Chapter 45: Not the Time

Qin Dong Zhi sat in the rear seat of the carriage, his brows furrowed tightly.

"Commander," Li Mingze, the secretary sitting in the front, wanted to speak but hesitated, "I have found some background on Lin Yu."

He said.

"He is a native of Shen City, previously worked as a foot patrol in the French Concession Yunfei Road Police Bureau," Li Mingze opened his notebook, "because of his stubborn temperament, he doesn't know how to be flexible, his nickname is 'Iron Forest'."

Qin Dong Zhi gave a cold snort: "And then?"

"Later, after offending his superior he was dismissed, and that's when he feuded with the Health Union Association." Li Mingze continued, "But..."

"But what?"

"But I always feel something is off," Li Mingze said cautiously, "How could a dismissed petty patrol officer suddenly become the Fourth Bureau Chief? And..."

"And he dares to act so recklessly, stirring up the whole of Shen City." Qin Dong Zhi took up the conversation, "Don't you find it unbelievable?"

"Exactly!"

Qin Dong Zhi looked at the night scenery outside the window: "I have also looked into these matters, but things are definitely not that simple."

He narrowed his eyes: "How could a petty patrol officer possibly have such courage and means? Burning the consulate, wiping out the Health Union Association, bloodbathing the Green Gang......"

"What does the Commander mean?"

"This kid," Qin Dong Zhi mused, "there must be someone behind him. And that person's status is probably not low."

"But..."

"However, we cannot find any clues now," Qin Dong Zhi sighed, "which only makes him more worrisome."

He looked at Li Mingze: "Continue investigating; we must uncover this kid's background."

"Yes!"

The carriage slowly drove into the night, but Qin Dong Zhi's worries grew heavier.

Just where did this suddenly appearing Lin Madman come from?

"Commander," Li Mingze lowered his voice, "the Garrison Office also has no information about Lin Yu's background in the imperial court."

"What?" Qin Dong Zhi sucked in a breath of cold air.

Shen City, the most important port city of the Great Dry Dynasty, is known as the Pearl of the East. The highest administrative organ here is the Great Dry Dynasty's Garrison Office.

The Garrison Commander is a second-rank senior official.

While I, the Security Army Commander, although commanding thirty thousand troops, am only a second-rank junior official. Civil and military ranks are separate, but regardless, the Garrison Commander is considered one rank higher than me.

Most importantly, the Garrison Office maintains close ties with the imperial court. Whenever the court takes any action, the Garrison Office cannot possibly be unaware.

But now...

"Even the Garrison Office can't find anything?" Qin Dong Zhi muttered to himself, "How is that possible?"

"Yes," Li Mingze nodded, "I have inquired, and the Garrison Commander is also puzzled. Logically, the appointment of the Fourth Bureau Chief should have gone through the Garrison Office."

"But..."

"But the Garrison Office simply hasn't received any news," Li Mingze lowered his voice, "it's as if... Lin Yu appeared out of nowhere."

Qin Dong Zhi's brows were furrowed.

This is even stranger.

Could it be... this kid's background is even greater than the Garrison Commander's?

No, that's not right. If that were true, the court would certainly have notified the Garrison Office. Unless...

Qin Dong Zhi suddenly thought of a possibility, his face turning somewhat grim.

"Commander?" Li Mingze asked cautiously.

"Nothing," Qin Dong Zhi waved his hand, "continue investigating. However..."

He paused: "Be careful, don't startle the snake."

"Yes!"

The carriage continued onward in the night, but Qin Dong Zhi's heart grew ever heavier.

The more we investigate Lin Madman's origins, the more alarming it becomes.

"Commander," Li Mingze lowered his voice, "the Garrison Commander has always been allied with you. The entire Shen City is your domain."

He cautiously suggested: "If this Lin Yu is indeed an imperial court spy planted here, then he's a friend, not an enemy. Otherwise... while his wings are not yet full, we could simply eliminate him? That would also be pulling out a nail."

