Chapter 109 Strategy: Psychological Warfare in the Offensive
Wei Yang's team achieved remarkable results in their investigation, with several thick stacks of interview records piled on his desk.
After careful screening, three suspects who best fit the criminal psychological profile have been summoned to the police station: painter Sun Xiaohai, storage assistant Ge Ming, and porter Wang Shun. They are currently sitting in different interrogation rooms, awaiting their unknown fate.
On the whiteboard in the psychological profiling team's office, the core characteristics of the profile—male, 20-30 years old, short, thin, repressed, and insecure—remain prominent.
Next to the form, three new sheets of basic information about the suspects were pasted on, along with a summary of key points compiled by the investigation team.
Fan Wei went to handle other urgent matters, leaving the pre-interrogation strategy development to Jiang Ling's team.
Jiang Ling stood in front of the whiteboard, her gaze sweeping over the information of the three suspects before finally settling on Li Zhenliang, Zhou Wei, and Liu Haoran, who were sitting around the table.
The rain has stopped, but the sky outside the window remains overcast.
"The person has been brought back, and the target identified by the sketch is right in front of us." Jiang Ling's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears. "The sketch is just a guide; finding the motive and evidence for the arson is the key. Now, based on the information gathered, the team has given us the task of conducting an in-depth psychological analysis of these three people, finding their weaknesses, and developing targeted interrogation plans."
Jiang Ling looked at Liu Haoran, who had been studying criminal psychology: "Haoran, you go first. Based on the profile and the information gathered, which of these three people has the most unstable mental state?"
Liu Haoran immediately opened his notebook: "Based on the information gathered, all three suspects fit the basic characteristics of the profile: introverted, low presence, and having experienced setbacks. However, their psychological defense mechanisms and possible triggers differ to some extent."
To make it easier to explain, Liu Haoran stood up, walked to the whiteboard, and pointed to Sun Xiaohai's photo and information sheet.
"Sun Xiaohai, 23 years old, a painter, 1.58 meters tall, very thin. This is the target with the highest accuracy in the portrait. His coworkers described him as afraid of light and clenching his fists tightly when scolded. This shows that he has a deep sense of inferiority and has been in a state of suppression and potential bullying for a long time. He has accumulated a lot of anger and humiliation in his heart, but lacks an outlet. His defense mechanism is extreme withdrawal and repression, internalizing all negative emotions. This long-term repression is like a pressure cooker that is constantly being pressurized. Perhaps one day, it will suddenly explode."
Liu Haoran paused, then emphasized, “His ‘trigger point’ could be any seemingly ordinary, humiliating event targeting his personal abilities or existence. For example, the foreman publicly reprimanding him again for being clumsy and useless, or a fellow worker’s mocking look or a joke about him being a ‘shorty.’ For someone who has been in this kind of environment for a long time, the last straw may be light, but it’s enough to ignite the accumulated destructive desires. For him, arson might be the only way to instantly feel powerful and take revenge on the world. During the interrogation, we need to find that last straw, guide him to release the long-suppressed sense of humiliation, and make him acknowledge the distorted sense of control that arson brings.”
At this point, Li Zhenliang sighed: "This Sun Xiaohai reminds me of Chen Anping. He was subjected to PUA for a long time, and his child was his biggest weakness. When he learned that He Meina's child was not his, he couldn't control his emotions."
Chen Anping is now a chef at the Heshun Hotel, where Zhou Wei's comrade works. He is living a fulfilling life and has a good relationship with the members of the psychological profiling team, especially Zhou Wei. Speaking of Chen Anping, Zhou Wei sighed, "Fortunately, we intervened and provided guidance in time, which prevented more serious consequences."
Li Zhenliang and Liu Haoran echoed, "That's right. He's become much more cheerful now. Sometimes I think, if we hadn't kept an eye on him, he might really have killed someone one day, just like the team leader said."
Seeing that the conversation had gone off-topic, Jiang Ling reminded them, "Let's get back to the main point."
Zhou Wei brought the topic back: "We should treat Sun Xiaohai the same way we treated Chen Anping, focusing on reassuring him. During the interrogation, we can ask him about the grievances he has suffered, and try to be as gentle as possible."
