Chapter 236

Hong Hong Zhiyou picked up the phone and dialed Wang Wang Puchen's number:

"Hello, is this Inspector Wang?

"I am Hong Hong Zhiyou, is it convenient to meet?

"I see.

"Alright."

Hanging up the phone, Hong Hong Zhiyou was stunned.

This old fox Wang Wang Puchen didn't even offer a polite word, starting right off with "not convenient."

Clearly, old Wang was going to play dead and stay out of it again.

But is that even possible?

Hong Hong Zhiyou came to his senses and sneered to himself.

……

In the courtyard.

Wang Wang Puchen sat in a small room by the window, puffing on cigarettes one after another.

As the night wind blew, his worries became even more chaotic.

He knew deeply how deep Ma Ma Hansan's roots were.

Lu Qiaoshan's "open and shut" style of play wouldn't be enough to kill Ma Ma Hansan.

The key is that there are people who don't want Ma Ma Hansan to die.

This person might be Fu Fu Zuoyi, or it might be Li Li Zongren.

It is even more likely to be the Generalissimo.

Zheng Zheng Jiemin wants money.

And Ma Ma Hansan is famous for being willing to risk his life but not his wealth.

Zheng Zheng Jiemin might only see that Ma Ma Hansan is corrupt and wealthy, but Wang Wang Puchen has followed Ma Ma Hansan for a long time and knows deeply that while it's true he makes money, he also supports hundreds of thousands of troops and the people of Beiping.

Balancing the bowl of water between people's livelihood and military supplies has always been difficult.

That Fu Fu Zuoyi's soldiers have food to eat and the common people can still have some noodle paste in their pots to this day is all thanks to Ma Ma Hansan.

The Generalissimo's wisdom reaches the heavens; he can naturally see this.

Zheng Zheng Jiemin, however, might not see this layer.

He is too presumptuous.

Wang Wang Puchen has a very clear positioning for himself: firmly follow his fellow townsman Director Mao and look only to Mao Mao Renfeng for guidance.

At the same time, he must carefully ponder the old man's holy will.

Always be vigilant, ensuring that he does his job without ruining things, and that bad things don't become disasters.

"Renchu, still not sleeping?

"Smoke less; every time you cough, the children and I don't feel at ease."

His wife walked in and served him tea.

"Sigh.

"It's all because of this Ma Ma Hansan.

"You go get some rest early; I'll sleep after I finish this one."

Wang Wang Puchen smiled slightly, as gentle and calm as ever.

After his wife left.

He pondered for a few seconds, quickly snuffed out the cigarette butt, and dialed Mao Mao Renfeng's private line:

"Hello, Director Mao?

"The situation here in Beiping is a bit chaotic.

"Yes, Kawashima Yoshiko has been sentenced; Lu Qiaoshan personally presided over the court to pressure the judge, and the death sentence will be carried out next year.

"In addition, Hong Hong Zhiyou from the Jinhai Station has secretly arrived in Beiping.

"It looks like he wants to save Ma Ma Hansan and play against Lu Qiaoshan.

"He wants me to arrest Hu Hu Zongnan's quartermaster, Ye Ye Tianhua.

"This person indeed has entanglements here in Beiping and has facts of reselling supplies; it should be a move by Ma Ma Hansan to sell out Ye Ye Tianhua.

"Correct, Lu Qiaoshan's office is set up in Chen Chen Jicheng's headquarters.

"The Second Department, after all, oversees the Confidentiality Bureau, so I have to take orders.

"I want to hear your thoughts.

"Alright, understood.

"Director Mao, get some rest early."

Hanging up the phone, Wang Wang Puchen habitually picked up the cigarette case, touched one and just put it to his lips, then thought about it and put it back with difficulty.

Director Mao's instructions were very vague.

Just one sentence: do your job well.

This kind of ambiguous talk needs to be pondered.

This is the Generalissimo's style.

Boss Dai learned from the Generalissimo, and Director Mao learned from Boss Dai, never making things explicit.

In this way, if the subordinates do a good job, they get the credit.

If they mess it up, they have no fault; everything is just the subordinates acting on their own.

If this blew up, even the Chairman couldn't cover it, and with Lin Tai's influence, it would be very difficult for him to clean up the mess.

