Chapter 295: Parting the Clouds to See the Moon

Shang Bo searched for intelligence while frowning:

"I'm sorry, there was a piece of intelligence on Jinhai, but you arrived a step too late; someone else collected it."

"Collected it? Who?" Li Ya raised his eyebrows and asked.

"Xie Ruo, a former underling of mine, now a trusted aide to Sun Chuanzhi of the Dangtong Bureau," Shang Bo said.

"But even if you find him, you might be disappointed.

"This man cares deeply about his reputation; once he has sold a piece of intelligence, even if you kill him, he won't utter a single word," Shang Bo added.

"I know.

"That is why I can only ask you: did you keep a copy?" Li Ya asked coldly.

"This..." Shang Bo stammered.

"I know the character of you people; selling a copy twice, or even multiple times—it's impossible you didn't keep a copy," Li Ya said.

"I did keep a copy originally.

"But you know, Xie Ruo is cunning; he took that as well."

Shang Bo said.

"It seems you refuse to tell the truth.

"Someone reported that you are in close contact with the Reds; as it happens, there is no time like the present—come with me to the Secret Service Bureau for a trip."

Li Ya sucked on his cheek, and in the blink of an eye, reached back to grab his gun.

He was a man who had seen the world.

He also knew how imposing his uniform was.

Especially in front of these shady profiteers, the Juntong and the Secret Service Bureau were their ancestors.

"Don't, don't!

"I really can't produce the copy, but I remember the content of the intelligence very clearly.

"You know, in our line of work, one must have the ability to never forget the past.

"Can I recite it for you word for word?"

Shang Bo said, raising his hands in panic.

"I don't have that ability of yours.

"Write it down."

Li Ya tapped his chest and said.

Back then, in order to set a trap for Mei Yingxue, he had pestered her endlessly, exhausting his vital energy and blood to such an extent that he still hadn't fully recovered.

His memory was much worse than before.

Just by Shang Bo saying a few words, he might not necessarily remember it.

"Yes, yes."

Shang Bo wrote it down nimbly.

Li Ya picked it up and took a look; a sharp glint appeared in his eyes, and his expression changed a hundred times in an instant.

Gloomy, serious.

Then, ecstatic.

This made Shang Bo, standing to the side, regret it so much his guts turned green.

Usually, when a customer shows this expression, it means the intelligence is of extreme value.

Damn it.

Old Xie got lucky; I sold it too cheap.

"Are you sure it's word for word?"

Li Ya put it away and asked in a deep voice.

"Sure, word for word," Shang Bo replied.

"Good."

Li Ya turned and walked out.

Upon reaching the door, he turned back:

"Keep your mouth shut, otherwise don't blame me for being impolite."

"Understood, understood!" Shang Bo nodded like a chicken pecking at rice.

Li Ya returned home, took out the manuscript, and read it through carefully.

Since arriving at the Jinhai Station.

Because Jiang Jianfeng had entrusted him with the matter of Yang Family Village, he had been investigating Yu Zecheng the whole time.

Especially in the last two months, by reviewing all the station's documents and data, and combining many clues, the holes in Yu Zecheng's story were becoming more and more numerous, even approaching the obvious.

"Ma Kui!"

Li Ya picked up Ma Kui's file and flipped through it page by page.

This man was once a bodyguard for Mao Renfeng and enjoyed Mao's deep trust.

During the Japanese occupation, he had repeatedly infiltrated enemy-occupied areas alone to carry out top-secret missions.

It was precisely because of these many achievements that he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel early on.

Since Ma Kui arrived in Jinhai, almost all the file records were about investigating the Reds, as well as targeting Yu Zecheng.

How could such a person be a Red?

The key was still Mount Emei!

Mount Emei!

According to this piece of intelligence from Shang Bo.

The Red side had once sent a staff member from the Sixth Section of the Border Defense, named Chen Qiuping, to Jinhai to act as a married couple with Mount Emei and carry out an infiltration mission.

After Chen Qiuping died, the Reds urgently sent another person to Jinhai two days later.

