The Knockout Episode 1 Recap
> The Knockout Recap
The Linjiang Province's special campaign for cracking down on gang crimes concluded with remarkable success, resulting in the dismantling of 322 gangland-related groups and 1275 criminal gangs. At a commendation ceremony, Secretary Zhou Zhihe of the Provincial Political and Legal Committee announced a new phase of work, shifting the anti-gang efforts to a regular basis and initiating an internal education and rectification campaign within the political and legal team to build a reliable and trustworthy "iron army."
Xu Zhong, who was commended as a hero in the anti-gang campaign, was then summoned by Li Mu, leader of the Central Legal Team Education and Rectification Steering Group, and Zhou Zhihe. He was entrusted with a crucial mission: to lead the provincial education and rectification garrison guidance team and serve as the anti-gang supervisor in Jinghai City. Xu Zhong expressed surprise, noting Jinghai was considered a model city, having already achieved significant results in dismantling a long-standing sinister gang.
However, Li Mu emphasized the necessity of re-examining dismissed cases and key clues, stating that all public reports must be thoroughly investigated. Fang Ning from the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection was assigned to assist Xu Zhong, specifically because the case might involve duty crimes. Xu Zhong was specifically instructed to use the Qiangsheng Group of Jinghai as a breakthrough to address the issue of "protective umbrellas" and to coordinate closely with the provincial anti-gang office.
Without delay, Xu Zhong, accompanied by his team members from the provincial Public Security Department, Procuratorate, and High Court, embarked on the journey to Jinghai. On the way, Xu Zhong diligently reviewed tip-off materials and documents related to the Qiangsheng Group, recognizing its extensive and complex social network. Deputy team leader Ji Ze suggested a strategic approach: to initially bypass Gao Qiqiang, the company's president, and instead focus on Gong Kaijiang, the Chairman of the Jinghai Municipal CPPCC.
Ji Ze informed Xu Zhong that the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection had already initiated an investigation into Gong Kaijiang prior to their departure, noting Gong's weak mindset. He highlighted Gong Kaijiang's past roles, including deputy director of Jinghai's Telecommunications Bureau, deputy head of Qinghua District, and crucially, director of the anti-corruption bureau and deputy chief procurator of the People's Procuratorate.
It was during these periods that the Construction Engineering Group and Qiangsheng Group secured the largest number of government projects. Ji Ze believed Gong Kaijiang had significant dealings with the Gao brothers of Qiangsheng Group and recommended focusing the investigation on his tenure as deputy chief procurator.
Xu Zhong reflected on Gao Qiqiang's transformation from a humble fish seller to an NPC deputy and member of CPPCC, anticipating that uncovering his connections would reveal a much larger network of corrupted officials. Meanwhile, in Jinghai, Gong Kaijiang was preparing for a meeting when his secretary informed him that the meeting was canceled because all municipal leaders were heading to receive the provincial education and rectification guidance team.
Surprised by this lack of notification, Gong Kaijiang questioned why his regular Secretary Liu had not informed him. The secretary then revealed that Secretary Liu had not come to work that day, his phone was unreachable, and according to his wife, he had been taken away last night for "official business" and had not returned.
When Gong Kaijiang requested his driver to take him to meet the guidance team, he was told that the driver too had just been taken away. Realizing he was being targeted despite having left the political and legal team years ago and being on the verge of retirement, Gong Kaijiang became overwhelmed with fear.
This extreme stress caused his pre-existing heart condition to flare up, leading to his collapse and eventual death, effectively scared to death before the investigation could even begin. Simultaneously, Jinghai City Mayor Zhao Lidong, along with Meng Dehai, Director of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress, and An Changlin, Secretary of the Political and Legal Committee, gathered at the highway exit to receive the guidance team, despite an approaching thunderstorm.
Zhao Lidong acknowledged that their presence might violate central regulations but insisted on waiting, sensing a "big storm" brewing. Meng Dehai, however, dismissed it as merely a "gust of wind." Upon seeing the Jinghai officials waiting, Ji Ze commented on their boldness in risking a violation of the Eight-point Regulation of the Centre.
Xu Zhong, maintaining the integrity of their mission, instructed the driver to proceed without stopping, driving directly past the waiting officials, who then promptly returned to the city. The guidance team immediately delved into their work upon arrival. Ji Ze, upon learning of Gong Kaijiang's death, became more acutely aware of the deep-seated complexities in Jinghai, realizing the situation was "indeed very complicated" and predicting significant resistance. To ease the tension, Xu Zhong suggested they play badminton.
However, upon reaching the sports facility, they found the badminton hall had been converted into a table tennis hall. A worker explained the change was made because "the leaders of the guidance team like playing table tennis," but could not identify who gave the order. This incident confirmed Xu Zhong's suspicion: there was a serious "internal problem" within Jinghai's political and legal team, a problem he deemed "the scariest and most dangerous."
He noted that Qiangsheng Group had never been implicated in previous anti-gang campaigns, and this quick response to their preferences signaled a serious breach. Xu Zhong vowed to uncover the truth, regardless of the pressure.
