The top leadership of Handong Province had reached a consensus.
Arresting Li Hao was now the absolute top priority!
Therefore, as soon as the high-level meeting concluded, Jingzhou Mayor Li Dakang took the initiative.
Without a word of nonsense, he called Zhao Donglai, Director of the Jingzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau.
"Zhao Donglai, a crime of the most heinous nature has just taken place right here in Jingzhou! Are you aware of it?!"
At the other end of the line, Zhao Donglai, as the director of the bureau, had only just received the news.
Word was that a shooting had occurred at a highway toll booth in Jingzhou!
The moment he received the report, Zhao Donglai's brow furrowed deeply.
A shooting!
In this day and age, the probability of a shooting taking place was exceedingly rare!
Over the past few decades, the public security bureau conducted periodic sweeps to check for civilian firearm ownership.
The sale of steel materials was also strictly regulated!
All of this was to prevent firearms from ever being used in crimes again!
Yet now, he was being told that a shooting had occurred in Jingzhou City!
Zhao Donglai couldn't even remember how many years had passed since the last firearms-related case!
"I've already received the news and am preparing to head to the highway toll booth to arrest the suspect!"
Upon answering the phone and hearing Li Dakang's words, Zhao Donglai immediately replied.
As soon as he finished speaking, a jolt of shock went through him.
What was going on?!
Municipal Party Secretary Li Dakang had actually learned of this before he did?
Generally speaking, whenever a crime occurred, he was bound to be the first leader in Jingzhou to know about it.
What citizen wouldn't think to immediately call the police when something happened?
Just as Zhao Donglai was puzzling and guessing to himself, Li Dakang's voice sounded from the other end of the line again.
"Go to the highway toll booth?! By the time you get there, they'll be long gone! The cold food will be getting colder!"
"Huh?"
"Huh, what?! Doing the math, they're probably already in Yantai by now! Hurry up and make arrangements! Bring the suspect to justice!"
"Understood, Secretary Dakang. But this case just happened—how do you know about it in such detail? You even know where the suspect went."
Hearing that Li Dakang even knew where the suspect was headed, Zhao Donglai was filled with astonishment.
Good grief, they didn't even need to investigate!
Wasn't this just a purely handed-to-them merit?
"How do I know in such detail? Do you know who the target of that shooting was? Do you know who else was at the scene?"
On the phone, Li Dakang was burning with fury as he laid out the specific details of the shooting for Zhao Donglai.
"!!!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Donglai couldn't help but shudder.
Good grief!
What on earth was going on?!
A single shooting had actually implicated Provincial Department of Public Security Director Qi Tongwei and Anti-Corruption Bureau Director Hou Liangping!
No wonder Secretary Dakang had found out about this case so quickly!
Ah!
Perhaps the top leadership of Handong Province already knew about this case by now?
It was simply outrageous!
In particular, the Provincial Department of Public Security Director had actually condoned a criminal shooting the Anti-Corruption Bureau Director right under his very nose!
It was utterly absurd!
"Understood, Secretary Dakang! I will bring the culprit to justice as soon as possible!"
Pulling himself together, Zhao Donglai quickly gave his guarantee.
This incident had massive fallout, but the potential gains were equally huge!
If Qi Tongwei was truly compromised, then he, Zhao Donglai, might just have a shot at the position of Provincial Department of Public Security Director.
"Make sure you bring the criminal to justice swiftly to eliminate the negative impact on society! If Qi Tongwei tries to stop you, take him down as well!"
"Beep, beep, beep..."
Hearing Zhao Donglai's assurance, Li Dakang felt somewhat reassured. After delivering his final instructions, he hung up the phone.
Seeing the call end, Zhao Donglai finally relaxed completely, no longer filled with the heavy anxiety he had felt when he first learned of the shooting.
Right now, he was brimming with energy!
Judging by what Li Dakang had said, just as he had guessed, the top leadership of Handong Province must have already discussed this shooting.
Otherwise, there would have been no mention of taking Qi Tongwei down if he dared to interfere!
"Director Qi, how on earth did you manage to become so foolish all of a sudden?"
Zhao Donglai couldn't help a faint smile.
Qi Tongwei was practically handing him this opportunity on a silver platter!
As the Director of the Jingzhou Municipal Public Security Bureau, he was already not far from the post of Provincial Department Director.
Now, things were looking up.
Once Qi Tongwei fell from power, didn't Zhao Donglai's chances increase exponentially?
With that thought, Zhao Donglai hesitated no longer and immediately began deploying the operation to capture Li Hao.
"Hello! Track an Audi A6 with the license plate ******* for me! I want real-time tracking! Real-time positioning! Not a single mistake!"
Zhao Donglai first called the traffic administration department, stating his request for assistance.
Since the higher-ups had already issued directives regarding this, the traffic administration department quickly began tracking Qi Tongwei's vehicle.
With the positioning arranged, Zhao Donglai made a phone call to the Director of the Yantai Public Security Bureau.
"Hello! We have a critical case and need to come over to your jurisdiction for a pursuit!"
"Make the necessary arrangements to coordinate with us when we arrive! Let's work quickly to bring this extremely dangerous criminal suspect to justice!"
"It would be best to seal off all road exits in Yantai right now! Conduct strict inspections of everyone entering and leaving!"
"I will lead my men there personally. If necessary, I hope you can help us stall them!"
With that, Zhao Donglai hurriedly hung up the phone and strode quickly toward the downstairs exit.
He had to rush to Yantai right now!
...
Meanwhile, in Yantai.
The Director of the Yantai Public Security Bureau was left utterly bewildered after finishing his phone call with Zhao Donglai.
Because just moments earlier, Provincial Department of Public Security Director Qi Tongwei had also called him!
What he said was essentially identical to what Zhao Donglai had told him.
He claimed there were extremely dangerous criminals currently in Yantai!
He instructed the Yantai Public Security Bureau Director to coordinate with them!
And urged him to lock down all of Yantai's road exits immediately!
"Good grief! Zhao Donglai has got some nerve! Is he going toe-to-toe with Director Qi?"
The Yantai Public Security Bureau Director sighed inwardly.
The factional struggles among the top brass in Handong Province were truly fierce!
Zhao Donglai actually had the guts to muscle in on a case belonging to the Provincial Department of Public Security Director!
At this thought, the Yantai Public Security Bureau Director shook his head.
In battles like this, as an outsider, it was best not to offend anyone since both sides had powerful backers higher up.
Anyway, since both men had said basically the same thing, couldn't he just report the information to both of them when the time came?
That way, he would avoid stirring up any trouble for himself, which would be a losing proposition!
Of course, he could lean slightly toward Director Qi; after all, Qi Tongwei was his immediate superior and held a higher rank than Zhao Donglai.
"Step up the control at all road exits! Conduct strict screenings of all individuals! The moment any suspicious targets are spotted, execute the arrest immediately!"
Without further thought, the Yantai Public Security Bureau Director instructed his subordinates that all suspicious individuals must be monitored with the utmost strictness.