Wasteland Border Inspector

Chapter 125 Order and Rules, Ding Yishan's Awakening!

What is the biggest problem with this opinion letter?
The real issue isn't the debate over the contract versus fixed-amount model, nor is it about the rules and regulations that constrain inspectors.

The real flaw lies in the fact that it is too fixated on the division and allocation of power, without listing a clear objective at all.

More accurately, it is the lack of phased goals that allow people to see the path forward.

Reading through the entire text, one senses an urgent urgency, as if it's something only I can do, almost an open declaration: if you don't do this job for me, someone else will definitely mess it up.

But when the work was actually handed over, the feedback report didn't contain a single achievable goal; it was all just KPIs.

In more fashionable terms, it's called "labor dispatch".

When Ding Yishan wrote this opinion letter, he should have considered it from the perspective of both parties.

However, the opinion letter now has three clearly defined entities: Happiness City, the checkpoint, and the prosecutor.

Happiness City only issues tasks, the checkpoint only receives and assigns tasks, and finally the real responsibility is all passed on to the inspectors.

Poor performance? That's because individual inspectors are incompetent; it has nothing to do with the checkpoint as an intermediary.

If it's done well? The credit naturally goes to the checkpoint; it's the checkpoint that's responsible for training them.

If the opinion letter is actually submitted and approved, the prosecutor will be in big trouble.

They do the most dangerous jobs, shoulder the heaviest responsibilities, yet they have no clear direction for the future, and when things go wrong, they have to take the blame themselves.

At that point, let alone taking over the outer areas, I'm afraid no one will even be willing to take on the contract for the core area.

After his subtle reminder, Ding Yishan clearly realized the problem immediately.

"Jiang Chuan may not have heard part of what I said last night."

Cheng Ye smiled faintly and turned his gaze back to Ding Yishan's face. "Station Chief Ding, how about I add something now, and you can hear if it's appropriate?"

"Okay!"

Ding Yishan unconsciously straightened up, his expression becoming serious. "Prosecutor Cheng, regarding the resettlement of migrants, the various departments held a coordination meeting yesterday. I originally planned to bring this proposal to today's meeting for the department heads to review, firstly to let everyone point out any flaws, and secondly to broaden our thinking."

“If you have a better suggestion,” Ding Yishan paused slightly, turning his gaze to Jiang Chuan, “go get paper and pen, and write down every single word that Prosecutor Cheng is about to say.”

"Yes, Station Master!"

Jiang Chuan quickly turned around, pulled out paper and pen from his backpack by the door, sat down next to Lei Hu's desk, and assumed a serious, ready-to-take-notes posture.

From the initial "young man" to the later "Cheng Ye", and now to "Prosecutor Cheng".

The gradual change in address contains Ding Yishan's subtle hints.

When these words reached Cheng Ye's ears, his heart skipped a beat.

Sure enough, the gamble paid off!

Since Ding Yishan was willing to show him this plan and ask for his opinions, it means that he doesn't care about the so-called "trainee prosecutor" status at all.

In particular, the title "Inspector Cheng" at the end clearly indicates that he is not going to talk about any previous grievances at this moment, and is only considering the issue from the perspective of the checkpoint.

Having figured this out, Cheng Ye picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and slowly spoke while holding the cup:
"The number of people migrating here is simply too large. Even if the checkpoints operate at full capacity, it is impossible to include everyone in the buffer zone. Moreover, even if they enter the buffer zone, it does not mean that Happiness City can rest easy. We must ensure that these people have a place to live and a job to support themselves in order to stabilize morale. This is the primary prerequisite."

Ding Yishan remained silent, only nodding slightly in agreement.

"With this premise in place, it's impossible to get everyone into the buffer zone. But if we're going to implement the outer city plan and settle the migrants outside the buffer zone, we must first establish rules. But there's one thing we can't avoid: who will be responsible for these rules?"