In the end, he took out the cigarette and lit it anyway.

Soon, he cleared his thoughts.

Ma Ma Hansan is a piece of fat meat that everyone wants to eat, including the Generalissimo.

It is absolutely impossible for Zheng Zheng Jiemin to eat it alone.

Director Mao let him cultivate in Beiping for so long; there's no reason to hand Ma Ma Hansan over to others.

"Do your job well."

"Lu Qiaoshan represents Zheng Zheng Jiemin's will. Chief Zheng and the Station Chief are old classmates, and they were old partners, so their relationship is very good."

He has the responsibility of assisting.

Wang Wang Puchen knows Ye Ye Tianhua.

Hu Hu Zongnan's favorite, the First Army quartermaster most trusted by the Generalissimo, has always been very close to Ma Ma Hansan.

Wang Wang Puchen saw through Hong Hong Zhiyou's intentions at a glance.

Arrest Hu Hu Zongnan's people and use Hu's hand to strike back at Lu Qiaoshan.

It's not very clever, but for now, it's one of the few moves that can be made.

According to procedure, as long as Ye Ye Tianhua has facts of corruption, he can make the arrest.

This way, it doesn't count as offending Zheng Zheng Jiemin, and it can also indirectly cooperate with Hong Hong Zhiyou to keep Ma Ma Hansan, this piece of fat meat, from falling into the hands of outsiders.

It's just that he must never join forces with Hong Hong Zhiyou.

Not even in the slightest.

Wang Wang Puchen only does things he is certain of and has a grasp on.

Never put yourself in unknown risks.

This is the survival experience he has explored since the old Military Statistics Bureau days.

Having made up his mind, he snuffed out the cigarette butt:

"Sleep!"

……

Hong Hong Zhiyou returned to a hidden house in the alley.

Li Ya was reading the newspaper.

"How was it, Hong Zhiyou?" He put down the newspaper and asked impatiently.

"It's settled with Ma Ma Hansan.

"Hu Hu Zongnan's quartermaster, Ye Ye Tianhua, will come to Beiping for a transaction, and Ma Ma Hansan has sold him out."

Hong Hong Zhiyou didn't hide it from him.

"Then Wang Wang Puchen and Lu Qiao Lu Qiao Jiacai have to be the ones to take action for it to be convincing.

"Otherwise, Lu Qiaoshan will turn around and release the person."

Li Ya lived up to his reputation as an intelligence elite; his brow furrowed as he saw the key point.

"Hmm.

"I called Wang Wang Puchen.

"He didn't express his stance.

"But I feel it should work; Mao Mao Renfeng doesn't even let the Station Master off, would he let Zheng Zheng Jiemin swallow Ma Ma Hansan all by himself?

"Let's wait and see.

"If Inspector Wang doesn't arrest Ye Ye Tianhua, we'll think of another way then."

Hong Hong Zhiyou said.

"Hmm, with you, brother, taking action, I'm still at ease.

"The Third Section has a branch point in Beiping.

"If it really doesn't work, I'll lead the team to make the arrest myself; no matter what, we have to pin this pot firmly on Lu Qiaoshan."

Li Ya sucked his teeth and said coldly.

Hong Hong Zhiyou could see that he was truly afraid, truly anxious, and even in a state of being a cornered dog.

A good opportunity.

If Li Ya is willing to jump out on his own, that couldn't be better.

Who knows, maybe we can get some leverage to hold in our hands.

Even at worst, helping him succeed would also earn a bigger favor.

"Can you do it?" Hong Hong Zhiyou asked.

"I can.

"Lu Qiaoshan is inspecting both Ping and Jin.

"Jinhai also has people dealing with Ye Ye Tianhua; when the time comes, I'll arrest the person, show him publicly in front of the Central Daily News and other newspapers, and push him onto Lu Qiaoshan.

"Let's see how he handles it."

Li Ya curled his lips and said with a smile.

"It seems Captain Li has had a plan for a long time." Hong Hong Zhiyou said.

"I wouldn't dare call it a plan.

"I just feel that betting my life on people like Wang Wang Puchen is not reliable; it's safer to do it myself."

Li Ya put his hands in his pockets, his eyes filled with disdain.

