In name only: I will break the chess game in Handong!

"Feed? Hey! Zhao Lichun, what's going on over there? What Director Xiao?"

But Zhao Lichun didn't reply with a single word.

Hang up the phone immediately.

At home, Zhong Zhengguo's heart was pounding. After hanging up the phone, he was restless, sweat dripping from his forehead, until he muttered to himself, "Director Xiao? Director Xiao of the Supervisory Committee? Deputy Secretary Xiao? Damn it, you big fool Chun, what are you doing!"

After realizing what was happening, Zhong Zhengguo called Zhao Lichun again and again, but to no avail; no one answered.

After making a few calls, the phone even shut down.

At the Discipline Inspection Commission, Zhao Lichun, with a heavy heart, pushed open Director Xiao's office door.

"Comrade Lichun is here, please sit down."

Both were at the same level, but of course, Director Xiao's real power was far greater than Zhao Lichun's.

"Director Xiao, I won't sit here. I'm not worthy!"

Director Xiao smiled and shook his head.

"Comrade Lichun, whether you are worthy or not is a matter for the organization to consider. In the years of reform and opening up in Handong, the contributions you, as the provincial party secretary, have made cannot be ignored."

"Sit down and talk about whatever your questions are."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Lichun sat down in silence.

"Director Xiao, I'm here to explain the problems to the organization."

Director Xiao's eyes suddenly lit up.

"Well, Comrade Lichun, you go ahead and say it."

"Director Xiao, I have worked in Handong for more than 20 years. I have done all kinds of jobs, from the county to the city and then to the province. I even served two terms as the provincial party secretary."

As you probably know, I have a son named Zhao Ruilong…”

As Zhao Lichun confessed to all his problems, the focus remained on his failure to properly manage Zhao Ruilong.

In his confession, Zhao Lichun attributed the problems of Qi Tongwei, Gao Yuliang, Gao Xiaoqin, and others to his son Zhao Ruilong, blaming himself for failing to properly raise his son.

"Alas! Director Xiao, I request the organization to discipline me, and I request the organization to sentence Zhao Ruilong according to law and regulations!"

Director Xiao smiled and nodded, then asked, "Comrade Lichun, is that all?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Lichun was taken aback. Did he really need to say anything else? But he really had no other problems.

"Comrade Lichun, I've heard that you and Comrade Zhong Zhengguo haven't been getting along lately. Would you like to elaborate on this issue?"

Zhao Lichun belatedly realized what was happening, and upon seeing Director Xiao's squinting, smiling expression, he immediately had a guess.

"Ahem, Director Xiao, it's like this. Comrade Zhong Zhengguo has been paying extra attention to me lately, or rather, he's been very concerned about the position I'm currently in..."

After revealing everything Zhong Zhengguo had done during this period, Director Xiao smiled with satisfaction.

"This Comrade Zhong Zhengguo is truly undisciplined and lacks any sense of organization! I was wondering why the Third Inspection Office suddenly went to Handong to conduct an investigation a while ago; it turns out it was used for personal purposes!"

What does Chung Cheng-kuo want to do?

Even if you, Comrade Lichun, step down, that decision will be made by the organization and by the people!

He, Zhong Zhengguo, actually wanted to use such methods to coerce you into recommending him?

"Comrade Lichun, rest assured, our Discipline Inspection Commission will thoroughly investigate this matter!"

"Um... Director Xiao, also, you know about Zhongfu Group, right?"

Director Xiao was naturally well aware of the situation.

"Are you talking about Lin Manjiang?"

"Yes, yes, Director Xiao, you don't know, this Lin Manjiang used to be Comrade Zhong Zhengguo's subordinate, and Zhongfu Group was, to some extent, Comrade Zhong Zhengguo's backyard."

"I have already had the comrades from the Discipline Inspection Commission investigate this matter, although Lin Manjiang is still unwilling to give a clear explanation."

But he will definitely speak up within a few days at most. This Comrade Zhong Zhengguo has gone too far!

Oh, right, Comrade Lichun, don't leave yet.

I have to report both your issue and Comrade Zhong Zhengguo's issue to Secretary Qishan. After all, I'm only the deputy secretary, and your issues still need to be understood and decided upon by Secretary Qishan.

"I understand, Director Xiao!"

In Lüzhou, Chen Luo had just finished presiding over the Standing Committee meeting, giving instructions and making arrangements for the next phase of work in Handong, and had just returned to the Secretary's office when he received a call from Elder Xu.

"Hey, Mr. Xu."

"Chen Luo, guess what I want to say?"

Chen Luo chuckled upon hearing this.

"Old Xu, did Zhao Lichun confess to the organization?"

"Hey! Where did you get this information, kid? I just got a call from Director Xiao. You can't be some kind of Six-Eared Macaque in disguise, can you?"

"Old Xu, there are actually clues to this. Secretary Lichun now has a grandchild, so naturally he has to consider him. In Handong, his son Zhao Ruilong has become mentally impaired."

You're simply unaware of this information.

"No wonder then. But it wasn't just Zhao Lichun who frankly confessed to the problem; he also dragged Zhong Zhengguo into it."

Tsk tsk, I just received a notice that there will be a meeting tonight. In addition to discussing the handling of Zhao Lichun, there is also the issue of Zhong Zhengguo's disregard for organizational discipline.

You just wait and see, kid. I reckon they're both finished!

After hanging up the phone, Chen Luo hadn't even sat down when another call came in.

Upon closer inspection, wow, it was my senior.

"Hello, Minister Xu!"

"Nobody's here, call him 'senior'!"

"Haha, senior!"

"Thank you for Zhong Zhengguo's matter. Although I am not in Handong, I am aware of your efforts. If Zhong Zhengguo is removed from his position this time, I will most likely be able to take his place."

"Senior, I didn't do anything. I was just upholding the rule of law in Handong."

"Alright, alright, whatever you want. Anyway, I'll remember this favor. You've done a great job in Luzhou, keep it up, your future will be even brighter than ours!"

The series of phone calls made Chen Luo let out a soft sigh of relief.

"Chen Luo, Chen Luo, never forget your original aspirations!"

Shaking his head, Chen Luo suppressed the joy in his heart.

Now that the Zhong and Zhao families are about to fall, Handong's support for him is unprecedented.

Luzhou, the place where he was in charge of his work.

Chen Luo is determined to develop Lüzhou, a place that receives advanced foreign technology and industries!

Wednesday arrived, and in Handong, the Provincial Public Security Bureau and the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection jointly released details of the case.

There was no evidence that Zhao Ruilong coerced Zhong Xiaoai, but Zhong Xiaoai remained unconvinced and chose to continue her appeal. Meanwhile, Zhao Ruilong was transferred to the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Meanwhile, news of Zhao Lichun's hospitalization due to illness spread in the morning, along with his retirement application. In the afternoon, Zhong Zhengguo was secretly taken away by staff from the Discipline Inspection Commission and the Supervisory Commission for investigation.

In a short time, the two sides that had been fighting fiercely came to an end, and cadres from all over the country either retired or were transferred to sinecure positions. Such is the cruelty of struggle.

The next morning, Zhong Zhengguo came out of the Discipline Inspection Commission and the Supervisory Commission, but he looked as if he had aged ten years.

On this very day, Handong discovered new evidence: Zhong Xiaoai was forced by Zhao Ruilong.

Meanwhile, Zhong Zhengguo, like Zhao Lichun, applied for early retirement due to health issues.