Chapter 285: Zheng Jiemin's Scapegoat

Xi'an Pacification Commissioner's Office.

"It's this Li Ya again. What on earth does this bastard want to do!"

"Does he think I, Hu Zongnan, am easy to bully?"

After hearing Zhou Li's report, Hu Zongnan slammed the table in anger.

"Zhou Li, you just said this Li Ya is a Red?" asked the staff officer Wang Pu, who was standing to the side.

"I suspect he is."

"I suspect he deliberately caused the train to stop, and then orchestrated everything else."

"Judging by the professionalism of the bandits in seizing the supplies, and Li Ya's past performance in sabotaging the relationship between the 11th and 12th Army Groups, this person is likely a Red."

Zhou Li said.

"Sir, this might be our opportunity," Wang Pu said.

"Opportunity?" Hu Zongnan raised his eyebrows and asked.

"The current war situation is unfavorable, and the Generalissimo will sooner or later learn the truth."

"At that time, there will definitely need to be a summary of the military failure."

"The reason the Reds were able to escape our dragnet is precisely because their intelligence agents have infiltrated our ranks."

"Tens of thousands of dollars worth of medicine, gone just like that."

"The soldiers at the front are risking their lives, while the villains in the rear are tripping them up; how can this war be fought?"

"Do you still remember the last time in Beiping?"

"It was also this person who obstructed things, causing Ye Tianhua to lose his life in Beiping."

Wang Pu paused and took a sip of tea to moisten his throat.

"Of course."

"Because of that matter, the Lady is still holding a grudge against me to this day."

"It's just that this person has Jiang Jianfeng interceding for him..."

Hu Zongnan shook his head, his brow furrowing even tighter.

"It is precisely because he is Jiang Jianfeng's man that this is our opportunity."

"If we arrest Li Ya, we can pin a charge of incompetence on Jiang Jianfeng."

"Even if the Generalissimo wants to investigate the responsibility for the military setbacks, he couldn't possibly implicate his own son, right?"

"You must know that right now, in order to groom Jiang Jianfeng for succession, he is very protective of his son's reputation."

"If Jiang Jianfeng doesn't get dragged into the water."

"You won't have to bear any responsibility."

Wang Pu said in a low voice.

"Correct."

"The loss of the medicine has nothing to do with us in Xi'an."

"Jinhai is a leaky sieve, and the Jinhai Station in particular is practically a bandit's den."

"We must make this Li Ya face a military tribunal!"

Zhou Li chimed in from the side.

"Good!"

"Immediately, in the name of my Xi'an Pacification Commissioner's Office, send a telegram to Hou Wen, ordering him to rush to Jinhai at once and bring this Li Ya to me."

"A medical supply gap of over a hundred thousand dollars concerns the lives of my soldiers at the front."

"Jiang Jianfeng and Wu Jingzhong must give me an explanation."

Hu Zongnan said solemnly.

"Yes, I will send the telegram to Hou Wen right away." Zhou Li accepted the order gladly.

"Sigh!"

Hu Zongnan let out a slight sigh of relief.

He had been suffering setback after setback in Shanbei recently.

The so-called occupation of Yancheng was nothing more than scavenging a few earthen kilns.

On the contrary, because he was unfamiliar with the terrain of Shanbei, he was frequently ambushed by the Reds with superior local forces, and several of his elite divisions had been cut off and wiped out, which annoyed him to no end.

Yet the Generalissimo had placed high hopes on him.

With no other choice, he could only fabricate false military achievements every day.

Now, things were better; he had a ready-made excuse.

No medicine, with the Reds causing trouble in the rear, it was no wonder they were losing battles at the front.

Jinhai Station.

Wu Jingzhong was working in his office when the phone rang.

He picked it up:

"It's me."

"Mm, I see. Thank you, brother, for the heads-up."

"Good, I'll be waiting for you in Jinhai with wine."

After hanging up the phone, he said to Hong Zhiyou:

"Hu Zongnan is going to play for real."

"He's sending Hou Wen, the station chief of Xi'an, to Jinhai in person to demand a person."

"Everything is going as we wished."

"Go to the Donghai Tea House at noon to arrange a banquet. Hou Wen likes lamb; arrange for things like lamb heads, lamb spines, and roasted lamb chops."

