253: Chapter 253 The Investigation Team Enters Blackrock Town

With New Year's Day approaching, several official vehicles bearing the license plates of the Linjiang Municipal Government wound their way south along the provincial highway.

This was a joint safety production inspection team established under the leadership of the Linjiang Municipal Government.

Key departments such as Work Safety, Environmental Protection, and Finance had all dispatched their elite personnel.

According to the unwritten rules of year-end inspections, they were mostly just a formality for the localities.

Inspect the ledgers, enjoy a few authentic local specialty banquets.

Stuff the trunks with holiday gifts before leaving, and everyone would be happy.

The team was led by Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping of the Municipal Government.

This leader, who usually kept a straight face in the office, was surprisingly lenient on this trip to the countryside.

A few days ago, the convoy had visited three counties under the jurisdiction of Linjiang City, only spending most of their time in one or two prosperous towns in each place.

They didn't scrutinize the reports or make things difficult for subordinates.

They let the accompanying staff sightsee and enjoy the rural scenery.

The subordinates just assumed Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping was being considerate of the lower levels.

Providing everyone with a leisurely task before New Year's Day, the journey was quite harmonious.

Only Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping knew that this was merely a smokescreen to lull the outside world.

At noon, the convoy drove into the Qingjiang County Party Committee compound.

The heating in the County Party Secretary's office was turned up very high.

Secretary Lu Guoliang leaned back in his large leather chair, holding a copy of the county annals and flipping through it.

The director of the County Party Committee Office pushed the door open quietly and stood three steps away to report.

"Secretary Lu, the municipal inspection team has arrived. Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping is leading the team."

Secretary Lu Guoliang did not take his eyes off the page.

"My old ailment has flared up these past two days; I cannot be exposed to cold wind."

"Go notify County Mayor Gu Mingchuan and Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan, and have them stand in for me to host the municipal leaders well."

"The rules must not be broken, and we must show enough courtesy."

The director of the County Party Committee Office bowed in acknowledgement and retreated.

Secretary Lu Guoliang closed the county annals and placed them on his desk.

He had already thoroughly pondered the rumors that Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan had brought back from the city some time ago.

A safety inspection—not early, not late, but precisely at the moment when the old order in Heishi Town had just been smashed.

Mayor Su Changming was about to wield his blade.

He would not get involved in the power struggle between the Mayor of Linjiang and Secretary Zhu Tianhe.

Let them fight; he would firmly hold onto the official seal of Qingjiang County.

The welcome banquet at the county guesthouse was quite lavish.

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan and Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan accompanied them, and the atmosphere was lively.

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan inquired about the upcoming itinerary.

"Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping, how is the inspection route for the afternoon scheduled?"

"I have arranged for Executive Deputy County Mayor Zhao Guopei to accompany you the whole way; he is in charge of economic safety, so it is a good match."

Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping wiped his hands with a hot towel and tossed it into the tray.

"Things are busy at the end of the year, so let's not trouble Executive Deputy County Mayor Zhao Guopei."

His gaze shifted and landed on Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan, who was sitting next to him.

"Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan is a veteran in the county and knows the situation inside and out."

"I'll have to trouble you to accompany us, Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan."

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan's gaze lingered briefly between the two.

Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan was in charge of political and legal affairs and petitions; accompanying a safety inspection was not his proper role.

Given Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan's usual habit of only acting when there was profit to be made, he certainly wouldn't have taken on such a thankless task without Secretary Lu Guoliang's instruction.

Unexpectedly, Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan agreed very quickly.

"Since Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping has spoken, it means you value me."

"I will lead the team and ensure good logistical support for the municipal leaders."

County Mayor Gu Mingchuan picked up his teacup and lowered his head to drink.

Using the act of drinking tea as a cover, he took in the tension on Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan's face.

In the afternoon, the inspection team took a tour of a prosperous town on the outskirts of Qingjiang County.

The town mayor personally welcomed and saw them off, and the ledgers in the conference room were impeccably prepared.

Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping didn't even open the file covers, only exchanged a few polite words about the importance of safety production, and then hastily ended the trip.

After exiting the Town Government gate, the accompanying staff rubbed their hands.

They assumed the day's official duty was finished and were preparing to head back.

Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping stood in front of the car door and glanced at his watch.

He turned his head and issued an order to Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan.

"Next stop, Heishi Town."

"After this trip, it'll be time to return to the city to prepare for the holidays."

