Chapter 196: Does This Slap Hurt?

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 find time after his daily handling of ten thousand matters to have a heart-to-heart talk with him and impart some of the Dao of governing the country.

He knew his son was quite influenced by the Soviets.

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

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

"Generalissimo, Wu Jingzhong from Jinhai says he is looking for Jiang Jianfeng regarding a matter of extreme urgency."

"Extreme urgency?"

"Father, I will go take the call," Jiang Jianfeng said, frowning as he stood up.

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

Jiang Jianfeng connected the transfer and called Wu Jingzhong back.

Wu Jingzhong was waiting 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 Jingzhong."

"It is like this: the supplies and military provisions I had Secretary Hong arrange to be transported to Zhangyuan were intercepted by Sun Lianzhong's men in the Baoding mountains."

"Both the men and the cargo were dragged to their station."

"We have always been very careful; we had transported them several times before without incident."

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

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

"It could be said to have been done without anyone knowing."

"Who would have thought a rat would show up from within; one rat dropping ruins a whole pot of good soup and dishes."

"Fu Zuoyi?"

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

"In my opinion, he is doing it on purpose; he doesn't want to attack Zhangjiakou and is using excuses to delay."

"The trouble lies exactly there."

"This is the last batch of supplies; we let him get fat on the previous ones, and now that he is holding onto this matter and refusing to act, won't our gold and dollars be wasted in vain?"

"Commander Sun? I notified him too."

"You know Sun Lianzhong's foul temper."

"When he fought the devils at Taierzhuang, he fought with blood and sweat, holding the line to the death; he is the 'national backbone' personally commended by the Generalissimo."

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

"Old classmate, you must quickly tell the Generalissimo to release the men and the trucks."

"If it is too late, I fear it will delay the great plan of the Party and State."

"Yes, yes, I will have the Baoding Station coordinate first."

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

Hanging up the phone, Wu Jingzhong shook his collar to let in some sleepiness and cool off a bit.

With Jiang Jianfeng stepping in.

This matter would certainly be resolved.

I just don't know if he will transfer Li Ya away.

In all honesty, he quite appreciated and liked Li Ya.

Especially how he proactively arranged personnel, got along with Hong Zhiyou, and didn't investigate corruption, only Reds—this type was simply the capable subordinate Wu Jingzhong dreamed of.

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

He keeps staring at his own double pistols.

That is 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 from Jinhai to Zhangyuan have run into trouble; they were intercepted by Sun Lianzhong while passing through Baoding."

"It was within expectations," Jiang said, sighing lightly as he stood up.

He leaned on his cane and looked at the portrait of Mr. Sun on the wall.

"One wanted to be robbed, the other wanted to rob."

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

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

"But now? A full division, elite equipment, and he throws away his armor and flees after a battle at Handan."

"Is he unable to fight?"

"No, in my view, he and people like Fu Zuoyi just don't want to fight."

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

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

"They don't pull together in the same direction."

"Look at the Reds instead, a rolling tide of red, all hearts united."

"Jianfeng, this is the difficulty of the Party and State and of myself, and it is also what I worry about most."

The Generalissimo turned his head, saying with deep concern.

"Father, such a large amount of military provisions cannot be left for Fu Zuoyi to benefit from."

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

Jiang Jianfeng's tone was quite firm.

"Hmm."

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

"Pass on my order for Chen Jicheng of the Beiping Garrison Headquarters to rush to Baoding immediately."

"Also, trouble Zhang Qun to make a personal trip."

"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 Zhiyou got out of bed, stretching his back feeling refreshed.

Li Ya and Qi Physician had long been waiting outside the door.

"Prepare, prepare," he said, raising his eyebrows when he saw Hong Zhiyou.

"Prepare for what?" Hong Zhiyou asked, puzzled.

"Prepare to go to Jingling."

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

"Using the American's connections on the Reds—your matter is a major one."

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

Li Ya said with full confidence.

"Fine, then I will wash up first," Hong Zhiyou did not argue with him and got up to go to the washroom.

After tidying up.

He came to the main hall.

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

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

"Bring two steamers of dumplings."

"I'm starving."

Hong Zhiyou was not polite; Gao Zhiqi had already made arrangements anyway.

Once the breakfast was served.

He sat down and began to eat slowly.

"Captain Li, would you like some?"

"Jianfeng surely wouldn't invite you to breakfast, would he?"

"Still thinking about that bowl of duck blood vermicelli soup?"

Hong Zhiyou asked while eating.

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

Li Ya smelled the fragrant aroma of the meat filling, swallowed his saliva, and said.

Hong Zhiyou didn't stand on ceremony and pushed a steamer basket over to him.

After finishing, he lit a cigarette and exhaled.

"Actually, I'm very curious, where does your confidence come from, little brother?"

"Having committed such a grave crime, can you really escape?"

"I know you know quite a few people."

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

"Or are you a natural-born actor who is very good at putting on a show?"

Li Ya frowned while eating and said.

