ebookland Chapter 120 You think you can mess with Zhao Lidong of Jinghai? Not so easy!
Chapter 120 You think you can mess with Zhao Lidong of Jinghai? Not so easy!
Night fell.
The lights of the Linjiang Guanhu Hotel were dim.
Zhao Lidong after a day of meetings on education and rectification.
Standing by the window, I let out a long sigh.
Secretary Wang solicitously brought over a cup of hot milk.
"Boss, have some milk to replenish your energy."
Zhao Lidong took the cup and glanced at the brightly lit Banquet Hall No. 3.
That's the heart of this educational rectification campaign, the office of the supervisory team!
"At this very moment, countless people's materials are being compiled, sorted, and investigated."
Secretary Wang glanced back at the door warily.
After confirming the door was closed, he whispered:
"Don't worry, boss. I've found out everything. Whether it's case files or whistleblower materials, Jinghai has the fewest."
"The city with the most materials is Bobei, where there have been many conflicts and corruption due to mining disputes, construction projects, and house demolitions."
Zhao Lidong stared blankly at Hall No. 3.
"Although the materials are scarce, the scale of this operation is different!"
"In all my years of working, this is the first time I've seen such a high-level education and rectification campaign."
"Ji Zhongzhengguo, the third deputy secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision, is personally leading the team. They're going to turn Linjiang upside down!"
"Yes!"
Secretary Wang stood to the side and behind, letting out a long sigh.
"It seems that the higher-ups are very dissatisfied with the performance of our Linjiang Province in recent years."
"Jingzhou Dafeng Garment Group has miraculously won bids in Linjiang Province one after another."
"It may seem like a small matter, but it is enough to prove that there is serious factionalism in Linjiang."
"If even a small matter like clothing procurement can be handled so blatantly through underhanded dealings, one can only imagine how utterly depraved other major projects must be!"
"Therefore, I deduce that the higher-ups are deeply dissatisfied with the business environment and political atmosphere in Linjiang, so they sent Zhong Shuji to carry out a vigorous overhaul!"
Zhao Lidong smiled faintly.
After finishing the milk, he handed the cup back to Secretary Wang.
You only see the surface.
"Whether it's anti-corruption or rectification, what is the core purpose?"
"It means overthrowing the old distribution methods, distribution system, and distribution results!"
"Linjiang has experienced economic growth and stability for too many years, and its systems have become relatively rigid."
"Large and small vested interest groups occupy all walks of life in Linjiang Province. Their existence has already hindered the new round of economic development."
"Therefore, someone needs to break all of this and reshuffle the power and resource structure of our Linjiang Province in order to unleash new growth momentum and keep up with the development of the new era."
Secretary Wang adjusted his glasses.
"So Zhong Shuji's visit this time is destined to send a lot of people in; otherwise, it wouldn't be a reshuffling at all!"
"Moreover, with such a high-ranking official like him coming to rectify things, he doesn't even look down on those at the section chief or department head level."
"I reckon he won't let this go until he takes down a few officials at the department level or above."
Zhao Lidong stood with his hands behind his back, looking somewhat worried, and said:
"I'm really worried that he'll turn his attention to me!"
"As you know, he's been fighting with my older brother Zhao Lichun in Handong Province for so many years."
"Even if he is to be transferred away, he will firmly support Liang Qunfeng and has made things difficult for my elder brother quite a bit."
"Now that he's coming to Linjiang to rectify education, do you think he'll let me off easily? If he can't deal with my elder brother Zhao Lichun, dealing with me, Zhao Lidong, is a piece of cake, isn't it?"
Secretary Wang reassured him, "Although our two families are enemies, and Zhong Shuji will definitely keep a close eye on us, we are not afraid!"
"Xu Jiang, who murdered Huang Cuicui and buried Bai Jiangbo alive, is he already dead? Cao Chuang, the problematic captain of the criminal investigation team, gloriously sacrificed himself in a shootout with Xu Jiang."
“Even Xu Jiang’s Baijinhan Club was bought by Chen Tai and given to his godson Gao Qiqiang. Moreover, we followed Ruilong’s advice and quit our criminal activities in time. Zhong Shuji can’t do anything to us now, can he?”
