Hou Liangping arrested a hawkish general, and his father-in-law panicked

Zhao Lichun, this name emerged from the depths of his mind.

As the former secretary of the Handong Provincial Party Committee, the Zhao family has been operating in Handong for many years, has deep roots and its influence remains to this day.

Although he has now retreated to the second line, his network of relationships and favors are still a force that cannot be underestimated.

Asking him for help is like asking a tiger for its skin.

Zhong Zhengguo knew very well that people like Zhao Lichun would never do business at a loss.

Once you speak up, you are owing someone a huge favor.

However, he had no choice.

He picked up the phone, his fingertips hovered over the familiar number for a long time, and finally pressed it hard.

The call was connected quickly, and there was a slight wind noise in the receiver, followed by an old and steady voice.

"Hello, it's Comrade Jungkook."

"Old Secretary, I'm really sorry to bother you so late."

Zhong Zhengguo tried to keep his voice steady, but his knuckles were turning white from gripping the phone so tightly.

"Haha, why are you still saying these polite words between you and me?"

Zhao Lichun on the other end of the phone chuckled, his tone devoid of any emotion, "Did you encounter any difficulties?"

On the Jingzhou Expressway, a black Hongqi L5 is driving steadily.

The lights in the car were soft. Zhao Lichun leaned back on the wide leather seat, playing with two warm breasts in his hands.

He didn't turn on the speakerphone, but just casually placed the phone to his ear, his eyes slightly closed, his expression serene, listening to an unimportant report.

He had just finished a "private" meeting in Jingzhou and was on his way back to the capital.

"Old Secretary, you...should have heard about Handong's situation, right?"

Zhong Zhengguo carefully formulated his words, "About my good-for-nothing son-in-law, Hou Liangping."

Zhong Zhengguo had never been so polite when speaking to Zhao Lichun before.

Now Zhong Zhengguo asked Zhao Lichun for help, and he kept calling him "old secretary".

In fact, this old secretary was just the former secretary of the Handong Provincial Party Committee.

Now, in terms of official position and actual power, Zhong Zhengguo and Zhao Lichun are on the same level.

"Yeah, I heard some rumors."

Zhao Lichun's tone remained calm. "Young people, it's good to be driven, but sometimes, being too driven can lead to running into a wall."

These words were said lightly, but Zhong Zhengguo's heart sank.

"Old Secretary, I'm not trying to excuse him. He brought this upon himself, and he has no one else to blame."

Zhong Zhengguo took a deep breath and made his point clear. "However, the 20th Army's reaction is too intense. They're completely treating the Handong Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government as mere decorations, and are treating Party discipline and national laws as a joke! This isn't just a problem for Hou Liangping alone; it's challenging the bottom line of our entire civil service system!"

He deliberately exaggerated the nature of the incident and tried to package his own selfishness as consideration for the overall situation.

There was silence on the other end of the phone for a moment.

Outside the car window, street lights flashed by quickly, casting flickering light and shadows on Zhao Lichun's wrinkled face.

He slowly opened his eyes, and a barely perceptible gleam of light flashed in his cloudy eyeballs.

"Jungguk, you're still so impatient."

Zhao Lichun's voice finally changed, with a hint of instruction, "Hou Liangping is your son-in-law. I understand you're anxious. But you need to look deeper into the problem."

He paused, waiting for Zhong Zhengguo to digest his words.

"The 20th Army has gone too far."

Zhao Lichun spoke slowly, each word coming out through gritted teeth. "They've been showing off their power in Handong for a long time. Even when I was here, they dared to make moves from time to time. Now that Sha Ruijin is here, I'm afraid they'll be even less able to be controlled."

He changed the subject and his voice turned cold. "That kid Zhao Yuanchao, relying on his background and military achievements, has become so arrogant. This time, he has fallen flat on his face. It's time to cool them down and put out the fire. Otherwise, they really think Handong is their backyard!"

Hearing this, Zhong Zhengguo felt relieved, knowing that he had made the right bet.

Zhao Lichun wanted to take advantage of this issue to criticize the military and consolidate his invisible power in Handong.

"What the old secretary said is right! I think so too!"

Zhong Zhengguo quickly agreed.

The corners of Zhao Lichun's mouth rose slightly, revealing a meaningful smile.

He glanced out the car window and saw a huge road sign with "Jingzhou North" flash by.

The car had already left the ground of Handong, but he felt that his hands could still easily stir up the muddy water there.

"Do not worry."

Zhao Lichun's voice had returned to its calm, still tone. "Sha Ruijin can't suppress his anger, so I'll help him. I'll have someone contact the military about this matter. If I can use this opportunity to get those in the 20th Army to tone things down, I'll also help get your son-in-law out."

