First Grasp of Power (2)

Zhao Chen took in everyone's reactions. He looked at Chen Qiming, nodded, and showed no surprise—only grave approval.

Then he turned to Lin Wanqing and the other directors, his voice suddenly becoming cold and penetrating:

"Two Hundred Thirty-Seven Million, illegally occupying funds from a listed company—this is a serious violation of laws and regulations!"

His gaze was sharp as he swept it across the room:

"Henglong Group is a listed company. It belongs to all shareholders, not to any individual!

I can temporarily refrain from pursuing enforcement liability for what happened in the past, but the money must be found and used to fill this hole immediately!"

He paused, his tone easing but becoming even more oppressive:

"Finance Department, Director Lin, I'll give you time, but time waits for no one.

If this matter cannot be properly resolved in the short term, then for the company's compliant survival and the interests of all shareholders, I will have no choice but to request that the regulatory authorities intervene and investigate, while reserving the right to pursue the legal liability of those responsible."

"The company," he emphasized at last, "will absolutely not allow anything that damages its very foundation to happen again!"

His words were stern and righteous, striking the mountain to frighten the tiger.

Lin Wanqing's face alternated between red and white, her fingers clenched tightly into fists beneath the table.

Of course, she understood Zhao Chen's unspoken meaning:

Either they quickly took money out of another pocket to cover the loss themselves, or they could all wait to go down together.

Just when everyone thought Zhao Chen had achieved his objective and was about to adjourn the meeting, he lightly tapped the polished tabletop twice with his fingers and turned his gaze toward Zhou Zhengping, the Legal Director seated diagonally opposite Lin Wanqing, who had been trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible.

"Director Zhou," Zhao Chen's voice returned to calm, though it carried an unquestionable scrutiny, "the transfer of Two Hundred Thirty-Seven Million mentioned by Deputy Director Chen just now involved the non-operating occupation of listed company funds. Its nature clearly violated the relevant provisions of the Corporate Governance Code and the Securities Law."

"As the Group Company's Legal Director, responsible for contract review, compliance monitoring, and risk prevention, did the Legal Department issue any legal opinion before or after this transfer? Did it warn the Board of Directors or the board of supervisors about the relevant risks?"

Zhou Zhengping had not expected the spearhead to suddenly turn on him. Fine sweat instantly beaded on his forehead.

He instinctively glanced at Lin Wanqing before stammering out an answer:

"Zhao... Zhao Zong, the circumstances were urgent at the time. It was... it was Chairman Zhao's direct instruction, and we used a special emergency procedure. The Legal Department... mainly cooperated in completing the paperwork and ensuring the procedures appeared complete... As for risk warnings, they may... may have been delayed."

"Delayed?" Zhao Chen raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone suddenly turning harsh. "It wasn't delayed. It was completely absent! Until the truth came to light, the Legal Department never issued any formal risk warning! This was serious dereliction of duty!"

He no longer looked at Zhou Zhengping. Instead, he faced the entire Board of Directors, his tone grave and resolute:

"Directors, such a massive financial lapse naturally involved operational problems, but the failure of legal oversight was the collapse of our institutional defenses!"

"A legal department that cannot safeguard the company's legal bottom line or warn the Board of Directors of major risks is like a leaking lookout post on a ship. Keep it, and the next thing awaiting us may be running aground and sinking!"

He paused, his sharp gaze sweeping over Lin Wanqing:

"Director Lin, you oversee finance and work closely with the Legal Department.

What do you believe should be done regarding the Legal Department's serious professional negligence and failure to perform its duties in this incident?"

In an instant, the pressure shifted to Lin Wanqing.

Inside, she cursed Zhao Chen for his ruthlessness.

Though Zhou Zhengping was not her absolute confidant, he was someone she could influence and who would not trip her up during critical procedures.

Zhao Chen was using the financial issue as a pretext to cut away an important compliance "lubricant" at her side.

Protect Zhou Zhengping? That would mean admitting that she approved of the Legal Department's "cooperation" with the special operation, perhaps even vouching for him. The fire would spread to her.

Zhao Chen had been worrying over how to find grounds to hold her personally accountable.

Refuse to protect him? Then she would be forced to watch Zhao Chen cleanly seize control of the crucial Legal Department at his very first Board of Directors meeting.

In a flash, Lin Wanqing made her choice. She abandoned the chariot to save the king.

A trace of grief and helplessness appeared on her face, as though she had undergone a difficult deliberation:

"Chairman Zhao is right to criticize us. The Legal Department did indeed fail in its oversight responsibilities in this matter. Director Zhou... cannot escape blame.

In order to enforce discipline and rebuild an effective internal oversight system, I agree... that the person in charge of the Legal Department should be replaced."

Zhou Zhengping's face instantly turned deathly pale. He looked at Lin Wanqing in disbelief, his lips trembling, but he could not utter a single word.

"Good." Zhao Chen wanted exactly those words. He immediately continued, giving no one time to react or mediate. "In that case, I propose that Mr. Zhou Zhengping be immediately removed from his position as the Group Company's Legal Director."

He looked toward Zhang Qingxue, who gave a slight nod.

"At the same time,"

Zhao Chen's voice was clear and forceful as he unleashed his true killing move,