On the afternoon of October 19, four police cars from the Changning Municipal Public Security Bureau entered the provincial capital, Jincheng.
Wu Kunsheng, secretary of the Jincheng City Municipal Party Committee's Political and Legal Affairs Commission and Public Security Director, felt a dull ache in his temples as he read the request for assistance from Changning.
Assist with the arrest? Absolutely not!
He knew perfectly well that Hu Shiyuan, the Southwest's Richest Man, was hosting a private cocktail party at his home that evening, and Zhang Hao was among the invited guests.
But Liu Wenjie, secretary of the Provincial Party Committee's Political and Legal Affairs Commission, would also be attending.
Wu Kunsheng knew very well that Zhang Hao had been able to wield such power in Changning and remain untouchable for over a decade because he had enjoyed the protection of two successive municipal Party leaderships. That included Liu Wenjie, who had since been promoted to secretary of the Provincial Party Committee's Political and Legal Affairs Commission.
He did not have the nerve to arrest someone right in front of Liu Wenjie.
Refuse? That would not be appropriate either.
The request laid out clear facts and sufficient grounds. As the party being asked to assist, they had no reason to refuse.
After weighing it over, he could only instruct Executive Deputy Director Lü Junfeng to take the passive approach: readily agree in words, but keep his men from taking any action.
Yet Deputy Director Min, who led the team, was decidedly uncompromising. He coldly left them with one remark: "We're not asking for much. As fellow bureaus, we only hope you'll provide us with a guide. And one more thing-we beg your bureau not to obstruct our lawful enforcement operations."
Those words had nearly made Lü Junfeng lose face on