ebookland Chapter 975 Qu Zhengping's Determination
Chapter 975 Qu Zhengping's Determination
"Don't worry too much. While you still have time, think carefully about whether you were involved," Qu Zhengping advised.
Before we get quarantined, let's hurry up and deal with the aftermath.
Those who should distance themselves should distance themselves, and those who should shut up should shut up.
Li Yongbao was a smart man; how could he not understand the other party's hint?
"Old leader, things are not that simple. You have been in politics for so many years, you should know that some things are hard to explain."
Putting everything else aside, I personally promoted several of the leaders of the Hongqi Grain Depot; that alone makes it impossible for me to clear my name.
Disclaim responsibility? He couldn't understand how his former boss could be so naive.
Given the current situation, he doesn't believe he can escape.
Frankly speaking.
Hongqi Grain Depot was where he and Qu Zhengping made their fortune, and also where he earned his first pot of gold.
He has thought about fixing the hole he created over the years.
But if the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam will be crooked too; he was deceiving his superiors, and his subordinates were also deceiving him.
Successive successors have lined up their own pockets and engaged in buying and selling, making it a messy and confusing mess of accounts.
As to how much was lost, not only did he not know, but even the person in charge of the grain depot couldn't give a specific figure.
The only option is to cover it up, one administration after another.
To cover it up? To distance oneself? That's difficult.
He didn't believe this group of people could withstand the methods used by the Discipline Inspection Commission and the Procuratorate.
If they can't hold out, they'll expose him sooner or later.
After a moment's thought, Li Yongbao decided that he still had to place his hopes on Qu Zhengping.
All the dirty work I did was so that the other party could be clean and rescue me in a critical moment, right?
He needed to remind his boss to avoid being too naive and giving up on him.
"Old boss, I'm in grave danger this time. There are some things I need to tell you."
"Okay, you say."
"The first thing is the construction of the Times Avenue, which is your first achievement project after taking office as executive vice governor."
Previously, I always did everything myself, but if I were to inspect it, the construction might be interrupted.
However, you don't need to worry too much. My sister-in-law is more familiar with this project than I am. If she can't handle it, we can ask her for help.
Qu Zhengping sensed a hint of coercion, his gaze sharpened, and he looked at his wife, Zhang Mingjie, sighing inwardly.
He should have known long ago that his wife and secretary were two scoundrels, capable of lining their own pockets without ever taking advantage of their positions.
"Okay, I understand. I'll make the arrangements."
"The second thing is the task you asked me to do last time. It failed. I received news that the middleman was shot dead in his own villa."
Therefore, I suspect that things may have been exposed, and Qi Tongwei may already know something.
Qu Zhengping was shocked. "What!"
Hearing the shock on the other end of the phone, Li Yongbao felt a surge of satisfaction.
So you pretended to be high and mighty, now you're scared?
Li Yongbao mimicked Qu Zhengping's tone and said, "Hey, old leader, don't worry too much. Without substantial evidence, even if Qi Tongwei knows, there's nothing he can do about it."
However, I must warn you, you should be careful he doesn't try to trip you up.
He sighed and said again:
"Hey, actually, if you think about it, they're probably already trying to trip us up."
Putting everything else aside, just look at the incident at the Hongqi Grain Depot. I think he's definitely involved.
"What do you mean by that?" Qu Zhengping frowned.
Qu Zhengping felt that Li Yongbao was making a fuss and trying to get him to save him by spreading all sorts of nonsense.
"Don't you find it strange? Why did Gao Yuan coincidentally go to inspect the Red Flag Grain Depot the day after the mission failed? And why did he coincidentally discover the problem?"
How could he know this without anyone guiding him?
I suspect that this Director Gao may have defected to Yu Huabei, or more precisely, Qi Tongwei.
Perhaps it was Qi Tongwei who instructed them to come looking for problems with the Hongqi Grain Depot.
"What's their relationship? He just listens to whatever Qi Tongwei says?" Qu Zhengping didn't believe it. How could someone become so obedient and subservient to another person just for borrowing money?
"That's because you don't know their relationship yet. If you knew their relationship, you wouldn't be surprised."
"They have a connection? Ha, what connection could they possibly have? One is from Handong, the other from Hanjiang, they're completely unrelated. Or did Qi Tongwei bribe Gao Yuan last time? I don't believe it. Gao Yuan is a very proud man, he would never accept money."
