allendalepharm Page 282
Page 282
Li Wenbin sat in his office chair, looking somewhat dazed.
He had just spoken with Li Jun on the phone and learned the good news that he would soon be appointed as the Deputy Commissioner of Police.
But unlike Zhuo Jingquan, Li Wenbin's eyes were filled with fear.
His philosophy, or rather his belief, has always been that the Hong Kong Island Police Force belongs to the Hong Kong Island Police Force.
This statement may sound complicated, but to put it simply, Li Wenbin's belief is to ensure the independence and autonomy of the Hong Kong Island Police Force, free from any interference from external factors.
Now, although the foreigner has been brought down, someone even more terrifying than the foreigner has taken over the police force.
Li Wenbin didn't believe that Li Jun had done all this just to take down the foreigners. He must have his own purpose, just like how he was dividing up the police force's pie like a master.
Li Wenbin believes that, given time, the Hong Kong Island Police Force will transform from a foreign-run Hong Kong Island Police Force into a Li Jun-run Hong Kong Island Police Force.
This is something that Li Wenbin cannot accept no matter what.
Thinking of this, Li Wenbin exhaled a deep breath, and his eyes changed from confusion and fear to determination and focus.
Although Li Jun was very strong, Li Wenbin was still determined to dedicate everything to the independence and autonomy of the police force.
“Li Jun, the police force does not belong to anyone; the police force belongs only to the police force.”
Li Wenbin murmured to himself.
A moment later, Li Wenbin slowly stood up and walked towards the office door.
Next, he will join forces with Li Jun to do one last thing. After that, the two will go their separate ways and become enemies rather than friends.
ten minutes later.
Inside the office of Commissioner of Police Mak Yan-ho.
"Gentlemen, Pike has already ordered the release of the police officers. Shouldn't you also release your soldiers and officers first, to demonstrate each other's sincerity before negotiations begin?"
Mai Renhao looked at Zhuo Jingquan, Li Wenbin, and Lu Minghua sitting in front of him and spoke calmly.
"Director Mai, don't worry. After receiving your call, I knew it was all a misunderstanding and I have already ordered the release of all the detained soldiers and officers."
Zhuo Jingquan replied with a smile.
"Me too."
Li Wenbin spoke calmly and casually.
"..."
Lu Minghua didn't say a word. He knew nothing before the foreign army made its move and made no preparations whatsoever. Half of the people captured by the foreign army were Lu Minghua's men.
"Since both sides have shown sincerity, we can begin negotiations."
Mai Renhao said calmly.
Then, before Zhuo Jingquan, Li Wenbin, and Lu Minghua could speak, Mai Renhao continued, "The three of you, tell me your conditions first."
"Director Mai, let's talk about your conditions first."
After hearing Mai Renhao's words, Zhuo Jingquan, Li Wenbin, and Lu Minghua exchanged glances and conveyed their opinions before Zhuo Jingquan finally spoke.
"Half of the positions in the police force, and also, Chinese people can serve as regional commanders."
Without a moment's hesitation, Mai Renhao spoke directly.
"Director Mai, what we need is sincerity."
Zhuo Jingquan replied calmly with a smile.
"Aren't the conditions I just mentioned sincere enough?"
Mai Renhao looked at Zhuo Jingquan and asked in return.
Half of the police force's positions were equivalent to the central government relinquishing half of its power to the Chinese; the fact that Chinese could serve as regional commanders meant that local areas were entirely under Chinese control. In Mai Renhao's view, this was already a generous offer.
"Given the current situation, it's not enough."
Zhuo Jingquan answered directly.
"So what do you want? You don't want to give up my position to you Chinese, do you?"
Mai Renhao's expression was displeased as he spoke coldly.
"Director Mak, the police force has its own rules. There's no such thing as being promoted three ranks in a row. If word gets out, people outside will really say that our police force has no rules."
At this point, Zhuo Jingquan paused slightly, "However, although a promotion of three levels is not possible, a promotion of two levels is still not a problem. Director Mai, we don't want the director position, we just want two deputy director positions. Is that too much to ask?"
"..."
Upon hearing Cheuk King-chuen's words, Mak Yan-ho gave the Chinese policeman a deep look. He hadn't expected that Cheuk King-chuen would be stuck on the bottom line of Peng Chia-kang, the Hong Kong British government, and him, Mak Yan-ho. The British had managed to retain their top position, but had lost all positions below the top.
He hesitated for a moment and then said, "Alright, I agree."
"Also, Director Mak, Superintendent Wong of the Commercial Crime Bureau and Inspector Chow of the Flying Tigers, the police force must give an explanation."
Zhuo Jingquan continued his relentless pursuit.
"Inspector Cheuk, could you be more specific about what you're saying?"
