However, Wei Haihe's actions this time were so unexpected that they were unimaginable. Wei Haihe defeated their alliance so quickly and powerfully that they were unable to retaliate!
It wasn't just about defeating them; Liu Dongqing understood that if today's interrogation proved that the suspects arrested in this operation were not wrongly convicted, then his position as Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission would be over!
If Liu Dongqing is defeated and flees the capital, then his cooperation with Chen Xiaoming in attacking Wei Haihe will naturally break down. With this shift in power, Chen Xiaoming alone will no longer be able to fight against Wei Haihe. Although they still have some forces cooperating with them, relatively speaking, they are far from being of Liu Dongqing's level and can be ignored.
In the interrogation observation room, Liu Dongqing was numb. Wei Haihe asked them to observe the interrogation on site so that they would understand that there was no trickery involved, no wrongful conviction, and that he wanted them to accept defeat wholeheartedly.
There is never a shortage of struggle within the system. There are all sorts of underhanded and dirty tricks, but Wei Haihe's methods this time left them with nothing to say. Wei Haihe did not use any dirty tricks. He defeated them with actual results, which is actually more ruthless than dirty tricks. But usually, ordinary people cannot do this!
Chen Xiaoming also understood that if Wei Haihe won this battle, he wouldn't have much room for maneuver. Everyone else was watching closely. The reason he didn't join Wei Haihe's side was that Wei Haihe couldn't show an absolute chance of winning. People are selfish, so who would side with a municipal party secretary who might not last long?
But if Wei Haihe wins this battle, his position as the municipal party secretary will be firmly secured. Once he has control of the subordinate units in Beijing, these people will undoubtedly flock to him. Chen Xiaoming is currently waiting for the interrogation to end. So far, under their surveillance, they haven't found any evidence of torture during interrogation. These suspects are all notorious murderers, and they were prepared from the start, unlike first-time offenders. Zhou Xuan wrote down the details of their crimes very clearly. The interrogators only mentioned a tiny bit, and they completely surrendered. Because the police knew so much about the case under such top-secret circumstances, it meant they had complete control over their crimes. "If you did it, you did it," they confessed readily, much easier than the interrogations for other minor cases!
Chen Xiaoming and Liu Dongqing, observing from the monitoring room, already knew that they had completely lost. The capital was about to truly enter the Wei Haihe era, and they would no longer be able to obstruct it.
They truly accepted their defeat wholeheartedly. They never expected Wei Haihe to have invested so much effort and resources in secret, and to have done so so discreetly, catching them completely off guard and leaving them with no means of resistance. Now, they realized that Wei Haihe had already laid the groundwork when he proposed that Fu Yuanshan serve as acting director. At the time, they thought Wei Haihe was taking a desperate gamble, venting his anger in his final days as municipal party secretary. But now they understood that Wei Haihe was truly cunning and shrewd!
The right to speak belongs to the winners. By the time the last case's trial ended, dawn was breaking. The night had passed just like that. Chen Xiaoming and the others seemed numb, while Liu Dongqing looked ten years older, his face aged and haggard. Wei Haihe, though equally exhausted, was full of energy. He casually tossed away the cigarette butt he had finished smoking and said, "Old Chen, go home. You've worked hard all night. Take half a day off today. I'll approve your leave. Make sure you get enough rest. Work is important, but health is more important. How can you do your job well if you don't have health?"
Liu Dongqing felt even more bitter. Wei Haihe's closeness to Chen Xiaoming and his indifference towards him indicated that Wei Haihe was going to take action against him. Perhaps in a few days, officials from the Organization Department of the Central Committee would come to talk to him. Beijing was truly a no-fun place!
Liu Dongqing said hesitantly, "Secretary Wei, I also need to ask for leave. It seems my tuberculosis has flared up recently; I can't even stand or sit. The doctor examined me and said I need to be hospitalized for a long time. I originally wanted to submit a report to Secretary Wei last week to request sick leave, but I got delayed these past two days. I think it would be better to ask for leave now, and I will have my secretary deliver my resignation letter to Secretary Wei later!"
