Nominal: Hou Liangping blocking the door? He was slapped away!

Inside a luxury suite at the Shanshui Manor in Jingzhou.

Liu Xinjian hadn't closed his eyes for several days; the account book that Shen Zhong had taken away was his death warrant.

The contents recorded there were enough to ruin him forever, and he dared not tell anyone about the lost ledger.

He began to breathe heavily, his expensive silk robe soaked with cold sweat and clinging tightly to his back.

Heavy!

It's that guy surnamed Shen getting revenge!

This isn't a warning, this is a death sentence!

An uncontrollable surge of violent energy rose from his chest.

He roared, grabbed an expensive crystal lamp from the bedside table, and smashed it against the opposite wall.

"Bang!"

The crystal chandelier shattered into pieces, shards scattered all over the floor.

Still not satisfied, he rushed over and kicked over the mahogany coffee table.

"Splash—"

Expensive tea sets and antique ornaments were smashed on the ground, turning into a pile of trash.

The room was a mess, just like his extremely chaotic state of mind.

Like a trapped beast, he went berserk, destroying everything in the room in an attempt to vent the deep-seated panic within him.

After more than ten minutes, he finally exhausted his strength.

He leaned against the wall, panting heavily, his chest heaving violently.

The rage subsided, leaving only boundless chill.

He forced himself to calm down.

The ledgers must be retrieved!

No matter what method is used, or what price is paid!

He took out his phone, his fingers trembling, and began to use the extensive network of relationships he had cultivated over many years throughout Handong.

He needs to contact Shen Zhong.

He believes that as long as they can sit down and talk, there is still room for maneuver.

In the region of Handong, there is nothing that money and power cannot resolve.

If ten million won't do, then one hundred million will do.

He made one call after another.

Finally, through his connection with a powerful figure in the provincial government, he managed to obtain an internal number for the provincial military region's switchboard.

He took a deep breath, composed himself, and dialed the number.

"This is the main switchboard of the Handong Provincial Military Region. Please speak."

A young, crisp female voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Hello, I am Liu Xinjian, Chairman of Handong Oil and Gas Group."

He introduced himself, his tone carrying his usual imperious air.

"I request to speak with Shen Zhong, the newly appointed Party Secretary of your provincial military region."

The other party was silent for two seconds.

"Please wait a moment."

The call was transferred, and after a monotonous string of music, a more composed male voice rang out.

"This is the military region command office. What can I do for you?"

Liu Xinjian patiently repeated his identity and requirements again.

"I am Liu Xinjian, and I am looking for Secretary Shen Zhong."

"Please wait a moment, I need to consult with my superiors."

The other party's tone was completely flat and businesslike.

What followed was a long wait.

Every second was torture for Liu Xinjian.

He could hear his heart pounding wildly in his chest.

Finally, the male voice came through the phone again.

"Secretary Shen has given instructions."

Liu Xinjian immediately straightened up.

He said that you were not of a high enough rank to speak directly with him.

The man's voice was flat and emotionless, as if he were repeating an instruction that had nothing to do with him.

Liu Xinjian's mind went blank for a moment.

Not high enough level?

He is the chairman of Handong Oil and Gas Group, a deputy director-level cadre, and a figure whose every move in Handong is influential.

They were actually told they weren't qualified enough?

A tremendous sense of humiliation, mixed with overwhelming rage, instantly overwhelmed all his reason.

"Tell that guy surnamed Shen!"

He stared at his phone and roared with all his might.

"He'll regret it! I guarantee he'll regret it!"

"Beep—beep—beep—"

The only response he received was a cold, busy tone.

The other party hung up the phone immediately.

Liu Xinjian stood frozen in place, holding his phone, completely dumbfounded.

He slowly slumped onto the sofa, surrounded by a mess of broken pieces.

It took him a long time to recover from the humiliation of being completely crushed.

He finally realized that he was wrong.

That's completely wrong.

The other party is not someone he can bribe or threaten with money or ordinary relationships.

The logic behind Shen Zhong's actions is completely beyond his comprehension.

That was a pure power.

A force that can disregard the rules and create them by itself.

He slumped on the sofa, his mind racing, searching for every possible way to break the deadlock.

Finally, a name came to mind.

That was his last and only reliance.

Zhao Lichun, Secretary of the Handong Provincial Party Committee!

Only he, only the true ruler of Handong, could possibly suppress the lawless Shen Zhong!

Liu Xinjian's gaze returned to focus.

He stood up from the sofa and looked at his disheveled self in the mirror.

He went to the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face.

Then, he changed into a brand-new, custom-made suit, tied a tie, and combed his hair meticulously.

When he walked out of the room again, the panic and embarrassment on his face had disappeared.

Instead, there was a resolute determination to burn one's bridges.

He immediately drove off, the black sedan shooting like an arrow through the morning mist, heading headlong in one direction.

The No. 1 compound of the Provincial Party Committee.

That place he used to only dare to enter with awe when he was summoned.

Unsurprisingly, his car was stopped by the guards at the entrance.

The stern-faced sentries do not allow any unauthorized vehicles to enter.

Liu Xinjian was stopped outside and paced anxiously beside the car.

He took out his phone, found a number, and quickly dialed it.

The call was connected.

"Secretary-General Qian! It's me, Liu Xinjian!"

His voice sounded somewhat shrill due to extreme anxiety.

"I have something extremely important and urgent! I must report to Secretary Zhao immediately! Right now!"

On the other end of the phone, Qian Guodong, the provincial party secretary-general, listened to Liu Xinjian's almost out-of-control tone and sensed the extraordinary seriousness of the matter.

He knew Liu Xinjian's character; he would never act this way unless the sky were to fall.

Qian Guodong remained silent for a moment in his office.

He put down the phone, stood up, and straightened his collar.

Then, he strode out of his office, walked straight down the quiet corridor, and stopped in front of the heavy door to the study that led to the heart of power.

Zhao Lichun stood in front of a large mahogany desk, his wrist suspended in the air, holding a wolf-hair brush.

He was completely focused, and the tip of his brush moved across the rice paper, forming a powerful and vigorous character "静" (jing, meaning stillness).

Qian Guodong stood outside the door, took several deep breaths, and then raised his hand to gently knock three times on the heavy solid wood door with extremely restrained force.

"Come in."

Zhao Lichun's calm voice came from the study.

Qian Guodong pushed open the door and entered, bowing low as he quickly walked to the desk while maintaining a safe distance.

He didn't dare to look up at Zhao Lichun's handwriting, but only reported in a low voice.

"Secretary, Liu Xinjian from Handong Oil and Gas is outside. He says it's extremely urgent and he must see you immediately."

Zhao Lichun's pen did not stop; he continued to draw the next stroke on the paper.

"What could be so important as to cause him trouble?"

His tone was flat, but it conveyed a sense of displeasure at his subordinate's inappropriate behavior.

"What kind of behavior is this, all flustered and disorganized?"

Qian Guodong lowered his head even further.

"He...he's in a very bad state. He said that if he doesn't report things to you soon, it'll be all over."

Zhao Lichun paused for a moment as he put down his pen.

He knew Liu Xinjian well; he was a seasoned veteran who had been in various situations for many years. For someone to be pushed to this point, the matter must be quite serious.

"Let him in."

"Yes."

Qian Guodong quickly left the study.