Chapter 296

"Why not Hong Zhiyou?

"Besides him, who else can get this kind of gun now?" Sheng Xiang expressed confusion.

"Two points.

"Do you think if Hong Zhiyou sent someone to do it, he would be stupid enough to leave the gun at the scene?

"The US military is very strict about the management of this new type of sniper rifle.

"Anyone would suspect him.

"The murderer left the gun at the scene to mislead us, making us think Hong Zhiyou did it."

Lu Qiaoshan said in a deep voice.

"Hmm, that's true.

"Hong Zhiyou is a very cunning guy; he wouldn't do such a stupid thing." Sheng Xiang nodded.

"Also.

"Li Ya has been getting very close to a US military Second Lieutenant named Tuo'er recently.

"This person is a rotten drunkard who will do anything for money.

"Li Ya highly likely got the gun from Tuo'er."

Lu Qiaoshan drank some coffee and continued.

There was another point: he considered his relationship with Hong Zhiyou to be passable for now.

Lu Ming had no direct conflict of interest with Hong Zhiyou.

This kind of hatred for killing a son, an irreconcilable matter, brought Hong Zhiyou no benefit.

"Brother Shan is right.

"Secretary Hong's relationship with you on the surface is still quite good.

"But isn't Li Ya going too far by doing this?"

Sheng Xiang was, after all, from Luojiawan; the keen intuition of a secret agent made him feel that something was not quite right.

"Too far?

"Last time in Beiping, he dared to personally kill his way to the inspection team to stir up trouble with me to my face.

"What is there that he wouldn't do?"

Lu Qiaoshan said coldly.

"Brother Shan, is there a possibility that the Red Tickets did it?

"The goal is to scare us, transfer Qian Siming as soon as possible, and then act from there.

"According to Qian Siming's account.

"At that time, Liu Shan went out to buy books, and Lu Ming helped tidy up the flowerpot on the windowsill, which is how the murderer seized the opportunity." Sheng Xiang reminded.

"That possibility cannot be ruled out.

"Let's leave it at that; transfer Qian Siming first—this is also Deputy Chief Zheng's intention."

Lu Qiaoshan rubbed his chin and didn't pursue it further.

For him, whether it was Li Ya, Yu Zecheng, or the Red Tickets in Jinhai didn't matter anymore.

Because these few people in the Jinhai Station were all on his revenge list.

They all had to die, one by one.

Lu Qiaoshan finished handling Lu Ming's funeral and returned to the Garrison Headquarters.

"Old Lu, Qian Siming should be moved.

"That female professor from Yanjing University you caught last time went back and made public the news of Qian Siming going to Yanjing University to give a lecture.

"She also claimed that Qian Siming was detained by us.

"It's been almost a week past the lecture date, and some commercial newspapers and Democratic League newspapers are blaming us one after another.

"Students are forming groups and gathering at Qian Siming's old residence.

"Our public opinion is very passive; Deputy Chief Zheng's intention is to transfer him as soon as possible; it's time to move."

Peng Chengtao walked in and began to advise him earnestly.

"What kind of tricks are Fu Zuoyi and He Siyuan playing? How can they indulge this Chen Yan in acting recklessly? And are there no one to manage those newspaper offices in Beiping?

"Are Wang Puchen and Qiao Jiacai all a bunch of useless trash who just eat and do nothing?"

Lu Qiaoshan was already full of fire, so he couldn't help but slap the table and curse.

"Old Lu.

"The current Confidentiality Bureau is not the Military Statistics Bureau of Boss Dai's era; not many people are afraid anymore.

"Let alone us, even when Mao Renfeng speaks, how many people listen?

"I know you are holding in anger and fire, so send him away quickly to avoid long nights and many dreams.

"Gu Zhutong is about to be transferred to Chief of General Staff of the Ministry of National Defense, and Tang Zong is always shooting cold arrows from behind; these are not thorns to be trifled with, and Deputy Chief Zheng is under great pressure as well."

Peng Chengtao frowned and said.

