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

Ministry of Heavy Industry, Minister's Office.

The heavy velvet curtains were half-drawn, making the office slightly dim.

Lin Yang sat behind a large mahogany desk, holding an unlit Daqianmen cigarette in his hand, staring intently at an internal briefing on the desk.

Two very soft knocks came from outside the door.

"Go in." Lin Yang didn't look up.

Zhao Lichun pushed open the door and locked it behind him. He looked unusually serious today, even his usual calm and composed demeanor was largely gone. He strode to his desk and pulled a document stamped with a red seal from his briefcase.

"Boss, something's happened." Zhao Lichun's voice was low, revealing undisguised anxiety. "Those radical bigwigs in the city suddenly launched an attack yesterday at an internal meeting. Their target is Commander Kong."

Lin Yang tossed the cigarette he was holding onto the table and leaned back slightly: "Be more specific. What high-sounding excuse did they come up with this time?"

Zhao Lichun pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "They conducted a secret investigation and collected a large amount of material on the so-called 'sabotage of the Down to the Countryside Movement.' The most crucial piece of evidence was the accusation that the military region had become a haven for the children of high-ranking officials."

"They somehow obtained Wei Dong and Jianguo's household registration records from back then, and they exaggerated the matter to an extreme degree. They said that Commander Kong abused his power to illegally recruit young people who should have been sent to remote forest farms for re-education by poor and lower-middle peasants into the team, and even promoted them to officers!"

Zhao Lichun grew increasingly indignant as he spoke: "These people are utterly depraved! Where were they when Wei Dong was risking his life guarding the border? Now, they've slapped a huge accusation on Commander Kong: 'abusing privileges and establishing an independent kingdom' on his head!"

Lin Yang listened quietly, his expression completely calm, as if he were listening to something that had nothing to do with him.

But those who know him well know that this absolute calm often brews the most terrifying thunder.

"When will that investigation team set off?" Lin Yang asked casually.

"The day after tomorrow," Zhao Lichun replied. "They've come prepared this time. The leader is Ma Guoqiang from the Revolutionary Committee. That guy's like a mad dog; once he bites someone, he won't let go. Moreover, they've obtained a powerful mandate from a high-ranking leader. Once the investigation team enters the Northwest Military Region, if Commander Kong doesn't hand over the people, it's blatant defiance of higher authorities; if he does, Wei Dong and Jianguo will be immediately sent back. If they fall into their hands, they'll be lucky to escape with their lives!"

Lin Yang stood up, walked to the French windows, and looked at the gloomy sky outside.

This is the cruelty of struggle. If the enemy cannot overcome your hard power in industry and military, they will bite you like a venomous snake, attacking your most vulnerable spot.

Kong Jie is the linchpin of the Northwest defense line and one of Lin Yang's most steadfast allies in the military. Over the past few years, Kong Jie has withstood immense pressure from all sides, enduring countless open and covert attacks, all to keep the two Lin family children in the army. Now, this long-suppressed pressure has finally reached its breaking point.

If Lin Yang were to forcefully intervene and use his power to keep the investigation outside the Northwest region, it would only fulfill the opponent's wishes. They would immediately launch a media offensive across the entire industry, firmly accusing them of "establishing an independent faction" and "providing special privileges." If it really came to that, not only would Kong Jie be brought down, but the hard-won development of the entire Ministry of Heavy Industry and the military industry system would also be completely ruined.

"What a brilliant move to undermine our strength," Lin Yang sneered.

Zhao Lichun stepped forward and suggested in a low voice, "Minister, how about I arrange for someone to create some 'accident' for Ma Guoqiang on the road? As long as he can't reach the Northwest, this matter can be delayed for now."

"Your mind is muddled."

Lin Yang turned his head and gave Zhao Lichun a cold glance. His gaze was like a sharp blade, which made Zhao Lichun tremble and immediately lower his head.

"These underhanded tactics can only be used against low-level characters like Wu Qiang. Ma Guoqiang was an imperial envoy carrying out orders from above; if something happened to him on the way, it would give them a pretext to directly impose military control on the Northwest Military Region!"

Lin Yang walked back to his desk, his fingers tapping out a dull rhythm on the surface.

"Didn't they say that Lao Kong was abusing his power, and that Weidong and Jianguo were shirking their rural responsibilities? Well, I'll shut them up. I'll make sure they can't even find an excuse to fart."

Lin Yang picked up the red secure phone.

"Boss, you mean..." Zhao Lichun suddenly raised his head, his eyes filled with shock.

"Notify Lao Kong." Lin Yang's voice was as cold as ice, with a resolute determination like a warrior cutting off his own arm. "Before the investigation arrives, immediately complete the departure procedures for Wei Dong and Jianguo and remove them from their military uniforms."

"What?!" Zhao Lichun gasped. "How can this be allowed! Wei Dong is now the platoon leader of the elite platoon, a top-notch soldier in the independent armored garrison division, and he has earned solid military merits! Letting them go now is like pushing a child into a fire pit!"

"Military uniforms are provided by the state, not a shield for the Lin family to use to protect themselves." Lin Yang dialed the number without hesitation. "Since the higher-ups are calling on young people to go to the front lines in rural areas for training, then they must go."

"But Minister, even if we're going to the grassroots level, we can arrange a place with better conditions. For example, a state-owned farm in the suburbs, or a production corps in the south with better conditions..." Zhao Lichun hurriedly tried to persuade him.

"No."

Lin Yang interrupted him, a ruthless glint in his deep eyes.

"If we're going to go, let's go to the most impoverished, the poorest place, the place that can silence everyone." Lin Yang glanced at the national map on the wall, then pointed heavily at a spot. "Go to northern Jiangsu. The rural areas of northern Jiangsu, where it's all saline-alkali land and people are so poor they can't even get enough to eat. Send their files directly to the production brigades at the grassroots level."

Zhao Lichun opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing. Looking at the cold-blooded, almost cruel man before him, a deep sense of awe welled up within him.

If he can be so ruthless to his own son, what person or thing in this world can break Lin Yang?

The call was connected.

Kong Jie's deep voice came from the other end.

"Yangzi! I was just looking for you! I heard those bastards wanted to come to the Northwest to investigate me? Let them come! My doors are wide open! I want to see if they dare to touch my soldiers!"

"Brother Kong, listen to me." Lin Yang's voice was eerily calm. "Immediately process Wei Dong and Jianguo's discharge procedures. Have them leave the base first thing tomorrow morning."