Nominal: The Handong Game, the Energy System's Counterattack

Even when Li Dakang mentioned Shanshui Group and Chen Yanshi, Wu Xiongfei showed no sign of backing down.

He knew that today's meeting was the battlefield where Wu Xiongfei was preparing to establish his authority.

The mayor, who previously had little influence in Jingzhou, is about to make his presence felt.

Wu Xiongfei has really picked his timing perfectly, knowing that I'm in a hurry to resolve the issues at Guangmingfeng and Dafeng Factory.

He also understood the relationships between the various parties involved in Dafeng Factory and Shanshui Group, and he knew that Li Dakang was eager to curry favor with the new provincial party secretary.

The entire Guangming Peak project was strongly promoted by Li Dakang. If it were to be ruined, all the responsibility would fall on Li Dakang's shoulders.

There's also Dafeng Factory, where Chen Yanshi is involved. Even though Li Dakang dislikes Chen Yanshi, he has to consider Sha Ruijin's feelings.

So now Wu Xiongfei doesn't care about anything else, he just wants to get Li Dakang to solve the problem, right?

How insidious! Li Dakang's mind raced, suppressing his anger: "What about the time?"

Li Dakang tapped on the conference table. "How long do you think these procedures will take?"

"Secretary Sha brought this up at his first Standing Committee meeting after taking office. You expect me to wait for the court's verdict?"

"Wait for the assets to be auctioned off? Can the workers of Dafeng Factory afford to wait? Can the provincial party committee afford to wait?"

"The mass incident at Dafeng Factory is now known to the entire nation."

"There are rumors that they are even planning to organize a petition to the provincial party committee and block the provincial party committee compound."

"Everyone is watching our Jingzhou Municipal Party Committee now. If this isn't resolved promptly, will it be you, Wu Xiongfei, or me, Li Dakang, who have to explain this to the Provincial Party Committee?"

"If anything else goes wrong, who among us will take responsibility?"

Li Dakang slammed his fist on the table, preparing to forcefully push his decision through.

"Therefore, my opinion remains unchanged: the government should advance the funds to quickly resettle the employees of Dafeng Factory, stabilize public sentiment, and prevent the situation from escalating."

"We will then establish a special task force to pursue the recovery of funds from Shanshui Group and Cai Chenggong in accordance with the law."

"First stabilize the overall situation, then complete the procedures, and finally pursue accountability after the matter is resolved."

In these words, Li Dakang indicated that he needed to focus on the overall situation and not be too rigid, which reflected his long-standing assertive style.

This also aligned with the perception of most officials present that maintaining stability was the priority and they didn't want any trouble, which salvaged the situation somewhat in terms of momentum.

Many cadres nodded in agreement, agreeing with Li Dakang's approach, since they wouldn't have to get involved.

The key issue is in Jingzhou. These cadres are used to following Li Dakang around and giving orders. Now, looking at him, many of them are still somewhat afraid.

"Secretary Li, I agree with and support your government's approach of making advance payments and then seeking reimbursement later."

"Currently, many employees of Dafeng Factory are facing difficulties in making a living due to a lack of income for a long time."

"In this situation, it is feasible for the government to step in and resettle the employees of Dafeng Factory first."

Huh? Everyone was stunned. Mayor Wu, weren't you just so vehemently opposed to Li Dakang? How come you've agreed now?

Li Dakang got angry and you agreed, how come your stance is so flexible?

But the next second, Wu Xiongfei changed his tone and became suddenly serious.

"Secretary Li, your idea of ​​quickly providing funds to stabilize the employees of Dafeng Factory is not problematic in itself."

"However, advance payments are acceptable, and maintaining stability is acceptable, but illegal advance payments and unethical apportionments are absolutely prohibited!"

"Where the money comes from, how it comes out, and what procedures are followed—every step must be based on laws and regulations."

