Chapter 198: Station Chief Qiao's Scheme

Hong Zhiyou returned to his office, and as it neared noon and time to get off work, he hurriedly called Mi Zhiguo:

"Zhiguo, this is Hong Zhiyou.

"Are you busy?

"Come over and play a game of chess with me; it's been a while since we last played, and my hands are itching.

"Don't bother eating lunch; I've ordered a meal at Hongyun Teahouse, and they'll be sending it over in a bit.

"Don't stand on ceremony with me, hurry over."

Snap!

Hong Zhiyou hung up the phone.

In the afternoon.

Li Ya tidied himself up and returned to the Action Team in a suit and leather shoes.

"Physician, close the door."

He instructed Qi Physician, who was following behind him.

"Station Chief, do you have a mission?"

Qi Physician licked his chubby face and asked with a smile.

"Stand straight and cover your ears," Li Ya said.

"Captain Li, what—what do you mean?" Qi Physician didn't quite understand.

"I told you to cover them, so just do it," Li Ya laughed.

Qi Physician obediently covered his ears with both hands.

Li Ya twisted his neck, bared his teeth, and suddenly slapped him hard across the face.

Ouch!

Qi Physician let out a miserable cry, stumbled, and crouched on the ground, dizzily wailing:

"Captain Li, why—why did you hit me?"

"Hit you?

"No, I am saving you.

"There must be a scapegoat for the Baoding affair; go home tonight, write a report, and hand it in.

"Just say it was an intelligence gathering error.

"Otherwise, your position won't be secure."

Li Ya shook his numb right hand and ordered with a cold sneer.

"Understood." Qi Physician covered his face and climbed to his feet.

"Tonight, you and Song Fei go and clear out that red-ticket printing factory we staked out last time.

"Remember, bring plenty of men and make a big scene."

Li Ya instructed.

"Captain, are you going to oversee this personally?" Qi Physician asked.

"Do you really need me for a printing factory?

"The Station Chief's wife introduced me to a match, and I need to go meet her.

"Take this, use it to treat the brothers to a late-night snack."

Li Ya fished a large handful of legal tender and a few loose silver dollars from his pocket and shoved them all to Qi Physician.

Qi Physician was overjoyed: "Thank you, Captain Li.

"You are much more generous than that dead ghost Ma Kui; when he was here, he only ever fleeced the brothers.

"It's much better following you."

Li Ya smiled: "This is nothing; there will be plenty of rewards for you all in the future."

"That's for sure, I've heard about it," Qi Physician chuckled dryly.

"Heard what?" Li Ya asked.

"Today while on field duty, I heard Mi Zhiguo say that Secretary Hong recommended you to the Station Chief for the position of Deputy Station Chief.

"The Station Chief agreed.

"The list has already been submitted to headquarters."

Qi Physician said hurriedly.

"How does Mi Zhiguo know that?" Li Ya frowned.

"Don't you know?

"Mi Zhiguo is the chess king of our Action Team; people from every department in the station like to find him to play chess.

"Secretary Hong occasionally calls him over too.

"He heard it at noon today when he was playing chess with Secretary Hong.

"Secretary Hong also said that you are one of Jianfeng's men.

"The Station Chief originally wanted Lu Qiaoshan, but Secretary Hong felt you had more potential, so he nominated you, and the Station Chief agreed."

Qi Physician said matter-of-factly.

"Excellent!" Li Ya excitedly clapped his hands together.

He had just tasted the sweetness of making extra money on the side.

If he could become Deputy Station Chief, he would not only have greater power, but it would also be easier to rake in money.

Work and wealth, both taken care of.

He picked up the phone and called the Telecommunications Division: "Hello, is this Division Chief Hou?

"The report on the candidate for Deputy Station Chief sent to headquarters, has it been sent already?

"Good.

"Really?

"Thank you, you're too kind, it's just a nomination.

"Goodbye."

Hanging up the phone, Li Ya closed his eyes, took a slight breath, and trembled with excitement.

Hou Yunlai had confirmed that he was the only nominee sent to headquarters.

There was no place for Lu Qiaoshan at all.

His luck was finally turning.

And Hong Zhiyou, this brother was truly righteous.

Clearly, Secretary Hong valued his background and worth.

