Chapter 78: Inviting Yan to Make the Arrest

Song Yanzhou was nothing like what Zhong Xiao had imagined.

Once a celebrated commander of the flying regiment, Zhong Xiao often heard her dormmates, like Wang Junyao, discuss this legendary man when she first arrived. His popularity in the military district was rivaled only by Song Ting Shen.

Married young, fate dealt him a cruel hand, a genuine beauty marked by strength and tragedy—he left a deep impression on Zhong Xiao.

She had assumed he would be much like Commander Song and Regiment Leader Song, a vigorous, masculine figure. But to her surprise, Song Yanzhou's appearance was strikingly delicate.

His features were not as severe as Song Ting Shen’s, but rather inherited from Zuo Lan—a blend of strength and gentleness. His upturned phoenix eyes softened when he looked at people.

As Zhong Xiao observed Song Yanzhou, he too was watching her.

She was even more beautiful and lively than in the photos—growing into her looks, so much so that Song Yanzhou almost didn’t recognize her.

Her features were truly captivating and spirited.

That was why, when Song Yanzhou had once found that photo beneath Song Ting Shen’s pillow, it left such a deep impression.

Song Yanzhou smiled warmly.

“Where’s Shen? Didn’t he just come back?”

Zhong Xiao didn’t know; she’d been tidying her clothes in her room.

Jiang Yuan spoke up, “He got a notification earlier and went to the hospital. He’s been gone for quite a while.”

Song Yanzhou nodded.

He turned to Zhong Xiao. “I haven’t had the chance to thank you for what you did for Dad. Thank you.”

Zhong Xiao waved her hand with a smile. “I was just lucky. You’re too polite, Brother Song.”

“Treat the Song family as your own. Don’t be shy. If you need anything, just tell your sister-in-law—she’s a warm-hearted person.”

“I know, Brother Song.”

Zhong Xiao glanced at Song Yanzhou’s legs beneath the blanket.

She could faintly make out their outline, but perhaps from being bedridden so long, there was likely some atrophy.

Suddenly, she remembered—

Back in the space, she had seen that the crabs and corn nourished by the spiritual spring could strengthen the body, especially the crabs, which could restore bones and sinews.

She wondered if it would work for Brother Song.

Regardless, she decided to try.

So she said to Jiang Yuan, “Sister-in-law, you made lunch, so let me cook dinner tonight. Let everyone try my cooking!”

Jiang Yuan was genuinely surprised. “You can cook?”

Zhong Xiao thought, I can’t, but my space can.

If the space can, then so can she.

She nodded emphatically. “I’ll cook tonight! It’s settled. Brother Song, you should join us and try my cooking, too.”

Song Yanzhou smiled gently. “Alright.”

—

Upon arriving at the hospital, Song Ting Shen went straight to Song Qingfeng’s ward.

Inside, it was crowded with people.

All were trusted aides that Song Qingfeng had carefully cultivated over the years—absolutely reliable.

When Song Ting Shen entered, Song Qingfeng’s expression grew serious.

“We’ve confirmed that there’s an enemy agent in our military district. The number shouldn’t be large—possibly only one, and not of high rank, since no critical intelligence has leaked so far.”

“But the problem is, if the person isn’t highly ranked, how did they get access to such confidential battle plans? I’ve never understood this.”

The flying regiment, which had discovered the intelligence leak, had its deputy commander speak up.

“Could it have been accidental? Or perhaps the enemy deduced our troop movements or routes from training patterns? After we finalized the operation plan, we rarely trained the navy and focused more on the army and armored regiment. Could they have guessed the plan from our training traces?”

Song Qingfeng pondered. “That’s possible.”

He looked at Song Ting Shen, who stood silently nearby. “Regiment Leader Song, do you have any thoughts?”

He asked almost out of habit—everyone knew Song Ting Shen had lost his memory and remembered nothing of previous events. How could he possibly know where the problem lay now?

But Song Ting Shen glanced around at everyone and said, “What if the enemy agent isn’t what we imagine—a traditional soldier or officer—but someone completely unrelated to the army?”

Unrelated?

Song Qingfeng frowned.

Song Ting Shen continued, “We don’t have to look for the enemy agent among soldiers. The enemy is sly—they know which people are closely monitored and which aren’t scrutinized as strictly.”

“In that case, there’s no need to go through the trouble of placing an agent among key targets. They’d be more likely to choose places we overlook.”

“For example, the logistics department. Military logistics can reveal our troop deployment patterns through supply records.”

“Or the mess hall. They can infer the food standards for each camp based on supply requirements. If someone pays attention, they could easily deduce the mission’s duration from total quantities, and from that, estimate the route.”

“And also…” Song Ting Shen’s eyes sharpened, “the hospital we’re in right now.”

“The hospital?” Everyone’s brows furrowed.

Song Ting Shen was not wrong.

To learn a military district’s battle plans, one doesn’t have to infiltrate the troops—there are many inconspicuous corners where defenses are weak.

Song Ting Shen mused, “Medical staff have close ties with soldiers. They come in for headaches or minor ailments, and over time, they become familiar. In casual chats, some soldiers are careless—mentioning upcoming missions, and it’s easy for someone to coax out information.”

Logistics, mess hall, hospital.

These are key departments, essential to the district’s operations, with large numbers of personnel.

When management wasn’t as strict, these departments were the easiest to access.

All it took was a report, a recommendation, an introduction from someone’s relative.

Often, they didn’t even require identification—just threw people into the mix.

Later, the rules tightened, requiring proper documents for entry, but those who came earlier were never thoroughly investigated.

“In that case,” Song Qingfeng’s gaze was sharp as an eagle’s, “we’ll start with the hospital.”

“Spread my orders: The hospital staff have worked hard to combat the plague lately. Tonight, Director Zuo Lan and I will personally host a gathering at the dam for all hospital staff. This afternoon, have my adjutant take the services and logistics people into town to shop for supplies. Tonight, we host a banquet!”