Chapter 683: Equally Matched
If anyone here continues to dwell on this point and insists on using it as an excuse to attack Wang Xinfa, it would be equivalent to attacking Guangming Group at the same time.
The reason is simple. If one party is suspected, then the other party who was in the same room at the time must bear equal suspicion.
The members of parliament present here may not be afraid of Guangming Group, but are they going to offend the powerful Wang Xinfa and the huge Guangming Group at the same time just for the "invisible knife" in Zhang Deming's hand that cannot be seen or touched for the time being?
From the perspective of risk-return ratio, it is more or less not cost-effective.
There was a brief silence in the meeting hall, and no new members of parliament jumped out to criticize this point.
Zhang Deming was a little disappointed, but he had never expected to completely defeat Wang Xinfa with just an "invisible knife".
That's too fanciful.
This was just an appetizer he served to test how thick the other party's armor was and which of the parliamentarians present were easier to win over.
Zhang Deming secretly said in his heart:
"It doesn't matter. If one invisible knife isn't sharp enough, then prepare a few more and change your tactics. If one stab isn't enough, just try a few more times."
Although Zhang Deming is old, he is not lacking in patience. He put on a harmless smile and glanced at the parliamentarians who had just taken the initiative to cooperate with him.
Coincidentally, the congressmen had regained their calm expressions at this moment, but they all glanced back at him vaguely.
Everything is self-evident, and a short-term offensive and defensive alliance agreement has been "reached" silently.
The next attack might be more coordinated and more ferocious.
Zhang Deming narrowed his eyes in satisfaction, like a napping old cat.
He turned back to the chief councilor, his tone becoming especially respectful and solemn:
"Chief, then, who is in charge of the Emerald Garden case now?"
The chief councilor glanced at Zhang Deming indifferently, then turned to look at the door of the meeting room.
His secretary was already waiting quietly at the door. He immediately understood, nodded slightly, and turned to leave.
A moment later, the door of the conference room was pushed open again, and Zheng Geng, dressed in the uniform of the Maintenance Department and with a stern expression, walked in.
The Chief Councillor then said in his usual calm tone:
"This incident happened suddenly, and the impact of the case is extremely serious. Currently, Commissioner Zheng Geng of the Maintenance Department is in charge temporarily."
He turned slightly towards Zheng Geng and instructed:
"Could you please briefly explain what valuable clues you've uncovered so far? This will give our fellow legislators a clearer picture."
Zheng Geng walked into the conference room at the heart of District Nine's power and quickly glanced at the council members sitting around the mahogany round table.
There wasn't a trace of awe or nervousness in his eyes, his back was straight, and his tone was no different from how he usually spoke to his subordinates. His calmness made several of the council members frown slightly.
He opened his briefcase and took out a few thin pages of documents. His voice was steady, and without any greetings or prelude, he started reporting directly:
"Members of the Legislature, regarding the attack on the Special Commissioner's residence at Emerald Garden, the preliminary investigation results are as follows..."
Soon, the only sound in the conference room was Zheng Geng's report. The report was not long, and he deliberately omitted or glossed over many tedious investigation processes, technical details and questionable reasoning.
After all, he was just a specialist in the Maintenance Department, and investigating cases was not his forte.
However, he was not panicked at all, but rather strangely calm, because investigating cases was not the expertise of the congressmen present.
We are all amateurs in this area, so we can compete on equal terms.
Moreover, Zheng Geng asked himself honestly, he also has a skill that is fully qualified - making "PPT" reports. He is very professional.
As Zheng Geng analyzed the various "clues" and "inferences" in the case in a clear and logical manner, although most of these clues could not stand up to scrutiny, the inferences were full of presuppositions.
But none of the parliamentarians present were willing to be outdone. They all either frowned or nodded slightly as if they were suddenly enlightened... Each of them looked like a skilled criminal solver in deep thought.
You have to say, they are not pretending to know everything. They are indeed not good at investigating cases, but they know a lot about solving cases.
There is a world of difference between investigating a case and solving it.
If you think they are the same thing, it means you are suitable for working in the police station.
Being able to accurately distinguish that they are not the same thing means... you should have a chair at the round table in District 9.
A quarter of an hour later.
