Chapter 648: with translation of chapter title

People have a thousand faces, a thousand faces a thousand hearts; seeking profit and avoiding harm is human nature. After weighing pros and cons, Luo Shiyu took the initiative to show goodwill to Lu Fan, which was actually a kind of self-rescue.

On September 21, the Discipline Inspection Committee of Grassland Province held a standing committee meeting to study the handling opinions on the suspected disciplinary and legal violations of Justice Department Director Yun Zhangsheng and Ximeng League Committee Secretary Wan Lingjun, as well as to reinvestigate the matters concerning the former chairman of the Jiuyuan Municipal CPPCC Zhang Ming and the former deputy director of the Qingtian City Public Security Bureau.

After the meeting started, seeing only Du Wenlong and Lin Changping sitting in the meeting room, Zhou Xiang responsible for taking notes, Lu Fan let out a bitter laugh and said: "Holding a standing committee meeting of the Discipline Inspection Committee, we have only one principal and two deputy secretaries—what kind of standing committee is this?"

Du Wenlong laughed: "No way, they've all been 'taken down'; we really need to fill the positions as soon as possible."

Lu Fan thought for a moment and said: "The directors of Supervision Office One Sun Yu, Office Two Junhui Song, Office Four Shanshi Wang, Office Five Ze Xin Xu, and Office Eight Chen Hangjia—let these five first join the standing committee of the provincial Discipline Inspection Committee. Wenlong, you are responsible for liaising with the Organization Department and submitting this to the next Provincial Party Committee standing committee meeting."

Du Wenlong replied: "Secretary, Junhui Song and Shanshi Wang have no issues; they are dispatched officials and have held division-level rank for two years; Chen Hangjia, before resigning, was division-level, a specially recruited talent, promoting him to deputy director is justifiable; Ze Xin Xu and Sun Yu have just become office directors, previously only enjoying division-level treatment but working in Deputy Division Level posts, I worry their qualifications may be problematic."

Lu Fan considered and said: "Division-level treatment also counts as division-level; if it doesn't work, we can take the extraordinary promotion route—report what needs to be reported. Tell the Organization Department, this is my intention; the Discipline Inspection Committee is in dire need of revival and requires special measures for special matters."

Okay, Secretary, I'll go to the Organization Department after the meeting adjourns.

Lu Fan continued: "Even if we fill those five positions, the eleven-member standing committee still lacks three people. Wenlong, Changping, you two discuss and scout for talent; we still need to add two deputy secretaries and one secretary-general."

Lin Changping laughed: "Secretary, this is your responsibility; we dare not overstep our bounds."

Lu Fan gave a slight nod and replied: "There are no outsiders here; once we straighten out personnel and establish prestige, the provincial Discipline Inspection Committee will rely on you two to 'hold up the banner,' while I will shift my work focus to the Provincial Party Committee, so you should pay more attention to personnel selection and appointment."

Alright, let's begin the meeting. First, I emphasize one point: from now on, when the provincial Discipline Inspection Committee holds meetings, we should hold short meetings, useful meetings, meetings that solve problems; don't speak like an old woman's bound feet—smelly and long; nobody allows long-winded speeches; if it can be done in ten minutes, absolutely not fifteen, or better yet avoid meetings altogether, directly assign work to each office, so everyone can free up time to handle cases, and not waste it on trivial matters.

A few days ago, Secretary Xingyuan convened a secretary's office meeting; I reported the disciplinary and legal violations of Yun Zhangsheng, Wan Lingjun, Zhang Ming, and the former deputy director of Qingtian City Public Security Bureau. The Provincial Party Committee's instruction is that Wan Lingjun and Yun Zhangsheng can be filed for investigation, while the other two must continue to be 'deeply dug'; we must uncover all connections behind them and bring those corrupt elements to justice.

Today's meeting, due to insufficient standing committee members, was changed to a secretary's office meeting; we will now vote on the handling opinions for the above four persons. Wenlong, please share your opinion.

Du Wenlong spoke bluntly: "I follow the Provincial Party Committee's opinion; I agree with their handling opinion."

Lin Changping was even more concise, saying just two words: "Agree!"

Lu Fan stood up and said: "That's settled; you two, follow your division of labor and expedite the procedures. Zhou Xiang, take care of the meeting minutes. Alright, meeting adjourned; go attend to your own affairs."

On September 22, Lu Fan personally took the freshly issued document of the Discipline Inspection Committee to the case-handling base, because Yun Zhangsheng insisted on seeing him.

Entering the interrogation room, Lu Fan sat opposite Yun Zhangsheng and calmly said: "Yun Zhangsheng, this is the document for filing a case against you; effective today, you are no longer the director. Tell me, why do you want to see me?"

Yun Zhangsheng lifted his head, looking at Lu Fan with complex emotions, and said: "Secretary, I want to have a private talk with you."

Lu Fan thought and said to Peng Yunhu: "You all go out, and turn off the surveillance."

This was against the rules, but Peng Yunhu, without a word, led them out of the 'soft cell'.

After everyone left, Yun Zhangsheng's face, filled with gloom, gained a hint of resentment and anger; his voice slightly trembling, he questioned: "Secretary Lu, you transferred me out of the Discipline Inspection Committee and then found some excuse to take action against me—I simply cannot understand, what have I done to offend you? Why treat me like this? I have struggled in the Grassland Discipline Inspection and Supervision system for over thirty years; though I dare not claim great merit, I at least have endured some hardship—surely you wouldn't trample me like this? I want a reasonable explanation so I can die in peace."