This kid knew how to pick a side.

Not bad, quite sensible.

This was very good!

After arranging the mission, he didn't dare take a station car; he circled to a secluded alley, got into a car borrowed by the Station Chief, and headed straight for Beiping.

Setting the raid on the red-ticket printing factory for tonight was just to provide cover for his trip to Beiping.

And while he was at it, he would stir up trouble in Jinhai to make it easier to hide Yuan Peilin.

Evening.

Hong Zhiyou returned from the Marine Corps.

Those damn foreign devils played mahjong too well; in just two hours, he had lost over six hundred US dollars, which made his heart ache.

"Anderson, the accounts are all settled, right?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"All settled.

"Besides, even if your Chairman came himself, he wouldn't dare audit our books.

"Just put your heart at ease."

Anderson was playing cards more and more smoothly, and his Chinese was just as fluent, even mixed with a bit of the local accent.

"Good!

"For the drinks, settle the bill with Long Er later.

"Someone is here to pick me up, I'm leaving first."

Hong Zhiyou said his goodbyes, and under the envious gazes of Anderson and Jack, he let Ji Qing take his arm as they left together.

Arriving at the club.

The two of them had another wild time.

These women were at the perfect age—stamina was good, techniques were excellent, and each one was like a fierce tiger.

"Your stamina seems to have improved lately."

After it was over, Ji Qing lay in his arms, her face full of happy, coquettish charm.

"Mm, I've been getting up and going to bed early with Wanqiu lately," Hong Zhiyou said.

"No way, you two can sleep without doing that?" Ji Qing found it unbelievable.

"Everyone has a day when they can't perform.

"Just consider it getting used to it in advance; don't you sleep soundly every night even without a man now?"

Hong Zhiyou asked with a smile.

"For me, that's one meal eaten and drunk to my fill, with no need to worry for a week.

"Plus, I get to sleep while clutching money every night.

"How could that not be sweet?"

Ji Qing kissed him, her eyes full of gratitude.

"When will you sleep with me too?

"The kind that's because of love."

She wrapped her arms around Hong Zhiyou's neck and asked earnestly.

"My love for Wanqiu is something we talked out.

"My love for you is..."

"You have to understand, there are many kinds of love, each with its own beauty; just like how you are so unique in my eyes."

Hong Zhiyou blinked and smiled mischievously.

"You're hateful!

"You're truly bad, so bad that you make people unable to extricate themselves." Ji Qing bit his shoulder lightly, leaving a row of shallow little tooth marks.

"Just tell me, are you happy being with a bad guy like me?" Hong Zhiyou asked with a smile.

"Happy." She answered with a radiant smile.

"Then that settles it.

"The most important thing for a person is to be happy while alive; sleep for a while, or I'll send you home."

Hong Zhiyou pinched her soft, fair cheeks and said.

"Let's go home.

"I'm exhausted from being tossed about by you; there are bodyguards you arranged at home, so I can sleep soundly.

"After all, I'm a wealthy woman with significant assets now.

"By the way, that little friend of yours has started seeing a girlfriend.

"This guy looks sharp, but in just a few days, he's been swindled out of over a thousand US dollars.

"The other party pretended to be a female student from Beiyang University.

"In reality, she's a brothel girl."

After Ji Qing got up and washed up briefly, she joked while putting a shirt on Hong Zhiyou and tying his tie.

"Lin Tian, huh.

"He hasn't caused any trouble staying at your place, has he?"

Hong Zhiyou asked.

"Not at all.

"He climbs over the wall to come back in the middle of the night every day, so everyone is spared the trouble.

"He isn't picky about food or drink, and he has a sweet tongue.

"This guy is quite popular.

"As a veteran of the love scene, are you sure you aren't going to give him some pointers?"

After tying the tie, Ji Qing began to put on her own dress.

"No need.

"Brothel girls have the advantages of brothel girls; they can help a person grow.

"It's good for him to suffer a little loss.

"Tell him not to get poisoned, and to pay attention to hygiene in all things."

Hong Zhiyou smiled and said.

"Hateful, you say that as if you pay much attention to hygiene yourself." Ji Qing's pretty face flushed, and she lightly stroked his lips with her finger.

"Of course I pay attention.

"Because my woman is clean."

