Chapter 301: Old Lu's chance to turn things around

Wu Jingzhong understood Yu Zecheng; he did things steadily and without leaks.

Crucially, he and Hong Zhiyou were deeply bound together.

It was very difficult for Li Ya and Lu Qiaoshan to handle this pair individually.

The three arrived at the interrogation room.

Li Ya nodded and greeted them with a smile, welcoming Wu Jingzhong to the center of the interrogation table.

Everyone took their seats.

Hong Zhiyou poured tea for the big shots and pulled a small stool to sit by the door to smoke, so as not to smoke out Old Wu.

"Speak, what kind of sacred beings are you two?" Wu Jingzhong asked with a half-smile.

"Station Chief.

"These two are the manager and clerk of Tongyuan Bookstore.

"A few days ago, I received intelligence that someone reported Director Yu as a Red-ticket, colluding with this bookstore.

"I pondered, Director Yu is a hero of the Party and State who killed Li Haifeng, so how could he suffer such plain injustice?

"So I invited these two back for investigation.

"I was determined to return Director Yu's innocence.

"As a result, these two really have something to say; since it involves Director Yu, for the sake of fairness, I could only invite you, Station Chief, over,"

Li Ya had learned his lesson after suffering several losses and didn't target Yu Zecheng directly; his words were very rounded.

"Captain Li, you've worked hard," Yu Zecheng smiled and paid tribute.

"It's what I should do; we are old classmates.

"I must return you justice,"

Li Ya smiled without a trace of shame.

"Manager Luo, speak about the contact point first," he turned his head and asked Luo Anping.

"I was indeed sent by the superiors to set up a station there," Luo Anping nodded.

"Mm, who is your contact person?

"Is it Director Yu?"

Li Ya pointed at Yu Zecheng and asked.

Wu Jingzhong's eyes suddenly narrowed, staring fixedly at Luo Anping: "You'd better think clearly before you speak!" 【301

"I, I can't say."

"If I say it, they'll kill me," Luo Anping shouted.

"If you don't say it, you're a dead man," Wu Jingzhong said coldly.

"Shopkeeper, speak up."

"Station Master Wu, I've confessed everything. My superior is Xie Ruolin of the Dangtong Bureau," Luo Bing said voluntarily.

"Xie Ruolin?"

"How is that possible? You damn fool, stop spouting nonsense here," Li Ya grabbed him by the collar and growled angrily.

"Captain Li, I, I'm really not spouting nonsense."

"Station Master Wu, it really is Xie Ruolin of the Dangtong Bureau. He had me set up a station in this vicinity just to monitor you, Director Yu and Captain Li."

"There are several good restaurants on this street that you often come to."

"My men also installed listening devices in the private rooms of Tongfu Teahouse and Hongyun Teahouse just to eavesdrop on your conversations and extract useful information."

Luo Anping confessed everything in one go.

"Damn it!"

"Is this Xie Ruolin the same profiteer Captain Li interrogated last time?"

Wu Jingzhong slapped the table angrily.

"Station Master."

"This person specializes in black-market intelligence trading. It's entirely possible he wanted to steal intelligence from our mouths and then sell the recordings for a high price," Yu Zecheng said.

The infighting between the Dangtong Bureau and the Secret Service Bureau had been going on for more than a day or two.

Mutual monitoring was a common occurrence; at most, both sides would protest tacitly. While there had been incidents of drawing guns to make arrests in the past, that was no longer likely now.

Under the high pressure of the Chairman, everything was now being downplayed.

This was also the source of Old Xie's confidence in letting him sell whatever he wanted.

"Send someone to the teahouse immediately to see if it's true," Wu Jingzhong said.

Soon, someone made a call, ordering nearby undercover agents to carry out the task.

Ten minutes later, Hong Zhiyou listened to the report from outside the door and stood up, saying:

"Station Master, it's true."

"Dangtong Bureau!"

"Damn it, they've actually come after me."

"We'll deal with them later. Li Ya, keep questioning him."

Wu Jingzhong cursed a few times and gave the order.

Li Ya's heart went cold upon hearing this, knowing he had wasted his effort again.

He gritted his teeth and glared at Luo Anping:

"I'm asking you, what's the deal with the coffin shop?"

"Was the transfer of Qian Siming your doing?"

Luo Anping hurriedly cried out his innocence: "Station Master Wu, we do know something about Qian Siming's case. It was Director Lu Qiaoshan who asked the Dangtong Bureau to assist, with the goal of safely transferring Qian Siming."

"We did go to the coffin shop to buy coffins, but we handed them all over to Director Lu."

"As for the specific plan, when the day of the transfer arrived, Lu Qiaoshan suddenly didn't trust us and didn't notify us to participate at all."

Saying this, he raised his hand and swore:

"Station Master Wu, every word I say is true."

"If there's half a lie, may I be struck by lightning."

"Bullshit!" Li Ya cursed loudly.

He turned his head and said: "Station Master, I suspect they are Red agents. The day Lu Qiaoshan lost Qian Siming, several funeral processions appeared."

"The coffins used were all from the same shop, and the owner of that coffin shop disappeared after delivering the coffins."

"Not only that, this person's handwriting is exactly the same as the handwriting of the Red agents in the Langfang Traffic Station."

"Master Liu Yunchen identified it himself; it definitely can't be fake."

"No, we really are field agents of the Dangtong Bureau. If you don't believe me, call our Director Sun," Luo Anping said according to Xie Ruolin's instructions.

"An excuse."

"Station Master, he's changing the subject..." Li Ya was getting anxious.

"Captain Li, forget about Liu Yunchen's identification."

"What kind of master? He's just fishing for fame."

