Official excuse: I've put you on patrol in Handong, and the whole province is in a panic.

Pang Da Nian pushed the documents in his hand toward Su Zhe, "Team Leader Su, I respect your supervisory opinion, but the Dongshan task force has an independent mission this time, and the public security system needs a deputy provincial-level director to coordinate it. The public security work in Handong cannot be delayed because of a few accounts."

"The Dongshan task force has not yet entered Dongshan."

Su Zhe replied, "The Dongshan Public Security Bureau had already arranged for the advance inspection of three storage locations at 5 a.m. The operation overlapped with the Dongshan clues in the Jinghai ledger. Director Han Dongsheng did not inform the new task force, but instead made arrangements in advance. This matter has not yet been explained."

Pang Da Nian looked at the staff around him, "Is that so?"

An officer from the task force flipped through the records. "Director Han did indeed issue an internal inspection notice at 5 a.m. today."

"Why didn't you report it to us?"

"The Dongshan Municipal Party Committee stated that it was a routine security check."

Su Zhe took out his phone and played a recording of a phone call.

"Director Han instructed that Warehouse No. 3 should be emptied first, and the boxes in the South Warehouse should be moved away first, before those people enter."

The recording was only a dozen seconds long, but the voice on the other end of the phone was clear enough.

Pang Da Nian looked up. "Is that Han Dongsheng's voice?"

"Voiceprint verification is in progress."

"How can it be used as evidence when it's still under verification?"

"I didn't use it as conclusive evidence."

Su Zhe stopped the playback, "but that's enough to warrant a suspension of a vote concerning the promotion of the provincial public security bureau chief."

Sha Ruijin's expression changed. "Where did this recording come from?"

"Submitted by an internal staff member of Dongshan City Bureau."

"What about your identity?"

"Temporary protection."

Gao Yuliang stared at Su Zhe. "Team Leader Su, are you intentionally amplifying the impact by linking the Dongshan operation with Qi Tongwei's promotion?"

"The clues from Dongshan came from the Jinghai organized crime case."

Su Zhe said, "The Jinghai accounting books show that the Dongshan Cold Storage appeared, and the Dongshan Public Security Bureau conducted a preemptive investigation before the special task force arrived. The director of the Provincial Public Security Department is responsible for the entire provincial public security system. Don't these circumstances warrant the Standing Committee stopping to verify them?"

No one raised their hand anymore.

Sha Ruijin glanced at the documents on the table, then looked at Pang Da Nian. "Vice Minister Pang, what do you think?"

Pang Da Nian did not answer immediately.

Zhong Xiaoai spoke up from his side, "Minister Pang, I've read the regulations. Team Leader Su's supervisory opinions are well-founded. Once a cadre's promotion is approved, the subsequent investigation will indeed increase the procedural complexity."

This was her first public statement since arriving at the event.

Gao Yuliang looked at Zhong Xiaoai, "Comrade Zhong, does your Central Commission for Discipline Inspection also believe that Qi Tongwei's case needs to be suspended?"

"I only talk about procedures."

Zhong Xiaoai opened the materials in front of her. "The Dongshan Municipal Bureau acted ahead of schedule. The relevant witnesses and storage points overlapped with the clues from Jinghai. Under these circumstances, it is inappropriate to promote the appointment of a high-ranking official as the Director of the Provincial Public Security Department."

Qi Tongwei's expression changed. "Comrade Zhong, are you a member of the Dongshan Special Task Force or the working group?"

"I am a member of the special investigation team dispatched by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection."

"Then you are not qualified to comment on the appointment of provincial party committee cadres."

Zhong Xiaoai looked up at him. "Whether I'm qualified or not is decided by my sending unit. Whether you're qualified for promotion is decided by the investigation materials."

Someone in the meeting room put their pen back on the table with a soft click.

Sha Ruijin tapped the table. "Today's agenda is suspended. The secretariat will take notes, and the relevant materials will be verified by the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department before being submitted to the central organization department."

Qi Tongwei stood still. "Secretary!"

"Comrade Qi Tongwei, please sit down."

Sha Ruijin looked at him and said, "This is a decision made by the Standing Committee."

Su Zhe added, "The working group and the Dongshan task force are now departing from the three warehouse locations in Dongshan."

Pang Da Nian turned his head. "Team Leader Su, are you going to directly intervene in Operation Dongshan?"

"Assistance in the investigation."

"The Dongshan Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal Public Security Bureau have their own authority to handle this matter."

"Then ask them to produce the joint action letter."

Zhong Xiaoai picked up the document. "I agree with Team Leader Su's opinion. The task force will go to the scene immediately."

Pang Da Nian glanced at her, his politeness fading. "Comrade Xiao Ai, the Dongshan operation is under the unified command of the special task force."

"Then issue documents uniformly."

"What do you mean by following Su Zhe?"

Chung Hsiao-ai put away the documents. "I'll follow the evidence."

Pang Da Nian tapped his finger on the table.

Su Zhe had already turned around. "Yang Can, tell An Xin to bring the materials and meet us at the airport. Changshan, go and arrange for a vehicle. Li Chengyang, contact Han Qiming."

