Courtyard House: I, the eldest son of the Jia family, have returned from the battlefield.

My brother just happened to be in the way.

Looking at Li Huaide's shocked face, he continued, "The equipment was deliberately sabotaged."

Engineer Xue's initial inspection report was very clear.

But later the report was changed, and the conclusions were altered.

Later, Engineer Xue was transferred away from the steel rolling mill.

Whoever led the investigation, and who rushed to send Engineer Xue away after the initial assessment, is the one hiding among you.

A memory suddenly crashed into Li Huaide's mind.

At the conference table, Zhou Xudong, the deputy factory director who was always slow and methodical and in charge of finance and discipline, spoke calmly at the accident summary meeting; he was also the first to cast his vote in favor when discussing the transfer of Engineer Xue.

A chill instantly gripped Li Huaide's heart, and he almost cried out, "Could it be... Deputy Factory Director Zhou?"

Jia Dongming's eyes sharpened, and he immediately pressed, "Are you sure?"

"If this is true,"

Li Huaide's voice was hoarse with nervousness, "The only one who meets all the criteria is Comrade Zhou Xudong."

The investigation was initiated by him, and the decision to transfer Engineer Xue was also strongly pushed by him.

Jia Dongming glanced at the darkening sky outside the window, his face so grave it could wring water. "Director Li, time is running out."

According to our intelligence, they are planning to make their move tonight.

"tonight?!"

Li Huaide suddenly stood up, the chair legs scraping against the floor with a screeching sound.

He looked at Jia Dongming, all hesitation and shock replaced by a resolute determination. He straightened his back and said, word by word, "Comrade Jia Dongming! If the intelligence is accurate, as the deputy director of the steel rolling mill, I implore you, no matter what, you must stop them! Save the special workshop!"

When asked by Li Huaide, Jia Dongming replied solemnly, "Director Li, I am new here and there are still many things to sort out in the security department."

To prevent any leaks, I already spoke with the Jiaodaokou Police Station yesterday.

There is indeed something urgent right now that I need your help with.

Li Huaide immediately replied, "Section Chief Jia, please give your instructions."

Jia Dongming said seriously, "Aside from Chen Jianfei and Wang Defa, I am not entirely sure whether there are any other informants hidden in the security department."

Under such circumstances, it would be difficult for the police to enter the factory undetected.

What I mean is—could the factory allocate some work clothes? It would be much easier for them to move around in our factory's uniforms.

Li Huaide nodded without hesitation: "That's easy. I'll write the slip right away. You can just go to the logistics warehouse and pick it up."

Jia Dongming shook his head: "Director Li, I can't say for sure whether Chen Jianfei sent someone to keep an eye on me."

But if I go to collect my work clothes in such a high-profile manner, I might alert them.

Li Huaide suddenly slapped his forehead: "Look at my brain! Don't worry, Section Chief Jia, I'll arrange for a few reliable people to quietly deliver the work clothes to Jiaodaokou Police Station."

After a moment's thought, Jia Dongming said, "I need to borrow your phone again so I can talk to the police station and finalize the number of people."

In addition, tonight I plan to gather all the security personnel who are not on duty under the guise of a training session.

"At that time, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you to personally handle the coordination with the police—it's time to clean up those shady characters hiding in the factory."

Li Huaide understood the deeper meaning in those words and knew that this was an opportunity presented to him. He immediately said solemnly, "Section Chief Jia, don't worry, I'll take care of the backup."

Jia Dongming said no more, quickly walked to the table, grasped the telephone handle, shook it twice, and picked up the receiver, saying, "Is this the switchboard? Please transfer me to Daokou Police Station."

A short while later, a steady middle-aged male voice came through the receiver: "Hello, this is Jiaodaokou Police Station."

Jia Dongming immediately introduced himself: "Comrade, I am a comrade-in-arms of your Director Wang. Is Director Wang here?"

There was a slight pause on the other end, followed by a polite reply: "The director has just returned to his office. Please wait a moment."

A moment later, Wang Dapao's booming voice rang out: "Dongming! I'm just coming back from the branch office. What's the rush?"

Jia Dongming held the receiver and lowered his voice, saying, "It's not appropriate to explain things over the phone."

I've made some progress; I'll come find you right away.

