Chapter 203: Why are you provoking Ma Hansan?

Tongyuan Bookstore.

Yu Zecheng walked in with hurried steps.

"Old Luo, what happened?" he asked in a low voice.

"Our transport line has run into trouble.

"The third shipment this morning was intercepted by the Third Section of the Jinhai Secret Service Bureau before it even reached Fangshan."

Luo Anping said anxiously.

"How much?" Yu Zecheng asked.

"The entire warehouse inventory was loaded up," Luo Anping said.

"What?

"Didn't I tell you to transport it in small batches? Why were you in such a rush?" Yu Zecheng frowned.

"Zecheng, I didn't want to either.

"Hu Zongnan is winning victory after victory, and many comrades over in Yancheng are barely able to eat rice porridge; they've tightened their belts until they're about to snap.

"Especially with the shortage of medicine—every injury means a loss of manpower.

"Right now, the Soviet transport line in Outer Mongolia to the north has been closed.

"The main routes in Northern Shaanxi, North China, and Northeast China are all guarded by Jiang's various armies. They've been trying to force a breakthrough in the Northeast, but they've attacked several times and failed to take it.

"The Soviets originally planned to air-drop supplies, but the Americans have made it clear: if Soviet planes enter the airspace, the Americans will send fighter jets and the Seventh Fleet into the battlefield.

"All transport lines have been tied up.

"The entire Yancheng organization is counting on our Jinhai transport line.

"I figured that since this line was safe, I'd just expedite this batch of supplies.

"Who knew the previous trips would be fine?

"Qiao Jiacai and Wang Puchen in Beiping didn't make a move, but the Jinhai Station intercepted it instead."

Luo Anping slapped his palm, explaining with great helplessness.

Yu Zecheng stared at him, wanting to criticize him, but seeing his bloodshot eyes, he couldn't help but look up, take a breath, and suppress his emotions.

"Let me think," he blinked.

"If the Secret Service Bureau were to carry out an arrest mission, as the Deputy Station Chief, I would definitely have received word.

"The people from the Third Section must have been sent by Li Ya.

"The person who set up the checkpoint is Ma Hansan.

"He took Hong Zhiyou's money; he wouldn't do something so treacherous.

"Without a joint operation order, it's highly likely that someone under Ma Hansan leaked the intelligence privately."

Yu Zecheng analyzed.

"Leader, what do we do now? The headquarters is in a hurry," Luo Anping said.

"I will find a way to redeem the supplies.

"I'm worried that Li Ya is coming for me.

"You need to be prepared to evacuate this spot at any time."

Yu Zecheng gave him a cold look, took out silver dollars from his bag to pay for the book order, and left the bookstore.

He returned to the station.

Yu Zecheng picked up a newspaper and started tearing it up.

After a while, he picked up the phone and dialed the General Affairs Section: "Hello, Zhiyou, are you in the office?

"Good."

Hanging up, he went to Hong Zhiyou's office.

He told him about the supplies being seized.

"Sigh, haste makes waste.

"The more critical the moment, the more cautious one must be. Old Yu, you..." Hong Zhiyou didn't even know what to say to him.

Yu Zecheng was also helpless.

Old Luo was just that kind of impatient person; his leadership was effectively useless.

"Why would Li Ya suddenly set his sights on the supplies, and rush to Beiping overnight to intercept them?" Yu Zecheng asked, puzzled.

"That's simple.

"He hasn't given up his thieving heart; he wants to be the Deputy Station Chief."

Hong Zhiyou laughed.

"The problem is, when we were drinking together the day before yesterday, Li Ya was still swearing that he was convinced by me and would do his best to assist me.

"If he's coming for me, he's being too impatient.

"He flips his face faster than turning a page."

Yu Zecheng frowned.

"It happened late last night.

"Hmm... then that explains it.

"Last night, Mei Yingxue went to Li Ya's residence and stayed for quite a while.

"Li Ya was already dissatisfied with you, plus there's the Liu Xiong affair.

"Once Mei Yingxue whispers in his ear, wanting to be the Station Chief's niece-in-law and become the Station Chief's trusted aide, you—the Deputy Station Chief—or even I, become stumbling blocks.

"Of course, it's also highly likely he's coming for me.

"I eliminated her own younger brother in Yuezhou.

"Since she can't move against me openly, she's using you as a knife to drag me into the water."

Hong Zhiyou poured some fragrant tea and said calmly.

"This woman is truly a Su Daji. The station hasn't been peaceful for two days, and she's already stirring up trouble!

"If all else fails, should I have the Assassination Squad make a move?"

Yu Zecheng frowned.

"Make a move?

"Li Ya is madly in love with her right now. If Mei Yingxue just advised him to make a move against you and then she ends up dead, he'll know it was you with his toes.

"Add that to the old grudge over Liu Xiong.

