Chapter 667

At today's Standing Committee meeting, Gu Yunhao was pressed to the ground and rubbed by Lu Fan, which could be described as losing all face.

Although he was furious, he was powerless to rebut, because economic work and the business environment were indeed under his charge.

Without getting a grip on the work, there is no confidence; if he tries to argue with specious reasoning, it will only bring disgrace upon himself; Lu Fan will not let such a loophole slip, so Gu Yunhao simply took it and did not contend for a moment's advantage in the Standing Committee.

On the subsequent personnel agenda, Governor Luo Shiyu voiced support first, and with the strong backing of Wu Xiaohua, Shang Youyang, Mou Yue, and Wang Yanxing, Lu Fan settled the matter with a single hammer, and the show-of-hands vote passed the appointment to the vacant posts in Ximeng.

The corruption problem of the Provincial Health Commission spread throughout the province, with various rumors and gossip incessant, becoming talk of the streets and alleys, after-dinner chatter. Everyone expected Lu Fan to say something, but after the agenda ended he uttered not a word and directly announced the meeting's adjournment, leaving Gu Yunhao and others with no opening to exert force; their carefully plotted attack had no room to play out.

Lu Fan's plan is simply to act without speaking; the Provincial Party Committee has decision-making authority over major work matters, although leaders are not allowed to make unilateral decisions that place the individual above the organization, but in emergency situations the top leader can make an on-the-spot decision.

Lu Fan, presiding over the Provincial Party Committee's work, theoretically has the authority to make on-the-spot decisions; for example, the two deputy directors of the Provincial Health Commission need not be appointed, but Lu Fan can instruct Wang Dong to let someone temporarily exercise the deputy director's authority and undertake the deputy director's work, merely 'without name or share,' as long as it does not hinder work progress.

When the time is ripe, Lu Fan will naturally give them a name and status.

The Standing Committee has no secrets; after the meeting ended, the news that Secretary Lu reprimanded Gu Yunhao spread like wings, quickly circulating throughout the compound. Moreover, everyone embellished it into a one-sided 'slaughter'; leaders' gossip and rumors always attract the most attention, especially such dramatic plots, making people unable to look away.

Thus, in the evening, Lu Fan's 'big battle' with Gu Yunhao became a hot topic across the province, being elaborated into many versions, with cadres and the masses discussing it with gleeful enthusiasm, and all of them were 'praising Lu and stepping on Gu', which shows how unpopular Gu Yunhao is; being 'struck down' actually made everyone clap in approval.

As one wanes the other waxes, Lu Fan's prestige on the grasslands grew day by day, shining brightly; the grassland people all hoped for a strong and capable leader to lead the grasslands toward prosperity and strength.

If you want something to remain unknown, you must not do it yourself; living in this highly developed information internet age, the grasslands are under a cloud, many things cannot be hidden, and even if someone tries to cover up the truth, they ultimately cannot escape the keen eyes of the public.

Tyranny and monopoly are like a malignant tumor, deeply rooted in the body of the grasslands, arousing intense hatred and pain and being intolerable; they not only brutally deprive the people of their rightful rights and opportunities, but also plunge the entire society into a state of extreme unfairness.

Now, Secretary Lu Fan, righteous and resolute, has decisively launched an 'assault' against local forces; this is undoubtedly what the grassroots personnel most ardently hope for deep in their hearts.

Everyone looks forward with anticipation, expecting Secretary Lu to rely on his courage and wisdom to break through the long-standing gloom, restore a clear and bright sky to the grasslands, and let the homeland regain its vibrant vitality.

Gu Yunhao was 'struck down', and on top of that, after personally witnessing the Provincial Health Commission's 'arrest at the venue', the director of the Provincial Medical Insurance Bureau, Cheng Jingbo, felt a great shock in his heart; he shut himself away for three full days, making a decision about his fate.

Sitting in the dim study, Cheng Jingbo stared motionlessly out the window. His thoughts surged like a tide, his heart filled with confusion, fear, and unease about the future; every minute and every second was a torment, as he constantly pondered where his fate would lead.

Finally, Cheng Jingbo slowly rose to his feet. After a long period of deep consideration, he made an important decision concerning his fate in his heart……

Night fell silently, the city lights gradually came on, Cheng Jingbo walked to the Provincial Party Committee, looked up and saw that the light in Secretary Lu's office was still on, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of reassurance that was hard to put into words.

Secretary Lu's dedication is evident to all; everyone sees it and keeps it in mind. This is also the difference between him and people like Gu Yunhao like heaven and earth; working under such a leader, one can feel at ease.

After getting into the elevator, Cheng Jingbo finally steeled himself; everyone was damn weighing pros and cons, calculating gains and losses; I damn well will be willful once, betting that ray of light will pierce my heart, break through all darkness and gloom, reclaim my original aspiration and mission, and do something for the grassland people again.

Taking a deep breath, Cheng Jingbo knocked on the deputy secretary's office.

"Please come in" came a low voice from Lu Fan inside.

He pushed the door open; Lu Fan was bent over the desk looking at documents. Seeing a flash of surprise in the visitor's eyes, he quickly showed a gentle smile and asked, "Comrade Jingbo, coming to see me this late, there must be something important, right?" Then he put down his pen, leaned back slightly, and crossed his hands in front of his chest.

Cheng Jingbo summoned his courage and said, "Secretary Lu, I'm disturbing your rest. I came especially to confess to you about some covert operations existing in the medical insurance field and my own improper participation in them. These matters have weighed on my mind, making it hard for me to eat or sleep and causing me great torment. These past few days I have thought things through a lot; I no longer want to continue down the wrong path, and I am willing to accept any punishment from the organization!"

