Chapter 126: A Meeting of Minds

"Old Lu, where are you in such a rush to go?" Ma Kui asked with a cold sneer.

"Oh, there's some smuggling going on over at the Inspection Team.

"I'm going over to take a look.

"Captain Ma, who is this?"

Lu Qiao Shan felt a numbness in his heart and asked with a smile.

"Jiang Aimei!

"Huang Zhong's wife.

"A Red Ticket special operative.

"A big fish!"

Ma Kui said, his face full of triumph.

"Congratulations, Captain Ma.

"A big fish, definitely a big fish.

"If the Station Chief finds out, he'll surely order a banquet to celebrate your success."

Lu Qiao Shan realized what was happening and smiled.

"That's a must.

"Let the Station Chief have his eyes opened too, so he stops saying we're just eating for free all day."

Ma Kui smiled, took off his hat, and strode inside.

Wu Jingzhong and Yu Zecheng had just come up from the basement.

As soon as Jiang Aimei looked up and her eyes met Yu Zecheng's, the latter nearly lost his soul.

He had seen Jiang Aimei before.

Just a moment ago, he was still feeling regret over her death.

He never expected...

Yu Zecheng went numb on the spot.

"Station Chief, I've brought the person to you," Ma Kui shouted heartily upon seeing him.

"Captain Ma, who is this?"

Wu Jingzhong looked at Jiang Aimei and asked with a frown.

Ma Kui stared at him, smiling without warmth:

"Jiang Aimei.

"By the way, Section Chief Yu should be familiar with her, right?"

"Familiar.

"I saw her once when I went to Huang Zhong's house to deliver documents," Yu Zecheng said with a smile.

"Only once?" Ma Kui raised an eyebrow.

"Look.

"Captain Ma is at it again," Yu Zecheng said, pointing at him with a smile.

"Alright.

"Captain Ma, you've worked hard.

"Once this woman spills the real goods, I will immediately submit a promotion recommendation for you to headquarters."

Wu Jingzhong praised him with a gentle smile.

"Qiao Shan.

"Take her to the basement and have Old Wu give her a good grilling," he said, turning his head toward Lu Qiao Shan.

"Yes, Station Chief," Lu Qiao Shan said hurriedly.

He knew full well that if Jiang Aimei spilled what she knew,

Ma Kui would surely achieve a monumental merit.

The Jinhai Station would truly belong to the Mao faction.

Lu Qiao Shan had a hundred ways to send this woman to her grave without anyone knowing.

He had to act fast.

"Thank you, Station Chief.

"But there's no need to trouble Division Chief Lu with the interrogation.

"I'll take personal charge of it."

Ma Kui swept his gaze over the room full of "scoundrels" and scoffed with disdain.

"Captain Ma, according to procedure, the Station Chief has the right to designate the interrogator," Lu Qiao Shan reminded him with a light laugh.

"Regarding Jiang Aimei, I have already reported to Director Mao.

"Director Mao just finished a phone call with Boss Dai.

"Boss Dai has already agreed to send Lieutenant Colonel Adjutant Jiang Dongliang over to assist with the interrogation.

"Adjutant Jiang should be on his way by now."

Ma Kui said with an arrogant expression.

"Ma Kui, what do you mean by this?" Lu Qiao Shan's plan had fallen through, and his face turned gloomy.

"Nothing.

"I just don't trust certain people in this station!"

Ma Kui looked up at the ceiling and sneered in a high-pitched, drawn-out tone.

"Special Commissioner Ma has quite the ability.

"Then you'd better keep a close eye on your precious treasure!"

Wu Jingzhong narrowed his eyes and walked away with a flick of his sleeve.

Back in the office.

"Station Chief, women are not to be trusted.

"Ma Kui investigated Mu Liancheng; will he deliberately collude with Jiang Aimei?"

As soon as he entered the office, Yu Zecheng brewed some tea and asked with concern.

"She's not in a position to target me.

"What irritates me is that Director Dai says one thing to my face and does another behind my back.

"He is clearly showing that he doesn't trust me; he's slapping me in the face."

Wu Jingzhong pointed at the desk, looking depressed and resentful.

"Is it because of Hong Zhiyou?" Yu Zecheng asked.

"That's not it.

"In his eyes, Hong Zhiyou isn't even worth a grain of sand; it's not my turn to hold a grudge over that.

"I just feel chilled to the bone."

Wu Jingzhong leaned on the desk and sighed.

