Chapter 63: Yong’an’s 100-day Campaign To Sweep Away Black And Eliminate Evil
“Lin Squad Leader, this iron rod of yours is quite something.”
Lin Fan had been carrying the iron rod on his back the whole time, and to sit down, he had to take it off. The heavy thud when the iron rod hit the ground was very striking.
“Zhou County Magistrate, this iron rod is only sixty jin heavy, made of solid materials with a steady grip, forged by Big Ox the blacksmith master craftsman in our city. It feels very handy to use.” Lin Fan said with a smile.
Zhou County Magistrate swallowed hard.
Sixty jin?
Such a solid yet terrifying weight.
Especially since the other party spoke of it so casually.
Zhou County Magistrate could imagine that once the other party swung this iron rod, even if just the tip brushed against his limbs, the bones would shatter instantly.
Even wearing armor wouldn’t help; this force impact could directly shatter them.
Li Prefect saw Zhou County Magistrate’s expression and acted very calmly. Now you understand how much pressure this feeling brings, right?
“Prefect Sir, has something happened?” Lin Fan stopped looking at Zhou County Magistrate and turned to ask Li Prefect.
Li Prefect smiled, “Oh, I have nothing going on. It’s mainly Zhou County Magistrate who wants to see you.”
Lin Fan turned his gaze to Zhou County Magistrate, forcing the County Magistrate, who had been entirely focused on grafting silver, to rack his brains frantically.
Soon, Zhou County Magistrate thought of it: bring up the matter with Zhu Chief Clerk.
“Lin Squad Leader, I’ve already learned about Zhu Chief Clerk’s matter. As the Chief Clerk, he was actually connected to Yong’an tumor Yuan Jiang of the Fierce Tiger Gang. This is truly a disgrace to our county office. Therefore, I… this old man has come specifically to apologize to you, Lin Squad Leader. You stood up for the people and eliminated the tumor, yet encountered this situation. Rest assured, when I return, I will surely punish severely without mercy.”
Zhou County Magistrate looked serious, putting on an appearance of utter righteousness.
Lin Fan sighed, “The common people of Yong’an County are fortunate to have a parental official like Zhou County Magistrate who understands justice so deeply and governs strictly.”
“I dare not accept that, I dare not.” Zhou County Magistrate waved his hands repeatedly, saying without batting an eye or blushing, “As an official in one place, all I seek is to benefit the locality and do some real, tangible things for the common people of our Yong’an.”
Nearby, Li Prefect picked up the teacup, blew on non-existent steam, and leisurely sipped his tea while listening to Zhou County Magistrate’s ‘sincere words’.
Officials must be good with words.
“Mm, Zhou County Magistrate speaks well. Nowadays in Yong’an City, the Fierce Tiger Gang, Loyalty Hall, and all those scattered local tyrants and ruffians are rampant, oppressing the people. It really makes my blood boil just looking at it.”
As he spoke, Lin Fan suddenly raised his hand and slapped the huanghuali wood tea table with a smack. With a crack, the tea table instantly fell apart.
“If I don’t uproot these tumors completely, how can I, Lin Fan, live up to the trust of the common people.”
Seeing this scene, Zhou County Magistrate felt a chill rush straight to the top of his head.
“Prefect Sir, sorry, I didn’t notice and broke it. I’ll compensate you.” Lin Fan said.
“It’s fine, I understand.”
Li Prefect’s eye twitched as he painfully glanced at the broken tea table, feeling helpless inside. He could only continue sipping the nearly empty tea.
Who has my residence offended?
Why does it always suffer like this?
Zhou County Magistrate suppressed his inner unease and forced himself to chime in, “Lin Squad Leader is absolutely right on every point. These tumors have taken root for a long time. This old man has discussed it with Li Prefect before, but we were at a loss on how to proceed. Now that a figure like Lin Squad Leader has emerged, this old man is curious to see how long they can keep jumping around?”
At this moment, Li Prefect set down his teacup, pondering in his mind that if Lin Fan really eliminated the Fierce Tiger Gang and Loyalty Hall, and the common people praised him highly, it would indeed be considerable merit for him.
Lin Fan said, “Now I have already taken down tumors like He Sen, Yuan Jiang, Hu Yu, and others, all thanks to Prefect Sir’s support. In this regard, this subordinate thanks Prefect Sir for the strong backing.”
Li Prefect smiled faintly, “Lin Squad Leader need not be overly modest. This prefect hasn’t helped much.”
Look at that.
He just couldn’t understand what was in the heads of those taken down by Lin Fan. How sensible and polite Lin Fan was.
Now you’ve forced him to get serious. You really deserve to die.
Zhou County Magistrate pondered: these gangs had given him quite a lot in bribes. If they were truly uprooted, how much would he lose?
Thinking of this, he showed a worried expression and said, “Lin Squad Leader, though Loyalty Hall and Fierce Tiger Gang are Yong’an tumors, there are countless common people working under them at the bottom level. If they are uprooted all at once, cutting off their livelihoods, it might cause turmoil.”