As he reached the door, Qi Tongwei took two steps after him.

"Team Leader Su, are you satisfied now that you've blocked my promotion?"

Su Zhe turned around and said, "What I prevented was a wrong vote."

"You really think you can keep investigating me like this?"

"Whether I can continue the investigation or not, the materials will answer that."

"You'll regret this decision today."

"Director Qi."

Su Zhe looked at him and said, "Explain the three warehouses in Dongshan clearly first, then we can talk about the deputy provincial level."

After saying that, he led his men away from the venue.

Qi Tongwei stood at the door, his phone ringing several times, but he didn't answer.

Gao Yuliang walked up from behind and said, "Stop chasing."

"Teacher, Vice Minister Pang clearly supported me just now."

"He supports a high-ranking position as a provincial or ministerial-level official, not you personally."

"Why did Zhong Xiaoai side with Su Zhe?"

Gao Yuliang did not answer.

He watched the direction Su Zhe left in, his fingers slowly tightening inside his sleeve.

If there are indeed ledgers and drug circulation records at the three storage locations in Dongshan, Qi Tongwei's promotion will only be temporarily suspended, and he may not even be able to keep his position as the director of the Provincial Public Security Department.

The secretary quickly walked to Gao Yuliang's side. "Secretary Gao, Han Dongsheng called."

"What did you say?"

He said that warehouse number three had been emptied and no contraband items were found on site.

Gao Yuliang looked at Qi Tongwei.

Qi Tongwei took the phone. "Han Dongsheng, I told you to withdraw, did you withdraw completely?"

There was a pause of a few seconds on the other end of the phone. "Director Qi, the scene has been dealt with."

"Where's the bill?"

"What bill?"

"Don't play dumb."

There is no account.

Qi Tongwei held the phone to his ear, his voice lowered, "Where are the tents in Nanku?"

There was finally no further movement from Han Dongsheng's side.

Gao Yuliang reached out and pressed down on Qi Tongwei's wrist. "Don't ask here."

Qi Tongwei hung up the phone, his face turning grim.

Gao Yuliang took out his phone and sent a message to an unnumbered account.

"Move everything immediately, and ensure that the personnel do not meet again."

The screen remained silent for a long time after the message was sent.

Outside the provincial party committee meeting room, Zhong Xiaoai caught up with Su Zhe.

"You knew all along that Qi Tongwei would be promoted today?"

"I learned about the topic last night."

"You have the Dongshan recording, why did you only take it out now?"

Su Zhe stopped in his tracks. "If we bring it out in advance, the Standing Committee will discuss the source of the recording first. If we wait until the vote begins to bring it out, everyone will face a problem."

"What's the problem?"

"Do they intend to promote the director of the Provincial Public Security Department before the Dongshan task force arrives?"

Zhong Xiaoai looked at him, "You've included me in your calculations."

"You will investigate Dongshan."

How can you be so sure?

"Because you don't want to clean up Hou Liangping's mess again."

Zhong Xiaoai's gaze darkened. "You seem to know me quite well."

"I understand the procedure."

A phone rang from the direction of the airport.

After Yang Can answered the call, he quickly walked to Su Zhe's side and said, "Team leader, the veteran criminal police officer near Warehouse No. 3 has gone missing. His last known location was in the southern suburbs of Dongshan."

Su Zhe asked, "Has Han Qiming arrived yet?"

"The chartered plane has landed, and he is on his way to the assembly point outside the airport."

"Notify everyone, see you in the southern suburbs of Dongshan."

Zhong Xiaoai asked, "Should we save the people first, or seal off the warehouse first?"

"Find someone first."

Su Zhe looked at the gloomy sky in the distance. "Since he sent out the message, we can't let him disappear because of it."

The passageways at Jingzhou International Airport have been cleared.

When Su Zhe entered the temporary command room, Han Qiming was standing in front of the map, holding an unopened pen in his hand.

"Team Leader Han, are you aware of the situation?"

"We knew about the three storage locations, and we also knew that Han Dongsheng had acted in advance."

Han Qiming turned to look at him, "I also know that you used a recording to prevent Qi Tongwei's promotion at the Standing Committee meeting."

That's not the point.

"Not for you."

Han Qiming spread out the map. "For Dongshan, the position of the Provincial Public Security Department Director is one level higher, which is related to who will coordinate the subsequent operations. If you hold back on the personnel issue today, it's equivalent to temporarily depriving the province of a person in charge who can make public statements."

Su Zhe placed a map of the southern suburbs of Dongshan on the table. "Whether there is a personnel manager in the province or not will not affect the on-site evidence collection."

"What if the Dongshan City Public Security Bureau refuses to cooperate?"

"Make them write down their reasons for refusing to cooperate."

What if they don't write it?

"On-site record".

Han Qiming stared at him. "You like leaving a trace."

"Someone has to take responsibility for what has been done."

Zhong Xiaoai came in from outside, holding a newly signed letter in her hand. "The joint investigation letter has been issued. The Dongshan task force is responsible for the on-site control and verification of drug clues, while the Jinghai task force is responsible for verifying the extended evidence in the organized crime case. Neither party shall question witnesses repeatedly."

