248: Chapter 248 Mayor Luo Acts as Acting Mayor

The auditorium on the second floor of the Heishi Town Government office building.

All cadres at the section level and above, as well as the heads of all stations and offices in the town, were present.

Usually, when there was a meeting, there would always be whispering below. Today, it was unusually quiet.

The heavy wooden doors of the auditorium were pushed open.

Director Xu Jie, dressed in a neat business suit, pushed the door with one hand and stopped at the entrance.

The last few remaining murmurs in the auditorium ceased instantly.

Everyone's gaze turned toward the door.

Deputy Minister Li Ming of the County Organization Department stepped into the venue.

Town Mayor Luo Xingbang and Deputy Secretary Zhu Wenhao followed on either side, half a step behind.

The three of them followed the nameplates and took their seats at the front of the podium.

The eyes of the people below did not linger long on the high-ranking county official but scanned the setup of the podium with extreme keenness.

The seat that originally belonged to Secretary Qiu Dehai had its nameplate removed, and the chair had been pushed to the side.

The few core members of the Qiu faction sitting below had their eyes glued to that empty chair.

Director Xu Jie walked to the podium and adjusted the microphone.

"Comrades, the meeting will now begin."

"First, I invite Deputy Minister Li Ming of the County Organization Department to read the latest resolution from the Qingjiang County Party Committee."

Deputy Minister Li Ming pulled the microphone closer and took a red-headed document out of his briefcase.

"Upon the report of the Qingjiang County Commission for Discipline Inspection, the Standing Committee of the County Party Committee has decided to impose detention measures on the former Executive Vice Mayor Qian Dayong of Heishi Town, in order for him to undergo organizational review."

Someone below swallowed hard.

The news of Executive Vice Mayor Qian Dayong being taken away had already spread throughout the compound.

Deputy Minister Li Ming turned the page, his speaking speed unchanged.

"We are imposing detention measures on the former Secretary of the Heishi Town Party Committee, Secretary Qiu Dehai, to cooperate with the investigation by the Discipline Inspection Commission."

The venue fell completely silent.

The top leader who was still issuing orders in the morning had become just a name in the files of the Discipline Inspection Commission by the afternoon.

The heads of the stations and offices who usually orbited around Secretary Qiu Dehai lowered their heads.

Deputy Minister Li Ming continued to read: "The County Party Committee has decided that the daily operations of Heishi Town shall be temporarily overseen by Comrade Town Mayor Luo Xingbang."

"As for the successor to the position of Secretary of the Town Party Committee, the County Party Committee will study the situation and announce it separately."

After speaking, Deputy Minister Li Ming closed the document.

Director Xu Jie stepped in at the right moment: "Next, I invite Town Mayor Luo to arrange the recent work."

Town Mayor Luo Xingbang set his thermos firmly on the table.

This was not his first time speaking from this podium.

In the past, when he sat here, it was mostly as a foil for Secretary Qiu Dehai. He would speak about trivial administrative arrangements, and the cadres below would listen on the surface while acting in defiance behind his back.

He raised his hand to his lips and coughed very slightly.

In the past, such a sound would not have caused a ripple. Today, as that light cough fell, everyone below straightened their backs in unison.

Pairs of eyes looked toward him.

Town Mayor Luo Xingbang adjusted his posture, his spine completely straight.

"The County Party Committee's decision is firmly supported and executed by the Heishi Town Party Committee."

Town Mayor Luo Xingbang spoke, his voice deep and resonant.

"The cases of Secretary Qiu Dehai and Executive Vice Mayor Qian Dayong are of a vile nature and have smeared our town's reputation."

"Anyone present here who possesses clues regarding their disciplinary violations or illegal activities is welcomed by the Town Party Committee to report them proactively to the special task force of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection stationed in the town."

"Starting from today, the town will carry out a major rectification of work style." Town Mayor Luo Xingbang's gaze swept over those former core members of the Qiu faction. "Whoever still clings to the old rules can stop holding onto their job."

The meeting was brief. It adjourned after half an hour.

The staff members filed out one after another, their steps hurried.

On the podium, Deputy Minister Li Ming turned his head. "Old Luo, let's go sit in your office. There are some guidelines from the County Party Committee that I need to brief you on privately."

"Minister Li, please come this way." Town Mayor Luo Xingbang led the way himself.

The two of them, one after the other, walked out of the venue through the side door.

Deputy Secretary Zhu Wenhao sat in his original seat, watching the two figures disappear behind the door.

Police Chief Zhao Gang leaned forward. "Secretary, this arrangement by the County Party Committee is clearly…"

"Let's talk in the office." Deputy Secretary Zhu Wenhao interrupted him and stood up.

He turned his head and gestured to Director Xu Jie. Director Xu Jie handed the remaining trivial matters over to the clerk of the Party and Government Office and followed him.

The Deputy Secretary's office.

The door was locked from the inside by Police Chief Zhao Gang. The room was warm.

Director Xu Jie took out a tea set from the cabinet and boiled water to make tea.

Deputy Secretary Zhu Wenhao sat down behind the desk.

Police Chief Zhao Gang pulled out a chair and sat down, the doubts he had been holding back the whole way bursting out: "What is Secretary Lu Guoliang playing at? We were the ones charging into the fray, turning the cases against Secretary Qiu Dehai and Executive Vice Mayor Qian Dayong into ironclad convictions. Yet, with a single transfer order from the County Party Committee, Town Mayor Luo Xingbang gets to reap the rewards and become the acting secretary. Isn't that just doing the work for someone else's benefit?"