He pronounced the word "conveniently" lightly, but it was like a reassurance pill that struck Zhong Zhengguo's heart.

"After all, he is the son-in-law of your Zhong family. I have to give you this face."

"Thank you, old secretary! Thank you, old secretary!"

Zhong Zhengguo's voice was a little distorted with excitement. "I...I will never forget your great kindness!"

"Okay, we are all family."

Zhao Lichun said this lightly and hung up the phone.

Silence returned to the carriage.

Zhao Lichun threw his cell phone aside, picked up the two jade galls, and continued to slowly rotate them in his palm.

Get Hou Liangping out?

He's just a fool who doesn't know how to live or die. Saving him is just a piece of cake.

But this "little help" can make Zhong Zhengguo owe a favor, and also let the entire Handong officialdom see clearly - who is the one who really has the say here.

More importantly, his real purpose was to strike a blow against the 20th Army and suppress Zhao Yuanchao.

Zhao Lichun has been running Handong for so many years, how could he allow a young outsider to run wild in his territory?

Sha Ruijin, don’t you want to implement some new policies in Handong?

I want to see, without the support of the military, and even having to face the military's anger, how can you, as the provincial party secretary, keep your position firmly in office!

Zhao Lichun turned his head and looked outside.

Handong Province, Jingzhou Expressway Exit!

Handong!

Arrived!

Chapter 110 Zhao Lichun Questions the 20th Army

Zhao Lichun's car slowly stopped in front of the toll booth at the highway exit.

The ETC barrier was raised, and the car drove smoothly past, officially entering the ground of Jingzhou.

The night wind, carrying the city's noise and industrial exhaust, blew in through the half-open car window, blowing away the heavy air in the car.

Zhao Lichun did not get out of the car, but just rolled down the window and looked outside quietly.

A black Audi A6 was already waiting in the emergency lane. A middle-aged man was standing next to the car. He was his secretary and had been waiting there for a long time.

Seeing Zhao Lichun's car parked, the secretary quickly stepped forward, opened the door, and bowed respectfully. His voice was very low, with obvious nervousness: "Secretary Zhao."

Zhao Lichun didn't look at him, his gaze still fixed on the bright lights of Jingzhou city in the distance, the land he had dominated for more than a decade.

"Go ahead."

His voice was very flat, and no emotion could be heard.

The secretary didn't dare to delay and immediately began to report, speaking quickly but striving to make every word clear: "Secretary Zhao, just on the way here, something big happened in Jinghai."

"The 20th Army took direct military action, without going through any local agencies. With lightning speed, they launched a large-scale arrest operation in the urban area of ​​Jinghai. The codename for the operation was 'Thunderbolt.'"

"Almost all the core members of the construction group headed by Chen Tai were caught in one fell swoop."

The two jade gallbladders in Zhao Lichun's hands did not rotate at the same speed as he was listening to an anecdote that had nothing to do with him.

The secretary swallowed, beads of sweat already oozing from his forehead.

He knew that what was coming next would be the real storm.

"…At the same time, the 20th Army's action team also…arrested He Liming, Deputy Secretary of the Handong Political and Legal Affairs Committee, and…Zhao Lidong, Executive Vice Mayor of Jinghai City."

The moment the words fell, the temperature in the car dropped by more than ten degrees.

The two jade galls that were hovering in the palm of his hand suddenly stopped.

A cold and dead silence spread from Zhao Lichun, making the hunched secretary almost unable to breathe.

Zhao Lichun slowly turned his head, and in his cloudy eyes, the light that had just been extinguished on the phone was rekindled, bringing with it a biting chill.

He had known all this through his own channels a long time ago, even earlier and in more detail than the secretary in front of him.

But when these names, especially the name "Zhao Lidong", were read out again in front of him, the feeling of being offended, provoked, and humiliated by being slapped in the face was still like a red-hot iron rod, piercing his heart fiercely.

"The military action in Jinghai was like an 8 magnitude earthquake, shaking everything above."

The secretary's voice was trembling, and he could feel the terrifying aura emanating from Zhao Lichun.

Zhao Lidong is Zhao Lichun's cousin. He is the most important chess piece he has placed in Jinghai and the direct guardian of the Zhao family's interests in Jinghai.

To touch Zhao Lidong is to touch Zhao Lichun's foundation!

Zhao Yuanchao!

You are so brave!

Sha Ruijin!

What do you do as the provincial party secretary!

Zhao Lichun's chest heaved violently, then was forcibly suppressed again.