Peng Xingrong was quite surprised.

It wasn't surprising that Song Guanchao could convince these committee members to call him.

What surprised him was the impact of this case, which was somewhat beyond his imagination.

The provincial department established a task force, and so many committee members personally called to dispel his doubts.

It clearly showed how much importance Lingjiang attached to this case.

Was it because Director Yang was murdered?

Or because Secretary Lu deceived him privately, trying to get him to relocate the company to Nanyuan?

"It's just one company of mine, is it that significant?"

"Unless... it's not just my one company!"

Peng Xingrong's eyes suddenly widened as he thought of this possibility.

No, it's not a possibility!

It's probably the real reason!

Only this reason can explain why the city is giving it such importance.

Moreover, since Secretary Lu had chosen to transfer Lingjiang's companies, transferring one is just as transferring ten; why not transfer more?

Thinking of this, Peng Xingrong's heart lightly shook, and he couldn't help but speculate how many companies Secretary Lu had transferred?

His thoughts were interrupted by an incoming call.

Mayor Jiang was calling.

One committee member after another kept calling him.

After finishing the last call, Song Guanchao called.

"Chairman Peng, are you relieved now?"

"I am." Peng Xingrong hesitated and said, "I'm in Lingjiang."

Song Guanchao asked, "Can we meet?"

"Sure."

Peng Xingrong sent the address, and by the time Song Guanchao arrived, it was already dark.

Peng Xingrong lived in a villa area built over ten years ago in Lingjiang.

To prevent Peng Xingrong from being startled, Wu Qiangwei waited in the car.

Song Guanchao went alone.

"Chairman Peng."

After shaking hands with him and sitting down, Peng Xingrong directly asked, "How many companies did Secretary Lu transfer?"

Song Guanchao knew he couldn't hide it: "37."

Peng Xingrong was inwardly shocked; so many had been transferred!

But it was still fine, even if all 37 companies relocate to Nanyuan, it wouldn't fundamentally hurt Lingjiang.

He had no idea that Song Guanchao wasn't telling the truth at all.

The crucial point was, the truth couldn't be revealed.

Once he found out nearly two hundred companies were being relocated, Peng Xingrong likely wouldn't cooperate.

"Chairman Peng, can you show me the investment contract you signed with Nanyuan County?"

"One moment."

A moment later, he brought the contract.

Song Guanchao mainly looked at the date and penalty fee.

The relocation date was February 5, and the penalty fee was a terrifying 2 billion.

He estimated that when Peng Xingrong signed the contract, he probably didn't even look, or didn't care.

After all, he was determined to go to Nanyuan County at the time, never expecting such a situation.

Song Guanchao asked, "Did Ruan Baoyou mention when you would meet next time?"

Peng Xingrong shook his head: "His task is complete, he won't be meeting again."

"Have your assistant provide a copy of the company's surveillance."

"Okay."

Back in the car, Song Guanchao briefly described the situation.

Upon returning to the substation, Futong Company had already delivered the surveillance.

In the surveillance, Liang Jianfeng saw Ruan Baoyou and found his identity information.

Liang Jianfeng said: "I've had them check it out, but don't get your hopes up too high; I suspect he might already be out of the country."

"Left the country?"

Song Guanchao snorted: "Then check the entry and exit records."

Liang Jianfeng nodded and said, "We've already found out about Zhu Qiushui."

"Her father was the former Deputy Mayor of Yunyang City, Zhu Huan."

Both Song Guanchao and Wu Qiangwei were taken aback.

Liang Jianfeng continued, "Lu Zhizhong was a colleague of this Mayor Zhu, also serving as Deputy Mayor in Yunyang City."

"A few years ago, Zhu Huan was implicated in a corruption case and committed suicide by jumping off a building during a dual regulation investigation by the Disciplinary Committee."

Song Guanchao touched his chin and said, "It seems that during the investigation, this Mayor Zhu, who committed suicide, was helped by Lu Zhizhong, and it was no small help."

