Chapter 1116: The First Ally

Hearing that, Teng Shijie's expression changed noticeably; clearly he hadn't expected Su Yang to come so directly.

The deaths of the past few Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretaries and Public Security Bureau Directors have been a taboo in Liu Cheng Xian; even grassroots officials dare not discuss them privately. Moreover, after such a huge incident, everyone has selectively forgotten, as if it never happened.

But Su Yang was unabashed, opening his mouth to ask; he now even began to doubt their relationship, wondering if they had long been close.

He thought for a moment, didn't answer directly, but replied, "Secretary Su, I suppose you came to our Liu Cheng Xian not merely to break the current political ecology and get the county back on track? I've long thought someone should come to give these upright leaders a measure of justice."

Su Yang gave a faint smile and said, "Not exactly; I was just asking. The organization never explicitly told me to investigate this, and you aren't unaware of our current situation either."

"Previously a Joint Investigation Team came down, and the province even set up a special task force, but the results all ended without a trace. I'm merely a successor now, and could just as well become a passively dead Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary; I can't boast about that prospect."

What he said was indeed true; at least the Organization Department didn't mention this when they spoke with him, though others have brought it up.

Teng Shijie said, "Sigh, this matter is actually very complicated, and without me telling you, you can guess that it definitely involves the coal bosses behind it."

"In our county there are a dozen or so coal mines on paper, but in reality a few coal bosses control them behind the scenes; aside from one or two that have proper mining permits, the rest have none.

"Accidents killing people in coal mines are commonplace; they now mostly employ outsiders, though occasionally locals work underground. When an incident occurs, they immediately seal off the underground information and conceal the accident."

"But with incident after incident, some people are more alert, or their families refuse the meager compensation and insist on suing. Over time this draws the attention of higher officials. Yet you know that the more aggressively the victims' families push, the harsher these coal bosses suppress them."

"Besides the Organization's dedicated security teams dealing with these protesting families, they also coordinate with local petition offices; once a petition reaches them, it's either ignored or sent back for local handling. By the time it returns here, what's left to process? Whatever they decide, you often don't even know; our coal bosses are outrageously arrogant."

"For anyone who spends money to sue them, their strategy is to beat them to the brink of death, then dump them in a hospital for treatment, release them to beat again, and repeat."

"In short, their strategy is to keep beating you until you submit. Originally a victim's family would receive 100,000 yuan, but after this ordeal they calculate lost‑work wages, nutrition costs, travel expenses, etc., and finally settle for at most 10,000 yuan."

"If even the 10,000 yuan is refused, they'll just erase the account. Some families, so obsessed, have their members stage car accidents to wipe out the whole family; some are left with only two trembling elders; others with only wailing infants. Such inhuman acts are commonplace in their eyes."

"Every Public Security Bureau Director and Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary has wanted to do something for the common people, yet even a single touch or investigation leads to a bizarre death within two months."

【7】 "I've wanted to help with these matters, but my position is stuck here, so I can't really do anything."

【8】 "Moreover, to truly shake this up, the Public Security Bureau alone won't suffice; you'd need to bring in paramilitary forces from elsewhere, and any from Xishan Province won't work—just think about why."

【9】 "Even worse, the real coal bosses spend years in Jingcheng building circles and connections; whenever a local issue can't be suppressed, they intervene from Jingcheng. That's why after the previous Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretaries and Public Security Bureau Directors died, not a ripple was stirred."

【10】 "Especially this last one, who was parachuted in from the province, which shows that provincial leaders have realized Liu Cheng Xian's situation is so severe it must be punished. Yet he was still taken down. At the provincial committee level, they're also maneuvering; in short, it's very complicated."

【11】 "If you want to tackle this, wherever you need me, I will do everything I can."

【12】 "The prerequisite is that the Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary must be taken down, and the key personnel must be transferred from other provinces. Moreover, when action is taken, it must be coordinated across multiple locations. As I said, those actually staying in the county are merely their nephews and descendants; the deeply corrupt big bosses remain in Jingcheng, sometimes even abroad."

【13】 "This time the competition for the Public Security Bureau post will let them keenly sense your ability and tactics, which is both a good and a bad thing."

【14】 "The good part is that truly capable officials who can do real work for the common people can be placed appropriately, which can completely shatter their previous all‑round personnel plan; at least the Public Security Bureau will no longer be a solid block or merely their henchmen. The downside is that if your strength is exposed too early, they'll make the necessary preparations."

【15】 "If I'm right, that Huang Gongzi will soon invite you to a private dinner. Of course, that's not just my guess; in fact, every County Standing Committee Member who comes here will invite you to a meal. Over that meal, he'll try every means to win you over, and if he fails, he'll start threatening."

【16】 "The woman who went to your room that night was one of Huang Beidou's lovers; their original plan was probably to have you actually sleep with her and then fully pull you onto their boat. But you didn't give them a chance, so they had to keep attacking you one after another."

Su Yang smiled and nodded, "Seems I truly underestimated them; it's like I don't seek trouble, yet trouble comes to me on its own."

"Back to the point, by your account, didn't they set up a similar script when you first arrived and invite you to a private dinner? Did you nod in agreement or politely decline? How did you get past that hurdle? I'd like to learn from it."

"My position here can't make friends, only enemies; they're bound to move against me, so I need to be prepared."

Especially the last appointment, who was parachuted in from the province, shows that the provincial leadership has realized the situation in Liu Cheng Xian is so serious it must be dealt with; yet it was still messed up by others. As for this matter, the provincial Party committee is probably also maneuvering, and in short it's very complicated.

If you want to get involved in this matter and need me, I will do everything I can.

The premise is that the Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary must be taken down, and the key personnel must be transferred from other provinces. Moreover, when it comes to taking action, it must be coordinated across multiple locations. As I said earlier, those who are actually staying in the county are only their sons, nephews, or juniors; the truly corrupt big bosses have always been in Jingcheng, and sometimes even abroad.

This time the competition for a post in the Public Security Bureau will let them keenly sense your ability and tactics, which is both a blessing and a curse.

The good part is that it can place some officials who actually do real work for the Common People into appropriate positions, and completely shatter their previous overall personnel plan; at least the Public Security Bureau will no longer be a solid block or merely their lackey. The bad part is that your strength will be exposed too early, and they will make corresponding preparations.

If I'm guessing right, Huang Gongzi will soon invite you to a private dinner. Of course that's not just my guess; actually, every County Standing Committee Member who comes here, he will invite to a meal. During that meal, he will try every way to win you over, and if he fails, he will begin to intimidate.

The woman who went to your room that night was one of Huang Beidou's lovers; their original plan was basically to get you to actually have relations with her and then completely rope you in. But you didn't give them the chance, so they had to strike at you repeatedly.

Su Yang smiled and nodded: "It seems I really underestimated them; it's exactly that I don't seek trouble, trouble comes to me on its own."

Back to the point, according to what you said, doesn't that mean when you first arrived they also set up such a scene for you and invited you to a private dinner? Did you nod in agreement or politely decline? How did you get through that stage? I'd like to learn from it.

My position is placed here; I can't become a friend, only an enemy. They will definitely move against me, so I need to be prepared.