"Understood!" Hong Zhiyou nodded.

"How are things with Cole and Ke Shufen?" Wu Jingzhong asked again.

"Ke Shufen went to the Navy Club last night and won over three thousand dollars. This woman is blinded by money; she asked me to help her set up a card game again early this morning."

"Cole has already sent a letter to the Ministry of National Defense."

"The Ministry of National Defense has an internal meeting this morning; I'll see if I can get the meeting content later."

"Anyway, if I were He Yingqin, I would send Zheng Jiemin."

"Zheng Jiemin has been in favor for so many years; there aren't many opportunities to step on him like this."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"Mm."

"Someone has already tipped off Tang Zong."

"I reckon his little note will soon appear on the Generalissimo's desk as well."

"Go call Li Ya over."

Wu Jingzhong was quite satisfied with the progress of events.

Hong Zhiyou accepted the order.

Arriving at Li Ya's office, this Captain Li was feeling dejected, his hand propping up his forehead in a daze.

"Captain Li?" Hong Zhiyou knocked on the door.

"Brother, is something the matter?" Li Ya asked, trying to pull himself together.

"There is, and it's bad news."

"After Zhou Li returned to Xi'an, he indeed went to Hu Zongnan to lodge a malicious complaint."

"The station chief just received a call."

"Hu Zongnan has ordered Hou Wen, the station chief of Xi'an, to go to Jinhai to personally escort you back to Xi'an."

"The station chief wants you to go to his office."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"Escort me to Xi'an!" Li Ya's eyes widened, and he pressed his lips together firmly.

"Let's go."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"Sigh."

"My fate is the fate of the nation!"

"Hu Zongnan is surrounded by cowardly, treacherous villains like Zhou Li; how can the National Army win any battles?"

Li Ya sighed heavily.

"Forget it."

"If the Generalissimo heard you say that, he'd have your tongue cut out first."

Hong Zhiyou laughed.

Li Ya gave a bitter smile, shrugged, and walked out shaking his head.

Arriving at the station chief's office.

Wu Jingzhong raised his hand and said: "Li Ya, Zhiyou should have told you already."

"Yes." Li Ya nodded.

"Hu Zongnan is truly furious, and I cannot speak for you here."

"However, I will instruct Station Chief Hou to try his best not to use severe torture on you, though some physical suffering is certainly unavoidable."

"When you get to Xi'an, do you know what to say?"

Wu Jingzhong sighed helplessly and said.

"Teacher, please instruct me." Li Ya did not dare to be arrogant anymore, his eyes showing a hint of panic.

He was still afraid of death and afraid of being investigated.

"When you get to Xi'an, just stick to one point: that it was the work of bandits."

"Whoever says you are a Red Ticket."

"Resolutely deny it!"

Wu Jingzhong instructed.

He did not care about Li Ya's life or death.

He only knew that if a Red Ticket appeared in the Tianjin Station, he, as the station chief, would be hard-pressed to escape blame.

One Ma Kui at Emei Peak had already made things very passive.

If another Li Ya came along, Mao Renfeng would inevitably seize the opportunity to make a big issue out of it.

"Li Ya, are you a Red Ticket?" Speaking of this, he looked at Li Ya coldly.

"Teacher."

"How could I possibly be a Red Ticket?"

"What kind of person I am, don't you know?"

Li Ya grew anxious and leaned forward to say.

"Back then, Boss Dai poured a massive amount of resources into you and sent you to Yancheng to go undercover."

"At that time, you were the Buddha Shrine of the Juntong Bureau."

"Now that you've returned, you've become one of the Iron-Blooded Youth Corps."

"You are truly a Thousand-Faced Buddha!"

"If one day you really became a Red Ticket, I wouldn't be surprised at all."

Wu Jingzhong pointed at him and said.

"Teacher."

"These are two different matters; joining the Iron-Blooded Youth Corps is also to serve the Party and State."

"As for Red Tickets, I am at irreconcilable odds with them."

Li Ya said gloomily.

"Listen well."

"As long as you are not a Red Ticket, Jiang Jianfeng will save you."

"Right now, only he can save you."

"Do you understand?"

Wu Jingzhong said.

