Chapter 174

Lu Qiaoshan was in a great mood, humming a little tune with a file tucked under his arm as he walked up from the basement.

"Section Chief Lu, did you catch a fish?" Li Ya asked.

"Why, is it only allowed for you, Captain Li, to make a great achievement, and I can't even fish a little?" Lu Qiaoshan gave a gentle smile, like a long-time friend joking.

"Not at all."

"Since we are all colleagues, we should naturally stand together; I hope Section Chief Lu makes many more achievements."

"Let's build our Jinhai Station into a fortress."

Li Ya smiled.

"Stand together, how well said."

"I thank you, Captain Li."

Lu Qiaoshan nodded, turned around, and walked away with a cold face.

Arriving at his office, he immediately called Sheng Xiang into the office.

Sheng Xiang walked in looking dejected:

"Section Chief Lu, did you look for me for something?"

"Look at your pathetic state, pull yourself together for me." Lu Qiaoshan scolded.

"Section Chief Lu, where am I supposed to find the spirit?"

"The intelligence you gave me last time was a dud; the Xiuchun Tower was a fake, and now everyone in the circle knows it."

"My reputation is shattered."

"Not only did the buyer threaten to kill me,"

"but even the real intelligence you gave me, no one will buy anymore."

"No one wants it even if I give it away for free."

"My source of income is effectively cut off."

Sheng Xiang complained with a bitter face.

"Selling intelligence, who hasn't had a time when they messed up?"

"Sell another big one later, and your reputation will naturally return."

Lu Qiaoshan frowned and consoled him.

"You say it lightly."

"That was a deal worth ten gold bars."

"The buyer was from the Dangtong Bureau; not only did they buy fake intelligence, but several of their people were arrested, and I heard Sun Chuanzhi paid a heavy price to redeem them."

"I've been staying in the office these days, not even daring to go home."

Sheng Xiang said with a bitter face, feeling unhappy.

"Look at your lack of ambition; I will go and have a word with Sun Chuanzhi."

"Pull yourself together, I have an important matter for you to handle."

"If this is done successfully, I will reward you handsomely."

Lu Qiaoshan patted the table and reminded him.

"Done."

"Section Chief Lu, what are your orders?" Upon hearing there was a reward, Sheng Xiang immediately perked up.

"It's nothing else."

"Later, you take a few people to Hongyun Teahouse; someone there will hand a person over to you."

"Just bring the person to the station."

"Remember to cover their head, especially don't let Captain Li know."

"If he asks, just say you caught someone from an underground printing plant, got it?"

Lu Qiaoshan ordered.

"Understood." Sheng Xiang nodded.

Lu Qiaoshan took out two silver dollars and handed them to him: "Go, have a cup of tea there."

"Thank you, Section Chief Lu."

This errand was simple, and Sheng Xiang left happily with the silver dollars.

Once Sheng Xiang left, Lu Qiaoshan quickly dialed Lu Yuxi's phone:

"Xizi, this is your Brother Shan."

"That opera theater in Drum Tower, go and check it out again, especially the woodshed in the small courtyard in the back."

"Someone named Old Zhou."

"Catch him and ask if he's a new arrival from this period."

"If so, catch him immediately, send the person to Hongyun Teahouse, and hand him over to Sheng Xiang."

"Remember, be clean and fast."

"Waiting for your good news."

Hanging up the phone, Lu Qiaoshan let out a breath and strode out.

Passing by Yu Zecheng's office, he saw him and Hong Zhiyou drinking tea:

"Zhiyou, is the Station Chief in?"

"Yes, he's looking at files."

"Recently, the City Defense Bureau and the Garrison Headquarters have issued a pile of messy documents." Hong Zhiyou replied.

"What's up, Old Lu, is there good news?"

"I've never seen you this happy even when distributing year-end bonuses."

Yu Zecheng saw his face full of joy and asked quickly.

"You guessed right, there is good news."

"The troupe leader in Drum Tower has confessed!"

"Last time the police went to investigate, this guy hid the person in the woodshed."

"Today, after a beating, he spilled everything."

"I asked, and it was indeed arranged by Li Ya a few days ago; not many people in the whole opera troupe knew."

