Chapter 210: Take him down, take him down

Agriculture and Mining Bureau, Inspection Office.

Li Ya sat with an arrogant air, legs crossed, leaning back in his leather chair as he listened to the report from Zhao Pusheng of the Agriculture and Mining Bureau.

"Captain Li, you know as well as I do that our Agriculture and Mining Bureau is a 'clear-water yamen'—a place with no real power."

"In the past, we could manage a few things, like surveying the rice yields in the counties under Jinhai."

"Now, with the preparations for war, all supplies are managed and allocated by the Civil Affairs Bureau."

"Exploration isn't our turn."

"Fish and shrimp have their own dedicated departments and the Waterway Inspection Office to coordinate checks."

"We're no different from mere ornaments now."

Zhao Pusheng slapped the back of his hand, his face full of misery.

Li Ya watched this fat-eared bureau chief with cold eyes, rubbing his chin slightly; his suspicions were becoming more and more confirmed.

Why suddenly establish an inspection office for a powerless yamen?

To make such a big move.

It had to be the intention of either the Generalissimo or Jiang Jianfeng.

The goal was singular: to cooperate with him in taking down James.

He suddenly felt the weight of the responsibility on his shoulders.

At the same time, he was grateful to Jiang Jianfeng and the Station Chief for not making Mei Yingxue's identity explicit, but instead secretly giving him enough opportunity.

"No."

"You are corrupt."

"A massive coal mine was discovered in the Baodi and Tang Shan area, and you colluded with the Tang Shan Agriculture and Mining Bureau and the Police Chief, Pan Zui, to illegally resell coal."

Li Ya shook the newspaper in his hand, speaking as soon as he opened his mouth.

Three things had happened this morning: Pan Zui of Tang Shan was arrested and it had made the Central Daily News.

In the direction of Cangzhou and Siping in the Northeast, vast oil resources had been surveyed.

General Peng Chengtao had gone to the front lines to supervise the battle and issued a declaration of supervision.

He keenly grasped the key to it all.

The battle against the British and James had already begun.

The first field was the battle of public opinion.

The British wanted to do their utmost to smear the Nationalist Government, then fan the flames to cut off military aid and reshuffle the cards within North America.

The Generalissimo and Jiang Jianfeng naturally had to strike back.

Pan Zui was arrested.

General Peng Chengtao supervised the battle at Siping.

An oil field was discovered in the Cangzhou area of North China.

These were all clear signals being sent to the international community: the country had plenty of resources.

Especially oil.

Since the Restoration, oil had become increasingly precious, always an object coveted by the Americans and British.

Throwing out this burden was, admittedly, like drinking poison to quench thirst.

But at least it could make North America and the West seriously re-evaluate the value of the Nationalist Government and continue to maintain military aid in the short term.

As for the future, what harsh conditions they might propose?

That was a matter for the Generalissimo, who possessed great wisdom, to consider; Li Ya could not think that far ahead.

The only significance of him sitting in this chair now was to make this fire burn even brighter.

Jinhai was a major international city.

There were many foreign ears and voices here.

His superiors needed him to tell the foreigners that the country had resources, had super-large oil field resources.

Therefore, whether Zhao Pusheng was corrupt or not was unimportant.

Just like Cao Cao beheading the military supply officer.

He had to execute Zhao Pusheng to use this to cooperate in pushing the edge of the public opinion battlefield.

"Director Li, I've been wronged!"

"The bureau hasn't issued silver dollars for two months; everyone only gets a pittance of fiat currency, not even enough for two bags of rice."

"My family has no rice to put in the pot, every meal is thin soup and plain water."

"I, where would I go to be corrupt?"

Zhao Pusheng was scared pale, crying out his grievances repeatedly.

"If you weren't corrupt, you wouldn't have a belly full of grease and a face glowing red."

"Confess truthfully, how did you collude with Pan Zui to resell coal?"

"Who did you resell it to, and how much money did you embezzle?"

Li Ya asked relentlessly.

"I, I don't even know Pan Zui."

"Captain Li, I swear to the heavens, I swear to the Generalissimo, I have never had any dealings with this person."

"This is truly a massive injustice!"

Zhao Pusheng wailed in grievance.

"It seems you won't confess here."

"Men, take him to the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics."

"Let him stew a bit, see if he still dares to be stubborn."

Li Ya sneered and waved his hand.

Gao Yuan and two other action team members immediately stepped forward, pressed their guns against Zhao Pusheng's head, and pushed him out.

The man was dragged out in plain sight.

