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

As soon as Qin Yuanzhou said, "Meng Huaichuan might be transferred from another province," the only sound in the small conference room was the crisp sound of Lu Chengzhou's teacup lid hitting the rim.

Zhou Zhengming put down his pen: "That Meng Huaichuan from Jiangbei?"

"right."

Qin Yuanzhou nodded. "He understands economics, doesn't overstep his bounds, and his biggest flaw is his stubbornness. That's exactly what the higher-ups value. What Handong has in abundance right now is people who can read speeches and speak eloquently; what it lacks is a villain who dares to overturn the table and straighten out the provincial government's accounts."

Lu Chengzhou took a sip of tea: "With Meng Huaichuan here, Handong will be in pain."

When Meng Huaichuan served as the vice governor of Jiangbei, he was most skilled at clearing debts, dismantling platforms, and suppressing local financing.

The local government debt, industrial park debt, and urban investment debt left behind in Handong over the past few years, plus the bad debts of the Zhao family, the Liang family, and the Shanshui Group, are all a tangled mess.

To outsiders it appears to be an economic issue, but dig deeper and you'll find it's all about personal relationships, directives, meeting minutes, and judicial mediation.

What truly brought down so many high-ranking officials was never a few paintings or calligraphy works, or a few boxes of cash.

That little money wouldn't be enough to buy Baiwang Mountain, nor would it be enough to feed Old Master Zhong.

What can get them to agree is a channel of profit, a safe escape route for their agents.

Zhao Lichun ran his business in Handong for decades, and his brilliance lay in the fact that he didn't go around begging people with cash.

He turned projects into a whole, land into bargaining chips, state-owned enterprise funds into a lifeline, and then added personal connections from Beijing into it.

No one is taking money directly; everyone is "supporting reform" and "protecting those who want to get things done and start businesses."

If something really goes wrong, everyone can just say: I don't know, I only heard the report.

"If it doesn't hurt, the lesion can't be dug out," Qin Yuanzhou replied.

Zhou Zhengming flipped through the documents at hand: "Governor Liu will submit his retirement handover report tomorrow, and the suggestion that Li Dakang is unsuitable to succeed as governor must also be submitted at the same time. What about Li Dakang?"

"Keep using it." Lu Chengzhou looked out the window.

Zhou Zhengming was taken aback: "Still need it?"

"Of course I'll use it."

Lu Chengzhou said calmly, "Li Dakang has problems, but he's scared now. A cadre who knows fear is easier to manage than one who thinks he's safe."

"Jingzhou can't be in chaos; the land investigation still needs him to keep the grassroots in check. Remove him from the rumors about him becoming the provincial governor and keep him in Jingzhou to continue working."

Qin Yuanzhou laughed: "Let him see the door, but don't let him in."

"That's a bit rough, but that's the gist of it," Lu Chengzhou said.

Xiao Lin, who was standing next to her taking notes, wrote rapidly, but in her mind she was ranting and raving.

The leaders are so concise in their speech; if Li Dakang heard that, he'd probably have to get up in the middle of the night and take some nitroglycerin.

Not promoting you doesn't mean the organization is letting you off the hook; it just means the organization thinks you're still capable of doing the bare minimum.

This is the most heartbreaking aspect of officialdom.

You want to make progress, but people say you have a heavy historical burden and are at high risk.

You want to lie down, but people say you're highly skilled and capable.

Do you want to resign?

No way! You haven't even finished writing your self-criticism of the historical issues yet.

Lu Chengzhou closed the document: "A special report will be prepared tonight. First, it is recommended that Meng Huaichuan take over as governor of Handong Province. Second, Li Dakang will not be reassigned for the time being, and will continue to preside over the work in Jingzhou, subject to dual supervision by the Provincial Party Committee and the supervisory team. Third, the special task force should continue to investigate the clues involving Bai Wangshan, Wang Zonghui, the Zhong family, and the Zhao family in the gray funding channels for the Lingang old city renovation project."

Qin Yuanzhou tapped the table: "And Zhao Ruilong."

"Zhao Ruilong can't delay any longer."

Lu Chengzhou nodded. "His case has remained unresolved not because of insufficient evidence, but because it involves too many people. Now that the surrounding issues have been cleared up, it's time for him to speak about the Lingang situation."

"Will Zhao Ruilong be interrogated tomorrow?" Zhou Zhengming asked.

"Let's go tonight."

Lu Chengzhou said, "Don't give him time to listen to rumors."

Qin Yuanzhou pushed the materials to Zhou Zhengming: "You go there yourself. Zhao Ruilong is different from Gao Xiaoqin. Gao Xiaoqin is a smart person, she knows that feelings and hatred can be used as bargaining chips. Zhao Ruilong is the crown prince of the Zhao family, he has had a smooth life without suffering any losses, and he probably still thinks that he has only fallen into the water temporarily and can get ashore when the rain stops."

"Then let him know that there are knives all over the bottom of the water." Zhou Zhengming sneered.

……

Late at night, in the special interrogation area of ​​the detention center.

When Zhao Ruilong was brought into the interview room, his hair was shaved into a buzz cut close to his scalp, and his face was much thinner, but the reckless spirit in his bones had not completely disappeared.

He leaned back in his chair, and his first words were:

"Team Leader Zhou, are you trying to keep us from getting any sleep in the middle of the night? I've already disposed of everything that needed to be disposed of—Shanshui Manor, Liu Xinjian, Ding Yizhen, Chen Qingquan. You can't keep treating me like a buffet, letting me take whatever I want, can you?"