Liu Haoran nodded and continued analyzing the second suspect.
"Ge Ming, 25 years old, a storage assistant, thin and introverted. His source of frustration is relatively clear: a failed blind date where the woman rejected him because she thought his job had no future. For an introverted young man like him, who may have expectations for his family and future, this is a heavy blow to his self-esteem and self-worth. Investigations show that he has been in a very low mood recently. He may attribute his failed blind date to unfairness in society or his work environment and vent his anger at his own incompetence by setting fire to the building."
Li Zhenliang's mouth dropped open, finding it hard to believe: "Um, really? Setting fire to a house after a failed blind date? I think that's making a mountain out of a molehill. Men, what man hasn't had a few failed blind dates? If you don't like someone, you don't like them. The next one will be better."
Zhou Wei said, "That's you, you're not afraid of setbacks. Some people are different. Maybe they are insecure because of their poor personal conditions. They finally mustered up the courage to go on a blind date, but were hit hard. Their fragile hearts couldn't withstand such a blow, so... they just exploded."
After a pause, Zhou Wei stated his opinion: "Then the interrogation will be easier. We can focus on this blind date, ask him about the specifics, guide him to express his dissatisfaction with the current situation, and observe whether there is any possibility that it is related to arson."
Liu Haoran continued: "Wang Shun, 28 years old, a porter, not tall but sturdy, quiet, and ridiculed by his coworkers as 'hard to talk back to.' His physical description differs from the frail-looking portrait, but his personality fits the description of repression and being ignored. The jokes from his coworkers were clearly insulting, and the long-term accumulation of such jokes would create pressure. His trigger might have been a particularly excessive humiliation, or the explosion of long-accumulated resentment at a certain point. His motive for arson might be more of revenge against a specific bully, or it could also be a way to demonstrate power and prove that he wasn't truly 'useless.'"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Wei quickly added: "Then, the key point of the interrogation is to ask him about his true feelings when faced with ridicule, and to observe whether he harbors hatred towards certain people or environments."
Jiang Ling nodded approvingly: "Haoran's analysis is spot on, he has grasped the key differences. Now, we will combine spatial geography and doubts about physical evidence to formulate a specific interrogation strategy."
She looked at Zhou Wei: "Dawei, spatially speaking, the fire ignition point No. 3, which is near the back window of the duty room, is extremely difficult to access. It's narrow, cluttered with debris, and requires crawling. Who is most capable of completing this action quickly?"
Zhou Wei immediately pointed to Sun Xiaohai's photo: "Without a doubt, it's Sun Xiaohai! He's only 1.58 meters tall and extremely thin, a physique that's most advantageous for moving around in such confined spaces. Ge Ming is also thin, but he's nearly 1.7 meters tall, which would reduce his agility when crawling. Wang Shun is sturdy, and it would be difficult for him to even turn around in that kind of place. Sun Xiaohai is the only candidate who can quickly and discreetly ignite the fire at point number 3. Moreover, he's a painter, so he can access and obtain accelerants."
"Regarding the physical evidence," Jiang Ling looked at Li Zhenliang, "the fire started under the window of the duty room on the 3rd. The ignition point needed to take advantage of Fan Guoping's moment of relaxation. Who is most likely to have had a brief, unsustainable contact with Master Fan before the incident and know exactly when Fan Guoping ate?"
Li Zhenliang immediately chimed in, his thinking clear: "The investigation shows that Ge Ming, as the storage assistant, has frequent work interactions with Fan Guoping. Sun Xiaohai is a painter, mainly working in the work area, and has less direct contact with the storage keeper, but is needed when retrieving materials. Wang Shun is a porter, and his contact with the storage keeper is also mainly during material requisition and warehouse entry/exit. Based on this analysis, Ge Ming is more suspicious."
“Very good.” Jiang Ling turned to look at Li Zhenliang. “Dawei has already pointed out the key points of the interrogation. Now, Liangzi, you’ll arrange the manpower, focusing on the interrogation strategy and division of labor.”