"What time is it now? Whether we catch Red Tickets or not is no longer important.

"Look at the current situation; who is still catching Red Tickets?

"Don't seek merit, just seek to avoid mistakes.

"Having the mind to stuff your own pockets... is the most important thing."

As he spoke, he leaned closer and made a gesture of counting money.

Lu Qiaoshan bit his lip and tilted his chin in annoyance.

"You tried it in the middle of the night last time, too.

"These students even dare to block military vehicles, and coupled with Qian's determination to die, lingering there and refusing to come out—if we use force, he will commit suicide; it's indeed not easy to handle."

Lu Qiaoshan sighed slightly, feeling quite a headache.

"That's right, we need to find a legitimate reason to exchange Qian Siming out." Peng Chengtao touched his nose and began to ponder along with him.

"The hospital.

"No matter how arrogant the students are, they can't break into the emergency room, right?

"But I can't think of the follow-up operations for a moment."

He had a sudden flash of inspiration.

"The hospital?"

Lu Qiaoshan narrowed his eyes, deliberated slightly, and nodded:

"The hospital is not a bad suggestion.

"I'll ponder it further and transport the person to Wandao as soon as possible."

"Then I'll wait for your good news." Peng Chengtao got up and walked out.

"The hospital?"

Lu Qiaoshan's fingers tapped rhythmically on the sofa.

Soon, he had the prototype of a plan in his mind.

He stood up quickly, picked up his clothes, and walked out of the office.

Arriving downstairs, he drove straight to the hospital.

At the side door of the hospital, several coffins were waiting there.

These were the families of patients who were about to die or had died an unnatural death; once the hospital finished the procedures, they could collect the bodies and load them directly into coffins to transport them to the funeral home or their respective homes.

Although the Ministry of the Interior had been promoting cremation, except for a very few cities like Shanghai, Changchun, and Wuhan that had established crematoriums in operation,

in most cities across the country, including Jinhai, burial remained the primary method.

A few days ago, Lu Qiaoshan had also brought Lu Ming home this way.

Coffins!

Lu Qiaoshan drove to the coffin shop on the street adjacent to the Shuntun Prison.

The boss had a black beard and was sitting at the doorway smoking a dry pipe.

Seeing him, the boss hurriedly nodded and bowed: "See a coffin, get rich; please come in, sir."

"Make... two coffins.

"I want living coffins, the kind that can breathe."

Lu Qiaoshan said straight to the point.

"Living coffins, this is..." The boss didn't quite understand the meaning.

"It's for a living person to lie in, the kind that won't suffocate them." Lu Qiaoshan said.

"Understood.

"I can open two large gaps in the floor, and additionally, set two wooden bricks where the coffin lid covers, making the coffin slightly larger, so that even if the lid is closed, there will be support to leave enough ventilation gaps."

The boss was clearly a man who understood, and he immediately had a plan.

"Two sets.

"When is the earliest they can be delivered?" Lu Qiaoshan asked.

"I'll rush the work; the day after tomorrow, it should be about right." The boss said.

"Not about right.

"It must be.

"Otherwise, I'll execute you, understand?"

Lu Qiaoshan showed his credentials and then pulled out a handful of silver dollars and slapped them into his hand.

"Understood, Officer." The boss nodded hurriedly.

Lu Qiaoshan straightened his clothes.

Action Team office.

"Captain Li, the people we just had following Lu Qiaoshan discovered that he went to order two coffins." Gao Yuan walked into the office to report.

"Coffins?" Li Ya frowned.

After a moment of contemplation, he smiled and said: "That's a pretty good trick; keep Liu Shan sharp."

"Understood." Gao Yuan nodded.

"Also, notify Ding Defeng to prepare two more bodies; I have a use for them." Li Ya instructed.

Two days later.

8:13 AM.

Qian Siming finished breakfast and sat on the sofa reading the newspaper out of habit.

"Are the students still outside?" he asked.

"Hmm.

"There must be over a hundred of them.

"A batch came from Beiping, but they are mainly from Beiyang and Nankai.

