Official Career Storm

Chapter 1640

The two police officers walked up and took out handcuffs to arrest Song Guanchao.

"Stop!" Wu Qiangwei said.

The police glanced at her, then looked at Director Hou, standing there unsure of whom to obey.

Director Hou glanced at her, "What does Mayor Wu mean by this?"

Wu Qiangwei’s face was stern, "I should be the one asking Director Hou, what is Director Hou trying to do?"

Director Hou replied, "I now suspect that Song Guanchao embezzled these illicit funds into his own pocket, and I need to interrogate him thoroughly."

"Suspect?" Wu Qiangwei asked, "Do you have evidence?"

"Evidence?" Director Hou acted as if he heard a joke, unwilling to explain further.

At this point, Hall Director Qi spoke up, "Director Hou, arresting someone without evidence, do you think the people from Nanjiang Province can be easily apprehended?"

Director Hou’s eyes flashed with a hint of hostility and impatience, "Director Qi, you are also a veteran in public security. Whether Song Guanchao is suspicious, you know better than I do. Whether it’s a problem for me to investigate him, you also know better than I do."

Hall Director Qi said, "If there’s suspicion, you can ask him to cooperate, but directly arresting him is not acceptable."

Director Hou said, "Does he look like he’s willing to cooperate?"

Hall Director Qi said, "You start with a presumption of guilt, it’s abnormal if he cooperates."

At this moment, Liang Jianfeng said, "Money can’t just disappear without a trace. Transferring billions of illicit funds would leave a trail. If Director Hou really wants to investigate, go to the banks and check the transaction records, see where the money was transferred to and into whose accounts they went."

"And check whether these accounts belong to Song Guanchao. I think this shouldn’t be difficult, right?"

Director Hou scoffed, "You think I haven’t checked? The money was transferred to several shell companies, which were further dispersed, and then moved again through foreign trade company accounts, layered multiple times. The transfer methods are exceptionally professional, even more so than telecom fraud."

Liang Jianfeng said, "So does Director Hou believe that Song Guanchao could have come up with such a transfer method on a whim? Or is Song Guanchao a professional fraudster?"

This question left Director Hou speechless.

According to the transaction records found, it was impossible for Song Guanchao to have executed the transfers.

Disposing of stolen goods is a very meticulous task; the larger the amount, the more difficult it is.

But his intuition told him, Song Guanchao was suspicious.

Because he couldn’t understand why, even Mayor Fang, who had been under control early on, had his money transferred.

"Director Song will cooperate with the investigation, but arresting him is not an option," Hall Director Qi established the tone.

However, concerned that Director Hou might not play by the rules, he added, "Governor Lu highly values Director Song, Director Hou better not act recklessly."

This comment made the corner of Director Hou’s mouth twitch.

He suddenly remembered what had happened not long ago in Xu City.

That time, Lu Zhizhong personally intervened and bailed Song Guanchao out, even leaving Governor Li at a disadvantage.

Despite both being governors, and it occurring in Governor Li’s jurisdiction, Lu Zhizhong gained the upper hand.

What does that indicate?

It indicates that Lu Zhizhong has more influential power behind him!

So much so that even Governor Li doesn’t dare challenge him.

Moreover, Lu Zhizhong, risking offending Governor Li, went out of his way to protect Song Guanchao.

It’s clear that Lu Zhizhong genuinely values Song Guanchao highly.

If he were to arrest and interrogate Song Guanchao today, Lu Zhizhong would likely hold him accountable immediately.

The more Director Hou thought about it, the more suffocated he felt.

Knowing that Song Guanchao might have a problem, yet unable to arrest him.

Speaking of cooperating with the investigation, if Song Guanchao truly didn’t cooperate, what could he do?

Director Hou, swallowing his anger, swept his eyes over the people present, "Fifty billion of illicit funds, if it can’t be recovered, you all bear the responsibility!"

