Recaps

On New Year's Day, Zhou Quan visited Old Master Zhou with modest gifts and shared news of his promotion to the Police Force's commissioned ranks. The two bonded over family, hometown food, and Zhou Quan's future, while Zhou Quan learned more about the bodyguard protecting Old Master Zhou.

• Zhou Quan drove alone to the Xinhua News Agency Building to visit Old Master Zhou and brought milk, tea, and pork belly.
• Old Master Zhou welcomed Zhou Quan warmly, admired his thoughtful gifts, and invited him to stay for a hometown-style lunch.
• Zhou Quan told Old Master Zhou that his promotion to the commissioned ranks had been confirmed and would be announced after the holiday.
• Old Master Zhou congratulated Zhou Quan and urged him to serve the people while remembering his family roots.
• Old Master Zhou, Zhou Quan, and the guard prepared and ate two large basins of hometown dishes together.
• Zhou Quan learned that the guard was Xu Zhengyang, an elite operative sent by the motherland's central authorities to protect Old Master Zhou.

At Lee Shu-tong's home, Zhou Quan weighed offers to join the Anti-Narcotics Squad or the Security Department against his elders' advice to build experience in West Kowloon. The family agreed he should become deputy head of West Kowloon's Operations Department and lead its Anti-Triad Department, leaving his future move to Tai Kwun or higher office for later.

• Lee Shu-tong told Zhou Quan that Tsang Heung-wing wanted him in the Anti-Narcotics Squad and Lok Ming-wah valued him for the Security Department.
• Zhou Quan rejected the Anti-Narcotics Squad offer as an unrealistic promise and worried he would remain behind Lau Kit-fai if he joined the Security Department.
• Wong Bing Yiu proposed making Zhou Quan deputy head of West Kowloon's Operations Department and giving him command of the Anti-Triad Department after his appointment was gazetted.
• Lee Man-bun supported Wong Bing Yiu, arguing that Zhou Quan should gain experience across grassroots departments before seeking a senior post or a move to Tai Kwun.
• Lee Man-bun said Zhou Quan would have a place in the structure fostered by the Motherland once his rank was high enough.

On January 3, 1994, Zhou Quan was promoted to Superintendent and appointed deputy head of the West Kowloon Operations Department, becoming a leading figure at West Kowloon Headquarters. During the ceremony, Earth Online granted him the Breaking Bad achievement, giving him unmatched ability to manufacture drugs, which he resolved to treat as a tool for fighting drug crime.

• Commissioner Wong replaced Zhou Quan's epaulettes with crowns, promoting him to Superintendent.
• Sir Mok announced that Zhou Quan had been specially appointed deputy head of the West Kowloon Operations Department.
• Zhou Quan delivered a confident speech pledging to uphold public safety and Hong Kong Island's rule of law.
• Zhou Quan took his place among West Kowloon's senior leadership as its number-five figure.
• Earth Online awarded Zhou Quan the Breaking Bad achievement, granting him the world's highest level of skill in using chemistry to manufacture drugs.
• Zhou Quan considered the ability useful for combating drug crime and accepted the reward without disappointment.

Zhou Quan met with Commissioner Wong and Cheng Chung-yan to present a secret plan to infiltrate Hong Kong Island's Triads. He named the operation Crouching Tiger and sought their support for a crackdown on organized crime.

• After the meeting, Zhou Quan caught up with Cheng Chung-yan and asked to discuss a major move in Commissioner Wong's office.
• Mok Kam-chuen teased Zhou Quan about making a major move, while Zhou kept the plan's details private.
• Commissioner Wong invited Zhou Quan and Cheng Chung-yan into his office to hear what he had in mind.
• Zhou Quan described how foreign authorities had allowed Hong Kong Island's Triads to expand and said he wanted to stamp out organized crime.
• Zhou Quan proposed sending young officers undercover into major gangs to gather evidence and undermine their trust in one another.
• Zhou Quan named the secret operation Crouching Tiger and presented the plan to Commissioner Wong and Cheng Chung-yan.

Zhou Quan proposed Operation Crouching Tiger, a long-term effort to infiltrate Hong Kong Island’s Triads, and secured approval from Wong Bing Yiu and Cheng Chung-yan. He left with full command of the operation and commitments to obtain the legal protection and resources his undercover officers would need.

