Chapter 2891 Needs Your Support

“Secretary Jiang, I know you suspect that I was behind the whole thing, and I don’t want to explain too much, and now is not the time to explain.”

"No matter what exactly happened, Shao Hongli's disappearance is definitely an accident, and one that neither of us wanted to see."

"Let me put it more clearly. Shao Hongli goes to get off work and leaves work on time every day. I've never heard of him disappearing before, but today the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection came to arrest people, and he disappeared. This is very abnormal." Qin Feng was pointing fingers at the Yang family, implying that the Yang family had hidden Shao Hongli in advance, and also telling Jiang Longjun that the Yang family had concealed this matter from him.

"Secretary Jiang, I think we need to discuss two issues now. First, what should we do now that we've found Shao Hongli? Second, what should we do if we can't find Shao Hongli?"

"Let me state this first: regardless of whether we can find Shao Hongli or not, I will completely obey Secretary Jiang's leadership in this matter. Our Shazhou leadership team should unite as one to overcome this difficulty together," Qin Feng said while smoking a cigarette.

Qin Feng told Jiang Longjun that he would listen to him completely in handling this matter, and at the same time mentioned unity, which was also a way of telling Jiang Longjun that if Jiang Longjun still wanted to fight with him at this time, then none of them would have an easy time.

Jiang Longjun finished one cigarette and lit a second one. Jiang Longjun pays great attention to health. He smokes regularly, but he can control the frequency of his smoking and rarely smokes one cigarette after another like this.

The current situation is indeed a difficult one for Jiang Longjun. If Shao Hongli is found, things will be a little easier. As the squad leader, he bears some responsibility, but not that much. However, if Shao Hongli runs away, then the responsibility will be much greater.

“Finding Shao Hongli is the best outcome. There’s no need to discuss what to do. As the squad leader, I share this responsibility, and so do you. I will go to the province to make a self-criticism. The sky won’t fall down in Shazhou.”

“But if Shao Hongli runs away, I can’t bear this responsibility alone, and I won’t bear it alone.” Jiang Longjun looked at Qin Feng.

Hearing this, Qin Feng smiled slightly. Jiang Longjun was Jiang Longjun after all; no matter what, he only thought about his own personal interests.

Jiang Longjun understood that if Shao Hongli was found, he would bear some responsibility, but it wouldn't be a big deal. He would just have to go to the provincial level to make a self-criticism. After all, it was a problem with a member of the leadership team, and he, as the team leader, would definitely have leadership responsibility.

But if Shao Hongli runs away, that would be a completely different story. Besides, this matter is being supervised by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, so it's impossible to handle it quietly. This would be a political incident, and he, as the municipal party secretary, would definitely bear the main responsibility.

Jiang Longjun simply doesn't want to shoulder this responsibility, or at least not such a heavy one. So, looking at Qin Feng, he knows that Qin Feng has connections in the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and Zhao Hongjian in the provincial party committee. If the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and Zhao Hongjian can put in a good word for him, there will be a lot of room for maneuver when assigning responsibility to him.

After listening to Jiang Longjun's words, Qin Feng reached out and took out another cigarette from Jiang Longjun's cigarette case and lit it. Both of them lit a second cigarette.

“Secretary Jiang, we are in the same boat on this matter. After Ding Wenbo and Shao Hongli’s incident, especially with Shao Hongli’s escape, you are responsible and I am responsible. Neither of us can escape responsibility. Of course, as the class monitor, you are politically responsible, so your responsibility is definitely greater than mine.”

"As I just said, at this time, our Shazhou leadership team should unite as one to overcome difficulties and get through this crisis together. So I will definitely do my best to help Secretary Jiang get through this difficult time," Qin Feng gave an affirmative answer.

“But Secretary Jiang, the most difficult thing for me is not the responsibility I have to bear for this matter, but how our municipal government should proceed with its work after this incident.”

"Whether Shao Hongli can be found or not, our municipal government is now short two vice mayors, especially the position of executive vice mayor, which is of paramount importance. It is very important for our municipal government who should take over this position," Qin Feng said to Jiang Longjun while flicking his cigarette ash.

After Qin Feng finished speaking, Jiang Longjun was somewhat taken aback, and even more furious. He hadn't expected that Qin Feng would start eyeing the position of executive vice mayor even before Shao Hongli was sure of finding him. What Jiang Longjun found most unacceptable was that Qin Feng had gone too far, reaching into his own territory.

For Jiang Longjun, personnel matters were a red line, and no one was allowed to cross it. Moreover, while Qin Feng had never been too involved in the internal affairs of the municipal government, he would never allow Qin Feng to extend his reach into the municipal party committee.

However, this time Qin Feng not only set his sights on personnel matters, but also extended his reach to the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee. This was something Jiang Longjun could not accept. He knew that the Executive Vice Mayor was not just a vice mayor; he was also a member of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee and a member of the leadership team.

Qin Feng made it clear to Jiang Longjun that he could help Jiang Longjun get through this difficult time, but on the condition that Jiang Longjun support him in the selection of the successor to the executive vice mayor.

Qin Feng was well aware that both he and Jiang Longjun had some say in recommending candidates for the executive vice mayor, but Jiang Longjun's voice was definitely stronger, and the province would respect Jiang Longjun's opinion more.

Of course, the final decision on this matter rests with the province, but even at the provincial level, it's just an escalation of the struggle between Qin Feng and Jiang Longjun. Qin Feng will use his connections in the province, and Jiang Longjun will naturally do the same.

Ultimately, however, Jiang Longjun has a greater advantage than Qin Feng in this matter. If Jiang Longjun were to use all his strength to secure this position, his chances of success would be greater than Qin Feng's.

Therefore, Qin Feng needed to use helping Jiang Longjun overcome this difficulty as a bargaining chip.

Qin Feng has the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) behind him, along with Zhao Hongjian, the deputy secretary of the provincial party committee, and Pang Yunfei, the head of the organization department. If Shao Hongli really runs away, when it comes time to hold people accountable, the CCDI, Zhao Hongjian, and Pang Yunfei will relentlessly pursue Jiang Longjun, and Jiang Longjun will be in a very difficult position. The responsibility could be big or small, and no one can say for sure how big it will be.

Jiang Longjun looked at Qin Feng, his expression constantly changing. Finally, he gritted his teeth and said to Qin Feng, "Don't worry, I've always said that the Party Committee and the government should have a sense of boundaries. The Party Committee should not interfere too much in the affairs of the government and should give the government more autonomy. Therefore, we will respect the opinions of your municipal government more in terms of personnel matters. Don't worry, I will fully support you in the position of executive vice mayor."