"They want to come in to visit you and have sent representatives to talk several times, but they have all been blocked by people from the Garrison Headquarters.

"Now it's spreading outside that you have been detained by the Confidentiality Bureau, and there is news that you have been poisoned and transported to Wandao.

"Everyone is afraid you might have met with a mishap, so they are taking turns keeping watch outside."

Liu Shan answered respectfully.

"It's bitter for them." Qian Siming sighed.

"Teacher, they might be about to transfer you; you must be careful." Liu Shan reminded him while serving warm tea.

"Who is this 'they' you speak of?" Qian Siming looked up and asked.

Liu Shan smiled slightly and didn't answer.

"You tell the people outside that I will die right here; if they want me to go to Wandao, there's no way."

Qian Siming took the tea, drank a few sips, and just as he was about to stand up, he felt a sharp pain in his abdomen, and his vision went black.

"Teacher, are you alright?" He saw Liu Shan's blurred face swaying before his eyes.

"You, you..."

White foam spilled from the corners of Qian Siming's mouth, and he collapsed to the floor, his whole body twitching.

Liu Shan rushed out and shouted to the outside:

"Not good, Professor Qian is having a seizure.

"Come quickly!"

Lu Qiaoshan and the people from the Action Department rushed in immediately, threw him onto a stretcher, and carried him out.

"Wh... what happened?"

The students outside immediately surrounded them, and the leader, Guo Youliang, asked in alarm.

"Professor Qian has had a sudden illness and must receive medical treatment immediately." Lu Qiaoshan said righteously.

"It must be you who did something to Professor Qian." A student in the crowd shouted.

"That's right, you Confidentiality Bureau people love using these underhanded methods."

"They want to harm Professor Qian, stop them!"

The students were all filled with righteous indignation.

"You can make a scene, but if the rescue time is delayed, your Professor Qian will have to go see King Yama." Lu Qiaoshan looked around at them and said coldly.

"Quick, quick, everyone hurry and make way." Guo Youliang came to his senses and hurriedly organized the students to make way.

Lu Qiaoshan waved his hand, and his subordinates immediately carried the stretcher onto the truck.

"Everyone follow, go to the hospital."

Guo Youliang waved his hand.

The students swarmed after the car, running.

Arriving at the hospital.

Ding Defeng had been prepared for a long time and immediately pulled the person into the emergency room.

"Director Ding, are the other bodies ready?" Lu Qiaoshan asked.

"Rest assured, everything is arranged properly." Ding Defeng said.

"First detoxify Professor Qian and keep him in a coma state." Lu Qiaoshan instructed.

After giving instructions.

He went to Ding Defeng's office on the second floor, picked up the receiver, and dialed the number:

"It's almost done here; is the plane ready?

"Good."

He hung up the phone.

He walked to the window; the students below were blocking the hospital entrance, and others were rushing toward the hospital but were blocked by soldiers.

"Old Lu, there are quite a few people.

"Even firing guns can't scare them anymore."

Peng Chengtao walked in.

"This bunch of trash is getting more and more jumpy.

"This is because the suppression isn't ruthless enough.

"Especially that leader, Guo Youliang; next time, no matter what, we must execute him first."

Lu Qiaoshan closed the curtain and said coldly.

"The plane is prepared and can fly at any time." Peng Chengtao said.

"Wait.

"Do the whole act; the rescue needs some time." Lu Qiaoshan glanced at his watch and said.

"Hmm.

"Also, the other body is ready, just waiting to be put in the coffin." Peng Chengtao nodded.

Half an hour later.

Lu Qiaoshan walked to the emergency room: "Director Ding, how is it?"

"Detoxification is complete; the person won't be able to wake up for a few hours." Director Ding said.

"Good.

"Take him to the back door immediately to be put in the coffin."

Lu Qiaoshan instructed.

In this day and age, those who could come to the Army Hospital for treatment were not necessarily rich or noble, but at least they had some family assets.