"That would be the hatred of killing his wife and father; he might just storm into your office and shoot you dead."

Hong Zhiyou waved his hand.

"This woman is, after all, the Station Chief's niece.

"Furthermore, she is an undercover agent for the British Intelligence Service. Her boyfriend is currently in the International Observation Group. If she dies in Jinhai, at your hands, it will be very troublesome if they start investigating.

"Right now, the Generalissimo is everywhere begging the foreigners for money.

"If you kill her, the Station Chief might even get implicated.

"Is it worth sacrificing the Deputy Station Chief position you climbed so hard to reach just for a woman?"

After a pause, Hong Zhiyou whispered Mei Yingxue's true identity.

"Hiss!"

Yu Zecheng gasped: "That is indeed a troublesome matter.

"But if we let her keep stirring things up, Li Ya will eventually go blood-blind."

"What are you panicking about?

"She's just a woman; I can handle her!

"Why is she jumping around?

"Isn't it just relying on those hundred pounds of tender flesh?

"The Station Chief has always wanted to root out Mei Shao.

"It's just that out of respect for his wife, he's let him off the hook.

"If Mei Shao had just honestly managed the little business he had, the Station Chief might have turned a blind eye.

"But now he's jumping around too much.

"The Station Chief will never tolerate him.

"Moreover, he would never let Li Ya be his niece-in-law.

"When Yuan Peilin was killed, why did he try so hard to protect Li Ya?

"Wasn't it because of the suspicion of a superior, keeping this nail to reassure Jiang Jianfeng?

"If Li Ya became his niece-in-law, think about what the Jinhai Station would become?

"A student, a son-in-law, a niece-in-law.

"The Jinhai Station wouldn't belong to the Party-State anymore; it would become Old Wu's private property.

"Would Jianfeng, the Ministry of National Defense, and Mao Renfeng allow him to monopolize Jinhai and deceive the heavens?

"So, Li Ya is purely daydreaming.

"Actually, it's not hard to see through this.

"It's just that Li Ya is in the middle of the game, and with a beauty bewitching his soul, he can't see reality."

Hong Zhiyou analyzed unhurriedly.

Yu Zecheng nodded repeatedly after hearing this: "Once you put it that way, I see it clearly.

"Why doesn't the Station Chief give Li Ya a hint?"

"Why give a hint? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"Li Ya's wife is a British spy, stealing important secrets of the National Army, sabotaging the US-British military aid to Jiang—any one of these is a capital crime.

"When the time comes, the Station Chief will cut off all relations and hold this leverage over Li Ya.

"Even Jianfeng won't be able to save him.

"He will only be able to be a dog for the Station Chief for the rest of his life.

"And he'll have to eliminate Mei Yingxue with his own hands.

"What we need to do now is add a little fuel to the fire, making Li Ya start to suspect and hate this woman to the core, so he'll take ruthless action.

"Understand?"

Hong Zhiyou guided him.

In the original story, the leverage the Station Chief held over Li Ya was the Yuan Peilin murder case.

But now that Li Ya has Jianfeng as his backer, let alone Yuan Peilin, even if ten Yuan Peilins fell into his hands, it wouldn't be Wu Jingzhong's turn to hold leverage over Li Ya.

Things are different now.

Mei Yingxue, a woman stupid enough to show it, has appeared.

She's incompetent but loves to show off.

It plays right into Wu Jingzhong's hands.

"Understood, understood." Yu Zecheng sighed happily.

"Zhiyou, you really are the tapeworm in the Station Chief's stomach; you know everything clearly."

He shook his head and laughed.

*You think watching it thirteen times is for nothing... * Hong Zhiyou smiled and raised his cup in a gesture.

Yu Zecheng also raised his cup and took a sip of tea:

"How do you want to add this fuel?"

"Such a fun matter, of course, it's only interesting if played slowly. Just wait, Li Ya will eventually be grateful to me." Hong Zhiyou blinked and laughed.

"Alright, enough about Li Ya.

"Do me a favor and find Ma Hansan to get the supplies back first." Yu Zecheng said.

"Easy."

Hong Zhiyou snapped his fingers, stood up, and dialed Ma Hansan's number:

"Director Ma, it's me, Zhiyou.

"My cargo just entered Fangshan and was hijacked by people from the Jinhai Station's Third Section. Brother, I've been nothing but sincere with you; you have to put in some effort for this little matter.

"How is it none of your business?

"The ones who made the arrest were the Jinhai Station. If it weren't for the leak on your end, they could have made their move in Jinhai; why would they have to run all the way to Beiping?

"It's obvious that someone at your Fangshan checkpoint is eating inside and out.

"If you don't resolve this, how are we supposed to do business in the future?

"Yes.

"I'm troubling you, King Ma, to wipe your three eyes and see things clearly.

"I'm still going to route my cargo through you.

