Let them offer their loyalty!

Everyone here has been immersed in the bureaucracy for many years, like old foxes, and they all know the most important rule of officialdom: Better to have the lower ranks grumble than to leave a bad impression on your superiors.

Especially those superiors... who can decide your fate.

In the past, the appointments of deputy directors and commissioners of various cities in the planning areas were decided by the Sanctuary's General Investigation Bureau and the Administrative Commissioners' General Conference.

Therefore, deputy directors and commissioners used to seek favor with those bigwigs from the Sanctuary who could decide their fate.

Now, with the establishment of Dongye State, the positions of deputy directors and commissioners of various cities will be decided and adjusted by the Dongye State Council.

It is even said that after a transitional period, even the authority to adjust the positions of bureau chiefs and first commissioners will be progressively transferred to the State Council.

As a result, the people whom the deputy directors and commissioners of various cities most want to please have immediately become Chairman Huang Shangzong, who is about to take office in the Dongye State Council!

This is almost the shared thought of all the big shots from over a dozen cities in the planning areas.

And now, before Yu Zhengyi has even had the chance to curry favor with this important person, he has to report this terrible news to him? Who can bear this?!

Therefore, Commissioner Wang does not want to take on this responsibility, and of course, Yu Zhengyi doesn't want to either.

Even now, Yu Zhengyi is cursing Ji Chen in his heart: "He never comes to me for good things, but now I'm left carrying this big mess on my back."

Even if the bureau chief is temporarily unable to make a decision due to other matters, there are two other deputy directors at the same level as him. For such a sensitive matter, why should he be the one to make the decision! This is clearly setting him up!

Thinking this way, Yu Zhengyi couldn't help but want to shift the blame away.

So, he coughed and, without responding to Commissioner Wang's words, used his best Tai Chi maneuver, dodging the issue, "Commissioner Wang... the thing is, I'm also troubled about this matter."

"Wu Counselor suddenly had an accident. Our Director Yan is not around either. So right now, in the Investigation Bureau, nobody dares to make a call on this matter."

"After all, who knows whether Director Yan will be satisfied with the outcome?"

As he said this, as if he had just remembered something, he continued, "Oh, right, Commissioner Wang."

"I recall that Wu Counselor came to Xinjie City specifically to visit you, and you were a witness to the entire attack. Perhaps... you could make a decision?"

Upon hearing Yu Zhengyi's words, Commissioner Wang's chubby face immediately showed signs of distress.

He waved his hands repeatedly, "No, no. You're kidding, Director Yu. I, a commissioner in charge of civil affairs, know nothing about handling cases."@@novelbin@@

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"Even if I report to Chairman Huang, I won't have any credibility."

"Therefore, it is still necessary for your Investigation Bureau to provide a comprehensive case report and personally report to Chairman Huang."

Hearing Commissioner Wang's reply, which was as evasive as his own, Yu Zhengyi pursed his lips.

At this point, willing to discard his own reputation just to shift responsibility, he coughed again and then said, "Commissioner Wang, that's not right. Our Investigation Bureau operates under the leadership of your Municipal Committee."

"For such major cases, according to the normal process, we will have to hand it over to the Municipal Committee for review after a thorough investigation."

"Only if you find no problems can we close the case."

"So, the person to make the report really should be you, Commissioner Wang."

Hearing Yu Zhengyi's words, Commissioner Wang's face turned a shade greener.

What Yu Zhengyi said was not wrong; according to the rules of the Sanctuary, the Investigation Bureau does indeed need to comply with commands from the Municipal Committee.

But! The problem is that the Xinjie City Investigation Bureau has never actually listened to them!

The highest official of the Municipal Committee, Commissioner Jiang, whose backing was not very strong to begin with and who was relatively soft in character, never had as much influence in Xinjie City as Yan Chen and Ye Mingfeng.

Therefore, both the military and the Investigation Bureau have always ignored the Municipal Committee, merely tolerating a few noncommittal criticisms.

But now, with a major incident occurring, the Investigation Bureau suddenly became a subordinate to the Municipal Committee?

If it weren't for the fact that he knew he couldn't physically overpower Yu Zhengyi, Commissioner Wang would honestly like to strangle him right now!

But Yu Zhengyi was right; Wu Zhi had initially sought out Commissioner Wang, and Wu Zhi's entire itinerary in Xinjie City was managed by Commissioner Wang.

So... in theory, it really should be Commissioner Wang who reports the matter.

As such, Commissioner Wang could not directly confront him. Instead, he had to cleverly maneuver, "Director Yu, you jest. Commissioner Jiang always tells us that the Investigation Bureau is our brother institution and possesses strong autonomy."

"Therefore, since the establishment of Xinjie City this past year, we have never interfered with the affairs of the Investigation Bureau, even treating the occasional document needing approval as a mere formality."

"And the purpose of Wu Counselor's visit to Xinjie City was for internal affairs of the Investigation Bureau."

"He met with an accident while being escorted by the Investigation Bureau's security, right in front of Minister Qiu and Director Ji."

"Moreover, you are the professionals, so I think it's still more appropriate for you all to make the report..."

Hearing Commissioner Wang's equally shameless words, Yu Zhengyi chuckled without responding.

He had realized that Commissioner Wang was as slippery as an eel; their back-and-forth would never yield any result.

Hence, if they kept dragging their feet and didn't report to Huang Shangzong, both would be doomed eventually.