The hospital specifically opened a side door in the back; as long as a small tip was given, once the hospital finished the death certificate and registered the entry, the body could be put in a coffin through the side door immediately.

Arriving at the backyard.

Someone immediately put Qian Siming into a coffin.

And put another unknown corpse into the other coffin.

"Lift the coffin!" Peng Chengtao waved his hand.

Sixteen staff members carried the wooden poles tied with hemp ropes to lift the stakes.

A group of people carried the coffin out the back door.

Military police cleared the way in front.

In the corner of a nearby alley.

Dozens of people wearing mourning clothes were already prepared.

These were new recruits Li Ya had transferred overnight from the Baoding Police Academy.

Li Ya instructed: "Listen well, later, once the students make trouble, you all charge fiercely; remember, there is a black scarf on one of the coffins; find a way to get mixed up with them, and take advantage of the chaos to swap the coffins."

"Understood." A young man with a face full of pimples, who was leading, said.

"Also, you all, make the gongs, drums, and suonas loud, and cry realistically.

"I'll have rewards later."

Li Ya pointed to the refugees he had found.

"Yes, Boss." Those people nodded hurriedly.

On this side, Lu Qiaoshan's group came out the back door, and he gave Liu Shan a look:

"Liu Shan."

Liu Shan understood and took a scarf of Qian Siming's and placed it on the coffin containing the unknown corpse.

"After finishing this time, I will immediately promote you into the Intelligence Department... with a formal establishment." Lu Qiaoshan patted his shoulder and praised him with a smile.

"Those who know the times are heroes.

"Chief Lu oversees two departments and one group; your subordinate will naturally be loyal to the death."

Liu Shan hurriedly offered flattery.

"Hmm." Lu Qiaoshan nodded.

The coffin had just left the door and hadn't had time to be loaded onto the truck when they saw the students swarming over.

"Professor Qian!

"This... what is going on? Where is Professor Qian?" Guo Youliang blocked the front of the coffin procession with both hands.

"I am very sorry.

"Professor Qian could not be saved; he is now in this coffin."

Lu Qiaoshan patted the coffin and said with a sorrowful face.

"According to Professor Qian's dying wish, we are now going to escort his remains to the airport to be sent back to Ludong for burial immediately.

"You can now say goodbye to Professor Qian."

He continued.

"You are lying, it must be you who killed Professor Qian."

"They are deliberately using trickery to try and transport Professor Qian away."

"Stop them!"

The students all waved their fists and clamored.

"Bang!"

Lu Qiaoshan fired a warning shot.

"You have rebelled!

"With such clamor, how can Old Qian rest in peace?

"I am Lu Qiaoshan; I could kill ten of you in the past, and today I can wipe you all out just the same.

"If you don't get lost, don't blame my bullets for not having eyes."

He struck a pose of a killing star.

"Lu Qiaoshan, you murdered Old Qian and then shot and killed students; can you bear such a big matter?

"It doesn't matter if you lose your head, as long as the principles are true!

"We are not afraid!"

"Professor Qian's remains will be escorted by us to Ludong; you executioners are not fit to escort the spirit."

Guo Youliang roared with righteous indignation.

"Take back the coffin."

The students soon squeezed into a mass with the secret agents and soldiers.

Lu Qiaoshan didn't dare to fire rashly.

First, too few people came today.

Second, there was no suitable pretext, and he hadn't received instructions from his superiors to suppress them.

"Charge!"

Li Ya waved his hand, and the funeral procession blew and beat their instruments, cutting in from the side and heading straight for the coffin draped with the scarf.

"I'll stay here and hold them off; you take the coffin and go from that side." Peng Chengtao gestured and instructed.

"Good."

Lu Qiaoshan waved his hand, and the coffin carrying Qian Siming was squeezed toward another street to the east under the desperate protection of the soldiers and secret agents.

Just as they squeezed through the alley and out.

Heaven knows that side was even livelier, with two funeral processions, one from the east and one from the west, coming head-on, directly sandwiching Lu Qiaoshan's procession in the middle.

