Chapter 626

The two talked for over two hours, Zhao Ziren spoke without reservation, letting Lu Fan gain a deeper and clearer understanding of the grassland situation, while also feeling the weight on his shoulders grow heavier.

Night fell, Zhao Ziren rose and said, "Secretary Lu, heaven is big, earth is big, but the belly is biggest; I often go to a private restaurant that's quiet and tasty—let's have a few drinks? As this 'landlord' and my classmates, I ought to welcome you!"

Lu Fan laughed and said, "With such sincerity, I can't refuse! Call Du Wenlong and Lin Changping as well."

"Who else do you need to invite? Let's all go together—adding a pair of chopsticks is no trouble, the more the merrier."

Lu Fan thought it over, called Cheng Haohao, and asked him to contact Yang Minghao and Liu Jin Zhu for dinner that evening.

At eight in the evening, in a private restaurant in the urban area, Zhao Ziren and Lu Fan's "core team" gathered, raising cups and chatting merrily to welcome and cleanse Lu Fan.

Seeing this lineup—the two deputy secretaries of the Discipline Inspection Committee, the deputy director of the Public Security Department, and the chief of the Provincial Capital Public Security Bureau—Zhao Ziren felt more confident about "picking sides." He believed Lu Fan could certainly plant his feet firmly on the grassland and achieve great ambitions, for merely holding the titles of Provincial Party Committee Deputy Secretary and Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee Deputy Secretary would allow him to "establish his own base," raise a recruitment banner, and have followers naturally.

After the gathering, with a bit of alcohol in his system, Lu Fan rested directly in the private restaurant; the guest rooms were lavishly decorated, apparently a place the owner had set up specially to entertain guests, so Du Wenlong, Yang Minghao, and Liu Jin Zhu naturally stayed to accompany Brother Fan.

The four talked by candlelight, as if time had turned back to the days in Yingjiang.

Lying in bed, Lu Fan laughed and said, "Finally I can fight side by side with you again! Let's stir up a 'Nezya Havoc in the Sea,' churn the grassland into chaos—what era is this? The grassland ought to part the clouds and see the sun!"

Liu Jin Zhu was in high spirits, laughing and saying, "Brother Fan, you point, we strike; here it looks calm on the surface, but undercurrents run deep, the interest chain is deep and long—actually many resources and industries are monopolized, which is truly terrifying!"

Yang Minghao said, "Brother Fan, as the provincial capital, Qingcheng City's situation is also grim; it's basically Yun Shuo's one-man show, with the mayor and standing committee members following his lead, impervious to advice, roads are constantly repaired and then ruined, traffic conditions you've seen—congestion worse than in first-tier cities—and all government investment projects are under their control. In the past few months, my feeling has been shocking!"

Lu Fan asked, "Has your vice mayor position not been settled yet?"

Yang Minghao replied, "The secretary and mayor avoid mentioning my appointment as vice mayor, and I don't want to owe them a favor."

Lu Fan said, "Don't worry about this; I'll find a chance to warn Yun Shuo. The Provincial Capital Public Security Bureau bears great responsibility—how much control do you, as bureau chief, have over your unit?"

Yang Minghao gave a self-deprecating laugh and said, "Basically I'm a bare-bones commander now—heavy responsibility, long road ahead! It's really tough; several deputy directors obey in name only, defy in action, mid-level staff don't follow orders, I can't even get orders out of my office—surely I can't just go direct the police myself!"

Lu Fan thought and said, "Minghao, first take down a few to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys, to shake the mountain and startle the tiger! Give the list to Wenlong; the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee will handle the case directly, bypassing ranks—whoever doesn't obey will be taken down. I suspect those people aren't clean either; investigate one, you'll find guilt."

Yang Minghao happily said, "I've long been ready, Wenlong—thank you for your effort! Whether I can break the situation depends on you!" After speaking, he pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Du Wenlong.

Du Wenlong laughed and replied, "Leave it to me, don't worry! That bunch of riffraff—how many could withstand an investigation?"

Lu Fan then asked, "Jinzhu, how are you doing in the Public Security Department?"

Liu Jin Zhu replied, "Not great; the Public Security Department is very exclusive, I'm like a transparent person, the divisions I oversee treat me like they're enshrining a Maitreya Buddha—basically they don't consult me on business, I can't be bothered to argue with them, and even if I had opinions, the department head wouldn't support me, they'd just brush it off with a few words."

Lu Fan said helplessly, "I also can't go pointing fingers at the Public Security Department; just slowly accumulate strength and wait for the right moment, but confidence must never waver!"

"Rest assured, I know why I'm here—darkness will always pass, dawn will surely come! I will definitely keep my confidence and just get it done! Brother Fan taking office today, I bet many are trembling!"

What Liu Jin Zhu said was correct; tonight Lu Fan became the talk of many dinner tables, with everyone discussing his past, today's inaugural speech, analyzing what he'll do next and what changes he'll bring to the grassland.

Executive Deputy Provincial Governor Gu Yunhao, Provincial Party Committee Secretary-General He Yuanhang, Political and Legal Committee Secretary Yang Jiale, Deputy Provincial Governor Yun Junjie, Deputy Provincial Governor Liu Hanwen, Qingcheng Municipal Party Committee Secretary Yun Shuo, and Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee Deputy Secretary Yun Zhangsheng gathered together, drinking and chatting, with only one topic: what Lu Fan will do next.