"You are just someone who loves to split hairs."

"How do you know I am committing a crime, rather than being a meritorious official of the Party-State?" Hong Zhiyou asked him back with a smile.

"A meritorious official?"

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

"You will understand."

Just as they were speaking, Adjutant Li answered a phone call and said with a hurried expression:

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

The two did not dare to delay and hurriedly went to the public office conference room.

Four people were sitting inside.

At the head of the table was the Special Envoy, the Old Man's trusted high official and strategist, Zhang Qun.

Another person was a high-ranking officer wearing glasses who did not smile.

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

"Come, let me introduce you two."

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

"The two of them were specially sent here by the Chairman and Jianfeng."

Sun Lianzhong stood up and introduced them.

The two greeted them one by one.

Wu Jingzhong, however, looked at the two with an expressionless face, without any eye contact or indication of his stance.

"You are Li Ya, Captain of the Secret Service Bureau's Action Team. You were the one who made the arrests and incited the garrison to seize the supplies?" Zhang Qun questioned coldly.

"Incited?"

"No, I was assisting the garrison in clearing out Red tickets." Li Ya keenly heard and sensed the ill intent of the two "imperial envoys."

"But Commander Sun and his subordinates say that you reported false military intelligence and incited Regiment Commander Sun Hao to loot military supplies being transported to the Twelfth Group Army in Zhanghuan."

"What exactly are your intentions?"

Zhang Qun slapped the table and asked.

Li Ya looked at Sun Lianzhong.

He was grateful to him just last night, and now it has become "incitement"?

He had thought the "Three-Agency Joint Hearing" was aimed at Hong Zhiyou.

He didn't expect that as soon as it started, they would open fire on him.

Sun Lianzhong was drinking tea very calmly, without any indication of his stance.

"The two of you, to say that Captain Li incited the looting of supplies, I don't think that's very likely."

"He was mainly misled by some clues."

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

Wu Jingzhong explained from the side.

He was not intentionally helping Li Ya.

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

"Station Chief Wu, I cannot manage the internal strife within your Secret Service Bureau, but this person is involved in intentionally sabotaging the Chairman's military plans."

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

Chen Jicheng took over the conversation and then pointed at Li Ya with cold eyes:

"Or perhaps, you yourself are a Red ticket."

"Intentionally trying to stir up conflict between Commander Sun and Commander Fu?"

Li Ya had an expression as if he had seen a ghost: "I, I am a Red ticket?"

"No, two officers, I don't understand. These supplies were clearly military contraband that Hong Zhiyou smuggled in collusion with Red tickets."

"I was clearing out traitors for the Party-State, how did I end up being a Red ticket instead?"

He argued based on reason.

"Let me tell you."

"These supplies were military necessities that General Fu Zuoyi of Zhangyuan entrusted Station Chief Wu to purchase from Jinhai."

"You intercepted them well."

"You ruined the Chairman and General Fu's plan to attack Zhangjiakou."

Zhang Qun said very smoothly.

Some things are one thing to know in your heart, but they cannot be said on the surface.

Once it spreads that the Chairman allocated military funds to Fu Zuoyi.

Li Zongren and Bai Chongxi would also open their mouths to ask for some.

At that time, would he give them or not?

"But for the Party-State's supplies, there are excellent railways and national highways, yet they had to take the Red tickets' transport lines and ask the Red tickets' transport lines to escort them."

"I, Li, am afraid I cannot understand."

Li Ya frowned and got to the bottom of it.

Several officers and Wu Jingzhong looked at each other, wishing they could strangle this idiot.

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

"Someone, lock up this bastard who is suspected of colluding with Red tickets and sabotaging the nation's military plans."

"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, please speak up for me. I was really clearing out Red tickets, I didn't know these supplies..."

"Shut your stinking mouth."

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

Wu Jingzhong stood up, pointed at him, and shouted.

"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, please wait a moment, I'm going to make a phone call."

Zhang Qun stood up and went to the inner room.

A moment later he walked back, his frost-covered face turned into a warm smile:

"Everyone, since Station Chief Wu has said this is a misunderstanding, this matter is an internal conflict within the Jinhai Station, and I don't think it should be discussed openly."

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

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

"Yes!" Wu Jingzhong stood up to accept the order.

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

It was fortunate he kept an ace up his sleeve, otherwise, back at the station, it would have been impossible to handle on the surface.

A flash of displeasure crossed Hong Zhiyou's eyes.

Even after such a big incident.

A single word from Jianfeng wiped it all away.

Sure enough, having connections in the imperial court makes things easier to handle.

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

"Commander Sun, what about these supplies..." Zhang Qun looked at Sun Lianzhong.

"Since they are military necessities that Commander Fu purchased from Jinhai."

"Then naturally, they must be returned."

"I think we should just let Secretary Hong continue to escort Zhangyuan, and explain it to Commander Fu when the time comes," Sun Lianzhong said with a smile.

"Fine."

"Let's do it that way."

