Chapter 43

On his first day in office, Han Tepai caused a stir, and Cheng Renyou found it quite amusing. After replying to the pager, he got on his bicycle and rushed to the bureau.

It was late at night when Cheng Renyou was asked to help process a public security decision document, which was within the jurisdiction of the Public Security Brigade. For other matters, he needed to report to the bureau leadership.

Before today, Director Ji's responsibilities included assisting the bureau chief and political commissar, and specifically managing the bureau's team, ideological and political work, education and training, party affairs, and propaganda.

Starting from this morning, his responsibilities included an additional “liaison” role.

Other bureau leaders either liaised with police stations or with the armed police or fire brigades. However, he was liaised with an individual—“Public Security Special Envoy Han Bo of Liangzhuang Township,” rather than an organization.

There were six public security special envoys in the county, and the other five did not have leadership liaisons.

The reason for this arrangement was twofold: to show the bureau's emphasis on the cadre transferred from the silk factory, and because Liangzhuang was prone to incidents. Old Lu was like a time bomb, ready to explode at any moment. As long as he did not step down, the county party committee, government, and public security bureau would not have a moment's peace.

It was already 11 PM when he arrived at the bureau, and Director Ji was on duty.

"This Lu Huisheng is a complete legal ignoramus. Principle errors cannot be made. Jiangcheng is the provincial capital, and Chief Zhang has just returned from the provincial public security conference. We cannot follow his advice or cause trouble."

After listening to the report, Director Ji was furious, his face contorted as he took a few puffs of a cigarette. He then said, "Struggle must be conducted with art. Do as you suggested. Working in Liangzhuang requires political wisdom. As for the local police officers... the bureau is also short of manpower. Chief Zhang just got home, and he's in the office. I'll go see if he's resting. If not, I'll ask for his instructions. You go ahead and process the public security decision."

"Yes!"

"Leave me a few copies of the record."

"Sure."

This kid is sharp, no wonder Factory Manager Hou values him so much.

Director Ji took a few copies of the record and went to the third floor. He confirmed that the light in the bureau chief's office was on and gently knocked on the door.

The provincial public security conference that had just concluded was both a commendation meeting for the "Severe Crackdown" and a meeting to arrange work before the Spring Festival. Tomorrow, a meeting would be held to convey the spirit of the conference, and Chief Zhang was preparing for it.

"Chief Zhang, you haven't rested yet?"

"Old Ji, I slept in the car all afternoon, so I'm not tired. Sit down. What's the matter?" After a few days of meetings and a six-hour car ride, Chief Zhang was both physically and mentally exhausted, and his voice carried a hint of fatigue.

"It's about the new public security special envoy of Liangzhuang Township, Han Bo." Director Ji sat down opposite him and placed the record on the table.

"The young cadre sent by Factory Manager Hou?"

"That's him. He started today, and by evening, he was already in action, handling a public security case and processing the decision downstairs."

The police documents prepared by newly transferred police officers must be reviewed.

They were standard and neatly written, with well-organized content, not what one would expect from a newcomer. Chief Zhang put down the record and smiled, "He's a talent, no wonder Factory Manager Hou praised him so highly."

Director Ji handed him a cigarette and smiled bitterly, "Chief Zhang, as soon as Han took office, Old Lu ordered him to go to Jiangcheng to help the Liangzhuang Construction Station collect debts, issuing the order in the name of the township party committee. He said that if the other party persists, it's contract fraud, a crime, and Han should arrest them and bring them back to Liangzhuang to collect the debt."

Mentioning Old Lu, Chief Zhang felt a headache.

Old Lu started as a cadre at the age of 17, not just in Liangzhuang but in several other townships, which are now historical "communes." His reputation was so good that it was almost unbelievable. Anyone of a certain age would give him a thumbs up.

Many of the old cadres who promoted him and worked with him are still alive. After retiring, they have no power but plenty of time. Once Old Lu starts stirring things up, they would flock to the county to talk to the leaders. They are all valuable assets of the state and the party, and can only be pacified like children.

Liangzhuang, where he now serves as the party secretary, has produced many cadres and military officers. The farther they go, the higher their positions, and the stronger their sense of hometown. They all respect him as their local official.

Every Spring Festival, these high-ranking cadres and military officers return to their hometown to visit family. They may not invite county leaders, but they will definitely invite Old Lu. They seat him at the head of the table, praise him highly, and call him Secretary Lu. The lower-ranking cadres and military officers treat him as a senior, calling him Old Secretary.

When faced with insurmountable issues, he mobilizes the old cadres and calls the Liangzhuang-born cadres and military officers one by one. Then these cadres and military officers start calling the county to show concern for the hometown's development.

He has seen many high-ranking officials and is in his fifties with no desire for further advancement. His son graduated from a technical secondary school and works elsewhere, and his daughter married an Air Force pilot and was directly recruited into the military as an officer. Truly, he has no desires, and the county leaders are just "comrades" to him.

