Then let them offer their loyalty!

Page 231

To be honest, even she herself felt that the content of this conversation was too important and that she shouldn't have listened to it.

So she kept telling herself: let it go in one ear and out the other. Never try to remember it.

Otherwise, once this secret is leaked, Qiu Tu might pin the blame on me and then use the opportunity to humiliate me.

Unexpectedly, Qiu Tu suddenly asked this question while he was lost in thought.

So for a moment, Tan Huimin felt a little regretful. She wanted to make amends.

Just then, Qiu Tu spoke again.

He watched the elevator doors slowly open, then said calmly to Tan Huimin, "When you meet Director Zheng later, tell him everything you saw and heard."

"Huh?" Tan Huimin's mind was completely unable to keep up with Qiu Tu.

However, Qiu Tu didn't give Tan Huimin much time to react. As soon as the elevator doors opened, he stepped out.

Watching Qiu Tu's retreating figure, Tan Huimin was momentarily stunned.

After a moment, she seemed to snap out of a daze and chased after him...

Upon reaching the ninth floor, Qiu Tu randomly selected a few trusted confidants, then had Tan Huimin take the documents and, together with them, brought Zheng Tao out.

Qiu Tu, the deputy minister, was sitting in the interrogation room, smoking and thinking about his next plan while waiting quietly.

As his position rose and his power increased, he no longer needed to do many things personally.

Sometimes, he only needs to say one sentence, and hundreds or even thousands of his confidants will get things done for him.

Power...isn't that all there is to it? Just like last night when he gave the order, 300 Secret Service agents lay in ambush on the anti-government forces; just like when he said he didn't like something, eligible girls from five prominent families had to get up and come to him for him to choose from.

The cigarette burned silently, carrying Qiu Tu's thoughts. It also gave him a deeper understanding of his path—[Order-Politics]...

Soon, just as Qiu Tu was lost in thought, there was a knock on the door of the interrogation room.

Qiu Tu snapped out of his daze, took a deep drag of his cigarette, and squinted at the doorway.

Ding Xiaoliu walked in and respectfully saluted Qiu Tu, "Minister, Zheng Tao has arrived."

Qiu Tu looked over and saw Zhu Huoyan and Li Xian supporting Zheng Tao on either side, standing at the door, waiting for Qiu Tu's instructions.

Tan Huimin followed behind the three of them, looking at Zheng Tao with a worried expression.

In just two days, Zheng Tao seemed to have lost weight and his spirits seemed to have dropped considerably.

He used to be a capable and strong man, but now he looks old.

Qiu Tu glanced at him twice, then said to Ding Xiaoliu and the others, "Let the suspect sit down."

Upon hearing Qiu Tu's words, Ding Xiaoliu led Zheng Tao to the prisoner's seat, handcuffed him, and then tactfully left the interrogation room.

Soon, only Qiu Tu, Zheng Tao, and Tan Huimin remained in the room.

Qiu Tu glanced at Zheng Tao, then smiled and said, "Director Zheng, I really didn't expect that our identities would have changed so much when we met again."

At this point, Qiu Tu seemed to have just realized something and said with a look of sudden realization, "Oh, that's true. If it weren't for your ex-wife pleading for you, you might not even be qualified to see me."

After saying that, Qiu Tu ignored Zheng Tao's face, which had turned a deep shade of liver red, stood up, patted Tan Huimin's shoulder affectionately, and said, "Alright. Director Zheng, I've already brought it up."

"The rest is up to you."

"Didn't you say he was wronged and had no choice in the matter?"

"Okay, I'll give you a chance. You interrogate him. As long as he confesses his grievances, I guarantee I'll let him go."

After saying that, he left the interrogation room without even looking at Zheng Tao.

With a "click," the iron door closed, shutting out all other sounds from the interrogation room.

Outside the door, Ding Xiaoliu, Zhu Huoyan, and Li Xian glanced furtively into the interrogation room.

Then Li Xian, who was quite familiar with Qiu Tu and had even been through a gunfight with him, came up to him and whispered, "Minister... Secretary Tan seems a bit strange. It's like her attitude towards Director Zheng is very different."

