Sharpening the Blade Against the Red Wall: From Hong Kong to Handong

In the conference room, Zhou Jin's voice, filled with thunderous rage, still echoed.

"Treason! It's treason! It's economic espionage!"

Every word felt like a red-hot branding iron, searing the hearts of every Standing Committee member. Sha Ruijin's face was ashen, his body trembling uncontrollably, as if all his energy had been drained in an instant. Gao Yuliang's lips were tightly pressed together, his gaze behind his gold-rimmed glasses trembling violently; he was clearly shocked by this far-from-expected assessment. Li Dakang hunched his back against the chair, his fingers digging deeply into the armrests, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Tian Guofu was practically slumped in his chair, his eyes unfocused, as if his soul had left his body.

In the deathly silence, Zhou Jin slowly sat back in his chair, his chest still rising and falling slightly, but the anger in his eyes had gradually been replaced by a deeper, colder scrutiny. He gave everyone a few seconds to process this bombshell, and then, in a relatively calm but even more chilling tone, he spoke again:

"Regarding the issue of Yi Xuexi, Comrade Chen Ming has already clearly reported the irrefutable evidence that our inspection team has gathered. Everyone understands the nature and consequences of this matter."

He surveyed the room, his gaze no longer burning with the fury of moments before, but instead sharp and calm like a scalpel. This calmness, ironically, was more intimidating than his previous rage.

"Now, on behalf of the Ninth Central Inspection Team, I would like to formally explain to you the relevant arrangements and disciplinary requirements for our deployment to Handong."

All the Standing Committee members mustered their spirits and tried to straighten their backs, although some of them still looked pale.

"First of all, let me state one point." Zhou Jin's voice was clear, steady, and carried an unquestionable authority. "The primary and core task of our inspection team's entry into Handong is to investigate thoroughly and completely resolve the case of Yi Xuexi, a serious violation of discipline and law that has already been verified, in accordance with laws and regulations. Everyone must understand this."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over each member of the Standing Committee present to ensure that everyone understood his meaning:

"As for other issues, such as newly discovered problems, clues, or cases that may arise during the inspection process or are reported by the public, our inspection team will not handle them specifically according to the regulations on inspection work. Our responsibility is to collect, sort, verify, and identify these issues, and then objectively, comprehensively, and accurately form an inspection report. All discovered problems, opinions, and suggestions, along with key evidence and clues, will be reported to the central government, and the highest level will decide how to proceed."

Zhou Jin spoke slowly, making sure that every word was heard and understood.

"In other words, apart from the current case of Yi Xuexi, we will not directly investigate or prosecute any other person or matter, we will not take a preconceived stance, and we will not easily draw conclusions. We will only act as discoverers of problems, reporters of situations, and propose suggestions." He looked at Sha Ruijin, "I also ask the Provincial Party Committee, Comrade Ruijin, and all the Standing Committee members to understand, support, and cooperate with our work on this point."

This statement sounds like a reassurance to the Standing Committee members—that the inspection team "will only handle Yi Xuexi's case," and that it won't be expanded or create unnecessary anxiety. However, a closer look reveals something even more unsettling: while they won't handle the specific case, they will comprehensively collect, verify, and report information! This means that any issue, once it's targeted by the inspection team and included in their report, is essentially placed directly on the desk of the central leadership! In a sense, this has a broader deterrent effect and more uncertain consequences than simply investigating on the spot.

After Zhou Jin finished speaking, the conference room fell silent for a few seconds. Sha Ruijin forced a stiff smile and nodded to indicate his understanding. The other standing committee members followed suit.

"However," Zhou Jin changed the subject, her tone becoming serious again, "in the spirit of being responsible to the provincial party committee of Handong Province and all the standing committee members, since the central government has sent us here, and since we have already seen and have initially grasped some of the situation, then the necessary 'individual talks' and today's 'collective talk' are standard procedures and important ways for us to comprehensively and objectively understand the situation in Handong."

His hand rested on the table, his fingers tapping lightly on the smooth surface, producing a rhythmic, countdown-like sound.

"Before we begin the group discussion, I must, and I urge, that you all speak the truth!" His voice suddenly rose, and his eyes swept across each face with the sharpness of a hawk.

"I have carefully reviewed the minutes of several recent meetings of the Standing Committee of the Handong Provincial Party Committee. Frankly speaking, the words that appear quite frequently in the minutes are 'I heard,' 'it is said,' 'everyone says,' 'someone says'... these kinds of words!"

Zhou Jin's gaze suddenly turned cold and sharp, like a tangible whip lashing through the air:

"Today, here, we will not allow such a statement to be made!"

He leaned forward slightly, exuding an imposing aura: "We've convened this group meeting to hear about problems that you've discovered based on your own experiences, firsthand observations, or thorough investigations! Problems that are based on investigations or rumors you've heard! Not vague, hearsay 'rumors'!"