Han Qiming took the document, glanced at it, and asked, "Who signed it?"

"The Great Year".

Su Zhe looked up. "He agreed?"

He has to sign it even if he doesn't agree.

Zhong Xiaoai placed another document on the table. "This is a supplementary opinion from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. It involves clues from the Provincial Public Security Department and its subordinate units. The special task force can report directly to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection without going through the Handong Provincial Political and Legal Committee."

Han Qiming glanced at Zhong Xiaoai. "Did you prepare this in advance?"

"Prepared last night."

Su Zhe asked, "Did you already conclude last night that the Dongshan Club's personnel issues were connected to Qi Tongwei's?"

Chung Hsiao-ai tidied the edges of the documents. "Hou Liangping's case made me realize that once someone in the local area knows they might be investigated, the first thing they do is try to find connections to change course. The Dongshan task force came so formally, but Handong arranged for a warehouse inspection first. Anyone can see that there's something wrong with it."

Han Qiming handed the letter back, saying, "Comrade Zhong, does Vice Minister Pang know about what you've done?"

"Know."

"He agreed?"

"He signed it."

Su Zhe looked at her, "What's your relationship with Pang Da Nian?"

"Work relationship"

"He trusts you a lot."

"He trusts the authority of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection."

Chung Hsiao-ai looked up. "You don't think I got into the task force through connections, do you?"

Su Zhe did not answer.

Footsteps sounded outside the door, and Pang Da Nian walked in with several staff members. His expression was no longer as relaxed as when he greeted people at the airport.

"Is everything ready?"

Han Qiming nodded. "The joint letter has been issued."

Pang Da Nian took the document, turned to the last page, and asked, "Xiao Ai, did you also send out the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection's supplementary comments?"

"It's been sent."

"Why weren't you shown it to me first?"

"I have access to the file."

"You are a member of the task force."

"They are also personnel dispatched by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection."

Pang Da Nian closed the document. "I'm in charge of the Dongshan case. All materials should be submitted to the special task force for unified compilation."

Zhong Xiaoai did not back down, stating, "Materials involving the Provincial Public Security Department should be submitted separately in accordance with the regulations of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection."

"You're splitting the task force into two separate operations."

"I'm preventing the materials from being reviewed by the provincial authorities first."

Pang Da Nian looked at Su Zhe, "Team Leader Su, did you already know she would do this?"

"She did what she was told."

"Does complying with the regulations allow you to bypass the team leader?"

"You can apply to the central government to adjust the division of labor."

Pang Da Nian stared at Su Zhe, "You two just met and you're already standing together?"

Zhong Xiaoai put the document into the file folder. "Minister Pang, there's something wrong with what you said."

"What's the problem?"

"Different opinions within the task force can be discussed, but procedural issues cannot be interpreted as taking sides."

Pang Da Nian looked at her for a few seconds, then turned to instruct his staff, "Notify the Dongshan City Bureau that the three storage sites will be taken over by the special task force, and the Jinghai task force can only assist in the investigation from the outside."

Su Zhe asked, "This clause is not in the joint letter."

"Now, let's add more details."

"The supplement needs to be reissued."

"Team Leader Su, don't turn on-site work into a paperwork game."

"The more urgent the situation, the clearer the procedures need to be."

Pang Da Nian's facial muscles twitched slightly. "If evidence is transferred from the storage location, who will be responsible?"

"Those who give orders to act in violation of the joint letter will be held accountable."

No one responded in the meeting room.

Han Qiming looked at Pang Da Nian and said, "Minister Pang, Team Leader Su is right. Since the joint letter has already determined the division of labor, any further changes at the last minute require supplementary orders."

Pang Da Nian placed the pen on the table. "Han Qiming, do you also think I'm wrong?"

"I believe that the document should be written exactly as it is executed on-site."

Zhong Xiaoai took out her phone. "The Dongshan Municipal Bureau has received the joint letter, and Han Dongsheng is applying to be reassigned as the on-site commander."

Su Zhe asked, "To whom did he apply?"

"Liu Zhenshan, Deputy Director of Dongshan City Public Security Bureau".

What is the relationship between Liu Zhenshan and Han Dongsheng?

"Classmate, we used to work together in the provincial anti-drug squad."

Han Qiming asked, "Has Liu Zhenshan appeared at the warehouse?"

"His car has left the city bureau and is heading towards Warehouse No. 2 in the southern suburbs."

Su Zhe glanced at the map. "Han Qiming, you will seal off Warehouse No. 3. Zhong Xiaoai will lead Warehouse No. 2. An Xin and I will check the Jinghai accounts in Warehouse No. 1."

Pang Da Nian spoke up, "As I just said, the Jinghai working group can only assist in the external investigation."

Zhong Xiaoai turned to look at him. "Minister Pang, Warehouse No. 3 may be involved in the Dongshan City Public Security Bureau's advance investigation, and Warehouse No. 1 involves Jinghai's accounting books. What is your basis for keeping Team Leader Su out?"

"Unified command of the task force."

"The joint letter is not written like that."

"I'm the team leader."

"The team leader must also follow the documents."