In name only: The land of Handong, I shall rule its fate.

The atmosphere surrounding the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee's meeting swept across the entire Handong Province early the next morning.

"Old Ji, what's going on with Chen Hai?"

Lu Yike stormed into the chief prosecutor's office, and neither Lin Huahua nor Zhou Zheng could stop him.

"Yike, you guys have come at just the right time. I was just about to talk about this."

Ji Changming's face showed no extra expression. He personally stood up and pulled a deputy director and two section chiefs to sit down. "This is the latest resolution passed by the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee last night. No one can change it."

Why?

Hearing the provincial party committee's excited tone calm down somewhat, Lu Yike still looked puzzled, as if she had been betrayed. "Director Chen Hai led our anti-corruption bureau on the front lines of the fight against corruption. Why was he suspended from his post overnight?"

"Right now, the entire anti-corruption bureau is in a state of panic."

"Because of Chen Hai's father, Chen Yanshi."

Ji Changming didn't beat around the bush or make things too complicated, because the timid and indiscriminate Hu Daniu wouldn't listen to him at all. "The Jingzhou Municipal Party Committee and the Provincial Department discovered twenty tons of gasoline at Dafeng Factory, which was used to violently resist demolition. Chen Yanshi is one of the shareholders of Dafeng Factory. He knew about it but didn't report it and even gave tactical guidance."

"Chen Yanshi has had all his retirement benefits revoked by the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, and the evidence has been submitted to the court for trial according to law."

"The Dafeng Factory case is of great importance. Li Dakang, secretary of the Jingzhou Municipal Party Committee, and Lin Zhiyuan, the newly appointed executive vice governor, demanded that the case be handled severely and made a typical example of the Dafeng Factory case."

"Let alone just suspending Chen Hai's post, Chen Shan was discharged from the army on the spot, Chen Yang was demoted, and Secretary Gao Yuliang was made to make a public apology at the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee meeting for his poor leadership."

"I'm afraid I won't live to see a peaceful retirement."

A bitter smile appeared on Ji Changming's usually gentle face. He explained his predicament, emphasized the importance of the matter, and warned them not to get involved. Most importantly, he pointed out the main instigator, giving them an outlet for their emotions.

"How is that possible?"

As expected, Lu Yike was a bit agitated. "Old Chen is a seasoned veteran revolutionary, how could he possibly participate in a violent incident?"

"Furthermore, Li Dakang has always been at odds with Elder Chen, and he doesn't even bother with the most basic pretense of courtesy. Could it be that he's conspired with the newly appointed executive vice president to deliberately suppress Elder Chen and Director Chen Hai?"

Ji Changming was somewhat speechless.

He explained himself so clearly, so why couldn't the other person understand at all? He didn't inherit even a fraction of his senior sister's or Chief of Staff Lu's political acumen.

Who is Li Dakang?

A powerful figure in Jingzhou, a member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee and the Party Secretary of the provincial capital city, both at the vice-ministerial level, yet I couldn't even see his taillights.

Who is Lin Zhiyuan?

The newly appointed deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission, who was parachuted into Beijing, has served as the executive deputy director of three provinces and is a shoo-in for the future governor of Handong Province.

Two big shots, having nothing better to do than mess with a retired bureau-level official, Old Man Wanshi and Chen Hai?

His original intention was for Lu Yike to go to his uncle-in-law Gao and his father, to intervene and try to create a situation where he and the procuratorate were separated, but...

"The Anti-Corruption Bureau's First Division has suspended all operations to cooperate with the Audit Department's investigation."

A glint flashed in Ji Changming's eyes. Since neither good nor bad advice could be taken, and he, as the chief prosecutor, was no pushover, he immediately gave the order.

"What? Quarterly inspection? Why are you suspending our work?"

Now, not only Lu Yike, but also Lin Huahua and Zhou Zheng, who were standing to the side, were anxious.

"It's not just you guys."

Ji Changming gave a forced smile, saying, "The entire Anti-Corruption Bureau, the entire Procuratorate, including myself, will be subject to audit by the Audit Department."

Why?

"Ask yourselves, Chen Hai has only been the head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau for two years, and the department's budget has increased by 40%. Is the Anti-Corruption Bureau burning money or actually solving cases?"

"Secretary Gao summoned me early this morning and gave me a dressing-down. Governor Lin questioned at the Standing Committee meeting whether the Provincial Procuratorate had become the Chen family's procuratorate, using public funds to do things for the Chen family?"

The initial indulgence was gone from Ji Changming's face, replaced by a chilling coldness as he swept his gaze over the three people present.

If this accusation is firmly attached to him, he won't even have the chance to go to Qincheng Prison.

"Your Anti-Corruption Bureau's First Division is the primary target of the audit and investigation. Next is the Second Division. After the Anti-Corruption Bureau finishes its investigation, there's the Anti-Dereliction Bureau, the Investigation and Supervision Division, the Public Prosecution Division... They investigate one by one. Whichever department is investigated, that department will be suspended from work."

Ji Changming said coldly, waving his hand to signal the three of them to leave.

After the three of them left the office, their expressions and gazes were dazed. Lin Huahua's eyes darted around, and she tugged at Lu Yike, "Yike, do you want to go look for your aunt again?"

No matter what, Gao Yuliang is the secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission and the superior of the Provincial Procuratorate.

"Um?"

Just as Lu Yike was about to answer, she looked up and saw her colleagues from the procuratorate passing by casting cold, hostile glances at her, as if she were seeing enemies rather than comrades in the same trench.

"I'll go ask."

Zhou Zheng was the first to react, and soon after he came running back, looking dejected. "Director Lu, Hua Hua, we're doomed."

"What's wrong?"

Lin Huahua was puzzled.

"During the audit, bonuses and subsidies for all personnel in the Provincial Procuratorate were suspended, and only basic salaries were paid."

Zhou Zheng's brows were almost furrowed together.

Compared to others, he was the only one in the anti-corruption bureau without any background, so he relied more on his salary and bonuses.

Without bonuses, he only has a basic salary of two or three thousand yuan, which is barely enough to support himself, let alone pursue Lin Huahua.

"Is this being blamed on our anti-corruption bureau?"

Lu Yike sneered, "The Anti-Corruption Bureau will never have any problems. If they have nothing to hide, what are they afraid of? The bonuses and subsidies will still be paid out."

Done.

Ignoring the reactions of others, he went straight back to the office area.

"Why!"

Ji Changming, standing behind him, saw everything, feeling both annoyed and helpless.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau's work is special, so he specially selected a group of young people with extraordinary backgrounds. They have good material conditions and complex connections behind them, making them difficult to be corrupted. They have always been a sharp knife for the procuratorate.

But now, the Anti-Corruption Bureau has both made and broken them.

Having lived half his life on thin ice, can Ji Changming still live a peaceful life until the day he retires safely?

The capital city received the news even before Handong.

At the provincial party committee standing committee meeting, the record of 20 tons of gasoline was submitted and immediately attracted the attention of the higher authorities.

"How dare that son-in-law from the Yan family do that?"

"They directly submitted the case to a veteran revolutionary for review, disregarding all political rules and implications."

Inside a courtyard house, five or six elderly people were gathered together.

"What's done is done."

"Old Stone is beyond saving. Nobody should interfere. Anyone who touches him will die."

"Let Ruijin go down."

"Um!"

"This is the only way. Get Ruijin in office as soon as possible, so that the Lin family brat won't go too far."

"The Chen family must leave a lineage; there aren't many of our old comrades left."