"You didn't see it. Her eyes reddened when she saw Director Zheng. If you didn't know, you'd think they were a couple."

At this point, Li Xian's eyes darted around, and then he added, "Minister, one-on-one interrogation doesn't seem to comply with regulations; it would raise a strong suspicion of collusion."

"So... even if Secretary Tan manages to extract something different from Director Zheng, it's actually invalid."

Li Xian's words were very tactful, but Qiu Tu understood their meaning perfectly.

He chuckled and patted Li Xian on the shoulder, then said, "Don't worry. She won't find anything out."

“If we interrogate him, things might turn around. But if she interrogates him, even if Director Zheng dies, he won’t change his story.”

Upon hearing Qiu Tu's words, Li Xian looked bewildered and uttered a blank "Huh?"

Qiu Tu smiled but didn't say anything. Instead, he waved to the three of them and said, "You guys keep a close eye on them."

"Once Director Zheng comes out, take him back to the detention room."

"I need to go and have a talk with Secretary Bai."

Upon hearing Qiu Tu's order, the three of them quickly saluted and replied decisively, "Yes, sir!"

After extinguishing his cigarette and tossing it into the trash can, Qiu Tu strode toward the detention cell.

The reason he was so certain that Tan Huimin's interrogation and efforts would be fruitless was because there was a huge information gap between him and Tan Huimin.

Tan Huimin has always believed that Zheng Tao framed Qiu Tu because of the instigation of a high-ranking official in the Investigation Department, as well as the old and new grudges between the two.

Therefore, she felt that as long as Zheng Tao implicated that high-ranking official, she could escape half of her charges. At least she wouldn't be killed by Qiu Tu.

As for whether he will be dealt with by that higher-up—he can't even save his own life now, he'll just live a few more days if he can!

At worst, after being released, the two could simply leave the New Territories and head to disaster zones or areas controlled by anti-government forces.

It's better than staying in the New Territories and waiting to die.

What she didn't know was... Zheng Tao was indeed acting on Secretary Bai's orders to oppose Qiu Tu. But the one who truly ordered him was actually the evil god La Ri Luo.

Zheng Tao knew about this, Secretary Bai knew, and Qiu Tu knew. Only Tan Huimin didn't know.

Colluding with evil gods is a capital offense. Therefore, there is no way to overturn Zheng Tao's case.

As long as Qiu Tu doesn't let Zheng Tao go, Tan Huimin won't be able to turn the tide no matter how hard she tries.

Furthermore, Zheng Tao's loyalty to La Riluo is most likely related to Tan Huimin, and there is a huge secret hidden between the two.

Therefore, it was even less likely that Zheng Tao would reveal the matter of the evil god to Tan Huimin.

Therefore, Qiu Tu allowed Tan Huimin to carry out the operation: only by having Zheng Tao personally reject her time and time again would she truly give up and despair.

Of course, Qiu Tu's purpose wasn't simply to torture this beautiful young woman. He had another reason for having Tan Huimin interrogate Zheng Tao—to leak intelligence.

Last night, Qiu Tu obtained several important clues from his communication with La Riluo.

First, Lariluo can still protect herself for now, and she won't be devoured by Yanchen anytime soon.

Second, Yama did not cut off Larilu's methods of contacting the outside world.

Third, and most importantly, the key followers that Lariro could contact are most likely either dead or captured.

That's why she took the risk, brainwashed herself, and tried to send a message to the great evil god "Zhao Ji" for help.

Lariluo then revealed to Qiu Tu that she could possess believers and see and hear what they saw and heard. (Chapter 257)

So... Qiu Tu made a bold guess. Right now, she can most likely only obtain information by possessing Zheng Tao or Secretary Bai.

If her possession of others to obtain information was a lie to Qiu Tu, then she most likely only has "entering dreams" as a way to obtain and transmit information to the outside world, besides the ancient coins.

With Secretary Bai already betrayed her, the only person she could "enter into her dream" to obtain information from was Zheng Tao.

In Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei's division of labor plan.

Tang Feifei was in charge of infiltrating the Investigation Bureau, while Qiu Tu was responsible for stalling Yan Chen and thwarting Yan Chen's plans as the vice-speaker.

