Chapter 255: Promotion to Colonel

Beiyang University.

Li Ya parked his car in the back alley, and immediately a staff member wearing a student worker cap and looking quite young in the face walked over quietly: "Captain."

"Yucheng, has he arrived?" Li Ya asked.

"Today is his girlfriend's birthday, so we might have to wait a little while.

"This guy relies on a pretty face to be very popular at school; he's dated quite a few young ladies from wealthy families."

The staff member said with a hint of jealousy.

"Dating a young lady from a wealthy family requires more than just a face.

"You need learning and taste.

"And you also need..."

Before the word "money" could be spoken, Li Ya frowned slightly and asked again:

"What about his social connections?"

"He doesn't have any social connections.

"Back when Li Ping was still around, there were some connections, but since Li Ping and Section Chief Liu are gone, their family's situation is just average, and no one really associates with them, so it's just like that."

The staff member named Yucheng replied.

Li Ya nodded.

He believed this point; his Master Liu Xiong was someone who didn't touch wine, women, wealth, or temper, and the little junior brother Li Ping whom he took in after arriving in Jinhai was said to be a stubborn person who was exactly like his master.

Since these two didn't make money while they were alive, it was natural for the family to be strapped for cash now that they were dead.

"The family situation is average?

"I saw him dressed quite well last time, and he even treated a young girl to a movie and Western food; where did he get the money?"

Li Ya asked.

"His foreign language skills are good; it seems he works as a translator for foreigners at a magazine office, so he should be able to earn some extra money," Yucheng said.

Suddenly, he added:

"Oh right, last night, he left the dormitory and went to Hongfu Teahouse.

"He met with someone.

"It seemed to be someone from the Dangtong Bureau.

"That's right, it was a staff member from the Dangtong Bureau; that person once came to our station to negotiate work, and I've seen him.

"The former Gendarmerie Commander Tang Wu.

"The one Section Chief Liu and Ma Kui often had contact with also had very close dealings with this person."

Yucheng said with a start.

"Idiot.

"Why didn't you say so just now? Describe what that person looked like," Li Ya said.

Yucheng described him.

Li Ya's brows furrowed tightly.

He had seen this person.

Not long after he arrived at the station, Wu Jingzhong provided evidence that Liu Xiong had been misled by Ma Kui and Tang Wu into "colluding" with the Zhongtong; his master had lost his touch, which was why he was self-reproachful and drank heavily, eventually being bludgeoned to death on the street.

That's right, back then it was still called the Zhongtong.

In one of the photos, the person Tang Wu was associating with was exactly as Yucheng had described.

Having dealings with the Dangtong Bureau... Li Ya pursed his lips and tapped his chin, pondering keenly.

"Go, bring Li Chong to me," he ordered.

Yucheng quickly brought Li Chong over.

The young man was indeed handsome, but his eyes were dark and sunken, his gaze shifty, lacking the uprightness and spirit of those red-ticket youths like Guo Youliang.

Li Ya had seen all kinds of people; he could tell a mule from a horse at a single glance.

This was a real scumbag who lived off women.

"Captain Li." Li Chong nodded and bowed.

"Have you given over all of your brother's things?" Li Ya asked.

"They're really gone.

"Except for those evidence tickets regarding some Yu-something, he rarely spoke to his family; it was only when he occasionally burned incense for the Section Chief surnamed Liu that he would say something about revenge or killing Wu Laogou."

Li Chong answered truthfully.

Li Ya frowned, feeling it was meaningless; he had already asked these things last time they met.

It was also because of these words from Li Chong that he had begun to suspect Wu Jingzhong again.

Now it seemed...

"Take him away!" Li Ya waved his hand and said.

"Captain Li, I—my brother really only had these few things," Li Chong shouted, not understanding why.

"Yucheng, call Gao Yuan and take men to search his house."

Li Ya gave the order and ducked directly into the car.

Back at the station.

Li Ya took the person directly to the interrogation room.

"Brother Li, what is this all about?" Li Chong sat on the electric chair, almost wetting himself in fear.

"Who did you meet at 8: 3 last night?"

Li Ya rolled up his white shirt sleeves and asked in a deep voice.

"I—I didn't meet anyone," Li Chong said.

"You won't talk?

"Beat him!"

Li Ya tilted his head.

Lu Baoxing swung a whip and lashed out at Li Chong's head and face, leaving him covered in blood.

"Captain Li, I—I'll talk.

"Someone came to find me last night; he—he said he knew an editor at a magazine office invested in by some foreigner and asked me to write some dirt on Station Chief Wu," Li Chong confessed honestly.

"Dirt?

"What kind of dirt?" Li Ya asked with a frown.

"Just saying that Wu Jingzhong keeps mistresses, dozens of them.

"That he is corrupt and takes bribes, and has a fortune.

"And that Wu Jingzhong deliberately makes things difficult for his subordinates, is jealous of Lu Qiaoshan's talent, and framed him to drive him away.

"And that he, he colluded with the Japanese, privately sold important Nationalist government intelligence, and was in close contact with Okamura Yasuji, and that Liu Xiong was murdered precisely because he discovered these things.

