Chapter 293 - 161: Great Power in Hand (Part 2)

Chapter 293: Chapter 161: Great Power in Hand (Part 2)

He paused, his expression growing more serious. "Director, I’ve just arrived and am not yet familiar with the situation in the New District. Are there any pressing matters I should be aware of, or any work procedures I need to learn as soon as possible? If you could give me some pointers, it would help me get my bearings and get up to speed quickly."

Yang Wenqing smiled and nodded, but he didn’t answer these questions. Instead, he looked at Zhu Yunchuan and asked with concern, "Director Zhu, how are you feeling now?"

Zhu Yunchuan gave a faint smile. "Thank you for your concern, Director. It’s nothing serious anymore."

Yang Wenqing nodded again, then set down his teacup. His gaze returned to Wang Hai as he spoke, neither too quickly nor too slowly:

"Right now, aside from ensuring the security of our key projects, our most urgent tasks are maintaining internal stability and solving a serial bombing case. The municipal bureau is taking the bombings very seriously and has formed a special task force. The other major item is establishing two new security posts. The personnel quotas from the municipal bureau should be approved soon. Also, the Government Soldiers are about to take over a portion of the mining district’s defense, so we need to keep up with the coordination and handover."

He paused briefly, then looked at Wang Hai. "Since you’ve just arrived, Director Wang, there’s no need to rush. You can start by familiarizing yourself with the duties of the various sections in the bureau, the daily paperwork flow, and meeting arrangements. I’ll have to trouble you to take charge of these things first. If there’s anything you’re unsure about, we can communicate at any time."

"Understood, understood!" Wang Hai nodded repeatedly, took a small notebook from his briefcase, and diligently jotted down a few notes.

In the time that followed, Yang Wenqing continued to delegate tasks while Wang Hai nodded and took notes. Most of what was said was filler, but Wang Hai still recorded it diligently, showing no trace of impatience on his face.

Before they knew it, it was time for the meeting. Liu Min knocked gently on the door and peeked in. "Director, Director Zhu, Director Wang, the conference room is ready. All the section chiefs have arrived."

Yang Wenqing set down his teacup and stood up. "Good. Let’s head to the meeting then. Director Wang, this will be a good opportunity to meet all our colleagues from the branch."

Wang Hai immediately rose to his feet as well, a pleasant smile on his face. "Yes, it’s a perfect chance to listen to your instructions, Director Yang, and to learn from all our colleagues."

The three of them walked out of the office one after another, with Wang Hai always staying half a step behind Yang Wenqing, his posture deferential.

Yang Wenqing led the way, his steps steady, his leather shoes making clear sounds on the polished floor. Zhu Yunchuan was half a step behind him to the left, his breathing still a bit shallow, but his back was straight. Wang Hai was another half step behind and to the right, a smile on his face and his eyes full of earnestness and deference. Liu Min walked beside them.

As they approached the conference room door, a flicker of reminiscence crossed Yang Wenqing’s eyes. He recalled the first time he had attended a meeting like this. Back then, he had been so envious of Zhang Qiming, and he couldn’t help but wonder when he would ever reach that position himself.

’I suppose I have my answer now. Ten years. It took me ten years to get here. I can only say I’ve been incredibly fortunate.’

He took two more quick steps, and the two heavy conference room doors came into view. Two senior guards in crisp uniforms stood at the entrance, as straight as flagpoles. As Yang Wenqing’s group of four approached, the two guards clicked their heels together with a sharp CLICK, gave a formal gaze of respect to Yang Wenqing at the front, and then turned sideways to push the heavy doors inward in unison.

A wave of heat immediately washed over them. The light inside the conference room was brighter than in the hallway. Many people were seated around the huge conference table, all of them department heads in their specialist officer uniforms, which made Liao Tianming, in his casual clothes, stand out.

The moment the doors swung open and Yang Wenqing’s figure appeared, the conference room, which had been filled with faint whispers and the rustling of papers, instantly became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone’s gazes, as if drawn by an invisible magnet, shot over in unison, focusing on the young figure at the door.

Yang Wenqing’s pace didn’t falter in the slightest; he neither deliberately sped up nor slowed down. He calmly swept his gaze across the room and, with Zhu Yunchuan, Wang Hai, and Liu Min in tow, walked straight toward the empty head seat at the front of the conference table.

Everyone subconsciously rose to their feet, their bodies ramrod straight, their eyes following his every move.

