Chapter 589: Targeted Anti-Corruption

The anti‑corruption struggle is long‑term, arduous, complex, and also purposeful!

As comrade Rui Long said: "Where do so many corrupt elements come from? Frankly, isn't it just your internal strife?" The words are blunt but not unreasonable, directly pointing to the core and essence of the problem.

Secretary Tang Bing is about to leave Huayuan, personnel need to be reshuffled, and there are no vacant posts, so a fierce anti‑corruption struggle has been set in motion!

Mayor Qi Shengyuan of Yiyang City was handling official business when the landline rang; he answered, "Hello!"

"Mayor Shengyin, I am Fang Yang of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee!"

Qi Shengyin felt a sudden jolt in his heart and immediately replied, "Secretary Fang, hello, what instructions do you have?"

Fang Yang replied calmly, "Sorry to disturb your work. Some issues need your cooperation for clarification; please come to the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee as soon as possible."

"Alright, I'll set out immediately." After hanging up, Qi Shengyin's heart sank to the bottom of a valley, his mood extremely low.

Since Secretary Li Mingyang was placed under investigation, he could say he lives each day in constant fear, as if treading thin ice, always dreading a visit from the Discipline Inspection Committee, yet that day finally arrived!

In a world of mutual deceit, you must "choose a side"; it's a high‑stakes gamble—choose correctly and rise step by step, choose wrongly and fall into an abyss!

Unwilling to delay even a moment, Qi Shengyin sped to the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee; along the way he devised many response strategies, but ultimately rejected each of them himself.

In the end, he called his wife and his mother, briefing them on certain matters.

Arriving at the Deputy Secretary's office of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee, Qi Shengyin was filled with anxiety; no one can remain as calm as water at this moment.

Fang Yang personally brewed a cup of tea for Qi Shengyin, then handed him a file folder, and sat silently in his office chair.

Even though Qi Shengyin was mentally prepared, after reading the fifteen denunciation letters he instantly felt a cold draft climbing up his spine and, trembling, asked, "Secretary Fang, what does this mean?"

Fang Yang said gravely, "The matter involves 23 clues; I have already sent people to verify them, and I believe results will come soon. The organization will not wrong a good person nor let a bad one go. As a leading cadre, one must always be loyal to the Party; this is a principle of Party character and political quality. Now you need to speak honestly, act honestly, be an honest person, report the situation truthfully to the organization, cooperate with its review and investigation, so you can pull back from the brink and avoid sinking deeper!"

Qi Shengyin sighed, "Secretary Fang, I will cooperate with the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee's investigation. To be frank, at my level, who can't have problems uncovered? Who can be spotless?"

Fang Yang replied, "At your rank, you should know what to say and what not to say; are you uncertain? If you think someone has an issue, present solid evidence and I will investigate each case. Comrade Shengyin, just explain your own problems!"

Qi Shengyin said helplessly, "Secretary Fang, could you give me a chance? I am willing to cooperate with the organization's investigation and obey any reassignment, without picking or resisting!" He already realized he was a sacrificial lamb, meant to make room for others.

Fang Yang thought for a moment, then said, "I will report your attitude and requests to the organization truthfully. You may return now, but keep communications open and be ready to cooperate with the Discipline Inspection Committee's investigation at any time."

"Alright, Secretary Fang, I understand the protocol!"

Watching Qi Shengyin leave the office, Fang Yang sighed, "He's a smart man, knows how to read the times and act accordingly, saving himself in time—a capable person, but unfortunately chose the wrong side."

A short while later, the mayor of Diqu City entered Fang Yang's office, nervous and uneasy.

But this man lacked Qi Shengyin's breadth and wisdom; he flatly denied the contents of the denunciation letters and shouted that he was wronged.

Fang Yang admonished, "Being indifferent to the organization's rescue, stubbornly refusing to see reason, trying to play tricks to hide the truth, resisting the organization's review, and hoping to slip through, will not let you escape culpability but will cost you the chance to save yourself. I hope you do not betray the organization's earnest effort!"

"Relying only on one side's words, using 'a letter and a few coins', you deliberately create 'black material' and 'traps' to strike back. Secretary Fang, please see clearly; you cannot simply satisfy the accuser's wishes! It cannot be that every false accusation ends a cadre's political career; that would severely dampen cadres' enthusiasm and affect Huayuan's political ecology!"

Facing such a stubborn person, Fang Yang had to act decisively, handing him over to the director of Inspection Division One, Lin Changping, and issuing a strict order for a time‑limited investigation.

June 25, Huayuan Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee Supervision Commission announced: Recently, with the Provincial Party Committee's approval, the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee Supervision Commission filed a case to review serious disciplinary violations of the mayor of Diqu City and the director of the Provincial Agriculture Department.

Investigation found the two had lost their ideals, abandoned their original mission, were disloyal and dishonest to the Party, and resisted organizational review. According to the "Regulations on Disciplinary Punishments" and related rules, after the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee Supervision Commission meeting studied the case and reported to the Provincial Party Committee for approval, it was decided to strip both comrades of their Party positions and dismiss them.

