Provincial High Court Intervention

Lu Zhenguo's heart stirred slightly, and he made an excuse, saying, "There's a tricky case, so I came to ask Secretary Yuliang how to handle it. What, Lao Ji, are you here to report to the Provincial Party Committee too?"

"I'm also here to report to the Provincial Party Committee. I'm done now and about to leave." Hearing that Lu Zhenguo was here to report on a case, Ji Changming was relieved and said goodbye, "Zhenguo, you should go and ask Secretary Yuliang for instructions first. We can talk again next time."

When he arrived at the office of Gao Yuliang, the deputy secretary of the provincial party committee, Lu Zhenguo straightened his clothes, knocked on the door, and only went in respectfully after hearing a "come in" from inside.

"Secretary Yuliang, you wanted to see me?" Lu Zhenguo glanced at Qi Tongwei, the director of the Provincial Public Security Department, and nodded slightly in greeting.

"Zhenguo's here, have a seat!"

Gao Yuliang hurriedly stood up and gestured for Lu Zhenguo to sit down. In his previous life, he would never have been so polite to Lu Zhenguo, but in prison, he learned that Lu Zhenguo was someone of great importance.

It can be said that even the backgrounds of Sha Ruijin and Hou Liangping are far inferior to those of Lu Zhenguo.

Compared to Sha Ruijin and Hou Liangping, Lu Zhenguo was very low-key. Even though he became the president of the Handong Provincial Higher People's Court at a young age and a vice-ministerial level official, he remained very humble and unassuming.

Lu Zhenguo and Qi Tongwei sat side by side, their bodies ramrod straight, awaiting Gao Yuliang's next instructions.

Knowing Lu Zhenguo's character, Gao Yuliang didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "Zhenguo, the reason I'm in such a hurry to have you come is because the Provincial Public Security Bureau has received a formal complaint."

"Zhang Feng, Secretary-General of the Lüzhou Municipal Government, filed a formal complaint against Yi Xuexi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Lüzhou Municipal Party Committee, Deputy Secretary, and Mayor, alleging that he was guilty of embezzlement, bribery, and abuse of power."

"Zhang Feng, the secretary-general of the Luzhou Municipal Government, has ample evidence that Mao Ya, the wife of Yi Xuexi, the mayor of Luzhou, solicited bribes from him totaling 380,000 yuan under the pretext of buying and selling tea."

"Tea?" Lu Zhenguo frowned slightly and asked, "Secretary Yuliang, what is the price of this tea? Is it a rare tea? Is it above market value?"

Qi Tongwei glanced at Gao Yuliang, and after receiving permission, said, "Dean Lu, it's just ordinary camellia. Originally, the price of this tea was 10,000 yuan per kilogram, but after Provincial Party Secretary Sha Ruijin recommended it at the Standing Committee meeting, the price of this tea rose to 100,000 yuan per kilogram?"

"From 10,000 yuan per kilogram to 100,000 yuan per kilogram?"

Lu Zhenguo appeared shocked, but he took note of Qi Tongwei's words. This matter involved Provincial Party Secretary Sha Ruijin, which made him keenly aware that it might involve a struggle between the Han University faction and the Sha family faction.

Realizing this, Lu Zhenguo immediately deflected the issue, saying, "Secretary Yuliang, Director Qi, since there is evidence that Luzhou City Mayor Yi Xuexi is suspected of job-related crimes, it should be immediately transferred to the Anti-Corruption and Bribery Bureau for investigation. After the chain of evidence is complete, it can then be transferred to our court for review and judgment."

"This is standard procedure. I wonder why Secretary Yuliang has summoned me here now...?"

Gao Yuliang looked at Lu Zhenguo, who spoke with impeccable eloquence, with great admiration, but still said, "Zhenguo, if things were that simple, I wouldn't have called you here. It's precisely because things have developed in ways I didn't expect that I had no choice but to call you!"

Gao Yuliang turned to Qi Tongwei and reminded him, "Go on."

