Chapter 268: with translation of chapter title

Lu Fan and Ye Chen were dealing with the provincial department's working group; Deputy Chief Wu Aoran of the Municipal Public Security Bureau personally took the lead, bringing Deputy Captain Liu Jin Zhu of the Criminal Police Detachment and others to launch a strong offensive against Le Xue Zhi.

But Le Xue Zhi was very cunning, directly ignoring the evidence produced by the Public Security Bureau, refusing to admit it, leaving Wu Aoran and Liu Jin Zhu at a loss.

Lu Fan and Ye Chen discussed the case in the office, Lu Fan asked: "Chief Ye, if Le Xue Zhi refuses to admit it, can we still charge him?"

Ye Chen, very competent in his work, replied: "He is now very cunning, leaving no direct evidence and refusing to admit it; without forming an evidence chain, we cannot prove Le Xue Zhi's guilt."

Lu Fan's face showed worry, he asked: "What should we do now?"

Ye Chen shook his head and said: "There is no particularly good solution; we can only gather more indirect evidence to form a complete evidence chain, and if it meets certain conditions, the court can also use it as conclusive evidence. Another approach is to buy time and break through Le Xue Zhi's psychological defenses. But you also saw that the provincial department's people are watching; I'm worried they will start from the prison and transfer Le Xue Zhi to another prison."

"If that's really the case, it's truly a move of cutting off the fuel under the cauldron!" Lu Fan felt somewhat worried; he knew the Secretary had broken face with the two Deputy Provincial Governors over his own matter, and had also openly opposed the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission, the Provincial Discipline Inspection Committee, and the Provincial Public Security Department. If the Provincial Justice Department were added as well, it would gradually affect the Secretary's reputation, for constantly clashing with superiors is not the way of an official; he cannot let the Secretary keep offending people for his sake.

Tian Wubin failed to achieve the purpose of this trip, changed his work methods, began to pick faults in the Municipal Bureau, constantly finding problems at work, leaving Ye Chen exhausted trying to respond and unable to speak his bitterness, after all the provincial department has guidance over the Municipal Bureau in business and personnel, so he must cooperate honestly with the provincial department's inspection.

Li Mingzhou, influenced by family education since childhood, has a very strong-willed character; he is someone who does not suffer a loss. Now that someone has come to his door to strike, he cannot possibly not retaliate!

June 7, the Yingjiang Municipal Intermediate People's Court announced the first-instance verdict in the case of former Vice Chair of the Municipal Association for Science and Technology, Le Xue Li, on charges of bribery and embezzlement.

The defendant Le Xue Li was sentenced to twelve years' imprisonment and a fine of 3.5 million yuan for bribery, and three years' imprisonment and a fine of 500,000 yuan for embezzlement. It was decided to execute a combined sentence of fifteen years' imprisonment; Le Xue Li's illicit gains from embezzlement shall be lawfully confiscated and returned to the relevant units, and his illicit gains from bribery shall be lawfully confiscated and turned over to the state treasury.

After investigation, it was found that the defendant Le Xue Li, having successively used the conveniences of his posts as township Party committee secretary and Deputy County Chief of Ningyang Xian, as well as the conveniences derived from his authority or position, provided assistance to related enterprises or individuals in the allocation of agricultural funds, agricultural projects, infrastructure projects, and oilfield development, either alone or together with others, receiving money and valuables totaling over 55 million yuan.

The Municipal Intermediate People's Court considered that the defendant Le Xue Li's actions constituted bribery and embezzlement. The amounts of his bribery and embezzlement were especially huge and huge, respectively, and thus should be punished according to law; the court therefore rendered the aforementioned verdict.

Soon, Le Lao San and Le Lao Si happily met in Yingjiang Prison; they finally had company!

This matter dealt a huge blow to Le Xue Ren; not only were his two brothers imprisoned, but he himself also faced immense public skepticism! Your two brothers—one raked in money recklessly, the other was a major corrupt official—so what kind of good bird are you?

Even the provincial government was abuzz with discussion; this is exactly the effect Municipal Party Secretary Li Mingzhou wanted!

However, Le Xue Ren's inner strength is considerable; after a trip to Jingcheng, under the guidance of Duan Pengfei, he gradually became a carefree person, as if his brothers' affairs had nothing to do with him, his cheek as thick as anyone's, but his official career essentially came to a standstill.

On the first day of the college entrance examination, Lu Fan accompanied Municipal Party Secretary Li Mingzhou to Ningyang High School and Yingjiang Middle School examination sites to inspect the examination work, visit and console the frontline examination staff, and extend best wishes to all examinees.

After leaving Ningyang Middle School, Li Mingzhou smiled and asked: "Lu Fan, I still remember you saying two years ago that you wanted to aim for Peking University and Tsinghua University; last year, the top scorer at Ningyang High was off by how many points? How about this year?"

Lu Fan said confidently: "Secretary, please take a look; this year we have several promising seedlings, the first cohort of freshmen I recruited during my tenure; a few of them got into Yingjiang Middle School but chose not to attend; the school waived their tuition and living expenses, provided single-person single-room service, parents can also accompany them on campus for study, and teachers often give them extra tutoring; judging from their mock exam scores, those who get into Yingjiang Middle School are always among the top, and this year there is great hope of aiming for Peking University and Tsinghua University."

Li Mingzhou smiled: "I hope you can achieve your wish; otherwise it will be a regret later! Lu Fan, take a look at this document."

