Hou Liangping arrested a hawkish general, and his father-in-law panicked

That glance was short, but thousands of words were exchanged in an instant.

In the face of this huge crisis that is enough to overturn the entire Handong political arena, the past calculations and differences between them seem so insignificant and ridiculous.

Sha Ruijin withdrew his gaze first, his facial muscles tense, trying hard to maintain the composure of a provincial party secretary.

He approached the stern-faced 20th Army Chief of Staff Zhou Shoujing, his voice deliberately calm, yet still unable to conceal his dryness: "Chief of Staff Zhou, generals, General Zhao Yuanchao's injury is serious. I will ask the General Hospital to provide treatment. We at the Provincial Party Committee have some urgent matters to attend to, so I will be returning first."

This sounds like concern, but in fact it is an escape.

If they stayed any longer, they didn't know what they would hear or see, and they were even more afraid that General Zhao Mengsheng would vent his anger directly on them.

Gao Yuliang also nodded, but his face, which always had a gentle and elegant smile, was very stiff.

"Yes, Secretary Ruijin is right. Comrades who aided Korea are precious treasures of the country, and they must be allowed to rest well. We will not disturb our local comrades any more."

His words were smoother than Sha Ruijin's, but they also revealed his panic in his eagerness to escape.

Zhou Shoujing's eyes were like ice-hardened knives, scraping across their faces one by one.

He showed no extraneous expression. He simply stood at attention, nodded slightly, and said in a standard military manner, "Secretaries, please proceed. I will convey your concern to General Zhao."

To Sha Ruijin and Gao Yuliang, this word of "concern" sounded like the sharpest irony.

Zhou Shoujing didn't say another word, just stood there and watched them turn around and leave.

The straight military posture, like a javelin stuck in the ground, clearly divided the army from the local area.

Sha Ruijin and Gao Yuliang didn't dare to look back. They led their respective secretaries and walked quickly towards the elevator.

Every step they took on the mirror-like floor tiles made a hollow echo, knocking on their own hearts.

It was not until he got into the black Audi A6 and the door slammed shut, isolating himself from the suffocating atmosphere of the hospital, that Sha Ruijin let out a long sigh.

He subconsciously leaned back in his chair, but immediately felt a sticky coldness.

His back was completely soaked with cold sweat without him knowing when.

He glanced at Gao Yuliang beside him. The Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, who was always known for his shrewdness, was now sitting upright with his eyes looking straight ahead. However, the fine beads of sweat oozing from his forehead and the hand that was tightly grasping the briefcase, with its knuckles turning white due to the force, still revealed the turmoil in his heart.

The car drove smoothly out of the military compound. The sentries standing guard at the gate saluted solemnly, but in their view, the salute carried the meaning of judgment.

It’s over.

This time, the matter has become a big deal.

The commander of an active group army was seriously injured by the prosecutor of Handong on Handong's territory.

This is not a simple law enforcement dispute, it is a blatant provocation by the local judicial system against the People's Army!

Once this hat is put on, the entire Handong Provincial Party Committee will be in trouble.

Sha Ruijin's mind was working rapidly.

Why did Zhao Yuanchao come to Handong?

Why keep a low profile?

What happened to the six missing soldiers?

And how could Hou Liangping, a small-time chief of investigation, have the guts to be so cruel to an unidentified person?

What is hidden behind this?

It's a mess and I can't make any sense of it.

But one thing is certain, action must be taken immediately, and a response must be made before the military and the higher-ups become furious, even if it is just a gesture!

Gao Yuliang finally broke the silence, his voice hoarse. "I recommended Secretary Ruijin... Hou Liangping... to Ji Changming. He has a passion for work, but... he's politically immature."

Before Sha Ruijin could ask a question, he took over part of the problem, but cleverly shifted the blame to the relatively vague concept of "political immaturity."

This is self-protection, but also a test.

Sha Ruijin ignored the wit in his words. He was not in the mood to play power games with Gao Yuliang.

He only knew that if they didn't take action, the two of them, along with the entire Handong officialdom, would be doomed.

