Chapter 743

mentions Sun Chengjun, the Public Security Bureau, Geng Miao, and the special case team. Also mentions them. No other named entities.

Starting from Night Color, to a few other karaoke bars and discos, in less than two or three hours, they were all raided. Especially in the basement of Night Color, over thirty girls were found, some of whom were still junior high school students. Seeing those youthful, immature faces, Sun Chengjun got so angry he on the spot let loose a string of vulgarities. If Geng Le were here, if conditions allowed, he would definitely make Geng Le regret being born. Although he hasn't been a police officer for many years, he has plenty of ways to deal with people.

At the scene of the special task force office meeting, the members of the Jinzhou Municipal Party Committee heard that Geng Miao's nightclubs were being raided one by one, the girls imprisoned in the basements were all rescued, and their hearts sank little by little. Meanwhile, Secretary Yue's face grew ever darker; he had originally planned to take a nap on the office sofa, but hearing such a heinous act, he was so angry he didn't even feel like sleeping.

"Well, well, if I hadn't heard it with my own ears, I would have thought someone was exaggerating! This is happening right under our government's leadership—how could such hair-raising conduct occur! It's right under your noses; could it be that you, the County Party Committee and County Government and the County Public Security Bureau, know nothing at all? Ye Xianggao, you speak!"

Ye Xianggao's face turned pale in an instant; he knew he couldn't escape this time, and hurriedly said, "Secretary Yue, regarding these things they did, we only recently got the news. We had originally planned to launch a thunderous operation in these few days to wipe out all these illegal and criminal activities. But we didn't expect that because of what happened last night, everything was moved up. Of course, I also admit that as a member of the leadership team of the County Party Committee and County Government, there are indeed shortcomings in our work, especially in supervising political and legal work. For this, I wish to make a self-criticism before you and all the leaders present."

As soon as those words left his mouth, the Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary beside him started cursing: "Ye Xianggao, Ye Xianggao, at this point, do you still want to drag someone down as a scapegoat? What exactly is going on—could you really be unaware of it?"

Seeing that the Municipal Party Committee Secretary, the mayor, and everyone else were turning their gazes toward him, the Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary said directly: "Leaders, regarding Night Color and the other nightclubs, they have always been the operating venues of Geng Miao's younger brother Geng Le. I discovered their shady dealings and this heinous criminal activity as early as two years ago, but you may also have heard that in Lieshan Xian's political environment, while I, as the Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary, am supposed to oversee public security, procuracy, and justice, in reality the Public Security Bureau Director Lin Zhinan won't listen to me! Moreover, this is Geng Miao and his group's operating venue; if I were to take any such action, the County Standing Committee members would all collectively oppose it."

The other Lieshan Xian County Standing Committee members, hearing this, turned green-faced, thinking: Secretary Ye, this is passing the buck! At worst, you take the blame yourself, and later we'll all make up for you and look after your family. Besides, we had previously reached an agreement on this—how come you just open your mouth and try to drag all of us down?

But the Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary showed no fear at all: "Want me to take the fall? Go ahead and dream your spring and autumn dreams! If there's punishment, we all take it; if we're to fall into the water, we all fall together—don't think anyone can escape! And speaking factually, is this even my political and legal affairs' business? Ah, it's mainly the responsibility of the entire county's leading cadres! Everyone knows that as long as you dare to oppose Geng Miao and his gang's business, you'll end up with no place to bury your corpse!"

Upon hearing this, Mayor Gao Xiaobo's face instantly darkened: "You'd better think carefully before you speak; don't talk nonsense! Secretary Yue is present at the scene, and every word you say will become a key focus of this special task force's supervision."

At this moment his heart was already in turmoil, and he desperately wanted to strangle the Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary. After all these years within the System, doesn't he even know the tactic of sacrificing the pawn to save the chariot?

The Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary said with a pale face: "In our county, it's like this—whatever Geng Miao says goes; nobody dares to oppose him, and nobody can oppose him! Every year he gives everyone shopping cards, cash red envelopes, and high-end liquor, and everyone gets them! If anyone refuses, they'll be seen as an oddball and targeted by everyone. At first I also thought of refusing, and I also wanted to eradicate this tumor completely, but everyone in the county kept telling me, what else could I do?"

Moreover, I believe the municipal authorities are also aware of this situation, yet they have not taken corresponding control measures; in fact, the municipal leaders still rather support Geng Miao's industry to a certain extent—of course, I'm referring to the Twin Ditch Large Koji Winery. That's all I have to say.

After his words fell, everyone present turned black-faced. The saying goes, 'Die with your Daoist friend, not with your Daoist priest,' but with the Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary, it's about all going to hell together. Anyway, he also realized that escaping today's situation is impossible.

Ye Xianggao's brain went straight into oxygen deprivation; all he wanted was to pass the buck. Originally, public security was under the Political and Legal Affairs Commission Secretary's jurisdiction—how could he still run into someone like this? Before even reaching the final step, how did he end up completely implicated? In this situation, what else could he say? Could he even keep groveling and explaining?

At this point, Secretary Yue was utterly furious. He wasn't unaware of the situation in Lieshan Xian, but knowing it and hearing it spoken directly from someone else's mouth made the shock entirely different. He bellowed: "Could it be that not a single person in the entire Lieshan Xian dares to stand up and fight against such illegal conduct? Could it be that our whole County Party Committee leadership team has rotted through? If one person rots, perhaps it's a matter of personal morality, but if the entire team is rotten, whose responsibility is it? Whose fault is it?"

As soon as those words were spoken, the faces of Jinzhou Municipal Party Committee Secretary Guo Haiyan, Mayor Gao Xiaobo, Deputy Secretary Wang Huaihong, and others all turned white. Given the major problem that has occurred in Lieshan Xian, the Municipal Party Committee leadership certainly bears responsibility, especially the top leader Guo Haiyan. At this moment her face was as white as paper pasted over, yet she steeled herself and said: "Secretary Yue, it's not that the entire team is like this; according to what I know, there is just one comrade who dares to struggle against such black‑evil forces. As for the specifics, please ask Deputy Secretary Wang Huaihong to give a concrete report."

Why single out Municipal Party Committee Deputy Secretary Wang Huaihong instead of Mayor Gao Xiaobo? Anyone with half a brain knows the reason. Wang Huaihong was promoted by the former Executive Vice Governor Zhou Weiguo, and Zhou Weiguo's current position needs no explanation. Most importantly, among all the Municipal Party Committee leaders, only Wang Huaihong has supported Su Yang—this might be the only chance to salvage the face of the Jinzhou Municipal Party Committee Secretary.