"It's only a one-night delay, I expect Commander Fu won't mind."

"Everyone, hurry along and get to work."

Zhang Qun instructed.

"Hard work."

"Hard work."

After Wu Jingzhong and the others shook hands, they left the building together.

"Li Ya, why didn't you report your field mission?"

"How is it that I, a Major General and Station Chief, am either unqualified or unable to manage you?"

Wu Jingzhong watched him with cold eyes.

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

He was not like Ma Kui, who had a foul mouth and a foul temper.

A stubborn person could not survive in a place like Yancheng.

Moreover, if you make a mistake, you have to take the beating.

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

These are the rules.

"Is that really so?" Wu Jingzhong asked.

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

"Fine, I will tentatively believe in your loyalty."

"How do you explain this matter with Secretary Hong?"

"He invites you to dinner and arranges benefits for you, yet you turn around and want to put him to death."

"Aren't you going a bit too far?"

Wu Jingzhong asked with a cold sneer.

"Brother Hong, this time it was my oversight; I believed the nonsense from Qi Physician."

"I apologize to you."

Li Ya bowed slightly to Hong Zhiyou to apologize.

"An apology, huh."

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

"I treat you as a friend."

"You're messing with me?"

"You picked the wrong person."

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

"Don't be ungrateful."

"I'll remember that!" The slap was very heavy; Li Ya tilted his head, bit the corner of his mouth, and nodded.

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

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

Wu Jingzhong and Li Ya got into the car.

They arrived at the Jinhai Station.

Wu Jingzhong called him into the office and said with a beaming smile: "Got beaten, are you unconvinced?"

"No."

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

"You must distinguish between a mistake and a failure."

"A mistake is understandable."

"A failure is sheer stupidity."

"I have said that Secretary Hong has great influence."

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

"Now you see it; the work for the Chairman and Jiang Jianfeng 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 Jingzhong pointed at him and asked in a deep voice.

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

No matter how much he prided himself on his intelligence and aloofness, he would never dare to doubt the wisdom of the Chairman and Jiang Jianfeng.

"It's not 'perhaps,' it is a fact," Wu Jingzhong said.

"But I don't understand, why would my Master pursue Hong Zhiyou?"

"And at the time, he personally caught Hong Zhiyou at Gazikou."

"Station Chief, you know Section Chief Liu would not be wrong."

Li Ya could not untie this particular knot.

"Would you rather blindly believe someone who colluded with the Zhongtong than believe the Chairman?" Wu Jingzhong countered.

"See for yourself."

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 Zhongtong?"

"That's right. When a person loses their reason, they become very stupid. Liu Xiong became obsessed with investigating Yu Zecheng, which is how the Zhongtong took advantage of him."

"Why did he die?"

"It was because he couldn't think clearly, drank excessively, and was harmed by displaced people."

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

"This is called bringing it upon oneself!"

As Wu Jingzhong spoke, his gaze was fixed firmly on 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 targeting Hong Zhiyou," Li Ya said very sensibly.

"And Yu Zecheng," 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 must build a good relationship with Secretary Hong."

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

"An important Red leader has been turned in Beiping. Station Chief Qiao is new there and doesn't fully grasp the relationships, so he wants to secretly transfer this person to Jinhai."

"You go to Beiping to pick up the person."

Wu Jingzhong instructed.

"Important?"

"Station Chief, I've heard that word too many times; nowadays, any Red is labeled with those two words."

"Why not let Qi Physician go instead?"

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

And there was a newly opened Hunan restaurant on Huashan Road.

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

In this strange and prosperous city.

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

"No."

"This is a real big fish."

"He is a dual leader of the Reds in Beiping and once followed Wang Shijian in Xi'an to establish the northern intelligence network."

"The recent arrests of many Reds in the Xi'an, Luoyang, and Zhengzhou branch stations, including Beiping, were all thanks to this person."

"It was all this person's credit."

"Crucially, this person is also in charge of the Jinhai Regional Committee and student union work. If he lets anything slip, are you still worried about not having a chance to shine?"

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

"If you don't achieve merit soon, your superiors might start to question your abilities."

Wu Jingzhong advised with a smile.

"The student union and regional committee won't yield any profit," Li Ya pouted and said.

"What you have now isn't profit."

"What you want is a splash that Jiang Jianfeng, Lu Qiao, and the others at the station can see."

Wu Jingzhong frowned, displeased.

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

"I accept this job."

Li Ya's brows tightened as he agreed.

"These are the files and photos; you must keep this confidential and act with caution."

"This person is currently being watched by the Reds."

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

"Your men must be fast, accurate, and ruthless; bring him to Jinmen without anyone knowing, and keep him well hidden."

Wu Jingzhong instructed.

"Yuan Peilin?"

"I've heard of this man, he's an old underground operative; ah, our fortune is flourishing, even such high-level personnel are defecting."

"I don't think they have a chance in this war."

Li Ya glanced at the photo, a look of disdain appearing at the corner of his mouth.

(End of chapter)