diskusbooks Chapter 151 Impersonating a National Security Officer
Chapter 151 Impersonating a National Security Officer
Liu Duoli walked into the residential area carrying his briefcase, his face beaming with pride. He would receive a million yuan after the smuggling operation was successful.
Suddenly, Qi Tongwei darted out from behind the tree, with Zhang Zheng and Zhao Donglai blocking his path. The sight of the three unfamiliar faces startled Liu Duoli.
Qi Tongwei produced his identification, his expression serious. "Comrade Liu Duoli, we are from the National Security Bureau. We need your assistance in an investigation. We appreciate your cooperation."
Guoan, Liu Duoli breathed a sigh of relief. He had thought it was the Discipline Inspection Commission, but then his scalp tingled with fear. He hadn't betrayed the country.
"Comrades, are you sure you haven't made a mistake?"
"Comrade Liu Duoli, don't be nervous. We just need your assistance with the investigation. Let's go."
Qi Tongwei was very serious, giving off an unquestionable domineering aura.
Immediately, Zhang Zheng and Zhao Donglai stepped forward, and Qi Tongwei deliberately lifted the corner of his clothes to reveal the gun at his waist.
Liu Duoli swallowed nervously, and upon seeing the gun, he abandoned any thought of resistance.
"Comrade, I'll go with you, but could you let me go home and tell my wife?"
"Comrade Liu Duoli, please face reality and don't force us to take action against you."
Qi Tongwei stared at Liu Duoli with murderous intent in his eyes, and Liu Duoli quickly backed down.
"Yes, comrade, I'll go with you right away."
Liu Duoli had no choice but to obediently follow Qi Tongwei, while Zhang Zheng and Zhao Donglai stared intently at Liu Duoli from the left and right.
As he approached the main gate, two security guards stood watch. Liu Duoli felt an urge to break free, as he was unsure whether they were actually from the National Security Bureau.
Qi Tongwei seemed to see right through Liu Duoli's thoughts. He suddenly stopped and turned around, saying, "Comrade Liu Duoli, if you cooperate well, you can go home tomorrow morning. If you have any other ideas, you can forget about going home for the rest of your life."
This blatant threat sent a chill down Liu Duoli's spine. The National Security Bureau, a mysterious department, was said to have the power to act first and report later, because national security was above all else.
"Comrade, I will definitely cooperate fully, I will definitely cooperate fully."
Liu Duoli dared not gamble, in case something was wrong and it turned into a big deal, and he also dared not confront the National Security Bureau head-on.
The two security guards were very curious. Qi Tongwei, dressed in a suit and with an imposing presence that made them feel uneasy. They could only watch the four of them leave.
Liu Duoli followed Qi Tongwei into the back seat, Zhang Zheng sat in the passenger seat, and Zhao Donglai stepped on the gas and disappeared into the night.
"Comrade, where are we going?"
Liu Duoli's heart was beating faster and faster; she had a feeling that something bad was about to happen.
Qi Tongwei glanced at Liu Duoli and said, "It's not something you should know about National Security matters. Don't ask questions."
"Yes, yes, comrade, I shouldn't have asked."
Zhang Zheng looked outside, and Zhao Donglai almost couldn't help but laugh, so he stepped on the gas pedal hard.
Qi Tongwei is still so good at making things up; when you're out in the world, you have to give yourself an identity.
Soon after, Qi Tongwei took Liu Duoli to a hotel, where Tang Guozhong and Tian Xiaobing had been waiting for a long time.
Liu Duoli was stunned when he saw Tang Guozhong and Tian Xiaobing. "Officers, we seem to have met before."
"Director Liu, we have indeed met."
Tang Guozhong gave an affirmative answer, and Liu Duoli immediately remembered, his mood instantly plummeting to an icy abyss.
Tian Xiaobing brought over a chair. "Director Liu, sit down and let's talk slowly."
