Chapter 311: In the Name of Counter-Revolution (Part 1)

Faced with Luo Wei's determination, Zhou Ming truly didn't know what to say. Zhou Ming was indeed skilled in strategy and adaptability, but those were tactics meant for dealing with opponents. If Luo Wei were an opponent, whether he was a general or a deputy secretary of a provincial party committee, Zhou Ming would have ways to handle him, even if it meant causing a serious political incident. But now, Zhou Ming was dealing with someone who was genuinely grateful to him. Zhou Ming was at a loss because, after all, when you help someone, you can't prevent them from thanking you, right? Even though the gratitude from the other party was a bit too heavy.

Of course, from another perspective, Zhou Ming could understand Luo Wei. It's often said that the greatest hatred one can bear is for the murder of a father or the seizure of a wife. Now, Luo Wei's wife had been humiliated in such a way, and his child had been aborted. The hatred in his heart was understandable.

If it were just hatred, it could be resolved once avenged. But the problem with Luo Wei was that he didn't have the power to take revenge on his own, which left him feeling hopeless. Knowing that his wife was being humiliated but being powerless to do anything about it was the kind of internal torment that could drive a person mad.

At the brink of this despair, Zhou Ming not only stepped in to rescue his wife but also called in the army to label Gao Ming and his people as counter-revolutionaries. For Liyavina, this was a kind of rebirth, but wasn't it the same for Luo Wei?

What Zhou Ming didn't know was that when Luo Wei initially sought him out, it was more of a desperate move. Before that, Luo Wei had tried countless other ways, but no one in the relevant departments of Jinning City or the Engineering Bureau was willing to help. That's when he thought of Zhou Ming, a person he'd heard was different from everyone else—a unique figure.

So, in utter desperation, Luo Wei clung to his last hope and came to Zhou Ming.

Originally, Luo Wei thought that if Zhou Ming didn't help him, he would find a way to perish together with those bastards from Jinning Company. But to his surprise, Zhou Ming agreed without hesitation and actually followed through.

Everything that happened felt like a dream to Luo Wei, even though it was precisely what he had been hoping for. Especially when Zhou Ming personally told him that people like Gao Ming were unforgivable, Luo Wei was moved to tears.

At that moment, in Luo Wei's eyes, Zhou Ming's figure was so grand. Luo Wei didn't know what kind of person Zhou Ming really was, but to his family, Zhou Ming was the savior who had pulled them out of hell!

Seeing Luo Wei's determination, Zhou Ming suddenly felt a bit too much like a schemer. When he had decided to help Luo Wei, it wasn't just out of pure altruism—there was another motive at play.

In the end, Zhou Ming sighed, smiled, and extended his hand to Luo Wei: "Alright, everything in this world happens for a reason. If you hadn't believed in me and come to find me, there wouldn't be this outcome now. So, there's really no need to thank me."

Luo Wei and Liyavina looked up at Zhou Ming in a daze. For some reason, they felt that Zhou Ming had a special charm. If Zhou Ming was a heroic figure just now, at this moment, he seemed more like a saint to be revered. They found themselves unable to resist his words.

Under this impression, Luo Wei, who had been stubborn earlier, now stood up with Liyavina. Luo Wei even reproached himself, saying, "I'm sorry, Boss Zhou. I know you're helping us out of your noble character. Any thanks from me would lower your moral standing. I was really foolish."

Faced with Luo Wei's self-reproach, it was Zhou Ming's turn to be stunned. He never expected Luo Wei to think this way, essentially putting Zhou Ming on a pedestal like a saint. But Zhou Ming knew he was just a businessman who acted in his own interests.

Ah! Why is it that when others are seen as great men, they are delighted, but when it's my turn, it's so difficult? People really shouldn't compare themselves!

Zhou Ming sighed inwardly. Since Luo Wei was so sincere, trying to explain things further might only make him seem even greater, so Zhou Ming reluctantly accepted it.

At this moment, Zhou Ming's phone rang. He picked it up and answered, hearing Cao Jianning's hearty laughter on the other end: "So, Consultant Zhou, no unexpected issues over there, right?"

"No, everything went smoothly, thanks to the troops you arranged, Cao. Without them, I might have been labeled a violent kidnapper by tomorrow," Zhou Ming replied.

Du Peng, hearing that it was Cao Jianning on the phone, also came over and said into the receiver, "Cao, you have no idea how arrogant the Jinning Company and the police here were. They came in without a word and immediately started making accusations, completely ignoring the rampant misconduct of the Jinning Company. Now I understand how things in Jinning City got so out of hand—it's rotten to the core from top to bottom!"

