Chapter 67: The Trap Within the Trap

In the study of the Shen Residence, the fireplace was burning brightly, occasionally popping with soft crackling sounds.

Shen Shichang held the receiver in one hand and a fountain pen in the other, noting something down on paper.

From the other end of the line came the distinct Jiang-Zhe accent of Dai Laoban from the Military Statistics Bureau: "Old Shen, there's a problem at the arsenal in Nanjing, in the workshop that manufactures special explosives. Those few who returned from studying in the Soviet Union are talking big, but they've tried many times and still can't fix it. Now, we can only pin our hopes on Liu Xiaohua!"

Shen Shichang sighed, his voice dropping to a low tone: "Bureau Chief, this man is a liberal. My daughter meets him every week; eating and socializing are fine, but as soon as we talk about work, he says he's not feeling well and needs to rest for a while. I really have no way to deal with him. I can't just kidnap him!"

The other end of the phone was silent for a moment, the static of the current sounding particularly harsh. "I've received intelligence that the Communist Party is also actively reaching out to him. Under no circumstances can we let him go to Yan'an."

Shen Shichang's tone suddenly turned cold: "I can guarantee you that. If he goes to Nanjing, we welcome it; if he stays in Si Jiu Cheng, we will keep him under surveillance. As for going to Yan'an..." He paused, "We will kill him."

"That's good. Old Shen, you are a veteran of the Party and State. Our current situation is not optimistic, so you must do your best!"

After hanging up the phone, Shen Shichang paced the study for a long time before ordering someone to call Liu Rusi.

When the study door was pushed open, a gust of cold wind blew in. Liu Rusi walked in wrapped in a mink coat, her cheeks flushed from the cold.

The room was too warm, and as soon as Liu Rusi entered, she sneezed.

She hurriedly took off her mink coat and hung it on the coat rack.

"Father, did you look for me?"

Shen Shichang stood before the fireplace, watching the dancing flames, and said, "What do you think of Feng Qingbo?"

"Him? His mind is too rigid. He's qualified enough to be a killer, but he can't handle other matters."

She leaned closer to her father and held her hands out to the fireplace to warm them, the firelight flickering in her eyes.

"Dai Laoban is urging me again, telling us to persuade Liu Xiaohua to go to Nanjing. The few Soviet-educated students the President had high hopes for have messed things up. Some say Liu Xiaohua had contact with research in this field while in the United States."

Liu Rusi gave a bitter smile, took a cigarette from her clutch, and lit it with the fire from the hearth.

"The only thing this man is interested in is music; he has no interest in anything else. Zhao Ying is the campus beauty of the Normal University Girls' School, but even throwing herself at him couldn't move him."

Shen Shichang nodded.

"Are all the people at the Military Statistics Bureau Beiping Station useless? Why do we have to be the ones to do this?" Liu Rusi complained.

"Those people from the Jiangshan Gang, relying on being fellow townsmen with Dai Laoban, basically take all the benefits, while we in the Whampoa Clique do all the dirty work!"

Liu Rusi exhaled a wisp of smoke and said indifferently: "The only thing I can guarantee is to have Feng Qingbo keep an eye on him. If Liu Xiaohua wants to go to the Communist Party side, I will have Feng Qingbo kill him. On the surface, it will still look like the Communist Party killed him, so we won't bear the infamy."

"Is there no other way?" Shen Shichang's voice carried exhaustion.

Liu Rusi's eyes suddenly lit up: "I've taken a liking to someone recently; he's quite interesting. If he's willing to work for us, perhaps he can persuade Liu Xiaohua."

"Who?"

"The waiter at He Ji Restaurant, the one who made the Boiled Fish last time."

Shen Shichang frowned: "A waiter? Even if he has some spirit, what great ability could he have?"

"Don't underestimate him." Liu Rusi's lips curled into a smile. "The day before yesterday, I hosted Liu Xiaohua and specifically had him cook. Not only can he cook Western food, but he can also sing English songs. Even Liu Xiaohua said he had never heard that song before and even showed a look of admiration for him. I've known him for so long, and I've never seen him look at someone like that."

"Bring him to see me tomorrow."

"He's not short on money. He won't care for the conditions you offer." Liu Rusi took a puff of her cigarette, her tone slightly mocking.

Shen Shichang looked up sharply: "Where does he get his money?"

"Don't worry about that." Liu Rusi avoided her father's scrutinizing gaze. "I'll test him first, and once he agrees, I'll bring him for you to see."

"I heard you offended Zheng De recently. You should know, his father-in-law is not someone to be trifled with."

