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

Chen Feng's expression instantly hardened. This radio station was directly connected to the core command center of the Central Security Bureau and the Security Department of the Ministry of Heavy Industry, and it would only be used in extremely urgent emergencies.

He quickly picked up the microphone and pressed the answer button: "This is Chen Feng. Speak."

A rapid report, punctuated by static, came from the radio, the voice distorted with tension: "Director Chen! Something's happened! Target 'Half-City' lost contact half an hour ago! The four outer security officers responsible for their covert protection were knocked unconscious in an alley near the intersection in the south of the city. There were signs of a struggle at the scene, but no firearms were used!"

Chen Feng's pupils suddenly contracted.

"Half-City" was the internal protection code given to Lou Zhenhua by the Security Department of the Ministry of Heavy Industry. Back then, this notorious "Half-City Lou," under the intimidation and guidance of Lin Yang, donated all his shares and 80% of his assets free of charge in exchange for the protection of a "red capitalist." In recent years, Lou Zhenhua has lived a secluded and law-abiding life, secretly using his early business acumen to advise on some unofficial procurements for the Ministry of Heavy Industry, making him a useful pawn in Lin Yang's hands.

Who would dare to touch the people protected by Lin Yang at this critical juncture, right under the emperor's nose in Beijing?

Chen Feng covered the microphone, turned to look at Lin Yang in the back seat, and said in a low voice, "Minister, Lou Zhenhua has been kidnapped."

Lin Yang slowly opened his eyes. His eyes, as deep as an abyss, held no trace of panic, but instead radiated a chilling aura capable of freezing the air.

"Have you found out who did it?" Lin Yang's voice was calm and even.

Chen Feng immediately asked a few questions over the radio, then reported: "Preliminary investigation indicates that it was done by a group of remnants of the 'Red Storm' rebels from the south of the city. Their leader is called Sun Damazi. A few years ago, when they were at their peak, these people made a lot of money in the factories and mines. Later, our Ministry of Heavy Industry carried out a rectification campaign, cutting off their source of income. These people, cornered like dogs, have been trying to find dirt on us."

"They somehow found out about Lou Zhenhua's connection with our department, and they probably want to use Lou Zhenhua as a springboard to solidify your charges of 'protecting big capitalists' and 'colluding with businessmen'."

After hearing this, Lin Yang's lips curled into a chilling, mocking smile.

"A bunch of grasshoppers in autumn, actually thinking they can kill an elephant?" Lin Yang tapped his fingers lightly on the leather armrest of the seat. "Where have they taken the person now?"

"The tracking team just sent a signal: Lou Zhenhua is carrying one of the pocket watches we were issued earlier, one with a hidden miniature signal transmitter. The signal source is currently located in an abandoned textile factory warehouse near Nanyuan Airport." Chen Feng's eyes flashed with murderous intent. "Minister, should we notify the special train in Fengtai to postpone its departure? I'll immediately mobilize the Security Bureau to raze that textile factory!"

Lin Yang glanced at the continuous spring rain outside the car window and coldly uttered two words: "Turn around. Go to Nanyuan."

"yes!"

The Hongqi sedan suddenly swerved at a wide intersection, its tires screeching on the wet asphalt, like an enraged black beast, changing course and speeding toward Nanyuan.

Meanwhile, the abandoned textile factory in Nanyuan.

This is an old-fashioned red-brick factory built in the 1950s. Due to aging equipment and the transfer of production targets, it has been abandoned for several years. Most of the factory's windows are broken, and the cold wind of early spring, mixed with raindrops, seeps in through the holes, making the whole space feel cold and damp.

Two glaring high-wattage tungsten iodine lamps were lit in the open space in the center of the factory.

Lou Zhenhua was roughly tied to a rusty iron chair. This once powerful and pampered capitalist now looked quite disheveled. His well-tailored Zhongshan suit was torn in several places, and his gray hair was disheveled and stuck to his forehead. There was a large bruise on the corner of his mouth, from which blood was seeping.

But there was not a trace of fear in his eyes, which had weathered countless storms.

Standing before him was a man with a face full of scars and pockmarks. This was none other than Sun Damazi, the leader of the "Red Storm".

Sun Damazi held a thick, threaded steel bar in his hand, tossed it around, and glared fiercely at Lou Zhenhua.

"Lou Bancheng, you're still got some tough bones." Sun Dama sneered, pulled over a broken wooden box and sat down, took out a piece of paper covered in writing from his pocket and slapped it on the tin bucket in front of Lou Zhenhua.

"I'm giving you one last chance. Sign this and put your fingerprint on it. Prove that when you donated your shares in the steel mill, it wasn't for the country at all, but to bribe Lin Yang! Prove that Lin Yang has been using his power to secretly funnel benefits to you all these years, allowing you to live a decadent bourgeois lifestyle!"

Sun Dama leaned closer to Lou Zhenhua, lowering his voice with a morbid fanaticism: "As long as you sign, I guarantee you'll not only live, but you'll also be back in your little villa. Lin Yang is high up now, but he's offended too many people! Once this document is submitted, there are plenty of big shots who want him dead! When the big tree falls, you little monkey will have to find a way out for yourself, won't you?"

Lou Zhenhua burst out laughing after hearing this utterly absurd argument.

The laughter echoed through the empty factory, carrying an undisguised contempt and pity.

"What are you laughing at?!" Sun Dama was so enraged by the laughter that he suddenly raised the steel bar in his hand, as if to hit him.

Lou Zhenhua stopped laughing, raised his head, and stared intently at Sun Dama with his cloudy but sharp eyes.

"I laugh at you bunch of fools, still dreaming of tripping up an elephant even when you're about to die." Lou Zhenhua spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva. "You have no idea what kind of power you've messed with. Bribery? Does someone like Lin Yang need bribes? Back then, a single word from him could make Beijing tremble; now, a single glance from him can decide the life and death of hundreds of thousands! He's the only person I've ever met in my life who truly holds the nation's lifeline in his hands!"

Lou Zhenhua's eyes gleamed with an almost fanatical light of faith. During that great storm years ago, it was Lin Yang who mobilized the garrison troops to force open the detention center doors and pull him back from the brink of death. From that moment on, Lou Zhenhua completely entrusted his life to Lin Yang.

"You bunch of clowns, do you think you can cause trouble in Beijing just because Minister Lin is going to the Northeast?" Lou Zhenhua coldly looked at Sun Dama. "I advise you to prepare your coffins now. Because when he finds out about this, even dying will become a luxury for you."

"You old bastard! You're asking for it!"

Sun Dama was utterly enraged. He knew Lou Zhenhua was telling the truth; they, the rebels who had struggled at the bottom of society, knew better than anyone how terrifying Lin Yang was. But they had no way out. If they didn't get their hands on this incriminating material to curry favor and gain rewards, they would all be imprisoned once the Ministry of Heavy Industry's rectification campaign reached the lower levels.