Chapter 160

Jingling.

Jiang Jianfeng was drinking tea with the Generalissimo.

Looking at his increasingly mature son, the Generalissimo felt very gratified in his heart.

He intended to take time after his busy daily schedule to talk with him and impart some of the ways of governing the country.

He knew his son was more influenced by the Soviets.

But in his view, those harsh and heavy medicines were not advisable for the current national situation.

As father and son were chatting, a secretary walked in:

"Generalissimo, Wu Wu Jingzhong from Jinhai says he's looking for Jiang Jianfeng and has an urgent matter."

"Urgent?"

"Father, I'll go take the call," Jiang Jianfeng frowned and stood up.

"Go ahead," the old man waved his hand.

Jiang Jianfeng connected the transfer and called Wu Wu Jingzhong back.

Wu Wu Jingzhong waited anxiously by the telephone.

Ring-a-ling.

As soon as the phone rang, he picked it up immediately and finally heard that familiar voice:

"I am Wu Wu Jingzhong."

"It's like this: the supplies and military equipment I had Secretary Hong transport to Zhang Yuan were hijacked by Sun Sun Lianzhong's men in the Baoding mountains."

"Both the people and the goods were taken to their base."

"We were always very careful; we've transported several times before without any issues."

"It's just that 'Buddha Niche' Li Ya, whom you sent, set his sights on Secretary Hong and insisted he was a Red, colluding with Sun Sun Lianzhong to set an ambush halfway and ruin the whole thing."

"Yes, we even paid a high price to 'buy' this route from a Red traitor."

"It could be said that it was done without anyone knowing."

"Who knew a rat would come out from the inside and ruin a whole pot of good soup?"

"Fu Fu Zuoyi?"

"I called, but he won't answer the phone."

"In my opinion, he's doing it on purpose; he doesn't want to attack Zhangjiakou and is using this as an excuse to delay."

"That's the worst part."

"This was the last batch of supplies; we fattened him up in the early stages, and now that he's holding onto this matter and refusing to work, haven't our gold and US dollars gone to waste?"

"Commander Sun? I notified him too."

"You know Sun Sun Lianzhong's foul temper."

"When he fought the Japanese at Taierzhuang, he fought bloody battles and held his ground without leaving the front line; he's the backbone of the nation as decreed by the Generalissimo."

"If I could order him around, why would I be calling you?"

"Old classmate, please hurry and tell the Generalissimo to release the people and the vehicles."

"If we're late, I'm afraid it will delay the party and state's grand plan."

"Yes, yes, I'll have the Baoding station coordinate first."

"Alright, thank you for your trouble, goodbye."

Hanging up the phone, Wu Wu Jingzhong shook his collar to cool off a bit.

Jiang Jianfeng is taking action.

This matter will certainly be resolved.

I wonder if he will transfer Li Ya away.

In all honesty, he quite appreciates and likes Li Ya.

Especially his initiative in arranging personnel, getting along with Hong Hong Zhiyou, not investigating corruption, and only investigating Reds—this type is exactly the capable officer Wu Wu Jingzhong dreams of.

The problem is, this Li Ya doesn't investigate outsiders.

He keeps staring at his own double-barreled gun.

That's very annoying.

Sigh.

It would be best to just let him get lost.

Jiang Jianfeng walked quickly back to the side hall and reported respectfully:

"Father."

"The supplies shipped from Jinhai to Zhang Yuan have had an incident; while passing through Baoding, they were intercepted by Sun Sun Lianzhong."

"It was expected," Chiang stood up and sighed lightly.

Leaning on his cane, he looked at the portrait of Mr. Sun on the wall.

"One wants to be hijacked, the other wants to snatch."

"Their intentions are the same; they still don't want to fight."

"Take Sun Sun Lianzhong, for example—one of Feng Yuxiang's Thirteen Guardians; when fighting the Japanese, he was a tiger general, a famous general, known for not being afraid of death."

"But now? A full division, elite equipment, and he lost his armor and fled at Handan."

"Is he unable to fight?"

"Even if you want to report to Jiang Jianfeng, you can't bypass your direct superior, otherwise you won't be able to stay in Jinhai in the future."

