247: Chapter 247 Qiu Dehai is detained

Two black official cars bearing the license plates of the Qingjiang County Party Committee drove one after the other along the provincial road and turned into the courtyard of the Heishi Town Government.

The cold wind, mixed with fine sleet, stung as it whipped against people's faces.

In front of the town committee building, Secretary Qiu Dehai rubbed his hands together, glancing toward the courtyard entrance from time to time. Standing beside him was Town Mayor Luo Xingbang, and further to the side was Zhu Yuntong.

Secretary Qiu Dehai was naturally aware of the news that the County Party Committee standing committee meeting had been held that morning.

But strangely, no one had told him what exactly had been discussed at the meeting. Unable to sit still, he dialed the number of Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan's liaison, and even those of several acquaintances in the County Party Committee office with whom he usually fraternized, but without exception, they all went to a dial tone with no answer.

The calls wouldn't go through.

Could something major be about to happen to him? Secretary Qiu Dehai wondered to himself.

However, wishful thinking held the high ground; perhaps everyone was just busy.

Fortunately, by the time afternoon arrived, the director of the County Party Committee office called.

"Secretary Qiu, arrange a meeting for the town officials. Deputy Minister Li Ming from the Organization Department will lead a team to Heishi Town shortly to announce the decision of the County Party Committee."

The tone of the County Party Committee office director was stiff and purely professional.

Secretary Qiu Dehai tentatively asked, "Director, as the top leader of Heishi Town, shouldn't I have some idea about the content of the County Party Committee's decision?"

"Don't ask about things you shouldn't," the director said, lowering his voice. "But I'll give you a heads-up privately. It's about Executive Vice Mayor Qian Dayong being detained. Secretary Lu Guoliang has some complaints about your Heishi Town leadership team; an Executive Vice Mayor getting involved in engineering corruption has a terrible impact."

Upon hearing this, the heavy stone in Secretary Qiu Dehai's chest dropped.

So, it was because of Executive Vice Mayor Qian Dayong.

If Secretary Lu Guoliang had complaints, it was just about lax supervision; this meant Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan had protected him at the meeting.

"Don't worry, Director. I'll go to the County Party Committee tomorrow to explain everything to Secretary Lu Guoliang in person," Secretary Qiu Dehai promised repeatedly. "Could you please check Secretary Lu Guoliang's schedule and leave a slot open for me?"

"Understood, I'll contact you later." The call was disconnected.

Secretary Qiu Dehai did not know.

Inside the Qingjiang County Party Committee building, the director who had just hung up the phone turned and walked into the Secretary's office.

He stood respectfully in front of Secretary Lu Guoliang's large desk. "Secretary Lu Guoliang, per your instructions, I have stabilized Secretary Qiu Dehai. He thinks the county is only dealing with Executive Vice Mayor Qian Dayong, and he even said he would come to report to you tomorrow. He's been pacified and definitely won't flee."

Secretary Lu Guoliang turned a page of a document without looking up and simply said, "Well done."

He then waved his hand slightly.

The director held his breath, retreated silently, and closed the wooden door tightly.

Only Secretary Lu Guoliang remained in the room. He leaned back in his chair, picked up his tea, and his thoughts drifted to Linjiang City a few days prior.

Relying on the lingering influence of his old superior, he had managed to secure an opportunity to pay a visit to Mayor Su Changming.

That day, Mayor Su Changming received him in the study. There was no small talk, no pleasantries.

Mayor Su Changming sat behind a yellow rosewood desk, his fingers toying with a paperweight.

"Guoliang, it's good for young people to have drive, but acting too rashly requires strengthening their experience at the grassroots level," Mayor Su Changming said in a flat tone. "I had originally intended for old comrades like Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan and Secretary Qiu Dehai to mentor Comrade Zhu Yuntong more in the field. And what happened? These two are capable of ruining things but not achieving them."

"Secretary Qiu Dehai, a dignified Secretary, is actually being completely suppressed by his subordinate. What kind of behavior is that?"

Secretary Lu Guoliang sat upright on the lower seat, even slowing his breathing.

"How about this, Guoliang," Mayor Su Changming said, casting his gaze over. "The Municipal Government is currently lacking an Assistant to the Mayor."

"If you can make Zhu Yuntong learn some rules and suffer a bit more in Heishi Town, this position of Assistant to the Mayor will be yours."

Mayor Su Changming leaned forward, casting out a heavy chip.

"If you can make this young man take a big fall and learn a lesson, I happen to have a vacancy for a Vice Mayor. Perhaps that position could be yours."

"What do you think?"

The memory concluded.

Secretary Lu Guoliang swallowed a mouthful of slightly bitter tea and placed the teacup back in its place.

The two pieces of meat Mayor Su Changming had thrown out were fatter than the last, and each one was hotter to the touch than the last.

Zhu Yuntong had Municipal Party Committee Deputy Secretary Zhu Tianhe behind him; a head-on collision would be equivalent to seeking death.

The key lay in leveraging power.

He went with the flow at the standing committee meeting to remove Secretary Qiu Dehai, ostensibly giving face to Zhu Yuntong and Secretary Pang Jianguo, helping them clear the old accounts in Heishi Town. In reality, he had Deputy Minister Li Ming announce the resolution, using the positions of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission and the Executive Vice Mayor as chips to distribute to Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan and County Mayor Gu Mingchuan.

This was to create enemies for Zhu Yuntong.

When rolling around in a quagmire, how could one not suffer? How could one not take a fall?

