harleyscars Chapter 26 The new broom sweeps clean? No, he blows up the armory!
Chapter 26 The new broom sweeps clean? No, he blows up the armory!
Jingzhou Public Security Bureau.
A gray Soviet-style building, solemn and dignified, with a pair of stone lions in front of the door gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
A black Audi A6 with a provincial license plate slowly pulled up in front of the building.
The car door opened, and Qi Tongwei stepped out.
He wasn't wearing a police uniform, just a simple black jacket, his posture upright, like a drawn sword.
Following behind him was Chen Hai, whose face was full of excitement and agitation.
"Tongwei, this is the Jingzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau!"
Chen Hai's voice carried a sense of pride and honor.
Qi Tongwei didn't speak, but simply raised his head, his gaze calmly sweeping over the building and the national emblem symbolizing power at the building's entrance.
His eyes were deep and cold.
This is the center of power that he struggled for half his life in his previous life but never truly set foot in.
Now, he's back.
Not as a supplicant, but as a conqueror.
A group of people were already waiting at the entrance of the building.
The leader was a man in his early fifties with his hair neatly combed and a standard official smile on his face.
Qian Liwei, Executive Deputy Director of the Jingzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau.
"Welcome, welcome! A warm welcome to our combat hero, Comrade Qi Tongwei, for coming to Jingzhou to guide our work!"
With a broad smile, Qian Liwei extended his hands and warmly shook Qi Tongwei's hands.
Although he was extremely polite on the surface, there was a subtle hint of scrutiny and disdain hidden deep in his smiling eyes.
"Director Qian, you're too kind."
Qi Tongwei's voice was calm, and his handshake was just the right firmness, neither distant nor overly enthusiastic.
The subordinates behind the two also stepped forward to greet them, creating a harmonious and warm atmosphere.
Qi Tongwei's gaze swept across the faces of these people one by one.
In his mind, on that virtual "network map," each red dot precisely corresponded to the face before him.
This smiling Qian Liwei is Liang Qunfeng's staunch ally and a key figure in the "Handa Gang" within the Jingzhou police force.
The shrewd-looking deputy director in charge of logistics next to him had murky financial dealings with Zhao Ruilong's Shanshui Group.
And the head of the criminal investigation team was a trusted confidant whom Qian Liwei had personally promoted...
An invisible net has long since enveloped this police station.
The welcome party was held in the bureau's largest conference room.
The long conference table was filled with mid-level and above leaders from the Jingzhou Municipal Bureau.
Qi Tongwei was seated next to the main seat, a position that symbolized respect but did not represent a core decision-maker.
Qian Liwei took the initiative to chair the meeting.
"Comrades, today, our Jingzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau welcomes a true hero!"
"Comrade Qi Tongwei, undeterred by hardship and danger, single-handedly slayed a dragon on the southwestern border, winning immense honor for our Handong political and legal system!"
He led the applause, and thunderous applause immediately filled the conference room.
Amid the applause, all sorts of gazes were cast.
There was curiosity, there was admiration, but more than anything, there was scrutiny and observation.
Qi Tongwei sat there expressionless, seemingly oblivious to everything.
Qian Liwei's gaze fell on Qi Tongwei's casual clothes, and his smile became even more amiable.
"Comrade Tongwei, I know you just came back from the front lines and must be exhausted from your journey. Our work pace in Jingzhou isn't as intense as on the border."
"You should rest well and familiarize yourself with the situation. The specific division of labor will be discussed by our Party Committee later."
He paused, then changed the subject, saying seemingly casually:
"Our Jingzhou Municipal Bureau has always emphasized collective leadership and democratic decision-making."
"From now on, everyone should report their work to me and to other comrades in the Party Committee more often."
These words were perfectly worded, full of compassion for the "hero" and respect for the "organizational principles".
But who among those present couldn't hear the subtext behind it?
This is telling Qi Tongwei:
You are a war hero, and we respect you.
But this is Jingzhou, our territory.
As a paratrooper without any connections, you should just behave yourself as a mascot, don't reach out, and don't interrupt.
This Public Security Bureau is still under my control, Qian Liwei's!
In the conference room, some cadres from the "Han University faction" had already revealed knowing smiles on their faces.
Their gazes toward Qi Tongwei shifted from initial apprehension to a hint of contempt.
So, the so-called war heroes are nothing special after all.
In officialdom, even a dragon has to coil up.
Chen Hai sat behind Qi Tongwei, his palms sweating with anxiety.
He wanted to remind Qi Tongwei, but he didn't dare to speak up in this situation.
All eyes were on Qi Tongwei, waiting to see how he would respond.
Should they fly into a rage? Or should they endure and back down?
However, Qi Tongwei simply picked up the cup of tea in front of him, which had long since gone cold, and gently blew on it.
Then, he raised his head and looked calmly at Qian Liwei.
"Thank you for your concern, Director Qian."
"I will obey the organization's arrangements."
A simple sentence, devoid of any emotion.
After saying that, he stopped talking, lowered his eyes again, and looked at the teacup in front of him as if it contained some rare treasure.
This left Qian Liwei, who had prepared a whole host of official rhetoric, feeling as if he had punched cotton.
He was stunned.
The others in the conference room were also stunned.
This reaction was completely unpredictable.
How could a powerful figure who could mobilize the Ye family of Beijing and get the Minister of Public Security to personally call him just back down like that?
A hint of suspicion flashed in Qian Liwei's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a strong sense of pride.
He concluded that Qi Tongwei was new to the area and lacked experience, so he chose to avoid confrontation for the time being.
As long as I hold onto power more tightly, it won't be long before I can turn this so-called "lone wolf" into an obedient watchdog!
The meeting ended in an awkward atmosphere.
Qian Liwei, beaming with pride, announced the meeting's adjournment. Before leaving, he patted Qi Tongwei on the shoulder and said earnestly:
"Tongwei, young man, don't always think about fighting and killing."
"Study more and read more newspapers; that's the right way to make progress."
After saying that, he left with a smile, surrounded by a group of people.
Chen Hai followed Qi Tongwei into the brand-new deputy director's office that had been prepared for him.
The office was large and decorated in a grand style, with mahogany desks, genuine leather sofas, and spotless furnishings.
But behind this grandeur lies a cold, distant feeling.
"Tongwei, this Qian Liwei, he's trying to sideline you!"
When Chen Guan arrived at the door, he could no longer hold back and said in a low voice.
"Don't be fooled by his smiling face; he's a wolf in sheep's clothing, with a wicked heart!"
Qi Tongwei ignored his words.
He walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window and looked down at the bustling yet unfamiliar city.
After a long while, he turned around and said to Chen Hai:
"Do me a favor."
"What?"
"Move all the cold case files from the city bureau that have been piling up over the past three years, those that have not been solved, or those that have been shelved due to 'insufficient evidence'."
Chen Hai was taken aback.
"All of them? That would amount to hundreds or even thousands!"
Yes, all of them.
A cold glint flashed in Qi Tongwei's eyes.
"Not one item can be missing."
What he needs to do is not to play office politics with this group of people.
What he's going to do is flip the table.
The first step in overturning the table is to find the sturdiest, yet most rotten, table leg.
Then, with one kick, I broke it!