The successors, however, were not supplemented to become members of parliament.
So now there were only 45 members left.
Afterward, a reshuffling of positions among these 45 members was conducted following an inspection by the four speakers. Three members were assigned to other states, and one was sent to the Sanctuary.
This further reduced the number of members to 41.
Now, Qiu Tu had been supplemented to become a member, thus becoming the 42nd member.
After the meeting concluded, the results were swiftly issued. Therefore, merely two to three hours after Elder Tang left, Xinjie City received the news that Qiu Tu was officially supplemented as a member of the Dongye State Council.
The Investigation Bureau was, of course, extremely excited.
However, the military and City Hall felt differently...
City Hall, Commissioner Jiang's office.
Commissioner Jiang stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the little snowflakes beginning to fall outside, his expression slightly grim.
To be fair, he actually quite liked Qiu Tu.
After all... back when Qiu Tu was still a section chief, he had "invested" in him.
Among the Xinjie City's Three Giants at the time, he was the first to recognize Qiu Tu's abilities and talents.
Later on, he continuously maintained contact with Qiu Tu through his secretary, Tao Yaoyao, providing conveniences for him.
Originally, his plan was to use Qiu Tu as a weapon to balance out Yan Chen!
Yet... who could have anticipated that this weapon would be overly sharp, directly eliminating Yan Chen!
This unexpected turn greatly surprised Jiang Zhenpeng, yet it also delighted him.
After all... Tang Feifei was clearly easier to handle than Yan Chen.
Moreover, without a member status, Tang Feifei would always be beneath Jiang Zhenpeng.
According to the experiences of other states, when a city has only one member, the major powers of other city institutions naturally gravitate toward that member.
This member would gradually become the substantive ruler of the entire city.
However, before Jiang Zhenpeng could even savor the taste of monopolizing power, Tang Feifei was promoted, and in a meteoric rise, she became the Deputy Speaker, while Qiu Tu became the effective controller of the Investigation Bureau.
These changes, though overwhelming for Jiang Zhenpeng, brought "double happiness."
Qiu Tu was indeed extraordinary, but... his background was shallow, his experience limited, and his position low.
Not to mention Deputy Director, even if it were Director. With Qiu Tu's background and experience, he would definitely be the weakest among the top officials.
Thus, Qiu Tu only had two choices: to "ally with Liu against Cao" or to defect directly to him, this "Cao Cao."
To avoid Qiu Tu actually allying with the military, Jiang Zhenpeng also arranged for people to speak ill of Qiu Tu to Lin Chuan and Lin Ting, the cousins.
Especially to Lin Ting, whom Jiang Zhenpeng knew to be a lackey of Yan Chen and of simplе-mindedness.
Thus, he bribed people around Lin Ting to disparage Qiu Tu in front of him, claiming Qiu Tu betrayed Yan Chen, backstabbed him, climbed up by clinging to a woman, and actually had little true ability.
His series of actions proved quite effective. Lin Chuan and Lin Ting, the brothers, had a severe conflict with Qiu Tu and fell out completely.
Now one was scolded by the state, the other transferred.
From then on, Lin Chuan and Qiu Tu became sworn enemies, unlikely to ally again.
So, Jiang Zhenpeng finally breathed a sigh of relief. It felt like his days of being his own master were finally coming! Xinjie City was finally going to be under his control!
Then, at that moment... Qiu Tu first successfully became the Director of Xinjie City Investigation Bureau.
Following that, he gained the favor and rewards of Elder Tang.
Now... he rose meteorically, supplemented as a member of the Dongye State Council, a position equal to Jiang Zhenpeng.
This turn of events truly made Jiang Zhenpeng feel utterly despondent...
'Dongye State Council Member...'
Muttering this position in his mind, the expression on Jiang Zhenpeng's face grew increasingly grim!
To think of his years of diligent work, striving to climb upward, toiling for so many years just to reach the position of a state councilor.
And now Qiu Tu... in just a mere two years had become a member of the state council, standing as his competitor.
And recalling Qiu Tu's relentless strength, and his ruthless approach toward enemies... he couldn't help but shudder.
'Unfair, it's truly unfair!'
Thinking thus, Commissioner Jiang bitterly muttered...
Meanwhile, in Xinjie City, the military.
Compared to Commissioner Jiang, Lin Chuan was significantly more agitated.
Upon learning that Qiu Tu received the favor of Elder Tang and was supplemented as a member, Lin Chuan furiously smashed furniture around the room!
Finally, he kicked a stool flying, his face filled with ferocity...
Of course... aside from these two influenced by personal and financial entanglements with Qiu Tu.
The other major figures in Dongye State, for the most part, had no significant ill will towards Qiu Tu's supplementation as a member.
On the contrary, many members were very intrigued by Qiu Tu, who had received Elder Tang's favor as an up-and-comer.
Some were even excited after learning about the "recent Council meeting where the three speakers openly opposed Huang Shangzong and then supported Qiu Tu," looking forward to Qiu Tu's first 'Council regular meeting'
They speculated that some entertaining events were bound to occur...
Thus, the matter of Qiu Tu's supplementation as a member gradually gained a unique influence in Dongye State...
More and more significant figures in the state began to anticipate the extent of the storm Qiu Tu could stir up in Dongye State...
Meanwhile, amid the ruckus stirring in the state...