Deputy Secretary Zhu Wenhao picked up a wet towel from the side and wiped his knuckles.

"Our Secretary Lu Guoliang is a master of checks and balances." Deputy Secretary Zhu Wenhao tossed the towel back onto the tray. "At the last fiscal rebate meeting, when faced with the riot, Secretary Qiu Dehai lost his composure and made a complete fool of himself."

"Secretary Lu Guoliang saw it clearly; Secretary Qiu Dehai is a piece of mud that cannot be plastered onto a wall. Keeping him would not only fail to check us but would instead bring a pile of unwashable trouble to the County Party Committee."

Director Xu Jie brought the brewed Dahongpao tea to the table. "Deputy Secretary Zhu Wenhao, you previously deduced that Secretary Lu Guoliang would try every means to protect Secretary Qiu Dehai for the sake of the county's stability."

Deputy Secretary Zhu Wenhao picked up the teacup and blew away the steam. "There are no fixed patterns in political maneuvering."

"He wanted to protect him at first because Secretary Qiu Dehai still had value as a shield. But the case of Executive Vice Mayor Qian Dayong tore open too large a gap and involved too many interests; Secretary Qiu Dehai lost his value."

"However, do you really think that based solely on that one document regarding the South Street drainage ditch, we could send an entrenched Secretary of the Town Party Committee to the Discipline Inspection Commission in just a few days?"

Police Chief Zhao Gang was puzzled: "Could it be that there was something else?"

"Don't forget, a large portion of the top-secret old accounts and transaction details that were subsequently delivered to the desk of the Discipline Inspection Commission were voluntarily handed over by our Town Mayor Luo Xingbang."

Someone who can lurk in a quagmire for years without getting soiled, once they strike back, the knife in their hand is often the most poisonous.

"Secretary Lu Guoliang took the opportunity of investigating Secretary Qiu Dehai to figure out the background of Town Mayor Luo Xingbang."

"Secretary Lu Guoliang discovered that Town Mayor Luo Xingbang is patient, has a clean background, and is familiar with all the ins and outs of Heishi Town. Compared to the already ruined Secretary Qiu Dehai, Town Mayor Luo Xingbang is a more useful chess piece."

Director Xu Jie understood instantly: "Today, when Deputy Minister Li Ming kept Town Mayor Luo Xingbang behind alone, was he representing Secretary Lu Guoliang in extending an olive branch to him?"

"Exactly."

Deputy Secretary Zhu Wenhao gave his conclusion. "The most intriguing part of this resolution from the County Party Committee is the word 'acting'."

"Deputy Minister Li Ming went to tell Town Mayor Luo Xingbang that the County Party Committee has given him the power to preside over the overall situation. But the hat of Secretary is not yet firmly on his head. Whether he can remove the word 'acting' depends entirely on his performance from here on out. It depends on whether he can handle the matters entrusted to him by Secretary Lu Guoliang properly."

"Then what should we do?" Police Chief Zhao Gang asked.

"Let the wind blow and the waves crash; I remain unmoved."

Deputy Secretary Zhu Wenhao leaned back against the chair.

"The situation changes, political maneuvering is deep, but these are all empty. The strength held in one's hands and the real money in the pockets of the common people, that is the ironclad foundation."

"Fighting for empty fame is meaningless. Improving people's livelihoods and letting the people of Heishi Town live a good life, that is the foundation of one's standing."

Deputy Secretary Zhu Wenhao looked at Police Chief Zhao Gang.

"The special police from the Municipal Public Security Bureau have another half month on their loan period. Once they leave, the security line in the town will be empty. You must, within these half a month, clear out those in the Town Police Station who are collecting salaries without working or who have unclear ties with clan forces; purge those who should be purged, and investigate those who should be investigated."

"Clean up the team and replace them with people you can trust. You and San Qiang must firmly grasp the handle of the knife. If the gun barrel isn't hard, the things below won't move forward."

"I understand." Police Chief Zhao Gang nodded heavily.

Deputy Secretary Zhu Wenhao turned his head, his gaze falling on Director Xu Jie.

"Director Xu Jie, the compensation for Heishui Village has been distributed, but this only quenches the thirst for a moment. To make the people wealthy, we must bring in living water."

"How is the schedule for the capital investment delegation from General Manager Zhou Shutong Shutong in Jingjiang?"

Director Xu Jie opened her schedule book. "General Manager Zhou Shutong has been in contact; they are very interested in the on-site survey of the mine reorganization and deep processing project. It is tentatively scheduled for next Wednesday."

"This fish must be caught."

Deputy Secretary Zhu Wenhao made the decision.

"Arrange the reception specifications well. This is the first battle for the industrial transformation of Heishi Town. Once the funds land and there is tax revenue, we will have the confidence to build bridges and pave roads."

Director Xu Jie took note. "I will draft the reception plan and submit it to you in the next two days."

Deputy Secretary Zhu Wenhao stood up, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and looked down at the Town Government compound.

Several official vehicles were lining up to drive out of the gate.

Deputy Minister Li Ming had returned to the county town.

The old order had collapsed, and the newly ascended Town Mayor Luo Xingbang was bound to light his three fires in this small space.

"Let's see how he, Town Mayor Luo, performs in this play." Deputy Secretary Zhu Wenhao stood with his hands behind his back.