Chapter 77: Arranging a Retreat

He Yuzhu immediately guessed her intention and spoke first: "Sister, don't be in a rush. I have a great piece of news to tell you—yesterday we raided four of Zheng De's casinos. Guess how much we made?"

Liu Rusi was a money-grubber by nature. Upon hearing this, she swallowed the sob story she had been brewing for ages, her eyes lit up, and she urged him: "Don't keep me in suspense, tell me!"

"I made ten thousand Big Ocean!"

"What? Just in one day... ten thousand Big Ocean?" Liu Rusi widened her eyes, her face full of disbelief.

"And it was their own insiders who worked with me."

Liu Rusi walked over excitedly and kissed He Yuzhu hard on the forehead. "My luck is truly unstoppable! Just as I was getting sleepy, someone handed me a pillow!"

"Tomorrow morning, I will get those five thousand Big Ocean for you."

Liu Rusi nodded with satisfaction.

"Sister, I'll cover the money to pay those soldiers."

"No need, wouldn't that mean I'm taking advantage of you?" Liu Rusi shook her head in refusal.

Three hours ago, Hendeli Clock Shop, secret room.

Liu Rusi and Feng Qingbo sat opposite each other across an Eight Immortals table.

She lit a cigarette and took a deep drag, the smoke escaping from her lips, but her gaze was as cold and sharp as a blade:

"The higher-ups have made up their minds—at any cost, Liu Xiaohua must be escorted to Nanjing. This road will not be peaceful, and Liu Xiaohua is no simple character. You must formulate a meticulous plan."

"But my identity... it's not convenient for me to show my face directly," Feng Qingbo hesitated.

"If this matter isn't accomplished, what use is your Communist Party identity!" Liu Rusi fiercely stubbed the cigarette butt into the ashtray.

"Besides me, who else is involved? I need to know who my subordinates are."

Liu Rusi lowered her voice: "The Military Statistics Bureau Beiping Station will send a First Team, but I suspect... they are a bunch of losers."

Feng Qingbo's gaze turned cold. "I have an idea. The Communist Party is also looking for Liu Xiaohua. We can use this mission to wipe out the Communist Party in Beiping in one fell swoop."

Liu Rusi glanced at him, her expression remaining indifferent: "What exactly do you mean?"

"I will send a telegram directly to the Communist Party and tell them the route. They will definitely go all out to snatch the person. We will then play the role of the oriole behind the mantis and annihilate the entire Underground Party and guerrilla forces in Beiping!"

Liu Rusi narrowed her eyes, lit another cigarette, took a deep drag, and exhaled slowly: "How much confidence do you have in this plan?"

"About sixty percent."

"No! I don't want any complications." She closed her eyes and fell into deep thought.

Feng Qingbo looked straight at her, his tone firm: "If we take Liu Xiaohua away, we definitely have to use transport. Once we are on the road, we will be in the open and the Communist Party in the dark; it would be too easy to set an ambush halfway. The mission might not be completed."

Liu Rusi suppressed her emotions, her voice calm: "I don't care how you do it, just get Liu Xiaohua to Nanjing safely; there cannot be any mishaps."

After a brief silence, Feng Qingbo spoke slowly: "Alright then, give me two days; I need to formulate a detailed plan."

Liu Rusi nodded: "Fine."

Liugongguan, late at night, the flames in the fireplace flickered slightly, bringing a hint of warmth to the cold winter night.

He Yuzhu picked up the coffee Liu Rusi had ground herself, drank it in one gulp with a grimace, and feigned pain: "Sister, this coffee is too bitter, I really can't get used to it."

Liu Rusi sneered: "Learning a few foreign words and now you're acting refined? Deep down, you're still a country bumpkin."

"Sister, stop picking on me. You said you had something to discuss with me as soon as I came in, why is there no follow-up? I've been running around all night..."

Liu Rusi hesitated for a moment before finally speaking: "The Nanjing side demands that we bring Liu Xiaohua away by force at any cost. I want you to be his personal Bodyguard."

He Yuzhu immediately shook his head: "Sister, this really isn't easy to handle."

Liu Rusi stared at him, her tone low: "Are you afraid, or do you feel a connection with Liu Xiaohua, and you're unwilling?"

"That's not what I mean." He Yuzhu slowly raised his eyes. "I just want to ask one thing: do you know what Liu Xiaohua does?"

"Of course, he studies chemistry!"