Zhao Pusheng was dragged until his shoes fell off, his belly exposed, shouting in the courtyard of the Agriculture and Mining Bureau:

"You are framing me!"

"I know Secretary-General Xiang Jianfeng!"

"I want to go to the Military Tribunal to report you!"

"I want to see Secretary-General Xiang Jianfeng!"

"I want to see Zhang Tinge!"

"I want to go to the Supervision Office to report you!"

"Is that so?"

"I'll give Secretary-General Xiang Jianfeng your regards."

Li Ya patted his face, his eyes turning sharp: "Take him away!"

He turned his head to look at the people in the bureau who were restless and whispering.

He straightened his uniform collar, gritted his teeth, twisted his neck, and walked out with his head held high and hands behind his back.

He was from the Military Statistics Bureau and a backbone of the Iron and Blood Youth Corps.

In the past, lurking in Yancheng, he was Jiang Jianfeng's sharp blade.

After coming to Jinhai, he had suffered repeated setbacks.

Now that Jiang Jianfeng still trusted and favored him, how could he not risk his life to perform meritorious service?

Just do the official business, don't ask about black or white.

This was Li Ya's creed.

The man was quickly escorted to the Jinhai Station.

Yu Zecheng happened to bump into them head-on: "Captain Li, this, this is?"

"Deputy Station Chief Yu, I will report to you later."

Li Ya tilted his head and escorted the man to the interrogation room.

Yu Zecheng smiled, but felt very unhappy inside.

Li Ya relied on his "meritorious service of following the dragon" and still treated him as the Confidentiality Office Director; conversely, because he concurrently managed the Intelligence Office, Li Ya's arrogance was becoming increasingly rampant.

Yu Zecheng pondered that once the mess in Jinhai was settled, he would have to find a way to deal with Li Ya.

Otherwise, he would have been Deputy Station Chief in vain, unable to get any real benefits.

"Lu Baoxing, use the heavy stuff."

Li Ya arrived at the interrogation room, gave Lu Baoxing an instruction, and went straight to the Station Chief's office.

Wu Jingzhong was drinking tea.

"Station Chief, I've caught Zhao Pusheng." Li Ya handed the newspaper to Wu Jingzhong.

Wu Jingzhong took a look and understood immediately: "Good."

"Make the noise bigger, let several mainstream newspapers report it."

"Thank you, Teacher. If it weren't for you, I might have been secretly arrested and sent to Jingling by now." Li Ya said, his words hitting the mark.

"You are my student."

"And a hero who fought at Jin Shan."

"Furthermore, because of your master's relationship, I have always had feelings for you."

"Jiang Jianfeng is also in a difficult position."

"You can catch Zhao Pusheng, seeing this layer of relationship, I am very gratified."

Wu Jingzhong nodded with a smile.

"The student understands." Li Ya nodded.

Having received a clear answer from Wu Jingzhong, Li Ya's confidence increased even more.

"Come, have some fruit."

Wu Jingzhong pulled him to sit on the sofa.

"One Zhao Pusheng is not enough."

"You have to be good to certain people, preferably to the point of loving them to death."

"Only then can she reveal her true colors."

"Once she takes the initiative to persuade you to leak data, promising you great benefits, if you can get solid evidence, these will be our sharp weapons to strike back at MI6 in the international court."

"Engaging in espionage."

"Deliberately smearing and sabotaging military aid, creating international disputes."

"Regardless of whether it's the British Royal Family, or after Churchill stepped down, the current Prime Minister is called, what's his name..."

Wu Jingzhong stuttered a bit when he got to this point.

"The Labour Party one, the name is very long, seems to be called Attlee." Li Ya said.

"Right, that's the one, Attlee!"

"As long as we get ironclad evidence confirming they are using the name of an observation group to engage in espionage and sabotage activities on our turf."

"They will all have to pay the price."

Wu Jingzhong shook his index finger domineeringly.

"Teacher's insight is high, but dealing with women is not the student's specialty." Li Ya said.

"In this regard, you can find Hong Zhiyou."

"The key is that you have to know how to act."

Wu Jingzhong said.

"Acting, I can still do that, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to sneak into Yancheng." Li Ya crossed his legs and said confidently, puffing out his cheeks.

"No."

"Two different things."

"Your temperament, arrogance, and spirit are suitable for that red land."

"Red tickets, they don't fear heaven or earth, fighting the King of Hell with two kitchen knives; you just need to play your true self."

"But now you are facing a woman who has experienced many men."

"Whether you are truly in love or acting, she can easily see through it."

"Especially that look of yours—disdaining everyone except Jiang Jianfeng—if you don't restrain it, you'll be exposed at any moment."

