Official Career Storm

Chapter 1601

Wu Province, Provincial City.

Governor Li sat in the study, his brows tightly furrowed.

He had received a call from Governor Lu during the day and learned a piece of news that made him particularly troubled.

There might be a collapse-style corruption situation in Pinghai City!

Corruption is unavoidable; it exists in any city.

But a collapse-style corruption, in another description, means corruption at every level.

This is extremely frightening.

Throughout the entire country, currently only one city has been officially labeled as having collapse-style corruption.

Governor Li clearly remembered that at the time, over a thousand officials from that city were arrested, from the provincial ministerial level down to the section level, none were spared.

Such rare situations, once discovered, the crackdown will be unprecedented.

It might even attract the attention of the central government, thereby bypassing the Provincial Committee, directly stationing in Pinghai City for a vertical investigation.

As the superior leader of Pinghai City, Governor Li was under a lot of pressure.

Moreover, he was well aware that Governor Lu had partly a warning by telling him.

Because Governor Lu was also unsure if the leaders of Pinghai City had any backing within the province.

Currently, only he knew, if during this period anyone absconded with public funds, he would be the prime suspect.

Therefore, he could do nothing now, nor could he act, but could only passively wait for Governor Lu’s news.

...

The next morning, Song Guanchao found Lu Feng, was discussing surveillance details with them, when he suddenly received a call from Lin Wanqiu.

"Guan Chao, where are you?" Lin Wanqiu’s voice sounded panicked.

"What’s wrong?"

"She... she might be in trouble."

"Where are you?"

"Guesthouse."

"I’ll be right back."

Song Guanchao hung up the phone, spoke a few words to Lu Feng and the others, and rushed back to the guesthouse immediately.

He knocked on the door, and saw Lin Wanqiu looking anxious, holding the phone tightly in her hand.

"What’s going on?" He knew the "she" Lin Wanqiu referred to was the journalist from the Ministry of Propaganda who had been imprisoned.

Lin Wanqiu opened her phone, pulling up the chat page with the journalist: "We were just messaging, she suddenly sent me a few texts."

Song Guanchao scanned the chat page between the two, which seemed like ordinary conversation.

But he knew that these seemingly meaningless conversations actually held another layer of significance.

Lin Wanqiu tried to explain the meaning behind these chat contents to him, Song Guanchao said: "No need for so much talk, just tell me what’s going on with her now?"

Lin Wanqiu said: "She said the people imprisoning her might want to make a move against her, and most likely... will make her completely disappear."

Song Guanchao was taken aback, staring at the chat contents that still seemed unremarkable: "Are you sure?"

"I’m sure!" Lin Wanqiu said anxiously: "What do we do now?"

"Don’t panic yet." Song Guanchao called Wu Qiangwei: "Mayor, where are you?"

"Meeting local business owners."

"Can you talk?"

"Go ahead, I’m listening."

"That Ministry of Propaganda journalist in captivity is in trouble..." he told her briefly.

Wu Qiangwei asked: "What do you plan to do?"

Song Guanchao remained silent for a few seconds, then said: "I’m not sure what secrets this journalist has learned that she shouldn’t have, nor am I sure how they plan to deal with her. But in matters like this, we can’t gamble! If the gamble fails, it’s a life at stake."

If Wu Qiangwei didn’t know, if he was handling all this himself, then Song Guanchao would not hesitate.

He would immediately abandon the original plan and prioritize this journalist’s safety, rescuing her directly.

But Wu Qiangwei knew, if rescuing her alarmed them and impacted the plan... he wasn’t sure Wu Qiangwei would agree with his decision.

"You make the decision."

"Don’t feel pressured, I trust you."

"I support any decision you make."

Wu Qiangwei’s response took Song Guanchao by surprise.

This unconditional trust gave him an indescribable happiness.

"Then let’s rescue her!"

"Okay." Wu Qiangwei asked: "What do you need me to do?"

"Take them out of Pinghai City." Song Guanchao said: "I will try to conceal my identity, but there’s no guarantee they won’t find out. If they do, it will be dangerous for you all."

"Sure, await my call."

Wu Qiangwei immediately contacted Zeng Li and the others, instructing them to pack up immediately and head to the high-speed rail station to meet up.

A few minutes later, she called back: "We’re leaving soon, you can act now."

"Okay."

Song Guanchao exhaled softly, Lin Wanqiu waited beside him for a long time, asking: "How did it go?"

Song Guanchao smiled: "Rescue her."

Lin Wanqiu’s suspended heart finally settled.

She also knew that rescuing her might expose their identities, worried that Wu Qiangwei might choose to abandon this option for the greater good.

To Wu Qiangwei and the others, she was just a stranger, a journalist.

But for Lin Wanqiu, she was a long-time good friend and bestie.

Luckily, Song Guanchao didn’t act that way, and Wu Qiangwei wasn’t cold to that extent.

Song Guanchao returned to the room and quickly gathered up his things.

Jiang Yiren and the others also came out of their rooms, dragging suitcases or carrying backpacks.

"Give me the car keys." He walked over.

Jiang Yiren handed him the car keys, asking: "Leaving so soon?"

"Plans have changed." Song Guanchao didn’t elaborate much, glanced at Zeng Li: "Message me when you safely board the high-speed rail."

Zeng Li, more perceptive than Jiang Yiren, immediately sensed a problem: "You’re not leaving with us?"

"I have some matters to handle."

"What matters?"

"Rescue mission."

They all knew about the issues in Pinghai City and were aware Wu Qiangwei stayed behind to investigate local corruption, so there was no need to hide it from them.

Zeng Li glanced at Lin Wanqiu, asking: "That journalist is in trouble?"

"Yes." Song Guanchao said: "Alright, hurry up now, I must go quickly too. Every second delay increases the danger."

With that, he and Lin Wanqiu quickly headed towards the elevator.

Downstairs, into the car, Song Guanchao sat in the passenger seat: "Drive to Pinghai Hotel."

Lin Wanqiu started the vehicle after setting up navigation.

Song Guanchao called Lu Feng: "Madman, bring a set of delivery worker’s clothes to Pinghai Hotel’s parking lot, and also a random untouched takeaway meal, mask and helmet, send them together."

"Additionally, all of you come over too, remember to wear masks and hats. Call me when you arrive."

Lu Feng had an advantage, that is, he never questioned Song Guanchao’s incomprehensible instructions, nor did he dig into the reasons but simply followed his requirements.

Song Guanchao leaned back in the car seat, his mind racing as he considered whether he missed anything.

Although the situation erupted suddenly, after some thought, he realized all crucial points had been covered, no lapses.

Twenty minutes later, they arrived at Pinghai Hotel, the car quietly parked in a space.

Lu Feng and the others hadn’t arrived yet; they needed to prepare the items Song Guanchao required, taking slightly longer.

Lin Wanqiu asked: "How do you plan to rescue her?"

"Depends on the situation." Song Guanchao said: "If she’s still in the hotel for now, we’ll rush in and rescue her. If they’re moving her, we’ll tail them and force a rescue!"

Lin Wanqiu hesitated, clearly not anticipating that Song Guanchao’s plan was so bold and direct.