Chapter 912

Ten forty at night.

Lin Dongfan had just stepped out of Wuzhou Airport when he hastily boarded a special car and headed straight for the Provincial Party Committee Building. Twenty minutes later he arrived at the meeting room; pushing the door open, he saw his mentor — Luo Xiang, and Director Qi.

"Sorry to keep you waiting so long."

At a glance, the ashtray was already full of cigarette butts, showing that Luo Secretary and Director Qi had been waiting Along time, which made Lin Dongfan feel quite ashamed.

Luo Xiang raised his wrist to check the time, smiled lightly, and said, "It's not too late; sit down and talk."

"Thank you, Luo Secretary."

After Lin Dongfan sat down, he got straight to the point: "Luo Secretary, Director Qi, Yang Qing should have already reported the situation regarding Zhou Zheng. As for Zheng Congwen's issue, we need to come up with a plan tonight."

Director Qi nodded, but his brows were tightly furrowed.

He solemnly emphasized: "Zhou Zheng's testimony does indeed point to Zheng Congwen, but I think arresting someone without prior notice must be handled with caution."

"Director Qi, what do you mean?" Lin Dongfan was a bit puzzled by Director Qi.

Director Qi explained calmly:

"Zheng Congwen is a provincial-level cadre; during his tenure as deputy director of the Provincial Department, he also maintained close ties with the provincial and ministerial leaders."

"Later he was transferred to the City Bureau to serve as Political Commissar, nominally a crisis appointment, but actually Wang Qigang Secretary requested personnel from our Provincial Department, and we had no choice but to comply."

"At that time, Wang Qigang Secretary had just arrived in Wuzhou, his foothold was unstable, and he encountered considerable resistance in his work."

"Before Zheng Congwen was transferred to the City Bureau as Political Commissar, the City Bureau had been led entirely by Comrade Luo Zhiwei. After Zheng Congwen took office, Luo Zhiwei gradually faded from the view of the provincial and ministerial leaders."

Hearing Director Qi's words, Lin Dongfan was shocked.

By his reckoning, he had been in office in Wuzhou for over half a year, which is not a short time. Yet his understanding of the organization's personnel relations was still insufficient.

If Director Qi hadn't said so, he really wouldn't have known that Zheng Congwen was 'invited' to the City Bureau by Wang Qigang.

No wonder Luo Zhiwei keeps such a low profile now; despite all the recent troubles in Wuzhou, Luo Bureau has been on leave at home citing poor health, acting as a hands-off manager.

It seems Luo Bureau's edges have been worn down by force, and his ambition is extinct.

Lin Dongfan looked at Director Qi with a smile and said, "Director Qi, do you mean that arresting Zheng Congwen should first be discussed at the Standing Committee meeting?"

"From a procedural standpoint, we should indeed bring it up first." Director Qi said worriedly: "Otherwise, if we arrest him here, the Provincial Standing Committee will slam the table over there, harming harmony."

Luo Xiang had remained silent.

At this moment he finally showed a faint smile: "Director Qi, you're overthinking. I have already reported this matter to Secretary Jiang."

Director Qi was taken aback: "What instructions does Secretary Jiang have?"

"Secretary Jiang is attending a meeting in Jingcheng and will return in a few days." Luo Xiang lifted his tea cup, blew on it, then continued: "Secretary Jiang's clear instruction is to handle the matter in accordance with law and regulations."

"We should first bring this matter to the Standing Committee for discussion; this is also an indispensable part of the procedure." Director Qi insisted on his opinion.

Hearing this, Luo Xiang's eyes flashed like torches.

Staring at Director Qi for several seconds before speaking, he said: "Director Qi, the issue now is not whether we can arrest him, but how to arrest him and which specific unit should carry out the arrest."

Seeing that Luo Xiang had already made up his mind on this matter, Director Qi immediately fell silent and stopped arguing.

Luo Xiang then continued:

"Zheng Congwen's case involves both suspected corruption and criminal offenses. Both the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission and the Provincial Public Security Department have authority to handle it; who should make the arrest needs to be coordinated."

