Chapter 153: Luring Yu Zecheng

Yu Zecheng checked the corner codes in the book and quickly finished the translation.

"Mount Emei, Pebble, Woodcutter."

"In view of the recent reconstruction of the Jinhai underground transportation station, Yancheng No. 1 sent Mr. Dong to Jinhai for business; meeting at the Hongqiao Hotel at 9 PM tonight, wearing a dark Tang suit, holding a copy of 'Jinhai Daily', second-class secret signal for contact."

He wrote the text on paper.

"What is this written?" Cuiping asked with wide eyes.

"An experienced underground leader, Mr. Dong, has been sent from above to preside over the transportation station work in Jinhai again," Yu Zecheng laughed.

"Do you know this Mr. Dong?" Cuiping asked.

"I know."

"He is a steady, gentle wise man, a comrade with very rich struggle experience."

"Back when I assassinated Li Haifeng in Jingling and was saved by Manager Tie."

"It was he who was responsible for leading me to Yancheng to see Ke Gong."

"It can be said that he is my clear teacher and guide."

"I didn't expect there would be a time when we would work together again," Yu Zecheng couldn't help but say a few more words when thinking of Mr. Dong.

"Great."

"You have accumulated a lot of important intelligence on your hands that can't be sent out."

"The two of us have almost become people eating dry rice."

"It's long overdue to send someone to support this stall," Cuiping clapped and praised.

"Nine o'clock, Hongqiao Hotel," Yu Zecheng looked at his watch and didn't rush to act.

"Wait."

"Do you think this might be a trap?"

"I always feel the woman's voice on the radio tonight is a bit different from other days," Cuiping suddenly grabbed him and started muttering.

"Different? Tell me how it's different," Yu Zecheng's brow relaxed, and he asked.

"Although the tone of the broadcast tonight is about the same, it lacks some things."

"Specifically... I can't say, anyway, it's just not right," Cuiping frowned and said.

"Believe me, I've always been quite sensitive in this regard."

"During the anti-mopping-up operations before, I avoided the Japanese devils' ambushes several times."

"Li Ya just arrived, and Mr. Dong followed right behind."

"This is too coincidental," she pulled on Yu Zecheng's sleeve, refusing to let go, fearing Yu Zecheng would go to the appointment.

Yu Zecheng had always been steady.

Looking at Cuiping's anxious appearance, he suddenly laughed:

"Not bad, you've made progress, you know how to think about problems."

"What do you mean? I'm serious," Cuiping said.

"Yes, yes."

"Serious, must be serious!"

"You're right, this matter is a bit suspicious."

"I have to make a phone call," Yu Zecheng nodded repeatedly and laughed.

He had been on guard against Li Ya's move this afternoon, and naturally noticed the subtle details of the radio.

He didn't expect Cuiping, this Mobile Corps Commander leader, to have such keen thoughts, which could be considered an unexpected joy.

"Who to call?"

"Will it be monitored if you call at this time?" Cuiping pulled open the curtain and looked downstairs.

The car parked there every day was not as calm as usual.

Someone was going in and out.

"Even if monitored, I have to call."

"This person is a key member of the No. 1 line and also my friend."

"If this is Li Ya's trap, he will definitely be caught."

"Rest assured, calling has risks; at most, it's suspicion, it doesn't count as evidence."

"But if a comrade is caught, it will be hard to rescue."

"Take one of the two; let me be the one suspected," Yu Zecheng quickly made up his mind and dialed a number quickly.

The phone rang three times.

No one answered on the other end.

This was the signal he had agreed upon with Liao Sanmin.

Yu Zecheng's brow knitted into a ball, "No, I have to go out."

Liao Sanmin didn't answer the phone.

It was very likely he had received the radio message.

Who could have thought that the daily radio call might be decrypted by this ghost Li Ya?

Sanmin was not like him; he didn't know Li Ya harbored evil intentions and might be doing something tonight.

Without precautions, he was very likely to fall into the trap.

"You will be very dangerous," Cuiping said.

"Dangerous, but I have to go."

