For this matter, the official circles of Bashu Province once had a discussion like this. The first fire, Governor Nie set in Yangde City. That was indisputable and universally acknowledged. The second fire was set in Wuliang City, which also had consensus.
There was however a significant controversy over the third fire. Some people believed it occurred in Xingzhou City with the corruption case of the Xingzhou City flood dike. After the replacement of the secretary and mayor, and the death of a deputy mayor as well as the fall of several division-level and deputy division-level officials, the third fire surely qualified.
Yet, there were dissenting opinions, which considered the Xingzhou City flood dike case to be a matter of clean governance and disciplinary inspection. Even without Nie Zhenbang, it would have been dealt with. Perhaps even with greater intensity.
