Chapter 237: Li Mingzhou Goes Berserk

After three days of interrogation and torture, Lu Fan's complexion was extremely ghastly. He felt he was on the verge of collapse, ready to go into shock at any moment, yet he remained silent in the face of questioning!

After three days of interrogation and torture, Lu Fan's face was as pale as paper, his lips were cracked, and his eyes were bloodshot. Even sitting in the chair, his body trembled slightly, and he looked like he was on the verge of death.

However, despite such cruel treatment, Lu Fan still gritted his teeth, his eyes revealing a kind of firmness and unyielding spirit, as if he were saying that no matter what torture he suffered, he would not yield, remaining silent in the face of questioning!

Watching Lu Fan's state, Wang Qing couldn't help but feel a trace of admiration, mixed with a hint of panic and unease. A Deputy County Chief in his twenties! If he couldn't be taken down this time, would he make a comeback? Offending such a person would have endless future troubles. Was it really worth it?

At ten in the morning, Wang Yujia returned to her unit and received a photo sent by Zhang Tianmin.

Seeing her old friend "tortured" into such a state, Wang Yujia, filled with anger, went directly to the office of Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee Secretary Liu Tuo.

Looking at the female cadre who had barged in so recklessly, Liu Tuo said with displeasure, "What is it?"

Wang Yujia said angrily, "Secretary Liu, I want to report! The Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee has 'Shuanggui'ed' Ningyang County Deputy County Chief Lu Fan for no reason and has tortured him in every possible way. Are you not going to do anything about such a thing?"

Liu Tuo asked, "Which department are you from?"

Wang Yujia said fearlessly, "I am Wang Yujia from the Third Supervision Office!"

Liu Tuo questioned, "Do you have any sense of organization or discipline? If there is a problem, report it to your division chief! Also, please mind your wording and maintain the unity of the unit! Alright, get out!"

"Secretary Liu, I am reporting a problem to you!" Wang Yujia argued on grounds, "If there is misconduct within our internal staff, shouldn't it be corrected in a timely manner?"

Liu Tuo slammed the table, "Comrade Wang Yujia, please mind your status! If there is a problem, please report it level by level!"

Wang Yujia took a deep breath, "I know this is not according to the rules, but Lu Fan was wronged. It is absolutely impossible for him to have committed corruption!"

Liu Tuo was silent for a moment, "Everything must be based on evidence. What evidence do you have?"

"This..." Wang Yujia was speechless; she currently had no evidence.

"If there is no evidence, don't make a scene here." Liu Tuo said seriously, "Alright, I will verify what you said. Go back to work."

Wang Yujia bit her lip and said word by word, "Secretary Liu, my grandfather is Liu Guoqiang!"

Liu Tuo was shocked inside, but asked calmly, "Vice General Manager Liu?"

Wang Yujia nodded seriously, her eyes firm and confident, as if she were conveying an important message to Liu Tuo.

Liu Tuo was shocked beyond measure, thinking to himself, what is this about? Who would have thought that the girl in front of him was actually the granddaughter of Vice General Manager Liu!

Although he had doubts in his heart, Liu Tuo's expression became much kinder. There was no other way; after all, that mountain was too big!

"Comrade Wang Yujia, what is this about Lu Fan that you just mentioned? I don't remember any decision to 'Shuanggui' a Deputy County Chief recently. Besides, investigating a Deputy County Chief is generally assigned to the Municipal Discipline Inspection Committee."

Wang Yujia said urgently, "It really was our Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee that went to Ningyang to 'Shuanggui' Deputy County Chief Lu Fan. Secretary, someone is handling the case in violation of regulations; you have been kept in the dark!"

Liu Tuo frowned, feeling that Wang Yujia was not just making a scene, and at the same time realized something, so he said, "Your starting point is good, but don't be so reckless. I will investigate this matter seriously, and I will notify you when there is a result."

Wang Yujia said unwillingly, "Secretary Liu, Lu Fan is my friend. He is a very upright and capable excellent cadre who is suffering inhuman torture. Please, you must look into this matter. Consider it my plea to you!"

Liu Tuo said helplessly, "Fine, I will investigate in a moment. You go back to work first!"

Having said all she could, Wang Yujia walked out helplessly.

Less than half an hour later, Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee member and Yingjiang Municipal Party Secretary Li Mingzhou pushed open Liu Tuo's office door in a rage and sat on the sofa without saying a word!

Liu Tuo's contemplation was interrupted, and he stood up and said, "Secretary Li's arrival makes my office shine!"

Li Mingzhou said unpleasantly, "Secretary Liu, I've come to demand justice!"

"Why do you say that?" Liu Tuo was a bit confused.

Li Mingzhou said firmly, "Yingjiang City is at least a first-level Party committee and government. The Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee cannot go to Yingjiang to 'Shuanggui' our Deputy County Chief for no reason and without a sound, right? Is this Municipal Party Secretary so untrustworthy? You even skipped the communication?"

Liu Tuo realized the seriousness of the problem and quickly said, "Secretary Li, there must be a misunderstanding! Recently, the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee has not studied the anti-corruption issues in Yingjiang, let alone arranged any related actions. Besides, even if there were actions, how could I not communicate with you? Don't worry, I will investigate this matter immediately and will definitely give you an explanation!"

After saying this, Liu Tuo immediately dialed the office phone and notified several Deputy Secretaries to come to his office immediately.

