Nominal: Starting with an entrance exam for a PhD in Economics at Peking University

"Is Director Xiao home?" Hou Liangping asked.

Liang Lu didn't answer, but stepped aside to let them in.

The living room contained that set of mahogany furniture; the deep red wood gleamed dimly in the afternoon light, heavy and oppressive.

The study door was open.

Xiao Gangyu sat in a chair next to the mahogany desk, holding a book in his hand. The book was open, but he wasn't reading it. He just put it there and stared blankly in that direction.

Hou Liangping showed his credentials and said the few procedural things.

This time it was the Discipline Inspection Commission's action, and Xiao Gangyu didn't say anything like "let's have a meal" or "we're all comrades" as he had in his previous life; he accepted it calmly.

Gao Yuliang refused to go into the water, and Liu Changsheng claimed to be ill, leaving him no room to struggle.

Two staff members escorted him away. When they reached the living room, Liang Lu stood there, her hand on the hook in the entryway. She had no tears and no expression; she just stood there, watching him walk over.

Xiao Gangyu paused in front of her.

The two people stared at each other for a second, or two seconds.

Xiao Gangyu's lips twitched, and he sneered:

"I told you to get a divorce before, but you wouldn't. Now you can't get one."

Chapter 189 The Wind Rises

There is an unwritten understanding in officialdom about the amount of power a position carries.

The so-called weighted formula is full of errors, but everyone has their own understanding of it.

This understanding, which is not explicitly written down anywhere, is an experience that has gradually formed through generations of officials observing and speculating with each other.

The provincial party secretary certainly has power. But that power is strategic; it's the power to set the tone, the direction, and the personnel decisions. You are the provincial party secretary; you decide where the province is headed, but you don't concern yourself with the specific steps taken.

The governor has power. That power is at the executive level—the power to allocate resources, advance projects, and decide where money is spent.

But the provincial public security chief wields a different kind of power.

That kind of power is hard to categorize as "strategy" or "execution." It's closer to a direct force that covers daily life and can be implemented at any time. It controls the police, stability maintenance, criminal investigation, traffic control, immigration, and anything related to personal freedom.

Its tentacles reach into the lives of every resident of Handong—your license plate, your passport, your travel records, the files of certain people around you—all of these things are in the database of the public security system and under the jurisdiction of the Director of the Public Security Bureau.

Therefore, based on rankings, the Director of the Public Security Bureau might not be in the top fifteen, but based on actual influence, from certain perspectives, he could even be in the top ten.

Even though Xiao Gangyu is not yet the vice governor.

-

The news of Xiao Gangyu being taken away spread throughout the entire provincial party committee compound that afternoon.

By evening, the news had spread throughout Jingzhou.

By the next morning, the news had spread throughout the entire Handong province.

The first to fall into chaos was the Provincial Public Security Department.

With the director of the department taken away, the position of top leader was vacant, and all daily work awaited a new source of authorization. The deputy directors of the Public Security Bureau each made phone calls and used their connections, and at the temporary leadership meeting that afternoon, they tried their best to appear calm and composed, as if everything was normal.

But the atmosphere in the meeting room didn't lie.

Everyone's gaze was subtly observing others, scrutinizing their faces for any information they might possess, or for any sense of security they held that no one else knew about.

No.

In everyone's eyes, there was the same thing—unease, confusion, and a feeling of being blown away by a leaf in the wind, not yet landing.

Meanwhile, a large number of private interactions are taking place in various banquets, teahouses, clubs, and private courtyards in Jingzhou.

Some people are asking around: How did Xiao Gangyu get arrested this time? Which lead led to his arrest? What level of evidence has been gathered? Will more evidence be released?

Someone is asking for help: to use connections to inquire with the Discipline Inspection Commission about any relevant information about them, to get a heads-up beforehand and see if they should take any initiative to do something.

Someone was orchestrating this: several old comrades who had worked together in the political and legal system for many years got together for a meal. They didn't eat much, but each of them had a few drinks. They didn't talk about anything serious, but after the meal, everyone felt a little more at ease.