Qiu Tu's first step in his plan was to contact Liu Xiongyuan and cooperate with him.

The second step is to contact Lariluo, find out her trump card, and understand her current situation with Yan Chen.

The third step is to give Larilu hope so that she can persevere; then strike at Yanchen to shake his resolve.

What could be more likely to distract Yan Chen than... Qiu Tu and Tang Feifei cooperating with the Five Elders to gradually erode Yan Chen's power?

What could be more reassuring for La Riluo than... Qiu Tu working hard to fulfill his promise to her?

Therefore, Qiu Tu planned to pass on all this information, both true and false, through Tan Huimin and Zheng Tao, to the two people who were devouring and being devoured, in order to influence their minds.

Qiu Tu felt that if he was lucky, he might be able to make both of his enemies suffer heavy losses.

Moreover, there is another important point: once Yan Chen comes out and learns that it was Zheng Tao who provided the information to La Riluo, given his vengeful nature, will he let Zheng Tao go?

They'll definitely kill Zheng Tao immediately, right?

Then... all Qiu Tu needs to do in front of Tan Huimin is play the good guy and comfort her, right?

This is called using someone else to do the dirty work, killing multiple birds with one stone.

Thinking this, Qiu Tu hummed a song, preparing to go see Secretary Bai and talk to him about what he had "done" for La Riluo, hoping to put La Riluo's mind at ease.

While I'm at it, I'll also try to find out some information about Yan Chen and La Riluo from Secretary Bai. I'll see if there's anything else I can use.

At that moment, just as Qiu Tu stepped into the guard room of the Political Department and was about to meet Secretary Bai.

Suddenly, his communicator rang.

Qiu Tu stopped, picked it up and saw that it was a call from Cao Dabiao.

Qiu Tu answered the communicator with a puzzled look, and Cao Dabiao's excited voice came through the communicator.

"Minister! Thank you! Thank you for your recommendation! I've been promoted again!"

Upon hearing Cao Dabiao's words, Qiu Tu glanced at the time in surprise.

It had only been a little over an hour since he left Tang Feifei's office.

As a result, the promotion list was approved?

Qiu Tu sensed something was off...

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Chapter 265 The Old Foxes' Counterattack (10,000 words, please vote!)

Thinking this, Qiu Tu paused slightly.

He didn't continue walking forward, but instead went to the bedside in the corridor and asked, "Da Biao, tell me in detail what happened."

Qiu Tu said, "I did arrange a promotion for you, but it probably won't happen anytime soon."

Cao Dabiao was visibly surprised when he heard Qiu Tu's words.

Then, he realized there might be some things he didn't know. So he gradually suppressed his excited expression and tone, and said, "Brother Tu, I received the notification from HR about half an hour ago."

"The HR department told me that because of your recommendation, they had given me serious consideration and felt that I met the promotion criteria, so they decided to adjust my position."

Cao Dabiao paused for a moment, then continued, "I was a little excited at the time and forgot to confirm with you. So I just let it go."

"After I arrived, I was received by Vice Minister Zhao of the Personnel Department."

"He talked to me about my recent work and praised my achievements over the past year."

"Finally, they said that after the personnel department's evaluation, they decided to promote me to section chief."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Tu's mind raced as he calculated the time.

After a moment, he asked, "Did they tell you which classroom you'll be working in?"

Cao Dabiao said, "The deputy head of the Operations Department, at the section chief level. That is, he took over your previous position."

Upon hearing Cao Dabiao's words, Qiu Tu's expression immediately changed.

His eyes flickered, then he asked in a deep voice, "Has anyone else received similar promotion news?"

Cao Dabiao hesitated for a moment, then said, "Sir, I really don't know... because I called you as soon as I left the personnel department."

At this point, Cao Dabiao paused for a moment, then, as if he had just remembered something, quickly said, "Oh! Right! Brother Tu! I think I saw Lao Ying and the others also arrive at the HR department."

Upon hearing Cao Dabiao's words, Qiu Tu's expression immediately turned extremely gloomy.

He took a few deep breaths before saying, "Da Biao, do you believe me?"

Upon hearing this, Cao Dabiao immediately patted his chest and said, "Brother Tu! I definitely believe you!"