“Of course not,” Li Yongbao said. “I only found out by chance that Qi Tongwei has a teacher at the university named Gao Yuliang, and this Gao Yuliang and your good friend Gao Yuan are cousins. Isn’t that a coincidence?”
Moreover, I heard that before the Lunar New Year, Gao Yuliang had come to the Han River and accompanied him on inspection tours throughout North China.
Later, I made a special inquiry and found out that this Teacher Gao was actually the mayor of a major city in Handong.
Yu Huabei valued the other party highly and even wanted to invite him to take up a position in Hanjiang.
You said that with this relationship, aren't they natural allies?
Therefore, I have reason to suspect that Gao Yuan's inspection of the Hongqi Grain Depot was orchestrated by certain people behind the scenes.
Otherwise, how could Gao Yuan, who sits in an office, know about the Red Flag Grain Depot?
If the information came from Yu Huabei, it wouldn't be surprising, considering he used to be in charge of the Discipline Inspection Commission. It's quite normal for him to receive information about the Hongqi Grain Depot.
Qi Tongwei never imagined that Li Yongbao's unfortunate guess would ultimately lead to the same result accurately affecting him.
You'd better be careful.
The enemy is growing stronger, and we are unable to unite as one; it is truly pathetic and lamentable.
Qu Zhengping was completely flustered. "Is everything you're saying true?!"
Seeing that Qu Zhengping still harbored illusions, Li Yongbao stopped trying to persuade him.
In fact, the problem with the Hongqi Grain Depot has had a significant impact on him, but he has powerful connections behind him.
He should be able to avoid imprisonment; at worst, he'll just lose his job.
For him, whether or not he holds this official position is no longer important; he has already accumulated enough political and financial capital.
He can live a better life if he leaves officialdom.
"Whether it's true or false, I can see that you can't beat him."
I think you should leave the Han River as soon as possible.
Otherwise, after he's dealt with us, he'll come after you sooner or later. Don't forget, the moment he came, you made an enemy of him and cut off his supplies.
Qu Zhengping was annoyed. "What do you mean? You mean I, the dignified Executive Vice Governor, need to avoid his sharp edge?"
"Old leader, you are the vice governor, that's true. But that mayor isn't an ordinary mayor either."
To put it bluntly, in terms of ability, they are miles ahead of you.
In terms of achievements, not to mention what they did in Handong, their achievements in Hanjiang alone are obvious to all.
It not only solved the employment problem for hundreds of thousands of people.
They also transformed a backward industrial city into a vibrant one.
In terms of resume, he has served in two provinces at a young age, with a steady pace, from town mayor to county magistrate and county party secretary, and now mayor. His grassroots experience and governing experience are rich and impeccable.
In terms of career advancement, yes, you are the youngest member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and the Executive Vice Governor of Hanjiang Province, but so what?
You're still over forty this year. At that age and level, there are many other places where you can achieve similar results.
But most people waste their time at this level.
Wanting to be promoted to the top party or government leader and govern a region is as difficult as climbing to the sky.
Meanwhile, this person, at less than thirty years old, became the mayor of a city and received key attention and cultivation from the central and provincial governments.
Believe it or not, if things continue like this, someone will be in your position in less than 5 years.
As for background, well...
Li Yongbao smiled and asked, "Do you have connections?"
How did you become the executive vice governor?
If it weren't for me and my friends spending money and effort to bribe people around you, would you have been able to get promoted?
The cost of just this executive vice governor position alone is no less than 200 million yuan.
Of course, you might not admit it, because you've been avoiding these things, ignoring them, and deceiving yourself all along.
Qu Zhengping said coldly, "What exactly are you trying to say?"
Li Yongbao lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and felt it necessary to wake up his old leader.
"Don't you understand what I'm trying to say? I want to tell you that even if I, Li Yongbao, leave you, I can still live, and I might even live better than I do now."
"But if you leave me, believe me, you won't even be able to hold onto this position, let alone fight against Qi Tongwei."
Li Yongbao's words suddenly pierced Qu Zhengping's heart like a sharp thorn.
It deeply stung him and enraged him.
"Li Yongbao, I think you've lost your mind."
Who do you think you are? Huh? You're just my secretary. If I hadn't given you a chance and promoted you more than ten years ago, would you be where you are today?
How dare you know your so-called friends? What gives you the right to tell me this? Huh?
I'll say it again today: even without you, Li Yongbao, I can still sit here comfortably.
As for Qi Tongwei, you better open your eyes and see if I can bring him down!
The call between the two ended on a sour note.