People were visiting: Some business owners who had dealings with Xiao Gangyu arranged for people to visit him overnight with gifts. Some went to see certain members of the provincial standing committee, and some went to see the heads of various departments and bureaus. None of the gifts were delivered, and no door was opened for them at this time.

The entire Handong area was like a water vat that had been suddenly stirred up, with the silt and sand churning up and turning the water a murky brown. The eddies spread in circles, showing no signs of stopping.

On the third day, Sha Ruijin convened a brainstorming session with provincial and municipal leaders at the second-level, where he delivered a speech.

He did not bring a prepared speech.

He stood on the podium and glanced at the people sitting below—members of the provincial party committee standing committee, heads of various departments and bureaus, and secretaries of municipal party committees, more than a hundred people, filling the room to capacity. Everyone's expression was solemn, but he knew better than anyone what was hidden in that solemnity.

"Comrades," he began, his voice low but clear, "some things have happened in Handong recently, as you all know. Many comrades have some concerns, which is normal. Today's meeting is to clarify things and dispel any doubts."

He paused for a moment, his gaze slowly moving across the room.

"First, regarding Xiao Gangyu's case. The Discipline Inspection Commission filed the case in accordance with laws and regulations, with solid evidence and compliant procedures. This is a disciplinary issue, not a political one, much less a matter targeting any particular system or group of people. Whoever has a problem will be investigated, and those who have no problem can work with peace of mind. There's no need to be overly alarmed or panic."

"Secondly, regarding the current anti-corruption situation in Handong. Since I arrived in Handong, the Discipline Inspection Commission has investigated several cases. Some say this is a purge, some say it's a persecution, and some say it's affecting Handong's stability. I want to make it clear to everyone here—corruption itself is the biggest destabilizing factor. The greatest risk is having corrupt officials within the cadre ranks. Investigating corruption is not about undermining stability, but about maintaining stability and protecting those who work cleanly and honestly."

He paused, and a hint of strength appeared in his voice—not harsh, but firm:

"Thirdly, let me speak frankly, and this is my consistent stance. Handong has accomplished a great deal over the past few decades; its achievements are real, and the efforts of its cadres and the masses are genuine. No one has the right to deny these achievements, not even me. I came to Handong to improve its work, not to dredge up the past or settle old scores. Those who are clean need not worry, and those with problems should not harbor any illusions. I hope everyone remembers these words."

After the meeting ended, people left the venue in twos and threes, exchanging a few words with each other. Their tone seemed to have loosened a little, but the loosening was superficial, like a thin layer of paint. What was underneath was still the same color.

Sha Ruijin stood by the window of his office, watching these people file out.

He knew that this speech wouldn't have much effect.

The seasoned veterans in officialdom won't change their minds because of a few words. They look at actions, the direction of events, and what the final result proves.

Speaking is a necessary gesture, but gesture does not equal result.

The results were far worse than he had expected.

Or rather, the situation was far more complex than he had anticipated.

The week after Xiao Gangyu's arrest, an overseas media outlet published an article.

The article is short, about two thousand words, and is signed by a foreign journalist, but the logic of the writing and the familiarity with the inside story of Handong clearly indicate that it is supported by inside sources.

The article’s core argument is that Sha Ruijin’s series of actions in Handong since taking office are systematically negating the historical achievements of Handong’s reform and opening up.

The article lists several incidents: the freezing of previous cadre appointments in Handong immediately upon taking office was seen as a denial of past achievements in cadre training; the conflict triggered by the demolition of Dafeng Factory was described as "a brutal intervention in the local private economy"; the rectification of Yueyahu Food City was characterized as "using environmental protection as a pretext to negate the major decisions made by the predecessor during his tenure"; and Liu Xinjian's arrest was interpreted as "using anti-corruption as a means to purge meritorious cadres left by the predecessor."

Finally, the article points out that the delays in some high-quality investment projects in Handong in recent years are directly related to the instability of the current political environment.

Each of these points, taken individually, has its own source and can be found in reality. But when put together and labeled with the overarching accusation of "negating the achievements of reform and opening up," they become a very sharp knife.

This knife is aimed at Sha Ruijin's political credibility.

"Negating the achievements of reform and opening up"—this is not an ordinary criticism, but an extremely serious political accusation, a label that Sha Ruijin absolutely cannot bear.

