In name only: I will break the chess game in Handong

"Not only that, through my communication with Comrade Hua Bo and my negotiations with Comrade Qiu Heping, Jiang Hai is willing to compensate our comrades in Handong who have worked overtime these past few days, providing 100 million yuan as overtime allowance."

Having secured both the substance and the face, and the money, Sha Ruijin and Zhou Jianjun were very proud.

Even Zhao Dagong had to murmur a sigh of admiration, "Zhou Jianjun isn't so easily underestimated after all."

After Sha Ruijin and Zhou Jianjun finished their performance, they looked at Chen Luo with a smile in their eyes.

"Comrade Chen Luo, how about you? How did your communication with Comrade Hua Bo from Jianghai go?"

Sha Ruijin and Zhou Jianjun both felt that this battle's outcome was roughly what they had achieved, and they wanted to take this opportunity to show off to Chen Luo, since they were ministerial-level officials and their actions were indeed different.

However, Chen Luo didn't feel embarrassed at all. He just smiled calmly and nodded, saying, "Secretary Sha, Governor Jianjun, and Secretary Hua Bo of Jianghai did have a pleasant chat with me. Based on my suggestion, Secretary Hua Bo and Governor Qiu have decided to accompany me to Lieshan to pick up people on Monday the day after tomorrow!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned. Dealing with those officials in Lieshan County was just a matter of course, and the 100 million yuan compensation was just a drop in the bucket. But the fact that the governor and the party secretary accompanied Handong to pick up the people made all the difference!

No one could imagine how inspired the police officers, procuratorate, court and justice departments in Handong would be when this news reached them. It showed how much Chen Luo valued and cared for their grassroots staff!

If Sha Ruijin and Zhou Jianjun earned their reputation for themselves, then Chen Luo earned it for countless grassroots police officers in Handong, which completely changed the overall picture.

A resentful glint appeared in Sha Ruijin and Zhou Jianjun's eyes as they looked at Chen Luo, their eyes brimming with grievance.

After all, everyone launched the attack together, but Chen Luo was the only one who quietly made a fortune.

The others looked at each other, gossiping—they'd overheard it, and, well, it was quite amusing!

The meeting didn't last long, less than an hour. As Sha Ruijin announced the end of the meeting, Chen Luo got up and left quickly before he could even ask Chen Luo to stay.

Only Sha Ruijin remained, hesitant to speak, and finally chose to remain silent. However, just because Sha Ruijin couldn't pursue Chen Luo didn't mean the others couldn't. Li Dakang, Tian Guofu, and Wu Chunlin were relentlessly pursuing Chen Luo, following him all the way into the elevator and even further.

"Secretary Chen, you launched a satellite without making a sound, with the other party's secretary and governor accompanying you. It's really impressive. We really want to experience that feeling."

Tian Guofu didn't hold back at all, and Li Dakang and Wu Chunlin nodded in agreement.

Chen Luo rolled his eyes.

"Secretary Guofu really wants to go? I don't care. It's not a big deal if Secretary Huabo and Governor Qiu of Jianghai are angry and resentful towards me. But if you, Secretary Guofu, are held a grudge, well, since Secretary Guofu wants to go, then let's go together?"

"Forget it, you go ahead. Why provoke two powerful regional officials? I'm too timid to join in the fun."

Li Dakang and Wu Chunlin also chose to remain silent.

The four of them quietly exited the elevator.

It's rare to see the four of them so quiet...

Just a few hours after the meeting ended, the results of the conflict between Handong and Jianghai spread from Handong. Upon learning of this, the person who was happiest was Yun Haifeng, the director of the Provincial Public Security Department.

At the Provincial Public Security Bureau, Yun Haifeng was overjoyed after receiving Qi Quansheng's call. Just then, Zhao Donglai pushed open his office door and walked in.

"Those police officers in Lincheng, Yunnan Province..."

Zhao Donglai originally wanted to ask when the person was brought back, but before he could speak, Yun Haifeng raised his hand to signal Zhao Donglai not to speak.

"The problem has been resolved. We just received news that Jianghai has admitted its mistake and is willing to punish all the officials involved. As for picking them up, Secretary Chen will personally go to Jianghai to pick them up on Monday, the day after tomorrow. Jianghai Provincial Party Secretary Liu Huabo and Governor Qiu Heping will accompany him!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Donglai no longer needed to ask the question he wanted to, "Alright, I understand, Yunnan Province!"

Chapter 314 Heading to Mingyang, the Ultimate Technique of Flaming

On Monday, Chen Luo did not return to Luzhou to oversee the work, but instead went to Mingyang City in Jianghai Province to pick up people.

