I Cultivate in a Government Office

Chapter 326: Chapter 176: Wang Yanzhi’s Contradictory Personality (Part 2)

The meeting began with Liao Tianming personally presiding. After a passionate opening speech, he grandly invited Wang Yanzhi to the stage to speak.

Wang Yanzhi walked to the podium and took out his thick stack of speech notes.

Surprisingly, this young master, who seemed so unconventional, spoke in a very methodical and by-the-book manner. His speech was filled with the usual clichés, empty platitudes, and technically correct nonsense common in a bureaucracy. He covered everything from the Provincial Government’s high-level strategy to the significance of the New District’s development, from project construction requirements to production safety responsibilities.

Yang Wenqing listened patiently for over ten minutes, only to notice that Wang Yanzhi seemed to be less than a third of the way through his script. Everyone in the audience wore a serious expression, occasionally jotting down notes in their notebooks.

Seeing this, he took advantage of the applause at the end of a section to rise silently and slip out a side door of the stuffy auditorium.

The hallway outside was spacious and quiet, a stark contrast to the auditorium.

Yang Wenqing walked to a window and took a few deep breaths of fresh air. None of the other officials had the courage or status to leave mid-speech, so the Government Office Building felt deserted.

About half an hour later, a distinctly more enthusiastic round of applause erupted from the auditorium. Yang Wenqing straightened his collar and returned to his seat, his expression placid.

When Liao Tianming saw him return, he picked up a speech and asked if Yang Wenqing wanted to speak. Yang Wenqing flatly refused. At his words, the two deputy directors seated nearby visibly relaxed.

The meeting concluded with the usual bureaucratic summaries and future outlooks. Finally, the lengthy welcome conference ended in an atmosphere of near-universal relief.

Liao Tianming immediately approached Wang Yanzhi, ready to lead him to a prepared lounge or conference room. But Wang Yanzhi waved his hand, his gaze landing directly on Yang Wenqing, who was nodding to an acquaintance.

”Director Liao, Chief Yang...”

Wang Yanzhi said, ”Let’s find a quiet place to talk.”

Upon hearing this, Liao Tianming immediately whispered a few instructions to his deputy. The deputy acknowledged and quickly began to disperse the other attendees. Then, Liao Tianming personally led the way, guiding Wang Yanzhi and Yang Wenqing from the auditorium to a small, elegantly furnished meeting room on the top floor of the Government Office Building.

As the heavy, carved wooden doors closed silently and shut out the outside world, the reserved, detached, and even slightly arrogant expression on Wang Yanzhi’s face vanished. In its place was a look of sharp, shrewd competence.

Without any pleasantries, he took a document from his Storage Bag—one stamped with the bright red seal of the Provincial Government—and placed it in the center of the polished mahogany conference table.

”Director Liao, Chief Yang, time is short, so I won’t beat around the bush.” Wang Yanzhi’s voice was clear and forceful; he sounded like a completely different person from the one who had given the long-winded, empty speech on stage. ”My primary mission on this trip, aside from auditing tax items, is to deal with this...”

He tapped his finger heavily on the document’s cover.

Yang Wenqing and Liao Tianming exchanged a glance, then each picked up a copy of the document and began to quickly skim its contents.

The document was concise, but its core message made both of their hearts sink. To support the war effort on the northern front and raise military funds, a special levy had been issued. Donghai Province’s share was eight billion.

The document was phrased in high-minded terms, invoking righteous justifications like, ”As our sons of the north fight and bleed, the sons of the south are duty-bound to give their full support.” It demanded that each provincial government raise the funds and remit them to the national treasury by a set deadline.

And Wang Yanzhi’s trip to Lingshan New District was precisely to ensure this portion of the quota, which the Provincial Government had assigned to the New District, was collected.

”Three hundred million? Our New District has only just begun to develop; this share is far too large!” Liao Tianming said after finishing the document, his face a mask of difficulty and bitterness. ”Supervisor Wang, is... is this number correct? Lingshan New District has seen rapid growth in recent years, but many of our industries are still in their infancy. Most tax revenue is being poured back into infrastructure and public welfare!”

”Furthermore, the port expansion and the strategic warehouses are absolute money pits. Even with government appropriations, the Civil Affairs Bureau’s books are stretched incredibly thin. It’s simply impossible to produce that much cash on such short notice.”

