109: Chapter 109 Each Gets What They Need

"Secretary Lao, what urgent matter did you call me here for?"

Chen Xiangdong stood before the desk, his gaze sweeping over Director Qi, who was standing at attention to the side.

Secretary Lao Liguo walked forward to shake Chen Xiangdong's hand.

"Comrade Xiangdong, you're here. Sit."

Secretary Lao Liguo gestured toward the leather sofa in the reception area.

"This morning, Director Qi came to report an extremely vicious incident. Since it involves an official from your discipline inspection front, I felt it was necessary for you, as the Secretary of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, to hear about it, so I called you over."

Chen Xiangdong sat on the sofa, while Secretary Lao Liguo picked up his teacup to moisten his throat, then turned his head toward Director Qi.

"Director Qi, tell Comrade Xiangdong the situation in Linjiang City exactly as it happened."

"Secretary Chen, recently, Su Qinghan, a comrade from the Linjiang Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission, accidentally saved a young boy on her way home from work."

"Subsequent verification confirmed that this boy is the illegitimate son of Zheng Jianguo, the former director of the Development and Reform Commission who died after falling from a building. His mother, Li Qian, died mysteriously by drowning in the outskirts of the city not long ago."

Chen Xiangdong frowned.

These cases were already on record at the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Director Qi continued with the case details: "When the boy was saved by Su Qinghan, he was carrying a canvas bag. Inside was an account book left behind by Zheng Jianguo before his death. The book detailed the under-the-table operations regarding the project funds for the new South City District project in Linjiang City, as well as the flow of huge sums of money."

"I know about this," Chen Xiangdong interrupted. "Secretary Zhou Zheng of the Linjiang Municipal Discipline Inspection Commission has already made an emergency report to the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection. Su Qinghan was ambushed on her way back to the city while escorting the account book."

"It wasn't just an ambush," Director Qi raised his voice. "The vehicle driven by Su Qinghan was surrounded and rammed by three unplated off-road vehicles. Finally, it was forced to a stop by a dump truck. The perpetrators not only snatched the account book but also violently assaulted the discipline inspection official in the street. Su Qinghan suffered severe head trauma and has remained in a coma after being sent to the hospital."

Director Qi did not pause, instead dropping an even more lethal piece of news.

"Secretary Chen, that's not even the most rampant part. At three o'clock this morning, this gang of thugs bribed a nurse at the hospital to tamper with Su Qinghan's IV bag, attempting to silence her permanently right in the intensive care unit!"

"Simply lawless!"

Ambushing discipline inspection officials in the street and hiring someone to sneak into a hospital in the middle of the night to commit poisoning—these incidents were tantamount to trampling Party discipline and national law underfoot.

"Fortunately, Deputy Captain Zhang Lin of the Provincial Public Security Department's Criminal Investigation Corps led a team to set up surveillance in the ward in advance, catching the nurse who was attempting to poison her on the spot, thus avoiding a tragedy," Director Qi added timely.

"Secretary Lao, the gang is extremely arrogant, and their methods are heinous."

Director Qi turned to Secretary Lao Liguo and stood at attention, saluting.

"In the name of the Provincial Public Security Department and the Provincial Anti-Gang Office, I request that the Provincial Party Committee intervene strongly. We absolutely cannot let the discipline inspection comrades fighting on the front lines bleed and suffer!"

This was no longer an ordinary public security case; it was an open provocation by the gang against the authority of the Provincial Party Committee.

"Director Qi just made a suggestion," Secretary Lao Liguo looked at Chen Xiangdong. "The Provincial Inspection Team happens to be stationed in Linjiang City right now. He proposes that the Inspection Team also take on the title of 'Second Supervision Group of the Provincial Anti-Gang Office,' with Team Leader Qiu Rui serving as the group leader, to directly take over the relevant cases in Linjiang City and carry out substantive work. Comrade Xiangdong, what do you think?"

Just as Chen Xiangdong was about to express his opinion, a rapid buzzing sound from a mobile phone broke the heavy atmosphere in the room.

"Answer it," Secretary Lao Liguo gestured with his chin.

Director Qi pressed the answer button and put it on speakerphone.

"Director Qi, this is Police Chief Li Jianguo of the Linjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau."