Qu Zhengping was unable to calm down for a long time after hanging up the phone.
He never imagined that he was so despicable in the eyes of his subordinates.
How can someone who is supposed to be the leader be so unable to recognize his place?
Very well, then let him see how this old subordinate, this old secretary, escaped this calamity without him.
Seeing the two arguing like this, Yongbao's wife, Zhang Mingjie, came over to persuade him, saying, "Yongbao's words may be harsh, but they're not entirely wrong."
In officialdom, you are a gentleman, but what is Qi Tongwei? He is a shrewd politician and a socialite.
He has only been in Hanjiang for a short time, but he has already gained the trust of several bigwigs.
If you try to make a move against him on the Han River, you will definitely be met with a reprimand from the three giants. If you anger Pei Yihong and Zhao Anbang, you will have a hard time getting away with it.
The most important thing now is to save Li Yongbao. He's involved in too many things. If he falls, how can you expect to get away with it? Qi Tongwei will definitely take the opportunity to kick him while he's down.
Qu Zhengping said indignantly, "What, has the Han River become Qi Tongwei's domain?"
He dares to defy his superiors and try it; I refuse to believe that the Han River is not a place where politics matters.
"If Pei Yihong and Zhao Anbang dare to endorse them, I'm willing to report them to the central government. I simply don't believe it."
Qu Zhengping's tough stance made his wife, Zhang Mingjie, uneasy. She had a premonition that this was just the beginning.
That's how politics works; if someone wants to target your secretary, they'll never target only your secretary.
……
I sat on the sofa until late at night.
A crisp autumn breeze, carried by the plane trees, blew into the living room.
Qu Zhengping regained some of his senses.
He analyzed the current situation and concluded that it was indeed not very optimistic.
His right and left hands are about to be imprisoned, and his wife is not clean and cannot withstand investigation.
If he really waits for Qi Tongwei to come back and deal with him, he might be in a lot of trouble.
He needs to make plans now: fight or flee.
However, what appears to be two choices is actually only one.
How can a newly promoted executive vice governor manage to leave?
Besides, even if I leave, won't Qi Tongwei continue to target me once he grows up?
The answer is yes, so he only has one path.
He must take the initiative and launch an attack on Qi Tongwei to defeat him; only then will he have a chance of survival.
After hesitating for a moment by the phone, Qu Zhengping picked it up and dialed.
...
Provincial Grain Bureau, staff quarters.
Li Yongbao also spent a sleepless night, sitting by the phone smoking one cigarette after another.
He is waiting for a call.
The phone rang, its sound especially loud in the middle of the night.
Li Yongbao was startled, picked up the phone, and glanced at the number.
To his great disappointment, it wasn't the number he was waiting for, but Qu Zhengping's.
After thinking for a moment, Li Yongbao answered the call.
"Old boss, what's wrong? Why aren't you asleep so late?"
"Can't sleep? What about you? You answered so quickly, are you still awake?"
The two spoke calmly, as if what happened a few hours earlier had never occurred.
"I received news that the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection is already processing the paperwork, and I will probably be taken away for isolation and investigation tomorrow morning."
Qu Zhengping sighed, realizing that his subordinate was indeed better than him.
He, a member of the provincial party committee standing committee, was unaware of this news, while the other party had known it all along.
"What do you need me to do?"
Qu Zhengping's concise and clear explanation surprised Li Yongbao.
"Old leader, have you thought this through?" Li Yongbao asked.
"I've thought it through. I can't just sit here and wait to die."
These words made Li Yongbao even more incredulous. He had thought the other party just wanted to save him, but now it seemed that the other party wanted to join the struggle.
“Old leader, that’s the right way to think. Don’t worry, I’ve followed you for so many years, when have you ever seen me harm you?”
Qu Zhengping had shown him great kindness, and he would always remember that kindness; otherwise, he wouldn't have gone to such lengths to help him rise in rank.
Otherwise, given his current skills and the network of relationships he has built, he could easily only consider himself.
"Enough said, Yongbao, you make the arrangements. Let's face this together this time. At worst, I'll just quit this official position," Qu Zhengping said.
Li Yongbao tilted his head back, preventing his tears from falling.
He knew that Qu Zhengping had political ambitions, and now that the other party was willing to give up this power and honor, how could he not be moved?
The two felt as if they had returned to the days when they struggled together in Heji City.
"Okay, I have a few photos of Tian Fengyi, Yu Huabei's confidant. I've already arranged for someone to report them in the next few days. At that time, you..."
……