189: Chapter 189 Detaining Zhang Qiu

Heishi Town Government building.

In the corridors, officials bustled about with documents, the clatter of leather shoes against the floor creating a cacophony.

When they crossed paths, they exchanged a few polite, shivering pleasantries about the cold weather.

No one noticed that a farce of a blockade, one capable of bringing the building to a standstill, had been quietly extinguished.

On the second floor, in the Deputy Secretary's office.

Zhu Wenhao sat upright behind a large desk.

A sheet of xuan paper was spread out on the desk. He held a wolf-hair brush, dipped it in thick ink, and flicked his wrist.

"Govern with both benevolence and severity; mix kingly ways with hegemonic power."

The eight large characters were written with enough force to penetrate the paper.

He set down the brush.

Clan Elder Zhang Laoqi of Heishui Village intended to incite the elderly, women, and children to stage so-called joint petitions and gather crowds to block the gates—he was truly a parasite of the nation.

When the tiger does not show its might for too long, the macaques in the mountains will try to act like the king.

These local thugs treat the government compound like their own vegetable garden, coming and going as they please, causing trouble whenever they want.

Rules are discarded; laws are not upheld.

If such a malignant tumor is not removed, administrative orders in Qingjiang County will never flow smoothly.

He picked up his phone and dialed a number.

"Zhu Wenhao," came the clear, resonant voice of Su Qinghan.

"The feedback document from the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection regarding the illegal enforcement by the Heishi Town Health Center has just been issued to the Qingjiang County Commission for Discipline Inspection."

"Secretary Zhou Zheng has signed it. The document was sent via confidential channels and has already reached the desk of Secretary Pang of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection."

Such efficiency was indeed rare.

Zhu Wenhao tapped his fingers on the armrest.

After leaving Heishi Town, Su Qinghan had not gone home to rest; instead, she had thrown herself into working overtime at the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection.

She had spent the night organizing the case files, rushed to Secretary Zhou Zheng's office first thing in the morning to plead the case in person, and pushed for the approval materials.

She used the toughest methods to share the pressure he faced here.

"You've worked hard," Zhu Wenhao said.

"It is my duty," Su Qinghan replied briefly.

Ending the call, Zhu Wenhao leaned back in his chair.

This blade had already been handed over by the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection; now it was up to Qingjiang County to take it.

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan.

His fingertip slid across the screen, dialing.

In the County Mayor's office at the Qingjiang County Government, County Mayor Gu Mingchuan was reviewing the quarterly financial report.

His private phone vibrated. Seeing who was calling, he set down his fountain pen and answered.

"Comrade Zhu Wenhao," County Mayor Gu Mingchuan said formally.

"County Mayor, are you busy?" Zhu Wenhao's tone was neither warm nor cold.

"Year-end business is tedious; I'm just auditing reports."

"There are some things I must speak of," Zhu Wenhao said, getting straight to the point. "Secretary Zhu Tianhe is quite critical of your recent performance in Qingjiang County."

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan's wrist stiffened slightly. The Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, Secretary Zhu Tianhe, was dissatisfied? This was no small matter.

"Zhu Wenhao, where is this coming from? I have been…"

"County Mayor," Zhu Wenhao interrupted, "you are my direct superior, the chief administrator of Qingjiang County. You do not need to explain anything to me."

"When you have time, go explain it to Secretary Zhu Tianhe yourself. It's been a while since the last dinner. You haven't been to the city to report on your work."

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan felt as if he had just woken from a dream.

Changing allegiances required frequent expressions of loyalty. He had been so busy dealing with Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan that he had neglected to pay a visit.

"Alright," County Mayor Gu Mingchuan agreed. "I will call Director Gao in a while to set a time to go to Secretary Zhu Tianhe's office for a detailed report."

In governing a state and managing officials, one cannot only bestow favors.

Favors should not be granted for too long, and authority should not be lightly set aside.

One must occasionally show thunderous means so that those below know the boundaries of propriety.

The first goal was achieved.

"County Mayor," Zhu Wenhao changed the subject, "Director Li Qiang of the First Office of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection has brought people to be stationed in Heishi Town. He calls it inspecting and guiding the construction of work style. Of course, we at the grassroots level support the work of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection."

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan listened quietly, knowing the real issue was coming.

"However, on Friday, a scandal occurred on the South Street of the town."

Zhu Wenhao concisely stated the process of how Director Zhang Qiu of the Health Center had engaged in entrapment and attempted solicitation of bribes.

"The matter has already come to light, and the evidence is solid. This kind of despicable conduct has already reached the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection."

"What is noteworthy is that this Director Li Qiang, who is flying the banner of inspection, has ignored this case. Not only did he fail to take any restrictive measures, but he also released this problematic cadre completely unscathed."

"What's more," Zhu Wenhao's oppressive presence was persistent, "the next morning, this Director Zhang Qiu swaggered into my dormitory carrying gift boxes of cigarettes and alcohol. He openly flaunted his power, attempting to bribe the law with benefits."

On the other end of the line, County Mayor Gu Mingchuan's breathing grew heavy.

"County Mayor, I am a frontline grassroots worker. I have an obligation to report the discovery of corruption and dereliction of duty truthfully to the organization."

