Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 431 The Powerful County Magistrate

Rao Zhengyi slammed his fist on the table: "Wu Zhiyuan, are you questioning my party loyalty, or are you questioning the fighting capacity of the entire Qingyan County Public Security Bureau?"

Rao Zhengyi called him by his first name, and his mustache stood on end.

"Wu Zhiyuan, let me tell you, the Qingyan County Public Security Bureau is not anyone's private property, nor is it a soft persimmon that anyone can squeeze at will!"

Watch your wording; don't use the term "protective umbrella" so readily!

"County Chief Rao, I never mentioned the words 'protective umbrella' from beginning to end. You said it yourself!"

Rao Zhengyi was stunned, and his face became even more unsightly.

Indeed, Wu Zhiyuan did not mention the words "protective umbrella" at all.

"County Magistrate Rao, but since you've brought it up, I'll make things clear."

How many years did Yuan Xiaowu's sand dredging boat operate on the Shicao River? How many years has He Biao been forcibly occupying land, beating villagers, and running rampant in the village?

Did these things only happen today? Did your police station only find out about them today?

If we only found out today, that would be a dereliction of duty!

If you knew about it beforehand but didn't take any action, that's more serious than dereliction of duty!

As for what it is, you're a veteran police officer with thirty years of experience; you know better than I do!

Enraged, Rao Zhengyi slammed his fist on the desk.

"Wu Zhiyuan, stop making a mountain out of a molehill with me!"

When I was a police officer, you were still wearing open-crotch pants!

You're talking to me about dereliction of duty? Do you even know what dereliction of duty means?

Wu Zhiyuan stood up, and because of his height, he had a commanding presence.

"County Chief Rao, you're right. When you were working in the police force, I was still wearing open-crotch pants."

I respect your qualifications and your thirty years of dedication.

But seniority is not a shield, much less a protection.

I'm giving you ten days; there must be progress in these three cases!

Rao Zhengyi sneered, "Are you giving orders?"

Wu Zhiyuan stood firm: "You can take this as an order. I am the county magistrate, and you are the deputy county magistrate."

According to organizational principles, I lead the overall work of the county government, while you are in charge of public security work.

I have the right to make demands on your work.

"The Public Security Bureau is under dual management, being subordinate to both the county government and the municipal Public Security Bureau. Are you trying to pressure me by claiming to be from the county government?"

I'm not pressuring you. I'm trying to reason with you.

If you think what I said is wrong, you can go to Secretary Liang to report it, you can go to the Municipal Bureau to report it, or you can even go to the Mayor or the Party Secretary of the Municipal Committee to report it.

This is your right, and I can't stop you.

However, if there is no progress in these three cases after a month, I will personally go to the Municipal Public Security Bureau and the Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government to report on the security situation in Qingyan County and the problems existing in the public security work.

At that point, it won't be as simple as the two of us closing the door and banging on the table.

Rao Zhengyi's face turned pale and then flushed.

He had worked in the public security system for thirty years, and he had seen ruthless people, cunning people, people who smiled while hiding a knife, and people who stabbed him in the back.

But this was the first time he had ever seen someone like Wu Zhiyuan, who would openly display his knife and speak frankly, leaving himself no way out.

"Wu Zhiyuan, are you threatening me?"

"This is not a threat, it's an announcement! County Chief Rao, I'll say this one last thing."

The people's affairs are of paramount importance. Anyone who compromises, circumvents, or hinders progress on this matter, I, Wu Zhiyuan, will never forgive them!

After saying that, he walked out of the office without looking back.

As they left the police station, Lü Xinghua cautiously said, "County Chief Wu, you've completely offended Rao Zhengyi today."

"So what if you've offended them? If you're too polite to this kind of person, they'll think you're weak and easy to bully."

You try to reason with him, he talks about seniority. You try to explain the law to him, he talks about personal relationships.

"County Chief Wu, what I'm worried about is that Rao Zhengyi has deep roots in the public security system and connections in the municipal bureau. You've spoken so bluntly today, will he...?"

"Xinghua, do you know what I've been most afraid of all these years?"

Lü Xinghua shook his head.

"What I fear most is not offending people, but not knowing who I have offended."

Look at Rao Zhengyi today, slamming his fist on the table and glaring at me, as if I've driven him crazy.

