Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 214 Black Oxen Plowing Black Fields

Other workers chimed in.

"That's right! We can't let you develop tourism at the expense of our miners!"

"We want safe production! Not destructive development!"

Wu Zhiyuan stepped forward and asked, "Sir, are you from Longkou Iron Mine? What's your surname? Did the mine send you?"

The dark-faced man said loudly, "My name is Zhao Dahu, from Longkou Iron Mine. We represent hundreds of miners!"

I don't care whether the mine knows or not, but we can't just stand by and watch others dig up dirt on our heads and drive us to our doom!

"After something happened, you just packed your bags and left. Who's going to take care of our wives and kids?"

"Yes! We can't risk our lives!" The miners behind them waved their tools, their emotions running high.

Wu Zhiyuan's gaze swept over the group of miners.

Their clothes were dirty, their helmets were old, and at first glance they looked like they had just come out of a well.

But upon closer inspection, the mud and grime on some people's trouser legs and shoes are unnaturally distributed, as if it was deliberately applied.

Some people are fair-skinned and clean-cut, unlike miners who do hard labor underground;

More importantly, their timing was perfect, and their interception was precise.

How did they know that Wei Guochun and his group were coming to inspect?

Apart from some town government officials, most people have no idea about it.

With Wang Laoshuan and others protesting their rights in front, and miners causing trouble behind, it all seems like someone is orchestrating this from behind the scenes.

Their goal was to give Wei Guochun and others a very bad impression, thereby preventing the Qingshanxia Scenic Area project from restarting.

Gan Simiao was also very worried.

If it were only villagers obstructing the work, it could be explained as a coincidence. But repeated obstruction means that someone is pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Wei Guochun said with a hidden meaning, "Secretary Gan, the work in Qingshan County is difficult."

Gan Simiao chimed in, "President Wei, you're right, it is indeed difficult!"

But it's difficult because of all these demons and monsters blocking the way!

It is precisely because it is difficult that it proves we are on the right path and have hit their sore spot!

The county party committee and county government have only one attitude: anyone who dares to undermine the overall development will be a sinner against Qingshan County!

No matter who he is, what his background is, or what methods he uses, investigate him thoroughly and show no leniency!

Gan Simiao immediately dialed the county public security bureau to ask why the special police had not arrived yet.

Over here, Wu Zhiyuan asked the dark-faced man in a cold voice: "Master Zhao, what is your basis for saying that our development here will affect the safety of the tunnels in Longkou Iron Mine?"

Did your mine's technical department conduct the assessment, or do you have a professional geological exploration report?

Zhao Dahu was taken aback, not expecting Wu Zhiyuan to ask such a professional question. He retorted, "Does this even need a report? Even a fool could figure that out!"

When you dig mountains, build foundations, and set off blasts, how can there be no vibration?

Our tunnel is hundreds of meters underground. If it collapses or cracks the waterproofing layer, causing water to seep in and gas to leak, it would be a huge disaster!

"Think with your toes?" Wu Zhiyuan sneered. "Can safe production be based on mere assumptions? This is a scientific issue, requiring data support and professional verification!"

Wu Zhiyuan turned his gaze to the group of "miners": "Fellow miners, I understand and support your concern for your safety."

However, concern does not mean that one can arbitrarily obstruct normal economic activities without verification, or even spread alarmist rumors and create panic.

The mining area, tunnel orientation, burial depth, and rock strata structure of Longkou Iron Mine are all subject to strict design and filing.

The planned area of ​​Qingshanxia Scenic Area is more than three kilometers away from the main mining area of ​​Longkou Iron Mine, with several thick and intact rock formations in between.

According to relevant national regulations, conventional surface engineering construction at this distance, as long as it is carried out in accordance with regulations, poses absolutely no threat to the mine tunnels.

He paused, staring at Zhao Dahu: "Even if we take a step back and assume that the geological conditions here are really so fragile and that the interactions are so great, then the mining permit for the Longkou Iron Mine and the preliminary development approval for Qingshan Gorge a few years ago would never have been approved!"

