Qi Tongwei at the start: Not relying on Liang Lu, but winning by a single move against Heaven.

Fuyuan coal is all lump coal, which is easy to burn and burns for a long time. It is also inexpensive and has been well received in the market.

As mining progresses, more and more coal dealers come to haul coal away.

At the entrance of Fuyuan Mine, coal trucks lined up one after another, stretching for a full two kilometers.

However, as more and more vehicles were hauling coal, problems gradually surfaced.

It is unclear when it started, but several so-called mine protection teams have appeared around the Fuyuan Mine.

These people, under the guise of protecting the mine, were actually making a living by charging coal trucks a queuing fee.

They don't charge extra per car; the queuing fee is thirty yuan, but if you're in a hurry and want to cut in line, it's one hundred yuan.

The higher freight rates for drivers traveling long distances are still manageable.

But drivers who travel nearby are in a bad situation; their freight rates are already low, and they're being ripped off even more.

But these drivers had no choice; if they clashed with the other side, they would be outnumbered and outmatched.

At best, they'd be sent back and unable to haul coal; at worst, they'd get a beating.

For a time, this caused a great deal of complaints and distress among the drivers.

Su Lie squatted on the burning beam every day, so he naturally discovered this problem.

He organized several raids and arrested many people.

But these people are just tough nuts to crack; after being caught, they are extremely cooperative in admitting their mistakes and answering any questions.

But whenever Su Lie asked why they hit people, their answers were surprisingly consistent.

Everyone says it was a quarrel, or even a fight, with all sorts of excuses they come up with.

But when asked about the queuing fee, no one admitted to it.

Su Lie was also very troubled, as he only had the driver's statement and no actual evidence.

He could only treat it as a fight, and at most he would be detained for a few days before being released.

But as soon as he was released, he started doing his old tricks again within two days.

Arresting and releasing, releasing and arresting again, Su Lie's already strained police force immediately became stretched thin.

The mining area's public security bureau only has a few people, and they usually have to patrol and prevent illegal mining.

Now, with the addition of a mine protection team, the police officers are exhausted and complaining endlessly.

Su Lie watched as the officers were exhausted and looked completely worn out, feeling anxious but helpless.

Left with no other choice, he had to report the situation to Qi Tongwei.

After listening to Su Lie's report, Qi Tong was not very surprised.

Rapid economic development inevitably leads to the emergence of some gray and black industries; this is an inevitable law.

It's not surprising that sand quarries have sand bosses, docks have ship bosses, and coal mines have mine bosses.

Actually, the situation at Fuyuan Mine is considered good.

The situation would have been much worse without the mining area police station he had established beforehand.

Small, illegal coal mines will rapidly emerge.

In their struggle for territory, these small coal miners would fight tooth and nail...

Qi Tongwei understood that these so-called mine protection teams were the prototypes of the organized crime in later generations.

Once they have a protective umbrella, they will quickly form organized and large-scale interest groups.

By then, things will be really difficult to handle; one move will trigger a whole series of problems...

After a moment's thought, Qi Tongwei tossed Su Lie a cigarette and asked in a deep voice.

"How many such mine protection teams are there around Fuyuan Mine? How large are they? What connections do they have with the mine?"

Three questions in a row, hitting the nail on the head, left Su Lie stunned.

He took a deep drag of his cigarette and started counting on his fingers for Qi Tongwei.

"The scale isn't very large; the largest has fewer than 20 people, and the smallest has only 3 to 5 people..."

I've arrested all of these people; there were four groups in total... and they often fought each other...

Fortunately, they knew their own strength and didn't cause any serious injury...

I also asked around at the mine, and most of these people were local thugs who had no connection with the mine.

After listening, Qi Tongwei nodded, already having made up his mind.

He took a deep drag of his cigarette and continued to ask.

"What's the name of the leader of that biggest group? What's his background?"

Su Lie pondered for a moment, then said in a deep voice.

"That kid is from Dayou Township, he idles away his days... His name is Chai Dali, nicknamed Dali."

He used to work in a small coal mine, but when the county shut down all the illegal mines, he lost his livelihood...

After Fuyuan Mine was established, he gathered a group of people and started this business...

Qi Tongwei nodded, glanced at Su Lie, and said with a cold smile.

"That's him... Find a pretext to take this Chai Dali under control..."

Before Qi Tongwei could finish speaking, Su Lie grinned and shook his head with a wry smile.

"Secretary Qi, this is where my problem lies... I've arrested this guy three times..."

It's not very useful; at most it's considered fighting. They'll be detained for a few days and then released.

These guys are all tough as nails; they were released and back to work in no time...

"They arrest and release, release and arrest again. I simply don't have enough police resources, that's why I'm coming to you to complain."

Qi Tongwei knew Su Lie's difficulties.

As the Fuyuan Mine develops, police resources will become increasingly insufficient, and Su Lie will face even greater pressure.

He glanced at Su Lie, pondered for a moment, and said softly.

"I can't solve the police force issue for you; you'll have to apply to the Municipal Public Security Bureau... You're directly under the Municipal Public Security Bureau."

I can give you a few militia slots. You recruit your own people, and the county will take care of your benefits...

He paused slightly before continuing.

"But you still have to catch this Chai Dali... not only catch him, but keep an eye on him while you catch him."

Su Lie was taken aback, glanced at Qi Tongwei, and asked in a deep voice.

"If they are arrested, it will only be for disorderly conduct or fighting, and they will be detained for a maximum of fifteen days."

"Or, the county could organize a special crackdown and get him arrested..."

Qi Tongwei glanced at Su Lie, sighed, and said with a smile.

"Even if they set up a special case, how long would the sentence be? Won't his underlings keep causing trouble?"

Can he stop now that he's out? Arresting him isn't the point; the point is to make him back down...

"Forcing him to voluntarily affiliate with Fuyuan Mine...forcing him to actually become a mine protection team..."

Qi Tongwei's voice grew lower and lower as he spoke, and by the end, it carried a hint of coldness.

After listening, Su Lie remained silent for a long time.

He looked at Qi Tongwei intently for a moment, then tentatively asked.

"Secretary Qi, by affiliating with Fuyuan Mine, the actions of this group become legal..."

"No, isn't that inappropriate?"

Qi Tongwei took a deep drag of his cigarette, smiled at Su Lie, and continued speaking.

"Not only should we allow them to operate under our name, but we should also make them establish their own companies..."

It could be a security company, a loading and unloading company, a transportation company...

Having said that, he ignored Su Lie's reaction, waved his hand at him, and said in a deep voice.

"Let's do it this way. I have other things to do, you go ahead... Once the militia recruitment is complete, remember to submit the list to the county."

After he finished speaking, he added a sentence.

"By the way, if Chai Dali doesn't cooperate, just arrest him a few more times..."

Don't be afraid of trouble. Arrest him and release him, release him and arrest him again. Just target him and make sure he can't do anything...

Su Lie was taken aback, glanced at Qi Tongwei, said nothing more, and got up to leave the office.

Stepping out of Qi Tongwei's office, Su Lie stood in the corridor, staring blankly out the window.

He lit a cigarette, frowned, took a few deep drags, and his gaze became somewhat complicated.

He couldn't understand what Qi Tongwei was trying to do, but he felt that there was something wrong with what he was doing.

Letting Chai Dali attach himself to Fuyuan Mine is like raising a tiger to cause trouble...

He worried that Qi Tongwei might be making a mistake by doing this...