In a chaotic world of infrastructure development, a woman's path to survival after being reborn

The stockpile of gunpowder was always meticulously accounted for by soldiers specifically tasked with this matter. But for Zhao Zexuan, a single glance was enough for those well-trained and conscientious soldiers to reveal the exact details of the warehouse.

The soldiers described everything clearly and thoroughly, from the type and quantity of gunpowder to its quality, leaving nothing out.

Upon learning that the gunpowder reserves were plentiful, the generals felt a surge of confidence and beamed with joy. One of them excitedly shouted, "This time, we are sure to achieve a great victory!" They seemed to already see the dawn of victory shining brightly ahead.

The situation outside is changing rapidly, like a storm brewing. The slightest carelessness, even a moment of negligence, could sow the seeds of huge hidden dangers.

Therefore, in order to ensure the future prosperity of Lingcheng and to take advantage of the current favorable situation, Lingcheng made the important decision to send troops abroad.

Zhao Zexuan had already told Su Li about the deployment of troops, so when the final decision was made, Su Li remained unusually calm and showed no surprise whatsoever.

The day before the troops were to leave the city, Zhao Zexuan specifically sought out Su Li and meticulously instructed her on a series of matters that needed attention.

Zhao Zexuan looked serious, his gaze gentle yet firm, and slowly said, "This time, we need to send troops to conquer more than one place. The next plan is to take over this entire southern region. As a result, I won't be able to stay in the city for the next six months to a year. I'm afraid you'll have to put in a lot of effort during this time."

Su Li listened intently to Zhao Zexuan's instructions, afraid of missing any important information. When she learned about Zhao Zexuan's plan, she surprisingly did not raise any objections. Instead, she nodded slightly and said softly, "Right now, Lingcheng has ample gunpowder reserves, so there is no need to worry. However, you will be going out to fight on this journey, enduring wind and rain and facing numerous dangers. Please be careful to ensure your safety!"

Zhao Zexuan was well aware of the various difficulties and challenges he might encounter on the journey ahead. Hearing Su Li's thoughtful concern, he felt a warmth in his heart and nodded in response, "Don't worry, A Li, I understand all of this. I believe I will bring you good news soon!"

Time sometimes flies by like a white horse galloping past a crack in the wall, but at other times it crawls as slowly and unbearably as a snail crawling. As the people of Lingcheng waited anxiously day after day, one exciting piece of good news after another was continuously brought into the city.

After a series of arduous and fierce battles, Zhao Zexuan's army swept through the south and finally brought the entire southern region under its control. By then, a year had passed since the day they set out on the expedition.

Throughout this long year, not only were Zhao Zexuan and others fighting tirelessly on the front lines, but Su Li, who was in the city, also never had a moment of peace.

Su Li made full use of this precious time to study agricultural planting techniques and repeatedly experiment with various new crop varieties. Finally, she successfully cultivated a variety of high-yield grain crops, which solved the food shortage problem that had plagued the people for a long time and freed them from worrying about food and clothing.

It is no exaggeration to say that the successful resolution of the food problem was of great significance to Zhao Zexuan and his men. It was precisely because this crucial issue was handled properly that they were able to focus wholeheartedly on their campaigns abroad.

Now, the triumphant army is about to embark on its return journey. Faced with such an important moment, it is natural to make preparations in advance for all matters.

Lately, Su Li has been extremely busy, as if she has been caught in a never-ending storm. The mountain of account books has densely covered the entire table, making it almost impossible to breathe.

However, despite the arduous and demanding task, Su Li, with her tenacious perseverance and outstanding abilities, still managed to carefully review all the account books one by one.

After the accounts were settled, before Su Li could even relax, a maid came to report that Aunt Wang and the others were outside the mansion requesting an audience.

Upon hearing the news, Su Li didn't hesitate for a moment and decisively gave the order to the maid, "Quickly lead them to the front yard and tell them I will be there soon."

The army is about to return to the city, so there shouldn't be much pressure on the food supply. Aunt Wang and the others should be busy checking the inventory. Why did they suddenly come to the mansion?

A sense of doubt arose in Su Li's heart. After finishing her work, she didn't delay any longer. She immediately stood up and hurried towards the front yard, wanting to find out the true purpose of Aunt Wang and the others' trip as soon as possible.

Su Li hurried over, and as soon as she stepped into the main room, she saw Aunt Wang and several other people pacing back and forth in the room, looking restless.

Aunt Wang and the others looked grave and hurried along, as if they were carrying a huge boulder in their hearts and were so anxious they were practically steaming.

Seeing this, Su Li couldn't help but frown slightly, wondering to herself what had happened that could make the usually composed Aunt Wang and the others lose their composure like this!

Su Li strode quickly toward Aunt Wang and the others, asking, "What happened? Why are you all in such a hurry?"

Hearing Su Li's question, Aunt Wang and the others rushed forward as if they had grasped a lifeline, explaining, "Madam, something terrible has happened! Today, while we were carefully checking the inventory, we were shocked to find that the seeds of various high-yield grain crops that we had specifically saved for next year's planting have all decreased, and by a significant amount!"

Upon hearing this, Su Li's heart tightened, realizing the seriousness of the situation. Her brows furrowed tightly, and she demanded sharply, "What exactly happened?"

"How could perfectly good seeds just disappear into thin air? Each warehouse has a dedicated person guarding it, so how could this happen? Could it be... that there's a traitor inside the base?"

Su Li solemnly voiced the doubts that Aunt Wang and the others had. They looked anxious and hurriedly explained, "We really don't know what happened."