"Stop spouting nonsense," Zhou Ming said, pushing Du Peng aside before asking Cao Jianning, "But there's one more thing, Cao. How's the situation with the Jinning counter-revolutionary group?"

Labeling the Jinning Company as a counter-revolutionary group was something Zhou Ming had planned from the start. In fact, when Zhou Ming decided to help Luo Wei seek justice, he had already made this decision because he knew that simply relying on legal measures and administrative power wouldn't be enough to take down the Jinning Company and the high-ranking officials backing it. This was made very clear the last time the Provincial Public Security Bureau's investigation team came down.

Since relying on the police was out of the question, Zhou Ming had to resort to extraordinary measures. Mobilizing the military and causing a military-civilian conflict was unwise.

Unauthorized movement of troops is a serious matter in any country, especially in the inland regions. This is the People's Army, under the command of the Party, and can't be mobilized at will. If a military-civilian conflict did occur, no matter the outcome, it would be a pyrrhic victory. Zhou Ming, having the rare opportunity to be reborn with a bright future ahead of him, was unwilling to risk his life for these bastards.

Since it couldn't be a military-civilian conflict, there had to be a legitimate reason for moving the troops. Sorry, Jinning Company, but you'll have to be labeled a counter-revolutionary group.

As the saying goes, better you die than me. Besides, the people at Jinning Company weren't comrades; they were a bunch of thugs oppressing the market. Who knows how many people like Luo Wei and Liyavina had been bullied and humiliated by them? If Zhou Ming didn't throw all the blame on them, he would feel sorry for the suffering masses who had been oppressed by Jinning's underworld forces.

"Don't worry about it. The military district reported the matter early on. By now, it should have reached your province," Cao Jianning said.

As if to confirm this, just as Cao Jianning finished speaking, a soldier rushed in and saluted Major Lin, reporting, "Sir! The Secretary and Mayor of Jinning City are outside requesting to see the Battalion Commander."

Major Lin didn't respond but looked toward Zhou Ming and Du Peng. He knew very well who was in charge here.

Before Zhou Ming could speak, his pager buzzed. Zhou Ming checked it and saw a series of messages, all from Provincial Secretary Jiang Wen and Governor Xiong Qingping, and all about the Jinning counter-revolutionary group. Clearly, they suspected Zhou Ming was involved.

Zhou Ming smiled, gesturing to Major Lin to stay calm, then said to Cao Jianning, "As expected, Cao, the news has indeed spread. Now, the top officials in Jinning City and Jingchu Province are all stirred up because of the counter-revolutionary group. The Secretary of Jinning City is at the door, and both the Provincial Secretary and the Governor are frantically paging me."

"It seems Jingchu Province truly lives up to its reputation as a revolutionary stronghold. The political vigilance of these officials is indeed high. They quickly suspected you, even though the military district didn't mention your name in the report," Cao Jianning said.

"When did the military district report this?" Zhou Ming asked curiously.

"Early this morning, at the same time the troops under Major Lin set out," Cao Jianning replied.

"I see. Then it's not just the leaders' awareness that's high. I had previously approached Governor Xiong about the Jinning Company issue, and when it wasn't resolved, and then a counter-revolutionary group suddenly appeared in Jinning, it's not surprising he figured out that I was behind it," Zhou Ming said.

Cao Jianning thought for a moment and asked Zhou Ming, "So what do you plan to do now?"

Zhou Ming could hear the seriousness in Cao Jianning's voice, so he answered earnestly, "From the moment this started, there was no turning back. Cao, we can only keep moving forward."

"I understand. Consultant Zhou, take care of yourself," Cao Jianning said.

"Come on, Cao. Where's your fighting spirit? We're not just getting by; we're the vanguard of the revolution, fighting counter-revolutionaries. As the son of Marshal Cao, you should show some revolutionary zeal!" Zhou Ming said.

"Consultant Zhou, now I see clearly—you don't just want to help, you're stirring up trouble for the sake of it."

With that, Cao Jianning hung up, and shortly after, Zhou Ming's phone rang again. Zhou Ming didn't need to guess who was calling, so he simply turned off his phone. Then he turned to Du Peng and Luo Wei and said, "Alright, comrades, this is our final battle against the counter-revolutionaries. Let's go out and meet the challenge, and greet the officials of Jinning City!"

Luo Wei and Major Lin couldn't help but smile wryly at Zhou Ming's joke. At a time like this, only Zhou Ming could still crack jokes.