He stared at the eight characters on the wall—"Consolidate Will, Defend the Leader"—and continued with emotion:

"Back in the Ji'e Lane days, I was already risking my life for him.

"In Lanzhou and the Northeast, I gave him plenty of tribute.

"When Jinhai was liberated, I inventoried the assets of the traitors.

"I personally loaded that plane full of his private property—all treasures—and I didn't dare take a single piece.

"Last time, with the Cao Qingming affair at the Beiping Overseas Chinese Chamber of Commerce, I hauled the goods for him by the trainload.

"Look across the country; who isn't like Ma Hansan, stuffing their own pockets?

"Only I put in the effort and my life, acting like a fool.

"And in the end, they treat you like nothing.

"Ma Kui was sent to headquarters and came back as a Special Commissioner.

"I didn't say a word.

"This time, for a tiny Jiang Aimei, they even send an adjutant to keep an eye on me.

"You tell me, even if a person is a wolf or a tiger, if you feed it meat every day, it should have been tamed by now."

At this point, Wu Jingzhong's eyes sharpened, and he shook his index finger, whispering four words:

"Worse than a beast!"

"Teacher, please calm your anger; isn't that a bit too harsh?" Yu Zecheng said while pouring tea, trying to comfort him.

"I've said before that human sentiment is politics.

"It's like that at the Ministry of National Defense and with the Generalissimo.

"It's the same in a tiny town government office.

"When you end up with a leader who is selfish and thin-skinned like this, my position here is one that could cost me my head."

Wu Jingzhong had never felt so pessimistic and disappointed as he did now.

He had always respected and revered Dai Li.

He even placed his reliance and dependence on Dai Li above that of his old classmates Jiang Jianfeng and Zheng Jiemin.

Yet now, he was being slapped in the face time and time again.

It made Wu Jingzhong realize clearly that he had overestimated himself.

Perhaps it would not be long before he became the second Ye Ziming.

Zhiyou is still the most insightful one.

Being fawning and ingratiating toward a vicious wolf is useless.

If one wants to live, one can only fight to the death.

"Master, what should we do now?" Yu Zecheng asked.

"Zhiyou has gone to Beiping on official business.

"We will discuss it when he returns.

"As for the matter of Jiang Aimei, we can only leave it to fate; there is nothing more we can do.

"Zhiyou has already locked horns with Boss Dai once.

"If another accident happens in front of Jiang Dongliang now, it would mean completely tearing off the mask with this vicious tiger, and people will die."

Wu Jingzhong stared at him, his eyes quite annoyed.

He did not want to believe certain things.

But that did not mean Yu Zecheng could withstand an investigation.

"Understood, Master." Yu Zecheng nodded.

……

Beiping, the small courtyard at 47 Nanluoguxiang.

Ma Hansan looked around, waved his hand, and the beauty Liu Yuzhu beside him stepped forward to knock on the door with a rhythm of four long and three short taps.

"Creak!"

Hong Zhiyou opened the door.

"Division Chief Ma, Secretary Liu." Hong Zhiyou greeted them with a smile.

"Hello, Secretary Hong." Liu Yuzhu chuckled.

She was wearing casual clothes today, without any makeup.

Her hair was gathered into a bun at the back, wrapped in a black transparent gauze scarf.

Although she was dressed "plainly," it could not hide her natural beauty, with red lips, white teeth, and bright, starry eyes.

Especially the full curves of her chest and her perky buttocks.

Paired with her watery peach-blossom eyes, it was soul-stirringly alluring.

"Little brother, what are you daydreaming about?

"I risked being followed by Dai Li's spies to come here, not for you to hold a beauty pageant."

Ma Hansan said unhappily with his hands behind his back.

Liu Yuzhu giggled charmingly.

"Ahem.

"My apologies, my apologies.

"I have long heard the reputation of Secretary Liu as the greatest beauty of the Juntong Bureau, and I was momentarily mesmerized."

Hong Zhiyou joked with a smile and gestured for the two to take their seats.

"Division Chief Ma, your good days should be coming to an end, right?" Hong Zhiyou asked bluntly.

"Hmph.

"What can Dai Li do to me? This is Beiping, not the White Mansion in Shancheng." Ma Hansan tapped the table, still arrogant.

"Kawashima Yoshiko has confessed everything.

"That Longquan sword, and the fact that you secretly defected to the Japanese-puppet regime.

"You have taken so much money in Beiping.

"Now that the evidence is ironclad, do you think Dai Li will let you go?"

Hong Zhiyou sneered.

Ma Hansan stood up with a "whoosh," his eyes wide and round, staring fixedly at Hong Zhiyou.