Wang Dapao hurriedly said, "I have already reported the clues you gave me last night, and the branch office has set up a special task force for them."

Since you're coming, why don't we meet at the branch office?

Remembering the work clothes he had prepared, Jia Dongming asked, "I prepared a batch of work clothes from the steel rolling mill. How many sets do you need? I'll have someone send them over."

Wang Dapao pondered for a moment before replying, "Although the factory is large, the security personnel guard the gate every day. Too many unfamiliar faces would only make it more conspicuous."

I think this is how it works—first, arrange for about ten people to sneak in in batches, and the rest of the people to infiltrate secretly.

"But someone needs to look after them inside."

Jia Dongming felt this arrangement was more secure, so he said, "Okay, I will discuss it with Deputy Factory Director Li and have him send someone to meet us."

About half an hour later, in an office of the Dongcheng District Public Security Bureau, Wang Dapao stepped aside to introduce him: "Director, this is my old comrade-in-arms, Jia Dongming, the newly appointed head of the security department of the steel rolling mill."

Wang Dapao turned to the side and introduced the person next to him to Jia Dongming: "Dongming, this is Director Li Xidong of the Dongcheng Branch."

Jia Dongming immediately stepped forward, grasped the other man's outstretched hand with both of his, and said in a humble tone, "Director Li, I've heard so much about you."

Li Xidong shook hands briefly and firmly, without any unnecessary pleasantries, and went straight to the point: "Comrade Jia Dongming, the situation you reported was actually addressed in an anonymous letter sent to the bureau last year."

We conducted several covert investigations, but were always blocked outside the steel rolling mill.

It now seems that the source of the resistance lies within your security department—Chen Jianfei, the captain of the second brigade, which is truly unexpected.

Jia Dongming's expression hardened; it turned out the branch office had already intervened.

He replied in a deep voice, "Yes, no one expected that the problem would arise from within our own own doorstep."

He paused briefly before continuing his report: "Director Li, based on the information we currently have, the enemy's infiltration is not limited to Chen Jianfei."

Wang Defa from the Second Brigade is also a prime suspect.

Furthermore, we suspect that there are also spies within the factory's leadership.

Last year, during the accident in Workshop 2, the investigating engineer Mingque pointed out that it was sabotage, but the investigation team suppressed the conclusion and classified it as a common work injury.

Shortly afterward, Engineer Xue, who was in charge of the assessment, was transferred out of Beijing.

Upon hearing that management might have been infiltrated, Li Xidong frowned, his gaze sharpening: "Do you have any concrete leads regarding any moles within the leadership?"

Remembering Deputy Factory Director Li's previous instructions, Jia Dongming lowered his voice and said, "Before I came, I had an in-depth talk with Deputy Factory Director Li."

Based on various indications, Zhou Xudong, the deputy factory director in charge of finance, discipline, and the labor union, is highly suspicious.

He was the one who led the investigation team for last year's accident, and he also had full authority to handle Engineer Xue's transfer.

At this point, Jia Dongming felt a pang of anxiety and hurriedly added, "This morning, after I returned to the factory, I conducted a preliminary investigation, focusing on the special workshop."

An unusual commotion was unexpectedly caught during a casual conversation among several cleaners.

Following the investigation further, they discovered a tunnel in an abandoned house near the workshop, leading directly underground to the workshop, where a large amount of explosives were buried.

To avoid alerting the other side, I dared not move the fuse.

"Explosives?"

Li Xidong's expression suddenly turned cold and stern. He took a deep breath and said, "Our original plan was to lay a long line, figure out the whole network, and then close the net."

But now the situation has changed—the explosives are located below the special workshop, and if they were to detonate, the national losses would be incalculable.

The plan must be adjusted; first, control the exposed targets and eliminate immediate risks.

Jia Dongming was taken aback.

Previously, he was focused on uprooting the entire operation, but he never prioritized the safety of the workshop.

Being awakened at this moment, I couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.

He was silent for a moment, then looked up again: "You're right, the special workshop must not be lost."

I suggest that when work starts in the afternoon, some comrades should be arranged to dress up as workers and enter the factory in batches from the north and south gates.

I will provide support from within, coordinating with both sides to launch a surprise attack on that abandoned house.

After securing the scene, immediately remove the fuse, then lie in ambush, waiting for the possible contact person to appear.

