Chapter 53: Ma Yuan's Suspicion

Staff Officer Li, our Intelligence Section intercepted a confidential report in the past few days. The content is the military deployment map of our 119th Division. This concerns the safety of the entire garrison in Huangzhou City, so this subordinate dared not be negligent and has come to report to you, Staff Officer Li. In Li Chenghai's office, Ma Yuan was making his report.

In his hand, Li Chenghai held the intelligence obtained by the Intelligence Section, which included the military deployment map of the 119th Division.

Have you found out who is responsible? Li Chenghai glanced over the contents of the report and immediately asked.

According to the information from our Intelligence Section, our suspicion is currently narrowed down to three individuals. First is Hu Xihua, Deputy Battalion Commander of the First Battalion; second is Jin Qiyong, Head of the Logistics Section; and third is Peng Hai, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Division Headquarters' Staff Department. Our Intelligence Section is currently vetting them, but we have not made much progress yet, Ma Yuan replied truthfully.

Li Chenghai furrowed his brow slightly. These three have been in our division headquarters for quite some time. However, human greed knows no bounds; it is not impossible that they harbor ulterior motives.

Section Chief Ma, do you have a primary suspect?

Ma Yuan thought for a moment before saying, Staff Officer Li, I have looked into the basic information of all three. My subordinate suspects Jin Qiyong, the Head of the Logistics Section. Considering the three of them, Hu Xihua, as a deputy battalion commander who has fought on the battlefield for many years, surely does not possess such a meticulous mind. As for Chief of Staff Peng Hai, as a core member of our division's staff department, I understand that he primarily serves as a clerical staff officer, with few opportunities to access military secrets during ordinary times. Furthermore, Chief of Staff Peng was personally promoted by Division Commander Huang, so there shouldn't be any major issues with him.

As for Section Chief Jin Qiyong, although he has spent years in the division's logistics section, works very diligently, enjoys an excellent reputation within the division, and is a good person, unfortunately, he is simply too cautious. This makes one suspicious, because he has never made a single mistake.

In my view, when someone is flawless to the extreme, there is bound to be a problem. Having been in the division headquarters for so many years, even with the utmost caution and care, it is impossible for Logistics to have never slipped up even once. Therefore, my subordinate requests your permission, Staff Officer, to formally interrogate Jin Qiyong.

Ma Yuan did not follow the suggestions of Cheng Qian and Hou Lili, relying instead on his own judgment.

After pondering for a long time, Li Chenghai finally spoke, Ma Yuan, let us do this. After all, Jin Qiyong is the head of our division's logistics section, and he has been in charge of logistics for a very long time. If we arrest him directly, I am afraid it might cause turmoil within the logistics department. However, the matter of a security breach is of utmost importance. Wait until I report this to the Division Commander before we make a final decision.

Also, Huangzhou City is currently fraught with hidden perils. I have already requested orders from the Division Commander and assigned twenty personnel to your Intelligence Section, primarily to be used for the daily apprehension and surveillance of traitors. Especially now, with a major battle looming, we truly cannot afford to lower our guard.

Ma Yuan was startled. Twenty men had actually been assigned to him? It seemed the Zheng clique was not as monolithic as it appeared on the surface.

Two days later, Ma Yuan received a classified order from Li Chenghai, consisting of just two simple words: Arrest them.

Consequently, Ma Yuan dispatched the newly arrived personnel to the logistics section to arrest Jin Qiyong directly. The twenty operatives assigned to the intelligence section this time were divided into two squads, led respectively by Huang Wen and Sun Qing, both of whom were highly experienced talents selected from the regular troops.

In the interrogation room of the 119th Division's Intelligence Section, Ma Yuan, Cheng Qian, and Hou Lili officially began their interrogation of Jin Qiyong.

Section Chief Jin, I am Ma Yuan, the newly appointed head of the Intelligence Section. You may not have heard of me, and I apologize that today's interrogation is being led by me. Looking at Jin Qiyong opposite him, Ma Yuan appeared extremely composed.

Ma Yuan? I have heard some things. You were personally promoted by Division Commander Huang, so you must have influential backing. It is only to be expected that you could become such a young section chief. Jin Qiyong appeared completely calm, his expression expressionless.

Ma Yuan smiled faintly and turned to signal Cheng Qian beside him.

Cheng Qian stepped forward. Section Chief Jin, next we will conduct a routine questioning of you, and we hope you will cooperate fully so that we can clear your name as soon as possible, allowing you to return to the logistics section without delay.

After all, Jin Qiyong had served as the head of the logistics section in the 119th Division for many years. Although he had little contact with the intelligence section on a daily basis, he still had some understanding of it.

It's fine, everyone has their own duties. Your intelligence section has a hard time of it, especially at a time like this. With a major battle impending, an inch of intelligence is an inch of merit, Jin Qiyong remarked.

Section Chief Jin, we discovered that fifteen days ago, you copied a piece of intelligence from our intelligence section regarding a newly arrived batch of weaponry for the joint Mashan forces outside the city. The time and place are recorded in great detail thereon, is that correct? Cheng Qian asked in the course of routine questioning.

Jin Qiyong thought for a moment. That is correct. Such a piece of intelligence existed ten days ago. It was transferred from your intelligence section to our logistics section, and we even coordinated with the Third Company of the Third Battalion to venture outside the city to intercept grain supplies. However, that operation was completed six days ago, and we reaped a bountiful harvest from it.

Section Chief Jin, then why does our intelligence record that there were ten cannons, yet only two were ultimately recovered? Cheng Qian pursued the questioning.

Jin Qiyong frowned slightly. You should ask the Third Company about that matter. They were the ones executing the field mission, and I am unaware of the specific circumstances on the ground.

Ma Yuan interrupted, Section Chief Jin, according to the information we uncovered, someone from your logistics section accompanied the mission, only to later perish on the front lines. Moreover, that person apparently used to have bad blood with you, Section Chief Jin.

Jin Qiyong sneered. What? Section Chief Ma surely does not believe that I intended to use a borrowed knife to kill someone? As for my personal integrity, if you go and ask our 119th Division, I am afraid very few people would be unaware of it...

Ma Yuan waved his hand. No, no, no, Section Chief Jin, how could I have such a meaning? Your reputation precedes you, and no one in our division is unaware of it. But as you know, in our intelligence section's interrogations, we do not ask about personal character; we discuss only evidence. I hope Section Chief Jin can understand this.

Jin Qiyong's brow was deeply furrowed. Before he could finish speaking, he was directly cut off by Ma Yuan, clearly showing signs of tension and displeasure.

Ma Yuan smiled. Cheng Qian, continue. Proceed with the routine questioning according to our list of questions.

Cheng Qian nodded. Section Chief Jin, may I ask where you were on the evening of five days ago, and what you were doing?

Jin Qiyong gradually regained his composure. Five days ago? Uh... that day I seemed to be conducting a routine inspection of logistics supplies as usual. Originally, Deputy Section Chief Zhang Guonian was supposed to inspect that day, but it seemed he had a family matter to attend to, which was why I stood in for him to inspect the division headquarters.

Hou Lili, who was in charge of taking notes nearby, instantly lit up with a flash of realization, but she was checked by a glance from Ma Yuan.