If you had to choose an identity to go undercover, you'd choose a gynecologist.

On the third day of the hearing, the focus shifted to the financial tycoon Kong Lingde, general manager of Yangzi Company's Beiping branch, and the heads of the other seven companies in the Kong-Song system.

The atmosphere in the closed conference room was tense. Chen Qing turned to Zeng Keda beside him and said, "Commissioner Zeng, today's hearing is the most crucial battle in our thorough investigation of the Beiping smuggling case. Kong and Song are powerful and deeply entrenched. If Kong Lingde refuses to cooperate in court, do you dare to arrest him directly and shut down these eight companies? If we back down today, we will lose everything, and we will have no credibility left."

Zeng Keda stiffened slightly, and after a brief pause, his tone carried a hint of reluctant caution: "This matter is of great importance, and I must seek instructions before making a decision."

"Okay." Chen Qing said calmly, "I'll wait for your reply."

After finishing speaking, Zeng Keda turned around and quickly walked out of the conference room, returned to his office, picked up the desk phone, dialed the top-level hotline, and urgently requested instructions on how to handle the situation.

The huge conference room was now completely silent, with only Chen Qing and Fang Meng'ao remaining.

After a long silence, Chen Qing turned to look at Fang Meng'ao, whose expression was cold and stern, and softened his tone: "Meng'ao, after the Yangzi Company case is settled, the Central Bank's Beiping branch will be formally heard tomorrow. This case involves the Fang family. If you need to recuse yourself, you can speak frankly."

Fang Meng'ao's eyes were clear and sharp, devoid of any personal feelings: "There's no need to evade the issue. If my father truly abused his power, participated in smuggling, and disrupted the lives of the people of Beiping, I will personally bring him to justice without anyone else needing to lift a finger!"

Seeing his frank and resolute demeanor, Chen Qing said no more and waited quietly for Zeng Keda to return.

A moment later, Zeng Keda returned hurriedly, a hint of excitement in his eyes. He quickly announced, "Great news! The anti-corruption campaign in Shanghai has been a complete success, with tremendous momentum! The iron-fisted crackdown on financial irregularities has resulted in the arrest of hundreds of speculative tycoons involved in hoarding, price gouging, and market manipulation. Not only have we apprehended Du Weiping, son of Shanghai tycoon Du Yuesheng, but even Kong Lingkan from the Yangzi Company headquarters has been detained and is under investigation!"

Chen Qing had already seen through the whole story of this anti-corruption saga, and immediately ordered in a deep voice: "Gong Shu, summon Kong Lingde and the heads of the other seven companies to court for a hearing immediately."

Gong Shu, who was waiting outside the door, acknowledged the order and returned a moment later, reporting with a grave expression: "Sir, Kong Lingde refuses to cooperate. He bluntly stated that the Yangzi Company's Beiping branch only obeys the Shanghai headquarters, and the Beiping inspection team has no right to interfere. His attitude is extremely arrogant."

Chen Qing's eyes turned slightly cold: "Where are the heads of the other seven companies?"

"The person in charge of the Song family cotton yarn company is Zhang Leshan, the brother-in-law of Song Ziwen. He declared that if the Yangzi Company does not appear in court, all other companies will not cooperate."

Upon hearing this, Zeng Keda, who was always upright and strict, became truly enraged and angrily rebuked in a deep voice: "This is utterly lawless and arrogant!"

Chen Qing calmly instructed, "Immediately call each company again to sternly urge them to appear in court. If they still refuse to cooperate after the deadline, we will immediately seize the assets of the eight companies involved. Commissioner Zeng, is this feasible?"

The series of arrogant provocations completely shattered Zeng Keda's last reservations. He clenched his fists slightly and made a resolute decision: "These rich kids are a scourge to the country and its people, treating national laws and regulations as nothing! Do as you say!"

Gong Shu immediately contacted the eight companies again, calling them one after another to urge them to pay attention. However, after several calls, the other party not only ignored him, but also hung up the phone directly in the end, showing an arrogant attitude.

