Right path to power

Deputy District Head Zhang Changming's gaze was gloomy as he frowned and said, "What else can we do? It's nothing more than criticism, assigning tasks, and setting deadlines for rectification. Anyway, the 'Six Points' clearly state that he has zero tolerance for pollution, so you can only be prepared."

Guo Zhen'an looked helpless: "District Chief, you can't blame us entirely. The district needs to develop its economy, and if I keep too close an eye on things, I won't be able to withstand the criticism from the leaders."

Zhang Changming curled his lip and said, "What's the use of saying all this now? The top leader has changed, and the world has changed too. I'm caught in the middle, and I'm not in a good position either way. Anyway, I can't control you now, so you can do whatever you want."

"Boss, you can't just ignore me. At this crucial moment, I need you to put in a good word for me," Guo Zhen'an said with a fawning smile.

Zhang Changming pondered for a moment and said, "I will do my best. Anyway, you know about his style. He made it very clear in his opening remarks yesterday. Everyone should be on high alert."

"Thank you, boss. Let's get together tonight."

A smile appeared on Zhang Changming's lips.

Seeing that it was almost time, the two went together to the district committee meeting room.

In the conference room, Chen Chuchuan, Secretary of the Party Working Committee of the Industrial Park Management Committee, Qiao Lihua, Deputy Secretary and Director of the Party Working Committee, Xu Hongbo, Deputy Director of the District Party Committee Office and Director of the District Party Committee Supervision Office, and others had already arrived.

At this moment, Gao Xiaoping and Shen Youlian, the two deputy directors of the Environmental Protection Bureau, also hurriedly entered the conference room.

A short while later, Xie Guangyan, a member of the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee and Director of the District Party Committee Office, also walked in.

Everyone stood up to greet him, and Xie Guangyan nodded slightly before sitting down in his seat.

At 9:30, Lin Xiao arrived at the conference room on time.

After taking his seat, he looked around and said, "Everyone is here. Let's begin the meeting. First, I'd like to ask the Environmental Protection Bureau to talk about the pollution discharge problem in the industrial park."

Guo Zhenan felt uneasy, sensing that this event was specifically aimed at him.

After hearing the news last night, he couldn't sleep a wink, his mind going over the problems with the industrial park repeatedly.

He had originally planned to take the initiative to report to Lin Xiao today and explain the issues in the park.

Regardless, a rescue-oriented approach must be adopted.

He received a meeting notice early in the morning, and since he couldn't give a separate presentation, he could only compile a speech draft based on the existing materials.

"Secretary Lin, distinguished leaders, the Environmental Protection Bureau hereby reports on the following: As the leading department for environmental protection work, the Environmental Protection Bureau has mainly focused on the following aspects in recent years..."

A standard official statement includes: the work carried out, the problems encountered, the next steps, and the goals to be achieved.

However, just as he was getting into the reading, Lin Xiao interrupted him directly: "I'm asking you, how many polluting companies are there in the industrial park? What are the specific details of each one? What measures have been taken to address these issues? What is the next step in the rectification plan?"

Guo Zhenan was a little dumbfounded, not expecting Lin Xiao to ask such detailed questions.

He thought for a moment and said, "Secretary, according to our information, there are three companies in the industrial park with serious pollution problems. The Environmental Protection Bureau has dealt with the situation before and issued rectification notices..."

"Okay, stop for a second."

Lin Xiao waved his hand to interrupt again, a hint of impatience showing on his face.

Interrupted again, Guo Zhenan blushed and could only awkwardly close the documents.

"Are the other members of the Environmental Protection Bureau's leadership team aware of the specific situation?"

Lin Xiao looked at Gao Xiaoping and Shen Youlian sitting in the back row.

Their faces flushed instantly, and they couldn't utter a single word.

"Where are you two?"

Lin Xiao then looked at Chen Chuchuan and Yu Dawei from the Industrial Park Management Committee.

Chen Chuchuan thought for a moment, then steeled himself and began with a self-criticism: "Secretary, our management of the companies in the industrial park has been inadequate. Although we have raised rectification requirements for the pollution problem, the companies' cooperation has been poor, and the implementation has not been in place. Next step... next step..."

He got stuck and kept giving Qiao Lihua meaningful glances.

Clearly, he simply couldn't make up any more details.

In fact, Lin Xiao had long since grown tired of listening, so he simply told Qiao Lihua to continue.

Qiao Lihua, who was more familiar with the situation, provided a detailed account of several polluting companies. She concluded, "Secretary, according to our information, a significant number of companies in the industrial park have a weak sense of environmental protection, and their illegal discharges are rampant despite repeated bans. The district, in order to protect the economy and jobs, often turns a blind eye. Sometimes, what appears to be a large-scale environmental inspection is actually more bark than bite. Some companies didn't even undergo formal environmental assessments when they moved into the park, and many of their wastewater treatment facilities don't meet standards..."

