Chapter 2804: Secret Plot

An Audi 100 slowly drove into the gate of the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television, then stopped in front of the office building, after which the car door opened and Zhao Mingguo, the deputy station chief in charge of the Spring Festival Gala, got out. This guy wasn't tall, but when he stood there he had a commanding presence—you could tell at a glance he was a high-ranking leader.

Zhao Mingguo was wearing a proper suit. He stood at the office building entrance, tidied his clothes a bit, then pushed the door open and walked in.

"Director Zhao!" a middle-aged woman walking toward him from the opposite direction said, seeing Zhao Mingguo she smiled and greeted him: "The Spring Festival Gala is in intense preparation, you're swamped every day, so how do you have time to come to the bureau today?"

"I have something to discuss with Director Cao!" Zhao Mingguo reached out and shook hands with the middle-aged woman: "Director Ruan, are you heading out?"

Director Ruan nodded: "Going to the Central Propaganda Department, some work needs to be coordinated."

"All right, you go ahead then." Zhao Mingguo waved his hand: "We'll chat again when we have time."

"Okay!" Director Ruan nodded and left.

Zhao Mingguo went up the stairs to the third floor, first arriving at Cao Peng's secretary's office, the door wasn't closed.

"Director Zhao!" Cao Peng's secretary hurriedly stood up: "Director Cao?"

Zhao Mingguo politely said: "Does Director Cao have time?"

"Yes!" Cao Peng's secretary said: "Director Cao just instructed that when you arrive, you can go straight in."

"Then I'll go see Director Cao now." Zhao Mingguo turned and came to the door of Cao Peng's office nearby, he raised his hand and knocked.

"Come in!" Cao Rong's voice came from inside the office.

Zhao Mingguo pushed the door open and walked in: "Leader!"

Cao Peng was lowering his head looking at a document, hearing the sound he lifted his head, saw it was Zhao Mingguo and smiled, then closed the document: "I thought it would be a while before you could come over."

As he spoke, Cao Peng picked up a cigarette, took one out and handed it to Zhao Mingguo: "What's the matter, so urgent you need to see me?"

Zhao Mingguo took the cigarette with both hands, naturally slipped it into his clothes pocket, and when he took his hand out, there was an extra lighter. When a leader offers a cigarette, even if you don't smoke you have to take it; as for those who do smoke, if they have any sense they naturally wouldn't be puffing clouds in the leader's office.

Zhao Mingguo took out the lighter to light Cao Peng's cigarette: "It's about those ten red songs from Future Culture—wanting to suppress them is impossible, but if all ten get approved, everything we've done becomes a joke."

Cao Peng took a puff of his cigarette: "Do you have any ideas?"

Zhao Mingguo smiled: "I do, but I don't know if it'll work, so I need to report it to you."

Cao Peng laughed and said: "Go ahead, I'm listening."

"Joint performance!" Zhao Mingguo said: "The songs can be approved, but the performers can't only be Future Culture singers—they must perform jointly with other singers."

Cao Peng's eyes lit up: "This method is good—having several people sing one song naturally weakens the influence of Future Culture singers."

"That's exactly what I was thinking." Zhao Mingguo didn't say some things, namely that these ten red songs are extremely popular. If he wants to find singers for joint performances, those entertainment companies won't just wear out his office doorstep—they'll be eager to offer favors and benefits.

Cao Peng nodded and said: "This can work—having several people sing one song makes it lively, quite good."

Zhao Mingguo didn't linger long, he said to the busy leader: "Leader, I'll head back first—I still need to figure out which singers are suitable for these songs."

"Mm!" Cao Peng responded: "Go back then."

Zhao Mingguo left, and Cao Peng slowly raised his hand, put the cigarette to his mouth and took a puff. He had previously banned Future Culture due to interest transfers with Kong Xingzhong, but now targeting Future Culture is purely to vent his anger.

Because his earlier ban on Future Culture failed and his face was slapped swollen, becoming a laughingstock, how could he swallow this anger? Therefore, he directed Zhao Mingguo: as long as it's a Future Culture program, suppress whatever can be suppressed.

