In officialdom: After she left, I rose rapidly through the ranks!

Director Gao Wentao had already received instructions from County Chief Li, so he knew very well that County Chief Li was going to make trouble today.

This made Director Gao Wentao very excited and surprised, but at the same time, he was also uneasy.

This attack is tantamount to the prelude to a war with Secretary Zhao. Although there was no direct confrontation, the fact that Li Feitu, who had been holding back, suddenly stopped holding back was itself a signal.

Gao Wentao's choice to stand on Li Feitu's side already meant that he was on the opposite side of Secretary Zhao.

However, having already made his choice, Gao Wentao had no reason to hesitate any longer.

Looking at County Chief Li, Gao Wentao immediately said, "County Chief, I personally signed the meeting notice and arranged for the duty room to issue the notice."

"I trust the duty room's notification; they wouldn't make such a basic mistake. I'll call them right now to verify again."

After saying that, Gao Wentao immediately called the government duty office to inquire about the details of the meeting notice.

After receiving a clear reply, Gao Wentao immediately looked at County Chief Li and said, "County Chief, I have already checked with the staff on duty. All meeting notices have been sent to everyone, and it has been stated that attendance is mandatory. If anyone needs to take leave, they must ask you directly and complete the leave application procedures for record-keeping."

Before County Chief Li could ask any further questions, Director Gao said directly, "I haven't received any leave application documents, and no one from the duty room has sent any leave slips either."

Upon hearing this, Li Feitu nodded, then looked at the crowd below the stage and said calmly, "You all heard what Director Gao said."

"Now, I need a reasonable explanation from you!"

"The county government's notice regarding this important meeting clearly states that attendance is mandatory, substitutes are not allowed, and any absences must be requested in advance!"

"Where are your top leaders? Where are they? Whom did they ask for leave from?"

"If you didn't ask for leave and received a meeting notice, why would you just skip the meeting without any explanation?"

"Is a government notice meaningless to you?"

"Did I, the county magistrate, invite you to this meeting? Do you find it boring? Unimportant? You think you can come whenever you want, and not come whenever you don't want to?"

"Is it that you don't take me seriously? Or do you think I've reached the point of ignoring higher-ups and the county government?"

At this point, Li Feitu's tone became increasingly stern, and he slammed his right hand heavily on the conference table!

"I've only been in Linchuan County for a little over a month, but all I've seen and heard is disappointment—utter and complete disappointment!"

"You people don't even have the most basic concept of hierarchy. You treat me, the county magistrate, with such perfunctory attitude. What about your attitude towards ordinary people? What's the situation? As officials, do you only care about your own eating, drinking, and pleasure, and don't care about the lives of ordinary people?"

"If all the officials in Linchuan County are like this, then I don't think it's surprising that Linchuan County's economic development has been among the worst in recent years."

"This is all your responsibility!"

County Head Li spoke sternly, his words becoming increasingly serious, even going so far as to say that Linchuan County's economy was among the worst and that its various indicators were lagging behind.

Although everyone knows that saying these words openly in this setting and under these circumstances is a criticism of those who are not present, who can say that this is not also an opportunity to criticize the real power holder in Linchuan County, Secretary Zhao Mingyuan?

Suddenly, everyone sitting in the audience looked at each other, not daring to breathe, while feeling immense pressure.

They all had a feeling that something big was about to happen in Linchuan County!

County Magistrate Li has made things difficult.

The criticism is directed at Zhao Mingyuan, the county party secretary!

The top leaders who arrived didn't dare to utter a sound.

Those who were not present, and those who came in their place, dared not say anything directly.

If Secretary Zhao were here and clearly criticized or expressed his dissatisfaction with County Chief Li, then they would still have something to say, and they would have a powerful backer to rely on. Even if it was just to show off in front of Secretary Zhao, they could do or say something today.

The problem is, Secretary Zhao isn't here!

In Secretary Zhao's absence, the main criticism was directed at the heads of county-level units who were absent from the meeting without requesting leave or reporting their absence. These individuals are, after all, subordinate units directly under the county government, and their direct superiors, apart from the deputy county head in charge, are the county head, who holds the highest position.

Throughout Linchuan County, no matter how many people say that Li Feitu is too young, that he is not qualified, or that he is no match for Secretary Zhao, they all have to admit one fact.

Li Feitu, or County Head Li, is a position appointed by higher authorities. He is the actual Deputy Secretary of the County Party Committee, County Head, and top leader of the Linchuan County Government.

If they want to confront him head-on, let alone the fact that these people who came to represent him are not qualified, even if their top leader came in person, how many of them would dare to directly confront Li Feitu?

In officialdom, the saying "a higher-ranking official can crush you" is not a joke, but a fact!

Secretary Zhao can confront County Chief Li head-on, and the Standing Committee members who follow Secretary Zhao can also disregard County Chief Li's feelings. However, if Li Feitu doesn't take offense at the actions of these subordinate units, then so be it. But if he does, then they won't have a good outcome.

To put it bluntly...

Even if Li Feitu loses in the struggle with Secretary Zhao, is transferred, or even suffers a worse fate, only a very few people will benefit.

Most people, and perhaps even those who are implicated, will then have to accept the consequences they do not want to accept.

Everyone understands this point, but everyone has misunderstood it.

Li Feitu looked at everyone present and said coldly, "I don't want to get angry, but you all know how outrageous you've been."

"I, Li Feitu, can tolerate you, but must the 800,000 people of Linchuan County continue to live in poverty and hardship, and continue to endure your inaction?"

"I've said enough nice things. I don't want to say anything worse, and you shouldn't force me to. When I need to say it, you won't be sitting in these seats anymore."

"Now, I don't want to continue discussing these things with you. The meeting is postponed by half an hour. Everyone, stay where you are. I will wait, only for half an hour. Unless there is a special reason, the top leader must attend the meeting."

"All substitutes, no matter what methods or excuses you use, immediately relay my words verbatim to your superiors: I, Li Feitu, will wait for them for half an hour. Unless there are special reasons, all of you must attend the meeting!"

After saying this, Li Feitu looked at Chen Jingcheng and said in a deep voice, "Jingcheng, start the timer now. In half an hour, register the names of all those who are absent and did not personally ask me for leave!"

Chen Jingcheng took a deep breath. He hadn't expected County Magistrate Li's counterattack to be so direct and fierce. But he knew what he had to do, so he immediately stood up and said, "County Magistrate, I'll start the timer right away."

Li Feitu nodded, looked at Gao Wentao, and said in a deep voice, "Director Gao, notify the people from the government office's inspection department to come up. I don't care about the past, nor do I care about what happened elsewhere. To me, government inspection and Party committee inspection are equally important!"

"Government oversight was not just for show before, it shouldn't be now, and it certainly shouldn't be in the future!"

"Notify the government's inspection office to come immediately, compile a list of absent heads of participating units, and issue an inspection report in the name of the county government immediately!"

"To all townships, subdistricts, county-level departments, and county-level units, issue a public reprimand to all those who were absent!"