"Stubborn and unrepentant." Chen Qing's face turned completely cold. He immediately made the decision: "You and I will sign an order immediately to mobilize the forces of the Beiping Garrison Command and coordinate with the field forces of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics. All personnel will be mobilized! Seize the eight companies under Kong Song's control involved in the case on the spot and forcibly summon all those responsible for the case to court!"

Zeng Keda no longer hesitated, quickly retrieved the official document, drafted the articles, and affixed the official seal. Chen Qing followed closely behind, signing and sealing the document.

Gong Shu received the heavy imperial edict, accepted the order, and hurried away to the Garrison Command and the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics to mobilize troops for execution.

Gong Shu was always decisive and efficient. Carrying two official edicts with complete signatures and stamps, he took a car straight to the Beiping Garrison Command.

Military orders are absolute. Upon receiving the order for the inspection team to cooperate in law enforcement, the garrison command did not dare to delay in the slightest and immediately dispatched a whole team of fully armed military police to assemble in formation.

Meanwhile, Gu Zhengwen led the Beiping Station action team of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics to action upon receiving the order. A group of agents, dressed in dark short jackets and armed with firearms, quickly joined forces with the military police. The two law enforcement forces, military and police, merged, and the convoy, led by Captain Long, split into eight groups, heading straight for the eight core enterprises of the Kong and Song families entrenched in Beiping—Yangtze Beiping Branch, Song Family Cotton Yarn Company, and the other six companies involved in the case, including those in grain and oil, storage and transportation, trade, and commercial firms.

The Yangzi Company's Beiping branch was located at the entrance of the most prosperous financial street in Beiping. The entire office building was magnificent and imposing, with high walls and a wide courtyard. On ordinary days, the place was filled with dignitaries and no one dared to offend it. The people who came and went were all high-ranking officials and dignitaries. Ordinary inspectors did not even have the right to approach and question them.

The office building still exudes an air of extravagance and laxity.

Kong Lingde sat upright in the leather chair of the top-floor general manager's office, a cigar between his fingers, smoke swirling around him. Upon hearing his subordinates report that the inspection team had issued a second notice, he merely scoffed, his face radiating an arrogant and conceited air.

"Chen Qing? Zeng Keda?"

He flicked his cigarette ash, his tone utterly contemptuous: "Two pawns of the Beiping local inspection team dare to mess with my Yangzi? I've already called Nanjing, and my uncle said that Shanghai is just putting on a show, and their actions in Beiping are nothing but a bluff. Ignore them, hang up, and disappear. I want to see if they dare to lay a finger on me."

The attendants beside them echoed each other, and everyone in the building, from the supervisors to the staff, relied on their connections and completely disregarded the task force's summons.

In their eyes, national laws and regulations, as well as government orders, have never been able to restrain the powerful families of the Kong and Song dynasties.

But before he could finish speaking, the sound of heavy, orderly military boots pounding the ground suddenly came from downstairs.

The security guard downstairs, as arrogant as ever, immediately stepped forward to stop the large number of military police and secret agents arriving, hands on his hips, shouting: "This is Yangzi Company property, directly under central control. Unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter! The military and police have no right to search. Leave immediately!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Gong Shu stepped forward, his face cold, and without saying a word, directly presented the sealing order bearing the dual seals of the inspection team and the garrison command.

"By order of the Beiping Economic Investigation Task Force, the Yangtze Beiping Branch is suspected of hoarding, smuggling, and disrupting people's livelihoods and finance. It is hereby immediately sealed off! All personnel, halt and do not resist law enforcement!"

The gatekeeper, however, still clung to a sliver of hope and tried to use his power to stop them: "You dare! Can you afford to confiscate the Kong family's property?"

"There's nothing we wouldn't dare to do when enforcing the law and handling cases!"

Gong Shu's voice was cold and stern as he gave the order: "Seal off the building! Take full control!"

