Official Career Storm

Chapter 1548 1548

Zhou Zheng didn't expect Zhang Yan to reply to his message.

But he knew that Zhang Yan would definitely see it.

He just wanted Zhang Yan to know that because of her, he was dismissed!

To his surprise, Zhang Yan actually replied.

"I'm very sorry."

Zhou Zheng immediately opened the voice message, and Zhang Yan answered.

"Why did you do this thing?" Zhou Zheng questioned.

Zhang Yan countered, "Do you think if I didn't do it, she would let me go?"

Zhou Zheng said, "Do you know how much influence your actions had on me?"

Zhang Yan was silent for two seconds and said, "Sorry, but I had no other choice."

Zhou Zheng asked, "Where are you?"

"Does asking this now have any meaning?" Zhang Yan laughed. "Do you think, just because of a few words from you, I will come back? Zhou Zheng, neither you nor I are fools. What kind of situation I would face if I returned, you know better than anyone. Wu Qiangwei would definitely not let me go."

Zhou Zheng said, "Nothing is impossible! As long as you are willing to come back, I'll discuss it with Secretary Gao! At most, it would just be a double-dismissal. Think about it carefully, being double-dismissed at least means you are still free. Once you are wanted, you'll never be able to come back again."

Zhang Yan chuckled, "Let's not talk about this anymore, you should take more care of yourself. I told you last night, right now they are targeting me. Once I'm forced to leave, you will be next."

"Do you really think that being promoted to Secretary shows that they value you?"

"They just want you to hold the position of City Secretary temporarily. Once Wu Qiangwei's resume is impressive enough, you'll be kicked aside."

Zhou Zheng's face darkened, "I don't need your reminder..."

"Don't you really need it?" Zhang Yan interrupted him, "Zhou Zheng, we've known each other for so many years, I know you too well. Your ability is not exceptional, being Mayor is your highest peak. Wanting to rise even higher needs backing."

"But you're not someone adept at nurturing connections, which means you can only fade into the crowd."

"Of course, if you have no great ambition, retreating to a secondary position from the City Secretary role is a good thing for you. Doing nothing wrong is better than making a mistake."

"Unfortunately, you do have ambition."

Zhang Yan smiled slightly, sarcastically, but the sarcasm was directed at herself, not Zhou Zheng.

"I have a suggestion, would you like to hear it?" Zhang Yan said.

Zhou Zheng neither refused nor interrupted her.

Zhang Yan said, "After I'm gone, the Deputy Mayor position would be vacant. Secretary Gao and Governor Li will definitely give the decision power for this slot to Wu Qiangwei."

"Wu Qiangwei is unlikely to promote from within since there's no one locally she trusts. She will most likely pull someone from Wu'an City or Lingjiang City."

"Once the Deputy Mayor position is occupied by her candidate, the City Government will become a solid block. The people I left in the City Government will also be removed by her one by one. Once the City Government is under her control, the next target is the City Committee."

"In future Standing Committee meetings, you will no longer have a say."

"If you still have ambitions, I suggest you go see Secretary Tian of the Provincial Committee. At the very least, you cannot let Wu Qiangwei decide on the Deputy Mayor, you must secure this opening. Even if you can't win, find a way to stir things up, create confusion within the City Government, so that Wu Qiangwei is too busy to interfere with the City Committee's affairs."

"And then find a way to make her make mistakes."

"We've known each other for years, and that's all I have to say. If you have time to come to Europe, let me know, and I'll find you."

Zhang Yan hung up the phone.

Zhou Zheng slowly put down the phone, gazing somewhat blankly out the car window at people coming and going from the Provincial Committee.

He hoped Zhang Yan would return, believing that if she did, Secretary Gao would make sure her exit was dignified to minimize the impact.

And in that way, the impact on him would also be minimized.

Unfortunately, Zhang Yan was determined to leave.

But after listening to her, his focus shifted quietly.

Some words really didn't need her to say; Zhou Zheng could see it clearly himself.

But being clear doesn't mean knowing how to handle it.

He might not necessarily follow Zhang Yan's suggestions, but they could serve as a reference.

He lit a cigarette while sitting in the car and decided to go see Secretary Tian.

...

"How long do we still have to wait?"

"Is Song Guanchao treating us like monkeys?"

In Song Guanchao's office, the four department directors were growing increasingly impatient.

Called over by Song Guanchao, they had been waiting for two hours.

This guy seemed to intentionally leave them hanging, as there wasn't even a shadow of him to be seen.

"I'm not waiting anymore. Whoever wants to wait can wait,"

Director Li from the Information Department snorted and got up to leave.

He grabbed the door handle and pulled open the office door, just in time to see Song Guanchao walking towards him.

Director Li didn't offer a friendly face, his words dripping with sarcasm, "Director Song, my work is very busy. If you're delayed, be sure to give us a heads up next time. The City Government doesn't revolve around just you."

Seemingly ignoring his sarcastic tone, Song Guanchao blandly said as he brushed past, "Come in."

Director Li snorted but didn't slam the door and leave.

Soon after sitting down, Zhou Xingjian and Jiang Yiren also arrived.

"Director Jiang, please take notes."

"Oh." Jiang Yiren opened her notebook and took up her pen.

Song Guanchao said, "You've been dismissed."

Jiang Yiren's head jerked up, looking at Song Guanchao in astonishment.

Zhou Xingjian also blinked in disbelief.

The four department directors first looked skeptical, then angry, and finally apprehensive.

Director Li asked, "Director Song, what does this mean?"

"Is the meaning of the word 'dismissed' difficult to understand?"

"Why?"

Director Li angrily said, "I need a reason!"

Though he was indeed the Director of the City Government Office, and did have the authority to dismiss him, it couldn't be without reason!

"The reason..." Song Guanchao chuckled, "I just went to the City Committee, followed by a trip to the Provincial Committee."

"Do you know why I went?"

They badly wanted to tell Song Guanchao to stop beating around the bush, but facing dismissal, they didn't dare to provoke him.

Song Guanchao said, "Because Zhang Yan embezzled funds and fled."

"What?"

Everyone present showed expressions of shock.

Song Guanchao said, "From now on, during your dismissal period, you'll need to cooperate with the Disciplinary Committee's investigation."

"I hope you can voluntarily confess. If the issue isn't too severe, it can be settled internally within the City Government."

Director Li immediately said, "I have no issues at all!"

Song Guanchao smiled sardonically, "See, I just said I hope you would cooperate, and you're already jumping to say nothing's wrong."

"Do you think I would dismiss you without reason, and have the Disciplinary Committee investigate, without having some evidence?"

"I..."

"Of course, you can insist that there's nothing wrong. But I'll remind you four, if you don't cooperate, once the Disciplinary Committee finds problems, it won't be as simple as an internal resolution. By then, it'll be handed over to the public security."

"Once handed to the public security, a criminal case will be filed. At that time, it's not just about removal and penalties."

Song Guanchao didn't continue to scare them and smiled slightly, "Alright, you may leave now."