“The migrants are not cogs in an assembly line. Even if they are influenced by the Travelers and everyone agrees that Happiness City is the only place to survive, the Travelers have not deprived them of their ability to think. After arriving in Happiness City, they still have selfishness, fear, the instinct to stick together, and the ability to resist!”

Cheng Ye deliberately slowed down his speech and enunciated clearly.

Focusing on a few key points naturally brings a power that makes people think: "Designating areas for them, distributing supplies, and even helping them set up accommodations and provide jobs are not difficult, because when these plans are made, each person is a quantifiable number."

"The real challenge lies in implementing this plan. When conflicts arise due to unequal distribution of resources, or when people fight over territory, who can step in and stop them?"

"When construction is in full swing, if an infected person suddenly sneaks in, or if an infected source spreads among the population, who will step forward to clean it up?"

"When migrants can no longer endure the hardships of construction and want to enter the buffer zone to seek change, who can stand up and stop them?"

"When some people even stand up and openly question Happiness City, questioning the rules and plans we have set, who will quell this public resentment, and who can clean up this mess?"

To stop, clear, block, or handle.

Cheng Ye emphasized the pronunciation of the four words.

The greater the responsibility, the greater the rights that come with it.

But one thing can never be ignored: along with responsibility come problems, risks, ever-present pressure, and unbearable compromises and sacrifices.

In this vast city of happiness, who can shoulder this responsibility?
"So the core issue isn't how to allocate resources, but rather to clarify who will manage and who will be responsible for this mess."

Cheng Ye turned to look at Jiang Chuan, pretending to give him some pointers, "Jiang Chuan may not have understood what I meant, which is why he got the order of things mixed up. If we discuss the allocation first, others will inevitably subconsciously overlook the difficulties of management and focus solely on vying for the right to allocate. But if we put the difficulty of management on the table first, then if you want to allocate, you have to demonstrate the ability to match it."

Ding Yishan tapped his fingertips lightly on the sofa armrest, without immediately responding.

After a while.

Suddenly, he spoke up, "More than ten years ago, a police station was established in the buffer zone. Later, when Director Liu took office, he proposed to abolish the station system. However, the buffer zone still retains the foundation for reconstruction. Yesterday, a minister proposed to reinstate the police station and entrust them with the management of public security and the maintenance of order in the outer city. What does Prosecutor Cheng think?"

The words fell.

Jiang Chuan's hand holding the pen suddenly paused. He looked up at Cheng Ye, then quickly lowered his head to take notes.

In the past, the police department and the checkpoints clashed several times in an attempt to share power.

If it weren't for Liu Kun's advancement to a superhuman, according to the higher-ups' wishes, the checkpoint would probably have been merged into a department under the police force, instead of existing independently as it does today.

Does the higher-ups now have the idea of ​​restoring the police force to replace the checkpoints?
"Reinstate the police department?"

Cheng Ye was slightly taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

So, Ding Yishan was worried about the police department?
After reading the plan, his biggest question was finally answered.

No wonder Ding Yishan was in such a hurry to put a rein on the checkpoint; his words revealed his obedience to the higher-ups. It turns out that the higher-ups already had an alternative plan.

For the checkpoint to win in this potential power struggle, it needs unique competitive advantages.

In Ding Yishan's view, the advantage of checkpoints over police stations is actually... obedience?

It's a bit outrageous, but it also seems to make some sense.

After all, compared to a police department that has not yet recovered and where everything is still unknown, a checkpoint that is running smoothly and is internally stable is obviously easier to set KPIs for and easier for senior management to control.

However, on the other hand, perhaps he was too worried about the police department seizing power, or perhaps he had just spoken too euphemistically, but even now, Ding Yishan still hasn't realized what the core of the problem really is.

The core issue is not "who can take responsibility," but rather "how well things can be accomplished."

To put it bluntly, the key to winning is not who can do it, but who can do it well.