"Now that they've snatched the supplies, Fu Fu Zuoyi has an excuse not to fight."

"Sun Sun Lianzhong's thoughts are probably the same."

"They don't put their strength into the same place."

"Looking at the Reds, the red tide is rolling, and everyone is of one heart."

"Jiang Jianfeng, this is the difficulty of the party and state and myself, and it is also what I worry about the most."

The Generalissimo turned his head and said with deep concern.

"Father, such a large amount of military supplies cannot be cheap for Fu Fu Zuoyi."

"Zhangjiakou, he must fight it, whether he wants to or not!"

Jiang Jianfeng's tone was quite firm.

"Hmm."

"To prevent Sun Sun Lianzhong and Fu Fu Zuoyi from bickering and causing trouble."

"You convey my order to have Chen Chen Jicheng of the Beiping Garrison Headquarters rush to Baoding immediately."

"In addition, trouble Zhang Qun to go there in person."

"With these two mediating in the middle, they shouldn't be able to play any more tricks."

"Go."

The Generalissimo said in a calm tone.

"Yes!"

Jiang Jianfeng received the order and walked out.

The next day.

Hong Hong Zhiyou woke up feeling refreshed and stretched.

Li Ya and Qi Qi Da Fu had been waiting outside the door for a long time.

"Get ready, get ready," seeing Hong Hong Zhiyou, he raised his eyebrows and said.

"Get ready for what?" Hong Hong Zhiyou was puzzled.

"Get ready to go to Jingling."

"I just called Jingling, and in half an hour, Jiang Jianfeng will call me back."

"Using American connections on the Reds—your matter is a big one."

"He will certainly want to inquire about it personally."

Li Ya said confidently.

"Fine, then I'll wash up first," Hong Hong Zhiyou didn't argue with him and got up to go to the washroom.

After tidying up.

He arrived at the main hall.

"Adjutant Li, is there any breakfast?" Hong Hong Zhiyou asked.

"Yes, steamed dumplings with cabbage and pork filling, and millet porridge," the adjutant on the side said.

"Bring two baskets of dumplings."

"I'm starving."

Hong Hong Zhiyou didn't stand on ceremony; Gao Gao Zhiqi had already given the word anyway.

Once breakfast was served.

He sat down and started eating slowly.

"Captain Li, want some?"

"Jiang Jianfeng probably won't treat you to breakfast, will he?"

"Are you still thinking about that bowl of duck blood vermicelli soup?"

Hong Hong Zhiyou asked while eating.

"Now that you mention it, I am actually a bit hungry."

Li Ya smelled the fragrant meat filling and swallowed his saliva as he spoke.

Hong Hong Zhiyou didn't stand on ceremony and pushed a basket toward him.

After eating, he lit a cigarette and exhaled.

"Actually, I'm very curious where you get your confidence, brother."

"Having committed such a serious crime, can you escape?"

"I know you know quite a few people."

"But in the eyes of the Generalissimo and Jiang Jianfeng, those people are nothing more than ants."

"Or are you a born actor who's very good at pretending?"

Li Ya frowned while eating.

"You're just someone who loves to split hairs."

"How do you know I'm a criminal and not a hero of the party and state?" Hong Hong Zhiyou asked him back with a smile.

"A hero?"

"To be honest, I can't imagine it," Li Ya shook his head.

"You'll understand."

Just as he was speaking, Adjutant Li received a call and said hurriedly:

"Secretary Hong, Captain Li, Commander Sun wants you to go to the conference room immediately."

The two didn't dare to delay and hurried to the office conference room.

There were four people sitting inside.

At the head of the table was the special envoy, the old man's trusted high-ranking official and strategist, Zhang Qun.

The other person was a high-ranking officer with glasses who didn't smile.

Sun Sun Lianzhong and Wu Wu Jingzhong were sitting on the side to accompany them.

"Come, let me introduce the two of you."

"This is Mr. Zhang Qun, and this is Commander Chen Chen Jicheng of the Beiping Garrison Headquarters."

"The two are here on a special mission from the Generalissimo and Jiang Jianfeng."

Sun Sun Lianzhong stood up and introduced them.

The two greeted them one by one.

