Nominal: The pinnacle of power began in the sixth province of Handong.

Chapter 267 Questioning at the Meeting

After listening to Li Gangxin's report, Xia Qing felt a little doubtful.

Luo Jian controlled all the witnesses and physical evidence and refused to share them with outsiders.

This is a signal with a deeper meaning.

Xia Qing told Li Gangxin to calm down, and then contacted Qi Tongwei.

After learning from Qi Tongwei that the joint task force led by the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission had nothing to do with him, the Director of the Public Security Bureau.

Xia Qing's doubts reached their peak.

He came up with a plan and instructed Qi Tongwei to send a letter in the name of the Provincial Public Security Department to the joint task force, requesting that some evidence be transferred to the Provincial Public Security Department for joint investigation, or to meet with key witnesses.

This was to test Luo Jian's reaction.

Qi Tongwei understood immediately and agreed.

as predicted.

Qi Tongwei quickly informed Xia Qing of the results.

After the Provincial Public Security Department officially sent the letter.

The joint task force responded that "it is being submitted for approval according to procedures," "it needs to be studied collectively by the task force," and "some evidence needs to be verified."

As for meeting witnesses, don't even think about it.

These feedbacks were undoubtedly the result of instructions from Luo Jian behind the scenes.

This puzzled Qi Tongwei. Why did the Political and Legal Affairs Commission establish a joint task force, absorb the task force dispatched by the Public Security Department, but refuse the Public Security Department's large-scale intervention in the investigation and the sharing of evidence?

Luo Jian's actions, while seemingly legal and compliant, clearly reveal an intent to evade and delay.

As for the evidence of Wu Tianliang discovered by Li Gangxin.

After being handed over to Luo Jian, he was almost completely out of contact.

The joint task force of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission did not conduct any further investigation into Wu Tianliang, nor did it show any intention of taking any action against him.

Wu Tianliang was merely placed in a secret location chosen by Luo Jian.

Only Luo Jian and his confidants knew what happened there.

After listening to Qi Tongwei's feedback, Xia Qing could basically conclude that...

Luo Jian is up to no good.

This kind of dragging on and on doesn't seem like an attempt to solve a case at all.

This is not normal.

Xia Qing then asked how the two deputy directors, Cheng Zhaohui and Li Gangxin, who were seconded to the joint task force were performing.

Qi Tongwei's answer was yes.

Although the special task force dispatched by the Public Security Bureau was absorbed into the joint task force of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission.

But the jobs he did were the most peripheral ones.

Those directly related to the case were never handled again.

In the words of Cheng Zhaohui and Li Gangxin.

They were practically on vacation in the Guangming District.

At this point, Qi Tongwei guessed:

"Minister, do you think Secretary Luo might...?"

Xia Qing gestured to Qi Tongwei not to say these things on the phone.

Perfect timing! Tomorrow is the Standing Committee meeting, and Luo Jian will be giving a report to the Provincial Party Committee on the first phase of the joint task force's work.

Xia Qing decided to probe Luo Jian's intentions at tomorrow's meeting.

……

The Standing Committee meeting began the following day.

Luo Jian served as the secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission and was also the head of the cross-departmental joint task force.

Report to the Provincial Party Committee.

During the meeting, Luo Jian's report was highly biased.

He gave a controlled report, one-sidedly emphasizing the seriousness of the case, the conclusive evidence, and the harm to the public, creating a potential message that Bai Jingwen had serious problems and a very bad influence.

Sha Ruijin frowned as he listened, but couldn't find any loopholes in Luo Jian's words, so he could only stare blankly.

Tian Guofu spoke up at the opportune moment and asked:

"Comrade Luo Jian, I have a question. Why weren't comrades from the provincial and municipal discipline inspection commissions involved in the establishment of the joint task force? I believe that these incidents in Guangming District are not just cases, but may also involve issues concerning cadres. If the discipline inspection commission were involved, they could surely find the corresponding people accurately and quickly after clarifying the clues in the case."

Luo Jian smiled slightly and said:

"Comrade Guofu, as the saying goes, everyone has their own expertise. The focus right now should still be on the collapse of the resettlement housing. I don't think the Discipline Inspection Commission can play a significant role at this time."

Seeing Tian Guofu's displeasure, Luo Jian added further, deliberately sighing as he said:

"Cheng Zhaohui, the executive director of the Public Security Bureau, is a cadre from the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection. To be honest, I am very dissatisfied with his performance in the special task force."

Upon hearing Luo Jian specifically name his men as incompetent, Tian Guofu immediately perked up, sat up straight, and said:

"I don't quite agree with what Secretary Luo said. You consolidated the task force, but deliberately assigned unimportant tasks to comrades from the Public Security Bureau. Now you're saying they're incompetent? That doesn't make sense, does it?"

"I misspoke, I apologize," Luo Jian said with an embarrassed smile.

"But I still maintain that solving the case should be the priority right now."

Tian Guofu said no more, since the Discipline Inspection Commission was not involved and there was no point in continuing.

Xia Qing listened to their conversation with genuine feeling.

Luo Jian's actions were to ensure his absolute control over the task force.

As the secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, he has leadership over the public security, procuratorate, and judicial organs. The fact that only the deputy director-general was involved was also to prevent Qi Tongwei from requesting intervention as the vice governor.

All other department-level officials, whether senior or deputy, naturally followed Luo Jian's lead.

As for not allowing the two levels of discipline inspection commissions to participate in the joint task force.

Xia Qing believed that Luo Jian must have done some calculations in his mind.

If both the provincial and municipal discipline inspection commissions are involved, the municipal discipline inspection commission will definitely obey the provincial discipline inspection commission.

The provincial discipline inspection commission secretary, Tian Guofu, is a standing committee member at the same level as Luo Jianping.

At that time, the joint task force will have an additional member from the Discipline Inspection Commission, and Tian Guofu will be the only one in charge.

Luo Jian essentially expanded Tian Guofu's power while also planting a hidden danger next to him.

Luo Jian would definitely not do this kind of business.

This is why Luo Jian led a cross-departmental joint task force in the name of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission.

It has become the structure it is now, with members of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission at its core, no involvement from the judiciary and procuratorate, and the public security bureau only having deputy directors-level officials assisting.

It's better to say something than to say it.

Luo Jian now has absolute control over the task force, as well as the evidence and progress of the entire case.

This is not good news.

Why not test Luo Jian's true intentions?

Let's see if he's solving the case or has ulterior motives.

Thinking of this, Xia Qing slowly spoke:

"Secretary Luo, I also have questions about the case. According to the police, the joint task force refused to share evidence with them, even though the police submitted crucial evidence earlier, which has now been abandoned. I'd like to ask on their behalf whether this evidence has been put to any use, and why the relevant personnel have only been placed in a secure location without any further action taken against them?"

Xia Qing's words brought the focus of the meeting back to the forefront.

Luo Jian remained calm and asked:

"Isn't Comrade Xia Qing the Organization Minister? Why is he handling cases?"

These words caused an uproar.

Luo Jian's words were extremely provocative!

Xia Qing was also somewhat surprised, but still smiled and said:

"I am the full-time deputy secretary of the Party Committee in Handong. Shouldn't I be involved in such a major case?"

Sha Ruijin seized the opportunity and echoed Xia Qing's words:

"Yes, Comrade Luo Jian, Secretary Xia's question is also something our provincial party committee is concerned about. Why don't you explain it to us?"