To put it more bluntly, it's bidding!

Is there a problem with reinstating the police department?
There is no problem at all. Even if the higher-ups want to start from scratch and establish a special outer city bureau to manage everything, there is no problem at all.

But can the establishment of these agencies guarantee that the rules will be perfectly implemented and the outer city will operate smoothly?
Police Commissioner, can you slam your fist on the table and say that I will take full responsibility for the chaos in the outer city and that I will be held accountable for any mistakes that happen?
If not, what's the difference between a police station and a checkpoint—is it just for the sake of simply sharing power?
Cheng Ye suddenly felt that the previous roundabout approach was somewhat unnecessary.

Ding Yishan was clearly still focused on the direct struggle for power, attempting to win against his rivals on the same track.

Instead of thinking about the fundamentals, what unique advantages the checkpoint has that its competitors don't have.

"The idea of ​​restoring the police department is good; the outer city does need a forceful agency to carry out orders."

After saying that, Cheng Ye changed the subject, "But what does maintaining order have to do with the police department?"

"Oh?"

Ding Yishan leaned forward slightly. "Once the rules are set, the police department is responsible for supervising their enforcement. How could there be no connection?"

"Wrong." Cheng Ye shook his head slightly.

"Where did we go wrong?" Ding Yishan asked, puzzled.

"The first thing to say is, once the rules are set..."

Cheng Ye feigned confusion, "Why does Station Chief Ding think we have the ability to formulate a rule that governs hundreds of thousands of outsiders?"

After saying that, he turned to Jiang Chuan and said, "Jiang Chuan, could you please open all the windows in the room?"

Jiang Chuan was stunned for a moment, and after subconsciously getting up, he hesitated.

Although Ding Yishan didn't understand, he still said in a deep voice, "Do as Prosecutor Cheng says."

The office has windows on all four sides; except for the floor-to-ceiling window next to the desk, which cannot be opened, the other three windows can be pushed open.

As soon as Jiang Chuan opened the window latch, cold rain, accompanied by a biting wind, rushed in from the side, bringing a chill that made him shiver.

"Station Chief Ding, I apologize for any offense."

As Cheng Ye spoke, he decisively ripped off his hoodie, revealing his muscular upper body. "Could you take off your shirt like me?"

Ding Yishan's expression darkened, but he did not refute.

Under Jiang Chuan's dumbfounded gaze, he actually took off his sweater and shirt layer by layer, revealing his fairly muscular upper body.

However, his skin was far less smooth and delicate than Cheng Ye's, covered with scars of all sizes, old and new, like a silent battle map.

"Please come to the window."

Cheng Ye pointed to the windowsill and stood there first.

Ding Yishan frowned and followed him over.

The moment the cold wind, carrying raindrops, hit their faces, both of them couldn't help but shiver.

Whether it's the second step or the fourth step, it's just a distinction between new martial arts realms.

It does not bring humans stronger physical fitness, nor does it make people ignore the effects of temperature. In addition, after becoming the station chief, Ding Yishan has not fought for many years due to his age. Even though he exercises occasionally and has no worries about food and drink, his physical fitness is only slightly better than that of the average person.

After standing there for only ten seconds, Ding Yishan's brows furrowed tightly, clearly unable to withstand the chill.

Half a minute, then a minute, and the rain hit their bare upper bodies, causing their skin to gradually turn red.

However, Cheng Ye remained silent, facing the window with his back ramrod straight, like an unmoving stone statue.

A sneeze!

Another gust of colder wind, carrying raindrops, rushed in, and Ding Yishan couldn't help but sneeze, his nose instantly turning red.

"This"

Jiang Chuan, who was standing to the side, was dumbfounded and anxious, like an ant on a hot pan. He wanted to persuade the two of them to put on their clothes quickly so they wouldn't catch a cold.

But as the words were about to come out, Ding Yishan's tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed, the doubt in his eyes gradually dissipated, and a thoughtful expression appeared.

