37: Chapter 37 Double-Regulation of Ouyang Yang

Zhang Huaijing's attitude was clear: "Please find someone as soon as possible, Secretary-General Fang Yuan. You can draw up a list of four or five candidates, and I'll take a look first."

"Understood." Secretary-General Fang Yuan was an old hand, so he naturally understood that Secretary Jiang Tao's lechery was certainly not the only reason the leader was dissatisfied with him; the prostitution incident was merely an irrefutable excuse.

"Secretary Jiang Tao has been a section member for three years. After he is transferred, find an appropriate time to promote him by one rank."

Secretary-General Fang Yuan smiled and said: "Secretary, you are truly kind to still be taking such care of him under these circumstances. Very well, I will make the arrangements."

The two chatted about work for a while longer, and Secretary-General Fang Yuan found an excuse to leave.

A few minutes later, Secretary Jiang Tao came in to report that Secretary Ji Xuewen had returned.

Zhang Huaijing was slightly taken aback, paused in thought, and said: "Please show him in."

As soon as Secretary Ji Xuewen sat down, he apologized sincerely: "Secretary, I am truly sorry. Director Tu Jianping was here earlier, so it wasn't appropriate for me to say some things."

"Oh? You still have something to say?"

"Yes, of course. The incident on Friday night was a setup by someone to deliberately target you and then frame me." Secretary Ji Xuewen finished speaking, his eyes fixed intently on Zhang Huaijing.

The latter merely raised an eyebrow slightly and asked calmly, without a ripple of emotion: "What makes you say that?"

"I'm not afraid of you laughing at me, Secretary, but I only went to Wanghai County after the leadership transition last year. County Magistrate Du Huaishui had originally hoped to succeed to the position, but it didn't happen, so he has never been convinced by me. He has been deeply rooted in the area for many years, his influence is tangled and complex, and he is extremely aggressive."

"For over half a year, I have locked horns with him several times, but I haven't been able to gain the upper hand or control the situation. This time, he used a devious trick again, borrowing a knife to kill, to give you a show of force, and then frame me. Since you are in charge of organization, you could dismiss me, and then he would succeed as Secretary."

Secretary Ji Xuewen no longer held anything back, spilling everything like beans pouring out of a bamboo tube.

This showed that he had completely sided with Zhang Huaijing. It was a helpless move, but he couldn't let Zhang Huaijing and Minister Meng Zhaodi misunderstand him and create a huge rift, or his career would truly be over.

Zhang Huaijing listened silently, his expression unchanged.

"Secretary, you are wise and powerful, and you will surely see through everything, right? I respect you very much and am firmly aligning myself with you, but unfortunately, villains are in power and are determined to destroy me. Sigh!" Secretary Ji Xuewen let out a heavy sigh.

Secretary Ji Xuewen was not tall, thin to the point of being gaunt, and wore myopia glasses. He looked like a weak scholar, having already lost to County Magistrate Du Huaishui in terms of appearance and presence.

Zhang Huaijing asked: "Secretary Ji Xuewen, are you just going to keep enduring this?"

"I actually don't want to fight anyone. I have tried, I have attempted to unite the team and get some real work done, but how does that saying go? I set my heart towards the bright moon, but the bright moon shines upon the ditch. County Magistrate Du Huaishui won't cooperate; he keeps pushing for more, determined to squeeze me out. The key is that he is the Mayor's man and has a strong backer, so I can't beat him."

Zhang Huaijing personally refilled his tea, without expressing an opinion.

"Secretary, have you heard of the 'Four Heavenly Kings' or 'The Eight Vajras'? Some also call them the 'Four Pillars and Eight Beams', or the Eight Pillar States."

"I have heard a little about them."

"County Magistrate Du Huaishui and Director Tu Jianping are two of the Vajras."

Zhang Huaijing commented indifferently: "The officialdom in Haizhou has a heavy air of the underworld."

"Yes, factionalism is rampant, and it's foul and chaotic."

"Secretary Ji Xuewen, you are the County Party Secretary; your political advantage is enormous. How did you end up in such a sorry state?" Zhang Huaijing was expressing both concern and criticism.

Secretary Ji Xuewen blushed and said: "It's not that I don't want to make a scene, but County Magistrate Du Huaishui is bullying the weak and pushing his luck; this time, it was simply too much!"

"Regarding the 'honey trap' incident, do you have no way to find out the truth?"

