199: Chapter 199 Ga Zi Reappears

Three pitch-black off-road vehicles sped along the highway in combat formation.

There were no police lights, and no markings.

In the driver's seat of the lead vehicle, Captain Xiao Zhan gripped the steering wheel firmly, his gaze fixed straight ahead.

In the passenger seat, Deputy Captain Shan Hu had been holding back the entire way, but finally could no longer stand the stifling silence.

"Captain Xiao, you've kept the brothers cooped up in the mountains for training for so long that they're about to burst. It's a relief to finally be let out."

"But what exactly are you up to? We've been driving south the whole time, and you haven't even given us a mission briefing. The brothers have polished their gear eight hundred times already."

Captain Xiao Zhan didn't look at him, only keeping his eyes on the road conditions.

"What? Haven't you had enough of the cold wind in the deep mountains?"

"If you feel you have too much energy to burn, once this job is done, I'll authorize you to go back to the mountains for three months of extra solo training."

Deputy Captain Shan Hu immediately dropped his relaxed demeanor and said nothing more.

Captain Xiao Zhan took one hand off the wheel, picked up the walkie-talkie from the center console, and pressed the talk button.

"Deputy Captain Zhang Lin, Deputy Captain Zhang Lin. Respond if you hear me."

Accompanied by a slight crackle of static, the voice of Deputy Captain Zhang Lin of the Criminal Investigation Corps came through.

"Received, Boss. Everything is normal with the follow-up."

"Take the next exit ahead. Cut all radio communications and enter silent mode."

Captain Xiao Zhan's instructions were brief.

"Understood."

Captain Xiao Zhan tossed the walkie-talkie back to its place, turned his head, and his gaze swept across Deputy Captain Shan Hu's face.

"This job is incredibly deep, and it's also extremely deadly."

"Director Qi is at the Provincial Public Security Department command center right now, waiting for our good news. The matter is of great importance and cannot afford any mistakes."

"If anything goes wrong, both you and I will have to take off this uniform."

Deputy Captain Shan Hu's expression tightened, and his right hand subconsciously touched the sidearm at his waist.

"Understood. My bones have been stiff for a while; I'll take this job as a chance to stretch them out."

Outside the car window, a huge green sign flashed by: Linjiang City, 20km.

The net had been cast, and the blade was unsheathed.

...

The sun over Linjiang City was obscured by thick smog, unable to provide any warmth.

The heating in the Mayor's Office was turned up high.

Mayor Su Changming sat upright behind his desk, his fingers toying with a fountain pen.

His expression was calm as he listened to the reports from the two officials below him.

Standing in front of the desk were Director Wang of the Municipal Finance Bureau and Director Liu Yuejin of the Municipal Development and Reform Commission.

The end-of-year tax collection was the most difficult hurdle for local bureaucrats during the year.

"Mayor Su."

Director Liu Yuejin opened the report in his hands and cleared his throat.

"As of the end of last month, our city's macroeconomic data has been compiled. There is still a significant gap from the GDP growth target set at the beginning of the year. In particular, the industrial added value and fixed asset investment have dragged us down."

Director Liu Yuejin closed the report and stole a glance at Mayor Su Changming's expression.

Mayor Su Changming had only taken on this burden in the middle of the year.

Former Mayor Xiao Tianyou had fallen from power, leaving behind a pile of bad debts.

In all fairness, this pot shouldn't be carried by Mayor Su Changming.

But as an official, if the year-end books looked too ugly, and the Provincial Government held them accountable, it would ultimately be his face, as the current Mayor, that would be slapped.

"How much is the gap?" Mayor Su Changming's tone was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger.

"Roughly... there is still a gap of twelve percentage points."

Director Liu Yuejin braced himself to report the number.

Mayor Su Changming stopped his movements and placed the fountain pen on the desk.

"That's troublesome indeed." Mayor Su Changming picked up his purple clay teacup. "The province wants to see results, and the people want to see development. These twelve points can't be conjured out of thin air."

"You two are the actual heads of Linjiang City's economic front. Tell me, do you have any ideas on how to break this deadlock?"

The ball was kicked back to them.

Director Wang of the Finance Bureau kept his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, saying nothing.

Seeing Director Wang playing dead, Director Liu Yuejin cursed him as an old fox.

After all, he was in charge of the Development and Reform Commission, so he couldn't dodge this task.

"Mayor." Director Liu Yuejin leaned forward. "How about... we have a word with those big taxpayers below? Following the 'old ways' of previous years, should we move some accounts around?"

The old ways.

Eating next year's food in advance, invoice-based economy.

Using tax measures to recognize tax revenue and output value that originally belonged to the first quarter of next year as this year's income in advance.

This was no different from drinking poison to quench thirst; the numbers looked bright and beautiful, but in reality, it hollowed out the future foundation.

During Former Mayor Xiao Tianyou's administration, this trick had been used repeatedly with success.

Mayor Su Changming lowered his eyes, watching the tea leaves unfurl in his cup.