"This batch of supplies should still be in Beiping. People, supplies—no matter what means you use, they must be sent out of Fangshan today.

"Good, that's all."

*Clap! *

Hong Zhiyou hung up the phone.

Yu Zecheng was stunned on the side: "No way, brother, that's Ma Hansan. You're talking to him like that?

"What, what if he flies into a rage and flips his face?"

Hong Zhiyou sneered: "No one flips their face at money.

"Do you know how many benefits I've given Ma Hansan?

"If he can't even handle this little thing, taking the 'nine' but not doing a single thing, he's definitely not a friend of mine, Hong, nor is he someone who truly loves and understands money.

"Since we aren't of the same path, there's no need to associate.

"And I'm getting angry from the standpoint of money, not official rank.

"This is very fair.

"People, sometimes you can't be too kind, or they'll really think you're a fool.

"Just wait.

"In ten minutes at most, your matter will be resolved."

Yu Zecheng nodded: "Fortunately, I'm the one handling the business."

*You're the one causing the trouble... * Hong Zhiyou stared at him, saying nothing.

Yu Zecheng blinked innocently a few times and found a high-sounding excuse: "My Cuiping is teaching you martial arts, that's true, right?"

"Senior Sister is my Senior Sister; Cuiping isn't yours." Hong Zhiyou poked his chest.

Yu Zecheng curled his lips and went silent.

*Ding-a-ling. *

Two minutes later, the phone rang.

"It's me." Hong Zhiyou answered.

"Good, good!

"Thanks, Director Ma.

"From now on, I won't route my cargo through anyone else; it's all going through you.

"Yes.

"Who else but you is the King of Beiping?

"Let Secretary Liu come over? No need.

"Okay, okay.

"Sorry to trouble you, brother; I'll definitely come to visit another day.

"Goodbye."

Hong Zhiyou hung up the phone with a smile.

"See, Old Ma still loves money and knows how to make friends. In less than five minutes, he got it done.

"He has already ordered the cargo intercepted by the Third Section to be stopped.

"They're loading it back up to be transported to Fangshan.

"And he's arrested everyone at the Fangshan checkpoint, saying he'll interrogate them one by one to find out who leaked the information and give me an explanation.

"He even sent Liu Yuzhu over to explain in person."

Hong Zhiyou pointed at the phone.

"Sure enough, there's nothing in this world that money can't handle." Yu Zecheng smiled, convinced.

"Not quite.

"The only thing that can defeat money is faith.

"True faith.

"Like my Senior Sister and Zuo Lan, even if you gave her a trainload of US dollars, she wouldn't sell you out."

Hong Zhiyou still had self-awareness.

Money can defeat ninety-nine percent of people.

There is one percent that can't be handled.

"That's true." Yu Zecheng nodded.

Inside the office.

Li Ya's mind was filled with the kiss from last night.

How to describe that taste?

It was somewhat familiar!

This matter made him feel like he had eaten a dead fly.

It was disgusting.

Yet he couldn't spit it out.

He crossed his legs, his trouser leg lifting to reveal the green cotton socks Mei Yingxue had given him.

*Forget it, maybe I'm overthinking. *

Yingxue believes in God.

She won't even let him touch her body, and she has no friends in Jinhai; where would such filth come from?

It's also possible that he used her photo earlier.

When cleaning it, he didn't handle his hands properly.

So, there was residual scent lingering.

*Yes, that must be it. *

Having convinced himself, Li Ya felt a bit better and opened the thick booklet to pick out a suit for the wedding.

After picking the suit.

He was just about to go to the Station Chief's office to talk to Old Wu about this when Gao Yuan walked in:

"Captain, it's bad."

"What's wrong?" Li Ya asked.

"The batch of supplies seized by the Third Section in Beiping was snatched away by Ma Hansan's people." Gao Yuan said.

"What?

"Ma Hansan, his dog guts are too big.

"Did Song Fei and the others show their identification?"

Li Ya was so angry he slammed the booklet onto the table.

"They showed it.

"It would have been better if they hadn't; once they showed it, they got slapped in the face.

"Ma Hansan detained them.

"Now he's demanding that the Station Chief come to claim them in person."

Gao Yuan said.

"A bucket of rice that ruins more than it accomplishes!"

Li Ya was itching with hatred.

He had strictly ordered Song Fei last night to escort them back as soon as possible.

This bunch of goods dragged their feet, sometimes saying the car was out of gas, sometimes saying it was too foggy to drive.

They managed to waste time until now without even leaving Beiping.

Now it's good; they've fallen into the hands of the King of Beiping.

Let alone him, even if Jianfeng went to beg for them, he might not be able to get them back!

Ma Hansan would have a hundred legitimate reasons to refuse.

"Captain Li, the Station Chief wants you to go to his office." Xiao Guohua walked in.

"Alright, Section Chief Xiao." Li Ya squeezed out a smile.

