Nominal: The Handong Game, the Energy System's Counterattack

Three gold coin-shaped bread trucks drove into the building of the Ministry of State Resources Security under the cover of night.

Nobody knew that these three ordinary vans contained more than 200 million yuan in cash.

After getting off the car, Zhou Chuyi said goodbye to Director Zhang and the others, and then took Zhao Dehan back to his office.

"Xiao Lin, make Director Zhao a cup of tea." Zhou Chuyi plopped down in his seat and tossed a cigarette to Zhao Dehan.

Zhao Dehan hurriedly took the cigarette and pulled out a lighter, but his hands were trembling with nervousness, and he couldn't light it for a long time.

The secretary brought in two cups of tea. He got up, took them, and looked at Zhou Chuyi with a hunched back.

"Director Zhou, I...I..."

Zhou Chuyi took a drag of his cigarette and waved for him to sit down.

"No decision has been made on your matter yet. Just continue with your usual routine for the next couple of days."

"The concrete results are definitely better than going to the anti-corruption bureau."

"Remember, from today onwards, you'd better do things properly. If there's a next time, no one will be able to protect you."

"Yes, yes, I know."

"Also, I reckon that Director Hou from the Anti-Corruption Bureau will be looking for you in the next couple of days."

Zhou Chuyi leaned forward and gave Zhao Dehan some instructions.

"At that time, you'll just be like this..."

"Got it? When the time comes, make a huge scene, the bigger the better."

Zhou Chuyi looked at Zhao Dehan seriously, "Director Zhao, then we'll see how your acting goes."

"Director Zhou, I know what to do."

Zhao Dehan left Zhou Chuyi's office with profuse thanks.

Meanwhile, in a courtyard house in Xishan, Haidian District, Beijing.

Several bigwigs from the energy sector sat together drinking tea.

"Old Sun, is everything clear now?" a deep voice rang out.

"Understood, Xiao Zhou has investigated everything in advance."

Sun Chunwu, Minister of State Resources Security, took a sip of tea.

"How was it arranged?" another voice asked.

"More than 200 million yuan in cash was deposited into the account as embezzled funds of a former director who had fled abroad."

Several elderly people with white hair nodded.

"That year, Comrade Zhong Mingguo, the son of Mr. Zhong, had just taken office as the Deputy Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection."

"They investigated one of our deputy directors; we knew about it beforehand."

"But it's alright. As a gift for his inauguration, we won't say anything. We still have to give Elder Zhong face."

"A few years later, he, Zhong Mingguo's son-in-law, was transferred to the Anti-Corruption Bureau."

"After a while, they took down one of our section chiefs."

"We don't even care about such a small matter."

"Not two years later, the director of that resource approval office was reported for corruption."

"His son-in-law sent the person in."

"Ha, so many parasites in our department?"

"A few years later, it was still Comrade Zhong Mingguo who became his son-in-law."

"It was the head of the approval department; they found 7.8 million yuan in his home."

"Now, Elder Zhong has already passed away."

"How many times has this happened? What is the Zhong family trying to do?"

"You guys are just sitting around doing nothing. Are we, the energy department, just there to herd horses and be used as blood bags? Are you really that spineless?"

"If Xiao Zhou hadn't discovered it early, would this section chief be in jail again?"

"Over two hundred million? Ha, does that mean we can just let anyone trample on our reputation?"

After the white-haired old man sitting at the head of the table finished speaking, the others all lowered their heads.

"Yes, some of our men do dishonest things, but we always do things properly."

"Who reported this time?" The old man didn't get angry again, but he was still quite indignant about the Zhong family's disregard for the rules.

"People from Fujian Province came to ask for approval, but Xiao Zhou suppressed them."

"Hmph, refusing to grant them the permit is harming them?"

"Do you know what the market has been like these past few years? How many approvals has Xiao Zhou blocked, saving so many businesses?"

"They're still from the Chung family. They report people for not giving them the permit. They have no manners."

"Since the Zhong family has no rules, we will take back the resources of Fujian."

"Old Wei, you go and get all those traitors from the Minhai energy sector imprisoned."