"Rest assured, I won't go to the meeting place."

"Just go nearby to see if I can run into that friend."

"Besides, didn't you say it was just intuition?"

"Since it's intuition, maybe Mr. Dong's arrival in Jinhai is true?" Yu Zecheng laughed and comforted her.

"No."

"It's what you said; we underground workers can never hold a fluke mentality."

"If you go, we go together."

"If something happens, I can still cover you," Cuiping's gaze was firm, and after saying this, she began to change clothes and shoes.

Yu Zecheng looked at her from the side.

He suddenly felt that Cuiping seemed to have grown up overnight.

This woman's plasticity was still very strong.

From the battlefield to the underground, she was a reliable, loyal, and fearless fighter.

"Good."

"Lianxing Society recently opened a branch building in Hongqiao; the crosstalk performed inside is not bad."

"Nine o'clock show, let me think what they are performing."

"Selling Cloth Heads!"

"Go, let's listen together," Yu Zecheng thought for a moment and decided to take Cuiping with him.

The Station Master didn't have any special requirements.

He and Cuiping going to Lianxing Teahouse to listen to crosstalk couldn't be picked on.

As for Li Ya being suspicious.

Yu Zecheng didn't care.

Li Ya would be suspicious whether he went or not.

As long as no evidence was caught, he couldn't do anything to him.

Betting Liao Sanmin's life on suspicion was absolutely worth it.

Stepping out the door, he drove straight to Hongqiao.

1 Changde Road.

Li Ya was drinking tea with Wu Jingzhong.

Mei Qiuju was secretly rolling her eyes on the side, her face full of displeasure.

Since returning home in the afternoon.

These two had been drinking tea and joking.

Except for eating, drinking water, and going to the bathroom, her Wu hadn't even entered the bedroom.

Several times, the phone at home rang.

It was this Li Ya who snatched it to answer.

Mei Qiuju had survived with Wu Jingzhong since the Japanese occupation period; how could she not see that Li Ya was not at ease with her man and was engaging in soft detention?

The phone rang.

Li Ya answered the phone casually: "Hello, it's me."

"They went out?"

"Are you sure?"

"Great."

"Watch them; if there is any situation, report it immediately."

Hanging up the phone, Li Ya dialed another number:

"Is this Group 2?"

"They have arrived; pay attention, as long as they arrive at the place and make contact, immediately implement the arrest."

"Station Master, that couple went out, and the direction is toward Hongqiao."

"Don't you think it's too coincidental?" Li Ya sat down and laughed coldly.

"Going out doesn't necessarily mean meeting with Red Tickets."

"Everything still needs evidence," Wu Jingzhong yawned and hugged his arms.

"Zhou Yunyi is there."

"As

After hanging up the phone, Li Ya dialed another number:

"Is this Group Two?

"They have gone over; note that as soon as they reach the location and make contact, implement the arrest immediately."

"Station Chief, that couple has gone out; looking at the direction, they are heading towards Hongqiao.

"Don't you think it's too coincidental?"

Li Ya sat down and smiled coldly.

"Going out doesn't necessarily mean they are meeting with the Red Ticket.

"Everything still requires evidence."

Wu Jingzhong yawned, folded his arms, and said.

"Zhou Yunyi is there.

"As long as Yu Zecheng reaches the designated location, the two can be arrested once they meet.

"According to the investigation materials left behind by Ma Kui and Section Chief Liu.

"The materials from Mr. Dong at headquarters.

"The archives of the Jingling Political Security General Administration from back then.

"Synthesize them slightly, add the current act, and once arrested, send them directly to headquarters, then we can use heavy interrogation."

Li Ya said with great confidence.

"Hmm.

"If he really is Mount Emei, you handle it as you see fit.

"I have said, I have zero tolerance for the Red Ticket."

Wu Jingzhong pointed at him and stated his position.

"With those words from you, I can rest easy.

"Just wait and watch the good show."

Li Ya nodded and said.

"Jingzhong, Captain Li, have some late-night snack."

Sister Mei brought over the chicken soup she had finished simmering.

