Chapter 198: Malicious Reporting

Just as the whole county was heatedly discussing Lu Fan's promotion to Deputy County Chief, County Party Committee Office Director Liu Guannan quietly took action.

He carefully selected a few trusted cronies to incite the principals who had already stepped down, attempting to instigate these people to report and expose Lu Fan.

However, the development of events completely exceeded Liu Guannan's expectations. These principals were not moved at all by the "pie in the sky," and some even bluntly stated that they had made mistakes first, so it was only right to be punished.

In fact, one could understand the reason by thinking carefully. One must know that Lu Fan was currently in the limelight; who would be stupid enough to provoke him?

What's more, although the principals were dismissed, Lu Fan had properly settled them all, transferring them back to work in the bureau. As a result, these principals naturally had even less reason to look for trouble.

Liu Guannan was embarrassed, but he still wouldn't give up and insisted on blocking Lu Fan's promotion. So he wrote a report letter himself, fabricating Lu Fan's five major crimes: corruption and bribery, abuse of power for personal gain, retaliation, messing around with male-female relationships, and indiscriminate issuance of tutoring fees. He sent it to the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission and the Municipal Organization Department in the names of those principals, and found someone to impersonate them to make a report call.

While Lu Fan was in the inspection period, the Cadre Supervision Section of the Municipal Organization Department took the report very seriously after receiving it and immediately reported it level by level.

When Minister Zhang Rongqiu saw these report letters, he frowned. He knew that Lu Fan was the Deputy County Chief handpicked by Secretary Li Mingzhou, and no matter what, this matter could not be messed up.

But what Zhang Rongqiu didn't expect was that the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission had actually gone to Ningyang County a step ahead to investigate the disciplinary violations Lu Fan might be involved in.

Lu Fan was reviewing documents in his office when Du Wenlong's call came in, saying urgently, "Brother Fan, the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission has come down to investigate you!"

"Ah?" Lu Fan said in astonishment, "What problems do I have?"

"I don't know the specifics. The investigation team is in Secretary Luo's office. I won't say more for now; I'll send you a message if there's any situation."

After hanging up, Lu Fan began to get nervous. After thinking for a moment, he immediately went to the County Government to seek help from County Chief Bian Jide.

However, when he arrived at the County Government, Lu Fan had a wasted trip; the secretary informed him that the County Chief had gone to the County Party Committee.

At this moment, in County Party Committee Secretary Hu Chengwei's office, Bian Jide was listening to the briefing from Su Nalan, Director of the Third Supervision and Inspection Office of the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission, with a serious expression.

"Secretary Hu, County Chief Bian, that is the situation. We are also following work procedures; for every real-name report, we must investigate every letter and give a formal reply to the reporter."

Hu Chengwei frowned and said, "First, I will state my position: the Ningyang County Party Committee actively cooperates with the work of the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission. But there is one point I want to make: Lu Fan is in the inspection period and is about to be promoted to Deputy County Chief. Shouldn't we be more cautious!"

Su Nalan said, "We must look at this issue dialectically. The Discipline Inspection Commission's investigation is also a protection for cadres. If there are problems, correct them; if not, encourage them!"

Bian Jide was unhappy and said, "Director Su, we all know the importance of promotion to a cadre. Lu Fan is in the inspection period. In the spirit of being responsible for cadres, we should be even more cautious!"

"As for the content of these reports, they are clearly fabricated at a glance, and some are even groundless. If nothing is found, and we don't clarify it for him, leaving the cadre looking disgraced, it will affect the cadre's growth at best, and delay the development of the cause at worst. In the end, the ones who succeed are the false accusers."

"In work, cadres who can do things and get things done, because they adhere to principles and dare to take responsibility, benefit the majority but offend a few individuals. As soon as there is any disturbance, someone jumps out to 'report'."

"Lu Fan's work achievements are obvious to all and have a good reputation. We cannot indulge the formation of a culture of false accusations and make those who do work feel cold!"

Su Nalan was in a difficult position. Coming down to investigate was specifically instructed by Deputy Secretary Liu Junsheng, who wanted special things to be handled specially and with great fanfare. The meaning was very clear: to put Lu Fan's promotion on hold first.

He knew that cutting off someone's wealth is like killing their parents, and blocking someone's future is even worse. He didn't want to offend people unintentionally. To be able to be promoted to Deputy County Chief at such a young age, who would believe he has no background?

So he said, "No matter what, we still have to investigate. After all, it is a real-name report, and the Discipline Inspection Commission has work principles and procedures."

Bian Jide asked, "Team Leader Su, can I ask who reported it? Is there any evidence at all?"

"This, we have confidentiality principles and it is not convenient to disclose. I can only say that some issues remain to be verified."

Bian Jide continued, "Secretary Hu, Team Leader Su, my personal opinion is that the investigation needs to be cautious and absolutely cannot be groundless!"

Hu Chengwei's landline rang. The number was actually the landline of the Minister of the Municipal Organization Department. He hurriedly answered the phone and said, "Hello, Minister Zhang!"

"Chengwei, the Organization Department has received several report letters about Lu Fan. I want to understand the situation with you."

Hu Chengwei didn't know how to answer. He certainly couldn't guarantee for an unrelated person in such a matter, so he said, "Minister, I am not yet clear about the specific content of the report, but comrades from the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission have already arrived in Ningyang, and we are discussing this matter."

"Hmm? The Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission has already gone down? Why don't I know? You tell them not to act rashly; I'm going to the Municipal Party Committee."

