Chen Fang's return to Rongjiang City this time was unlike any before.

He came with a task.

And this task was completely different from going to Shangqing City.

After the Hou Family's downfall.

As the stronghold of the Hou Family, the Jiuhe Provincial Committee immediately issued a statement supporting the highest-level decision.

Many people also promptly distanced themselves from the Hou Family.

But the original foundation remained.

Chen Fang's task was to dismantle this foundation.

But his power was too small, and it would take a long time for him to shake this foundation.

Therefore, Shangguan Shoudong's expectation for him was to figure out the situation, create some trouble, bring the issues of Shangqing City to the surface, and then break it point by point.

Originally, this could be done slowly.

But the appearance of the Heavenly Appearance Sect disrupted this plan.

Even more critical was that Chen Fang witnessed with his own eyes that a member of the Hou Family, who was already in a detention center, had connections with the Heavenly Appearance Sect. Any conspiracy hidden within had to be uncovered immediately.

So, in the recent period.

Apart from being busy with Ding Shenxing's matters.

He has also been inquiring about the status of the Heavenly Appearance Sect from all sides.

Finding out was shocking.

The Heavenly Appearance Sect had essentially gone public across Yong'an Province.

Just last month, a situation occurred in Wen'an City where followers of the Heavenly Appearance Sect stormed a township government.

However, this news was suppressed.

This is actually understandable.

As a local ruler, he certainly didn't want unrest in his jurisdiction. After all, in the current system, maintaining stability is also a concrete measure of an official's governance capability.

Most of those in power are conflict-averse.

They fear that if things escalate, they won't be able to keep their official hats.

It's also under this mentality.

That the Heavenly Appearance Sect has had the conditions for rampant growth.

Another issue, which Chen Fang only discovered after arriving in Rongjiang City.

Involved Jiang Chuo.

At the point of the Hou Family's rebellion, Chen Fang handed over the notebook left by Tan Yandong to him, securing Jiang Chuo's support.

From then on.

Jiang Chuo returned to Yong'an Province as Provincial Committee Secretary.

Upon his arrival.

Disciplinary Committee Secretary Wu Lu mentioned the issue of the Heavenly Appearance Sect at a standing committee meeting.

Yet not even a month later.

Wu Lu was transferred.

Perhaps this was just a coincidence.

But another change in situation also warrants Chen Fang's vigilance.

After Jiang Chuo's return, he initiated sweeping reforms of the state's law enforcement agencies.

The heads of the Provincial Public Security Department, Provincial Procuratorate, Provincial Court, and even the Department of Justice were all replaced.

Most were his former subordinates from Yong'an Province.

This included some important counties and cities within Rongjiang City.

Although Chen Fang couldn't directly uncover the intricacies involved.

His intuition told him that the relationship between Jiang Chuo and the Heavenly Appearance Sect was entangled.

Shangguan Shoudong appointed him as the Mayor of Rongjiang City.

To allow him a more direct grasp of the overall situation.

After all, as the capital of Yong'an Province.

This place reflects the political trends of the whole province.

That evening.

Chen Fang opened his computer in the study.

He accessed the Rongjiang City Committee and Government website.

Studying the current leadership members carefully.

Zhou Jingyan, female, aged 54, Yong'an Provincial Committee Member, Standing Committee Member; Rongjiang City Committee Member, Standing Committee Member, City Secretary, and concurrently First Secretary of the Rongjiang Garrison District Party Committee.

Before Jiang Chuo's return.

The City Secretary of Rongjiang did not enter the Provincial Standing Committee.

After all, Rongjiang is not a vice-provincial city.

After Jiang Chuo's arrival, he proposed expanding the Provincial Standing Committee, which was approved from above.

As a result, Zhou Jingyan entered the Provincial Standing Committee sequence.

This arrangement.

Elevated the power of the City Secretary.

Reducing the balancing effect of the whole city standing committee team on her significantly.

Back when Jiang Chuo was Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Committee.

Zhou Jingyan worked in the Provincial Office for a long time.

She was someone Jiang Chuo had nurtured personally.

Deputy City Secretary Gao Shouyi, aged 55, Chen Fang had not interacted with him, and the two were unfamiliar.

Following that, there's Deputy Mayor Zhang Moqian.

This person, Chen Fang was quite familiar with.

During the past conflict with Huang Baiyi.

As his supporter, then Rongjiang City Government Party Member and Government Secretary-General, Zhang Moqian was called in by him as backup.

Due to abuse of power, he was punished by Elder Qin.

Later, Zhang Moqian received a significant administrative demerit, and was removed from the position of Government Secretary-General.

After Jiang Chuo's return.

Zhang Moqian, who had been idle for years, was reappointed and was suddenly promoted to Deputy Mayor.

About three months ago.

He was promoted again.

This time he took the position of Deputy Mayor with executive responsibilities.

This person posed a considerable problem for Chen Fang.

Firstly, there had been past conflicts between the two, and now that he had a backer in the Provincial Committee Secretary, clashing with Chen Fang was inevitable.

Secondly, the Deputy Mayor with executive responsibilities significantly balanced power against the Mayor.

If Zhang Moqian was determined to sideline Chen Fang, Chen Fang would face substantial resistance upon taking office.

The fifth-ranked person was the City Disciplinary Inspection Committee Secretary.

Coincidentally.

Chen Fang knew this person too.

He was the former Executive Deputy Principal of the Provincial Party School, Li Li.

During Chen Fang's study at the Provincial Party School, he had a significant conflict with classmate Chu Jindai. To cover for Chu Jindai, Li Li applied immense pressure on Chen Fang.

Not until Chen Fang forced Jiang Chuo out and Tang Changxue took over as principal did a turnaround occur.

However.

The animosity between the two started at that time.

It's obvious without saying.

Placing Li Li in this position was also Jiang Chuo's decision.

Among the five-member team, two were already adversarial towards Chen Fang.

It's hard to tell if it's just coincidence, or if Jiang Chuo had anticipated that Chen Fang would be transferred to Rongjiang City.

If so.

Then Jiang Chuo was quite the strategist.

Continuing down.

There were mostly unfamiliar names.

Until reaching the very bottom.

A familiar name appeared.

Rongjiang City Committee Member, City Government Party Member, Deputy Mayor Yang Xi.

The last meeting was regarding Cai Xiaodong's issue.

Upon reflection, it seemed to have been a long time since hearing any news about Yang Xi.

Looking at her recent resume, Chen Fang realized she'd transferred to Rongjiang as Deputy Mayor three years ago. It felt like it was meant to be.

Initially feeling this was a challenging start.

With Yang Xi's help.

Perhaps the situation would be quite different.

This was the only reassuring outcome for Chen Fang after studying the leadership team's composition.

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