"Thank you, Madam." Li Ya bowed slightly to express his thanks.

"No need for formalities."

Mei Qiuju smiled; the necessary surface politeness was still there.

……

Hongqiao Hotel.

Zhou Yunyi walked into the lobby under the surveillance of Group Two agents and sat down on the sofa.

"Sir, what do you need?" A waiter walked over.

"No need, I'm waiting for someone."

Zhou Yunyi unfolded a newspaper and began to read.

Across the way, separated by several shops, lively cheers could be heard from time to time.

"What are they doing across the way, so lively?" Zhou Yunyi, who hadn't strolled around in a long time, asked.

"The folks from the Lianxing Society are performing crosstalk.

"With this level of enthusiasm, I reckon they'll be performing until ten tonight."

The waiter said.

"Alright, thank you." Zhou Yunyi gave him a small tip in legal tender.

The reputation of the Lianxing Society was still quite large.

In Jinhai, many wealthy gentlemen liked to listen to this.

Xiao Tao was dead.

He didn't intend to live either.

How could he protect his comrades while also counter-attacking the enemy?

Zhou Yunyi began to ponder deeply.

……

Yu Zecheng had come around from the northwest direction.

On the way, he had already seen the tail.

From the Shuitun Prison to the Hongqiao Hotel, Liao Sanmin would most likely come through this Hui street from the northwest.

He deliberately drove very slowly.

However, he didn't encounter Liao Sanmin.

"Did you meet that comrade?" Cuiping asked.

"No, he might have come by rickshaw; I didn't see his car.

"Shuitun Prison is close to here.

"It's also possible he has already entered the Hongqiao Hotel."

Yu Zecheng frowned and said.

"Then what should we do? We definitely can't enter the hotel.

"What if Li Ya is waiting with a net spread?"

Cuiping said, feeling a headache.

"Let's go to the Lianxing Teahouse across the way first to take a look." Yu Zecheng was also full of worry.

The two entered the teahouse.

Just as they sat down, they saw Liao Sanmin walk straight into the Hongqiao Hotel from the other side of the street.

"It's bad.

"He went in." Yu Zecheng said.

"Then what do we do?" Cuiping asked.

"It's too late." Yu Zecheng glanced at the other table with his peripheral vision.

That was Li Ya's secret line.

Going to the hotel at this time wasn't saving someone; it was purely serving oneself up on a platter.

"Are you sure we can't save him?" Cuiping asked in a low voice while cracking melon seeds.

"Sure." Yu Zecheng nodded.

"Then why are we still sitting here? Let's just go back." Cuiping said.

"No.

"If we leave now, we won't be able to explain ourselves tomorrow; we are here to listen to crosstalk.

"Yu Baolin's crosstalk is still quite good.

"'Selling Cloth Scraps' is very popular recently."

Yu Zecheng suppressed the unease in his heart, cracking melon seeds and drinking tea while clapping and cheering like the rest of the audience.

He deliberately chose a seat facing the street.

Using his peripheral vision, he observed the situation at the hotel across the way.

Liao Sanmin was wearing a trench coat, a round hat, and his collar was turned up high as he arrived at the hotel.

When the organization suffered heavy losses in the past.

He always received instructions through radio codes.

Last night's instructions had nothing unusual.

He had heard of Mr. Dong.

An old hand in the underground organization.

His prestige and seniority were very high, even above Yuan Peilin in Beiping.

It was very reasonable and necessary for the organization to send such a person to Jinhai to preside over the reconstruction work.

He carefully observed the situation around him.

He didn't discover any tails or suspicious people.

Liao Sanmin stepped into the hotel.

Several people were sitting on the grey sofa in the lobby outside.

They looked like ordinary casual guests.

Soon, he noticed Mr. Dong.

His hair was half-grey, he was wearing a Tang suit, his face was kind, and he was around fifty years old.

In his hand, he was holding the "Jinhai Daily".

Liao Sanmin lowered the brim of his hat, looked around, and was about to make contact.

Zhou Yunyi, standing to the side, sensed something was wrong.

