Chapter 298: Bad news from the Border Defense

"Tongyuan Bookstore again; what's wrong with it now?" Wu Jingzhong asked.

"This person has been to the coffin shop.

"I took the photo and asked the neighbors near the coffin shop; someone saw him there at night.

"It was probably a few days before Qian Siming's 'funeral'."

Li Ya said.

"Is it possible that a relative of his passed away, and it just happened to coincide?

"I heard that many families of death-row inmates at the Shutun Prison have ordered coffins there.

"According to your theory, there would be too many people to investigate.

"With the limited manpower we have in the Secret Service Bureau, I'm afraid we can't handle it."

Wu Jingzhong said with a half-smile.

He knew Li Ya was suspecting Yu Zecheng again.

This was annoying.

In the current high-pressure environment, the Generalissimo and his son were harboring great anger; wasn't it because the Deputy Station Chief Li Shiyu of the Shanghai Station was exposed as a Red-ticket that a whole group of people suffered?

If Yu Zecheng were to be exposed now.

Forget about earning merit and going south to continue holding down the fort.

Who knows what old debts might be calculated against him, and he might even lose his head along with them.

In a word.

Yu Zecheng is now a time bomb; it's best if no one touches him.

One touch, and people will die.

"I'll monitor and investigate first; if they really are Red-tickets, they won't be able to escape," Li Ya said.

"Mm, go ahead," Wu Jingzhong nodded.

"Teacher, now that Lu Qiaoshan is detained, shouldn't the position of Deputy Station Chief be put on the agenda?" Li Ya asked, hands in his pockets, raising his eyebrows.

"Yes, I'll call Director Mao another day to ask for his opinion," Wu Jingzhong said, turning his head to admire the antiques.

He was furious inside.

Lu Qiaoshan had only been gone for a few months, and Li Ya was already starting all sorts of trouble.

Investigating Yu Zecheng.

Becoming Deputy Station Chief.

Lu Qiaoshan at least knew to ask how he was doing; Li Ya didn't even bother to pretend.

"Fine, I'll wait for your news," Li Ya didn't catch the subtext and walked out with his hands in his pockets.

Beiping.

Ma Hansan walked around the warehouse with his hands behind his back.

"Be careful when moving things.

"Is the grain at Xuanwumen all prepared?"

He asked as he walked.

"Director Ma, it's all ready," someone answered immediately.

"Sigh, Renchu.

"You don't know, this job is really not meant for humans.

"If you do it well, it's expected.

"If you don't do it well, not only do the superiors blame you, but the common people will poke your spine and curse you as an animal.

"You say this legal tender is like paper now.

"I accept it, but the Central Bank doesn't recognize it.

"If I don't accept it, the common people have nothing to exchange; the little gold and silver they had was long ago scraped clean and shipped to Wandao."

Ma Hansan lamented to Wang Puchen, who was inspecting on the side.

"Director Ma has worked hard," Wang Puchen said, still with a cigarette in his mouth, sparing words like gold.

"You've been in Beiping for a few years now.

"Others might not know me, but you should.

"Now that Commander Li has gone to Jingling to be Vice President, Fu Zuoyi is guarding Beiping, and Chen Jicheng is staring at me all day long.

"My days are not easy."

Ma Hansan said.

Wang Puchen exhaled a puff of smoke: "The innocent are self-innocent; Director Ma doesn't need to worry."

"Fu Zuoyi and He Siyuan are urging for grain one after another; I, as the Director of the Civil Affairs Bureau, really can't turn things around anymore.

"I plan to go to Jinhai to see if I can find some grain."

Ma Hansan said.

"That's a way; I happen to be going to Jinhai to see a friend, so why don't we travel together?" Wang Puchen smiled faintly, looking at him.

Ma Hansan's cheeks tightened, his eyes half-squinted, revealing a biting cold light: "Renchu, is it such a coincidence, is it so urgent?"

"In the current situation, you live one day at a time.

"If we don't see each other, who knows if there will be another chance.

"It's urgent," Wang Puchen turned his head and said.

"Fine, let's go together.

"You came to Beiping, and we've been working together for so long; you're not an outsider," Ma Hansan patted his shoulder and said.

