Chapter 310 The Villain Accuses First? Let's Have a Goat's Blow!

The friction between Handong and Jianghai intensified. After all, Liu Huabo was a high-ranking official in charge of a region. It was impossible for him to have reached such a position without any powerful backers.

Late at night, Liu Huabo grew increasingly angry and finally picked up his phone to call a higher-level executive.

"Hello, old Party Secretary, this is Hua Bo!"

After the call connected, the person on the other end spoke very calmly.

"It's Hua Bo. It's already eleven o'clock. Is something wrong with Jiang Hai?"

"Old Secretary, there is indeed a rather troublesome matter. Jianghai and the neighboring Handong have had a very unpleasant argument over the arrest of criminals by grassroots police officers. On the Handong side, Sha Ruijin is being very aggressive, and Handong's governor, Zhou Jianjun, has even declared that Jianghai should remove the county party secretary involved in the incident and severely criticize Jianghai's provincial public security bureau director."

"Aren't you saying this is bullying?"

Upon hearing this, the elderly man on the other end of the phone fell silent for a moment.

"Hua Bo, the waters in Handong run deep. All factions are putting on a show in Handong, one after another."

Take Sha Ruijin, the current secretary of Handong, for example. His father-in-law was once a bureau chief, namely Zhou Jianjun. His father was also a retired vice chairman of the CPPCC. They have deep roots. Have you really investigated this matter thoroughly?

Are you sure it's Handong's responsibility, and not Jianghai's fault?

The anger in Liu Huabo's heart was washed away by cold water. He could understand the unspoken meaning of his old leader, which was that he did not want to provoke Handong. But Liu Huabo just couldn't swallow his anger!

"Old Party Secretary, you still don't believe me?"

"Hua Bo, the problem isn't whether I believe you or not, but that I'm just a deputy to the National People's Congress right now, I have no real power, and it's difficult for me to even speak up for you. I'm willing but powerless!"

"I understand, former Party Secretary. Sorry to bother you!"

Liu Huabo didn't insist, but hung up the phone. As the night grew deeper, Liu Huabo sat on the sofa in the living room, smoking one cigarette after another until dawn.

"Damn it! We're all fighting for our pride. At worst, we'll report this to Zhongyang. Handong is going too far!"

That same day, Liu Huabo and the governor of Jianghai Province jointly reported to Zhongyang, detailing Handong's "tyranny".

A minor local matter was thus brought to the attention of the central government.

At noon, Sha Ruijin was still waiting for Jiang Hai's reply, but instead of receiving a reply, he received a call from his father-in-law.

"Hey, Dad!"

"Ruijin, the conflict between Handong and Jianghai was brought up by Jianghai. Liu Huabo said you're domineering and unreasonable. After I found out, I called you to ask if what Jianghai said is true."

"Dad, that Liu Huabo is talking nonsense! We in Handong have evidence of who's right and wrong in this matter. Jianghai is just trying to protect the Lieshan County Party Secretary involved. We in Handong didn't want to make a big deal out of it, so we didn't report it to Zhongyang. But Liu Huabo is actually trying to frame us first! He's gone too far!"

"Keep your voice down! I'm your father, not Liu Huabo!"

"Ahem, Dad, I'm sorry, I was a little too angry."

Sha Ruijin felt a little embarrassed, but only he knew whether it was intentional or accidental.

"Yes, the authorities are taking this matter very seriously. Don't you have evidence in Handong? Prepare the evidence now, write a report and submit it. You're trying to downplay the matter when you're not in the right. Since you're in the right, then fight for it. By the way, it would be best to get Zhou Jianjun involved as well. The Zhou family still has some influence."

"Okay, Dad, I understand. I'll get on it right away!"

After hanging up the phone, Sha Ruijin asked Secretary Bai to suggest Zhou Jianjun. Of course, it wasn't just Zhou Jianjun; it was Friday, and there was no Standing Committee meeting, but Chen Luo was back at the Provincial Party Committee. Many hands make light work, after all.

At 1:40 PM, in the small conference room of the Provincial Party Committee, there weren't many people present, only Sha Ruijin, Zhou Jianjun, and Chen Luo.

There's no point in letting others get involved in this kind of thing.

On the sofa, Sha Ruijin, seeing that Chen Luo and Zhou Jianjun had arrived, decided not to hide anything.

"Governor Jianjun, Comrade Chen Luo, I have just received news that Jianghai is the one who falsely accused us. They have already reported this matter to the higher authorities. Tell me, how should Handong respond next?"

Sha Ruijin didn't offer any suggestions, instead simply passing the problem on to Chen Luo and Zhou Jianjun.

Chen Luo did not speak first, but looked at Zhou Jianjun and said, "Governor Jianjun, please speak first."

Zhou Jianjun did not refuse, but his gaze was fixed on Chen Luo.

"Comrade Chen Luo, what are you hesitating for? Just have Yun Haifeng from the Provincial Department make a copy of the video from the law enforcement recorder, and we in Handong can submit the evidence directly to the higher-ups, right?"

Ultimately, it's Jiang Hai's fault. They couldn't handle it privately, yet they dared to escalate it to higher authorities? They've been spoiling him!"

"Well, Governor Jianjun, that's true, but we still need to make some changes in the report, emphasizing that this isn't something we at Handong want to cause this conflict."

"Let the Lincheng Public Security Bureau compile all the call records from that time, including the call records between Yun Haifeng and the Director of the Jianghai Provincial Public Security Department. The higher-ups don't want to see Handong being too assertive. The reason they're being so relentless is because Jianghai has gone too far, hasn't it?"

Upon hearing this, Sha Ruijin and Zhou Jianjun calmed down a bit. Indeed, they couldn't be too aggressive with their words. It was necessary to play the victim a little. Being too assertive would only get them punished.

"Comrade Chen Luo, shall we join in signing this?"

Sha Ruijin smiled at Chen Luo, and Zhou Jianjun also cast an expectant glance at him. Chen Luo did not refuse. He knew when to hide and when to strike.

"Secretary Sha, Governor Jianjun, I have no objections!"

"Alright. Then have the comrades in the General Office draft it immediately, and I will personally submit it later!"

Handong acted swiftly, submitting the report to Zhongyang around 5 p.m. that same day.

One report came from Jianghai and the other from Handong. When the two reports were compared at the same time, the truth became clear. The body camera footage of the Handong police officer covered the entire process from Handong to Lieshan County, including being surrounded by Lieshan police and the body camera being forcibly taken away. In addition, there was a recording of a phone call with the director of the Lincheng Public Security Bureau. The facts were clear and there was no point of contention.

At 8 p.m., Liu Huabo stood upright in his study in the provincial party committee compound, his angry shouts on the phone growing louder and louder.

"Comrade Huabo, Sha Ruijin said you're old and your eyesight is failing, and I think he's absolutely right. Has Jianghai conducted any investigation? Do you even know the facts?"

The Handong side felt wronged, saying that they only wanted Jianghai to cooperate at first, but the Jianghai Provincial Party Secretary not only refused to cooperate but also accused them of being the guilty party.

Without distinguishing right from wrong, Comrade Hua Bo, can you really manage Jianghai well and lead its tens of millions of people to a better life?

"Vice President Hu, I..."

"You don't need to explain. Just now, Secretary Xu from the Political and Legal Affairs Commission called to inquire about this matter, asking if Jianghai is a lawless place and if power is greater than the law. I couldn't answer a single question!"

You should ask Handong for forgiveness yourself. We are very disappointed in both you and Jianghai!