Wu Jingzhong frowned at his crossed-legged sitting posture and pointed out to him.

"Teacher, heaven and earth are my witness, except for Jiang Jianfeng, I have a million times the respect and admiration for the Generalissimo and you." Li Ya hurriedly stood up to explain.

"Save the slogans and loyalty for when you go to Jiang Jianfeng to celebrate victory in Jingling."

"I wouldn't dare compete with him for your limelight."

Wu Jingzhong said.

"By the way, if you need money, you can ask Secretary Hong for it, write a slip, and it will be paid for by the station's public funds." After a pause, Wu Jingzhong said.

"Thank you, Teacher."

Li Ya was broke and jingling, and this was exactly what he wanted to hear.

"Go." Wu Jingzhong waved his hand.

Li Ya stuck his hand in his pocket and walked out leisurely.

Wu Jingzhong shook his head and sighed lightly:

"He doesn't even know how to pretend."

"If you could be loyal to me, it would be a ghost!"

Seeing the small to know the big.

There is no need for deep friendship to see a person; a small detail can reveal their heart and character.

Take Yu Zecheng, for example; he also crosses his legs on the sofa now, but that's when there are outsiders, wanting to use his own prestige to build up his posture.

When the two are alone, he is upright and proper, not daring to overstep by even half a step.

Not to mention Hong Zhiyou.

Although he has become his prospective son-in-law, he still wipes the table and serves tea and water on time every day, keeping his posture very low.

With Li Ya's style, what difference is there from Lu Qiaoshan?

Sitting on his sofa, crossing his legs higher than his own—this is not taking him, the Station Chief, seriously from the bottom of his heart.

A wolf from Zhongshan, impossible to tame.

Li Ya walked out of the Station Chief's office and headed straight for Hong Zhiyou's General Affairs Section office.

Hong Zhiyou was reading the newspaper.

Wu Jingzhong, considering Hong Zhiyou's current status and duties, plus the fact that the hallway was too cold in winter, had replaced the receptionist with Xiao Gan, the nephew of Xiao Guohua—a very capable and loyal young man.

Most of the time, Hong Zhiyou worked in the General Affairs Section.

"Section Chief Hong, busy?" Li Ya knocked on the door and walked in.

"Section Chief Hong?"

Hong Zhiyou was stunned for a moment, then laughed:

"To be honest, no one has ever called me Section Chief; that shout of yours almost confused me."

"Hong Zhiyou, do you know?" Li Ya asked.

"Know what?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"Your future sister-in-law, the Station Chief's niece, is a MI6 spy, and now she is colluding with the international observation group to sabotage military aid." Li Ya emphasized the words "Station Chief's niece" heavily.

Hong Zhiyou was a member of the Wu family.

Being able to drag him into the water would undoubtedly add another helper.

"There's such a thing?"

"Captain Li, don't talk nonsense."

"A beauty as pure and noble as Mei Yingxue could be a foreign spy? I'd rather poke my own eyes out." Hong Zhiyou feigned surprise.

"Then you might really have to go blind."

"The matter is just like that; the Station Chief wants me to catch her in the act."

"I probably have to play a fake scene for real, and it's best to get deep into the role."

Li Ya said.

Hong Zhiyou looked him up and down: "Simple."

"Simple?"

"The Station Chief said my eyes aren't into the role, fearing she'll see through it easily." Li Ya said.

"What's difficult about that?"

"Do you love her? From the bottom of your heart?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"To say I like her, a little."

"Love, forget it."

Li Ya turned his head and smiled, uninterested.

"Then shift your focus and indulge in her beauty."

"Don't think about anything else, just the beauty!"

"Didn't I teach you to take her down before?"

"Once you've tasted the freshness, you show you're addicted and can't extricate yourself, not hesitating to go to the Station Chief multiple times to apply for marriage."

"Also, to be good to her, you can make frequent requests."

"For this, you can give her gifts, the more expensive the better."

"I believe she is definitely very confident in herself; the crazier you are, the more she will believe it's real."

"When she thinks you can't live without her and lets her manipulate you."

"She will naturally reveal her true colors."

"Isn't your opportunity coming then?"

"This way you get both the person and the beauty, and you can take her down to perform meritorious service; isn't that killing two birds with one stone?"

Hong Zhiyou laughed.

"Hearing you say this, little brother, I think I understand a little."

"Nothing else to say, give me the money."

"The Station Chief told me to ask you for money, public funds!"

Li Ya nodded.

"My Captain Li."

"You suddenly draw a large sum of money from the station to buy her things."

