Chapter 964: with translation of chapter title

At this point, how could they have imagined? Sun Chengjun is learning and applying on the spot.

In his mind, he was simply following Ning Shu Yue's instructions, following Su Yang's lead, and implementing policies accordingly.

Su Yang had already set the tone, made it clear that leaders should take responsibility—his Public Security Bureau also has superiors, doesn't it? Isn't that the Political and Legal Affairs Commission? And isn't the commission's secretary Qi Guohui?

Come on! You can deal with me, but don't forget to bring along Comrade Qi Guohui as well.

If it were before the New Year, or before going to Jingcheng, in such a situation he wouldn't be able to say this much at all—at most a few words, just to show his willingness to take responsibility.

Any more, and it would be trying to find ways to share some of Su Yang's burden—there's simply no way he could have that much confidence.

But people do change; previously he only dealt with grassroots police and county Party Committee leaders.

Although he had once arrested the governor's son in the provincial government compound, that was solely to vent anger for Su Yang.

His circle of contact was limited, but this time he kept meeting big shots, and with Old Zhou's praise, what did he have to fear?

Among those present, aside from Hou Junlai knowing a bit and Zhang Jiangbo having a basic grasp, he understood Su Yang's situation best.

So I don't care whether you're a princeling from Jingcheng or a top official.

If you deliberately suppress Su Yang, don't blame me for acting recklessly.

Furthermore, Ning Shu Yue is clear about her role: she said she is not merely Su Yang's protector, but a sword.

That sword's blade faces outward; whoever stands before it, as long as reason, conscience, morality and law are on their side, she will strike down without mercy.

Even if he lacks much political savvy, his self‑positioning is very correct.

As soon as his words fell, Chen Bo added, not shying from making a big deal: "I think Director Sun's point isn't without merit; nowadays it's the leader‑responsibility system."

"If we must punish the Public Security Bureau director and the political commissar severely, what about our supervising department, the Political and Legal Affairs Commission? Does it bear no responsibility?"

"I think we should treat everyone fairly—we all wear the same emblem, face the same flag, we are all Party cadres; we must not favor some over others, be unjust, or deliberately indulge those in power."

"Saying this, of course everyone is unhappy, and I've even offended some people."

"But my Party spirit and principles compel me to say this."

Chen Bo had already fired the first shot, so Hou Junlai had no reason to lag behind; he said, "I fully agree with Secretary Chen's earlier remark—we can't just punish the subordinates while we sit high and mighty, shouting orders at the cadres below."

"In organizational terms, for any incident, the Party Committee secretary bears the primary responsibility."

"This principle applies equally to the Political and Legal Affairs Commission system—whether it's the Public Security Bureau, the courts, or the procuratorates, they all belong to the public‑security‑judiciary system and operate under the commission's leadership."

"If the Public Security Bureau makes mistakes or has shortcomings in its work, the commission's leadership inevitably bears responsibility."

"My personal suggestion is this: if discipline is to be meted out, then we should all be bound together and receive it."

"Comrade Yang Kang, secretary of the Guantan Gou Zhen Party Committee; Comrade Su Yang, project leader; Comrade Qi Guohui, secretary of the County Political and Legal Affairs Commission; Comrade Zhao Nanxing, secretary of the County Government Party Group and county magistrate; and Comrade Zhang Jiangbo, county Party secretary—you are all top party‑government officials and bear inescapable responsibility."

"Of course, as a Discipline Inspection Commission cadre, I too have fallen short in my usual supervision, which has let everyone slack off at work, indirectly leading to improper handling of the sudden accident; therefore I, Hou Junlai, am willing to share the punishment."

If Sun Chengjun merely gave the Political and Legal Affairs Commission a hard blow, trying to drag Qi Guohui down with him, then Hou Junlai now wants to drag the whole ship down.

When the boat capsizes, there's no difference between those who jump in first and those who follow.

If it really comes to dragging Zhang Jiangbo to take the blame, they don't care—after all, when the sky falls, the tallest gets hit. You're the county Party secretary, you're the top official; the embarrassment is yours, the sore butt is yours.

Taking a punishment together isn't a big deal; you've just taken office, as long as you can save face and accept it, we'll stand with you—what else can we do?

Su Yang couldn't help giving Hou Junlai a thumbs‑up inside; this matter originally had nothing to do with him, and because the Discipline Inspection Commission system is independent, it didn't involve him at all.

Yet he forced himself to step forward, ostensibly to help Sun Chengjun, but actually to boost his own standing.

As for the others, their faces darkened instantly—needless to say Zhao Nanxing, mainly Zhang Jiangbo.

His position in the County Party Committee is lofty, because he concurrently holds the post of Municipal Party secretary.

That's why this enlarged meeting was convened: on one hand to establish his absolute authority, on the other to publicly give Su Yang and Sun Chengjun a stern dressing‑down.

So that all cadres big and small in Lieshan County would know that the county's heavens have changed.

No longer is it an era where Su Yang can do as he pleases; now it's Zhang Jiangbo who calls the shots.

He originally thought he was the absolute ruler—whether he pushed Su Yang into a corner or tied Zhao Nanxing's people together and dragged them down, it didn't matter to him.

In short, he intended to establish his authority through punishment.

But he never imagined that the fire would eventually burn him himself.

Now the situation is clear: either everyone gets a light punishment and he is let off, or he binds himself and jumps into the river with them.

At this moment he really regrets not having thought things through thoroughly before rushing to establish his authority.

He originally thought these county standing committee members had any insight; in his own words, these country bumpkins have seen only a few scraps of sky the size of a palm—do they even know which cloud will bring rain?

But now he knows how seasoned these people are, their experience rising step by step from the grassroots is incredibly rich—nothing like his direct parachute‑in, imagining he can suppress them with his status and identity.

If it were an ordinary county standing committee, perhaps that could still happen, after all normal people fear power greatly.

Too bad he's facing Su Yang, who likewise has background and ability, but whose tactics are ruthless and whose political wisdom far surpasses his—not just a little bit.

Too bad he ran into Sun Chengjun, whom he had already positioned as a steel blade—protecting the Dao within, cutting down enemies without.

Moreover, he didn't expect Chen Bo, such a political adept, who looks like a frail woman; while she takes one step and looks three ahead, others have already taken one step and looked ten ahead.

What's more, he never imagined that this locally born Discipline Inspection Commission secretary would also get involved; when he had previously called him in for a private talk, his attitude had still been quite good.

How could he, upon sitting in this meeting room, suddenly become a different person? It's as if he instantly gained a backbone, as if his whole demeanor rose at once.

The atmosphere in the meeting room was extremely stifling; Hou Junlai's remark, nobody dared to respond—whoever answered would be guilty.

Some even lowered their heads to stare at the empty tabletop, fearing Hou Junlai would directly call them out.

What is feared comes to pass; Hou Junlai turned to the recently most agitated Qi Guohui and said, "Secretary Qi, what's your opinion?"