"He must have highly toxic substances like arsenic and potassium cyanide. If he doesn't want to go and you force him, once he gets desperate, he might use all of these on your people."

"This... I really hadn't thought of that."

In fact, there was one more thing He Yuzhu didn't say—Liu Xiaohua was most skilled at making Explosive. If he were truly pushed to a dead end, he might just take everyone down with him.

"This must be guarded against!" He Yuzhu said solemnly.

"If that's the case, the difficulty of this operation is too high..." Liu Rusi frowned.

"Sister, we can't lose our lives over this!"

"But I have already accepted the mission; there is no turning back."

"Sister, may I ask you a bold question: do you hate Liu Xiaohua?"

"Of course not, I even admire him. But to complete the mission, I must set aside personal feelings." Liu Rusi said firmly.

"Alright then, Sister, let me run a simulation for you—just a simulation, don't take it seriously. If I say something wrong, don't label me!"

"Speak quickly, what kind of person do you take me for!"

"Then I'll say it. First, you exhaust yourself for the Party and State, but in the end, you are unable to turn the tide. Three years later, the Party and State are defeated, retreating to a small island. You end up being buried with them."

Liu Rusi was slightly startled, a flash of panic crossing her eyes, but she quickly steadied her expression.

"Second, you use the resources in your hands over these few years to make more money than you could spend in several lifetimes, and before the end of 1948, you go far away overseas to live out the rest of your life in peace."

Liu Rusi slammed the table and pointed at him angrily: "What kind of person are you? Using sugar-coated bullets to tempt me?"

He Yuzhu chuckled: "Sister, you're going back on your word so soon? As expected, women are unreasonable. Didn't I just say it was a hypothesis!"

Liu Rusi glared fiercely at He Yuzhu and took a sharp drag of her cigarette, but she choked and coughed repeatedly.

He Yuzhu handed her a glass of plain water: "You poured it for me, I haven't drunk it yet."

Liu Rusi caught her breath, her expression uncertain.

"Sister, no rush, think about it carefully."

"Then I still choose the first option. Even if I die, I must complete this mission."

He Yuzhu applauded, "Sister, I admire people with faith. But are the people currently in power really worth you giving your life for?"

Liu Rusi's eyes flickered: "I... have chosen this path, so I must keep walking it."

"Sister, then you should prepare more cannon fodder. I dare to bet that even with me added, it's just a suicide mission," He Yuzhu said bluntly.

"Why are you so certain?" Liu Rusi stared intently into his eyes.

"I bet that Liu Xiaohua is not a person easily manipulated. I remember last time we ate, he said there were many things you hadn't seen through," He Yuzhu said slowly.

Liu Rusi muttered to herself, "Then what should I do..."

"Give the credit to the Military Statistics Bureau Beiping Station and let them send more men," He Yuzhu gave a cold laugh, "Let them go..."

"You're devious!" Liu Rusi glared at him.

"I just feel that everyone has underestimated this person, Liu Xiaohua," He Yuzhu looked wronged.

"You brat, you'd be a deserter on the battlefield too! If the mission fails, how am I supposed to answer to my superiors?" Liu Rusi said worriedly.

"If Liu Xiaohua dies too, you won't have to answer to anyone!" He Yuzhu said.

Liu Rusi's eyes grew unfocused, and she muttered, "You've got me all confused..."

"Sister, do you trust me?"

"I... I suppose so." Her voice trembled slightly.

"You still don't quite trust me!" He Yuzhu gave a bitter smile, "Actually, ever since you took the initiative to send troops to protect my family, I swore that as long as you don't harm me, even if you use me, I will protect your safety for a lifetime."

Liu Rusi's eyes reddened, and tears fell. "Zhuzi, sister... believes you."

"Sister, let's make a bet. I bet Liu Xiaohua will not be escorted to Nanjing."

"I bet he definitely will!"

"What's the wager?" Liu Rusi asked.

"If I lose, I'll be your beast of burden for ten years," He Yuzhu said.

"Fine, if you win, I'll help you find a beautiful wife!" Liu Rusi smiled like a fox.

Hearing this bizarre condition, He Yuzhu was helpless: "Sister, can I... meet Liu Xiaohua?" He Yuzhu asked in a low voice.

"You can. While you're at it, tell him that the day after tomorrow is his final deadline! If he doesn't agree, then, then kidnap him!" Liu Rusi said in an unquestionable tone.