At the Pinnacle of Power: My Insider Report Alarms Bigwigs in Beijing's Elite Circle

For the next month, Lin Yi focused all his attention on his work.

In addition to monitoring the production and implementation of enterprises attracted through investment promotion, he also paid attention to the restructuring and reform of old industries—coal mines owned by private and village collective enterprises. He conducted research in various bureaus and townships one by one, and all tasks were carried out in an orderly manner.

A month later, Lin Yi organized the first symposium for private enterprises in Qinghe County.

At the meeting, several companies that Lin Yi had brought from Jiangnan to attract investment raised a very serious question:

Although Qinghe County provided land to various enterprises in accordance with its investment promotion policies, the Land and Resources Bureau was too slow in processing land procedures, which delayed the construction of factory buildings and seriously affected the investment and production progress of enterprises.

Because of this issue, Lin Yi asked the representatives of each company to leave first after the meeting, while keeping all the county government party members, bureau chiefs, township secretaries, and mayors who attended the meeting behind.

"Just now, everyone heard the questions raised by various companies at the meeting. I've kept you all here for only one purpose—to solve these problems. Among them, the issue of the delayed land use approval procedures for various companies is of paramount importance!"

Lin Yi then turned his gaze to Luo Peng, the director of the county's Land and Resources Bureau, and asked, "Director Luo, please explain the reason."

"County Chief Lin, in accordance with the work requirements of the County Party Committee and the County Government, the Land and Resources Bureau has held several meetings with the Planning Bureau, the Construction Committee, the Environmental Protection Bureau, and other departments to discuss issues such as land use, planning, and construction in industrial parks and production areas of major enterprises. After the meetings, the Land and Resources Bureau processed the land use procedures according to the relevant procedures, but due to the large number of issues involved, the processing was slow and the work efficiency was low..."

Luo Peng, the director of the Land and Resources Bureau, reported with trepidation, cold sweat pouring from his forehead.

"Director Luo, I've made some inquiries privately, and it seems that the relevant staff at the Land and Resources Bureau aren't inefficient when processing land-related procedures; they're simply holding back and refusing to process them!"

Lin Yi interrupted Luo Peng coldly.

This is what he learned from the heads of those companies in Jiangnan.

Luo Peng was so frightened that he dared not speak!

Seeing this, Lin Yi continued in a cold voice, "Director Luo, I ask you to go back and thoroughly investigate what the reason is! In addition, I will also ask the comrades from the county discipline inspection commission to investigate this matter and see if the relevant staff members have engaged in bribery or extortion!"

"Yes, County Magistrate Lin!"

Luo Peng instinctively obeyed the order, his shirt back completely soaked with cold sweat, and his body trembling slightly.

Seeing this, Lin Yi knew that Luo Peng was probably up to something.

"Comrades, a month ago, Secretary He chaired an enlarged meeting of the county government's executive committee. At the meeting, I made two requests regarding Qinghe County's economic transformation. However, based on the progress of the work over the past month and today's symposium with private enterprises, it is clear that some comrades have not yet changed their mindset, some units have not implemented their work effectively, and some even lack a service-oriented mindset!"

Lin Yi didn't dwell on the problems with the Land and Resources Bureau; instead, he used those problems as a starting point to criticize it.

"Here, I would like to borrow a sentence from Secretary Liang of the Provincial Party Committee: The economic transformation of Qinghe County is a pilot project for the economic transformation of Yunshan, a test field for the economic transformation and reform of Dongjiang, and an integral part of the integrated development of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei. Any individual or unit that tries to obstruct the economic transformation of Qinghe County is like a mantis trying to stop a chariot!"

However, some of our comrades have not yet fully realized the importance of Qinghe's economic transformation, and have not been rigorous or thorough in their work, which has affected the overall progress of the work.

Here, I solemnly remind those people: if they don't change their mindset, they'll be replaced—if they still can't change their mindset, then we'll make room for them!

As Lin Yi finished speaking, the entire venue fell silent. Everyone lowered their heads, taking notes diligently, and dared not look at Lin Yi.