• Zhou Quan explained that Operation Crouching Tiger would use undercover officers and that he would provide them with substantial support, especially for their material needs.
• Zhou Quan proposed an initial deployment of twenty to fifty newcomers, with staffing adjusted each year as the long-term operation continued.
• Cheng Chung-yan supported the plan, and Wong Bing Yiu officially approved it, placing Zhou Quan in charge and warning him to protect his men.
• Zhou Quan requested immunity-from-prosecution orders for undercover officers involved in criminal activities, and Wong Bing Yiu agreed to provide the Police Force’s approvals.
• Wong Bing Yiu told Zhou Quan to speak with Director Lai at the Department of Justice to secure the required joint authorization.

Zhou Quan celebrated his new authority by promoting three trusted officers and hosting a gathering for the Anti-Triad Unit. He prepared his office for the incoming Deputy Commander, while Chow Sing Sing moved to take over the deputy commander position Zhou Quan had previously held.

• Zhou Quan visited the Anti-Triad Unit and invited its officers to dinner at Bone and Guts.
• Zhou Quan presented promotion boxes to Pang Yik-hang, Chan Chi-kit, and Ying Cheung-sam for their service.
• Zhou Quan told the three newly promoted officers to prepare his office for the arriving Deputy Commander.
• Chow Sing Sing transferred to the Regional Headquarters Anti-Triad Unit to take over Zhou Quan's former Deputy Commander position, while Ghost King Keung prepared to succeed him in Yau Tsim.

Zhou Quan selected and gathered seven promising young officers as the core of Phase One of Operation Crouching Tiger, a plan to infiltrate Hong Kong Island’s gangs. He prepared to brief them and promised strong support and protection for their families as he built his own hidden power base.

• Zhou Quan reviewed West Kowloon personnel and academy records, narrowing his Crouching Tiger candidates to forty-nine young officers and singling out seven.
• Chow Sing Sing told Zhou Quan that the junior officers he had requested were waiting in the small conference room.
• Zhou Quan locked away the officers’ paper files and explained his plans to keep their identities secret, support their families, and expose anyone who betrayed the operation.
• Zhou Quan entered the conference room and recognized the seven officers he had chosen: Cheng Tao, Ye Zhifan, Jing Jinxian, Tan Huanxi, Xue Jiaqiang, Cheung Tak Biu, and Leung Siu-tong.

Zhou Quan explained the purpose of Operation Crouching Tiger to seven young officers and assigned them to carry it out undercover. After reviewing the plan and its protections and rewards, they pledged to serve.

• Zhou Quan welcomed the Crouching Tiger Seven Heroes and explained that Operation Crouching Tiger aimed to frighten young people away from joining Hong Kong Island’s underworld.
• Zhou Quan told the officers that exposed undercover members should reveal their identities immediately and promised to handle any resulting threat.
• Zhou Quan gave the seven officers the operation plan, which Cheng Tao read first and then passed around.
• The Crouching Tiger Seven Heroes reviewed the plan’s pay, promotion prospects, pardon order, and protections for their families.
• The seven officers declared their readiness to serve under Zhou Quan and take on the undercover assignment.

Zhou Quan advanced Operation Crouching Tiger by sending out its first undercover members and spent his day off considering how to establish a lawful foundation to support them and their families. He left the chapter focused on the need to structure the foundation carefully to avoid suspicion from the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

• Zhou Quan used the Political Department's dissolution as cover to transfer the first batch of Crouching Tiger members out of the Police Force and into undercover work.
• On his day off, Zhou Quan watched Guan Zu, Pang Yik-hang, Chan Chi-kit, Ying Cheung-sam, and Zhuang Ziwei practice shooting at West Kowloon Headquarters.
• Zhou Quan considered how to support Crouching Tiger members and their families without raising concerns about unexplained private payments.
• Zhou Quan concluded that a lawful foundation was necessary because direct transfers could prompt the Independent Commission Against Corruption to suspect him of building a corrupt network.
• Zhou Quan recognized that operating the foundation through Hong Kong Island's tax system would distinguish lawful support from illegal payments.

Zhou Quan worried about finding a trustworthy financial expert to lead the foundation he planned to establish. Au Wing-yan recommended her fellow student Guan Youbo, whose record and background made him an ideal candidate.

• Zhou Quan considered using his family dividends to establish a foundation that could invest money and improve benefits for rank-and-file Police Officers.
• Au Wing-yan noticed Zhou Quan was troubled, and he explained that he could not find a suitable, trustworthy person to run the foundation.
• Au Wing-yan offered to recommend a capable fellow student from CUHK with a clean background.
• Au Wing-yan told Zhou Quan that Guan Youbo had excelled in the certificate examinations and was praised by economics professors.
• Zhou Quan recognized Guan Youbo as the future financial talent he had been seeking.

Zhou Quan decided to recruit Guan Youbo, a gifted but impoverished CUHK student, to manage long-term investments for his foundation. After learning more about Guan’s background, Zhou set out with Au Wing-yan to meet him at his weekend café job.