Hong Zhiyou blinked with a smile and led her outside.

"How are the talks about the labels going?" the two said as they walked.

"I deliberately controlled the liquor sales for these two months.

"The Hennessy headquarters and Powell are under great pressure.

"Judging by what Jack says, Powell seems to be loosening up; eighty thousand US dollars is negotiable."

Ji Qing said.

"Very good.

"The Station Master's wife might go to the Military Dependents' Association to play mahjong tomorrow.

"You should yield to her then, and lose a bit more along with Fang Min; whatever the amount, I'll give it to you later."

Hong Zhiyou took out his wallet and flipped it open; there was less than five hundred US dollars inside.

"Do you even need to tell me that?

"Every time she comes, doesn't everyone scramble to feed her tiles?

"You big philanthropist, you scatter money wherever you go, and now you're out.

"I'll give you some."

Ji Qing opened her handbag, took out a large stack of US banknotes, and handed them to Hong Zhiyou.

"Hey.

"It's great to have a sensible woman; from now on, I won't be a secretary anymore, I'll just live off you every day." Hong Zhiyou took them and stuffed them directly into his pocket.

"You can start now, I'll let you eat your fill." Ji Qing blinked and laughed coquettishly in a low voice.

"Also, there will be a big-mouthed woman following her.

"That's my senior sister; don't look down on her for being countrified, be polite and attentive."

Hong Zhiyou instructed again.

"Alright.

"Actually, I don't quite understand, what's the point of you and the Station Master's wife passing money from your left hand to your right? You might as well just give her a few thousand US dollars directly.

"She's not young anymore, isn't it tiring to sit there all day?"

Ji Qing was puzzled.

"That's where you don't understand.

"Other people's wives are better.

"Money in other people's pockets is sweeter.

"She's older and doesn't have much fun; it's good to let her be happy and cheerful by spending a little money."

Hong Zhiyou was actually quite good to this "mother."

"You really are a meticulous son-in-law." Ji Qing laughed.

Hong Zhiyou rested his hand on her shapely buttocks, and they got into the car together.

He sent her back home.

Lin Tian was sitting in a tree in the courtyard drinking sullenly.

"What are you doing?" Hong Zhiyou asked, looking up.

"I was played by a brothel woman.

"Brother Hong, do you think I should slaughter her?"

Lin Tian's eyes were slightly red; he was clearly in some pain.

"Did you sleep with her?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"No, I didn't even touch her finger.

"She said she wanted me to marry her, and that we could only share a bed after we were married and the bride price was paid.

"Who knew she was a girl selling herself at the Xinghong Pavilion."

Lin Tian said angrily.

"If you want to sleep with her, spending some money and shedding some blood isn't a loss; just treat it as paying the fee.

"You have to sleep with her.

"Come to the Secret Service Bureau tonight to pick her up."

Hong Zhiyou said decisively.

"Brother, dragging her into the Secret Service Bureau, won't that be too ruthless?" Lin Tian clearly still had some lingering attachment.

"Wait until you see her other side.

"Your 'illness' will be cured.

"Mrs. Ji, please, if you have any relatives or the like, keep an eye out and find a truly pure female college student.

"My brother is quite simple; he wants true love."

Hong Zhiyou gave Ji Qing's shapely buttocks a squeeze and instructed.

"Do I even need to look?

"Isn't your sister one?" Ji Qing laughed.

"Her?"

"Better forget it."

"I'm off, baby."

Hong Zhiyou kissed her and said goodbye.

"Good night."

Ji Qing saw him to the door and didn't return inside until his car drove around the corner.

Once in the courtyard, she looked at Lin Tian and let out a snicker.

"Sister-in-law, what are you laughing at?" Lin Tian asked, puzzled.

"I see you flirting with girls at the hotel front desk every day, acting all flashy, and I thought you were actually quite the capable one."

"I never expected that you haven't even touched a woman's finger."

Ji Qing laughed.

"I, I..." Lin Tian turned beet red.

"Alright, I won't tease you anymore."

"I'll go get you a registration for Beiyang; you can go take classes there later, where all the students are your age."

"Do you want to go?"

Ji Qing asked.

"Go to university? But, but with my level of education, I won't understand anything even if I go."