Dai Li had interrogated Kawashima Yoshiko alone.

But he had said little afterward.

Ma Hansan had also secretly warned Kawashima Yoshiko before.

He believed that this woman would keep the matter of her defection buried in her stomach.

He had not expected Hong Zhiyou to expose it the moment he started.

"Are you bluffing me?" Ma Hansan sneered.

"Bluffing you?

"Division Chief Ma, who in the Juntong Bureau doesn't know you hid Boss Dai's Longquan sword?

"With Boss Dai's methods,

"do you think Kawashima Yoshiko listens to him, or to you?

"Old brother, you don't really think of yourself as the King of Beiping, possessing a death-immunity medallion, do you?"

Hong Zhiyou smiled and poured fragrant tea for him and Liu Yuzhu.

"Little brother, you have a silver tongue.

"But Boss Dai promised personally that the matter would be dropped, as long as the Longquan sword was returned.

"Moreover, he even wrote a letter to my superior.

"He praised me, Ma, quite a bit.

"Tell me, will Boss Dai kill me?"

Ma Hansan stood up, walked to the window, and said with his hands behind his back.

"I'm afraid this letter has made you unable to eat or sleep in peace, hasn't it?" Hong Zhiyou asked with a smile.

Ma Hansan did not speak.

A hint of surprise appeared in Liu Yuzhu's beautiful eyes.

Only when she saw Hong Zhiyou peeking at her chest did she giggle charmingly and cross her arms.

Damn it.

If you have the guts, don't block it.

Hong Zhiyou winked at her flirtatiously and continued:

"Division Chief Ma.

"We are all smart people; let's speak plainly.

"Dai Li is tied up by a temporary special mission from the Generalissimo.

"The whole world knows he wants to kill you.

"He might just launch a sneak attack once he finishes his business.

"This letter is nothing more than a way to stabilize you.

"But I believe you can also see that the method is very clumsy and stupid!

"It is simply a great insult to your intelligence, Division Chief Ma!

"Am I right?"

Ma Hansan slowly turned around and sighed with a smile: "Little brother, you are young but very cunning."

"I lost a round to Wu Jingzhong last time, and I was very unconvinced at the time.

"Now it seems, the defeat was not unjust."

He sat back down in his chair, "You are right, this is indeed an insult to me.

"But you didn't come here just to watch me make a fool of myself, did you?"

"I wouldn't dare," Hong Zhiyou said.

"I just want to join forces with Division Chief Ma to do something you want to do but haven't decided on yet." He took a sip of tea and added.

"What thing?" Ma Hansan's eyes narrowed.

"To be precise, something that the Generalissimo, Madame Jiang, Zheng Jiemin, and Mao Renfeng want to do but find difficult to execute.

"Eliminate Dai Li!"

Hong Zhiyou's eyes sharpened, and he stared at Ma Hansan, his words as hard as iron.

"You have a lot of nerve!" Ma Hansan grabbed his clothes and cursed through gritted teeth.

"Last night, he wanted to sleep with my woman.

"I sent my girlfriend to be locked up with lepers.

"Dai Li wants me dead at any moment.

"Of course, I will at least die after Division Chief Ma.

"When the time comes, would you mind walking a bit slower on the Yellow Springs road to keep me company, would that be alright?"

Hong Zhiyou stared at him, his gaze unyielding.

"You're turning against Dai Li for a woman?" Ma Hansan could hardly believe it.

"Why do you think others call me the 'Jinhai Expert'?

"That is what I earned through sentiment.

"Don't underestimate the word 'sentiment'; Liu Bei relied on it to win the world!"

"Just like Miss Liu Yuzhu."

"I believe she would make any sacrifice for you, Director Ma."

"Isn't that right?"

Hong Zhiyou looked at him and beamed.

Ma Hansan stared at him for a long time, then suddenly let go.

He turned his head to look at Liu Yuzhu with an apologetic expression, pursed his lips, nodded, and hissed:

"Little brother, you've got guts."

"More guts than me."

"Speak, how do you want to do this?"

"Snap!"

Hong Zhiyou lit a cigarette, took a puff, and said, "After Dai Li finishes handling matters in Jinhai, he is going to Qingdao to inspect the naval port selected by Anderson."

"After it ends, he definitely has to go back and report the Jinhai situation to the Generalissimo."

"The trip to Qingdao is our final chance."

"Send Boss Dai to heaven and the afterlife!"

"It seems you have a plan, little brother?" Ma Hansan asked with a smile.