“Okay.” Entrusted with an important task once again by Jiang Ling, Li Zhenliang was no longer as apprehensive as before. His attitude was much calmer. He straightened his back and looked at everyone. “Suspect Sun Xiaohai is our main target. The team leader will be the chief interrogator, and Haoran will be the deputy interrogator. Is that alright?”
Li Zhenliang was a little embarrassed about assigning a team leader for the first time. But Jiang Ling didn't think anything was wrong. She sat back in her chair, smiled, and nodded, "Okay."
Encouraged, Li Zhenliang glanced at Sun Xiaohai's information sheet and, based on the "appeasement" strategy Zhou Wei had just proposed, began to refine the interrogation process: "The interrogation of Sun Xiaohai must avoid direct confrontation and create a gentle, low-pressure environment. We can start by asking about his daily work and life, focusing on his feelings."
Entrusted with the important task of "assistant judge", Liu Haoran reacted quickly and wrote down the questions in his notebook.
—Is working in the warehouse tiring?
Do you get along well with your coworkers?
—Some workers have reported that a certain foreman sometimes speaks harshly. Do you feel wronged?
"I heard someone made jokes about your height. What did you think at the time?"
Li Zhenliang was very satisfied with his teammate's initiative: "Haoran's proposed questions are very good. When asking questions, we should focus on observing his emotional fluctuations. If we find that he is breathing rapidly, his body is tense, or his eyes are darting away, we should guide him to describe the specific details of the event and how he felt at the time. For example, we can ask him if he felt angry, helpless, or wanted to resist, and emphasize the long-term and cumulative nature of these feelings."
Liu Haoran said, "Once we've laid a solid emotional foundation, we can then connect to the arson motive. Team leader, what do you think of these questions?"
—If you've been suppressed for too long and too harshly, do you feel like you can't breathe?
—Do you ever think, if only I could do something, even just once, to let everyone see it and make those who look down on me pay the price?
—Have you ever thought about making sure those who ignore you can never ignore you again? Like… a fire that can burn everything down?
Hearing this, Jiang Ling was very satisfied, but also reminded him, "Very good. However, remember not to directly say the answer about arson, so as not to be suspected of leading a confession."
Liu Haoran quickly scribbled in his notebook, saying as he wrote, "Okay, I will closely observe Sun Xiaohai's reaction, to see if his pupils suddenly dilate, if he trembles with fear, or if he suddenly becomes talkative after being touched by your words."
Jiang Ling said, "That's right. We must analyze Sun Xiaohai's micro-expressions and body language, especially his hand gestures, in real time to determine his emotional threshold and defensive weaknesses, and adjust our pace accordingly."
The light in Li Zhenliang's eyes grew brighter and brighter, as he felt he had finally grasped the techniques of interrogation, and then he began to make arrangements for Ge Ming.
"Ge Minghe's interrogation strategy is to focus on the setbacks and dig deep into the root of his dissatisfaction. Because of his failed blind date, his self-esteem was severely damaged, so he definitely doesn't want to see sunny, tall young men or communicate face-to-face with women. Therefore, the team leader, Haoran, and Dawei are not suitable. This interrogation will be led by the older team leader, Fan, and I will be the assistant interrogator."
"Very good." Jiang Lingchong gave Li Zhenliang a thumbs up.
She hadn't expected Li Zhenliang to be so thoughtful, even considering Ge Ming's psychological weaknesses after the failed blind date and avoiding upsetting him.
With increasing confidence after receiving affirmation and encouragement, Li Zhenliang looked at Liu Haoran and said, "Haoran, you formulate the questions."
Liu Haoran accepted the task without hesitation: "Although we need to gather people who failed at blind dates, we shouldn't start by saying that, lest Ge Ming feel offended. We can start by asking about his work and daily life in a relatively casual tone to establish basic communication, and then naturally transition to his personal life, guiding him to describe in detail the blind date process, the woman's attitude, and the impact this had on him."
—I heard your family recently introduced you to someone, but it didn't go too well?
—It must feel really bad to be told that your job has no future, right?
—Do you feel that working in a warehouse offers no hope for the future?
Li Zhenliang asked Liu Haoran, "Then how do you connect this sense of frustration, resentment towards the environment, and destructive urges?"