• Zhou Quan explained that Guan Youbo’s investment instincts and long-term outlook made him an ideal person to cultivate for his foundation.
• Au Wing-yan contacted her psychology teacher and learned that Guan worked weekends at a café at Sha Tin Racecourse, while Zhou asked Chow Sing Sing to investigate him.
• Chow Sing Sing brought Zhou Guan’s background: Guan had grown up poor, earned top marks in the 1992 certificate examination, and attended CUHK on a full scholarship.
• Zhou admired Guan for avoiding the triads and succeeding through hard work, then left with Au Wing-yan to meet him.
• Au Wing-yan gave Chow Sing Sing money for lunch, and he thanked her as Zhou told him to include the other officers on duty.

Zhou Quan and Au Wing-yan visited Guan Youbo at his work-study job at a café near Sha Tin Racecourse. After recognizing Zhou Quan as the famed Police Sergeant, Guan Youbo declined an unearned drink but agreed to hear his advice.

• Zhou Quan and Au Wing-yan went to the café near the Sha Tin Jockey Club to meet Guan Youbo.
• Au Wing-yan pointed Guan Youbo out, and Zhou Quan ordered three iced lemon teas and asked the waitress to call him over.
• Guan Youbo brought the drinks outside and was surprised to see Au Wing-yan smiling warmly beside Zhou Quan.
• Zhou Quan offered Guan Youbo an iced lemon tea and asked to chat, but Guan Youbo refused the drink because he had not earned it.
• Guan Youbo recognized Zhou Quan as the renowned Police Sergeant and said he was willing to listen to his advice.

Zhou Quan offered Guan Youbo the chance to lead a foundation supporting rank-and-file police officers, along with financial support and generous future compensation. After weighing his inexperience against the opportunity, Guan Youbo accepted and promised to repay Zhou Quan’s trust.

• Zhou Quan told Guan Youbo that Bella had recommended him to lead a foundation for rank-and-file police officers.
• Guan Youbo initially declined because he believed he lacked the experience to take responsibility for the foundation.
• Zhou Quan offered to cover Guan Youbo’s expenses while he studied, provide a monthly allowance, and give him a well-paid position with a share of the foundation’s investment returns.
• Guan Youbo accepted Zhou Quan’s offer, bowed to him, and pledged to repay his trust.
• Zhou Quan told Guan Youbo to visit West Kowloon Headquarters the next day to discuss a contract.

Zhou Quan established the Zhou Foundation to secure lawful support for the families of Operation Crouching Tiger’s members and continued overseeing the operation as its recruits gained notice in Hong Kong’s underworld. The chapter ended with Interpol asking for his help regarding Malaysian drug lord Kwan Chai-ba, and Zhou Quan questioning why they had come to Hong Kong.

• Guan Youbo built the Zhou Foundation’s basic framework, and Zhou Quan had the foundation formalize benefits for all forty-nine Crouching Tiger members and their families.
• Crouching Tiger recruits attracted the attention of Hong Kong’s criminal societies, whose leaders mistook their arrival for a sign of their own growing strength.
• Zhou Quan let West Kowloon’s units handle ordinary cases until two major matters brought representatives from Xinhua News Agency, the Security Department, Kowloon City’s Operations Department, and Interpol to meet him.
• George told Zhou Quan that Interpol wanted to discuss Malaysian drug lord Kwan Chai-ba, and Zhou Quan asked whether they had evidence to arrest him or whether he planned to enter Hong Kong Island.

Zhou Quan learned that Interpol and the mainland authorities planned to send Chan Ka-kui undercover to help Bao Qiang escape and draw Kwan Chai-ba into Hong Kong Island. He agreed to support the operation, which he believed could lead to the arrests of Ching Wing-si and Kwan Chai-ba.

• George told Zhou Quan that Kwan Chai-ba planned to enter Hong Kong Island and that his wife, Ching Wing-si, had arrived ahead of him.
• George explained that Interpol and mainland authorities would send undercover officers to help Bao Qiang escape, after which Bao Qiang would enter Hong Kong Island.
• Zhou Quan realized that Superintendent Pang intended to assign Chan Ka-kui to the operation and confirmed this with Tung Biu.
• Zhou Quan concluded that Ching Wing-si could be used to lure Kwan Chai-ba into Hong Kong Island because she held the details to his Swiss bank account.
• Zhou Quan promised Deputy Director Ju that he would make arrangements and support the operation.

