[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-spy-survival-guide":3,"chapter-spy-survival-guide-spy-survival-guide-chapter-18":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Spy Survival Guide",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2366334,4634,"Chapter 18: Lu Qiao's Dead End (Seeking Favorites, Recommendation Tickets)","spy-survival-guide-chapter-18",18,"\u003Cp>\"What, Long Er escaped?\" Master Zhang Si slammed his wine glass down and stood up abruptly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wasn't he on the list?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Section Chief Lu, didn't you say it was a done deal? What's going on?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Zhang Si pointed at Lu Qiao and demanded an answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiao was also stunned: \"Impossible, I circled the list myself. Long Er was definitely on it, and it was for tonight.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shaobai, go and get this cleared up,\" Master Zhang Si ordered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shaobai hurriedly made a phone call.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment later, he walked over and said indignantly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn it, the people over there said it was the secretary and the confidential director of the Jinhai Station who took the person away under Wu Jingzhong's orders.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's Hong Zhiyou!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This brat is craftier than a fox; it must be his twisted idea.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Right now, he has a grudge against the Young Master, so releasing Long Er is just a way to spite you, Master.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiao hurriedly chimed in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn it all, it’s always the thing I fear most that happens!\" Master Zhang Si was so angry he slapped the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Section Chief Lu, you aren't very effective as the second-in-command of the Jinhai Station.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By rights, you should have been personally overseeing things at the Shuitun Prison this afternoon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Instead, you went off to show yourself before Commander Chen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sigh, you’re being sold out and you’re still happy about it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So much for being a veteran of the intelligence system; I think you're nothing special.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Wenquan gave a cold, sinister laugh, exposing the secret behind it all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I...\" Lu Qiao's face darkened; he immediately realized he had been lured away from his post by that old fox Wu Jingzhong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wu Jingzhong is greedy for money; it must have been Hong Zhiyou who gave him that rotten idea.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, he could only shift the blame onto Hong Zhiyou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sigh, Old Lu, I really overestimated you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I had known you were only capable of this, I would have joined Wu Jingzhong's camp directly. By now, the grain business would be mine, and Long Er would be in hell.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why was I so possessed as to trust you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the local kingpin of Jinhai, Master Zhang Si didn't hold back at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suddenly stood up, drew his sidearm, and pressed it against Lu Qiao's forehead: \"Lu, if it weren't for the fact that your son works with my Shaojie, I would shoot you dead right now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master, I...\" Lu Qiao was covered in cold sweat, unable to argue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master, you are thinking too highly of Wu Jingzhong.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're pointing that gun at the wrong person.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Right now, the Red agents are very active in Jinhai. If Wu disappears, we can just say the Red agents did it. What could Dai possibly do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Wenquan picked up some food with his chopsticks and said calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Officer Yang, you want me to get rid of Wu...\" A fierce glint flashed in Master Zhang Si's eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn't stupid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The 94th Army was afraid of Wu Jingzhong investigating the resale of military supplies; Yang Wenquan was using him as a pawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as someone in the same boat, he had no choice but to be that blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Section Chief Lu, you wouldn't report the Master, would you?\" Yang Wenquan looked at Lu Qiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cold sweat poured down Lu Qiao's face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He regretted everything now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, he had used his son's connection to get in with Master Zhang Si to skim some kickbacks from the docks every month.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who would have thought this was a man-eating tiger?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Jingzhong was a Major General and a station chief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Assassinating a high-ranking official of that level—if this came to light, everyone present would be executed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Station Chief Wu has always been cautious and heavily guarded; you two should reconsider,\" he could only advise in a low voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh!\" Yang Wenquan gave a dry laugh and stopped talking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Father, in my opinion, there is someone who must be eliminated right now,\" said Zhang Shaobai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hong Zhiyou,\" said Zhang Shaobai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This person has ruined our affairs time and again. Last night, he was still flirting with Mu Wanqiu; he clearly doesn't care about my death warrant or your face, Father.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s the perfect time to kill him and teach Wu Jingzhong a lesson.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shaobai said through gritted teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In the underworld, face is everything. Zhang Shao gave him seven days; if the Hong fellow doesn't die, the rumors outside won't sound very good,\" Yang Wenquan continued to fan the flames.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eliminating Wu Jingzhong would set a precedent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Boss Dai sent another trusted aide, they wouldn't dare wade into the muddy waters of Jinhai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how this game was played, it was all benefit and no harm to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fine, then we'll get rid of the Hong fellow,\" Master Zhang Si decided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Father, I've investigated. That brat is staying at the station. He definitely won't come out these next few days, so I don't have a chance to strike.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Section Chief Lu, I’ll have to trouble you to open a door for us tomorrow night and let my men slip into the station.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This little favor shouldn't be a problem, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Shaobai took back the box on the table and pulled out only one bar, placing it in front of Lu Qiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Wenquan watched from the side with a cold sneer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Zhang Si stroked the bolt of his gun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I... I will try my best.\" Lu Qiao was under immense pressure and could only bite the bullet and agree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jinhai Station, inside the secretary's office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Zhiguo, it's getting late, go back and get some sleep.\" Hong Zhiyou glanced at his watch, cleared the chessboard, and handed Mi Zhiguo a silver dollar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Thank you, Brother Hong.\" Mi Zhiguo bowed several times and left, beaming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Zhiyou stood up and stared at the telephone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment later, the phone rang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It hung up after three rings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the secret signal he and Long Er had agreed upon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three rings meant the first step of the plan had succeeded, and things were progressing smoothly on Long Er's end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Zhiyou quickly put on his coat, left the station through the side door, retrieved a box from a small shed, and hailed a rickshaw straight to Guilin Road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arriving in front of the mansion, he pressed the doorbell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiao returned to his mansion on Guilin Road, feeling utterly dejected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ten gold bars, damn it, and he only got one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem was that this money was burning a hole in his pocket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt he was heading down a path of no return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The development of events had exceeded his expectations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a veteran agent with deep hidden motives, Lu Qiao hated this loss of control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Wenquan was a key member of the garrison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted Wu Jingzhong dead, wouldn't get a drop of blood on his own hands, and had people above him covering for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And himself?