Then why the hell did you tell me to leave it to you, damn, are you playing with me... Hong Hong Zhiyou nodded repeatedly: "Captain Li is right, your life is up to you, not heaven."

"But don't be anxious yet, Ye Ye Tianhua won't arrive for another two days.

"You deploy first, and let's see the situation on Ma Ma Hansan's side."

"Fine, it's getting late, you go get some rest." Li Ya turned and walked out.

Back in the room.

Li Ya lay with his hands behind his head, a faint, cold smile appearing on the corner of his mouth.

He is not a reckless man who acts on impulse.

The reason he wants to face Lu Qiaoshan head-on.

First, survival forces him to.

Second, he wants to show his face in front of Jiang Jianfeng and prove his own value.

Li Ya still can't grasp the true significance of Ma Ma Hansan in Beiping.

But he knows one thing.

Jiang Jianfeng hasn't said a word.

Logically speaking, after Boss Dai died, Jiang Jianfeng could have started a crackdown on corruption from Beiping.

But he didn't.

On the contrary, besides ordering the Beiping Bank and experts to immediately formulate an "economic reform" plan, he hasn't taken any action here.

Not just Beiping.

Even in Jinhai, the anti-corruption effort only let Wu Wu Jingzhong toss around for a while before there were no follow-up actions.

What does this mean?

Beiping and Jinhai need stability.

At least for now, they do.

This might be the Generalissimo's intention; otherwise, with Jiang Jianfeng's nature of not being able to tolerate sand in his eyes, it's impossible he would leave a giant corrupt official like Ma Ma Hansan sitting in Beiping without asking questions.

The answer is that Jiang Jianfeng doesn't want to move against Ma Ma Hansan.

Or rather, he wants to, but the conditions and timing aren't right.

Zheng Zheng Jiemin coming here to eat meat at this time is a bit impatient.

If I can corner Lu Qiaoshan, Jiang Jianfeng will definitely look at me with new eyes.

Yes!

It must be like this.

……

Hong Hong Zhiyou left the room.

He found an old restaurant nearby, ordered a copper pot shabu-shabu, and started eating lamb.

With the base sauce and cilantro, he pondered while eating big mouthfuls of meat.

This Li Ya is very cunning.

Although arrogant, he is not stupid.

He chose to play against Lu Qiaoshan openly for only one reason: either he received secret orders from Jiang Jianfeng, or he wants to show his face in front of Jiang Jianfeng.

Needless to say.

If it's the latter, this guy still has some political awareness and has accidentally hit the mark with Jiang Jianfeng.

The situation in Beiping is too complex.

Li Li Zongren's Gui Clique is stationed at the headquarters.

Fu Fu Zuoyi's Jin-Sui Clique is stationed in Zhang Yuan.

These two major forces have almost surrounded Beiping.

Now that all the Generalissimo's focus is on the Northeast and Yancheng, the stability of Beiping is extremely important; if these two parties have ulterior motives, they could open a few gaps, and the Red tickets could borrow them to enter the Northeast.

If they were to turn against us, Hu Hu Zongnan wouldn't need to fight; relying solely on Sun Sun Lianzhong's 12th Group Army wouldn't be able to stop these two.

If Li Ya can save Ma Ma Hansan.

That would definitely be a great achievement for Jiang Jianfeng.

No way.

Can't let Li Ya gain momentum.

This guy will wag his dog tail; once he gains momentum, old Yu or even the Station Master will definitely have a pile of trouble again.

Thinking of this, Hong Hong Zhiyou shouted:

"Boss, check, please."

After paying the bill, he found a Western restaurant that hadn't closed yet and made a call at the front desk:

"Hello, old Old Xie.

"Do me a favor..."

Hanging up the phone.

He returned to the room, covered himself with a quilt, and fell asleep.

……

Early morning.

Lu Qiaoshan, dressed in a Tang suit, was practicing Tai Chi in the courtyard.

This is what he learned from Zheng Zheng Jiemin.

Old Zheng practices for an hour or so every morning.

Lu Qiaoshan followed suit, and needless to say, after practicing for more than half a year, his spirit and energy have really increased.

"Director Lu, there's someone outside named Sheng Xiang who says he wants to see you." The guard walked in and reported.