Lu Qiaoshan said.

"Great!"

"Old Lu, it had to be you." Yu Zecheng was overjoyed.

Hong Zhiyou was also overjoyed.

Whether it was true or false.

Lu Qiaoshan's move would definitely have an effect.

If it really was Yuan Peilin, everyone would be happy.

If not, at least it could prove that the opera troupe was Li Ya's diversionary tactic, and they could make other plans.

In any case, it was a step forward.

"Caught him, how should we handle it?" Hong Zhiyou said.

"That's easy to handle."

"Kill him, we certainly can't do it ourselves; this is a golden treasure of the headquarters."

"Station Chief Qiao in Beiping is asking for the person, so we can send him to Beiping."

"Even if Li Ya doesn't agree and wants to hide him, with so many eyes watching,"

"not to mention us, the Red Ticket side will spare no cost to eliminate Yuan."

"In a word, this person will die as soon as he sees the light."

Lu Qiaoshan said with a sinister look in his eyes.

"As expected of the senior brother from the Nanchang Investigation Section, it's flawless."

"Once Yuan is lost in Li Ya's hands,"

"I don't believe the headquarters will be able to turn a big issue into a small one like the last two times."

"At that time, not to mention punishment, at the very least, if he wants to be Deputy Station Chief, Director Zheng can veto him with a single stroke."

Hong Zhiyou timely offered flattery to boost Lu Qiaoshan's morale.

"I just can't stand Li Ya's arrogant and smug face."

"This time I must suppress his arrogance."

"I'm going to report to the Station Chief now."

Lu Qiaoshan finished speaking and stood up to leave.

"Wait."

"Old Lu, better to go to the Station Chief's office."

"You and Old Yu were played by Li Ya, it's normal to discuss things."

"Finding the Station Chief is better when the person has arrived."

"Otherwise, Li Ya will think it was instigated by the Station Chief; don't forget Jianfeng and the Station Chief are old classmates."

"There are many things that are inconvenient to talk about."

Hong Zhiyou quickly called him back.

"That's right, some things are better understood without being said."

"Don't forget, the person the Station Chief nominated at the beginning was you."

"Old Lu, wait a moment."

Yu Zecheng also followed up.

Lu Qiaoshan stopped his steps, thought for a moment, patted his forehead, and said:

"Hey, I was too happy and got muddled."

"Wait."

"Wait."

"Captain, Sheng Xiang took people out."

Gao Yuan peeked out the window and whispered.

"Let them go."

"They will be satisfied."

"Nanchang Investigation Section, pfft, a bunch of trash and idiots!"

Li Ya spat into the trash can.

Then he looked at his watch, "You go to the interrogation room and keep an eye on Dong Cheng."

"This is a rare find."

"Our wealth and glory all depend on him."

"The key is that he is a Red Ticket, the handle to dig out Mount Emei, Pebble, and Pit Viper."

"Jianfeng has orders, we must pry something out of his mouth!"

"Captain Li, should we transfer him away?" Gao Yuan reminded him.

"No need."

"Who would dare to touch someone Jianfeng instructed?" Li Ya had a near-divine reverence for this superior.

"Also true."

"The problem is that this Dong Cheng has been holding out."

"Mr. Yuan once worked with him in the border area, and the Station Chief asked to invite him to identify him; should we act?"

Gao Yuan asked.

Li Ya looked at him coldly: "You still don't understand the truth of the matter."

"Since the Military Statistics era, do secret agents still need identification to arrest people?"

"The intelligence and evidence are all right in front of us."

"He is a Red Ticket if he is, and he must be even if he isn't!"

"Once we get to Jingling, Jianfeng and the people at headquarters have a hundred ways to identify him."

"Moreover, I have already sent people to Yangjia Village to find eyewitnesses."

"Isn't the eyewitness..." Gao Yuan didn't continue.

"This person is no different from a stray dog, it's not necessary that he must have seen Dong Cheng and Yu Zecheng."

"Dong Cheng can also deny it, can overturn it."

"But wanting Yuan Peilin to see the light, no way."

"Finding people to come, it's purely to accompany them to make this play more exciting."

"I'm just like this."

