Chapter 1103

Su Yang said, "How to do it? Tell me."

Zhou Ruohan said, "Regarding this one incident, our father was dismissed, but several people from the Publicity Department and other ministries also came down; of course those people violated laws and discipline and were directly investigated."

"Thus, it makes some units that had previously targeted you feel very uneasy; among them is that interview program, the segment that loudly reported that the Yingbin Dadao project in your county is a political achievement project, a Messy Situation project."

"Their producer repeatedly asked people to use connections, trying to invite me to a meal; in plain terms, they just want to signal their attitude."

"Otherwise, you know some things Within the System; if placed at the grassroots, once something goes wrong, the first to be dealt with are those small wheels, then gradually upward."

"At a higher level, it's top‑down; for example, in our father's case it starts with those provincial‑ministerial officials. As long as they are investigated or punished, the people below them who directly or indirectly participated in the incident will inevitably be settled with after‑effects."

"This is out in the open; everyone knows. So their producer director is now extremely flustered, and I told them straight away that they can handle it."

"The reason we don't need to go to your county is that they can insert this piece of information while broadcasting issues from other places. We don't need to worry about the exact operation."

"Just have them, from a news media perspective, suggest, or pose a deaf‑ening rhetorical question in their broadcast: Why can't there be internal competitive appointments? Why can't some capable, promising cadres be promoted to leadership positions?"

"In short, that's the point we want to convey; I believe they can definitely do it, and it will be aired within a few days. Once this signal is sent, the top leader of your county, if they have any political awareness, won't intervene arbitrarily."

"On the contrary, he will still push this forward. Even if he truly lacks political awareness, even if he thinks the coal boss's power is as great as heaven, what about the city? The province? There will always be leaders who can keenly pick up this information."

Su Yang instantly understood: indeed, such heavyweight media outlets often represent higher‑level political consciousness.

Leaders at a certain rank locally will watch this program on time, because they can sniff many political signals from it and also avoid some emerging problems. Of course, county‑level cadres are far from reaching that, and would never think Su Yang could enlist such a high‑level media to emit this signal.

Zhou Ruohan continued, "Regarding the situation in your county, I can understand as soon as you say it; even if you now have this decision, the county will still practice hypocritical compliance, or even turn a deaf ear."

"When the program airs, they'll likely panic and hastily implement your suggestion. But there will certainly be some hidden tricks."

"Even if the interview program can actually go to your county, truly serve a supervisory role in the so‑called defense session, in practice they still have huge leeway; they will definitely keep some key positions in their hands."

"Moreover, I personally judge that people in some key posts—such as the Public Security Brigade, the Criminal Police Brigade, the Director of Police Station—might all be the so‑called coal boss's people. Your method will find it hard to bring up those truly talented individuals; at best I estimate getting one‑third up is already good."

Su Yang laughed heartily, "Not even 1/3—1/5 or even 1/10 is fine. My purpose isn't to actually secure a few posts, but to disrupt their layout, stir up this stagnant water, and make every cadre in the county know that this newly appointed young, flashy leader isn't there to be gilded."

"And let those truly capable, politically ambitious cadres see a glimmer of light, giving them a goal to strive for."

"Also, it completely shatters the overt situation where Pan Wenhai's word is as solid as nine tripods; even if it can't largely shake those important posts, as long as someone can rise, more people will be filled with hope."

"This is a huge blow to Pan Wenhai's authority; once this gap is torn open, I'll have a chance to promote one or two people within the impenetrable Public Security system."

"That way I won't be just a figurehead commander at the very least, and consequently it will have a deterrent effect on everyone; when they face me and try that will‑ful ignoring, hypocritical compliance routine again, they'll have to weigh it carefully."

Zhou Ruohan said, "It seems you've truly progressed and matured, learning to leverage media power to maneuver with them. Still, as the saying goes, your real opponent isn't these people but the coal boss behind them, especially since they brazenly play clever tricks, dropping $20,000 in your office; sooner or later they'll use that as a pretext."

"You must report this to Secretary Zhou, definitely report, leave no loophole. Speaking of which, I think your County Party Secretary is really a weirdo, running drills early in the morning, what's with this semi‑militarized management?"

"They even resort to beating people on a whim; this is not the conduct a cadre should have. How is that any different from the thugs and hooligans of the underworld? The political ecology of Liu Cheng Xian is even worse than that of Jin Cheng Xian before, and worse than the later chaos caused by Geng Miao in Lieshan Xian."

"I can even foresee a result now: the County Standing Committee team will probably not survive. Wherever you go there are problems; I now doubt whether it's your problem or theirs. Everything has a first and second, but not a third or fourth."

"Now this issue is out in the open; the people behind it sending you to Liu Cheng Xian is outright a ploy. Your clash with the coal boss will inevitably affect those cadres, and someone will have to go in because of it. If you can win this game, won't the 'Political Killer' label be welded onto your head?"

"And the people you offend will be a sea of black. But if you lose this struggle, I can't even dare to describe the consequences."

Su Yang, however, was very calm: "These things always need someone to do, and this time my stance is clear—I'll keep a low profile, not thinking about getting into friction with them so early."

"They ended up crashing in on their own; I can't just turn a blind eye. Moreover, my gut tells me the problems with Pan Wenhai and his people are far more serious than those of Ye Xianggao, Zhao Nanxing and the like before."

"The competition for positions is probably already exploding; I didn't sleep well last night, so I'll nap a bit first, then I still have to go to the Hospital tonight to visit the father of the beaten cadre. Remember to get in touch early on your side; don't end up throwing that slap out only to hit my own face."