Wang Puchen smiled slightly, lowered his head, and lit another cigarette.

Jinhai.

Hong Zhiyou walked forward a few steps to greet them:

"Director Ma, Director Wang, Secretary Liu, long time no see."

"Secretary Hong, long time no see.

"I came to ask for grain this time, and Director Wang happened to be coming to see a friend, so we came together; I hope we aren't disturbing you."

Ma Hansan blinked and laughed heartily.

"Not disturbing at all.

"It is my honor that you could come to Jinhai.

"The reception room is already prepared; please."

Hong Zhiyou said with a polite smile.

"No need.

"Since we are asking for grain, let's go straight to the Marine Corps," Ma Hansan said.

"Renchu, are you going together?" he turned and asked Wang Puchen.

"No.

"A friend has a house here; I happen to be staying at a friend's house, so I'll save bothering Station Chief Wu," Wang Puchen said politely.

"That's fine."

Ma Hansan tilted his head, and Hong Zhiyou helped Liu Yuzhu into the car, following along.

Wang Puchen stood where he was, smoking his cigarette unhurriedly.

He turned and got into the car: "Go to the Military Police Headquarters."

"Brother, my situation is not easy right now."

In the car, Ma Hansan sighed with a depressed expression.

"You are Lord Ma; who would dare to touch you?" Hong Zhiyou smiled.

"Times have changed; my three eyes as Lord Ma are no longer effective, and now anyone, ghost or human, dares to pounce and take a bite.

"Wang Puchen is determined to stare me to death.

"Sigh, if Commander Li were still in Beiping, would he dare to jump?

"I shouldn't have gone to Jingling to lobby for votes; with Commander Li gone, I have become a lonely ghost," Ma Hansan sighed.

"What plans does Big Brother have?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"I can't wait anymore.

"The Generalissimo hates me to the bone, and Fu Zuoyi doesn't like me; I can't stay in Beiping anymore.

"If I stay, I fear there will be a disaster.

"This time might be my last chance; Brother, whether I can escape alive depends entirely on you.

"There's no time like the present; can you arrange to send me to Xiangdao tonight?"

Ma Hansan asked in a low voice.

"Brother, you are giving me a difficult problem.

"If you leave from Jinhai, who wouldn't know it was me?"

Hong Zhiyou said, looking troubled.

"I know you have this ability, Brother.

"You are different from me; in the past, the Generalissimo needed me to act as a dog in the middle to stabilize Li Zongren and Fu Zuoyi, but now that Commander Li is gone, I have become a useless person.

"They will definitely take a knife to me.

"You are different; now that the Nationalist Army's front line is tight, they need your relationship with the US military.

"So, don't say you let me go.

"Even if you blew up the Ministry of National Defense building, the Generalissimo would pretend not to see it.

"I'll go first.

"Once I'm established in Xiangdao, when things get tight on your side, I'll find a way to operate and pull you up.

"We are brothers; we must look out for each other, don't you think?"

Ma Hansan patted Hong Zhiyou's hand and said.

"The risk is too great; Wang Puchen has chased us to our doorstep," Hong Zhiyou still refused.

Dealing with an old fox like Ma Hansan required being "real."

If he agreed too quickly, he would definitely become suspicious.

Many things would be harder to handle.

"How about this; I don't have money on me today, but when I go to Xiangdao later, you can give me a bank account number there, and I'll transfer thirty thousand US dollars to you.

"How about that, is this fare enough?"

Ma Hansan knew Hong Zhiyou loved money and directly offered the conditions.

"Besides, if you don't look at my face, you have to look at Yuzhu's face," he looked at Liu Yuzhu, whose face was like a peach blossom, and said.

"Fine, fine!

"Who made you my brother.

"How about this, I'll go discuss it with Commander Wells later to see if I can arrange a plane to send you to Qingdao tonight; it just so happens that two ships of the Seventh Fleet are going to visit Xiangdao.

"You can take a warship to Xiangdao then.

"With Ke Ke's ship, even if Mao Renfeng had a hundred guts, he wouldn't dare to investigate,"

Hong Zhiyou said after a moment of contemplation.

"That's great.

"To tell you the truth, my eyelids have been twitching for the past two days; the sooner I leave, the better," Ma Hansan said happily.

