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

"Preliminary investigation? Director Qin, I believe you are professionals in handling cases, but I would like to ask you a few questions."

"As far as I know, when the Anti-Corruption Bureau receives a tip-off, it needs to register it and have it verified and approved by the chief prosecutor in charge before it can proceed to the preliminary investigation stage."

"The initial investigation mainly involves routine investigations such as external verification, account inquiries, site visits, and document retrieval."

"The initial investigation phase can be conducted either secretly or publicly."

"Questioning is permitted, but searches, seizures, and coercive measures are not allowed."

"Then..." Zhou Chuyi paused for a moment, looking at Hou Liangping, whose face was deathly pale.

"I would like to ask Director Qin, the case is still in the preliminary investigation stage and has not been formally filed."

"How did Director Hou Liangping of your investigation department obtain those three search warrants?"

How was it approved? Of course, it was because of his status as Hou Liangping's son-in-law.

Qin Siyuan roared inwardly. The chief prosecutor in charge, He Zhenren, was a member of the Zhong family, so of course Hou Liangping could get a search warrant.

But Hou Liangping is his subordinate, how is he supposed to explain this?

On the phone, Qin Siyuan was unable to answer Zhou Chuyi's questions and could only remain silent.

Zhou Chuyi sighed. "Director Qin, may I ask what your bureau's basis is? Just a letter of complaint?"

"They could do this without notifying me, the director in charge, or informing my department leaders."

"To directly enter our department's core office area with a search warrant and search the office of one of our division chiefs?"

"The key point is that the investigation into Comrade Zhao Dehan is still in its preliminary stages."

"There was no case filing decision; the procedure was completely irregular."

"I am not part of your prosecution department, so I will not comment on your working methods."

"However, today, your anti-corruption bureau personnel absolutely cannot conduct a search of our company's offices without following proper procedures!"

"Director Qin, I fully respect your work."

Zhou Chuyi slowed down his speech, "But I also ask that you understand my position."

"The Ministry of State-owned Resources Security is a key national department, and the Resource Development Department holds a large amount of core data and classified information related to national strategic security."

"Any outsider who enters our office area and accesses classified materials without prior communication or vetting poses a significant risk of leakage."

"Director Qin, if tonight's search operation results in the leakage of any classified information, who will bear the responsibility?"

"Director Qin, the projects that Comrade Zhao Dehan is in charge of involve the national western energy strategic layout and are highly classified."

"Did your bureau assess the potential risks of information leaks during the search?"

"Have corresponding confidentiality plans been developed?"

"Furthermore, if, and I mean if, the search results prove the allegations to be false."

"How does your bureau intend to mitigate the negative impact on our department, our company, and Comrade Zhao Dehan? Who will take responsibility for this?"

He fired off a barrage of questions, each one hitting the nail on the head, leaving Qin Siyuan speechless for a moment.

The anti-corruption bureau emphasizes efficiency and results in handling cases, and often pursues speed in procedures.

They have encountered many officials like Zhou Chuyi who are obsessed with procedures and emphasize consequences and responsibility.

But it is extremely rare for someone to call and question the Director General of the General Staff directly in the middle of the night, while a search operation is underway.

In the past, when Hou Liangping handled cases this way, people who knew his identity didn't take it too seriously.

However, judging from Zhou Chuyi's tone, he didn't care about the other party's identity at all.

"Director Zhou, we..." Qin Siyuan tried to explain.

Zhou Chuyi interrupted Qin Siyuan and continued, "Director Qin, I'm calling you to confirm a few things."

"It's not about assigning blame to anyone, nor is it about making things difficult for Comrade Hou Liangping."

"What I'm trying to say is that while we're fighting corruption, we must also uphold the bottom line of procedures."

"Without procedural justice, there is no substantive justice."

"If our law enforcement actions cannot withstand procedural scrutiny, then what's the difference between us and corrupt officials?"

"Director Qin," Zhou Chuyi said, his tone growing colder and colder, without giving him a chance.

"I don't care how you handled cases in the past, but this is a key agency in a central ministry, in the Ministry of State Resources and Social Security."

"This is not a lawless zone, but it is certainly not a place where you can act unilaterally and report later!"

"Procedural justice is a prerequisite for substantive justice; violating procedure is itself the greatest violation of the law!"