But believe it or not, once he stepped out that door, he was calmer than anyone else.

Lu Xinghua thought about it and felt it made sense.

Rao Zhengyi has worked in the public security system for thirty years. He has seen all kinds of people and experienced all kinds of storms.

For him, today's situation is probably not even a moderate storm.

Wu Zhiyuan continued, "He slammed the table, not only for me, but also for the police officers in the corridor."

He wanted people to know that Rao Zhengyi was not someone to be trifled with, and that he wasn't afraid of the county magistrate. This was his way of survival.

"You mean, Rao Zhengyi will accept the challenge?"

"He wasn't responding to my move, he was responding to the situation."

The current situation is characterized by a nationwide crackdown on organized crime and a strengthening of comprehensive social security governance.

If Rao Zhengyi doesn't respond, he's going against the tide.

Those who go against the tide never end well.

Lu Xinghua nodded thoughtfully.

……

Rao Zhengyi felt increasingly resentful after being reprimanded by Wu Zhiyuan, so he went to Liang Dongming's office early the next morning.

"Secretary Liang, I'm here to file a complaint! Wu Zhiyuan has gone too far!"

"Tell me slowly, what happened?"

Rao Zhengyi embellished the story of Wu Zhiyuan's sudden visit and "interrogation" of him in his office yesterday.

"Secretary Liang, tell me, what kind of person is Wu Zhiyuan?"

A mere young upstart, after serving as county magistrate for a few days, comes here to boss me around!

Does he even know what police work is? Does he know how much effort it takes to solve a case?

Rao Zhengyi became more and more agitated as he spoke: "He did just that. He sat in the petition office, listened to a few sobs, went for a walk along the Shicao River, and then came back to lecture me!"

I don't care if Yuan Xiaowu is accused of illegal sand mining, I cover up He Biao's assault, and I'm powerless to deny Zhao Xiaoyu's disappearance!

"Secretary Liang, he's slapping me in the face, and he's slapping the county committee in the face too!"

Liang Dongming listened slowly, holding his teacup, his face expressionless.

"Furthermore, he demanded that all polluting enterprises along the Shicao River be shut down and rectified within a month."

Secretary Liang, those enterprises are major taxpayers in the county, contributing tens of millions of yuan in taxes annually and providing employment for hundreds of workers. How can he just shut them down like that?

"Isn't this ridiculous? Sewage is being discharged directly into Jiangdong City upstream and nobody cares. What's the point of us working so hard downstream?"

Liang Dongming put down his teacup and said, "Old Rao, calm down. Comrade Zhiyuan is young and sometimes acts a bit hastily. As his older brother, please be more understanding."

"Secretary Liang, it's not that I'm unwilling to take responsibility, it's that I'm afraid he'll mess things up!"

Attracting investment is difficult enough; a few companies finally settled in Qingyan, and with this situation, who would dare to invest? Who would dare to set up a factory in Qingyan?

Liang Dongming waved his hand: "Alright, I understand. I'll talk to Comrade Zhiyuan about this."

After Rao Zhengyi left, Liang Dongming called Wu Zhiyuan and asked him to come over.

"Zhiyuan, did you have a fight with Rao Zhengyi at the police station yesterday?" Liang Dongming asked indifferently.

"There was no argument, it was a work-related exchange. I asked him about the progress of several cases."

Liang Dongming added, "I also heard that you went to the Shicao River yesterday and immediately ordered the sand dredgers to stop work, and demanded that all polluting enterprises along the river be shut down within a month?"

Wu Zhiyuan did not deny it: "That's true. The Shicao River is severely polluted, and the people along the river have a lot of complaints."

While I was receiving petitioners in the petition reception room, several people raised this issue. I went to the site and saw the situation firsthand; it was truly shocking.

"Zhiyuan, do you know how much tax revenue those polluting companies contribute to the county each year?"

"I know a little."

"Over ten million in tax revenue, hundreds of jobs. You just shut it down like that? Have you even considered the costs?"

"Secretary Liang, I've already calculated this account. But there's another account I'd like you to calculate as well."

In recent years, the cancer incidence rate in several villages along the Shicao River has been several times higher than in other places. The villagers dare not even use the water for irrigation, and large areas of fertile land have experienced reduced yields or even crop failure.

How much are these losses worth? How much is the health of the people worth? How much is the cost of environmental restoration?