Wu Wu Jingzhong, on the other hand, looked at the two with an expressionless face, without any eye contact or statement.

"You are Li Ya, Captain of the Secret Service Bureau's Operations Team; you're the one who made the arrests and incited the garrison to detain the supplies?" Zhang Qun questioned coldly.

"Incited?"

"No, I am working with the garrison to clear out the Reds," Li Ya keenly sensed the ill intent of the two "imperial envoys."

"But Commander Sun and his subordinates say that you reported false military intelligence and incited Battalion Commander Sun Hao to snatch military supplies destined for the 12th Group Army in Zhang Yuan."

"What is your intention?"

Zhang Qun asked, slapping the table.

Li Ya looked at Sun Sun Lianzhong.

He was grateful to him just last night, and now it's become incitement?

He thought the "Three Departments Hall" was aimed at Hong Hong Zhiyou.

He didn't expect it to start firing at him right from the beginning.

Sun Sun Lianzhong was drinking tea very calmly, without any statement.

"Two gentlemen, to say that Captain Li incited the snatching of supplies, I don't think that's very likely."

"He was mainly misled by some clues."

"That's why he investigated Secretary Hong and made a mistake by accident."

Wu Wu Jingzhong explained on the side.

He didn't intend to help Li Ya.

He was just afraid that if Li Ya were protected by Jiang Jianfeng, it would be better to leave a way out for everything so they could get along in the future.

"Station Chief Wu, I can't manage the infighting in your Secret Service Bureau, but this person is involved in deliberately sabotaging the Generalissimo's military plan."

"This is a matter for a military court, and all these questions will have to be explained clearly then."

Chen Chen Jicheng took over the conversation and then looked coldly at Li Ya:

"Or rather, are you a Red yourself?"

"Deliberately trying to provoke a conflict between Commander Sun and Commander Fu?"

Li Ya had a look of seeing a ghost: "I, I am a Red?"

"No, two officers, I don't understand; this batch of supplies was clearly military equipment smuggled by Hong Hong Zhiyou in collusion with the Reds."

"I am clearing out traitors for the party and state; how did I become a Red instead?"

He argued based on reason.

"Let me tell you."

"This batch of supplies was military equipment that General Fu Fu Zuoyi of Zhang Yuan entrusted Station Chief Wu to purchase from Jinhai."

"That would be yours, brother."

"It ruined the Generalissimo and General Fu's plan to attack Zhangjiakou."

Zhang Qun said smoothly.

Some things are one thing to understand in your heart, but they cannot be spoken of on the surface.

Once it becomes known that the Generalissimo is allocating military funds to Fu Fu Zuoyi.

Li Li Zongren and Bai Bai Chongxi will also open their mouths to ask for them.

At that time, do you give them or not?

"But for the party and state's supplies, there are excellent trains and national highways, yet they insist on taking the Reds' transport line and asking the Reds' transport line to escort them."

"Forgive me, Li, for finding it hard to understand."

Li Ya frowned and asked, getting to the bottom of it.

The several officers and Wu Wu Jingzhong looked at each other, wishing they could strangle this fool.

"That is not something you need to worry about," Zhang Qun said coldly.

"Someone, take this bastard who is suspected of colluding with the Reds and sabotaging the military plan of the state and lock him up."

"Make him shut up!"

Zhang Qun ordered.

Shut up!

In the old Military Statistics Bureau, these two words basically meant a secret death sentence.

Li Ya panicked and shouted:

"Commander Sun, Station Chief, speak up for me; I really was clearing out the Reds, I didn't know this batch of supplies..."

"Shut your foul mouth."

"If you dare mention the word 'supplies' again, I'll tear you apart."

Wu Wu Jingzhong stood up and shouted at him.

"Mr. Zhang, he is..." After glaring fiercely at Li Ya, he walked to Zhang Qun's ear and whispered a few words.

"Is that so?"

"Everyone, wait a moment; I'm going to make a call."

Zhang Qun stood up and went to the inner room.

A moment later, he walked back, his frosty face turned into a warm smile:

"Everyone, since Station Chief Wu has said this is a misunderstanding, this matter is an internal conflict of the Jinhai Station, and I don't think it's appropriate to discuss it in the open."