"Understood, thank you for your guidance, Teacher." Li Ya nodded and said.

Jingling.

Jiang Jianfeng walked to the balcony holding a newspaper, feeling indignant:

"Father, Hu Zongnan is bragging again about defeating the main force of Peng's troops!"

"According to the intelligence my people sent back from the front line."

"In the entire Yancheng encirclement operation, they didn't even wipe out a thousand enemies, just captured a few mud houses."

"On the contrary, two of Hu Zongnan's elite divisions were wiped out clean by a counter-attack."

"Those idiots at the Central Daily News are still helping them brag and claim false merits."

"Father, if we continue to indulge Hu Zongnan in reporting false achievements like this, I'm afraid there will be big trouble."

"I approved the Central Daily News." The Leader said calmly.

"You approved it?" Jiang Jianfeng could hardly believe his ears.

"That's right."

"Without victory, how can we stabilize the hearts of the people?"

"Without victory, how can we obtain military aid from North America?"

"Never mind that Hu Zongnan occupied the Red Bandit headquarters in Yancheng and killed hundreds or thousands of people."

"Even if he just occupied a latrine."

"And killed two stray dogs."

"We must still help him brag it up to the heavens."

"Public opinion is something meant for the common people to see."

"If it isn't written this way, thousands upon thousands of people who can't get enough to eat will flock to the Red Ticket base areas."

"If it isn't written this way, how will the Americans believe that after the war, they can smoothly obtain resources and benefits?"

"Do you really think they are philanthropists?"

The Leader explained earnestly.

Jiang Jianfeng lowered his head in silence, feeling an inexplicable grief and shame in his heart.

If the country is not strong and the Party is not prosperous, its voice will not be righteous.

He now only hopes that this war will end soon, so that a thorough "scraping the bone to remove the poison" can take place.

"Hu Zongnan's setback is temporary."

"Heaven's timing, geographical advantages, and human harmony are still on my side; as long as we adjust properly, in the face of absolute strength, any strategy or tactic is just floating clouds."

"Right now there is a more important matter; Cole wants to invite Zheng Jiemin to visit the Seventh Fleet base in Qingdao, what do you think?"

The Leader put down the newspaper and turned to look at Jiang Jianfeng.

"Normal military exchange; as Deputy Minister, it is within Zheng Jiemin's duties." Jiang Jianfeng said.

"Within his duties?"

"This is the report submitted by Tang Zong."

The Leader frowned and handed over a document.

As Jiang Jianfeng read it, his brows tightened:

"Zheng Jiemin is getting so close to the Americans, and even gave Ambassador Smith a house?"

"Yes." The Leader nodded.

"The Americans have always boasted of being angels, wanting to stick their hands in everywhere they go."

"The current war situation is unfavorable."

"And with constitutional elections about to be held, I'm afraid some people are harboring ulterior motives."

"Ever since following Mr. Sun, people from all sides have never given up the desire to destroy me."

"Not to mention Li Zongren and Bai Chongxi."

"He Yingqin is close to the Japanese."

"Kong and Song, Dai Li, and Zheng Jiemin are pro-American; these people also have their own little schemes. The more chaotic the situation, the more we must be vigilant."

"Only by sitting firmly in this chair can one be qualified to discuss other matters."

"Remember, to resist foreign aggression, one must first pacify the interior; pacifying the interior always comes first."

The Leader poured him tea and signaled for him to sit down and talk.

"What is Father's intention?" Jiang Jianfeng asked.

"It's time to move against Zheng Jiemin's Old Cantonese Clique."

"Let him go."

"In addition, investigate his subordinates, especially his greedy wife."

"He is a smart man; a little warning will suffice."

The Leader said.

"Ke Shufen just went to Tianjin a few days ago and even specifically entrusted someone to invite Master Mei to come out of retirement to perform; it's very unusual." Jiang Jianfeng tattled.

"That's because Ma Hansan didn't get enough there."

"And now he's eyeing Tianjin."

"Tianjin is a material transit hub, and Wu Jingzhong is a meritorious official; this fortress must absolutely not have any problems."

"You need to back Wu Jingzhong up on some things."

The Leader ordered.

"Yes, Father."

"Just... just." Jiang Jianfeng hesitated to speak.