Zhou Zhengming looked at him: "You're quite humorous."

"Life inside is tough. If you don't have a bit of humor, you'll suffocate long ago," Zhao Ruilong said, shrugging.

"Then let's talk about something that will make things even harder for you."

Zhou Zhengming pushed a copy onto the center of the table. "Lingang South Bank Sanatorium, twenty-three years ago, Bai Wangshan checked in at night. Guan Zhiqian has confessed everything."

The relaxed look on Zhao Ruilong's face visibly disappeared.

He stared at the document, his Adam's apple bobbing. "Guan Zhiqian? Wasn't he paralyzed on one side?"

Xiao Lin, who was standing next to him, chimed in, "Medical advancements are so rapid that they stood up on the spot when they saw our supervisory team."

Zhao Ruilong's lips twitched: "This old man's acting skills are better than mine."

"Don't judge others, judge yourself."

Zhou Zhengming tapped the table. "That night in Nan'an back then, Bai Wangshan, Wang Zonghui, Liang Qunfeng's secretary, and Chen Yanshi were all there. You were the host. We weren't talking about dinner or recuperation; we were talking about the funding channels for the redevelopment of the old city of Lingang."

Zhao Ruilong shut his mouth and didn't say a word.

His mind was racing, calculating.

The old man could no longer protect him.

Gao Xiaoqin revealed the true nature of the Shanshui Group, and Liu Xinjian, Ding Yizhen, and others were thoroughly exposed.

Even Guan Zhiqian, who was pretending to be dead, has vomited.

But he has been tightly guarding his position on the Lingang line, daring not to touch it.

Because this line is not a dirty stream in the Handong region, this line leads directly to Kyoto.

What bothers him most right now is that he can't figure out how much strength those old guys outside still have left.

Zhou Zhengming saw right through him: "Are you still waiting for Bai Wangshan to bail you out?"

"Team Leader Zhou, you can't say things like that carelessly." Zhao Ruilong raised his head.

"I'm not making things up; I'll present you with the facts."

Zhou Zhengming opened the folder,

"Wang Zonghui has been detained. In order to protect themselves, the Zhong family has completely severed ties with Hou Liangping."

In his remarks in Beijing, Sha Ruijin admitted that after being parachuted into Handong, he tacitly allowed Hou Liangping to avoid the Chen family and the Lingang project.

Bai Wangshan called Li Dakang, attempting to interfere in the selection of the governor. Li Dakang immediately filed the call record.

Now Guan Zhiqian has also confessed to the late-night talk on the south bank. In this whole affair, who else do you think would consider you, Young Master Zhao, one of their own?

Zhao Ruilong's face darkened completely.

He wanted to curse.

Who can I insult?

He wouldn't dare to insult Bai Wangshan.

Insulting Zhao Lichun? That's his own father.

In the end, he realized he didn't even have anyone he could vent his anger on. That's truly frustrating.

Xiao Lin chimed in at the opportune moment, "Mr. Zhao, you used to be the undisputed boss at Shanshui Manor. Anyone who didn't give you face would have someone come and check your water meter. Now that no one's lighting your cigarettes or pouring your tea, are you feeling a little out of sorts?"

Zhao Ruilong glared at him: "Young comrade, leave yourself some leeway."

"I'll stay."

Xiao Lin nodded seriously, "It's already very polite of me not to call you Xiao Zhao."

Zhou Zhengming cleared his throat and steered the conversation back on track: "Have you thought it through? You only get one chance."

Zhao Ruilong remained silent for a full two minutes before finally speaking: "I can talk about the Lingang matter, but I have conditions."

"You're not in a position to negotiate now."

"I have."

Zhao Ruilong looked directly at Zhou Zhengming and said, "I know why that money could get so many people involved. You're investigating how the money went, but I can tell you why people were willing to get on board."

Zhou Zhengming's expression changed slightly.

Zhao Ruilong lowered his voice, his tone laced with mockery: "Bai Wangshan wasn't after money, and neither was the Zhong family. The real core of the Lingang project twenty-three years ago was a quota for overseas energy equipment procurement, and subsequently, financial pilot qualifications."

Whoever holds that qualification can arrange for a group of people to go abroad, settle down, hold shares, and launder assets. Money is just the fuel; the qualification is the boat.

The room fell silent.

Zhou Zhengming knew in his heart that this was the real thing.

If it were simply a matter of giving money, the level of involvement would never be this high.

However, if it involves financial pilot programs, foreign exchange quotas, overseas procurement, children's channels, or proxy shareholding, then it's a completely different story.

That wasn't a bribe; that was a path.

A path that allows many people to turn the past into a clean future.

Zhao Ruilong stared at Zhou Zhengming: "My dad was able to hold his position in Handong back then not because he was good at giving money, but because he was good at building roads for people."

He can provide positions for anyone whose child wants to study abroad, whose assets need to be transferred overseas, or whose protégé needs to be placed in a project. Lingang is the biggest road to him.

Zhou Zhengming slowly asked, "What is Wang Zonghui responsible for?"

"Connecting with Beijing."

"Where is Baiwang Mountain?"

Zhao Ruilong paused for a moment: "He was responsible for making this road look like policy."

After hearing this, Zhou Zhengming knew he wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.