Rebirth of the 1980s: The Military Industry Empire

As the sun set, a Hongqi sedan stopped in front of the armored corps leadership's office compound. Several people in white shirts and blue pants got out of the car. One of them was nearly fifty years old, with graying hair and a furrowed brow, the wrinkles on his face deepened. His eyes were narrowed, as if he didn't take anything seriously.

"Excuse me, which unit are you from? What's your official business?" The guard at the gate knew something was up today. Seeing these people approaching, he immediately asked politely but firmly.

"This morning, Factory 960 sent over several 'big hats,' those are my men." The squinty-eyed man's expression was very serious: "I'm here to take them away, and also to ask what exactly they did wrong to be locked up by you? Is this a case of the flood washing over the Dragon King Temple, or is someone doing this deliberately? Is Lao Huang here?"

The squinty-eyed man spoke with bureaucratic formality.

"Please wait a moment, I'll make a call."

"Alright."

Soon, Secretary Xiao Zhao, Huang Lao's aide, came out: "Leader Pan, hello. We've investigated this matter, and it turns out it was a misunderstanding. Currently, President Qin of Factory 960 is developing advanced equipment for our armored corps. Suddenly, someone came to disturb them, so Factory 960 assumed these people had ulterior motives. They didn't have time to verify, so they sent them over to us. Now, I'll take you to pick them up."

"Misunderstanding? Can a simple misunderstanding justify randomly hitting and arresting people? Especially my people? If word gets out, how will we carry out our work in the future?" Leader Pan's expression was serious: "This matter absolutely cannot end like this. Someone must take responsibility! Otherwise, the more than six hundred thousand people in our system won't accept it!"

"Please rest assured, our Leader Huang has already criticized and educated President Qin. President Qin has also humbly admitted his mistake and even wrote a sincere letter of self-criticism."

"You damaged two of our motorcycles and beat our people, and a letter of self-criticism is enough?" Leader Pan's eyes narrowed into slits: "Do you think that's acceptable? If we arrested people from Factory 960 and damaged their vehicles, would writing a letter of self-criticism be enough?"

"Leader Pan, we're here." Xiao Zhao didn't answer, leading Leader Pan to the room where the men were being held. Shen Lu, who was sitting on a chair with his legs crossed, immediately saw a savior when he saw Leader Pan: "Leader Pan, you have to stand up for us! We went there with documents stamped with an official seal, yet Factory 960 dared to hit people. This is blatant contempt for the law!"

"Are you seriously injured?"

"My chest hurts, my head hurts, it's definitely a concussion. I'm afraid I won't be able to catch bad guys and protect the safety of the masses anymore."

"Xiao Zhao, we must have an explanation for this. That President Qin has no regard for the law and must be severely punished. If you shield and condone him, we will never swallow this insult!"

In the office, Huang Lao let out a long breath. With Lao Pan coming to take the people away, this matter could be considered resolved! Turn big issues into small ones, and small ones into nothing. If the aggrieved parties weren't satisfied, he could just compensate them with some money. Anyway, Factory 960 wasn't short of money.

Just as he was thinking this, the phone rang. Huang Lao picked up the phone and listened to the words inside: "Hello, Secretary Song, what are your instructions? What? Something like that? Okay, I understand! I'll handle it personally!"

Hanging up the phone, Huang Lao sighed: "Sigh, what are you guys stirring up? Has anyone ever benefited from Qin Zong? Always trying to trip up Qin Zong behind his back, is that even possible? Fortunately, the people from the Institute of Metallic Materials Research didn't participate, otherwise I wouldn't be able to protect them either."

As he spoke, he walked out and headed straight for the warehouse where the men were being held.

In fact, if Leader Pan had taken the people and left, Huang Lao wouldn't have been able to stop them. However, Leader Pan was unwilling to accept this and wanted to make a big deal out of it, so he kept pestering them.

"My men can't even move, you need to arrange a Coaster to send them directly to your unit's hospital for treatment." Leader Pan became increasingly angry: "That President Qin hasn't even shown his face yet, what exactly does he mean? Just because he's a favorite of the old leader, he's not afraid of anyone?"

"That's right, we demand that President Qin kneel before us and apologize to us in person! Otherwise, we won't leave!" Shen Lu's courage also grew, since he had Leader Pan backing him up.

"Since you don't want to leave, then don't leave." Just then, a voice came from behind.

Leader Pan turned his head in astonishment, and was about to reprimand the speaker, but then realized it was actually Leader Huang. His expression immediately turned cold: "Lao Huang, what do you mean by this?"

"It doesn't mean anything, these people still need to stay here."

Leader Pan suddenly thought of something, and his heart skipped a beat. His face still feigned composure: "Lao Huang, you're protecting that President Qin so much? You're not even afraid of falling out with us? Fine, fine! I'm here to pick up people, but since you want to keep them here, then I'll stay here too!"

"That's right, you do need to stay here."

"What?" Leader Pan's expression was ugly: "Lao Huang, what do you mean by that? What right do you have to keep me here?"

"Secretary Song issued the order." Leader Huang said coldly: "You are suspected of being accomplices of Shen Hua, who defected to a foreign country. The higher-ups have established a special task force to investigate Shen Hua's matter. You can wait for their investigation."

Leader Pan instantly panicked: "How is that possible? I have no relationship with Shen Hua. It's Qin Yang, Qin Yang is making reckless accusations! How can the higher-ups listen to Qin Yang's one-sided statements?"

"Lao Pan, you're really something. Your younger brother, who worked in the foreign affairs department, had an accident. I know you've always held a grudge, but don't mix personal grievances with work and use the power in your hands to retaliate."

"The person who leaked state secrets has become a hero, and the people who investigated him have become criminals. Fine, then we'll wait for the special task force!" Lao Pan had already recovered at this point. Since things had come to this, then he would just wait. Anyway, Qin Yang had indeed leaked military secrets.