What was even more ghostly was that the two coffins were, like theirs, unpainted wooden coffins.

"Retreat, let them pass first." Lu Qiaoshan ordered.

"We can't leave.

"The students have caught up.

"Hurry, go."

The few carrying the coffin saw the students chasing after them aggressively, carrying stones and book bags.

They didn't care about Lu Qiaoshan's order and plunged into the middle of the funeral procession.

Now it was a mess.

Three funeral processions were squeezed onto the street, and students were charging and making trouble.

For a time, the scene was in total chaos.

The coffin bearers were swaying, moving this way and that, and in the end, they had no choice but to abandon the coffins; the three coffins stopped in the middle of the street, and everything was in a mess.

Lu Qiaoshan was also beaten black and blue by the students and could only cover his head and hide.

Toot toot!

Toot toot!

Dense numbers of police officers blew their whistles and charged over, holding police batons.

"Withdraw, withdraw."

Guo Youliang and the others waved their hands and led the students to run.

"Liu Shan, which, which one is Professor Qian? Where is the mark you made?" Lu Qiaoshan shouted in the noise.

"That, that one, the one I marked with chalk." Liu Shan shouted, pointing to one of the coffins.

"Thanks to your wit, kid.

"Quick, that one, carry it away." Lu Qiaoshan shouted.

His subordinates then lifted that body, loaded it onto the car smoothly, and headed straight for the airport.

The other two funeral processions didn't dare to linger either.

Each carried their coffins and swarmed away under the driving of the police.

"Chief Lu, are you alright?" Detective Li Dong walked over and handed Lu Qiaoshan a handkerchief.

Lu Qiaoshan touched his head and discovered he was actually bleeding.

"Detective Li, detain those two funeral processions for me; I'll interrogate them after I return from the airport." He took the handkerchief, pressed it against the wound, and said angrily.

"Chief Lu, there must be a reason to arrest people." Li Dong said.

"I told you to arrest them, so arrest them; why so much nonsense?" Lu Qiaoshan said angrily.

"Apologies.

"Bureau Chief Bai asked me to come over to maintain order, and there were no instructions to arrest anyone; why don't you give Bureau Chief Bai a call." Li Dong smiled slightly, neither humble nor arrogant.

"You!"

In the time it took for this delay, the two funeral processions and the students were long gone.

"I'll settle the account with you later." Lu Qiaoshan pointed at him angrily.

He had returned to Jinhai this time and directly pushed Bai Shiwei from the Inspection Team to the Police Bureau; although his rank hadn't changed, his functions had been greatly reduced.

It would be strange if Bai Shiwei's people could sincerely help him.

Lu Qiaoshan didn't waste any more time and, unable to go to the hospital, walked toward the car his subordinates had driven over.

"Liu Shan."

He subconsciously wanted to call Liu Shan to get in the car.

Turning his head, he saw Liu Shan was gone, whether he had gone to catch someone or do something else.

Lu Qiaoshan got into the car and headed straight for the airport.

Arriving at the airport.

The plane was already prepared.

"Chief Lu, where is Qian Siming?" An officer walked over and gave a military salute.

"In the coffin.

"This person is very unyielding and would rather die than go to the island; I have already drugged him so he will be in a coma for a while, enough for you to transfer him to Wandao." Lu Qiaoshan pointed to the coffin and said.

"Good."

The officer waved his hand, and someone immediately carried the coffin onto the plane.

Soon, the plane glided away amidst a rumbling sound.

Lu Qiaoshan breathed a sigh of relief.

"Chief Lu, did we forget something?" Someone nearby reminded him in a low voice.

"What matter?" Lu Qiaoshan frowned.

"Verify the body.

"What if it's not Professor Qian inside?" The subordinate said.

Lu Qiaoshan trembled all over.

So many funeral processions appearing on the street in one day clearly meant this was someone's carefully planned scheme.

He had just been stunned by the students' chaotic punches and stones.

He had only been thinking about sending the person away quickly.

Coupled with the fact that he hadn't walked out of the pain of losing his son, his whole spirit was not in a good state, which was why he had been careless.

