Chapter 124 - 101: Looting a Burning House

Chapter 124: Chapter 101: Looting a Burning House

After Lu Huaiqian returned to the city, he changed out of his uniform and took a moment to compose himself.

He then called Secretary Hu—now Minister Hu.

At that moment, Minister Hu was in his new office at the Public Security Command, looking at a map of Xin City.

He used the pen in his hand to draw a circle over the three counties, a circle that represented the territory of Xin City.

It was also the extent of his authority’s reach.

And at that very moment, the telephone rang inopportunely.

Minister Hu picked up the phone to the sound of Lu Huaiqian’s urgent voice: "Minister Hu, Minister Zhou was ambushed and killed fifteen li from Yin Mountain County."

SNAP!

A faint snap came from Minister Hu’s end of the line.

It was the sound of his pen snapping in two.

However, unlike a county magistrate, Minister Hu did not react immediately or state his position.

After a long pause, Minister Hu finally spoke.

"The Bai Family did this."

His voice was not loud, yet every word was crystal clear.

"The Bai Family is the power behind the Li Family.

In the entire province, only they have such audacity. And only they could have pulled it off so cleanly, leaving no trace behind."

Although Lu Huaiqian had already suspected as much, hearing Minister Hu say the name "Bai Family" aloud still sent an involuntary chill crawling up his spine.

"Commander Bai of the Defense Command?

He... How could he be the one backing the Li Family?"

Lu Huaiqian’s reaction was exactly what Minister Hu had expected.

After all, even he had not expected that the true power behind the Li Family was the Bai Family.

The Bai Family had been incredibly secretive this time.

They hadn’t left a single clue.

They had managed to keep everyone in the dark.

But now, the Bai Family had made their move.

Whether he was willing or not, he had to meet their challenge.

The Bai Family had waited until the Li Family was completely carved up before making a move. Their ambitions were clearly immense.

How could the Xiaoshan Li Family alone possibly satisfy the Bai Family’s appetite?

They likely wanted much more.

Perhaps it was the foundation of his Hu Family, or perhaps it was control over all of Xin City.

Or perhaps... it was everything.

While Lu Huaiqian was still reeling from the shock, several thoughts had already raced through Minister Hu’s mind, and a contingency plan quickly took shape.

He sat up straight, the motion causing his chair to creak softly.

His tone shifted, becoming composed and imbued with an unquestionable resolve.

"Huaiqian, Zhou Renli is dead, but the Xin City Public Security Bureau cannot be allowed to fall.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

I will immediately issue an order appointing you as the acting Minister of the Xin City Public Security Bureau, effective immediately."

Lu Huaiqian fell silent upon hearing this.

The only sound in the study was once again the ticking of the clock, which seemed exceptionally loud in the silence.

After a moment, Lu Huaiqian finally spoke.

"Minister Hu, it’s not that I wish to shirk my duties.

It’s just... the Bai Family is far too powerful. The Lu Family is no match for them.

I fear I am unequal to this task.

If I accept, I fear I will only end up jeopardizing your plans."

Hearing his refusal, Minister Hu began to speak more quickly.

He leaned forward slightly, his urgency palpable.

"Huaiqian, listen to me.

The reason the Bai Family chose to ambush him on the road is precisely because Zhou Renli had not yet arrived at Yin Mountain.

He hadn’t officially taken up the seal of office, so strictly speaking, he couldn’t be considered an official who had formally assumed his post.

This creates a gray area that can be exploited."

Minister Hu’s tone shifted.

"But you are different! You are right here in Yin Mountain. Once my Appointment Letter is issued,

you can hang the plaque at the Yin Mountain County Magistrate’s Office, and you will be the new minister of Xin City, officially appointed by the Provincial Government, with all procedures complete!

No matter how arrogant that man Bai is, he would not dare to openly move against an officially appointed minister.

Assassinate a formally appointed minister?

The Bai Family doesn’t have the guts for that!

At least, not openly! They would never dare!"

After a pause, Minister Hu added:

"Besides, do you think the Hu Family is the only one with a stake in a prize as lucrative as Xin City?

How many pairs of eyes in the Provincial Government are watching? How many people want to reach in for a slice of the pie?

The interests involved are a tangled web. If the Bai Family wants to swallow it all, they’d better think twice about whether they’re willing to incur the wrath of all the other players!"

The previous assurance that they wouldn’t dare kill an appointed official was, to Lu Huaiqian, a promise as fleeting as the wind—utterly unbelievable.

What truly swayed him were the last few sentences.

The interests at stake in Xin City were far-reaching.

If the Bai Family made a move against him, an officially appointed minister,

it would shatter a certain tacit understanding and threaten too many other people’s slice of the pie.

That—that was the real Shield that could offer him temporary protection.

Another long pause followed, as though Lu Huaiqian were carefully weighing his options. After a moment, he spoke again:

"Minister Hu, in that case...

I, Lu Huaiqian, can provisionally accept this position of acting minister.

I will do it to share your burdens, Minister, and to forge a path of survival for the Lu Family.

However—"

Lu Huaiqian’s tone shifted, becoming firm and resolute.

He slowed his pace, ensuring every word was clearly audible.

"I have a few conditions, which I must state clearly now.

First, I need to expand the manpower of the Public Security Bureau immediately.

Furthermore, our equipment must be upgraded and fully supplied.

In the current situation, I can’t feel secure without men and guns in my hands."

Minister Hu knew this was blatant extortion, taking advantage of the crisis.

But at this moment, he desperately needed a Shield to put out front, someone to draw the Bai Family’s initial salvo.

This would buy him time to marshal his forces and prepare a response.

Facing the well-prepared and more powerful Bai Family in a hasty confrontation was a recipe for certain defeat.

"Done!"

Minister Hu barely hesitated, his voice as sharp and decisive as a blade’s cut.

"The Appointment Letter, the authorization for expansion, and the papers for weapons allocation—I will issue the orders for all of them at once and have them prioritized.

You can requisition whatever you need from the Provincial Government’s armory.

Also..."

He paused for a moment, then lowered his voice.

"To prevent the Bai Family from causing trouble—skimming from the shipments or even intercepting them outright...