Zhou Quan agreed to protect Yang Qian’er, the last surviving witness in the murder case tied to Zhao Guomin’s alleged corruption. He arranged to have the case transferred to West Kowloon, putting its investigation and her safety under his control.

• George thanked Zhou Quan for Hong Kong Island police support in the operation against Kwan Chai-ba, then left with the other Interpol officers.
• Deputy Director Ju told Zhou Quan that Liao Jinchao, a key witness against Zhao Guomin, had been murdered and that two of the three eyewitnesses had been silenced.
• Deputy Director Ju explained that the last witness, Yang Qian’er, was Song Shichang’s girlfriend and that Xu Zhengyang had been assigned to protect her.
• Lau Kit-fai asked Zhou Quan to provide officers to protect Yang Qian’er because G4’s capabilities were diminished and her villa was in West Kowloon.
• Zhou Quan proposed transferring the murder case to the West Kowloon Major Crimes Unit and promised to handle Yang Qian’er’s protection.
• Lau Kit-fai agreed to ask Sergeant Lok to arrange the transfer, while Deputy Director Ju expressed his approval.

Zhou Quan organized West Kowloon departments to find Ching Wing-si and strengthen protection for Yang Qian'er. He then assigned Chow Sing Sing to lead a team guarding the eyewitness, without going undercover.

• Zhou Quan took over the work concerning Yang Qian'er after the Clearwater Bay Yacht Club murder case file moved to West Kowloon Operations.
• Zhou Quan ordered So Tsz On and the Major Crimes Unit to find and arrest Ching Wing-si, wife of drug kingpin Kwan Chai-ba.
• Zhou Quan told Chow Sing Sing's Anti-Triad Unit to ask Lam Wai Lok, Kam Tsz Tai, and other triad leaders for leads on Ching Wing-si.
• Zhou Quan ordered Leung Kin Bong to increase armed patrols and keep an emergency response team ready to protect Yang Qian'er.
• After the other officers left, Zhou Quan asked Chow Sing Sing to personally lead a team protecting Yang Qian'er, assuring him he would not need to go undercover.

Zhou Quan assembled an elite team led by Chow Sing Sing to protect Yang Qian'er, whose safety was tied to the politically sensitive Clearwater Bay murder case. He arrived at her villa to take over the security assignment, where Leung Chun-bo wondered who Michelle was to warrant such extensive protection.

• Zhou Quan assigned Chow Sing Sing to lead Yang Qian'er's protection detail, with Pang Yik-hang and three other skilled officers joining the team.
• Zhou Quan told Chan Kwok-wah, Gei Siu-kwan, and Miu Chi-shun that the assignment had political significance and ordered them to manage the unit and monitor Ching Wing-si.
• Chow Sing Sing armed his team with body armor, Glocks, and heavy weapons before joining Zhou Quan in an off-road vehicle.
• Zhou Quan and the armed team arrived at Yang Qian'er's sea-view villa, where Xu Zhengyang was setting up the surveillance system with the G4 VIP Protection Group.
• Leung Chun-bo greeted Zhou Quan and, after seeing the reinforcements, wondered who Michelle was.

Zhou Quan brought an elite squad to Seaview Villa to support Xu Zhengyang’s security operation and met Song Shichang, Yang Qian’er’s fiancé. The men went inside to talk while Xu Zhengyang prepared to coordinate the security work with Chow Sing Sing.

• Xu Zhengyang jumped down from a ladder unharmed and saluted Zhou Quan.
• Zhou Quan introduced Chow Sing Sing and four elite officers, then ordered them to cooperate fully with Xu Zhengyang.
• Xu Zhengyang welcomed the squad and planned to coordinate the security assignment with Chow Sing Sing.
• Song Shichang emerged from the villa with Yang Qian’er and thanked Zhou Quan for personally handling the security matter.
• Zhou Quan and Song Shichang exchanged warm greetings and entered the villa together to talk.

Zhou Quan met with Song Shichang, who offered tea and arranged a lawful donation of two Riot Vans to the West Kowloon District. After accepting the gesture through the proper Internal Affairs channels, Zhou Quan left to return to Headquarters and oversee the operation against Kwan Chai-ba.

• Song Shichang personally served Zhou Quan Pu'er tea and had Mike bring over a folder containing a donation agreement.
• Song Shichang offered two Riot Vans to the West Kowloon District as thanks for its assistance with his personal matter.
• Zhou Quan returned the agreement and asked Song Shichang to discuss the donation with Sir Mok from Internal Affairs.
• Song Shichang agreed to have Mike contact Sir Mok, and he and Zhou Quan grew more familiar as they talked.
• Zhou Quan left for Headquarters and assured Song Shichang that Chow Sing Sing, Xu Zhengyang, and the others would protect Yang Qian'er.

