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

The auditorium of the municipal government compound.

The air was unusually stuffy, like an invisible mountain pressing down on everyone's hearts. Coupled with the increasingly hot weather, a sense of restlessness lingered in everyone's mind.

It has been 7 hours since I entered at 4 o'clock.

People are forced to eat in their current location, and even when they need to use the restroom, they are followed around. More and more people are being taken away, and every minute and every second they are on the verge of emotional collapse.

A bell rang.

It instantly attracted everyone's attention, and they all looked up at the position of the podium.

"Okay, I understand."

Qin Zhuofeng hung up the phone quickly.

"Mayor Feng, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

Qin Zhuofeng stood up and looked at Feng Baoyi, his tone somber. "After joint investigation by the Provincial Department and the 'Clean Handong' program team, it was found that Feng Beibei colluded with some members of the Ling Chamber of Commerce to privately meet with the heads of underground banks and international intermediaries in Oceania, South Asia, and other places, suspected of illegally transferring huge amounts of assets overseas. It was also verified that the other actual shareholders of Hongsheng Construction Company, which Feng Beibei controls in Jiangdong, are all members of the Ling Chamber of Commerce."

"With the approval of the Provincial Party Committee, we are now launching a relevant investigation against you in accordance with laws and regulations."

The projector was turned on again.

It was the surveillance video showing Feng Beibei meeting with overseas people under the guise of racing cars and yachts.

"good!"

Feng Baoyi remained silent for a long time before raising his hands, the distance between them just right, neither too long nor too short.

"Internal investigation."

Qin Zhuofeng shook his head, turned to Qing Guo and said, "The rest is up to Secretary Qing. The Provincial Party Committee asks Secretary Qing to ensure that Diaozhou is handled properly in the follow-up events, that it lands smoothly, and that society remains stable."

"The provincial and municipal departments will provide full assistance in this work."

"clear!"

Qing Guo solemnly replied that the tigers had been brought under control, but the jackals below were not yet, and they were the real direct cause of social unrest.

Detention room of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection.

"You guys are very fast."

Feng Baoyi raised his head, revealing dark circles around his eyes, indicating that the fatigue he had experienced in those few minutes was greater than in previous years.

But they offered no further resistance.

"Why did it have to come to this? You're already the mayor of a city, what more could you want?"

Qin Zhuofeng asked.

The interrogation was jointly conducted by the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Provincial Anti-Corruption Bureau, with Wang Jun and two other officials serving as accomplices.

"Two reasons!"

Feng Baoyi thought for a moment before replying:

"From Lüzhou to Diaozhou, I have been the mayor for eight years. The leaders above me have changed one after another, but I have been stuck in the same place. I am getting older and older, and there is no hope left."

"In addition, I have a good-for-nothing son."

"It's my fault too!"

"His mother passed away early, and I was too busy with work to control him. Over the years, he has become increasingly unruly and I have completely lost control of him. I had long anticipated that he would drag me down with him one day."

"Why not plan a way out for yourself, go overseas and become a wealthy man, and enjoy your old age in peace?"

Feng Baoyi shook his head with a wry smile.

"It is indeed your fault."

Qin Zhuofeng was blunt, saying, "In the past, I couldn't discipline my young son or guide him onto the right path; now, you, his biological father, are even more indifferent, and you're still using your son as a shield."

"I…"

Feng Baoyi's eyes narrowed slightly.

But his words were drowned out by the sound of Qin Zhuofeng's fingers tapping on the table. "If you really wanted to get involved, would those spoiled brats from the Ling Chamber of Commerce really dare to fawn over your son? If you really wanted to get involved, would you let the Ling Chamber of Commerce think they could profit from Feng Beibei? If you really wanted to get involved, would you forcibly take Feng Beibei out every time she was detained by the Municipal Bureau?"

"It's not that you don't want to manage it; you're letting it run rampant, even leading Feng Beibei down a path of depravity."

"Closing roads for reckless driving, resulting in death; yachting revelry, ruining your reputation; laser tag in the mountains, with real gunfire—each of these incidents, wasn't it you indulging in self-destructive behavior?"

"You're afraid that others won't be able to find out about Feng Beibei."

"It's laughable that Feng Beibei schemed all sorts of things to choose Comrade Ping An as her shield, not realizing that she herself was also her own father's shield."

"Ridiculous! Despicable!"

"Feng Baoyi, you've gone to great lengths for your future, for your second wife, and for your youngest son!"

Feng Baoyi's pupils dilated dramatically.

"I don't know what you're talking about..."

Feng Baoyi panicked completely.

"Everyone in Handong knows that Mayor Feng has deep feelings for his deceased wife and devotes all his love to his only child, even at the cost of his reputation and innocence."

"But it is this affection that is known to everyone that is your greatest protection. You are loyal and righteous. Even if Feng Beibei is exposed and you are implicated, at most you will be placed under investigation and imprisoned for a few years. When you come out, you will be in your sixties, just the age to retire."

"If we're lucky, we might not even have to go in."

"You've got a good plan!"

"Do you really think that if you get married in some small country that doesn't have diplomatic relations with us, have children secretly, and raise your wife and children abroad, we won't be able to find out?"

"pity!"

"This road has been traveled before."

"This road is blocked!"

Feng Baoyi was utterly shocked, incredulous. "How could this have been discovered? How could it be?"

"A wild goose leaves its mark in the sky!"

Qin Zhuofeng slammed his hand on the table and said angrily, "Once it's done, it's useless no matter how clean you clean up the mess. You've underestimated the country's international influence."

"Oh!"

"Black Gold Wealth relies on the mutual aid association to act as the suzerain state to receive tributes from its agents, but you're directly acting as the suzerain state of the entire Ling Merchant Association."

"It's a pity, though."

"Your illicit assets will not be kept, nor will the Lingshang Association and others. The wives, children, lovers, and illegitimate children you sent away will not receive a single penny."

"people…"

"We won't bring them back; it's a waste of manpower and resources. We just don't know, we just don't know if your collaborators and vassals know where your wife and children are."

"I heard..."

"It's a bit messy there."

Qin Zhuofeng composed himself, realizing he looked rather wicked, which wouldn't do.

"don't want!"

Feng Baoyi panicked completely. "Please bring them back. I'll confess everything else."

Qin Zhuofeng and Wang Jun exchanged a glance.

Become!

Sha Ruijin felt a chill run down his spine; he didn't even want to listen to Gao Yuliang's account.

My hands are trembling!

The scene at the last democratic life meeting didn't seem as turbulent as this one.

How dare he do that! How dare he do that!

Sha Ruijin looked at the person opposite him, his fear almost solidified. Moreover, if Lin Zhiyuan hadn't arrived, wouldn't he have been facing this old poisoner?

How could he possibly win?

The other party is completely on the path of living as long as heaven.

"Secretary Sha, don't be nervous."

Gao Yuliang smiled broadly and even got up to hand over a thermos, saying, "Here, have some water to drink and catch your breath."

"Secretary Yuliang, were there any other people involved in this matter?"

Sha Ruijin took a sip of tea, letting his tired mind clear up after a long day, and confirmed.

"No!"

Gao Yuliang affirmed, "It was all planned and executed by me alone."

"Okay! I understand."

Sha Ruijin grabbed the red landline phone. "Comrade Tong Li, notify Governor Liu and Secretary Guo Fu to come to my office. Yes! Call them back from Diaozhou! Also... Governor Zhiyuan, come with you."