193: Chapter 193 Disciplinary Committee Storm

The years of calm in Heishi Town were torn to shreds in just a few days.

Those who used to call Director Zhang Qiu "brother" were, one after another, politely "invited" into the guesthouse by the County Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Although some were just routine talks, those section chiefs and station heads who used to swagger around were all deathly pale and tight-lipped after coming out of that door.

This fear of the unknown was more agonizing than being directly detained.

As the executor of this storm, Director Li Qiang sat behind the desk in the guesthouse, reviewing the case files, but his thoughts had already flown to Qingjiang County.

He knew well that if you strike a snake but don't kill it, you will suffer the consequences.

The web of interests behind Director Zhang Qiu was too dense; with only the few people he had on hand, he couldn't suppress the undercurrents.

To make the case against Director Zhang Qiu an airtight one and completely extinguish any thought Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang might have of settling scores later, he had to return to the county seat to seek support.

Qingjiang County Commission for Discipline Inspection building, Secretary's office.

This was one of the few times Director Li Qiang had stepped into this room alone since entering the discipline inspection system.

In the past, he had always followed behind Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang, serving as a submissive background prop.

He knocked gently and pushed the door open to enter.

Secretary Pang Jianguo was sitting behind the large desk.

Seeing Director Li Qiang enter, he changed his usual serious and dull demeanor, and a touch of kindness even appeared on his face.

"Director Li Qiang, you're back. Sit down first." Secretary Pang Jianguo pointed to the sofa in the reception area.

Liaison officer Xiao Li walked in and served two cups of steaming green tea.

Secretary Pang Jianguo instructed Xiao Li: "This afternoon, no matter who comes, turn them away; I will not see anyone. Do you understand?"

Xiao Li nodded in agreement, retreated, and closed the door tightly.

Director Li Qiang sat on the front third of the sofa, his hands placed neatly on his knees.

Hearing this instruction, his heart suddenly warmed.

Turning away all visitors for a closed-door conversation.

This was a super-standard treatment reserved only for key leaders of the County Party Committee. Having worked under Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang for so many years, he had never experienced this kind of importance.

"Secretary Pang." Director Li Qiang pulled a thick stack of case files from his briefcase, "This is the progress of the investigation in Heishi Town during this period, as well as the preliminary confession materials from Director Zhang Qiu and others."

Secretary Pang Jianguo took the materials and reviewed them very carefully.

The only sound left in the office was the rustling of pages turning.

Ten minutes later, Secretary Pang Jianguo finished reading.

"The data is solid. It hits the nail on the head, and the chain of evidence is well-closed." Secretary Pang Jianguo gave a very high evaluation.

Director Li Qiang's suspended heart finally settled.

Secretary Pang Jianguo picked up his teacup: "The Capital recently issued instructions that anti-corruption efforts cannot just focus on the surface; we must treat the rectification of misconduct and corruption around the masses as an important, normalized task. It must be something the common people can feel and perceive."

He turned his gaze to Director Li Qiang, "The case in Heishi Town is the concrete manifestation of this spirit at the grassroots level."

"Go back and do it boldly. No matter who is involved, as long as there is evidence, investigate it to the end for me." Secretary Pang Jianguo threw out a reassurance, "Behind you is me, and Secretary Zhou Zheng of the Linjiang Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection. When necessary, Secretary Li Li of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection will also personally come down to support us."

"Do you understand? You are not fighting alone."

These few words, like a shot of adrenaline, completely shattered the last shred of fear Director Li Qiang had for Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang at the bottom of his heart.

With this confidence, Director Li Qiang no longer concealed anything.

"Secretary." Director Li Qiang began to complain, "I understand the direction. It's just that our manpower is indeed stretched thin."

He sighed helplessly, "You also know that this trip to Heishi Town was originally a spur-of-the-moment decision by Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang to send me down. The people I brought were few to begin with. Who would have thought that pulling the radish would bring out the mud; the problems in Heishi Town are so rotten, with clues of corruption and organized crime intertwined. With several lines unfolding at the same time, the few people I have simply cannot handle it."

Secretary Pang Jianguo pondered for a moment.

"That's easy to handle." Secretary Pang Jianguo made the decision immediately, "You can take everyone from the First Division of Discipline Inspection and have them under your unified command."

"Later, I will directly apply to the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection to request higher authorities to send capable personnel to support. After all, the cases of Heishui Village and Director Zhang Qiu are registered with the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection. In terms of staffing, I will definitely not let you be stretched thin."

Giving people when people are needed, giving authority when authority is needed.

Seeing that the main problem was resolved, Director Li Qiang undid the hidden clasp of his briefcase and pulled out that heavy material from the innermost layer.

"Secretary, there is one more thing." Director Li Qiang pushed the joint letter covered in red fingerprints towards Secretary Pang Jianguo with both hands.

"This was found in the suggestion box at the Heishi Town guesthouse. It's a joint letter of denunciation against Zhu Wenhao."

Secretary Pang Jianguo lowered his eyes and glanced at the envelope, his expression unchanged.

He had long known about the existence of this letter.

Zhu Wenhao had already communicated with him over the phone.

At that time, Secretary Pang Jianguo had asked Zhu Wenhao about his countermeasures, and whether he needed the County Commission for Discipline Inspection to step in and suppress this evil wind internally.

