The Official Ladder: I ascend to the pinnacle of power, wielding the power of life and death.

"By holding televised political accountability sessions, we can not only effectively correct the poor work style in our county, but also take this opportunity to promote our county's determination to optimize the business environment. Only when investors see our determination will they be willing to invest."

Jiang Yiming glanced around and said in a deep voice, "Tomorrow, the Dongjiang Daily will report on our county's televised political accountability program on its front page. This is a great opportunity to promote our county, and it would be a major mistake if we didn't seize it. Editor-in-Chief Li of the Dongjiang Daily has been waiting in the meeting room for our decision. We shouldn't have any complaints!"

"Handling the exposed officials is a key part of the televised accountability program, and it also demonstrates our county's zero-tolerance attitude towards officials who violate discipline and regulations. This will effectively enhance investors' confidence."

"That's why I called you all here late at night for a meeting to discuss how to deal with officials who have violated discipline. I hope everyone will actively express their opinions and reach a consensus as soon as possible."

After Jiang Yiming finished speaking, Wang Yundong immediately said, "The secretary has been staying in his office for this matter. I hope everyone will understand and support him."

"I agree with the disciplinary committee's decision to handle these individuals."

Xiang Yuanwu, the Minister of the Organization Department, made a direct statement.

"I support this proposed solution."

Jiang Fengying, the head of the publicity department, also spoke up.

The other cadres looked at each other, and although they wanted to protect certain cadres, seeing how stern the secretary was, they figured it would be pointless to raise different opinions, so they spoke up one after another to express their support.

Just when everyone thought it was over, Jiang Yiming said, "The problems with the Food and Drug Administration have been basically investigated, and the Discipline Inspection Commission has also given its opinion. Yun Dong, why don't you explain the specific situation, and let everyone give their opinions? We'll go through it together later and try to publish it in the Dongjiang Daily tomorrow."

"According to an in-depth investigation, Liu Bao, director of the Food and Drug Administration, has long violated regulations by accepting gifts and money and accepting arrangements from others to play golf; he has failed to uphold integrity, arranging for others to pay expenses that should have been borne by him; he has used his public power as a tool to seize personal gain, engaging in power-for-sex and power-for-money transactions, using his position to seek benefits for others in qualification approvals and project contracting, and illegally accepting huge sums of money, amounting to 390.57 million yuan. It is recommended that he be expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office, and that his illegal gains be confiscated; his suspected crimes be transferred to the procuratorate for review and prosecution according to law, and that all related assets be transferred as well."

Wang Yundong said, "Liu Bao's wife is a deputy section-level cadre in the Health Bureau, but she has been away from her post for a long time, working at Xingwang Company. She runs the company with her younger brother, Zhang Xingwang, and takes on business from the Food and Drug Administration. Several cadres in the Administrative Approval Section of the Food and Drug Administration solicit business for Xingwang Company and receive kickbacks..."

After Wang Yundong finished expressing his opinion, he looked at Jiang Yiming and said, "Secretary, these are our preliminary opinions on the handling of this matter by the Discipline Inspection Commission. Please provide your valuable opinions."

"Such cadres must be dealt with seriously; there must be no leniency."

Jiang Yiming said, "Everyone, please share your thoughts."

Seeing that Jiang Yiming had set the tone, everyone present expressed their agreement.

Even Gao Zhenliang, who was close to Liu Bao, did not raise any objections.

After all, Jiang Yiming personally investigated and apprehended the suspects, leaving no room for leniency.

"Alright, everyone, go back and rest."

After the proposal was approved, Jiang Yiming let them go back.

If it were just one or two people to be dealt with, he could simply consult with Huang Shaohua. But dealing with a whole group of cadres at once would have some impact, so the procedures had to be followed properly to avoid any trouble later.

After handing the results of the investigation to Li Muyao, Jiang Yiming told her to take care of herself and then prepared to go back to rest.

Wang Yundong, the secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission, was waiting for him downstairs.

