101: Chapter 101 Self-Inflicted Chaos

The black Audi sped across the road.

The journey from Jingjiang to Linjiang City, which usually takes over four hours, was compressed to just over two.

Police lights flashed at the entrance of the Linjiang City expressway toll station.

Zhu Wenhao steered with one hand and pressed the brake with his toe; a young traffic police officer was about to signal him to stop.

The team leader stepped forward from the side and waved his hand, signaling them to let it pass.

The young officer stared at the receding taillights, very confused.

"Team Leader Liu, why did you let him go without even checking his documents?"

The team leader withdrew his gaze. "In our line of work, besides memorizing the laws and regulations, you need to keep your eyes sharp."

"That car has a special pass sticker on the bottom right of the windshield."

"You want to stop a car with that kind of background for questioning?"

"When working at the grassroots level, keep your eyes peeled."

At the First People's Hospital of the city, the elevator doors slid open to the sides.

Zhu Wenhao stepped into the long corridor. At the end of the corridor, Secretary Zhou Zheng stood with his hands behind his back.

He was lowering his voice, negotiating something with the hospital president.

Police Chief Zhao Gang stepped out from the shadows. "Zhu Wenhao, the patient was brought in just in time."

Police Chief Zhao Gang spoke very quickly. "Su Qinghan suffered a blunt force trauma to the head, diagnosed with a concussion, and has multiple soft tissue contusions on her torso."

"After emergency treatment, her vital signs have stabilized. The doctor said she will regain consciousness within a day or two."

"There is no danger to her life."

Zhu Wenhao nodded.

He didn't say a word of nonsense, walked straight to the ward door, and looked inside through the small observation window.

Su Qinghan lay quietly on the hospital bed.

An oxygen mask covered her face, and her body was covered in various monitoring lines. That usually cold face had no blood color at this moment.

Zhu Wenhao stood there, his eyes fixed on the woman inside the glass.

Police Chief Zhao Gang, standing half a step away, felt the surrounding temperature drop and instinctively held his breath.

A dull sound came from the elevator at the other end of the corridor.

"Ding."

Mayor Su Changming, surrounded by several government officials, filed out.

Mayor Su Changming walked calmly with a stern face.

The two men's gazes met briefly in mid-air.

There was no small talk, not even a basic nod of greeting.

Mayor Su Changming directly ignored Zhu Wenhao's presence, nor did he look at his daughter in the ward, but walked straight to Secretary Zhou Zheng.

"Secretary Zhou, a cadre from the Discipline Inspection Commission was attacked in the street. This is a slap in the face of our Linjiang Municipal Government!"

Mayor Su Changming said firmly.

Then, he turned to the hospital president.

"Use the best medicine. No matter the cost, you must take good care of Comrade Su Qinghan."

After giving instructions, Mayor Su Changming took out his phone in front of the Discipline Inspection Commission and the hospital staff.

He dialed and held it to his ear.

"Police Chief Li Jianguo, how are you running the Municipal Public Security Bureau?"

"How is the security defense line of the Municipal Public Security Bureau deployed?"

"The criminals are so rampant that they dared to ambush the staff of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection. You are to blame!"

No one could hear what was said on the other end of the phone.

Mayor Su Changming gave the other party no room to explain.

"I'll only give you one sentence: solve the case within the time limit!"

"Tomorrow morning at eight o'clock, bring all the case files and come to my office for a detailed report on the case!"

The call was cut off.

Mayor Su Changming adjusted his lapels, his face as dark as water.

Zhu Wenhao stood three steps away, taking in this scene.

His daughter hadn't woken up, and as a father, his first reaction wasn't to ask about her injuries, but to use the situation to his advantage.

Hitting Police Chief Li Jianguo was just the surface.

Using this malicious case to legitimately reach for the command of the Municipal Public Security Bureau was the fundamental purpose of Mayor Su Changming's appearance here tonight.

The elevator chime sounded again.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe, accompanied by a tall, middle-aged man, walked out of the elevator.

Secretary Lin Weimin, the newly appointed Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee of Linjiang City.

"Zhu Wenhao, you got here fast." Secretary Zhu Tianhe greeted him.

"Have you gone in to see Su Qinghan?"

Secretary Lin Weimin stopped, and Secretary Zhu Tianhe introduced him.

"Secretary Lin, this is my son, Zhu Wenhao, who works in the Division Two of the Municipal Organization Department and has been in full-time training at the Provincial Party School's Spark Class."

"The injured cadre from the Discipline Inspection Commission inside is his girlfriend."

"Hearing about the incident, he rushed back from the provincial capital overnight."

Secretary Lin Weimin nodded imperceptibly.

Then, he turned to Mayor Su Changming. "Mayor Su."

"A cadre from the Discipline Inspection Commission was attacked, which has an extremely bad social impact."

"How does the Municipal Government plan to clean up this mess?"

Mayor Su Changming took the opportunity. "Secretary Lin, I just gave a strict order to Police Chief Li Jianguo of the Municipal Public Security Bureau."

"But this case involves too much, and the eyes of the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Government will eventually fall on it."

"Comrade Li Jianguo has just taken over the Municipal Public Security Bureau and previously held marginal deputy positions, so it is inevitable that he will struggle to handle such a shocking case."