At this point, Secretary Wang took half a step forward and whispered:
"Besides, even though Huang Cuicui is dead, we still have her recording pen, don't we?"
"With the recording pen here, your former superior, Deputy Secretary He Liming, would have no choice but to protect us!"
Zhao Lidong grinned.
Now that you mention it, it's true!
"Although Xu Jiang killed Huang Cuicui, he also died."
"What he did for us and how much he gave us as a filial son are now impossible to verify as he is dead."
"I've never really liked dealing with that old fox Chen Tai, and since we have no connection, he's not a threat."
"As for Gao Qiqiang, whom he promoted... he is not yet a force to be reckoned with in Jinghai, and has not yet committed any major crimes."
Secretary Wang laughed and said, "After Xu Jiang and Bai Jiangbo died, Gao Qiqiang and Chen Shuting got together. Now, all the venues in Jinghai, big and small, including casinos, nightclubs, and other establishments, are basically owned by the Gao family."
"In addition, Gao Qiqiang has a younger brother named Gao Qisheng. He runs the Qiangsheng Xiaolingtong specialty store on Jiuchang Street. Ruilong and Sister Hui even went to investigate it. It is said that the Huilong chain internet cafe in Jinghai was invested and franchised by the Gao brothers."
Zhao Lidong turned his head in surprise.
"What do you mean?"
"The Gao brothers are actually related to Ruilong and his sister?"
Secretary Wang nodded slightly.
"We've had some contact, but we're probably not particularly close."
"It seems they only had some dealings with each other in the business of mobile phones and internet cafes."
Zhao Lidong responded with an "oh".
"That's true. No matter how hard the Gao brothers try, they're just making a comeback. They're nowhere near as good as Ruilong and his sister!"
At this point, Zhao Lidong suddenly gave an order:
"Go, find all the case files from last year's deaths of Huang Cuicui, Bai Jiangbo, Xu Jiang, Cao Chuang, and others. I need to review them again tonight!"
Secretary Wang was taken aback.
"You're not a leader, you already know their information by heart, and it's almost ten o'clock, do you still want to review it again?"
Zhao Lidong chuckled softly.
"Zhong Zhengguo has worked in the political and legal system for so many years, and served as the top official in Handong Province for five years. A ruthless character like him is not so easily fooled!"
"Do you believe that at the special meeting on education rectification in Jinghai City tomorrow, he will definitely bring up the case of Huang Cuicui's death last year and ask me all sorts of questions?"
"For example, Huang Cuicui died because she secretly recorded a conversation between important people on a cruise ship and was beaten to death by Xu Jiang's men. So whose voice did she record?"
"For example, why was Xu Jiang, a notorious gang leader, able to commit crimes in Jinghai for so many years? Who did he recruit and corrupt through his cruise ship parties?"
"Although Zhong Zhengguo has no evidence to prove that I am Xu Jiang's backer, he will definitely try every means to link me with Xu Jiang in order to get rid of me."
Secretary Wang nodded repeatedly.
"Your consideration is truly thoughtful, sir."
"His purpose in coming here this time is to turn Linjiang upside down."
"If we could bring you down, wouldn't that be a heavy blow to the Zhao family?"
Zhao Lidong nodded and said, "It's good that you understand. So hurry up and find all the information. I have to do my homework to prevent him from using this as an excuse to make trouble!"
……
And the other side.
After a day of meetings, Zhong Zhengguo was also exhausted, both physically and mentally.
Sha Ruijin, then the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Department of Linjiang Province, escorted him to his room and closed the door behind him.
"It's been so long since I've had a meeting this long, it's really tiring and my back hurts."
Zhong Zhengguo stretched his muscles as he walked.
In front of his own people, he finally didn't have to maintain a leader's airs anymore.
Sha Ruijin laughed and said, "I remember there's a bathtub in the bathroom. How about we fill a basin with boiling water and you can take a soak?"
"No need, a small bathtub is nowhere near as comfortable as a large public bathhouse."
After doing a few chest-expanding exercises, Zhong Zhengguo gestured for Sha Ruijin to sit down.