Liu Yuzhu's eyes were also full of joy.

Clearly, the pressure she had been under following Ma Hansan these days was not small.

Military Police Headquarters.

Wang Puchen was drinking tea with Fang Jie.

"Brother Fang, this is Director Mao's handwritten letter; you've worked under him before, so you should be able to recognize it," Wang Puchen took the document written by Mao Renfeng from his bosom and handed it to Fang Jie.

"Renchu, we are both Mao Renfeng's men; saying this makes us strangers.

"Can I not trust you?"

He took the document and carefully identified it against the light, and after confirming it was correct, handed it back.

"Director Mao has instructions; he will secretly arrest Ma Hansan and Qiao Jiacai on July 1st.

"I have already stared Qiao Jiacai to death.

"Ma Hansan has Fu Zuoyi's military order to raise grain, so it's inconvenient for me to control him openly; this side can only rely on you,"

Wang Puchen coughed for a while and continued.

"Don't worry, I'll send people to blockade the pier and talk to the airport side right now," Fang Jie said.

"Useless.

"He has connected with Hong Zhiyou and might borrow a US military plane or ship to leave.

"To coordinate, one must go through the Military Affairs Bureau or the Ministry of National Defense, and have the Generalissimo's consent; it's very troublesome to handle, and even with permission from above, the Americans might not necessarily buy it,"

Wang Puchen said, looking worried.

"This is indeed a troublesome matter; I have dealt with Wells before, so why don't I negotiate with him?" Fang Jie said.

Just as they were troubled.

The phone rang.

He got up to answer: "It's me.

"Good, I understand."

He frowned slightly and then looked at Wang Puchen: "Renchu, there's someone selling cigarettes on the street outside; why don't you go buy a pack?"

Wang Puchen looked at him.

"I don't know who called; the other party didn't say their name," Fang Jie said.

"To be able to call you, the other party has a significant background.

"Just right, I've run out of cigarettes; I'll go buy a pack."

Wang Puchen smiled and walked out.

Arriving on the street outside.

An eight or nine-year-old girl was holding a wooden frame and selling cigarettes.

"Little girl, come here, give me a few packs of cigarettes," Wang Puchen didn't pick and chose, directly taking a few packs.

"You are Uncle Wang, right?" the little girl asked.

"I am," Wang Puchen nodded.

"Someone just asked me to give this to you," the little girl handed him a piece of paper.

Wang Puchen took it.

There wasn't a single word on the paper.

It was blank.

His emotions were as stable as ever; he folded the paper neatly and put it in his pocket.

Then, he took out a handful of silver dollars and stuffed them into the little girl's hand:

"Don't sell anymore; go home immediately and give the money to your mother. Remember, don't show off your wealth, and don't make a sound."

He whispered a reminder.

"Mm, thank you, Uncle."

The little girl was overjoyed and went away happily.

Wang Puchen returned to the Military Police Headquarters.

"How was it?" Fang Jie asked.

Wang Puchen smiled and shook his head.

Fang Jie didn't ask further.

After chatting for a while, Wang Puchen returned to his room, took a candle, lit it, and roasted the paper.

Soon, a line of characters appeared on it.

He pondered slightly and started to laugh.

Nine o'clock at night.

A Marine Corps military plane was ready.

Wells personally sent Ma Hansan and Liu Yuzhu to the cabin:

"Director Ma, Miss Liu, Secretary Hong is not convenient to come, so I wish you all the best on his behalf."

Anderson translated on the side.

"Thank you, Commander," Ma Hansan said gratefully.

"You're welcome, goodbye."

Wells waved his hand and walked off the plane.

As the cabin door closed.

Ma Hansan's hanging heart finally relaxed.

"Yuzhu, from here on out, it's the vast sea and sky," as the plane disappeared into the clouds, Ma Hansan held Liu Yuzhu's hand and sighed with relief.

"Thanks to Secretary Hong.

"Once we get to Xiangdao, without these messy things, you can finally rest in peace,"

Liu Yuzhu leaned on his shoulder and said gently.

"I'll sleep for a while first.

"I haven't had a good night's sleep since being stared at by this Wang Puchen,"

Ma Hansan said.