While Fang Ning led a search of Gong Kaijiang's office, discovering his frequent visits to his mother's tomb, which led to the unearthing of a substantial amount of cash and gold bars hidden beneath the tombstone, Xu Zhong and Ji Ze convened a meeting with Jinghai City's political and legal leaders. Jinghai City Mayor Zhao Lidong initiated the discussion, acknowledging the sudden disruption caused by Gong Kaijiang's death.
Xu Zhong, however, directed the conversation to the substance of their mission, asking for a report on the city's anti-gang achievements. Qin Jianguo, the Executive Deputy Director of the Public Security Bureau, presented a glowing account of their achievements: 12 criminal organizations dismantled, 37 gambling dens destroyed, and 1. 75 billion yuan in illegal assets seized, resulting in a 98% public safety satisfaction rate.
Xu Zhong probed further, questioning how the longest-standing criminal group managed to operate for "about 10 years" without earlier intervention, or who suppressed potential reports. Zhao Lidong attributed any delays to police being overwhelmed with fighting crime. Ji Ze pointed out a striking detail: not a single public official had been implicated in these crackdowns, a fact Zhao Lidong praised as evidence of Jinghai's "righteous" and "decent people" within the cadre.
Undeterred, Xu Zhong clearly articulated the guidance team's core mission: beyond cracking down on gang crimes, their primary objective was to uncover "protective umbrellas" and thoroughly cleanse the political and legal team of corrupt elements. The guidance team distributed survey forms to all officers in the Jinghai Public Security Bureau.
While most officers submitted perfunctory responses, Xu Zhong noticed that An Xin, the Chief of the Publicity Section, had completed his form with meticulous detail, even noting minor gifts received and how he returned red envelopes of equivalent market value. Impressed, Xu Zhong summoned An Xin for an informal chat at a swimming pool, a location chosen to avoid surveillance. An Xin arrived nervously, having heard about Gong Kaijiang's sudden death.
Xu Zhong and Ji Ze reassured him, urging him to speak honestly about Gao Qiqiang. An Xin recounted a significant event from New Year's Eve, 2000. As a young detective at Shuangqiao Police Station, he and his captain, Li Xiang, responded to a report of a fight. They found Gao Qiqiang, a fish seller, being severely beaten by Tang Xiaolong, the market administrator, and his brother Tang Xiaohu, along with their gang.
Tang Xiaolong falsely accused Gao of attempted robbery and hitting his brother. Gao, however, explained the real story: three days prior, Tang Xiaolong had demanded extra "sanitary fees" and hinted he wanted a "plasma TV" to secure Gao's fish stall after a planned reshuffling. Gao, unable to afford a plasma TV (which cost 21,860 yuan), bought a cheaper, large-screen television (7,288 yuan) instead and delivered it as a gift.
Tang Xiaolong, feeling slighted, rejected the gift and ordered Gao to remove it. As Gao was carrying the TV downstairs, Tang Xiaohu intentionally pushed him, causing the television to fall and shatter. Enraged by the blatant bullying and destruction of his property, Gao Qiqiang "rushed up and pulled" Tang Xiaohu, initiating the physical altercation. Li Xiang, however, insisted that starting the fight was illegal, regardless of the provocation, and tightened Gao's handcuffs, despite An Xin's attempts to defend Gao.
That New Year's Eve, Gao Qiqiang pleaded to be allowed home to cook dinner for his orphaned younger brother and sister, who relied on him as their sole guardian. Li Xiang refused, adhering strictly to regulations. Later, Meng Dehai’s wife, Aunt Cui, brought homemade dumplings for An Xin.
As An Xin saw her off, he noticed Gao's young siblings outside, attempting to bring their own humble, homemade dumplings and clothes to their brother, but were turned away by the police guard due to regulations. Moved by their plight, An Xin allowed the siblings inside to watch the Spring Festival Gala in a separate room.
He then orchestrated a way to get food to Gao: he told the siblings he couldn't give Gao their dumplings but would give him the police's "own food" (which were actually Aunt Cui's dumplings). He then brought the dumplings to Gao. Gao was profoundly touched when he saw his empty lunchbox and realized the dumplings were from the kind officer, and especially when he saw his siblings in the next room watching TV.
As the clock counted down to midnight, Gao Qiqiang asked An Xin his name, which An Xin revealed: "An Xin, meaning safe and prosperous." Gao then wished him "Happy New Year." The narrative then fast-forwards to the Spring Festival of 2021. Gao Qiqiang is now a prosperous and respected figure, hosting a lavish New Year's celebration for his villagers, sponsoring community projects like a village square and cultural building, and distributing red envelopes.
The villagers express their deep gratitude and commend his success, remarking that he is "much better than his father now." During the festivities, a granduncle casually mentions the ongoing anti-gang campaign in Jinghai and asks if any "gangs" had bothered Gao. Gao Qiqiang feigns ignorance, dismissing the existence of gangs in a "law-based society."
However, the granduncle presses on, recalling stories from young people about a ruthless "gangster boss" named "Daggar," a loan shark known for chopping off hands and feet of those who defaulted on loans. As Gao Qiqiang tries to deflect, one of his subordinates loudly addresses Tang Xiaolong, who was the market bully from 2000, as "Boss Daggar" while asking for his car keys. Tang Xiaolong then clarifies, "Just call me Long. Qiang is my boss now," leaving the assembled villagers looking at each other in stunned silence as the true nature of Gao Qiqiang's power is revealed.
