106: Chapter 106 Eliminating the Traitor

In the office, Lu Zheng was bent over his desk, leafing through materials.

Seeing Zhao Yang knock and enter, he looked up.

"Why haven't you left? The special police have been on standby in the guardroom for a while now."

Zhao Yang walked over and handed his phone to Lu Zheng.

"Master, I had Jiang Nan check this number."

"On October 13th, the day Gao Yan and I had our accident, this number sent a text message to a phone suspected to belong to Ji Hongwen."

"Today, when I proposed going to the Die-Casting Machine Factory dormitory, this number sent another text message."

"The content was: Our people are going to the Die-Casting Machine Factory dormitory again soon."

Lu Zheng naturally recognized the phone number displayed on Zhao Yang's phone.

It belonged to his subordinate, Liu Yi, a Section-level Disciplinary Inspector.

Lu Zheng's brow furrowed, and he put away the documents in front of him.

"Zhao Yang, do you have evidence? We cannot easily suspect our own comrades."

Lu Zheng's usually kind face had now become stern.

After handling cases for many years, he had long developed the habit of relying on evidence to ensure every case was airtight.

Zhao Yang nodded. "I've already asked Jiang Nan to print out the investigation records; she'll be here in a moment."

Lu Zheng lit a cigarette, walked to the window, and gave a long sigh.

"I kept hoping this wasn't true. I didn't expect that illegal elements would still manage to penetrate the ranks of the Commission for Discipline Inspection."

Seeing that Lu Zheng's mood was a bit low, Zhao Yang took the initiative to change the subject.

"Master, after Ji Hongwen received the text, he immediately called the worker representatives to the Municipal Committee, claiming he would let them return to their posts."

Lu Zheng turned his head to look at Zhao Yang and narrowed his eyes.

"Oh? What's your take on this?"

Zhao Yang said, "It's a carrot policy. He wants to give them some benefits to shut the workers' mouths so they'll stop reporting him."

A flash of approval showed in Lu Zheng's eyes.

"A good analysis." He walked back to the desk and sat down. "But you missed one point."

Zhao Yang was taken aback.

Lu Zheng lowered his voice. "Ji Hongwen suddenly pulling this stunt shows that he's panicked. He wants to cut off the source of reports because he doesn't want us to get more evidence."

"However, what he's doing isn't of much use."

At this point, Lu Zheng paused.

Zhao Yang picked up the thread. "The Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection has already backed up the restructuring materials; he can't cover it up at all. But the problem is..."

"Without orders from superiors, it's hard for the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection to cooperate, right?" Lu Zheng's lips curled into his signature smile.

Zhao Yang's concern was correct; the Tongan Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection was under the leadership of the Tongan Municipal Committee.

If Ji Hongwen didn't give the word, the materials in Jiang Yunheng's hands would be difficult to obtain.

After taking control of Guo Mingkai, Lu Zheng had avoided contacting Jiang Yunheng, other than applying for a place to handle the case, precisely because he was worried about putting him in a difficult position.

But now, that was no longer an issue.

Just before Zhao Yang arrived, Lu Zheng had received a call from Gong Chengze.

He said the Provincial Standing Committee had already made a decision to resolutely support a thorough investigation into the Tongan Die-Casting Machine Factory's restructuring issues.

Furthermore, he had already instructed the General Office of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection to notify the Tongan Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection to fully cooperate with the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection's Special Investigation Team.

Lu Zheng walked back to his desk, opened a drawer, and took out two open telegrams.

One was from the General Office of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection to the Tongan Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection, and the other was from the General Office of the Provincial Committee to the Tongan Municipal Committee.

The general content was similar: requesting the Tongan Municipal Committee and Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection to support the restructuring inspection work.

Zhao Yang was secretly delighted; the materials he had provided to Sun Zhendong had played a key role.

In Sun Zhendong's eyes, this was another point in his favor.

Remaining composed, he looked up and asked:

"Master, so what should we do next?"

Lu Zheng smiled. "No matter the time, we must maintain the purity of our team."

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a knock at the door.

