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

Xu Yanwu, the director of the municipal bureau, who had been waiting for a long time, jogged forward to Hou Liangping.

Extending his hands with a smile, he said, "Secretary Hou, I heard you were coming in person, so I brought some colleagues from the Municipal Bureau to wait for you at the door. By the way, He Jun is currently being held in the detention room of our Municipal Bureau."

Hou Liangping smiled and nodded, then released his grip and said, "Thank you for your help, Comrade Yanwu."

Normally, your municipal bureau could just send the person to the provincial level for this kind of thing, but Secretary Jia personally instructed me to come here.

I had no choice but to follow Secretary Jia's instructions and come to Dongping. By the way, Director Donglai of your provincial department mentioned Comrade Yanwu when we had dinner the other day.

Xu Yanwu was stunned when he suddenly heard this.

"Secretary Hou, you mean Director Zhao?"

"Yes, Comrade Donglai and I were both transferred from Handong to work in Guangdong Province by Governor Chen, so we've known each other for a long time."

Director Donglai told me that he was not very satisfied with the work done in Dongping. In terms of the investigation and arrest of illegal immigrants, Dongping was at the bottom.

Director Donglai has serious doubts about the work capabilities of your municipal bureau, and even said he would come to Dongping to inspect your work when he has time in a while.

Hou Liangping's tone remained calm, but Xu Yanwu's forehead was already dripping with sweat.

The bitterness on his face was particularly evident.

"Secretary Hou, you and Director Zhao may not be very familiar with the situation in Dongping. As for the tasks assigned by our superiors, even if I, as the director of the municipal bureau, am willing to carry them out, I am in Dongping and have no choice but to do so!"

Hou Liangping, who had been calm, suddenly realized that Xu Yanwu's words had a hidden meaning.

"You're the director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau, Comrade Yan Wu. Do you think the other people in the bureau won't listen to you? Or that you can't command them?"

"Secretary Hou, the situation is a bit complicated. Regarding the current political climate in Dongping, I wonder if you're busy? If not, I'd like to give you a brief report later!"

Hou Liangping nodded upon hearing this.

"Okay, then we'll talk in your office later."

After saying that, Hou Liangping and Xu Yanwu walked towards the other comrades of the Municipal Bureau as if nothing had happened. After greeting them, He Jun was escorted into the car by staff from the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection.

Hou Liangping then went to the director's office.

Sitting in the main seat, Hou Liangping was very relaxed, while Xu Yanwu was busy making tea and serving water.

"Alright, Comrade Yanwu, I still have work to do in the province. Don't bother with that. Sit down and let's get straight to the point."

Hearing this, Xu Yanwu slowly sat down.

Taking a deep breath, Xu Yanwu suddenly looked directly at Hou Liangping and asked, "Secretary Hou, can I trust you?"

This sight startled Hou Liangping.

"Ahem, get to the point, Comrade Yanwu, I am the Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Secretary of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection of Guangzhou."

You don't need to worry about my stance; I always keep the people's interests at heart!

"Alright, Secretary Hou! Then I'll be frank with you. I, Xu Yanwu, really can't completely control the Dongping Municipal Bureau."

As for the reason... there are just too many corrupt officials entrenched in Dongping City. When Director Zhao gave me instructions, I held a meeting the day before, and the next day, apart from a few branch bureaus that were willing to cooperate, half of the branch bureaus chose to ignore me.

The reason is simple: they weren't promoted by me, but by Lan Jingming, the current Standing Committee member of the Dongping Municipal Party Committee and Secretary of the Municipal Political and Legal Committee. My orders have no effect.

If that were all, it wouldn't be so bad. The key issue is that even I, as the bureau chief, can't interfere with some criminal cases.

Wrongful convictions and miscarriages of justice have occurred one after another. I, Xu Yanwu, have failed the organization in nurturing me!

As she spoke, Xu Yanwu began to shed tears, which made Hou Liangping feel quite distressed.

