Chapter 9: Guan Mushan Assumes Office

At the very moment when Yang Dong was chatting about stocks with Chu Li over the phone, something significant was unfolding at the main entrance of the Lingyun Municipal Party Committee compound. All the senior officials of Lingyun City—the leaders of the four top municipal bodies and all cadres at the bureau director level and above—were assembled solemnly at the entrance.

At the center stood Wu Xinkai, Secretary of the Lingyun Municipal Party Committee. To his left was Mayor Hou Yong, and to his right, Deputy Party Secretary and Head of the United Front Work Department, Wei Liming. The remaining members were other standing committee leaders.

"They're here!" Wu Xinkai's expression grew solemn as he spoke in a low voice.

A Coaster minibus was slowly approaching along the road and soon stopped right in front of the compound gate. Wu Xinkai's face immediately broke into a broad smile, and he led the leadership group forward to greet the guests.

The door of the Coaster opened, and the first to step out was a man of about fifty, dressed in a black cotton jacket.

"Welcome, Secretary Ma! We are honored to have you here to guide our work!" Wu Xinkai extended his hand warmly.

"Haha, Secretary Wu, I'm not here to guide your work. I’m here to deliver an elite officer to your Lingyun leadership team!" Ma Shuli replied with a genial smile, shaking Wu Xinkai's hand before turning to the Coaster and calling, "Comrade Mushan, you can get off now."

With Ma Shuli’s words, another man got out of the vehicle. He appeared to be in his forties, with an upright demeanor, a stern expression, and a neatly cropped haircut that accentuated his capable presence. His black jacket exuded an unmistakable air of authority.

After getting off, Guan Mushan quickly scanned the assembled Lingyun leadership and then smiled.

"Secretary Wu, I’m here to report for duty!" Guan Mushan strode directly toward Wu Xinkai, proactively extending his hand.

Wu Xinkai maintained his enthusiastic smile, shook Guan Mushan’s hand, and said, "Comrade Mushan, we have been looking forward to your arrival. Lingyun City welcomes you wholeheartedly. With your addition, I believe our discipline inspection work will reach new heights."

"Secretary Ma, the Provincial Party Committee and Commission for Discipline Inspection have indeed sent us a most capable officer," he added, referring to the first man off the bus—Ma Shuli, Executive Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection. This appointment was personally overseen by Ma Shuli, representing the provincial commission.

"Ah, Minister Jiang!" Wu Xinkai’s eyes lit up as he saw another man descending after Guan Mushan.

"Secretary Wu, I represent the Provincial Party Committee and Organization Department in escorting Comrade Mushan to his new post. I hope the Lingyun Municipal Committee will support the work of the provincial committee and organization department," replied Jiang Hongyang, Executive Deputy Minister of the Provincial Organization Department.

Wu Xinkai nodded repeatedly, his smile unwavering. "Please rest assured, the Lingyun Municipal Committee firmly supports the decisions of the provincial committee, and we will fully cooperate with Comrade Mushan in his discipline inspection work. The discipline inspection commission’s work is one of our core priorities; whether our cadres uphold revolutionary ideals depends on both the commission’s oversight and their personal integrity. I believe Comrade Mushan’s arrival will strengthen both the ideals and the self-cultivation of Lingyun’s officials."

Though he smiled, a sense of heaviness weighed on his heart. For a new city discipline inspection commission secretary to be installed with the presence of both the executive deputy secretary of the provincial commission and the executive deputy minister of the provincial organization department—such high-profile provincial officials—was a telling sign.

This alone indicated that the provincial leadership was dissatisfied with the current state of discipline in Lingyun, hence their immense emphasis on Guan Mushan’s appointment.

"Secretary Ma, Minister Jiang, the assembly hall is ready. Shall we continue our discussion inside?" Mayor Hou Yong offered a timely reminder.

"Indeed, we can't let our new secretary freeze in the cold. That would be a failing on the part of the municipal committee," Deputy Secretary Wei Liming remarked with a hearty laugh.

Escorted by the local leadership, the two provincial officials led Guan Mushan into the assembly hall.

At one in the afternoon, the city held a welcoming assembly for the new cadres in the grand hall. All officials at the division chief level and above from the city, districts, and counties were seated in the audience, with the four municipal leaders in the front row.

"I am here on behalf of the provincial party committee to announce the appointment of a new standing committee member and secretary of the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission. After deliberation, the provincial committee has decided to appoint Comrade Guan Mushan as a standing committee member of the Lingyun Municipal Committee and secretary of the Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission. Comrade Lu Zheng is relieved of these posts," Jiang Hongyang announced.

Lu Zheng, the outgoing secretary, had already submitted his resignation due to a malignant tumor, so the customary phrase "awaiting further assignment" was omitted.