"Who doesn't know you have a disciplinary action against you?"

"She will be suspicious."

"She will soon understand that it's either the Station Chief or me helping you behind the scenes."

"You have to know the Station Chief's attitude is against you two getting married."

"What, haven't even started acting, and you're already going to break character?"

Hong Zhiyou glared at him.

"Also."

"I've been scared poor recently, I didn't even realize such an obvious mistake."

"Then what should I do?"

Li Ya realized suddenly.

"Don't be anxious; to get money, first go crazy, you must take her down tonight."

"Then for the next period of time, pester her to death, endlessly applying for that bit of fun of being together."

"Let her see your madness."

"Then, I'll have Old Xie recommend a loan shark to you, and you go borrow money from the underground bank."

"When the time comes and you've performed meritorious service, the station will just pay it back for you."

"Borrowing high-interest loans from underground, isn't that real and perfect?"

"When she checks, the source will be crystal clear, and she won't be able to pick any flaws."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"Little brother is very detailed, high!"

"Just do as you say."

Li Ya was very satisfied with this suggestion.

Walking out of the office, he rubbed his brow, a hint of coldness rising in the depths of his eyes.

Hong Zhiyou is young, yet so old and cunning.

Very terrifying.

Must be more careful in the future.

Li Ya returned to his office and called Gao Yuan in:

"Tell me."

"Sister-in-law... Miss Mei went to the British Club at nine yesterday morning, had lunch with James at the restaurant at twelve-thirty, and went out once in between to meet someone."

"Returned to the hotel at one."

"At three in the afternoon, the two went downstairs and played tennis at the club for an hour."

"Then returned to the third floor."

"Up until now, I haven't seen her go downstairs."

Seeing Li Ya's displeased expression, Gao Yuan hurriedly added:

"Oh, perhaps the hotel has other exits."

"We can't get up to the third floor; she might have left early from another exit."

As he spoke, he glanced at Li Ya and silently felt heartache for a few seconds.

Two days and one night... Li Ya frowned: "Who did she meet when she went out yesterday noon?"

"Shang Bo."

"This person was originally an aide to Staff Officer Ou of the Garrison Command; after Staff Officer Ou fell, he was implicated and left the command, becoming a famous underground intelligence dealer."

Gao Yuan said.

"This kind of person is very cunning, be careful when following him next time."

Li Ya originally wanted to meet Shang Bo, but after a second thought, he feared this person would turn around and tip off Mei Yingxue, so he dismissed the idea.

"Yes, Captain Li."

Gao Yuan took the order and left.

Night, eight o'clock.

British Club.

After some lingering, James finally collapsed softly into Mei Yingxue's arms.

"Baby, no."

"If this continues, I will become the 'ghost under the peony flower' that you Easterners talk about."

James panted.

Since Mei Yingxue came here in the morning, except for lunch and playing tennis for a while, the two of them hadn't left this bed.

Even though he was made of iron, he could only surrender now.

"Hateful, I still..." Mei Yingxue saw his dead-fish look and pouted in boredom.

"Did you read the newspaper?"

James picked up the newspaper by the bedside to divert her enthusiasm.

"Read it."

"Jiang's public opinion war, shouting all over the world that there is oil, wanting to attract Truman's attention to continue supporting military aid."

Mei Yingxue said.

"Yes."

"Earlier, when you were taking a bath, I received a call; your fiancé caught Zhao Pusheng of the Agriculture and Mining Bureau."

"I reckon that by tomorrow morning, all the foreigners in Jinhai will know there is a coal mine in Tang Shan."

"Coal mine plus oil, very tempting!"

"The situation is very unfavorable for us."

"You must get the real data as soon as possible and turn your fiancé to be used by us."

"As long as he stands up to expose these falsehoods, I can pass a bill in the House of Lords to stop military aid, and then use the media's influence to blow this wind to North America, completely extinguishing the hope of the military aid faction."

James kissed her and said.

"I'll try."

"Still the same words, I feel he doesn't love me that much."

"And he is a senior Military Statistics spy; I have to be careful everywhere. Without certainty, being anxious will only cause trouble."

Mei Yingxue was not muddled by the activity.

"Alright."

"My dear, I can only say hurry up."

James, to make her happy, braced himself to prepare for another round.

Mei Yingxue, however, got up lazily and went to the bathroom:

"I should go."

"He has been in a bad mood recently; as a fiancée, if I don't go to accompany him, it won't be justifiable."

"Also, what if he brings back the data from the Agriculture and Mining Bureau?"

After bathing, she dressed up beautifully, smelling fragrant, went downstairs, got into the car, and headed straight for Li Ya's house.

