When Xu Damao told Fang Hu that he would be transferred to the Southwest and would still be working in prison law enforcement, Fang Hu simply couldn't believe it.
"Hehe, Xu Damao, you don't need to scare me or threaten me with this. Your first priority is to reinstate me to my position, or we're not done yet," Fang Hu said.
However, at this moment, Fang Hu's heart was not at peace, so his tone was not as arrogant as at the beginning.
“It’s okay if you don’t believe me. You can go to the factory’s political department to ask. I think the transfer order must have arrived by now,” Xu Damao said.
"If you want to transfer me, the Municipal Bureau will definitely ask the factory for their opinion first, but Minister Ma has not mentioned anything about it. You are definitely lying to me."
Fang Hu realized the seriousness of the situation and was willing to betray Ma Dabao.
"Since your security department is under dual management, they need to consult our factory before they transfer you, so I signed my consent on the transfer request letter from the Municipal Bureau."
"You're the deputy head of the security section, which is an internal department of the Armed Forces Department. My opinion, as the department head, naturally represents the opinion of the entire Armed Forces Department. So, you don't need to worry about these things now. Hurry home and prepare a change of clothes. I heard we're leaving soon," Xu Damao said.
"Xu Damao, you just wait!" Still clinging to his last hope, Fang Hu pushed aside the crowd and immediately ran upstairs to the Political Department office.
Others were talking amongst themselves.
In fact, as early as when Xu Damao reported his proposed handling of Fang Hu to the supervisory office, he was already prepared for Fang Hu to try to smooth things over. Originally, he was thinking of making adjustments within the steel rolling mill, such as sending Fang Hu to the No. 1 branch or to guard the steel rolling mill's warehouse in Daxing. In any case, he was determined not to keep Fang Hu.
However, Ma Dabao and Dai Lin were determined to make a fool of Xu Damao, trying to dismiss him with just a few dozen words. If Xu Damao didn't retaliate, everyone would want to take advantage of the Armed Forces Department and Xu Damao in the future.
So he found Lu Xiangyang, who had been transferred back to the municipal bureau as a team leader, and proposed to move the lake away from the steel rolling mill in the name of the municipal bureau, and then throw it far away.
Upon hearing this, Lu Xiangyang became immediately interested, realizing it not only helped Xu Damao but also Tong Shuai. After searching around, he indeed found a good place.
Recently, following instructions from higher authorities, the Municipal Bureau needs to go to Southwest China to provide support for construction projects. There are many positions available, and Lu Xiangyang chose the prison law enforcement position for Fang Hu.
This prison law enforcement may seem like a promotion, but when prisoners go to jail, law enforcement officers actually go to jail as well, and many families are torn apart because of this.
To thank Lu Xiangyang for his help, Xu Damao treated him to a lavish meal.
Later, Xu Damao cooperated with the Municipal Bureau in carrying out all the procedures, and the steel mill's political department was only notified when the transfer order was finally issued. This was also to prevent information leaks, and Ma Dabao went to coordinate with someone.
Can Fang Hu refuse? Of course not. First, the list has already been submitted, and everyone in Southwest China knows about it. Second, the current guiding principle is to dedicate oneself to the country; if Fang Hu is unwilling to go, what will happen if others follow suit?
Therefore, once the transfer order was issued, they had to set off. At least, this was something that people at Fang Hu's level couldn't change.
Before long, a few onlookers who hadn't left saw Fang Hu, looking distraught, quickly run to Xu Damao's office door with a piece of paper in his hand.
"Minister Xu, can you please let me off the hook? I'm already so old, I'll be retiring in another ten years or so. Sending me to the Southwest at this time is tantamount to sending me to my death!" Fang Hu pleaded.
“Why must one’s bones be buried in their hometown? There are green hills everywhere in the world. You can work over there with peace of mind. Your son and daughter-in-law work here, and I will help take care of them. Of course, if you are not at peace over there, it will definitely affect them as well,” Xu Damao said.
"This... sigh..."
Fang Hu realized then that he truly had no right to fight Xu Damao. Even a dozing tiger is still a tiger; he, a mere deputy section chief, couldn't just grope its rear end. Besides, his entire family worked at the steel mill, and Xu could easily find any excuse to threaten him.
If I had just backed down back then, at worst I would have quit my position as deputy section chief, and I wouldn't have ended up in exile. But there are no "what ifs" in life, so now I can only go to Ma Dabao for advice.
There's a reason for every wrong, and a reason for every debt. After leaving Xu Damao's office, he went straight to find Ma Dabao.
"Old leader, you have to save me this time! I don't want to die alone thousands of miles away!" Fang Hu almost knelt down in front of Ma Dabao.
Ma Dabao carefully examined the transfer order handed to him, then sighed deeply. This Xu Damao really wasn't willing to suffer any loss; he was determined to win in the Fanghu matter.
What he's worried about right now isn't Fang Hu. Fang Hu is just a deputy section chief; losing him would be a significant loss, but not enough to shake his foundation. What he's worried about is that Xu Damao will begin to suppress him in the long term. If that happens, he'll have to take other measures to deal with it.
The saying goes, "It's not the theft that's scary, it's being targeted." Once Xu Damao sets his sights on him, all his actions outside could be exposed. That wouldn't just be a matter of his position, but a matter of whether he could keep his life.
"What did Xu Damao say?" Fang Hu asked again.
"He told me to prepare my clothes, as I might leave at any time," Fang Hu replied.
"Then you should get ready." With that, Ma Dabao walked away without looking back.
When it comes to sacrificing a pawn, you have to be willing to give it up, otherwise you'll lose even more. He was unwilling to do so earlier, which allowed Xu Damao to exploit the opportunity.
Seeing Ma Dabao completely ignoring him, Fang Hu really had the urge to shoot him. He genuinely had no conflict with Xu Damao; everything he did was simply to vent Ma Dabao's anger.
But when things went wrong, Ma Dabao just gave up on himself like that, which broke Fang Hu's heart. However, his family was in Beijing, and there was nothing Fang Hu could do but helplessly accept reality.
"Since you've treated me this way, I should at least give you a gift before I leave, my old boss," Fang Hu murmured.
Fang Hu's departure was merely a topic of conversation within the Armed Forces Department and surrounding organizations, lasting for no more than a week. After that, no one mentioned this former number one figure at the steel mill again.
But the incident gradually increased Xu Damao's prestige in the security department. At least every word he said could be implemented in the security department, and every security staff member who saw him would salute him.
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