Zhao Yang went to open the door, feeling somewhat impatient.

Opening the door, he found Jiang Nan standing prettily in front of him.

Because his back was to Lu Zheng, Zhao Yang was able to brazenly blow a kiss to Jiang Nan.

"Come in, Director Lu is waiting for your report."

Jiang Nan's face flushed red, and she gave him a fierce glare.

Her look said: Just wait until I get my hands on you later!

Coming before Lu Zheng, Jiang Nan spread the report out on the desk.

"Uncle Lu, because the previous text message was from a while ago, the content can no longer be retrieved. However, from the word 'again' in this text, we can infer the gist of it."

Lu Zheng stared at the report for a moment, then looked up and smiled at Jiang Nan.

"Mm, that's right. This cleverness is exactly the same as when you were a child."

Being complimented by Lu Zheng like that, Jiang Nan's cheeks turned slightly red, and she lowered her head with a small smile.

Lu Zheng withdrew his gaze, and his expression became serious again.

"Leave this report with me for now."

He paused and looked at Zhao Yang. "Go and call Liu Yi here. Tell him I want to have a talk with him."

Zhao Yang was startled. "Master, call him now?"

Lu Zheng nodded. "We can't wait any longer. If he can leak information today, he can remind others to destroy evidence tomorrow."

He looked out the window. "We've just gained the support of the Provincial Committee. Next, we're definitely going to go all out, so we can't leave any hidden dangers by our side."

Zhao Yang went to the nearby interrogation room, where Liu Yi and Wu Licheng were questioning Guo Mingkai.

Because Wu Licheng was present, Liu Yi's questioning was strictly by the book, without the slightest flaw.

Zhao Yang listened for a moment, then knocked on the door.

After entering, Zhao Yang smiled at Liu Yi.

"Brother Liu, let Brother Wu have a heart-to-heart with General Manager Guo alone. Director Lu wants you to go over."

Seeing Zhao Yang standing alive and well before him, a trace of surprise flashed deep in Liu Yi's eyes.

He immediately smiled and said, "You haven't set off yet?"

Zhao Yang nodded. "Director Lu had some provincial documents to convey, so I was delayed."

...

In Lu Zheng's office, when Liu Yi pushed the door open and entered, he found the atmosphere was a bit off.

Lu Zheng was sitting behind the desk, and the tea in front of him had already gone cold.

Jiang Nan was standing to the side, holding a document in her hand.

And Lu Zheng's gaze was fixed right on him.

"Director Lu, you were looking for me?" Liu Yi walked over with a smile and sat down in a chair.

Lu Zheng, who usually had a smile on his face, was not smiling now.

He was silent for a few seconds, and when he spoke, his voice was very calm.

"Liu Yi, how many years have you been with me?"

Liu Yi was taken aback, then replied, "Five years and three months."

"Five years and three months..." Lu Zheng nodded.

"That's not a short time. You know me; I'm strict with my subordinates, but I never mistreat anyone. How do you think I've treated you?"

The smile on Liu Yi's face froze for an instant.

"Director Lu, you've always been very good to me. If there's something on your mind, just say it directly; I'm listening."

Lu Zheng stared at him for a long time, took the communication records from Jiang Nan's hand, and gently pushed them in front of Liu Yi.

"Then take a look at this, and then tell me, is the number on this yours?"

Liu Yi looked down.

With just one glance, his complexion changed.

But he quickly stabilized his emotions, looked up, and put on a confused expression.

"Director Lu, this is my number, but what does this prove?"

Lu Zheng's face was as cold as if it were covered in a layer of thick frost, and his tone became icy.

"Liu Yi, your performance has disappointed me greatly."

At this point, Lu Zheng stood up and roared with a raspy voice:

"I taught you that disciplinary inspection and supervision cadres must be loyal, clean, and responsible. Where have you forgotten all that?!"

"Now there are two paths: one is to resist the organization, and the other is to take the initiative to confess your problems."

"You were once a disciplinary inspection officer and are most familiar with our investigative methods. I think you should know clearly which of these two paths you should choose!"