Chapter 630

Lu Fan threw out both an "olive branch" and a "death warrant"; if Yuan Zhijun does not take it up, there is no need to continue the discussion, from now on he will completely disappear from the field of vision of the Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Committee.

At this moment, Yuan Zhijun faces a major test in his career! Since coming to Jiuyuan City to take office, Municipal Party Secretary Huang Ketao "covers the sky with one hand", several vice mayors "each go their own way", many of his ideas cannot be implemented, this mayor feels stifled, who still has no ambition? But he now indeed lacks the power to change the situation.

After weighing the pros and cons, Yuan Zhijun looked firmly at Lu Fan and said: "Secretary, Jiuyuan City indeed has serious corruption problems, forming cliques, engaging in 'small circles' and 'one-man rule', kowtowing and swearing brotherhood are rampant, mutual collusion forms a huge interest group, which is an important factor restricting Jiuyuan's development."

Zhang Ming has served as district chief, district Party secretary, member of the Municipal Party Standing Committee, vice mayor, chairman of the Municipal CPPCC, etc., with no bottom line, profiteering, insatiable greed, recklessly amassing wealth, illegally accepting money and goods, causing serious damage to Jiuyuan's political ecology. But his case only involves a few insignificant people, some leaders who had close dealings with him are "unscathed", which is extremely abnormal. But given the current situation, he indeed feels powerless, can only look on helplessly, feeling anguished and indignant!

Hearing these words, Lu Fan nodded and said: "The anti-corruption struggle must never stop for a moment; we must forever sound the charge! In the face of violent storms and raging waves, we must have the determination of 'though tens of thousands, I go forward'! There's nothing to fear; as long as we maintain sufficient clarity and resolve, we will surely win the tough and protracted battle of the anti-corruption struggle, letting the grasslands continually renew vigor in self-revolution!"

Serving a sentence does not mean the case is closed; Zhijun, the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee will reopen the investigation into Zhang Ming, follow the vine to uncover his corrupt interest network and protective umbrella, maintaining a Zero Tolerance attitude, undiminished determination to administer strong medicine to cure the disease, undiminished courage to scrape poison from the bone, no rank limits, no blind spots, no gaps, resolutely eradicate evil completely, punish corruption, eradicate greed! You must prepare for this, cooperate with the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee to win this "battle"!

Yuan Zhijun firmly replied: "Secretary, I will stand by at any time, always ready!"

……

July 29, Lu Fan had just returned to the Provincial Party Committee when Du Wenlong and Sun Yu came to report the interrogation situation of the case.

After entering, Du Wenlong said: "Secretary, after Sun Yu and his team's day-and-night struggle, the interrogation has made a breakthrough, with 12 people having their defenses broken, including one bureau chief and one deputy bureau chief, and ten division-level officials; they have disclosed many problems, already involving the director of the Provincial Justice Department and two deputy directors, as well as the office director and the head of the Legislative Section One, nine mid-level leaders in total."

Lu Fan thought for a moment and said: "Immediately 'invite' them all to the Discipline Inspection Committee to cooperate with the case investigation!"

Du Wenlong asked: "Should we report to the Provincial Party Committee for approval?"

Lu Fan shook his head and said: "Every leading cadre has the duty to cooperate with the Discipline Inspection Committee's investigation and review; it's not a case filing, so no need to report, just go and 'invite' them directly!"

Du Wenlong again asked: "After they are 'invited' over, is there a time limit?"

Lu Fan directly replied: "Until we have the evidence! Wenlong, Sun Yu, you personally take charge of interrogating the director and deputy directors of the Justice Department; you must pay attention to confidentiality measures, find absolutely reliable people to participate in the interrogation, certainly do not let those with ulterior motives find an opening, especially pay attention to their personal safety, prevent some from 'jumping the wall when cornered'!"

"Please rest assured, Secretary, we will pay attention."

At 11:00 a. m., the Executive Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee, Du Wenlong, personally led the team to the Provincial Justice Department office building.

After the secretary's notification, Du Wenlong entered the director's office, with a solemn expression, saying: "Director Jiang, I am Du Wenlong of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee, sorry to disturb you!"

Jiang Yizhong feigned calm, showing a stiff smile, and politely said: "Secretary Du, your esteemed presence is a rare honor; please take a seat! If there is any work requiring the Justice Department's cooperation, feel free to give orders!"

Du Wenlong said: "Indeed there is a matter requiring Director Jiang's cooperation; relevant personnel of the Provincial Prison Administration Bureau have disclosed some problems; please come with me to the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee to assist in the organizational investigation and review!" His tone was plain but contained an undeniable solemnity.

Hearing this, Jiang Yizhong's heart gave a thump, as if falling into a bottomless abyss; both hands began to tremble, his legs also felt somewhat unresponsive. He suppressed his inner panic, forcing his voice to stay calm, stammering: "Du... Du Secretary, I want to know what the issue is? How long will it take? There are still many important tasks in the department that I need to handle personally."

Du Wenlong replied: "Please rest assured, Director Jiang, it won't take long; just to clarify some matters, it won't delay your work."