Seeing Liu Dongqing concede defeat prematurely, Wei Haihe smiled faintly, patted Liu Dongqing on the shoulder, and comforted him, "Old Liu, your health is important. I've approved your leave. Take good care of yourself and get well soon!"
In front of Liu Dongqing, Wei Haihe made no attempt to hide his true feelings or put on a show of trying to retain him. He saw him as a political opponent, someone he could take down if he could; it wasn't a matter of being soft-hearted.
Vice Minister Liu and Director Chen also bid farewell to Wei Haihe and returned to report on the operation to their superiors. Other municipal leaders followed Liu Dongqing and left one after another. Wei Haihe, however, deliberately kept Chen Xiaoming behind. After everyone had left, he chuckled and said, "Mayor Chen, what are your thoughts on today's events, Old Chen?"
Chen Xiaoming hesitated for a moment. Was Wei Haihe provoking him? However, this time, Liu Dongqing had been defeated and fled, leaving him alone and unable to support the city. If Wei Haihe wanted to squeeze him out of Beijing, it wouldn't be difficult at all. He estimated that in a few days, Wei Haihe would recommend Fu Yuanshan for the Standing Committee and then promote him to Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission. In that case, Wei Haihe would have already controlled the Organization Department, Finance Department, and the Public Security, Procuratorate and Court. For him, the most powerful tool to control the city was Finance Department. The mayor was in charge of municipal affairs. Without financial power, what was the point of being mayor?
Volume 1, Chapter 558: Admitting Defeat
Chen Xiaoming didn't know what Wei Haihe meant. By now, Wei Haihe had gained the upper hand in all aspects and broken his alliance with Liu Dongqing. Now, Chen Xiaoming knew that his situation was not much better than Liu Dongqing's, who had taken the initiative to seek defeat. If Wei Haihe wanted to, he could be driven away just as easily.
For more than a year, Chen Xiaoming had the same attitude towards Wei Haihe. He would never let go of any opportunity to confront Wei Haihe. Because Wei Haihe's foundation was not solid, he was constrained in his actions and could not do anything to him.
Now that Wei Haihe has finally conquered this place, if he were in Wei Haihe's shoes, would he have driven him out of the capital?
Without thinking for too long, Chen Xiaoming knew the answer in his heart: He would do it!
I imagine Wei Haihe had the same thought!
Now that Wei Haihe has just forced Liu Dongqing to retreat, he immediately asks him for his opinion. What opinion could he possibly have?
Chen Xiaoming hesitated for a moment, then suddenly felt dejected and sighed, "Old Wei, congratulations!"
Wei Haihe naturally understood Chen Xiaoming's words. Chen Xiaoming had truly admitted defeat. Previously, Chen Xiaoming had never addressed him as "Old Wei," always referring to him as "Secretary Wei," and always maintaining a strictly businesslike attitude. But now, using the slightly more affectionate term "Old Wei," Wei Haihe sensed that he had genuinely conceded, perhaps reflecting on Liu Dongqing's actions. Wei Haihe smiled faintly, then gazed at Chen Xiaoming with sincere eyes and said, "Old Chen, now it's just the two of us. I want to speak frankly with you. If you think what I say is good and agreeable, we can discuss other things. If you feel I have ulterior motives or ill intentions, then I respect your decision. I know you're feeling dejected right now, and some of you are considering retiring from the limelight!"
Chen Xiaoming paused, not understanding what Wei Haihe meant. After thinking for a moment, he replied, "Go ahead and speak, I'm listening!"
Even though he didn't understand whether Wei Haihe was mocking or showing off his superiority, Chen Xiaoming suddenly felt indifferent. He felt nervous during the process of everything, but when the result came out, he could accept it. That was his mindset at the moment.
