85: Chapter 84 Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee (Part Two)

In the afternoon, in the lecture hall of the Provincial Party School, Zhu Wenhao was breaking down the potential inquiries for the afternoon's Standing Committee meeting.

"Director Qi, once you arrive at the meeting, Secretary Lei will inevitably use procedure as a pretext; procedure is the legal basis. By bypassing the Political and Legal Affairs Commission and the Provincial Government to report directly to the Provincial Party Committee, you are giving them grounds to attack you."

Director Qi Shan leaned back in his chair, waiting for what was to follow.

"Defense is never a good strategy; we must use offense as a form of defense." Zhu Wenhao tapped his index finger against the table. "Since they want to talk about procedure, you should use the documented circulation slips and data to speak. Use their 'inaction' to pierce through this layer of 'procedural justice'."

Secretary Lei Zhen's questioning still echoed: Reporting across levels. Dereliction of duty. Thorough investigation.

Director Qi Shan did not offer a defense; he calmly unzipped his black briefcase.

He took out a thick stack of documents. "Secretary-General Zhao Rui, please trouble yourself to distribute these materials to the members of the Standing Committee."

Secretary-General Zhao Rui stood up, and the two confidential secretaries behind him quickly stepped forward to distribute the materials to every seat.

Director Qi Shan stood straight. "What is in the hands of the Standing Committee members is a summary of the underlying data on comprehensive social security governance in Jiangnan Province over the past three years."

"It is worth noting that the incidence rate of serious crimes in cities and counties across the province has increased for three consecutive years. This does not even include hidden cases where the Police Station mediated withdrawals of complaints, or victims were too afraid of retaliation to file a case."

"The number of organized and structured gang-related and evil forces we have identified is shocking."

Beside the conference table, the movements of several Standing Committee members flipping through the data slowed down.

Behind the cold numbers lay a bloody reality, with an impact far greater than any dry report.

"Secretary Lei just asked me why I did not report it."

"Over the past two years, the Provincial Public Security Department has submitted requests and reports regarding the launch of a province-wide anti-gang and evil-elimination special operation to the Political and Legal Affairs Commission a total of eight times."

"All eight submissions have receipts signed by the confidential office of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission."

"As for the approvals?" Director Qi Shan's tone rose sharply. "Eight reports, like clay oxen entering the sea, with no further response. Secretary Lei, what was your response regarding these eight special reports? Today, in front of Secretary Lao Liguo and the members of the Standing Committee, do you need me to read those approval documents one by one?"

Director Qi Shan did not stop, turning his fire toward Executive Vice Governor Wu Jianguo.

"Executive Vice Governor Wu Jianguo, you just stated that the General Office of the Provincial Government did not receive the relevant requests."

"Please turn to page three."

"Five times! The records of the circulation slips for the Anti-Gang Office special funds and operational approvals submitted by the Provincial Public Security Department to the Provincial Government are all here."

"Every single one has a signed receipt from the corresponding department of the General Office of the Provincial Government. The documents drift through the sea of paperwork between departments, and an approval process cannot be completed in several months."

Executive Vice Governor Wu Jianguo was left speechless; the black-and-white circulation slips were the most irrefutable evidence within the system.

Director Qi Shan turned to face Secretary Lao Liguo at the head of the table.

"Secretary Lao, I am here to make a profound self-criticism to you and to the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee."

"I am an old soldier, coming from a background of leading troops in battle. I have a short temper and don't understand those roundabout, evasive tactics. Reporting across levels is my responsibility. Whatever punishment you deem necessary, I will accept it without a word."

"But, I am anxious!"

"Grassroots police officers are bleeding, and the tens of millions of compatriots in Jiangnan Province are suffering! The gang and evil forces are deeply entrenched, bullying the market and dominating trade. The common people cannot wait for that sluggish circulation of official documents!"

"Article 17 of the 'Regulations on Direct Reporting to the Provincial Party Committee and Handling Special Matters for Major Emergencies and Social Stability Maintenance' clearly stipulates: In the event of an emergency that endangers the overall stability of the province, the heads of relevant functional departments have the right to report directly across levels."

"I believe the security environment in Jiangnan Province has reached a point where it must be governed. I have exercised my right to direct reporting, and I earnestly request the Provincial Party Committee to approve the establishment of the Anti-Gang Office and strike with a heavy fist!"

The move of "breaking convention with regulations" that Zhu Wenhao had taught him was used to its full potential.

The conference room was unnervingly quiet. The Standing Committee members each had their own thoughts.

Secretary Chen, the Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission, opened the notebook beside him.

"The data provided by Director Qi Shan and the situation known to our Discipline Inspection Commission can corroborate each other."

"In the first half of this year alone, the petition office of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection received over a thousand real-name complaint letters regarding gang and evil forces."

"What's more, many letters pointed directly at some grassroots cadres and even mid-to-high-level cadres who used their authority to act as umbrellas for gang and evil forces."

"The problem has reached a point that brooks no delay."

The head of the Discipline Inspection Commission and the Director of the Provincial Public Security Department joining forces to launch an attack—the combination of the two sent an extremely strong signal.

"Shocking!"

Secretary Lao Liguo scanned the room, his presence imposing without anger.

"The report from Director Qi Shan and the feedback from Secretary Chen indicate that the issues of public security and cadre conduct in our Jiangnan Province have reached a point where strong medicine must be applied!"

He did not hesitate at all and pushed the topic directly to a vote.

"Members of the Standing Committee, since the problem is so serious, then establishing the Jiangnan Provincial Party Committee Anti-Gang and Evil-Elimination Special Struggle Office is the most urgent political task at hand."

