Chapter 61 Taste
Starting from those four staff officers, investigate their relatives and friends.
No one would find it strange for Military Intelligence to act.
It's a natural response; if you have a problem, then the people around you might have a problem too.
Even if it's the artillery division's personnel conducting the investigation, they would do the same.
As a result, Zhou Lin took the opportunity to visit the artillery division.
Before, Zhou Lin had only been to the Second Regiment. It's a small place compared to what he saw now.
This time, Zhou Lin actually discovered something strange.
One day, Zhou Lin went to the Third Regiment and smelled a scent.
Immediately, he remembered that the mysterious person had the same scent.
Could it be that the mysterious person appeared?
Following the scent, Zhou Lin saw a young military officer.
He was only about twenty or twenty-one years old, holding the rank of lieutenant.
Seeing Zhou Lin approaching, he greeted, "Hello, sir!"
Zhou Lin nodded and looked at the object in the other's hand, asking, "Are you eating it?"
The lieutenant nodded and offered it, "Want some?"
Zhou Lin covered his nose and ran away!
The smell was terrible! It made Zhou Lin feel like vomiting.
After running far enough, the smell lightened, and Zhou Lin stopped to smell it again.
Indeed, it was the same smell.
Just like the smell on the mysterious person, it could be smelled from afar, as if the person had body odor.
Suddenly, the puzzle was solved.
The mysterious person didn't have body odor, but had eaten a durian before.
Durian is a contradictory fruit. Some places consider it a religious offering, while others prohibit it from public places because of its strong odor.
Durians are as large as footballs, with rough and uneven skin, pale yellow flesh, an incredibly foul odor, yet a delicate sweet taste. Despite its odor, it is called the "king of fruits" due to its rich nutritional content. However, many foreigners cannot tolerate its smell and throw it out of the window without tasting it.
It is cultivated in Guangdong and Hainan provinces in China. The Cantonese saying goes: "One durian is worth three chickens."
It seems that the lieutenant should be from Guangdong.
Soldiers in the artillery division are required to be educated. It's difficult to operate artillery without education.
The officers in the artillery division are all graduates of military artillery academies. So, they are found all over the country.
Just now, Zhou Lin saw that the lieutenant couldn't be the mysterious person. He was too young.
Zhou Lin felt happy and returned to the dormitory, opened a can of beef, and started drinking.
This can of beef was sent by the logistics director. The division commander asked him to send a hundred cans to his brothers in Military Intelligence.
Smelling the alcohol, Qiao Shaowen ran over.
"Sir, is there good news?"
Zhou Lin nodded, "I've found a clue. Come, sit down and have a drink."
The two sat down on the floor, each with a bottle of alcohol, and started drinking.
Zhou Lin said softly, "Please secretly investigate how many people in the artillery division like to eat durian."
Qiao Shaowen's eyes lit up, "Yes!"
Zhou Lin instructed, "Don't let anyone know you're investigating this. If someone with ill intentions finds out, it will be troublesome."
"Yes! There are already three Military Intelligence operatives in the artillery division's perimeter. Let them investigate, and no one will notice."
That's even better!
It would be difficult to keep it a secret if the members of the Twenty-Second Squad investigated.
Let the operatives handle it, and no one will pay attention.
After all, they have always been in the artillery division and know the situation there.
The next night, Qiao Shaowen brought a captain.
After the captain entered, he saluted, "Military Intelligence 103rd Group Leader Lian Mingdao reporting to the chief."
Zhou Lin shook his hand, "You've worked hard. After this mission is completed, I will report to the bureau chief to transfer you back to the interior."
Lian Mingdao thanked Zhou Lin, and the three of them sat on the ground.
There were guards arranged by Qiao Shaowen outside the door, and no one could eavesdrop.
Zhou Lin handed a cigarette to Lian Mingdao, "Tell me about the situation."
"Yes!"
Lian Mingdao took the cigarette, "There are seventeen people in the artillery division who like to eat durian. These seventeen people are all from Guangdong. People from other provinces are not accustomed to the smell. So, the dormitories have also been rearranged, with Guangdong people living together."
Zhou Lin asked, "What are the positions of these seventeen people?"
"Ten are lieutenants, and seven are majors."
"Tell me about the majors."
"The deputy regimental commander of the Third Regiment, the deputy staff officer of the division headquarters, the deputy director of the division staff office, the deputy director of the division logistics department, the training director of the Third Regiment, the security company commander of the Third Regiment, and the staff officer of the First Regiment."
After listening, Zhou Lin said, "They are all in the Third Regiment!"
"Yes! The staff officer of the First Regiment was originally the staff officer of the Third Regiment. He was later promoted and transferred to the First Regiment. The deputy director of the division staff office was originally the deputy battalion commander of the Third Regiment. The deputy staff officer of the division headquarters was originally the staff officer of the Third Regiment who was promoted."
Zhou Lin asked about the situation of the ten lieutenants.
Finally, Zhou Lin ruled out those ten lieutenants.
The seven majors were the next targets.
Zhou Lin said to the two, "I have a task for you."
The two stood up, "Please give the order!"
Zhou Lin said, "Please investigate who among these seven majors was not in the artillery division on December 3rd."
"Yes!"
After the two left, Zhou Lin lit another cigarette.
If the mysterious person was among these seven people, then this investigation would definitely reveal something.
It takes more than thirty minutes to drive from the artillery division to the Seventh Division's gate. Round trip, it takes an hour. Plus the time in the small woods.
This means the target was absent from the artillery division for seventy to eighty minutes.
Moreover, December 3rd was not a public holiday. There were no activities either. The people in the artillery division should have been in the barracks.
Zhou Lin's move was indeed cunning.
Now, it's just waiting for the results.
The next day, Qiao Shaowen reported to Zhou Lin, "The investigation has been completed. On December 3rd, four majors were not in the barracks."
Zhou Lin asked, "Which four?"
"The deputy staff officer of the division headquarters, Yi Lianxiang. The deputy director of the division logistics department, Chu Huaidong. The staff officer of the First Regiment, Jiang Yelong. And the deputy regimental commander of the Third Regiment, Sha Fuhua. The others were all in the barracks and did not go out."
Zhou Lin said, "Keep a close watch on these four."
"Yes!"
In the evening, Qiao Shaowen hurriedly ran over.
"
Sir, something happened."
Zhou Lin quickly put on his clothes, "What happened?"
"Lian Mingdao was stabbed."
Zhou Lin exclaimed, "Didn't you arrange for someone to protect him?"
"We did! The protector saw the attacker and rushed over. The assailant couldn't make a second stab and fled."
Zhou Lin said loudly, "Send people to chase after the assailant."
"Zheng Sanfu has already taken people to chase."
"How is Lian Mingdao's condition?"
"The knife missed his vital organs by two inches. The military doctor said he's not in danger."
Zhou Lin sneered, "It seems someone couldn't sit still. We've touched a nerve, and they're panicking."
Qiao Shaowen worriedly said, "Sir, security here needs to be strengthened. Those people are capable of anything."
Thank you"Ifesinachi_Izuka"!
(End of Chapter)