Chapter 1182 Boundless Hell
Bin Sheng interjected, "Hold on!"
The head of the security department looked at him, puzzled.
Bin Sheng explained, "We still don't know where these infiltrators hail from. They could be spies from the Jin state, or Mongols, or Joseon, or even agents sent by Western powers. If you rush in to apprehend them now, and they prove to be tight-lipped, refusing to utter a single word even under duress, then our entire lead will vanish."
The head of the security department instantly grasped his meaning. "A long line to catch a big fish," he mused.
"Precisely!" Bin Sheng scoffed, a frosty edge to his voice. "In the business of espionage and intelligence gathering, rash action is the cardinal sin. One must possess patience, lie in wait, and only then can you trace the line to the much bigger fish."
He swept a hand through the air. "Members of the security department, we are about to engage in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse with these enemy agents. Our objective is clear: identify their origin nation, discover what factory secrets they intend to steal, uncover any other infiltrators acting as their support, and expose their external contacts. This must be a meticulously planned operation, designed to dismantle their entire spy network, root and branch, from the inside out."
The security guards affirmed in unison, "Understood!"
The security chief exclaimed, "So that's the strategy, Director Bin! You are truly brilliant; I had no idea you were also an expert in this field."
Bin Sheng's weathered face flushed faintly. "Ahem, truth be told, I'm not particularly adept at this. And please, stop looking at me as if I'm some espionage mastermind."
Bin Sheng surveyed the guards, a thought forming in his mind: *No, these are mere security personnel. In the brutal world of espionage, they might not last, potentially sacrificing themselves for nothing. I need to bring in more capable individuals to assist.*
And those, naturally, would be my old subordinates!
Bin Sheng strolled toward the entrance of the staff cafeteria, feigning indifference. With a piece of white chalk, he etched a tiny, unassuming mark in a hidden corner of the main door.
He then stepped inside, collected a standard staff meal, and settled into a quiet corner to eat.
A few moments later, one of the spies who had once followed him from the Jin state—now promoted to Deputy Director of the Armored Plate Assembly Workshop—approached, carrying his own meal. He settled into the seat beside Bin Sheng with a thump, deliberately asking in a loud voice, "Director Bin, you don't mind if I join you for lunch, do you?"
Bin Sheng chuckled heartily. "We're all one family here, no need for formalities. Come, sit and eat with me."
They had barely taken a few bites when another top production worker joined them, dropping into a seat nearby with a jovial grin. "Director Bin, Director Zheng, let's all eat together..."
Before long, all ten of his trusted subordinates had gathered.
Eleven in total, including Bin Sheng, they hunched over their meals, affecting the demeanor of regular factory workers, interspersing their conversation with occasional factory humor.
Yet, beneath the surface of casual banter, serious matters were soon being whispered.
Bin Sheng scooped a mouthful of rice, a smile plastered on his face, though his voice was grave. "Spies have infiltrated the factory. Their leader's surname is Mi, an educated man. He commands twenty-four subordinates, each a skilled operative, with steady gait and respectable martial prowess."
"Are these once again agents from our Jin state?"
"It's been renamed Qing," someone softly reminded.
"I still prefer to call it Jin," the first man muttered.
Bin Sheng lowered his voice further. "He doesn't recognize me, so perhaps he isn't from the Jin state, but we cannot entirely discount the possibility. In any case, they outnumber us by more than two to one. Brothers, if we're forced into a confrontation, we must be ready to face two opponents each."
One man spoke up, "Didn't the Heavenly Lord instruct us that if we discover spies, it's best not to engage them directly, but rather to report to the security department?"
Bin Sheng replied, "I've already informed the security department, and they will indeed assign personnel to watch them. However, the security staff are novices; they simply don't grasp the subtle complexities of this game."
And that was the undeniable truth!
What kind of struggle is waged between spies?
It is called Boundless Hell!
Security guards couldn't possibly fathom it!
Bin Sheng continued, "Gentlemen, the security department can only offer support. The real battle, the brutal one, falls to us. If we succeed and secure this achievement, promotions and raises will surely follow for all of you."
One subordinate laughed softly. "I'm quite content as is."
Another added, "Indeed, further promotion isn't necessary. Our lives here are a thousand times better than they ever were in the Jin state."
Bin Sheng's tone grew serious. "If we fail to safeguard this hard-earned life, if these spies succeed in stealing our intelligence, if the Gao Family Village Militia is defeated—and imagine, if the Heavenly Lord happens to be on a distant pilgrimage to an immortal island and doesn't intervene—then everything we've built, our entire way of life, will be utterly destroyed."
A shock ran through the group, their expressions turning instantly grave. "You're right!" they asserted. "Our wonderful lives must be defended by our own hands!"
All eleven whispered in unison, "Let's do this!"
Having concluded their hushed discussion, the eleven men's faces brightened instantly. "Well, Director Bin, I'm stuffed! I'll be off then," one announced cheerfully.
"Director Zheng, I snagged a piece of your meat just now; I'll make it up to you next time."
"Hahahaha!"
Then, one by one, like any other factory workers, they finished their meals, rose from their seats, and vanished seamlessly into the bustling crowd outside the cafeteria.
At that very moment, Zhu Yujian emerged from the armored vehicle workshop, a broad smile gracing his face. "Remarkable! This Chang'an Automobile Factory is truly exceptional, living up to its reputation as a military industry powerhouse. It's been an absolute revelation!"
Vice Director Qi Cheng, walking beside him, chuckled. "The armored vehicle workshop, impressive as it is, doesn't represent our peak technical achievement. The motor workshop is where our true ingenuity lies."
"Motor?" Zhu Yujian queried. "Is that the core component of the electric fan?"
"Precisely," Qi Cheng affirmed with a smile. "The motor is the heart of the electric fan. And this motor, much like a steam engine, generates continuous rotational power. By employing various gears and bearings, we can redirect this force and apply it across countless industries. Electric fans are merely a rudimentary application; many more advanced and powerful uses are on the horizon."
Here, Qi Cheng allowed himself a touch of pride. "We're presently researching how to integrate motors into vehicles, replacing steam engines entirely."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yujian appeared somewhat baffled. "That seems rather improbable, doesn't it? Motors require electricity to function. Surely, a vehicle couldn't just drag a power cable behind it everywhere it goes?"
Qi Cheng merely smiled. "It's actually not as difficult as it sounds. We can install power poles along the entire length of the road, stringing a long, thick electrical cable directly above the asphalt. The vehicle can then extend two connector arms, link up to the cable, and continuously draw power as it travels."
Zhu Yujian gasped in astonishment. "So that's the ingenious solution! Truly astounding, such a concept is utterly brilliant!"
Qi Cheng smiled. "However, this project is still in the research phase; it hasn't achieved success just yet."
Zhu Yujian declared, "I eagerly await the day it comes to fruition."
As the two conversed, Mi Qianhu happened to walk past, casting a furtive glance at Zhu Yujian...
A short distance away, Bin Sheng covertly observed Mi Qianhu. *Tsk, this fellow,* he mused, *could he be here to steal our latest motor technology?*
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