Zheng Geng finished presenting the investigation report and gave the conclusion:
"...In summary, based on a comprehensive analysis of the available clues, I believe the Jade Garden incident was by no means an accidental or impulsive crime, but rather an organized, premeditated, and vicious attack against the Special Commissioner. It was extremely egregious in nature and seriously undermined the security and stability of District 9.
The body of the special envoy was not found at the scene, so it is highly likely that he was abducted by the criminals.
I personally tend to believe that the special envoy is still alive. There is no need for the criminals to take away a worthless body. They must have other intentions and want to use the special envoy's special identity to achieve some ulterior motives. "
He paused for a moment, glanced at the congressmen, and continued:
"Therefore, I believe that the entire area should be temporarily blocked and strict checks should be carried out on people and vehicles entering and leaving the area.
At the same time, all available forces should be mobilized, including but not limited to the entire police station and the police department. We can even consider urgently dispatching some elite soldiers of the Survey Corps to the city to assist in the carpet search and joint investigation.
We must rescue the special envoy at all costs before the criminals achieve their goal!"
As Zheng Geng spoke, he calmly observed the changes in the expressions of the parliamentarians.
He noticed that when he mentioned "Public Security Bureau" and "Survey Corps", the expressions of two of the council members present changed slightly.
This is normal, because Zheng Geng's last suggestion was meant for the two of them.
In the round table meeting of the nine districts, every member of the parliament is not a rootless duckweed. Behind them, they represent or are deeply connected to a powerful force. This is their base.
Obviously, these two congressmen represent the two powerful departments, the Police Investigation Bureau and the Survey Corps.
Zheng Geng's seemingly reasonable suggestion for the sake of the case was actually sending a clear signal to the two parliamentarians as the temporary person in charge of the case.
That is to invite them to join and share the investigation rights, while also finding and winning over potential allies for yourself.
The Jade Garden incident is, of course, a huge political whirlpool. Everyone present is an old fox, and naturally there are some who are just watching from the sidelines to protect themselves.
But there are definitely people who want to take advantage of the situation, throw themselves into the game, grab greater power and benefits in this storm, and go further.
Because the bigger the wind and waves, the more expensive the fish.
Only by actively jumping into the center of the vortex can you catch the most expensive and juicy fish after the storm finally subsides.
However, when to jump into the water and which landing point to choose are extremely important and are related to life and death and success or failure.
The olive branch thrown out by Zheng Geng at this time seemed particularly "wonderful"!
By intervening in the name of "assisting in investigation and arrest", one can naturally gain partial interpretation and control over the case, which is undoubtedly the safest "diving point" at present.
No matter what, people who investigate others are always much safer than those who are being investigated.
Sure enough, one of the council members representing the interests of the police department coughed lightly and spoke first, his tone serious:
"If there's a real possibility that the special envoy is still alive, then we must do everything in our power to launch a district-wide search. This concerns the reputation and responsibility of the entire Ninth District.
As an important law enforcement force, the police department must of course do its part!
We must race against time and find the special commissioner before the special investigation team from Uptown arrives to seize the initiative."
He changed the subject and looked at another member of parliament next to him:
"However, the manpower of the patrol station and the police department alone is probably not enough to handle the blockade and search of the entire area.
At times like this, we really need the Survey Corps' assistance."
Another member of the Survey Corps, with a serious expression, immediately chimed in, displaying strong support:
"Although the Survey Corps is stationed at Hidden Gate and has a heavy workload, the safety of our special envoys is of paramount importance. I will immediately coordinate with Zhou Yifu to dispatch an elite team to temporarily enter the city to assist with search and rescue operations!"
(P.S. Zhou Yifu is the commander of the 9th District Survey Corps.)
Zheng Geng saw the two council members express their support one after another, and clenched his fist slightly, thinking:
"Now, my position as the temporary head of the investigation is secure."
Since the other party accepted his invitation and shared power, he would naturally maintain his position as temporary person in charge to a certain extent.
Otherwise, the invitation he extended would be empty words and without any effect.
Wang Xinfa watched the whole process coldly, and before he could get a chance to say anything, his face had already darkened.
His original plan was to wait until Zheng Geng finished his report, and then immediately propose to remove the overstepping-the-authority Maintenance Department Commissioner on the grounds of "professional people doing professional things", take back the investigation power, and return it to the police station.
