Nominal: Starting with an entrance exam for a PhD in Economics at Peking University

Liu Xinjian raised his head, his voice trembling slightly: "Director Cheng, I didn't embezzle anything, I was just... just doing my job..."

"Perform your work?" the audit team leader sneered. "Then explain where your villa in Hainan came from? Where did the money for your son's studies in the United States come from? What's the deal with the three companies under your wife's name?"

“Those…those were all legal income…”

"Legitimate income?" The audit team leader pushed a bank statement in front of him. "Take a look for yourself. From 2015 to 2017, your wife's account received multiple large transfers, totaling over 50 million. Where did this money come from?"

Liu Xinjian stared at the bank statement, his hands beginning to tremble.

The audit team leader stood up and looked down at him: "Liu Xinjian, I advise you to confess honestly. If you explain your problems clearly, you might still have a chance. If you want to hold on, then you can wait to go to jail."

The meeting lasted three hours.

When Liu Xinjian came out of the conference room, he was completely exhausted, and his suit was soaked with sweat.

He knew it was truly over this time.

The audit team leader deliberately avoided the Qingshan gas field project and didn't mention anything related to Governor Liu. But the other issues were enough to ruin him completely.

This is Liu Changsheng's strategy.

They avoided the Qingshan gas field and the projects they had approved, focusing only on Liu Xinjian's own problems.

In this way, he both dealt with Liu Xinjian and avoided getting himself involved.

clever.

Inside the provincial government canteen, staff members were discussing the matter.

"Governor Liu really lost his temper this time."

"I've worked in the provincial government for over a decade, and this is the first time I've seen him so ruthless."

“He’s usually so easy to talk to. He always says ‘okay, okay’ or ‘fine, fine’ and never makes a decision. He never offends anyone. Even when junior staff members offer suggestions, he listens with a smile.”

“This time it’s different. Neither Hou Liangping nor Liu Xinjian were spared.”

"I heard that Hou Liangping's system account has been blocked."

"Liu Xinjian is in an even worse situation. The audit team found a lot of problems, and he's probably going to jail."

Inside the provincial party committee compound, some people were also sighing.

"Liu Changsheng doesn't usually get involved in anything, so everyone thinks he's easy to bully."

"Actually, he doesn't want to get involved, not that he can't. He's been pretending all these years."

"This time, his actions were swift and decisive. Hou Liangping's suspension and Liu Xinjian's audit were both his doing."

"I heard that the provincial party committee was alarmed, and Secretary Sha specifically asked about this matter."

Within the Handong Oil and Gas Group, there was widespread anxiety.

"Chairman Liu is finished this time."

“He thought he was one of Secretary Zhao’s men, that he had a powerful backer, and that he could take advantage of Governor Liu.”

"I didn't expect Governor Liu to take care of him too. He didn't even give Secretary Zhao any face."

"I heard that the audit team has already uncovered several hundred million yuan in problems with him, enough to get him sentenced to decades in prison."

"Serves him right! He's been running the oil and gas group for so many years, making a scene for anyone who doesn't listen to him. Now he's getting his comeuppance."

On the fifth night, in Liu Xinjian's office.

Liu Xinjian sat in the chair, staring at the phone. After hesitating for a long time, he finally dialed Zhao Ruilong's number.

The phone rang for a long time before it was finally answered.

“Ruilong,” Liu Xinjian’s voice was filled with despair, “Liu Changsheng has targeted me. I’m being watched by the audit team now, and there are many things I can’t explain. Could you ask the old Party Secretary to put in a good word for me with Governor Liu?”

Zhao Ruilong sneered on the other end of the phone: "Liu Xinjian, you played with fire yourself. Who told you to provoke Liu Changsheng?"

"I only targeted Chen Hai because I listened to you!" Liu Xinjian exclaimed anxiously.

"I told you to deal with Chen Hai," Zhao Ruilong said coldly, "but I didn't tell you to use Liu Changsheng. Now look what's happened, you've gotten yourself into trouble. Do you really think he's the kind old man from the old man's era? Don't you think he's some simple character, capable of reaching this level and weathering so many storms?"

"Ruilong..."

“I can’t help you with this,” Zhao Ruilong said. “Good luck to you.”

Liu Xinjian realized Zhao Ruilong was about to hang up and hurriedly said, "Zhao Ruilong, I'm working for your Zhao family! If something happens to me, you won't be able to escape responsibility! Do you think I don't know about the Qingshan gas field? I have evidence!"

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

Then, Zhao Ruilong's voice grew even colder: "Are you threatening me?"

Liu Xinjian realized he had said the wrong thing and his tone immediately softened: "Ruilong, that's not what I meant. I just... I just had no other choice. Please help me, I promise I won't tell anyone."

Zhao Ruilong sneered: "Liu Xinjian, listen up. Be prepared to be dismissed. If you keep your mouth shut, you won't go in. Liu Changsheng wants to make an example of someone, not really break ties with the Zhao family. If you behave yourself, at most you'll be dismissed and preserve your reputation. If you dare to say anything out of line, don't blame me for not warning you—your son is still studying in the United States."

The last sentence was spoken very softly, but Liu Xinjian sensed a threat in it.

He trembled.

“I understand,” he said in a low voice.

The phone hangs up.

Liu Xinjian slumped into a chair, the phone falling to the ground from his hand.

He got it.

Liu Changsheng is willing to use any means necessary to protect himself.

Anyone who threatens his safe landing is his enemy.

The Zhao family wouldn't risk offending Liu Changsheng for the sake of this dog.

