58: Chapter 58 The two armies meet

Secretary Zhu Tianhe picked up the office phone on his desk and dialed a number.

The call was answered almost the instant it went through, and Police Chief Li Jianguo's booming voice came through the receiver.

"Secretary, do you have any instructions?"

"Jianguo, how is work going at the Municipal Public Security Bureau? Has that Executive Deputy caused you any trouble?"

Police Chief Li Jianguo had just taken the position of Bureau Chief; logically, there should have been a fierce struggle.

However, a soft chuckle came from the other end of the line.

"He's very cooperative. Yesterday, at the bureau's Party Committee meeting, he voluntarily handed over the personnel authority for several key departments."

"Ultimately, it's all thanks to Director Qi Shan for backing us up. When I went to the Provincial Public Security Department for a meeting a couple of days ago, Director Qi Shan kept me back in front of all the heads of the various municipal bureaus and specifically praised several of our special case investigations in Linjiang."

"He also said he had looked at my file and realized we had served in the same military unit back in the day, telling me to reach out to him if I needed anything in the future. Just based on that old connection, all the troublemakers in the bureau have quieted down."

Secretary Zhu Tianhe leaned back in his chair and nodded.

Director Qi Shan was a man who handled things flawlessly.

Helping Li Juan with her transfer order was repaying a favor.

Taking the initiative to support Police Chief Li Jianguo after the meeting was an investment.

Seeing a good deed through to the end—this was true skill.

"Jianguo, let's talk business." Secretary Zhu Tianhe changed the subject, cutting to the core.

"Secretary, the Linjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau is ready to answer your call at any time."

Secretary Zhu Tianhe tapped his fingers on the desktop twice.

"I need a few people."

"They must be absolutely sharp, and even more importantly, absolutely reliable. They must be your true trusted subordinates."

"Help me keep an eye on someone."

A brief, deathly silence filled the receiver.

Using the Bureau Chief's private resources to tail someone, without going through technical surveillance or official procedures—this was off-the-books work.

If such work were exposed, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Police Chief Li Jianguo quickly sifted through his list of names in his mind. Half a minute later, he gave his answer.

"Secretary, I have three people on hand, all of whom I brought up myself."

"Who is your target?"

"Liu Xiaolei, from the Second Section of the Municipal Party Committee Office."

"Let me give you the bottom line first. She is the granddaughter of the retired Provincial Governor Liu. Her father is Division Chief Liu Haiping of the First Comprehensive Division of the Provincial Government Office."

If you want someone to risk their life for you, you must make the situation clear.

Police Chief Li Jianguo couldn't help but freeze. The granddaughter of the former second-in-command of the province, the daughter of a powerful Division Chief in the Provincial Government Office.

Tailing such a person—if he were discovered, he, the new Bureau Chief, would likely be skinned alive even if he didn't die.

"Think it over before you answer me." Secretary Zhu Tianhe's voice was steady. "Are you confident in this mission?"

Without the slightest hesitation, Police Chief Li Jianguo replied firmly, "I guarantee the mission will be completed!"

Police Chief Li Jianguo owed his position today entirely to Secretary Zhu Tianhe's support. Once on this boat, there was no turning back.

Having received the commitment, Secretary Zhu Tianhe handed over the reins of the conversation.

"Coordinate the specific surveillance requirements with Zhu Wenhao in a moment. He proposed this plan, so you two will be in direct contact."

On the sofa, Zhu Wenhao heard this and narrowed his eyes slightly.

He naturally understood his father's painstaking efforts.

This was paving the way for him.

Letting him personally make contact with Police Chief Li Jianguo, using this mission to build his own base of power within the Public Security Bureau. This was a transfer of power, a silent delegation of authority.

Police Chief Li Jianguo agreed in a deep voice on the other end, and the two hung up. The office returned to silence.

Zhu Wenhao picked up his phone, preparing to send instructions to Police Chief Li Jianguo. He didn't even look up.

"Father, we'll take on Liu Family. But moving forward, the one we need to be most vigilant about is Mayor Su Changming's movements."

Secretary Zhu Tianhe picked up his teacup and blew away the foam. "He has been unusually quiet lately. He listens to reports in his office every day, and even handles daily Municipal Government meetings entirely according to routine, with absolutely no sign of wanting to make big moves."

"That's exactly why it's abnormal." Zhu Wenhao's fingers paused on the screen.

Mayor Su Changming, who was being discussed by Zhu Wenhao, was currently in a detached villa with extremely tight security on the outskirts of the city; this was the love nest of Mayor Su Changming and Wang Juan.

Wang Juan, wearing a silk robe, was straddling him, her hands coated in essential oil, skillfully massaging his shoulders and neck.