Zhu Wenhao was calm and full of strength.

"Secretary Pang, since the other party wants to investigate, let them investigate, and investigate openly and honestly."

"Let everyone put things on the table. The problems mentioned above seem aggressive, but in reality, they are baseless and full of flaws. It's just the last struggle of clowns. If there is evidence to be checked, what is there to fear?"

With this disclosure from Zhu Wenhao, Secretary Pang Jianguo naturally had a plan in mind.

"Since there are reports from the masses, our discipline inspection organs must, of course, investigate."

Secretary Pang Jianguo set the tone.

"However, the Discipline Inspection Commission is not only a knife used to investigate and punish corruption, but also a shield to protect cadres."

"If the Discipline Inspection Commission does not go out to investigate and just lets the materials sit in the drawer, the rumors underneath will become whatever they want. Sometimes, the organization needs to use a public characterization to prove the innocence of those who do practical work."

He looked at Director Li Qiang, his tone turning sharp.

"Of course, while innocence must be proven, the Discipline Inspection Commission must also ferret out those villains behind the scenes who are colluding and throwing dirt."

"Since you have already conducted a joint investigation in Heishi Town and the Town Police Station, and this letter of denunciation is related to Heishui Village, and you are the first contact for this letter, you will lead the handling of this case."

"Tomorrow, I will convene a standing committee meeting of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection. I will put this letter of denunciation on the table in an upright manner."

Director Li Qiang accepted the order and stood up to leave the office.

Walking in the corridor of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection building, the sunlight outside shone in, and he felt brighter than ever before.

He took out his mobile phone and skillfully dialed that number.

"Secretary Zhu, it's me, Director Li Qiang."

The call was connected, and he reported Secretary Pang Jianguo's instructions word for word.

Heishi Town, in the office of the Deputy Secretary.

Zhu Wenhao leaned back in his chair, holding the phone in one hand, listening to Director Li Qiang's account.

"Since Secretary Pang has given instructions, just follow them." Zhu Wenhao's tone was devoid of any anxiety about being reported.

"Secretary Zhu, then about Heishui Village..." Director Li Qiang still probed cautiously.

"I am not afraid of being investigated." Zhu Wenhao picked up his coarse porcelain teacup, "True gold fears no fire."

"However, some people may not be so sure."

Cutting off the communication, Zhu Wenhao placed his phone on the desk.

The sword of the law had been drawn; now, it was a matter of seeing how those hiding in the dark would reveal their true colors in the blazing fire.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the corridor in the Town Government, the office of the Town Party Committee Secretary was already in complete chaos.

It was bustling with people, but there was none of the usual sycophancy.

The door was packed solid; several heads of stations and mid-level cadres of the town were crowded into the room, all looking flustered.

Under the high-pressure situation of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection, everyone felt endangered. Today they took away Director Zhang Qiu's accomplices, tomorrow they might take them. These people all ran over to ask for ideas.

"Secretary Qiu, you have to say something! That bunch from the County Commission for Discipline Inspection is flipping through account books at the guesthouse every day; who can stand this?"

"Yes, Secretary, you should react to the county level; doing this will cause big problems!"

The noisy chatter made Secretary Qiu Dehai's brain ache.

"Shut up, all of you!"

Secretary Qiu Dehai slammed his desk hard, shaking the water in his thermos cup onto the table.

He said with a gloomy face: "Go do what you are supposed to do! If you are upright, you don't fear the shadow being crooked; why fear the Discipline Inspection Commission's investigation? I usually tell you to keep your hands clean, and now you come to me to wail? Get out!"

Everyone looked at each other, seeing the number one leader in a fit of rage, knowing they couldn't get an answer today, they could only sneak out of the room and close the door tightly.

The room returned to silence.

Secretary Qiu Dehai slumped into his leather chair, pulled a tissue to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.

What ideas did he have? His current situation was a hundred times more dangerous than those small fry outside.

The problems that Director Zhang Qiu spat out would sooner or later implicate him, the Town Party Committee Secretary.

He grabbed the landline on the desk and dialed Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang's private number.

This was the sixth call he had made in the past few days.

"Beep—beep—beep—"

A long waiting tone.

Until the mechanical female voice prompted that no one answered, Secretary Qiu Dehai slammed the receiver heavily onto the landline.

Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang didn't answer his calls at all.

When disaster strikes, everyone flies their own way.

Counting on Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang to come and put out the fire was pure wishful thinking.

Secretary Qiu Dehai gritted his teeth, opened the drawer, and pulled out his car keys.

He couldn't just sit and wait for death. The game in Heishi Town had completely slipped out of his control.

He had to go to the county seat and beg Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan in person.

Only that leader of the local faction could suppress the evil wind of Zhu Wenhao and Secretary Pang Jianguo. As long as Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan was willing to come forward to protect him, his position in Heishi Town could still be secure.

Ten minutes later, a car drove out of the Town Government courtyard, speeding very fast, kicking up dust, and heading straight for Qingjiang County.

On the second floor, in front of the floor-to-ceiling window of the Deputy Secretary's office.

Zhu Wenhao stood with his hands behind his back.

He watched the car drive away quietly, disappearing at the end of the street.

Whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad.

When a person pins all their hopes on the protection of higher power, they are not far from being shattered to pieces.