Chapter 53

On Monday, Lu Zheng returned to the county bureau and called Ma Yuewu, Hou Jianjun, and Gao Zhikai to meet with him to discuss the annual work summary of the county bureau.

Currently, the daily operations of the county bureau are usually overseen by Ma Yuewu, but for major matters, Lu Zheng still needs to lead the overall situation.

The draft of the "Annual Work Summary of Guangning County Public Security Bureau" was prepared by the bureau office, of course, much of it consists of data that is somewhat vague.

For example, the first item on the completion of the annual work targets states: "A total of 395 criminal cases occurred throughout the year, 320 of which were solved, with a case-solving rate of 81.0%. The number of cases decreased by 59% compared to the previous year. Among these, 16 murder cases occurred, 15 of which were solved, with a case-solving rate of 93.75%; the number of murder cases decreased by 6.33% compared to the previous year. 241 theft and robbery cases occurred, 211 of which were solved, with a case-solving rate of 87.6%, and the number of cases decreased by 39.4% compared to the previous year..."

These data, regardless of their accuracy, do not really help in evaluating the performance of the public security system for the year, but a work summary, regardless of the department, needs some hard indicators for comparison, so it can only be done this way.

Ma Yuewu and Hou Jianjun were flipping through the draft and discussing it, but in reality, this was basically the final draft, and the discussion was just for show.

Lu Zheng, as the top leader, naturally did not participate in the discussion, and Gao Zhikai also remained silent.

"I think we should add a clause to the indicators, correcting wrongful convictions should also count as an achievement, right?" Hou Jianjun suddenly said.

Ma Yuewu was taken aback and glanced at Lu Zheng.

Of the four people in the room, none of them were blind to the implications. They all understood that Hou Jianjun's reference to correcting wrongful convictions was about the May 16th case, and the Li Weijun case that Gao Zhikai had mishandled.

Gao Zhikai remained silent.

Lu Zheng tapped the table and said, "Let's do it this way. Ma, Jianjun, Zhikai, you review it again and send me the final draft later."

"Jianjun, stay behind." Before Lu Zheng finished speaking, the phone rang. It was the county discipline inspection commission's Peng Hongjun.

Lu Zheng smiled and said, "Secretary Peng, so leisurely?"

On the other end of the line, Peng Hongjun's tone was low and serious, as if he had transformed from the last time he was in Lu Zheng's office, "Director Lu, it's like this. The case of the former deputy director of the commerce bureau, Yao Baoming, has been transferred to our discipline inspection commission starting today. In about half an hour, the head of the first discipline inspection department, Wang Jianguo, will come to take over. Director Lu, please arrange the handover, and don't let anything go wrong in the process!"

Lu Zheng was slightly taken aback, "Does Secretary Qiu know about this?"

On the other end of the line, Peng Hongjun seemed to laugh lightly, giving an indescribable feeling, "If Secretary Qiu didn't know, would I dare to make such a decision on my own? It was discussed at the secretary meeting just now, and Secretary Qiu did not object. The specific details will be known at the standing committee meeting this afternoon."

Lu Zheng, sensing something amiss in Peng Hongjun's tone, smiled and said, "Old Peng, that's not what I meant." Changing from "Secretary Peng" to "Old Peng," Lu Zheng was not trying to get closer, but rather, to be less polite. From the moment the call was connected, Lu Zheng felt that Peng Hongjun's attitude was off.

"Director Lu, I won't say more. Oh, and by the way, I was going to borrow your car this week, but I thought about it and decided not to."

Lu Zheng "hmm"ed, and Peng Hongjun hung up.

Hou Jianjun vaguely heard that the call was from Peng Hongjun but naturally pretended not to hear. Seeing that Lu Zheng had finished the call, he stood up, handed Lu Zheng a cigarette, and lit it for him.

Lu Zheng took two puffs and pondered, "The Yao Baoming case is being transferred to the discipline inspection commission."