"Today, we'll only speak the objective facts," Zhou Jin said, emphasizing each word. "If something exists, it exists. What are the specific issues? Who is involved? What are the consequences? Please state them honestly and specifically. If something doesn't exist, it doesn't exist. There's no need to agree insincerely or vaguely just to fit in or because you have reservations."

A deathly silence fell over the conference room once more. Everyone felt a sense of suffocation. Zhou Jin's opening statement was more direct and uncompromising than any stern warning. He was telling everyone in the clearest way: don't try to fool us, don't try to shirk responsibility; today we must reveal our hand.

Sha Ruijin felt as if an invisible hand was clenching his heart. He knew that Zhou Jin had reviewed the Standing Committee minutes, and the minutes were filled with vague statements, which in itself exposed many problems within the Handong leadership.

Zhou Jin paused for a few seconds, allowing the pressure to fully intensify, before slowly posing his first question. This question was direct and sharp, like a dagger, aimed directly at the core logic and procedural legitimacy of Sha Ruijin's rule.

"Then, let's start with the first question." Zhou Jin's gaze, like a spotlight, was firmly fixed on Sha Ruijin in the main seat. "Secretary Sha, according to the complete minutes of the first Standing Committee meeting that we reviewed—"

He picked up a document from beside him, but didn't look at it; instead, he stared intently at Sha Ruijin.

"At that meeting, you suddenly proposed and promoted the major decision to 'freeze the promotion process of 100 cadres at the deputy director level and above in the province and conduct a comprehensive review.'"

Zhou Jin spoke slowly, but every word was like a heavy hammer blow:

"The records show that this major personnel freeze policy, which involves the stability of the province's cadre team and the operation of the administration, was not formally and fully discussed at the Secretary's Office meeting beforehand, nor was it formed into a collective resolution of the Secretary's Office meeting. Instead, it was you who suddenly raised it at the Standing Committee meeting and demanded that it be voted on and passed immediately."

He leaned slightly forward, his eyes so sharp they seemed to pierce through one's soul.

"My first question is: Secretary Sha, when you announced the 'freeze the investigation' decision at the Standing Committee meeting, was it a collective resolution formed through discussions at the Handong Provincial Party Committee's Office, or was it your personal decision?"

The moment this question was posed, the hearts of all the Standing Committee members in the meeting room skipped a beat!

This directly questions the compliance and authority of the provincial party secretary's decision-making! A "personal decision" versus a "collective decision" are worlds apart! If it's the latter, it's a normal organizational procedure; if it's the former… that's serious "personal arbitrariness"!

Sha Ruijin's face paled even more instantly. He opened his mouth, wanting to respond with his usual "This is a collective decision of the Standing Committee," but Zhou Jin's question blocked that path—he asked, "What does this announcement represent?"

Zhou Jin didn't give him much time to organize his thoughts, immediately launching into a barrage of more specific and rapid-fire questions:

"Why did you suddenly present this far-reaching and impactful proposal at the Standing Committee meeting without sufficient deliberation and communication? What specific background and urgent considerations led you to it?"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Gao Yuliang's tense expression beside him, before returning to Sha Ruijin's face:

"According to the same meeting minutes, Gao Yuliang, then the Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee in charge of organizational and personnel work, clearly stated that he 'temporarily reserved his opinion' and requested that his remarks be fully recorded. The minutes show that Gao Yuliang's reason was that 'the topic was sudden, there was no such agenda item beforehand, and it involved a great deal, making it difficult to think it through in a short time.'"

Zhou Jin's voice suddenly became more stern, her gaze sharp as a knife:

"So, my question is—when the deputy secretary in charge clearly expressed reservations, believing the topic was too sudden and significant, and required more careful consideration, why did you still maintain a firm stance and insist on forcibly pushing through and passing this decision at that meeting?"

Three questions, progressing step by step, directly address the crux of the matter:

Is the procedure compliant (individual decision or collective resolution)?

Is the motivation sufficient (why suddenly, what is the background)?

Was the process democratic (why was it forcibly pushed forward despite the opposition of the deputy secretary in charge)?

These three questions, each like a sharp scalpel, precisely dissected Sha Ruijin's most crucial and controversial governance measures since taking office. All eyes in the meeting room were fixed on Sha Ruijin, awaiting the provincial party secretary's response.

The air seemed to freeze. The ticking of the clock on the wall sounded exceptionally clear and heavy at that moment.

Sha Ruijin felt his throat go dry and his palms were sweating. He had to answer, and he had to give a plausible and convincing answer. Any vague, evasive, or emotional explanation would be fatal in the face of Zhou Jin's all-seeing eyes.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, straightened his back, and met Zhou Jin's gaze. He knew that the first round of the contest had begun with this question. And his answer would directly affect Zhou Jin's and even the Central Committee's assessment of his personal abilities and the state of the Handong leadership.

"Team Leader Zhou," Sha Ruijin began, his voice carrying a hint of forced calmness, though a slight dryness could still be detected upon closer listening, "Regarding the question you raised, I... would like to make an explanation to the inspection team and also to the comrades of the Standing Committee."