"Comrade Yu Liang,"

Sha Ruijin's voice was as cold as ice. "Now is not the time to assign blame. Now is the time to consider how to salvage the situation, how to explain this to the higher-ups, and how to explain this to the 20th Group Army!"

He suddenly took out the red confidential phone from his pocket. His fingers trembled a little due to nervousness, but he quickly dialed the number of the secretary general of the provincial party committee.

The call was connected almost immediately.

"I'm Sharijin."

His voice was emotionless yet filled with unquestionable authority. "Immediately notify all members of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee who are at home. In half an hour, gather in Conference Room 1 of the Provincial Party Committee Building for an emergency expanded meeting! Yes, everyone! No one can be left out! Anyone who dares to be late will have to bear the consequences!"

With a "bang", he hung up the phone and threw it heavily on the seat.

The driver seemed to be intimidated by the momentum and subconsciously stepped on the accelerator.

The Audi let out a low roar, accelerated and merged into the city's traffic, speeding towards the brightly lit Provincial Party Committee Building.

Outside the car window, the night view of Jingzhou is still prosperous, with neon lights flashing.

But both people in the car knew in their hearts that beneath this prosperous scene, there were undercurrents and a storm was about to come.

The sky in Handong will change tonight.

Chapter 68: Zhong Zhengguo's Panic

Beijing.

In Zhong Zhengguo's office.

He put down the red secure phone.

Zhao Mengsheng’s anger seemed to still echo in his ears.

"...torture and forced confession...an active-duty army commander...Liang Ping...he's seeking death!"

Zhong Zhengguo's face looked extremely ugly.

He had been in a high position for many years and had long since developed the ability to remain calm even in the face of a catastrophe, but at this moment, the muscles in his cheeks were twitching slightly uncontrollably.

Hou Liangping.

His son-in-law.

This name was like a red-hot iron rod, piercing his heart.

He remembered that not long ago, Hou Liangping asked to be transferred to Handong with great enthusiasm, vowing to "poke a hole in the sky of Handong to let the sunshine in."

He repeatedly warned that the water in Handong was deep and the network of rivers was intricate, so they had to be extremely cautious in their actions.

But did Hou Liangping listen to it?

He did not.

The arrogance in his bones, the utilitarianism that was eager for quick success, and the self-righteousness, like a wild horse that had broken free from its reins, led him into an abyss from which there was no escape.

Zhong Zhengguo could understand arresting an unidentified person.

Anxious to make achievements and show one's talents.

But torture?

The target is a middle-aged man with extraordinary bearing and a soldier's iron-blooded temperament in his words and deeds?

madness!

How stupid this is!

Political immaturity is already terminal and incurable!

Zhong Zhengguo closed his eyes and could see Hou Liangping's face.

He once admired this purity, believing it to be a rare bright spot in the corrupt officialdom.

But now, he only felt the glare.

This kind of "purity" that is regardless of the occasion and consequences is not justice, but a disaster.

What he caused was not disaster, but fate.

The commander of an active-duty group army was beaten and seriously injured by a local prosecutor in a private court.

If this news gets out, what kind of storm will it cause?

The military's anger will burn the entire Handong into a scorched earth!

And the one who ignited this fire was his son-in-law, Zhong Zhengguo!

He slowly stood up, walked to the window, and looked down at the busy traffic below.

Everything is orderly and peaceful.

But he knew that beneath this peace, a storm that could shake the country's foundation was brewing.

Hou Liangping, he can’t even protect himself now?

No, he is dead.

Political life is completely over.

Even whether he could save his life depended on the severity of Zhao Yuanchao's injuries and the extent of the anger of those hawkish figures in the military.

"Dong dong dong."

There was a restrained knock on the door.

"Come in."

Zhong Zhengguo didn't turn around, his voice was as cold as ice.

His secretary pushed the door open and walked in, footsteps as light as a cat, holding a brown paper file bag in both hands, with a glaring red seal on it indicating its top secret level.

"Minister, the General Office of the Central Committee just sent an expedited document."

The secretary gently placed the document on his desk, then quietly retreated, closing the heavy wooden door behind him.

Zhong Zhengguo slowly turned around and his eyes fell on the file bag.

He didn't need to open it to guess what was inside.