Chapter 324 - 175: Provincial Government Supervisor (Part 2)

Chapter 324: Chapter 175: Provincial Government Supervisor (Part 2)

On the other side of the conference table, several plainclothes agents from the Special Investigations Unit were quietly discussing the maps and documents spread out before them. Meanwhile, not a single person from the branch’s Major Case Team was present. The scene made it obvious that they had been excluded from the core decision-making circle.

Yang Wenqing wasn’t bothered. ’The City Bureau and my master will account for whatever credit I’m due,’ he thought. ’There’s no point in arguing over such trivialities now.’

"Director Yang!" Upon seeing Yang Wenqing, Vice Director Sheng stood up, a warm smile spreading across his face as he came forward to greet him. "Sorry to interrupt your work. We came down in such a hurry that we didn’t give you any advance notice. My apologies."

"Not at all, Director Sheng," Yang Wenqing said, stepping forward to shake his hand. "It is an honor for our branch to have you and the leadership from Internal Affairs Inspection here to guide us in person. Please forgive us if our hospitality is lacking."

Vice Director Sheng gave Yang Wenqing’s hand a firm shake, then turned to make an introduction. "Come, Director Yang, let me introduce you. This is Section Chief Sun Shouyi from the City Bureau’s Internal Affairs Inspectorate."

The older man in gray stood and gave Yang Wenqing a slight nod. "Director Yang. A pleasure."

"Section Chief Sun. I’ve heard a great deal about you," Yang Wenqing responded with a smile.

"And this..." Vice Director Sheng gestured to a young man in his early thirties sitting beside Sun Shouyi. "...is Secretary Zhou Ming from the office of the Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau. He’s here on their behalf to coordinate on relevant matters."

Secretary Zhou immediately stood, a somewhat reserved smile on his face as he extended a hand. "Director Yang, a pleasure. I’m afraid we’ll have to trouble you and your colleagues at the branch."

"Not at all, Secretary Zhou. It’s our duty to cooperate with the city’s initiatives," Yang Wenqing said, giving his hand a light shake.

After the introductions and pleasantries were exchanged, everyone retook their seats.

Vice Director Sheng took the head of the table, flanked by Sun Shouyi and Secretary Zhou. Yang Wenqing sat opposite him, with Zhu Yunchuan and Qiu Zheng on either side.

"Director Yang, let’s cut to the chase." Vice Director Sheng’s smile faded, his expression growing solemn. "Based on the results of last night’s Soul Search on Li Xiulan and subsequent cross-referencing, we’ve compiled a preliminary list of names and identified several key strongholds."

He motioned for an agent beside him to hand several encrypted briefing files to Yang Wenqing.

Yang Wenqing took a file and scanned it quickly. The contents were shocking. The list contained several hundred names. The majority were labeled as peripheral associates—mostly manor owners and small factory owners from the city outskirts, along with some mid-level managers from the Commerce Association.

These individuals had mostly been lured by promises of life-extending Secret Techniques, special Divine Powers, or enormous profits into providing funds, locations, or intelligence. They fell into a category that could be investigated and dealt with later.

But the truly difficult part came next.

The report detailed three core strongholds within the city, involving three sizable Commerce Associations. It also listed seven individuals explicitly marked as core members and key contacts. Of those seven, two were mid-level officials in the Civil Affairs Bureau, one was a former deputy section chief of the City Defense Bureau’s Public Security Section, and the remaining four were the de facto controllers of the three Commerce Associations.

"The situation is more complex than we anticipated. The depth and breadth of their infiltration exceed our expectations," Vice Director Sheng said in a low voice. "This is especially true since it involves personnel within the Civil Affairs Bureau and the City Defense System. We must handle this with extreme caution, which is why Section Chief Sun and Secretary Zhou are here today."

"Furthermore, there’s another list concerning other districts and counties, which I won’t disclose here. We already conferred with the municipal special task force about it ten minutes ago."

Sun Shouyi picked up where he left off. "Internal Affairs Inspection has already launched an internal investigation into our implicated personnel. We need to bring these few in for questioning this morning. To avoid tipping them off and causing unnecessary panic, the operation must be discreet."

Secretary Zhou adjusted his glasses and added, "The same applies to the Civil Affairs Bureau. Director Liao Tianming has been briefed on the general situation and will cooperate fully. We’ll summon the two officials involved under the guise of an emergency work meeting and have our own people escort them in."

Vice Director Sheng turned to Yang Wenqing. "Director Yang, your branch has a heavy burden. We need you to dispatch reliable personnel to work with our colleagues from the Special Investigations Unit and the Inspectorate. You will need to simultaneously secure these three strongholds and take control of the core members on the list."

"The operation is set for noon today. We’ll use the lunch break, a window when personnel are relatively stationary. Team Leader Liu Xin is familiar with the local situation, so she’ll lead the support team. Captain Qiu Zheng will manage overall coordination. What do you think, Director Yang?"

