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

"Dad, before we talk about anything else, I want to clarify one thing: is the mission the organization assigned to me still valid?"

"Sha Ruijin asked."

The task was naturally to eliminate Zhao Lichun's remaining influence in Handong, while ensuring a smooth transition in Handong, especially in the political and legal system.

To this end, Sha Ruijin confirmed a general plan with his father-in-law and five adoptive fathers in Beijing:

Investigate the basic situation in Handong and confirm its actual condition. If it has deteriorated to a certain extent, decisively use the provincial party secretary's personnel power to reject all the lists of candidates that the previous provincial party secretary hastily proposed to promote before leaving office.

This step was very risky.

However, the benefits are equally significant. It prevents the Zhao faction from seamlessly transitioning to key positions, while simultaneously creating numerous vacant posts that can be shared with the Standing Committee of Handong afterward. In this way, his foothold in Handong is firmly established.

To prevent Zhao Lichun from becoming suspicious.

Two days ago, he visited them as a junior.

Also.

Now, after Liu Kaihe was removed by the higher-level discipline inspection commission, the Zhao faction in Handong is only left with Gao Yuliang's Han University gang and Li Dakang's secretary gang.

But compared to the Han University gang.

The secretaries who heavily relied on Li Dakang's personal prestige obviously had much less power. Moreover, although Li Dakang was an economic leader, he was not well regarded by the higher-ups. The fact that the mayor of a city took the initiative to study at the Party School in Beijing had already implicated both Li Dakang and Wu Xiongfei.

It can be used as a warning to others.

Sha Ruijin, in his capacity as the provincial party secretary, appeased Gao Yuliang and the Han University behind him, and dealt with prominent members of the Han University clique, such as Qi Tongwei. The following year, he arranged for Gao Yuliang to transfer to the association.

With the Zhao family's foundation completely eradicated, evidence sufficient to bring Zhao Lichun down through proper procedures can be found in Handong.

But now the situation has suddenly changed...

Before he even went down, his freshly conceived plan was stillborn.

Li Dakang and Qi Tongwei, who were on the target list, were accepted by Lin Zhiyuan. Handong Oil and Gas Group and Shanshui Group, which were related to the Zhao family, were investigated. Liu Xinjian and Gao Xiaoqin completed their collusion at the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection. The Zhao family seemed to have suffered a major blow, but in fact, they were hiding something much deeper.

The most fatal thing is that the equity dispute between Shanshui Group and Dafeng Factory has implicated his other adoptive father, Chen Yanshi.

His adoptive father, who had once brought him honor, had become a criminal, which was a slap in the face to him.

Thank goodness... thank goodness...

His father-in-law was extremely farsighted and saw early on that Chen Yanshi was unreliable and would eventually fall into trouble, so he hadn't had much contact with him for the past thirty years.

But upon closer reflection…

There's something even more terrifying: has the Zhao family sided with Lin Zhiyuan? Otherwise, why would Lin Zhiyuan, who was tasked with economic development, repeatedly accept the Zhao family's influence?

Lin Zhiyuan is a scoundrel!

His methods were even more domineering than Li Dakang's; he did absurd things like kicking five people at once, yet he still managed to save himself.

With him leading the way…

The Zhao family might actually be able to come back to life.

That's why Sha Ruijin asked this question.

"Forehead!"

Old Qin hesitated for a moment, but shook his head firmly, "At least they didn't say they wanted to change."

"The decision to accept the Zhao family's influence is likely Lin Zhiyuan's personal idea; he has never followed the usual path."

"So your most important task is to find evidence of Zhao Lichun and the Zhao family's crimes."

"But there's one thing."

"The hatred of those who block your way is irreconcilable. You don't need to fight to the death with Old Stone, but if he blocks your way, you must be prepared to draw your bayonets."

"Defeated, fifteen years! Surrendered, life imprisonment."

A fierce glint appeared in Old Qin's eyes.

"Dad, I understand."

Sha Ruijin nodded heavily. When you reach their position, many things are driven by the general trend, and your own words don't count.

"I was fully prepared."

"But this time, I'm sure to win. Gao Yuliang and Tian Guofu can both be obstacles for Lin Zhiyuan."

Sha Ruijin's eyes were bloodshot.

Old Qin was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, but then a more satisfied smile appeared on his face, and he understood what it meant.

Lin Zhiyuan acted lawlessly once, but that was because the country and Hanjiang needed him. There will never be a second time. Even if President Wang and Elder Yan support him, rules are rules, and they will never be broken twice for one person.

Otherwise, where is the decorum?

What if others follow suit?

"Ruijin, you're doing well."

Old Qin slowly got up, leaning on his cane. After years of working in the disciplinary system, Sha Ruijin had finally grasped the essence of things and immediately found Lin Zhiyuan's Achilles' heel.

"When you get to Handong, visit your Aunt Wang often."

"The verdict from the Handong Court is out. Lao Shitou was sentenced to the maximum penalty of ten years, while Hai Zi was found guilty of abusing his power and handling the case improperly, and was sentenced to three years' probation and expulsion from the Party and public office."

"Chen Yang will probably be transferred back to Jingzhou later."

"You handle it as you see fit."

Old Qin is gone, and only the thumping sound grows ever fainter in the distance.

Sha Ruijin remained seated without looking up, as if a shadow was looming over him, obscuring his expression.

In Handong, similar worries have piled up like mountains.

Gao Yuliang sat in his office, but his mind was still replaying Tian Guofu's unusually friendly behavior that morning.

Its meaning is vague and unclear.

But Gao Yuliang understood that the other party was conveying, in a sense, the friendship of the soon-to-arrive Secretary Sha.

Ah!

So it turns out Tian Guofu was the vanguard general! For a whole six months, he didn't even realize it, still dreaming of becoming the provincial party secretary.

The provincial party secretary holds the power of personnel appointments, including the power to appoint and remove officials. If the higher authorities intend for him to succeed the provincial party secretary, how could this newly appointed provincial discipline inspection secretary not be close to him, or even close to the outgoing secretary Liao?

Damn it!

Those involved often fail to understand the true nature of the situation; how tragic!

Gao Yuliang took out an old-fashioned security cell phone from the drawer and dialed a number.

The call had just been made.

Gao Yuliang's expression immediately became respectful, and he straightened his back.

I waited for half a minute.

The call was finally connected.

"I am your senior, Yu-liang."

Gao Yuliang's voice was flat, but there was a slight tremor in it.

"Yuliang, I've heard about what happened in Handong."

A deep, resonant voice came through the phone, "You're in a difficult situation right now, aren't you?"

"Yes, some."

Gao Yuliang spoke frankly, "But now things have changed. Tian Guofu, representing Sha Ruijin, conveyed goodwill to me."

"It's both a good thing and a bad thing."

"You could have gotten off the Zhao family's ship safely in the past, but you could also have become a victim of the struggle between Sha Ruijin and Lin Zhiyuan."

Gao Yuliang nodded vigorously.

The senior's insight is still so unique; he can judge the delicate situation in Handong from just a few words.

"Yuliang, you know him."

"If I were in anyone else's position, I could help you, but I can't do that with Lin Zhiyuan."

"So my advice to you is this: In the past, as the full-time deputy in charge of organizing ideology and the deputy provincial party committee secretary, you should naturally be united with the top leader, who can erase the biggest problem with your characterization."

"Yuliang, in the end, it's your own choice."