"Speak."

"After her identity was exposed, the nurse who attempted the poisoning swallowed cyanide she had hidden on her person on the spot. The emergency department couldn't save her; she is already dead."

Li Jianguo continued: "However, by tracing abnormal signals within the Municipal Public Security Bureau, we have successfully locked onto the mole—Deputy Captain Qiao An of the Criminal Investigation Division. During an overnight interrogation, he confessed that his superior is Li Kai. We are currently mobilizing police forces and setting up checkpoints across the city to track Li Kai's movements."

"Additionally, the technical department has made a major discovery. By reviewing surveillance footage, we found a distinct scorpion tattoo on the web of Li Kai's right hand. This feature perfectly matches the information provided by the hospital regarding the person who paid the huge medical fees for the nurse."

"Well done. Hold onto this lead and keep investigating!" Director Qi gave the order.

"Director Qi," Li Jianguo paused on the other end of the line. "There's one more thing. Zhu Wenhao specifically found me earlier to give some instructions. He reminded me that at this stage of the case, there is definitely more than one mole inside the Municipal Public Security Bureau. The enemy is in the shadows while we are in the open, and the water in the special investigation team is too murky. He suggests that to prevent leaks, all mid-to-high-level officials in the bureau who are suspicious or have unclear allegiances must be temporarily removed from the special investigation team and physically isolated."

After hearing this, Director Qi's mind instantly raced through several possibilities.

"Zhu Wenhao's suggestion is very timely and very sound."

"Do it this way. The Provincial Public Security Department recently issued a document to open a fully closed training class for provincial criminal investigation backbones. Compile a list of those suspicious or insubordinate business backbones in the Municipal Public Security Bureau, and send them all over this afternoon under the guise of advanced training. Regardless of their rank, as long as the list is submitted, the Provincial Public Security Department will accept them all!"

It was a masterstroke—using a transfer order to get those with ulterior motives to the Provincial Public Security Department for centralized "supervision," allowing Li Jianguo to finally have free rein at the Linjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau.

"I understand. I will issue the notice immediately." Li Jianguo understood the implication.

"Communicate if there are any issues."

Director Qi hung up the phone.

Secretary Lao Liguo leaned back in his chair; he had heard every word of the conversation on the phone.

"Director Qi, Li Jianguo kept saying 'Zhu Wenhao'," Secretary Lao Liguo looked at him. "Who is this Zhu Wenhao?"

"Reporting, Secretary Lao. Zhu Wenhao's full name is Zhu Wenhao, and he is the Party Branch Secretary of the Spark Class of the Young Cadre Training Class under the Provincial Organization Department."

"The injured discipline inspector, Su Qinghan, is his girlfriend. This entire chain of strategies—catching the mole at the hospital and using a fake dashcam to spread false information to lure the snake out of its hole—was all planned by this kid."

Chen Xiangdong listened from the side, a name suddenly flashing through his mind.

"Zhu Wenhao?" Chen Xiangdong tapped his knuckles on the sofa armrest. "If I remember correctly, that top-secret internal reference from two days ago that tore open the dark secrets of the Jiangnan Red Star Machinery Factory and exposed the bottom line of the asset loss was also this kid's work, right?"

Secretary Lao Liguo nodded slightly.

"This young man has mature methods and sees issues thoroughly; he is a rare, talented general," Chen Xiangdong gave a very high evaluation.

"There is no time to lose."

Secretary Lao Liguo composed his expression and stood up.

"Comrade Xiangdong, let's go to Conference Room No. 1 now. We will convene the Five-Person Group meeting immediately to finalize the matter of the Inspection Team concurrently serving as the Anti-Gang Supervision Group and complete the procedures."

Secretary Lao Liguo turned to look at Director Qi.

"Director Qi, prepare a detailed briefing on the phased work of the anti-gang campaign. You might be summoned to attend and speak at the upcoming Five-Person Group meeting. Be well-prepared."

Director Qi acknowledged the order and left.

Director Qi returned to the Provincial Public Security Department building. As soon as he stepped into his office, he locked the door, took out his phone, and dialed Zhu Wenhao's number.

The phone rang three times before being answered.

