95: Chapter 94: The Provincial Department's Counterattack Begins

Jingjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau, main lobby.

Captain Xiao Zhan stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Captain Chang of the Provincial Public Security Department's Inspection Corps.

Behind them, several uniformed inspection officers stood straight.

This group made no attempt to conceal their intentions.

They stood openly in the center of the spacious first-floor lobby.

People were coming and going in the lobby.

The duty officers didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

The badge on their uniforms representing the Provincial Public Security Department's inspectors possessed immense intimidating power for grassroots officers.

Captain Chang tilted his head slightly and gave a look to the officers behind him.

Several officers dispersed quickly.

They headed straight for the archives room, the legal affairs division, and the offices of various operational detachments.

In an instant, the entire Municipal Public Security Bureau building was in chaos.

The rustling sound of flipping through case files and the hurried footsteps of checking transfer documents echoed throughout the building, creating a scene of total disorder.

Bureau Chief Hao Jianguo received the report and rushed down the stairs.

As a second-class police supervisor, a solid deputy-department-level cadre, he outranked Captain Chang in terms of rank.

But Captain Chang held the "Imperial Edict" of the Provincial Public Security Department.

He represented the supervisory authority of the superior organ.

Within the system, being one rank higher usually suppresses others.

But in the face of a strict supervisory system, rank is just a flimsy paper window that breaks at a single poke.

Bureau Chief Hao Jianguo walked up to them.

"Captain Chang, Captain Xiao, why didn't you give a heads-up before gracing us with your presence?"

"I could have made arrangements for the bureau to receive you properly."

Captain Chang kept a straight face and didn't accept the pleasantries.

"The Provincial Public Security Department's Inspection Corps is exercising its inspection authority in accordance with the law."

"Surprise inspections are the rule; I ask for the Jingjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau's full cooperation."

Bureau Chief Hao Jianguo was choked for words.

Captain Xiao Zhan stepped forward, "Bureau Chief Hao, the Provincial Public Security Department attaches great importance to the case of Zhu Wenhao."

"We have specifically assigned the Inspection Corps to come to the scene for supervision and guidance."

"Now, take us to see the person."

Captain Xiao Zhan paused, "Zhu Wenhao is not only a member of the Linjiang Municipal Committee Organization Department but also the Party Branch Secretary of the Provincial Party School's Spark Class."

"Your Municipal Public Security Bureau's Criminal Investigation Detachment went directly to the Provincial Party School to handcuff him; this reach is too long."

"The gang of organized crime members entrenched at the Red Star Machinery Factory yesterday was taken down directly by the Provincial Public Security Department's SWAT team."

"The follow-up investigation of this case will be fully taken over by the Provincial Public Security Department."

Captain Xiao Zhan took half a step forward.

"Director Qi is convening a Provincial Public Security Department Party Committee meeting this afternoon; I advise Bureau Chief Hao to show some self-respect."

Under immense pressure, Bureau Chief Hao Jianguo could only bring out his backer.

"Captain Xiao, Secretary Lei of the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission has also inquired about this case."

"Secretary Lei has given clear instructions."

"Since the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission is also concerned about this case, it should be led by our Provincial Public Security Department."

"Secretary Lei wants social stability, and the Provincial Public Security Department has more abundant investigative resources."

"The individual was captured by the Provincial Public Security Department yesterday."

"We are currently just temporarily borrowing your Municipal Public Security Bureau's detention center to hold him for a few days."

"Do you really think this case belongs to your Municipal Public Security Bureau?"

Captain Xiao Zhan's gaze was sharp, pushing right to the other party's bottom line.

"Bureau Chief Hao, your Jingjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau falls under local administration in terms of administrative division, but in terms of police operations, it is under the vertical leadership of the Jiangnan Province Provincial Public Security Department."

"The Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission is responsible for macro-guidance, but the Provincial Public Security Department is the direct superior that issues specific operational orders."

"Do I need to give you a lesson again on the primary and secondary relationships here?"

An analysis of legal principles based on organizational procedures, every word cutting like a knife.

Bureau Chief Hao Jianguo was left speechless.

He knew better than anyone.

If the Provincial Public Security Department really wanted to forcibly raise the jurisdiction, the Municipal Public Security Bureau had no legal basis to stop them.

With no other choice, he could only turn and lead the way.

Leading this "plague god," he walked toward the interrogation area.

At this moment in the interrogation room, Deputy Captain Liang Tao was sitting behind the table.

He threw out one leading question after another.

Attempting to lure Zhu Wenhao into revealing even the slightest flaw in his words.

As long as the other party admitted to striking first, or said one emotionally out-of-control, extreme sentence.

This record could logically be classified as "mutual assault."

Zhu Wenhao's eyes were slightly closed, sitting as steady as a bell.

Deputy Captain Liang Tao's trickery was simply too crude.

Zhu Wenhao understood the principle that "speaking too much leads to mistakes."

In this game, silence was the sharpest sword.

Deputy Captain Liang Tao was so anxious that fine sweat seeped from his forehead.

Just a few dozen minutes ago, Director Chen from the Municipal Public Security Bureau office had already called his cell phone.

The Office Director of the Provincial Organization Department had personally inquired, demanding a detailed written explanation.