Qi Tongwei continued, "It's like this, Dean Lu: Zhang Feng, the Secretary-General of the Luzhou Municipal Government, filed formal complaints with the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Provincial Procuratorate's Anti-Corruption and Bribery Bureau, but all the reports went unanswered!"

"Not only that, Zhang Feng's work in the municipal government also suffered a devastating blow after his report went unanswered. He has now been demoted two levels and become a minor section chief in the subdistrict office."

"What?!" Lu Zhenguo was increasingly surprised as he listened, then stood up abruptly, his face filled with horror, and exclaimed, "Such a thing is true!!!"

Gao Yuliang nodded and said with certainty, "This matter is extremely serious, involving the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and the Provincial Procuratorate, which are supposed to be the fairest and most impartial places. So I also hoped it was false, but now we have both witnesses and physical evidence, and we have no choice but to take it seriously."

"Zhenguo, the reason I sent you here is to have you secretly investigate this matter, and prepare for the next step only after the evidence is conclusive."

Lu Zhenguo frowned and remained silent. He was conflicted at this moment, and many things were on his mind. The political situation in Handong Province was turbulent. Whether it was Yi Xuexi, the newly promoted mayor of Luzhou City, Ji Changming, the chief prosecutor of the provincial procuratorate, or Tian Guofu, the secretary of the discipline inspection commission, they were all people of the provincial party secretary, Sha Ruijin!

It could be said that if Luzhou City Mayor Yi Xuexi is indeed found to have problems, and the provincial procuratorate and discipline inspection departments cover it up...

Weren't all of Sha Ruijin's confidants and right-hand men taken down in one fell swoop?

However, now that the provincial procuratorate is involved, the provincial higher people's court should investigate this case...

Gao Yuliang noticed Lu Zhenguo's hesitation and smiled, saying, "Zhenguo, I understand your concerns. This case involves Provincial Party Secretary Sha Ruijin and Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary Tian Guofu. It's normal for you to feel pressured!"

"Don't even mention the pressure you're under; even I'm under a lot of pressure!"

Gao Yuliang slowly stood up, walked to the window, looked outside, and muttered to himself, "But does being under pressure mean you shouldn't investigate cases? Does being under pressure mean you should let illegal and criminal activities continue? Does being under pressure mean you can do nothing?"

Turning back, Gao Yuliang declared righteously, "Handong Province belongs to the Party and the country, to the people, not to any one individual. Those of us in this position must fulfill our responsibilities!"

"In this case, you just need to investigate. No matter who is involved, handle it according to the law and show absolutely no leniency!"

"Zhenguo, let me make this clear: as long as you uphold the law impartially and with reason and evidence, as long as I, Gao Yuliang, am in Handong, no one will dare to touch you!"

"But if you, Lu Zhenguo, break the law or commit a crime, I, Gao Yuliang, will be the first to not let you off the hook!"

Lu Zhenguo had a headache. Of course, he wouldn't agree to be a henchman just because of Gao Yuliang's impassioned words. But Gao Yuliang was right about one thing: as long as the law is followed and justice is served, what did he have to fear?

If Provincial Party Secretary Sha Ruijin wants to target him with fabricated charges, just like Li Dakang dealt with Sun Liancheng, then he wouldn't mind letting Sha Ruijin know what serious consequences really mean!

Thinking of this, Lu Zhenguo raised his head and asked Qi Tongwei, "Director Qi, could you please give me the contact information for Zhang Feng, the Secretary-General of the Lüzhou Municipal Government? Also, after the unsuccessful formal complaint, Zhang Feng was demoted two ranks. Was this at the behest of Yi Xuexi, the Mayor of Lüzhou?"

Qi Tongwei took out his phone and gave Zhang Feng's contact information to Lu Zhenguo. Then he shook his head and said, "According to Zhang Feng, his demotion of two ranks was not Mayor Yi Xuexi's idea, but Executive Vice Mayor Wu Zhongshan's."

Lu Zhenguo's eyes flickered, and he murmured softly, "Wu Zhongshan..."