Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 300: The Showdown Between the 12 Top Leaders of the Municipal Party Committee

Wen Changcheng touched Li Li's smooth body and chuckled, "A model of integrity? I was just saying it casually, did you really take it seriously?"

"It would be good enough if we could resolve this matter without getting ourselves into trouble."

Li Li nestled her head in Wen Changcheng's arms and said coquettishly, "Brother Wen, I don't want to be a secret lover. Will you marry me?"

"Here you go again. Didn't we agree that I'd wait until my son finishes his college entrance exams, goes to university, and things are settled back home, then I'd divorce my wife and marry you?"

"Hmph, that's just an excuse you men use. Forget it, I won't say anything more, it's pointless."

"Darling, as compensation, I'll promote you to the rank of full department head over the New Year."

Don't worry, I won't mistreat my woman.

"Brother Wen, you're so good to me." Li Li flipped over and straddled Wen Changcheng...

Lin Xue spoke with Wen Changcheng.

Although Wen Changcheng harbored resentment towards Lin Xue, believing that she had usurped his position as the municipal party secretary, Lin Xue was, after all, the top leader. Before completely breaking off relations, he still pretended to respect her.

Lin Xue didn't beat around the bush; instead, she handed the urgent report from Qingshan County to Wen Changcheng.

"Mayor of Changcheng, this report was submitted by Qingshan County to the municipal party committee and government. Have you seen it?"

Wen Changcheng glanced at the report's title and nodded: "I've read it. Some comrades in Qingshan County have different opinions on the investigation, which I understand."

However, the methods and approaches were indeed inappropriate, which also brought a passive situation to our city's work.

I have already severely criticized Comrade Ding Yiyi.

Wen Changcheng's words were laced with hidden meaning. He preemptively criticized Qingshan County's actions.

Lin Xue said calmly, "Comrade Ding Yiyi's feelings are understandable, but the methods and approaches are open to discussion."

But Mayor of Changcheng, do you think the problems reflected in the report are unfounded?

Wen Changcheng said calmly, "The investigation is complex and multifaceted, and it's normal for some technical disputes to arise."

Comrade Jiang Xiaoli is the Deputy Secretary-General of the Municipal Government. He has extensive work experience, and the members of the investigation team he leads are all key personnel from relevant units.

Their conclusions were reached after collective discussion and expert consultation.

I believe that the investigation team is working with an attitude of being responsible to the facts, to science, and to the organization.

We need to take seriously the questions raised by a few individuals, but we cannot completely negate the work of the entire investigation team or even the investigation procedure itself because of the opinions of a few individuals.

This is neither in line with organizational principles nor conducive to quickly reaching a conclusion about the accident and stabilizing public sentiment.

"Mayor of Changcheng, you are right. We must trust the organization, trust the procedures, and, more importantly, trust science."

But trust cannot replace oversight; procedures cannot cover up problems.

The report raises several very specific and crucial points of contention.

It is a fact that Feng Dayou's testing company has a close relationship with the contractor, Bi Yuan.

The sampling procedure was not standardized, and the poor quality of the debris at the scene was visibly inferior, which contrasted sharply with the perfect and qualified test report. This is also a fact.

The fact that the deputy head of the investigation team and key experts publicly questioned and refused to sign during the signing process, leading to a lack of consensus on the investigation's conclusions, is undeniable.

She paused, her tone becoming even more serious: "If these doubts are not clarified, can this investigation report, which is based on evidence with significant flaws, be convincing?"

Can it withstand the test of history? Can it answer to the four lives lost, to their families, and to the people of the city?

If even the reports issued by the municipal government cannot be logically sound and supported by solid evidence, where is the government's credibility? How can we gain the trust of the people?

Wen Changcheng retorted, "Secretary Lin, I can understand what you're saying."

However, should we also look at the issue dialectically?

No investigation can be 100% perfect; there will always be some details that are disputed.

Feng Dayou and Bi Yuan are friends, but this cannot be directly equated with falsifying the test report.

The sampling procedure may not be perfect, but the test data is measured by the instrument and is objective.

Yin Xueyao and Zhou Guohua's questions were based on their professional judgment.

But didn't Jiang Xiaoli and most of the other members of the investigation team, as well as the experts involved in the argumentation, have their own professional judgment?

Shouldn't we dismiss the conclusions of the majority based on the opinions of a minority? That would be biased.

Lin Xue refuted each point: "The fact that Changcheng Mayor Feng Dayou and Bi Yuan have a conflict of interest is a major risk factor that could affect the independence of the testing is an objective fact."

The lack of standardized sampling procedures is a fatal flaw in the investigation process, which directly undermines the authenticity of the sample source and, consequently, the foundation of the entire test report.

This is not a dispute over details; it is a matter of principle and a prerequisite for the validity of the investigation's conclusions.

You said that we cannot negate the conclusions of the majority just because a minority of people have questions.

But if the doubts raised by a minority directly undermine the core evidence supporting the conclusions of the majority, can those conclusions still stand?

If the skin is gone, where will the hair attach?

