Chapter 220: Ji Weimin

"Department Chief Lu, the Station Master has arranged fruit and pastries in the conference room, waiting to celebrate your and Captain Li's success." Hong Zhiyou arrived at Lu Qiao's office.

"Celebrate?"

Lu Qiao was slightly stunned, then immediately nodded with a bright smile:

"Yes... celebrate.

"Captain Li must have caught them red-handed and achieved a great merit.

"It must be celebrated.

"Let's go."

Upon arriving at the conference room, the three chatted for a while.

Bang!

The door was kicked open violently.

Li Ya walked in, bruised and swollen, fuming with rage. He slammed his pistol onto the table and stared at Lu Qiao with eyes that looked like he wanted to kill.

A faint smile hung on the corner of Lu Qiao's mouth... Li Ya had indeed come up empty-handed again and even received a sound beating; how delightful.

Wu Jingzhong sat motionless, secretly pleased in his heart.

The conflict had finally been thoroughly ignited.

It would be best if Li Ya shot Lu Qiao dead; that would be perfect.

Hong Zhiyou feigned a look of being startled, "Captain Li, what is this..."

Wu Jingzhong then looked left and right, sternly reprimanding:

"If you have something to say, say it. Who are you putting on a show of force for?"

Li Ya glared at Lu Qiao and began to air his grievances:

"Station Master, I went to Mawang Town to catch military profiteers, but half an hour ago, the people and the stolen goods were snatched away by the Inspection Team.

"This is the seventh or eighth time.

"Hongda Theater, Li Gong Village in Jixian—several times, the Inspection Team has gotten there first.

"Department Chief Lu, when will your intelligence be a bit more accurate?"

Lu Qiao remained as steady as Mount Tai and said indifferently, "Captain Li, my intelligence is very accurate. The transaction time reported by those below was indeed 3: 0."

"If that's the case, why do I keep getting intercepted by the Inspection Team? Those few bird-brained people of theirs—do they really have such great skills?" Li Ya asked through gritted teeth.

"You should ask yourself that.

"I haven't provided any less intelligence to the Third Section, so why can they catch people when they get the intelligence?

"Why is it that when it gets to you, it gets intercepted?

"Could it be that your subordinates were slacking off and delayed things, leaking the news?

"Or perhaps, Captain Li, you are just down on your luck?

"Captain Li, I think you should investigate your own subordinates, or go to Longfu Temple and burn a few sticks of incense to ward off the bad luck?"

Lu Qiao responded with a beaming smile.

"Bang!"

Li Ya slammed the table in anger, pointed at Lu Qiao, and shouted:

"Lu Qiao, stop bickering with me here. Do you believe I won't shoot you dead right now!"

"Station Master, look, he's getting agitated." Lu Qiao looked at Wu Jingzhong, appearing slightly panicked.

Wu Jingzhong was just waiting for Li Ya to pull the trigger.

After waiting a few seconds and seeing that Li Ya was all thunder but no rain, he smiled and waved his hand, saying:

"If you came up empty, then so be it.

"Secretary Hong, hurry, pour Captain Li a cup of tea to cool his temper."

Hong Zhiyou stood up and poured a cup of tea for Li Ya.

"Li Ya, what happened to your face?" Wu Jingzhong asked with quite a bit of surprise.

"Station Master.

"You don't know, but when the 94th Army heard their men and supplies had been detained, that lame regimental commander surnamed Xu brought a whole battalion over to pick a fight.

"We happened to run right into them in Mawang Town.

"Those sons of bitches just started beating our men as soon as they came up.

"Wen Shiming and several others had their ribs broken.

"Two others were beaten unconscious on the spot."

Li Ya touched the wounds on his face and began to air his grievances with a face full of resentment.

"Captain Li, you didn't mention you were from the Confidentiality Bureau, did you?" Hong Zhiyou asked from the side.

"How could I not?

"I showed my credentials and fired a warning shot, telling them I was from the Jinhai Station.

"But that lame guy surnamed Xu tore up my credentials right in front of me.

"He even said I was an impostor.