Liu Rusi sneered: "This man is lawless; he colludes with gangs, traffics drugs, runs brothels, and operates casinos. He does everything the law forbids, and he even bestowed the title of 'Anti-Japanese Hero' upon the gang leader Zhao Datou." Her voice suddenly turned cold: "He Yuzhu told me the day before yesterday that he wanted to get rid of Zheng De. I want to use his hand to handle this matter so we don't have to get our hands dirty."

Shen Shichang paced to the window, looking out at the desolate courtyard.

"After Zheng De became the Receiving Section Chief, he became increasingly reckless. The citizens are all saying we are the 'Five Sons Ascending the Branch'—houses, cars, banknotes, gold, and women." He turned around with determination on his face: "If you are going to act, you must cut the weeds and dig up the roots; you cannot leave any future trouble."

"As long as you agree, I will act immediately, and it will also be a chance to see He Yuzhu's methods. If he succeeds, we can promote him; if he fails, it has nothing to do with us."

Shen Shichang nodded slowly: "It seems you think highly of this He Yuzhu."

Liu Rusi smiled: "In my opinion, he is ten times better than Feng Qingbo."

At Xizhimen, in an uninhabited residential house, in the darkness, only a radio powered by a 6V battery pack emitted a faint light and a beeping sound.

He Yuzhu was practicing sending messages, his fingers moving rapidly on the telegraph key...

Two hours had already passed. Although he couldn't do it perfectly, sending and receiving telegrams was no problem. However, the detection vehicle he was hoping for still hadn't arrived.

He Yuzhu stretched his sore wrists and muttered to himself: Why were those captured couriers caught! I've practiced for so long, and still no one has come. Maybe this place is too desolate; I'll change locations.

He put the radio into his space and turned to head toward a pre-arranged dilapidated courtyard in Dongzhimen.

He Yuzhu skillfully set up Trick Mines in the main room and the cellar, then turned the radio on again.

Another half hour passed. In the cold night wind, his hands were frozen stiff, and he rubbed them vigorously.

"Hurry up and come catch me! Hurry up and come catch me!"

Time ticked away second by second, and the detection vehicle still didn't come. Just as he was about to pack up and go home to sleep, rapid footsteps came from the alley.

"Bang!" The courtyard gate was suddenly kicked open.

Five men from the Military Statistics Bureau Action Team rushed into the courtyard, their footsteps sounding exceptionally clear in the silent night.

He Yuzhu vanished into his space.

Almost simultaneously, a short man who wanted to claim the credit was tripped by something.

"Boom!"

A deafening explosion rang out.

The entire roof was blown away.

Severed limbs and arms were scattered all over the courtyard.

He Yuzhu emerged from his space and quickly rushed to the back door.

Using the detection function of his space, he discovered that three people were actually hiding at the back door.

Outside the back door, the Deputy Captain of the Military Statistics Bureau Beiping Station Action Team was pointing his gun at Tie Lin: "You hurry up and take Lao San and rush in. If we catch the Communist Party, we'll have performed a great service."

"Captain, didn't you hear the explosion inside? That proves there's an ambush. We can't go in yet. There's an ambush at the front door, so why wouldn't there be one at the back? Let's hurry and call for more men."

"Tie Lin, you fucking coward."

"If you're not a coward, then you go in!"

He Yuzhu also threw a hand grenade toward their back door.

The hand grenade fell to the ground; the three men saw the grenade land and took off running.

"Boom!" came a sound.

Lao San was too slow, and shrapnel blew his thigh off.

He shouted for help, but no one paid him any mind.

The Deputy Captain and Tie Lin had long since run off without a trace.

He was still desperately crawling forward, dragging a long trail of blood across the ground.

He Yuzhu nimbly vaulted over the Houyuan wall, took a look, ignored that person, and instead circled around from a nearby house to the Qianmen.

Another dozen or so men from the Military Statistics Bureau Action Team rushed into the front courtyard.

He Yuzhu quickly ran to the main street and saw a green enclosed box truck parked there, with a thick antenna standing on its roof.

There was no one around the surveillance vehicle.

In the courtyard, several people were clearing the entrance to a cellar.

"Boom!" The sound of an explosion rang out once more.

A dozen or so men all collapsed to the ground, mangled and bloody. Wails of agony immediately filled the entire courtyard.

He Yuzhu approached the surveillance vehicle silently; he pulled open the door, quickly tossed a hand grenade into the cabin, and then fled rapidly.

"Boom!" With a deafening roar, the box truck turned into a pile of scrap metal amidst the flames.

A smile curled the corners of He Yuzhu's mouth as he turned and melted into the night.

By the time he returned to the Siheyuan, it was nearly midnight.

To He Yuzhu's surprise, at this hour, every household still had their lights on, and the rare scent of meat wafted through the air.

"Mother. What happened in the courtyard? Why is no one sleeping?"