Wen Changcheng tentatively asked, "Secretary Lin, what do you mean?"

Lin Xue said solemnly, "According to the plan, the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee will be held tomorrow. I suggest that the investigation into the Wanshan Bridge accident be included as one of the agenda items."

At the Standing Committee meeting, the situation reflected in the report from Qingshan County was briefed, and opinions from all parties were heard.

Then, the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee made the following decision: First, to suspend the work of the existing investigation team led by Comrade Jiang Xiaoli;

Second, a new joint investigation team was established, led by the municipal party committee and government, with the municipal discipline inspection and supervision commission taking the lead, and with the participation of municipal emergency management, housing and construction, transportation, auditing, public security and other departments, and with the supervision of provincial authoritative experts and representatives of the people's congress and the CPPCC, to take over the investigation into the cause of the accident.

The focus will be on thoroughly investigating the quality of the project, potential corruption issues, and whether there was any dereliction of duty or falsification during the preliminary investigation.

Third, all debris, related engineering data, and financial records at the collapse site should be sealed off and protected immediately.

Necessary measures will be taken against the companies, testing institutions, and related personnel involved in the incident in accordance with laws and regulations to prevent the loss of evidence and the escape of personnel.

Fourth, the investigation process should be as open and transparent as possible, with progress promptly released to the public and subject to oversight from the public and media…

Wen Changcheng understood that Lin Xue was proceeding step by step, using the pretext of reinvestigation to take the opportunity to suppress his power and authority.

After all, the investigation team led by Jiang Xiaoli was one he had sent down.

However, the investigation team is currently plagued by internal strife and is unable to collectively sign off on the investigation.

Reinvestigating him would be tantamount to slapping him hard in the face.

If he acquiesces, it's tantamount to acquiescing to being slapped.

"Secretary Lin, in my opinion, this plan is too radical and the actions are too drastic!"

This is no longer a simple matter of clarifying doubts and re-verifying; it is an attempt to completely negate the previous investigation work, or even to presume guilt based on the previous investigation.

Have you considered the consequences of this?

Wen Changcheng continued, "First, rejecting Jiang Xiaoli's investigation team is tantamount to rejecting the previous work plan of the municipal government, which will seriously damage the decision-making authority and credibility of the municipal government. How can we carry out our work in the future?"

Second, with the municipal discipline inspection commission taking the lead and the public security bureau intervening, this is equivalent to directly elevating the investigation of a safety accident to the level of investigating serious violations of discipline and law, or even criminal cases.

How much shock and panic will this cause? What will those grassroots comrades who work diligently at their posts think?

What will the entrepreneurs who have invested and started businesses in Longcheng think? What will outsiders say about Longcheng?

This would severely damage the favorable development environment and stable situation that we have worked so hard to create.

Secretary Lin, you are the Party Secretary of the Municipal Committee and the leader of the team. You need to consider the overall situation.

We cannot afford to lose our composure or launch a major offensive simply because of the doubts of a few individuals. Doing so would likely result in greater losses than gains.

Lin Xue said, word by word, "Mayor of Changcheng, you say I'm radical and that my actions are too big."

Then let me ask you, if there were no disagreements within the investigation team, if the test report were flawless, and if the investigation conclusions could withstand scrutiny, would I have made such a suggestion? No.

It is precisely because the existing investigation work has revealed irreconcilable contradictions and inescapable flaws that we must take measures to correct it.

This is not to negate the municipal government, but rather to maintain its credibility.

A conclusion based on false evidence and procedural errors is the greatest blow to the government's credibility!

Wen Changcheng was not actually too afraid of Lin Xueshen investigating the truth behind the collapse of the Wanshan Bridge.

Even if Geng Dongqing and Huang Xiaoyong are investigated because of Bi Yuan, it has little to do with him.

The matter of Huang Xiaoyong giving Li Li the baby has been basically settled.

Although Geng Dongqing was his man, he did not accept money from Geng Dongqing, except for some cigarettes, alcohol and cordyceps during festivals.

This is at most a violation of rules, but it doesn't fundamentally change anything.

Unlike some officials who would accept any kind of money, he was very cautious.

However, since Lin Xue fired the first shot, he had to retaliate.

Previously, he and Lin Xue were outwardly friendly but inwardly at odds, but now, Lin Xue practically had a knife to his throat, and he had to retaliate forcefully.

He has powerful backers and a strong foothold in Longcheng. How could he swallow his anger and be suppressed by Lin Xue?

His tone hardened: "Secretary Lin, now that you've come down from the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, you probably only care about cases and right and wrong."

But governing a place is not that simple; often, it requires balancing and compromise.

Pulling your fist back is to make it easier to punch out.

Your reckless actions will only mess things up and drag Longcheng into a quagmire!

Let's not say anything more, let's go to the Standing Committee and let all the Standing Committee members make a democratic decision.

I believe that the members of the Standing Committee, with a high sense of responsibility for the overall development and stability of Longcheng, will make the most practical and effective decision to resolve the issues!