Qin Dong Zhi fell silent for a moment, then shook his head: "We must not act rashly."

"Why?"

"Think about it," Qin Dong Zhi narrowed his eyes, "if Lin Yu is indeed a nail the imperial court has planted in Shen City, then we must tread even more carefully, absolutely avoiding falling into a trap."

He looked out the window: "Nowadays, the southern governors have largely broken free from the court's control. In this situation, the court certainly cannot remain inactive."

"You mean..."

"If I were to move against Lin Yu," Qin Dong Zhi sneered, "it would probably play right into the court's hands. The court would love nothing more than for me, the Security Army Commander, to retire and return home."

Li Mingze sucked in a breath of cold air: "Then we..."

"Let's observe first," Qin Dong Zhi said in a low voice, "see what this madman actually intends to do. If he really is from the court, he will eventually reveal his true colors."

"But..."

"His current target is foreigners," Qin Dong Zhi mused, "which actually does not conflict with our interests. Let him cause trouble; the bigger the better."

"Commander," Li Mingze lowered his voice, looking left and right, "now the court is weak, while the Great Powers grow ever more arrogant and domineering, all wanting to take a bite of flesh from the Great Dry."

He said cautiously: "In this situation, it's not impossible that one day the court will fragment and collapse, becoming history."

Li Mingze glanced at Qin Dong Zhi: "Commander, you hold thirty thousand troops; shouldn't we... make some plans early?"

"Silence!" Qin Dong Zhi shouted sternly, "Don't speak of this again."

Li Mingze shrank his neck in fright.

Qin Dong Zhi looked around, making sure no one was eavesdropping, then lowered his voice: "Now is not the time."

";...";

"; You think I don't know what those southern governors are plotting?"; Qin Dong Zhi coldly laughed, "; But although the court is now weak, its foundations remain. Acting rashly will only bring about its own destruction.";

He looked toward the window: "; Furthermore, the Great Powers eye hungrily; once the Great Dry Internal Turmoil occurs, they will surely take advantage of the weakness. When the time comes...";

Qin Dong Zhi didn't continue, but Li Mingze already understood his meaning.

"; It was my subordinate's oversight.";

"; Remember," Qin Dong Zhi urged, "; Don't mention such talk again.";

"; Yes!";

The carriage continued forward in the night, Qin Dong Zhi's gaze grew deeper.

The time has not yet come; we must wait.

This game of chess cannot afford a mistake.

One wrong move, and the whole board is lost!

"; Chief," Zhou Wei poured Lin Yu a cup of tea, "; Why not reveal your identity as Inspector?";

Lin Yu took the teacup and lightly took a sip: "; Revealing my identity now would let that old fox Qin Dong Zhi focus all his attention on me, which may not be a good thing.";

"; But with the Inspector's title, he wouldn't dare act rashly.";

"; Hah," Lin Yu coldly laughed, "; You're underestimating that old fox too much.";

He put down the teacup: "; Qin Dong Zhi is the Defense Army Commander, commanding thirty thousand troops. Although there is still a Garrison Envoy above him, the Garrison Envoy actually holds no military authority—it's merely a figurehead.";

"; This...";

"; The Great Dry Dynasty could collapse at any moment," Lin Yu narrowed his eyes, "; Do you think Qin Dong Zhi could have no ideas at all?";

Zhou Wei pondered: "; You mean...";

"; That old fox, outwardly loyal to the court," Lin Yu coldly laughed, "; but he's actually an ambitious lot. He's not moving now, merely waiting for the opportunity.";

"; Then what about us...";

"; Now is not the time to completely break with him," Lin Yu stood up and walked to the window, "; Once I have accumulated enough strength, I will eliminate all obstacles.";

He gazed at the night scenery outside the window: "; By then, the entirety of Shen City will be under my control.";

Zhou Wei watched Lin Yu's back and suddenly understood something.

Chief, this is about setting up a grand plan in Shen City...