Her words were like a steel knife, piercing straight into the hearts of many people present.

Among them, Deputy District Head Zhang Changming's face turned ashen. He was in charge of environmental protection, but the companies that moved in hadn't even conducted environmental impact assessments, which was clearly a dereliction of duty.

Lin Xiao's expression also darkened; the problem was much more serious than he had imagined.

In recent years, all parts of the province have attached great importance to environmental protection. As a result, enterprises in Zhenxing District have moved into industrial parks without undergoing environmental impact assessments, which is simply a step backward in history.

The problems in Zhenxing District are clearly not just a problem of the Environmental Protection Bureau alone, but a problem that extends from top to bottom.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Lin Xiao asked Qiao Lihua to stop speaking, and then gestured for Ji Xiuwu to open the door.

As soon as the door opened, Fan Shixin, the district discipline inspection commission secretary, walked in with documents in his hand, went straight to Lin Xiao, and handed the documents to him.

"Secretary, as per your instructions, the District Commission for Discipline Inspection convened a Standing Committee meeting to study relevant clues of violations of laws and regulations. After deliberation, it was decided to take appropriate measures against the relevant personnel. Please sign off on this."

Lin Xiao nodded, quickly flipped through the document, and then signed his name.

The next second, Fan Shixin turned his gaze to the people from the Environmental Protection Bureau and said in a deep voice, "Guo Zhenan, Gao Xiaoping, and Shen Youlian, because you are suspected of violating discipline and laws, we are now taking double-regulation measures against you. Please come with us."

As soon as he finished speaking, several discipline inspection staff members stepped forward in unison.

Guo Zhenan was pale and slumped in his chair.

Shen Youlian slipped and fell to the ground with a thud.

Only Gao Xiaoping remained calm. She straightened her dress and stood up expressionlessly.

Subsequently, the disciplinary committee staff members, in pairs, led the three people out of the meeting room.

Chen Chuchuan and Qiao Lihua, standing to the side, were also trembling, afraid that Fan Shixin would call out their names next.

However, Fan Shixin simply nodded to Lin Xiao and left the meeting room.

Deputy District Chief Zhang Changming's face was gloomy. He picked up his teacup, trying to appear calm, but his hand holding the cup was trembling slightly.

That's too cruel!

They actually took them all in one go.

Who will be next?

As the supervisor in charge, Zhang Changming felt uneasy, as he felt he couldn't just sit idly by and wait for his fate.

"The problems within the Environmental Protection Bureau must be thoroughly investigated. Comrade Zhang Changming is requested to lead the rectification efforts. Comrades, you must remember that economic development and environmental protection are by no means contradictory. Some comrades are attributing their inaction to other aspects, which is absolutely unacceptable."

In any organization or position, the first priority is to fulfill one's job responsibilities. This is the most basic requirement for starting a job. If you can't even do your job well, then there's no point in occupying that position.

After this meeting, Comrade Guangyan is requested to organize the Supervision Office to conduct a special inspection of the fulfillment of primary responsibilities by all units in the district. Those who are inactive, act improperly, or are afraid to act should be investigated and dealt with seriously by the Discipline Inspection Commission.

Lin Xiao's words sent shivers down the spines of everyone present.

Of course, this is mainly aimed at people who have a guilty conscience.

Regardless, everyone at the meeting shared the same feeling: this new Party Secretary was indeed as powerful as rumored.

On his second day in office, he directly "removed" the entire Environmental Protection Bureau team.

Chen Chuchuan, secretary of the Party Working Committee of the Management Committee, felt a chill run down his spine, realizing that he was also in danger.

After some internal struggle, he made up his mind to "find connections and pull strings as soon as possible." However, on the surface, he still pretended to be listening attentively to Lin Xiao's instructions.

Lin Xiao demanded that the entire district immediately launch a comprehensive investigation and rectification campaign to address pollution issues. No matter which enterprise it is, if it fails to meet environmental standards, it must cease production for rectification without any room for negotiation.

Lin Xiao then adjourned the meeting.

Shortly after I returned to my office, Fan Shixin, the secretary of the district discipline inspection commission, knocked on the door and came in.

"Secretary, after some thought, I think we could give Xu Wenbo, the captain of the Environmental Inspection Brigade, a try. He's been working on the front lines for years and is knowledgeable about the business. The investigation showed he wasn't involved in any cases, and he's straightforward. He had a conflict with the bureau leaders over pollution control before and has been suppressed ever since."

Lin Xiao thought for a moment and said, "Then let him temporarily take charge of the daily operations of the Environmental Protection Bureau, and observe him as he goes. But personnel and major matters need to be reported to higher authorities."

"Okay, I'll go and inform him right away."

In Lin Xiao's view, the primary criterion for hiring now is: clean-cut people who understand the business are enough.

Immediately afterwards, Lin Xiao asked Ji Xiuwu to go to the Organization Department and transfer Xu Wenbo's file.