Not long after he closed his eyes, the fuselage suddenly began to bump.

"What's going on?" Ma Hansan asked.

"Director Ma, the plane has developed a fault, and we must return the way we came," a crew member walked over to explain.

"Return?

"Is... is there no other way?" Ma Hansan was a bit panicked.

"Director Ma, this is a plane, not a car," the crew member shook his head helplessly.

"Fine.

"Fine,"

Ma Hansan couldn't help but think of Dai Li and could only accept his bad luck.

Returning to the airport.

Wang Puchen and Fang Jie were already waiting below with a team of people.

Ma Hansan looked down, and his face turned livid.

"It's not that the plane had a fault, but that someone has hands that reach the sky; even if you go to heaven, they can drag you down.

"Yuzhu.

"I'm afraid we won't be able to escape this disaster,"

Ma Hansan sighed and tried several times before standing up.

The two walked down slowly.

"Renchu, weren't you going to see a friend?

"Why are you here?"

Ma Hansan was not an ordinary person after all; he took a deep breath and regained his composure.

"Director Ma, have you finished raising the grain? If you have, shouldn't we return to Beiping?" Wang Puchen said.

"What if I say no?" Ma Hansan said.

"I'm afraid you'll have to go back anyway.

"This is a document just sent by the Ministry of National Defense, dismissing you from your post as Director of the Civil Affairs Bureau; return to Beiping for other arrangements. Director Ma, let's go; don't make it difficult for me,"

Wang Puchen took out a telegram from the Ministry of National Defense and showed it.

Ma Hansan stared straight at the document with his hands behind his back; after a long time, he sighed deeply:

"Fine.

"I'll go back to Beiping with you, but can she stay?"

"Of course, the Ministry of National Defense only asked me to invite you back for other job arrangements; Miss Liu, please do as you wish,"

Wang Puchen glanced at Liu Yuzhu, his tone as calm as autumn water.

"Renchu, thanks," Ma Hansan nodded gratefully.

He turned to look at the terrified Liu Yuzhu and said:

"Yuzhu, the night is dark and the wind is high outside; you must be careful in everything from now on, take care."

"Director Ma, take care," Liu Yuzhu said.

Ma Hansan turned around and got into Wang Puchen's car without looking back.

After the motorcade left.

Hong Zhiyou walked out slowly, standing in the shadows: "Miss Liu."

Liu Yuzhu walked over: "Secretary Hong, you were there; why didn't you protect Director Ma?"

"Sister, Old Ma has already left; stop acting.

"The child in your belly isn't Old Ma's, right?

"The money in Xiangdao is enough for you and the child to spend for a lifetime.

"You can get on the plane in a moment,"

Hong Zhiyou reached out and pinched her rosy cheek.

"Isn't this all for you?

"Without this child, Ma Hansan would have been the first to confess you," Liu Yuzhu chuckled.

"I wouldn't be afraid even if he confessed.

"You also know that the one who really wanted Dai Li dead was the Generalissimo.

"Without his instructions, nothing could be done.

"Besides, Dai Li is already dead, and I still have to raise money, grain, and weapons for the Jiang father and son.

"So no one will believe whatever Ma Hansan says.

"He is a smart man; if he exposes me, not only will the child in your belly not be saved, but he will die even faster,"

Hong Zhiyou took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth; the lighter was blown out by the wind as soon as he struck it.

He struck it several times.

He looked up at the beautiful and moving Liu Yuzhu.

Liu Yuzhu looked at him and then slowly lifted her trench coat to block the night wind.

Snap!

Hong Zhiyou lowered his head to light it, then looked up and exhaled a puff of smoke gently onto her face:

"Sister, have a safe journey."

"Thank you," Liu Yuzhu nodded.

Hong Zhiyou turned and left.

"Miss Liu, the warship in Qingdao is still waiting; hurry up and get on the plane," the crew member walked over.

Liu Yuzhu looked at Hong Zhiyou's disappearing figure, a trace of gratitude appearing at the corners of her mouth, and quickly boarded the plane.

Hong Zhiyou got into the car, originally wanting to go to the club to ask Ji Qing out for the night.

Just after turning a corner.

He saw Yu Zecheng's car parked in front.

"Beep beep."

