Chapter 540: Chapter 497: Breakthrough (Second Update, Calling for Monthly Tickets)_1
 

Wang Yaguang, a figure who had always maintained a low profile, surprisingly, was waiting for this move. This man’s depth of scheming greatly surpassed my own estimation. Outstanding character, patiently waiting till now to deliver a fatal blow. Shi Yiwu is surely finished, so next, the position of Secretary of the Wanghai City Party Committee will likely fall into his hands.

At this moment, Wang Yaguang also felt Nie Zhenbang’s gaze, stood up, and walked over to Nie Zhenbang, smilingly saying, “Mayor Nie, as you see, I’ve been entrusted by the Provincial Committee to temporarily take charge of the overall work of the Municipal Party Committee. As for the Municipal Government, I will have to trouble you to worry about it more.”

This is where Wang Yaguang is clever. Ding Jiashu, the Secretary of the Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission, had just entrusted the other standing committee members present to take charge of the work in Wanghai City on behalf of the Provincial Committee. In practice, this means entrusting Wang Yaguang with the overall work of the Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal Government, because in Wanghai City, he is still the deputy at the provincial level.

If Wang Yaguang were to hold on to all the power of the Municipal Party Committee and the Municipal Government, Nie Zhenbang would certainly have some thoughts, even if he did not say anything. Now, Wang Yaguang is proactively proposing to share the workload, creating harmonious and amicable conditions between them.

“Mayor Wang, you are too polite. You are the mayor, with abundant experience, when there’s any issue, we still need your guidance.” Nie Zhenbang also responded courteously,

Upon hearing this, Wang Yaguang burst into a hearty laugh, his laughter revealing the demeanor of a victor. Even a person as composed as Wang Yaguang could hardly contain the joy in his heart at this moment.

Then, Wang Yaguang turned to Liu Yafu and said, “Minister Liu, you must personally follow up on the personnel organization work. Currently, the main problem is to fully cooperate with the comrades of the special investigation team. All cadre involved in the case should be recorded according to the severity of their involvement.”

At the same time, Wang Yaguang turned to Lin Mohan and said, “Minister Lin, you must do a good job in propaganda. Focus on the central government’s decisions and emphasize the enormous harmfulness of smuggling. Show the highlights of the special investigation team to the masses and expose the ugly faces of some cadres.”

This series of measures highlighted Wang Yaguang’s extraordinary ability. Nie Zhenbang, who was standing by, was also nodding in agreement. Only such a person could have a long political life.

On the side of the special investigation team, after the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection implemented the “double regulations” on the main leading cadre of the Party and government in Wanghai City, other special investigation teams also started to take action immediately. Investigation teams from banks, taxation, public security, and customs were stationed in various departments respectively. The bank investigation team, also known as the Fifth Investigation Team, immediately stationed in major banks in Wanghai City to conduct a detailed audit of the accounts of the Asia Sea Group.

The State Taxation Investigation Team also entered the Wanghai City tax system. The team sent by the Ministry of Public Security was stationed in the Wanghai City Public Security Bureau and the Wanghai City Armed Police Detachment. The National Customs’s Discipline Inspection Group also entered the Wanghai Customs.

On the side of Wanghai City Military Region, Zhang Zhengguang handed over all the criminal suspects, oil tankers, and other seized goods to the special investigation team on the same day.

The special investigation team, comprising excellent interrogators drawn from the national public security system, immediately began to conduct a surprise interrogation of these people, and obtained a lot of evidence.

The next day, the team from the Public Security Bureau applied for a search warrant from the Minan Provincial Procuratorate to carry out a surprise search on Asia Sea Group and took away several middle-level cadres of the Asia Sea Group.

On the third day, the First Special Investigation Team went to the Wanghai City Public Security Bureau and announced the “double regulations” resolution to Zhou Qingguo, the director of the Wanghai City Public Security Bureau, and Niu Chao, the executive deputy director.

In the Wanghai City Military Region, Zhang Zhengguang was a bit puzzled. After waiting for three days, the order from above hadn’t come yet, which led him to understand this anomaly.

Looking at Nie Jiamin beside him, Zhang Zhengguang said, “Jiamin, for the special investigation team, we have to ensure the accommodation and meals of more than 700 people. We have to do a good job in logistical support. If there isn’t enough space, ask the soldiers to overcome the difficulties and empty the barracks. We must do our best to provide support.”

At this moment, inside the guest house of the Wanghai City Military Region, the entire five-story guest house was cleared. All the service staff were removed. Outside, all the guards were replaced with soldiers from the Wanghai City Military Region. At the only main entrance and exit, there were two people on each side, and on each floor, there were eight soldiers on standby, all carrying loaded guns. The security was very tight.

The complete top floor of the guest house had been converted into a special interrogation venue for the special investigation team. At any moment, party and government officials or suspects were brought in for interrogation.

At this moment, in a room on the fifth floor, Zheng Gensheng looked gravely at Liu Sicun who had grown haggard, and said sternly, “Liu Sicun, have you thought it through? Hiding in the corner and keeping silent isn’t the way out. You know what you did. Don’t harbor any hope of luck. If we take action against you, it means we have sufficient evidence.”

