Official statement: Tongwei is dead! You chose Ruijin, didn't you?

With Gao Yuliang's insightful multiple-choice question in mind, Zhou Zhengming strode out of the special needs ward.

He knew perfectly well that this single strike had precisely exploited Ji Changming's Achilles' heel, a weakness he had held for decades as an official.

The political and legal circles in Handong are most adept at avoiding risks and protecting themselves. Today, their disguises are destined to be completely torn off, and they will no longer be able to escape safely by relying on layers of procedures and maneuvering.

When Zhou Zhengming reported Gao Yuliang's "single-choice question" to Qin Yuanzhou, the iron-fisted team leader sneered and immediately decided: "Let him see him! I want to see how Ji Changming, this 'Tai Chi master' of the Handong political and legal circles, will break Gao Yuliang's 'Nine Swords of Dugu' move that leads to mutual destruction!"

……

Provincial Procuratorate, Chief Procurator's Office.

Wearing reading glasses, Ji Changming slowly and methodically reviewed the routine case files, his fingers gripping a fountain pen.

Since the supervisory team arrived, he has always adhered to his principles: not taking sides, not discussing, and not getting involved.

Hou Liangping was placed under investigation. He handed over his work in accordance with regulations, without regret or explanation.

Lu Yike was suspended from his duties for investigation. He adjusted his position according to the system, without showing favoritism or favoritism. Chen Yanshi's halo was shattered and his old accounts were exposed. He kept silent about their past relationship.

When others tried to gauge the situation, he simply said, "I trust the organization and will obey the arrangements." When someone subtly pleaded for his life, he pretended to be oblivious and knew nothing about it.

Having spent over thirty years in the political and legal system of Handong, rising from a grassroots staff member to the top official of the provincial procuratorate, Ji Changming has long since mastered the art of navigating the bureaucratic machinations.

With no corruption, no blemishes, and no factions, they have steadily avoided every political storm by adhering to the eight-character motto of "acting in accordance with regulations and never taking responsibility."

He thought that by sticking to this bottom line and maneuvering, he could weather the anti-corruption storm sweeping through Handong and wait for the leadership reshuffle and a smooth transition.

The secretary tiptoed in, her voice barely audible: "Chief Prosecutor, the supervisory team called, informing you to go to the Provincial People's Hospital at 3 PM this afternoon to participate in a special verification interview with Comrade Gao Yuliang. The entire process will be recorded, and Deputy Team Leader Zhou will personally preside over it."

The pen suddenly stopped, and thick ink spread out in a black spot on the blank space of the file, glaring and conspicuous.

Ji Changming slowly put down his pen, took off his reading glasses, and gently pressed his throbbing brow with his fingertips, feeling a deep chill in his heart.

The worst-case scenario has finally arrived.

When people are in dire straits, they are most likely to offer a helping hand.

Gao Yuliang, the "Living Yama of Handong" who has been driven to a dead end, is clearly trying to drag the entire court down with him.

……

3 PM, Special Needs Ward, Provincial People's Hospital.

Ji Changming pushed open the door and entered, his expression calm and composed, maintaining the same gentle demeanor as a veteran cadre for decades. He took the initiative to greet him, "Secretary Yuliang, I heard your injuries were quite serious. Is your recovery going smoothly?"

Gao Yuliang, lying on the hospital bed, glanced at him sideways. Although Gao Yuliang was now wrapped in plaster like a terracotta warrior, his mouth had evolved into the number one Gatling gun in Handong, specializing in indiscriminate spraying.

Gao Yuliang raised his hand and spat out the straw in his mouth, his tone indifferent and distant, devoid of any old feelings: "Old Ji, there's no need to act anymore. You didn't come to see me, and I didn't come to see you out of old feelings. Today, we won't talk about personal matters, only old cases."

Ji Changming's smile faded slightly, and he sat down as instructed, maintaining a proper posture and tact: "Everything will proceed according to organizational procedures."

Gao Yuliang's eyes suddenly sharpened, shedding his sickly and lazy demeanor, and regaining the oppressive aura of a former political and legal bigwig. He pressed down precisely with each word: "Old Ji, I only have one core truth to ask you."

Twenty years ago, multiple whistleblower reports regarding the Lingang project were submitted to the provincial procuratorate, but they were all ultimately shelved and not subject to preliminary investigation.

Did you proactively weigh the pros and cons and deliberately suppress the case, or were you following orders from higher-ups and passively avoiding it according to regulations?

Ji Changming's gentle smile froze instantly, and a hint of panic flashed in his eyes.

But he reacted quickly, immediately covering up the situation with the safest official explanation: "Secretary Yuliang, the procuratorial organs have always had strict preliminary investigation procedures, approval levels, and assessment standards for handling petitions and reports. The shelving of old cases is a work arrangement after comprehensive assessment, and there is no question of deliberate suppression."

"Comprehensive assessment?"

Gao Yuliang sneered, mercilessly tearing apart his tai chi, "Old Ji, you can forget about your layman's nonsense! Back then, for the Lingang project, the provincial procuratorate received three real-name reports from key figures."

First, Jingzhou City Investment Group engaged in illegal guarantees and shell company financing; second, companies affiliated with the Zhao family illegally acquired land resources in Lingang at low prices; third, Chen Yang's overseas assets were suspicious, and the source of his funds was unclear. The three reports contained detailed leads, along with contract numbers, bank statements, and entry/exit records, each meeting the criteria for preliminary investigation!

This series of precise parallelisms, like a barrage of cannon fire, left Ji Changming speechless, his face flushed, and he had no way to refute it.

Ji Changming remained silent for a long time, then sighed deeply before finally speaking up. He tried to excuse himself by citing the historical context and the pressure of his position: "Secretary Yuliang, back then, the overall development of Handong was the priority, and the environment was like that. Moreover, I was only a deputy at the time, with limited rank and authority. The higher-ups had overall planning and arrangements, and many tasks were not within my control."

"The overall environment? Upper-level coordination?"

Gao Yuliang leaned forward slightly, the plaster bandages rustling against the sheets, his tone growing increasingly sharp, "You dare not speak because you know in your heart that the one who truly suppressed the clues is not Provincial Party Secretary Zhao Lichun, nor Deputy Secretary Liang Qunfeng, but—Chen Yanshi!"

The moment those three words were spoken, the atmosphere in the ward instantly fell silent.

Chen Yanshi was Ji Changming's mentor and benefactor. He was the old leader who promoted him from the grassroots and cultivated him with all his might. He was the senior he respected most in his decades-long career in officialdom.