The decision caused a ripple of debate among cadres and the public; outsiders watch the spectacle, insiders see the nuances. This anti‑corruption action was silent, and both were old acquaintances of Li Mingyang, making the inner story especially intriguing.

Governor Liu Linghao, after finishing work talk with Secretary Tang Bing, turned a corner and "incidentally" visited the Organization Department.

Seeing the Governor arrive, Lu Fan hurried to greet him, took his grandfather's fine tea from the cabinet, personally served tea and water, and politely said, "Governor, if you need anything, just let me know and I'll go to the Provincial Government for instructions."

Governor Liu Linghao laughed, "I just reported work to the Secretary and thought I'd drop by your place as well."

Lu Fan placed the tea before Liu Linghao, smiling, "This is the 'Shun' tea I inherited from my grandfather; it's the first time I've served it to guests!"

"Then I'm in for a treat!"

After some casual chat, Governor Liu Linghao asked, "Comrade Lingyun's move was a bit sudden; is there a candidate for the Agriculture Department?"

Lu Fan replied honestly, "One radish, one hole!"

Governor Liu Linghao mused, "Is there any situation with Secretary Wang?"

"Last week I called to report the problems found in the 'look‑back' of the institutional reform of public institutions, mentioning your strong support for the reform; Secretary Wang was very pleased. I have little influence, so this is all I could do!"

Hearing this, Governor Liu Linghao said happily, "That's great! Lu Fan, thank you!"

"I keep your support and help in mind, Governor; it's what I should do, though I can't be of much help, and I feel a bit resentful!"

Governor Liu Linghao sighed, "To gain it is my luck, to lose it is my fate; what must happen will happen, what follows nature, I have already let it go!"

"Opportunities are rare; we must seize what we should, leaving no regrets. Governor, wherever I can contribute, I will devote myself wholeheartedly."

"Good, we're of one mind, no need for two sides of talk."

After the Governor left, Lu Fan began to look for a way out for Mayor Qi Shengyin of Yiyang City. Frankly, he is a capable official; his corruption issues aren't severe and are salvageable, so Lu Fan intends to discuss it with him in person, truly valuing his talent.

Returning to the Provincial Party Committee compound again, Qi Shengyin felt his heart turn to ash, as if he were a lamb about to be slaughtered, at others' disposal. However, he was glad about his decision, because someone had already become a "model," and he was likely to "land safely," retiring more than twenty years early, which is better than being forced into a "sewing‑machine."

After entering the minister's office, Qi Shengyin said respectfully, "Minister, I have arrived to report."

Lu Fan put down his pen, looked up and said, "Comrade Shengyin, have a seat and speak."

Qi Shengyin sat cautiously opposite Lu Fan, uneasy as he "awaited judgment."

Lu Fan said, "I have been closely following Yiyang's development. Last year Yiyang's GDP exceeded 330 billion, up 4% year‑on‑year; per‑capita GDP was 51,700 yuan, up 3.8%; 80,000 new jobs were created; total fiscal revenue surpassed 20 billion, up 2%; grain output reached 5.9 million tons, up 1.5%; pork, beef, lamb and poultry meat output was 510,000 tons, up 2%; fixed‑asset investment grew 12%; per‑capita disposable income was 25,500 yuan, up 6.0%. In short, during your tenure as mayor, the economy grew steadily, and your work is commendable."

"In my position, I must fulfill my duties, bear responsibility, and do my part. The organization placed me here, so I must work diligently and conscientiously. However, even if we strive with all our might, we still cannot see the shadow of Nanyuan City; I greatly admire the minister's brilliant achievements!" Qi Shengyin felt something was odd; normally one would not remove his own "hat," and leaders do not speak of their own achievements—could there be a twist? A sliver of hope ignited in his mind, because the minister before him truly differed from other leaders.

Lu Fan looked at Qi Shengyin and said earnestly, "Comrade Shengyin, I have a saying for you: Life has things one can do and things one cannot. For what can be done, one should strive to do it—that is fulfilling one's nature; for what cannot be done, one should follow one's heart—that is knowing one's destiny. You are a smart person; I have said all I need to say here."

"Minister, I understand, thank you very much for your guidance!"

"I intend to promote you to Deputy Secretary‑General of the Provincial Party Committee, hoping you will guard the anti‑corruption and anti‑deviation front, start with small matters, keep a righteous heart, uphold the Dao, cherish virtue, diligently sweep away 'thought dust', reflect on 'greed's harm', constantly root out the 'thief within', be cautious in solitude, in subtleties, in speech, in action, serve as an official with pure integrity, work with spotless conduct, and be a person of upright character! Go to the Discipline Inspection Committee and find Secretary Fang, clarify all issues you can explain, and push away what should be dismissed!"

Qi Shengyin rose and said, "I will never forget the minister's kindness; just watch my performance!" At that moment, a fierce fire blazed in his heart, his gratitude toward the minister beyond words!