Chapter 552: 509: Public Trial Meeting (Second Update, Asking for Monthly Tickets)_1

This is quite a large gift. After pondering for a moment, Nie Zhenbang slowly nodded and said, “Secretary Li, I do have a suggestion for the candidate for the full-time Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee. Qi Siyuan, the Secretary of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection, is a very capable individual. The reason we have made such rapid and significant progress in the Eastern Sea smuggling case is largely due to his daily work. Qi Siyuan is skilled at ideological work. In my opinion, he is a suitable candidate for the position of full-time Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, responsible for Party-mass ideological education and personnel organization work.”

After a pause, Nie Zhenbang continued, “As for the candidate for the Deputy Mayor, I think the current Vice Mayor of Minzhou City, Liu Gaohua, is a good choice. He is responsible for industries in Minzhou. These past few years, the industrial development of Minzhou has been impressive. Secretary Li, I think you should know this man better than I do.”

Nie Zhenbang, in return, presented Li Taishi with a compliment. Even though Li Taishi generously offered up several important positions, it was merely a gesture. If he accepted them all without hesitation, although Li Taishi wouldn’t complain, he would unavoidably harbor resentment. These types of cracks are often the beginning of the deterioration of relationships.

“Hm, both Qi Siyuan and Liu Gaohua are suitable candidates. Mayor Nie, I was concerned about dealing with you because you are so young and hold such a high position. But it seems I worried for nothing. No wonder Governor Qiao thinks so highly of you.” A smile appeared on Li Taishi’s face.

At this moment, the smile was an emblem of absolute loyalty. Li Taishi also subtly suggested a close relationship with Qiao Yiren in his comments. As fellow members of the Provincial Standing Committee, Qiao Yiren wouldn’t be sharing such information with Li Taishi if they weren’t close.

Then, there was a shift in tone from Li Taishi, as he added, “By the way, Mayor Zhenbang, yesterday an idea came from Chief Secretary Liu Wei of the special investigation team. Some of the accused officials and suspects involved in the Eastern Sea smuggling case have already completed their interrogations and transferred to the procuratorial office. Chief Liu Wei’s idea is to hold a public trial in Wanghai City to stabilize the public sentiment, which is extremely jittery now.”

March 27th,

The weather in Wanghai was overcast, with a light drizzle that couldn’t cool the passion of the citizens. The public trial was held at the sports field of Wanghai University. The large sports field, with its standard 400-meter jogging track and a football pitch, could accommodate tens of thousands of people. Adding in the several dozen basketball courts and two soccer fields nearby, it was filled with a sea of people.

A passage was kept clear, stretching from the university gate to the stadium, with caution tape strung up on both sides.

Armed soldiers were stationed every few steps, alert and keeping an eye on the crowds. It was around half-past eight.

Sounds of sirens echoed outside the gate of Wanghai University. A dozen police cars led the way, followed by cars from departments such as Public Prosecution, Court, and Public Security.

In the middle, three buses from the court held a group of suspects dressed in yellow prison uniforms. Following them were armed soldiers in uniform in cars registered with Armed Police license plates, acting as escorts.

When the vehicle procession entered the gate of Wanghai University, some people couldn’t help but approach, with many civilians passionately charging up and shouting, “Unleash the law! Take down these corrupt officials!”

At all times, corrupt officials are deeply hated and abhorred by the general public. In essence, the Eastern Sea smuggling case affected the entire nation, disrupted the government system, impeded the country’s industries, and corrupted officials within the system. Even though, in economic terms, economic growth in Wanghai city, underpinned by the Eastern Sea Group, has been robust and the Group has created many jobs for the citizens, enhancing their income. It’s undeniable. However, it still did not ease the hatred of the common people for the corrupt officials.

In the second police car, Nie Zhenbang and Li Taishi were sitting together. Upon witnessing the scene, Li Taishi furrowed his brows and said in a deep voice, “What are the armed police soldiers doing? They shouldn’t let these civilians approach the cars. What is going to happen if something goes wrong and civilians are hit or crushed by the cars?”

This response showed Li Taishi’s character; under normal circumstances, officials would be more concerned about the impact on their careers. Li Taishi’s behavior, which emerged spontaneously during the sudden and hasty circumstances, was commendable. This indicated that he probably wasn’t just putting on a show. Working with such a person to form a team shouldn’t pose too many problems in carrying out future tasks.

Nie Zhenbang also wrinkled his brows, “Secretary Li, we must act promptly to control the emotions of the crowd.”

Then Nie Zhenbang got out of the car, took a loudspeaker from a guiding car in the front, and said, “Comrades, compatriots, everyone, please calm down. I am Deputy Mayor Nie Zhenbang.”

This remark, however, made these citizens halt, seeing this, Nie Zhenbang was overjoyed. He was worried that all these ordinary people are too excited, that they wouldn’t listen to anything. Now, as they all stopped, it’s a good sign. Thinking about this, Nie Zhenbang continued, “I know how much everyone hates and loathes lawbreakers. Frankly, I share the same profound indignation.”

