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

There was a full half-minute of silence on the other end of the phone.

When the voice rang out again, Minister Shen's voice was no longer sleepy; it was filled with authority and anger.

"Outrageous! Do the people in the Anti-Corruption Bureau have any regard for organizational discipline?"

"Are there no ministries like ours even involved? This is utterly lawless!"

"Do they think they're catching a thief? This is a central government agency!"

Minister Shen's roar startled Zhou Chuyi, but he could still detect a hint of pleasure in Minister Shen's tone, beyond his anger.

This was something they had planned long ago.

However, the final result was completely unexpected by Zhou Chuyi and Minister Shen.

Zhou Chuyi never expected that Hou Liangping would be so arrogant and stupid.

That Chief Prosecutor He Zhenren probably has his own ulterior motives.

They lack concrete evidence and cannot issue a decision to file a case.

Hou Liangping estimates that the procedures were ignored for a long time, and as long as the search warrant was obtained, the other party simply signed the search warrant.

However, Hou Liangping's actions not only landed him in trouble.

He Zhenren, the chief prosecutor, and Qin Siyuan from the anti-corruption bureau were both framed by him.

With audio and video recordings, as well as call logs, Zhou Chuyi and his group have caught them red-handed this time.

"Chu Yi, you did a great job." Minister Shen's voice became cheerful; they could now launch their campaign without restraint.

This is going to be a real headache for the Zhong family. I'm so happy.

Now, it all depends on whether they protect Hou Liangping as the Marquis of Changxin.

"Cooperating with their search is fine, provided that the procedures are just, reasonable, and legal."

"The Ministry of State-Owned Resources Security is not a vegetable market where you can come and go as you please."

"No matter how much power the Anti-Corruption Bureau has, it cannot treat organizational discipline as a mere formality."

"Minister, my thought is that the investigation into Comrade Hou Liangping is still ongoing."

"We should cooperate where necessary, but this matter cannot simply be left unresolved."

"If they find out there's a problem, then everything is fine."

"If they find nothing, then they have to give us an explanation."

"Why search a key department's classified unit based solely on an anonymous letter?"

"This involves the credibility and normal work order of the entire department."

"You're absolutely right." Minister Shen's voice was resolute.

"I'll handle this matter. As for the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Qin Siyuan's word alone isn't enough."

"I'd like to ask the chief prosecutor of the Supreme People's Procuratorate how they manage their subordinate units."

A smile appeared on Zhou Chuyi's face, knowing that Minister Shen's words meant that the matter had escalated to a higher level.

Now, everything is in their favor; it all depends on what price the Zhong family will have to pay this time.

He knew that Minister Shen had probably already informed his father-in-law, Sun Chunwu.

Old Sun should be able to dial the number of the Chief Prosecutor of the Supreme People's Procuratorate in a little while.

The conversation between Fuguo and Fuguo wasn't tense at all; it was more like two old friends chatting.

However, Old Sun's occasional remark was enough to make the other party blush.

Fu Guo's face was not looking good. This weight and pressure were far beyond what Qin Siyuan, the director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, could bear.

What he didn't know was that Hou Liangping would bring them an extra surprise.

Downstairs, under the watchful eyes of comrades from the Discipline Inspection and Supervision Department and the Confidentiality Department, Hou Liangping and his colleagues registered the relevant information.

The head of the security department of the State-owned Resources Security Department, along with several skilled security personnel, escorted Hou Liangping and his group out of the building.

Although it was called "invitation," the scale of the event was quite impressive.

Hou Liangping's face instantly turned a deep liver color.

When has he ever been treated like this?

Who is he? He is Zhong Xiaoai's husband and the sharp sword of the Supreme People's Procuratorate's Anti-Corruption Bureau!

When did I get "escorted" out of the building in such a half-invitation, half-carrying manner?

Standing in the empty compound of the ministry, the late winter wind blew on Hou Liangping's parched face, but he felt no coolness at all.

The accompanying prosecutors were also terribly silent, and the atmosphere was terribly oppressive.

They've stopped thinking about investigating the case; their only thought now is to find someone and see if they can get rid of this.

"Chief, what do we do now?" a young police officer asked cautiously.

Hou Liangping stomped his foot, a ruthless glint and a gambler's madness flashing in his eyes.

"What do we do? Zhou Chuyi is clearly protecting Zhao Dehan! What's the procedure?"

"I tried to explain the procedures to him, but he just talked about the rules! The more he acts like this, the more it proves he has something to hide!"

"I don't think he's clean either."

When Hou Liangping said this, everyone looked at him in disbelief.

"What, isn't it obvious?"

"Zhao Dehan is definitely a corrupt official. Zhou Chuyi is protecting Zhao Dehan like this, so he must also have problems."

"Procedures and disciplines are all just excuses."

"He just wants to obstruct our investigation so that they have time to process the evidence."

"No, we can't just slink away like this."

He glanced around at everyone, his voice low but carrying a resolute determination: "If we don't have the case filing decision, we can get it made."

"But now, we can't go back empty-handed!"

"Since we can't find it at our workplace, let's just go to Dijingyuan!"

"I refuse to believe that we can't find anything at that villa Zhao Dehan secretly went to, even if we dig three feet into the ground!"

"If we wait until the process is complete, they will definitely clean it up properly."

Someone hesitated and said, "Chief, our search warrant is currently invalid."

"Going to Dijingyuan without Zhao Dehan present... that's even more serious."

"What are you afraid of!" Hou Liangping retorted, "We're the anti-corruption bureau! We're here to catch corrupt officials! If anything goes wrong, I'll take the blame!"

"If they get through tonight and clean up all the evidence, we're finished."

"They're already writing an inquiry letter. If they don't find out about Zhao Dehan's corruption, we'll definitely be in big trouble."

"Besides, as long as evidence is found, problems are uncovered, and we've done our job, all procedural issues and inquiries are irrelevant!"

Driven by an almost fanatical emotion, Hou Liangping led his men without notifying anyone or carrying any legal documents.

He quietly left the Ministry of State Resources and went straight to the Imperial Garden in the suburbs of Beijing.

Unbeknownst to them, as their convoy drove away, several people were quietly following behind them in a Passat.

Imperial View Villas.

A black sedan slowly drove into the frame and stopped in the driveway in front of the villa.

The car lights went out, and several figures emerged from the car.

Hou Liangping walked at the very front—tall, neat, and exuding an imposing aura of "do or die."

Looking at the tightly closed villa gate, Hou Liangping waved his right hand.

The prosecutor behind him hesitated for a moment, then made up his mind, stepped forward, and operated the door lock for a while.

The door opened.

As the group entered the villa, the lights came on one by one, and through the floor-to-ceiling windows, they could see figures moving around inside.

......

More than two hours had passed since Hou Liangping and his group entered the villa.

Hou Liangping and his team members moved slower and slower, and their expressions changed from initial excitement to bewilderment, and finally to undisguised panic.

Apart from the expensive furniture and decorations, there were no items in the entire villa related to the "stolen money".

Hou Liangping slumped onto the smooth marble floor, sweat trickling down his temples and dripping onto the ground, leaving a small, dark stain.

Several prosecutors also slumped onto the sofa, looking dejected.

There was nothing there.

It’s over.

That was the only thought in their minds.