Warlords: Rising from the Northwest Border and Sweeping Across the Powers

Chapter 546: Secret Gambling and Sudden News

Li Hongchang's intelligence officers began an intense surveillance mission. They worked in shifts 24 hours a day, keeping a close eye on the Huang brothers' every move. Due to the importance of the mission, everyone had to remain highly vigilant and not be careless.

However, this task was not easy. The Huang brothers were obviously aware of the surveillance from the outside world, and their actions became extremely cautious. The intelligence officers had to be careful to avoid being discovered by the other side. They used hidden locations around the Huang Mansion and telescopes for long-distance observation. At the same time, they also sent personnel to secretly track to ensure that the movements of the Huang brothers were under control.

Despite this, the intelligence officers still felt anxious. Because if the entrance to the tunnel was in the Huang Mansion as Huang Changlin said, then the Huang brothers would have absolute control. They could evacuate through the tunnel at any time and anywhere, and they would not be able to detect it. This feeling made the intelligence officers feel very powerless.

After a few days, the Huang brothers did not make any obvious moves. They seemed to be waiting for some opportunity, or secretly plotting something. The intelligence officers continued to carry out the surveillance mission. Although they were exhausted, they still dared not relax. They knew that the Huang brothers might escape if they were careless, which would lead to the failure of the whole plan.

This secret game is like a war without gunpowder. Every subtle action carries great significance, and every mistake may lead to a complete loss. Li Hongchang, the usually calm and composed intelligence elite, was also forced to become a little impatient by this invisible pressure.

He knew that impatience would not solve the problem, but would only put him in a deeper predicament. So he began to adjust his mindset and shift his focus to collecting information.

Li Hongchang knew that it was not easy to dig a tunnel at least 30 kilometers long from the Huang Mansion to the outside of Wanbei City. This was not only a huge project, but also a conspiracy that required careful planning and long-term layout. He began to think, how did the Huang family do all this? When did they start digging this tunnel?

With these questions in mind, Li Hongchang began to investigate the history of the Huang family.

He learned that this mansion was originally the residence of a local security commander in Wanbei. Later, after the Southern Government took over Wanbei, Huang Guangtai took a fancy to the terrain and feng shui here and took it for himself. Li Hongchang thought that perhaps the entrance to the tunnel was hidden in a corner of this mansion, but they had never found it.

In order to find clues to the tunnel, Li Hongchang decided to start with the craftsmen who built the house. He took great pains and finally found the craftsmen who participated in the construction of the house fifteen years ago.

They told Li Hongchang that there were indeed some strange instructions and requirements when the house was built, such as certain places had to be specially reinforced, secret doors had to be left in certain places, etc.

After finding some clues, Li Hongchang went to the home of the craftsman who was responsible for building the back garden of Huang Mansion. His face was serious, and his eyes were shining with inquiry. The craftsman was old, but his memory was still clear. He still had a deep impression of the mansion he participated in building.

Li Hongchang got straight to the point and asked, "Old man, I want to ask you something. Regarding the rockery in the back garden, do you remember if there are any secrets hidden in it? For example, a tunnel or something like that?"

The craftsman was slightly stunned, then revealed a look of reminiscence. He thought for a moment, then slowly shook his head and said, "There is absolutely no way there could be a tunnel in the rockery. The rockery was carefully designed by us, and there is a fish pond underneath. If there was a tunnel in the rockery, the water in the fish pond would have flowed back into it long ago."

Li Hongchang frowned, and doubts arose in his heart. He pondered for a moment and continued to ask: "So, do you think there is a possibility of other tunnel entrances in the Huang Mansion?"

The craftsman pondered for a moment and said slowly: "The Huang Mansion covers a vast area and has complex buildings. It is not realistic to say that it is completely impossible. However, it is not easy to dig a tunnel. The rainfall here in the north of the bay is very high every year, and the soil is wet. Digging a tunnel not only consumes manpower and material resources, but is also prone to various accidents."

Li Hongchang nodded in agreement and asked, "Then, if you were asked to design a tunnel from Huang's mansion to the outside of the city, how would you use the existing conditions?"

The craftsman's eyes gleamed, and he said, "If I were to design it, I would use the drainage system in the city. The drainage system in Wanbei is complicated, and some pipes even lead to the outside of the city. If we can use these pipes skillfully, we may be able to dig a safe and hidden tunnel."

Li Hongchang suddenly realized what was going on. He took a deep breath and said, "Old man, your advice is very helpful to me. I will consider your advice carefully and continue to investigate the clues of the tunnel."

Li Hongchang hurried back home, feeling a sense of urgency. He knew that time was running out and the Huang brothers might evacuate Bay North at any time, so he had to find out the location of the tunnel as soon as possible. Once the Huang brothers escaped, it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack to find them in the huge Bay Island area.

Li Hongchang immediately sat down and began to collect the relevant drawings of the underground drainage system of Wanbei City. He knew that these drawings were crucial to finding the entrance to the tunnel. He first contacted various connections of the Li family in Wanbei City, including engineers, government officials and insiders who had participated in the city's construction.

He mobilized all the resources of the Li family, hoping to obtain these valuable drawings as soon as possible.

As time went by, Li Hongchang became more and more anxious. He kept urging his subordinates to speed up the process, while he kept reading various materials, trying to find clues about the tunnel.

Li Hongchang's actions became more and more frequent. He worked hard in his study, often staying up all night. Various drawings and documents filled the entire desk. At the same time, he mobilized the Li family's connections, hoping to find those who participated in the construction of the underground drainage system.

Such an action would naturally attract the attention of people from the Southern Government in the city. After all, as the representative of the Li family, Li Hongchang's every move would affect the entire situation in the north of the bay.

Mr. Li Daben, as Li Hongchang's father, noticed his son's abnormality.

Looking at Li Hongchang's increasingly thin back, he was filled with worry. That day, he personally came to the study room and planned to have a good talk with his son.

"Hongchang, why have you been so busy these days? Are you hiding something from your father?" Old man Li Daben sat at the desk, his tone gentle but dignified.

Li Hongchang raised his head, a hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes, but then he said firmly: "Father, I am indeed busy with something, but this concerns the safety of the entire family, so I cannot disclose it easily."

Mr. Li frowned slightly. He knew his son was always smart and resourceful, but this action was obviously too risky. He sighed and said slowly, "Hongchang, I have been in the business world for so many years and have seen more storms than you. If you do this, not only will it attract the attention of the Southern Government, but it may also put the entire Li family in danger."

Li Hongchang was silent for a moment. He knew his father was right, but he also had reasons to do so. He took a deep breath and said, "Father, I am doing this for the future of our family. Please believe me!"

When Mr. Li heard this, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. He had long noticed that his son had an unusual relationship with Hua Guo, but he did not expect that he would take such a risk for Hua Guo. He said in a deep voice: "Hong Chang, do you know your identity? You are the son of the Li family. Your first task is to protect the interests of the family, not to help outsiders."

Li Hongchang smiled bitterly and said, "Father, no matter what, my loyalty to the Li family has never changed. This action is also for the future of the Li family."

Mr. Li was silent for a moment. He knew his son's character very well. Once he made a decision, it would be difficult to change it. He sighed and said, "Hongchang, since you have made a decision, just do it. But you must remember that no matter what happens, the interests of the family must be the most important."

Li Hongchang nodded in agreement. He knew that his father was tacitly approving his actions.