By saying this, he managed to narrow the gap between himself and the crowd. Nie Zhenbang’s wisdom impressed Li Taishi. To think that Nie Zhenbang could become a vice-minister at such a young age was admirable. What was he doing at this age? Probably still spinning his wheels at the vice-department level, I guess.

“But, can we solve the problem in this manner? No, we can’t. My friends, our country has laws, homes have rules, there could be no results without regulations. These people, violated the law, and naturally law will punish them correspondingly. I believe that the law will definitely give these people a fair judgment. Now, everyone, please disperse and clear the road. This way, we can start the public trial as soon as possible, right?” Nie Zhenbang finished his monologue. On the side, many people voluntarily dispersed. Initially, under intense public sentiment, everyone was very emotional. Now, after calming down a bit, they weren’t as frenzied as before.

Next, the cars were able to proceed unimpeded all the way to the site of the public trial. In the stadium, a stage has long been set up, in the center, the national emblem was hanging, making it appear extremely solemn and dignified.

The first ones to be brought down were Liu Sicun, Zhao Dingguang, Chang Jiu, Chang and some party and government officials and high-ranking executives of the Eastern Sea Group. As for Shi Yiwu, Li Chengfang, and Zhuang Roshun, and others.

After they were brought up, the presiding judge from the Wanghai City Intermediate People’s Court officially announced the start of the public trial. Meanwhile, the prosecutor of the Wanghai City People’s Procuratorate began to list all the evidence of their crimes.

Thereafter, after due deliberation among the court, the presiding judge stood up and declared through the microphone: “No. 4, Zhao Dingguang, you are accused of receiving massive bribes and the amount is enormous. Moreover, you provided cover for the Eastern Sea Group during the smuggling case. These crimes are exceedingly severe and extremely harmful to society. After a meeting of the court, we have decided to sentence Zhao Dingguang to death, effective immediate execution, and a lifelong deprivation of political rights. Liu Sicun, sentenced to death, subject to a two-year suspension. Zhang Zusi, sentenced to life imprisonment. Chang Jiu, sentenced to death. Chang, sentenced to death.”

These words, spoken by the presiding judge, sounded extremely menacing and dignified. Below, through the loud speakers, the crowd hearing the verdict broke out into a loud cheer. Good!

Meanwhile, others, including those involved from banks, customs, internal personnel of the Eastern Sea Group, and some individuals from the party and government agencies, were appropriately given different sentences according to the severity of their crimes. The most severe received life imprisonment, and the lightest received three years of fixed-term imprisonment. Along with fines.

Meanwhile, after a month of investigation and interrogation, the special investigation team, having reported to the central government and having obtained approval from the central government, formally closed the extraordinary smuggling case of Eastern Sea Group.

The Central Discipline Inspection Commission held a press conference in Jingcheng, informing the world’s media of the circumstances of the Eastern Sea Group’s massive smuggling case and a whole series of treatments were announced. Li Chengfang, the standing deputy minister of the Ministry of Public Security, is suspected of serious violations of discipline. He was removed from his post as the standing deputy minister of public security, expelled from the party, dismissed from public office, and handed over to the procuratorate for public prosecution. Shi Yiwu, the secretary of the Wanghai Municipal Party Committee, was expelled from the party and public office, and handed over to the procuratorate.

With the conclusion of the Yuhai smuggling case, there are four vacancies in the Wanghai City for standing committee members. The Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee has been transferred over, but the positions of the Mayor, Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, Deputy Mayor of the Standing Committee, and Secretary-General of the Municipal Party Committee are still undecided.

This situation made the officials in Wanghai City somewhat fearful, with many officials starting to make frequent visits to Minzhou City.

While the officials in Wanghai City were busy, in the official residence of the Minan Province Committee, within the office building, all the regular committee members had already taken their places in the meeting room on the top floor. Li Taishi was also there after rushing over from Wanghai.

The newly appointed full-time Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Yi Mingyang, sat there with a straight face. Governor Qiao Yiren was being quite cordial and occasionally discussing something with Sun Yuzhou, the Minister of Organization of the Provincial Party Committee next to him.

As soon as nine o’clock struck, Chen Renqing, the Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Director of the Standing Committee of the Provincial People’s Congress, entered the conference room leisurely.

PS: Starting today, Qidian is acting up, the webpage is super slow to load, so I don’t feel like checking it out. It is rumored to be at 700 votes now. In that case, let’s have a small explosion today! Three more chapters! Seeing others calling three more chapters an explosion, Old Cai feels a bit sweaty. We are honest people, who publish three or four chapters punctually every day, and sometimes have five or even eight chapter explosions. To ask my brothers and sisters for a monthly ticket of support. In the middle of the month, let’s have another explosion, okay? (.)