"Alright, Minister!"

After hanging up, Hu Chengwei said to Su Nalan, "Director Su, it's a call from Minister Zhang of the Organization Department. Let's wait a little bit!"

Su Nalan was not in a hurry at all and began to slowly taste the tea.

When County Party Committee Office Director Liu Guannan saw the people from the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission, he was ecstatic. He didn't expect the people above to act so quickly. He began to look forward to the subsequent development, hoping it would delay Lu Fan's promotion, and wouldn't his chance come then!

Municipal Party Committee Secretary Li Mingzhou was reviewing documents. Seeing Zhang Rongqiu enter in a hurry, he put down his pen and asked, "What's the matter?"

"Secretary, there was a problem in Ningyang during this county-level personnel adjustment. Someone reported Lu Fan, and the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission has already gone to Ningyang. This is the report letter."

Li Mingzhou frowned, took the report letter, and began to read it.

Then, he dialed the phone of Ningyang County Party Committee Secretary Hu Chengwei and asked with a serious tone, "Corruption and bribery, abuse of power for personal gain, retaliation, messing around with male-female relationships, and indiscriminate issuance of tutoring fees—does Lu Fan have these problems?"

Hu Chengwei replied truthfully, "Secretary, the indiscriminate issuance of tutoring fees is untrue; this matter was decided when I was County Chief. I have never heard of messing around with male-female relationships; it should be untrue. Lu Fan is quite solid in this regard. As for retaliation, Lu Fan has dealt with several principals, but there were reasons for it, and it was done with the consent of the County Party Committee and County Government, and handled by the County Discipline Inspection Commission. As for corruption, bribery, and abuse of power for personal gain, this requires investigation and evidence collection; I dare not draw conclusions rashly."

"Hmm, I see. Is the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission there with you?"

"Yes, Secretary. Director Su Nalan of the Third Supervision and Inspection Office is in my office."

Li Mingzhou hung up the phone directly and said to Zhang Rongqiu, "Every time there is a personnel adjustment, there are many strange things! When some people's demands cannot be met for a while, they start to use their 'small abacus', accusing and framing others by creating something out of nothing, fabricating, and distorting facts to achieve ulterior motives!"

"A round of 'black accusations' can suspend the selection and appointment procedures and delay the organizational arrangements for the selection of excellent cadres!"

"Rongqiu, you lead the Organization Department, call the Discipline Inspection Commission, and verify the content of the report. Finish it within two days! We cannot let false accusations and framing affect the political future of a good cadre. For those that are untrue or have no evidence, we must carry out clarification work, publicly clarify and rectify the names of the cadres who were falsely accused and framed, give the cadres a 'reassurance pill', and eliminate the bad influence!"

"Alright, Secretary, I will arrange it immediately!"

"Hmm, in recent years, this kind of crooked atmosphere has occurred repeatedly, and we must be vigilant! You know, false accusations are like ice, cold and bone-chilling; framing is like a knife, hurting people with every cut. To remove evil, we must support the right; only by clearing the turbid can we raise the clear!"

Zhang Rongqiu took the order and left. Li Mingzhou personally dialed the phone of the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary, asking him to come to his office immediately.

After people arrived, Li Mingzhou gave a severe reprimand, with endless labels like lack of organization and discipline, and creating an independent kingdom.

Half an hour later, roars came from the Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary's office, and Deputy Secretary Liu Junsheng was scolded like a turtle's grandson.

Before noon, the investigation team sent by the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission to Ningyang was urgently withdrawn.

At the same time, the investigation team of the Municipal Organization Department went to Ningyang, led by the Deputy Minister himself, and Director Su Nalan returned to Chang'an for the second time, becoming a member of the investigation team.

Deputy Minister Ren Jian knew what he was doing in Ningyang because the Minister had given special instructions. So after the investigation team arrived in Ningyang, they quickly launched a secret investigation into the content of the report letter, basically without alarming anyone, and only County Party Committee Secretary Hu Chengwei knew.

After a day of secret visits, the investigation team found that the content of the report letter was purely groundless, and on the contrary, Lu Fan's reputation among the masses was very high.

And when visiting the reporters, those dismissed principals swore that they had never engaged in any reporting behavior, and it was definitely someone impersonating them.

The investigation team quickly produced investigation conclusions and returned to the city to report to Minister Zhang Rongqiu.

At this time, Lu Fan was still in his office, worried. After all, no one would be in a good mood when encountering such a thing.

There is no wall without cracks in the world. There were also some rumors in the county, and some even rumored that Lu Fan had already been "Shuanggui" (detained for investigation), fearing that the world wouldn't be in chaos!

On the third day of Lu Fan's public notice, Education Bureau Deputy Director Wang Fei asked for leave to go to Yinzhou to find his old classmate Wang Hongtao to seek progress in his position.

After meeting and hearing Wang Fei's request, Wang Hongtao pondered for a moment and said, "When I was in Zhenbei, Hu Chengwei borrowed money from me to pay wages. That was the only intersection, and then just greeting each other at meetings. It's not impossible to speak to him, but I don't know if he will give face."

Adding a chapter, I apologize to all book friends. There are bad people among the masses, so the group can only be disbanded!

Let me explain again, I mostly encourage everyone to power up, there is no so-called harvesting leeks, asking everyone to gift, etc.

As for some malicious slander, please pay attention to the book, and just laugh off the rest!

Thank you all for your consistent support!