Title: Reborn in Handong, Starting with an Investment in Gao Yuliang

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone.

Liang Cheng leaned back in his office chair.

"Dad, don't worry."

Liang Cheng's voice was calm, as if he were analyzing an ordinary business deal.

"Zhong Heping only officially took office today and is the de facto second-in-command of Handong. He hasn't even settled in yet, but he's already rushing to convene a standing committee meeting. There's only one purpose for this."

Liang Qunfeng held his phone, subconsciously lowering his voice.

"He wants to use Zhao Lichun as a breakthrough point."

"That's right."

Liang Cheng took over the conversation, his tone resolute.

"Zhong Heping has no one at his disposal and no powerful connections, so he needs to find a ready-made asset. And in the entire Handong region, the only person he can use right now is Zhao Lichun, who has been suspended from his post by you."

Liang Qunfeng frowned.

"But that's the problem. We still can't produce any solid evidence against Zhao Lichun. If Chung Heping insists on procedural justice at the meeting, we'll be at a disadvantage."

"So at this Standing Committee meeting, you and Secretary Lu probably can't stop Zhao Lichun from being reinstated."

Liang Cheng's words were extremely direct.

On the other end of the phone, Liang Qunfeng's breathing suddenly became heavy.

"You mean, you want us to admit it?"

"Acknowledge half."

Liang Cheng stood up and walked to the window.

The bustling traffic downstairs seemed like a world apart from the silent battle raging inside the provincial party committee compound.

"Dad, you and Secretary Lu must not get bogged down in a fight with Zhong Heping over Zhao Lichun. It's a trap. Zhong Heping wants to drag you into this quagmire, draining your energy and reputation."

Liang Qunfeng remained silent, not interrupting his son.

"Think about it, the Discipline Inspection Commission has been investigating for so long, and Zhao Ruilong has taken all the blame. There is really no solid evidence to convict Zhao Lichun."

"In this situation, the more you try to prevent him from being reinstated, the more it will look to outsiders like you're settling a personal score, and that Lu Kangcheng can't tolerate people."

Liang Cheng's tone softened somewhat.

"When the time comes, Chung Ho-ping will sit there and say, 'Investigating cases requires solid evidence and cannot involve collective punishment,' and he can put you in a very difficult position."

"What did you and Secretary Lu say? Did you say that we wanted to destroy Zhao Lichun?"

Liang Qunfeng was speechless for a moment when asked the question.

He paced back and forth in his office a couple of times, the sound of his footsteps coming through the receiver.

"So, according to you, Zhao Lichun was reinstated so easily? Did all our efforts to purge the Zhao family go to waste?"

"It wasn't in vain."

Liang Cheng chuckled.

"Dad, you and Secretary Lu have gotten stuck in a rut because of Zhong Heping's pressure. Think about it carefully, is Zhao Lichun today the same Zhao Lichun who used to wield immense influence in Handong?"

Liang Qunfeng was stunned.

"His reputation has plummeted after being suspended for so long. Those old hands in the Zhao family, watching Zhao Lichun fall, are all cowering and watching; who would dare to truly serve him?"

Liang Cheng analyzed it word by word.

"Moreover, half of the key positions in the Jingzhou Municipal Government have already been taken over by Secretary Lu."

"The Public Security Bureau is a powerful tool in Gao Yuliang's hands. Even if Zhao Lichun is reinstated tomorrow and sits back in the chair of the Secretary of the Jingzhou Municipal Party Committee, he won't be able to mobilize a single soldier."

Liang Qunfeng's eyes gradually brightened on the other end of the phone.

"You mean, even if we bring him back, he'll just be an empty shell?"

"A sick tiger released from its cage."

Liang Cheng's voice was cold. "His teeth were pulled out, and his claws were clipped. Zhong Heping wanted to use him to bite people, but this tiger can't even chew meat anymore."

"Letting him come back would only be a burden."

"Don't you know Zhao Lichun? He's arrogant and proud, and after being reinstated, he'll definitely be eager to regroup and make a comeback."

"The more he jumps around, the more he will expose the remaining secrets of the Zhao family. Then the Discipline Inspection Commission might be able to follow the clues and find something real."

Liang Qunfeng let out a long sigh of relief.

The weight that had been pressing on his heart for most of the day was finally lifted.

"I understand, this is the only way."

Liang Qunfeng nodded, his tone more relieved, "Reinstate him, and throw this hot potato back into Zhong Heping's hands."

"right."

Liang Cheng paused, then suddenly changed the subject.

"But Dad, the one we really need to be careful of isn't Zhao Lichun."

"Zhong Heping's true target must be Gao Yuliang!"

Liang Qunfeng was taken aback.

"Gao Yuliang."

As soon as those three words were spoken, both ends of the phone went silent.

Liang Cheng walked back to his desk, tapping his fingers lightly on the surface.

"Zhong Heping is not a fool. He threw out Zhao Lichun as a pawn to test the waters. Once he puts Zhao Lichun back on the board, his real target will definitely be Gao Yuliang next."

Liang Qunfeng's heart tightened.

Why Gao Yuliang?

"Two reasons."

Liang Cheng speaks slowly.

"First, Gao Yuliang is a newly appointed provincial public security director, and he hasn't even settled into his new position yet. Starting with someone who has the weakest foundation is the easiest way to create an opening."

"Secondly, Gao Yuliang's qualifications are just average."

"He was able to be parachuted into such a crucial position in the provincial department because you and Secretary Lu pushed him through despite the pressure. This kind of appointment isn't very secure in terms of official standing. As long as Zhong Heping manipulates the procedures and qualifications, he can legitimately launch an attack."

Liang Cheng's gaze turned cold.

"The Public Security Bureau is our strongest asset."

"If Zhong Heping wants to establish himself in Handong, the first person he'll want to eliminate is Gao Yuliang. He wants to wrest the knife back from our hands."

On the other end of the phone, Liang Qunfeng felt a chill run down his spine.

He never expected that his son could predict Zhong Heping's next three moves over just one phone call.

"I understand."

Liang Qunfeng's voice trailed off.

"By reinstating Zhao Lichun, Chung Heping may seem to have won a move, but in reality, he has prematurely revealed his sharpest weapon."

"Exactly."

Liang Cheng's tone was full of satisfaction, "You told Secretary Lu not to get bogged down in the battle with Zhao Lichun, but to hold back and save his firepower for the battle with Gao Yuliang."

Liang Qunfeng nodded vigorously.

"Okay, I'll go discuss this with Secretary Lu right away. We absolutely cannot let Zhong Heping catch us off guard at today's Standing Committee meeting."

"Go."

Liang Cheng's voice softened slightly.

"Dad, remember, stay calm and know when to retreat. Taking a step back can actually drag the opponent into our rhythm."

Liang Qunfeng responded and then hung up the phone.

The office returned to silence.

Liang Cheng tossed his phone onto the table, sat back down in his chair, and picked up the cup of tea that had long since gone cold.

Zhong Heping's first strike, though seemingly fierce, actually missed its mark.

The real battle would only begin when he turned his sword on Gao Yuliang.

Liang Cheng took a sip of cold tea, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

The chessboard has been laid out.

Let's see who loses their temper first at the Standing Committee meeting.

Liang Qunfeng hung up the phone.

After standing in the office for a moment to compose myself, I quickly walked out the door.

He wanted to tell Lu Kangcheng Liang Cheng his entire deduction before the Standing Committee meeting.