The crackdown on organized crime began with the arrest of the mother-in-law.

Chapter 847 Zhao Wengang escapes, citywide manhunt issued

Zhao Wengang's heart suddenly raced, a flicker of panic crossing his eyes, but his years of criminal experience quickly calmed him down. Without hesitation, he turned and ran in another direction from the residential area. He moved nimbly, weaving between the greenbelts and parked cars, trying to shake off any potential pursuers.

Upon spotting Zhao Wengang, the officer in charge of on-site command immediately shouted, "Target spotted! Prepare for pursuit!" The officers sprang into action, giving chase in the direction Zhao Wengang had fled. However, Zhao Wengang was extremely familiar with the neighborhood, using various shortcuts and hidden passages to gradually increase the distance between himself and the officers. Despite the officers' best efforts, Zhao Wengang successfully escaped the neighborhood.

Upon learning of Zhao Wengang's escape, Qin Chuan's expression turned grave. He immediately convened an emergency meeting and decided to issue a city-wide warrant for Zhao Wengang's arrest. "Zhao Wengang is the key suspect in this case; we must not let him escape legal punishment. Issue an arrest warrant immediately, publicizing Zhao Wengang's photo, identity information, and details of his crimes to the entire city, mobilizing the public to ensure he has nowhere to hide. At the same time, all units must strengthen patrols, especially at transportation hubs such as train stations, docks, and highway entrances, and rigorously check all passersby, leaving no suspicious signs unchecked."

The arrest warrant was quickly issued throughout the city, widely reposted by major media outlets and social media platforms, and police also posted wanted posters for Zhao Wengang on the streets. Zhao Wengang instantly became the focus of citywide attention, and police received numerous tips from the public. However, Zhao Wengang seemed to have anticipated this, cleverly evading police investigations.

The task force responsible for apprehending Zhao Wengang worked day and night, meticulously analyzing every clue and tracing his possible escape routes. By reviewing surveillance footage, they discovered that after escaping the residential compound, Zhao Wengang took a taxi to a remote town on the outskirts of the city. The task force immediately rushed to the town, searching local hotels, internet cafes, and rental properties. However, by the time they arrived, Zhao Wengang had already left.

"This Zhao Wengang is too cunning; he always seems to be able to anticipate our actions," an officer said angrily.

Li Ming frowned, pondering a countermeasure: "We can't let him lead us by the nose. Judging from his escape route, he is likely trying to leave Dongchuan City. We need to expand the scope of our investigation, contact the police in surrounding cities, and cooperate in our operations."

The police intensified their manhunt, conducting a thorough search of the areas where Zhao Wengang might be hiding. Undeterred by hardship, they worked day and night, leaving no possible hiding place unchecked. However, Zhao Wengang seemed to have vanished into thin air, and was never apprehended by the police.

During the investigation, Qin Chuan was under immense pressure. He knew that while the suspect had been identified, failing to bring him to justice was a regrettable situation for both the victims and society. He continuously adjusted the pursuit strategy, organized in-depth discussions within the special task force, analyzed Zhao Wengang's psychology and behavioral patterns, and attempted to find his weaknesses.

“We can’t give up. Zhao Wengang can’t hide forever. He needs food and shelter. As long as he makes any move, we will definitely catch him,” Qin Chuan said firmly.

Days passed, and the pursuit of Zhao Wengang reached a stalemate. Despite possessing numerous leads, the police were unable to apprehend him. This caused anxiety and exhaustion among the entire task force, but they did not falter, remaining steadfast in their posts, awaiting the opportunity to bring Zhao Wengang to justice. Meanwhile, the citizens of Dongchuan City closely followed the case's progress, hoping that the police would soon capture the murderer and restore peace to the city.

At a routine meeting of the special task force, the officer in charge of investigating Zhao Wengang's social connections brought a new clue: "Chief Qin, we discovered that Zhao Wengang had contact with a distant relative before the incident. This relative lives in a small village in a neighboring city. We overlooked this clue before. Could it be that Zhao Wengang fled there?"

Qin Chuan's eyes lit up: "Investigate this relative's situation immediately, contact the police in the neighboring city, and ask them for assistance in the investigation. This may be the key to catching Zhao Wengang."

While launching a city-wide manhunt for Zhao Wengang, Qin Chuan knew that there was still a need to delve deeper into the Zhang Jun lead. He arranged for the experienced Li Ming to interrogate Zhang Jun again, hoping to extract more crucial case information from him to provide strong support for the capture of Zhao Wengang.

The atmosphere inside the interrogation room was oppressive and suffocating. Zhang Jun sat in the interrogation chair, his hands cuffed to the table, a hint of unease in his eyes. Li Ming entered the interrogation room, carrying a stack of documents, and slammed them heavily on the table with a dull thud that jarred the quiet room.

"Zhang Jun, now that things have come to this, do you think you can still hide it?" Li Ming's voice was deep and powerful, carrying an undeniable authority. Zhang Jun raised his head, avoiding Li Ming's gaze, and stammered, "I... I've said everything I needed to say, there's really nothing else I'm hiding."

Li Ming snorted coldly, opened the file, pulled out several photos, and placed them in front of Zhang Jun: "These are CCTV screenshots of you and Zhao Wengang in the coffee shop. We've gathered more evidence. You'd better tell us honestly what you were planning in the coffee shop, and stop hoping to get away with it." Zhang Jun looked at the photos, his face instantly turning deathly pale, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead, but he still tried to remain calm: "We were just discussing business, as we've said before."

"Talking business?" Li Ming raised his voice. "Then how do you explain that Liu Hua happened to be at that coffee shop on the same day you met? Moreover, according to our investigation, Liu Hua seems to have a great deal of connection with your 'business'." Zhang Jun's eyes began to flicker, and his lips trembled slightly, but he did not speak.

Li Ming pressed his advantage, continuing, "Zhang Jun, you need to understand that resisting will only make your situation worse. Zhao Wengang is currently on the run. If you can proactively confess and try to earn merit, you might receive a lighter sentence. Think about your family. What will they do if you are severely punished for concealing the truth?" Hearing about his family, a hint of pain and hesitation flashed in Zhang Jun's eyes.

Seeing Zhang Jun's change of heart, Li Ming softened his tone: "Zhang Jun, we know that your relationship with Zhao Wengang is not simple. Does Liu Hua know something about your deal? Is that the real reason you want to take action against him?" Zhang Jun remained silent for a long time, his hands unconsciously clenching, as if he were having a fierce internal struggle.

Finally, Zhang Jun sighed and lowered his head: "I...I confess. Liu Hua not only had a work injury compensation dispute with the factory, but also accidentally witnessed a transaction between me and Zhao Wengang."