229: Chapter 229 A Calculated Scheme from the Emperor's Mind

The water in the purple clay teapot on the small red clay stove had boiled through.

The lid was clattering against the pot, pushed by the boiling steam, as white mist rose into the air.

Zhu Wenhao rested his hands on his knees, his back straight, paying no heed to it.

Cao Hang took another look at the young man in his twenties before him.

The pack of cigarettes and bottle of unlabelled liquor he brought upon entering showed no sign of the awkwardness typical of a first-time visitor.

Just moments ago, standing beneath the "Dajun Tie," his few words of commentary had stripped away the inner thoughts of this Deputy Secretary of the Jingjiang Municipal Committee completely.

This young man was no ordinary person; once he encountered the wind and clouds, he would transform into a dragon.

Cao Hang reached this conclusion in his heart.

Thinking back on the Li Faction's recent series of counter-attacks, and the transformation of Secretary Zhu Tianhe in Linjiang City.

That "nice guy" who had been spineless for over twenty years had recently been frequently locking horns with Mayor Su Changming, with every move sharp and ruthless.

At first, the high-level officials in the province just assumed Secretary Zhu Tianhe had finally seen the light.

Now, observing this junior at close range, Cao Hang understood: the true player of that game of chess was sitting right in front of him.

Cao Hang finally reached out, picked up the bamboo handle of the purple clay teapot, and poured the scalding hot water into the tea cup in front of Zhu Wenhao.

The water poured like a stream, and the fragrance of tea filled the air.

Zhu Wenhao did not stand on ceremony; he curled his right hand into a fist, palm facing down, and tapped the second knuckles of his five fingers against the hard wooden table three times.

It was the finger-tapping salute, acknowledging the gesture of having his tea refilled.

Cao Hang placed the purple clay teapot back on the stove.

"Zhu Wenhao," Cao Hang broke the silence first. "You can see that my calligraphy lacks strength and falters halfway through."

"I wonder how one must practice this calligraphy to capture even a fraction of Emperor Taizu of Ming's aura of devouring the world?"

Zhu Wenhao picked up the tea cup in front of him and took a sip.

"Secretary Cao."

"In my opinion, no matter how diligently you practice, you will never write with the aura of the Emperor. Because right now, you are too timid and indecisive in your actions."

Cao Hang's face tightened slightly, but he did not lash out, waiting quietly for what followed.

"You are hesitant in your heart. You want to fight for that position, but you are afraid that if you fail, you will lose the dignity you currently possess."

"The Mayor of Jingjiang City is reaching the age limit next year and will step back to a second-line position; this is clear to everyone. Executive Vice Mayor Wang Jianming, with the strong recommendation of Secretary Gao Zhiyuan, is naturally poised to take on this burden."

"What is Wang Jianming seeking right now? He seeks stability. As long as there are no major mishaps, and he gets through this period safely, the mayor's throne will be in his pocket."

"As the Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, if he seeks stability and you follow suit, your room for maneuver will only shrink."

"Once the outcome is set, if you want to accomplish something, with Secretary Gao and Mayor Wang forming an unbreakable alliance, you will be a turtle in a jar, with no room to even struggle."

"Sometimes, one needs stability to plan for the long term. But at other times, one needs to charge."

"When meeting on a narrow path, only by gathering all your courage and burning your bridges can you obtain the result you desire."

Cao Hang fell into a long contemplation.

He originally came from a military background; when he was a soldier in his early years, he was daring and competitive in his unit, having been named an elite soldier of the entire army.

Later, after transferring to civilian work, when a major flood occurred, he took the lead in jumping into the breached river to carry sandbags, risking his own life.

I do not know when it started, but as he climbed higher, that spirit of courage was worn away completely by the endless social obligations and meetings.

Emperor Taizu of Ming was able to secure the world because of his determination, starting with nothing but a bowl.

He was clinging to the position of Deputy Secretary, worrying about gains and losses; no wonder he could not write with that domineering aura.

Cao Hang picked up the tea cup, drank it in one gulp, and slammed the empty cup heavily onto the table.

"Zhu Wenhao, in your opinion, how do you see this dead game of chess?"

Cao Hang asked humbly.

"The key to breaking the game lies in the current Municipal Public Security Bureau of Jingjiang City." Zhu Wenhao gave a clear direction.

Cao Hang frowned slightly.

The Bureau Chief of the Municipal Public Security Bureau, Hao Jianguo, was a die-hard confidant hand-picked by Secretary Lei Zhen of the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission. Moving against Hao Jianguo was equivalent to directly pulling the tiger's whiskers of Secretary Lei Zhen, and Secretary Gao Zhiyuan of the Municipal Party Committee had always protected Hao Jianguo.

"How should I play the move?"

"First, within the Municipal Party Committee, propose holding Bureau Chief Hao Jianguo accountable." Zhu Wenhao said clearly and logically, "Use the momentum of Director Qi Shan of the Provincial Public Security Department, raise the banner of combating organized crime, and fight for your life."