"In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures must be taken."

"Those who agree to the establishment of the Provincial Party Committee Anti-Gang Office, please raise your hand."

Secretary Lao Liguo was the first to raise his right hand.

Secretary Chen, Minister Xiao Dingyu, and Secretary-General Zhao Rui followed closely behind.

Four votes.

The Minister of Propaganda and the Minister of the United Front Work Department exchanged a glance; for a proposal involving political stance and matters of right and wrong, following the will of the top leader was the wisest choice.

Both raised their hands.

Six votes. The situation was already very clear.

Governor Zhou then also raised his hand.

"I really didn't expect that the security problems in our Jiangnan Province had become so severe." Governor Zhou's tone was steady and impeccable. "On the Provincial Government side, the people below always report the good news but not the bad, failing to discover these malignant tumors in time. Director Qi Shan's report is very timely, and I firmly support it."

Governor Zhou's defection meant that the opposition had failed completely.

The full-time Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua's face was gloomy; the situation was stronger than the man, so he could only slowly raise his right hand.

Executive Vice Governor Wu Jianguo, seeing this, also followed suit and raised his hand.

The focus of the entire room finally converged on Secretary Lei Zhen, the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission.

He was the only one who did not raise his hand. Isolated and helpless.

Secretary Lao Liguo leaned forward. "Comrade Secretary Lei Zhen."

"Do you have a different opinion? Or are you saying that, as the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, you have any reservations about this report from the Provincial Public Security Department, which aims to protect the lives and property of the people?"

This question, like a heavy hammer, slammed hard into Secretary Lei Zhen's heart.

Disagreeing meant opposing the anti-gang and evil-elimination campaign; it meant conniving with gang and evil forces. If this label were pinned on him, his position would basically be declared over.

Secretary Lei Zhen looked left and right; Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua and Governor Zhou both avoided his gaze—abandoned pieces.

He closed his eyes helplessly and raised his right hand. Humiliation, but there was no other choice.

"Good, passed unanimously."

Secretary Lao Liguo delivered the final verdict, firmly controlling the rhythm of the meeting in his own hands.

"Director Qi Shan."

"The specific implementation plan for establishing the Anti-Gang Office shall be drafted by your Provincial Public Security Department and submitted according to procedure after the meeting."

A slap followed by a sweet treat; a reprimand was also essential.

"However." Secretary Lao Liguo's tone turned cold. "Today, considering that you are wholeheartedly for the people of Jiangnan Province, and given that the situation was urgent and required special handling, the Provincial Party Committee has approved your actions."

"But, organizational procedure is an iron law; rules cannot be broken. If the rules are broken, the team will be hard to lead. Let this be an exception, do you understand?"

Director Qi Shan stood at attention and nodded heavily.

"Understood. It will not happen again."

Secretary Lao Liguo closed the file and threw out the real killer move of the day.

"In view of the special and complex nature of the anti-gang and evil-elimination work, it is necessary to coordinate the joint operations of multiple units such as the Public Security, Procuratorate, Court, and Justice departments."

"As the head of the Anti-Gang Office, the Director of the Provincial Public Security Department alone might encounter quite a bit of resistance in terms of rank and coordination power."

He turned to look at Minister Xiao Dingyu.

"Minister Xiao, you in the Provincial Organization Department study this after the meeting."

"I propose that Director Qi Shan concurrently serve as Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission, so that he can preside over the work of the Anti-Gang Office in the capacity of Deputy Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, making it legitimate."

This was Secretary Lao Liguo's true purpose. Under the guise of anti-gang operations, he forcibly drove Director Qi Shan, this nail, into the Political and Legal Affairs Commission system that had always been controlled by Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua and Secretary Lei Zhen.

Secretary Lao Liguo did not give them a chance to catch their breath and called them out directly.

"Secretary Yang, you are in charge of Party and personnel affairs; do you think this arrangement is okay?"

Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua's Adam's apple bobbed.

The momentum was gone; arguing would only make him appear narrow-minded.

"Secretary, the work requires it; I have no problem with it." He swallowed the bitter pill hard.

Secretary Lao Liguo turned to Secretary Lei Zhen again.

"What about the Political and Legal Affairs Commission? Do you have any opinions?"

Secretary Lei Zhen smiled bitterly. The top leader proposed it, the deputy secretary in charge agreed, and as the department head who had a deputy forced upon him, what else could he say?

He retreated step by step and could only nod in agreement.

"I firmly obey the arrangements of the Provincial Party Committee."

"Since everyone has no objections, then it is settled. After the meeting, the Organization Department should hurry to implement the relevant procedures."

Secretary Lao Liguo waved his hand.

"Director Qi Shan, you go down and prepare first. Build the team as soon as possible and throw yourselves into the battle."

Director Qi Shan stood at attention and gave a standard military salute.

He turned and walked out of the conference room with long strides.

The heavy wooden door closed behind him.

In the corridor, Director Qi Shan let out a long sigh. The shirt on his back was already soaked with cold sweat.

Recalling Zhu Wenhao's strategic planning in the tea room at noon, Director Qi Shan felt full of admiration.

That kid had calculated the weaknesses of human nature, the loopholes in the rules, and the factional maneuvering in the conference room without the slightest error.

This battle was fought beautifully.

Inside the conference room, the Standing Committee meeting entered the next agenda item.

The real bloody battle involving the appointments of local lords had just begun.

The ownership of the position of Secretary of the Linjiang Municipal Party Committee was about to be put on the table.