"Zhu Wenhao, Secretary Lao is making a big move. A Five-Person Group meeting is being convened immediately to finalize the matter of the Second Supervision Group being established and stationed in Linjiang." Director Qi didn't exchange pleasantries and went straight to the core.

"This is an inevitable trend."

"Secretary Lao will never let this opportunity pass. Using the attack on the discipline inspection official as a pretext, he will forcefully extend his hand into the territory of Linjiang City."

"However," Zhu Wenhao paused slightly, "Uncle Qi, I'm afraid this matter won't be pushed through so smoothly. Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua and the others will certainly use the Political and Legal Affairs Commission and the Provincial Anti-Gang Office to fight for the leadership of this case."

"If that doesn't work, they will have Secretary Lei Zhen personally take command on the Anti-Gang Office side, serving as the general commander of this special case."

Director Qi's hand gripping the phone tightened, his face full of astonishment.

"Secretary Lei Zhen? Is he crazy? In the Red Star Machinery Factory gang-related case, his own son, Lei Jun, is still locked up in our Provincial Public Security Department's interrogation room. He should be avoiding suspicion right now; how could he possibly rush to take command and get involved in this muddy water?"

On the other end of the line, Zhu Wenhao said.

"The Duke of Zhou feared the days of rumors, Wang Mang was humble before he usurped the throne."

Zhu Wenhao recited a line of ancient poetry, dissecting the most subtle aspects of human nature.

"Uncle Qi, think about it from Secretary Lei Zhen's perspective. With his son entangled with the gang and rumors flying everywhere, his current situation is like being roasted on a fire. If he takes the initiative to avoid suspicion and retreats to the second line without asking questions, in the eyes of the bigwigs of the Provincial Party Committee, that is tantamount to admitting that his own backside isn't clean and that he is feeling guilty."

"The only way is to do the exact opposite. What opportunity could better prove Secretary Lei Zhen's determination to be irreconcilable with the gang than personally taking command to fight against the gangs in Linjiang City?"

Director Qi's heart shook violently, and he felt a chill rise up his spine.

"Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua and the others recommending him is not only reasonable and legitimate, as he is the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission and the Director of the Anti-Gang Office, but it can also instantly win the favor of the Secretary of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection. A Standing Committee member taking command can better demonstrate the extreme importance the Provincial Party Committee attaches to this vicious case."

"Secretary Lao won't be able to find a reason to refute it, and Secretary Chen Xiangdong will also be happy to see it happen."

Director Qi paced back and forth in his office.

"If that's really the case, then if the Linjiang City case is handed over to Secretary Lei Zhen, won't all our previous layouts be in vain? Once he gets the imperial sword, he'll be pointing fingers at the local level, and who knows what kind of mess this case will end up being investigated into."

"Uncle Qi, you've lost your composure," Zhu Wenhao's voice was steady without a trace of fluctuation. "The handle of the Tai'e sword must not be handed to others."

"If he wants to take command, let him take it."

"We'll use our old method. Secretary Lei Zhen can take command; that represents the stance of the Provincial Party Committee. However, you must hold firm to one bottom line at the meeting or after—the specific authority for handling the case, the authority for making arrests, and the real power for personnel scheduling must be entirely held in the hands of the Second Supervision Group, which is Team Leader Qiu Rui."

"Secretary Lei Zhen is a smart man. He is taking command to clear his name and to put on a show. To prove he has no ulterior motives, once he arrives in Linjiang, he won't dare to interfere excessively with the specific arrest work on the front lines, otherwise, he will be handing others ammunition."

"Our goal is to take down the gang entrenched in Linjiang and give you enough achievements," Zhu Wenhao completed the final piece of the puzzle. "As for who will claim the credit and who will reap the rewards at the Standing Committee meeting after the case is solved, that is a subsequent game we can calculate slowly. Don't forget, the card of Lei Jun is still tightly held in our hands. As long as Lei Jun is with us, Secretary Lei Zhen will have to behave himself like a mud bodhisattva while in Linjiang."

After hearing this meticulous analysis, Director Qi's tightly locked brows finally relaxed.

"What a brilliant 'openly repair the plank road, secretly march to Chencang'."

Director Qi exhaled a breath of stale air, his tone becoming incomparably firm.

"I know what to do. Let him sit in this empty chair!"