Chapter 689

Lu Fan showed no mercy; his naked strike was like a heavy hammer slamming hard into Yun Shuo's chest, instantly flushing his face red. He was like an enraged wolf with nowhere to vent his fury, truly wanting to stand up and shout: "You brat, how dare you bully me!"

However, reason was like an icy iron chain, tightly binding his imminent outburst. After all, a higher official can crush a subordinate; years in politics had taught Yun Shuo that rules cannot be broken—publicly talking back to a superior is a political mistake, and even if he is in the right, he will still be punished.

So, although his heart was in turmoil right now, I feel more stifled; he can only suppress his anger, putting on a calm facade, staring straight out the window without a word, his thoughts already drifting to the clouds beyond.

Having lived these several decades, when had Yun Shuo ever suffered such humiliation? He gritted his teeth and silently cursed in his heart: "Hmph! Today's shame I will surely keep in mind. Just wait and see, old man—I'll see how you clean up this ignorant thing tomorrow!"

Finally, Lu Fan concluded: "The clarion call for grassland medical reform has already sounded; as we tackle the tough points, please everyone must implement the strategic deployments and requirements of the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government, fully recognize the complexity and arduousness of deepening medical reform, maintain confidence and composure, and earnestly push the reform forward in depth, ensuring that all levels and departments complete their reform tasks on time, with quality and quantity, benefiting more people."

I emphasize again: reform must dare to confront issues head-on; anyone who in this work is lazy, procrastinates, shirks responsibility, or responds passively will be held accountable by the Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee for the collective's primary responsibility, supervisory responsibility, and leadership responsibility; we will resolutely get to the bottom of it, rectify conduct and enforce discipline!

After the meeting, Lu Fan kept the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee Secretary Du Wenlong, the Provincial Health Commission Director Wang Dong, and the Provincial Medical Insurance Bureau Director Cheng Jingbo behind for a private briefing.

In the evening, Lu Fan again summoned Chen Hangjia, head of the Eighth Supervision Room of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee, to his office and urged him to closely monitor developments in Qingcheng City.

At ten o'clock in the evening, Deputy Provincial Governor and Director of the Provincial Public Security Department Wang Yanxing, together with Deputy Director Liu Jin Zhu, arrived at the Provincial Party Committee upon orders, and Lu Fan personally gave them some work instructions.

At 1 a. m., Lu Fan had just fallen asleep when the phone woke him.

He glanced at the number—it was Yang Minghao, chief of Qingcheng City Public Security Bureau, calling; his heart tightened and he hurriedly asked, "Minghao, is something wrong?"

Yang Minghao anxiously said, "Secretary, I have reliable information that several hospitals in the city are 'linking up' and plan to collectively petition the provincial government tomorrow!"

Hearing this, Lu Fan instead calmed down; he could simply meet their move with a countermove.

During this period, Lu Fan had been waiting for them to make a move; he hadn't expected even this little bit of cleverness, which already overestimated them.

Actually, this somewhat wrongs them; Lu Fan has strong support from his superiors, occupies the moral high ground, and is carrying out a just cause, constantly storming cities and seizing territories. Gu Yunhao and the others have plotted for a long time, but truly cannot think of a good countermeasure and don't know where to start! They certainly cannot really, as Yun Shuo said, risk creating an 'accident' for Lu Fan, for they know that if they did so they would face utter destruction.

As for the two female students from Grassland University, there has been no progress at all; they wasted two 'coquettish' beauties. The failure of the honey‑pot scheme made them realize how strong Lu Fan's resolve is.

As for bribery, it's utterly useless. Lu Fan is like a turtle shell—cannot be dented, cannot be broken, cannot be penetrated—really discouraging.

Medical reform has thoroughly touched the bottom line of Gu Yunhao and the others; left with no alternative, they can only resort to risky tactics and stage a petition farce. For this, Gu Yunhao and company have carefully plotted and meticulously deployed; now everything is ready, they just await dawn.

After careful consideration, Lu Fan said into the phone: "Minghao, how firm is your grip on the Qingcheng City Public Security Bureau? How many usable personnel can you mobilize?"

Yang Minghao confidently replied, "Brother Fan, we're not just 'eating dry rice'! Although Yun Shuo has been 'harassing' the city public security bureau's work, with Director Chen Hangjia's cooperation, the deputy bureau chief and the criminal detachment leader have been taken down; I used this opportunity to reshuffle internally, basically gaining control of the situation, and several county bureaus are cooperating with my work—if you need people, I'll arrange it right away."

Lu Fan then asked: "How large will tomorrow's petition be?"

Yang Minghao replied: "I don't have the exact figure, but based on current leads, the scale won't be small—at least two or three hundred people."

Hearing this, Lu Fan instructed: "Investigate their backgrounds overnight; persuade those who can be dissuaded to return. Tomorrow morning at seven, mobilize as many personnel as possible and stand by near the provincial government."

"Okay, Brother Fan, I'll get on it right away."

After hanging up, Lu Fan felt no sleepiness; after pondering for a long time, he dialed the phone of Zhao Jiping, director of the Provincial Public Security Department.

Being woken by a phone call in the middle of the night made Zhao Jiping very unhappy, but seeing the number he immediately perked up and said, "Secretary, what are your instructions?"

Lu Fan bluntly arranged: "Tomorrow morning at seven, organize the police force and stand by at any moment!"