He wasn't sure if Liao Sanmin was a comrade of the organization.

But he knew this person was from Shuitun Prison.

At this point.

At this time.

Seeing Liao Sanmin look towards "Mr. Dong", Zhou Yunyi knew trouble had arrived.

Just then, he saw a man in his thirties, pot-bellied, wearing a suit, walking out from the inner corridor with a woman in his arms.

Zhou Yunyi knew many people in Jinhai.

Including this glowing-faced fellow in front of him.

He knew the opportunity had arrived.

Zhou Yunyi walked quickly towards the man and pushed him hard, "Comrade, run quickly, there are secret agents here."

As he spoke, Zhou Yunyi drew his gun and aimed at "Mr. Dong", bang, bang, two shots.

Mr. Dong's head tilted, and he collapsed onto the sofa.

The lobby was instantly in chaos.

"Comrade, I'll cover you, run quickly.

"They are secret agents from the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics."

Zhou Yunyi fired at the people Li Ya had arranged while pretending to protect the man in the suit and the woman to the death.

"Damn it!

"This son of a bitch has turned traitor.

"Open fire."

Qi Qi Da Fu, in the corner, drew his service pistol and fired in unison at Zhou Yunyi and the couple.

Liao Sanmin was almost scared out of his wits.

He instantly understood that this was his comrade providing cover.

"Ah!"

There was a commotion among the crowds in the lobby and on the street.

Many people were holding their heads and rushing out.

"Nobody is allowed to leave, everyone stay here for me." Just as Qi Qi Da Fu was about to fire a warning shot, a bullet from Zhou Yunyi hit him right in the arm.

This shot didn't ring out.

Liao Sanmin took advantage of the chaos to rush out and merge with the flow of people on the street.

On this side, the man in the suit and leather shoes also pulled out his gun in confusion.

He got into a fight with Li Ya's secret line.

For a time, gunshots rang out all over the lobby.

"Dudu!"

The police sirens of the patrol officers began to ring.

The teahouse was also in great chaos.

Yu Zecheng pulled Cuiping and walked out quickly.

In the crowd, he saw Liao Sanmin.

The two looked at each other and disappeared into the crowd, scattering in different directions.

……

No. 1 Changde Road.

The phone rang.

Wu Jingzhong and Mei Qiuju looked at the alarm clock on the wall at the same time, their expressions becoming tense.

According to the time.

If Yu Zecheng had gone to make contact at this time, he should have been caught.

Li Ya answered the phone with a face full of joy:

"I am.

"What?

"Where are the people?

"You bunch of idiots.

"Bring them all back to the station, every single one of them."

Bang!

He slammed the phone down hard.

The force of that slam made Mei Qiuju's heart ache and tremble.

This was the newest and most Western-style phone.

It was damn expensive.

This damned Li Ya.

It's not his own stuff, so he doesn't feel the pain.

"What happened, my Captain Li?" Wu Jingzhong frowned and looked at him coldly.

"Zhou Yunyi turned traitor.

"He was shot dead on the spot.

"However, the informant who came to make contact was captured alive by us."

"Captured alive, was it Yu Zecheng or Hong Zhiyou?" Wu Jingzhong asked with a smile, seeing the gloom on his face.

"Yu Zecheng didn't, didn't go to the hotel.

"Station Chief, should we return to the station first?" Li Ya said.

"Li Ya, oh Li Ya.

"There's no need to be impatient about making contributions and receiving rewards.

"I'm old, so I won't accompany you in this tossing and turning; let's talk about it at the station tomorrow."

Wu Jingzhong really couldn't hold on anymore, waved his hand, and said.

"Alright.

"Station Chief, thank you for your hard work." Li Ya replied, his mood half-happy and half-worried.

He went directly to the hospital.

Qi Qi Da Fu was being treated for a gunshot wound.

"What's going on, where is Yu Zecheng?" Li Ya asked.

"Yu Zecheng was listening to crosstalk at the Lianxing Teahouse.

"He didn't enter the hotel."