"No... Comrade Yanwu, are you telling a story? From what you're saying, it sounds like the sky in Dongping is always dark."

Didn't you report this to anyone else?

Upon hearing this, Xu Yanwu felt even more bitter.

"Reaction? Secretary Hou, before this, the leaders in charge of our municipal bureau were the municipal government and the provincial department above."

First, let's talk about the provincial department. The previous director, He Jun, was a complete incompetent. I went to the provincial department several times to report on the problems facing public security in Dongping, but that bastard He Jun always brushed me off with various excuses.

"What about the city government?"

"The municipal government... Dongping's situation is rather special. The current municipal party secretary, Wang Jianning, has been concurrently serving as mayor."

"They're managing both the Party and government, only concerned with maintaining stability. When I went to report on the situation, Secretary Wang told me to consider the bigger picture..."

Upon hearing this, Hou Liangping frowned.

"So, you must be feeling really frustrated as the director of the municipal bureau."

"Secretary Hou, this is nothing!"

The relationships behind this are actually quite complex, with a deeply entrenched network of protectors. From what I know, it's very likely that a deputy provincial-level official is involved!

Hou Liangping, who wasn't particularly interested at first, suddenly lit up when he heard "vice-provincial level".

"What did you say! Deputy provincial level!?"

"Yes, Secretary Hou, and I suspect it's Jiang Xudong, the current Vice Chairman of the Provincial Political Consultative Conference!"

"Wait, Jiang Xudong? Hiss, Comrade Yanwu, have you heard of Jiang Yuan? I think he's Jiang Xudong's son."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yanwu's eyes widened as well.

"Secretary Hou, you know Jiang Yuan... You can't be!"

Hou Liangping rolled his eyes at Xu Yanwu's terrified face and explained, "What are you thinking? Do you think Jiang Yuan and I are in cahoots?"

I knew Jiang Yuan was here on the day he took office in Guangdong Province…

After hearing Hou Liangping's explanation, Xu Yanwu finally breathed a sigh of relief; he had almost been scared to death.

Why did he choose to report these inside stories to Hou Liangping?

The hope is that Hou Liangping can sweep away these corrupt officials and at the same time relieve his frustration as the city bureau chief.

He didn't want to be targeted and lose his official position; in this respect, Xu Yanwu was a very pragmatic person.

Hou Liangping was well aware of this, but right now, getting information out of people was the most important thing. Besides, actions speak louder than words, and no one is perfect when it comes to intentions.

One by one, Xu Yanwu revealed some of the information he knew and his guesses. In any case, the general relationship diagram was clear: Jiang Xudong was the biggest protector, and below him was the Secretary of the Political and Legal Committee of Dongping City.

Wang Jianning, who is both the Party Secretary and Mayor, may be involved, or he may simply be playing a mediating role.

Hou Liangping didn't take the other small karami into account.

Not a single word from him is worthy of being remembered by Secretary Hou.

After leaving the Municipal Bureau, Hou Liangping got directly into the car.

He took He Jun straight to the provincial capital.

No sooner had they left than a black Audi with license plate number Guang F00007 pulled up in front of the Municipal Bureau.

The woman who stepped out of the car was a middle-aged woman with neat, short, black hair that was styled in a smart and capable manner.

The visitor was none other than Lan Jingming, Secretary of the Political and Legal Committee of Dongping City!

With no obstacles along the way, Lan Jingming quickly arrived at the office of Xu Yanwu, the director of the Municipal Bureau.

The office door was pushed open, and Xu Yanwu, who was cleaning the teacups on the table, was startled to see Lan Jingming arrive.

"Secretary Lan... Secretary Lan!"

Where is Secretary Hou of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection?

"Secretary Hou has already left..."

"Gone? Xu Yanwu, why didn't you inform me and Secretary Jianning when Secretary Hou came to Dongping! Do you even know who Secretary Hou is? If we didn't receive him properly, can you take responsibility? Nonsense!"