"Alright, I will fully cooperate with the organizational investigation!" Jiang Yizhong never imagined that this would be a long, indefinite separation; this was his last time staying in the director's office.

Under the "escort" of two discipline inspection cadres, Jiang Yizhong walked out of the office, hastily walking toward the elevator out of shame, unable to face his colleagues.

Next, Du Wenlong went to the deputy director's office, likewise giving his polite "invitation" to go to the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee.

Sun Yu was also acting, taking the ten division-level cadres one by one downstairs.

Now even a fool could understand, the Justice Department had experienced an "earthquake"!

Upon receiving the news, Political and Legal Committee Secretary Yang Jiale's face filled with disbelief, then he fell into fury! Moving people of the political and legal system, the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee actually did not greet him, this Political and Legal Committee Secretary, Lu Fan completely disregarded him, truly unbearable!

Thus, Yang Jiale stormed to the office of Secretary Li Xingyuan, speaking harshly: "Secretary, the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee is utterly lacking in discipline, isn't it? They took away more than ten people from the Justice Department, even the director, and I, this Political and Legal Committee Secretary, knew nothing about it; Lu Fan is simply too overbearing!"

Li Xingyuan exclaimed: "What? The Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee took Jiang Yizhong away?"

Yang Jiale said indignantly: "You, Secretary, actually didn't know? Moving a bureau chief, he didn't even report to the Provincial Party Committee? He lacks organization and discipline; he's only been here a few days and already disregards the Provincial Party Committee; Secretary, you must make him understand the rules!"

Unexpectedly, Li Xingyuan's emotions quickly stabilized, and he said lightly: "If it's merely cooperation with the investigation, no need to report to the Provincial Party Committee; the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee has this authority. Lu Fan is also a veteran leader, surely he wouldn't be so lacking in discipline; I'll ask him about it later."

Yang Jiale urged: "That also cannot be done by arbitrarily taking away a bureau chief for no reason; just based on some people's one-sided nonsense, they directly take the bureau chief out of the unit? What a bad influence? How will they return to work in the unit later? Secretary, what needs to be corrected must be corrected; bad habits are ingrained; the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee should carry out work under the leadership of the Provincial Party Committee; if left unchecked, he will become even more reckless and wanton!"

"Alright, I understand; you go attend to your business, I will handle this matter myself!"

Yang Jiale said unwillingly: "Secretary, we cannot let an 'outsider' ride on our heads; today he dares to move the bureau chief, tomorrow he might move the standing committee members; the grasslands must not be in chaos!"

"Mm, I understand."

Yang Jiale still wanted to say something, but seeing Li Xingyuan already beginning to review documents, he felt it would be self-defeating to continue, so he turned and left.

After returning to his unit, Du Wenlong brought several discipline inspection cadres, took the director and deputy directors of the Justice Department onto the expressway, drove around a few circles, then headed to the pre-arranged hotel in Yungu City, where he conducted interrogations of the two.

By this time, Jiang Yizhong had recovered and prepared himself for a protracted struggle with the Discipline Inspection Committee, because someone had passed along the message that perseverance equals victory; as long as he does not confess, the Discipline Inspection Committee can do nothing to him, and outside forces will also act actively, putting pressure on the Discipline Inspection Committee.

In the makeshift room, Du Wenlong began face-to-face to "storm the stronghold".

"Director Jiang, do you know why I went to great lengths to bring you here for interrogation?"

Jiang Yizhong shook his head and remained silent.

Du Wenlong said: "It's for your own safety! I have handled over 300 cases, big and small, apprehended over a thousand people, none of them wronged; let me tell you frankly, from the moment I brought you into the Discipline Inspection Committee, I opened a case against you; confessing is just a matter of time! Think about it, how many people outside don't want you to speak, just as many want you dead! You are from the judicial system; even if you haven't seen this yourself, you must have heard of it, right?"

Jiang Yizhong asked: "Secretary Du, isn't this just cooperation with the investigation? How did it become a case investigation? Can one-sided testimony alone become evidence?"

Du Wenlong smiled slightly and said: "Want evidence? That's simple; you own three houses, I have already sent people to your home to 'inventory the assets'; I believe we will soon have the evidence you want! Moreover, we have thoroughly investigated and carefully vetted the property income and sources of all your relatives."

Now Jiang Yizhong became agitated and exclaimed: "Secretary Du, you can't do this, can you? You can't violate discipline yourself! I am merely cooperating with the investigation; on what grounds do you search my personal privacy?"

Du Wenlong replied: "The process doesn't matter, only the result does! When that cash, gold and silver, antiquities, calligraphy and paintings are placed before you, who will still care about those trivial details? I can clearly tell you, everyone I have personally brought to the Discipline Inspection Committee cannot resist! If you oppose organizational review, fantasize about slipping through, cover up disciplinary and illegal facts, evade organizational investigation, I can clearly tell you, that is futile; in the face of Party discipline and state law, stubborn resistance not only fails to escape liability, but also loses the chance for self-redemption!"

Hearing these words, Jiang Yizhong's heart turned to ashes, yet he still clung to a sliver of hope, not believing he would become a "sacrificial pawn".