Shadow of the First Secretary: The Rise and Fall of Li Zhen

Li Zhen, known as the notoriously arrogant "Number One Secretary of Hebei," leveraged his position under provincial leader Cheng Weigao to manipulate political appointments and amass wealth through corruption and faked credentials. Following a major investigation into his "shadow power" and the embezzlement of state assets, Li was betrayed by his mistress and ultimately executed by lethal injection in 2003 at the age of 34. The scandal led to the political downfall of Cheng Weigao and the flight of his son, Chen Muyang, to Canada, where the latter successfully fought extradition despite being listed on an international Red Notice.