Having been an official for many years, he always remembered one thing, which was absolutely not to be done.
That was to cut off the way out for the bottom-level common people.
If he really cut off the bottom-level common people’s way out just for grafting money, he feared he might have the life to take it but not to spend it.
Li Prefect glanced at Zhou County Magistrate.
Good grief.
Even at this point, still thinking about the losses. How could he not see Zhou County Magistrate’s real intentions? It was just heartache over the monthly tribute silver.
“Mm, the County Magistrate has a point, but I already have an idea in mind. I understand Loyalty Hall quite well and can select someone from within to manage Loyalty Hall and have him operate by the rules.” Lin Fan said.
“Oh? Then who does Lin Squad Leader think is suitable?” Zhou County Magistrate eagerly wanted to know.
Lin Fan smiled, “I’ll keep it confidential for now. When the time comes, Zhou County Magistrate will naturally know.”
Oh, oh.
Zhou County Magistrate felt relieved. The gang was still there, which meant there was still money to be made.
Li Prefect remained impassive. He didn’t even need to think; who else but Wang Changhai?
If it was Wang Changhai, that would work.
This man was much more stable than Chen Qingshan.
“Sirs.” Lin Fan struck while the iron was hot, looking serious as he said, “This subordinate happens to have a proposal and hopes to receive the support of both sirs.”
“Speak freely.” x2
“This subordinate wants to launch the ‘Yong’an Public Security Bureau’s 100-Day Sweep Away Black and Eliminate Evil’ action jointly in the name of the Public Security Bureau and the county office.”
Lin Fan’s voice was loud and clear, emphasizing the justice of the matter. He looked at the two and continued:
“Though a batch has been caught now, it’s far from enough. Relying only on me and the brothers on hand, we’re inevitably short-handed. Investigating and gathering evidence for their crimes requires massive energy and time.”
“Therefore, by launching this action and involving the common people to actively report and expose, we can save us a lot of effort. At that time, please have the County Magistrate post announcements in the name of the county office, informing the whole city and declaring the determination for this action, so the common people can report with peace of mind.”
“Once we thoroughly clean up Yong’an and return a clear and bright world to the common people, both sirs will have merits that cannot be overlooked.”
After speaking, he said no more, picked up the teacup on the tea table to his right, and slowly sipped his tea, waiting for their response.
Li Prefect’s expression was slightly stunned.
Making it this big?
Zhou County Magistrate’s eyes spun wildly, his brain nearly smoking from overwork. He knew this was the other party trying to drag him into the water, but he really couldn’t refuse.
Mainly because County Magistrate like me has unclean hands too.
Stained full of the stench of money.
Seeing Zhou County Magistrate hesitating, Li Prefect spoke up, “Zhou County Magistrate, I think Lin Squad Leader’s proposal is excellent. It’s time to deal with those bullies in the city who dominate markets and commit all kinds of evil.”
“Ah… this.” Zhou County Magistrate blinked, “For such an action, shouldn’t we seek approval from the higher office?”
“Hm!? Does the County Magistrate have any concerns?”
Lin Fan looked deeply at Zhou County Magistrate, seeming threatening.
Zhou County Magistrate felt his heart crawl under that gaze and quickly waved his hands, “No concerns, really no concerns. It’s just whether the impact might be too big?”
Lin Fan waved his hand, “No, this action targets only specific cases, like killing, arson, coercion, and such…”
Zhou County Magistrate still hesitated and said, “Lin Squad Leader, to be honest, this county magistrate can guarantee my own integrity, but I dare not guarantee that my subordinates below haven’t taken bribes. If they’re implicated, I’m afraid it will affect the county office’s operations.”
Lin Fan smiled, “County Magistrate, rest assured. Our Public Security Bureau only handles public security, not corruption or bribery—that’s not our jurisdiction. If we find serious bribery, it would be up to you to decide whether to report it.”
Hearing this.
A smile appeared on Zhou County Magistrate’s face, “Yes, yes, Lin Squad Leader is absolutely right. Duties are distinct, each has their role. In that case, for the peace of Yong’an’s common people, how can I, as their parental official, not contribute? This old man strongly supports it.”
Li Prefect observed Zhou County Magistrate’s demeanor.
He didn’t want to say anything.
What are you afraid of?
If you’re not upright, are those above you upright?
If this matter is really accomplished, the higher-ups will be delighted and eagerly memorialize with lavish descriptions of the merits.
As long as during the inspection, the common people praise it unanimously, it’s ironclad achievement.
“Good, having a parental official like the County Magistrate is truly the common people’s fortune.” Lin Fan stood up, cupped his fists to the two sirs, “Then this subordinate will take his leave first.”
After Lin Fan’s footsteps faded away.
Zhou County Magistrate suddenly leaned back, exhaling a long turbid breath, and wiped the fine sweat from his forehead.
Li Prefect said indifferently, “How does it feel?”
“Brother Li, where did he come from? How did you agree to let him join the Public Security Bureau?”
Li Prefect gazed outside the hall and sighed faintly.
“Too late.”