Hou Jianjun was taken aback and said, "Transferred to the discipline inspection commission? Peng Hongjun?" He laughed, "He, what kind of case can he handle? What kind of case would he dare to handle? He's as timid as a rabbit!" But seeing Lu Zheng's serious expression, Hou Jianjun's smile gradually faded.

"A cornered rabbit will bite. In any case, you arrange it properly, handle it officially, understand?" Lu Zheng specifically instructed.

Hou Jianjun scratched his head and remained silent. He had been suppressing the case because Director Lu had not intended to close it, and he was also worried that a hasty closure would give Ma Weiguo the chance to settle scores. Now that the political smoke in Guangning had cleared and Secretary Qiu had emerged as the big winner, he was planning to close the case quickly in the next few days. Who would have thought that the discipline inspection commission would take over halfway, leaving him completely in the dark.

The afternoon standing committee meeting was the second one Lu Zheng attended since joining the standing committee.

The first agenda item was to study the spirit of the provincial discipline inspection commission's document. County Magistrate Jiang Haiyan gave an impromptu speech, emphasizing the importance of the discipline inspection commission's role in supervising and punishing officials, promoting clean governance, and this was a trend.

Cases involving party members and officials, originally handled by the internal security department of the county public security bureau, should be supervised by the discipline inspection commission. Cases involving violations of the party constitution, intra-party regulations, and administrative laws by party members and officials under the jurisdiction of the county party committee and government should be independently investigated by the county discipline inspection commission, and no leader or individual should interfere.

County Party Secretary and Organization Minister Shang Ronghua, County Party Secretary and Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary Peng Hongjun, and even the county people's armed forces minister, Guo Jiang, a serving military officer, all spoke in support of Jiang Haiyan's views.

Propaganda Minister Lao Ding, unable to hide his surprise, frequently glanced at Lu Zheng, trying to understand what was happening.

Lu Zheng silently drank his tea.

Undoubtedly, in a short time, Jiang Haiyan had managed to align two deputy secretaries and one standing committee member with her, effectively sidelining the county party secretary. This woman was not to be underestimated, and she was very, very capable.

More importantly, the influence of the people behind her had played a decisive role, causing the political landscape of Guangning to show signs of change.

At the secretary meeting, Qiu Dahe seemed to have been caught off guard, and his expression was still not good.

Jiang Haiyan's decision to have the discipline inspection commission investigate the Yao Baoming case might be because she knew something, or perhaps her intention was not to bring down Qiu Dahe through this case, but at the very least, it was a warning. Moreover, it might be aimed at him. She must have felt that this case was related to him, otherwise, it wouldn't have been suppressed in the county bureau's economic crime investigation department. Perhaps she was trying to remove him, one of Qiu Dahe's pawns in her eyes.

Seeing her occasional glances at him, though not with a look of triumph, it was clearly a show of force.

Female officials, after all, were different from male officials. This clear distinction between love and hate was partly due to women's emotional nature. Male colleagues and officials in government agencies, even if they wanted to destroy each other, would still maintain a facade of harmony.

Lu Zheng couldn't help but feel a bit frustrated. Just as he had taken his first step in politics, he was targeted by such a strong female official, truly an unlucky year.

Next, Jiang Haiyan showed her feminine side again, proposing that Cai Mingguo be appointed as the deputy director of the planning and economy commission, and said, "I believe that personal conflicts caused by misunderstandings should not be brought into work, and certainly not into the standing committee! Some comrades still lack broad-mindedness!"

Deputy Secretary and Organization Minister Shang Ronghua followed up, speaking about the organization's understanding of Cai Mingguo and his suitability for the position.

Lu Zheng smiled bitterly. Actually, many things didn't need to be so confrontational. Falling and getting back up where you fell was not always suitable in politics; knowing when to advance and when to retreat was a sign of maturity. However, it was clear that Jiang Haiyan had deep backing and didn't need to use any strategy in this small county. If she didn't like someone, she would try to crush them completely.

