Chapter 973: Directly Confronted by Mayor Wang Huaizhong

He said, "Secretary Zhao is really too polite; proposing to convene the standing committee is indeed a helpless move. Of course, this also exposes family shame, and as a city official facing this situation I cannot keep it hidden."

Zhaikai said, "Yes, comrade Zhang Jiangbo said that sometimes we must dare to expose family shame, not just cover it up, not just think of using our coercive means to hide the truth; that only makes things worse."

"But some grassroots cadres just don't understand this principle; when the matter really ferments to an uncontrollable stage they can only pat their heads and buttocks. Well, since everyone is here, let's officially start the meeting."

"This standing committee was proposed by comrade Zhang Jiangbo, so let comrade Zhang Jiangbo speak."

Zhang Jiangbo, not holding back, got straight to the point: "Secretary Zhao, comrades, the agenda for this meeting has been printed and placed on each of your desks."

"In fact it concerns the recent fatal incident on a project in our county. Someone must take responsibility, the common people must be given an answer; we cannot let this continue to worsen."

"Therefore, we have held several meetings in the county; the meetings basically approved handling the project's primary responsible person and the duty officer of the township where the incident occurred."

"But a few people still have different ideas; we recorded each one and compiled them into material submitted upward. Today's purpose is to discuss, as the supervising leaders, whether the project mishap should bear responsibility, and what kind of responsibility."

"Thus, I will first share my view. The county's situation, comrades, you all know, so I won't repeat. I will be blunt: when a project goes wrong, the direct responsible person, comrade Su Yang, should bear responsibility."

"His leadership responsibility was decided at the meeting last year, and he himself acknowledged it."

"Our county's original intention in building these roads and projects was good; the county has repeatedly emphasized to observe labor discipline and avoid any incidents."

"Yet, on this livelihood project, two lives were lost and it even involved clan feuds. Fundamentally this is leadership negligence, not truly taking responsibility to heart, not achieving proper supervision, thus leading to this bad outcome."

"According to relevant regulations, I think Su Yang should be suspended, and the whole city notified; the deputy secretary of Guantan Gou Town on duty that night, Gao Yinxiang, should be immediately dismissed."

"Comrades, such behavior is truly vile, especially its impact among the common people is huge; we cannot casually deal with two people and sweep it under the rug, otherwise people will say we are using temporary workers as scapegoats, and our government's credibility will rapidly erode."

"The above is my suggestion; the rest, comrades, please also discuss."

He set the tone from the start, not debating whether to handle it, but emphasizing how to handle it, even already giving the result he wants.

That is, first suspend then city‑wide notification and criticism. For a cadre's political future this is an enormous blow; if such a thing fell on an ordinary person, at least for five years they couldn't advance, keeping the current position would already be a great favor.

But when his words fell, the crowd just looked at each other, no one wanted to pick up the thread.

The atmosphere instantly became subtle.

At this moment, Wang Huaizhong said, "Regarding this matter, I also have some understanding, but in my view responsibility must be shouldered, and the common people must be given an answer, yet we must first uncover the true facts of this case."

"Have you county officials clarified it? Was this incident objectively occurred, or was there someone subjectively pushing it from behind? It could even be deliberate."

"Can you be certain? If certain, responsibility is required; if uncertain, bringing this up at the standing committee is a joke. This is the highest decision‑making body of the Jinzhou Municipal Party Committee, not a village information center."

Wang Huaizhong's speech was very forceful: "If you Zhang Jiangbo insist on handling Su Yang, I won't give you a friendly face; I want the essence of the matter."

"Have you clarified? Anyway you are the County Party Secretary, everything in the county is closely related to you."

He obviously also investigated this matter, otherwise he wouldn't have spoken with such a strong stance.

This indeed choked Zhang Jiangbo. In his view, the municipal standing committee members should at least give him some face; even if they disagree with handling Su Yang this way, they wouldn't target him so directly.

But people like him are all talk, thinking they are from the capital; they think Wang Huaizhong hasn't grasped the situation, and as County Party Secretary, often the truth doesn't matter, the fact that there is an issue is enough.

Within the system, handling matters is always like this, right?

The truth is irrelevant; what matters is what purpose this incident serves.

Is Jinzhou different?

So he added, "Mayor Wang, this investigation was conducted by our County Public Security Bureau; the comrades there can guarantee it. If there are still hidden facts not uncovered, that is the County Public Security Bureau's negligence; then we will deal with it, I will not tolerate it."

"But now this case is clearly laid out before everyone; the point of discussion now is how to handle it—suspension, dismissal, or what?"

He became agitated, his voice rose sharply; some standing committee members who wanted to speak remained silent at that moment.

Zhaikai suddenly interjected, "Minister Lu, you oversee the Organization Department and cadres; from your perspective, share your view on this matter."

Minister Lu said, "In principle I still agree with Secretary Zhang's view; since such a serious incident occurred, the responsible parties must be dealt with."

"If we don't deal with it, how can we answer the common people? The incident is so big, can we just let it fade? But from the organizational principle perspective, all local major leaders must bear direct responsibility; that means the deputy county magistrate Su Yang, who is responsible for the project, must be dealt with, and as County Party Secretary, like the county magistrate, you also must bear responsibility, and your responsibility is heavier than Su Yang's."

"Also that thing about Guantan Gou Town, we cannot let a duty deputy secretary take the blame; the Town Party Committee Secretary must bear responsibility."

"Our cadre regulations and related statutes are very clear, stating plainly that the party and government top leader is the most direct responsible person. For example, take Lieshan County; all the various matters in the county are closely tied to Secretary Zhang; if there is evidence or merit, regardless of who did it, you are the most direct beneficiary of that merit."

"But on the other hand, if something really goes wrong, then you are the primary responsible person, indisputable. So I suggest a heavy‑handed approach: anyone involved must not be spared, be publicly criticized, and receive a major demerit."