Li Xidong closed his eyes and pondered, going over the entire plan in his mind several times before opening his eyes with a serious look: "Section Chief Jia, if this plan succeeds, it can not only protect the workshop, but also hopefully uncover deeper hidden threads."

But always remember – act quickly, but remain calm.

Not a single word can be leaked.

However, you've overlooked the most crucial element: how do we know exactly how many enemy agents are hiding in the cave? And how can we capture them all without being detected? More importantly, if the operation is exposed, will these people hiding in the shadows take a desperate gamble and preemptively detonate the bomb?

Jia Dongming proposed this plan because he was born with sharp eyes that could see through the soil and determine whether there were enemy agents lurking in the underground caves.

Faced with the oversight pointed out by Li Xidong, Jia Dongming pondered for a moment before slowly speaking: "Director Li, this matter is not unsolvable."

We can put on gas masks and throw our weapons deep into the tunnels before the enemy agents are alerted.

This way, they can be drugged silently, eliminating the possibility of them detonating prematurely.

Upon hearing this, Li Xidong's eyes lit up, and a smile appeared on his lips: "Section Chief Jia, although your method is not exactly honorable, it is the most effective countermeasure at the moment."

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Jia Dongming's face, but he immediately said seriously, "Director Li, extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures."

To protect the special workshop of the steel rolling mill from being harmed, we had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure.

Although the method is unethical, it is the best choice for dealing with these enemy agents and is more likely to achieve the goal of completely eliminating them.

Li Xidong immediately nodded: "The branch office warehouse happens to have the relevant supplies."

When you return, I will send a comrade wearing a gas mask to accompany you to the steel rolling mill.

"Act according to the situation, and take advantage of the enemy agents' unpreparedness to subdue them all."

Jia Dongming agreed with the arrangement and added, "Once the hidden dangers of the underground cave are eliminated, you can send people disguised as steel mill workers to enter through the north gate during the afternoon shift and lie in ambush around that small house, waiting for the remaining enemy agents to walk into the trap."

As the saying goes, three people's wisdom is better than one's. In the following time, the three of them went to Li Xidong's office to refine the details of the operation one by one.

Only after the final plan was finalized did Jia Dongming ride his bicycle away from the Dongcheng branch.

After returning to the steel rolling mill, Jia Dongming first showed up at the security department's canteen. After lunch, he took advantage of the break to quietly sneak to a place not far from the small house and focused his eyes to explore the tunnel connecting to the special workshop.

As far as the eye could see, the tunnel was empty, but in the inner room of the small house, more than a dozen enemy agents were having a secret talk.

Among them were Zhou Xudong and Chen Jianfei, whom Li Huaide had mentioned, as well as three informants from the security department. The remaining nine were all wearing steel rolling mill uniforms, clearly indicating they were factory employees.

Jia Dongming had originally been unsure how many enemy agents were lurking inside the factory, but this gathering of enemy agents allowed him to see their numbers clearly, which was a pleasant surprise.

He immediately turned around and headed towards the place he had agreed to meet with Li Xidong.

Just as the enemy agents were meeting in the small house, the public security officers disguised as steel mill workers also infiltrated the factory area and waited for Jia Dongming's arrival at the pre-arranged location.

When Jia Dongming arrived, he saw that Wang Dapao was already there with more than ten comrades.

He strode forward, his voice low and barely concealing his excitement: "Dapao, I just went to check out the area near the cabin, and those people are having a meeting inside."

I suggested we quietly surround them first, then send someone to follow them when they left after the meeting. Then I would lead my men to sneak into the small house and fire the enemy agents in the tunnel.

When Wang Dapao learned that enemy agents were gathering, a look of joy appeared on his face: "Dongming, this is indeed a rare opportunity."

If it weren't for the deadly Dongxi in the tunnels, we could have caught them all red-handed right now.

Jia Dongming immediately said, "It's unclear how long they'll be operating now."

To ensure everything goes smoothly, I'll take you there first, and we'll see how things go.

Soon, the group followed Jia Dongming silently to the vicinity of the cabin and hid behind some cover.

Jia Dongming's gaze, like a precise ruler, locked onto the low brick house in the distance.

He lowered his voice and said to Wang Dapao beside him, "Look, they're still inside."

He gestured with his chin in that direction. "Cannon, what do you think?"