Afterward, Secretary Wu Xinkai presided over the meeting and delivered a speech: reiterating support for the provincial committee’s decision, pledging to implement its directives, welcoming Guan Mushan, and voicing the municipal party committee’s unwavering support for his work.

Ma Shuli, speaking on behalf of the provincial commission, underscored the importance of discipline inspection and stated that Lingyun’s commission should operate under provincial leadership, supporting its initiatives and Guan Mushan’s work in particular.

Finally, Guan Mushan delivered his inaugural address. Standing before the assembly, he declared with firm resolve: "The provincial committee’s decision to appoint me as secretary is a sign of trust in my work. I will devote myself wholeheartedly to the commission’s duties. Many of you may not know me yet, but I look forward to working and growing together with all of you, and I hope you will support the commission’s tasks. I will continue to study the Party’s guidelines and policies and diligently implement the central commission’s directives regarding the spirit of the seventeenth Party Congress. I will strive to... I will uphold the highest standards... That concludes my speech. Thank you!"

A prolonged applause filled the grand hall.

Later, at the repeated invitation of Secretary Wu Xinkai and Mayor Hou Yong, Ma Shuli and Jiang Hongyang attended the welcoming banquet. After an hour, the two provincial leaders departed Lingyun and returned to the provincial capital.

...

At three in the afternoon, standing committee member and discipline inspection commission secretary Guan Mushan convened a meeting of all commission cadres in the city commission headquarters. There, he appeared before the commission staff and reiterated the directives from the central and provincial commissions, urging discipline inspectors at all levels—city, district, county, and township—to be proactive in their duties and to strictly adhere to the requirements for commission cadres.

"Comrade Yuncai, I understand that the city commission has been investigating Secretary-General Yin Tiejun’s case in recent days?" As the meeting was drawing to a close, Guan Mushan casually turned to Xu Yuncai, deputy secretary of the municipal commission.

The sudden question from the new secretary caught everyone off guard, and the room grew tense as each person’s mind raced. For Xu Yuncai, his heart skipped a beat and his nerves tightened, but he maintained a calm expression and replied, "Yes, Secretary Guan. Over the past two days, the investigation into Yin Tiejun’s case has been the focus of discussion among both cadres and the public, and the impact has been especially negative. However, the investigation is progressing smoothly. It should be concluded in a day or two, after which the case will be handed over to the appropriate judicial authorities."

Guan Mushan nodded, then continued, "Although I have just arrived and am not yet familiar with everyone, I bring with me the requirements of the provincial commission. There are prominent violations of discipline and law among some Lingyun officials, which have drawn the provincial commission’s close attention. I have compiled a list involving twenty officials at the division chief level or higher."

"Now that I am secretary, I intend to fulfill my responsibilities and ensure a clean, upright environment for Lingyun’s cadres. Therefore, I propose that the investigation into Yin Tiejun be incorporated into a broader inquiry. The municipal commission will set up a special task force to investigate cadre conduct citywide."

"We must not wrong any good comrade, nor will we ever tolerate those who violate discipline and the law. Don’t misunderstand me—I do not distrust your work. But the provincial commission has set requirements, and we cannot take this lightly."

Guan Mushan’s words landed like a heavy hammer, weighing on the heart of every commission cadre present. No one quite understood his intentions: forming a special investigation team? Merging the Yin Tiejun case into a larger probe?

But as the top leader of the commission, a standing committee member, and bearing the provincial commission’s mandate, no one dared voice disagreement or challenge him—not even Wei Chonghu, the first deputy secretary, who remained silent.

Xu Yuncai, however, was anxious. He quickly spoke up, "Secretary Guan, the Yin Tiejun case is almost fully investigated. Wouldn't it be unnecessary to..."

"Comrade Yuncai, Yin Tiejun is, after all, the secretary-general of the city government—a division chief-level cadre. This concerns the city government’s reputation, and we must provide them with a proper account," Guan Mushan interjected, cutting Xu Yuncai off with a wave of his hand.

Xu Yuncai sat back, frustrated, his mind now uneasy.

"Then, Secretary Guan, how many members will there be on the task force, and how will it be composed?" Wei Chonghu, the first deputy secretary, probed cautiously.

"Seventy percent from the discipline inspection commission; the remainder will be selected from the municipal party committee office, the city government office, the public security bureau, the courts, and the procuratorate. I have a list here of the personnel to be seconded—have a look." With that, Guan Mushan placed a sheet of paper on the table.

Wei Chonghu, seated to Guan Mushan’s left, picked it up first and examined it closely, then circulated it to Xu Yuncai.

Xu Yuncai hurriedly took the list and, upon reading it, narrowed his eyes; he had spotted a name that startled him—Yang Dong, from the General Affairs Section of the city government office.

He couldn’t help but glance at Guan Mushan, only to see the new secretary’s face as calm as ever, even bearing a faint smile.

Xu Yuncai’s heart sank.