A Bumpy Road to Power

Dirk Carter smiled and said, "Didn't I just say it? This is only a preliminary draft. We follow democratic centralism—if anyone has ideas, you can raise them in the meeting."

As soon as he finished.

Channing Langdon's face was dark as he said bluntly, "Secretary General Carter, Silverwood City has been allocated two spots. I have no opinion about one of them, but no matter what, one must go to Deputy Secretary Hamilton. He's spent his whole life on the discipline front. I believe if we give him this spot, nobody will object."

Hearing this, a look of delight flashed across Erastus Hamilton's face.

He raised his hand and said, "Secretary General Carter, let me say a few words."

"Comrade Hamilton, go ahead."

Dirk Carter said.

Erastus Hamilton's eyes swept around the conference room.

He said, "What Secretary Langdon just said, I don't agree. Everyone knows I'm about to retire. This kind of honor should go more to the young people. They are the future pillars of our discipline front. Comrade Langdon has been running around the unit these years, always charging at the very front of the work. So I think it's only natural that he takes this Ten Best Cadres spot."

Something everyone was fighting tooth and nail for.

The two of them actually started politely yielding to each other.

This act of yielding.

Gave Yates Grant a sense of crisis.

In her view.

If one spot has to be given up, then without a doubt it would be hers.

Under these circumstances, she had to do something to go on the offensive against Sidney Lewis. Otherwise she'd be just a fish on the chopping board, at the mercy of others.

"Ahem… Personally, I think both Deputy Secretary Hamilton and Secretary Langdon make good points. Secretary Lawson, how about this: the two of us each take a step back and yield our two spots to Deputy Secretary Hamilton and Secretary Langdon. What do you think?"

You had to admit, Yates Grant did have some brains.

She didn't directly force Sidney Lewis to step aside.

Instead, she suggested that he step aside together with her.

Of course she knew Sidney Lewis wouldn't want to. If he agreed, so much the better—she'd win herself a reputation for modesty, then quietly hint to Jasmine Summers to put in a good word for her. Under those conditions, her spot could still be kept.

If Sidney Lewis didn't agree.

The scene would get ugly.

And it would highlight his selfishness, forming a sharp contrast with her own modesty. Then keeping her spot would be a piece of cake.

Sure enough.

As soon as Yates Grant said this.

Sidney Lewis's face fell.

He was silent for a moment.

Then said, "Comrade Grant, it's not that I don't want to yield. Secretary General Carter just said this result was decided by him after discussing it with several members of the leadership team. Since we follow democratic centralism, shouldn't we also respect everyone's opinion?"

The words sounded very nice.

But he completely failed to notice.

As soon as he finished speaking.

Erastus Hamilton and Channing Langdon exchanged a look.

What they'd said just now was to test the waters. They wanted to see Sidney Lewis's attitude on this matter.

Now it seemed that getting him to yield the spot was simply impossible.

Erastus Hamilton stood up straight away.

Pointing at Sidney Lewis, he said, "Secretary Lawson, that's a petty thing to say. What do you mean 'respect everyone's opinion'? How did you end up with this spot—do you really think people don't have it clear in their hearts? What have you done all these years? You just want this Ten Best Cadres title. Do you really think you deserve it?"

Inside the Discipline Inspection Commission.

Everyone knew Erastus Hamilton had long been one of Sidney Lewis's supporters.

Basically whatever Sidney said, that was it.

Who would have thought that in front of利益, Erastus Hamilton would turn so fast—openly "attacking" Sidney Lewis right in front of everyone.

Sidney Lewis was stunned.

He snorted coldly and said, "Erastus Hamilton, are you talking to me?"

It was obvious he was giving Erastus a warning.

Erastus Hamilton said coldly, "What, is there a second Secretary Lawson in the room? Am I not stating facts? What do you mean I 'absented myself without reason' and therefore don't qualify for the selection? Why did I take those days off—don't you have that clear in your heart? Wasn't it under your instigation that Secretary Langdon and I didn't come in to work?"

Some things.

Everyone understood perfectly well in their hearts.

Like how the few of them didn't come to the unit these days—that was to put pressure on Dirk Carter.

But once said out loud, the nature of it became completely different.

Put mildly, it was disregarding one's leader.

Put more severely, it was being totally without organizational and disciplinary principles.

So after Erastus Hamilton said this, everyone once again started whispering among themselves.

Sidney Lewis's face instantly flushed bright red.

He slapped the table, stood up, and roared, "Erastus Hamilton, what kind of crap are you spouting? Don't you fucking forget how your son got to where he is today!"

"How did my son get where he is today? He climbed step by step to his current position. Are you saying I didn't put anything in along the way?"

"You…"

Sidney Lewis was suddenly at a loss for words.

Indeed.

Ramos Hamilton had definitely benefited from Sidney Lewis's help in his work.

But Erastus Hamilton had provided his own "benefits" too.

Just as Dirk Carter had previously guessed, the first one to jump out would definitely be Erastus Hamilton.

For two reasons: first, Erastus was close to retirement, so he wasn't afraid of offending people.

Second, he was relying on his seniority, thinking of himself as an old hand. Getting an honorary retirement title had enormous appeal to anyone.

"Let me say something fair: Deputy Secretary Hamilton has basically worked his whole life in the Commission. Him getting this Ten Best Cadres title, I also think is well deserved."

Seeing the confrontation between the two already locked in a stalemate.

Channing Langdon, off to the side, quickly cut in.

"Shut the hell up. Damn it, you really think you're somebody, huh? When people are talking, does a dog get to bark too?"

Already furious to the extreme, Sidney Lewis suddenly pointed at Channing Langdon and started "bombarding" him.

If it were an ordinary day, in private, Langdon was long used to this kind of swearing. But today was different. He and Erastus Hamilton had already formed a united front under Dirk Carter's mediation. Faced with Sidney Lewis's insults, he instantly blew up too.

He sprang to his feet and roared, "Sidney Lewis, watch your mouth. This is a conference room, not your office. And I'm at the same rank as you—you're not my leader. Do you really think I'm soft dough you can knead however you like?"

After he said this.

He turned to Dirk Carter and said, "Secretary General Carter, I won't hide it from you—what Deputy Secretary Hamilton just said is the truth. The two of us didn't come to work the day before yesterday or yesterday because Sidney Lewis was egging us on behind the scenes. He said that as long as the three of us didn't show up for a week, your work in the Commission would grind to a halt, and then he could squeeze you however he wanted."

Those words were basically stripping Sidney Lewis down to his 'underwear' in public.

Sidney Lewis was beside himself with rage.

He cursed, "You really are ungrateful fucking dogs. If I'd known it'd turn out like this, I'd never have promoted you."

After he finished.

He turned to Dirk Carter and said through gritted teeth, "Secretary General Carter, thank you for your kindness, but I don't want this Ten Best Cadres spot. However, those two bastards can forget about getting it either. If they end up with this Ten Best Cadres title, as Executive Deputy Secretary I'll be the first to object…"

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