This was easy to deduce.

Lu Zhizhong must have helped Zhu Huan; otherwise, Zhu Qiushui wouldn't help him with such matters.

Moreover, it's clear that Lu Zhizhong trusts Zhu Qiushui a lot.

After all, such matters can't be handled by anyone except a trusted confidant.

Song Guanchao asked, "Have you found Zhu Qiushui's hideout?"

"Still investigating."

Just as he said this, Captain Shi walked over.

"Secretary Lu, Zhu Qiushui is on Hong Kong Island!"

"She left?" Lu Zhizhong pinched his brow.

This was the last thing he wanted to see.

As long as the person is still in the country, there's a chance of finding them, no matter where they hide.

But once they're out of the country, it's tough.

"Continue to investigate Ruan Baoyou!"

These two people are currently their only breakthrough points.

If they can capture them, Liang Jianfeng is confident he can pry open their mouths!

They're not arresting Secretary Lu now because they don't have substantial evidence.

Ruan Baoyou and Zhu Qiushui helped Secretary Lu handle such matters; they must be the closest of confidants.

In their possession, they undoubtedly hold evidence of Secretary Lu's criminal activities.

Now, all they can do is pray.

Pray that Ruan Baoyou is still in the country.

There's not much Song Guanchao can do, like Liang Jianfeng, he can only wait, and wait he must.

Lu Zhizhong had posed Lingjiang with an almost unsolvable problem.

They couldn't openly report the matter to the provincial authorities, because the province might not be their guardian and could instead become a devouring tiger.

They couldn't directly apprehend Lu Zhizhong because he hadn't committed a crime.

On the surface, none of this was related to Lu Zhizhong in any way.

It was a man named Ruan Baoyou who was involved.

No direct evidence could prove that it was Lu Zhizhong who instructed Ruan Baoyou.

Even if there was evidence, it would be useless.

Lu Zhizhong could deny it.

Even producing evidence that directly proved Lu Zhizhong instructed Ruan Baoyou to negotiate with these companies would be futile.

Because the issue isn't whether Lu Zhizhong did it or not.

The issue is they can't solve this matter through legal or regulatory means.

Their only option is to find a connection between Lu Zhizhong and Director Yang's death.

They could only use the murder case to influence Lu Zhizhong.

Using evidence from the murder as leverage to negotiate with him.

To have him cancel the investment contracts these companies signed.

This is the only way.

They don't have much time.

Today is January 4th, and there's only one month left until February 5th.

They must race against the clock.

In the blink of an eye, the time came to Friday.

During this period, Jiang Yuan and others successively contacted those companies, meeting with them to explain Lu Zhizhong's plan.

Jiang Yuan and others promised to terminate the investment contracts before the contract deadline.

On Friday afternoon, the police finally received the first good news.

Ruan Baoyou was captured!

He had a residence in Lingjiang, and the police staked it out 24/7, catching him today without any difficulty.

Initially, Ruan Baoyou was a bit flustered but quickly calmed down.

In the interrogation room, he remained composed and cooperated with the questioning.

When asked if he had contacted over a hundred companies in Lingjiang, he directly admitted that he had.

When asked about the purpose of the contact, he candidly said that the chairmen of those companies approached him to help introduce suitable cities for investment.

He spoke without reservation.

After all, what he did wasn't criminal.

However, when asked about matters related to Director Yang, he appeared shocked and claimed complete ignorance.

Liang Jianfeng shook his head while watching the surveillance: "Nothing can be extracted."

This Ruan Baoyou had a strong mental fortitude and a clear understanding of the law.

Without evidence to definitively prove his crime within 24 hours, he would have to be released.

Ruan Baoyou obviously knew this too.

He's just dragging it out now.

Song Guanchao watched the screen, resting his chin on his hand, and said, "Release him after the interrogation."

Liang Jianfeng had a bad feeling: "What are you planning?"

Song Guanchao grinned grimly: "Regular interrogation is meaningless; to get him to talk, we need a different approach."

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