Liu Haoran hummed in agreement. “Yes, all of the above was just groundwork. The key is the connection to arson. Although the team leader just said to avoid any suspicion of coercion, we can ask him if he has a lot of anger inside him with nowhere to vent it, and he finds everything unpleasant, especially this warehouse that's trapping him. Does he feel that destroying it would be a relief? Observe whether he shows any unusual attention or emotional reaction when the words 'warehouse' or 'damage' are mentioned.”
Zhou Wei reminded him, "Ge Ming and Fan Guoping are the closest. Don't forget to check his whereabouts on the night of the incident. In particular, where was Fan Guoping during dinner time, what did he do, were there any witnesses, and did he approach the duty room or the area where the fire started, etc."
Li Zhenliang solemnly replied, "Okay, I've written it down."
After finalizing the interrogation strategies for the two suspects, the next step was Wang Shun, whose physique did not match the sketch: "As for Wang Shun, the key is to break through his mask of forbearance and assess whether his frustration was strong enough to translate into a motive for arson. I suggest that the straightforward and efficient Zheng Yu be the lead interrogator, with Dawei as the assistant interrogator."
Upon hearing this arrangement, Jiang Ling couldn't help but smile.
It must be said that Li Zhenliang is a talented person; at least he has done a good job in making the best use of people's talents.
If we're talking about breaking the mask of "honest people" who are always patient and reserved, Zheng Yu's fiery personality is indeed very suitable.
Liu Haoran was still in charge of drafting the questions: "Same as always, start with routine inquiries about work and interpersonal relationships. Directly point out the excessive jokes that his coworkers made about him during the investigation, and observe Wang Shun's true reaction."
—I heard your coworkers say you're so tough you can't even fart.
Do they often joke like this?
—Are you really not angry at all?
Having been assigned as the deputy judge, Zhou Wei became more proactive: "At this point, it's appropriate to apply some pressure."
—Are you really not angry, or are you just pretending?
Anyone would be furious to be insulted like that to their face, right?
—If you endure it for too long, you won't want to do anything?
Liu Haoran quickly picked up the conversation: "If we detect any resentment in Wang Shun, then we should continue to press him for answers."
—Is there anyone or anything you particularly resent?
—Do you feel oppressed by certain people in the warehouse or by the environment itself, and want to rebel?
—Have you ever thought about retaliating?
Thinking about his physical condition, Zhou Wei frowned: "If he is really a suspect, I plan to just throw the problem at him."
—Do you know that narrow gap behind the duty room, the place piled with junk?
—With your physique, it probably wouldn't be easy for you to squeeze in, would it?
—Will the bumps and knocks make noise?
Jiang Ling stood up and began the final deployment and team mobilization: "The strategy has been set; the key lies in execution and on-the-spot adaptability."
Jiang Ling's gaze swept over the three team members, her tone steady and forceful, "Liangzi, Ge Ming is yours now. This is your test. Remember: listening is more important than questioning, and observation is more important than speaking. Seize the moment when his emotions are revealed, and proceed steadily."
"Yes, team leader!" Li Zhenliang took a deep breath, his eyes resolute.
Jiang Ling looked at Liu Haoran: "Haoran, Sun Xiaohai is of utmost importance. He is very closed off, so we must avoid provoking him. As the deputy judge, you must accurately capture every subtle reaction of his and provide timely feedback."
"Yes! I will keep a close eye on every micro-expression and body language signal." Liu Haoran quickly highlighted the key points in his notebook.
"Dawei, you need to coordinate well with Zheng Yu regarding Wang Shun's side, and seize the opportunity to inquire about the destination in space," Jiang Ling instructed.
Zhou Wei nodded: "Yes!"
Jiang Ling finally looked at the names of the three suspects on the whiteboard, and the words "repressed" and "inferiority complex" in the portrait form: "Let's begin."
Jiang Ling and Liu Haoran are in one group, Fan Wei and Li Zhenliang are in one group, and Zheng Yu and Zhou Wei are in one group.
Three psychological battles, waged in cramped interrogation rooms and targeting human weaknesses, have officially begun.
Who is the arsonist? The answer is about to be revealed.
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