But he never expected that before he could even open his mouth to attack, Zheng Geng blocked the way in the name of "joint investigation" and even brought in two helpers.
If he spoke again now, he would surely be met with displeasure from the two congressmen. On normal days, Wang Xinfa might not be too afraid and would still fight to speak.
But today, Zhang Deming is watching closely from the side like a poisonous snake waiting for an opportunity to strike. It is really not appropriate for him to make enemies for nothing and disperse his strength.
Seeing that Wang Xinfa did not refute for a long time, a barely perceptible trace of disappointment flashed across Zhang Deming's face. This subtle change in expression was caught by Wang Xinfa, and his heart trembled again, making him more certain that it was the right choice for him to endure temporarily.
Seeing that no one else spoke, the chief councilor readily accepted Zheng Geng's opinion.
He said calmly:
"Commissioner Zheng is responsive and clear-minded. In that case, the overall responsibility for the investigation will remain with you.
You must fully utilize and coordinate the strengths of the Patrol Office, the Investigation Bureau, and the Investigation Corps to form a joint force and strive to retrieve the Special Commissioner as quickly as possible and calm the situation."
Zheng Geng's heart warmed up, as he knew that he had finally successfully stepped on the first and most crucial step on the road to becoming a member of parliament.
But he just stepped on it, with his toes barely touching it, far from being firm, let alone stable.
Zheng Geng said to himself in his heart:
“The road to becoming a member of parliament is one of forward progress and no turning back. I must forge ahead and strike while the iron is hot.
I need to quickly step firmly on this ladder and take as many steps forward as possible before these council members fully realize my evil ambitions!"
As we all know, if you want to run faster on the road ahead, the best way is to focus on a target and launch the most ferocious charge towards it.
And the target Zheng Geng chose was...
Just as Zheng Geng was about to launch an attack, Wang Xinfa suddenly spoke:
"Chief, I agree that Zheng Geng should continue to be in charge. He has been diligent and hardworking in the maintenance department over the years, and his abilities are obvious to all. I feel more at ease letting him take charge of this matter."
Everyone was listening to Wang Xinfa, and everyone was waiting for the turn in his words. They were all familiar with this method of first praising and then criticizing.
Wang Xinfa did not disappoint everyone, and indeed changed the subject:
“However, Commissioner Zheng Geng comes from the Maintenance Department after all, and is good at overall planning and coordination, but the specific professional details of criminal investigation and case handling may not be his forte.
As the organizer, there is no problem for him to manage and coordinate the overall situation, but shouldn't he also be equipped with a capable and professional deputy?
For example, Li Shang from the Patrol Station is known as a detective, having repeatedly solved major cases. He is experienced, capable, and highly respected within the Patrol Station..."
Wang Xinfa's remarks were extremely insightful.
He first expressed his approval, acknowledging the chief's decision and Zheng Geng's position, and appeased the two newly joined members.
Then, reasonable and completely public-spirited suggestions were put forward, which only took away some of the specific investigation and execution powers.
This is a common compromise in power games where everyone makes concessions.
As a member of parliament, he was able to make such a "concession" to a commissioner like Zheng Geng, which was already a great honor and a way out for him. He seemed extremely friendly and concerned about the overall situation.
Normally speaking, anyone who understands the ins and outs of officialdom would most likely go with the flow and accept this outcome.
However, Zheng Geng's reaction completely exceeded everyone's expectations.
He didn't give Wang Xinfa any face at all, and was even too lazy to pretend to be nice to him. He just sneered in front of him.
Yes, the target of his attack was Councillor Wang Xinfa. Actually, it was not he who chose him, but the situation helped him make the choice.
He sneered, then looked at the chief councilor and said:
"Chief Councillor, I firmly oppose Councillor Wang's proposal!"
He was determined to shock people with his words and revealed his true intentions directly:
"Because I can't trust Councillor Wang right now. No, I should say that based on what I've learned so far, I have every reason to suspect that Councillor Wang Xinfa himself may have some unidentified connection to the Special Envoy's kidnapping!"
Once Zheng Geng started attacking, he left no room for retreat.
It can't be said to be a death charge, it's also a close-range attack.
(End of this chapter)
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