Official Career Storm

Chapter 1642

Song Guanchao found Liang Jianfeng and briefly explained the situation to him.

He specifically clarified that Wu Qiangwei wasn’t giving special treatment, just wanted to understand the case better.

"Let me ask," Liang Jianfeng grabbed the phone, and after a few minutes, he understood the background and said, "He bypassed the company, privately met a supplier, and solicited a bribe. The supplier reported it to the disciplinary inspection department within Jiangzhou Precision after transferring the money, and Jiangzhou Precision accompanied the supplier to report it to the police."

"The police have already retrieved the bank transactions, and there’s indeed a transfer record of three million."

Song Guanchao asked, "Is there a call recording?"

"No recording was provided."

"Is there anything other than the transfer record?"

"No."

"I see." Song Guanchao basically confirmed that Wei Zhou had been set up.

It was a setup without much skill, had it been him, he wouldn’t have taken the bait.

But Wei Zhou was a bookworm, simple-minded, and hadn’t encountered such events before; it’s understandable he fell into the trap.

Liang Jianfeng noticed he didn’t open his mouth to make any request and didn’t say anything proactively.

Leaving the police department, Song Guanchao called Zhou Xingjian first, asking him to bring some people to Pingzhou.

Zhou Xingjian was shocked when he received the call.

"Director Song, you... you’re okay?"

"What do you mean?" Song Guanchao frowned.

"Weren’t you wanted?"

"... It’s already handled." Song Guanchao rubbed his forehead, almost forgetting about it.

They were wanted yesterday afternoon. Although Secretary Xue and others had been captured, he forgot that the wanted notice hadn’t been resolved.

He quickly called Liang Jianfeng again, asking him to sort this out.

Song Guanchao leaned back in the car, pinching his brow, thinking about how to get the list of companies extorted by Secretary Xue and others.

"Ah~" Suddenly a flash of inspiration struck him.

These companies, some were extorted by Secretary Xue, some by Mayor Fang, and others by different officials...

No single person could know exactly which companies were extorted.

Since they were captured, they must confess to their issues.

By gathering their confessions, he could naturally know how many companies had suffered such treatment.

The difficult part here is how to get those confessions!

Officially, the case is handled by the joint efforts of two Provincial Public Security Departments plus the inspection team.

But actually, Director Hou has control of the initiative.

Suddenly wanting to collect all the confessions would easily draw Director Hou’s attention.

So, a suitable person must step forward.

This person, Song Guanchao already had in mind.

He found Director Ma’s number and called: "Director Ma, can we meet? I’m right in the parking lot."

A few minutes later, Director Ma came to the parking lot, sat in the passenger seat, and asked, "What’s up?"

Song Guanchao wasn’t hasty to bring up the problem but smiled and said, "This time, Director Ma made great contributions, surely the Director position is yours."

Director Ma laughed self-deprecatingly, "Director Song is quite the joker, Pinghai City this time is like a major earthquake. Even if those of us not captured are clean, do you think the higher-ups would feel confident promoting us?"

"Not to mention a promotion, there’ll be no chance for promotion for five years for any Pinghai City officials."

The higher-ups wouldn’t care whether they’re clean or not, they only know Pinghai City has big problems, many corrupt officials.

Who knows whether the remaining ones are truly clean or just lucky not to be caught.

They won’t bother to scrutinize, as long as they suspect not all corrupt officials in Pinghai City were captured, they’ll just cut it all out, not utilizing anyone.

All leaders are transferred from other places, completely suppressing local officials, giving them no chance for promotion.

Neither wrongful execution nor letting go.

Though doing so is unfair to someone as pure as Director Ma, too bad he’s unlucky.

Song Guanchao said, "Is Director Ma interested in coming to Jiangzhou?"

Director Ma raised his eyebrows, "What does Director Song mean?"

Song Guanchao smiled, "Literally, how about it, interested?"

Director Ma considered for two seconds and said, "Of course, I’m interested."

Jiangzhou is a provincial capital, Pinghai City is merely a small third or fourth-tier city.

Even if he moved from the current Deputy Director to continue being a Deputy Director elsewhere, it’s still a level up.

Song Guanchao said, "Help me with something, and I’ll help you move to Jiangzhou to serve as Deputy Director of the Police Department."

Director Ma was curious, "What’s the task?"

Most of the corrupt officials were captured, only about a dozen deputy-level officials escaped, and they are hunted currently.

He’s keen to know what Song Guanchao wants him to do under such circumstances.

"Bring me all the confessions."

"Confessions?"

"Yes, all of them."

"Can I ask why?"

This request was odd, he couldn’t understand.

Song Guanchao thought for a moment and said, "I can’t tell you for now, but I can assure you, it’s not for any illegal or criminal activity."

Director Ma hesitated for a few seconds, then said, "Fine, I agree, but I can only let you view the photos of the confessions, and only on my phone, absolutely no external sharing."

"No problem."

"Then find a place, I’ll prepare and meet you."

"Alright."

Director Ma got off the car and Song Guanchao drove away.

He found a nearby teahouse, waited for about an hour, and Director Ma called asking his whereabouts.

After sending the location, twenty minutes later, Director Ma arrived.

He opened the photo album and handed his phone over.

It was full of confessions.

Song Guanchao flipped through them one by one, occasionally pausing, then picked up his phone and said, "I need to record some information."

Director Ma hesitated, they agreed only to view, not to share.

Though he’s recording, how’s this different from sharing?

"Can I see what you’re noting?"

Song Guanchao thought for a few seconds and nodded.

Director Ma exhaled, relieved he could indeed see.

He leaned over and noticed Song Guanchao was recording company names.

He found it odd, not understanding why Song Guanchao was noting these.

Song Guanchao continued viewing the photos, stopping to record every company name he encountered.

There were dozens of confessions, but far more corrupt officials were caught.

Primarily due to manpower shortages, combined with average interrogation times of over an hour per person.

From early morning’s crackdown until now, extracting this many confessions was quite efficient.

In the teahouse, Song Guanchao continued until past 9 PM before finishing all the confessions.

He returned the phone and said, "It’s late now, I won’t invite you for dinner, I have to go back and handle some things."

Director Ma indicated no need to dine, Song Guanchao paid the tea bill, and the two parted at the doorway.

Driving halfway back to the hotel, Song Guanchao received a call from Zhou Xingjian.

"Director Song, we’ve gotten off the train."

"Come directly to the hotel."

"Okay."

Song Guanchao returned to the hotel, waited in the lobby for twenty minutes, and saw Zhou Xingjian and his group enter.

Zhou Xingjian brought nine people, ten including himself, sufficient in number.

They were small officers from various departments, whom Zhou Xingjian trusted.

"You guys rest in your rooms first, then come to mine." Song Guanchao gave them his room number, and together they headed towards the elevator.

The officers were a bit excited, dragging their luggage and following behind.