police officers maintaining order exchanged looks.

"But apologies alone are useless!" Lin Yanzhou straightened, his voice suddenly rising as his gaze swept over the crowd.

"What we need is to solve the problems! Since you've all come today, let's make sure you haven't come for nothing! I'd like to invite a few representatives into the conference room so we can talk face-to-face and clearly lay out every grievance, every demand, and everything you know!"

He pointed toward the conference room. "At the same time, I've also invited the city's media reporters to witness the entire process!"

"I promise you that the municipal government will establish a special investigation team, led by me personally, to thoroughly investigate the issues you've reported! Whether it's unscrupulous businessmen cutting corners, or any dereliction of duty, embezzlement, and corruption that may exist, we'll investigate every case we find and show absolutely no leniency!"

"We'll make the investigation's progress public as appropriate! You'll be informed of the results at the earliest opportunity!" His words rang with conviction. "If the problems are substantiated, whatever needs to be demolished and rebuilt will be demolished and rebuilt, and whatever needs reinforcement or replacement materials will get them. Every last cent of embezzled funds will be recovered! Everyone who must bear legal responsibility will be sent to prison, without a single exception! And none of the compensation or answers you're owed will be withheld!"

The crowd fell completely silent. Their earlier anger and agitation gave way to attentive listening and a faint glimmer of hope.

"Please give me a little time, and give the government a little time too. Blocking the entrance here won't solve the problems. It will only hamper the investigation's efficiency. Please believe that the municipal Party committee and government have both the determination and the ability to secure justice for you and restore clear skies over Jingzhou!"

With that, he said no more. He turned and gestured for the selected representatives to follow, then strode toward the conference room first.

The crowd parted of its own accord, watching him and the representatives enter with complex looks in their eyes.

The shouting had vanished, replaced by murmurs and expectant gazes.

A mass incident that might have escalated had, through his candor, willingness to take responsibility, and clear promises, dissolved into nothing in an instant.

Inside the conference room, Lin Yanzhou spoke with the representatives for a full hour and a half.

He listened with extraordinary care, occasionally asking about details and having Chen Mo take detailed notes.

The representatives poured out without reservation their years of pent-up resentment, the leads they possessed, and even some vague rumors.

After seeing the representatives off, Lin Yanzhou's expression instantly turned icy.

From the fragments of information they had provided, he keenly picked out several key names and companies that largely matched the records of expenditures on major projects in Jingzhou City in his memory.

Lin Yanzhou addressed everyone. "Establish a special investigation team for the Jingzhou Zhongfu shantytown redevelopment project immediately."

"I'll serve as team leader, with Comrade Zhiyuan as deputy. Draw capable personnel from the municipal discipline inspection commission, audit bureau, finance bureau, public security bureau, and Guangming District!"

"Effective immediately, freeze all accounts. No one involved in the project is permitted to leave Jingzhou City! Investigate it thoroughly!"

His swift, decisive action sent a jolt through the department heads, who immediately accepted their orders and left.

Lin Yanzhou intended to light this immensely powerful fuse himself.

He would use it to blast out the woodworms infesting the redevelopment area, then let the fire burn along their trail, pulling up the radish and bringing the mud out with it.

News of the special task force's formation seemed to sprout wings, spreading throughout Jingzhou in a single morning.

At Shanshui Manor, Zhao Ruilong learned that Lin Yanzhou had not only easily defused the blockade but also seized the opportunity to establish an exceptionally high-level investigation team. Furious, he smashed an expensive teacup.

"Useless! A bunch of useless fools! You've outsmarted yourselves!" he roared at Ding Yizhen on the other end of the phone. "Who told you to set your sights on the redevelopment area now? That's a hornet's nest! Now look-he has every justification to intervene!"

Ding Yizhen panicked too. "I wasn't planning to touch it now! Those troublemaking peasants organized themselves. Could it be that the people under you have been stuffing their faces too shamelessly?"

"Enough!" Zhao Ruilong interrupted. "I'll clean up everything on my end. You wipe your own backside clean immediately! Sever every lead connected to the redevelopment area, Shanshui Group, and your Haixiang Company! If you can't, you'll have to take the fall yourself!"

After hanging up, Zhao Ruilong realized that Lin Yanzhou was far harder to deal with than anticipated.

Conventional methods could no longer stop him.

He entered a secret room and dialed an overseas encrypted number he rarely used.

"Hello? It's me. The investigation here in China is about to reach you. You'd better look out for yourself. I don't think Ding Yizhen can hold out much longer. There's nothing dirty between him and me. Whether you're clean, I don't know." With that, Zhao Ruilong hung up.

In a mansion abroad, the man sank into thought after hanging up. If Jingzhou kept investigating like this, his father would get into trouble sooner or later.

After saying that, he went upstairs to the study, took out an encrypted phone, and made a call.

"I need you to arrange some special services. I'll send you the target's information shortly. Be quick and clean, but whatever you do, don't make a scene. I only want leverage. Remember, you mustn't hurt anyone, or you won't be able to leave the country."

Meanwhile, the secret investigation by the director of the municipal discipline inspection commission's First Supervision Office had also yielded a startling discovery. The registered legal representative of "Jingzhou Haixiang Trading Co., Ltd." was a seventy-year-old rural woman,

while control over the actual movement of funds pointed to a mysterious Hong Kong businessman named "Wu Sheng." Further tracing revealed extensive concealed transfers and complex financial dealings between this "Wu Sheng," Shanshui Group, and Ding Yizhen's relatives.

A chain of illicit benefit transfers hidden in the darkness had finally shown its telltale tracks.

Zhang Shuli looked at the preliminary report, his palms slick with cold sweat.

He knew he had touched a real tiger's backside. He knew all too well who stood behind Shanshui Group, and he also knew who stood behind Ding Yizhen. Neither of those two people was someone he could afford to offend.

Meanwhile, Lin Yanzhou stood before the map in his office, using a red marker to draw three enormous question marks over the Zhongfu Shantytown Redevelopment Area, the Qingshui River pollution belt, and the location of the Jingzhou Urban Investment Holding Group.

Those three question marks were his three sharp blades. He would use the rotten accounts of the past and the corruption of the present as breakthrough points for the future.

He intended both to reassure the people and resolve longstanding problems, and to ride the momentum upward, establish his authority, break through the impasse once more, and help consolidate his position in Jingzhou.