Cao Hang shook his head: "Zhu Wenhao, you make things too simple. As a Deputy Secretary, my weight is far from enough to propose removing the Bureau Chief. Secretary Gao Zhiyuan and Executive Vice Mayor Wang Jianming could easily find a pretext to suppress my proposal in the meeting minutes."

"You alone, of course, do not have enough weight." Zhu Wenhao leaned forward, "A single thread cannot make a line; a single tree cannot make a forest. You need to form alliances."

"You can contact Secretary Feng of the Municipal Political and Legal Affairs Commission."

Zhu Wenhao pointed out the key ally.

"I have seen in the archives of the Provincial Organization Department that you and Secretary Feng were classmates at the Party School in your early years. With that connection, it will be easy to talk."

"More importantly, Hao Jianguo, relying on the support of Secretary Lei Zhen, has always been insincere in following the instructions of the Municipal Political and Legal Affairs Commission, and has never respected Secretary Feng, his direct superior. Secretary Feng is in charge of political and legal affairs, yet he is being sidelined by a Bureau Chief; the resentment in his heart has long since accumulated into an active volcano."

Cao Hang's eyes lit up.

"You and Secretary Feng join forces to launch an attack." Zhu Wenhao continued the deduction, "At the same time, Director Qi of the Provincial Public Security Department will provide a powerful response at the provincial level."

"For the cases of Lei Dong and Lin Wan, the Provincial Public Security Department holds ironclad evidence. Director Qi is worried about having no local forces to respond. You jumping out now is providing help in a time of need. The Provincial Public Security Department will issue a document criticizing the Jingjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau for poor case handling and shielding organized crime, demanding that the main leaders be held accountable."

"Regulations and frameworks, the dual pressure from the Provincial Public Security Department and the supervising leadership."

"The joint voice of the superior professional department and you two standing committee members—this collective power coming down is an overwhelming force."

"Even if Secretary Gao wants to protect Hao Jianguo, he must weigh whether he can bear the blame."

Cao Hang followed this line of thought, feeling suddenly enlightened; the originally closed dead end was forcibly carved out with a path to survival.

"What if Secretary Gao, for the sake of Secretary Lei Zhen's face, protects Hao Jianguo at all costs?" Cao Hang asked the core risk.

Zhu Wenhao's lips twitched imperceptibly.

He was waiting for Secretary Gao Zhiyuan to protect him at all costs.

"If Secretary Gao protects Hao Jianguo at all costs, then Secretary Lao will enter the fray personally."

Zhu Wenhao explained the calculations of the top leader of the Provincial Party Committee.

"Secretary Lao has long wanted to purge Secretary Gao, but has been suffering from a lack of a suitable excuse. If Secretary Gao Zhiyuan shields Hao Jianguo, he is shielding organized crime, which touches the red line."

"At that time, the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection will directly enter the fray. The case of Lei Zhenzi is already tangled; pulling out the radish will bring out the mud, and it is not just Secretary Lei Zhen who will be in danger."

"As the top leader of the Municipal Party Committee, Secretary Gao has seriously neglected his duties, condoning the growth of organized crime in Jingjiang City. He, Secretary Gao Zhiyuan, will also be caught in the crossfire and will be unable to protect himself."

"Taking a step back, even if Secretary Gao assesses the situation and chooses to sacrifice the pawn to save the chariot, and does not intervene." Zhu Wenhao gave the second direction, "As long as Hao Jianguo is removed, the Jingjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau will undergo a major reshuffle. Secretary Lei Zhen will lose his local shield, and the case involving Lei Zhenzi's organized crime will become an ironclad case. Secretary Lei Zhen will likewise not be able to protect himself."

With Secretary Lei Zhen's downfall, Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua will lose an arm, and Executive Vice Mayor Wang Jianming will lose a strong supporter.

Zhu Wenhao looked into Cao Hang's eyes.

"After this battle is fought, the rule of law in Jingjiang City will be reshaped, injustices will be redressed, and the people will rejoice. The Provincial Party Committee will reward merit, and you, as the number one hero who lifted the lid and rectified the administration, will be rewarded."

"Do you think the mayor's position will still be far away?"

Cao Hang's fingers gripping the tea cup tightened, and the water ripples in the cup swayed slightly.

He picked up the tea cup, then put it down.

He picked it up again, then put it down again.

Scenes of his half-life of ups and downs in the officialdom flashed back rapidly in his mind.

He had thought that his life would just end this way, but in this small study, he was rekindled by a township deputy official, the fire within his chest reignited.

The water boiled, and the water in the purple clay teapot overflowed, pouring onto the root-carved tea table, making a sizzling sound.

Neither of them paid any attention.

A long time passed.

Cao Hang released the tea cup, his back straightened abruptly, and that iron-blooded toughness belonging to a soldier returned to him.

"Zhu Wenhao," Cao Hang's voice was deep, "I will drink this cup of tea."

He stood up, walked to the desk, picked up his phone, and pressed a string of numbers.

"Old Feng, it's me. Are you free tonight? Let's go out for a couple of drinks. A big show is about to begin."

Zhu Wenhao sat peacefully at the tea table, holding the pot, and refilled the spilled boiling water.

The overall situation of the world is such that the slightest move in one part may affect the whole.