"Each family should manage their own affairs; Station Chief Wu, the investigation of Li Ya will be left to you."

"Submit a detailed report to Commander Sun, Commander Fu, and headquarters later."

"Yes!" Wu Wu Jingzhong stood up and received the order.

He knew Jiang Jianfeng was protective of his own and wouldn't discard Li Ya.

Fortunately, he had a backup plan, otherwise, this time at the station, it would have been impossible to handle on the surface.

A trace of displeasure flashed in Hong Hong Zhiyou's eyes.

They were involved in such a big matter.

Jiang Jianfeng wiped it clean with a single sentence.

Sure enough, it's easy to get things done when you have people in the imperial court.

People are like ants; whether they live or die depends entirely on the whims of those in power.

"Commander Sun, look at this batch of supplies..." Zhang Qun looked at Sun Sun Lianzhong.

"Since it is military equipment that Commander Fu purchased from Jinhai."

"Then naturally it should be returned."

"I think we should let Secretary Hong continue to escort it to Zhang Yuan, and then explain it to Commander Fu when the time comes," Sun Sun Lianzhong smiled.

"Good."

"Let's do that."

"It was only delayed for one night; I assume Commander Fu won't mind."

"Everyone, hurry up and get busy."

Zhang Qun ordered.

"Hard work."

"Hard work."

After Wu Wu Jingzhong and the others shook hands, they walked out of the building together.

"Li Ya, why didn't you report the external mission?"

"How come I, this Major General Station Chief, am not qualified, or am I unable to manage you?"

Wu Wu Jingzhong looked at him coldly.

"Station Chief, it was too late, and I was afraid of disturbing your rest, so I thought I'd report it today," Li Ya hurriedly apologized with a smile.

He wasn't as foul-mouthed or bad-tempered as Ma Kui.

A stubborn person couldn't survive in a place like Yancheng.

Moreover, if you make a mistake, you have to accept the punishment.

If you lose your skill, you have to accept your fate.

These are the rules.

"Is that really so?" Wu Wu Jingzhong asked.

"Station Chief, please believe me; I swore the same thing to the Generalissimo," Li Ya raised his hand and swore to heaven.

"Fine, I'll believe your loyalty for now."

"How do you explain Secretary Hong?"

"He invited you to dinner, arranged benefits for you, and you turned around and wanted to put him to death."

"Don't you think you went too far?"

Wu Wu Jingzhong asked with a sneer.

"Brother Hong, this time it was my oversight; I believed Qi Qi Da Fu's nonsense."

"I apologize to you."

Li Ya bowed slightly to Hong Hong Zhiyou to apologize.

"Apologize, huh."

Hong Hong Zhiyou smiled, then suddenly raised his hand and slapped Li Ya across the face:

"I treated you as a friend."

"And you try to screw me?"

"You picked the wrong person."

As he spoke, he blew on the hair on his forehead, smiling more and more harmlessly: "Remember, in Jinhai, I have ten thousand ways to make you disappear forever."

"Don't be ungrateful."

"I'll remember it!" This slap was very heavy; Li Ya turned his head, bit his lip, and nodded.

"Station Chief, I'm going to escort the vehicles."

Hong Hong Zhiyou didn't even look at him directly and turned to get into the car.

Wu Wu Jingzhong and Li Ya got into the car.

They arrived at the Jinhai Station.

Wu Wu Jingzhong called him into his office and said with a smile: "You got beaten, aren't you convinced?"

"No."

"I made a mistake, I admit it," Li Ya sucked on his cheek, but his eyes remained defiant.

"Whether it's a mistake or a blunder, you have to distinguish clearly."

"A mistake is correctable."

"A blunder is extreme stupidity."

"I've said that Secretary Hong's energy is great."

"You don't really think I use him heavily just because he has a good relationship with my daughter, do you?"

"Now you see it; the Generalissimo and Jiang Jianfeng's work all has to be done by him."

"Take your brain out from your heels and think clearly."

"Could a person like this be a Red?"

Wu Wu Jingzhong pointed at him and asked in a deep voice.