"Secretary Yundong, why haven't you gone back to rest yet?"

Jiang Yiming inquired.

"Secretary, I have something to report to you."

Wang Yundong said, "When investigating related cases of the Food and Drug Administration, we found that there were many public officials like Liu Bao's wife who did not go to work."

"You mean, there are many people in our county who are receiving salaries without working?"

"Yes, Secretary, although we haven't conducted a thorough investigation, I estimate the number to be quite large."

Wang Yundong said, "This problem doesn't just exist in our county; it's a problem in other places as well. Because most of the party members and cadres who are receiving salaries without working have powerful connections, this matter is very difficult to handle. It involves the interests of too many people, especially the relatives and friends of some leading cadres, who are the most likely to be receiving salaries without working. Therefore, many places dare not take real action."

“I understand what you’re saying. Here’s what we’ll do: you arrange for someone to conduct a preliminary investigation and get a grasp of the situation. Then you can report back to me and we can discuss how to handle this matter together.”

Jiang Yiming knew this was a tough nut to crack, and now was not the time to resolve the matter. He could only make a note of it and deal with it when the time was right.

"Okay, Secretary, I will arrange for this to be done. Go back and get some rest."

"Okay, you've worked hard today. You should get some rest too."

The following day, the Dongjiang Daily published a full-page article about the televised government accountability program in Xichuan County, Yiyang City.

At the same time, Jiang Yiming's comments at the end of the program were published in the newspaper word for word, with the title "People's Livelihood is No Small Matter, Every Detail Matters."

The Dongjiang Daily concluded by stating that the Xichuan County "TV Inquiry" program is an innovative benchmark for our Party and government in promoting public opinion supervision, democratic politics, and their own work; it is also an innovative benchmark for the public's active participation in social governance and a breakthrough for programs focused on public opinion supervision. The program is useful to the government, beneficial to society, and effective for the media. It accurately grasps the appropriate tone, angle, and scale, opening up a new space for public opinion supervision in the new era.

The family quarters of the Provincial Party Committee compound.

As usual, Provincial Party Secretary Li Zhengquan was flipping through the newspaper.

When the phrase "television-based political accountability" appeared before his eyes, he was immediately drawn to this new term.

When I saw Xichuan County using televised accountability programs to hold "lazy and inefficient" officials accountable and improve the business environment, a smile appeared on my face.

"I didn't expect Yiming to have so many ideas."

Li Zhengquan muttered to himself, giving a positive evaluation.

When Li Zhengquan read the sentence, "Whoever makes things difficult for the people, I will make things difficult for them! Whoever doesn't serve the people, I will deal with them properly!" he circled it heavily with his pen.

Immediately, he took out his phone and called Guo Shenglin, the secretary of the provincial discipline inspection commission.

"Secretary, what are your instructions?"

"Secretary Sheng Lin, have you read today's Dongjiang Daily?"

"I see. Is Secretary Zhengquan trying to talk to me about the televised accountability program in Xichuan County?"

Guo Shenglin inquired.

"That's why."

Li Zhengquan said, “After May Day, the province’s plan to optimize the business environment will be issued, and one or two counties in each city and prefecture will be selected for pilot projects. I have always felt that the methods and approaches for optimizing the business environment are insufficient and not innovative enough. I think your provincial discipline inspection commission could send someone to learn about the televised questioning program in Xichuan County. If it is suitable, your provincial discipline inspection commission could set up an accountability team and cooperate with the provincial television station to produce a similar program. You could produce a program every month or every few months, expose a few typical cases, and deal with a group of ‘lazy and inefficient’ cadres, so as to create a deterrent effect throughout the province and help improve the business environment.”

"Yes, Secretary, I will take care of it right away."

Guo Shenglin immediately expressed his opinion, saying, "I am also very interested in this matter, and I hope it is a good way to correct bad practices."

After hanging up the phone, Guo Shenglin thought for a moment and then made a call to Ying Yixiong, the head of the publicity department.