novelnext Chapter 216 A Plan to Turn the Tide
Chapter 216 A Plan to Turn the Tide
After listening to Wu Zhiyuan's analysis, Gan Simiao nodded: "That makes sense. It's indeed not advisable to make a big fuss right now."
"Then we'll do as you say. Under the pretext of cooperating with the investigation, we'll ask Yang Jinshan to go to the Public Security Bureau to assist in understanding the situation."
He turned to Xia Wenping: "Wenping, you go and invite Yang Jinshan in person. Be polite, but be careful with the procedures."
Remember, it's "please," not "grab."
After bringing him back, find a quiet place and have a good "talk" with him.
"You're a veteran detective, you know what to do."
Xia Wenping understood immediately: "Understood, Secretary Gan. I will handle it carefully."
Xia Wenping was promoted from the position of captain of the criminal investigation brigade to deputy director of the county public security bureau. He has been a police officer for 20 years and has rich experience in handling cases.
When Yang Jinshan was "invited" over, Xia Wenping did not interrogate him, but rather questioned him.
"Mr. Yang, there's a case of 'picking quarrels and provoking trouble' that involves you. We've asked you to come here to cooperate with the investigation."
Yang Jinshan seemed very angry: "Director Xia, I'm very busy. Hundreds of people at the mine are waiting for their meals. If production is delayed and the county's tax revenue is affected, who will be responsible?"
Xia Wenping sat opposite him and said in a cool tone, "Mr. Yang, every citizen has the obligation to cooperate with the investigation. Once things are cleared up, you can go back soon."
Today, at the entrance of Qingshanxia Scenic Area, some people gathered and caused trouble, using the banner of safe production at Longkou Iron Mine to obstruct the county's key investment promotion and inspection.
"Zhao Dahu, the one leading the group, is he from your mine's security department?"
"Zhao Dahu?" Yang Jinshan pretended to think. "I remember now, dark skin, muscular build. Has this kid gotten into trouble again?"
Director Xia, there are many workers in the mine, and their quality varies. Sometimes, in a moment of impulsiveness, they are prone to doing foolish things.
If he really did something wrong, he should be dealt with accordingly.
Xia Wenping handed Yang Jinshan a copy of the interrogation transcripts of Zhao Dahu and others.
Yang Jinshan was furious: "Zhao Dahu is talking nonsense! Does this kid have gambling debts and want to extort money from us?"
Or did someone give him benefits so that he would speak recklessly?
I, Yang Jinshan, have lived in Qingshan County for so many years, always honest and trustworthy, operating legally and never doing anything illegal or criminal. How could I possibly do such a thing?
The development of Qingshanxia Scenic Area is a good thing, why would I obstruct it?
Even if I have differing opinions, I will raise them through proper channels. How could I possibly resort to such underhanded tactics?
Xia Wenping said calmly, "Secretary Gan personally accompanied Wei Guochun and others to Qingshan Gorge for inspection today. They caused trouble one after another, which made him very angry. He demanded a thorough investigation into this matter, regardless of who is involved."
Mr. Yang, you're a smart man. If it really was Zhao Dahu's personal act, or his subordinates acting recklessly, you should take the initiative to explain and cooperate with us to find the real mastermind behind Zhao Dahu. This is for the sake of the overall situation.
Longkou Iron Mine is still a pillar enterprise in the county, and you, General Manager Yang, are still a respected entrepreneur in the county. But if…”
He paused for a moment, staring at Yang Jinshan: "If the investigation eventually finds that the source of the funds and the source of the instructions both point to you, then the nature of this matter will change."
Organizing others to gather crowds to disrupt social order, sabotage production and business operations, and cause trouble, especially during a major event presided over by the county's main leaders—this is a serious charge.
At that time, not only will the mine's production be affected, but you personally will probably find it difficult to remain unaffected.
"Your friends in the city and province, in a matter with such irrefutable evidence and such a serious impact, probably wouldn't dare to speak up, would they?"
Yang Jinshan continued to argue: "Director Xia, I understand Secretary Gan's anger, and I also understand your determination to investigate the matter thoroughly."
But I can vouch for this with my personal integrity and the reputation of Longkou Iron Mine over the years; it was absolutely not something I instructed.
We business people believe that harmony brings wealth, and I have always abided by the law.
Zhao Dahu, having taken bribes, is capable of anything and says anything!
Xia Wenping sneered: "President Yang, your character and reputation are worthless in the face of evidence."
Xia Wenping then presented transfer records and chat logs, which, combined with Zhao Dahu's confession, formed a complete chain of evidence.
Yang Jinshan hadn't expected Xia Wenping to be so shrewd, to have strung together such a tight chain of evidence so quickly.
He was engaged in a fierce internal struggle.
He also knew that this matter could be a big deal or a small deal.
Xia Wenping noticed Yang Jinshan's hesitation and continued to use his psychological tactics: "President Yang, you are a smart man, and it hasn't been easy for you to get to where you are today."
Secretary Gan knows exactly how much tax Longkou Iron Mine pays to the county and how many jobs it creates each year, and the county also keeps track of that.
The development of Qingshan County cannot be separated from entrepreneurs like you who are capable and responsible.
Your presence here today is to cooperate with the investigation, indicating that there is still room for maneuver.
