Courtyard House: I Have Countless Bodyguards

Qi Wen was utterly terrified by the word "bomb," tears streaming down his face, and he was incoherent:

"Boss... I'm innocent... I really don't know who he is... Every time... every time it's in that abandoned brick kiln outside the back wall of the factory... He wears a tattered felt hat and a big mask covering his eyes... It's dark... I can't see his face... His voice is hoarse... He gives me money and tells me where to put the things... I just do as he says... I don't know anything else. If I had known it was a bomb, I wouldn't have dared to do it even if you gave me a hundred lives."

Liu Jianguo's gaze was icy. This method of rendezvous was very common. Enemy agents were extremely cunning and would never easily reveal their true colors. The clues seemed to have completely run out here.

He thought to himself that if they were real enemy agents, they would definitely act cautiously. Qi Wen, a minor figure on the periphery, could not possibly know the core information.

Just as Liu Jianguo thought he couldn't get any more information and was about to end the interrogation, Qi Wen seemed to suddenly remember something, struggled to raise his cloudy eyes, and stammered, "..."

"Oh, right... Boss... once, he took the money and turned to leave, and the way he walked was a little pigeon-toed... Also, when he blew his nose, he pulled his mask down a bit, and I think... I think I caught a glimpse of half a face... those eyebrows... that expression... I think... I think he looks a little bit like that henchman of Boss Dong who's been hanging around the factory gate lately, bothering Chief Wang of the propaganda department... But, but it was just a glance, and it was dark, so I really can't be sure. Maybe... maybe I was mistaken..."

These words, though not spoken in a loud voice, were like a bolt of lightning, instantly piercing through the fog in Liu Jianguo's mind.

Liu Jianguo was startled, then a chilling sense of surprise welled up inside him.

The harassment of Wang Mengzhu by Dong Ye's men, the black market, and bombs—several seemingly unrelated clues are cleverly linked together by Qi Wen's uncertain accusation.

He was racking his brains trying to find a legitimate reason to eliminate the local bully who was harassing Wang Mengzhu, in order to fulfill Director Tang's private request.

Now, the opportunity has arrived.

Suspected of transporting explosives, endangering factory safety, and being linked to enemy espionage activities—this is a divinely ordained and irrefutable charge.

Regardless of whether that "Master Dong" is actually the real enemy agent, as long as he is linked to the bomb, he will have no way to defend himself.

He's going to take the blame for this; it's both a way to eliminate potential threats for the public and a way to resolve personal troubles—a win-win situation.

Liu Jianguo suppressed his inner plan, his face becoming even more serious. He turned to Secretary Niu and said in a deep voice:

"Secretary Niu, there's been a major breakthrough in the interrogation. The suspect may be connected to a local criminal gang, and might even be involved in Section Chief Wang's harassment case. This matter is now more complicated. Please let me investigate; I will personally verify the information."

At this point, Secretary Niu was completely obedient to Liu Jianguo and immediately nodded:

"Okay, Director Liu, you have full authority to handle this. Just tell me how you need the factory's cooperation."

Liu Jianguo, accompanied by Wang Weiguo, found Wang Mengzhu, who was still somewhat distraught, in the factory office. He got straight to the point, his tone serious:

"Section Chief Wang, there's a crucial question that requires your assistance. Where exactly is the hideout of that 'Master Dong' who's been harassing you, or rather, the black market where he frequents? How do we get there? This is a vital clue to the case."

Wang Mengzhu was taken aback, clearly not expecting Liu Jianguo to ask this. She hesitated for a moment, as if making a great decision, before whispering:

"I know... in the south of the city, deep in an old shantytown, there's a crooked old locust tree at the intersection... I... I had someone secretly follow the person who was harassing me once..."

She briefly described the route and signs. Liu Jianguo nodded, then turned to Wang Weiguo and gave the order:

"Notify all team members to go to the canteen for lunch immediately, then return to the guesthouse for a quick rest. No going out tonight. Assemble promptly at 3:00 AM!"

Subsequently, Liu Jianguo held emergency communications with Tang Dahu, director of the Baoding Municipal Bureau, and Niu, secretary of the factory's Party Committee.

He informed Tang Dahu of the important clue that Dongye might be involved in bomb transportation, and requested a joint operation to dismantle the black market den and arrest the suspects.

Tang Dahu took it very seriously, immediately agreed, and assigned criminal investigation personnel to cooperate.

At the same time, he explained the situation to Secretary Niu and said that he would take action to completely eliminate the safety hazards around the factory. Secretary Niu expressed his full support and asked the security department to select key personnel familiar with the terrain to be ready to be dispatched at any time.

At three in the morning, the night was as dark as ink, and the air was bitterly cold.

In the open space in front of the waste material warehouse, more than 30 investigators drawn from Beijing and Baoding, as well as key personnel selected from the factory's security department, had all assembled.

No one spoke, only heavy breathing and the faint sound of equipment rubbing together.

Liu Jianguo stood at the front of the line, his gaze sweeping across each resolute or tense face with lightning speed. His voice was low, yet clear and powerful, reaching everyone's ears:

"Comrades, target: the black market hideout in the south of the city. According to reliable intelligence, the boss there, Master Dong, is suspected of participating in enemy sabotage activities. The operation requires secrecy, speed, and decisiveness. After departure, maintain as much silence as possible. Without orders, do not make a sound or use any lights. Is that clear?"

"clear!"

A deep, orderly response rang out in the night sky. With a wave of his hand, Liu Jianguo's team instantly transformed into several silent undercurrents, led by the factory security officer assigned by Wang Mengzhu, and silently disappeared into the deepest darkness before dawn in Baoding City, rapidly advancing towards the chaotic area in the south of the city.

The team arrived silently on the outskirts of the black market.

By the faint moonlight, one could see the outline of a low, messy shantytown in the distance, with a few scattered kerosene lamps flickering like will-o'-the-wisps in the darkness.

Liu Jianguo crouched behind a crumbling wall, observed carefully for a moment, and quickly issued the final deployment:

"Wang Weiguo, Liu Jiefang! Each of you take ten men, divided into groups of four or five, and disguise yourselves as people entering the black market to buy things. Slowly infiltrate from different directions to find out the exact location of Master Dong's courtyard and the night watch situation."

Attention, do not move without my signal. The rest of you, form groups of three around me and immediately spread out to form an encirclement, blocking all possible escape routes.

Remember, if someone tries to break through the checkpoint and escape, fire a warning shot into the air first.

If the other party resists with a gun, especially if they come from the direction of the target's courtyard, they can be identified as enemy agents stubbornly resisting. Without requesting permission, they should be shot and killed on the spot.

"action!"

At the command, the well-trained team members immediately dispersed quickly and orderly, like water droplets falling into sand, disappearing into the shadows and alleys of the shantytown. An invisible net was quietly cast.