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He claimed to be a fellow townsman of Zheng Jiemin, but in reality, he was just a small fry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew the rules of the Military Statistics Bureau very well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Assassinating a superior officer—not to mention the execution of nine generations of his family, his whole family wouldn't stand a chance of survival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, I can't keep playing this game.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have to find a way to jump ship, otherwise it's death.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiao secretly made up his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he entered the house, before he could even put down his bag, he saw Hong Zhiyou and his wife stand up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Section Chief Lu!\" Hong Zhiyou bowed respectfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Qiaoshan, Little Hong came to see you,\" Mrs. Lu said with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Guifang, you go and rest first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiao ordered, sounding somewhat exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mrs. Lu left very tactfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you release Long Er?\" Lu Qiao asked while loosening his tie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It was Inspector Huang who found the Station Chief; Director Yu and I were just following orders,\" Hong Zhiyou said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sit down and talk.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiao changed into slippers, served tea, crossed his legs, and asked with a smile, \"Long Er gave you quite a lot, didn't he?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's alright,\" Hong Zhiyou replied with a knowing look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sigh, they transferred me to the Garrison Headquarters for a meeting, and all I got was a line about the future of the Party and State being mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They fooled me into running until my legs were crippled, and I still felt pretty good about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's truly brilliant; no wonder he's the Station Chief.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiao nodded his head in rhythm with his tone, sighing with a cold laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Section Chief Lu, I know you have a misunderstanding about me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I have no background; I have to do whatever the Station Chief says.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Recently, the matters regarding the grain store and Long Er have blocked your path; this is the helplessness of being a small pawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are a magnanimous man, please be understanding.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Hong Zhiyou spoke, he took out a small box he had prepared and opened it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside were one thousand US dollars and several gold bars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What is the meaning of this?\" Lu Qiao adjusted his round-rimmed glasses and asked with a squinting smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Section Chief Lu, you are a Lieutenant Colonel, and I am just a lowly Second Lieutenant; if you were to make things difficult for me, it would be more than enough to handle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The road ahead is long, and I am still counting on your promotion and care.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As for blocking your path, I had no choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But in how I conduct myself, I do have a choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is the benefit Long Er gave me; not a cent is missing, it's all here. I hope Section Chief Lu can let go of your anger.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Zhiyou looked into his eyes, his tone incomparably sincere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If money is gone, it can be earned again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, this person must be stabilized; the Intelligence Section is not to be trifled with, and if Lu Qiao were truly determined to keep an eye on him, it would be easy as pie and a troublesome affair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, he and old Lu had no personal grievances to begin with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was not an unsolvable dead end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for killing old Lu, that was Zhang Zui's job; he wouldn't take that risk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a word, anything that can be solved with money is not a problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sigh, one rank higher in officialdom can crush a man!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You've had it hard too; I'm quite pleased you have this sentiment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's getting late, go back and rest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiao waved his hand, issuing an order to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Very well!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Zhiyou had no extra words and rose to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he left, Li Guifang walked out from inside, looking at the US dollars and gold bars on the table, her mouth agape:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Old Lu, you say he's just a small secretary, where did he get so much money?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can an imperial envoy be short of money?\" Lu Qiao sneered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I think this little Hong is quite capable of handling things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By the way, our child said that all levels of officialdom and merchants in Jingling are in urgent need of red wine, and they entrusted us to get a batch from Jinmen; we could earn quite a bit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Little Hong said he has connections and knows people who can get French goods.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guifang said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This person is very dangerous and has many methods.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just now, when he gave me these, he didn't even blink an eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is not a small sum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To be so young and able to weigh the importance of things, to be able to bend and stretch—it's not simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I underestimated him before.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiao let out a long sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By the way, what about Fourth Master Zhang's side...\" Li Guifang asked in a low voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiao's expression turned gloomy and ugly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Try to have as little contact with the Zhang family as possible from now on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They are a bunch of lunatics; they actually want to assassinate the Station Chief and Hong Zhiyou.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's a matter that costs heads; you must not be foolish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I had known Jinmen was this dangerous, we would have been better off staying in Shancheng.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guifang was terrified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rest assured, I'm not that stupid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They wouldn't dare touch Wu Jingzhong for the time being, but it's hard to say for Hong Zhiyou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I heard rumors that they want to finish him off inside the station.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiao said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then you must hurry and save little Hong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He just helped the Station Chief catch Long Er, and if he gets killed right after, not to mention it happening inside the station.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wu Jingzhong will definitely think it was you who did it; if an investigation is launched, with those house rules, even if they don't kill you, they'll skin you alive.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Guifang was anxious and at a loss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are you panicking about? Do you think I don't know the stakes involved here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Rest assured, I definitely intend to protect Hong Zhiyou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't go anywhere these next few days, just stay at home.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Qiao glared at her in annoyance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood up and walked to the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moonlight was like smoke, and people were like smoke too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, he was clearly walking on the edge of a cliff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Zhiyou!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>May the Heavens bless him; I hope he truly has great wisdom, can break the Zhang family's dead end, and lead himself to liberation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of this chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",2285,"2026-06-25T10:22:48.848Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","232d96de4dd5cbe166a2032ac5d546d997798502f1137b36830f153448f4a873","spy-survival-guide-chapter-19","spy-survival-guide-chapter-17",395,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fspy-survival-guide-cover.jpg"]