"He slapped me across the face several times!

"If it weren't for someone recognizing me, and the fact that I've had some training, I would have been beaten to death on the spot!"

Li Ya touched the wound on the corner of his mouth, his anger flaring up.

Lu Qiao secretly enjoyed himself on the side, then added with a sympathetic look:

"The 94th Army has always been arrogant.

"Xu Zhiwu and his gang rely on the influence of Mou Tingfang and are used to being overbearing in Jinhai.

"It is a stroke of luck in the midst of misfortune that Captain Li was able to return alive."

Upon hearing this, Wu Jingzhong slammed the table in a rage:

"How dare they!

"The 94th Army is being too rampant.

"I will go ask Mou Tingfang what exactly he wants to do!"

Just as he was about to stand up to make a call, the phone rang at the right moment.

Hong Zhiyou answered it, "Station Master, it's for you. It's Chief of Staff Shen of the 94th Army."

Wu Jingzhong took the receiver: "It's me."

His expression changed immediately:

"Go tell those bullshit excuses to He Yingqin!

"I'm telling you, send that guy surnamed Xu and those dogs of his who did the beating over to me immediately.

"Otherwise, I'll have you tied up along with them."

Clack!

He hung up the phone.

Seeing that the Station Master had lost his temper, Li Ya picked up his teacup and took a few sips, his emotions stabilizing slightly.

"Alright, the 94th Army is already strictly investigating this matter internally.

"The one surnamed Xu has already voluntarily confessed.

"The law enforcement officers from the Military Police Headquarters have already rushed over.

"They will be brought in soon.

"Captain Li, your injuries are not light; go to the infirmary to get them treated first, and we'll talk more once the people arrive."

Wu Jingzhong instructed gently.

"Thank you, Station Master.

"As for you, Lu, this isn't over between us. Just you wait."

Li Ya picked up his gun, pointed it at Lu Qiao, and left in a fury.

"Department Chief Lu.

"Your intelligence really needs to be more accurate; intelligence is the eyes of action.

"If the intelligence isn't accurate, wouldn't the Jinhai Station become blind and deaf?

"You are someone who is going to be a Deputy Station Master; broaden your mind and consider everything from the big picture.

"Li Ya has a short temper, and he participated in the Battle of Jinshanwei; if you push him too far, there's no telling if he'll really risk his life against you.

"Why bother?"

Wu Jingzhong warned Lu Qiao through indirection.

"Station Master, I understand.

"I will go hold a meeting with my intelligence agents immediately!"

Lu Qiao stood up and said.

Targeting Li Ya, looking down on him, and wanting to see him make a fool of himself—that was just on the surface.

His real goal was to squeeze Li Ya out.

The positions of Action Team leader and various section chiefs could be held by a Major.

Once he became Deputy Station Master, he could arrange for his own people to be Action Team leaders.

At the very least, he could promote a deputy leader to achieve control over the Action Team.

By then, intelligence and action would be unified.

Jinhai is yet another place where the Red tickets are frequently active; are you still afraid there won't be an opportunity to earn merit?

With Director Zheng's support, promotion to Colonel or Major General, and becoming a regional king like Wu Jingzhong, is just around the corner.

It's just that with Jianfeng covering him, it's impossible to count on maneuvering to have Li Ya transferred.

The Station Chief won't agree either.

That old thing has his abacus calculated very precisely.

The only way is to make Li Ya suffer, lose heart, and apply to get out himself because he can't go on.

Heh.

Just wait.

There are plenty of good fruits coming later.

Once Lu Qiaoshan left, Wu Jingzhong laughed: "Zhiyou, did you see that? The two vicious dogs have started to draw blood from each other."

"Lu Qiaoshan is deeply entangled with that pack of wild dogs from the Headquarters Inspection Team."

"In order to fight for this Deputy Station Chief position, he is jumping from one fire pit to the next."

"The house rules of the Secret Service Bureau strictly forbid eating from the inside while working for the outside."

"When the time comes, no one will be able to protect him!"

"Teacher, so you knew everything all along," Hong Zhiyou said.