"Zhiyuan, I'm not saying we don't care about environmental protection. But you need to prioritize."

Qingyan is an impoverished county, and its most urgent tasks are to develop its economy, increase tax revenue, and solve employment issues.

Environmental issues can be addressed step by step; a one-size-fits-all approach is not suitable.

"Secretary Liang, I agree that developing the economy is the most urgent task. But what is the purpose of development? It is to enable the people to live a better life."

If the cost of development is that ordinary people cannot drink clean water, breathe clean air, or suffer from incurable diseases, then what is the point of such development?

"Zhiyuan, you're just talking big! Do you even know what's going on in Jiangdong City upstream?"

They have far more polluting enterprises than we do, and their pollution is far more severe!

"Nobody else is in a hurry, why are you? Even if you shut down businesses here, the upstream will still discharge pollutants, and the Shicao River will still be polluted! You're just wasting your time!"

"Secretary Liang, upstream pollution is not an excuse for our inaction downstream."

Just because someone else makes a mistake doesn't mean we can follow suit. Just because someone else is irresponsible doesn't mean we can shirk our responsibilities.

We have the responsibility and obligation to manage the pollution sources within Qingyan.

Regarding the upstream issue, I've already contacted Jiangdong City. If we can't reach an agreement, I will report it to the Provincial Environmental Protection Department, and even to the Central Environmental Protection Inspection Team.

Liang Dongming sneered, "Are you planning to escalate this?"

Wu Zhiyuan spoke calmly, but his reply was firm: "Secretary Liang, I'm not trying to cause trouble. I'm responsible to the people of Qingyan."

I made a promise in front of the public at the petition reception room that the water quality of the Shicao River would improve within three months. I must keep that promise.

Liang Dongming didn't know how to answer for a moment, so he changed the subject: "Also, I think your attitude at the police station yesterday was very inappropriate."

Rao Zhengyi is a veteran police officer who has worked in Qingyan for many years. Even if he hasn't made any great contributions, he has certainly put in a lot of hard work.

You immediately launched into a tirade, questioning why they hadn't solved the case and why they were covering it up. What are you going to tell the veterans? What are you going to tell the police officers?

"Secretary Liang, I did not accuse anyone of wrongdoing, nor did I say that anyone was covering for me."

I was just gathering information and monitoring the progress of the work.

Zhao Xiaoyu has been missing for several months, with no sign of her alive or dead. Her mother knelt in front of me in the petition office and cried, saying that she was her only child.

Villagers from Hejiagou were severely injured in a beating, and the police report has been pending for several months with no results.

Secretary Liang, put yourself in their shoes. If it were your family member, wouldn't you be anxious?

Liang Dongming's expression darkened further: "Is this some kind of attempt to use public sentiment to pressure me?"

"I didn't pressure anyone. I just hope that the public security organs can truly keep the people's urgent needs and concerns in mind, instead of using excuses like 'case handling is routine' or 'insufficient evidence' to fob off the people."

Rules are static, but people are dynamic. If you really want to investigate, there's no case you can't solve.

Liang Dongming stared at Wu Zhiyuan for a long time before slowly saying, "Zhiyuan, I know you want to do things, but you have to be methodical and not just do things on a whim."

You are the county head, not the head of the petition office, the head of the environmental protection bureau, or the head of the public security bureau.

Your responsibility is to oversee the overall situation, not to rush to the front lines for every single thing.

"Secretary Liang, I agree with what you said. But the prerequisite for overall planning is understanding the facts."

If you don't even understand the hardships of ordinary people, haven't even visited polluted rivers, and don't even inquire about the progress of cases, how can you talk about overall planning?

The office atmosphere was oppressive, and Liang Dongming kept drinking water from his teacup.

"Zhiyuan, I understand how you feel. It's a good thing that young cadres are energetic and responsible."

But you must understand that being a county magistrate is different from being a town mayor or a bureau chief.

In town, you can do everything yourself and rush to the front line;

In the county, you need to learn how to manage cadres and lead a team; you need to learn how to play the piano with all ten fingers.

Wu Zhiyuan said unhurriedly, "Secretary Liang is right. When playing the piano with ten fingers, each finger must play its role, but the premise is that each finger follows the command of the brain."

If the brain doesn't know where it hurts or itches, the music it plays won't sound very good.