He cautiously offered a figure. ”At the absolute most, the discretionary funds the Civil Affairs Bureau can mobilize on an emergency basis won’t exceed fifty million...”

It wasn’t much compared to the demand, but for a local Civil Affairs Bureau on a strict budget, an unbudgeted cash expenditure of that size was a truly significant sum.

Wang Yanzhi turned his gaze to Yang Wenqing.

Yang Wenqing closed the document and calmly shook his head. ”Supervisor Wang, the City Defense Bureau is a law enforcement agency. Our funding is subject to strict budgetary and usage regulations. We have no authority whatsoever to participate in local fundraising.”

He said it with utter finality, leaving no room for negotiation.

Wang Yanzhi seemed to have expected this. He showed no sign of annoyance, instead nodding in understanding. ”I understand the difficulties you both face. I also know the New District has two major projects about to launch and needs money everywhere. It’s certainly not easy.”

But then, his tone shifted. ”Just because the Civil Affairs Bureau doesn’t have the money doesn’t mean no one does. Lingshan New District has prospered these past few years. The Commerce Associations, workshop owners, and large estate holders who’ve put down roots here... especially the mining-related industries that have profited from the mining boom... have any of them not made an absolute fortune?”

”Our soldiers are bleeding on the northern front. Asking these people to bleed a little in support is perfectly reasonable, wouldn’t you agree?”

His sharp gaze swept over Liao Tianming and Yang Wenqing. ”As long as this money is successfully raised, life will be much easier for everyone in the coming years, whether it’s receiving preferential policies from the province or in your performance reviews after this inspection. But if it can’t be raised...”

He paused, his tone full of implication. ”If *he* were to think that we in Donghai Province lack even the basic resolve and unity to act against a common foe, then this would no longer be just a matter of money. The investigation wouldn’t be about ledgers, but about hearts and minds. About loyalty!”

He had elevated fundraising to a political imperative, and political reckonings are never simple. Sure enough, the color drained from Liao Tianming’s face.

After a moment of silence, Yang Wenqing spoke. ”While the Bureau cannot directly participate in fundraising, we have an undeniable responsibility to maintain order and ensure the solicitation efforts proceed smoothly. As long as your methods are legal, Supervisor, the Bureau will fully cooperate with the Civil Affairs Bureau.”

He had drawn his line.

Liao Tianming took a deep breath. He knew this hot potato had landed squarely in his lap. Meeting Wang Yanzhi’s gaze, he forced himself to say, ”Supervisor Wang, the Civil Affairs Bureau has an undeniable duty in this matter. I can convene a meeting as soon as possible with the heads of the New District’s influential Commerce Associations, workshops, and mining companies to convey the spirit of the Provincial Government’s directive.”

A genuine smile finally touched Wang Yanzhi’s lips. ”Just holding a meeting to rally support probably won’t be forceful enough, Director Liao. I hear that Chairman Yang Haishan of the Lingshan New District Mining and Processing Company carries significant weight in the local business community?”

Liao Tianming nodded. ”Yes, Chairman Yang is highly respected. However, his file is with the municipal government. Even though we are of a similar rank, I have no jurisdiction over him.”

”Haha, ’highly respected’?” Wang Yanzhi scoffed, clearly unimpressed. ”I’m afraid that respect was bought with his power and money.”

Yang Wenqing’s brow twitched. He recalled that the chairman’s brother-in-law had been implicated in a Special Security Bureau case. ’With the supervisor’s current attitude,’ he thought, ’is he planning to make an example of the chairman?’

But then Wang Yanzhi changed tack. ”As it happens, Chairman Yang Haishan and I have met on several occasions. I will personally handle this big fish. Once he gives the nod and sets the precedent, I imagine the rest will be much easier for you, Director Liao.”

He stood and straightened his collar. ”There’s no time to lose. Director Liao, prepare the list of names and arrange the meeting at once. And Chief Yang, you can also, within the rules, of course, remind them who’s in charge here. It’s all for the sake of our soldiers on the northern front, after all.”

The sudden shift left Yang Wenqing holding his breath. He let out a soft cough. When Wang Yanzhi glanced at him, he immediately put on a smile and said, ”I will cooperate fully.”

He agreed verbally, but his mind was already elsewhere. ’As for what to actually do,’ he thought, ’I’ll have to report back to the municipal authorities and my master before planning my next move.’