Nominal: Energy sector enters Handong, breaking the deadlock

Li Dakang's face fell. If the province doesn't provide funding, what will happen to Lincheng?

Wang Julong really should resign to take responsibility; he was once my right-hand man.

This is a devastating blow to the morale of the cadres in Lincheng.

"We can't just watch Lin Cheng die," Li Dakang said, his voice dropping eight octaves.

It has a hint of being cheated.

"Give us blood, not just blood." Song Yunhui looked at Li Dakang. "Secretary Dakang, you're quite adept at managing the economy. The land where the Lincheng Cotton Mill is located is in a great position. Add to that the factory buildings and equipment, and there's no shortage of opportunities to develop it."

Secretary Zhou Haoyang checked the information of Lincheng Cotton Mill and sent the summarized important information to Song Yunhui.

Song Yunhui glanced at it briefly.

Li Dakang gave a wry smile and shook his head. "Governor Song, those are all old, trivial matters."

I thought of this idea a couple of years ago and talked to a few big bosses.

When people look at the factory's pile of debt and then at the thousands of elderly workers who need to eat, they realize that the factory is in dire need of support.

It runs faster than a rabbit.

Is that an asset?

That's a death warrant!

Those are a bunch of living fathers!

Zhou Tiejun laughed, "Secretary Dakang, you're right. People doing business these days are very shrewd."

Don't even think about getting them to pay out of their own pockets and take on the debt.

There is no love without a reason, nor is there hatred without a reason.

Gao Yuliang continued, "Commander Zhou was absolutely right. In the end, it's still a matter of an inflexible system."

The burden is too heavy; if we don't get rid of it, whoever takes it on will die.

Let's go into bankruptcy liquidation.

If we follow the procedures, no one can find fault with us.

"No! Absolutely not!" Li Dakang refused outright. "Bankruptcy liquidation is selling off state-owned assets at a bargain price. That piece of land won't fetch a good price now. Given the current land price increases, its value will more than double in a few years with urban expansion. If we sell it now, who will take responsibility when old debts are settled later?"

"You're afraid to take responsibility for this and that. So what do you suggest we do? We can't just print money and give it to them." Gao Yuliang directly confronted Li Dakang.

The train carriage was once again in a deadlock.

Song Yunhui pinched the bridge of his nose; this was the most pressing problem at the moment.

There are dead knots everywhere.

Moving one side will affect a whole area.

At this time.

The phone rang.

Gao Yuliang took out his phone from his pocket and glanced at the name on the screen.

Chen Changqing.

Chen Changqing, Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of Lincheng City.

He pressed the answer button. "This is Gao Yuliang from the Provincial Party Committee."

Gao Yuliang's statement is correct. In Handong Province, only Sha Ruijin, Song Yunhui, and Gao Yuliang can say that and represent the Provincial Party Committee.

"Secretary Gao, this is Chen Changqing. Something terrible has happened." Chen Changqing's trembling voice came through the receiver, with chaotic background noise, including shouts from the crowd and the sound of police sirens.

Gao Yuliang frowned. "What's wrong? Has the sky fallen?"

Li Dakang and Song Yunhui in the carriage both looked at Gao Yuliang.

"The sky has fallen." Chen Changqing gasped for breath on the other end of the line. "Mayor Wang Julong was having a good talk with the workers' representatives. Then Zhao Qikun, the Party Secretary of Lincheng City, went in. Zhao Qikun said some harsh words, which directly angered worker representative Li Jianguo. The cotton mill workers' representatives Ding Qiulin and Li Jianguo... they... they kidnapped Secretary Zhao and Mayor Wang!"

The car went over a speed bump and lurched.

Gao Yuliang tightened his grip on the phone.

"Nonsense." Gao Yuliang felt a chill run down his spine. "The Party Secretary and the Mayor were held hostage by workers on their own turf? Is the security in your Lincheng just for show?"

Upon hearing this, Li Dakang's head buzzed.

He grabbed Gao Yuliang's arm and leaned forward.

