In officialdom: After she left, I rose rapidly through the ranks!

Looking at Zhao Mingyuan's repentant face, Li Feitu's expression was icy.

"Don't worry, I will always keep my original aspirations and ideals in mind, and I will also adhere to my conscience and bottom line."

"Perhaps you once shared the same beliefs as me, but you went astray, while I did not!"

"You have indeed let down the 800,000 people of Linchuan County. You have worked here for more than ten years and been in charge for nearly ten years. However, during your tenure, the economy of Linchuan County has not only failed to improve, but has actually declined significantly. Whether it is public security, employment, various livelihood issues, urban infrastructure, or so on, there has been no development at all."

"Ten years! While the rest of the country is developing rapidly, Linchuan County has not only failed to progress, but has actually regressed. Zhao Mingyuan, although I don't want to say this, I have to say that you have indeed let down the people of Linchuan County. In fact, you are a sinner against Linchuan County!"

"I, Li Feitu, will definitely work hard and try every means to make the people of Linchuan County happy. But it's not to forgive you or make amends for you. It's just that this is my job duty, something I should do."

Li Feitu spoke these words without any politeness, showing no mercy to Zhao Mingyuan, and even uttering the words "sinner."

Zhao Mingyuan looked dejected. He opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say. He had wanted to find peace of mind, but now, his heart was filled with more than just unease. Li Feitu's words had completely nailed him to the pillar of shame, a stain he could never wash away for the rest of his life.

Secretary Lu Ming waved his hand, and Zhao Mingyuan was then led away from the meeting.

However, Secretary Lu Ming and some staff members of the Discipline Inspection Commission have not yet left.

After looking at the people on the stage and below, Secretary Lu Ming began to call out names.

"Next, those of you whose names I call, please come forward and cooperate with our investigation."

"Sun Yuan, Director of the County Party Committee Office; Gao Xiu, Minister of Organization; Tian Chao, Minister of Publicity; Liu Ming, Minister of United Front Work; Wang Hua, Deputy County Head; Chen Bai, Deputy County Head; Zhong Lu, Deputy Director of the People's Congress; and Han Ming, Vice Chairman of the CPPCC."

Lu Ming called out the names of many people in succession, and these people were undoubtedly all Zhao Mingyuan's men.

Moreover, they were all leaders at or above the deputy division level.

With so many people taken away, it's equivalent to at least half of the power of the Linchuan County Party Committee and County Government being left idle. And this doesn't even include the many terrified leaders of townships and county-level units sitting below the stage.

Their leader has been arrested; can they really absolve themselves of any responsibility?

Leaving aside Zhao Mingyuan, any one of these county-level officials could easily lead to a whole host of similar cases.

The officialdom in Linchuan County has completely changed.

Watching the ashen-faced men being led away by the provincial discipline inspection commission staff, Lu Ming glanced at the list and then said, "Wang Yanming, deputy secretary of the Linchuan County Party Committee, fled last night, but he has been apprehended by our discipline inspection commission staff."

"Next, our Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection has established a special task force for the events that occurred in Oasis City and Linchuan County. I will personally serve as the team leader and be stationed in Oasis. Therefore, if you are not required to leave Linchuan or Oasis without prior notification, I may ask certain people present to assist in the investigation at any time."

After saying this, Lu Ming shook hands with Xu Lin, then shook hands with Li Feitu and said, "Minister Xu, County Chief Li, well, I won't disturb your meeting any longer, I'll go back to work."

Li Feitu nodded and personally saw Lu Ming and the others off.

When Li Feitu returned, the name cards of the person who had been taken away from the stage had been removed, and his name card was placed in the very center of the stage.

Xu Lin removed his name tag and said into the microphone, "I have already read out the municipal party committee's decision. I will no longer attend any meetings in your Linchuan County."

"I would like to reiterate that I ask everyone to cooperate with the work of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and support the work of County Head Li Feitu."

"As for the vacant leadership positions in Linchuan County, the Municipal Party Committee and the Organization Department will consult with County Head Li Feitu and fill the vacancies as soon as possible."

"County Chief Li, you can continue the meeting. I'll go back and report now."

Afterwards, Li Feitu also saw Xu Lin out of the conference room.

When he returned to the conference room, everyone inside was too afraid to even breathe.

Because they knew very well that their fate was entirely in Li Feitu's hands.

This has nothing to do with the future. For the vast majority of people, the problem is not how to fight for a vacant position, but how to keep their current position. Even being able to retire peacefully or step down to the second line would be considered good.

Sitting in the very center of the stage, Li Feitu knew clearly that from this moment on, there would be no more obstacles in Linchuan County; he would be in charge.

Li Feitu gently brought the microphone to his mouth, and before he could even speak, the applause erupted in an extremely enthusiastic chorus. It was so enthusiastic that it seemed like it could lift the roof off, and many people clapped until their hands were swollen, as if if they didn't clap until they were swollen, they might be the next one to be taken away and killed by the Discipline Inspection Commission.

Li Feitu didn't speak, but quietly glanced at everyone before gently tapping the microphone.

As the applause subsided, Li Feitu slowly began to speak.

"Just now, when Zhao Mingyuan was taken away, he said something to me, and most people probably didn't hear what it was."

"I can tell you now."

"Zhao Mingyuan told me that he was once young, and he also had ideals and ambitions. He wanted to make a name for himself and earn the people's respect, saying, 'Zhao Mingyuan, you're a great guy!'"

"He thought that as long as he could obtain these things, money, power, and status would all be unimportant. What mattered was the people's heartfelt love and happiness."

"But he went the wrong way."

"I don't know when it started, but this man, who once aspired to be a good official, became more concerned with interpersonal relationships, with what was beneficial to himself, with appearances and face, and with how high his official rank and how much power he wielded!"

He said he had forgotten his original aspirations, which led him to his current predicament.

"He said that I should make up for what he owed to the 800,000 people of Linchuan County, and that I should not follow in his footsteps, but stay true to my original aspirations when I joined the Party and entered politics!"

"I can see that Zhao Mingyuan has truly realized his mistakes, and what he just said came from the bottom of his heart."

"But do you know what I was thinking? And how I answered him?"

At this moment, Li Feitu raised his voice and spoke in an extremely stern tone.

"I told him that I, Li Feitu, would not make amends for his guilt, because serving as an official and bringing benefits to the people is the duty and responsibility of us Party members and cadres!"

"He wanted to use this final method to alleviate his inner unease and guilt, but I didn't want him to have his way!"

"Because he doesn't truly know he's wrong. He knows he's being investigated by the disciplinary committee, knows he'll face legal and moral condemnation, and he's trying to find some peace of mind. This isn't repentance, guilt, or an admission of wrongdoing; he's just... helpless, he knows he's finished!"

"Then, I'd like to ask you all, what about you?"

"Those of you attending this meeting today are all the top Party and government officials from various townships and the heads of various units. I want to ask you, ask yourselves honestly, do you know you've made a mistake?"

"Reflect on yourselves. Do you still remember the oath you took when you joined the Party, and your original aspirations when you started working?"

"Do you also want to end up like Zhao Mingyuan and his ilk, being taken away by the Discipline Inspection Commission, imprisoned, losing your freedom, losing everything, before you admit you were wrong?"

"But even if you realize your mistake by then, will you still have a chance to correct it?"