"Just what?" The Leader asked.

"Wu Jingzhong is too slippery; he only wants to use thirty percent of his effort in everything. I want to promote someone who will use one hundred percent of their effort to build Tianjin into a true fortress." Jiang Jianfeng said.

"Foolish!"

"Too hasty!"

"You want to expand the influence of the Three People's Principles Youth League, but now is not the time."

"The situation in Jinhai is complex, especially when dealing with the Americans; it is precisely someone like Wu Jingzhong who is needed."

"Who are you planning to recommend?"

The Generalissimo frowned; how could he not know his son's eagerness to control the intelligence lines?

"Li Ya, the captain of the action team at the Jinhai Station, the one who cracked the spy case; he is my man and has very senior qualifications. As long as his rank of Colonel is restored, he could..."

Before Jianfeng could finish speaking, the Generalissimo took out a document and threw it at him.

"Don't even mention this person. This is a telegraph report just sent by Hu Zongnan; see for yourself."

Jianfeng picked it up and read it, and he was stunned.

Li Ya had actually managed to lose a shipment of medicine.

Nearly two hundred thousand dollars' worth of penicillin had fallen into the hands of the Reds.

In the report, Hu Zongnan complained bitterly.

He attributed the failure of the military campaign at the front to poor logistical support in the rear, and even attached evidence of the batch numbers of the military supplies Li Ya had sold off.

"Father."

"This man was cultivated by me in secret; he is absolutely loyal to the Party and the State. Hu Zongnan is clearly making a mountain out of a molehill, and he is targeting me," Jianfeng said, annoyed.

"If the medicine is lost, it is lost."

"You have always believed in using people you suspect, and suspecting the people you use."

"But fools and straightforward people are sometimes more dangerous than treacherous or suspicious ones."

"With a person like this, you still expect him to guard Jinhai?"

"If he can lose medicine today."

"He could lose the city of Jinhai tomorrow."

The Generalissimo was extremely dissatisfied with this matter and, rarely, lost his temper at Jianfeng.

"Father, please calm your anger; it was my oversight," Jianfeng hurriedly bowed to admit his fault.

"Perfect."

"Isn't Zheng Jiemin eager to jump into the fray?"

"He is the Vice Minister of National Defense and concurrently in charge of military supplies; put this matter on his head."

"When he returns from Qingdao, tell him to find a way to procure two hundred thousand dollars' worth of medicine and send it to Hu Zongnan immediately."

"If he can't procure it, tell his wife to pay out of her own pocket to buy the medicine for Hu Zongnan."

The Generalissimo waved his hand, and the arrangement was made.

"Father."

"There are some things I still want to say."

"It has long been rumored within the Jinhai Station that there are Red moles. Li Ya may not be good at handling major affairs, but he has always hated the Reds."

"Now, our operational plans are placed on the Reds' desks the moment they are formulated."

"They know exactly what time our troops eat, what time they arrive where, what equipment they have, and what their organization is."

"In this way, they are always in the dark while we are in the light; how can this war be won?"

"My opinion is that the war must be fought."

"But we must also conduct a rectification of our internal ranks and purge the Red moles."

"The Jinhai Station is of the utmost importance and must not be lost."

"Li Ya has skills. Just take this matter of the lost medicine; Hu Zongnan's report mentions both train stoppages and Red bandits, which is too much of a coincidence. Li Ya was clearly set up by someone."

"Doesn't this prove that there are indeed Red moles in the Jinhai Station?"

Jianfeng began to plead for Li Ya.

"This Li Ya is not worth two hundred thousand dollars."

"Send a secret telegram to Hu Zongnan: if he wants to get the medicine, picking on a small fry is useless; tell him to find fault with Zheng Jiemin instead."

The Generalissimo said with seasoned cunning.

"Yes, Father." Jianfeng accepted the order, but he felt a secret sigh of relief in his heart.

Li Ya was saved.

Xi'an.

Hu Zongnan walked into the detention room of the Military Law Department.

"Officer Hu." Seeing him, Li Ya hurriedly stood up.

He had been locked up for three days.

Although he hadn't been beaten, he hadn't even had a drop of water; his mouth was dry, his throat parched, and he felt dizzy and faint.