"Station Chief, perhaps I was wrong." With two great gods covering him, Li Ya's gaze softened.

No matter how much he prided himself on being smart and aloof, he would never dare to doubt the wisdom of the Generalissimo and Jiang Jianfeng.

"Not perhaps, it's a fact," Wu Wu Jingzhong said.

"But I can't understand why my master would investigate Hong Hong Zhiyou?"

"And he caught Hong Hong Zhiyou himself at Gazikou."

"Station Chief, you know Section Chief Liu wouldn't be wrong."

Li Ya couldn't untie this knot no matter what.

"Would you rather blindly trust someone who colluded with the Central Statistics Bureau than believe the Generalissimo?" Wu Wu Jingzhong asked back.

"See for yourself."

Wu Wu Jingzhong took Liu Xiong's report from the drawer and threw it to Li Ya.

Li Ya was shocked after reading it.

"He was used by the Central Statistics Bureau?"

"That's right; when a person loses their reason, they become very stupid. Liu Xiong was obsessed with investigating Yu Zecheng, which is how the Central Statistics Bureau took advantage of him."

"Why did he die?"

"It's because he couldn't figure things out himself, drank excessively, and that's how he was harmed by displaced people."

"Otherwise, with his skills, how could he have been killed?"

"This is called bringing it upon himself!"

Wu Wu Jingzhong said, staring fixedly at Li Ya:

"Will you be the next stupid person?"

"So that's how it is."

"Station Chief, from now on, I will stop all investigations into Hong Hong Zhiyou," Li Ya said very tactfully.

"And Yu Zecheng," Wu Wu Jingzhong said, lifting his chin.

"Yes," Li Ya nodded.

"Li Ya, investigating Reds and making a fortune can be done at the same time."

"If you want to make a fortune, you have to have a good relationship with Secretary Hong."

"If you want to catch Reds, I can give you an opportunity."

"Beiping has turned an important Red leader, and Station Chief Lu Qiao is new there and doesn't understand the connections, so he wants to secretly transfer this person to Jinhai."

"You go to Beiping to pick him up."

Wu Wu Jingzhong ordered.

"Important?"

"Station Chief, I've heard this term too many times; now every Red has to be crowned with these two words."

"Why not let Qi Qi Da Fu go instead?"

Li Ya passed by Machang Road yesterday and took a fancy to a nice suit shop, which had a trendy gray plaid suit.

And there was a new Hunan restaurant that opened on Huaishan Road.

He felt stifled and just wanted to dress well, eat well, and vent his frustration.

In this strange and prosperous city.

Nothing gave him a sense of security like a good suit and a big meal.

"No."

"This is a real big fish."

"He is a Red leader in Beiping and once followed Wang Wang Shijian in Xi'an to establish an intelligence network in the north."

"This time, the branch stations in Xi'an, Luoyang, and Zhengzhou, including Beiping, have arrested many Reds."

"It's all this person's credit."

"The key is, this person also manages the Jinhai local committee and student union work; if he leaks just a little, are you still worried about not having a chance to show your face?"

"Don't forget, you've failed twice in a row."

"If you don't perform a meritorious service, the superiors might start questioning your ability."

Wu Wu Jingzhong advised with a smile.

"Student union, local committee—there's no oil to be squeezed out of that," Li Ya curled his lips and said.

"What you need now isn't oil."

"What you need is for Jiang Jianfeng, Lu Qiaoshan, and everyone else in the station to see your waves."

Wu Wu Jingzhong frowned with displeasure.

"Understood, thank you for your guidance, Station Chief."

"I'll take the job."

Li Ya's eyebrows tightened, and he agreed.

"These are the materials and photos; you must keep it secret and act carefully."

"This person is being watched by the Reds."

"It's only because of his high status that he's still in the screening period."

"Your people must be fast, accurate, and ruthless, and secretly get him to Jinhai and hide him well."

Wu Wu Jingzhong instructed.

"Yuan Yuan Peilin?"

"I've heard of this person, an old underground operative; sigh, my fortune is prosperous, even such high-level personnel have defected."

"I think they have no chance in this war."

Li Ya glanced at the photo, and a trace of disdainful smile appeared on his lips.

(End of chapter)