Upon learning that the seeds had vanished, we immediately took action, sealing off the entire base and conducting a thorough search from top to bottom. However, we couldn't find any trace of the seeds. We were truly helpless and completely baffled!

After hearing this, Su Li frowned deeply and asked with concern, "What exactly happened? Why did so many seeds go missing?"

"You must understand that these seeds are crucial to the future livelihood and development of the entire base, and they absolutely cannot be leaked."

Faced with Su Li's questioning, Aunt Wang and the others became increasingly anxious. They were as anxious as ants on a hot pan, and replied in a hurried voice, "We are also completely confused! We still don't understand the reason."

"The most urgent task right now is to find that despicable grain thief and recover the stolen seeds. We absolutely cannot let these seeds get out of the country, or the consequences will be unimaginable!"

Hearing what Aunt Wang and the others said, Su Li's expression also became serious. Her eyes revealed a trace of anxiety and worry, but surprisingly, even in the face of such a serious situation, she was still able to calm down quickly.

Su Li took a deep breath and then calmly and gently reassured Aunt Wang and the others, who were already panicked and at a loss: "Aunties, don't be too anxious. Calm down and think carefully, and recall the specific details of what happened."

"I'd like to ask you ladies, did you take action to seal off the entire base after discovering that the seeds were missing? From the time you ordered the lockdown until now, has anyone entered or left this place?"

Aunt Wang and the others were so frightened that they were completely disoriented, as anxious and flustered as ants on a hot pan.

However, on the way to the General's Mansion, Aunt Wang and the others hadn't been idle. They kept recalling what had happened that day, so when Su Li asked them again, they answered almost without hesitation, saying in unison, "Madam, rest assured, we can be 100% certain that after discovering that the grain seeds had disappeared, we ordered the entire base to be sealed off, and during that time, no one had any chance to enter or leave the base."

“The grain warehouse is inspected every hour, and you must have been inspecting it even more frequently during this period. This means that the seeds were lost within a quarter of an hour or two. Within that quarter of an hour or two, it would be almost impossible to leave the base with the seeds.”

"It is certain that the thief who stole the seeds must still be hiding inside the base. Your decisive action to seal off the base was very wise."

Hearing Su Li's assertion, Aunt Wang and the others felt somewhat relieved, but they still couldn't suppress their anxiety and asked urgently, "Madam, what should we do now? If the thief is still in the base, how can we capture him?"

“We had already searched the entire base inside and out, but we couldn’t find even the slightest trace of the thieves!”

Aunt Wang and the others were so eager to catch the mastermind that their tone of voice was unusually anxious.

"How long have you been sealing off the base?" Su Li suddenly asked.

Faced with this sudden question, Aunt Wang and the others looked at each other, somewhat puzzled, but still told the truth: "Madam, several hours have passed."

We thoroughly searched every part of the base, but were unable to apprehend the suspect, so we came to report this to you, Madam.

After listening to Aunt Wang and the others' responses, Su Li nodded and then asked, "So, in your opinion, is it close to the end of the workday?"

Upon hearing this, Aunt Wang and the others nodded, but then their tone became somewhat uncertain. "Madam, it's almost time to leave work. If we let everyone leave as usual, it will be even more difficult to track down the seeds!"

Su Li understood the implications, so she didn't hesitate at all and said decisively, "Who said we'd let them stop working? As long as the whereabouts of the seeds aren't found out, the base will remain sealed off!"

Aunt Wang and the others thought the same thing, so when they heard Su Li's decisive and resolute words, they immediately nodded in agreement without hesitation: "Yes, we absolutely cannot let those people take advantage of us, absolutely not!"

After saying that, Aunt Wang seemed to suddenly remember something and quickly asked, "Madam, are you going to the base with us now?"

Upon hearing this question, Su Li thought for a moment, then shook her head and said, "I don't have any plans to go to the base right now. Let's wait until tomorrow."

"Let them stay in the base for another day, so that those with ulterior motives will get anxious and frustrated. You know, people are more likely to make mistakes and slip up when they are anxious."

No one could interfere with Su Li's decision, so although Aunt Wang and the others were eager to find out who was behind it all, they could only wait.

"Aunties, you all go back and keep watch. Just keep watch, you don't have to do anything else, just remember one thing: you absolutely cannot let anyone leave the base," Su Li solemnly instructed.

Knowing the importance of the matter, Aunt Wang and the others quickly nodded and said, "We all know, we will definitely not let anyone leave the base."

……

The base was under lockdown. It should have been the end of the workday, but no one was able to leave. This unusual activity was bound to arouse suspicion.

As the base's lockdown lasted longer, the people inside grew increasingly anxious. Most were worried that something had happened to the base, while a small number of guilty individuals were sweating profusely and constantly trying to leave.

However, regardless of the emotions of those inside the base, the base remained closed, and the soldiers remained solemn and devoid of any human warmth.

Amidst this anxious waiting, the next day arrived, and early the next morning, Su Li led a squad of soldiers to the base.

Upon arriving at the base, Su Li ordered the soldiers to separate the people inside and interrogate them one by one without any hesitation. The questions she prepared were increasingly tricky, making it difficult for them to cope.

Of course, those who can't handle it are usually the ones with a guilty conscience, and their answers are all over the place.

Su Li separated the people, making them prove their alibis to each other, thus eliminating any opportunity for them to collude.

Su Li's method was direct and brutal, but it worked. After all, no one had ever experienced something like this before.

With the soldiers' assistance in the interrogation, more and more people were exposed, and the situation became quite clear.

The interrogation continued until the afternoon, and all those with problems had been identified. They were now being held by soldiers, their bodies trembling.

I expected a lot of people to participate, but I was still shocked and angry when I saw it with my own eyes.