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

It rained all night in Luzhou, and the old residential compound of the machine tool factory in the west of the city was full of puddles.

Lei Ming led the special team without informing the Luzhou Municipal Party Committee or alerting the local Discipline Inspection Commission. The car stopped at the entrance of the alley, and the group, holding umbrellas, waded through the mud and water to go directly up to the third floor.

The stairwell was plastered with little "GG" signs for unclogging drains, and there were piles of cardboard boxes and broken bicycles in the corners.

Thunder knocked on the door.

Who is it?

An old man's voice came from inside the door, sounding wary.

Xiao Lin stood at the back, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Community workers, check for gas leaks!"

Lei Ming glanced back at him.

Kobayashi lowered his voice: "Knocking is a basic skill. People won't believe you if you say you're checking the water meter, but a gas leak is a matter of life and death. That's the fastest way to open the door."

Sure enough, the door lock clicked, and the door was opened a crack.

Jiang Guoping, wearing reading glasses and with the security chain still on, peeked out with half his face. When he saw the several burly men in jackets outside, his face turned pale, and he made a move to close the door.

Lei Ming blocked the door frame and flashed his badge: "Central Supervision Group. Jiang Guoping, we need you to verify the accounts from the expert review meeting on the Lingang project 23 years ago."

Jiang Guoping's hand trembled, and he almost failed to remove the security chain.

Lei Ming said calmly, "Master Jiang, since we've been waiting at your door this early in the morning, it means we've already seen your cards. Opening the door is for your own protection."

Jiang Guoping's lips trembled: "It's been over twenty years, why are you bringing up old grievances?"

Xiao Lin sighed: "Sir, it's not that old debts are the problem, it's that people who default on their debts think they can live forever. Open the door."

Enter the house.

The room was furnished with a vintage feel, featuring old-fashioned wooden sofas, enamel tea mugs, and a certificate for "Outstanding Financial Worker" hanging on the wall.

A retired accountant lived a simple and plain life.

But after Jiang Guoping sat down, his hands kept shaking. When he went to get the thermos to pour water, he spilled all the water on the coffee table.

"I knew that thing would be a ticking time bomb sooner or later." Jiang Guoping plopped back down on the sofa, his voice hoarse.

Lei Ming didn't touch the glass of water and went straight to the point: "Gao Yuliang specifically asked us to come to you at the hospital, and Zhao Ruilong also revealed the truth about Lingang at the detention center the night before last."

What you have in your hand right now isn't a death warrant, it's your pledge to get leniency. Where is it?

Upon hearing the names Gao Yuliang and Zhao Ruilong, Jiang Guoping's psychological defenses completely crumbled.

But he was still wary:

"If I hand it over, won't I face retaliation? Those guys from Luzhou and Jingzhou, Zhao Ruilong's former henchmen, and Liu Xinjian's men... Don't be fooled by the fact that the big tiger has been caught; those fleas under him can still kill people."

Lei Ming leaned forward: "From now on, you and your family will be under the protection of the supervisory team. This time, the lid on Handong isn't just being lifted, it's being smashed. You just take your things, and we'll handle the rest."

Jiang Guoping gritted his teeth and remained silent for a full two minutes before finally getting up and going into the bedroom.

A moment later, he brought out a rusty old cookie box and placed it on the coffee table.

The box was opened, and inside was a stack of paper pieces wrapped tightly in a plastic sleeve.

"Back then, the expert demonstration meeting in Lingang was conducted under the purview of our National Development and Reform Commission."

Jiang Guoping pushed the materials over, saying, "The financial reimbursement form lists eighteen experts as attending the conference. But when I checked the catering and conference service list, I found that thirty-two people were actually hosted."

Jiang Guoping swallowed hard. "The fourteen extra people didn't have names; they were all referred to by code names. Their room fees, meal allowances, and tobacco and alcohol reimbursements were all taken at the maximum limit. I've worked in finance my whole life, and I know that these kinds of incomplete accounts are the most dangerous. I was careful at the time and secretly made a copy of the attachment."

Lei Ming took the materials and flipped through them page by page.

Xiaolin leaned closer, his eyes growing brighter the more he looked.

As expected, the service list did not contain any specific names, but was filled with handwritten code names from the conference organizing committee: "Jingyi", "Jinger", "Advisor Wang", and "Nan'an Guest".

At the very bottom, there is a handwritten note: "An extra small dining room will be opened in the evening. All waiters will be removed as required by the management, with only the office staff serving water remaining."

Lei Ming looked up: "Who wrote this note?"

"Luo Jianping, Deputy Head of the Conference Organizing Committee."

Jiang Guoping answered truthfully, "He used to work in the office of the National Development and Reform Commission. Later, because of his merit in receiving this group of leaders, he was promoted all the way and transferred to the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the province. Later, he went to Handong Oil and Gas Group as the vice president. However, before Liu Xinjian got into trouble, he suddenly took sick leave."

Xiao Lin, standing nearby, jotted something down with his pen and couldn't help but complain, "Another one retiring due to illness. In Handong, whenever you check the accounts, it's either a stroke or hemiplegia. These people's physical condition is really not good enough for their medical insurance."

Jiang Guoping smiled wryly: "Back then, many people weren't in poor health, but their finances were in bad shape. Retiring ensured their safety."

Lei Ming put the materials into an evidence bag: "What is the connection between the Luzhou Food City and the Lingang project on paper?"

"Luzhou Food City is a preview of the Lingang capital channel."

Jiang Guoping sighed, "The food court acquired land extremely cheaply, then hired an appraisal company to inflate the land price, obtained loans from banks, and then had state-owned enterprises illegally divert funds. Finally, through inflated decoration fees, investment attraction fees, and brand management fees, the money was laundered overseas. This process worked in Luzhou without any problems, which is why they dared to undertake such a large project as Lingang."

Lei Ming asked, "Who's in charge?"

"Zhao Ruilong's people acted as the bosses at the front desk, the Chen family was responsible for confirming things in the legal process, and Liu Xinjian's side was responsible for providing financial support."

Jiang Guoping recalled, "There were a few local officials who were responsible for running errands. I don't know all their names, but I definitely know Luo Jianping very well. He was in charge of liaison work back then."

Lei Ming stood up: "Where is Luo Jianping now?"

"The Luzhou Cadre Sanatorium," Jiang Guoping said. "They said he had severe diabetic complications and had been staying in a private room all year round, rarely going out."

Kobayashi chuckled: "These guys are full of energy when they're doing bad things, but they all turn into idiots when it comes to taking responsibility. Do they really think the sanatorium is a refuge?"

Jiang Guoping lowered his voice: "They are of high enough rank and have good healthcare resources for cadres. As long as a doctor issues a certificate, they can stay indefinitely."

Lei Ming glanced at Jiang Guoping, and Jiang Guoping immediately shut up.

"Xiao Lin, notify the perimeter special operations team to take over Jiang Guoping's protection."

Lei Ming acted swiftly and decisively, "Let's go to the sanatorium."