Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 297 The Struggle Among the 12 Leaders of the County Party Committee

After completing the report, Wu Zhiyuan immediately sent it to Ding Yiyi, who was still studying at the Provincial Party School.

Ding Yi called: "The content is very good, the facts are clear, and the demands are explicit. I agree."

Zhiyuan, you need to convene a county government executive meeting as soon as possible, otherwise the county party committee will say that our procedures are not in compliance with regulations.

First, we hold a meeting to discuss and form a collective opinion, then formally submit a written report. This way, it's perfectly legitimate, and no one can find fault with it.

Wu Zhiyuan said, "Okay, I'll arrange to notify them immediately. There's other work to be done as well, we'll discuss that together."

Ding Yiyi added, "Zhiyuan, in the meeting, we should only discuss procedural issues, evidentiary issues, and safety hazards. We shouldn't directly address Mayor Wen or the investigation team's potential violations of laws and regulations. The rest of the negotiation will be left to the city."

Two hours later, the county government's executive meeting was held.

The rules of procedure for the county government's executive meetings and the county party committee's standing committee meetings are not quite the same.

The Standing Committee of the County Party Committee operates under the principle of democratic centralism.

The minority must submit to the majority; the county party secretary does not have the final decision-making power.

The county government's executive meetings combine democratic centralism with the administrative head responsibility system.

The matter should be discussed collectively first, with the administrative head having the final decision-making authority.

Wu Zhiyuan chaired the meeting, Ding Yiyi participated via video, and the other deputy county heads took their seats in turn.

Huang Xiaoyong already knew the meeting agenda in advance, and his face was gloomy.

Once the investigation is reopened, the truth about the collapse of the Wanshan Bridge will be revealed.

Anyone with common sense knows that the bridge collapsed due to engineering quality issues; weather and geological factors were at most contributing factors.

However, the investigation team led by Jiang Xiaoli treated the people like fools and concluded that the bridge collapse was caused by force majeure.

With the incident exposed, Bi Yuan, as the contractor, will most likely be arrested for suspected safety negligence.

Bi Yuan was arrested, and as the supervisor in charge, he also accepted a large amount of bribes, so he will most likely be imprisoned as well.

The meeting proceeded according to the established agenda.

After discussing several other matters, Wu Zhiyuan then briefly introduced the background of the issuance of the "Emergency Report (Draft for Review) on the Investigation of the Wanshan Bridge Collapse Accident".

The report has been placed on the desks of each of the leaders attending the meeting.

The report focuses on major technical disagreements within the investigation team, doubts surrounding third-party testing reports, contradictions between on-site evidence and report conclusions, and the resulting deadlock in the accident investigation, obstruction of follow-up work, and expansion of social impact. It requests the municipal party committee and government to attach great importance to these issues and send personnel to reorganize the investigation.

The entire article does not directly mention Wen Changcheng or accuse the investigation team of violating laws or regulations, but every point of doubt points to the fairness and scientific nature of the investigation.

After introducing the background and main content of the report, Wu Zhiyuan looked around at everyone and said, "Everyone has read the report."

This is a major issue that we believe must be truthfully reported to our superiors based on the information we currently have.

This matter concerns the truth of the accident, the government's credibility, and the smooth progress of follow-up work. Please share your opinions.

After a brief silence, Huang Xiaoyong spoke first: "Isn't this report a bit too hasty and impulsive?"

The municipal investigation team was personally arranged by Mayor Wen and came down on behalf of the municipal government.

Their investigation conclusions were reached after a series of procedures and expert consultations.

Based solely on the questions raised by comrades Yin Xueyao and Zhou Guohua, and mainly on procedural questions regarding a third-party testing report, we are now completely rejecting the work of the investigation team and even demanding that the city send a new investigation team. Isn't this disrespectful to the higher-level working group?

Will this make the city leaders think that our Qingshan County leadership is not united and does not support the city's work?

Also, have all the doubts mentioned in the report been verified?

Does the fact that Feng Dayou's company is related to Bi Yuan directly prove that the test report is falsified?

"Wouldn't it seem like we're making a mountain out of a molehill if we rushed to report before we fully understood the situation?"

Huang Xiaoyong paused, then emphasized, "Finally, and most importantly..."

This is such a big matter, involving the evaluation of the city's investigation team, and may even affect the city's determination of the nature of the accident. Shouldn't it be submitted to the county party committee standing committee for study first, and after reaching a consensus, decide whether to report it and how to report it?

Is it inappropriate for our county government to hold a separate meeting to discuss this and then report it directly?

Could this cause misunderstandings between the county party committee and the county government, affecting the unity and harmony of the leadership team?

Wu Zhiyuan was prepared and responded calmly: "I'd like to say a few words about the points that County Chief Huang raised."

First, regarding whether or not to respect the superior working group.

Respect is not blind obedience without principle, nor is it ignoring obvious problems.

The fact that such a serious public disagreement has emerged within the investigation team, especially since it was raised by the deputy team leader and core experts based on their professional judgment, is itself a sign of a major flaw in the investigation.