"Heh.

"He really is persistent.

"Tell him to come in."

Lu Qiaoshan finally remembered this former partner.

"Brother Shan.

"Long time no see, you, you really are glowing, radiating nobility."

Upon meeting, Sheng Xiang rubbed his hands together and flattered him with an uneasy and sycophantic smile.

Lu Qiaoshan's face was indifferent, as if he hadn't heard, and he continued to practice Tai Chi.

"Brother Shan, you, you really have made it big now.

"I'm the one who's miserable.

"Although I'm still in the file section, without your intelligence source, the dead salary I get in a month isn't enough for family expenses.

"It's still better to hang out with you, Brother Shan.

"Brother Shan, just for the sake of our past friendship, give your brother a chance and let me follow you.

"That way we can cooperate; before it was 70/30, now it's 80/20.

"Do you think that's okay?"

Sheng Xiang was afraid he would be chased away, so he spoke as fast as a machine gun.

"What are you?

"Is 'Brother Shan' something you can call me?

"Use my title!"

Lu Qiaoshan shouted coldly.

"Yes, Shan... Director Lu, Chief Inspector Lu." Sheng Xiang said.

"Get lost.

"I have nothing to talk to you about."

Lu Qiaoshan took a warm towel from his subordinate, wiped his face, and said as he walked.

He really had nothing to talk about.

What kind of status does he have now? Is he bored enough to reminisce about reselling intelligence with him?

As for selling intelligence.

If he could kill his way back to Jinhai, Sheng Xiang would be of some use.

If he can't kill his way back to Jinhai.

Returning to Jingling, there are many people in the Ministry of National Defense selling intelligence, and it wouldn't be his turn to eat this meat.

Lu Qiaoshan disdains to speak much to people who have no value.

Moreover, Sheng Xiang calling him "brother" and "Brother Shan" makes him look cheap and tasteless, which makes Lu Qiaoshan, who is already floating, very annoyed.

"Director Lu, you, you wait."

Seeing the guard about to come up to chase him away, Sheng Xiang became anxious.

Lu Qiaoshan, however, didn't bother with him.

"Director Lu, I have top-secret intelligence to report." Sheng Xiang shouted.

"Top secret?

"How top secret?"

Lu Qiaoshan stopped and turned to ask.

"Li Ya has arrived in Beiping.

"It's highly likely he's targeting you specifically." Sheng Xiang said.

Last night, he was drinking with Old Xie Old Xie Ruolin, a reseller from the Party Affairs Bureau; old Old Xie got drunk, and he inadvertently tricked this news out of him.

"Heh.

"Li Ya has arrived in Beiping.

"I haven't gone to find him yet, but he's delivered himself to my door first."

Lu Qiaoshan walked back, put his hands on his hips, and laughed disdainfully.

"Director Lu.

"You must be careful; Li Ya is a very sinister person." Sheng Xiang said.

"Be careful?

"What do I have to be careful about!"

Hearing him speak, Lu Qiaoshan always felt inexplicably irritated and uncomfortable; he sank his face and said unhappily:

"I am an inspector of the Second Department of the Ministry of National Defense, seconded to the Garrison Headquarters; what can his low-class tricks do to me?

"It's not that I look down on him.

"Crushing him now is as simple as crushing a small ant."

"Yes, yes!" Sheng Xiang agreed hurriedly.

"You go back first, wait for my news.

"Sooner or later, I will return to Jinhai!

"Remember to keep your mouth shut; don't say a single word of what shouldn't be said outside.

"Otherwise, don't blame me for tearing your mouth apart!"

Lu Qiaoshan waved his hand to dismiss him.

"Understood.

"Understood.

"Shan... Director Lu, then I will await your arrival in Jinhai."

Sheng Xiang bowed and retreated.

Hmm!

Not bad, still a decent dog, has some sense of loyalty.

"Li Ya!

"Last time you ruined my deputy station master position, this time you want to come and play tricks again.

"Hehe, you still want to mess with me? I'll take it all!"

Lu Qiaoshan's eyes sharpened, he said secretly.

"Li Zhong!"

He turned and shouted.

A capable middle-aged section member walked over: "Director Lu, what are your orders?"

