Chapter 540: Borrowing a Path to Conquer Guo

Not long after, Sun Liancheng arrived at the unit.

Just as he entered the lobby, he first called Lin Sicheng and told him to come to the Vice General Team office.

A case like this definitely required cooperation from the Criminal Investigation Division, so Yu Guang and Yan Wenjing stayed behind as a matter of course.

A few minutes later, General Team Leader Li arrived as well. The excuse was quite legitimate: Lin Sicheng was a cooperative Consultant who had been explicitly praised by both ministry and bureau leaders, and he had helped the General Team with so many things. In terms of sentiment and reason, and both publicly and privately, he had to look into it.

When he came, he also brought two Branch Captains from the Economic Investigation Division.

Besides them, Branch Captain Han and Deputy Branch Captain Tu from the Special Duty Team also came; Lin Sicheng was already too lazy to ask for their excuses.

It wasn't quite "watching a joke," but these two were definitely here to join in the excitement.

Look at their expressions: at first glance, they were solemn, with indignation showing through their gravity, and even a touch of sympathy.

But if you looked closely, you could see that their expressions were no different from those of Yu Guang and Yan Wenjing downstairs just a moment ago: both surprised and strange. It was as if they had written on their foreheads: Lin Sicheng actually got scammed?

Lin Sicheng sighed and gave a rough summary.

Then, the expressions of the several leaders gradually turned serious.

They were thinking, Lin Sicheng is so shrewd, how could he possibly be fooled?

The two Branch Captains from the Economic Investigation Division exchanged a look: a tech giant, a World Top 500 company... this was going to be troublesome.

It wasn't that they were in trouble; this case wasn't hard to crack: it was bound to be internal and external collusion. Arrest people when it's time to arrest, investigate when it's time to investigate, and prosecute when it's time to prosecute. The trouble was Lin Sicheng: in the end, the money should be recoverable, but the premise was, could you afford the time?

The legal department of a foreign-funded company is no pushover, and the taxes they pay annually to the local government where their headquarters are located are no small sum. It would be considered fast if a final judgment could be obtained in five or six years.

After the judgment, it still has to be enforced, which takes at least another two or three years. Therefore, the cycle for defending these rights would be at least around ten years.

How many ten-year periods are there in a person's life?

Travel back and forth, accommodation, as well as lawyer fees, litigation costs... even if full compensation is awarded in the end, how much of this money would be left?

Branch Captain Hu (Economic Investigation Division) asked straight out: "Consultant Lin, what do you plan to do?"

Lin Sicheng was concise: "File the case!"

The leaders present were not surprised by this answer: if he wanted to solve it through other methods, Lin Sicheng wouldn't have come here. Branch Captain Hu thought for a moment: "What is your ultimate demand?"

Lin Sicheng replied without hesitation: "Follow the normal procedures!"

Understood: fight it to the end.

The leaders were likewise not surprised by this answer: if he didn't do it this way, he wouldn't be Lin Sicheng.

General Team Leader Li tapped the table: "Old Hu, Old Tao, handle this carefully, and pay attention to confidentiality!"

There was no need to tell Lin Sicheng; the leaders were all crystal clear: he didn't come here today to use a Backdoor, but because he was afraid the other side would use one. Therefore, this case not only had to be handled well and quickly, but they also had to guard against peers throwing obstacles in their way.

The two Branch Captains nodded in unison.

"Consultant Lin, please describe the specific situation."

Lin Sicheng explained the sequence of events in a few words. The leaders in the room found it more and more extraordinary as they listened.

"So you mean, Saishi Company doesn't know yet that you've discovered this batch of machines is problematic?"

"Correct, we only started debugging today, followed by performance verification; it will likely take at least twenty-four hours."

"I have already arranged for a photographer to record the entire process, three hundred and sixty degrees with no blind spots!"

"What about the Contract?"

"I brought it!" Lin Sicheng opened his briefcase and took out a stack of documents, "Two months ago, we went to Shanghai and signed it at Saishi's headquarters." Branch Captain Hu took it and flipped through it rapidly: instrument models, technical parameters, brand, quantity.

As well as the specific manufacturer, authorized dealer, purchasing agent, warranty provider, and delivery date, payment method, and even the shipping method, etcetera, etcetera, all written clearly.

At the same time, there were the approvals from relevant departments: the environmental protection department's import permit for radioactive instruments, and the health and inspection and quarantine departments' safety approvals for biological Reagents, all were complete.

The further he flipped, the brighter Branch Captain Hu's eyes became: the Contract was signed so formally and so strictly?

If Lin Sicheng wasn't lying, and Saishi Company sent over nothing but second-hand machines and Refurbished Machines with re-applied labels and modified internal parameters, didn't that mean the evidence was all ready-made?

They could arrest people as soon as the case was filed, and the other side might even be in the interrogation room before they realized what was happening.