Chen Luo set off around 8:30 a.m., while Liu Huabo, secretary of the Jianghai Provincial Party Committee, and Qiu Heping, governor of the province, boarded a special car at 7:00 a.m. to head to Mingyang.

At 10 a.m., in front of the Mingyang Municipal Party Committee building, Party Secretary Gao Changhe, Mayor Wen Chunming, and other members of the Mingyang Municipal Party Committee leadership team were already waiting.

As two black Audi cars drove up and stopped, seeing the license plates Jiang O·00001 and Jiang O·00002, Gao Changhe and Wen Chunming quickly ran to the car doors. The moment the cars came to a complete stop, Gao Changhe personally opened the rear door of the first car and greeted them with a smile.

"Secretary Hua Bo, all the key cadres in Mingyang are waiting for your and Governor Qiu's instructions!"

Liu Huabo didn't give Gao Changhe a friendly look, given his bright smile. After all, the conflict with Handong wouldn't have happened if Gao Changhe hadn't thoroughly investigated it.

"I don't need you to open the door for me. It's not like I don't have hands."

He said it, but his body said it. Liu Huabo moved his leg to get out of the car. Gao Changhe smiled and put his hand on the door frame, afraid that Liu Huabo would bump his head.

Wen Chunming treated Governor Qiu in a similar way, but Governor Qiu wasn't so bad-tempered and didn't make things difficult for Wen Chunming.

Twenty minutes later, in the conference room of the Mingyang Municipal Party Committee building.

Liu Huabo and Qiu Heping sat in the main seats, with the members of the Mingyang Standing Committee sitting below them.

"Comrade Changhe, what's the situation in Lieshan County? Please give us a report!"

Upon hearing this, Gao Changhe first sighed heavily, then said softly, "Secretary Hua Bo, our municipal party committee was supposed to have the comrades from the municipal discipline inspection commission detain Geng Zijing and other involved personnel in Lieshan County, as per your instructions, but..."

Former Party Secretary Zhong Chaolin had a different opinion!

Comrade Chaolin believed that our actions would undermine the stability of the leadership in Lieshan County and be detrimental to the county's future development.

Wen Chunming, who was standing to the side, frowned as he listened.

“Secretary Hua Bo, as you know, Comrade Chao Lin is a former secretary of Mingyang and also the director of the Municipal People’s Congress. Even though I strongly opposed it, Comrade Chao Lin still intervened and told the secretary of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection not to take any action.”

Gao Changhe looked very aggrieved, while the Mingyang Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee member and Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary who was named was dumbfounded.

When Gao Changhe said he was going to place all the members of the leadership team in Lieshan County under investigation the day before yesterday, he didn't mention anything about it, and he didn't say that it was the provincial party secretary's idea!

If Gao Changhe said so, would he dare not do it?

That's utterly lacking in martial ethics!

Wen Chunming was in a similar state of mind, cursing Gao Changhe, Hei Zi, and Ma Tangyuan in his heart. "Damn it, he looks honest on the surface, but he's actually full of bad intentions!"

Seeing that this matter involved themselves and former Party Secretary Zhong Chaolin, Wen Chunming and Zhu Ning, the Party Secretary of Mingyang City, broke their silence.

“Secretary Gao, when you said at the meeting the day before yesterday that you wanted to place Geng Zijing and the members of the Lieshan County Party Committee under investigation, you didn’t say it was Secretary Hua Bo’s instruction!”

Wen Chunming fired the first shot, followed closely by Zhu Ning.

"That's right, Secretary Hua Bo, I'm innocent! If Secretary Gao said it was your instruction, how could I dare not do it?"

Gao Changhe squinted and responded slowly.

"Mayor Wen, Comrade Zhu Ning, it's not right for you to slander me like this. Did I say that this was the provincial leader's idea?"

After speaking, Gao Changhe looked at Liu Huabo and Qiu Heping.

“Secretary Hua Bo, Governor Qiu, there are video records of the meeting the day before yesterday. I did say that it was an instruction from the province's top leader, but Comrade Chao Lin and Mayor Wen don't believe me…”

Liu Huabo rolled his eyes. "They don't believe you can't call the provincial government? What time is it? Still worrying about bullying your own people?"

"Gao Changhe, Wen Chunming, I'm reminding you, it's 10:20 now. Comrade Chen Luo from Handong will arrive in Mingyang at 11:30. We're heading to Lieshan this afternoon, and now you're telling us that those parasites in Lieshan haven't been dealt with yet? Do you want to continue making a fool of yourselves?"

Liu Huabo didn't care who was right or wrong; he only cared about the result. He slammed his hand on the table, startling Gao Changhe so much that his smile vanished. It seemed that he had also gone a bit too far.