Beside Lin Yi, Wang Zhi, the deputy county head in charge of infrastructure construction and other work, turned his head and asked in a low voice when he saw that Lin Yi did not intend to continue speaking: "County Head Lin, shall we continue the meeting according to the topic you proposed?"

"it is good."

Lin Yi nodded.

Today's symposium for private enterprises was chaired by Wang Zhi.

Wang Zhi is still the host of this meeting.

"Comrades, just now County Head Lin reiterated the importance of Qinghe County's economic transformation work, and emphasized the importance of ideological awareness and service consciousness. I think this is very good and timely, it's like diagnosing and treating certain comrades and units. After the meeting, the Land and Resources Bureau will immediately follow County Head Lin's instructions to investigate the problem of untimely land procedures for various enterprises and submit an investigation report."

Seeing Lin Yi nod, Wang Zhi began to chair the meeting. He first summarized Lin Yi's speech, and then said:

"Next, we will go through each of the issues raised at today's symposium for private enterprises, and ask the relevant departments to analyze the reasons for the problems and come up with solutions..."

In the following meeting, the heads of the relevant units spoke one after another as required. Everyone spoke very carefully, for fear of being interrupted or criticized by Lin Yi.

Three hours later.

The meeting concluded in a tense and serious atmosphere.

Lin Yi left the venue with a cold face.

It was already dark outside, so Lin Yi asked the driver to take him home.

This afternoon, he received a call from his mother and promised her that he would come home for dinner tonight.

The director of the county government office and the heads of various units didn't even have time for dinner; they immediately notified their respective units (departments) to hold meetings.

Because they could all see that County Chief Lin was very angry today.

At this critical juncture, no one wanted to walk into the line of fire with County Magistrate Lin.

Among them, the director of the county government office was to organize the staff of the county government office to rush out the minutes of the two meetings overnight.

The heads of each unit should organize meetings of their respective leadership teams to study and convey the spirit of the two meetings, formulate rectification measures based on the issues raised at the meetings, and assign responsibility to specific individuals.

Nine p.m.

Just as Lin Yi was about to leave home to go to his office to review the meeting minutes compiled by the county government office, Luo Peng, the director of the county land and resources bureau, along with his wife Zhang Xia, the director of the academic affairs office of Qinghe No. 1 Middle School, knocked on Lin Yi's door with gifts.

Fang Lan opened the door and saw Zhang Xia, the director of the Academic Affairs Office, and was slightly taken aback: "Director Zhang... what brings you here?"

“Teacher Fang, I’m sorry to bother you so late. I’m here with my son Luo Peng to apologize to County Chief Lin,” Zhang Xia said.

"Please come in."

Fang Lan invited the two of them inside.

Whether out of courtesy or out of consideration for their colleague relationship, she could not refuse to let them in.

"County Chief Lin, I've come with my husband Luo Peng to apologize to you."

Luo Peng and Zhang Xia arrived in the living room, and Zhang Xia spoke first to explain their purpose.

Before Lin Yi could reply, Fang Lan spoke first: "Director Zhang, although I don't know exactly what happened, I need to explain something to you. Since Lin Yi returned to Qinghe to take up his post, our family has had a rule that no one, no matter who they are, can interfere with Lin Yi's work."

"Teacher Fang, I understand."

Zhang Xia nodded, understanding that Fang Lan was reminding her that Lin Yi wouldn't do anything for her husband just because she and Fang Lan were colleagues.

Fang Lan said no more and immediately went to the bedroom with Lin Zhengguang to avoid affecting Lin Yi.

"Director Luo, have you gone back to the bureau and organized a meeting? Has the problem been investigated and clarified?"

Lin Yi's gaze swept coldly over Luo Peng.

Originally, he judged that Luo Peng had a problem based on Luo Peng's unusual behavior at the meeting. Now that Luo Peng had brought his wife Zhang Xia to see him, it basically confirmed his judgment.

"County Chief Lin, I have convened the meeting as you requested."