That is to say, Mount Emei has a wife.

His wife is a Red!

Li Ya picked up a pen and wrote Ma Kui next to "Mount Emei."

Then, in the wife column: he wrote Zhou Gendi.

How could Zhou Gendi, a woman who loved to look at foreign erotic... magazines, and hid photos of Hong Zhiyou and various messy tools to satisfy her needs under her pillow, be a Red?

Li Ya had seen female Reds in Yancheng.

They were high-spirited and full of righteousness.

They were definitely not women like Zhou Gendi or Mei Yingxue, who were cheap to the bone.

Li Ya bit his lip, frowned, and pondered for a moment.

He suddenly crossed out Ma Kui's name.

Then, he wrote the three characters for Yu Zecheng.

Wife, Cuiping.

Chen Qiuping.

Wang Cuiping.

Chen Qiuping died after falling from a horse on September 26th.

Urgent transfer, urgent transfer...

As if he had grasped something, Li Ya quickly grabbed the phone and dialed a number:

"Gao Yuan, are you on duty?

"Immediately check the public expense dining records of the General Affairs Section at the Lishun Hotel.

"As well as the station's official vehicle dispatch records.

"Yes, the main time frame is after September 15th.

"Mark any that involve Yu Zecheng and tell me."

He hung up the phone.

Li Ya clenched his fists in excitement, making his knuckles crackle.

He felt he had touched the dawn.

Soon, Gao Yuan called back:

"Captain Li, I've found it.

"..."

Gao Yuan was reciting on the other end, and Li Ya stopped him: "No need to recite the beginning, just the 26th and onwards."

"On the morning of September 28th, Deputy Station Chief Yu used a car to go to Bawang Village in Langfang to pick someone up.

"On the evening of September 30th, the Station Chief hosted a welcome banquet, and Yu, Lu, and Ma all attended with their wives."

Gao Yuan read out.

"I know!"

Hanging up the phone, Li Ya quickly marked the date under Wang Cuiping's name.

September 28th.

On September 26th, Chen Qiuping died.

On the 28th, Cuiping arrived.

Urgent transfer!

He used the tip of his pen to point repeatedly at the Shang Bo manuscript.

Only two days apart.

It is indeed urgent enough.

He took out a small notebook again.

This was something Li Ya had searched out from Ma Kui's home.

Zhou Gendi left in a great hurry, and it just so happened to coincide with his own arrival in Jinmen, so the station did not search Ma Kui's home thoroughly.

Ma Kui had the habit of keeping a small notebook.

The station's accountant, Zhou Yafu, was a mole planted by Ma Kui to monitor the Yu couple.

Zhou Yafu had reported to Ma Kui many times that the Yu couple often quarreled.

This is not hard to explain.

If they were a real married couple, they would be too busy being affectionate after not seeing each other for so long, so how could they quarrel?

A woman urgently transferred from the mountains, and not a real couple, it is naturally unavoidable to quarrel when not used to city life.

Furthermore.

His mentor Liu Xiong had the nickname "Gray Eagle."

How sharp were his eyes; he had set his sights on Wang Cuiping and had even arrested Wang Cuiping's driver, Xiao Wuzi, in Yixian.

The fog before Li Ya's eyes gradually dissipated.

He had already seen the truth!

Yu Zecheng is the real Emeifeng.

Wang Cuiping was urgently transferred from Yixian by the Red Ticket.

Her specific position and identity are unknown.

But what is certain is that she must be a Red Ticket.

"So that's how it is!"

Li Ya put down his pen, clenched his fist tightly against the corner of his mouth, and his cheeks tightened in waves.

Yu Zecheng is Emeifeng.

Ma Kui was indeed wrongly killed.

Could his mentor...

If you put it that way, the Station Master and Hong Zhiyou are very likely accomplices.

"No, that's impossible.

"The teacher and mentor are as close as brothers, with a bond of living and dying together; how could he possibly help Yu Zecheng..."

As Li Ya frowned and muttered, his gaze became increasingly sharp:

"It is not impossible.