"Station Chief Ding, how's the weather?"

Cheng Ye finally spoke, his voice carrying a chilling coldness.

Ding Yishan pulled his shoulders closer and said frankly, "It is indeed a bit cold, especially standing by the window, the cold wind is biting."

"If you were to set the rules, what should the migrants do in this weather?"

"Stay out of the rain, keep warm, and wait for the weather to clear up." Ding Yishan said without much thought.

"Hundreds of thousands of people are hiding?" Cheng Ye pursed his lips. "It's the rainy season now. If it's like this for half a month, with a constant stream of people coming every day, are we just going to let them all stay cooped up?"

Ding Yishan paused for a moment, then frowned again: "Then let the elderly, women and children stay away, and let the others take turns to work on the construction. If we wait until it's crowded before we start, it will be too late."

Is this part of the rules?

"Yes."

"What if any of the other people are sick?"

"Let him rest."

"What if someone is faking illness to avoid work?"

"Testing," Ding Yishan answered more decisively. "If there's a real illness, we'll get treatment; if no problems are found, we'll continue working as usual."

"What if he still doesn't want to go to work even if he tests positive?"

"Everyone else is enduring the rain, but he wants to hide?" Ding Yishan's voice deepened. "Establish punitive measures, or revoke his priority resettlement eligibility."

"So you mean that these migrants travel thousands of miles to Happiness City, and even in this awful weather, they can't pretend to be sick and rest for a day. They have to be forced by the rules to participate in the construction of the outer city like slaves?"

boom!
Cheng Ye's voice wasn't loud, but it exploded like thunder.

Ding Yishan's heart skipped a beat, and his throat felt like it was blocked by something, leaving him unable to utter a single word for a long time.

He was suddenly startled, his gaze drifting uncontrollably to the window, looking at the guards on duty in the distance, and at the scavengers in raincoats heading into the wilderness. Those thoughts that had been suppressed by power surged out like a floodgate being pried open.

Yes, how could he forget?

These migrants were influenced by the Traveler and fled to Happiness City on the verge of death to seek survival, not to do hard labor and contribute to the construction of the outer city.

The original intention of building the outer city was to protect the safety of these people and for the long-term development of Happiness City.

But in practice, it turns into taking it for granted that these people should be forced to work in the rain.

Why do you think of binding them with strict rules, even punishing them for wanting to rest in the cold rain for a day?

But why did he forget?

Is he subconsciously thinking that by drawing enough rules and regulations, he can make everyone obediently follow his ideas and achieve his desired goals?
"Rules are established to protect the interests of everyone, so that they will be recognized and followed by everyone."

"People will only trust you and be willing to work hard for you, even if it means building in the cold rain, once they have their approval."

"But without everyone, the idea that building the outer city is for your own good, for everyone to have a better tomorrow would be impossible."

Station Master Ding

Cheng Ye smiled, raised his hand and closed the window, the glass instantly blocking out the wind and rain. "I can follow your instructions to build it, but some people may not be willing."

People.

Struggling in the quagmire of power for too long will make you forget who granted you that power.

They also forgot that once they obtained this power, they should use it to protect someone from the wind and rain.

Only by standing in the wind and rain and getting a chill, and clearing your head, will you realize what you're really doing.

"Station Chief Ding, look, there are so many people queuing up in Quarantine Zone B."

Cheng Ye walked to the cabinet, picked up the towel he had used earlier, and wiped the water droplets off his body. "I have to hurry up and get to my post, otherwise they'll have to wait for me, the inspector, in the rain."

"well said."

Ding Yishan sighed and stretched out his hand to the side.

Jiang Chuan quickly handed him a dry towel.

"Prosecutor Cheng is only in his probationary stage, yet he has already kept his responsibilities firmly in mind. As the station chief, I feel somewhat ashamed." He chuckled self-deprecatingly, "I even forgot that my duty time was up."