Lu Fan still replied lightly: "We have already found 10 million; did you take this money?"

"Secretary Lu, let's speak plainly: looking at the entire Provincial Party Committee compound, who can be completely untainted? In human society, exchanging gifts during festivals is normal; are we supposed to be saints who eat no earthly food? I don't believe you have never accepted a gift."

Lu Fan responded righteously: "Normal personal exchanges both reflect traditional customs and express specific feelings, protected by discipline and law; what discipline and law prohibit is mixing in power factors and obviously exceeding normal courtesy in personal interactions."

As a discipline inspection cadre, you should be clear about the precept 'intimacy with measure, purity with action'; consciously guard against and resist interactions cloaked in 'personal feelings' that damage the essence of integrity and cleanliness. Over ten million, still only a part—do you consider this merely personal interaction?

Furthermore, you know the law yet break it, abandoning your original aspirations and mission, losing Party principles, turning supervisory, disciplinary, and law enforcement authority into a tool for personal gain; you illegally interfere in cadre and staff job promotions and hiring, illegally accept gifts, illegally hold shares in non-listed companies, engage in power-for-sex transactions, severely damaging the image of the discipline inspection and supervision organ and its cadres; these issues are under investigation. One could say you are the biggest 'rat' in the Grassland Discipline Inspection Committee.

Yun Zhangsheng's expression turned stern as he stared at Lu Fan and said: "Secretary Lu, talking about this is useless; we both know that if you want to investigate, you'll find countless reasons; if you don't, there's only one reason. When you came to work in Grassland, we welcomed you; I have always cooperated fully in work—why must you oppose me? Without boasting, no matter what political achievements you desire, just say the word and the whole Grassland will give its all. Cooperation brings mutual benefit; conflict hurts both sides; work needs everyone's support, requiring comrades to actually do it—can you really go it alone and handle everything personally? Remember, water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it."

Lu Fan showed disdain: "That saying should be directed at you! Grassland belongs to the Grassland people, not to certain individuals; you people handle trivial matters with great professionalism, handle professional matters with utter nonsense, handle beneficial matters with great enthusiasm, handle shameless matters with flawless ease, and extort the people's fat and blood with fiery zeal. Still want to negotiate terms with me? You see me just to say these things? Sorry, I have no leisure for this!" After saying that, Lu Fan did not glance at Yun Zhangsheng again and left the interrogation room directly.

Seeing the secretary come out, Peng Yunhu quickly stepped forward and said in a low voice: "Secretary, our phones are about to blow up from people inquiring about the situation; I have adjusted two unreliable members of the task force."

Lu Fan nodded and said: "First, ensure Yun Zhangsheng's life safety; second, I don't ask about the process, only the result—just don't cause a death; third, strive to get through him, uncover all industries they control, thoroughly lift the 'lid' of Grassland, cut off the intergenerational transmission of 'former corruption followed by later corruption,' and give the Grassland people a clear and bright world."

Peng Yunhu clenched his fists, his face solemn, and said in a deep voice: "Please rest assured, Secretary; even if I have to sacrifice my life, I will see to it that he is dealt with! If the goal is not achieved, I will never cease!" Having said that, a flash of determination crossed his eyes; he had already prepared himself to face difficulties and obstacles.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, Ximeng League Committee Secretary Wan Lingjun presided over an expanded standing committee meeting; when the meeting had just proceeded halfway, Junhui Song, director of Supervision Office Two of the provincial Discipline Inspection Committee, entered with case-handling personnel.

Wan Lingjun had never seen Junhui Song; he frowned and asked: "Who are you? Don't you know a meeting is in progress here?"

Junhui Song stepped before Wan Lingjun, his expression unusually solemn, and said: "Meeting suspended; we are from the provincial Discipline Inspection Committee, and we now announce: Ximeng League Committee Secretary Wan Lingjun is to be placed under immediate custody! You are Wan Lingjun, correct? Please, at the designated time and place, cooperate with the Discipline Inspection Committee's investigation and review, and truthfully explain your illegal and disciplinary violations."

Upon hearing this, Wan Lingjun was struck as if by lightning, instantly terrified beyond measure. He widened his eyes, his face full of disbelief, his body began to tremble slightly, his eyes showed a complex mix of weakness and pleading, and he stammered: "You…… have you made a mistake? I…… I have always been law-abiding and diligent in my work……"

Junhui Song coldly handed him a document and said firmly: "This is the document; please sign for receipt after confirming it is correct."

Wan Lingjun, with trembling hands, took the double designation document, looked at it, and muttered incoherently: "Did…… did we get it wrong? This is impossible; how could it become like this……"

Although his heart was filled with resentment and fear, but now facing the provincial Discipline Inspection Committee, Wan Lingjun, left with no alternative, used his right hand, shaking so badly he could barely hold the pen, to scribble his name crookedly on the document.

After signing, Wan Lingjun felt as if all his strength had been drained; his originally upright body jerked, his legs bending like pillars that lost support, going limp. He collapsed like a deflated balloon, utterly powerless, falling straight to the ground.

The two case-handling officers beside him, seeing this, quickly stepped forward to support Wan Lingjun, then half-dragged, half-carried him out of the meeting room.