Chapter 311 The Case is Clear
As Wang Yanxiong confessed, more inside information gradually surfaced, like a burst dam that could no longer be stopped.
Once this gap is opened, it will be like Pandora's box and cannot be easily blocked.
Those big tigers who once hid behind the scenes and manipulated everything were confessed one after another.
As corrupt elements were arrested one after another, their influence grew, which put increasing pressure on the Zhongjiang Provincial Party Committee.
"Who did the task force arrest again?" Sha Ruijin rubbed his swollen head, frowned, and asked with a tired face.
He has been under tremendous pressure recently and looks a little haggard.
Gao Keming was also in a low mood. He reported to Sha Ruijin: "Vice Governor Chang Maosheng!"
Upon hearing the news, Sha Ruijin's face turned extremely ugly, and he couldn't help feeling helpless and angry.
This incident made Zhongjiang completely notorious. The entire Zhongjiang food system almost completely collapsed, and nearly half of the officials were arrested for corruption.
Although Sha Ruijin himself was not corrupt and did not shelter corrupt officials, such a large-scale corruption case that occurred during his tenure will definitely affect his future.
At the very least, the leader will put a big question mark on your ability!
This is exactly what Qi Tongwei wants to see. He will be in charge of Handong in the future, and Sha Ruijin will be his main competitor.
Before this corruption case happened, Sha Ruijin was slightly ahead, after all, he had experience as a provincial governor. Although both of them were at the ministerial level, there were still differences in experience.
Now that such a big corruption case has occurred, it is almost impossible for Sha Ruijin to govern Handong again. Qi Tongwei has lost one of his biggest competitors.
Of course, Sha Ruijin hasn’t thought so much about it. He is now eyeing Zhongjiang Province, which has become confusing because of this incident.
Things did not stop because of Sha Ruijin's worries.
More anti-corruption elements were dug out one by one, and their crimes were gradually revealed.
With the cooperation of these corrupt elements, their illegally obtained assets have been gradually recovered.
However, Qi Tongwei did not dare to relax at all, because he knew clearly that the real challenge was still ahead, and the key to victory in this battle lay in whether he could successfully capture Niu Sheren, director of the Provincial Food Department, and Chang Maosheng, vice governor.
Qi Tongwei believed that there must be a bigger tiger behind the two men, and that they must know more inside information.
However, the two men were indeed old foxes in the officialdom. They only admitted their own crimes and did not say a word about other things.
"Team Leader Qi, these two people still don't say a word." Zhu Wei said in annoyance.
Zhong Xiaoai asked in confusion: "Why did they only admit their own crimes and not confess their other accomplices?"
Qi Tongwei actually already understood what the two were thinking, which was the same as when he would rather die than come out and confess and identify Gao Yuliang in his previous life.
There are two reasons why Qi Tongwei did not come out to explain Gao Yuliang. One is his personality, and the other is that he still holds a glimmer of hope for Gao Yuliang, hoping that he can escape successfully.
This way he and Gao Xiaoqin's son could be protected.
Sometimes protecting the mastermind behind the incident is like protecting your own family. These two people should also be holding on to a glimmer of hope that as long as they hold on and don't say anything, those leaders who have escaped the disaster will definitely take care of his family.
What Qi Tongwei has to do now is to break the two people's illusions and make them understand that only cooperation with the task force is the only way out at the moment, and any other options will be a dead end.
But he did not tell Zhong Xiaoai this. Instead, he decided to meet Niu Sheren and Chang Maosheng again to break their fantasy.
In the interrogation room of the task force, Qi Tongwei decided to meet Niu Sheren first.
The atmosphere was solemn. Qi Tongwei sat at the interrogation table, staring sharply at Niu Sheren opposite him.
Qi Tongwei got straight to the point and asked, "Director Niu, this is already the second time we've met. Last time you said that you instructed others to do all this, and you were the biggest mastermind, right?"
Niu Sheren's face was expressionless, and he answered calmly, "That's right, Team Leader Qi, I am the mastermind behind this. I was also the one who brought down Vice Governor Chang Maosheng. I am willing to take all the blame."
Qi Tongwei stared at him closely and continued to ask: "What about Bai Zhiguo, the previous vice governor in charge of the grain system? Did he know what you did? Did he personally check the grain depot?"
Niu Sheren was silent for a moment and then replied: "I don't know. We used some means to deceive Governor Bai, and he was only in charge of the grain system for a short three years, and then he was transferred to a central government ministry."
Qi Tongwei didn't believe a single word Niu Sheren said.
He stared at Niu Sheren and said, "I know what you are thinking, but I can tell you clearly that your idea is just wishful thinking and has no chance of success.
First, I have sent people to investigate your family to see if they have done anything illegal or disorderly. You should be well aware that there are many people who are happy to kick someone when they are down.
Furthermore, the people behind you will definitely not help you at this time. How can they help you when they are already too busy avoiding suspicion?
As long as I want to, and your family has committed crimes, they will definitely go to jail, so your idea is just wishful thinking.
The second is the safety of you and your family. Take you for example. After Wang Yanxiong came in, what you wanted was for him to die instead of helping him solve his family problems because you didn't trust him.
If it weren't for our task force's strict protection of Wang Yanxiong, he would have been in an accident long ago." Having had several experiences in cracking down on gangsters and eliminating evil, Qi Tongwei paid special attention to protecting suspects.
After saying that, he picked up the cup and took a sip of water, slowing down the pace, letting Niu Sheren think slowly, while also inducing him with words.
"You don't trust Wang Yanxiong, so how can the people behind you trust you? What you have to do now is to cooperate with me, confess the mastermind behind the scenes, and make amends for your crime." Qi Tongwei continued his psychological offensive.
Niu Sheren remained silent, his heart full of contradictions and entanglements.
Everything Qi Tongwei said was true, and he could not refute it. But if he gave away the mastermind, what would happen to him? He dared not imagine it.
As time passed, a tense atmosphere filled the interrogation room.
Qi Tongwei saw that Niu Sheren was somewhat tempted, and hurriedly persuaded him: "As long as all the masterminds behind the scenes come in, first of all, the safety of you and your family will be assured, and you will also be dealt with leniently."
While persuading, Qi Tongwei waited for Niu Sheren's decision. He knew this was a critical moment.
Finally, Niu Sheren raised his head, and a hint of determination flashed in his eyes.
"Okay, I'll say..." He spoke slowly, his voice trembling slightly.
Qi Tongwei was delighted, but still maintained a serious expression on his face.
He knew that the next confession would be an important clue to uncovering the truth of the case.
As Niu Sheren confessed, some people hiding in the dark gradually surfaced. One person's name shocked him so much that Qi Tongwei's brows furrowed deeper and deeper.
He guessed that the person behind the scenes was not simple, but he did not expect that the infiltration of the four major grain traders had reached this point and taken down a leader who was one level higher than himself.
At the same time, Niu Sheren also provided another clue, a clue that concerns the health of hundreds of millions of people.