Moreover, this is just the first step—later, as long as it's a Future Culture work, whether songs, TV, film, or advertisements, it must undergo strict review. Even if there's no problem, it should be delayed for a year or two. He wants everyone to see that as long as he, Cao Peng, sits in this position for one day, Future Culture won't be able to make waves.

"Ding ling——"

The clear telephone ring interrupted Cao Peng's thoughts, he reached out and picked up the phone, from the receiver came a low, powerful voice: "Comrade Cao Peng, do you have time? Come to my office."

Cao Peng's eyes flickered, he immediately replied: "Okay, Director Qin, I'll come right away."

"Mm!" The other party hung up.

Cao Feng didn't stand up immediately, but instead pressed the cigarette butt into the ashtray, then picked up the teacup beside him and took a light sip. At the same time his mind was racing—what does Guo Zhengqi want from him? After five or six minutes, Cao Feng stood up and walked out.

Director Guo Zhengqi's office is on the fourth floor. Cao Feng left his office, took the stairs to the fourth floor. His mind kept turning, but when he reached the door of Guo Zhengqi's office, he still hadn't figured out what he was being summoned for.

"Pa pa pa——"

Cao Peng raised his hand and lightly tapped—immediately that low, powerful voice came from inside: "Come in!"

Cao Peng pushed the door open and walked in: "Director, what do you need me for?"

"Comrade Cao Peng has arrived, please sit!" Guo Zhengqi chuckled as he stood up, walked to the sofa and sat down: "Calling you over is a good thing."

Cao Peng was startled: "What good thing?"

"The organization wants to give you an additional responsibility." Guo Zhengqi said with a smile: "The higher-ups are conducting cultural reform, the Central Propaganda Department has established the Office for Cultural System Reform and Development.

And the primary task of this office is the reform of films and television dramas, so after research by the Central Propaganda Department leadership, it has been decided to let you preside over the work of the Office for Cultural System Reform and Development."

Cao Peng's mouth corners turned up, the doubts in his heart instantly dissipated like smoke, he forcibly suppressed his excitement and tried to speak in a calm tone: "Director, this responsibility is quite heavy—I haven't even taken office yet, and the pressure has come all at once."

Guo Zhengqi laughed: "Your abilities are well known—otherwise the Central Propaganda Department leadership wouldn't have let you preside over such an important reform."

Cao Peng took a deep breath: "Since the organization trusts me this much, I will do my utmost to carry out the reform work well."

Guo Zhengqi nodded: "Go ahead—hand over your work within a week."

Cao Peng was startled: "That urgent?"

"Mm!" Guo Zhengqi said: "The higher-ups are indeed urgent—you should hand over your work as soon as possible."

Cao Peng asked: "Director Qin, who will take over my work?"

Guo Zhengqi said: "Han Zhengyuan!"

Cao Peng said somewhat unexpectedly: "Han Zhengyuan was just transferred here last month to serve as president of Jingying Factory, right?"

"Exactly!" Guo Zhengqi said: "Jingying also needs reform—placing Han Zhengyuan in the deputy director position will make the reform proceed more smoothly."

"Understood!" Cao Peng stood up: "Director, you're busy—I'm heading back to prepare for the handover."

Guo Zhengqi laughed and said: "Go back then!"

Cao Peng left, and Guo Zhengqi's smile on his face gradually faded, replaced by overcast clouds.

Guo Zhengqi lit a cigarette, and after he finished smoking it, the office door was knocked on again.

"Come in!" Guo Zhengqi shouted.

The office door was pushed open, and Chen Hua, the head of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection's stationed discipline inspection group at the bureau, walked in: "Director, you've already talked with Cao Peng, haven't you?"

"After discussing it, hand over the work within seven days." Qin Guozheng stood up, paced over to the window, and looked at the scenery outside as he said: "Has the evidence in hand been verified?"

"To avoid alerting the snake in the grass, I only conducted a discreet investigation. Preliminary findings show the problem is indeed serious." Chen Hua came to Qin Guozheng's side: "But to conduct a thorough investigation, we can only wait until Cao Peng hands over his work and departs. At that time, all problems will be exposed, and there will be no resistance."

"Good!" Qin Guozheng said softly: "It won't matter these few days. You go back first and prepare. As soon as Cao Peng finishes handing over his work, we will immediately launch an investigation against him."