"Investigate someone for me.

"Li Ya of the Jinhai Station, see where he's hiding, must dig him out; this person is more dangerous than Ma Ma Hansan.

"Once found, tell me immediately.

"Oh, right.

"This person likes gourmet food, have people go around the restaurants more."

Lu Qiaoshan ordered.

After thinking about it, he walked quickly back into the house and made a call:

"It's me, check where Li Ya went.

"The Third Section is in Beiping, right.

"Alright, I know."

After speaking, Lu Qiaoshan hung up the phone.

After all, he is an old man from the Jinhai Station and has many old acquaintances; it's hard to ask about others, but finding someone from the Jinhai Station is always accurate.

Li Ya!

Let's see how I play you to death this time!

"Director Lu, Madam Zheng wants you to go over there." A subordinate reported at the door.

"Understood." Lu Qiaoshan said.

"Stupid woman, are you too impatient for money? Is Ma Ma Hansan that easy to deal with?"

He muttered and cursed a few times.

He bought a fruit basket, managed his expression, bared his teeth at the mirror, restored his full-of-spring-breeze state, and drove straight to the courtyard where Ke Ke Shufen was staying in Beiping.

The courtyard looked ordinary from the outside.

Inside, however, it was magnificent, with all the tables and chairs made of pear wood.

Antiques and porcelain were all old goods.

And this was just the most low-key of Ke Ke Shufen's many luxury homes in Beiping.

"Sister-in-law." Lu Qiaoshan greeted with a face full of smiles.

Ke Ke Shufen was watering flowers in the courtyard; this noble lady rolled her eyes at him and said unhappily:

"Qiaoshan, you've been in Beiping for some time now."

"Yes, I've been organizing the materials on Kawashima Yoshiko; there are people in the court who took the devils' money, and Okamura Yasuji is lobbying.

"I withstood a lot of pressure to sentence her to death, giving our compatriots back home an explanation."

Lu Qiaoshan deliberately talked nonsense.

"I have no interest in the affairs of the devil woman.

"I have no interest in who you are giving an explanation to.

"I heard Ma Ma Hansan is still directing grain transport at the station today; you've been investigating for so long, and he's still alive and kicking, that's not right, is it?"

Ke Ke Shufen laughed sarcastically.

"Madam, I am looking for evidence on Ma Ma Hansan..." Lu Qiaoshan just wanted to explain.

Ke Ke Shufen interrupted him directly:

"By the time you find it, Hu Hu Zongnan will have already triumphed in Yancheng.

"Don't forget, Ma Ma Hansan is now a government official, not the intelligence station master of your Second Department or Confidentiality Bureau.

"With your slow pace, Ye Ye Xiufeng's Party Affairs Bureau will have already intervened.

"What were you sent here for?

"To wear a suit and tie every day and show off your power?"

She has always been used to speaking sharply, treating Zheng Zheng Jiemin's subordinates like domestic slaves, so naturally, she wouldn't give Lu Qiaoshan a good look.

Even old hands like Shen Zui would hide from her like a mouse seeing a cat.

She really opens her mouth to ask for money, and if you don't give it, she sprays you.

"Madam, please, please give your instructions."

Lu Qiaoshan was long used to being sprayed, so he asked, biting the bullet.

"Doesn't your Military Statistics Bureau have many methods?

"Use something hard.

"Once Ye Ye Xiufeng intervenes, the Party Affairs Bureau has more reason than you to take over Ma Ma Hansan.

"I don't care how tough that Ma fellow is.

"Must take him down as soon as possible!

"If I don't see results, I think you should stop being an inspector."

Ke Ke Shufen said imperiously.

"Yes, yes!

"This subordinate will definitely take down Ma Ma Hansan as soon as possible." Lu Qiaoshan said, bowing his head to accept the order.

"The wind is strong in early spring in Beiping, and my skin can't take the urging.

"Go."

Ke Ke Shufen curled her lips, sneered, and went into the house.

Damn it!

How did Old Zheng marry such a woman?

A lifetime of reputation...

Ptooey!

Husband sings, wife follows!

Scum of the party and state!

Lu Qiaoshan walked out the door, cursed hatefully, spat out the window, and drove away.