Furthermore, his defeat in the capital meant he would be transferred to another location. In the system of promotion, there is generally a rule that if someone is favored by their superiors due to their strong personal abilities or for their outstanding performance in their current position, then even if it is a lateral transfer, their future prospects are still bright. However, if someone is forced to retreat due to internal strife, even if it is a lateral transfer and their official rank does not decline, their future career is over.
This departure is a sign of your incompetence, and your "admiring leader's" opinion of you will likely be quite different; at the very least, you will no longer be among his key supporters.
In recent years, Chen Xiaoming's work has been mediocre at best. If it weren't for the powerful and influential secretary Wei Haihe, his future would have been quite promising. If he had performed well during his tenure, it wouldn't have been impossible for him to be promoted to the municipal party secretary and reach the highest level of power.
Wei Haihe looked at Chen Xiaoming, who was deep in thought, and said with a smile, "Old Chen, you're fifty-four this year, right? Hehe, I'm fifty-one this year. If I don't get into the Central Committee within ten years, I'll be stuck outside the door for the rest of my life!"
Chen Xiaoming was taken aback. What did Wei Haihe mean by this? Was he mocking him for adopting a high-handed attitude? Wei Haihe, as the municipal party secretary, was already a member of the Central Committee, but his seniority was relatively low. Therefore, his current position as municipal party secretary was merely that of a substitute member. However, this time, with power firmly in his grasp, he could act freely in Beijing. In that case, achievements were achievable, promotion to a full member was a certainty, and even entering the pinnacle of national power was not impossible!
"Old Chen, I've already told you," Wei Haihe said meaningfully, "and now I'm speaking frankly with you. In the year or so I've been in Beijing, Old Chen, although you've acted against me, I understand. A mayor and a new secretary are inherently two sides in a power struggle. Our sides may not be united, but Old Chen, I admire your style of doing things. You're experienced and steady. While you may lack some innovation, you embody the word 'stability' best. And right now, what does Beijing need most?" Wei Haihe sighed deeply again, saying, "What Beijing needs most right now is stability!"
Chen Xiaoming was stunned for a moment, then suddenly felt that Wei Haihe's words had a hidden meaning. Could it be that there was some turning point?
Chen Xiaoming was immediately excited. "Could it be that Wei Haihe doesn't want to force him out? This is hard to say. If Wei Haihe forces him out, then he will be utterly defeated. But if Wei Haihe doesn't have that intention, judging from what he's showing now, if he can cooperate with Wei Haihe and stay in Beijing to continue being the mayor, then his future is still bright. The key question is, how could Wei Haihe possibly let him go?"
He had forgotten how he had joined forces with Liu Dongqing to deal with him over the past year. Wei Haihe seemed to see through his thoughts, smiled, patted him on the shoulder, and said earnestly, "Old Chen, I know what you're thinking, so I'm asking you to help me govern Beijing well. To be honest, it wouldn't be difficult for me to oust you now, but what will happen next? The situation in Beijing is incredibly complex. Although I have some advantages now, the higher-ups certainly won't let me nominate anyone, and they'll definitely support a mayor who won't agree with me to compete with me. From then on, I'll have to spend even more effort to guard against him. Rather than wasting my energy fighting him, I'd rather ask Old Chen not to leave. As the saying goes, there are no permanent rivals in the system. As long as Old Chen stays, we don't need to fight each other openly or covertly. Let's work together to make Beijing prosperous and thriving. That's better than anything else. Think about it, several major cities in the north and south have already surpassed Beijing. Beijing's science and technology park is declining, the development of the western suburbs is still incomplete, and citizens' incomes need to be raised..."
Wei Haihe became more and more excited as he spoke, his face turning red with excitement. "Old Chen, think about it, if we put all the energy we have for fighting into doing practical things for the people and doing more good things for the development of the capital, that would be better than anything else. What you need and what I need can actually be achieved. You see, for more than a year, we have been openly and covertly fighting each other, restraining each other, and nothing can be done. Don't you think so?"