"Sure, I've wanted to do this for a long time. The Zhong family is taking advantage of us and then they're blaming us. We're giving them face."

"Alright, that's settled then." The old man sitting at the head of the table made the final decision.

"I heard the Zhong family has designs on Handong?" another old man brought up a new topic.

"What does it mean to have ideas? It means to be blatant about it."

"A few months ago, Tian Guofu, the newly appointed secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission of Handong, was a member of the Zhong family."

"After Zhao Lichun came to Yanjing, the Zhong family and the Wang family joined forces to promote the Wang family's son-in-law."

"The higher-ups have already made their decision regarding Zhao Lichun; they're just there to reap the rewards."

"Old Zhong just left not long ago, how come the Zhong family seems to be even more powerful now?"

"Hmph, the deputy secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission, huh? Zhong Mingguo wants to drop the 'deputy' from his name."

"If they join forces, it's still possible for them to take down Zhao Lichun."

"There's still no discipline. Zhao Lichun has no children in the organization, so why can't he sit comfortably in a nominal position?"

"There was nothing he could do. His second daughter married into a family in Lingnan, and he himself was in charge of both military and political affairs in Handong, which was a taboo."

The room fell silent the moment those words were spoken.

"Since the Zhong family wants to reap the rewards, why don't we get involved?"

Old Wei, who had just been mentioned, suddenly spoke up.

This statement instantly piqued everyone's interest.

"Old Wei, our faction has a natural weakness. We're good at maintaining the status quo, but we don't have many people who can actually get ahead."

"Think about it again." Old Wei picked up his teacup and took a delicious sip.

"Huh?" Minister Sun suddenly looked up. "You mean Chu Yi?"

Seeing Old Wei nod, he immediately objected, "That won't do, we've reserved our seats for him and Old Shen."

"Old Sun, don't think that just because he's your son-in-law you're unwilling to release him."

"Besides, he's your son-in-law; he can't sit in your seat."

When Zhou Chuyi was mentioned, everyone nodded.

"Hey Lao Sun, we can't keep holding onto good talent forever."

"I know Xiao Zhou. He is young and capable, has grassroots experience, understands economics, and has an international perspective."

"From county party secretary to mayor, and then to ministerial level, he has made great contributions to us in the past few years."

"Yes, he accurately predicted the coal market trend over the past few years and also guessed the direction of the higher-ups' decisions."

"If it weren't for him, our entire energy department wouldn't have had such a good time these past few years."

Everyone started discussing it animatedly, and suddenly they felt that Old Wei's suggestion was very constructive.

"I think Lao Wei's idea is very good. Zhao Lichun used to be in charge of Handong."

"We've given some of the resources from Handong Energy to the Zhao family."

"Now that the Zhong family is making their move in Handong, they're practically groveling in our faces. Are we really going to give them what they want, Grandma?"

"Yes, as long as you follow the rules, it's okay to divide up some of the shares."

"But whether it's the Wang family or the Zhong family, they're the kind of people who take advantage of you and then leave you with nothing. You won't get anything good in return if you give them anything."

"By the way, what level is Xiao Zhou at now?"

"Director, it's time for a change in the director-general level."

"Sure, it's perfect timing. We can go to Handong and get him promoted, which will solve his vice-ministerial rank issue first."

"Perfect timing, we can slowly take back what Handong gave to the Zhao family."

"Hehe, it just so happens that I have connections with Liu Wenzhong, the governor of Handong Province," Old Wei chuckled.

"He's getting old, let him serve one more term to protect Xiao Zhou."

"If we try our best to get him to step down further, he will definitely agree to that condition."

"What about his achievements?" someone asked a crucial question.

"Hmph, we in the energy department have plenty of money, nothing else."

"During the years Xiao Zhou worked in the ministry, he helped countless coal mine owners save their businesses, and many people owe him favors."

"As soon as word gets out, those people will flock to Handong with huge sums of money."

"That's right. Xiao Zhou once led a poor county to become one of the top 100 counties in the country. His ability is beyond question, and his political achievements are the least of our concerns."

......

Out of dissatisfaction with the Zhong family, these old men from the energy sector decided to get involved in Handong.

Their energy department isn't a pushover that anyone can kick.