Li Ya had already bathed and was waiting.

Mei Yingxue met Shang Bo yesterday and should have known his identity at the Agriculture and Mining Bureau.

He originally thought she would come last night.

He didn't expect this cheap woman to be so preoccupied with pleasure that she didn't even care about intelligence.

Now that he had caught Zhao Pusheng, Li Ya didn't believe she could hold back anymore.

Rumble!

Hearing the sound of a car outside.

Li Ya quickly took out deer antler powder, bit into several large spoonfuls, and swallowed them down with water.

Acting, after all.

Today he must perform his true self and properly deal with her.

Soon, Mei Yingxue, wearing a fluffy mink cape outside and a tight-waisted sequined red short skirt inside, changed into high heels, got out of the car, and rang the doorbell:

"Is Brother Ya there? It's me."

Li Ya wiped his mouth, then picked up a bottle of white liquor on the table and sprinkled some on himself, took a few fierce gulps, rubbed his face hard, and then asked with a feigned drunken state:

"Ying... Yingxue, why are you here?"

"I know you've been losing money recently and are in a bad mood, so I came to see you specially."

"It's so cold, you don't intend to let me freeze outside like this, do you?"

Mei Yingxue pouted and hummed coquettishly.

"Of course I can't bear it."

"You, you are my heart and soul."

Li Ya pulled her into the house.

"Hey."

"I went to see the Station Chief today; he, he said you are noble and elegant, and you will definitely marry... marry into a wealthy family in the future, and must wear gold and silver."

"He also said I was disciplined before, my official career is hopeless, and I have no family background to support you."

"Every word was persuading me to give up my thoughts about you."

"I ate with Hong Zhiyou tonight, and listening to his tone, the Station Chief wants to introduce you to a division commander under Hu Zongnan, with the rank of Major General."

"He said once Yancheng is taken, that person will definitely be promoted, with a bright future."

"Xue'er, it's my incompetence that I have no fate with you."

Li Ya's eyes turned red as he spoke, looking at her, tears already swirling in his eyes.

"How could Uncle do this?"

"Just to get promoted and get rich, he wants to drag us in."

"Brother Ya, let's not listen to him."

"My dad has the final say in this matter."

"Money, my family has a little, as long as I'm with you, I'll endure hardship if I have to."

"Anyway, I won't marry anyone but you."

Mei Yingxue endured the pungent smell of alcohol, pulled Li Ya into her arms, pouted, and started acting.

"Xue'er."

"You, are you telling the truth?"

Li Ya leaned into her warm, soft arms, moved to pieces.

"Of course."

"Your punishment is only three years, right?"

"It's been a year, two more years; with your ability and connections, as long as you topple Yu Zecheng, climbing up will be an easy matter."

"By then, what is my uncle?"

"An old man who only knows how to mess around."

Mei Yingxue said angrily.

"Xue'er, thank you."

"To be able to know you, I, I must have spent ten lifetimes of luck."

Li Ya looked up at her, affectionately moved by himself.

"Brother Ya, me too."

Mei Yingxue's pretty face flushed, her eyes filled with autumn waves, shyly.

Li Ya cursed inwardly that it was a pity this cheap woman didn't become an actress.

The atmosphere was right.

Li Ya turned his head and kissed her affectionately.

Mei Yingxue felt a bit like vomiting from the alcohol, but seeing Li Ya's briefcase on the table, and having been brought to this point, she couldn't not give some benefits.

Anyway, she had brushed her teeth tonight.

The two embraced and kissed.

Li Ya knew the opportunity had come, striking first.

Once the brewing was sufficient.

He wiped his hands on Mei Yingxue's skirt and, using the drunken state, tried to tear the hem of the skirt.

"Brother Ya, no, we aren't married yet, this would insult God." Mei Yingxue covered her skirt for dear life.

"Go, go to hell with God."

"Yingxue."

"If I can't have you, I won't be able to live for even a second."

Li Ya hadn't been going to the cinema for nothing these days; the lines were extremely cheesy.

As he spoke.

He pounced on Mei Yingxue like a hungry wolf, completely throwing her onto the sofa.

After half-pushing and half-yielding, Mei Yingxue agreed.

She knew Li Ya was in a vulnerable period now.

If she didn't give him some fun, who knows, if Wu Jingzhong suppressed him, he might really lose interest in her.

Hey.

Just let it be.

A hotpot is at least some fun, better than going back to sleep.

The key... Mei Yingxue's gaze fell on the briefcase on the table.

That might be her hope for settling down in England.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 211 =====