Its destructive power lies not even in whether the facts are true, but in the fact that once it is posted and widely disseminated, it will sow a seed of doubt among superiors and colleagues. This seed will take root and sprout, eventually causing everyone to re-examine Sha Ruijin's every move in Handong.

It's important to understand that almost all of today's leading cadres have risen through the ranks during the reform and opening-up period. All their achievements and the foundation of their current positions are inextricably linked to reform and opening-up.

On the day the article was published, it quickly spread in some circles in Handong, thanks to the efforts of some people.

Not everyone read the original text, but everyone heard about the core accusation.

That afternoon, Sha Ruijin contacted the Provincial Party Committee's Publicity Department, requesting a written response to clarify the facts and refute the claims in the article. The Publicity Department quickly wrote and published the article, disseminating it through provincial channels. However, the audience it reached was not on the same scale as the impact of the foreign media article.

He also arranged for Bai Jingwen to meet with several standing committee members, speak with them individually, and work to stabilize the emotions of all parties.

But that kind of stabilization is more like using a lid to hold down a pot of boiling water; it can cover the few bubbles on the surface, but the boiling water underneath can't be contained.

He knew perfectly well that this article had been deliberately pushed out by someone.

No need to think too much about who they are.

Even after leaving Handong, Zhao Lichun still retained these methods and was able to accurately target these specific points.

Sha Ruijin sat in his office for a long time, going over his current situation again and again.

He now faces two choices.

First, withdraw.

Releasing Xiao Gangyu, or suspending the investigation due to "insufficient evidence," sends a clear signal to the outside world: I am not purging the old guard of the Zhao family; this matter is isolated, and others can rest assured.

This choice can immediately quell some of the unrest, deprive that foreign media article of its most direct evidence, and allow the situation in Handong to return to a superficial calm in the short term.

But the cost of this choice was that his authority suffered irreparable damage.

A provincial party secretary personally authorized the detention of a department head, and then released him under public pressure. This does not mean that he is telling everyone: I can be forced to step down.

Once this news is confirmed, he will be tested in the same way at every step, gradually eroding his power until he can do nothing in Handong.

Second, proceed.

Hold on, persevere, and wait for the Discipline Inspection Commission to obtain direct leverage regarding the Zhao family from Xiao Gangyu. Once they have solidified Zhao Lichun's case, they can use the momentum of a great victory to suppress all doubts and pressure with a decisive result.

If this choice succeeds, his position in Handong will be completely opened up, and he can then govern with ease, with no one able to make trouble over this matter.

If it doesn't work...

But Sha Ruijin did not continue thinking in the direction of "failure".

It wasn't that he was blindly optimistic about the outcome; it was that he knew his own personality.

As domineering as he is, how could he possibly back down?

He picked up the red phone on the table and dialed Tian Guofu.

After listening to Sha Ruijin's question, Tian Guofu remained silent for a few seconds before speaking.

"Xiao Gangyu has extremely strong mental fortitude," he said. "Throughout the interrogation, his resistance never wavered. He admitted to everything with direct evidence pointing to him, claiming it was all his own doing; he denied everything without direct evidence, remaining extremely tight-lipped and refusing to utter a single extra word."

Sha Ruijin paused for a moment on the other end of the phone, then his tone revealed something unusual: "Comrade Guofu, I need results."

Tian Guofu understood the weight behind that "need" and, without further beating around the bush, said directly, "I understand, I'll arrange it immediately."

After hanging up the phone, Tian Guofu sat in his chair for a while, sorted out the materials at hand, and then called his secretary to inform Hou Liangping that there were some arrangements to be made this afternoon.

Then he made another decision, a decision even more significant than the previous one: to detain Liang Lu as well, to help understand the situation.

When Liang Lu first arrived at the Discipline Inspection Commission, she tried to appear calm.

The lamp was still the same, white and cold, smoothing out all the layers on people's faces. The person sitting opposite them asked questions one after another, without being fierce or yelling, just calmly and steadily, figuring out the boundaries of each question, finding the gaps in each answer, and then precisely placing the next question into that gap.

Liang Lu lasted less than twenty minutes.