If the secretary can give me a chance to reform and start anew as a person, I will surely cherish it doubly, working diligently under your leadership, doing things solidly, and being an upright person!

After saying these words, Cheng Jingbo felt as if he had completed a daunting mission, he let out a long sigh, and then quietly waited for Secretary Lu's 'verdict'.

Lu Fan's eyes turned solemn, he fell silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: "Knowing that there is nothing that can be done and yet resigning oneself to fate, I know you have your own difficulties; if you do not rein in at the brink, you will likely fall into an irredeemable abyss and ultimately be unable to extricate yourself!"

Being able to step forward voluntarily to explain the problem shows that you still have conscience. People are not afraid of making mistakes; they fear persisting in error without awakening. Since you have the intention to correct yourself, I believe you can do well in the work ahead.

However, this is not the place to explain the problem; you must go immediately to the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee to find Du Wenlong, you must clearly explain the issue, detail the people involved, return all illegal gains in full, and make proper records according to regulations, so as not to leave loose ends that could invite criticism later.

Hearing these words, Cheng Jingbo nodded repeatedly, his eye sockets red with excitement, his body trembling slightly; he knew he had passed the test, feeling as if he had been reborn.

"Secretary, I'll go to the Discipline Inspection Committee first; after I settle the matter, I'll come back to report to you, but having received orders, I dare not fail to obey!"

"Go, I will give Wenlong instructions!"

On the way to the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee, Cheng Jingbo felt as if he had lifted a great weight from his heart, experiencing an unprecedented sense of ease and joy!

As the saying goes:

Looking back, the light boat has already passed myriad mountains,

Looking ahead, the long road is also radiant,

Looking up, the sky full of starlight is very romantic,

Looking down, the thorns along the road are already past halfway,

If you endure, you will endure until bitterness ends and sweetness comes,

If you wait, you will wait until spring warmth and flowers bloom.

Life, life like summer flowers, splendid and radiant!

Upon arriving at the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee, the usual 'stern-faced secretary' Du Wenlong had a good attitude, smiling as he said to Cheng Jingbo, "Secretary Lu has already given instructions; the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee will precisely apply the 'four forms' of supervision and discipline enforcement, emphasizing both compliance with rules, discipline, and law, and ideological and political work, comprehensively utilizing party spirit education, policy appeals, and disciplinary legal deterrence, explaining discipline and law in ideological education, and conveying doctrine and sentiment in discipline enforcement, truly achieving learning from past mistakes to prevent future ones, curing and saving people, and integrating discipline, law, and reason."

Cheng Jingbo's thoughts drifted back to 2012, that was a spring……

Moreover, regarding the Provincial Health Commission, with Lu Fan's backing, the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee took down two deputy directors and four section chiefs in one go, and Director Wang Dong finally had a place to use his talents.

He directly appointed two section chiefs to undertake the work of deputy directors, promoted four section chiefs and four deputy section chiefs, rotated eighteen leading cadres, selected twelve cadres from the grassroots, carried out a sweeping reform of the Provincial Health Commission's cadre corps, firmly grasped power in his hands, and laid a solid foundation for the next step of medical sector reform.

December 10, Du Wenlong came to Lu Fan's office and gave a detailed report on Cheng Jingbo's problems; the person himself has already returned illegal income of over 8.5 million yuan, and he has recorded every penny very clearly, including time, place, and persons involved.

According to Cheng Jingbo's confession, it inevitably implicated Gu Yunhao, Yun Shuo, and a large number of other leading cadres, who controlled the entire pharmaceutical distribution sector, suspected of corrupt funds and illegal income exceeding 5 billion yuan!

Du Wenlong also reported the case of Zhang Ming, former chairman of the Jiuyuan Municipal CPPCC; after investigation by the Third Supervision Division's unraveling and tracing, it inevitably implicated the current Jiuyuan Municipal Party Secretary Huang Ketao. At that time, Huang Ketao was mayor and Zhang Ming was executive vice mayor; they were in cahoots, collaborating in wrongdoing, using their positions to seek huge benefits for themselves and others, and the nature of their actions was extremely heinous.

After hearing the report, Lu Fan said in a deep voice, "Do not act rashly, nor startle the snake by beating the grass; continue to dig deep. If there is no action, then fine; but once action is taken, it will be like thunderous force, and we will seize Jiuyuan City in one fell swoop, giving them no chance to catch their breath. This time returning to Yancheng, I will report to Secretary Jiazhong the progress of the grasslands Discipline Inspection Committee's work; these matters will all be reported to the leadership."

Du Wenlong said with a smile, "Brother Fan, I must congratulate you in advance!"

Lu Fan replied with a smile, "Finally we've reached this point; it's not been easy!"

"Brother Fan, will Secretary Li Xingyuan be transferred away?"

Lu Fan shook his head and said, "I feel the timing is not yet mature; everything depends on Secretary Hong Tao's arrangements; to be honest, I'm not in a hurry now. However, this time returning to Yancheng, I will think of ways to see if I can implement your position as Discipline Inspection Committee secretary."

"I'm even less in a hurry; the current situation is quite good and doesn't affect work. Brother Fan, please don't make things difficult for me!"

"Don't worry, I know my limits; in whatever I do, I strive to be proper and lawful. Once you become the Discipline Inspection Committee secretary, you will gain an important vote in the five-person group meeting and the standing committee."