"Brother Hong said to let me protect you."

Lin Tian shook his head and said.

"There are plenty of auditors at university."

"Once you go and sit there, who would know if you really understand or not?"

"There are patrol police and people from the Boatmen Gang in this area, so no one will touch me during the day."

"You can commute and just make sure to come back on time in the afternoon," Ji Qing said.

"That works, I'll go."

"Thank you, sister-in-law," Lin Tian smiled.

"What kind of sister-in-law am I? You have plenty of sisters-in-law," Ji Qing said with a gentle smile.

"I don't care about the others, I only recognize you," Lin Tian said.

Beiping.

Dressed in a suit and leather shoes with his hair slicked back, Li Ya walked into Qiao Jiacai's office with one hand in his pocket.

"Station Chief Qiao, Station Chief Wu sent me over to report," Li Ya said with a slight bow.

He had never met Qiao Jiacai before.

This man was formerly a subordinate of Li Zongren.

Before coming, Li Ya was very puzzled as to how headquarters could let a member of the Gui Clique become the director of the Confidential Bureau at a time like this.

It wasn't until he arrived in Beiping and secretly met with Wang Puchen that he understood.

He realized that Beiping was truly difficult to manage at this moment.

The previous station chief, Ma Hansan, had been very close to Li Delin.

When Director Dai was alive, he could still keep Ma Hansan in check.

After Dai Li died, Ma Hansan became increasingly arrogant; not only was he not implicated in the Yoshiko Kawashima case, but he was instead transferred to the most lucrative department, the Civil Affairs Investigation Committee, as its director.

This clearly showed that in Beiping, General Delin, as the director of the Beiping Headquarters, had more influence than the Chairman and the Ministry of National Defense.

Especially at the Beiping Station of the Confidential Bureau.

The people working underneath were all the staff Ma Hansan had left behind.

Therefore, it wasn't just an ordinary person; even if Mao Renfeng or Zheng Jiemin came to sit in the station chief's chair, it wouldn't be easy.

Given this, it didn't seem so strange that Qiao Jiacai had taken the position.

"The Military Statistics Bureau has produced many capable officials; you are a hero for your infiltration in Yancheng, sit down," Qiao Jiacai said, raising his hand with a smile.

"You are too kind, Station Chief Qiao," Li Ya said.

"Regarding Yuan Peilin, what are your thoughts?" Qiao Jiacai spoke very gently, giving one the feeling of a spring breeze, with quite a bit of the demeanor of a scholar-general.

"I am thinking that the Red Ticket is currently only in the screening stage regarding Yuan."

"Perhaps we can make something happen in this regard."

"Can you contact him?"

Li Ya sat down and said.

"I can, I have a special way to contact him," Qiao Jiacai nodded and said.

"In that case."

"Have him attend a secret meeting, or contact the Dock Workers' Union, or perhaps one of the Red Ticket underground stations we are monitoring."

"We will take the opportunity to raid it and arrest the people."

"We will deliberately let one living person escape."

"That way, with a witness, Yuan Peilin will be seen as having been heroically captured by the Red Ticket side; not only will this reduce their wariness of him, but they might even organize a rescue."

"After all, this is a double agent."

"Then, I will secretly transport him to Jinhai, nominally for detention, but actually for protection."

"The Red Ticket has been fed such a large bowl of soul-stirring soup, they will surely be dizzy for a while."

"Once the wind blows over, we will have Yuan Peilin strike back at Beiping."

"That will be a bloody counter-strike."

Li Ya smiled confidently.

"Hmm, worthy of being called the Buddha Shrine."

"Your thoughts coincide exactly with mine."

"This is the plan I have formulated, take a look."

Qiao Jiacai nodded with satisfaction, opened a drawer, and handed him a document.

"Nanchizi Street, that works."

"Who is responsible for the operation?"

"Let's be clear, I didn't bring any men with me, and I'm not familiar with the situation here in Beiping."

Li Ya narrowed his eyes and asked.

"Your station is full of Ma Hansan's old subordinates; I've heard this bunch is good at lining their pockets, and if your people take action, I'm afraid they'll repeat the same mistakes as Liu Wensheng."

He paused, having already shifted the responsibility onto Qiao Jiacai.

"That is also the reason you were transferred here."