Yun Zhangsheng said, "This afternoon, Secretary Lu and Du Wenlong, Lin Changping talked for a good while without calling me—I bet they couldn't come up with anything good! Just now the General Office called me; Zhao Ziren stayed in Lu Fan's office for over two hours."

Gu Yunhao frowned and said, "Zhao Ziren truly doesn't know gratitude; as soon as Lu Fan arrived, he came fawning like a dog, and the two seem to be bunking together at the party school!"

He Yuanhang said, "No wonder they get along so well; I feel Zhao Ziren went to the party school with some ulterior motive—why would a low-ranking deputy provincial governor be allowed to go?"

Yun Shuo cursed, "What's the fuss over him? With just a deputy secretary plus a deputy provincial governor, could they really overturn heaven? We're not made of mud! If they don't know their place, we might as well take them down!"

Yun Junjie snapped, "You brute! Even as a Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee member and Municipal Party Committee Secretary, you still speak without restraint? You're usually such a coward in the city—look at how many complaint letters the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee has about you! If it weren't for Zhangsheng reining you in, we wouldn't know what trouble you'd have caused!"

Yun Shuo hurriedly pleaded, "Second brother, I was wrong—can't I just change, change?"

Gu Yunhao said to Yun Zhangsheng, "Lu Fan arriving at the Discipline Inspection Committee will surely not stay quiet; tell the comrades there to be careful with their words and actions, clock in and out on time, work diligently, so Lu Fan won't catch any handle to exploit."

Yun Zhangsheng nodded and said, "I already gave the instructions a couple days ago, but if he loses his temper he'll always find a pretext. Should I go sound him out? See if I can win him over? After all, everyone has some hobby—money, beautiful women!"

Gu Yunhao thought and said, "No need for now; I'll go visit him tomorrow. Zhangsheng, you also need to be careful—women are trouble, as a deputy secretary of the Discipline Inspection Committee you should keep yourself clean, especially lately."

"Got it, I know the priorities!" Yun Zhangsheng gave an embarrassed laugh.

Gu Yunhao then asked He Yuanhang, "What is Secretary Xingyuan's attitude toward Lu Fan?"

He Yuanhang thought and replied, "It feels fairly enthusiastic; when they talk alone, there are no sensitive topics."

"Increase efforts toward Secretary Xingyuan; specifically, you must gauge the balance and be sure to meet every request!"

……

The next day, Lu Fan and Du Wenlong walked to their unit.

Just as they entered the office, Sun Yu pushed the door open and said respectfully, "Secretary, I am Sun Yu, deputy director of the First Supervision Office, here to report work."

Lu Fan was about to brew a cup of tea when Sun Yu hurriedly took the cup, fetched a box of ripe pu'er from the tea cabinet, brewed it, and gently placed it on the desk. He had consulted Director Lu Yao and knew Secretary Lu loved pu'er.

Lu Fan lifted the cup, took a sip, and said, "Do you know about the Yun Lianfeng case?"

Sun Yu replied, "I know it in detail; after Director Lu Yao gave instructions, I investigated for four months."

Lu Fan then asked, "And you know, Yun Lianfeng's target was my wife, right?"

"I know; please instruct, Secretary!"

"Do you think merely handling those dozen or so prison personnel is reasonable? Is it legal?"

"Secretary, it's absolutely unreasonable! Without a behind-the-scenes 'protective umbrella,' those prison people wouldn't let Yun Lianfeng be so lawless and wanton!"

Lu Fan gazed sharply at Sun Yu, speaking in a deep voice: "This case is yours to handle—trace it to the root, leave no stone unturned, no matter who is involved, investigate to the end, show no leniency, prosecute fully! Do you have confidence?" Those bright, piercing eyes seemed able to see into people's hearts,

Sun Yu showed no hesitation, straightening his chest, fixing a determined gaze on Lu Fan, and solemnly replied: "Please rest assured, Secretary; no matter what difficulties or obstacles arise, I will resolutely investigate this case to the bottom, completely lift the 'umbrella,' and return to society a fair and just outcome!"

"Good, if you need any help, go directly to Secretary Wenlong."

Having handled cases for half a lifetime, Sun Yu had never felt this moved before. Since Director Lu Yao revealed the truth, he had been awaiting this moment.

Sun Yu knew that if he handled this assignment well, he might get a chance to soar; the longed-for position of Supervision Office Director might be within easy reach, and perhaps he could even surpass his dreams and advance to a higher leadership post.

As for the case assigned by the Secretary, we must absolutely get to the bottom of it, digging out all those demons and monsters; whoever dares to obstruct will face gods slaying gods, Buddhas slaying Buddhas, and bayonets seeing red!

Leaving the Secretary's office, Sun Yu immediately conveyed the leadership's instructions to Executive Deputy Secretary Du Wenlong and proposed setting up a special task force.

Du Wenlong agreed without hesitation, knowing Lu Fan's intent—using "public revenge for private grudges" as the perfect excuse.

Thus, Lu Fan's first special task force after taking office was established; based on public reports, it reinvestigated the case of prison negligence and indulgence of criminals that allowed inmate Yun Lianfeng to come and go freely, resulting in deaths—seeking the truth, giving victims justice, giving society an account, and using this as an opportunity to purify the ranks of public officials.

As soon as the news came out, it attracted attention from all quarters.