As long as the confidentiality work was done well, they could obtain first-hand testimony and clarify the entire case before Saishi Company received any news.

Coupled with the physical evidence—that is, those machines at the Center—and the Contract in hand, it formed a perfect chain of evidence.

Tsk, performance delivered to their doorstep?

Branch Captain Hu closed the document: "Consultant Lin, I'll be blunt: this case isn't hard to crack. What's hard is the subsequent bickering."

"I know!" Lin Sicheng nodded, "I am mentally prepared!"

"Good, then I'll go notify them. Sorry to trouble you to fill out the paperwork, Consultant Lin!"

"Thank you, Branch Captain Hu!" Lin Sicheng stood up and shook hands with the two Branch Captains, "I have one request: could you first check the whereabouts of the advance payment and the entry process for this batch of machines?"

"Consultant Lin, no problem!"

Of course these had to be checked, and checked as quickly as possible, especially the funds: if they were lucky and the money hadn't been laundered out yet, it definitely had to be intercepted. Compensating Lin Sicheng would just be a matter of time.

The two Branch Captains stood up, and Lin Sicheng left with them. He had to report the case and give a statement.

There was nothing for the others to do, so General Team Leader Li told them to get lost.

These people didn't all come just to join in the excitement.

One reason was that they were genuinely curious: Lin Sicheng could actually be scammed?

More importantly, they wanted to do something. To put it without exaggeration: if it weren't for Lin Sicheng, whether it was Yu Guang, Yan Wenjing, Han Xin, or even Deputy Branch Captain Tu, let alone adding stars to their shoulders, they would have long been kicked off to Miyun to guard the reservoir.

This was about returning a favor; they had been waiting for an opportunity. They thought heaven had opened its eyes, but as it turned out, it wasn't what they had imagined at all. By now, the suspects had only just begun to carry out the fraud, and Lin Sicheng had already seen through it.

From here on out, every word they said and every little move they made would become ironclad evidence pushing them into the dock.

Lin Sicheng had already minimized the losses.

"Given Lin Sicheng's personality, he definitely won't swallow his pride." Sun Liancheng looked slightly curious, "What will this kid do, fight to the death?" General Team Leader Li nodded: "That's about the size of it!"

With a gun pointed at his forehead, he would dare to fight you to the death; did you expect him to suffer in silence?

"Old Sun, you handle the instructions, try to be as thorough as possible!"

The Police's duty is to investigate and look into matters; prosecution is the work of the Procuratorate, and the final verdict depends on the Court.

At this level, the influence they can exert is already minimal; all they can do is perfect the evidence as much as possible and not give the other side a chance to retract their testimony. In fact, judging from the current situation, it is not difficult for the Court to pass judgment; there is a 99 percent probability that Lin Sicheng will win the lawsuit. The difficulty lies in enforcement: jurisdiction alone is enough to give the Court a massive headache.

In the end, it will only drag on into a bad debt...

The police were very fast; they sent people to the relevant branch banks and obtained the data on the spot.

The Customs side was even faster. The Economic Investigation Division didn't even send anyone; they just contacted the Anti-Smuggling Bureau, and the other side faxed over all the customs clearance procedures. Lin Sicheng flipped through them, his eyes brightening, and a smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

The two Branch Captains were baffled.

First, look at the payment: on the day the Contract was signed, Lin Sicheng transferred the deposit to the Saishi Company account. Two days later, Saishi Company submitted materials to the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, and after one week, the approval passed; Saishi Company purchased foreign exchange through the bank and paid the payment to the overseas supplier.

This means all payment and foreign exchange purchase procedures were as formal as they could possibly be.

At the same time, it also means that if Lin Sicheng wants to recover his losses, he must list Saishi Company as the defendant. However, is a lawsuit against a foreign merchant that easy to fight? Precisely this type is the hardest to defend rights for and the hardest to get compensation for.

Just as Branch Captain Hu worried before: dragging it out again and again, even if it is fully recovered in the end, there won't be much left.

The Customs side is the same: the Contract, invoices, Packing List, bill of lading, certificate of origin, import license, cargo Information, as well as inspection and quarantine—such as electrical safety and environmental protection approvals—all kinds of procedures are complete.

This means that apart from Saishi Company, you cannot find a second defendant even if you wanted to.

Even if people at Saishi Company colluded internally and externally, it is Saishi Company that would have to sue, and it has nothing to do with Lin Sicheng.

This means that, invisibly, the difficulty has increased again.

Based on Hu Shaoting's experience, if he doesn't use some unconventional tactics, Lin Sicheng's money will most likely go down the drain.

There is a small probability of recovering two or three tenths; roughly, that would be Saishi Company paying full compensation, and Lin Sicheng having that much left after spending.

In any case, it will definitely not exceed half.

Therefore, they are a bit confused: why can Lin Sicheng still smile?

While they were suspicious, Lin Sicheng closed the documents and stood up: "Thank you, two leaders, I've caused you trouble!"