Master Zhao, if you are truly a veteran miner, you should know these basic common sense principles!

Otherwise, someone might be deliberately misleading you, making you the scapegoat!

Zhao Dahu was speechless for a moment, stammering, "I...I'm someone who goes down the mine, I don't understand those intricacies, I just felt it was dangerous!"

Wu Zhiyuan said sternly: "Don't you understand? Just because you don't understand, you can listen to others' instigation and gather a crowd to obstruct the county's key projects?"

Does a lack of understanding justify using potentially unfounded reasons to threaten investors and undermine the overall development of Qingshan County?

Master Zhao, and fellow workers, have you ever thought about what would happen if this tourism project, which could provide employment for hundreds of people and benefit several surrounding villages, were to fall through because of your obstruction? Who would suffer the loss?

It's not just about the county, but also about the people, including your family and relatives!

Wu Zhiyuan looked around at everyone and softened his tone: "I understand that what everyone cares about most is safety and their livelihood."

I, Wu Zhiyuan, hereby pledge in the name of the town's Party committee and government:

First, any construction within the scenic area will be subject to the strictest safety assessments and construction standards to ensure that it does not pose any safety hazards to any mines or residential areas. This is the red line.

Secondly, once the scenic area is developed, it will require a large number of service personnel, security personnel, and maintenance personnel. We will prioritize training and hiring local residents, including miners' families and qualified miners. Isn't this a safer and more promising new path?

Just then, the sound of sirens, growing louder and more urgent, came from outside the valley.

Several black SUVs painted with the words "Special Police" and an Iveco police car sped up, kicking up dust, and came to a screeching stop on the outskirts of the crowd.

The car door opened quickly, and more than 20 fully armed special police officers jumped out.

Wearing riot helmets and carrying shields and batons, they moved swiftly and were well-trained, instantly forming a state of alert.

Xia Wenping, the deputy director of the county public security bureau who was leading the team, ran up to Gan Simiao and saluted: "Secretary Gan, we're late. Please give us your instructions!"

"Instructions?" Gan Simiao snorted coldly. "Do I even need to ask you? In broad daylight, gathering a crowd to block a key investment promotion and inspection activity organized by the county party committee and county government, spreading rumors, making alarmist statements, threatening the safety of investors, and damaging the business environment—what is this if not provoking trouble?"

He didn't give anyone a chance to explain. With a wave of his hand, he said decisively, "Take the ringleaders under control! Interrogate them on the spot! Find out who ordered this!"

I'd like to see who gave them the audacity to act so lawlessly here!

This is Gan Simiao's style, and it's also the consistent style of many local leaders—using black oxen to plow black fields, focusing only on results and ignoring the process, employing simple and brutal methods.

In their eyes, dealing with such obviously destructive rioting is a waste of time and will not be effective; it will only embolden them. Police force is the fastest and most effective "disinfectant" and "cleaner."

What they wanted was to swiftly and decisively eliminate any signs of instability, demonstrating to investors the county party committee and government's ability to control the overall situation and their determination to optimize the environment.

The special police officers immediately took action, working in pairs, and quickly approached Zhao Dahu and his group.

Faced with the fully armed state machinery of violence, the "miners" who had been so aggressive just moments before suddenly panicked.

Some people instinctively stepped back, while others tried to throw away their tools. Zhao Dahu was swiftly handcuffed and put into a police car by two special police officers.

Qin Xiaotong, the head of the town's police station, called Wu Zhiyuan to report: "Secretary Wu, Wang Laoshuan and others have confessed that Zhao Dahu from Longkou Iron Mine gave each of them two hundred yuan to come to the entrance of Qingshanxia Scenic Area today to put up banners, sit in, and shout slogans."

Zhao Dahu?

Wu Zhiyuan was taken aback. At this moment, Qian Yougen came over and whispered a reminder: "Secretary Wu, that leader Zhao Dahu is not an ordinary miner at all."

I recognize him. He works in the security department of Longkou Iron Mine. He's one of Boss Yang Jinshan's most capable henchmen. He used to be a gangster, but later came to the mine.