"Actually, I have already figured out their specific operational process. Do you remember Deputy Director Ouyang Yang of the County Party Committee Office?"

"I remember."

"The mole must be him. I only found out today that his previous position as deputy township head was promoted by County Magistrate Du Huaishui, and his transfer to be deputy director of the County Party Committee Office was also orchestrated by County Magistrate Du Huaishui; the two are even distant relatives. That day, when we were eating at Green Field Resort, I let him stay behind to take care of you, giving him a chance to make up for his mistakes. Who would have known..." Secretary Ji Xuewen gritted his teeth at this point and continued, "He must have passed this intelligence to County Magistrate Du Huaishui's son, Du Zitong..."

Zhang Huaijing interrupted him: "Wait, why Du Zitong?"

"It's not convenient for the County Magistrate to come forward. Deputy Director Ouyang Yang and Du Zitong are very close, and Ah Shun is Du Zitong's lackey. Besides, if the County Magistrate hadn't planned it, Director Tu Jianping, Deputy Director Ouyang Yang, and even the manager of Green Field Resort would never have cooperated like that."

"Then what is your current strategy?"

"Please provide some guidance, Secretary."

Zhang Huaijing chuckled, stood up, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, stood with his arms crossed, and looked towards the nearby Central Park. He thought to himself: Secretary Ji Xuewen, are you truly this incompetent, or are you feigning weakness to hide your talents?

Secretary Ji Xuewen followed him and stood there respectfully, silent.

"Let me give you a hint: Deputy Director Ouyang Yang. He gives me the feeling that he has dirt under his feet."

Cui Liming had heard before he died that Deputy Director Ouyang Yang had a mistress; economically, he was the type of official who would pluck a feather from a passing goose and eat meat without spitting out the bones.

"Thank you for the tip, Secretary. I have exactly that intention: to use Deputy Director Ouyang Yang as a breakthrough point!" As soon as he finished speaking, Secretary Ji Xuewen's phone rang; it was the Secretary of the county Discipline Inspection Commission calling.

After whispering for a while, Secretary Ji Xuewen hung up the phone, subconsciously glanced at the tightly closed door, and lowered his voice to say: "Just now, the Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary reported to me that, according to relevant clues, Deputy Director Ouyang Yang has quite serious economic problems."

"Is the county Discipline Inspection Commission reliable?"

"The Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary is reliable and loyal to me. He was previously a deputy investigator at the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission and was transferred there after the leadership transition."

Zhang Huaijing looked out quietly, without expressing an opinion.

Secretary Ji Xuewen waited for a while and said anxiously: "Secretary, I see that you are an upright, fair, and principled leader, which is why I have told you everything. You must support me."

"I will temporarily refrain from commenting on the struggle between you and the County Magistrate. However, I support uncovering the truth about the 'honey trap' incident. I will report this matter to Secretary Man. Of course, I will say what should be said and not what shouldn't; please rest assured. As for Secretary Lian Ming, your Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary can touch base with him first."

Secretary Lian Ming was the Secretary of the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission.

"Thank you, Secretary. With your words, I feel more confident."

In officialdom, one cannot speak too explicitly. Zhang Huaijing's meaning was quite clear: I support you in tearing open a gap through Deputy Director Ouyang Yang, and I will support you at the Municipal Party Committee meetings and speak for you in front of Secretary Man.

"Besides, if you investigate Deputy Director Ouyang Yang, you will certainly face pressure. Can you handle it?"

"I can!" Secretary Ji Xuewen said with a firm expression.

Three days later, in the afternoon, before the meeting to discuss the old and new plans for Chaojiang Bridge, Secretary Ji Xuewen knocked on the door and entered Zhang Huaijing's room again.

After closing the door, Secretary Ji Xuewen said: "Secretary, I am here to attend the discussion meeting. This time, the heads or deputy heads of two districts and four counties are attending. I firmly support the new plan, and I have also persuaded one County Party Secretary, one district party Secretary, and one county magistrate, each, to support the new plan together. Some of us are classmates, and some were in the same batch of the Provincial Committee's young and middle-aged cadres class; our relationships are quite good."

"Good. You should improve your understanding, broaden your horizons, and deeply comprehend the visionary ideas and concepts of Secretary Man. You must offer genuine support, not anything else."

"Of course, we support it from the bottom of our hearts." Secretary Ji Xuewen finished, his expression changed, and he whispered, "Secretary, last night, in the middle of the night, I placed Deputy Director Ouyang Yang under Double Regulation!"