Hàn Dǎo Máo

Author: Ji Xiaodong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features: Our Party has the ability and confidence to combat corruption. No matter how much time passes, as long as corruption occurs, it will never be overlooked. This also proves an old saying: "The Communist Party can afford to keep its books clean, for those who reach out will surely be caught." The Lushan region in a western province is an area rich in natural resources, yet for years, it has failed to develop economically, relying solely on state subsidies to maintain its fiscal operations. The former secretary of the local committee, Liang Huai'en, was exposed by the media and suspended after a sudden promotion of over 400 officials. The newly appointed young secretary of the local committee, Hao Zhiman, arrived full of determination in Lushan but faced constant obstacles in his work. Lushan has many problems—it needs to develop its economy and untangle its complex human relationships. Hao Zhiman requested his friend Jiang Heping, who was appointed as the regional special commissioner, from the provincial government. The two prepared to make a difference together. They introduced projects, improved the cityscape, went deep into the grassroots, and mediated disputes. Soon, Lushan's economic growth exceeded 20%. However, in the face of a complex and ever-changing reality, Jiang Heping finally fell prey to the sugar-coated bullets of the underworld. Hao Zhiman, unwilling to compromise with evil forces, was nearly killed in an explosion at his own home. This book praises the vibrant reform and opening-up in the western inland regions of our country, vividly depicting the alarming rise of official corruption in the Lushan region alongside its rapid economic development. Through the eventual punishment of corrupt officials by the Party and state laws, it demonstrates the Party's attitude and strength in the life-and-death struggle against corruption. The story is full of twists and turns, with intricate plots, especially in its portrayal of officials and leaders, which is deeply revealing of the complex contradictions in a diverse society. The book features numerous characters, ranging from central generals and provincial party secretaries to regional, county-level leaders, and rural cadres. It focuses on the audit storm, mining accidents, workers' layoffs, farmers' protests, a textile factory manager fleeing abroad, the He youth mountain treatment camp, the corruption and decadence in the "One-Hand-Covers-the-Sky Hotel," and shocking events such as the murder of a journalist and the assassination of the secretary of the local committee, making the story even more captivating.