Seeing him, Old Yu pressed the horn.

"Something up?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"Old Xie said he got a batch of intelligence and asked me to go to his place," Yu Zecheng said.

"If you want to go, go; why look for me?" Hong Zhiyou said irritably.

"Don't I have no money in my pocket?

"With you there, it's easier to act as a guarantor, otherwise that guy might not necessarily sell it to me.

"Also, Old Xie said he bought a few pounds of good mutton, just waiting for us to go and hot-pot it.

"Hurry up, let's go,"

Yu Zecheng said.

"Fine, for the sake of the mutton," Hong Zhiyou closed the window, stepped on the gas, and followed him to Xie Ruolin's house.

Arriving at the Xie residence.

Xie Ruolin had already set up the copper pot, and the mutton, dipping sauce, and vegetables were already plated.

His complexion looked slightly better, but he was still slightly pale.

The beating and electric shocks from Li Ya would probably take a year or a year and a half to recover from.

"Old Xie, what's the special occasion today that you have to treat us?" Yu Zecheng sat down and asked with a smile.

"It's just that we haven't gathered for a long time, and I wanted to have a drink with you.

"Sigh, to tell you the truth, that I still have mutton to eat and wine to drink now is all thanks to you two.

"I grabbed the tail of the black market intelligence and made a big profit.

"Ever since Li Ya and Lu Qiaoshan robbed us like this, everyone on the black market is in danger, and they only dare to do business with people they know.

"If you're not careful, who knows when someone will end up inside.

"Business is getting harder and harder to do.

"You two, help yourselves,"

He picked up a large pair of chopsticks of meat, swished it a few times, and ate it with the dipping sauce.

"Those people in the Ministry of National Defense should have ideas.

"After all, cutting off someone's path to wealth is like killing their parents," Hong Zhiyou asked.

"Yes.

"There's already wind of it; someone wants to kill Li Ya and Lu Qiaoshan.

"Let's not talk about Li Ya for now.

"Lu Qiaoshan has that little bit of mess, and he's still detained; why is that if not because someone wants to fix him?

"If it weren't for Zheng Jiemin's face, he would have been killed inside long ago.

"Just watch, he won't be able to get out for three to five years,"

Xie Ruolin said.

"Not necessarily; I think Lu Qiaoshan might be able to get out soon, and he will kill his way back to Jinhai," Hong Zhiyou shook his head and said.

"Why?" Yu Zecheng put down his chopsticks and smoothed his white shirt sleeve as he asked.

"Because he dares to kill," Hong Zhiyou said.

In the next half year, once the three major campaigns start, the tide for peace in Jinhai will inevitably rise, and at that time, student and worker protests will be everywhere.

And Lu Qiaoshan is exactly the sharp knife the Generalissimo needs most to control public opinion.

"Makes sense," Xie Ruolin and Yu Zecheng looked at each other and nodded at the same time.

"Old Xie, didn't you say you had intelligence to sell me?

"That makes sense." Xie Ruolin and Yu Zecheng exchanged a glance and nodded simultaneously.

"Old Xie, didn't you say you had intelligence to sell me?"

"Come on."

Yu Zecheng asked.

"No rush."

"Let's finish this meal first," Xie Ruolin said with a smile.

Yu Zecheng's heart sank instantly.

Old Xie was afraid of ruining his appetite; it certainly wasn't good news.

"You'd better just say it."

"With his suspicious nature, after hearing that, he won't be able to eat anyway," Hong Zhiyou said with a smile.

"Take a look."

"Back when Han Jien was digging up intelligence in Ansai, Yancheng, a lot of it ended up scattered everywhere."

"I got this one from the Dangtong Bureau headquarters."

"It's also the one you care about most: information on Zuo Lan."

Xie Ruolin said.

"Didn't you say last time that she was transferred to the Soviet Union because she was injured?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"That was confirmed to be false information; this one should be relatively more accurate," Xie Ruolin said.

"Regarding the death in the line of duty of Deng Ming, Deputy Director of the Social Security Department office..."

As Yu Zecheng read it, his heart couldn't help but tighten.

After finishing it, his whole body couldn't help but tremble.

The thing he worried about and feared most had happened after all.

(End of chapter)