Siheyuan (courtyard house): My father, Li Yunlong!

With the order given, the department finally had some direction, although everyone remained gloomy. However, practical problems immediately became apparent.

The intelligence department only had five people, including himself. To seal off and thoroughly search that huge waste and garbage area was nothing short of a pipe dream.

He must seek support.

Li Zhenhua immediately got up and went to report to Director Sun Weimin, emphasizing the necessity of on-site investigation and the difficulty of manpower shortage.

Sun Weimin frowned and reluctantly agreed that he could coordinate support from other departments, but his tone was cold, clearly indicating that he did not have much hope.

Sure enough, when Li Zhenhua took the director's "oral instruction" to the heads of other departments, he encountered tremendous resistance.

Those section chiefs who left the meeting room before him and had already been informed were all slick and slippery.

"Section Chief Li, it's not that we don't want to help, we just simply don't have enough manpower! The factory patrol duties are heavy!"

"Everyone in our department has been sent to assist with the major safety inspection; there's not a single person idle!"

"Section Chief Li, your intelligence section is the main force, this kind of case is exactly where you should shine..."

There was a constant stream of excuses, buck-passing, and other pretexts.

They were just waiting to see this new, unknown young section chief make a fool of himself; who would want to get involved in such a mess?

Li Zhenhua's face darkened.

He knew what these people were thinking.

He suppressed his anger, his gaze sweeping over the section chiefs with their fake smiles, his voice turning cold.

"Section Chiefs, the Director has clearly instructed that I will lead this case, but the entire department needs to cooperate. If the on-site investigation is delayed due to some departments refusing to send personnel, resulting in the omission of crucial evidence, or even allowing potential enemy agents to take the opportunity to destroy more evidence... will I, Li Zhenhua, bear this responsibility alone, or will all of you section chiefs who 'cannot spare the manpower' also share the burden?"

He paused, his tone becoming even more sinister, his sharp gaze sweeping over everyone.

"When the director comes to question me or my superiors blame me, I, Li Zhenhua, will naturally make a self-criticism. But I can only report the facts. It's not that I, Li Zhenhua, didn't try my best, but that some departments refused to cooperate, delaying our opportunity! Think about it, what will Director Sun think then? And if Director Yang inquires, how will you explain yourselves?"

These words were both soft and hard, serving as both a threat and a way of putting the stakes out on the table.

If you don't cooperate, it might not be as simple as just watching someone make a fool of themselves; you could be dragged down and held responsible.

The expressions on the faces of the section chiefs changed immediately, and they exchanged glances.

Finally, in a very reluctant atmosphere, the various departments managed to cobble together thirty people to work for Li Zhenhua.

Most of these people were either marginal figures in their respective departments or newcomers, and their faces were full of reluctance and perfunctory attitude.

Li Zhenhua didn't care about anything else and led this "ragtag army" and Lao Zhou and the others to the waste and garbage pile on the edge of the factory area.

After setting up a cordon, Li Zhenhua instructed Lao Zhou to direct a group of more than 30 people to conduct a thorough search of the mountain of garbage and waste that emitted a foul odor.

As noon approached, the sun became scorching, and the smell from the garbage dump became even more unbearable.

The thirty people who were seconded complained bitterly, dragged their feet, and did a perfunctory job.

Old Zhou and Old Chen were getting on in years, and soon they were panting and sweating profusely.

Li Zhenhua also tried his hand at it, getting covered in dust and sweat, but after a whole morning, he found nothing except more household garbage, scrap iron and some rotten waste.

The filter capacitor seemed to have appeared out of thin air; nothing else related to it could be found.

Looking at the mess in front of him and his listless subordinates who were almost passively resisting, Li Zhenhua's heart sank to the bottom.

Old Zhou came over, wiping his sweat, and shook his head helplessly.

"Section Chief Li, this can't go on. This pile of garbage has been there for who knows how many years. Searching like this is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Shouldn't we... shouldn't we think of another way?"

Li Zhenhua took a deep breath; the pungent smell made him even more alert.

He realized that this couldn't go on.

With these people using such inefficient and clumsy methods, they wouldn't be able to find out anything even in seven days, let alone seventy.

This is a complete waste of time and plays right into the hands of those who want to see a joke!

He needs professional guidance, he needs someone with real experience to tell him what to do.

He himself knew absolutely nothing about it.

These older comrades here are obviously not reliable either.

Having thought this through, Li Zhenhua made a decision. He said to Lao Zhou...

"Section Chief Zhou, why don't you take everyone to rest for a bit, and then symbolically search again? I'm going out for a bit to think of a solution."

He needs outside help, he needs truly professional and reliable guidance.

Go home to find your mother, Xiuqin?

She may have influence within the industrial system, but when it comes to highly specialized fields like counter-espionage, she is probably not up to the task.

Moreover, if this matter is not handled properly, it may actually implicate my mother.

A figure instantly appeared in his mind: Zhao Gang, Uncle Zhao.

Compared to his father Li Yunlong, who was hot-tempered and had an even wilder approach, Zhao Gang, as the political commissar of the General Staff, was not only in a high position of power, but also a meticulous and logically rigorous intellectual.

Whether seeking professional advice or learning about higher-level information and regulations, consulting Zhao Gang is undoubtedly the most suitable choice at present.

More importantly, Zhao Gang had always been quite caring towards him. In the past, when he got into trouble and dared not go home, he would usually go to find this Zhao Shuping to settle things.

With that thought in mind, Li Zhenhua no longer hesitated. He mounted his brand-new Forever bicycle, pushed off with his feet, and the wheels spun rapidly as he headed straight for the General Staff compound outside the city.

Although the General Staff compound was farther away than his home in the city, he was familiar with the route.

Upon arriving at the imposing gates of the General Staff compound, they were indeed stopped by heavily armed and solemn-looking guards.

"Comrade, please show your identification and state your purpose."

The guards meticulously carried out the regulations.

Li Zhenhua stopped the car, took out his security guard ID from the steel rolling mill, and said calmly.

"Hello comrade, I am Li Zhenhua from Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill. I am here to see Political Commissar Zhao Gang of the General Staff Department. I have something important to report. Please inform me."

The guards checked his credentials and looked him over, clearly surprised that a section chief from a steel rolling mill had come directly to the General Staff Political Commissar.

Seeing that Li Zhenhua was calm and composed, and did not seem to be faking it, he said "Please wait a moment," turned around, walked into the guard post, and made a phone call.

Li Zhenhua waited outside the door for about fifteen minutes, feeling a little uneasy, unsure whether Zhao Gang was busy or if it was convenient for him to see him.

Just as he was getting anxious, a young communications officer in military uniform, who looked very capable, jogged out, confirmed his identity, and saluted.

"Comrade Li Zhenhua, please come with me. Political Commissar Zhao is waiting for you in his office."

Guided by the communications officer, Li Zhenhua entered the heavily guarded and mysterious office building.