Chapter 422: Deploy the Railway Troops

After much difficulty coaxing words out of Director Li, Lu Cheng didn't want to miss this chance.

"Bureau Chief Qian, our Railway Bureau can't intervene, I'm thinking of deploying the Railway Troops directly."

Even though both are people sent from the Capital City and both are bureau‑level units, when the person is in Qin Shousheng's hands, a head‑on clash certainly won't work.

Only by deploying troops is there any chance of suppression.

The Railway Troops' strength lies in this place; they have their own soldiers.

Their duties combine military and engineering roles, with the dual mission of "rapidly repairing and building railways in wartime, and participating in National Railway construction in peacetime."

When he heard Lu Cheng's idea, Old Qian was shocked.

"Deploy the Railway Troops? Isn't that making a mountain out of a molehill… I mean, this is like using a butcher's knife to kill a chicken."

Lu Cheng felt a bit helpless; deploying the Railway Troops just to deal with one Qin Shousheng is indeed a case of overkill.

"Bureau Chief Qian, the Educated Youth issue is no small matter. If we fail to resolve it, it could spark the rebellion of millions of Educated Youth, affecting the whole nation, so deploying the Railway Troops is entirely justified."

Seeing Lu Cheng speak so gravely, Old Qian dared not dismiss it: "But even if you want to deploy the Railway Troops to block people, I have no authority to mobilize them."

As a division‑level officer, Old Qian naturally lacks the right to move troops.

"Then, let's go back to the bureau now; I'll make the call."

Old Qian replied, "Then just call Director Li here—so convenient."

Lu Cheng shook his head, "Never mind, I don't trust Director Li; don't go back and report to him again."

Old Qian laughed; he hadn't expected this young fellow, though not old, to be so shrewd.

Back at the Railway Bureau, Lu Cheng picked up the phone and dialed the General Bureau.

"Director Tang, this is Lu Cheng…" Lu Cheng noticed Old Qian standing by the handset with a deferential expression, and decided to play it up.

"Haha, right, long time no see, Director Tang. How's your health lately?"

Tang Qiusheng, on the other end gripping the microphone, frowned: "We just met a couple of days ago, why the formalities? Spit it out already."

Lu Cheng deliberately held the handset up to Old Qian: "Look, he's making me want to spit it out."

The remark sounded rude, but Old Qian understood; only close acquaintances speak that way.

That also indirectly proved Lu Cheng's standing at the General Bureau, and Old Qian hurriedly shouted into the handset.

"Director Tang, hehe, I'm Xiao Qian, yes, yes, rest assured, sir, I'll definitely cooperate fully with Lu Jingzhang's work, uh‑uh, no problem…"

Before Old Qian could finish speaking, Lu Cheng snatched the handset away: "Director Tang, I hadn't intended to call you, but now we've hit a snag and need the General Bureau to step in…"

Tang Qiusheng asked, "Is the other side unwilling to release the people? If it really doesn't work, I'll call again to negotiate."

"It's not that, Director Tang. If they truly refuse to release them, I can think of other ways; I will never make you grovel and beg."

Tang Qiusheng laughed on the other end: "Hmm, not bad, I didn't expect you to think of me so well."

"Sigh, considering you is one thing, but I represent the General Bureau on official business; every word and deed must uphold its authority. It's just a tiny Public Security department, asking our Railway General Bureau to beg it—can it even stand that?"

"Alright, since they're willing to release them, what else is the problem?"

"I can't say they're willing to release them; the people have already been seized…" Lu Cheng briefly recounted the situation over the phone.

Tang Qiusheng fell silent after listening.

"You said we should deploy the Railway Troops to intercept them…"

"Yes, Director Tang, that Section Chief Qin came from the Capital City; if he takes the people back there, my ability to persuade the Educated Youth to return will become much harder."

"I'm afraid we'll still have to deploy the Railway Troops eventually, but for now it's just to block them; if we need them later, it means the situation has become uncontrollable."

Tang Qiusheng understood his meaning; plainly, Lu Cheng just wants to intimidate Qin Shousheng.

But Tang Qiusheng was still hesitant: "I recall Qin Shousheng is Director Qin's son, so a forceful seizure…"

Lu Cheng knew what Tang Qiusheng was worrying about; if the Railway Troops snatch the people, the Ministry of Public Security will surely raise troops to prosecute.

Tang Qiusheng inevitably had to weigh whether the smaller fallout would be the uncontrolled Educated Youth causing trouble and running to the Capital City, or offending the Ministry of Public Security.

In other words, offend the millions of Educated Youth, or offend the Public Security Ministry?

"Director Tang, I think there's no real concern; we already communicated with the Public Security Ministry in advance, they clearly agreed but then back‑tracked. Even if they come after us, we have justification."

Tang Qiusheng gave a helpless laugh; Lu Cheng's words were easy, but in the end it wasn't him who would take the blame.

"Fine then, since you've been given full authority, if I don't back you, you won't be able to proceed."

Hearing that, Lu Cheng exhaled, "Then thank you, Director Tang."

"Thank what? You're also considering the General Bureau and the nation's impact. Alright, I'll immediately contact the department to dispatch the nearest Railway Troops."

"Understood, Director Tang."

Lu Cheng hung up, told Old Qian "It's done," and Old Qian also breathed a sigh of relief.

"Otherwise we still need Chief Lu Jingzhang to step in; if you let me handle the communication, it definitely won't work."

At first Old Qian wasn't very satisfied with Lu Cheng, mainly because he was too young.

But after a short while, he got to see Lu Cheng's ability; not only did he get along with Director Tang of the Capital City General Bureau, but with just a few words he actually managed to call the Railway Troops over.

Seeing Lu Cheng's connections, Old Qian couldn't help but try to draw closer when he spoke.

Lu Cheng, fully aware, replied briefly: "Bureau Chief Qian, rest assured, if we can successfully block the Educated Youth unrest this time, you'll have done a great service; later I'll report to the General Bureau honestly, just like Reporter Yang does."

With Lu Cheng's words, Old Qian's face instantly filled with wrinkles.

"Then what else is there to say? What the General Bureau deals with is also our Division's business; assign any task you like."

After that call, in Old Qian's eyes, Lu Cheng was no longer just a junior chief; he was practically Director Tang himself.

Lu Cheng indeed had tasks to assign, so he had just said those reassuring words to Old Qian, and now he was ready to listen to his orders.

"Alright, Bureau Chief Qian, we'll split into two groups. Director Tang has already begun contacting the troops; you go to the relevant railway department and bring the Railway Troops over. I'll go after the people directly and try to hold them off, buying you time."

Being assigned work by a junior, Old Qian felt no impropriety.

He knows Lu Cheng's words represent Director Tang's words.

"No problem, we have only one jeep in the bureau; you drive it straight away, let the driver guide you—he knows a shortcut you can take."

Lu Cheng still worries that time isn't enough; after all, Qin Shou set out with his men about an hour ago.

A shortcut they could take would be ideal.

After the two discussed it this way, they each set off separately.

Seeing the old Bureau Chief Qian listening so closely to Lu Cheng's arrangement, Yang Yin beside him could only think Lu Cheng was a mastermind, having the bureau chief in his grip with just a few words.