……

Beiping.

Ma Ma Hansan, who had just finished being questioned, returned to his office.

He was truly tired.

On one hand, he had to find ways to raise grain for Fu Fu Zuoyi, and on the other, he had to think about how to squeeze a little more from the mouths of the common people to fill these holes.

Ma Ma Hansan couldn't be the one doing losing business, could he?

Busy with this, he comes back and has to be interrogated endlessly.

These days are truly... impossible to live.

"Director Ma, Liang Yueshan's wife is here, saying she wants to see you." Liu Liu Yuzhu walked in and reported.

"Tell her to come in." Ma Ma Hansan rubbed his brow and cheered himself up.

Soon, Madam Liang walked in; as soon as she entered the door, she knelt down to Ma Ma Hansan with a thud:

"Director Ma, you, you must save my old Liang.

"The inspection team tortured him last night.

"I went to see him today, and he was beaten almost to death.

"Director Ma, you are his old leader; if you don't save him, old Liang is finished."

"Sister-in-law, get up and talk." Ma Ma Hansan hurriedly helped her up.

It was expected.

Liang Yueshan is the Deputy Director of the Grain Bureau and his own direct confidant.

Lu Qiaoshan couldn't bite him, so he would definitely take it out on Liang Yueshan.

But Ma Ma Hansan wasn't afraid.

His goods and reselling were all handled by others, not directly connected to Liang Yueshan; even if Lu Qiaoshan beat him to death, he wouldn't get any favorable evidence.

"Director Ma, you, you must save him." Madam Liang sat on the sofa and choked with sobs.

"Saving him is possible.

"I heard your old Liang has a friendship with Deputy Team Leader Zhang Zhang Zhiping of the inspection team?"

Ma Ma Hansan asked with a smile.

"Deputy Team Leader Zhang?

"Yueshan did mention it once, saying he has a classmate who is a fellow townsman of Deputy Team Leader Zhang, and their relationship is quite good." Madam Liang realized.

"Doesn't that settle it?

"I'm in a difficult spot myself right now; you find that classmate of his to be the middleman and arrange a meal with Zhang Zhang Zhiping.

"Show enough sincerity.

"Releasing someone is just a matter of a single sentence, isn't it?

"Don't look down on the deputy team leader.

"He has been with Commander Zheng since the liberation of Nanjing; Lu Qiaoshan has only been there for a few days, and there are not many in the inspection team who truly listen to him.

"Go."

Ma Ma Hansan stopped at the right point.

"Understood.

"Thank you, Director Ma, for pointing out the way, thank you."

Madam Liang bowed several times and retreated.

"Liu Yuzhu.

"Call Secretary Hong and have him keep an eye on Madam Liang.

"The fish has taken the bait."

Ma Ma Hansan said.

"Alright." Liu Liu Yuzhu said.

"Right.

"Remind him to let Li Ya do it.

"Try not to get involved in these dirty jobs if you can.

"I'm already washed clean, but he, brother, can't follow in my footsteps; while working for the Jiang family father and son, he should cherish his relatively clean reputation.

"Who knows when he'll end up like me, discarded like a worn-out shoe."

Ma Ma Hansan sighed long and said.

He wasn't born to do this either.

When Beiping was liberated, why didn't Dai Li find the Jiangshan Gang and his confidants to sit in charge, but insisted on having him shoulder the responsibility of Director of the Military Statistics Bureau's Ping-Jin Office?

To put it bluntly, it's because people like Li Li Zongren and Fu Fu Zuoyi are hard to govern.

They needed someone like him to do the dirty work.

The first batch of military supplies resold to Fu Fu Zuoyi was instructed by Dai Li.

The Generalissimo wanted to appease the Jin-Sui Army but was afraid the Central Army wouldn't agree, so he pushed it back and forth; everything regarding military equipment and supplies for Fu Fu Zuoyi had to pass through his hands.

Now it's fine.

Lu Qiaoshan has killed his way to the door, and he hasn't seen the old man or Jiang Jianfeng say a word.

Ma Ma Hansan understands.

They are watching a play.

Wait until he has suffered enough, then they will jump out to play the good guy and make him feel grateful.

The art of kingship!

……

(End of Chapter)