Secretary Lu Guoliang looked at the lead-gray sky outside the window.

Zhu Yuntong, let's see which position you, this brat, can lift me, Secretary Lu Guoliang, up to.

The cold wind poured into the courtyard of the Heishi Town Government.

The first official car came to a stop. Deputy Minister Li Ming of the County Organization Department pushed the door open and stepped out.

Secretary Qiu Dehai hurried forward to greet him, stretching out both hands. "Deputy Minister Li, thanks for the hard work on the journey."

Deputy Minister Li Ming extended his hand to shake his, his gaze scraping across Secretary Qiu Dehai's face.

Months ago, also in this courtyard, when Secretary Qiu Dehai had welcomed the newly appointed Zhu Yuntong, how proud and pleased he had been. Now, that face was sallow and withered, with high cheekbones, revealing his aged state.

Deputy Minister Li Ming withdrew his hand, did not pick up the conversation, and only nodded slightly.

Secretary Qiu Dehai did not notice anything unusual and turned to lead the way. "Deputy Minister Li, the meeting venue has been prepared, and the town officials are all waiting..."

Before he could finish his sentence.

The door of the second official car swung wide open.

Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection walked out.

Following him were two burly discipline inspection officers.

Secretary Qiu Dehai's footsteps froze in place, his eyelids twitching violently.

Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang approached with his men. The two discipline inspection officers moved with extreme agility, one on the left and one on the right, directly pinning Secretary Qiu Dehai's arms between them.

"Secretary Tian, this... what is the meaning of this?" Secretary Qiu Dehai's legs had already gone half weak.

Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang stood still and took out a document.

"Qiu Dehai," Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang said, purely professional. "By the resolution of the standing committee of the Qingjiang County Commission for Discipline Inspection, and with the approval of the County Party Committee standing committee, you are now subject to detention measures to cooperate with an organizational investigation."

These few words shattered Secretary Qiu Dehai's wishful thinking to pieces.

The director of the County Party Committee office's assurances, the schedule to report to the county committee tomorrow—it was all a charade to deceive him.

He was completely stunned.

When the butcher's knife falls, there is never a sound.

"Take him away." Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang put away the document, not wanting to waste any more breath.

The two officers hauled Secretary Qiu Dehai up and walked toward the car.

As the cold wind blew, Secretary Qiu Dehai finally reacted.

"Secretary Tian! I'm innocent! I was falsely implicated by Executive Vice Mayor Qian Dayong! I want to see Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan! I want to call Secretary Lu Guoliang!"

He screamed at the top of his lungs, struggling desperately, trying to cling to a last shred of hope for survival in the Heishi Town Government courtyard.

One of the discipline inspection officers beside him turned his head and cast a glance at Secretary Qiu Dehai's face.

"Qiu Dehai," the officer warned in a low voice. "Don't shout and yell; keep some dignity. Whatever you have to say, when you get to the Discipline Inspection Commission's investigation site, you'll have enough time to explain properly. Just focus on explaining your own issues."

This warning caused all of Secretary Qiu Dehai's shouting to get stuck in his throat.

He looked at Deputy Secretary Tian Wenguang's cold profile, then at Deputy Minister Li Ming, who stood a few steps away, indifferent.

The situation was lost.

All avenues of escape had been sealed off.

Secretary Qiu Dehai slumped his head, stopped struggling, and let the two men shove him into the black official car.

The car door slammed shut.

The entire Heishi Town Government courtyard was so quiet that one could only hear the sound of the wind swirling fallen leaves.

The officials peeking from behind the windows on the second and third floors all held their breath. Secretary Qiu Dehai, who had held sway over Heishi Town, had just been taken away by the Discipline Inspection Commission in full view of everyone.

Deputy Minister Li Ming turned and walked toward the steps.

Town Mayor Luo Xingbang and Zhu Yuntong walked down to meet him.

"Town Mayor Luo, Deputy Secretary Zhu Yuntong." Deputy Minister Li Ming extended his hand and shook theirs in turn.

"There must be an account for these matters; the County Party Committee's resolution is very firm," Deputy Minister Li Ming said professionally. "Let's go, the comrades are all waiting; let's go to the meeting."

Town Mayor Luo Xingbang stepped aside to make way. "Deputy Minister Li, please this way. The meeting venue is on the second floor."

The group ascended the stairs.

Town Mayor Luo Xingbang walked in the lead, his pace a few beats faster than usual, his back straight. With Secretary Qiu Dehai gone, he, a long-time second-in-command, was finally only half a step away from the top position.

Zhu Yuntong followed half a step behind.

His expression remained unchanged, his pace steady.

Secretary Qiu Dehai's detention was the first step in breaking the deadlock that he had personally pushed for.

But Deputy Minister Li Ming's arrival was by no means just to announce Secretary Qiu Dehai's downfall.

For a Deputy Minister of the County Organization Department to personally come down, there must be a deeper personnel layout. Secretary Lu Guoliang's concession at the standing committee meeting was by no means purely to support the crackdown on crime.

The wind outside the courtyard was still howling.

Zhu Yuntong stepped on the stairs.

The old stumbling block had just been removed, and Secretary Lu Guoliang had already hammered down a new iron nail.

The two heavy wooden doors of the conference room were already open ahead.

A meeting to re-delineate the map of Heishi Town was about to begin.

Deputy Minister Li Ming straightened his collar and stepped into the meeting room first.

Zhu Yuntong followed him in, his gaze sweeping across that large conference table.

In this small space, a storm was brewing.