"No."

"When it comes to cunning and strategy, ten Zhiyous couldn't compare to Director Ma."

"I believe you already have a contingency plan."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"You aren't being sent by Dai Li to test me, are you?" Ma Hansan laughed coldly.

"Does that matter?"

"Whether you test me or not, die early or die late, aren't you still going to die?"

"Just tell me if you're doing it or not."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"I do indeed have a plan: find someone to put a bomb on the plane."

"I won't hide it from you, little brother."

"I've already prepared the time bomb."

"The biggest trouble now is that Dai Li knows the Qingdao station chief, Liang Ruojie, is my man."

"Security will inevitably be extra strict."

"An ordinary person won't have a chance to strike."

Ma Hansan thought for a moment and laid everything out.

"Let Miss Liu Yuzhu go," Hong Zhiyou said.

"As for the Qingdao airport side, I'll find a way."

"Director Ma, there are many people above who want Dai Li dead; perhaps things aren't as difficult as you think."

As Hong Zhiyou spoke, his gaze fell upon Liu Yuzhu.

"You mean to let Liu Yuzhu accompany you to Jinhai to find Dai Li?" Ma Hansan was somewhat displeased.

"In Beiping, didn't he use her already?"

"It's just using her one more time."

Hong Zhiyou said bluntly.

Ma Hansan glared at him, his expression somewhat ugly:

"Liu Yuzhu, what is your opinion?"

"I, I will follow the Director's arrangements," Liu Yuzhu said without any displeasure.

As female agents of the Juntong Bureau, they were trained in certain matters, and things like "fake couples" were taken very lightly.

It was a mission.

Not a matter of reputation.

Their bodies were inherently important tools for them to maneuver and survive.

"You are indeed a good candidate."

"But Dai Li is suspicious by nature; if I send you over, and there's also a Secretary Hong in the way, he won't give you a chance."

Ma Hansan paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, his head aching.

"Director Ma might as well look at it from another angle."

"Dai Li knowing that I am seeing you is not necessarily a bad thing."

"He will think that I have come to beg Miss Liu Yuzhu to intercede."

"And you, you can go with the flow and let him revisit the fragrance and softness of Miss Liu Yuzhu."

Under Liu Yuzhu's coquettish eye-roll, he continued with a smile:

"Don't forget."

"He is an elephant, and I am an ant."

"An ant begging an elephant for mercy and yielding is the normal mindset."

"Conversely, if you don't send Miss Liu Yuzhu, Dai Li will be the one in a panic."

"Because you are different from me; you are the King of Beiping, famous for being daring and ruthless."

"Dai Li certainly knows that a letter won't paralyze you, and right now he is also drumming in his heart, afraid you will jump over the wall to get him."

"Once Miss Liu Yuzhu goes, it signifies that you are yielding and looking for a ladder to climb down."

"Only then can Dai Li set his heart at ease."

"Hmm, wealth is sought in danger; there doesn't seem to be a better way," Ma Hansan nodded in agreement.

"Director Ma."

"Whether we can pull off this earth-shattering job depends entirely on you and Miss Liu Yuzhu."

Hong Zhiyou extinguished his cigarette butt and shook hands with Ma Hansan.

After the talk, Ma Hansan and Liu Yuzhu walked out.

Hong Zhiyou followed behind Liu Yuzhu, took a quick step, and gave her rounded buttocks a forceful squeeze.

"Hmm."

Liu Yuzhu didn't expect this guy to be so bold and couldn't help but hum.

Ma Hansan acted as if he hadn't heard.

He quickened his pace and left.

"Good sister, I also want to taste the flavor just like Boss Dai," Hong Zhiyou whispered with a wicked smile.

"Who do you think you are?" Liu Yuzhu smiled charmingly.

"The Jinhai Cannon... King, isn't that title loud enough?" Hong Zhiyou said.

"Really, or fake?" Liu Yuzhu walked side-by-side with him, chatting.

"Try it," Hong Zhiyou said.

"Alright."

"If you really send Boss Dai to heaven, I'll send you to heaven too," Liu Yuzhu pinched his handsome, fair cheek.

"Thank you, Sister Liu Yuzhu," Hong Zhiyou was overjoyed.

Liu Yuzhu gave him a charming smile and quickened her pace to catch up with Ma Hansan.

Hong Zhiyou watched their figures, his expression gradually turning gloomy.

He knew this woman was the apple of Ma Hansan's eye.

The reason he was presumptuous was purely to humble himself before Ma Hansan and leave an impression of being lecherous.