"If you respect me an inch, I'll return a foot."

"If you hurt me a hair, I'll return a hundred fathoms."

"Isn't it just playing, who's afraid of whom?"

Li Ya raised his eyes, shook his head slightly, and smiled coldly.

"Understood."

"Then the Station Chief's suggestion, wouldn't it be targeting you?"

Gao Yuan said this with a look of astonishment.

"The Station Chief has a good relationship with the superior."

"Cheating money, I believe."

"Committing a great taboo against the superior, letting the Old Cantonese gang be Deputy Station Chief, the possibility is not high."

"How am I also a Qingpu graduate, his student."

"A fool to be 'slaughtered' by him."

"Letting the old-timer, cunning as a fox, Lu Qiaoshan come up, has a hundred harms and no benefits for him."

"He proposed this strategy, either he genuinely wants to support my rise."

"Or he was fooled by Hong Zhiyou, Yu Zecheng, and that bunch."

"After all, he is getting old."

Li Ya stretched his shoulders and sighed.

"Did Lu Qiaoshan enter the Station Chief's office?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.

"No."

"This morning at the meeting, he already secretly pointed out Lu Qiaoshan, telling him not to look for trouble with you."

"A word of sincere unity, guarding the fortress together."

"Everyone present could see he was still favoring you."

Gao Yuan said.

"Indeed."

"With Yuan Peilin and Dong Cheng in hand, it's a done deal, and if he still wants to stop me, he's just asking for trouble."

"The Station Chief is a smart man."

"He knows how to choose."

Li Ya said confidently.

"Also true."

"Captain Li, what needs to be done next?" Gao Yuan asked.

"Nothing needs to be done."

"As long as Yuan Peilin doesn't appear, let the winds blow from all directions, I will sit firmly on the fishing platform."

"Call me when Sheng Xiang returns."

Li Ya smiled, closed his eyes, and lazily listened to the songs on the radio, his fingers tapping the armrest to the rhythm:

"Floating clouds scatter, the bright moon shines on people coming..."

Station Chief's office.

Hong Zhiyou pushed the door and walked in; Wu Jingzhong was on the phone.

After hanging up, he said with a headache:

"Zhiyou, the situation is unfavorable."

"Now wars are frequent in all directions, and foreign cargo ships bound for Jinhai are working overtime."

"Even this isn't enough to go around."

"All group armies want it, the municipal government wants it, the rich want it."

"Jinhai wants it, Ma Hansan in Beiping also wants it."

"Look outside, is money still money now? Ordinary people buy grain by the basket."

"Zhiyou, I had the Waterway Inspection Division detain a batch of flour and rice for being substandard."

"You pull it to the basement in Hexi as soon as possible."

"No matter how much gold and silver there is, once chaos starts, it won't be worth a grain of rice."

Wu Jingzhong had the conservative thinking of an old landlord in his bones.

Whenever he encountered chaos, he naturally couldn't do without hoarding grain.

"Indeed, Teacher's considerations are far-reaching."

"Teacher, Section Chief Lu arrested the troupe leader of the Drum Tower opera troupe."

"That person confessed that Li Ya did indeed send someone a few days ago, and he is hiding in the woodshed in the back courtyard of the opera troupe."

"It is very likely to be Yuan Peilin."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"Could it be a trap set by Li Ya?" Intuition told Wu Jingzhong it wouldn't be that simple.

"A trap?"

"Not necessarily."

"If this is a trap."

"The troupe leader, the girlfriend, plus a body double prepared for Yuan early on."

"Li Ya is too terrifying."

Hong Zhiyou frowned and said.

"Can't underestimate him."

"He is a protégé valued by Yu Lexing and Liu Xiong."

"When he was in the special training class, the book he liked to read most was 'The Art of War', and people who read this kind of book are often very terrifying."

Wu Jingzhong frowned and said solemnly.

"Does Captain Li know that the opera troupe leader was arrested?" He asked, taking a sip of tea.

"He should know by now."

"I saw him pacing back and forth outside your door several times earlier, he might be panicked." Hong Zhiyou said.

"Then this matter is certain?" Wu Jingzhong was overjoyed.