"Wu Jingzhong is single-mindedly greedy for money, and Yu Zecheng is his cash cow.

"For the sake of money, betraying a brother..."

Thinking of this, Li Ya hammered his fist hard onto the table.

Immediately.

He took a deep breath.

Must stay calm.

The reason Ma Kui became "Emeifeng," judging from the records in the notebook, was largely because he was secretly investigating the Station Master and Mu Liancheng.

He cannot act rashly.

For one, the intelligence is questionable.

Shang Bo and his gang making fake intelligence to earn dirty money is not a one-day affair.

In case this is a trap set by the Dangtong Bureau or Lu Qiaoshan to provoke the relationship between himself and Wu Jingzhong, this is entirely possible.

Unless the original can be obtained.

To prove that Yu Zecheng and Wang Cuiping indeed have suspicions.

Otherwise, everything is just speculation.

Without evidence, one cannot nail a person down.

Why did Ma Kui die?

Why did he fail?

Judging from Ma Kui's file.

If he was wronged, a large part of the reason was that he had no ironclad evidence in his hands, and was repeatedly countered by others, to the point that he eventually lost his life.

Li Ya will not do such a stupid thing.

Thinking of this, he picked up the phone and dialed Xie Ruo's number:

"Old Xie, I want to buy a piece of intelligence from you.

"About Jinhai.

"Alright, see you tomorrow."

Inside the fish restaurant.

Xie Ruo was picking his teeth; the three of them did not rush to leave after finishing their meal.

"Old Xie.

"People in your circle are not honest; if someone asks about this intelligence, for example, Lu Qiaoshan or Li Ya, it will be very troublesome for people like this.

"Both of them have dealings with you.

"You have to think of a way."

Yu Zecheng took a sip of tea and said.

"Business matters, no comment.

"Either he kills me, or no deal.

"We have cooperated so many times, you should know my character.

"Nothing can destroy my faith in money.

"Including death."

Xie Ruo leaned against the chair, his chin slightly raised as he said proudly.

"With those words from you, I am relieved.

"However, I feel this matter still needs a setup to work.

"This intelligence is too important to allow for any wishful thinking."

"I am very worried that someone will go find that Old Shang; according to your industry rules, he will most likely sell it again.

"Even if it's just the basics or an oral account sold to someone like Li Ya, it will be a big trouble."

Yu Zecheng said with considerable worry.

Seeing Xie Ruo looking at him with glowing eyes, he quickly waved his hand and said:

"Don't look at me like that, I am not a Red Ticket.

"I just don't want to invite trouble or complications."

"Old Yu is right, this matter needs some attention." Hong Zhiyou echoed.

Once this kind of information falls into Li Ya's hands.

Then there will be many issues.

Not to mention that Yu Zecheng will be in big trouble.

If Ma Kui and Liu Xiong's affairs are connected, there is no telling if the Station Master and himself will be implicated.

"Can you let that Old Shang meet with Lu Qiaoshan?" Hong Zhiyou suggested.

"Old Lu?

"Lu Qiaoshan has no interaction with him, and besides, matters like this are mostly handled by Sheng Xiang; it is too difficult to get Old Lu out." Yu Zecheng frowned and said.

"What is difficult about this?

"Didn't you say Lu Qiaoshan and Li Ya are mortal enemies?

"Get some dirt on Li Ya.

"Best if it's from Yancheng; I will go to the black market and leak some wind, saying Old Shang has intelligence regarding Li Ya in Yancheng, and Lu Qiaoshan will definitely go ask.

"But the premise is that you must keep Sheng Xiang steady.

"So he has no time to run errands for Lu Qiaoshan.

"Meeting once, eating... eating a meal shouldn't be a big problem."

Xie Ruo said with a smile.

"Where to find black material on Li Ya?" Yu Zecheng said.

"Forge it.

"Before the high-level officials of the National Defense Force intervened in intelligence trading, sixty percent of this industry was fake intelligence.

"My method of forgery was personally taught by Old Shang.

"I don't know much about Li Ya's affairs; you have to provide the material for this."