Inside the car.

Ma Hansan crossed his arms and asked with a faint smile:

"What did he chat with you about?"

"What else, the little brat wants to sleep with me," Liu Yuzhu said with great disdain.

"A lecherous person can hardly achieve great things."

"I think he will die at the hands of a woman sooner or later," Liu Yuzhu said.

"Wrong."

"You underestimate him too much."

"When a person can master abundant resources through women."

"Beauty is no longer his weakness, but a sharp tool he wields."

"Without wings to fly, how would one dare to leap over the Dragon Gate!"

Ma Hansan sneered and lightly patted her elastic thigh:

"Someone who can be like a fish in water in Wu Jingzhong's hands is definitely no ordinary person."

"Go back and tidy up, and follow him back to Jinhai this afternoon."

"Very well, Director," Liu Yuzhu happily accepted the order.

Beiping Inspection Office.

Wang Puchen lit a cigarette and took a couple of satisfying puffs.

"Director."

"Ma Hansan and Secretary Liu have secretly gone to Nanluoguxiang to meet Secretary Hong from Jinhai."

A subordinate walked in and reported in a low voice.

"I know."

"Don't spread this around, you may go." Wang Puchen nodded.

Once the person left, he closed the door and quickly dialed Mao Renfeng's private line:

"Director Mao."

"This is Renchu; Ma Hansan is meeting secretly with Hong Zhiyou."

"I suspect that Wu Jingzhong and Ma Hansan are very likely planning to make a move against Boss Dai; should I notify Boss Dai?"

After a moment, having listened to Mao Renfeng's instructions, he replied:

"Very well, I understand."

"I will immediately withdraw the surveillance personnel and will not notify Boss Dai."

"Rest assured, not a single word will leak out."

"Goodbye, Director Mao."

Wang Puchen hung up the phone.

Mao Renfeng had not stated it explicitly on the phone.

But he had cryptically expressed the intent for him to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight.

Wang Puchen was best at reading people's hearts.

Dai Li was colluding with the Americans, and right now, throughout the party and the nation, from the Generalissimo above down to ants like Hong Zhiyou below, everyone was hoping for Dai Li to die.

If he were to interfere in Ma Hansan's business at this moment,

that would be blocking the path of those above.

They would take his life!

Thinking of this, he shouted toward the door:

"Come in."

When the subordinate entered, he ordered sternly:

"Immediately withdraw the personnel monitoring Director Ma."

"From now on, all investigations related to Director Ma are to be stopped completely."

"Yes." The subordinate accepted the order.

……

Wu Taixun's residence.

Dai Li was drinking soup prepared by Zhu Jiu herself, his face showing signs of exhaustion.

The mission in Jinhai was very heavy.

Firearms and artillery shells packed in the Japanese islands, enough equipment for nearly two elite divisions, had to be transported to the Northeast and the Fifth War Zone.

Currently, the military mediation was underway.

There were many American and Soviet reporters, so one had to act carefully.

If it were to leak, the Generalissimo would be very passive in terms of public opinion.

What was hateful was that those idiots in the Freight Bureau of the Ministry of Communications were too sluggish; even holding a gun to their foreheads didn't work.

At this rate, it would take at least seven or eight days to get things done.

This godforsaken place was also having an epidemic.

That woman from last night was also unsatisfactory.

On top of that, Jinhai had a low altitude, and he was suffering from oxygen intoxication, leaving him dizzy and lightheaded all day.

It really was a failure to adapt to the local environment.

"Director, this morning, that little secretary of Wu Jingzhong went to Beiping," Wu Taixun said.

"Went to Beiping?"

"To seek refuge with Li Zongren, or to collude with Ma Hansan to stir up trouble?"

Dai Li's tone was indifferent; clearly, he hadn't taken it to heart.

"It is said he went to see Ma Hansan," Wu Taixun said, handing over a photograph.

"He has some nerve."

Dai Li gave a disdainful smile, glanced at the photo, shook his head, and put it down:

"I'm exhausted by these swine in the Freight Bureau."

"I still have to go to Qingdao later."

"This business is endless; let's just forget about it tonight."

"Very well." Wu Taixun's eyes showed some panic.

Late last night, Dai Li had left the bedroom and changed rooms.

It seemed the person chosen was not to his taste.

On this trip to the north, he, the "chief steward," was not doing a good job.

Just as he was worrying, Wang De walked in:

"Director Dai, Mr. Wu, Hong Zhiyou requests an audience."

……

(End of chapter)