Dozens of military police immediately stepped forward, guns drawn, and quickly sealed off all company entrances, stairwells, and fire exits. The dark muzzles of their guns were pointed at the main gate, creating an imposing atmosphere. Secret Service field agents swarmed in, moving with incredible speed, and quickly took control of all personnel on duty in the lobby, prohibiting anyone from moving, communicating, or transferring documents.

When had those employees who usually flaunted their power and influence with the help of the Kong family ever seen such a thunderous scene?

Instantly, everyone panicked, their faces turned pale, and all their former arrogance vanished. They obediently stood with their heads in their hands against the wall, not daring to make the slightest move.

Gong Shu, accompanied by several key military police and secret agents, strode up the building and headed straight for the general manager's office on the top floor.

The moment the door was flung open, the cigar smoke filling the room froze instantly.

Kong Lingde abruptly looked up, his composure and arrogance shattering instantly. A flicker of panic crossed his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure, slamming his hand on the table and shouting, "Who gave you the audacity to trespass on the premises of my Yangzi Company? This is an overreach of authority! I'm calling Nanjing to hold you accountable!"

Gong Shu, his expression indifferent, stepped forward and coldly read out the enforcement order: "Kong Lingde, your company, the Yangtze River Beiping Branch, is suspected of major smuggling of goods, price gouging, and harming the country and its people. You have also resisted summons for trial and shown contempt for the law. By order of the inspection team, all goods in the company and warehouse are hereby seized in accordance with the law, and you are hereby forcibly detained. Appear in court with us immediately for trial!"

Kong Lingde was both shocked and furious. He suddenly stood up and shouted, his voice trembling with fear, "I am a member of the Kong clan! You, a mere Beiping inspection team, dare to arrest me? You're courting death!"

No one has special privileges before the law.

Gong Shu was too lazy to waste words with him and gestured for the agents on both sides to come forward.

Two field agents stepped forward and, before Kong Lingde could shout or argue, grabbed his arms.

The once high-and-mighty, domineering nobles are now tightly controlled and unable to struggle.

Kong Lingde was both ashamed and furious, his face turning ashen. He cursed incessantly, but ultimately he was powerless to resist the law enforcement forces and could only be handcuffed on the spot and escorted out of the luxurious general manager's office.

At the same time, seven other law enforcement teams simultaneously closed in, without any delay.

Inside the Song family's cotton yarn company, Zhang Leshan, Song Ziwen's brother-in-law, was initially full of confidence. He sat upright in his office and publicly declared that relying on the Song family's influence, no one in Beiping dared to touch him. He even instructed his employees to lock the gate and prevent law enforcement officers from entering, attempting to defy the law by relying on his power.

But when the heavily armed military police broke down the gate and all the secret agents of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics rushed in, and when he saw the cold muzzles of guns with his own eyes, and witnessed the military and police directly sealing up the accounts, seizing the warehouse, and sealing off all the office areas, Zhang Leshan's confidence collapsed, his face turned from red to white, and he lost all his arrogance.

He tried to exert pressure by invoking T.V. Soong's name, his tone shifting from arrogant to flustered and ingratiating.

However, the military and police only follow government orders and national laws, and do not consider personal relationships or the powerful.

Without further interrogation, Zhang Leshan, who was making all sorts of excuses, was immediately taken into custody and detained along with a group of company executives.

The other six trading companies, storage and transportation companies, and grain and oil enterprises that relied on Kong Song's power all met the same fate.

Gong Shu escorted the main culprits Kong Lingde and Zhang Leshan into the interrogation building and reported to Chen Qing and Zeng Keda, who had been waiting for a long time, in a deep voice.

"Reporting to Commissioner Zeng and Mr. Chen."

Yangzi Company, Songjia Cotton Yarn, and six other companies involved in the case have all been seized, and all accounts and assets have been sealed. All eight key responsible persons, including Kong Lingde and Zhang Leshan, have been apprehended; none have escaped.

........................