Xie Ruo lifted his hand with a relaxed expression.

"It is still quite easy to compile black material on Li Ya.

"First, the Yuan Peilin affair.

"Second, sabotaging the transport of military supplies.

"Third, including the assassination of Lin Tai and the like, as well as the matter of losing Hu Zongnan's medicine.

"Any one of these is extremely serious and easily arouses suspicion.

"It is only because Jiang Jianfeng is shielding him that it hasn't been exposed yet.

"Old Yu, you are the expert; you write it, and it is best to finalize it right now."

Hong Zhiyou analyzed them one by one.

"Fine."

Yu Zecheng took out paper and a pen from his pocket and began writing rapidly.

"Telegram.

"June 18th.

"Deep Sea, Jiang is secretly transporting military grain to the Fu Zuoyi unit in the Twelfth War Zone; the Fu unit fears an attack on Zhangjiakou any day now, must delay it at all costs.

"Telegram.

"Deep Sea, Mr. is about to visit the capital, learned that Mao Wanli has already deployed an assassination plan in Jin, must use every means to ensure Mr.'s safety."

Yu Zecheng wrote several copies in a row, checked them carefully, and handed them to Hong Zhiyou.

"That should do.

"Since it's fake news, it's good enough at this level."

Hong Zhiyou took a look and smilingly handed it to Xie Ruo.

Since it was all fake news, Xie Ruo couldn't be bothered to look and stuffed it directly into his pocket:

"Alright, leave the rest to me."

"Old Xie, you need to contact Shang Bo; Li Ya will be able to track you down very soon. Don't forget he was already suspicious of you regarding the medicine batch number last time; you must be careful," Hong Zhiyou reminded him.

"Heh, the things dumped into the black market have passed through who knows how many hands. If he wants to use that to suspect me, then let him investigate slowly; it won't be my turn for another eight or ten years," Xie Ruo laughed dismissively.

"As for how to get it into Old Shang's hands, I naturally won't show my face.

"Rest assured.

"There are many immortals in this circle: the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics, the Party Bureau, and the Red Tickets.

"Someone will leak this news to Old Shang.

"Deep Sea, after all.

"The leading figure of the Red Tickets in Jinhai right now, and with every point directed at Li Ya, it would be strange if Lu Qiaoshan didn't take the bait."

Xie Ruo laughed.

"Fine, then this matter is left to you." Yu Zecheng took US dollars out of his briefcase to pay for the meal and deliver part of the intelligence payment.

"Old Xie, I'll give you the rest another day," Yu Zecheng said.

Seeing that Xie Ruo was a bit unhappy, he patted his shoulder:

"With Zhiyou acting as guarantor, you won't be short a single cent."

"Fine.

"With Secretary Hong acting as guarantor, I wouldn't be worried even if it were twenty thousand, let alone the mere two thousand US dollars remaining."

Xie Ruo smiled, stood up, tucked his bag under his arm, and left.

After parting ways with Yu Zecheng, Hong Zhiyou drove to an inconspicuous little inn:

"Boss, did anyone come looking for Boss Xue today?

"Yes, he said he had important matters to report to you."

The boss replied.

"Alright, I understand." Hong Zhiyou handed him two silver dollars.

The next day.

Li Ya drove over early in the morning and blocked the road Xie Ruo took to work.

"Old Xie."

When Xie Ruo passed by, he called out through a narrow gap in the car window.

Is he sick in the head or something... Xie Ruo pretended not to hear and walked quickly into the building.

He liked dealing with all sorts of people.

But he wasn't crazy enough to openly contact someone from the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics on the turf of the Party Bureau.

Wouldn't that be giving people ammunition to use against him?

Li Ya shook his head and let out a frustrated sigh.

If he hadn't been stewing all night, anxious to get the documents, he wouldn't have blocked him here.

Forget it, we'll talk tonight.

Returning to the station, Gao Yuan walked up quickly:

"Captain Li, Lu Qiaoshan is here.

"He arrived this morning; the coffee is already brewing, and the Station Master is about to hold a meeting to announce the appointment."