If you can proactively explain the situation clearly—who approached you, what pressure they exerted, what promises they made that forced you to do this…
Then your situation changes. You were dragged into it, and perhaps this matter will pass.
Otherwise, based on the existing evidence, we can only conclude that you are the mastermind who deliberately sabotaged the county's major economic activities for competitive or other private purposes.
Then I'm sorry, the law will decide what to do.
You know the crime of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble," right? To be honest, it's a catch-all crime; you can put anything into it.
If I'm not mistaken, the person who instructed you is no higher in rank than Secretary Gan.
Surely it wasn't city leaders who instructed you to do such a despicable thing?
"Think about it, in Qingshan County, who has more power than Secretary Gan?"
Xia Wenping paused for a moment, then issued an ultimatum: "What should we do? Mr. Yang, you are a sensible person."
Whether you choose to fight to the bitter end and gamble on a slim hope, or seize this opportunity given by Secretary Gan and strive for a more proactive situation, the choice is yours.
My time is limited; Secretary Gan and Secretary Wu are still waiting for news.
Yang Jinshan weighed the pros and cons in his mind.
Holding on is risky and could make us scapegoats for Zhang Ping and Chen Junqiang, affecting the production and operation of the Longkou Iron Mine.
If I confess everything and implicate Zhang Ping and Chen Junqiang, I might get leniency, but it would also mean completely offending Zhang Ping and Chen Junqiang.
Zhang Ping is just the town mayor, but his uncle is Zhang Xiaotian, the director of the Municipal People's Congress Standing Committee.
Chen Junqiang is only the deputy secretary of the town's Party committee, but he is the brother-in-law of Liang Chao, a member of the county's Standing Committee and secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission.
In comparison, Song Xiaolong had the weakest backing; his older brother, Song Dalong, was the deputy director of the county public security bureau.
Yang Jinshan actually disliked Song Xiaolong very much.
Song Xiaolong was a scoundrel to begin with. Although he later tried to whitewash his image, the darkness in his bones could never be washed away. He is still a scoundrel now, and he is more vicious, more insidious, and more cunning than before.
Yang Jinshan is a mine owner, but he has been extorted and blackmailed by Song Xiaolong, a local bully.
He decided to say that it was Song Xiaolong who came up with the idea, but he wouldn't mention Zhang Ping or Chen Junqiang.
If the police arrest Song Xiaolong and he confesses to implicating Zhang Ping and Chen Junqiang, then it will have nothing to do with him.
Moreover, as soon as he stepped out of the interrogation room, he would immediately report to Zhang Ping and Chen Junqiang, telling them to find their own connections to clean up the mess.
So he put on a bitter and resentful look: "Director Xia, I admit that I didn't tell the whole truth just now. Song Xiaolong asked me to do this."
Xia Wenping was taken aback: "Is he the younger brother of Song Dalong, the deputy director of our county bureau? Is he the secretary and village head of Longkou Village?"
"Yes, yes, it's him. This Song Xiaolong is a local thug, now he's wearing the skin of a village secretary and village director, but he's still the same old guy at heart."
He came to my mine and said that Wei Guochun wanted to come back and invest in Qingshanxia, but Wu Zhiyuan was just trying to create a stir. He said that the stir was too strong and they needed to cool things down.
They also said that Qingshan Gorge was a previously abandoned project, indicating that the location had bad feng shui and would cause many problems. It would be best if investors found it troublesome and gave up voluntarily.
Xia Wenping pressed further, "What exactly did he say? What did he ask you to do?"
He said, "First, find some people to cause a ruckus, bring up past events, and create some public opinion."
He said he could find some old hooligans and lazybones in the village, pay them a little money, and they could shout a few times.
Later, he added that this alone was not enough; there needed to be a more legitimate-sounding reason.
He set his sights on our mine, claiming that the development of the scenic area would affect the safe production of our Longkou Iron Mine. With hundreds of people working at the mine, this reason was definitely taken seriously by the higher-ups.
I was confused at the time. I thought he was a local tyrant with a lot of influence in Longkou Village. Our mine was on his territory, and we needed his help a lot. We didn't dare offend him, so I agreed.
Xia Wenping pressed further: "Just Song Xiaolong? No one else in town knows or was involved?"
"No, how could I dare let the town leaders know about such a thing?"
Song Xiaolong did mention that Mayor Zhang and Secretary Chen also felt that restarting the Qingshanxia project was a waste of resources and would damage the environment.
But it was just casual conversation and a few complaints in private. How could the town leaders possibly ask me to do something like that?
Yang Jinshan intentionally said that Zhang Ping was dissatisfied with the project, but refused to admit that Zhang Ping had instructed him to do so. In fact, he was implying that Zhang Ping had instigated Song Xiaolong to do these things.
Xia Wenping asked, "What other sabotage plans does Song Xiaolong have?"
"Find a few prostitutes, pretending to be massage girls or room service staff, and have them knock on the doors of Wei Guochun or the other two bosses he brought with him at night."
Once you let them in, you'll find a way to cling to them and then call the police to arrest them for prostitution.
Even if Wei Guochun himself doesn't fall for it, he can still drag the people he brought into the mess.
Song Xiaolong's older brother is the deputy director of the Public Security Bureau, so arresting people is no problem for him.
They'll also post online afterwards to smear them, so this investment is definitely going to fail.
After receiving Xia Wenping's report, Wu Zhiyuan decided to turn the tables on him.