Next to him, Tan Xiongbin slapped his palm on the table, intimidating, “Liu Sicun, the disgusting events you undertook in the Hongyun Building of the Asia Sea Group, we don’t need to say anymore, do we?”

As he spoke, Tan Xiongbin waved a disc in his hand, saying gravely, “The red plaque of Hongyun Building, Miss Linlin, you recognize it, right? Also, how did you come by several properties in Wanghai and Minzhou City, and where did the funds come from?”

Each word was a knife to the heart. Beads of sweat started to form on Liu Sicun’s forehead. In just a few days’ time, they had thoroughly grasped his circumstances. At this moment, Liu Sicun’s mental defenses had completely collapsed.

One shouldn’t assume that the higher the rank, the greater the mental capacity. In fact, truly resilient individuals are those who have undergone rigorous training, such as Niu Chao and people like Zhou Qingguo. Conversely, Liu Sicun, a party official, had hardly any interrogation experience. A shout, a threat, combined with some ambiguous evidence, would typically crush anyone.

After a moment of silence, Liu Sicun, now pale as a sheet and devoid of any shred of hope, looked at Zheng Gensheng and Tan Xiongbin, saying, “I admit!”

Liu Sicun’s confession filled Zheng Gensheng and Tan Xiongbin with a certain joy, they exchanged a glance. Indeed, Director Nie’s thinking was right, Liu Sicun was indeed the best point of breakthrough.

Immediately, Zheng Gensheng unhesitatingly said, “Liu Sicun, your thinking is correct. Face the situation proactively and strive for leniency from the party and government. That’s your only way out.”

After Tan Xiongbin picked up his pen and made ready to take notes, Zheng Gensheng began, “Liu Sicun, it’s your turn now. Start with how Eastern Sea Group’s Lin Zhengxing corrupted you and pulled you into all this, how you stepped towards corruption, your role in the Eastern Sea smuggling case. State it all.”

Liu Sicun fell silent once again, as if he was immersed in his past. After a while, he said in a low voice, “My association with Lin Zhengxing dates back seven years, when I was serving as deputy district chief in Wangxia District…”

The continuous interrogation lasted for four to five hours without any interruption, from one in the afternoon until it was completely dark outside, before Liu Sicun fully disclosed his relationship with the Eastern Sea Group.

In these seven years, Liu Sicun had received three sets of houses worth millions from Lin Zhengxing as gifts, in addition to 1.86 million yuan in cash bribes. He had formed a large network of relationships for Lin Zhengxing, which also benefited him as he rose through the ranks from a deputy district chief who wasn’t even a member of the District Committee in Wangxia District, to the Municipal Party Committee’s Secretary-General. He confessed to all of his experiences.

Both Tan Xiongbin and Zheng Gensheng heaved a sigh of relief. Here, they had made a breakthrough with Liu Sicun, who not only confessed his own crimes but also implicated Zhang Zusi and Shi Yiwu. This would significantly benefit the next phase of the interrogation.

Zheng Gensheng got up and said to Liu Sicun, “Liu Sicun, you’ve made a wise decision. You’re fully aware of the party’s policies, and considering your performance, you will be given several points of leniency. As for the specifics, you will have to face the might of the law!”

As he spoke, Tan Xiongbin opened the door. Two soldiers walked in and led Liu Sicun back to his room.

Once he returned to his room, Liu Sicun no longer had the strength to hold on. He asked the staff member of the special task force who was keeping an eye on him 24/7 in his room. Liu Sicun, who was no longer the imposing Secretary-General, said, “Comrade, could I use the restroom?”

The moment he entered the toilet, Liu Sicun locked the door. There was no mirror in there to prevent anyone from using broken glass as a suicide tool.

Liu Sicun turned on the faucet and splashed icy cold water on his face, hoping to sober up. At that moment, Liu Sicun had lost all hope and was in complete despair. The bribes he had accepted and the property he owned amounted to more than three million. Furthermore, his abuse of power, allocation of land to the Eastern Sea Group, and the framing of officials, all these criminal facts. Yes, they were crimes. They were too severe to be described as serious violations of discipline. Liu Sicun understood too well, he was on a road to certain doom.

He looked around the room, and the thought of ending his own life crossed Liu Sicun’s mind. He filled the sink with water.

But ultimately, Liu Sicun gave up on the idea because, when it came down to it, he didn’t have the courage to take his life.

Later, in the room where the deputy secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection Liu Wei stayed, Zheng Gensheng and Tan Xiongbin set off to listen to Liu Bin’s report. In the end, Liu Bin decisively said, “Secretary Liu, considering Liu Sicun’s confession, we can commence interrogation of Shi Yiwu.”

Liu Wei, the chief of the special task force, was in control of the whole situation. Now, her iron lady face also showed a trace of gravity, she nodded and said, “All right, you should split into three teams and interrogate Shi Yiwu, Zhang Zusi, and Zhao Dingguang.”

PS: You brothers and sisters are mighty. 585 votes. It seems, five eruptions today! Alright, let’s see what Old Cai is up to!! (To be continued. If you like this piece of writing, I welcome you to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my biggest motivation.)