Chapter 376: Chapter 367 The Great Purge_1
This matter was of great importance to Nie Zhenbang. Guo Zhenbao was the leading general under Li Guohua, and before Chen Le arrived, Guo Zhenbao was the executive deputy director who fully managed the work of the Municipal Public Security Bureau. In other words, Guo Zhenbao bore the hat of the executive deputy, but exercised the duties of the director. This time, if he could seize this opportunity to take down Guo Zhenbao. On one hand, Chen Le would use this to get rid of Guo Zhenbao and his group of people, placing his own people in key departments within the bureau’s various branches and headquarters, thus, managing the Public Security Bureau like an iron barrel. On the other hand, this opportunity could also be used to strike at Li Guohua and even Fan Changsheng.

The affairs within the system sometimes are indeed like this – disgusting. It seems complicated, racking your brains about the top leadership’s intentions and appeasing the citizens. It seems that every day is spent in intrigue, as if the path of being an official is the most dangerous one. But at certain particular times, the affairs within the system are actually the simplest, such as under the current circumstances.

Nie Zhenbang and Chen Le have got definitive evidence and handle on Guo Zhenbao. Not to mention Li Guohua and Fan Changsheng, even the King’s father dare not protect him.

“Mayor, what about Secretary Dingguo? Will he…?” Chen Le also started worrying. After all, this matter was a confrontation with the head of the Municipal Party Committee. Although Lei Dingguo was the secretary of the Municipal Disciplinary Committee, sometimes he still had to take into account the ideas of the Municipal Party Committee Secretary.

Nie Zhenbang was very confident at this moment and waved his hand: “Old Chen, it’s not me who says you, but I feel that you are becoming more and more conservative with time. You have lost much of your initial courage. Haven’t you figured out what kind of person Lei Dingguo is? He would never miss such an opportunity. If handled properly, this could greatly add to his ‘Iron Face’ accomplishments. Lei Dingguo has always been dreaming of moving to the Provincial Disciplinary Committee or even Central Disciplinary Committee, do you think he will miss this great opportunity?”

Hearing Nie Zhenbang’s explanation, Chen Le also nodded in agreement. Indeed, Lei Dingguo was more than happy to investigate an elusive case about Qingfang City, let alone a case with clear-cut evidence.

With that, Nie Zhenbang picked up the documents and instructed Chen Le: “You need to keep a close eye on the Municipal Public Security Bureau. You should have a clear grasp of the internal personnel adjustments in the Bureau, as well as the arrangements in all aspects. Don’t blame me if you mess it up.”

Chen Le understood that this was just a joke from Nie Zhenbang. However, Chen Le dare not slack off. Nie Zhenbang’s intention was clear, Guo Zhenbao would certainly not be able to keep his post after this investigation. Therefore, it was necessary for Chen’s people to take over. If someone else took the position, wouldn’t it be all for nothing?

Nie Zhenbang, carrying his briefcase, walked directly across the sky bridge between the Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal Government towards the office building of the Municipal Disciplinary Committee. Unlike other regions, the Municipal Disciplinary Committee and the Municipal Party Committee work in the same building, except they are on different floors.

The seventh and eighth floors of the Municipal Party Committee office building were occupied by the Municipal Disciplinary Committee. Lei Dingguo’s office is at the far east of the eighth floor.

Many of the office workers who came and went saw Nie Zhenbang on this floor, they stopped in their tracks and smiled as they greeted Nie Zhenbang. Due to Nie Zhenbang’s work experience in the Central Disciplinary Committee and his investigation in Jiangbei Province, his name was quite well-known in the Disciplinary Committee system of Jiangbei Province.

He headed straight for Lei Dingguo’s office without any interference. The door was slightly ajar and the room was very quiet. He knocked on the door and Lei Dingguo’s voice could be heard from inside, “Come in.”

As soon as he entered, Lei Dingguo saw Nie Zhenbang and immediately stood up, smiling, “Mayor Nie, you are a rare guest.”

Nie Zhenbang accepted the goodwill conveyed by Lei Dingguo’s words, and responded with a smile, “Secretary Dingguo, you’re overdoing it. In terms of age and qualifications, you’re the elder. You are also a capable leader in our Disciplinary Committee. To say that, I’m rather embarrassed.”

Upon hearing Nie Zhenbang’s words, Lei Dingguo’s face lit up with a wide smile. These words inadvertently closed the distance between the two. Moreover, Nie Zhenbang had a subordinate in the Central Disciplinary Committee who was responsible for Jiangbei Province. As long as he had a good relationship with Nie Zhenbang, it would not be difficult to gain recognition from a leader of the Central Disciplinary Committee.

After the pleasantries, Nie Zhenbang got straight to the point, “Secretary Dingguo, the reason I am here is truly to ask for a favor. This letter was handed to me personally by Chen Le from the Public Security Bureau this morning. I’ve had a look, and I believe that there is complete evidence in this case, and the facts are clear. It completely fits the Disciplinary Committee’s procedure. I suggest that the Disciplinary Committee can initiate a double regulation investigation of Comrade Guo Zhenbao from the Municipal Public Security Bureau.”