"Mm, I smell it." Li Ya nodded.

"Have Secretary Hong and the others arrived?"

He asked, frowning.

"They have.

"There is a routine meeting at the station; he usually goes out to buy some fruit, I reckon he'll be back soon," Gao Yuan replied.

Hong Zhiyou returned after buying the fruit.

He casually pulled a slip of paper from inside, written in code.

He quickly entered his office, found a copy of Journey to the West from the bookcase, and translated it using the numbers inside:

"Li's investigation into Yu's old home yielded no results.

"Went out to Cat Ear Alley after nine last night; details of what was seen are unknown; returned home at ten-ten.

"Left half an hour early this morning, traveled in the opposite direction; specific business unknown."

Three lines of text.

Hong Zhiyou had already obtained the information he wanted.

The information was left by Gao Yuan.

For the sake of convenience, the house Gao Yuan rented was a single-story building about a hundred meters across from Li Ya.

Gao Yuan only needed a telescope, and whether Li Ya went out after work every day was under Gao Yuan's surveillance.

Although this was time-consuming, exhausting, and dangerous.

But for Gao Yuan, it was done willingly.

A scholar dies for one who appreciates him; Hong Zhiyou had given him everything, so what did doing this little task matter?

"Cat Ear Alley.

"Shang Bo's residence.

"In such a rush to see someone in the morning?"

Hong Zhiyou was just about to pick up the phone, but thinking it was bugged, he headed straight for the Station Master's office. Before Wu Jingzhong arrived, he closed the door and picked up the phone to dial Xie Ruo's office landline.

"Hello, Old Xie, did Li Ya come to see you this morning?" he asked.

From the other end came Xie Ruo's affirmative cursing.

Hong Zhiyou hung up the phone and couldn't help but shake his head and smile:

"Old Yu really has bad luck.

"To be bumped into like this."

Immediately, he had a change of thought and felt this was an inevitable occurrence; it was only a matter of time.

Li Ya was investigating Yu Zecheng.

If he couldn't find clues in the station's files and documents, he would definitely resort to these black market dealers sooner or later.

It seems preparing that hand last night was the right move.

"Zhiyou, has Qiaoshan arrived?" Wu Jingzhong asked.

"He has." Hong Zhiyou nodded.

"Notify everyone, meeting immediately," Wu Jingzhong ordered.

"Yes!"

Hong Zhiyou immediately notified the main heads of each department by phone.

Hong Zhiyou arrived at the entrance of the conference room, where Lu Qiaoshan was standing, looking left and right.

"Old Lu, why this getup?"

Hong Zhiyou looked him over and asked with a smile.

Lu Qiaoshan was wearing a military uniform today.

"Hey, I just rushed over from the Garrison Headquarters early this morning. You know I'm in charge over there too, and Commander Chen has strict rules, so I didn't even have time to change out of this uniform."

"How about it? This getup isn't bad, right?"

Seeing Li Ya walking over from the other side, Lu Qiaoshan raised his previously gloomy voice by an octave, fearing Li Ya wouldn't hear him.

"More than just 'not bad'!"

"Holding a concurrent post at the Garrison Headquarters Inspection Division—that was a privilege only station chiefs had back when Boss Dai was around."

"Old Lu, this time you can truly be called 'returning home in glory'."

"If you could add a Colonel's shoulder boards to that, it would be even more perfect."

Hong Zhiyou was also not stingy with his praise.

"Don't worry, brother, it's only a matter of time; it's a certainty."

"Serving in two places at once, how could I not rack up some merit doing whatever I do?"

Lu Qiaoshan laughed smugly.

"That's true."

"Let's go, let's head in; the Station Chief and the others are all waiting."

Hong Zhiyou smiled.

"You go in first, I'll take a few steps to catch my breath."

Lu Qiaoshan glanced at the gloomy-faced Li Ya and said in a low voice.

Fine, it looks like a battle of wits is about to begin.

Starting a fight on the very first day—only Lu Qiaoshan would do that.

(End of chapter)