"You just asked the Public Security Bureau to take the stability maintenance funds, asked the Guangming District Finance Bureau and Housing and Construction Bureau to share the cost, and asked the Finance Bureau to coordinate from other funds."

"Every step of this is on the red line of violating rules and regulations."

"None of them comply with fiscal discipline and regulations!"

Li Dakang slammed his hand on the table and stood up abruptly.

"Wu Xiongfei!"

Everyone in the conference room was startled.

Li Dakang's face flushed slightly, his eyes filled with a mixture of anger and disbelief.

In Jingzhou, no one had ever dared to question him point by point like this, and no one had ever dared to publicly say in a meeting that his decisions "stepped on the red line of violating rules and regulations."

"You—" Li Dakang pointed in Wu Xiongfei's direction, "Do you know what you're saying?"

"Of course I know what I'm talking about." Wu Xiongfei also stood up.

He was about the same height as Li Dakang, and when he stood up, his gaze was almost level with that of the municipal party secretary opposite him.

His gaze was sharp, his aura commanding, and he no longer yielded to Li Dakang.

"Secretary Li, I'm not arguing with you, I'm just reminding everyone here."

"If we follow your instructions, every one of us will be held accountable."

"First, it is strictly forbidden to apportion expenses to lower-level units, functional departments, or district and county finances. This is a clear and hard disciplinary red line."

Article 9 of the "Regulations on Practicing Economy and Opposing Waste in Government Organs" clearly stipulates:

"Strengthen the rigid constraints of the budget, and government agencies should follow the principle of budget first, then expenditure."

"Strictly implement the budget and strictly prohibit apportioning or transferring expenses to subordinate units, enterprises, institutions, and departments."

"Secretary Li, you just asked the Housing and Construction Bureau to provide funding, Guangming District to provide fiscal funds, and the Finance Bureau to coordinate from other channels."

"This falls under the category of 'apportioning costs to subordinate units,' doesn't that violate relevant regulations?"

It was still the rules, the laws, the regulations—Wu Xiongfei held the laws firmly in his grasp today, leaving Li Dakang with no room for rebuttal.

"Secondly, what is the legal procedure for the city's large-scale fiscal expenditure of 45 million?"

Wu Xiongfei pointed to himself and said, "The municipal government's executive meeting collectively studied and submitted the proposed adjustments to the annual fiscal budget to the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress for review."

"The Finance Bureau allocates funds uniformly according to budget targets, and the funds are used for designated purposes and subject to post-audit."

Wu Xiongfei ignored Li Dakang's increasingly ugly face and continued talking to himself.

He knew that if he took even half a step back today...

Li Dakang used to assign a lot of tasks, and if he makes it a regular practice...

From now on, all sorts of messy accounts will have to be dumped into the Jingzhou Municipal Finance Bureau.

"Secretary Li, you are at a meeting on the aftermath."

"The quotas were directly issued in the name of the municipal party secretary and passed on to the municipal housing and construction bureau, the Guangming District finance bureau, and the municipal finance bureau."

"There was neither a collective decision by the municipal government's executive meeting nor a submission to the municipal people's congress for review and adjustment of the budget."

"This constitutes a triple violation of fiscal regulations: expenditures without approval, expenditures without budget allocation, and expenditures without collective decision-making, which is completely inconsistent with the legally required organizational procedures."

"With just your verbal approval, Party Secretary Li Dakang, you directly split large sums of funding targets and shifted the burden onto the grassroots level."

"This is an arbitrary allocation without a budget or approval."

Li Dakang's hand was pressed on the table, and the veins on his hand bulged slightly.

"Illegal? An apportionment? No one objected when I gave the order!!"

"No one objects? You didn't ask for my opinion, you didn't ask the city government, you didn't ask everyone's opinion!"

Wu Xiongfei retorted sharply, "All members of the leadership team are present at today's meeting."

"You could easily give instructions and expedite the process to get things done, but have you considered everyone's opinions?"

Wu Xiongfei placed his hands on the table and leaned slightly forward.