Lei Dingguo read the letter and fell into deep thought. According to the working rules and standards for filing a case of the Disciplinary Committee, he could approve this case.

However, if the Standing Committee does not discuss it, Fan Changsheng might oppose it. Lei Dingguo weighed his options and felt that the case was clear and the evidence was strong. Although there were suspicions of being too hasty, as the secretary of the Municipal Disciplinary Committee, Lei Dingguo still had the power to do so. Moreover, even if it escalates, Li Guohua and Fan Changsheng wouldn’t dare to say anything. If they dared to speak for Guo Zhenbao then, they would be suspected of covering up. These two men will naturally not make such a low-level mistake.

With this decided, Lei Dingguo nodded firmly, “Okay. I will process this case immediately.”

Upon hearing Lei Dingguo’s agreement to intervene, a hint of a smile crept onto Nie Zhenbang’s face, and he breathed a sigh of relief. He had made the right bet. If Lei Dingguo chose not to agree and instead tipped off Fan Changsheng and others in advance, all his preparations would be ruined.

Of course, this could not be considered a risk. Before coming here, Nie Zhenbang had analyzed the character and personality of Lei Dingguo. Without assurance of success, Nie Zhenbang would not have come.

Subsequently, Nie Zhenbang also stood up and extended his hand to say: “Secretary Ding Guo, I entrust this matter to you. After the issues with the Spinning Group have been resolved, I’ll invite you out for a meal.”

As soon as Nie Zhenbang left, Lei Dingguo returned to his desk, picked up the phone on the table, dialed a number and said: “Tianzheng? Could you please come to my office now?”

In less than two minutes, a middle-aged man in his forties with a solemn expression walked into Lei Dingguo’s office. This was Tianzheng, full name Hong Tianzheng, the director of the second department of the city’s discipline inspection and supervision committee. His duties were directly regarding discipline liaisons and cases handling for the city’s public security, procuratorial organs, and courts. What was even more rare was that Hong Tianzheng was a man who did not fear power. Handling this case to Hong Tianzheng couldn’t be more appropriate.

Subsequently, Lei Dingguo handed the letter to Hong Tianzheng and said, “Tianzheng, this is a letter reporting Guo Zhenbao, the Executive Deputy Director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau. Take a look. The whistleblower has now been secretly controlled by Director Chen of the municipal bureau. I’m handing this case to you. Are you confident?”

“Please rest assured, Secretary Lei.” Hong Tianzheng’s words were simple and straightforward. No fluff at all.

…

The next day, at the Liangxi City Public Security Bureau, very early in the morning, Chen Le gave orders. This morning, a city-level public security work mobilization meeting was to be held in the Public Security Bureau’s conference room.

At eight thirty, the party members of the Municipal Public Security Bureau, along with the top two officials from the five districts and two cities of Liangxi City and various squadron leaders and instructors were all present. Dozens of people filled the large conference room of the Public Security Bureau.

Just as the meeting was about to start, Chen Le walked into the conference room. As soon as he sat down, Chen Le said loudly: “Comrades, there are two main issues that I have gathered you all here to discuss…”

Before Chen Le could finish, a knock interrupted from outside the meeting room, and the double doors of the meeting room were pushed open.

At the doorway, four individuals dressed in dark suits with a bright red national emblem pinned on the left chest stood expressionless, looking around at everyone present.

The people in the room immediately fell silent. Those with a guilty conscience lowered their heads. They were all too familiar with this attire… and it was terrifying. These were standard outfits for the disciplinary committee’s staff.

In front, Hong Tianzheng stepped forward. After a quick scan of the room, his eyes finally fell on Guo Zhenbao. From his briefcase, Hong Tianzheng took out a document and handed it to a police officer next to him. He immediately said: “Comrade Guo Zhenbao, according to complaints from the public, you are suspected of corruption, dereliction of duty, and misuse of power. In accordance with the decision of the discipline inspection committee of the city, you will be subject to ‘Shuanggui’ [Party discipline] starting today. Please cooperate with our investigation.”

Upon hearing these words, Guo Zhenbao collapsed, losing all the demeanor of a deputy director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau. Seeing this scene, Hong Tianzheng frowned slightly. His eyes were full of disdain. This man, who dared to reach out, was someone Hong Tianzheng utterly despised.

He then told his colleagues: “Little Wu, Xiao Wang, you two, go help him.”

After Hong Tianzheng and others had left, facing a commotion in the conference room, Chen Le then pounded the table. When quiet returned, he resumed his earlier topic: “One aspect is the public security issue of the city. And second, I’m going to announce a few personnel appointments.”

As Chen Le’s words fell, the room was silent. Personnel appointments? This was likely the result of Guo Zhenbao’s arrest. Although in the city bureau, personnel appointments were just a formality for the organization department, a meeting was still necessary. This abrupt move was most likely going to stir things up.

Those associated with Guo Zhenbao became even paler. It seemed that Director Chen was going to initiate a major purge.