Chapter 642

To do good work, one must first sharpen one's tools. The Discipline Inspection Committee wants to perform its duties better; it must hone the 'discipline enforcement vanguard' this sharp blade, so as to achieve sharpening the knife without delaying the woodcutter, thereby achieving twice the result with half the effort.

After more than a week of investigation, Lu Fan recruited over twenty talents from the grassroots discipline inspection front lines, basically able to fill the positions of directors and deputy directors of all departments of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee; this elite force, once equipped with 'armor', will draw their swords against unhealthy practices throughout the province!

September 10, the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee carried out a large-scale internal reshuffle, completely changing its leadership: Director of Supervision Office One Sun Yu; Director of Supervision Office Two Song Junhui (transferred down from the Central Discipline Inspection Committee), Deputy Director Xu Yongtao (Qingcheng City Discipline Inspection Committee); Director of Supervision Office Three Peng Yunhu (Deputy Secretary of Uda City Discipline Inspection Committee); Director of Supervision Office Four Wang Shanshi (transferred down from the Central Discipline Inspection Committee); Director of Supervision Office Five Xu Ze xin (Deputy Secretary of Zhelimu City Discipline Inspection Committee); Director of Supervision Office Six Liu Zan, Deputy Director Jia Jun (Deputy Secretary of County Discipline Inspection Committee); Director of Supervision Office Seven Lin Changguo, Deputy Director Wang Dong; Director of Supervision Office Eight Chen Hangjia (special talent introduction), Deputy Director Liu Si (Municipal Procuratorate); Director of Supervision Office Nine Zhang Yuliang (grassroots); Director of Supervision Office Ten Hao Wei……

Some department heads also had certain problems, but they had not completely turned against Yun Zhangsheng, and there was room for redemption; Lu Fan did not launch an all-out purge against them, but instead reassigned them to idle posts such as the Poverty Alleviation Task Force, the Media Center, the Party Committee of the Organs, and the Information Technology Construction Center, to observe the outcome.

Next, a large-scale 'cleanup' operation will be carried out within the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee, using the spirit of thorough self-revolution to purify the cadre ranks; whether major or minor issues, once discovered they will be eradicated root and branch, leaving no hidden troubles, resolutely forging a loyal, clean, and responsible discipline inspection iron army.

September 15, the provincial discipline inspection and supervision cadre team's education and rectification phase summary meeting was convened.

Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee Lu Wenlong reported the rectification results: the Discipline Inspection Committee organ received 1,285 leads concerning discipline inspection cadres, conducted 698 talk-inquiries, gave criticism and education to 215 people, and filed cases for investigation against 115 people.

The meeting pointed out that since the special rectification began, the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee's organ has treated it as a major political task spanning the whole year, responding promptly and advancing solidly, purifying thought and organization; discipline inspection and supervision cadres have undergone a bone-deep revolutionary tempering and a deep spiritual cleansing, achieving new improvements in political thought, work style, management supervision, and duty performance, with outstanding results and obvious effects.

The meeting emphasized that one must uphold the principle that to forge iron one must be strong oneself, treating internal rectification as a long-term task, continuously forging political loyalty, strictly purifying the ranks, examining and correcting problems, daring and skilled in struggle, and forging an absolutely loyal, reliable, and pure discipline inspection iron army with the spirit of self-revolution.

Provincial Party Committee Deputy Secretary and Discipline Inspection Committee Secretary Lu Fan said in his speech: 'If the leader does not set an example, others will not follow; if he does not lead by action, he will not be trusted.' Discipline inspection cadres must be impartial and selfless, upright and unyielding, open and aboveboard, filled with righteousness; only by enforcing discipline can they have inner 'confidence,' and only then can they avoid being tainted by external vulgar temptations.

Lu Fan emphasized that we should use the special rectification to awaken the spirit of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee, continuously transforming it into strong momentum for fulfilling duties responsibly and pragmatic commitment, more consciously deepening the rectification of conduct and discipline and anti-corruption, more proactively centering on the overall situation and serving the big picture, providing a strong guarantee for writing a new chapter of the grassroots Discipline Inspection Committee.

Clenching one's fist aims to strike more effectively; on the morning of September 16, the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee held a secretary's office meeting, which in practice was just Lu Fan, Du Wenlong, and Lin Changping discussing matters; currently two deputy secretary positions remain unfilled due to lack of suitable candidates.

After everyone arrived, Lu Fan asked: 'Changping, how is the matter you were investigating? Are the Ximeng Prison and the League Committee Secretary Wan Lingjun not clear-cut?'

Lin Changping replied: 'Secretary, Wan Lingjun has not failed to greet and look after people at the prison, but it was all conveyed through secretaries, and such matters are hard to verify; Wan Lingjun just gives a perfunctory response, leaving us with nothing to do.'

Lu Fan said: 'Then let's investigate his corruption problems; I recall there are many complaint letters about him, right?'

'Okay, Secretary, I will assign the Second Office to implement it.'

Lu Fan continued arranging: 'Wenlong, I mentioned earlier that we should re-investigate the case of the former Jiuyuan Municipal CPPCC chairman; now all office directors are in place, it's time to act!'

'Okay, Secretary, the Third Office will coordinate with Jiuyuan City; I will brief Peng Yunhu later.'

Lin Changping reported: 'Secretary, after the recent rectification, many have been dismissed; the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee now has 85 vacant positions, case-handling capacity is severely insufficient, and some deputy director posts in departments remain unfilled, which must be resolved quickly.'