"See through it but don't speak of it."

"If I were to enter the fray, it would seem beneath my stature, and furthermore, it would offend Director Zheng; there is no need for that."

"Li Ya has his methods."

"Just wait."

Wu Jingzhong smiled.

Just as they were speaking, the phone rang.

Hong Zhiyou answered: "Alright, I understand."

Hanging up the phone, he said:

"Station Chief, Xu Zhiwu and the soldiers who did the beating have already been brought to the station."

"Should I go over and handle it?"

"Let Zecheng go."

"You had best not get involved in this kind of business that offends people."

"Besides, you have always had a good relationship with this Colonel Xu; you must avoid the appearance of impropriety."

Wu Jing waved his hand and said.

Then, he sighed with emotion:

"Sigh, when Boss Dai was here, even the 94th Army had to be obedient no matter how arrogant they were. Now that the Boss is gone, Zheng Jiemin is single-mindedly trying to transfer Zheng Tingfeng over."

"I heard he is already digging up dirt on Mou Tingfang."

"Once this 94th Army bears the surname Zheng in the future, it will be even harder to deal with, and Jinhai will have one more person looking for a share of the spoils."

Hong Zhiyou nodded: "Indeed, the more chaotic things are, the more everyone wants to scrape a little more."

"Once this village is passed, there won't be this shop."

"I reckon there will be no shortage of monsters and demons coming down here later."

After finishing, he stood up and walked out of the Station Chief's office, arriving at the Confidentiality Division.

One has to say that Old Yu is quite steady.

Over this past month, Lu Qiaoshan and Li Ya have been fighting fiercely, but Yu Zecheng hasn't participated in the slightest; he is like air, as if such a person doesn't exist in the station.

"Old Yu, busy?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"Indeed."

"Preparing for the library."

"Yesterday I went to the station to sound things out, and more than half the people have no interest in reading."

"I even suspect I'm just eating radishes and worrying about nothing."

"Take a look, these are all books I carefully selected."

Yu Zecheng casually picked up a copy of *Far East Intelligence Station* and tossed it to him.

Hong Zhiyou was too lazy to flip through it, "In this day and age, besides Zhang Li, who still reads books? You'd be better off getting a few more books about Golden Lotus; perhaps everyone could find some amusement in that."

"Li Ya investigated military corruption and got beaten by Xu Zhiwu."

"I have a personal friendship with him, so it's inconvenient for me to interrogate him; the Station Chief wants you to handle it."

"Colonel Xu, sigh, why is he so impulsive?" Yu Zecheng frowned.

"Beating a field officer of the Secret Service Bureau, this is going to a military tribunal."

"I'm afraid this matter won't be easy to handle."

He shook his head and said.

"What we want is for it to be difficult to handle."

"Old Xu wants to run, but Army Commander Mou won't let him go; you make the matter sound serious, and when the time comes, someone will come to protect him."

"The person must leave safely."

"But his position, military rank, and such must be stripped away to ensure that even if Mou Tingfang bails him out, Old Xu won't be able to serve in the military again."

Hong Zhiyou was an old partner of his, so he didn't hide anything.

"Understood."

"What are the stakes?"

Yu Zecheng asked.

"A new Studebaker sedan, plus three thousand US dollars," Hong Zhiyou said.

"Hmm, calculated out, that's probably worth over ten thousand US dollars."

"Old Xu is really bleeding himself dry for this."

Yu Zecheng laughed.

"If he doesn't bleed himself dry, once the war starts in Pingjin, he won't have a life to spend the money even if he has more," Hong Zhiyou said.

"That's true."

"I'll go through the motions."

Yu Zecheng walked quickly to the interrogation room.

After a simple interrogation, Xu Zhiwu confessed without reservation.

Yu Zecheng took the signed confession and returned to his office, where an officer was already waiting.

"Adjutant Pang, what wind blew you here?" Yu Zecheng laughed.

"Adjutant Pang, Director Yu, you two talk."

Hong Zhiyou offered a greeting and slipped away.