"Anyway, whatever is disgusting, just write that."

Li Chong was afraid of the pain and answered quickly.

That Wu Jingzhong was corrupt and took bribes, Li Ya was also involved, so that was plausible.

But to say old Wu kept mistresses and colluded with the Japanese was pure nonsense.

With his prostate, even if you gave him a woman, he wouldn't be able to do anything.

"So, the matter of Wu Jingzhong murdering Liu Xiong was also made up?" Li Ya said.

"Th—this, this is really not!"

Li Chong hurriedly waved his hands to explain.

"Captain Li!

"We found two gold bars in Li Chong's house, along with some drafts slandering the Station Chief."

Yucheng walked in and handed them over together.

"Are these messy things worth two gold bars?

"You're quite good at acting."

Li Ya shook the gold bars and asked.

"I—I didn't expect the other party to be so generous either.

"Captain Li, if you don't trust me, can't you at least trust my late brother?"

Li Chong became anxious.

"Sorry, I don't even know your brother.

"Heh, trying to act in front of me.

"Give him a beating and throw him into the Shuitun Prison to feed the rats."

Li Ya couldn't be bothered to waste any more breath on him; he stuffed the gold bars into his pocket and walked out lazily.

It was very clear.

Someone from the Dangtong Bureau had offered a large sum of money, wanting to use Li Chong to stir up trouble between him and the Station Chief over the Liu Xiong affair.

This was very likely.

Ye Xiufeng and Sun Chuanzhi had suffered repeated setbacks at the hands of old Wu.

If it were him, he wouldn't miss such a good opportunity either.

It was a good thing he had kept Yucheng as a chess piece.

Otherwise, he would have truly fallen into their trap.

……

Inside the villa.

Hong Zhiyou was keeping Rui Rui company, chatting.

"Secretary Hong, phone call," Chou'er shouted from the living room.

Hong Zhiyou walked out to take it:

"Alright, I understand."

Hanging up the phone, he took the coffee Chou'er handed him and took a sip.

Li Ya had indeed gone to find Li Chong.

Hong Zhiyou was not the least bit worried about Xie Ruo's business capabilities.

The person he found would have no trouble handling such a small matter.

The current situation was a matter of sacrificing the pawn to save the knight.

How to put it? Don't look at Li Ya being trapped by affairs now; once the military aid comes down, soaring to the skies is highly likely.

One could catch a glimpse of this from the phone call the Chairman had Zhang Qun make to the Station Chief.

With the batch of evidence Li Ya obtained, military aid for the National Government was basically secure.

Moreover, the Jiang family father and son were not very concerned about the James affair.

This showed that the National Government still had power.

It was just that he himself had watched too many movies and television dramas, creating a fixed mindset that instinctively assumed the Jiang family father and son were weak on the international stage.

If this chess piece, James, could not nail Li Ya down.

Then, Li Ya would very likely welcome a promotion and reward this time.

Not to mention replacing Yu Zecheng.

At the very least, he would be valued by Jianfeng again and become active.

Yu Zecheng had already been pushed to the forefront by Old Wu to compete with Li Ya.

Making such a move was to protect Wu Jingzhong as much as possible and avoid a falling out with Li Ya.

Do not underestimate these details.

Old Wu could sit securely in Jinhai because he was airtight.

……

Army Hospital.

Mei Yingxue lay on the hospital bed, already on the verge of death.

Li Ya stood at the door without going in.

"How many more days can she hold on?" he asked Ding Defeng, who was to the side.

"Her current condition is very poor.

"The external injuries are too severe, and infection has already set in.

"However, Captain Li, rest assured, we will do our utmost to save her."

Ding Defeng replied respectfully from the side.

"Do your utmost to save her?

"How do I remember that your hospital's penicillin stock has run out?"

Li Ya looked at him coldly with a sidelong glance.

"No, it hasn't." Ding Defeng was stunned.

"Hasn't it?" Li Ya's gaze became sharp.

"Oh, it seems it is empty," Ding Defeng stammered, terrified.

"If it's gone, it should look like it's gone.

"Do you understand what I mean?"

Li Ya patted his shoulder and turned to leave.

Ding Defeng walked quickly to the general affairs office: "Director Li, seal the penicillin in the warehouse. For those who need it, general patients or those without severe inflammation, tell them to wait a few days.

"For those with connections, or those in critical condition, tell them to transfer hospitals quickly."

"Dean Ding, what happened?

"Stopping anti-inflammatory drugs will cost lives."

Director Li said, out of professional ethics.

"This is an Army Hospital, a hospital within the system, not a Red Cross charity hospital.

"You ask me, who should I ask?

"Just do as I say, why so much nonsense."

Ding Defeng gave the order, shook his head, and walked out.

Don't look at him as a dean.

This official position is truly hard to hold.

The municipal government, the garrison, the Garrison Command, the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics, and the Central Bureau of Investigation—whichever Bodhisattva comes, he has to arrange work for them.

Day after day, he didn't even know who he should listen to.

……

Four days later.

Mei Yingxue died.