Hall Director Qi thought, this guy probably takes himself too seriously.

We’re on the same level, what gives you the right to show off before me?

Just as he was about to retort, Wu Qiangwei said, "Director Hou, let’s not speak in anger. Without us, Pinghai City would have lost everything. At least for now, we’ve caught the people."

"We owe you no debt, not even if the illicit funds are lost and unrecoverable, it’s not our fault. If Director Hou can’t clarify this, let’s have Secretary Gao discuss it with Secretary Zhuang. Or perhaps let Mr. Huang report back to Beijing and see whose responsibility it ultimately is."

Director Hou was so aggrieved he couldn’t find words to counter immediately.

"Useless!" Song Guanchao suddenly sneered.

Director Hou glared at him, "What do you mean?"

"I said Director Hou is useless!"

"Director Song!" Hall Director Qi interrupted, "Don’t say such words in anger, Director Hou is also working to solve the case."

Song Guanchao chuckled, "Working to solve the case, does that mean ignoring the law? I, Song Guanchao, am at least a Deputy Director, and you, Director Hou, think you can just arrest me?"

"If I hadn’t decisively detained Mayor Fang, if I hadn’t planned the arrests of Secretary Xue and Director Hu, all the corrupt officials in Pinghai City would have fled long ago, and you’d still have the luxury of sitting here comfortably, ordering me around?"

"The money is gone, instead of figuring out how to recover it, you point the finger at me. Why, do I seem soft and easy to bully?"

"Ask Governor Li if he dares to arrest me!"

At this moment, Song Guanchao was extremely arrogant.

"These illicit funds, if you, Director Hou, find them challenging to recover, then it’s you who are useless!"

"Transaction records, bank flow records, they are all clear and straightforward, just a bit time-consuming, a bit troublesome at most."

Director Hou, initially fired up by his words, was about to slam his hand on the table, but upon hearing this, he suddenly laughed, "Director Song speaks quite lightly, you’re so confident, then this illicit funds recovery, why don’t you handle it?"

"Fine!" Song Guanchao stepped forward with full confidence radiating, the unique kind of confidence of young people who place nothing in high regard, "Since Director Hou is willing to give me this credit, I’ll take it!"

"Hall Director Qi heard it, didn’t you? This was Director Song’s decision, I didn’t force him." Director Hou felt a weight lifted off his shoulders, this burden is now someone else’s.

Hall Director Qi frowned, feeling that Song Guanchao was too impulsive, unable to withstand provocation.

No, Director Hou didn’t even provoke him much, Song Guanchao willingly took on this burden himself.

He couldn’t stop him even if he wanted to.

"Director Song, don’t speak rashly," Wu Qiangwei said.

Before Song Guanchao could speak, Director Hou said, "I don’t see Director Song as speaking rashly."

"Let the capable prevail, Director Song can even arrest Secretary Xue, chasing after a mere sum can’t be a problem, can it?"

"This matter of recovering the illicit funds is now entrusted to you, Director Song!"

After saying this, Director Hou left the office with a mocking smile.

The two police officers followed suit and left.

Once they were gone, Wu Qiangwei sighed, "You were too impulsive!"

Hall Director Qi also shook his head and said, "If the money were so easily recoverable, do you think Director Hou would let you handle it?"

Huang Ronghua, who hadn’t spoken just yet, also shook his head, thinking Song Guanchao was being irrational.

Song Guanchao maintained a confident expression and said, "Just because Director Hou can’t do it, doesn’t mean I can’t."

Hall Director Qi had nothing more to say to him, sighed, and left the office.

Huang Ronghua also left.

After everyone departed, Liang Jianfeng stood up too, "You, come out, I have something to discuss with you."

Song Guanchao looked at Wu Qiangwei, then followed him out of the office.

The two walked out of the city bureau and went to the backyard.

After looking around and making sure no one else was there, Liang Jianfeng asked, "Was it you who transferred those illicit funds?"