"Yuejin." Mayor Su Changming didn't commit, "You go and sound them out first, ask about the current situation of those key enterprises. A twisted melon isn't sweet; we have to see if they have the capacity for this turnover."

"Understood, I will go do it right away."

Director Liu Yuejin said no more and bowed in agreement.

The Mayor didn't object, which meant tacit approval.

Just as Mayor Su Changming was preparing to send the two away.

A mobile phone locked in the bottom drawer of his desk emitted a dull vibration.

Mayor Su Changming rarely carried this unregistered phone, but every time it rang, it was life-or-death; the last time it rang was for the bad debts of Pingcheng Investment.

"You two go back and study this, come up with a concrete plan." Mayor Su Changming waved his hand. "Yuejin, you need to follow up with the enterprises personally."

Director Wang and Director Liu, as if granted amnesty, backed out of the office and closed the door tightly.

Mayor Su Changming opened the drawer, took out the bar phone, and pressed the answer button.

"Changming."

Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua of the Provincial Party Committee.

"Old leader." Mayor Su Changming's tone was respectful.

"The Provincial Public Security Department's cars are heading to your Linjiang City." Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua went straight to the point. "Captain Xiao Zhan is leading the team himself. Calculating the time, they should be getting off the highway soon."

The Provincial Public Security Department's Criminal Investigation Corps Captain secretly going to a local area was definitely not a routine security inspection.

"This wind is blowing a bit too fast." Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua's tone turned cold. "It's most likely related to that troublemaker from Lei Zhenzi's family. Director Qi Shan is determined this time; he's going to bite down and not let go."

Having said this much, if Mayor Su Changming still didn't understand, his term as Mayor would be at an end.

The key witness in the old case that Lei Zhenzi was suspected of involvement in was right here in Linjiang.

"Old leader, what are your instructions?"

"Since you are the official in charge of Linjiang City, you should always hear about any movement in your own territory before others." Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua offered guidance. "See if there's a way to find out what the Municipal Public Security Bureau is up to lately. Police Chief Li Jianguo is, after all, someone pushed up by the Zhu family; he and the Provincial Public Security Department are in cahoots."

Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua paused for half a second, then his tone shifted sharply.

"If the Provincial Public Security Department's target this time is that little girl surnamed Lin, you should know what to do."

Cut the weeds and dig up the roots.

Secretary Lei Zhen's position was vital to the entire Yang faction's chessboard.

Once Lin Wan fell into the hands of the Provincial Public Security Department, the Lei family would be in danger. As an ally, Mayor Su Changming had to intervene.

"Rest assured, old leader. In this corner of Linjiang, I still have some influence. I will definitely handle this properly."

"Good." Deputy Secretary Yang Jianhua's tone returned to being gentle. "Regarding that matter with Secretary Li Changgeng, the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection's disciplinary report has been reviewed by the Provincial Party Committee. Your disciplinary action will go through the process and be issued in the next few days. Don't have any mental burdens; just go ahead and do it. With us backing you in the province, your path ahead will remain very smooth."

A slap in the face, followed by a sweet date.

The art of managing subordinates is nothing more than this.

"Thank you for your cultivation, old leader."

The call ended.

Mayor Su Changming tossed the phone onto the desk, stood up, and paced to the floor-to-ceiling window.

The overcast sky was like a huge lead plate pressing down over Linjiang City.

He closed his eyes.

Secretary Lei Zhen's mess had ultimately brought the fire onto himself.

The Provincial Public Security Department had sent out their elite, and Police Chief Li Jianguo held the power of the Municipal Public Security Bureau. If he tried to confront this game of chess head-on, it would be no different from throwing an egg against a rock.

War is a game of deception.

If the straight path doesn't work, take the unconventional one.

He reached into his coat's inner pocket, took out another phone, pulled up the contacts, and composed and sent a text message.

It only had a few words: "Check the recent police force deployment of the Municipal Public Security Bureau under Police Chief Li Jianguo, report back immediately."

Sent.

He sat on the sofa, waiting quietly for a response.

He had been operating in Linjiang for many years; even if Police Chief Li Jianguo had purged the Municipal Public Security Bureau, there were still fish that had slipped through the net.

Thirty minutes later.

The phone vibrated.

A message came back: "Municipal Public Security Bureau Criminal Investigation Second Detachment, secretly assembled, destination suspected to be the Municipal Psychiatric Hospital."

The Municipal Psychiatric Hospital.

He deleted the text message and instead dialed a name directly.

Wang Juan.

The call connected.

"Juan." Mayor Su Changming's tone was icy. "Find Gazi. There's an urgent job I need him to handle personally."

This kind of dirty work that couldn't see the light of day was best suited for someone as reckless as him.

On the other end of the line, Wang Juan didn't ask for the reason, but replied succinctly.

"Understood. I'll call him right away."

The call ended.

Mayor Su Changming sat back down at his desk and picked up the cold cup of purple clay tea again.

The tea was bitter as it slid down his throat.