Yang Wenqing closed the file. His gaze swept over the room. ’Their plan is meticulous,’ he thought. ’They’ve compartmentalized and distributed all the risks and responsibilities.’

He mulled it over for a moment before speaking. "The plan is thorough. The branch has no objections. We will provide our full cooperation."

"However, the supervisor from the Provincial Government is arriving this afternoon, and I have a great deal of work to prepare for his reception and briefing. As for the operation itself, let Team Liu take the lead."

He turned specifically to Liu Xin and instructed, "Team Liu, be sure to handle this operation with the proper tact."

Vice Director Sheng kept his smile in place. "That supervisor is coming down to put out fires. If there are any messes we can’t wipe clean, he’ll likely be more eager to cover them up than we are."

His words, carrying a hint of wry, unspoken understanding, drew knowing smiles from both Sun Shouyi and Secretary Zhou.

Yang Wenqing smiled as well, then changed the subject with his own suggestion. "Director Sheng, about these peripheral members... there are a great many of them. If we use strong-arm tactics on all of them, I fear it will provoke an unnecessary backlash and threaten the stability of the New District."

"I propose that the Civil Affairs Bureau could take the lead, invite them in for questioning, and allow them to confess voluntarily. Those who cooperate can be treated with leniency. This would allow us to dismantle their network’s foundation while minimizing the disruption to the New District."

Sun Shouyi gave a slight nod, clearly in approval of the strategy.

Secretary Zhou also nodded. "I agree. The Civil Affairs Bureau can spearhead this."

Vice Director Sheng nodded as well. "Alright, let’s proceed that way."

Yang Wenqing continued, "Furthermore, for any other issues that come to light during subsequent interrogations, as long as the impact isn’t too great, I believe we should lean toward official reprimands. Of course," he added, "if their crimes are truly heinous, they must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law!"

Vice Director Sheng still didn’t object, but Section Chief Sun appeared to have a different opinion, though he kept it to himself.

The meeting then moved on to the specific details of task assignments and coordination. Yang Wenqing listened quietly, only speaking up to give concise, affirmative replies when the discussion involved his branch’s personnel or facilities.

Time slipped by as directives were rapidly issued. As noon approached, the Communication Arrays in the conference room began to activate one by one. The arrest teams were starting to report their progress.

The arrests were going smoothly. Seeing that the situation was well in hand, Yang Wenqing chose an appropriate moment to stand. "Director Sheng, Section Chief Sun, Secretary Zhou, I’ll leave the rest to you. I have some other matters to attend to at the bureau, especially with the supervisor arriving this afternoon. I still have preparations to make."

Vice Director Sheng was clearly in high spirits. He rose to see Yang Wenqing out. "You’re too kind, Director Yang. This was all thanks to your branch’s staunch support."

Yang Wenqing gave a nod to Sun Shouyi and Secretary Zhou before leaving the small conference room, its atmosphere still tense and bustling with activity.

Back in the quiet solitude of his spacious office, Yang Wenqing had just settled into his chair, not yet having a moment to catch his breath, when Kong Yu—who had clearance to enter without being announced—knocked and came in.

"Director." Kong Yu’s face held the relief of a completed mission, yet also a hint of uncertainty about what came next. He asked directly, "What are the next steps for the secret investigation team?"

Yang Wenqing picked up the cup of tea Liu Qin had just prepared and took a small sip. ’I didn’t expect them to be so swift and decisive,’ he thought. ’There’s little point in having the secret investigation team continue its surveillance. It might just stir up unnecessary suspicion.’

After a moment’s thought, he came to a decision. "Lingshan New District is only growing in importance. We’ll see no shortage of similar infiltration and sabotage attempts in the future. The Major Case Team has its hands full dealing with its regular caseload."

"From now on, your investigation team will be dedicated to screening and investigating infiltration activities by external forces into our New District. You’ll focus particularly on threats involving unconventional methods like Evil Magic and Divine Arts from Foreign Countries. Have all of the Major Case Team’s cold cases related to this field transferred to your unit. You’ll be responsible for re-examining them."

Kong Yu’s eyes lit up. ’This gives the investigation team a permanent mandate and authority, elevating it from a temporary task force!’

"Yes, Director! I understand what needs to be done."

"Good. Get to it. Maintain confidentiality, and continue to run regular background checks on your personnel," Yang Wenqing said with a wave of his hand.

Kong Yu had just left when the Communication Array on the desk lit up. The signal originated from the Civil Affairs Bureau office.

Once the connection was established, Liao Tianming’s voice came through. "Director Yang, I’ve just received firm notice. The supervisor from the Provincial Government’s Flying Shuttle will arrive before one p.m. Do you think... will you be there to receive him?"

Yang Wenqing answered without a moment’s hesitation, "Of course, I’ll be there!"