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

"Make sure the chain of evidence in the case file is solid and complete. All those involved should be transferred to the internal supervision department for strict and swift punishment on charges of disrupting the safety of national defense industry production. Tell Pei Yihong that, starting today, the major heavy machinery plants and steel plants in Northeast China should fully implement a closed-loop wartime production mechanism. I want the overall production capacity to double within six months."

"Understood. Minister, there's one more thing..." Zhao Lichun's tone suddenly became hesitant.

"explain."

"News from over there suggests that the situation this year will likely be exceptionally complicated. Several leaders of the local industrial and mining rectification team have been acting very aggressively lately, as if they've sensed something is wrong and are putting in a final, desperate counterattack. Several of our peripheral supporting factories in Beijing have been shut down without cause by them, and they've come to our door repeatedly to find fault and conduct inspections."

Lin Yang on the other end of the phone was silent for a few seconds, and in that brief silence, it seemed as if a thunderbolt was about to explode.

"Let them jump." Lin Yang sneered, his voice revealing a world-weary desolation and toughness. "Those whom Heaven wishes to destroy, it first makes mad. They won't be jumping around for long."

Time, with a heavy and oppressive pace, slowly marched into 1976 on this ancient land.

This is a year destined to be etched deep in the memories of all Chinese people. Too much grief and upheaval followed one after another, weighing heavily on everyone's chest.

In January, a biting wind swept through the capital city, accompanied by a blanket of snow.

Countless people spontaneously took to the streets, braving the biting cold to bid farewell to the old leader who had devoted his life to the country's industrial development. The sound of weeping echoed along the long street, like a thick layer of gloom, heavily shrouding every corner of the land.

In the office of the Minister of Industry, Lin Yang stood quietly by the floor-to-ceiling window, wearing only a thin white shirt and no overcoat. He gazed at the swirling snowflakes outside and the slowly moving crowds on the distant street, his eyes slightly reddening.

He recalled that back in the Northwest, when nuclear industry research and development was stuck at its most difficult bottleneck, it was that old leader who personally issued a special order for the nationwide allocation of materials; it was the old man who slammed his fist on the table at the meeting, overruling all objections and giving him unreserved support.

But now...

The door was gently pushed open, and Chen Feng walked in.

His left arm was wrapped in black gauze, his eyes were red and swollen, and he was clutching an urgent document that had just been delivered.

"Minister." Chen Feng's voice was choked with emotion.

Lin Yang didn't turn around, but simply raised his hand slightly to signal him to speak.

"The local industrial and mining investigation team is stirring up trouble again under the guise of mourning." Chen Feng gritted his teeth, suppressing his anger. "They issued a strict order requiring several large machine tool factories and automobile manufacturing plants directly under the ministry to completely shut down and stop production. They're conducting some kind of investigation and rectification campaign. Anyone who dares to start production will be punished for disobeying the rectification order."

Lin Yang turned around abruptly, and a chilling aura instantly rose in his eyes, which had been filled with grief.

"Should we call for a work stoppage at a time like this?" He strode to his desk, grabbed the security pistol, and slammed it down on the table. "Our old leader's body is barely cold, and they dare to use the nation's industrial lifeline as a bargaining chip in a game of profit. It's utterly outrageous!"

He picked up the phone and dialed He Yuzhu's dedicated line directly.

"Zhu Zi! Take your men to the South Suburbs Machine Tool Factory immediately. I don't care what absurd orders the city has issued. Anyone who dares to block the workshop gates, smash them open; anyone who dares to prevent workers from getting to work, detain them on the spot for sabotaging a key national project!"

On the other end of the phone, He Yuzhu's voice was like a tiger unleashed from its cage: "Don't worry, sir! If these guys dare to cause trouble, I'll show them the rules of the National Defense Industry Direct Security Team today!"

During this time of national mourning, Lin Yang used the toughest measures to protect the industrial base of the capital.

He knew better than anyone that the best way to comfort the deceased was never to stop crying, but to keep the molten steel flowing in the blast furnace, to keep the gears turning on the machine tools, and to ensure that the industrial wealth the old man had built up over his lifetime was not disturbed in the slightest.

But the ordeal of 1976 had only just begun.

In the sweltering heat of July, the entire north was shrouded in a stifling, oppressive heat, with even the wind carrying a sticky, damp scent that made it hard to breathe.

July 28th, 3:42 AM.

In Building No. 6, Class A, Lin Yang was in a light sleep. His years of military service had kept him constantly on high alert.

Suddenly, a muffled rumble came from deep underground, like thousands of giant beasts charging and crashing underground. Immediately afterward, the entire building began to shake violently, the ceiling lights swung wildly, making the lampshades clang, and the teacups on the table were thrown to the ground and shattered.

"Earthquake!" Lin Yang's eyes snapped open, and he sprang from the bed like a cheetah, grabbing Tian Yu beside him and shouting, "Quick! Get into the corner between the load-bearing walls!"

The violent tremors lasted for several tens of seconds.

In those few dozen seconds, the world changed color, and the night sky was illuminated by an eerie ground light, turning it a ghastly white.

As the tremors gradually subsided, the piercing air raid sirens began to sound outside. Without the slightest hesitation, Lin Yang rushed to the living room and grabbed the red secure telephone line before even properly putting on his shoes.

The line was severely interfered with, and it took a long time for the call to be connected. "This is Lin Yang! Connect to the National Emergency Rescue and Disaster Relief Headquarters! Where is the epicenter? What is the casualty situation?" Lin Yang's shout was particularly heavy in the dark night.

Minutes later, news that brought grief to the entire nation arrived. The epicenter was in Tangshan. That heavy industrial city of one million people was almost completely leveled in just twenty-three seconds.

That night, the capital city was sleepless, and the entire nation's nerves were suddenly on edge. As soon as dawn broke through the darkness, the Ministry of Industry's office building was already brightly lit, with all bureau-level officials reporting for duty overnight.

The atmosphere in Conference Room One was so heavy it was almost palpable.

Lin Yang stood in front of a huge map of North China, his white shirt already soaked with sweat, his eyes bloodshot, yet his gaze was unusually calm and sharp.

"Comrades, Tangshan is gone." The moment those words were uttered, everyone present gasped in shock.

"That's a heavy industrial city. Most of the houses are brick-and-mortar structures and prefabricated panels. Now hundreds of thousands of people are buried under the rubble. Digging by hand and shovels is simply not enough to catch up with the golden rescue time!"

Lin Yang suddenly turned around and slammed his hands heavily on the conference table.

"We've been training for this for a thousand days, but we're going to use it for this one! All that heavy machinery that our Ministry of Industry has accumulated in the Northeast and Southwest over the past few years should now be put to good use!" He looked at Zhao Lichun and gave him a direct order.

"On the day of Lichun (the beginning of spring), immediately send a top-secret telegram to Pei Yihong in the Northeast! Instruct the Fengtian No. 1 Heavy Machinery Plant to load all its stockpiled large hydraulic excavators, heavy mining trucks, and loaders onto the special strategic freight train!"

"No need for any routine approval procedures, no need to worry about any processes or regulations! Have Pei Yihong personally escort the vehicle, and head straight to the Tangshan disaster area at top speed, without a moment's delay!"