"The station manager is very busy every day. If you have to consider everything carefully, he must be exhausted."

Cheng Ye put on his hoodie, grinned, revealing a hint of youthful arrogance, and said, "It's a bit cold outside, but we young people can handle it. You should put on some clothes so you don't catch a cold."

After saying that, under Jiang Chuan's dumbfounded gaze, Cheng Ye pushed open the door, creating a gust of wind, and his figure quickly disappeared at the end of the corridor.

and many more.

How did it end like this?
What's the plan? What's the process? I can't understand a single word of it.

Jiang Chuan's mind was a complete mess, and he even forgot that he was still holding the pen he had just used to take notes.

"Achuan."

"Hey!" Jiang Chuan exclaimed, startled, and quickly replied.

"Aren't you going to close the window right now?"

Ding Yishan's voice trembled slightly, but it was much clearer than before.

"Oh, oh." Jiang Chuan suddenly realized what was happening and moved quickly, hurriedly closing the remaining two windows.

When I turned around, I saw that Ding Yishan had already dried himself off and sat back down on the sofa.

He didn't put on his clothes immediately, but stared intently at the proposal on the table.

He paused, reached out, picked up the proposal, folded it in half, then in half again, and then tore it apart violently.

Wow.

The sound of paper tearing was particularly clear in the quiet office.

The torn pieces of paper were crumpled into a ball and accurately thrown into the trash can in the corner.

"My lord, this..." Jiang Chuan was shocked. This was something Ding Yishan had spent an entire night writing.

Just like that, it was torn up?

"Ugh"

Ding Yishan sighed deeply, his voice carrying a sense of melancholy as if a heavy burden had been lifted, a feeling that was hard to describe. "After all these years, I never thought I would be assimilated by all those twists and turns."

He picked up the shirt from the sofa and slowly put it on.

Finally, she slowly put on her sweater, sank into the sofa, and stared blankly at the rain outside the window.

"A-Chuan, do you think the power struggles among prosecutors over the years have anything to do with me, the station chief?"

The words that suddenly came out were like a stone thrown into the water.

"Uh..." Jiang Chuan was taken aback, and stammered instinctively, "How could it have anything to do with you? It's all their own doing for power."

He couldn't continue speaking halfway through his sentence.

As the station chief, Ding Yishan has tacitly allowed the prosecutors to form cliques over the years, and even deliberately turned a blind eye when the conflict between the two sides was at its worst. How could he possibly escape responsibility?
"There's nothing you can do," Jiang Chuan tried to smooth things over, but his voice grew softer and softer.

"wrong!"

Ding Yishan took a deep breath, his chest heaving violently. "I've always had a way. I can set rules, break up cliques, and redistribute power. But I'm worried. I'm worried that any action will cause trouble. I'm afraid the higher-ups will think the checkpoint is unstable and that they'll take the opportunity to take back these powers. So I'm just dragging it out, waiting for the next opportunity!"

"But when such an opportunity finally presented itself to me, I completely forgot that some powers are not given by the higher-ups; they simply cannot give them!"

"If we're needed, we'll fight for it ourselves!"

As he spoke, he stood up.

Looking at the crowd queuing outside the inspection area, and at the several large Jinbei vans waiting at the entrance.

There seemed to be caravans, suggesting it was a gathering place in the surrounding area.

And the figure already wearing a raincoat, walking in the rain.

"Let's go, the meeting starts at nine o'clock, it's time to go."

"But didn't you say before that with Director Liu absent, this meeting would be canceled?"

"He has his things to do, and I have mine."

Ding Yishan picked up the trench coat hanging on the hanger and put it on deftly. "You misspoke again. This time it's not just my problem, it's the problem of all the prosecutors!"

　P.S.: This chapter went through many revisions, involving a transformation. It took me ages to write, but it's finally finished! Whew~ What a relief!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)