The two hurriedly shook hands: "Teacher Lin, don't be polite, and don't treat us like outsiders!"

This is the truth: in the Wang Mao case, the Economic Investigation Division also benefited from the reflected glory.

Several hundred million in illegal funds helped them solve several months' worth of mission quotas...

Lin Sicheng looked emotional: "I'm not being polite, you two really helped a lot!"

The two Branch Captains didn't understand: according to regulations and procedures, and in order to solve the case as quickly as possible, when necessary, the investigating agency must communicate with the victim in a timely manner and appropriately report the case status.

It didn't violate any discipline, and it was just a matter of convenience, so how was it a "big help"?

The two were confused and sent Lin Sicheng out; Yan Wenjing was waiting at the office door.

Yu Guang specifically asked him to come, to let him ask the Economic Investigation Division to see if the Criminal Investigation Division could exert some effort.

Helping is definitely necessary, but the person must be caught back first.

"Teacher Lin, I will arrange it now; Branch Captain Yan, please provide some support!"

Yan Wenjing agreed readily, but Lin Sicheng said he had to wait a while.

First, the debugging is very slow, and performance verification is even slower; the process must be completed to make the fraudulent intent of Saishi Company more solid.

Second, Lin Sicheng cannot go back for the time being.

He didn't say where he was going, but Yan Wenjing always felt that Lin Sicheng didn't look like he was going to do anything good.

Sitting in the car, the Santana made a turn and drove toward the General Administration of Customs.

Today is Friday, and there is nothing major.

After arriving at the office, Li Shichen looked at the schedule: there were no arrangements for the morning, and he had to go to the Ministry (Public Security) in the afternoon to draft the documents for next Monday's regular meeting.

Just as he finished reading, the secretary knocked on the door and walked in with a mobile phone: "Director, a college student surnamed Lin says he has important Smuggling Information to report to you..."

Li Shichen glared at the secretary: What is this, a student... is your brain broken?

This is a Ministry.

If you want to report a situation, go to the Anti-Smuggling Bureau; what are all those departments for?

Seeing that the Director was about to scold him, the secretary shrank his neck and hurriedly explained: "Director, it's the second phone!"

Li Shichen was stunned and glanced at the phone in the secretary's hand.

He has three numbers: one personal number, which only family and leaders know, and he carries this one himself.

One is a normal work number, which many people know; he leaves this one in some social situations.

There is another one, half-work and half-personal, but it stores some important contacts: colleagues, subordinates, or even more important friends. These two phones are carried by the secretary. If the first one rings, the secretary can resolve it depending on the situation, and most do not require Li Shichen to answer. For calls on the second one, the secretary reports important ones directly, letting him answer personally. For those he is unsure about, he will find an excuse to hang up and ask Li Shichen for instructions. But Li Shichen never remembers leaving his number for any college student.

And those who know this number have discretion and will not tell irrelevant people indiscriminately.

Just as he was stunned, the phone rang "ding-a-ling," and the secretary looked at it: "Director, is he calling again?"

It's not a time bomb; there's nothing he can't answer. Li Shichen also wanted to see where this student got his number.

He took the phone and answered it: "Hello, I am Li Shichen!"

"Hello Director Li, I am Lin Sicheng! Do you have time now? If possible, there are some issues I would like to report to you in person!" Li Shichen was stunned for a moment, his eyes bulging slightly: Who, Lin Sicheng?

Of course he remembers Lin Sicheng, and the impression is deep: because of that batch of porcelain, he was almost scolded like a dog by his leaders.

But the leader's scolding was not unjust: cases involving Smuggling are the responsibility of the Anti-Smuggling Bureau. After such a big loophole appeared, the General Administration sent him to handle it, and not only did he not handle it well, but he made the mess even bigger; if the leader doesn't scold him, who would they scold?

Department Head Chen Feng was even more miserable: he was almost suspended along with Deputy Director-General Song.

Because this pot should have been carried by the Port Supervision Department.

Other departments were no better: because it involved the system, if a problem occurred, it was impossible for only one department to be at fault; it was from top to bottom, it was just that it hadn't been discovered before, or it hadn't blown up to this size, and the leaders didn't know.

From the General Office, to Policy and Regulation, to Commodity Inspection, as well as Port Supervision, Inspection Department, and Anti-Smuggling, not one could escape.

It can be said: ever since they returned from Guangzhou, the lights in the General Administration have not been turned off; they have been working overtime all night, building after building. First, they checked backward, then flipped through regulations, and then held meetings to discuss the details. Up until now, it still hasn't been finished.

To put it without exaggeration: everyone in the General Administration hates Lin Sicheng to the bone.

So, how did Lin Sicheng dare to make this call?

Heh heh, and report in person?

Lin Sicheng, how dare you step into this building?

Li Shichen let out a "Ha": "Teacher Lin, I am waiting for you in the office!"