Qi Qi Da Fu said.

"How is that possible? Did the people you had tailing him let him discover them?" Li Ya asked.

"Shouldn't be.

"We were very discreet.

"We also had our people in the teahouse; according to their report, Yu Zecheng and his wife were indeed listening to crosstalk, and they even gave a tip during the performance." Qi Qi Da Fu said.

"What a pity." Li Ya frowned.

"Captain, we didn't catch Yu Zecheng, but we did indeed catch a big Red Ticket fish.

"After Zhou Yunyi turned traitor, he fought to the death to cover that person.

"We were lucky and captured him alive.

"This guy was carrying a gun; one look and you can tell he's not an ordinary person.

"I reckon he's either Mount Emei or Pebble; he's definitely a big fish."

Qi Qi Da Fu was doing a job for Li Ya for the first time, so naturally, he was raising his own profile in every way.

"Hmm.

"If we can catch a big fish, it's not a total loss.

"You rest up first; when we return to the station tomorrow, I will request a commendation for you."

Li Ya patted him on the shoulder and said approvingly.

"Thank you, Captain Li.

"It's still better following you; one can make contributions so easily.

"Following that dog-day Ma Kui, every day he would squeeze us for cigarette money and meal money, and we only did unlucky things."

Qi Qi Da Fu offered fresh, sweet flattery.

"Work hard.

"I won't treat you badly." Li Ya nodded, feeling a bit lightheaded.

……

Yu Zecheng and Cuiping returned home.

"That damned Li Ya, he really set a trap.

"If you had gone over today, you would have definitely fallen into it; that was close."

Cuiping poured herself a cup of tea, still feeling lingering fear.

"That's right.

"Thanks to you, you discovered something was wrong in time.

"Comrade Cuiping, you are already a qualified underground worker." Yu Zecheng praised her with a smile.

"Just qualified?

"Without me, you would have been in the electric chair this morning." Cuiping wrinkled her nose at him.

"Yes, you are a meritorious official.

"An excellent underground worker."

Yu Zecheng quickly corrected himself.

"That's more like it.

"How is the person you wanted to save?" Cuiping asked.

"We were lucky.

"I don't know why a gunfight broke out inside, but he shouldn't have been exposed." Yu Zecheng said.

"That's right, why did they start shooting?

"Didn't you say this Mr. Dong called three people?

"Could it be that the third comrade arrived, discovered something was wrong, and deliberately exposed themselves by firing to warn us?" Cuiping analyzed.

"Very likely.

"Go to sleep, let's wait for news tomorrow."

Yu Zecheng pulled back the quilt and lay down.

……

The next day.

Hong Zhiyou arrived at the Station Chief's office very late.

"Zhiyou, where have you been?" Yu Zecheng pulled him into the office and asked while waving his nose.

"Today is the first day of the lunar month, I went to the temple to burn incense.

"The Station Chief gave special approval.

"I have to go on the first and fifteenth of every month."

Hong Zhiyou smiled.

"The Station Chief really believes in this?" Yu Zecheng found it incredible.

"He's getting old.

"Perhaps it's for some psychological comfort.

"But praying is also good; it makes one feel at ease.

"Like you, aren't you alive and kicking?"

Hong Zhiyou smiled.

"Last night..." Yu Zecheng was just about to speak.

Lu Qiaoshan walked in quickly: "Have you all heard?"

"Heard what?"

Hong and Yu said in unison.

"Li Ya, last night he dragged the Station Chief along to carry out some bullshit operation and smashed the Hongqiao Hotel to pieces.

"Now people are filing complaints."

Lu Qiaoshan lowered his voice and said unhappily.

"Just, just smashing a hotel? No, I was listening to crosstalk there yesterday; it seemed quite chaotic, and someone even fired shots." Yu Zecheng said.

"How is that possible?

"I heard it was to lure and arrest Red Ticket personnel.

"He even had the Station Chief watched; at the Station Chief's home, they wouldn't even let him touch the phone, and they followed him even when he went to pee.

"Look, that's what you call a real imperial envoy.