He was abandoned.

On the evening of the fifth day, in Qi Tongwei's office in the provincial government office building.

After Secretary Huang Qiaosong finished reporting on the events of the past few days, he explained everything clearly, one by one.

The case was filed, the news spread, Hou Liangping was suspended from his post, Chen Hai was transferred, then the audit team entered the oil and gas group, and Liu Xinjian was interviewed.

After listening, Qi Tongwei did not speak immediately, but leaned back in his chair and looked out the window.

It was very late at night, and the lights in the provincial government building were going out one by one, with only a few offices still lit.

One of them was Liu Changsheng's office.

Huang Qiaosong said cautiously, "Governor Qi, Governor Liu's reaction this time is so strong, it's very unusual. He's usually so mild-mannered, he never gets angry. This time, he not only dealt with Hou Liangping, but also took care of Liu Xinjian. Liu Xinjian is a former subordinate of Secretary Zhao, how could Governor Liu act so easily?"

Qi Tongwei looked out the window, and after a while, said calmly:

"Only those with a guilty conscience and dirty hands would always think about landing safely."

Huang Qiaosong was taken aback: "You mean..."

Qi Tongwei turned around, looked at Huang Qiaosong, and asked with a half-smile, "Tell me, what kind of person is Governor Liu usually?"

“He’s a nice guy,” Huang Qiaosong said. “At provincial government meetings, when there are controversial issues, he always tries to smooth things over. ‘This can be studied,’ ‘That can be considered,’ ‘Let’s discuss it further.’ He never makes a decision and he never gets angry.”

“That’s the problem,” Qi Tongwei said. “As retirement approaches, many people think that avoiding mistakes is a virtue. But who would go to the extreme like Liu Changsheng? He didn’t even want the power that was rightfully his. How much power does a provincial governor have? He pushed it all to his subordinates and became a hands-off manager.”

Qi Tongwei stood up and walked to the window: "If someone really has such a weak desire for power, how could they have reached this level of position? In officialdom, people without ambition can't even get to the section chief level."

Huang Qiaosong seemed to be deep in thought.

“So,” Qi Tongwei turned around, “this time we touched his sore spot, so he will naturally show his strength. Otherwise, everyone will want to step on him.”

“A series of attacks within 24 hours,” Qi Tongwei continued, his tone calm, as if analyzing a case. “Suspension, reassignment, blackout, media hype. Every move against Hou Liangping was fatal, leaving no room for retreat. At the same time, an audit team was sent to the oil and gas group, and Liu Xinjian was also taken care of. Every step was precise and the timing was perfect. This is not something a nice guy could do; this is the work of a cunning old fox who has been navigating the political arena for decades.”

Huang Qiaosong gasped.

Qi Tongwei walked back to his desk, sat down, picked up his teacup, and took a sip: "The transfer of the Qingshan gas field was definitely a deal between Zhao Lichun and Liu Changsheng. Zhao Lichun wanted to transfer benefits to his own side, and Liu Changsheng cooperated by approving the project. But Liu Changsheng must have also received benefits, either money or political resources. It's just that he hid it very well, and no one knows."

“Now,” Qi Tongwei continued, “Zhao Lichun is gone, and Liu Changsheng is about to retire. What he fears most is that these old grievances will be brought up again. So when Hou Liangping investigated this project, he immediately panicked and did not hesitate to tear off his gentle mask and try to destroy Hou Liangping.”

"At the same time, Liu Xinjian framed Hou Liangping with the intention of using Liu Changsheng. But this also exposed a problem: Liu Xinjian knew that there was something wrong with the project, knew that Liu Changsheng had approved it, and knew that he could use it to his advantage. This was a threat to Liu Changsheng. So Liu Changsheng simply decided to go all the way and get rid of Liu Xinjian as well."

Qi Tongwei put down his teacup and looked at Huang Qiaosong: "Go and investigate all the major projects that Liu Changsheng approved from 2011 to 2015. Especially those related to the Zhao family. Don't make a fuss, investigate quietly."

"Yes, Governor Qi." Huang Qiaosong responded and prepared to leave.

Qi Tongwei stopped him again: "Forget it, don't investigate. It wouldn't be good if Governor Liu misunderstood. He delegated power decisively, so I won't press him further."

After all, water that is too clear has no fish.

After Huang Qiaosong left, Qi Tongwei sat alone in his office, looking out the window.

Not far away, the light in Liu Changsheng's office was still on.

He smiled.

This was a classic case of making an example of someone to warn others.

Liu Changsheng used Hou Liangping's blood to tell everyone: Don't touch the projects I approved, don't investigate my past, I want to land safely. Anyone who dares to stand in my way, I'll kill them.

But it also exposed his own problems.

The situation in Handong is really complicated.

Xiao Gangyu, Li Dakang, Gao Yuliang, Liu Changsheng, remnants of the Zhao family...

They're all corrupt, and they all have their own agendas.

Are they all villains?

No wonder the central government sent Sha Ruijin, who came from the Discipline Inspection Commission, to oversee things.

This kind of mess is not something an ordinary person can clean up.

A slight smile appeared on Qi Tongwei's lips.

Let Sha Ruijin have his headache.

Let him fight the Zhao family, investigate Liu Changsheng, and balance the various forces.

Let him be the villain, let him offend those deeply entrenched local bullies.

Once he's cleaned up Handong, brought up all those messy accounts, and wiped out the Zhao family's influence...

Then I'll take over.

A clean and tidy Handong, a Handong without historical baggage.