"I still disagree." In the silence of the meeting, Lu Zheng's sudden statement drew everyone's attention.

Even Propaganda Minister Lao Ding, who had been silent, was now silent. The events of the day were too strange, and he couldn't gauge the depth of the situation, so he remained silent.

Lu Zheng, however, paid no heed. He was somewhat angry and decided to stand his ground. He didn't believe that Cai Mingguo could be promoted under his watch.

Lu Zheng looked at Jiang Haiyan fearlessly and said, "County Magistrate Jiang, you've only been in Guangning for a month, right? I know you knew Cai Mingguo before, but how many times have you interacted with him? People change, and this person is two-faced, saying one thing and doing another, honey-tongued but treacherous!" In fact, such harsh comments about a party member, especially one being considered for promotion, should not be made in a serious setting like a standing committee meeting, so even Jiang Haiyan was speechless.

After all, although she knew about Lu Zheng's reputation, she had never experienced it firsthand.

Lu Zheng continued, "Let me give an example. A promotional article for the county bureau in the city newspaper was originally well-written, but he had many opinions, demanding changes here and there. The bureau office followed his suggestions, and a city leader reviewed it, saying it was hollow and grandiose. He then criticized our colleague Xiao Wang in the bureau office, making us bear the blame. I wasn't in Guangning at the time, but if I had been, I would have given him a piece of my mind. What kind of person is he?!"

The meeting fell silent, and Lu Zheng's "What kind of person is he?!" was truly shocking.

Jiang Haiyan was speechless for a moment, then, with a slightly flushed face, said, "Be careful with your words."

Peng Hongjun frowned and said, "Lu Zheng, be mindful of your position. Look at what you're saying. Is this how a county party leader should speak? It's very unprofessional!" He shook his head repeatedly.

Lu Zheng turned to him and smiled, "Old Peng, you're a typical example of turning your back on someone. Last week, when you borrowed my car, you acted like a wimp. Now, you act like you don't know me. Did you forget who you are?"

Peng Hongjun's face turned red, and he pointed at Lu Zheng, stammering, "You, Lu Zheng, you, you're a thug..." He abruptly stood up and left the meeting, unable to stay with his dignity tarnished.

Lao Ding interjected, "I agree with Lu Zheng's view on Cai Mingguo." Lao Ding was also a formidable figure. Seeing that Lu Zheng had successfully disrupted the meeting, he quickly shifted the focus back to the topic to avoid concentrating on Lu Zheng's poor attitude.

Jiang Haiyan's chest heaved, and her eyes almost blazed with anger. "Next, I think we should discuss the meeting discipline."

Lu Zheng picked up his tea and sipped it, as if the previous incident had nothing to do with him.

Qiu Dahe coughed and said, "Let's end it here for today. Democratic centralism means that everyone can speak freely and express different opinions, which is a good thing."

Jiang Haiyan took a deep breath, seemingly forcing herself to calm down, and said, "Let's vote on Cai Mingguo's appointment."

County People's Armed Forces Minister Guo Jiang smiled and said, "Since there is so much controversy, we should be more cautious."

Jiang Haiyan looked at him in surprise and finally nodded slightly.

The meeting couldn't continue, and Qiu Dahe announced the adjournment. Everyone left the meeting room in a line.

Guo Jiang walked a few steps and came to Lu Zheng's side, looking somewhat helpless and amused, as if he found Lu Zheng to be a real troublemaker, living up to his reputation as "Lu the Stubborn" and "Living Bandit." "Director Lu, you should communicate more with County Magistrate Jiang," Guo Jiang whispered in Lu Zheng's ear.

Guo Jiang had always had a good impression of Lu Zheng, a retired combat hero, and had helped him a lot during his early transition. Now, he didn't want to see Lu Zheng stumble and fall.

Qiu Dahe, with no expression, passed by Lu Zheng and lightly patted his shoulder.

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