"I am now formally raising this question and demanding a reasonable explanation from your bureau regarding this matter!"

"Also, what happened tonight?"

"The staff of our Discipline Inspection and Supervision Office and Confidentiality Office recorded the entire process. The inquiry letter will be formally delivered to the Supreme People's Procuratorate and your bureau tomorrow."

"Our department also reserves the right to report relevant issues to the disciplinary inspection department."

"We hope that the Supreme People's Procuratorate and the Anti-Corruption Bureau will provide a clear response to this matter."

After saying that, Zhou Chuyi hung up the phone without waiting for Qin Siyuan's response.

His chest rose and fell slightly, not from excitement, but because he had talked too much and his mouth was dry.

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Chuyi looked at Hou Liangping and the others.

"Director Hou, I think you heard my conversation with Director Qin just now."

"It seems we won't be able to cooperate with your work tonight."

"Director Zhao, write down the names of these colleagues from the Anti-Corruption Bureau and attach them to the inquiry letter."

Zhou Chuyi gave instructions to the discipline inspection and supervision comrades, which almost made Hou Liangping and the others collapse to the ground.

He ignored Hou Liangping and turned to Zhao Dehan, who was already terrified.

His tone softened somewhat, but still carried an undeniable authority: "Zhao Dehan, go back and rest first. You'll be at work as usual tomorrow."

"Now that the anti-corruption bureau has received your report, they will conduct a routine inquiry. Please cooperate with their work."

Upon hearing Zhou Chuyi's words, Zhao Dehan nodded quickly, "I will definitely cooperate with the work of the anti-corruption bureau comrades."

"Hmm." Zhou Chuyi nodded in agreement.

Just then, Zhao Dehan raised his hand and said, "Director Zhou, I have something else to tell you."

"Hmm? Is there anything else?" Zhou Chuyi looked at him.

"Just now, these colleagues from the Anti-Corruption Bureau came to my house with a search warrant and searched it."

"They had a search warrant, and I cooperated fully with their work."

"But I didn't know their search warrant was invalid."

"My house has been ransacked by these young comrades, and many neighbors have seen it."

"I think the news of my arrest by the anti-corruption bureau has already spread like wildfire in our neighborhood."

"Even though I'm just a lowly section chief, I can't be framed like this."

Seeing Zhao Dehan's aggrieved expression, Zhou Chuyi nodded in agreement.

"Director Zhao, write down what happened to Section Chief Zhao and emphasize it in the inquiry letter."

"If their investigation finds that Director Zhao has problems, that's fine; but if they don't find anything..."

Zhou Chuyi looked at Hou Liangping and the others again, "They need to give an explanation for the negative impact this has had on Director Zhao of our department."

"Understood, Director Zhou." Director Zhao nodded.

"Are the security personnel here?" Zhou Chuyi looked up at the group of onlookers.

"Director Zhou, we're here." Several people stepped forward.

"Okay, Director Zhao, after you've finished registering, please ask your colleagues from the Anti-Corruption Bureau to leave."

"It's late, everyone should go home."

Zhou Chuyi waved for everyone to disperse, then went upstairs with his secretary, Xiao Lin, completely ignoring the anti-corruption bureau staff who looked utterly dejected.

Back in his office, he told Kobayashi to go home first.

Zhou Chuyi picked up the teacup and found that the tea inside had already gone cold, so he put the cup down.

He picked up the landline on his desk and dialed the number of Shen Huiwu, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of State Resources and Social Security.

"Minister, I'm sorry to disturb your rest."

"Something has happened in the department that I feel I must report to you immediately."

Minister Shen's voice immediately became more clear-headed: "Speak."

Zhou Chuyi took a deep breath and recounted the whole story in detail.

From his perspective, he objectively recounted how Hou Liangping led people to search the area, how he arranged the cooperation, and the content of his conversation with Qin Siyuan.

He didn't embellish the story, nor did he deliberately hide anything.

I simply explained the sequence of events, the positions of both sides, and the measures I had already taken.

This is the experience Zhou Chuyi summarized after years of working within the system—the most important thing when reporting to superiors is to be truthful and factual.

Say what needs to be said clearly, and don't say a single unnecessary word.

The leader has his own judgment; you don't need to make decisions for him.