Chapter 35: Target Narrowing
The telephone line descended from the rooftop. The distance from the roof to the telephone set was seven to eight meters.
Upon the seven to eight meters of telephone wire, there were five connection points, indicating that five individuals were connected to this line.
External lines could be extended from the upper floor to the required rooms.
Even if someone noticed, they wouldn't pay it any mind, dismissing it as abandoned wiring or the like.
Zhou Lin, atop the roof, observed those five interfaces. Three were old, unused for a considerable time. Two were relatively new, one of which was dismantled a few months ago.
The other, however, was brand new but coated with a layer of old machine oil. Given a couple more days, it would be perceived as an old connection.
This person was clever, but the use of old machine oil exposed him.
With just a glance, Zhou Lin could tell that something was amiss with this person.
Those with guilty consciences tend to be secretive.
Zhou Lin pointed to the connections on the telephone line, and Wang Hong immediately understood.
Without descending, the two of them lit cigarettes on the rooftop.
Zhou Lin asked, "How many households on this side?"
Zhou Lin had a reason for asking. The telephone line was on this side, and if connected to the dormitories on the opposite side, it would be too conspicuous. Therefore, only residents on this side would connect.
Wang Hong, understanding this, replied, "Three households. One is the deputy battalion commander of the Third Regiment, holding the rank of Colonel. Another is the battalion commander of the First Regiment, also a Colonel. The third is the deputy division commander, a Colonel as well."
In the Seventh Division, there was only one major general, Shie Division Commander. The other deputy division commanders and staff officers were all Colonels.
Zhou Lin inquired, "Who is the deputy division commander?"
"He Deputy Division Commander."
Zhou Lin took a drag from his cigarette and asked, "Have the family members of Deputy Division Commander He moved in?"
"No! The family members of these three households haven't moved in. They all stayed in their hometowns."
Zhou Lin whispered, "Check if they returned to the dormitories after the meeting."
After descending, Zhou Lin went directly to find Staff Officer Huang.
"Huang Uncle, what do you think of Deputy Division Commander He?"
Staff Officer Huang looked at Zhou Lin and honestly replied, "I don't like him. Scheming."
Zhou Lin asked again, "Was Deputy Division Commander He present at the meeting that day?"
"No! He took leave and went back to Nanjing. Said his elderly father was about to pass away."
Zhou Lin inquired further, "What about Deputy Division Commander Kuang?"
"That person has a violent temper and can't hold back. On the day of the meeting, he was staying at the hospital and didn't attend."
According to information from the previous life, the infiltrator was among those who survived.
Both of these deputy division commanders were survivors.
Zhou Lin wanted to clarify one thing.
The investigation on Wang Hong's side had already yielded results.
"Deputy Division Commander He's father just passed away. He rushed back the day before his father's death to see him one last time."
Zhou Lin breathed a sigh of relief.
Now, it was confirmed that Deputy Division Commander He's return home wasn't an excuse; his father was indeed critically ill.
He left the Seventh Division on the day they received orders.
At that time, he had no knowledge of this operation.
So, in Zhou Lin's mind, he was now excluded from the list of suspects.
When the Seventh Division received orders, he was likely still on the way.
He took a train back to Nanjing. It was impossible for someone to call him. Trains didn't have telephones.
No one sent him a report either. He didn't have a reporting device.
So, the possibility of him receiving information and transmitting it externally didn't exist.
The only person left was Deputy Division Commander Kuang.
Zhou Lin went to Wang Hong's office and informed him of the situation.
Wang Hong quickly grasped the situation through this revelation.
However, some things still needed to be convincing.
"Deputy Division Commander Kuang was at the hospital that day and didn't attend the meeting. He doesn't know the contents of the meeting."
Wang Hong's words were clear. If Zhou Lin wanted to point out Deputy Division Commander Kuang, he needed evidence.
"We suspect someone leaked information."
Zhou Lin asked, "How's the investigation going?"
"Somebody did come to the communication room that day. However, many people were watching, and he didn't touch the radio."
"Who was this person?"
"A deputy company commander from the Third Regiment."
Zhou Lin suggested, "Secretly arrest this deputy company commander."
"Why? Is he a big fish?"
"He's not a big fish! Just a shrimp."
"You're paying attention to a shrimp?"
Zhou Lin laughed, "Through this shrimp, we can find the fish."
"Alright! I'll bring him in immediately."
Soon, Wang Xi brought in a second lieutenant.
In the Seventh Division, the political department used to be shunned.
Since the incident, the attitude toward the political department had changed significantly. People no longer avoided them but instead greeted them warmly. If they met outside, they would insist on buying drinks.
So, when Wang Xi went to bring someone, no one stopped him.
The second lieutenant's name was Shu Zhi.
Zhou Lin sat in the interrogation room and asked, "Do you know why I brought you here?"
Shu Zhi shook his head, "Young Master, I really don't know."
Zhou Lin said, "Do you not know what you've done wrong, or are you pretending not to know?"
Shu Zhi looked distressed, "What did I do wrong? I just had a drink while on duty."
"Speak about the drinking incident."
Shu Zhi nodded repeatedly, "A few days ago, I found a bag on the road. It had pig ears, peanuts, and a bottle of wine inside. Someone must have bought it and, seeing people from the political department, decided to hide it temporarily."
Zhou Lin guessed, "So, you took advantage of the situation."
"Yes, yes! I happened to be on duty, so I brought the stuff. I hid in the duty room and drank."
"Was it discovered by the chief?"
"How did you know?" Shu Zhi said, "I was unlucky. Our deputy battalion commander saw me. So, he made me stand at attention outside the communication room as punishment."
Zhou Lin, unfamiliar with this punishment due to his short time here, asked, "What's the punishment like?"
Recording Wang laughed. "Young Master! Outside the communication room, the floor is sloped at a steep angle. Standing at attention there, you'll inevitably lunge forward. It's challenging to stand still."
So, that was how it worked.
After the interrogation, Zhou Lin let Shu Zhi go.
Xiang Zijun asked, "Captain, what's the point of asking about this?"
Zhou Lin said, "If I want people in the political department to suspect someone of trying to go to the communication room to leak information, then I will give that person the opportunity to go to the communication room."
"He just went to stand at attention."
"Yes! Even if I suspect, it's hard to confirm. But it lets that person know that someone is investigating him."
Investigate him?
Does this person intentionally take this step for a reason?
He knew that Shu Zhi wasn't a firewall. Yet, he let Shu Zhi go to the communication room, not to make people suspect Shu Zhi, but to use Shu Zhi as a touchstone.
As long as Shu Zhi is taken away, the next person will be him.
Zhou Lin immediately stood up, "Not good! Zijun, come with me."
Xiang Zijun quickly grabbed his gun and followed Zhou Lin out of the political department's gate.
After hearing the news, Wang Hong also led a group of people to follow.
(End of this chapter)