Chapter 991

However, Yang Kang shook his head and said, "This matter happened in our Guantan Gou Zhen. We still haven't figured out the previous incident, and now this kind of thing has happened again, so I should recuse myself. This is also a regulation of the Cultivation Organization, so in this Standing Committee meeting, I will act as if I were deaf and blind."

This came as a surprise to everyone. Theoretically, the person who should step forward to defend himself is Yang Kang, and the person who should push the blame for this arrest incident onto the Public Security Bureau and onto Su Yang should also be Yang Kang. But he proactively recused himself. Of course, whether from a legal or emotional standpoint, this makes sense, and others can find no fault.

Finally Zhao Nanxing turned his gaze to Bao Shuang and said, "Minister Bao, you control our county's Publicity Department. Our county has seen successive mass incidents that have already reached the city level. If these two matters are not handled well, the impact on our county is self-evident. Therefore, on this matter, you also have corresponding speaking rights."

Bao Shuang said, "Indeed, it is not appropriate to arrest so many people. The Public Security Organs should adopt more reasonable means to resolve this matter."

Having said that, he stopped speaking and had no intention of speaking further. Overall, he still expressed support for Zhang Jiangbo and Zhao Nanxing. In such a meeting, his role is merely that of a voting tool, unless it involves the work of the Publicity Department itself, in which case he can add a couple more sentences—he is quite clear about that.

Seeing that everyone on his side had finished speaking, Zhao Nanxing then personally stepped forward: "Since everyone has expressed their views, I will also share mine."

"As for this matter, we should view it from a more practical angle, just as Secretary Zhang said earlier: 'Those who live by the mountains eat from the mountains; those who live by the water eat from the water; common people everywhere are like that.'"

"This is the Sha He, located in Guantan Gou Zhen. The local common people's mining indeed poses no problem. This is their ancestral homeland, equivalent to finding food at their own doorstep; why should we make things difficult for the common people? Moreover, on what grounds does the Public Security Bureau arrest people? Especially during the New Year."

"Our common people have worked hard all year, and in a few days, during the New Year, they still have to endure this kind of vexing trouble caused by others. Are we still dissatisfied that the previous mass incidents didn't have enough impact? This time, if the common people come again to cause trouble, who will be responsible?"

"So I still agree with Secretary Zhang's suggestion: the relevant comrades of the Public Security Bureau should handle this seriously. Specifically, all the detained common people should be released, and apologies should be made to the village party secretary and village head; whoever made the arrest should apologize. Additionally, Public Security Bureau Director Sun Chengjun must receive a demerit. Those in favor, please raise your hands."

"He directly opened the vote, and Zhang Jiangbo's face clearly flashed a hint of displeasure—the meeting was convened at his proposal, so the show of hands should have been announced by him."

"Of course, what annoyed him even more was that he didn't see the desired outcome; even if this minor matter resulted only in a punishment for Sun Chengjun, it would have no impact on Su Yang himself, and even a warning would be meaningless."

"Many things, except for him and Su Yang, others present simply cannot see that far ahead; such a warning is actually useless for Sun Chengjun as well."

"What he wants is for Su Yang to take a hard line, to hold on firmly at the scene, directly pry open this lid—those who would be implicated would surely be bitten to death, and all would be dragged down."

"That is what he truly wanted. Therefore, he did not raise his hand first; of course, as the top leader, he could not be the first to raise his hand either, and he even considered whether to raise his hand. Originally, he intended to stand up for Sun Chengjun and Qi Guohui to give them support, letting them join forces with Su Yang, and ultimately let Su Yang uncover the lid all the way."

"In this way, he won over people's hearts, settled the matter, achieving two goals at once. Now this affair leaves him displeased. Even as he was about to raise his hand for the vote, he glanced at Su Yang's face; Su Yang should have immediately jumped out, as before, presenting a clear and forceful rebuttal."

"Sure enough, Su Yang said, 'Please wait a moment; I still have some thoughts to share. Secretary Zhang, everyone, I do not deny the earlier concept of "live off the mountains, live off the water" that everyone mentioned, but what mountain? What water? This and the Sha He cannot be lumped together, can they?'"

"The Sha He is explicitly prohibited by the state for private mining; even if it's at your doorstep, it's not allowed. Of course, someone might say, our common people need to eat, turning a blind eye and a deaf ear—law is ultimately about human sentiment; our goal is to let the common people live well, what's wrong with that?"

"But I ask everyone present: if this matter leaks and gets exposed to the city, even the province, or even reported upward, when responsibility is pursued, who will bear it?"

"If you are unaware, let me clarify: illegal sand mining is itself a crime, and adding severe damage to natural environmental resources, causing soil and water loss, can lead to criminal punishment."

"Moreover, the Environmental Protection Bureau recently issued a document last year calling for stronger environmental protection; many places have already begun returning farmland to forest and started protecting the natural environment. Against this backdrop, to privately mine and dig—if one can produce the relevant sand-mining permits now, I would also recognize it as legal conduct, and I also hope the common people can become wealthy."

"Does the Sha He have the relevant permits? Has it been filed with the Environmental Protection Bureau or even the Environmental Protection Department? I have checked and found none. In that case, if this matter is reported upward and investigated, who will step forward to take responsibility? If someone does take responsibility, then I will consider these words as never spoken."

"As for this Public Security Bureau's action, let's tentatively treat it as rough law enforcement—let them apologize where due and release those who should be released. Not only should the bureau's comrades apologize, but I, as a cadre present at the scene, should also apologize to the common people. So when the higher-ups investigate this matter, who will be responsible? If someone can step forward and give a resounding answer, if there are such daring and responsible comrades, I will applaud them."

"As his words fell, the entire meeting hall fell silent, some people even holding their breath for fear of being pushed out to bear this responsibility. Especially Qi Guohui, who had just been jumping about excitedly, at this moment he wished he could stuff his head into his pants—he has suffered this loss before."

"Last time he feigned fainting, which counted as escaping a disaster, but he also suffered quite a bit; even now his face is bruised and swollen, becoming a joke among county cadres and common people after tea and meals. If this happens again, his face would be worse than anyone's backside."

"As Zhang Jiangbo thought, indeed Su Yang is still Su Yang, as sharp as ever. But this matter must be investigated by Su Yang; he said, 'In that case, let's hold a show of hands.' Although he said that, being the top leader, he raised his hand last; aside from him, the most the others could achieve was a five‑to‑five tie, with the initiative in his hands."