"Secretary Li, I have only recently taken over the Discipline Inspection Committee. If there are any loopholes in the work procedures, please forgive me. I will definitely rectify it strictly! Some comrades are indeed acting inappropriately, acting recklessly! Sigh, it's all my fault for not managing them strictly!"

Li Mingzhou's gaze was sharp, as if he were thinking about something, and the two fell into a brief silence.

After a while, Li Mingzhou broke the silence, "Secretary Liu, this matter must be investigated clearly. Not only to clear Lu Fan's name, but also to let the mastermind behind the scenes receive the punishment they deserve."

Liu Tuo nodded and said with a serious expression, "Secretary Li, don't worry, I will supervise this matter personally. If there is indeed a problem within our internal staff, I will never tolerate it."

At this time, several Deputy Secretaries rushed to Liu Tuo's office.

Liu Tuo's gaze was sharp, and after scanning them, he said, "I want to know, what is going on with Lu Fan from Ningyang County, Yingjiang City?"

After a moment of silence, Deputy Secretary Lü Taichang said, "Secretary, I want to make a self-criticism to you! Some time ago, I received several report letters about Ningyang County Deputy County Chief Lu Fan, and the content was very detailed. Now the anti-corruption situation is severe, and many of our grassroots cadres hold public power and are easily targeted as 'prey' by bad people. If they are not careful, they will regret it for a thousand years."

"Based on the work principle of investigating every case and punishing every violation, and punishing corruption with zero tolerance, I formed a working group to go to Ningyang to investigate and verify Lu Fan's violations and disciplinary offenses."

"It just so happened that the Secretary went to the Central Discipline Inspection Commission for a meeting those days, so I took the liberty. When you came back, I actually forgot about this, which led to me not reporting to you in time. This is a serious dereliction of duty in my work, and I will make a profound self-criticism!"

Before Liu Tuo could speak, Li Mingzhou questioned loudly, "Comrade Taichang, according to the jurisdiction regulations of the 'Discipline Inspection and Supervision Law', Article 3, 'implementing the principle of combining cadre management authority with territorial jurisdiction, and implementing hierarchical and divisional responsibility', I would like to ask, where do you put the authority of the Ningyang Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal Discipline Inspection Committee? You investigated a Deputy County Chief of Yingjiang City, and the person was 'Shuanggui'ed' by you, but I, a member of the Provincial Party Committee and Municipal Party Secretary, was completely unaware. Do you not hold the Yingjiang Municipal Party Committee in your eyes? Or do you not hold me in your eyes? I also want to ask on behalf of Secretary Liu, where is your sense of organization, discipline, and Party spirit?"

This was completely elevating the issue to a higher level. Lü Taichang could not bear this charge and quickly explained, "Secretary Li, I naturally know the principle of hierarchical responsibility you mentioned, but in addition to general jurisdiction, the jurisdiction regulations also stipulate the principle of supplementary jurisdiction, including Article 23's 'upgraded jurisdiction' and 'cross-level jurisdiction'. The Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee has the right to supervise and manage cadres throughout the province!"

Li Mingzhou waved his arms and said, "Do you think I don't understand anything? What you mentioned are special circumstances! Even if it is a special circumstance, why did you skip me, the Municipal Party Secretary? Do you suspect that I am colluding with Lu Fan?"

"Also, why is Lu Fan's matter special? How special is it? Or is it special because someone behind the scenes instructed you to do so? Today, if you don't give me a reasonable explanation, this matter won't end!"

"I will immediately report to the Provincial Party Committee and hold you accountable for abuse of power and dereliction of duty. Personally, I feel that a cadre like you, who has no organization, no discipline, no principles, and no bottom line, is no longer suitable to work in such an important position!"

"Explain, and the report letters you mentioned, I want to see them now!"

If a tiger doesn't show its power, do you think I'm a sick cat? Li Mingzhou vividly displayed the spirit of a member of the Provincial Party Committee. His sharp words made Lü Taichang break out in cold sweat, his back felt cold, and he was even a bit lost!

Li Mingzhou looked at Liu Tuo and said seriously, "Secretary Liu, regardless of whether Lu Fan has problems or not, please follow the work procedures. I now request the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee to transfer Lu Fan to the Yingjiang Municipal Discipline Inspection Committee, and Yingjiang will report the handling results to the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee!"

Liu Tuo said crisply and neatly, "Secretary Li, your request is reasonable, fair, and compliant. I fully agree!"

Then, he turned to Lü Taichang and said, "Lü Taichang, transfer Lu Fan to the Yingjiang Municipal Discipline Inspection Committee immediately, not a moment can be delayed!"

Lü Taichang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, agreed repeatedly, and hid on the side to give instructions to Wang Qing.

Unexpectedly, Li Mingzhou was still not satisfied and asked with a serious expression, "Comrade Taichang, where are the report letters? I want to see what Lu Fan did that was so infuriating that it was worth your Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee handling the case across levels? Is there any real evidence in the report letters? Did it make you start the 'Shuanggui' procedure? Or, is this investigation actually baseless and retaliatory?"

"Secretary Liu, I must get a reasonable explanation for these questions today, otherwise, I, as the Municipal Party Secretary, cannot explain it to the cadres and masses of Yingjiang City! Our people cannot be bullied for no reason, and I, as the top leader, don't even let out a fart!" ===== CHAPTER 238 =====