"Director Yu, Army Commander Mou and Staff Officer Shen want to protect Colonel Xu; I just heard from Secretary Hong that you are the lead interrogator. We are all insiders, so please do us a favor," Adjutant Pang didn't waste words and got straight to the point.

"I am also an old acquaintance of Colonel Xu."

"But this incident is too egregious."

"At present, the theft of military supplies is occurring frequently across the country, and the Generalissimo is deeply hateful of this and has repeatedly issued instructions to punish it severely without leniency."

"Attacking law enforcement personnel, knowingly breaking the law."

"With multiple crimes punished together, it won't be light."

"Directors Zheng and Mao certainly won't let him off, and they might even use him as an example to deter other petty criminals."

"If things go poorly, execution by firing squad is also possible."

Yu Zecheng kept a straight face and said solemnly.

"Colonel Xu knows his sins are deep."

"He is willing to pay a high price to smooth things over; your Station Chief Wu is a person with eyes and hands reaching the heavens, and since the person was caught at the Jinhai Station, how he is sentenced is just a matter of a single word from him."

Adjutant Pang said with a flattering smile.

"Empty words are useless; Colonel Xu will have to spend some money," Yu Zecheng said.

"Understood."

"We have already agreed on the terms with Secretary Hong; the rest depends entirely on you all," Adjutant Pang said.

"Good."

Yu Zecheng stood up and raised his hand to see him off.

Once Adjutant Pang left, Yu Zecheng went straight to the Station Chief's office.

"Teacher, are you busy?" Yu Zecheng asked with a smile.

"Zecheng."

"How did the interrogation go?"

Wu Jingzhong raised his hand, and the two went over to the sofa.

Yu Zecheng leaned in and asked in a low voice:

"Teacher, Adjutant Pang from the 94th Army came and said he wants to protect Colonel Xu."

"Protect him?"

"That fellow surnamed Xu indulged his subordinates in stealing military supplies and openly attacked law enforcement personnel of the Secret Service Bureau."

"This requires a heavy crackdown and heavy punishment."

Wu Jingzhong shook his fingers and said sternly.

"Teacher.

"Colonel Xu performed meritorious service and received commendations during the Suizao Campaign.

"Besides, his assault was purely out of recklessness.

"Soldiers all love to form cliques and protect their own.

"He was just acting on impulse, thinking his men had been arrested by Captain Li, which is why he made a move.

"It was not intentional to go against the Secret Service Bureau.

"Moreover, he has repeatedly stated that he did not know his subordinates were reselling military supplies.

"He just went over to back them up."

Yu Zecheng said.

"No matter how much you say, it's useless.

"I don't care what campaigns he participated in or what commendations he received.

"Let him go say those things at the Jingling Military Tribunal."

Wu Jingzhong pulled a long face and snorted coldly.

"Station Chief, please don't be angry.

"The man surnamed Xu says he is willing to spend money to avert disaster, and asks you to be merciful and accommodate him."

Yu Zecheng said.

"Spend money to avert disaster.

"How does he plan to spend it?" Wu Jingzhong's attitude changed instantly, and he asked in a lowered voice.

"Colonel Xu has a newly purchased Studebaker sedan at home.

"He is willing to offer the car.

"Plus an additional three thousand US dollars!"

Yu Zecheng said.

"A Studebaker car?" Wu Jingzhong raised his eyebrows and asked.

"It's the same kind that Chen Nade rides in.

"By the way, Hong Zhiyou said your daughter has one in Yuezhou too; you could ask her," Yu Zecheng explained.

"I have no interest in cars," Wu Jingzhong was still somewhat disappointed.

"Teacher, this car is not cheap; those wealthy masters are scrambling to buy one and have no way to get one.

"If you really don't like it.

"You can find someone on the black market to flip it and exchange it for equivalent gold bars or US dollars.

"Rest assured, at least this much."

Yu Zecheng held up five fingers.

"Five gold bars?" Wu Jingzhong frowned and asked.

"Five thousand US dollars!" Yu Zecheng smiled.