Then Liu Huabo took a deep breath and pointed at Zhu Ning, the secretary of the Mingyang Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection, saying, "Now, immediately send the staff of the Municipal Commission for Discipline Inspection to Lieshan to take control of Geng Zijing, the secretary of the Lieshan County Party Committee, and other members of the county party committee."

And that county public security bureau chief, I don't care who's right or wrong, you only have four hours. If any one of them escapes, you're fired as the municipal discipline inspection commission secretary!

Such a stern tone frightened Zhu Ning so much that her legs went weak. She didn't just tumble and crawl, but was completely panicked. She nodded hurriedly and quickly left the conference room to get to work.

At the same time, Zhong Chaolin, the former secretary of the Mingyang Municipal Party Committee, also learned of this news and went directly from the office of the director of the Municipal People's Congress to the door of the small conference room of the Municipal Party Committee, wanting to go in.

The staff who tried to stop him couldn't stop him at all; they could only watch as Zhong Chaolin pushed open the office door and went inside.

Seeing Zhong Chaolin barge in, Liu Huabo squinted, clearly displeased. However, since the other party was semi-retired, Liu Huabo could only suppress his anger.

But Gao Changhe had no such reservations. "Comrade Chaolin, we're in a meeting right now. What are you doing here?"

"Gao Changhe, don't forget, I'm still the director of the Municipal People's Congress!"

"This is a Standing Committee meeting. Comrade Chaolin, you are no longer a member of the Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee. Do you understand this?"

Gao Changhe's words made Zhong Chaolin very upset, and he looked at Liu Huabo and Qiu Heping, who were in the main seats, with red eyes.

“Secretary Hua Bo, Governor Qiu, I know I, Zhong Chaolin, am no longer the Party Secretary of Mingyang City, but that Geng Zijing… Lieshan County can’t just arrest him like this! Removing the entire leadership team would have a terrible impact on Lieshan County, which is developing rapidly, even…”

Before Zhong Chaolin could continue speaking, Liu Huabo interrupted him.

"Comrade Chaolin, our provincial committee's opinion is based on comprehensive consideration. Geng Zijing from Lieshan actually dared to deceive even our provincial committee. He is simply lawless. The economy can be rebuilt, but such parasites must be eliminated!"

Liu Huabo didn't want to continue arguing with a stubborn mule like Zhong Chaolin, since the other party was retired and had nothing to fear, while he would only be disgusted.

"It's been a while, Comrade Chaolin. Governor Qiu and I still need to pick up Comrade Chen Luo from Handong. Let's end the meeting here. We won't hold you responsible for interfering in Lieshan. That's all."

After Liu Huabo finished speaking, he got up to leave, and Governor Qiu, also annoyed by what he had heard, followed him out.

As everyone dispersed, Zhong Chaolin remained standing there, somewhat bewildered.

"Old Party Secretary! We..."

Turning around, Zhong Chaolin saw that only Wen Chunming had not left.

"Chunming! Lieshan is finished!"

Chapter 315 The High-Ranking Official Receives Guests with Grandeur

Zhong Chaolin was heartbroken, while Wen Chunming could only sigh.

“Old Secretary, Secretary Hua Bo spoke up personally, we couldn’t stop him. It’s already good enough that Secretary Hua Bo didn’t hold you and me accountable.”

Upon hearing this, Zhong Chaolin became indignant.

"This Gao Changhe is wicked to the core. During the meeting the day before yesterday, he deliberately misled us into thinking that the secretary's instructions he mentioned were from his retired father-in-law!"

Doesn't he, as the municipal party secretary, realize that if things are done this way, Lieshan County won't recover for at least five years?

"It's just that a few police officers from Handong were arrested, is it really worth making such a big deal out of it?"

Wen Chunming didn't respond to this. If the matter could get Liu Huabo, the provincial party secretary, to come to Lieshan in person, it couldn't be that simple.

"Old Secretary, you might want to ask Secretary Chen from Handong for his opinion. After all, the fact that Secretary Hua Bo and Governor Qiu personally greeted him means his background is definitely not simple."

I've heard that this Secretary Chen is only thirty-nine years old and already a member of the Standing Committee of the Handong Provincial Party Committee, Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, and Secretary of the Luzhou Municipal Party Committee.

"I'll give it a try... Ugh!"

Zhong Chaolin regarded Chen Luo as his only hope, unaware that Chen Luo was one of the sources of the problem.

At 11:30 a.m., at the highway exit leading to Mingyang city, Chen Luo's car had just exited the highway when he saw a group of Jianghai officials waiting for him not far away.

The leaders were naturally Liu Huabo and Qiu Heping.

The car quickly came to a stop, and Liu Mingyu opened the car door for Chen Luo first. He was the only one accompanying Chen Luo on this trip to Jianghai.