It seemed as if a heavy weight in Chen Xiaoming's heart had been shattered and vanished by Wei Haihe's words. So that's what Wei Haihe meant!
Chen Xiaoming could sense Wei Haihe's sincerity. He believed what Wei Haihe said because it was indeed true. If he were forced to leave, there would inevitably be a new mayor, but as Wei Haihe said, there was a 90% chance that Wei Haihe's people would not be used. After that, they would fall into a power struggle again. It would indeed distract most of their energy. If Wei Haihe cooperated with him, the affairs of the capital would proceed smoothly. With Chen Xiaoming in charge of the municipal affairs and Wei Haihe supporting him from behind, they would achieve political success. Wei Haihe would be the leader and Chen Xiaoming the deputy. Everyone would have a share.
Moreover, there is another advantage: if Wei Haihe doesn't force him to leave now, the higher-ups won't remove him, because he and Wei Haihe are not on the same side. But later, if he and Wei Haihe work together to do a good job in the capital, it will not be a bad thing, but rather an extremely beneficial thing for them, much more beneficial than fighting!
The main point is to make things clear, but the most important and crucial thing is how Wei Haihe himself chooses to proceed, which depends entirely on his actions.
Chen Xiaoming stared blankly for a moment, then looked up at Wei Haiku. Wei Haiku smiled and extended his hand, waiting to shake hands with him and make peace.
Should I take this step or not?
If he stepped forward and shook hands with Wei Haihe, his future would still be bright, but he would undoubtedly be branded with Wei's mark. However, if he did not cooperate with him, his future would come to an abrupt end. He would be transferred to another city and would certainly not become the top leader of any city. In the long run, or perhaps not in the long run, but after four or five years, it would be time for him to retire, and his life would end there.
Chen Xiaoming suddenly recalled Wei Haihe's words: "There are no permanent rivals in the system!" Yes, now that we can take another step forward, the world will be wide open. We no longer need to worry about guarding against people or engaging in open and covert struggles. We can devote all our energy to politics. Isn't that good?
After pondering for a long time, Chen Xiaoming knew he couldn't possibly resist Wei Haihe's temptation. The reason he thought about it for so long was because he was considering Wei Haihe's sincerity. If he shook hands with him now, would Wei Haihe later betray him? Wei Haihe smiled and said, "Old Chen, if you're willing, I can give you a promise right now. For the development of the Science Park and the West Suburbs New Area, I'll allocate a special fund of 12 billion yuan from the treasury. You understand, this is only the first phase. I'll let you have a lot of room to maneuver..."
Hearing Wei Haihe's words, Chen Xiaoming felt a surge of energy, as if he had returned to his youth. Without further thought, he reached out and firmly grasped Wei Haihe's hand, saying, "Alright, Old Wei, I'll give my life for you, to help you govern the capital well, and stop wasting my energy on pointless struggles. Even if I retire in five years, at least I won't regret this decision for the rest of my life!"
"Old Chen, our cooperation will definitely be pleasant!" Wei Haihe said with a smile. "Cooperating with Chen Xiaoming is much better than ousting him from Beijing. At this time, if he can help Chen Xiaoming, he will have gained another loyal friend."
In the following month, Fu Yuanshan first received an interview and assessment from officials of the Organization Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. At the same time, the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee unanimously approved the resignation report of Liu Dongqing, Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, due to illness, and affirmed Secretary Liu's achievements.
Just a week later, Fu Yuanshan won an overwhelming majority of votes among the members of the Beijing Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee, formally appointing him as the Director of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau. At the meeting, Mayor Chen Xiaoming pointed out that Fu Yuanshan's exceptional abilities had made undeniable contributions to the stability of Beijing, making him the most outstanding director in history, arguably unprecedented. Therefore, he also proposed that Fu Yuanshan serve as the acting Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, even though Fu Yuanshan's experience was somewhat limited. "We should not be bound by convention when it comes to appointing talent!"