"Spendthrift woman..." Wu Jingzhong grumbled about Wu Rui, then squeezed his eyes and smiled mercenary-like:

"Who doesn't like a car?

"It's just that this matter is hard to handle.

"The higher-ups are cracking down on this; if the man surnamed Xu gets off scot-free, I'll be the one in trouble."

Wu Jingzhong shook his head in a dilemma.

"Teacher.

"They only want to save the person.

"You can impose heavy penalties in other areas, such as stripping his military status, stopping his military pay, and all military benefits, etc.

"Stripping military status, for a veteran colonel, is no different from being shot.

"That is enough to answer to the higher-ups."

Yu Zecheng said.

"Furthermore, you can have Long Er's men collect the money; even if something goes wrong, it will be the Cao Gang people extorting him and Adjutant Pang, and it will have nothing to do with you."

"Do you think that will work?"

After a pause, he added.

"Is it reliable? Is this Adjutant Pang reliable?" Wu Jingzhong asked.

"Reliable.

"He is the brother-in-law of Hong Zhiyou's wife, Mrs. Kang. When Boss Dai was dealing with Yang Wenquan, Hong Zhiyou and I often went to the 94th Army and got along quite well with this person.

"We know him inside and out; if there were any problems, he couldn't run."

Yu Zecheng said.

"Stripping military status, hmm, that is quite heavy.

"We can't wipe out all the heroes of the War of Resistance, right?

"Go handle it."

Wu Jingzhong thought for a moment and agreed.

"Teacher, if Captain Li and headquarters ask..." Yu Zecheng asked.

"The matter of Yuan Peilin being killed was something I smoothed over for Li Ya.

"Isn't it just taking a few slaps?

"The man surnamed Xu has performed meritorious service.

"Just say it was an order from the Ministry of National Defense."

Wu Jingzhong pointed his hand and said domineeringly.

Yu Zecheng understood.

Old Wu definitely has powerful backers in the Ministry of National Defense.

After all, it's officialdom.

With backers like Zheng Jiemin and Jiang Jianfeng, it's normal to know a few people in the Ministry of National Defense.

After receiving his instructions, Yu Zecheng arrived at the interrogation room.

Li Ya was punching and kicking Xu Zhiwu to vent his hatred.

"Captain Li, stop."

Yu Zecheng shouted sternly to stop him.

"Well, how did the Station Chief handle it?" Li Ya wiped the blood from his hands and asked.

"Release him!"

Yu Zecheng said in two simple words.

"Release him?

"He condoned his subordinates stealing military supplies and beat a lieutenant colonel of the Secret Service Bureau, and you're just letting him go like this?"

Li Ya's eyes widened, and he shouted unhappily.

"Stripping his military status, canceling his benefits, and demoting him to a civilian.

"Does Captain Li think this punishment is light?

"Of course, he doesn't have your background, Captain Li.

"You beat Dong Cheng to death and lost Yuan Peilin, yet you can still retain your officer rank.

"Compared to you, is this still considered light?

"Besides, this is also the opinion of the Ministry of National Defense; if you are dissatisfied, you can report it to the higher-ups."

Yu Zecheng walked closer and said in a low voice.

"One thing is one thing.

"I..."

Li Ya was about to speak, but Yu Zecheng frowned and said:

"The man surnamed Xu is a hero of the War of Resistance.

"His thousands of men are all currently holding their triggers.

"You've beaten him, shouldn't your anger be gone?

"Yes, if you insist on sending Xu to the guillotine, his men will only hold the grudge against the Station Chief.

"Captain Li, don't do things that make your superior's life difficult.

"Of course, if you insist on doing this, the Station Chief's exact words were that you will be fully responsible for this matter, and he will personally explain the situation to Army Commander Meng.

"You decide."

"This..." A shrewd glint flashed in Li Ya's eyes.

After just beating him up, his anger had indeed mostly dissipated.

The 94th Army has always been arrogant.

There are many rogue soldiers and scoundrels under them.

If it really escalated, it would be hard to handle.

"Fine."

"Since it is the Station Chief's wish, then release him."