Li Ya personally went to examine the corpse, and the heart that had been hanging finally settled back into his stomach.

At the same time.

British spies deliberately smeared the National Government, and with the disclosure of large amounts of data on the National Government's mineral and oil resources, international public opinion became highly favorable.

December 28th.

Wu Jingzhong was ordered to the capital and met with the Chairman once again.

Four o'clock in the afternoon.

Wu Jingzhong returned to Jinhai, leaning back on the sofa, exhausted, and dozed off for a nap.

"Teacher, why not go home and rest?" Hong Zhiyou handed him a hot towel.

Wu Jingzhong covered his face with it and warmed up for a while:

"Can't rest. One thing after another, it never ends.

"James's shot didn't hit the mark.

"Jianfeng and the Old Chairman don't care at all how many people Li Ya killed. A while ago, Gu Weijun argued with the British in the International Court and exposed all the British people's ugly deeds.

"Truman just waved his hand and approved a one-billion-dollar loan for the National Government.

"This morning, I saw the Old Man.

"The Old Man specifically commended me and Li Ya. With Boss Dai's Major General rank blocking the way, it's very difficult for me to get promoted. The Old Man's intention was to take this opportunity to transfer me to the Second Department as Deputy Director.

"Later, when entering the Ministry of National Defense, I would have the capital to be promoted to Lieutenant General."

Wu Jingzhong said.

"What is Teacher's intention?" Hong Zhiyou frowned.

"The Old Man is truly happy this time. It's clear he sincerely wants to promote me.

"But a golden nest or a silver nest is not as good as one's own dog kennel.

"I've grown accustomed to staying in Jinhai; I feel anxious staying in Jingling.

"Now that there's Rui Rui's child, I have even less interest in pursuing an official career.

"Thanks to me going to the restroom a few times.

"I didn't dye my hair.

"When the Old Man saw me like this, he didn't force it. After all, he and Jianfeng are used to using me, and they still want to get rid of Lin Tai.

"I made a turn and came back."

Wu Jingzhong spread his hands and laughed.

"Teacher is wise," Hong Zhiyou nodded and said.

In two more years, the National Army would collapse.

Taking advantage of the fact that Jinhai is still peaceful now, why not hurry to make money instead of running to Jingling to wait for the Presidential Palace to plant its flag?

"It's just that there is another troublesome matter at the moment," Wu Jingzhong said.

"Li Ya?" Hong Zhiyou said.

"Correct.

"Li Ya wears this green hat well; he's worn it into a peacock feather and turned it into a yellow imperial robe!

"The Chairman might have been holding this breath for a long time.

"He openly promoted Li Ya to Colonel.

"He personally stamped and signed the promotion order; for others, it's usually Chen Bulei who signs on his behalf.

"If it weren't for Jianfeng's obstruction, he would have wanted to summon Li Ya to Jingling for a commendation meeting and personally award Li Ya the Third Class Order of the Cloud and Banner on the spot," Wu Jingzhong said.

"Understood.

"Cutting off military aid, to the people under us, is ultimately neither painful nor itchy."

"But for the Generalissimo, that is a matter concerning his throne and empire."

"Furthermore, the new British Prime Minister is not Churchill; the Generalissimo always feels he lacks the seniority, yet he keeps picking fights with him, so he is surely holding back a belly full of anger."

"Wanting to use the matter of Li Ya to show the officers of the world and boost morale is only natural."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"Indeed."

"The Generalissimo is human, too."

"He is getting on in years, so it is quite normal for him to have little outbursts of emotion occasionally."

"By the way, has the matter regarding Li Ping been resolved?"

Wu Jingzhong said.

"Thanks to your timely reminder, Master."

"I have already made the arrangements; Li Ya has already locked the person in the Shuitun Prison, and I reckon by now he has completely 'understood' things," Hong Zhiyou said.

"Hmm."

"It is fortunate we prepared this move, otherwise all my acting these past few days would have been in vain."

"This person is impossible to domesticate."

"It is best not to offend him if it can be avoided."

"I have a premonition that Jiang Jianfeng will put him to heavy use; it is quite possible he will have a hand in the assassination of Lin Tai."

"It really is a case of fearing what might happen, and then it does."

"Had I known the British were such cowards and utterly useless, I should have let you take on this job."

Wu Jingzhong clapped his hands, lamenting his miscalculation.

"Master, who could have calculated that?"

"Was Jiang Jianfeng not terrified as well, to the point he dared not even issue an order?"

"This has secured the military aid."

"If it hadn't been secured, Li Ya's head might have already fallen by now."

"One can only say he is very lucky."

Hong Zhiyou smiled and said.

"Good luck is, in itself, a form of strength."

"I have already brought back the medal and promotion order for Li Ya."

"Go and call him in."

"In the future, when you have time, get closer to him and build a rapport."

"As for Yu Zecheng, I expect things might be a bit difficult for him for a while; tell him to endure it, there will be plenty of opportunities, and we will eventually catch Li Ya when he is down on his luck."

"Perhaps this trip to Jinmen by the Lady and Lin Tai will be a good opportunity."

Wu Jingzhong nodded and said.

……

(End of chapter)