Chapter 135: Whose Territory Is This?

"Even you can see that?" Yang Dong couldn't help but laugh when he heard Jiang Hu's remark.

"Hey, Team Leader, are you underestimating me? I'm not stupid!" Jiang Hu retorted with a touch of defiance and a playful, teasing tone, clearly feeling slighted by Yang Dong's comment.

"Comrade Jiang Hu is certainly not stupid; he is just too straightforward," Lu Yanqing, sitting in the back row, chimed in to speak up for him.

Yang Dong nodded, acknowledging the truth in that. Jiang Hu wasn't slow-witted; he simply disliked the labyrinthine games of office politics and preferred a direct approach. If Jiang Hu truly applied himself to the situation, he was perfectly capable of identifying the anomalies.

"No matter how they try to stall, Kaiyang County wouldn't dare break the rules. This is merely about buying time for these officials to pull strings and find connections. It’s the classic 'Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each showing their own magic' scenario. If I’m not mistaken, in the next two days, some people will be calling me or one of you to plead for leniency."

Yang Dong had a clear grasp of the situation. Kaiyang County wouldn't risk violating core principles. Tan Long, a member of the Municipal Standing Committee and the County Party Secretary, was no fool; he wouldn't compromise his own position for the sake of nineteen compromised officials. Those nineteen individuals wouldn't run, nor could they. However, they undoubtedly had their own connections within the municipal government. Kaiyang County was likely operating under the assumption that they should save whoever they could, encouraging these officials to exhaust their networks.

Song Sifeng and his group intercepting them at the county border was a threefold move: to welcome the municipal inspection team, to buy time, and to test the waters while keeping them under open surveillance. Yet, Kaiyang County wasn't doing this to shield them out of malice, but rather to protect the county's broader interests.

"Brother Yang, what should I do if I actually get a call and can't find a way to decline?" Lu Yanqing asked, offering a wry smile. As a veteran deputy section-level official, he had his own social circle within the city. Out of thirty days in a month, he spent at least twenty wining and dining with colleagues and superiors ranging from deputy to full section-level. If these Kaiyang officials managed to reach someone he actually knew, he might find it difficult to stand his ground.

"It’s fine. If you can't decline, just pass them to me," Yang Dong said with a smile, empathizing with Lu's predicament. This was the hardship of working for the Commission for Discipline Inspection. They were supposed to be the supervisors, but being part of the system meant they could never truly step outside of it. Maintaining professional, normal relations with colleagues in other departments was an unavoidable part of the job.

"Team Leader, I won't cause you any trouble. Whoever dares to come to me for favors, I won't let them off lightly!" Jiang Hu said firmly while driving. He promised that if anyone dared to approach him for a favor, he would give them a piece of his mind.

"Alright, alright, you’re the most principled one here. Just keep driving." Yang Dong laughed, unable to do anything about his hot-headed subordinate.

Twenty minutes later, the two municipal vehicles entered the heart of Kaiyang County, pulling into the courtyard of the County Party Committee and County Government office building. As they arrived, the several Kaiyang County government cars that had been tailing them came to a stop as well. Ever since they left the county border, Yang Dong and his team had been under constant surveillance. Now, they had walked directly into the lion’s den, where countless eyes were surely fixed on these "uninvited guests" from the municipal commission.

"Director Yang, the County Commission for Discipline Inspection is on the 13th floor. You can take the service elevator directly there. If you need to see Secretary Xin Yao, head to room 1309," Song Sifeng said after stepping out of his car, proactively explaining the building's layout. His helpfulness was a thinly veiled reminder: this was Kaiyang County’s home turf, and they should be careful about how they proceeded.

"Thank you for the information, Director Song." Yang Dong acknowledged him with a nod and gathered his five team members: Lu Yanqing, Jiang Hu, Hou Shuangquan, Hou Donglai, and "Little Li," whose full name was Li Ziheng. Although nicknamed "Little Li," he was around Yang Dong’s age and had already been working at the municipal commission for four or five years.

"Director Yang, would you like me to escort you up?" Song Sifeng asked as they prepared to leave.

"No need, Director Song. We can find our way. You carry on with your work," Yang Dong replied, finally showing a firm stance and declining the offer. He had been polite enough, but this was a matter of official duty, and Song Sifeng had no business interfering. Song was taken aback by Yang’s firmness, his expression tightening as he began to worry for the nineteen officials under investigation.

Since the team was acting within their professional capacity, there was little Song could do. "Very well. If you need anything, Director Yang, just find me. I’ll be on the 7th floor! Oh, right..." Song seemed to have just remembered something. "Secretary Tan said that he must host a banquet this noon to treat the municipal leaders to a proper meal. However, since Secretary Tan is tied up with urgent business, he has designated Secretary Zhao to attend in his stead. I'll come find you once you're finished at the commission."

Song played the part well, acting as if the invitation had just crossed his mind. In reality, he had been planning it all along, waiting to drop it at a moment when Yang Dong and his team would be too busy to refuse.

"Director Song, this is..." Lu Yanqing started to decline, his face clouding over.

"Director Yang, Director Lu, please go ahead and get to work. See you later!" Song Sifeng cut Lu off and strode toward the office building with brisk, purposeful steps.

Watching Song disappear, Lu Yanqing turned to Yang Dong with a furrowed brow. "Comrade Yang, what should we do? That banquet won't be easy to digest."

"We'll go!" Yang Dong said with a squinting smile, watching the spot where Song had vanished for a long moment. "We're hungry, and since Kaiyang County has prepared a noon banquet, we certainly intend to enjoy a full meal. Once we're there, we’ll see exactly what kind of 'local specialties' they have in store for us."

He turned away and added, "Let's go. To the County Commission for Discipline Inspection to find Secretary Xin Yao."

The six of them quickened their pace toward the office building. Reaching the elevators, Yang Dong pressed the button for the 13th floor. Upon arriving at the office floor of the County Commission for Discipline Inspection, Yang Dong stepped out of the elevator and immediately locked eyes with the Secretary of the Kaiyang County Commission for Discipline Inspection, Xin Yao.