Lu Fan pondered and said: 'Continue to "recruit" from the grassroots, especially at the county-level discipline inspection committees, bring up another batch of elite troops to fill the departments. To put it bluntly, what cases can a county-level discipline inspection committee handle? At most they investigate a few village party secretaries, 'cutting corners' to fulfill the superior's 'case-handling targets'; how many real cases have they handled? They are entirely nice guys, with the 'command baton' held by party committees at all levels, and their corruption problems are extremely serious, even reaching the point of 'everyone shouting to beat them'; this situation must be reversed.'

Du Wenlong said: 'What the secretary said is correct; I have worked in county-level discipline inspection committees for many years, and cadres' violations of law and discipline often take the attitude of 'making big things small, small things disappear,' 'settling matters with money'; some leaders even actively shield corrupt individuals, because they have deep mutual interests.'

Moreover, locally, discipline inspection cadres are either classmates or friends, and favoritism has become 'everyday fare'; the institutional 'cage' is essentially nonexistent, making it hard to exert the power of discipline inspection and supervision; over time, nobody takes it seriously anymore, and even their notions of law and discipline gradually loosen—this is a vicious cycle.

Lin Changping echoed: 'Upon reflection, this is indeed true. County-level discipline inspection committees hardly ever proactively investigate undisclosed serious violations of law and discipline; for ordinary disciplinary violations, they are not 'turning a blind eye,' but 'keeping both eyes tightly shut.'

Lu Fan said: 'The discipline inspection and supervision force is huge, and it is stationed beside every cadre; wanting to forge this 'cage' well is no easy task, requiring effort in institutional innovation and supervision, a heavy and long road—let us try, advance, and explore! In the coming period, an important task of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee remains to discover and employ talent in large numbers, such as filling the two vacant deputy secretary positions, provincial standing committee members, municipal discipline inspection secretaries, and team leaders of dispatched organs; selecting good people and using them well enables us to manage people well and place power inside the cage.'

September 18, the sky overcast, Deputy Director of Supervision Office Three Peng Yunhu secretly went to the prison to interrogate the former Jiuyuan Municipal CPPCC chairman Zhang Ming, on the pretext of needing his cooperation to verify some matters.

After Zhang Ming, who had been sentenced, encountered the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee again, his face instantly turned ashen, his body trembling involuntarily, that sense of fear surging like a tide, he was frightened to shivering and losing his soul!

After Zhang Ming sat down in the 'elegant seat,' he nervously asked: 'Wasn't I already sentenced? I've already confessed everything I needed to!'

Experienced investigator Peng Yunhu asked: 'Zhang Ming, although you have been sentenced, that does not mean your case is fully understood; the source of 130 million in huge assets is unclear, you must fully explain it. You surely know the law and discipline; resisting organizational investigation and shielding fellow defendants is adding guilt upon guilt, a crime plus one; you need not keep secrets for certain people, becoming a 'scapegoat'! If you cooperate with the Discipline Inspection Committee's investigation, that will be meritorious conduct; I can responsibly tell you that a sentence reduction is inevitable.'

'Leader, the amount of 130 million is so large; I collected it bit by bit over time, I really can't remember!' Zhang Ming is not stupid; he knows that the more involved, the worse it is for him.

Peng Yunhu solemnly said: 'If you can't remember, we will slowly recall; I don't believe you could have forgotten the money you yourself collected completely. This 130 million must be clarified; otherwise we will have to check item by item. Otherwise, I seriously suspect your corrupt amount exceeds 130 million; otherwise how could your family now live so comfortably? What money are they spending? Is it the fat and grease of the Jiuyuan people? You need to think clearly; if even a few hundred thousand or a few million more are uncovered, how will you fare? If I cannot get an answer from you, I can only say sorry—duty calls, mission demands.'

Hearing these words, Zhang Ming became extremely angry, his inner self on the brink of collapse; the only belief he now holds is that his family lacks nothing in food and clothing.

'Chief Peng, we are both plains people; killing someone only merits a life for a life. You have gone too far; heaven will have retribution!'

'What qualifications do you have to talk about retribution? If there really were retribution, you would have already been struck by heavenly thunder and lightning, yet you still eat your fill and drink your heart's content? And let your family live carefree? They spend nothing but dirty money! Do you think I cannot uncover these things? I have given you the chance; if you do not cherish it, do not blame me.'

……

Upon learning that Peng Yunhu had interrogated Zhang Ming, the newly appointed Provincial Department of Justice Director Yun Zhangsheng flew into a rage and immediately rushed to the prison. Zhang Ming's case was handled by him when he served as Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee, and the 'crucial point' he knows best; how could he allow it to be overturned and redone?

At the same time, Director of Supervision Office Two Song Junhui secretly went to Ximeng to investigate League Committee Secretary Wan Lingjun. As the saying goes, if the Discipline Inspection Committee wants to investigate, once it makes up its mind it will surely get to the bottom of things. The Discipline Inspection Committee's investigative power is formidable; once a target is locked, one's work record, family and dependents' assets, bank flows, call records, etc., can all be retrieved, and the major project materials handled during one's tenure—such as project proposals, tender documents, meeting minutes—cannot escape, let alone technical means like tracking, wiretapping, undercover investigation, and software analysis.

As long as they set their sights on you, nobody can escape—unless you are truly clean-handed and spotless, but is that possible?