After enjoying it for a moment, Mayor Su Changming signaled for Wang Juan to get off, and he slowly sat up.

Wang Juan stopped, wiped off the oil, lit a cigar, took a puff herself to test it, and then passed it to his lips.

Blue-gray smoke rose into the air.

"Juanzi." Mayor Su Changming's voice was laced with laziness. "How is the matter I entrusted to you last time going?"

Wang Juan sat down to the side, crossing her legs, exuding charm.

"I found her." Her tone instantly became capable. "Zheng Jianguo's mistress, whom he kept in the southern part of the city, Li Qian."

"My people have been keeping an eye on her from the periphery, not daring to act rashly for fear of alerting the enemy."

Before Zheng Jianguo died, he must have kept a ledger recording all the illicit benefits transfers. The person could die, but the ledger had to be destroyed.

"Just keep watching. If the ledger isn't on her, it must be in a place she frequents," Mayor Su Changming instructed.

Wang Juan's brows furrowed.

"The situation is a bit complicated. It's not just my people; there is another group of people also watching that woman 24 hours a day."

The fingers holding the cigar of Mayor Su Changming froze.

"What's their background?"

"I don't know." Wang Juan shook her head. "Their counter-surveillance skills aren't strong; they don't seem like people from the Municipal Public Security Bureau. It looks more like the style of the Discipline Inspection Commission. My people followed them and found that they eventually returned to the Municipal Party Committee Guest House."

The Municipal Party Committee Guest House—the base of the Provincial Inspection Team.

"Team Leader Qiu Rui." Mayor Su Changming sneered. "This old dog has a truly sharp nose."

Team Leader Qiu Rui's tactic of pulling the firewood from under the cauldron was based on the calculation that the Development and Reform Commission's books had already been balanced, so he simply started from Zheng Jianguo's most secretive private life to find that fatal breakthrough.

"Don't worry, the way I handle things, it's all single-line contact. The underlings doing the work have never seen me," Wang Juan assured.

Mayor Su Changming felt slightly more at ease.

The Inspection Team was fixated on that woman; trying to snatch her by force would be suicide.

He had to make a feint to the east while attacking in the west, to divert Team Leader Qiu Rui's attention.

Mayor Su Changming pondered for a long time before issuing a new order.

"Have your people withdraw a few from that woman's side and go watch Liu Xiaolei from the Second Section of the Municipal Party Committee Office."

Wang Juan was full of confusion. "A young girl, why watch her?"

"She is no ordinary young girl; she is the daughter of Division Chief Liu Haiping." Mayor Su Changming walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.

"The province has taken control of the question-setting rights for the Young Cadre Training Class selection. Liu Family has gone to such great lengths; they will surely send her the exam questions."

A cold curve appeared at the corner of Mayor Su Changming's mouth.

"A wealthy young lady like Liu Xiaolei has the poorest defenses. Tell your people to keep their eyes peeled and take pictures of her meeting with strangers!"

"Then sneak in and copy the exam questions. Videos, photos, recordings—as long as it's hard evidence that can nail this matter down, get it all for me!"

Wang Juan still didn't understand. "Even if we get evidence of her cheating, how does that help with the ledger for the southern city project?"

Mayor Su Changming turned around, looked at her, and spat out four words: "Feint east, attack west."

"The Provincial Organization Department's province-wide examination is a key project personally approved by deputy provincial-level leaders. If, on the day of the exam, someone were to deliver hard evidence of pre-exam cheating directly to the desks of the Inspection Team and the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection..."

Mayor Su Changming picked up his cigar again.

"Think about it, what kind of earthquake would that trigger?"

Wang Juan suddenly realized!

"Such a malicious incident—the Provincial Inspection Team and the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection would definitely not dare to suppress it! The energy of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection and all the attention of the Inspection Team would be completely drawn into this storm in the first instance!"

"Exactly." Mayor Su Changming stubbed the cigar out in the ashtray, crushing it forcefully.

"Just when their attention is completely tied up by the cheating scandal..."

"Your people can take advantage of the chaos and take Zheng Jianguo's mistress away directly."

Without the protection of the Discipline Inspection Commission, a woman who had lost her backer would be like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered before the desperadoes under Wang Juan.

"Find an inconspicuous place and, no matter what means you use, force the location of the ledger out of her. Once you have it, destroy it immediately."

Wang Juan stood up and tightened the belt of her robe.

"I understand. First thing tomorrow morning, I will make the arrangements to stay glued to Liu Xiaolei 24 hours a day."

Mayor Su Changming picked up the cold tea and took a sip.

"Go ahead. Be clean about it; don't let the Discipline Inspection Commission get a whiff of you."