"That clumsy fellow Ma Kui is far behind compared to him."

Lu Qiaoshan said with a face full of displeasure.

"Old Lu, you said the Hongqiao Hotel was to catch Red Tickets last night.

"Then, then I was listening to a play at the Lianxing Teahouse yesterday, won't I be mistaken for a Red Ticket?"

Yu Zecheng asked in a panic.

"Hard to say.

"This Li Ya is very arrogant; just look at the way he looks at people, he clearly looks down on us.

"It's hard to say if he'll pin a little hat on you."

Lu Qiaoshan took the opportunity to help Li Ya stir up some hatred.

"Old Lu, you're the one who should be careful.

"Old Yu and I are both majors, but you're the only lieutenant colonel in the station.

"He's likely aiming for the deputy station chief position; you should watch out."

Hong Zhiyou reminded him.

"Sigh.

"What kind of bad luck did our Jinhai station have to have such a plague god come here?

"We three were doing so smoothly before.

"Now that this fellow has come, he's turned everything upside down.

"And yet the Station Chief is obedient to him."

Lu Qiaoshan shook his head speechlessly.

"Shh.

"He's the Crown Prince's man, just endure it." Hong Zhiyou said.

Li Ya was not easy to move against.

And this person was very smart; he was better at handling things than Ma Kui and was the Station Chief's student.

He wasn't interested in investigating corruption, bribery, and such broken matters; he only cared about catching Red Tickets.

The Station Chief actually liked such a person.

Who wouldn't want a sharp knife in their hand?

And without getting blood splattered all over oneself.

Plus, with Jianfeng's name to back him up, everything was convenient; he had a legitimate reason, and who in the municipal government or military dared not give him face?

Invisibly, Li Ya also added to the prestige of the Jinhai station.

Therefore, Hong Zhiyou also adjusted his strategy in time.

Regarding Yu Zecheng's affairs.

If he knew, he would help if he could.

If he didn't know, he would never ask.

Without Yu Zecheng, Jinhai would send someone else, and there would still be opportunities for cooperation.

Like the Station Chief, temporarily avoiding Jianfeng's sharp edge was the right path.

Once Li Ya provoked too much trouble.

Yu Zecheng, the Red Tickets, and people like Lu Qiaoshan would naturally find ways to counterattack.

Those would be masters exchanging blows, a proper feast for spectators; there was no reason to miss it.

Or perhaps Li Ya would miss a few shots, get frustrated, and get slapped in the face, and his enthusiasm would naturally wane.

Right now was the time for the new official to burn his fire; one should stay as far away as possible.

So, Hong Zhiyou had distanced himself cleanly from last night's events.

He hugged the fragrant Wanqiu and had a wonderful, satisfying sleep.

As the three were chatting, Xiao Guohua walked in:

"The three of you, the Station Chief wants you to go to the Station Chief's office in ten minutes."

"Alright, Section Chief Xiao." Hong Zhiyou nodded.

"Nothing major happened, right?" Yu Zecheng looked at the calendar on the wall and said.

"Could it be that Li Ya messed up his craft?

"Did he run into a tough nut last night?"

Hong Zhiyou smiled.

"Possible.

"I see a look of bad luck on his face; he can't do anything good." Lu Qiaoshan nodded and said.

"I bet not.

"It must be that Captain Li caught a big fish, and the Station Chief is happy and calling everyone to go celebrate Li Ya's success." Yu Zecheng said.

"Then let's make a bet, one hundred US dollars." Hong Zhiyou proposed.

"Deal.

"I bet on success." Yu Zecheng said.

"I'm with Section Chief Lu; I bet he got frustrated and unlucky." Hong Zhiyou said.

"Deal."

……

Inside the Station Chief's office.

Wu Jingzhong was furious at Li Ya:

"Didn't you say you caught an important Red Ticket?

"Ye Xiufeng's imperial complaint has already reached the Chairman.

"This is the surprise you gave me.

"I think it's more of a shock!"

"The Ministry of National Defense and the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics have almost broken my phone."

……

(End of chapter)