Upon hearing Zhuo Jingquan's words, a hint of anger flashed in Mai Renhao's eyes. He never expected that even after making such a big concession, Zhuo Jingquan and his people would still be dissatisfied.
He understood Zhuo Jingquan's meaning perfectly: he said the police would give him an explanation, but in reality, he wanted to "beat him when he was down."
"Publicly apologize and publicly resign to take responsibility."
Zhuo Jingquan spoke slowly, word by word.
Mai Renhao was unaware that this was not Zhuo Jingquan's idea, but Li Jun's.
"..."
At this point, Mai Renhao really couldn't hold back his anger anymore; this was simply too much.
“Director Mak, the longer this drags on, the more detrimental it will be to the Hong Kong British government. You’d better make a decision quickly.”
Zhuo Jingquan's words were like a bucket of cold water, directly extinguishing Mai Renhao's anger.
He gave Zhuo Jingquan a deep look before slowly saying, "Okay, I promise you, I will apologize publicly to Huang Wenbin and Zhou Xingxing with Director Yan, and resign at the same time. You had better keep your promise. If things really get out of hand in Hong Kong, we will suffer, and you will suffer too."
"Don't worry, Director Mak, we are Hong Kong Islanders, and we love it even more than you do."
Zhuo Jingquan smiled slightly and spoke slowly.
Half an hour later, a 'program' broadcast live by Asia Television, TVB, and RTV ignited the entire Hong Kong Island.
Commissioner of Police Mak Yan-ho and Deputy Commissioner Yan Li-kwok publicly apologized to Wong Man-bun and Chow Sing-sing, and announced in public that they would resign to take responsibility.
At the same time, Mak Yan-ho, on behalf of the police force, promised all citizens of Hong Kong Island that they would thoroughly investigate Schmidt and Swire to uphold the rule of law and fairness on Hong Kong Island. He also pleaded with everyone to trust the police force and asked the citizens who took to the streets to march to end their march and wait for the police force to give them a satisfactory answer.
After this live broadcast ended, Mai Renhao and Yan Liguo were destined to be recorded in history.
Hong Kong Island has seen many police commissioners who have been dismissed, forced to retire early, or even died in office, but there has never been a police commissioner who publicly apologized or resigned to take responsibility.
Mak Yan-ho knew very well that from this day forward, he was the most disgraceful Commissioner in the history of the Hong Kong Island Police Force, without exception...
From that day onward, the Hong Kong Island Police Force underwent a major transformation.
However, after Mak Yan-ho and Yan Li-kwok resigned, the biggest winner was not Cheuk King-chuen and Lee Man-bun, who were about to become deputy commissioners of police, but Chan To-yin, the former deputy commissioner of police.
After Mak Yan-ho announced his resignation, Chan To-yin naturally succeeded him as the Acting Commissioner of the Hong Kong Island Police Force, and is very likely to become the next Commissioner.
At this moment, at the Yau Tsim Police Station in Tsim Sha Tsui.
"Director Chen, congratulations."
After watching the live broadcast by Mai Renhao and Yan Liguo, Sowers, the deputy director of MI6's Singapore office, looked at Chen Taoran, who was in front of him with a somewhat dazed expression, and said with a smile.
After picking up James Bond in the morning, he contacted Chen Taoran, who was in charge of arresting Li Jun.
Saworth, James Bond, and Chan To-yin remained at the Yau Tsim Police Station, awaiting the good news of Lee Chun's arrest.
Without the support of Chinese police officers like Li Wenbin and Zhuo Jingquan, it would have been impossible to capture Li Jun.
So, the result was obvious: Saworth, James Bond, and Chan To-yin spent the whole day sitting in the Yau Tsim Police Station, only to receive the 'good news' of Li Jun's arrest, but instead of the news that Chan To-yin had become the acting commissioner.
"Director Sowers, do you think this is a good thing?"
Chen Taoran turned to look at Sowers, his face unusually bitter.
Normally, Chen Taoran would be very happy, but now...
The position of Commissioner of Police is clearly a trap; even Mak Yan-ho was forced to resign, and Chan To-yin doesn't think his fate will be any better.
"Sows, Director Chan, I don't care about other things, nor do I want to. The Hong Kong Police Force has changed hands. It's now very clear that we Americans can no longer command the Chinese within the force. Does that mean the possibility of the police arresting Li Jun is zero?"
Just as Chen Taoran was about to pour his heart out to Saworth, James Bond interrupted him.
"Yes, you are right."
Upon hearing James Bond's words, Chen Taoran was slightly taken aback, then nodded slowly with a bitter expression.
"Then we'll have to find a different way to deal with Li Jun."
James Bond said calmly.
"Bond, what are you planning to do?"
Sowers immediately asked.
"It's very simple..."