Liu Duoli's hands trembled with nervousness. The fact that the National Security Bureau and the Police Bureau were jointly investigating smuggling meant the problem was quite serious; he could lose his head. For now, he could only stubbornly deny it.
Qi Tongwei took out a stack of photos. "Director Liu, take a look at these photos."
The photos show Liu Duoli's wife driving a Santana, and also include photos of her shopping at a mall carrying an LV bag.
Liu Duoli immediately felt guilty, and his forehead broke out in a cold sweat from fear, so he deliberately kept silent.
"Comrade, this is my wife. What did she do wrong?"
Qi Tongwei patted Liu Duoli on the shoulder, "Director Liu, we're all smart people, don't play dumb. Your wife's car and LV bag cost at least 200,000 yuan in total, which you simply can't afford with your salary."
"We have sufficient evidence of Cathay Trading's smuggling activities. The next shipment will arrive tomorrow night. Now is your best chance to atone for your crimes."
Upon hearing this, everyone held their breath, and the room became eerily quiet; a pin dropping on the floor would have been enough to cause an earthquake.
Qi Tongwei is gambling. If he wins, everyone is happy; if he loses, he'll slink away in disgrace.
Liu Duoli was covered in sweat. Even without handcuffs or shackles, he felt as if he weighed a ton. The room was more suffocating than the interrogation room in the police station.
"Comrade, I'm just a lowly director; I truly didn't know anything about the smuggling."
Qi Tongwei then produced a photo of Liu Duoli and Yuan Gang meeting at a restaurant.
"Director Liu, you should be very familiar with the person in the photo. You know how much benefit Yuan Gang gave you. Confess and you'll be treated leniently; resist and you'll be punished severely. I'm saving your life now. After tomorrow night, everything will be settled. As a frontline customs officer, you've smuggled a huge amount of money, causing enormous economic losses to the country. It's absolutely a capital offense; even being shot would be too lenient."
Hearing the words "death penalty, execution by firing squad" from the mouth of a national security officer filled Liu Duoli with a fear of going to the execution ground.
He never imagined that smuggling could be punishable by death; he thought that even if he were caught, he would at most be an accomplice.
Yuan Gang gave so much that Liu Duoli felt he would be letting down his ancestors if he didn't take it.
"Comrade, I know Mr. Yuan, but we're just ordinary friends."
Despite her struggle, Liu Duoli couldn't admit defeat. Losing meant losing for the rest of her life and ruining her entire family.
Qi Tongwei dragged a chair over and sat down in front of Liu Duoli. "Liu Duoli, you're a smart man, how come you're making a fuss now? You think smuggling is just a simple economic loss? You're so wrong. Customs is the first line of defense for the country. If everything could be smuggled in, wouldn't the American imperialists be able to create some viruses and release them, wiping us out? Now you know why the National Security Bureau has to get involved, right?"
Tang Guozhong, Tian Xiaobing, Zhang Zheng, and Zhao Donglai watched quietly as Qi Tongwei spouted nonsense with a straight face, impersonating a national security officer—he was quite audacious.
Liu Duoli's psychological defenses were crumbling little by little. He dared to embezzle and accept bribes, but he really didn't have the guts to betray national security.
"Comrade, I have not betrayed the country, nor would I dare to cover up smuggling. Please believe me."
"He's really stubborn; he won't give up until he's completely cornered," Qi Tongwei said with a smile, lighting a cigarette. "Director Liu, since you want to struggle a little longer, let's talk about your wife's bags and car."
Liu Duoli truly regretted letting his wife buy the car. "Comrade, the car doesn't belong to my wife; she just borrowed it from a friend."
"Director Liu, we've already checked. The car is registered in your wife's name. Are you still going to say she registered it for a friend?"
Qi Tongwei's face was full of sarcasm and nonchalance, leaving Liu Duoli with no choice but to admit it.
"Comrade, the car was indeed registered by my wife for a friend."