Upon reaching the head seat, Yang Wenqing didn’t sit down immediately. He turned to face the crowd. Zhu Yunchuan and Wang Hai came to a halt on his left and right, half a step behind him, while Liu Min went to her own designated seat and stood waiting.

At that moment, Yang Wenqing could clearly feel that he was the absolute center of the entire conference room. The gazes felt as if they had weight, pouring into him from all directions.

’So this is... the feeling of holding great power?’

’It’s not entirely exhilarating. There’s also the mountain-like weight of responsibility, the feeling of treading on thin ice under everyone’s watchful eyes.’ The image of himself sitting below, looking up at the head seat for the first time, flashed through his mind again. The feeling then was a world apart from how he felt now.

Then, he raised his right hand, palm down, and made a pressing gesture.

"Everyone, please be seated."

"SHUFFLE!" The sound of everyone sitting down in unison rang out.

Yang Wenqing also sat down in the central head seat, with Zhu Yunchuan and Wang Hai taking their seats to his left and right, respectively.

"Let’s begin the meeting." Yang Wenqing dispensed with any lengthy opening remarks.

"First, an announcement regarding a personnel appointment." His voice was steady. "Following a decision by the municipal bureau, Wang Hai has been appointed Vice Director of the Lingshan New District branch. He will assist me in handling the branch’s daily administration and some coordination tasks. Let’s give him a warm welcome."

Applause broke out, not enthusiastic, but polite and formal enough.

Wang Hai stood up at the appropriate moment and gave a slight bow to the crowd, a humble smile on his face. "As I’m new here, I ask for all of my colleagues’ support and guidance in my future work."

After the brief introduction, Yang Wenqing cut to the chase.

"The main purpose of today’s meeting is to clarify several key tasks for the near future..." He opened the brief outline Liu Min had already prepared for him. "First, we must provide full security for the port expansion and strategic warehouse construction projects. These are strategic tasks directly overseen by the Central Hub and the Provincial Hall. There is no room for error. The entire branch..."

His tone grew heavier. "...I want to emphasize that on these projects, any buck-passing or bureaucratic runaround will not be tolerated. Whoever is responsible for a part that fails, I will hold that person accountable!"

The atmosphere in the room turned solemn.

"Second, the establishment of two new security posts. The municipal bureau will approve the staffing quotas soon, and personnel are being allocated. All relevant sections must fully cooperate with the preparatory work..."

"Third, the transfer and coordination of the mining district’s defense. The Government Soldiers will soon partially take over security in the mining district..."

"Fourth, internal management and professional conduct..."

Yang Wenqing’s gaze grew sharper. "...The New District is developing rapidly. With that comes more temptation and greater risk. It is precisely at times like these that our internal stability must be solid and our discipline must be strict..."

This meeting was, in effect, a declaration of how he intended to manage the branch in the future.

"Everyone!" Yang Wenqing placed both hands on the tabletop, his voice steady and powerful. "The Lingshan New District is at a critical stage of development. This is also a time that will test the combat effectiveness and execution of our City Defense Bureau. I hope, and I demand, that every single person here gives one hundred and twenty percent and fulfills their duties to the utmost."

"After this meeting, every section and security post must immediately convey the spirit of this meeting to their teams. You are to formulate concrete implementation plans based on your respective duties. I want to see action, but more importantly, I want to see results."

He paused, his eyes sweeping across the room. "Any questions?"

The room was silent. No one spoke.

"Good. Meeting adjourned. Director Liao and Director Wang, the two of you, come with me."

Yang Wenqing was the first to stand, and just as when he had entered, everyone else rose in unison. They watched as he led the way toward the conference room door. The two who had been called out, Director Liao and Vice Director Wang, got up immediately and trotted to keep up with Yang Wenqing’s pace.

Only after his figure disappeared through the doorway did a buzz of discussion arise in the conference room, but it was quickly quelled by Liu Min’s reminder: "Everyone, you all know the Director’s personality. Since he has made these demands in the meeting, he will definitely conduct spot checks on the results. So please, make sure you all implement his directives seriously."

The Action Team Captain, Xia Meng, was the first to come forward. He said with a smile, "I’ve been busy these past two days and haven’t had a chance to report to the Director in a while. Section Chief Liu, does the Director have any time today?"

"Follow me."

Liu Min said quietly, then also quickly left the conference room.

It was only then that everyone in the conference room truly felt it in their bones: the great ship that was the Lingshan New District City Defense Bureau had welcomed its new captain.