Chapter 52

Chapter 8: I Offer My Blood to the Yellow Emperor

Xiong Xilai felt a bitter taste in his heart. Wang Youmin was his man, and now Meng Di had proposed a promotion for him. If he voted against it, and Wang Youmin found out, Wang would inevitably be forced to side with Meng Di. This way, Xiong would lose a capable assistant, and his opponent would gain one. The balance of power would shift, and it would be a bad deal for him.

But if he agreed, Meng Di would certainly propose the next candidate for the Water Conservancy Bureau director. He had done such a favor for Meng, and he couldn't be too harsh. As long as the candidate wasn't completely incompetent, the other Standing Committee members would likely give Meng face, and the proposal would probably pass. This way, he would lose control of the important Water Conservancy Bureau!

In the game of Go, this situation is called a "double atari." It means you can be attacked from both sides, leaving you vulnerable.

What about Liu Yunxiang? How could he answer her? Thinking back to the pleasure they shared in the office just moments ago, his mouth turned bitter.

The other Standing Committee members were not in a hurry. Some drank tea, some wrote, and some watched the rain. They wouldn't vote until Xiong Xilai made his stance clear.

"I agree!" After much deliberation, Xiong Xilai slowly raised his right hand, thinking: Well done, Meng Di! You've outsmarted me today! But I will get my revenge sooner or later.

"I agree!" A chorus of agreement followed, and all nine Standing Committee members raised their hands.

Wang Youmin was elected as the Director of the Finance Bureau with unanimous support.

"Next, let's discuss..." Meng Di was about to press his advantage, but Xiong Xilai cleared his throat and said, "Secretary Meng, shall we take a break? I need to use the restroom."

This was a respectful and reasonable request, and Meng Di had to nod. "Alright, a fifteen-minute break."

At the Water Conservancy Bureau, Wang Youmin was also holding a meeting, discussing flood prevention and waterway clearance. He received an urgent call from the mayor.

Xiong Xilai said on the phone, "You have five minutes. Come to the Standing Committee meeting room immediately. I'll wait for you outside the restroom."

"Boss, I'm in a meeting! The rain is heavy, and many areas are already flooding," Wang Youmin said tactfully.

Xiong Xilai shouted, "What meeting? Your hat has changed! The Water Conservancy Bureau is no longer under your jurisdiction. Get over here now!"

Wang Youmin broke out in a cold sweat. The information in Xiong's words was overwhelming, leaving him breathless.

One thing was clear: at the Standing Committee meeting just now, he had lost his position as Director of the Water Conservancy Bureau!

He dragged his heavy feet to the meeting room, where all the bureau leaders were waiting for him. They straightened up and stopped whispering when he entered. This was the authority he had cultivated over the years. As long as he was there, no one in the Water Conservancy Bureau could cause trouble.

"Comrades, I just received a call from Mayor Xiong. There's an emergency, so the meeting is paused. We'll continue when I return," Wang Youmin said distractedly, his mind in chaos.

"Director Wang!" Wang Haisan called out, "Floods are more dangerous than tigers!"

Wang Youmin snapped, "Stop making a fuss! A little rain, and you're all panicking. Where's the flood?" He turned back to the door and said, "I lost my composure. Please, Deputy Director Du, take full responsibility and continue the meeting and the work. Goodbye!"

This "goodbye" perhaps only he understood its meaning.

Rushing to the Standing Committee meeting room, he found Xiong Xilai and complained, "Mayor Xiong, why did you remove me as director?"

"Who said you were removed?" Xiong Xilai glared at him, then suddenly smiled and patted his shoulder. "You've been transferred to the Finance Bureau as director!"

Wang Youmin's slumped body suddenly straightened, his face flushed with excitement. "Mayor Xiong, really?"

"Of course! I supported you! Otherwise, Secretary Meng would have vetoed you! But don't get too excited yet. Do you have a suitable successor?"

"Well, Wang Haisan is the most suitable, but he's only a section chief, lacking the necessary experience. How about Deputy Director Du?" Wang Youmin said with a smile.

"Good, work hard!" Xiong Xilai patted his shoulder, checked his watch, and headed to the meeting room.

Meanwhile, the high-ranking officials of Sanjiang City were busy vying for power, using both overt and covert tactics. In the dam management office, amidst the storm, Li Yi was on edge.

The Malin Reservoir had already overflowed!

This was the latest news brought back by Su Hui.

Even Su Hui, who had guarded the reservoir all his life, was alarmed. "I've never seen such a torrent. It's only been a short time, and the reservoir is already full! This is serious!"

Li Yi called out, "No more waiting, open the gates immediately! We must save the dam!" Seeing their hesitation, he knew what they were thinking and waved his hand, speaking firmly, "Mr. Lu Xun once wrote a poem: 'The mind cannot escape the arrow of fate, the storm and rain darken the homeland. The cold stars do not understand my message, I offer my blood to the Yellow Emperor.' I, Li Yi, take full responsibility for opening the gates today. I will not burden anyone else."

Qin Fan raised his arm and said, "Comrade Li, I follow your lead! Count me in!"

Su Hui laughed, "I'm an old man, half in the grave. What do I have to fear? Do as you say!"

Li Yi felt a warm surge in his heart.

He called Gu Heng's room, wanting to inform him of the situation, but no one answered.

Li Yi put down the phone and said calmly, "Gather all available personnel, including village officials and villagers. Prepare to open the gates and evacuate the villagers."

With a leader to follow, everyone sprang into action. Within half an hour, over thirty people from the dam management office, the observation station, and nearby villages had gathered.

Li Yi divided the group into two: one to follow Qin Fan to open the gates, and the other to help him evacuate the villagers.

Considering the age of the reservoir, Li Yi suggested that all residents in the low-lying areas be moved to higher ground. He led a few village officials and about ten villagers, going door to door to persuade people to evacuate.

Little Su Su and the white dog also came along, helping Li Yi. "Uncle, the flood is really coming, run away quickly!" "Aunt, the flood has already overflowed the reservoir, it's coming down!" "Grandpa, let's go, the reservoir is about to collapse!"

Don't underestimate her influence. Sometimes, when Li Yi and others couldn't persuade stubborn residents, they would listen to her.

There were eight villages near the reservoir, four of which were in low-lying areas. Further away, the Xiangjiang River would help divert the flood, and multiple lakes would store the excess water, so even the low-lying villages would not suffer significant damage.

Li Yi's task was to convince over a thousand people in these four villages to evacuate.

Looking at the sky, he urged, "Time is of the essence. We'll divide into eight groups, two people per group. We must quickly persuade the villagers to evacuate! We must also encourage those already convinced to join us. Time is life!"

Despite his youth, Li Yi had the authority of a provincial government advisor. The village officials, though unfamiliar with the position, saw his composed demeanor and effective leadership, and concluded he must be a high-ranking official. Even Director Qin followed his orders, so the village officials obediently followed Li Yi's instructions.

Half an hour later, a loud gunshot echoed from the direction of the reservoir dam. This was the signal Li Yi and Qin Fan had agreed upon: the first gate was about to open!