"Should be." Hong Zhiyou said.

"Great."

"For this Yuan Peilin, I haven't been able to eat or sleep."

"Guess what?"

"Li Ya, this idiot, actually asked me to my face why there were only seven gold bars."

"If he becomes Deputy Station Chief, he'll be slamming the table at me."

Wu Jingzhong put his left hand behind his back and pointed with his right hand in annoyance.

"Yes!"

"Captain Li, he suffered too much in Yancheng."

"Coming to Jinhai, he was dazzled, and it's inevitable that he values money a bit more; Teacher, don't take it to heart."

"If he can't be taught, don't teach him."

"Having me and Director Yu to share your worries is enough."

Hong Zhiyou smiled.

One hour later.

Sheng Xiang escorted the person to the station, didn't go to the basement, and came directly to the Intelligence Division.

"Section Chief Lu, the person is brought." Sheng Xiang said.

"No one saw him, right?" Lu Qiaoshan said in a deep voice.

"Woo woo!"

The person caught had a hood over his head and a piece of torn cotton cloth stuffed in his mouth, struggling and moaning.

"No, as soon as he was caught, we put the hood on and brought him to the station." Sheng Xiang said.

"Very good."

"Hmm..."

Lu Qiaoshan paced back and forth, deep in thought, shaking his index finger.

This person's physique looked very similar to Yuan Peilin in the photo.

This hood, he absolutely must not touch.

Only Li Ya and the Station Chief could uncover it.

If it is Yuan Peilin.

Li Ya must report it in front of the Station Chief, whether Qiao Jiacai asks for the person or Li Ya wants to transfer him.

If not.

He would just say this person is a Red Ticket liaison, and even if not, he could say he caught the wrong person.

The Station Chief and everyone could testify.

It wouldn't lead to Li Ya counter-attacking.

If Yuan Peilin is killed or lost later, it wouldn't be blamed on him.

Yes, this point is very important.

Otherwise, with Li Ya's viciousness, just biting back would be enough to kill him.

After all, Yuan is not an ordinary person.

"No, as soon as he was caught"

They chatted for a while.

Then they heard footsteps coming from the hallway.

Lu Qiaoshan knocked on the door: "Station Chief, is it convenient?"

"Convenient." Wu Jingzhong said happily.

"Station Chief, my people caught a Red Ticket underground liaison at the Drum Tower opera troupe."

"The person is already being watched in the interrogation room."

"Should we all go and take a look together?"

Lu Qiaoshan asked.

"Are you sure?" Wu Jingzhong asked.

"Station Chief, I found field agents to catch him, and as soon as he was caught, we put the hood on and brought him to the station."

"I haven't looked."

"Shouldn't you be the one to uncover it?"

Lu Qiaoshan said, emboldened.

Wu Jingzhong looked at him, hesitated for two seconds, and said:

"Fine, let's go take a look together."

"Thank you, Station Chief." Lu Qiaoshan took half a step back and bowed to him.

They were both people who understood.

If Wu Jingzhong didn't take charge of this matter, Lu Qiaoshan would be stuck here.

"Call Captain Li and Director Yu." Wu Jingzhong ordered Hong Zhiyou.

After Hong Zhiyou notified Yu Zecheng, he came to the Operations Team.

Li Ya was leaning on his chair, listening to music and resting his mind.

"Captain Li, the Station Chief is finished."

"I saw you pacing at the door just now, you must have something to find him for."

"It just so happens that Section Chief Lu caught a Red Ticket underground liaison."

"It might be related to Dong Cheng."

"The Station Chief said that the Dong Cheng matter is your special responsibility, and he wants to invite you to go to the interrogation room to take a look together."

Hong Zhiyou said very smoothly.

"Underground liaison?"

"Where was he caught?"

Li Ya's expression changed, and he feigned a panic that was not very obvious, but enough for people to notice.

"Drum Tower." Hong Zhiyou said.

"Drum Tower!"

"Let's go!"

Li Ya hurried toward the basement.

While walking.

A cold sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth.

Lu Qiaoshan, oh Lu Qiaoshan, playing with me, you're not qualified enough.

This time, let's see where you'll hide your face!

(End of Chapter)