When we report this objective fact to our superiors, it is to help them understand the real situation and promote the resolution of the problem. This is precisely an attitude of being responsible to our superiors and to our work, not a lack of respect.

It's truly irresponsible to see a problem but cover it up and not speak out.

"Second, regarding whether the doubts have been verified."

Every point of doubt raised in the report has a specific target.

The relationship between Feng Dayou and Bi Yuan is a well-known fact within the industry.

The apparent contradiction between the test report data and the on-site debris is an objective fact.

What we reported were precisely these points of doubt, requesting that our superiors verify and investigate them, not that we presume to draw conclusions on our own.

"Third, regarding procedural issues. The county government's executive meeting decided to report major issues encountered in its work that fall within the scope of government responsibilities to the higher-level government in the name of the county government. This is a statutory power granted by the 'Law on the Organization of Local People's Governments at All Levels,' and the procedure is completely legal and compliant."

The unity of the team is built on upholding the truth and uncovering the facts, not on avoiding problems or covering up contradictions!

Several other deputy county heads also spoke in turn, expressing differing opinions.

Some believe in reporting the facts truthfully, while others take a cautious approach.

Ding Yiyi concluded by saying, "I have heard all of your opinions."

Our discussion now is not about whether to overturn the city investigation team's conclusions, but whether to report the serious problems that have emerged during the investigation to higher authorities. This is our responsibility.

As for County Chief Huang's concerns about team unity, I believe that as long as we are working hard, getting things done, and giving the people an explanation, temporary differences of opinion or even arguments are normal and can be resolved.

The key is that we must be responsible for the task at hand, not for the person. Now, please vote.

The vote showed that more than half of the attendees agreed to submit the report.

Huang Xiaoyong's face was extremely pale, as if he had a feeling that all was lost.

Wu Zhiyuan said, "With the approval of more than half of the attendees, the resolution was passed in accordance with the rules of procedure for the executive meetings of the county government."

The government office is requested to immediately formulate a formal document in accordance with the meeting resolution and submit it to the municipal party committee and municipal government in the name of the Qingshan County People's Government, with a copy to the municipal discipline inspection commission. Meeting adjourned!

The meeting had just ended when Ding Yiyi received a call from Geng Dongqing.

Geng Dongqing's voice was filled with anger: "County Chief Ding, your county government held a good meeting today!"

This is such a big matter, involving the evaluation of the city's investigation work, and may even affect the city's characterization of the accident. Your county government party group did not report to the county party committee first, nor did it submit it to the county party committee standing committee for research, but instead held a meeting on its own and decided to report it. Do you even have any respect for the county party committee?

Is there no organizational principle left? Are you deliberately trying to create discord within the county party committee and county government leadership?

Ding Yiyi had already anticipated this call, and said calmly, "Secretary Geng, please don't be angry, let me explain."

This meeting was a standing committee meeting of the county government, and it discussed matters within the scope of the government's administrative responsibilities.

According to the "Law on the Organization of Local People's Governments at All Levels," the county government has the right to report major issues encountered in its work to higher-level governments. Procedurally, we are completely legal.

What we report are the objectively existing problems and our suggestions, not the final decision.

We have no authority to make decisions; the final decision rests with the municipal party committee and the municipal government.

In other words, whether the municipal party committee and government approve our report or whether to send out a new investigation team is not up to us; it should be determined by Secretary Lin and Mayor Wen after consultation.

I do not accept accusations of making decisions arbitrarily or creating discord.

On the contrary, we believe that promptly reporting problems to higher authorities and promoting their resolution is the true way to be responsible for our work, for the overall situation of Qingshan County, and also for the municipal party committee and government.

Geng Dongqing sneered, "Be responsible to the municipal party committee and government? You're just causing trouble for the city!"

Mayor Wen personally dispatched the investigation team, and now you're saying there are problems with the investigation and demanding a reinvestigation? Isn't that a slap in Mayor Wen's face?

Wouldn't this make the city think that our Qingshan County leadership is immature and unstable?

"County Chief Ding, you're the county chief; you need to consider the political implications!"

Ding Yiyi's attitude was firm and unyielding: "Secretary Geng, political influence cannot be maintained by covering up problems or avoiding contradictions."

The real political influence lies in the government's credibility and the people's trust!

The Wanshan Bridge collapsed, killing four people. If the cause of the accident is never found out, or if an unconvincing conclusion is reached, that would be the biggest political impact and the greatest damage to the image of our Party and government!

We are now truthfully reporting the problem and requesting higher authorities to help investigate the truth, precisely to avoid this worst possible outcome!

I believe that Mayor Wen, as the head of the city, would never want to see an accident report with major doubts and that fails to convince the public!

That would truly cause trouble for him and the city!

Geng Dongqing said coldly, "I will report the actions of your county government to Mayor Wen truthfully!"

We also hope that County Head Ding will act wisely and think more about how to maintain unity within the leadership team and how to stay aligned with the municipal government!

After saying that, he hung up the phone abruptly without waiting for Ding Yiyi's response.