However, Zhong Zhengguo could comfortably recline on the sofa.
However, Sha Ruijin, who held a lower rank and was a junior, still sat upright and proper.
Seeing this, Zhong Zhengguo smiled and gestured for him to stop.
"There's no one else here, so relax!"
Sha Ruijin smiled slightly, stopped straightening his back, and moved his buttocks back a little.
"Thank you, Zhong Shuji."
"Thank you for what?"
Zhong Zhengguo sighed softly.
"Speaking of which, it's been a long time since we've sat down and chatted like this."
"The last time we met was at Old Ge's house, do you remember?"
Sha Ruijin nodded repeatedly.
"Of course I remember. It was only by working together that we won a game against Old Ge."
Zhong Zhengguo lightly patted his thigh and said with a chuckle:
"Old Ge's chess skills are becoming more and more unfathomable."
"But my arrival in Linjiang this time was not within his expectations."
Sha Ruijin's smile faded, and he said with a look of self-reproach:
"Ultimately, the whole thing is my fault."
"I didn't handle things well. I never expected that helping Dafeng Factory would cause such a huge uproar."
Zhong Zhengguo waved his hand and said, "It's not your fault. The Dafeng Factory incident was just a fuse."
"The real core reason lies in the fact that in the past two years, Linjiang Province has experienced lagging economic development, deteriorating social order, and serious factionalism."
"With the second half of the year approaching, our Dragon Country will officially join the WTO. If we don't properly improve Linjiang, how can we seize this once-in-a-lifetime development opportunity?"
Sha Ruijin said with a serious expression, "I am not very clear about the economic situation of Linjiang Province, but I am very familiar with its social security."
“Some places are so focused on economic development that they have an extremely high tolerance for illegal and criminal activities. As long as they can achieve political success, they not only condone and cover up such activities, but they also collude with each other.”
Zhong Zhengguo immediately asked, "Is there a problem with Jinghai, the second largest city in Linjiang?"
"Yes, I have!"
Sha Ruijin solemnly stated:
"Huang Cuicui's death case is clearly not simple."
"Xu Jiang, who killed her, had been operating illegal venues such as casinos, sand pits, and nightclubs in Jinghai for many years."
"It is said that he and another gang leader, Bai Jiangbo, often fought and killed each other over territory, resulting in many bloody conflicts."
"Last year, Xu Jiang's son was electrocuted and died while fishing with electricity. He suspected that Bai Jiangbo was the murderer, so he buried Bai Jiangbo alive."
"Think about it, if Xu Jiang didn't have anyone backing him up, would he dare to be so arrogant and domineering in Jinghai, treating human life like dirt? Obviously not!"
Zhong Zhengguo narrowed his eyes slightly and tapped the sofa armrest with his finger.
"Then who do you suspect Xu Jiang has a powerful backer?"
Upon hearing this, Sha Ruijin immediately understood.
Who is in Jinghai?
Zhao Lidong!
He is the younger brother of Zhao Lichun, Zhong Shuji's arch-rival.
Based on this alone, this man surnamed Zhao must be Xu Jiang's backer.
"Someone anonymously reported that Zhao Lidong, the secretary of the Political and Legal Committee of Jinghai City, had close ties with Xu Jiang."
"Last year, the Jinghai police assigned an officer named An Xin to infiltrate the Xujiang criminal gang."
"I originally planned to take advantage of the large number of political and business figures gathering at Xujiang's luxury yacht for eating, drinking and having fun, and then catch them all in one fell swoop."
"Unexpectedly, after the situation was reported to the municipal party committee of Jinghai, the news leaked out quickly. In the end, no big fish was caught, and the police officer named An Xin was almost killed!"
"Think about it, if one's official rank isn't high enough, how could one tip off Xu Jiang? And Xu Jiang has a history of illegal and criminal activities, so wouldn't Zhao Lidong, as the secretary of the political and legal system, be able to protect him?"
Zhong Zhengguo beamed with joy, his heart pounding.
"Hearing you say that, Zhao Lidong is indeed highly suspicious!"
"If we can take him down, this trip won't have been in vain!"