Chapter 159 The Earth Emperor

Liu Changming, the director of the Victory District Police Department, was already fifty-five years old this year. He had been in the police system since the establishment of the Dragon City Police Department. He had worked as a patrol officer on the streets, as a clerk in the archives, and as the director of the office for the former director of the Victory District Police Department, before climbing up step by step.

When he was young, Liu Changming was very ambitious and eager to develop his career, but since he was promoted to the deputy director level, his promotion speed had obviously slowed down. Later, he finally became the director, wanting to operate in the city, but after inquiring about the price, he found that it would cost at least four million in operating expenses.

Back then, money wasn't so easy to come by. Four million was definitely an astronomical figure. Liu Changming couldn't afford it, so he could only stay where he was.

As Liu Changming got older, his diabetes and cirrhosis became more serious, and his physical condition deteriorated day by day. In addition, although he had money now, even if he entered the city leadership team at this age, his political career wouldn't change much, so he chose to lie flat completely, staying in Victory District as a local tyrant.

After Liu Changming turned fifty, the wealth he accumulated was astonishing. Various distant relatives of his owned more than a dozen high-end villas, apartments, and four financial companies in New City and Hua Du in District One.

In the past two years, Liu Changming had been eager to retire peacefully. He handed over all the affairs of the police department to his deputy. Usually, he didn't come to the office unless there were important meetings or events. He just stayed at home, concentrating on calligraphy, practicing his writing with a flourish, which gave him a somewhat detached air. He even earned the nickname "Liu Yibi" (Liu One-Stroke).

In Dragon City, there were quite a few people like Liu Changming who were lazy in their duties but extremely greedy. They usually kept a low profile and didn't seem to be of high rank, but if you were to investigate them thoroughly, the wealth they possessed would be unimaginable to ordinary people.

...

Liu Changming was just about to practice his calligraphy in the office when Xu Jinbo walked in. "Oh, Director Liu, are you practicing calligraphy again?"

"Hehe, I just got back, just writing casually." Liu Changming immediately put down his pen and greeted him. "Come, come, Mr. Xu, please sit down, please sit down."

After exchanging pleasantries, the two men sat down on the sofa.

"Please have some tea, Mr. Xu!" A young and beautiful female clerk walked in, placed the tea on the table, and then gracefully left, closing the door tightly.

"Ah!" Xu Jinbo sighed and said to Liu Changming, "The company's affairs have caused you trouble, Lao Liu!"

"It's not a trouble, it's just not easy to handle." Now that there were no outsiders, Liu Changming spoke his mind. "You can't arrest all these workers who come to make trouble, and you can't be too tough, otherwise, if you provoke a mass incident, that's a big trouble."

"That's right." Xu Jinbo glanced at the other man and said in a low voice, "I'm also discussing with the group leaders how to deal with this matter, but there's no good solution yet, because the workers are asking for too much, 980,000 per person, isn't that extortion?"

Liu Changming nodded, not responding.

"It's like this, Lao Liu!" Xu Jinbo lowered his voice and said softly, "Find a way to investigate the leaders of these two associations, and lock them all up for me, at least for half a year. Then, report the situation to the City Police Department, explain the situation and scale of the trouble, and let the Police Department put pressure on the city."

Liu Changming frowned. "I can't just report it blindly, that's the same as putting pressure on the leaders."

"No, no, I've already arranged things with the leader, he's just waiting for you to report it. Don't worry, the higher-ups will definitely take the bait, they won't let you fall flat on your face." Xu Jinbo took a sip of tea and said softly, "The Police Department is in an awkward position. They have to give Li Mingsheng face, but they also have to secretly listen to the Regulatory Commission, so they won't take the initiative to ask you about the situation in Victory District. But if you take the initiative to report it, they can't ignore it, you understand what I mean, right?"

Liu Changming pondered for a long time. "The Tongji Association has Lao Li's connections behind it, so if I do this...?"

"That's the key! If the Tongji Association didn't have Lao Li backing them up, would they dare to make such a fuss?" Xu Jinbo lowered his voice and said, "After the Zhao Weihu incident last time, Lao Li has been fighting against our Regulatory Commission, so this matter, on the surface, is a conflict between the Tongji Association and us, but in reality, it's a conflict at the top."

"Of course, there's a conflict." Liu Changming echoed in agreement, "Lao Li was almost killed outside the district, who wouldn't feel wronged by that?"

"That's why we need to have a stand." Xu Jinbo cut to the chase with one sentence, "We're from the Regulatory Commission, so naturally...!"

Liu Changming sighed. "Yes, I understand what you mean. I'll mention it to the Police Department tomorrow."

"Force the mayor's office to take a stand. As long as Li Mingsheng compromises, a small Tongji Association won't be able to make any waves!" Xu Jinbo said with a smile.

"Yes." Liu Mingchang raised his teacup.

"Well, one of my brothers is traveling in Hua Du, and he happened to make an appointment with your distant nephew for dinner tonight." Xu Jinbo grinned and said, "Let the people below them interact more, so we can strengthen our relationship."

"Hahaha!" Liu Changming laughed. "You're too kind!"

...

Ten minutes later, Xu Jinbo left.

Liu Changming sat in the office and immediately called his distant nephew. "Did you meet?"

"Yes, he sent a calligraphy work, by that calligrapher who's very popular in Hua District now, the one who even wrote congratulatory words for the Governor's Office." The distant nephew replied immediately.

"I know that person, his calligraphy is just so-so, about equal to mine." Liu Changming pretended a little. "I don't have room to hang his calligraphy at home, so find a place to sell it as soon as possible."

"Understood," the distant nephew nodded immediately. "I'll cash it out tomorrow."

"Be careful!" Liu Changming instructed, then hung up the phone, humming a little tune in a good mood.

...

The next morning.

At the city's morning work meeting, the director of the Police Department reported to Li Mingsheng about the illegal assembly of workers in Victory District and their demand for compensation from Baolong Mining.

The director of the Police Department was very careful with his words at the meeting, and many of the things he said were relatively neutral, but this made Li Mingsheng very uncomfortable. Because group activities are by no means a trivial matter, and now that the Police Department had pierced this layer of window paper, the city should give instructions.

At 10:30 a.m., after the meeting, Li Mingsheng said to Li Yuan with a rather unsightly expression, "The Police Department is taking a stand."

"Yes, they seem to be leaning towards the Regulatory Commission." Li Yuan nodded.

"Have Su Tianyu come over," Li Mingsheng frowned and ordered, "Immediately!"

"Yes!" Li Yuan responded.

Li Mingsheng was very anxious at the moment, feeling that Su Tianyu had handled this matter a little sloppily. Either you make a big scene, so that Lao Li can find an opportunity; or you don't make trouble at all, and just break up the gang as soon as possible. Otherwise, if you just keep going like this, the city government will be uncomfortable, and Lao Li will naturally be uncomfortable too.

Forcing your own boss, isn't that stupid?

About an hour later, Su Tianyu arrived at the Municipal Building, and Lao Li gave him a good scolding as soon as they met.

After Su Tianyu listened quietly, he began to tell Li Mingsheng his thoughts: "Leader, this is what I'm thinking...!"