In addition, at the Security Bureau of Emerald City, many officers from the Commoner Faction sent secret reports about the Flower Morning Festival case through clandestine channels.
In the secret reports, most of the credit was given to Fang Ze, while Bai Zhi's role was diminished.
These two incidents immediately triggered a series of reactions.
Even He Weidao, the Chairperson of the State Council of Xida State, became interested.
Thinking of this, the old man couldn't help but recall the recent communication he had with He Weidao, introducing Fang Ze, which the latter had seemingly disregarded.
Yet, just a few days later, last night, He Weidao had taken the initiative to contact him, inquiring about Fang Ze's situation.
He couldn't help but laugh.
Thinking again about the content of his communication with He Weidao, the old man's expression turned serious involuntarily.
Being remembered by He Weidao was a good thing, but it was also not a good thing.
That guy was someone who played chess with the lives of hundreds of millions of people in the entire region, ruthless to his enemies and his own people alike.
Moreover, he always believed in the principle "the edge of a sword comes from sharpening," and liked to temper talents.
Thus, if he really took an interest in Fang Ze, Fang Ze might gain a great opportunity, but he could also potentially fall into a great crisis...
Everything depended on whether Fang Ze could withstand the test he was given...
Thinking this, the old man suddenly became somewhat eager to witness the confrontation between these two men.
'It must be... really interesting, right?'
Xida State, Provincial Government, suburbs.
In a modest residence.
An old farmer wearing cloth clothes, holding a hoe, with his trouser legs rolled up to his ankles, and shoes covered in mud, was vigorously hoeing the weeds while listening to a woman standing beside him reporting.
The woman was wearing glasses and looked somewhat stern. Her demeanor was very similar to Xun Yi's.
If Fang Ze were here, he might recognize her after a while as the Deputy Director of the State Security Bureau of Emerald City, Xun Yi's aunt: Qingping.
At that moment, she was holding a document, then methodically reading and analyzing it to the old man.
After reading for about ten minutes, Qingping closed the document in her hands, then stood up straight and said, "Chairperson, I have finished my report."
Upon hearing Qingping's words, the old farmer did not respond.
He laboriously hoed a few more times, digging out a clod of soil, breaking it apart, then pressing it back into the ground before finally straightening up and taking a towel hanging around his neck to wipe the sweat from his forehead.
After wiping his sweat, he slowly said, "So, you want to use 'the fact that Fang Ze was the initiator and solver of the Flower Morning Festival' to continue suppressing Bai Zhi's promotion?"
Qingping nodded, "Yes. From these documents sent by our people, it appears that Bai Zhi has played little role in this case."
"Also, considering her previously demonstrated leadership and case-solving abilities, I think she is really not qualified for the position of Director of the Security Bureau of a major city."
"Moreover, the command from the governing region is that the Flower Morning Festival is now under the jurisdiction of the governing region."
"They will dispatch a task force to Emerald City to monitor and handle everything related to the Flower Morning Festival and the descent of the Flower God."
"Under such circumstances, appointing Bai Zhi as Director is too risky. I'm genuinely afraid that she will mess it up."
"Therefore, I think we can use 'Fang Ze was the real solver of the case' as leverage. Promote Fang Ze first to a section chief, consuming some of the credit."
"That way, when we discuss Bai Zhi's promotion again, we will have a valid reason to oppose it."
Upon hearing Qingping's words, the old farmer did not say anything, but instead waved his hand to the side.
Immediately, a man in a suit came from outside the vegetable garden and respectfully handed a water bottle to the old farmer.
The old farmer took the bottle, unscrewed it, took a sip, and then slowly said, "Qingping ah, although you are not my disciple, I have watched you grow up since you were little."
"You are composed and can endure many things that ordinary people cannot, and you handle affairs relatively maturely and steadily. But... your problem is also very obvious. That is, you are not thinking far enough ahead, focusing too much on immediate benefits."
"Is the position of the Director of the Security Bureau of a major city really that important?"
Seeing Qingping about to say something, the old farmer raised his hand to interrupt her, saying, "I know you want to say that the Director of the Security Bureau is the most powerful person in a city, without any exceptions."
"Not only do they control the city's most powerful violence organization."
"But they are also not subject to equal jurisdiction and even have the authority to directly take over the management of the city under special circumstances."
"In the Governing Hall, although their rank is above various departments and below the four commissioners, their influence is actually greater than most commissioners, only less than the First Commissioner."
"The only reason the Security Bureau of Emerald City is so weak is that they have always been without a Director. The gap in authority between a Deputy Director and a Director is too large, completely negating the function of the Security Bureau."
"Therefore, the position of the Director of the Security Bureau of a major city is very important."
Saying this, he glanced at Qingping, who soberly nodded her head.
The old man slowly shook his head and said, "Don't worry about the gains and losses of one city or one area. Look at the big picture."
"Moreover, even if you are concerned about a director's position, this is not how you should go about it."
He swung up his hoe and continued hoeing the ground.
While hoeing, he slowly said, "This case's credit belongs to that young girl from the Bai Family and her subordinates."