Chapter 81: Losing the Authority to Investigate Tian Guanghan?

“Team leader, I heard from Yike that the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission is holding an internal meeting for our investigation team today to discuss a reorganization of responsibilities.”

“If that's the case, we might not be in charge of the Tian Guanghan case anymore.”

Jiang Hu explained to Yang Dong with a grave expression.

Upon hearing this, Yang Dong’s face changed. As expected, when their first plan failed, they came up with another. This was a move to cut off support at the source and seize control of the case!

Whoever was responsible for interrogating Tian Guanghan would affect the outcome, even though everyone belonged to the Discipline Inspection Commission. If they couldn’t strike a decisive blow against Tian Guanghan, trouble would be endless in the future. Secretary Yin would also face difficulties.

It was shaping up to be a tough battle.

“Huzi, step on it! Let’s get back to the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission building!”

Jiang Hu nodded, pressed on the accelerator, and headed for the office building.

Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the building.

Yang Dong stepped out of the car and hurried inside. But the moment he entered, he forced himself to calm down. He couldn’t act rashly. At this stage, both sides were bound to make their next moves.

With trouble at hand, he needed to find solutions, not panic.

“Team leader, you’re back?”

At that moment, Lu Yike appeared from the corridor, holding a stack of documents.

“Yike, has the meeting started?” Yang Dong quickly approached her.

“It’s about to start! You got back just in time,” she replied. Though she was dissatisfied with the reorganization, as a member of the Commission, she had to follow orders. At this point, they could do nothing but wait for the outcome.

“What time does the meeting begin?” Yang Dong asked again.

“Ten o’clock. Five minutes from now. These are the materials needed for the meeting. Come, let’s go to the conference room together!”

With that, Lu Yike, carrying the files, strode briskly upstairs. Yang Dong nodded and followed, heading with her to Conference Room 309.

Inside, the atmosphere was tense. Though not large, the room could hold nearly a hundred people. The meeting was an internal one for the Municipal Commission’s investigation team, presided over by Wei Chonghu, the Executive Deputy Secretary. The other two deputies, Gong Xinli and Xu Yuncai, were also present.

When Yang Dong arrived, almost every seat was taken. He spotted the other nine team leaders, including Luo Jin, whom he’d first gotten to know—a Deputy Section Chief in the General Office of the Municipal Committee, now leader of the Ninth Task Force.

After Yang Dong found a vacant seat, the meeting was about to commence. Jiang Hu and Hou Shuangquan came in at a run and sat beside him.

Was Hou Donglai here?

Yang Dong glanced around but didn’t see him.

“Huzi, where’s Donglai?”

Jiang Hu replied in a low voice, “Team leader, he’s still at the hotel, guarding Tian Guanghan.”

“Good,” Yang Dong nodded, satisfied with Hou Donglai’s sense of duty. Until the reorganization took effect, Tian Guanghan had to be watched closely. To counter any last-minute moves by their opponents, someone had to keep watch around the clock—no mishaps allowed. It was tough on Hou Donglai. At first, he had complied only because Yang Dong had leverage over him, but now he did it willingly, not asking for anything in return. Of course, deep down, he hoped Yang Dong would let him off the hook and keep his secret about raising a child outside.

Bang, bang.

The conference sound system crackled—the Executive Deputy Secretary, Wei Chonghu, was rapping the microphone on the stage. That small gesture instantly silenced everyone; those whispering quickly looked up. When a leader taps the mic, you’re supposed to be quiet. If you’re still chatting and laughing, you’re not just insensitive—you lack basic intelligence.

“Comrades, quiet please. We’re starting the meeting.”

“First, I’ll convey the latest directives and spirit from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.”

“Since 2003, the work of discipline inspection commissions nationwide has made notable advances and achievements. Through the joint efforts of all levels, our work has entered a new stage.”

“To strengthen the Party’s integrity and build a discipline inspection force capable of bearing great responsibility, and in accordance with the directives and plans of the Central Commission, we will…”

Wei Chonghu solemnly relayed the latest instructions and spirit from the Central Commission, speaking for half an hour.

Yang Dong sat upright, his expression inscrutable. No one could read his thoughts, yet many eyes were fixed on him—especially Xu Yuncai on the dais, who kept staring at Yang Dong, sometimes for half a minute at a time, unfazed even when Yang Dong met his gaze. The intent to strike was impossible to hide. Of all people, Xu Yuncai must resent him most, Yang Dong mused, but he didn’t care. He wasn’t a gold coin—he couldn’t expect everyone to like him.

Besides, if Xu Yuncai won, Yin Tiejun would be finished, and so would he. He had no choice; to change his fate, he had to offend Xu Yuncai.

“Comrades, discipline inspection demands strictness and vigilance at all times. Under the guidance of the Provincial Commission, the Lingyun Municipal Commission formed this investigation team.”

At these words, Yang Dong focused intently. Wei Chonghu had finished relaying the Central Commission’s directives. Now the real subject began: the new division of responsibilities among the task forces.

“The Provincial Committee and Commission have high hopes for our investigation team and set forth more demands. Accordingly, we in Lingyun have devised many deployments, dividing the work among ten task forces.”

“Over the past twenty-two days, our investigation team has gathered preliminary evidence of violations by twenty-two cadres—a significant achievement worth celebrating.”

“But with new circumstances come new plans. To further investigate these twenty-two violators, to encourage everyone’s initiative, and to eliminate internal leaks and collusion, after discussion by the Standing Committee, we will adjust the division of labor among the task forces.”

Yang Dong’s gaze sharpened, fixing on the paper in Wei Chonghu’s hand. There lay the fate of his Tenth Task Force. He cared nothing for the other groups—only whether his team would keep the Tian Guanghan case.

“The First Task Force will now handle case A8 and case A12.”

“The Second Task Force will now handle…”

Wei Chonghu began reading out the new assignments, quickly reaching the Sixth Task Force.

“The Sixth Task Force will handle case A2 and case A7.”

From the leaders’ reactions, Yang Dong could tell that everyone’s cases had been changed—an ill omen. But so far, he hadn’t heard anyone else being assigned the Tian Guanghan case.

Soon, Wei Chonghu reached the Ninth Task Force.

“The Ninth Task Force will now handle case A13 and case A23.”

Yang Dong’s heart skipped a beat. The moment had come.

He didn’t know what case A13 was, but A23 was the code for the Tian Guanghan case. For confidentiality, the investigation team had numbered each cadre’s case. Only the responsible task force would know whom they were investigating, and only after receiving the case files.

Now, the Tian Guanghan case had been transferred from Yang Dong’s Tenth Task Force to Luo Jin’s Ninth Task Force.

And Luo Jin was from the Municipal Committee’s office.

The purpose was all too clear.