As soon as these words were spoken, the accompanying staff behind him looked at each other in dismay.

Heishi Town was such a desolate backwater, not even having a decent asphalt road, as it was full of potholes. What kind of kickbacks could they get from going there at the end of the year?

Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping ignored the others and stared straight at Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan.

"Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan, have the comrades in Heishi Town been notified?"

"Rest assured, Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping, it has been arranged properly."

"From top to bottom, everyone is waiting for the municipal leaders to come and provide guidance."

On the eve of the inspection team's arrival in Qingjiang County, Deputy Secretary Qin Yuanshan had dialed Ma Yunlong's private line.

He gave repeated instructions, hammering out the details of this bitter scheme in secret.

This leaking, broken ship could only continue to sail forward, biting the bullet.

The sky gradually darkened.

On the second floor of the Heishi Town Government, in the Deputy Secretary's office.

Zhu Wenhao was writing instructions on the documents on his desk.

Police Chief Zhao Gang pushed the door open and walked in, placing an interrogation file on the corner of the desk.

"Secretary, it has been interrogated clearly."

Police Chief Zhao Gang stood before the desk and reported.

"The ones who led the charge off-stage during the last refund meeting, besides a few troublemakers from the Zhang family's main branch, the identities of the five or six unfamiliar faces mixed in have been uncovered."

"They are all thugs raised by Heishi Mining."

Zhu Wenhao's gaze swept over the file.

"The play of collusion between officials and bandits can no longer continue, so it has changed to a merger of business and bandits."

"Heishi Mining, this malignant tumor that exploits the locality, destroys roads, and harms the people, must be eradicated sooner or later."

"But today, the municipal inspection team is coming down."

Zhu Wenhao tapped his knuckles slowly on the desk.

"Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping is leading the team, and Mayor Su Changming personally selected them."

"They come with ill intent."

Police Chief Zhao Gang frowned.

"The city coming to inspect safety is nothing more than going through the motions, picking out some faults, and issuing some fines."

"At this juncture, would Ma Yunlong dare to mess around?"

"If he causes an accident at the mine himself, then he can forget about keeping the mine open."

"Isn't that smashing his own rice bowl?"

Zhu Wenhao looked at the bare tree trunks outside the window.

"People die for wealth."

Zhu Wenhao analyzed the situation.

"Do you think Ma Yunlong cares about the losses from a few days of work stoppage, or does he care about the control of the entire mine?"

"General Manager Zhou Shutong's capital team will arrive next week."

"As soon as the new funds land and the restructuring is completed, Ma Yunlong will be completely kicked out of the interest circle in Heishi Town."

"He is a trapped beast now."

"Mayor Su Changming needs an excuse to suppress me, and Ma Yunlong needs a backer to keep the mine."

"The two hit it off instantly, using the lives of the grassroots miners to fill the holes in their power schemes."

Police Chief Zhao Gang felt a chill down the back of his neck.

He subconsciously pressed his hand against the service pistol at his waist.

"We must be prepared."

Zhu Wenhao issued an instruction.

"Go call San Qiang now, take a few plainclothes officers, and go to the outskirts of Heishi Mining to scout the situation first."

"If there is any unusual activity, do not alert them, and report back immediately."

"Understood."

Police Chief Zhao Gang acknowledged the order and strode away.

Director Xu Jie walked up holding freshly brewed hot tea and placed the teacup gently on the desk.

"Secretary Zhu, would Ma Yunlong really use the lives of miners to make a fuss?"

Zhu Wenhao picked up the coarse ceramic teacup, the steam blurring his vision.

"Do not gamble on the bottom line of capital."

"In their eyes, human life is nothing more than a loss on the ledger."

He took a sip of clear tea and put the teacup back in its place.

"When new capital enters the game, we can leverage the situation to reshuffle the deck."

"But before that, this Heishi Town setup must absolutely not be smashed from the inside by them."

"We must ensure there are no mistakes."

A knock on the door sounded, interrupting the conversation in the room.

A staff member from the Party and Government Office pushed the door half open and reported respectfully.

"Secretary Zhu, the municipal inspection team's convoy is almost at the town entrance."

"Town Mayor Luo requests that you go to the main gate with him to welcome them."

Zhu Wenhao straightened his body, took the dark overcoat from the coat rack, and put it on.

He adjusted his collar and walked out the door with steady steps.

"Let's go."

"Let's go meet this Deputy Secretary-General Fang Jianping."