Two years ago, due to the construction of the radio and television building through fundraising, the county had a showdown with him, and the county leaders were left in a mess. The former county party secretary lost all credibility and requested a transfer.

The city leaders were furious and prepared to deal with him, but coincidentally, the central government proposed to reduce the burden on farmers. A provincial leader came to the county for a survey and found that Liangzhuang was doing well, with no external debt. Could such a capable township party secretary be dismissed? No!

Secretary Xie learned from the previous secretary's mistake and ignored him.

Liangzhuang is the most remote township, so let him do as he pleases. Besides, with so many townships in the county, not all of them can be in debt. Some must be debt-free. Thus, he became a "local emperor," and Liangzhuang became his "independent kingdom."

The county leaders were helpless, and what could a public security bureau chief do?

However, this time he went too far, wanting our police officers to go to Jiangcheng to collect debts and even arrest people.

Police involvement in economic disputes to help enterprises collect debts is not uncommon, but Jiang Province is strict, and such cases are rare. In other provinces, especially economically backward ones, not only the police but also the procuratorate get involved, taking a cut. In the end, it's all due to the lack of funding.

Others can do it, but the Sige County Public Security Bureau cannot.

If we withdraw the public security special envoy, Liangzhuang will become the only township in the county, and even the city, without a police officer. Chief Zhang frowned, at a loss for a moment.

Director Ji lit his cigarette and smiled, "Han said he can handle it. He is clear in his attitude, first obeying the township party committee's arrangements. In Jiangcheng, he will only resolve issues through legal means. If it can be resolved, great; if not, there's nothing he can do. As he put it, he will get through this first hurdle."

"He has a lawyer's qualification, and he seems to have studied in Jiangcheng."

"Yes, he knows the law and is familiar with Jiangcheng."

"Let him go, then."

"Chief Zhang, Han has a few more matters to report. First, the public security joint defense fees in Liangzhuang have been misappropriated by Old Lu, and the personnel composition is very complex. He can't dissolve the joint defense team, but he needs to solve their wages. Han plans to start anew, set up a police station, and transfer the silk company's sponsorship fees to the bureau. He will transfer four local police officers and manage the necessary areas, clearly separating from the joint defense team. If Old Lu likes to take responsibility, let the joint defense team take the blame, and it will have nothing to do with us."

Many people think the police and the joint defense team are one, but they are not subordinate to each other.

Some police stations hire not joint defense team members but security officers, which are two different things. Of course, in some places, the joint defense team is under the police, but that is authorized by the local government and must be treated differently.

A police officer with a background is different. With funding, he can do what other police officers cannot. Chief Zhang pondered, "The bureau will provide the funding and pay the police officers' salaries, giving him a certain degree of independence. This is a good idea, but the key is Liangzhuang. Can Old Lu just watch him grow under his nose?"

"He doesn't plan to do it all at once. This is just an idea, and he will implement it when the time is right."

Director Ji paused and continued, "He visited a village this afternoon, and the villagers complained about the inconvenience of not having a police station. They can't find a place to report crimes, and getting an ID card requires multiple trips to the county. If a police station is set up, with its own seal, it will at least give the people a sense of security, regardless of its effectiveness outside the county."

A new police officer transferred to the bureau, working in such a complex environment, needs all the help the bureau can provide. Moreover, he not only solved the funding issue but also contributed a significant portion to the bureau.

Factory Manager Hou mentioned on the phone that the young man has high political awareness and has done well in the silk factory, despite his short tenure.

Chief Zhang weighed the options and agreed, "As long as he can work with Old Lu and set up the police station. He wants four officers, but I'll give him five. We have some interns from the provincial police academy; I'll send one to him. After setting up the station, I'll have a 'Sige County Public Security Bureau Liangzhuang Township Police Station' seal made for him. For fines of 500 yuan or less, the police station will have the same authority as other police stations."

"Regarding the fine, the public security case he handled tonight, due to the lack of relevant laws and regulations, can only be fined 3000 yuan, and the game hall owner is ordered not to serve minors on non-holidays. A 3000 yuan fine is not much, but collecting it will be a challenge."

The fine may not be much, but it is significant.

This symbolizes the transfer of the authority to penalize public security violations in Liangzhuang from the township government to the public security bureau, akin to reclaiming lost territory and sovereignty.

A young bull is not afraid of tigers. Chief Zhang was eager to see his performance and couldn't help but smile, "On his first day in office, he wants to touch the tiger's bottom. This kid is quick."

Director Ji laughed, "This is normal, at least for him. On his second day of formal work, he joined the industrial and commercial security and our public security department to govern the People's Road night market, with a red-headed document and three seals. The impact was even greater."

"Is that true?"

"This is nothing. After governing the night market, he turned it into a county market construction service center, a self-funded public institution at the division level, with a document from the county compilation office. Factory Manager Hou and Secretary Ding did not intervene; they did it all themselves."

"He's a talent. Let him work in Liangzhuang for a few years to gain experience. Once Old Lu steps down, we'll bring him back and give him more responsibilities."