At this point, Luo Peng bowed ninety degrees to Lin Yi and said, "I'm sorry, County Chief Lin, the problem lies with me."

"Oh?"

Lin Yi raised an eyebrow and said, "It seems that you instructed your subordinates to deliberately obstruct various companies and prevent them from processing land procedures?"

"Yes, County Magistrate Lin."

Luo Peng nodded, his body trembling uncontrollably.

Zhang Xia cried and said, "County Chief Lin, please, for the sake of all the years I've worked with Teacher Fang, give Luo Peng a chance to reform..."

Whether Luo Peng has a chance to reform has nothing to do with you being my mother's colleague; the main thing is how serious his problems really are!

Lin Yi coldly interrupted Zhang Xia, staring intently at Luo Peng, and asked, "Director Luo, you should remember that I said at the meeting this afternoon that I would have the Discipline Inspection Commission investigate this matter. So, you'd better answer my next question truthfully—did you solicit or accept bribes in the process of processing the land procedures for the company?!"

"Have."

Luo Peng looked up at Lin Yi in horror, and finally slowly uttered a single word.

This single word seemed to have exhausted all his strength, leaving him feeling completely drained.

Lin Yi was furious: "Luo Peng, those companies were brought here through our hard work to attract investment, and you're blocking them from getting their land permits and even demanding bribes? Who gave you the guts?!"

“I’m sorry, County Chief Lin, it was my own fault for not upholding the bottom line and making a mistake. I’m here today not to beg you for a chance to reform, but to resign. Tomorrow, I will submit my resignation and leave the Land and Resources Bureau. I will also hand over the bribes I received to the Discipline Inspection Commission. I only hope that you can be lenient and not transfer my case to the procuratorate.”

Luo Peng bowed deeply again and pleaded.

If it's just the disciplinary committee that handles it, he'll only lose his job. But if it's transferred to the procuratorate, he'll face criminal charges and have to work on a sewing machine!

Zhang Xia burst into tears and tried to say something, but Luo Peng pulled her back to stop her.

Because Luo Peng was very clear about Lin Yi's style of doing things.

Lin Yi frowned and asked, "Luo Peng, was the amount of bribes you accepted large?"

"Not big."

Luo Peng looked up and met Lin Yi's gaze.

Perhaps because he made the decision, he felt relieved and at ease, no longer panicked, but instead calm.

Lin Yi sensed Luo Peng's sincerity and asked, puzzled, "Since the amount of the bribe wasn't large, why did you do this?"

“It was because of jealousy. We were all bureau chiefs, all at the section-level, but some bureau chiefs’ wives drove BMWs, bought the best houses in Qinghe County, and only drank Moutai when they ate, while I had nothing. Over time, I became unbalanced, my thinking went astray, and I started to have crooked thoughts.” Luo Peng smiled bitterly, his eyes revealing undisguised regret.

Lin Yi pondered for a moment and said, "Luo Peng, if the amount of bribes you received is not large and you hand it all over to the Discipline Inspection Commission, I can discuss with Secretary He whether to transfer your case to the procuratorate. But I have one condition."

"County Chief Lin, please speak."

"Tell me, who is this bureau chief you're talking about?"

"Liu Jianshe, Director of the County Construction Committee."

Lin Yi's pupils suddenly contracted.

Although he didn't know much about Liu Jianshe, the director of the county construction committee, he knew that Liu Jianshe was a confidant of Wang Zhi, a member of the county party committee and deputy county head!

Wang Zhi was He Hua's man, and he had always stood firmly on Lin Yi's side during the confrontation between Lin Yi and Wei Dongqing.

If Lin Yi were to investigate Liu Jianshe, it would inevitably affect his relationship with Wang Zhi and even He Hua, disrupt the unity of the Qinghe County Party Committee, and thus hinder the progress of Qinghe County's economic transformation.

Fairness and efficiency.

This is the question that Xu Hongrui raised at the Jingxi Hotel in Beijing.

This is also the choice that Lin Yi is about to face!