"Li Ya."

"I will ask you one more time, the medicine..."

"Enough."

"You all go out first," Hu Zongnan raised his hand to stop the interrogating soldier.

Once there were no outsiders left.

He raised his hand and poured a cup of warm tea for Li Ya.

Li Ya took it and drank it in one gulp, finally feeling like he could catch his breath.

"Li Ya."

"You can go now," Hu Zongnan said.

"Yes..." Li Ya was overjoyed.

"That's right, Jianfeng and Wu Jingzhong both pleaded for you; I still have to give them some face."

"Do you know what to say when you go back?"

Hu Zongnan looked at him with cold eyes and said.

"I don't know," Li Ya said.

"Just say that this batch of medicine was robbed by bandits, it has nothing to do with you, and it was an accidental incident."

"The rest is Zheng Jiemin's business."

"Do you understand?"

Hu Zongnan adjusted his clothes and gave the instructions.

"I understand!" Li Ya nodded respectfully.

Hu Zongnan turned and walked out.

Reaching the door, he shook his head with a look of disdain and smiled.

Jianfeng's protectiveness over his subordinates was truly something else.

He treated a Red as a treasure; if it weren't for the fact that he still had to rely on Zheng Jiemin to make up for the two hundred thousand dollars' worth of medicine, he would have shot the man surnamed Li on the spot.

"Officer, are we just letting him go like that?" Zhou Li followed him out, asking as he walked.

"If I don't let him go, are you going to pay for this two hundred thousand dollars' worth of medicine?"

"He is fine."

"This is Zheng Jiemin's business."

"Whether the Ministry of National Defense pays for it or Zheng Jiemin pays for it, the medicine must be delivered to me."

Hu Zongnan said coldly.

Jinhai.

Lu Qiaoshan's garden courtyard.

This place was secluded and hidden, making it a perfect spot for a meeting.

"Brother, do you think Li Ya will be able to come back?" Lu Qiaoshan asked with a smile.

"I obtained the list of the medicine he sold from the black market."

"I sent it to Hu Zongnan secretly a long time ago."

"If Hu Zongnan wanted to deal with him, these things should have been submitted to the Generalissimo by now."

"Colluding with the Reds to rob medicine."

"Privately withholding medicine and selling penicillin."

"No matter which charge is brought down, it will be hard for Li Ya to escape."

As he spoke, he leaned forward and smiled.

"That depends on whether Jianfeng protects him or not."

"If he wants to protect him, he can always find a reason," Hong Zhiyou said indifferently.

In fact, he already had the answer in his heart.

Li Ya would be fine this time.

The problem was that this job had been done too perfectly.

One link after another.

Things turn into their opposites when they reach the extreme.

It was so perfect that there were loopholes everywhere.

Last night, after a brief review, he realized he had made a big mistake.

The Generalissimo, Jiang Jianfeng is no ordinary person.

So many coincidences piled together, especially the train suspension, easily make one suspect a setup.

Therefore, Jiang Jianfeng can clearly see that Li Ya was set up.

Whoever could set up Li Ya and let the Red Tickets profit must also be a Red Ticket.

At the very least, they are an enemy of the Party-State.

This is a dangerous signal.

Once Jiang Jianfeng becomes suspicious, he will not only protect Li Ya at all costs, but might even secretly grant him special privileges, letting Li Ya intensify his investigation of the Jinmen Station.

He himself and the Station Chief are fine for now.

It is just that Yu Zecheng will inevitably face trouble.

However, Hong Zhiyou is not discouraged.

People are not sages.

As long as one is in the game, it is absolutely impossible to be foolproof forever.

Nothing should be done to the absolute limit.

In the future, setups should minimize deliberate traces.

Things like a train encountering a landslide and suddenly stopping should be kept to a minimum.

"That shouldn't be right.

"With two hundred thousand dollars of penicillin involved, can Jiang Jianfeng still protect him?"

Lu Qiao found it quite unbelievable.

Just as they were speaking.

The phone rang.

Lu Qiao stood up to answer it:

"It's me.

"Alright, I understand."

He hung up the phone and returned to the sofa with a gloomy face:

"Brother, you were right.

"Sheng Xiang just called, Li Ya... has returned!"

(End of chapter)