Chapter Forty-Two: Turmoil at the Base

After Bai Muqing left, Zhang Mingyang leaned against the wall and opened the book in his hands, "Resource Game," and began to read. At that moment, the cell Zhang Mingyang occupied had become the quietest spot in the entire base.

Bang! Bang!

Outside the director’s office, Hui Jun knocked forcefully.

“Director Wang, I’m Hui Jun from the Energy Department. Are you there? I have an urgent matter to report.”

The knocking disturbed Wang Bowen, who was in the midst of a phone conversation.

“Wait a moment!” he shouted toward the door, then continued, “Sir, I wasn’t calling for you just now. Please go on.”

Hui Jun, not hearing Wang Bowen’s response, kept knocking even harder.

“Director Wang, here’s what I’ll do. I’ll immediately report your concerns to the higher-ups. This issue is too big; I can’t handle anything to do with the Security Bureau.”

Wang Bowen grew increasingly anxious as he listened to the reply on the phone. “Minister Liu, there’s no time. If we keep going like this, the whole plan will fail to meet the deadline. If the higher authorities hold us accountable, we won’t be able to explain ourselves!”

The voice on the other end: “As I said, Director Wang, I understand your concerns. But the current situation is beyond my capacity to resolve. I’ll report to the leadership, and let the higher-ups handle it. That way, we won’t have to worry about being blamed.”

“Wait, wait…”

Wang Bowen shouted furiously, “Liu Yuan, now is not the time to shirk responsibility! This is an important project with massive investment from the state. We can’t let the whole thing halt because of a single spy. If you can’t handle it, I’ll call the Prime Minister myself!”

“Hey… Old Wang…”

Before Liu Yuan could finish, Wang Bowen, enraged, slammed the phone to the ground and cursed, “These hypocrites! When it’s time for promotion, they’re all eager; but when there’s a problem, they’re all experts at passing the buck!”

“Director Wang…”

Hui Jun continued calling from outside.

Kicking the phone aside, Wang Bowen strode to the door and opened it. Hui Jun rushed in.

Seeing Wang Bowen’s furious expression, Hui Jun said, “Director Wang, you’d better get to the plaza. The Security Bureau is about to escort all suspects to the capital for interrogation. If they leave, we’ll lose over a thousand research personnel!”

This news struck Wang Bowen like a bolt from the blue, almost causing him to collapse.

“They’re trying to destroy the base!”

Hui Jun supported Wang Bowen, urging him to make a decision before the people were taken away.

Wang Bowen thought for a moment—there was no other way. He replied, “Go find Qian Zhongshu and Lin Guangming. Tell them they must stop the Security Bureau; they absolutely cannot let them leave the base. I’ll make a call and be right there.”

Listening to Wang Bowen’s instructions, Hui Jun immediately ran out.

The situation was becoming increasingly dire. I must make this call.

He took out his phone and dialed the Prime Minister’s number.

...

Elsewhere, since Qian Zhongshu and Lin Guangming had been confined to their dormitory, Hui Jun had no choice but to force his way in.

“What’s your business?” The guards outside blocked Hui Jun.

Hui Jun didn’t waste words. With more than a dozen people accompanying him, he had enough force to break in.

“Comrades, tie them up!”

His colleagues swarmed forward, pinning the two guards to the ground.

“You’re rebelling!”

“If we don’t rebel, you’ll drive us to death!”

Rushing into the dormitory, Hui Jun quickly found Qian Zhongshu and Lin Guangming.

“Hui Jun, how did you get in?”

Qian Zhongshu was puzzled—the guards outside wouldn’t even allow meal delivery. How had Hui Jun managed it?

“Gentlemen, come with me, quickly.”

Hui Jun briefly explained the situation, and Qian Zhongshu jumped up in agitation.

“This is outrageous! If they go through with this, the base is finished. Let’s hurry!”

Without further ado, the three dashed out.

Along the way, Qian Zhongshu instructed Hui Jun to contact the remaining personnel and gather them in the main plaza, while he and Lin Guangming went ahead to stall for time.

At the plaza, hundreds of Security Bureau agents were escorting over a thousand researchers toward the airport.

“Stop! Everyone, stop!”

Qian Zhongshu and Lin Guangming arrived in time, rushing to the front of the line to block everyone.

“Qian Zhongshu, are you rebelling?” Wang Yanxiu emerged from the crowd, pointing at them accusingly. “You two violated inspection regulations and left without permission. I suspect you are accomplices of the spy. Arrest them!”

Security Bureau agents moved in, surrounding them.

“Wang Yanxiu, don’t you dare!”

Qian Zhongshu struggled free from several agents, pointing at Wang Yanxiu and shouting, “This isn’t apprehending a spy; you’re sabotaging a major national project! Where in the world have you ever seen over a thousand spies? You’re deliberately wrecking things!”

At Qian Zhongshu’s accusation, Wang Yanxiu laughed loudly. “The Security Bureau’s business is none of yours. Not all those we arrest are spies, but they are all accomplices—people who have had close contact or dealings with the spy. I’ll interrogate them one by one.”

“We’re innocent…”

“We’re not spies…”

All the detained researchers began shouting.

“Wang Yanxiu, what evidence do you have to claim they’re accomplices?”

“Evidence?”

Wang Yanxiu sneered. “The Security Bureau’s evidence is not for you to see. Step aside, or I’ll arrest you both as well.”

“Don’t you dare!”

At that moment, Hui Jun arrived with thousands of researchers, surrounding the entire inspection team.

Faced with this scene, Wang Yanxiu grew fearful. “What are you doing? Are you rebelling?”

“Rebelling?”

Hui Jun pointed at Wang Yanxiu and shouted, “You look more like the rebel! Release them!”

“Release them…”

The thunderous roar of thousands shook the inspection team to its core.

“Fine! If you’re rebelling, don’t blame me for using force!”

“Draw your guns!”

“Yes, sir!”

At the command, dozens of Security Bureau agents drew their pistols and aimed at the crowd, the black muzzles intimidating everyone and prompting them to retreat.

“You’re going to open fire?”

Lin Guangming hadn’t expected Wang Yanxiu to actually draw weapons. Seeing people start to fall back, he realized someone had to step forward.

“Go ahead, shoot!”

Lin Guangming stepped out from the crowd, approaching the guns step by step. “If you have the guts, kill me!”

“Old Lin, are you out of your mind?”

Qian Zhongshu hurried forward, trying to pull Lin Guangming back.

Lin Guangming shook him off and shouted to everyone, “Comrades, don’t be afraid! If they fire today, none of them will leave here alive. None of our comrades will let them get away, and neither will the higher authorities!”

Hearing Lin Guangming’s words, people began to step forward. “Old Lin is right! Comrades, don’t be afraid—there’s no way they would dare to shoot!”