He had wanted to go to the control tower.

But his head was still bleeding and hurting severely; he was afraid of tetanus if he didn't treat it quickly.

Moreover, the people in the control tower were always from the aviation school; they were all stubborn people, following procedures and asking for instructions for everything.

Even Chen Zhangjie couldn't order them around on weekdays.

Who knew how long it would take for them to call the plane back.

"Pah!

"Crow's mouth, Professor Qian is in the coffin.

"You go find Liu Shan.

"Have him wait for me at the station."

Lu Qiaoshan couldn't be bothered to deal with him and got into the car, heading straight for the hospital.

"Quick, quick."

The people from the Baoding Police Academy and the suona and drum players carried the coffin into the courtyard.

"Boss, the coffin has been swapped; shouldn't our money be settled?" A hunchback stepped forward, licking his face to ask for his wages.

Li Ya pulled a stack of silver dollars from his pocket.

Just as he was about to hand them out.

He lowered his sword-like eyebrows and put the money back into his pants pocket: "No rush, open the coffin and take a look first."

He had made up his mind.

If it was Qian Siming, he wouldn't kill him, but hide him for a few days.

Once the fake goods Lu Qiaoshan sent to Wandao were exposed, the Ministry of National Defense would inevitably be furious and look for the person; he would then find a reason to hand Qian Siming over.

Not only could he disgust Lu Qiaoshan, but he could also incidentally make a great contribution.

"Yes."

Someone immediately opened the coffin.

When Li Ya saw the person inside, his face turned green, and he shouted with wide eyes: "What is going on? Where is Qian Siming?"

"I, I don't know.

"We just snatched the coffin with the scarf on it." The man replied.

"Dog bastard!" Li Ya's cheeks tightened, his eyes flashed with ferocity, and he kicked the coffin lid hard.

He realized he had been played by Liu Shan.

"Boss, our wages..." The hunchback didn't care about this and asked for money again.

Li Ya pulled out his gun and pointed it at his forehead:

"Money?

"Do you believe I'll take your lives?

"All of you, get lost!"

"Yes, yes." The hunchback's group didn't dare to offend him and hurriedly ran away in a flash.

"You all take the coffin outside the city and bury it." Li Ya instructed his subordinates and walked out in a huff.

He swore that he would find that animal Liu Shan and skin him alive.

Liu Shan ran all the way to a corner of the Cao Gang wharf and, according to Hong Zhiyou's prior instructions, hid in a small covered boat.

There was water and food on the boat.

He ate his fill, lay down on the felt, and happily fantasized about the future.

Tricking Li Ya, then tricking Lu Qiaoshan—staying in Jinhai would only be a dead end.

But Secretary Hong had already promised him.

First, send him to Changsha to avoid the limelight, and once the new identity was made, arrange for him to work at the Hankou Yangtze River Water and Land Management Office.

Of course, he would also make up the balance of his payment.

Thinking of this, Liu Shan touched the two gold bars, US dollars, and silver dollars in his pocket, and a happy smile appeared on his face.

Once he got the final payment, even if he didn't go to Hankou.

This money was enough for him to live out the rest of his life, and he could marry a beautiful wife to live his days.

He slept beautifully.

When he woke up, it was already dark.

There was a candle in the cabin.

As he opened his eyes, in the dim light, a middle-aged man wearing a long gown with a short beard, his eyes as deep as cold pools, was sitting cross-legged at the bow of the boat looking at him.

"Are you... sent by Secretary Hong?" Liu Shan asked with some unease.

"That's right.

"Secretary Hong told me to come and send you on your way.

"This is the remaining money."

Zhou Yan took out the gold bars, US dollars, and silver dollars, not a cent short, and placed them on the deck.

"Thank you." Liu Shan was overjoyed.

"Did you count it clearly?" Zhou Yan said.

"Counted clearly." Liu Shan nodded.

"Then be on your way."

Zhou Yan raised his hand, revealing a gleaming short axe.

(End of chapter)