Courtyard House: From Deputy Division Commander to Civilian, Progressing All the Way

Zhao Gang frowned: "Xiao Zhao, are you crazy? You almost got beaten to death by those people today while protecting Yangzi. The situation is so chaotic now, how will you ever recover if you're branded with this kind of crime?"

Zhao Lichun didn't look at Zhao Gang; he only stared at Lin Yang.

"Minister, only mudfish can swim happily in a cesspool. The reason Wu Qiang and his gang dare to be so arrogant is because there is a bigger hand pulling the strings behind the scenes. If we don't have eyes in the ministry, and a hand that can pierce their hearts at any time, we will be in a very passive position."

A cold, ambitious smile curled at the corner of Zhao Lichun's mouth.

"I'm young and inexperienced, and nobody cares about me. If I betray you today because of my 'awakening,' and turn against you at the conference, denouncing your 'revisionist line,' Wu Qiang and his gang will definitely see me as an 'awakened one' among them. They need someone like me, who was once your personal secretary, to make a point and prove their correctness."

"Once I infiltrate their ranks, I can naturally seize power in the newly established 'Revolutionary Committee' of the Ministry of Heavy Industry. On the surface, I'll join them in chanting slogans and smashing signs; but secretly, the ministry's confidential files and personnel transfers will remain under my control."

Zhao Lichun leaned forward slightly, his tone carrying a chilling madness: "Minister, you are a high-ranking general, you cannot get involved in this filth. But I am not afraid. I am willing to be your mad dog hidden in the mud. Whoever dares to truly destroy our base, I will secretly bite their throat!"

The underground conference room was deathly silent.

Li Yunlong gasped, scrutinizing the frail-looking scholar with his shattered glasses once more. He had fought his entire life and witnessed countless battles, but this was the first time he had ever encountered such a ruthless character who would risk his reputation and future for the sake of advancement and strategic maneuvering.

Zhao Gang frowned deeply, instinctively rejecting such dark political scheming.

But Lin Yang smiled.

It was a satisfied smile, the kind that comes from discovering a deadly weapon.

This is Zhao Lichun. He's capable of using any means necessary to achieve his goals. He understands true forbearance and knows how to leverage situations to his advantage.

Rather than letting an uncontrollable idiot like Wu Qiang take control of the Ministry of Heavy Industry, it would be better to let Zhao Lichun fill that position.

"This is a dead end. One wrong move and you'll be caught in the middle, torn apart by the rebels and purged by the orthodox faction." Lin Yang stared intently into Zhao Lichun's eyes. "Have you thought this through?"

"As long as you have confidence, I won't die," Zhao Lichun replied decisively, without the slightest hesitation.

With unwavering sincerity, he gambled that Lin Yang would overcome this crisis, and that Lin Yang would surely rise to a high position and take charge of the overall situation. If he won this gamble, Zhao Lichun's future would be bright.

"good!"

"Zhao Lichun, listen to my command!"

Zhao Lichun immediately stood up straight, ignoring the sharp pain in his head, and raised his head high.

"Starting tomorrow, the Ministry of Industry will announce the dismissal of your secretary. After that, how you deal with them and how you 'expose' me is your business. I don't care about the process, I only care about the result."

Lin Yang walked up to Zhao Lichun, lowered his voice, and said in a volume that only the two of them could hear:

"All personnel files and top-secret technical parameter databases in the department must remain intact. Anyone who attempts to damage equipment or leak blueprints may proceed at your discretion. If force is required, contact Chen Feng directly; he has an internal security special operations team that is not under anyone's control."

A look of wild joy flashed in Zhao Lichun's eyes. Lin Yang had not only agreed to his plan, but had even entrusted him with such important power! This was absolute trust!

"I will definitely complete the mission!" Zhao Lichun bowed deeply.

A shocking, clandestine battle that would determine the industrial landscape for years to come was thus laid out in this damp underground bunker.

The meeting ended at 3:00 AM.

Li Yunlong didn't linger. He got into an off-road vehicle with a Central Military Commission pass and drove overnight to Nanyuan Airport to board a special plane back to the front lines in Fujian.

Zhao Gang also left in a hurry. He wanted to contact several respected senior leaders and do his best to protect all the veteran comrades who were affected.

Lin Yang rubbed his slightly swollen temples and walked out of the underground command post.

The rain outside has stopped. The air in Yuquan Mountain carries a chill and austere atmosphere after the rain.

"Commander, shall we return to the compound?" Chen Feng asked respectfully as he opened the door of the Hongqi sedan.

"Let's go home." Lin Yang sat in the back seat and closed his eyes.

A dozen minutes later, the car stopped in front of Building No. 6, Class A.

The lights in the room were still on.

Lin Yang pushed open the door, and Tian Yu was sitting on the sofa, holding a half-sewn sweater in her hand, but her eyes were staring blankly at the clock on the wall.

Upon hearing the door open, Tian Yu jumped up and quickly went to greet her.

"Yoko!"

Seeing Lin Yang's slightly disheveled collar and tired expression, Tian Yu's eyes instantly reddened, and she hugged Lin Yang's strong waist tightly.

"You scared me to death... I heard they locked you in the basement, and I was so angry I wanted to fight them." Tian Yu's voice trembled slightly.

Lin Yang hugged his wife, patted her back, and smelled the familiar scent of soap in her hair. The anger in his heart instantly dissipated.

"It's alright. With Lao Li and the others causing trouble, no one dares to lay a finger on me," Lin Yang said softly, then pulled Tian Yu to sit down on the sofa.

"Is Weidong asleep?"

"He went to sleep a long time ago. This child was still asking during the day, saying that some classmates at school are ignoring him, saying that you are..." Tian Yu hesitated, her expression somber.

Lin Yang's eyes instantly turned cold. This was the most terrifying aspect of this movement; it tore apart family ties and trust, and even children were not spared.

"Tian Yu, I need to make some arrangements for things at home." Lin Yang held his wife's hand, his tone becoming extremely solemn.

Tian Yu raised her head and looked into her husband's eyes, where she saw an unprecedented seriousness.

"This storm is much stronger than we imagined. Beijing is no longer safe. Not only me, but many veteran marshals and ministers have been affected. I cannot leave you and your son in the center of this vortex."

Lin Yang made another major decision in his life.

"I've arranged a special train. Tomorrow morning, you and Weidong will go with your elder brother's family to the Northwest. To the 211 nuclear weapons base."