"To ensure nothing goes wrong, I propose."

"Executive Vice Mayor Han Qiming personally takes command, sits in the Municipal Public Security Bureau, and directs the special task force!"

Secretary Zhu Tianhe's brows furrowed imperceptibly.

Executive Vice Mayor Han Qiming was a general parachuted in from the Provincial Government, belonging to Governor Zhou's camp.

Mayor Su Changming pushed Executive Vice Mayor Han Qiming to the forefront, ostensibly to curry favor.

Secretly, he intended to use Executive Vice Mayor Han Qiming's hand to strip Police Chief Li Jianguo of his foundation.

Once the Executive Vice Mayor sat in the Municipal Public Security Bureau, Police Chief Li Jianguo, as the head of the bureau, would be reduced to a mere errand runner.

The real power of the Public Security Bureau would be excavated from the Zhu family's plate.

Secretary Lin Weimin did not express his stance on the spot.

"Secretary Zhu Tianhe."

"You are the Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee. What do you think of Mayor Su Changming's proposal?"

Secretary Lin Weimin was considering.

He was the parachuted top leader and needed balance within the team most, never allowing any one force to become too strong.

Now that Mayor Su Changming had made his move, he wanted to see how Secretary Zhu Tianhe would respond.

Directly refuting Mayor Su Changming would arouse suspicion of shielding his old subordinate, Police Chief Li Jianguo, and might even lead to Secretary Lin Weimin's distrust.

If he agreed, it would be equivalent to handing over his base.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe hesitated for half a second.

Zhu Wenhao stood on the side and typed a name on his phone.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe glanced at it.

Secretary Jiang Huan.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe suddenly realized.

"Secretary Lin."

"Executive Vice Mayor Han Qiming has just taken office in Linjiang and is burdened with the heavy task of state-owned enterprise reform. With so many things to do, I am afraid he will not have the energy to take care of the special case of the Municipal Public Security Bureau."

"The public security system belongs to the political and legal front. Since such a big case has occurred, it should be coordinated by the Political and Legal Affairs Commission."

"Let Secretary Jiang Huan of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission take command and supervise the case. This is not only in line with organizational procedures but also more justifiable in terms of legal principles."

Secretary Jiang Huan, Secretary of the Municipal Political and Legal Affairs Commission.

In the officialdom of Linjiang, this person is a well-known fence-sitter.

He never takes a stand when things happen and does not offend either side.

Giving this hot potato of a case to him to lead is equivalent to building a buffer wall.

The situation was still in a delicate balance.

Mayor Su Changming's plot was lightly blocked outside the door.

After hearing this, Secretary Lin Weimin's gaze wandered between Secretary Zhu Tianhe and Mayor Su Changming.

He wanted this kind of mutual check-and-balance situation.

"Secretary Zhu Tianhe's proposal is more in line with the principle of corresponding work."

"Tomorrow morning, let's hear the case report from the Municipal Public Security Bureau first. Why don't we hold an expanded meeting of the Standing Committee? Everyone should listen. Secretary-General, please notify the Standing Committee members who are at home to attend the meeting tomorrow morning at nine o'clock."

"It's getting late. Everyone should attend to their duties and don't crowd into the hospital, affecting the medical order."

"Let's disperse."

Mayor Su Changming took a deep look at Secretary Zhu Tianhe and, without stopping, his party left cleanly.

Zhu Wenhao pushed open the ward door, stopped at the edge of the bed, and his gaze swept over the cold medical equipment.

He stayed for half an hour, then turned and retreated into the corridor.

"Let's go, Father."

The father and son walked side by side into the elevator. The doors closed, and they descended deep into the night.

The car drove away from the hospital gate and merged into the empty midnight streets.

Secretary Zhu Tianhe leaned on the back seat, breaking the silence in the car.

"The move of fighting poison with poison just now, using Secretary Jiang Huan to block Executive Vice Mayor Han Qiming, is very clever."

"But Secretary Jiang Huan is a slippery character. If you really expect him to supervise the case, he will inevitably delay the progress indefinitely to avoid offending either side."

Zhu Wenhao looked at the streetlights. "That's exactly what I want—for him to delay the progress."

Secretary Zhu Tianhe turned his head, waiting for the rest.

"Father, Mayor Su Changming's abnormality tonight is not just about seizing power."

"He is eager for Executive Vice Mayor Han Qiming to intervene in the Municipal Public Security Bureau, not to solve the case, but to control the Municipal Public Security Bureau."

"You would definitely intervene, and if you and Executive Vice Mayor Han Qiming fought, it would be equivalent to offending Governor Zhou."

"Secretary Jiang Huan is slick. As long as he is in the position of leading the case and muddles through, only holding meetings without solving the case, the actual investigative power of the Municipal Public Security Bureau will still be held in the hands of Uncle Police Chief Li Jianguo."

"This is the time difference we snatched for handling the case."

"Next, the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Provincial Inspection Team will definitely conduct a thorough investigation into Su Qinghan's case."

"The person behind the scenes is desperate and has attacked the cadre of the Discipline Inspection Commission, which shows that he has already lost his footing."

"In this big reshuffle in Linjiang City, whoever loses their footing first will be the first to be out."