He braced himself and went to the Station Chief's office.

Wu Jingzhong was standing with his hands behind his back, waiting with a face full of frost.

As soon as they met, he pointed at Li Ya's nose and shouted:

"Li Ya, what kind of ghost tricks are you playing?

"Ma Hansan called early this morning, demanding I compensate him for nearly ten thousand US dollars in supplies.

"Did you get water in your brain?

"Running to Beiping for no reason to investigate Ma Hansan's cargo.

"Your hand is stretched way too far.

"If you want to manage Beiping's affairs so much, I'll write a report right now and transfer you to Beiping to serve Qiao Jiacai and Wang Puchen."

Wu Jingzhong pointed at the phone, furious.

"Teacher, how do I owe Ma Hansan ten thousand US dollars in supplies?" Li Ya raised his eyebrows and asked sideways.

"I'm asking you, did you have the Third Section hijack a batch of supplies in Fangshan?" Wu Jingzhong said.

"Yes.

"But those were supplies being transported to the Reds.

"The cargo was shipped from Jinhai.

"What does it have to do with Ma Hansan?"

Li Ya said unhappily.

"Do you have evidence?

"Who is it?

"Which company shipped it, who is colluding with the Reds to smuggle?

"Find the people, and I'll go to Beiping right now to confront Ma Hansan."

Wu Jingzhong stood with one hand behind his back, pointing at him.

"Evidence... I haven't found it yet.

"Originally, if we had detained this batch of supplies and the people transporting them, and interrogated them, we might have found a lead.

"But that damn Ma Hansan ruined my big plan."

Li Ya said with dissatisfaction.

"That's exactly where the problem lies.

"You have no evidence.

"But Ma Hansan listed a pile of evidence, saying they were military supplies he purchased in Jinhai to be transported to Sun Lianzhong, and now he seriously suspects you are a Red element, deliberately sabotaging the supplies of the Eleventh Group Army.

"How do you expect me to answer that?"

Wu Jingzhong said angrily.

"Son of a bitch Ma Hansan!

"The military supplies he purchased in Jinhai, not shipping them directly from Jinhai to Baoding, but taking a detour from Beiping through Fangshan to Baoding—that's three or four times the transport distance, and it has to pass through some Red defense zones.

"Isn't he sick?"

Li Ya felt it was absurd.

"I don't know if Ma Hansan is sick, but you are definitely sick.

"Running to Beiping to investigate supplies, why didn't you report it?

"Who else could you provoke, but you had to go and provoke an old rascal from the Military Statistics Bureau.

"Ma Hansan doesn't care if you're reasonable; can you reason with him?

"Now he's insisting that the date was delayed, and because of the heavy fog last night, a lot of the rice and grain got damp and no longer meets the requirements of the garrison, so it needs to be repurchased.

"He's demanding you pay for this money; what do you say we do?

"Why don't you go ask Jianfeng for it?"

Wu Jingzhong directly pointed him toward a "bright path."

*I'll be... * Li Ya really had no way to explain himself; he even had the urge to shoot him in the back.

Last time Hong Zhiyou transported grain to Zhang Yuan for Fu Zuoyi, and he hijacked a batch; Zhang Qun pointed at his nose and called him a Red.

That was the strategist the Generalissimo trusted most.

Because of this, Jianfeng didn't talk to him for a long time.

Now it's hijacking military supplies again.

If he doesn't resolve it properly, even if he isn't a Red, he'll become one.

Damn it.

When a person is unlucky, even drinking cold water makes their teeth ache.

A perfectly good matter ruined again.

Ten thousand US dollars.

He just bought a house; where is he going to scrape together so much money?

"Teacher.

"You have to help me." Li Ya looked at Wu Jingzhong for help.

"How can I help you?

"In the Secret Service Bureau, who doesn't know that Ma Hansan and I are at odds?

"Back then, with the Beiping Chamber of Commerce matter, I intercepted his lead from Boss Dai, and Ma Hansan ran straight to Jinhai to settle the score with me.

"And then there's the Double Tenth matter; I ruined his plan with Li Zongren.

"Ma Hansan has secretly made threats: either he goes or I go.

"How do you expect me to open my mouth?

"You solve the mess you made yourself.

"I'm warning you, this isn't just about ten thousand US dollars; you'd better think about how to make Ma Hansan comfortably accept this ten thousand dollars and not go to the Ministry of National Defense to report you."

Wu Jingzhong waved his hand, turned around, and stopped paying attention to him.

(End of chapter)

"I warn you, this is no longer a matter of ten thousand dollars. You had better think carefully about how to make Ma Hansan accept this ten thousand dollars comfortably, so he doesn't go to the Ministry of National Defense to file a complaint against you."

Wu Jingzhong flicked his hand, turned his back, and ignored him further.

(End of chapter)