Zhu Wenhao played his trump card.

"If there is no proper, lawful resolution to this matter by the end of today,"

He paused for three seconds.

"Then it won't be me, a Deputy Secretary of the Town Party Committee, calling to ask. Secretary Zhou Zheng of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection, or Secretary Li Li herself, will personally inquire about the disciplinary issues in Qingjiang County."

"Everyone knows what the outcome will be if it reaches that point."

Zhu Wenhao finally closed the net: "I ask that you, County Mayor, convey these words of mine, word for word, to Secretary Pang Jianguo."

Beep.

The dial tone sounded, and the call was disconnected.

In the Qingjiang County Mayor's office.

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan held the receiver, smiling bitterly.

This was no discussion; it was clearly an ultimatum.

He put down the phone, grabbed the internal line on his desk, and dialed directly to Secretary Pang Jianguo of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection.

"Old Pang," County Mayor Gu Mingchuan skipped the pleasantries and went straight to the point.

The two talked on the phone for more than half an hour.

Secretary Pang Jianguo sat in the County Commission for Discipline Inspection office, the feedback letter from the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection that had just arrived pressing down on the desk in front of him.

The document was stamped with a red seal, and the content pointed directly at the illegal enforcement by the Heishi Town Health Center, with stern wording.

Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan had previously greeted him, asking Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang to protect Director Zhang Qiu. As Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang's pawn, Director Li Qiang naturally complied.

Now, the municipal-level accountability was hanging over their heads.

Protecting Director Zhang Qiu meant sacrificing the position of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Secretary Pang Jianguo had originally been stripped of power by Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang and was worried about not finding an opportunity to establish his authority.

"Old Gu, I understand." Secretary Pang Jianguo tapped the edge of the document. "The Shangfang sword from the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection has been handed to me. If I don't swing the blade now, my time as the Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission will be over."

He hung up the phone.

Bypassing Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang, he dialed the mobile phone of Director Li Qiang, who was stationed in Heishi Town.

In the Heishi Town Government guest house, on the second floor.

Director Li Qiang leaned on the sofa, flipping through a pile of inconsequential attendance records.

For the past few days, Director Xu Jie of the Party and Government Office had served him so well that there was nothing to complain about.

Everything had an escort, and all requests to review materials required cumbersome approval.

He was trapped in this guest house, unable to move.

His cell phone rang.

He answered.

"Secretary Pang Jianguo." Director Li Qiang quickly stood up straight.

"Li Qiang!" On the phone, Secretary Pang Jianguo's roar was deafening.

"You led a team to Heishi Town—was it to inspect work style or to cover up corruption!"

Secretary Pang Jianguo was merciless. "The accountability letter from the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection has already been slammed onto my desk! Director Zhang Qiu engaged in entrapment and accepted bribes, and the chain of evidence is complete. You actually released him privately!"

Director Li Qiang broke into a cold sweat: "Secretary Pang Jianguo, this... this matter was something Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang greeted me about..."

"Shut up!" Secretary Pang Jianguo snapped.

"I don't care who greeted you. I'm telling you, if Director Zhang Qiu is not officially detained by the end of work this afternoon, you can pack your bags and get out of the Discipline Inspection Commission compound! Go guard the door of the archives room!"

Secretary Pang Jianguo issued an ultimatum.

"Even if Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan comes to plead for you personally, he won't be able to save you!"

The call was cut off.

Director Li Qiang gripped his phone. The head of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection had unleashed his fury, completely ignoring Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan's reputation.

As a small Director of the First Office, caught in the middle of the power struggle, a slight carelessness would mean being crushed to pieces.

If he didn't deal with Director Zhang Qiu, his own future would be ruined.

The sun gradually slanted westward.

In the Heishi Town Government compound, there was a sudden commotion.

Director Zhang Qiu of the Town Health Center was held by two officials from the County Commission for Discipline Inspection and dragged out of the Health Center office building.

His neatly combed hair was disheveled, and his legs were weak: "You can't arrest me... I am with Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang... I am with Secretary Qiu..."

Director Li Qiang walked at the very front, his face as gloomy as water.

He held an official detention notice in his hand.

Ignoring the gaze of the many cadres in the compound, he forcibly stuffed Director Zhang Qiu into the official car parked downstairs.

The car door slammed shut, and they sped away.

This series of thunderous actions shocked the entire officialdom of Heishi Town.

They had thought Director Li Qiang was an imperial envoy sent to trouble Zhu Wenhao, but who would have thought that he would turn around and bring Director Zhang Qiu, who usually walked sideways, to justice.

Behind the windows of many offices, pairs of suspicious and uncertain eyes were hidden.

This drama of using one force to strike another and killing the chicken to scare the monkeys truly allowed those grassroots officials who were still wavering to see the methods of the new Deputy Secretary, who could flip clouds and rain.

On the second floor, in the Deputy Secretary's office.

Zhu Wenhao stood before the window.

The glass reflected the dust rising outside.

He stood with his hands behind his back and withdrew his gaze.

Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish; treating stubborn diseases requires heavy punishment.

The people's livelihood and economic recovery all depend on the peace and tranquility of this land.

Only by eradicating these local pests who gnaw at the bone and suck the marrow can we lead the people in seeking the right path.