Zhou Quan's interrogation of Ching Wing-si stalled because she had no Hong Kong Island criminal record and expected to be sent back to Malaysia. After learning that the Yi Family had helped conceal her, he ordered a broad crackdown on their Hong Kong Island associates and went to confront her himself.

• Ching Wing-si remained silent during Luo Danian and Zhuo Kai's interrogation, relying on her Malaysian passport and the lack of evidence against her in Hong Kong Island.
• Zhou Quan ordered Luo Danian and Zhuo Kai to take a break and prepared to question Ching Wing-si himself.
• Huang Qifa revealed that Ching Wing-si was related to Yi Tianxing and Yi Tiansi, and that Yi Family clients on Hong Kong Island had helped hide her.
• Zhou Quan ordered the Anti-Triad Unit to raid the associates' businesses and shut them down for at least six months if they interfered.
• Zhou Quan strode toward the interrogation room as So Tsz On and the Major Crimes Unit officers watched him leave.

Zhou Quan confronted Ching Wing-si in the interrogation room and revealed that she controlled nearly all of Kwan Chai-ba’s fortune. He threatened to send her to the mainland unless she cooperated, leaving her to choose between execution and life imprisonment in Stanley.

• Zhou Quan ordered the recording equipment switched off, while So Tsz On cleared most officers from the observation room.
• Zhou Quan dismissed Ching Wing-si’s claims of innocence and confronted her with Kwan Chai-ba’s Swiss bank account and security key.
• Ching Wing-si’s composure faltered, and So Tsz On and the other officers learned that she might control Kwan Chai-ba’s drug money.
• Zhou Quan told Ching Wing-si that a joint operation was underway against Kwan Chai-ba and warned her that the mainland could prosecute her for drug trafficking.
• Zhou Quan offered Ching Wing-si a choice between cooperating and spending life in Stanley or refusing and facing a bullet.

Zhou Quan pressured Ching Wing-si by threatening to expose her arrest and make her bank account irrelevant, forcing her to offer evidence against Kwan Chai-ba and surrender the account key in exchange for avoiding execution. When she began to confess, So Tsz On ordered the Major Crimes Unit officers to cut the audio and seal the observation room.

• Ching Wing-si offered to cooperate with Zhou Quan but withheld useful information and kept the bank account and access key secret.
• Zhou Quan threatened to announce her arrest and use her as bait to destroy Kwan Chai-ba, adding that he did not care about the drug money.
• Ching Wing-si panicked when she realized her account was no longer leverage and offered evidence of Kwan Chai-ba's crimes and the account key in exchange for not being executed.
• So Tsz On ordered the officers to cut the interrogation-room audio, draw the curtain, surrender their communication devices, and watch one another.

Zhou Quan secured Ching Wing-si’s bank account details and arranged for senior officers to conduct a joint interrogation. He then told Commissioner Wong that the anonymous Swiss account held nearly US$1.5 billion and planned to give it to the mainland as a stepping stone for the three of them.

• Zhou Quan returned to the observation room and asked So Tsz On to arrange another interrogation of Ching Wing-si.
• So Tsz On agreed to organize a joint interrogation with the Anti-Triad Unit, and Zhou Quan left him in charge.
• Zhou Quan called Lee Man-bun and told him to meet at Queen's Road East.
• Zhou Quan hurried to Commissioner Wong's office and brought him along to the Xinhua News Agency.
• Zhou Quan told Wong Bing Yiu that Ching Wing-si's anonymous Swiss Bank account held nearly US$1.5 billion and that he intended to hand it over to the mainland.

Zhou Quan brought Wong Bing Yiu and Lee Man-bun to the Xinhua News Agency Building to hand over Ching Wing-si and the nearly US$1.5 billion in Kwan Chai-ba’s Swiss account to the Motherland. After the account details were verified, Old Mr. Zhou acknowledged their service, leaving the three with the Motherland’s support for their contributions.

• Zhou Quan explained that he would hand Ching Wing-si and her Swiss bank account to Old Mr. Zhou so the money would not benefit foreign officials.
• Lee Man-bun agreed that they should meet Old Mr. Zhou immediately, and he, Zhou Quan, and Wong Bing Yiu went to the Xinhua News Agency Building.
• Zhou Quan gave Old Mr. Zhou the account number and password and stated that the account held nearly US$1.5 billion.
• Old Mr. Zhou ordered his security officer and secretary to verify the account and told the three that the Motherland would remember those who rendered meritorious service.
• After about half an hour, the security officer and secretary confirmed that the account details were correct and the money could be withdrawn.