Special forces soldier demobilization: Starting from the county government compound, a meteoric rise

The torrential rain in the western mountains intensified.

Large raindrops pounded on the ancient glazed tiles of Courtyard No. 3, producing a muffled, dense sound like war drums.

In the courtyard, the suffocating standoff had lasted for a full twenty minutes. The members of the task force stood like statues, letting the cold rain soak through their uniforms, but none of them dared to step onto the stone steps leading to the study.

Because in those twenty minutes, the encrypted satellite phone outside the hospital, which was in charge of on-site command, was almost bombarded with calls!

"Director Wang! I'm Zhang from the Ministry of Science and Technology! Are you confused? Who is Elder Zheng? He's the founder of our country's industry! The way you're doing this is chilling the hearts of all science and technology workers in the country!"

"Old Wang! Order your men to withdraw immediately! I command you to withdraw! Old Zheng shed blood for this country. Even if there's a huge misunderstanding, you can't treat a meritorious person like this! This is a political issue! You can't bear this responsibility!"

The phone kept ringing, and the callers were all high-ranking officials. Some were current regional governors, and others were ministers in charge of key departments. Without exception, they were all "protégés and former subordinates" personally promoted by Zheng Desheng back then.

Director Wang, who was in charge of on-site command, had lost all color in his square face. He held the scalding hot phone, looking at the young figure standing upright like a javelin on the stone steps, his palms sweating profusely.

Tank stood behind Liu Ming, his muscles taut, like a cheetah ready to pounce. He whispered, "Boss, these old bastards have all jumped out. If this drags on, they might have to forcefully suppress this matter tonight."

Liu Ming did not turn around, but simply stared quietly at the tightly closed nanmu door.

He knew that Zheng Desheng, that old fox, was currently in his study, patiently waiting. He was waiting for his students to put the pressure on the highest levels, waiting for him, this clueless young man, to slink away amidst a chorus of reprimands for "putting the big picture first."

This is an open conspiracy.

It is an invisible network woven from his life's achievements and intricate network of connections.

They wanted to use this overwhelming "power" to crush him, a mere deputy minister.

"Remove all perimeter security measures."

Liu Ming suddenly spoke, her voice not loud, but clearly penetrating the rain.

Director Wang was taken aback. "Director Liu, this..."

"Drive the car to the gate and let them all go in." Liu Ming's tone left no room for argument. "I can handle things here by myself."

After saying that, he unbuttoned his trench coat, took off his jacket which was already soaked with rain, and handed it to Tank.

"Hold this place tight. No one is allowed to enter without my order."

Then, alone, amidst the astonished gazes of the entire courtyard, he walked step by step up the stone steps leading to the abyss of power.

……

The study was filled with the gentle fragrance of sandalwood incense.

Zheng Desheng had already stood up from the rattan chair and was now standing in front of a huge mahogany desk, wielding his brush and ink. His movements were unhurried and calm, as if the storm outside that was enough to overturn the political landscape of China had nothing to do with him.

Liu Ming pushed open the door and entered, bringing with her a blast of cold, damp air.

"Xiao Liu, it's raining heavily outside, why bother?"

Zheng Desheng didn't look up, still focused on the character "忍" (patience/endurance) he was writing. His voice was old but steady, "Young man, too much temper can easily harm your health. Come, sit down and have a cup of tea with this old man to warm yourself up."

His calm and collected demeanor, as if he were an elder instructing a younger generation, would likely have caused anyone else to lose their composure under his invisible aura.

But Liu Ming just stood there quietly, watching the old man performing, her eyes filled with no anger, only a deep, bone-chilling coldness.

"Mr. Zheng, is your performance finished?"

Zheng Desheng paused slightly in his hand holding the calligraphy brush.

He slowly raised his head, and for the first time, his cloudy yet still piercing eyes looked directly at Liu Ming.

"Young man, don't be too arrogant." Old Zheng put down his pen, picked up the Da Hong Pao tea that had been brewed earlier, and slowly blew on it to cool it down. "I admit that you are a once-in-a-century talent, and your future is limitless."

But the world isn't black and white. You should understand the saying, "Water that's too clear has no fish."

He took a sip of tea, and his tone became earnest.

"Leave a way out for everything, so you can meet again in the future. You are still young, and you have a long road ahead of you. Don't push things to the extreme. Give this old man some face today, and another day, when you encounter an insurmountable obstacle, your bunch of good-for-nothing students will naturally lend you a hand."

This is both a threat and an attempt to win someone over.

This was the mastermind behind the emperor's mind that this cunning old fox, who had dominated the political arena his entire life, was most adept at.

Liu Ming looked at him and suddenly smiled.

That smile was filled with endless sarcasm and sorrow.

Without saying another word, he walked straight up and slammed the red file folder marked "Top Secret" that he always carried with him onto Zheng Desheng's still-wet calligraphy!

"Bang!"

The thick file folder smashed over the inkstone. Black ink splattered everywhere, completely staining the newly written character "忍" (ren, meaning forbearance), which had been written with great force, into a black mess.

"You!" Zheng Desheng's expression finally changed.

"Leave a way out?" Liu Ming took a step closer, and the terrifying aura emanating from the mountain of corpses and sea of ​​blood instantly enveloped the entire study!

"When you sold out the core technical parameters of the nation's lithography machine, did you ever think about leaving a way out for China's future?"

Liu Ming ripped open the seal on the file bag and flung stacks of shocking documents inside at Zheng Desheng's face like a shower of flowers!

"This is the list of top scientists that our 'Dragon Foundation' is heavily supporting, which you sold to Americans! Because of your leak, three of them encountered 'accidents' overseas last week!"

"These are the contracts you used through 'Project Blue Shield' to suppress domestic products and introduce outdated Western technologies! Behind every single contract is a national enterprise that you've driven into bankruptcy!"

"And this!" Liu Ming slammed the last bank statement on the table, pointing to the astronomical figure on it, her voice already hoarse. "This is the kickbacks you received in your overseas accounts! Zheng Desheng, every single penny on this is stained with the blood and sweat of our researchers!"

Zheng Desheng was forced back by the pelting documents, his once dignified face now drained of all color. He pointed at Liu Ming, his lips trembling, but he couldn't utter a single word.

"I...I shed blood for this country! I rendered service to this country!"

After a long silence, he finally managed to squeeze out a weak and feeble excuse: "When I led the team to introduce the first automobile production line, you were still wearing open-crotch pants!"

Merit is merit, and fault is fault!

Liu Ming's eyes were sharp as knives, as if they could pierce through his already rotten heart!

"But merits cannot outweigh demerits! Especially when it comes to betraying the country!"

Liu Ming slowly leaned down, his face almost touching that terrified old face.

His voice, though not loud, was like ice from the deepest hell, enough to freeze the air in the entire room.

"When it comes to national interests, seniority doesn't matter!"