Li Ya glared coldly at Xu Zhiwu, then walked away with his hands in his pockets.

"Old Xu, the results of your disciplinary action will be issued soon, let's go," Yu Zecheng said, patting him.

"Pah!"

"The son of a bitch hit pretty hard."

Xu Zhiwu spat out a mouthful of blood and foam, "Thanks, Old Yu. When you come to Yuezhou in the future, I'll treat you to a meal."

After saying this, he felt an indescribable sense of relief and limped away.

The next morning.

Yu Zecheng carried a box to the Station Chief's office.

"Teacher, please verify this," he said, handing over the box.

Wu Jingzhong opened it, took a glance, and nodded with satisfaction:

"Come to my house for dinner tonight!"

"Thank you, Teacher," Yu Zecheng said.

"Go get busy first," Wu Jingzhong said with a smile.

"Yes."

Yu Zecheng did not claim any credit and respectfully backed out.

Wu Jingzhong watched him, his expression becoming subtle.

Although Yu Zecheng was full of shit, he was very reliable when it came to getting things done, and he was relatively loyal to him.

He had been grooming him for nearly two years.

Regardless of whether he was a ghost or an immortal, the familiarity was genuine.

It was a pity.

He was stuck at this Lieutenant Colonel rank.

Even a Studebaker wouldn't help.

He just couldn't get him promoted!

Wu Jingzhong shook his head, stood up, walked to his desk, picked up the phone, and said:

"Hello, ask Rui Rui how much a Studebaker car is worth.

"Hey, you don't even know that.

"It's the kind Chen Nade rode in; our daughter drove one when she was in Yuezhou."

Evening.

Hong Zhiyou returned to the small courtyard.

Yu Zecheng was already waiting at the entrance.

"Something up?" Hong Zhiyou asked with a smile.

"Old Xie said he's treating us to hot pot, are you going?" Yu Zecheng asked.

"Old Xie, that stingy miser, is treating? How can I not go?" Hong Zhiyou said.

"Alright then, it's a good chance to fleece him for a big one."

Yu Zecheng laughed.

The two went their separate ways, hailed rickshaws on different streets, and headed straight for the alley.

Old Xie lived very close by.

But that was a place for living and emergency transactions.

Most of the time, their meetings still took place in that small house in the dilapidated old alley.

They arrived at the house.

Xie Ruolin was lighting a candle, and the charcoal-fired pot was bubbling.

Several plates of sliced beef and mutton, along with fruits and vegetables, were laid out neatly.

"You... you finally came. I've been waiting so long I've swallowed a pound of saliva.

"Take your seats."

Xie Ruolin skillfully prepared the dipping sauces and brought them to the table.

After some casual drinking and chatting, they finished two plates of meat.

Yu Zecheng jokingly brought up the main business: "Old Xie, have you struck it rich?"

"No, not that.

"But there is a major opportunity to get rich that I want to share with you two brothers."

Xie Ruolin put down his chopsticks and smiled.

"What is it? Worth you calling us both here specifically," Hong Zhiyou said.

"I won't hide it from you two, this is truly a great fortune.

"You know Ji Weimin from our Dangtong Bureau, right?"

Xie Ruolin said.

"I know him.

"The favorite of your Director Ye Xiufeng, the person in charge of the Ludong Economic Investigation Group.

"What happened to him?"

Yu Zecheng asked.

"Ji Weimin used the power in his hands to conduct private transactions.

"He teamed up with several wealthy merchants in Ludong to swap out over a hundred thousand sets of cotton uniforms for the Lunan Theater of Operations; the high-quality cotton was turned into forty percent cotton and sixty percent grass fluff.

"Then they took that sixty percent of good cotton, made it into high-quality winter clothes, and resold them to Bai Chongxi's army.

"It is said that from the inspectors sent from above to the merchants below, there are dozens of people involved, including some at the general level.

"And this is just the tip of the iceberg.

"This chain hasn't been around for just a day or two; who knows how much stuff they've offloaded.

"It's said that after being reported, Ji Weimin got wind of it immediately and ran off with his most valuable treasures.

