Official Career Storm

Chapter 1731: Chapter 1731

Chang Hai was taken aback by what he heard, his eyes wide open.

Yang Gaolin had already retired, and he stepped down from the position of Governor. The City Committee, it wouldn’t be appropriate for them to ask him to step forward.

Moreover, this was against protocol.

Yang Gaolin had the same doubt: "In what capacity should I participate?"

"As an advisor," Song Guanchao said. "Shutting down and restructuring polluted enterprises requires professional advice from experts. I believe no one is more professional than Governor Yang in pollution management. After all, you spearheaded the establishment of the park back then."

Yang Gaolin looked at him with an increased expression of admiration.

Participating in the meeting as an advisor is indeed in line with the procedure.

Mayor Wu has a flexible mind.

He chuckled lightly: "Mayor Wu invited me to attend the meeting, but I’m afraid it’s not just to make me an advisor?"

After all, the advisor invitation segment comes after the City Committee and Municipal Government decide on the disposal of polluted enterprises.

Yet, he was asked to attend the meeting beforehand; the sequence was incorrect.

Song Guanchao nodded: "Currently, on the City Committee Standing Committee, only Mayor Wu and Commander Wang can be confirmed to vote in favor. The plan for shutting down and restructuring is unlikely to pass in the Standing Committee."

Yang Gaolin asked: "Among the ten standing committee members, Mayor Wu only has two votes. Are you sure you want to proceed?"

He understood himself well; even if he attended the meeting and expressed his stance, it wouldn’t necessarily change the other members’ opinions.

After all, those members were truly worried not about him but about those entrepreneurs.

Song Guanchao said, "Right now, it’s just two votes, but with Governor Yang attending the meeting, I believe we can secure at least half the votes."

"Don’t put too much emphasis on me," Yang Gaolin replied. "I’m just a retired old man; my influence isn’t as great as you think. I can take on the role of advisor, and I don’t mind you using my stance to negotiate with the members. But don’t hold too high expectations. My stance alone can’t change anything."

Song Guanchao took out a USB drive, placed it on the coffee table, and said: "I’ve invited journalists from the Ministry of Propaganda to interview on the pollution issues in the park and the citizens affected by the pollution."

"Originally, I hadn’t intended to release these interview videos, but I didn’t expect those entrepreneurs also invited journalists and broadcasted their interviews."

"Since they aren’t afraid to escalate the situation, naturally, neither are we."

Upon saying this, he suddenly looked at Chang Hai: "Mayor Chang, may I ask if you have made a final decision regarding the handling of the polluted enterprises?"

Chang Hai glanced at Yang Gaolin and only said four words: "Shut down and restructure."

Before Song Guanchao intervened in this matter, he always intended to suppress the issue, never thinking about fundamentally solving it.

After being scolded by Song Guanchao, he realized Song was right, that he was indeed just occupying a position without doing his duty. When dealing with pollution, he consistently thought about how to protect Yang Gaolin’s reputation rather than safeguarding the health and safety of the citizens.

In addition, Yang Gaolin’s attitude on the pollution issue was in alignment with Wu Qiangwei, finally changing his original thoughts.

As long as the pollution can be resolved, even if it means shutting down and restructuring, it must be done.

Just that the resistance is enormous.

Even with Mayor Wu personally overseeing, there was still no progress.

In next week’s expanded Standing Committee meeting, he could predict with near certainty that the committee would overwhelmingly reject Wu Qiangwei’s agenda.

Song Guanchao asked: "Mayor Chang, do you genuinely believe the only path forward is shutting down and restructuring, or is it because of Governor Yang’s stance?"

Chang Hai replied earnestly: "This is my own thought and has nothing to do with Governor Yang’s position."

Song Guanchao asked: "Could I interpret your 180-degree change in stance as being driven by guilt?"

"Yes!" Chang Hai did not conceal his genuine thoughts.

Song Guanchao asked further: "To shut down and restructure, you will have to pay a huge price and potentially offend many people. Can you maintain this determination?"

Chang Hai calmly replied: "You can raise any doubts, and in the meeting, I will respond to your doubts with my actions."

Song Guanchao smiled: "No, I’m not doubting you; I just want a definitive answer from Mayor Chang."

Yang Gaolin, sitting to the side, seemed to have guessed what Song Guanchao was trying to convey.

Song Guanchao said: "Mayor Chang should understand your stance isn’t crucial. But now there is an opportunity, an opportunity for you alone to change the attitude of the Jiangzhou City Standing Committee."

Chang Hai frowned; truthfully, he didn’t believe Song Guanchao’s words.

As Song Guanchao mentioned, he was just a Deputy Mayor; his stance indeed wasn’t important.

Let alone the idea of him changing the current situation single-handedly.

This almost... no, it’s purely impossible.

Song Guanchao said: "Of course, this opportunity comes with a price, which I’ve already mentioned. You will offend many people, the members of the city’s Standing Committee, the heads of pollution enterprises, the heads of all enterprises in the park."

"Mayor Chang, don’t rush the answer, today is only Wednesday, the meeting is next week, you can think about it carefully."

Chang Hai asked: "What do you need me to do?"

The price didn’t bother him; he just wanted to know what exactly Song Guanchao’s method was.

It was hard for him to imagine how, in such a disadvantageous situation, Song Guanchao could have a plan to turn the tide.

At least with his political wisdom, he couldn’t guess it.

Yang Gaolin unknowingly lit a cigarette, having guessed Song Guanchao’s plan and silently giving more credit to Wu Qiangwei.

No one had expected Wu Qiangwei to be so young, and yet a woman, she had such tactics.

Song Guanchao extended one finger, tapping the USB drive on the table, and responded:

"I hope Mayor Chang can bring out the video at the meeting and tell all the attending leaders, if the vote to shut down and restructure doesn’t pass, these interview videos will appear everywhere on the internet. By then, people across the country will know how serious the pollution issue in Jiangzhou City’s High-tech Zone is. They will also know the Jiangzhou City Standing Committee expanded meeting, City Committee and Municipal Government, leaders voted 8:2 against handling the polluted enterprises."

Chang Hai’s eyes suddenly lit up upon hearing this.

His first reaction wasn’t fear, wasn’t rejection, but his eyes shone brightly.

Because he realized, if they followed Song Guanchao’s request, the issues in the park might indeed be resolved according to their plans!

"Good!" Chang Hai didn’t hesitate.

But he then raised an eyebrow, with a sneer: "Director Song’s previous remarks woke me up. I thought Director Song was a magnanimous gentleman, but now it seems you are no different than Mayor Sun."

Song Guanchao understood what his sarcastic remarks implied.

Just thinking that he’d proposed the method, but instead let him be the one to take the lead. This was cowardly behavior.

He wasn’t angry; he said, "Mayor Chang, no need to be sarcastic. I’m asking you to step forward simply because you’re the most suitable."

"Although the method was my idea, the plan was drawn by me, but who would believe it if said aloud? After all, I used to be Mayor Wu’s secretary; since I came to Jiangzhou, I’ve been labeled with Mayor Wu’s tag."

"All my actions, all the things I do will be seen as Mayor Wu’s instructions."

"If I stepped forward, the final effect would be the same, yet it would unnecessarily cause Mayor Wu to offend other committee members, which would be bad for Mayor Wu’s future work. I have to consider this."

"Of course, Mayor Chang can also think that I’m finding excuses for myself, thinking I’m just afraid of offending people; it’s your freedom to think as you wish."

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