Zhao Jiping asked for guidance: "Secretary, how many people are needed, and where should the police assemble?"

Lu Fan thought a moment and said: "Just stand by at the Public Security Department; how many police can you rally?"

Zhao Jiping tentatively replied: "Two or three hundred should be no problem?"

Lu Fan directly issued the order: "Too few! Mobilize more than five hundred police; at six in the morning, you and Liu Jin Zhu come to my office."

"Okay, Secretary, I will give it my all!" Zhao Jiping didn't ask for the reason; he understood the principle that speaking too much leads to death, a loose tongue brings ruin—sometimes knowing less is better. Leaders will tell you what you need to know; if they don't want you to know, you'd better not ask.

For dealing with such mass petitions, police are usually deployed at a 1:3 ratio; Lu Fan needs enough personnel to face this crisis.

After careful thought, Lu Fan still called the phone of Wang Yanxing, commander of the Provincial Military District.

After ringing for over twenty seconds, Wang Yanxing, half‑asleep, said: "Secretary Lu, what are your instructions?"

Lu Fan apologetically said: "Comrade Yanxing, sorry to disturb you in the middle of the night."

Wang Yanxing bluntly replied: "Must be some sudden situation, right? No need for many words—just tell me what you need me to do, and I'll follow orders."

Lu Fan liked this decisive, efficient style of soldiers; he didn't bother with pleasantries now, saying directly: "The province is currently carrying out medical reform; I've received word that tomorrow morning there may be a large‑scale petition incident, and I need your help to maintain order."

"Okay, I'll gather personnel at six tomorrow morning and stand by at any moment!" Wang Yanxing immediately understood the situation and acted without delay.

"Comrade Yanxing, thank you!"

"Secretary Lu, you're being polite; this is what I ought to do—Comrade Xiangyue has already given a heads‑up!"

……

Sitting on the sofa, Lu Fan admonished himself not to rush; when faced with matters, seek the law, handle affairs according to the law, solve problems with the law, resolve contradictions relying on the law—this little wind and wave is nothing major, for behind him stands the entire populace of the province!

Medical reform is the prevailing trend and the people's desire; the historical tide surges mighty, the era's flood rolls forward relentlessly; anyone who obstructs reform will surely be swept away to utter annihilation.

But since you have made a move, not retaliating would be improper! The staunch old Qin people have no habit of passively taking blows!

He checked the time—it was already 3 a. m. —Lu Fan headed to the office, on the way having Xiao Lu call Chen Haohao to notify Discipline Inspection Committee Secretary Du Wenlong and Supervision Room Eight Chief Chen Hangjia to come to the Provincial Party Committee immediately.

After getting out of the car, Provincial Health Commission Director Wang Dong called anxiously to report: "Secretary, I have received word that there may be a large‑scale petition incident in the morning."

Lu Fan replied: "What's there to panic about? The sky won't fall; I'm on my way to the office—come over and also call Cheng Jingbo."

"Okay, Secretary, we'll be there right away."

At the office door, Du Wenlong and Chen Hangjia had already arrived; they had been staying in the office tonight, and after receiving Chen Haohao's call they rushed over promptly.

After entering, Lu Fan directly assigned the task: "The hospitals in Qingcheng City are 'linking up' and preparing a petition; we cannot be passive victims! Wenlong, immediately initiate proceedings—apply detention measures to the relevant leaders in charge of health in Qingcheng City: the deputy mayor, health commission director, medical insurance bureau director, etc.; detain all suspect hospital directors one by one and investigate thoroughly, making sure to get to Yun Shuo!"

Hearing this, Du Wenlong cursed: "These damn bastards, never resting, dare to incite a mass petition—if we don't investigate them they won't even recognize their own mothers and fathers; I'd quit as Discipline Inspection Committee secretary! Hangjia, you immediately follow the secretary's instructions and proceed with the procedure; we'll make arrests at daybreak!"

Chen Hangjia rose and said: "Please rest assured, leaders, I guarantee I will complete the task!" Then he hurried out of the office.

Du Wenlong continued: "Brother Fan, petitions need cautious handling to avoid creating a nationwide sensation; now self‑media is highly developed, and they will surely be prepared to fan the flames. You are at a critical juncture—let me handle this; the entire Discipline Inspection Committee will take charge and surely keep the situation under control; you'd better stay out of it."

Lu Fan pondered and said: "They're coming after me; if you step in you probably won't calm things down. Regarding the petition, I've already made arrangements—the Provincial Public Security Department, Qingcheng City Public Security Bureau, and the military district are all mustering forces. It's no big deal; we stand on the side of justice, and some words I speak will carry greater impact and force than yours."

Just as he was speaking, Wang Dong and Cheng Jingbo pushed the door open and entered.

Before they even sat down, Wang Dong urgently said: "Secretary, the petitioners will not be few; based on the leads I currently have, twelve hospitals are involved, with an estimated five hundred or more participants! If they really gather at the provincial government, it will surely create major negative public opinion and a terribly bad impact! I just discussed it with Jingbo—we plan to mobilize mid‑level and above leaders from the Provincial Health Commission and Provincial Medical Insurance Bureau right now to stabilize those hospitals and try to intercept those preparing to join the petition."

Lu Fan nodded and said: "Your opinion is sound, Wang Dong and Jingbo—thank you for your hard work! When you reach the hospitals, I authorize you to exercise on‑the‑spot discretionary power, bring the discipline inspection team, and arrest whoever needs to be arrested."