"Luo Secretary, Director Qi, I think this should be carried out by the Provincial Department." Lin Dongfan had just finished speaking.

Director Qi's gaze swept over: "Why? Do you not trust the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission?"

Seeing Director Qi's sullen expression, it seemed he didn't want to be the one to stick his neck out. It's not hard to understand: whether it's Wang Qigang or Deng Chunning, both are people Director Qi cannot afford to offend.

"Director Qi, I'm not distrusting the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission."

Lin Dongfan said this with his mouth, but his resolve was firm—how deep the waters of Jianglan are, with all kinds of tangled relations; what basis do I have to trust them?

In the midst of conversation and laughter.

Lin Dongfan added another explanation: "This case has all along been pushed forward by your Provincial Department's Deputy Director Yang; at the time your Provincial Department also set up a special task force. Now that we have finally uncovered the root of the problem behind the scenes and reached the net‑gathering stage, what reason is there to hand over this hard‑won investigative achievement to the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission?"

!!!

Director Qi was once again speechless.

This time it became clear—this guy Lin Dongfan, on the surface is helping the Provincial Public Security Department preserve this hard‑won political achievement, but in reality he fears complications.

Put bluntly, besides Yang Qing, he trusts no one.

Director Qi turned his head toward Luo Xiang: "Luo Secretary, even if we let the Provincial Department carry out the arrest operation, shouldn't we first give the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission a heads‑up?"

"In my view, there's no need for that."

Luo Xiang added with a half‑smile: "Arresting Zheng Congwen is relatively sensitive; the fewer people who know, the better. If word leaks, there will be no time for regret. After we have the person under control, we can still hand over his related matters to the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission later—it won't be too late."

As soon as his words fell, the meeting room fell into a brief silence.

Until Director Qi's phone rang.

Only then was the silence on the scene broken.

However, Director Qi let the phone keep ringing, with no intention to answer, not even pulling it out to see who was calling.

Lin Dongfan and Luo Xiang, without prior agreement, both looked toward Director Qi.

Luo Xiang reminded: "Director Qi, your phone is ringing."

"Sorry, I zoned out……" Director Qi pulled out his phone, glanced at it, and squeezed out an embarrassed smile: "I was working overtime in a meeting and forgot to say hello to my family; they're urging me to go home."

Having said that, he immediately hung up, turned off the phone, and tossed it onto the coffee table.

To prove he had nothing shady to hide.

Lin Dongfan laughed and said: "Director Qi, regarding the arrest of Zheng Congwen, my opinion agrees with Luo Secretary's; do you have anything else to add?"

"The minority follows the majority; I have no objections." Director Qi said.

Luo Xiang immediately set the tone: "Since everyone has no objections, let's decide it this way. Director Qi, go make the arrangements—we'll take action tonight."

"Okay."

Director Qi rose and said: "Luo Secretary, Mayor Lin, I'll go back to make the arrangements."

Hmm, waiting for your good news.

Seeing Director Qi off meant the arrest operation had entered the execution stage, but Luo Xiang didn't feel that sense of relief; instead, his expression grew even more grave.

Luo Xiang brewed two cups of invigorating tea, handing one to Lin Dongfan.

Sitting down to chat with Lin Dongfan: "Director Qi's condition tonight seems a bit off; he appears to have some concerns..."

"I guess he doesn't want to offend Wang Qigang." Lin Dongfan smiled lightly: "After all, that vote in Wang Qigang's hands is crucial for his promotion to vice governor."

Luo Xiang furrowed his brow slightly: "I hope that's the only concern." Implicitly, that means setting aside this concern, Director Qi might still have other worries.

However, in Lin Dongfan's view, Director Qi shouldn't be involved in the case.

If Director Qi had close ties with Wang Qigang and Deng Chunning, then his desire for advancement wouldn't be obstructed everywhere, and he wouldn't be forced to pin his hopes on Lin Dongfan.