Special forces soldier demobilization: Starting from the county government compound, a meteoric rise

The flashing police lights illuminated the old alleyways in the south of the city, making them appear and disappear intermittently.

As the last escort vehicle roared away, "Pig Dragon Lane," which had been bustling all day, finally returned to its long-awaited tranquility.

Lei Tie leaned against the hood of the command vehicle, a half-burnt cigarette between his fingers, the filter already burned down, but he forgot to smoke it. His gaze never left the young man squatting by the roadside not far away, washing the bloodstains on his hands with mineral water.

Liu Ming.

Everything that happened that day was like a series of silent thunderclaps, repeatedly exploding in Lei Tie's mind.

From Armed Forces Minister Wang Zhenhua's undisguised "protection," to his ruthless act of single-handedly defeating Jiu Zhiqiang, and now to this textbook-perfect "street fighting" command...

Lei Tie is a veteran criminal investigator, and even more so, a seasoned veteran who has spent twenty years navigating the quagmire of officialdom. His eyes, accustomed to witnessing crime and power struggles, are sharper than anyone else's.

He understood.

This young man is not some nobody who came here to gain experience or prestige.

He is a Tyrannosaurus Rex in sheep's clothing!

Li Yuankui?

That local tyrant who had been terrorizing Qingyun County for over a decade was probably not even a watchdog in front of this Tyrannosaurus Rex.

"call……"

Lei Tie exhaled a long puff of smoke and stomped the cigarette butt out under his foot. In those bloodshot tiger eyes, the hesitation and struggle that had been there before had transformed into resolute determination.

He knew that the situation in Qingyun County was truly about to change.

The opportunity to choose sides comes only once.

If you miss it, you'll never get it back.

……

"Director Liu."

Lei Tie strode up behind Liu Ming, his voice low but carrying an unprecedented solemnity.

"There are too many people here, could we speak privately?"

Liu Ming screwed the cap back on the mineral water bottle, stood up, and shook the water droplets off his hands. He turned around and looked at Lei Tie's tense, dark face, a playful smile curving his lips.

"OK."

Instead of taking a car, the two walked slowly one after the other along the alley that had just been cleared.

Moonlight spilled onto the bluestone path, casting two long shadows.

"Brother Liu... no, Director Liu." Lei Tie carefully chose his address, his tone becoming somewhat dry. "To be honest, I've been in this position for five years, a five-year 'paperhanger'."

"Secretary Li... what Li Yuankui wants is stability and obedience. As the police chief, I'm supposed to maintain public order, but actually... most of the time I'm just cleaning up his messes."

At this point, Lei Tie's face showed a hint of self-mockery and pain.

"Whether it's Nine-Finger Qiang or Wang Quangui, it's not that I don't want to remove these cancerous tumors, it's that I dare not remove them, and I can't remove them! Every time I'm about to get serious, the higher-ups call. They either tell me to 'consider the big picture' or to 'pay attention to unity'."

"I was once a soldier, and I swore an oath under the national flag. But after wearing this official hat for so long, my back... has become bent."

Liu Ming did not interrupt him, but listened quietly.

He knew that Lei Tie was having a heart-to-heart talk.

"But today, seeing you..." Lei Tie abruptly stopped, turned around, and stared intently into Liu Ming's eyes, his gaze frighteningly intense. "Seeing you and your men clean up this bunch of scum like chopping vegetables, I felt... exhilarated! So damn exhilarated!"

"I suddenly realized that my old bones haven't completely rusted away yet! I can still move!"

As he spoke, he took a deep breath, as if he had made some great decision.

From his inner pocket, Lei Tie pulled out a small black notebook, no bigger than the palm of his hand, wrapped in layers of waterproof oil paper.

His hands trembled slightly.

Because he knew that this was more than just a notebook.

This is a bomb.

A super landmine that could shatter the entire Qingyun County officialdom, and even blow himself to pieces!

"This document contains all the clues about how Li Yuankui, through Wang Bancheng, Wang Quangui, and others, interfered in engineering projects, illegal mining, and the buying and selling of official positions over the past five years."

"Even... there's the actual death toll and the original draft of the accident investigation report from the mining disaster three years ago that was classified as an 'accident'."

Lei Tie's voice was exceptionally clear in the night wind, each word carrying a bloody stench.

"Li Yuankui always thought that I, the bureau chief, was his obedient dog. But he forgot that dogs also have memories, and they can also... bite."

He held the notebook in both hands and handed it to Liu Ming.

The posture was humble, yet resolute.

"Director Liu, keeping this thing in my hands is a disaster and a source of anxiety. Today, I'm handing it over to you."

"I, Lei Tie, am a rough man, I don't understand any grand principles. But I know that following Li Yuankui is a dead end. Following you..."

He raised his head, his eyes shining brightly.

"I feel like I can see the light."

"From this day forward, no matter what disaster befalls the Public Security Bureau of Qingyun County, even if it causes a major upheaval, as long as you, Director Liu, give the word, I, Lei Tie... will not hesitate!"

This is a pledge of allegiance.

A pledge of allegiance, risking everything.

Liu Ming looked at the black notebook, then at the weathered man in front of her.

He didn't reach out to take it immediately.

silence.

A suffocating silence.

Lei Tie's heart pounded faster and faster, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He was gambling on Liu Ming's courage, and also on his own future.

If Liu Ming doesn't accept the offer, or even sells him out, then Lei Tie will be lying dead in the street tomorrow.

a long time.

Liu Ming smiled.

That smile no longer carried the coldness and playfulness of the past, but instead conveyed a sense of approval that was as comforting as a spring breeze.

He reached out his hand but did not take the notebook.

Instead, he patted Lei Tie's broad shoulder heavily.

"Slap! Slap!"

Two crisp sounds broke the silence of the night.

"Old Lei, put this away." Liu Ming said calmly, "If we take this out now, it won't kill him. Keep it, and it will be the last straw that breaks the camel's back in the final battle."

Lei Tie was stunned for a moment, a look of surprise flashed in his eyes, followed by wild joy.

Liu Ming's address of "Old Lei" carried even more weight than the script she had just received!

This means that Liu Ming not only accepted him, but also treated him as a true "one of her own," rather than a pawn to be used in battle!

"I've got it."

Liu Ming gazed at the massive and eerie county government building in the distance, its eyes gradually becoming as deep as the sea.

"We're not trying to destroy any one person; we're trying to dig out the rotten roots completely."

"The road ahead is long, and I'll still need your sharp blade to clear the way for me."

Lei Tie felt a surge of heat rush to his head, and the flame that had been extinguished for many years in his chest suddenly reignited at this moment.

He straightened up abruptly and gave Liu Ming a perfect military salute!

"yes!"

"Mission accomplished!"

Liu Ming nodded and turned to continue walking forward.

"Let's go, Old Lei. Let's grab a drink."

"Tonight, we won't talk about work, we'll only talk about... killing techniques."

Lei Tie grinned, revealing a long-lost, genuine, and honest smile, and quickly followed after him.

"Alright! I know a good restaurant; their mutton soup is amazing!"

Under the moonlight, two figures walked further and further away.

One is a hidden master of special forces.

One is a ruthless bureau chief who has suddenly realized his mistakes.

That night, the underground world of Qingyun County was peaceful.

But in Qingyun County's officialdom, the real, life-or-death storm had only just begun...

Lei Tie knew he had made the wisest choice of his life.