"Who's been kidnapped? Wang Julong?" Li Dakang roared.

Gao Yuliang ignored Li Dakang and continued asking into the phone, "Where are the hostages now?"

"They're all in the mayor's office. The door's locked from the inside," Chen Changqing stammered.

"You need to talk to them quickly, calm them down, and absolutely do not go to extremes," Gao Yuliang instructed.

"It's no use, they won't negotiate at all. We've been shouting through a megaphone and throwing teacups out of the building. They insist on seeing Secretary Sha Ruijin. I only have the phone number for Secretary Sha's office, but no one answers when I call."

Gao Yuliang gritted his teeth, his mind racing.

Things got bigger.

If this isn't handled properly, not only will the entire Lincheng leadership be wiped out, but the provincial party committee will also suffer the consequences.

"Listen up, Chen Changqing," Gao Yuliang said, enunciating each word clearly. "Quickly lay out the fire rescue air cushions down there, bring all the police forces you can mobilize over, and seal off the scene. Not a single fly is allowed in, and no media are permitted to approach."

"Yes, Secretary Gao." Chen Changqing lowered his head. "Executive Deputy Director Gao Qingyun is already directing efforts to rescue the hostages."

After hanging up the phone, Gao Yuliang stood up.

"Governor Song," Gao Yuliang said, looking at Song Yunhui, "something terrible has happened in Lincheng. Zhao Qikun and Wang Julong have been kidnapped by workers at the cotton mill and taken to the mayor's office."

"What?" Song Yunhui's eyebrows furrowed into a knot.

"Driver, pull over and turn around. Go to Lincheng City Government." At Song Yunhui's command, the car was immediately dispatched.

Li Dakang completely panicked.

He rubbed his knees alternately with both hands.

"That idiot Zhao Qikun, why did he go and cause trouble? Wang Julong is also a good-for-nothing. He couldn't even calm down a few workers, and he even got kidnapped. If this gets back to the central government, where will we, Handong Province, put our faces?" Li Dakang clenched his fists.

"Comrade Dakang, cursing won't solve anything now." Gao Yuliang looked coldly at Li Dakang. "Zhao Qikun is a cadre you promoted yourself. You know his temperament better than anyone. His arrogant attitude towards his subordinates was bound to cause trouble sooner or later. Now look what's happened, you've stirred up public anger."

"Gao Yuliang, stop kicking him when he's down." Li Dakang felt wronged. "Zhao Qikun is the Lincheng City Party Secretary appointed by the Provincial Party Committee. He represents the face of the Provincial Party Committee. Now that he has a knife to his throat, are you, as the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, also responsible?"

They have to shift the blame; Li Dakang doesn't intend to take the blame.

Zhou Tiejun, sandwiched between the two, raised his hand and pressed down on Li Dakang's arm.

"Alright, alright, stop arguing. This is a matter of life and death; saving lives is the priority." Zhou Tiejun looked at Song Yunhui. "Governor Song, we need to inform Secretary Sha Ruijin about this immediately; we can't keep it a secret."

"Yes, Commander Zhou." Song Yunhui nodded, then turned to Li Dakang. "Comrade Dakang, call Secretary Sha and explain the situation."

"Okay, Governor Song." Li Dakang grabbed his phone, his hand trembling, and dialed the number.

A few seconds later, the call was connected.

"Secretary Sha, this is Li Dakang."

"Comrade Dakang, what's the matter? Weren't you on your way to inspect the area?" Sha Ruijin asked, displeased with Li Dakang.

They believe Li Dakang is a traitor.

I once sent Tian Guofu to persuade Li Dakang, but now Li Dakang has gotten on Song Yunhui's bandwagon.

"Secretary Sha, we can't go now. Lincheng is in chaos." Li Dakang swallowed hard. "The laid-off workers from the Lincheng cotton mill are causing trouble. Workers' representatives Ding Qiulin and Li Jianguo have kidnapped Zhao Qikun and Wang Julong, and they specifically request to see you."