Questioning why the Municipal Public Security Bureau dared to apply handcuffs in the classroom of the Provincial Party School, in front of the Executive Vice President.

Rumor had it that this was the work of Minister Xiao.

Deputy Captain Liang Tao saw it clearly.

In this game between high-level provincial officials, he was just a pawn that could be discarded at any time.

Once the Provincial Public Security Department officially intervened, coupled with the crushing questioning from the Provincial Organization Department.

Let alone him.

Even Bureau Chief Hao might not be able to handle this mess.

His private cell phone on the table vibrated.

Director Chen's name flashed on the screen.

Deputy Captain Liang Tao answered.

A frantic roar came from the other end.

"Deputy Captain Liang! My living ancestor!"

Director Chen spoke extremely fast, "The secretary of Secretary Cao of the Jingjiang Municipal Committee also just called!"

"Secretary Cao specifically named Zhu Wenhao to know his current situation!"

"The Provincial Public Security Department's people have already arrived, and the inspection team is ransacking every office."

"You decide for yourself what to do!"

The call was cut off.

Deputy Captain Liang Tao felt a chill down his spine.

He stood up, walked around the interrogation table, and went to Zhu Wenhao.

He took out the cold keys from his waist.

"Comrade Zhu Wenhao, sorry for the offense just now."

"Our routine questioning has finished the process, you can relax now."

He bent down, trying to unlock the handcuffs.

Zhu Wenhao crossed his arms and leaned back, avoiding Deputy Captain Liang Tao's hand with the keys.

"No need to trouble yourself, Deputy Captain Liang."

Zhu Wenhao's tone was steady.

"These handcuffs fit just right."

"Since I've entered the interrogation room, the necessary procedures must be completed."

"The record for 'mutual assault' hasn't been finished yet, how can it be abandoned halfway?"

Deputy Captain Liang Tao's hand hung in mid-air.

Embarrassed and panicked.

It's easy to invite a god, but hard to send one away.

Zhu Wenhao's seemingly cooperative words were exactly meant to hold the evidence of the Municipal Public Security Bureau's abuse of police equipment firmly in his hands.

Just as they were deadlocked, the heavy wooden door of the interrogation room was pushed open from the outside.

Bureau Chief Hao Jianguo, Captain Chang, Captain Xiao Zhan, and two inspection officers holding law enforcement recorders walked in one after another.

Bureau Chief Hao Jianguo saw at a glance that Zhu Wenhao was still firmly handcuffed to the interrogation chair.

Burning with rage, he shouted sternly at Deputy Captain Liang Tao:

"Liang Tao! What kind of nonsense are you pulling here!"

"Hurry up and unlock Zhu Wenhao!"

Deputy Captain Liang Tao's face was bitter; his hand holding the keys could neither advance nor retreat.

Zhu Wenhao raised his wrists, "Bureau Chief Hao, the grassroots officers are just following orders, no need to blame them."

"However, I have great objections to the procedural compliance of this forced summons by the Jingjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau, as well as the behavior of using restrictive police equipment on me, a student of the Party School."

He turned his gaze to Captain Xiao Zhan on the side.

"Captain Xiao, I want to file a real-name complaint against the law enforcement style and attitude of the Jingjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau."

Captain Xiao Zhan turned to the side, letting Captain Chang behind him move to the front.

"Zhu Wenhao, you don't need to ask me about this."

"This is Captain Chang of the Provincial Public Security Department's Inspection Corps, who is exclusively responsible for rectifying police conduct and discipline."

"If you have any requests, you can report them to Captain Chang in person."

"The Inspection Corps will surely handle it impartially and will never be biased."

Zhu Wenhao stood up.

Using his handcuffed hands, he slowly unbuttoned his dark jacket.

He pulled off half of his shirt.

His white undershirt was lifted.

The bruises and subcutaneous bleeding marks on his left ribs and back that had not yet faded were displayed to everyone without reservation.

"Yesterday morning, I was ordered by the Provincial Party School to go to the Red Star Machinery Factory for field research."

"As soon as I entered the factory area, I encountered a violent siege by a gang of organized crime members."

"According to the report issued by the Judicial Appraisal Center, the injuries have constituted a minor injury of the second degree."

"I was originally the victim."

"Today, in the Party School classroom, I was forcibly handcuffed and escorted here by the Municipal Public Security Bureau officers on the grounds of 'mutual assault'."

"I would like to ask Captain Chang, is this the law enforcement standard of the Jingjiang Municipal Public Security Bureau for punishing evil and promoting good?"

Two inspection officers quickly walked forward.

They aimed the lenses of the law enforcement recorders at the injuries on Zhu Wenhao's body, as well as the handcuffs.

Every detail was filmed and secured.

Captain Chang's face turned livid, and he turned to stare at Bureau Chief Hao Jianguo.

Bureau Chief Hao Jianguo stood in place, feeling as if the sky above his head had completely collapsed.

Deputy Captain Liang Tao's legs went weak, almost collapsing to the ground.

They knew very well that once this smooth evidence-gathering process was sealed in the Inspection Corps' archives, they would never have a chance to turn things around.

The Provincial Public Security Department's counterattack had only just begun.