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

Sha Ruijin was practically telling Ji Changming that Li Dakang had been accepted by him and was now one of his men.

Ji Changming naturally understood Sha Ruijin's meaning and indicated that the investigation into Ouyang Jing would be conducted in accordance with the law and regulations.

"So, it's normal for Li Dakang to get a divorce." Seeing that Ji Changming understood, Sha Ruijin smiled.

"However, I was a little surprised that Li Dakang used a private car to take Ouyang Jing to the airport, and even went to see her off in person."

"Yes," Ji Changming echoed like a schoolchild, "Logically, this shouldn't be the case."

Following Sha Ruijin's lead, Ji Changming gave Li Dakang a small, agreeable comment.

"What exactly is the problem with Li Dakang's ex-wife, Ouyang Jing?"

Seeing that Ji Changming understood his meaning, Sha Ruijin finally got to the point.

"Tsai Chenggong, the owner of Dafeng Factory, reported her for accepting bribes of 2 million yuan. Now it can be confirmed that she accepted bribes of 500,000 yuan."

"Other issues are still under investigation."

Upon hearing this, Sha Ruijin almost rolled his eyes. You're talking to me, a provincial party secretary, about something as trivial as 500,000 yuan?!

However, since it involved Li Dakang, a member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, he listened patiently.

"Secretary Sha, I'd like to make a suggestion. Would you consider speaking with Secretary Li Dakang first?"

Ji Changming could also see that Sha Ruijin was not interested in Ouyang Jing's problem, so he boldly suggested that Secretary Sha first talk to Li Dakang to see how the case should be handled.

"Let him come to me. I believe he will give me a reasonable explanation."

Upon hearing Sha Ruijin's words, Ji Changming was certain that Li Dakang had gained Sha Ruijin's basic trust.

"Secretary Li raised another issue on the phone today, and I think it's necessary to report it to you, Secretary Sha."

Since Li Dakang has gained Sha Ruijin's trust, then the other side must be something Sha Ruijin dislikes.

Ji Changming immediately turned his attention to see if his thoughts were correct.

Ji Changming knew that this time, he couldn't involve Li Dakang in Ouyang Jing's case again during the report.

He then changed the subject, saying, "Today, Secretary Li expressed his support for our work during our phone call."

"No matter who it is, he requires us to handle cases impartially."

Ji Changming didn't mention Li Dakang's outburst at him, but instead went against his conscience and said that the other party supported their work.

"However, Secretary Dakang raised the issue of a small political clique, as if he had some ideas about it."

Upon hearing Ji Changming's words, Sha Ruijin became interested. "Is it Professor Gao Yuliang's 'Han University Bang'?"

"Yes." Ji Changming nodded. "Comrade Hou Liangping was also Secretary Gao Yuliang's student in his early years."

Ji Changming's meaning was very clear: Li Dakang seemed to be blaming Gao Yuliang for the arrest of Ouyang Jing.

Hearing this, Sha Ruijin was even happier.

If Secretary Bang and Han Da Bang get into a fight, that would be a good thing.

"Comrade Changming, do you think our Handong has a Han Da Bang (a nickname for a powerful force)?"

Sha Ruijin could also tell that Ji Changming was slippery, so he made a probing remark.

"Well, how do I put this?" Ji Changming seemed a little embarrassed. Gao Yuliang was the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, his direct superior.

Some things are better left unsaid; it's better to keep them to yourself than to say them out loud, as it might make things awkward for everyone.

"Speak the truth." Sha Ruijin looked at Ji Changming, letting him freely express his opinions.

"It's hard to say, it's all shrouded in mystery, seemingly there but not there." Looking at Sha Ruijin's somewhat encouraging gaze, Ji Changming still didn't want to express his opinion.

However, he also roughly knew Sha Ruijin's inclinations, "For example, some people said that Hou Liangping and Chen Hai, the former director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau, were both from the Handan University faction."

"Even Secretary Li Dakang might think so, Secretary Sha, do you believe it?"

"I don't believe it."

Ji Changming cited Chen Hai and Hou Liangping, two people whom Sha Ruijin trusted, as examples to show that he himself did not really believe in the so-called Han Da Bang.

"Heh, I don't believe it either." Sha Ruijin looked at the slick Ji Changming with interest, gesturing for him to continue.

"But Secretary Sha, it's probably not true that there isn't a small political and legal clique in Handong."

Seeing that Sha Ruijin insisted on taking something out himself, Ji Changming had no choice but to say something to Sha Ruijin that he wanted to hear.

"Our Public Security Bureau Chief of Handong Province, Comrade Qi Tongwei, is the core figure in this circle."

Now, anyone in Handong with even a little bit of information knows that at the first Standing Committee meeting after Sha Ruijin came to Handong, Sha Ruijin talked about Qi Tongwei hoeing the ground.

Leaving aside the Han University bang, Ji Changming talked about the small circle of political and legal affairs, and then brought up Qi Tongwei, whom Sha Ruijin didn't like. Surely that would satisfy Sha Ruijin?

"Our Director Qi often organizes reunions for students from the Department of Political Science and Law at Wuhan University."

"On several occasions, it was even organized in the name of Secretary Gao Yuliang."

Ji Changming of Han University didn't dare to speak openly about it, nor did he dare to discuss Gao Yuliang casually, but he felt no pressure when it came to Qi Tongwei.

Perhaps out of consideration for Gao Yuliang's familial ties with these people, Ji Changming secretly helped Gao Yuliang clear his name a little.

Many things within this small circle of political and legal affairs in Handong were done by Qi Tongwei using Gao Yuliang's name, and Gao Yuliang himself might not even know it.

Sha Ruijin knew that Ji Changming was about to retire and didn't want to cause too much trouble.

When Ji Changming brought up the things that Han Da Bang had been hiding, Sha Ruijin didn't pursue the matter much, but at least he mentioned Qi Tongwei.

For Sarrijin, that was enough.

He himself saw Qi Tongwei hoeing the ground, and Li Dakang, Tian Guofu, Wu Chunlin, and his adoptive father Chen Yanshi all expressed their disapproval of Qi Tongwei.

Now, Ji Changming is talking about the small circles within the political and legal system, and Qi Tongwei is talking about forming cliques. In Sha Ruijin's opinion, these have been basically defined.

"Alright, I understand the basic situation now, so you don't need to worry."

"Handle Ouyang Jing's case as it should be."

"Don't worry about Li Dakang's expression, and don't worry about what Gao Yuliang will think."

"Remember, be realistic and handle cases according to the law." Sha Ruijin believed that Ji Changming was aware of his own inclinations.

After the conversation, Ji Changming was given final instructions.

Before Ji Changming left, Sha Ruijin asked Ji Changming to tell Hou Liangping that the Provincial Party Committee expressed its gratitude for his actions today.

Sha Ruijin stated that Hou Liangping and his group stopped Li Dakang's car, thus saving Li Dakang's political future.

Otherwise, Handong would lose a capable reformer.

"Yes, Secretary Sha, if you hadn't mentioned it, I really wouldn't have thought of that." Ji Changming flattered Sha Ruijin upon hearing this.

"I really didn't expect that?" Sha Ruijin asked with a smile.

"I really didn't expect that," Ji Changming replied with a smile.

Then the two of them burst into laughter...

Ji Changming fully understood that this final instruction was to protect and safeguard Hou Liangping.

This was also a message to Li Dakang, telling him not to take any further action regarding Ouyang Jing's matter, as Sha Ruijin knew how to handle it.

This also showed Ji Changming how to investigate the next case.