Qiao Jiacai gave him a cold look and continued:

"Those responsible for the arrest are from the Beiping Headquarters; they are all 'black households' without military registration, so whether it succeeds or fails, it won't implicate you."

"The only thing you need to do is figure out how to transport the person out safely."

"Rest assured, I have my own arrangements," Li Ya said.

"Good!"

"This concerns whether I can fire my first shot in Beiping; I'll leave it to you," Qiao Jiacai didn't ask further, stood up, and shook his hand.

Beiping, Maoyan Alley.

Yuan Peilin shaved off his dark stubble in front of the mirror, then washed his face and wiped it clean.

"Mr. Yuan, the comrades from Nanchizi are arriving soon."

The confidential secretary Guo Liang, dressed in a long gown, said with his hands clasped.

Yuan Peilin gave him a cold look; this was the guy who had betrayed him.

He only hated himself for being blind and trusting such a creature.

But it was too late now.

When he sat on the electric chair in the interrogation room, scenes of past suffering pierced him like countless sharp knives, leaving him completely broken.

Just thinking about it filled him with terror; the courage and fearlessness of his youth collapsed instantly in the face of age, becoming a catalyst for despair instead.

He knew he would either die.

Or surrender.

It had nothing to do with the ties of wife and children.

It had nothing to do with the temptations of money or beauty.

He just didn't want to die, and he was afraid of torture.

Nothing more, nothing less.

"I understand," Yuan Peilin said.

That traffic station in Nanchizi was under the responsibility of Wang Yuan.

He was a veteran comrade who had stood the test of time.

Sigh!

Yuan Peilin let out a soft sigh, put on his round hat, and walked out.

"Have they made the arrangements?"

"They have been made."

"With the exposure in the Central Plains, the higher-ups have already turned their gaze toward Beiping, and there is already news that you are to be screened."

"Your current situation cannot withstand an investigation by the organization."

"Tonight's operation is also for the sake of your safety."

Guo Liang said with no expression.

"How much money did they give you?" Yuan Peilin asked.

"It has nothing to do with money."

"I just feel that we, no, the Red Tickets cannot win this war."

"Fighting a war is about supplies, about artillery shells, about money."

"They have the support of the Americans, they have a steady stream of supplies, but what about us? We lack this and that; what is the use of having intelligence and faith?"

"War requires immediate combat power; faith is worthless in the face of artillery shells."

Guo Liang said.

Yuan Peilin glanced at him and sighed silently.

The two arrived at Nanchizi Street.

"Mr. Yuan, the comrades from my communication station have all arrived." As soon as they entered the door, Wang Yuan hurried to welcome him inside.

"Comrades, in view of the current tension in the underground situation."

"I have decided that from today..."

Yuan Peilin sat down with a stern face, presiding over the meeting in a proper manner.

The meeting was halfway through.

Bang!

They heard the front gate outside being kicked open.

Immediately after, the guards in the courtyard began to exchange intense fire with someone.

"Not good, we've been discovered, everyone scatter and leave," Yuan Peilin shouted.

"Mr. Yuan, we will cover you, you quickly retreat through the back door." Wang Yuan's expression changed drastically; he drew his gun and hid behind the door, returning fire toward the outside.

"No, I will cover you, you retreat quickly."

Yuan Peilin feigned righteousness, refusing to leave no matter what, and even fired a few shots toward the outside.

"No..."

Wang Yuan still wanted to persuade him.

Yuan Peilin put on a stern face and barked, "I am the leader, listen to me."

"Guo Liang, you follow me to provide resistance, the other comrades retreat with Wang Yuan."

Yuan Peilin continued to issue orders.

The sound of gunfire became increasingly dense.

Wang Yuan and the others retreated toward the back.

Li Ya was already waiting there.

He spotted the leader, Wang Yuan, at a glance and ordered, "Let that person go, kill all the others on the spot."

"Yes!"

Dozens of headquarters guards holding submachine guns sprang out from the corners, holding their submachine guns and pulling the triggers like vicious tigers.

Da-da!

The bullets were as dense as rain.

Two of the several communication agents at Nanchizi fell instantly.

The remaining people used their pistols to fire while covering Wang Yuan's retreat.

(End of this chapter)