"As for the property he didn't have time to take, it's said it filled five large carts.

"The scale of his corruption is simply hair-raising.

"No, I'm not bragging, but even that person in your house might not be able to rake in as much as Old Ji.

"He does business with every theater of operations.

"That person in your house is just playing small games in Jinhai..."

Xie Ruolin said this, implying Wu Jingzhong.

Hong Zhiyou laughed.

If Old Xie knew that Wu Jingzhong's treasures could make the British Museum look like trash, he probably wouldn't dare say that.

"Brother, this is a major case.

"You, you keep going."

Yu Zecheng asked hurriedly.

"After the Generalissimo found out about this, he was furious and strictly ordered Ye Xiufeng to hunt down Ji Weimin.

"But think about it.

"Ji Weimin dared to do this, could the kickbacks to Director Ye's side be small?

"This matter has been 'kept secret' and festering for over half a month; Ye Xiufeng shouts loudly, but in reality, it's all thunder and no rain.

"He is clearly using a stalling tactic.

"Many things in the Party-State, aren't they... aren't they just handled by stalling?

"Stall and stall, and the matter loses all news, eventually fizzling out.

"By the time the Old Man remembers it one day, I'm afraid Ji Weimin will already be sitting on a farm in North America drinking coffee."

Once Xie Ruolin started talking about business, his stuttering even decreased.

"Old Xie, you said this, what does it have to do with us two?" Hong Zhiyou sipped his wine and asked with a smile.

"You two.

"Think about it, Ye Xiufeng has a guilty conscience and wants to stall.

"Others aren't fools either.

"Especially your Military... Bureau of Investigation's Director Mao, he's a real sharp cookie.

"He went to the Generalissimo to put in a word.

"The Old Man actually remembered it, and it's said he's very angry, very angry.

"He directly gave the order for Mao Renfeng's Bureau of Investigation to apprehend Ji Weimin.

"Just wait, you will receive the notification soon."

Xie Ruolin said.

"Two brothers, if you can catch Ji Weimin, that would be a great achievement."

"Maybe just by pulling out a handful."

"That fatty Old Ji alone is worth enough to cover your salaries for several years."

As he spoke, he lowered his voice a few notches:

"Our Dangtong Bureau is even more anxious about this matter than your Juntong Bureau."

"Director Ye has even issued a commendation notice stating that Ji Weimin can be executed on the spot if discovered."

"This... this is clearly aimed at silencing him."

"Old Xie, where did you get this intelligence?" Yu Zecheng asked.

"You two, when it comes to gathering intelligence, if I, Old Xie, claim to be first in Jinmen, no one dares to claim second."

"We are all old partners."

"How about this, let's share our information and look for Ji Weimin together."

"Once found, the person will be handed over to you."

"But you two must give me a share; that request isn't excessive, is it?"

Xie Ruo said.

"No problem."

"If we can really catch Ji Weimin, we'll split the prize money and any spoils we scrape up into three equal parts."

Hong Zhiyou readily agreed.

This might turn out to be another Mu Liancheng.

One haul could make him rich.

It just so happened that Rui Rui was due to give birth next month, so he would treat it as a surprise for her.

"Old Xie, do you have any intelligence on your end?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"I do, but I'm still verifying it."

"I can only tell you one thing: it is highly likely that Ji Weimin has fled to Jinmen."

"He has a younger sister who works at the Shipping Bureau."

"If he wants to leave, he will likely use that connection."

"Of course, that's not certain."

"Wait, let me dig a bit deeper, and I'll notify you once I have news."

Xie Ruo said.

After the meal.

Hong Zhiyou returned home, lay on the bed, and began to ponder.

Looking at the Yuan Peilin incident alone.

The people in this real world were far more complex and cunning than in the original drama.

In the original drama, Ji Weimin was swiftly captured by Yu Zecheng within two days of arriving in Jinmen.

But his intuition told Hong Zhiyou.

This old fox was definitely not that easy to catch; this matter was likely going to be a long game.

(End of chapter)