The Beautiful County Magistrate
Chapter 567: Even the Overlord Dragon Must Coil!

Chapter 567: Chapter 567: Even the Overlord Dragon Must Coil!

Zhang Dongyang immediately showed his true colors, demanding the removal of Fan Hua’s position.

Before coming to Jiang City, he had already made up his mind to take down several positions—Vice Secretary of the County Committee, Secretary of the Disciplinary Committee, Minister of the County Party Organization, and the Deputy County Magistrate—with a thunderous approach and to give the top officials of Jiang City a complete overhaul, placing his own people in all positions.

Fan Hua dared to run to the County Committee Office to arrest Tao Zekai, who had just pledged allegiance to him, clearly targeting him.

He had already wanted to take down Fan Hua, and now Fan Hua was actively looking for trouble with him, so he shouldn’t blame him for not being courteous!

Tao Zekai burst into triumphant laughter and mockingly said to Fan Hua, "See, didn’t I tell you that you can’t take me away? Fan Hua, what do you think this is, the time when the old County Magistrate and Secretary Ge were in charge of Jiang City, allowing you to thrive? You dare to trouble me, to trouble Secretary Zhang, and now you’ve ended up like this. You’re asking for it!"

The previous gloom was swept away, leaving Tao Zekai feeling extremely refreshed inside.

Haha, it really is cooler under the big tree, he thought. His decision to latch onto Zhang Dongyang was absolutely correct; he had made the right move.

With Zhang Dongyang as his backer, it would be difficult for him not to ascend swiftly to high positions.

Even the position of Secretary of the Disciplinary Committee left vacant by Fan Hua was his, Tao Zekai’s, for the taking.

Jumping from Director of Water Resources to Secretary of the Disciplinary Committee was, indeed, a significant leap.

Just as Tao Zekai was bursting with excitement, Fan Hua spoke up.

"Secretary Zhang wants to remove me from my position as Secretary of the Disciplinary Committee, that’s up to you," he said.

"But even if you have the authority from the city to appoint and dismiss personnel, you cannot simply remove me from my prestigious position as Secretary of the Disciplinary Committee of Jiang City County with just a word. The process must be gone through at the Organization Department before my dismissal can be formally executed."

"So, you see, I am still the Secretary of the Disciplinary Committee of Jiang City County, still possessing the authority to inspect the officials of Jiang City!"

"Tao Zekai, Director Tao, whatever I say, I’m going to take you away, even Secretary Zhang can’t stop me!"

Now that his relationship with them was thoroughly ruptured, Fan Hua decided to act strong like Xu Qianli and stubbornly fight to the very end!

Hmph, that’s just Zhang Dongyang, so what if he is formidable? He’s new here, causing so much trouble as soon as he arrived in Jiang City, trying to remove my position as Fan Hua. I cannot swallow this insult!

Tao Zekai quickly said, "Fan Hua, you have such a nerve to speak to Secretary Zhang like that! Do you believe that, with just a word, Secretary Zhang can not only strip you of your duties but also throw you into prison?"

"I believe it, after all, Secretary Zhang is capable of that."

"But let’s keep things separate. It’s one thing for Secretary Zhang to deal with me; applying double regulations to you is another matter. You better think about your own situation."

"I can reveal something to you. We, the Disciplinary Committee, have already obtained some definitive evidence of your crimes. You are finished!"

Fan Hua was determined to take Tao Zekai down today, to use it as an opportunity to fiercely slap Zhang Dongyang in the face!

Tao Zekai protested, "What evidence of a crime? I don’t know what you’re talking about. I, Tao Zekai, conduct myself with integrity and sit upright. I’m not afraid of your slander."

"Really?"

"Then I must ask you, how come all the fingerprints found on the several hundred gold bars hidden under the floor of the house at No. 9 Xingfu Road belong to you?"

"The row of shops opened on Wenhua Road, who owns them?"

"Is there a need for me to spell everything out one by one?"

Fan Hua looked at Tao Zekai with a smile that wasn’t a smile. With his words, Tao Zekai’s face changed dramatically, turning extremely ugly in an instant.

Tao Zekai had thought his dealings were done flawlessly, turning all the dirty money into gold bars and hiding them where no one would know. Those shops were held by proxies so distant no one could trace them back to him, making discovery impossible.

But to his utter dismay, the meticulous facade he constructed was pierced, and someone had brought it to the attention of the Disciplinary Committee.

In an instant, a figure flashed through Tao Zekai’s mind.

...Xu Qianli!

Thinking of him, Tao Zekai swiftly said, "Was it Xu Qianli, was it Xu Qianli who did it, right?"

Since the old County Magistrate passed away, Jiang City’s officialdom had been constantly plagued by storms over the past few months.

First, it was the downfall of Zhang Kuisan, followed by the detention of Ge Changhong under double regulations, and then to today’s downfall of Zeng Changyun and Ding Biao. His own exposure seemed to be tied to one person, Xu Qianli.

Zhang Kuisan was a sworn enemy of Xu Qianli’s, and both Zeng Changyun and Ding Biao had grudges with Xu Qianli. He was detained because of his connection with Zhang Dongyang. It was clear that it was all Xu Qianli’s doing.

That guy must have something special in his hands, something particularly damning. How else could he know everything in such detail?

Fan Hua said, "You’re mistaken. It wasn’t Vice County Magistrate Xu who reported to our Disciplinary Committee. It was actually someone very close to you, Director Tao. Thanks to her, we were able to get a hold of your criminal acts. As for who it was, you should have a very clear idea."

What, it wasn’t Xu Qianli, but someone else, someone close to him?

Tao Zekai fell silent. Could it be his wife, or perhaps one of his mistresses?

Then, turning to Zhang Dongyang, Fan Hua said, "We won’t take up any more of Secretary Zhang’s time. We’re eager to take Director Tao back for questioning. We’ll take our leave now. Let’s go."

After dropping those words, Fan Hua and a group of his subordinates left with a pale-faced Tao Zekai.

Left behind, Zhang Dongyang’s expression was dark and terrible, his fists clenched tight.

He had thought that with the imperial authority given by the city, he could easily take control of Jiang City’s officialdom, dominate the overall situation, and then do as he wished.

But the day’s events had caught him completely off guard.

First, Zeng Changyun and Ding Biao, whom he had drawn to his side, were decisively dealt with by Xu Qianli, and now Tao Zekai, who had willingly sided with him, was taken away under double regulations by the County Disciplinary Committee. It was more than a slap in the face.

Both incidents rendered his Imperial Sword useless!

Damn it, damn!

Everything was supposed to go smoothly, but now, due to Xu Qianli’s maneuvers, the situation had spiraled out of control. The guy was ruthless.

No wonder Fu Guotai, upon his transfer to Jiang City, was kicked out by Xu Qianli, forcing him to skulk away.

It seemed the kid really had some moves.

No, this couldn’t go on. He had to find a way to break the deadlock!

While Zhang Dongyang was brooding over his next move, the news of Tao Zekai being detained in the County Committee Office had spread like wildfire.

The arrival of the new County Party Secretary had already rattled all of Jiang City’s officials; this sudden incident only intensified the unusual tension.

Those who had been on the fence and willing to align with Zhang Dongyang, hoping to ride his Imperial Sword to greater heights, quickly dismissed the thought.

Despite Zhang Dongyang wielding the Imperial Sword, with the power to make personnel changes at will, his adversary was simply too terrifying.

Xu Qianli was a formidable figure, not someone to be trifled with lightly.