After receiving the document, Lu Fan quickly skimmed it once; indeed, what he feared had come true—it was a document from the Provincial Justice Department and the Provincial Prison Administration, the content of course being to transfer Le Xue Li and Le Xue Zhi to another prison, the reason being that both suffer from an "illness," requiring them to be moved to the AIDS offender ward.

The reason is quite sufficient; Lu Fan said: "Secretary, Le Xue Zhi refuses to admit it, the case investigation has reached a deadlock; please just agree to the Justice Department's request, so as not to offend people again for my sake."

"On this matter you need not overthink; if necessary, we can simply standardize the AIDS offender ward at Yingjiang Prison, and I can take responsibility for it!"

Lu Fan hurriedly said: "Secretary, there's really no need; there's plenty of time ahead, the Public Security Bureau will continue to perfect the evidence chain, and I believe he will eventually be brought to justice!"

"Alright, then let them take the person away."

Having obtained Yingjiang's permission, the Provincial Prison Administration acted swiftly; by June 10 it had completed all procedures and taken away Le Xue Li and Le Xue Zhi.

At the same time, the working group of the Provincial Public Security Department withdrew that day, and everything vanished like smoke!

Often, when a situation reaches an impasse, one must temporarily compromise. Compromise is not weakness, nor does it mean giving up; it is a method of advancing by retreating, a wisdom, and moreover a strategy. Let the bullets fly for a while; there's plenty of time ahead.

June 15, Li Mingzhou summoned Lu Fan and Ye Chen to the office and solemnly instructed: "I have looked at some materials; the death of the former Deputy Director of the Human Resources Bureau, Yang Ye, was indeed somewhat strange, especially the two people who took him away from the unit that day, who are highly suspicious; moreover, the impact of this case is extremely heinous, and it remains a headless case, which is highly abnormal! The Public Security Bureau can secretly file a case and investigate; we must ensure the truth behind the case is revealed to the world, and bring the lawbreakers to justice, no matter who is involved, investigating to the end."

Ye Chen firmly declared: "Please rest assured, Secretary; the Public Security Bureau has already grasped some evidence in the preliminary stage, and we will certainly solve this case as soon as possible!"

Li Mingzhou continued: "Lu Fan, you are to monitor this case; report any developments to me at any time."

After coming out, Lu Fan invited Ye Chen to the office, specifically mentioning Deputy Section Chief Liu Yixuan of the Logistics Section of the Municipal Human Resources Bureau, and instructed that he should have some clues in his possession.

Ye Chen returned to the Public Security Bureau, summoned Deputy Chief Wu Aoran to the office, and gave him a death order to solve the Yang Ye case as soon as possible.

Actually, many things are known to all; Yang Ye's bizarre suicide by hanging caused a sensation throughout the city, with many rumors among the populace; Wu Aoran naturally had heard of it, so he identified the primary suspect—the current Bureau Chief, Leng Jiang—and spared no effort to apprehend the two individuals who had taken Yang Ye away from the unit back then.

One could say that whether a case succeeds depends on the Public Security Bureau's seriousness; now, with the Municipal Party Secretary's close attention, the Municipal Bureau treats this case as a top priority, pouring in substantial manpower and material resources, with both legal and illegal sides acting together, quickly locking onto the target and apprehending those two individuals.

After interrogation, these two individuals appeared to be businessmen on the surface, but both were longtime veteran gamblers.

Under the fierce assault of Deputy Captain Liu Jin Zhu of the Criminal Police Detachment, the two confessed to Leng Jiang.

Back then, they were responsible for setting the trap, dragging Yang Ye into the water, and getting him hooked on the gambling habit.

The two recalled that on the day Yang Ye met with misfortune, it was indeed they who called him out from the unit and took him to a guesthouse to play mahjong. At 3 a. m., they left, Yang Ye rested in the room, which had been arranged in advance by Leng Jiang.

The two explained that they never expected that Yang Ye would meet with misfortune just a few days later.

These years they have lived nervously, but the police never came to their door; they thought nothing was wrong, never imagining that the long-buried old matter would be dug up again!

As the investigation deepened, the police came to hold more and more evidence pointing to Leng Jiang.

After rigorous analysis and reasoning, the Public Security Bureau finally confirmed that Leng Jiang was the key suspect responsible for Yang Ye's mysterious death.

June 25, after approval by the Municipal Party Committee, Municipal Government, and Municipal Political and Legal Affairs Commission, the Municipal Public Security Bureau formally summoned the Director of the Municipal Human Resources Bureau, Leng Jiang!

Instantly, the whole city was in an uproar! The long-buried past once again became a hot topic across the city!

For a time, all kinds of speculation and rumors sprang up, even the Municipal Party Committee compound was abuzz with discussion.

"Have you heard? Leng Jiang is under investigation!"

"I told you so! Just think: Yang Ye wouldn't commit suicide; as the deputy bureau chief in charge of work, he was about to be inspected for promotion—what reason would he have to kill himself?"

"After all these years, this headless case finally has someone in charge!"

"Actually, the matter is plain to see: whoever benefited the most is the culprit!"

"I heard it's because Municipal Party Secretary Li is personally paying attention that the Public Security Bureau is putting in effort!"

"Just wait and see; the good show has only just begun, and surely a big tiger will be implicated later!"

"You're right; how could a dignified bureau chief die for no reason? Who would believe it? Without a protective umbrella, is that possible?"

……

In the Municipal Government building, someone finally could not sit still! In the Provincial Government building, someone also furrowed their brows!

Yang Ye's case has become the focus of citywide attention; everyone is watching closely, awaiting the truth!

As for Leng Jiang, facing questioning by the Public Security Bureau, he appeared unusually calm and composed; it is estimated that he has simulated this scene many times in his mind!