"That gambling addict, there's nothing he won't do for money."

"His identification can't be taken seriously."

Wu Jingzhong smiled and waved his hand, then suggested:

"However, as you think, we cannot wrong a good person, but we absolutely cannot let a Red agent go."

"Proving whether what he says is true or false is actually simple."

"Contact the headquarters' Inspection Department and ask Lu Qiaoshan, won't we know then?"

"Hmm, that's a good idea," Yu Zecheng nodded in agreement.

"Fine, let's ask then," Li Ya couldn't think of a better idea for the moment.

Wu Jingzhong stood up, walked to the side, picked up the phone, and deftly dialed the Inspection Department's number:

"Jinhai Station calling the headquarters' Inspection Department."

"Director Mao, it's me, Jingzhong."

"It's like this, I'd like to have a few words with Lu Qiaoshan; I ask for the Director's approval."

"Good."

"Thank you, Director Mao. I'll go to Jingling to pay my respects another day."

Jingling.

Lu Qiaoshan, in a prisoner's uniform, had temples already frosted with white; he looked aged and bitter, no longer the man of elegance he once was.

The pain of losing a son.

The ups and downs of his official career.

He had held a winning hand, but before he could even play it, the situation suddenly changed, and he became a prisoner.

And he had fallen into the hands of that villain Li Ya once again.

Every time he thought of this, Lu Qiaoshan felt endless hatred.

It was just that the one who arrested him was Mao Renfeng.

Mao Renfeng had always fought tooth and nail with Zheng Jiemin, and he had compiled a heap of incriminating evidence against him. Once he faced trial, it was highly likely he would be "executed after autumn" along with Ma Hansan.

As Guifen begged everyone for help, Zheng Jiemin never once offered a helping hand.

Lu Qiaoshan helplessly accepted reality.

He was now a useless discarded pawn; not only had his academic work been stolen by Zheng Jiemin, but now he had even lost his life.

Sigh!

He sat on the cold iron bed, looking at the sunlight filtering in through the window, and let out a heavy sigh.

No chance left.

It's completely over.

"Lu Qiaoshan, there's a phone call for you," the prison guard shouted, tapping the iron bars with his baton.

Lu Qiaoshan walked with a stumbling gait to the prison office and answered the phone.

On the other end was Wu Jingzhong's deep voice:

"Qiaoshan, Captain Li has arrested two people, suspecting they are Red agents who participated in the Qian Siming transfer case."

"But these two are very stubborn, claiming they are from the Dangtong Bureau."

"That they were acting under your orders when they went to the coffin shop to buy coffins. Is there any truth to this?"

Coffins?

He had never ordered anyone to buy coffins; he had ordered them himself.

Lu Qiaoshan understood instantly.

Li Ya had caught the people who actually transferred Qian Siming.

This dog was going to earn great merit.

"Station Master, is Captain Li nearby?" Lu Qiaoshan asked.

"Li Ya, come over and listen in. Qiaoshan, speak up," Wu Jingzhong ordered from the other side.

"Station Master."

"These two people were indeed mobilized by me in the name of the Inspection Group, with the Dangtong Bureau providing cooperation."

"The two coffins I used to transfer Qian Siming were also negotiated by them."

Lu Qiaoshan instantly regained his spirit, his voice becoming deep and resonant.

"Good, goodbye."

Soon, he hung up the phone, a cold sneer appearing at the corner of his mouth.

Heh.

I'm about to die, and you still want to step on me.

Li Ya, oh Li Ya.

Wanting to earn merit? Not a chance.

Lu Qiaoshan, who had been suppressed for so long, instantly felt much better.

He dragged his heavy legs and was just about to stand up and leave.

A person walked in from outside, took off his wide-brimmed hat, and revealed a bronze-colored face with a long, narrow scar:

"Uncle Lu, don't be in such a hurry to leave, let's chat."

Lu Qiaoshan stared at him for a good while, his eyes suddenly sharpening: "Zhang Shaojie, you're the eldest son of Fourth Master Zhang?"

Fourth Master Zhang had been shot dead on the spot by Hong Zhiyou.

His two sons, the arrogant and domineering Zhang Shaobai, had followed his father to the underworld.

And this eldest son, Zhang Shaojie, had originally been a classmate of Lu Ming at the Whampoa Military Academy and later held a post in Jingling, but after the Zhang family collapsed, this kid had resigned and disappeared without a trace.

Now, this face full of murderous aura was chilling; one could imagine he had been through a lot.

"It's rare that Uncle Lu still remembers me."

"I've heard about Lu Ming's case. Haven't you thought about getting revenge?"

Zhang Shaojie smiled.

"How could I not want to?"

"It's just that I'm a prisoner now, with not long to live, so how can I talk about revenge?" Lu Qiaoshan shook his head and sighed.

"Actually, it's not hard to leave."

"Now that the Northeast students are entering the pass, and the 'July 5th' bloodbath was all the rage not long ago, Jinhai has long since become a powder keg; as long as someone lights the fuse, it will explode."

"I can help you light that fire."

"When the time comes, there will naturally be people speaking up for you, transferring you back to Jinhai to take charge of the overall situation."

"Don't forget, the current situation is not what it used to be; the Chairman needs your sharp blade more than ever."

"You regaining your freedom is only a matter of time."

Zhang Shaojie touched the scar on his cheek and said calmly.

"What do you need me to do?" Lu Qiaoshan said.

"Cooperate with me to eliminate Hong Zhiyou and Wu Jingzhong," Zhang Shaojie said.

"No problem, and I already have a plan," Lu Qiaoshan said.

"Good."

"Then let our two families cooperate once more," Zhang Shaojie said, extending his hand.

"Waiting for your good news," Lu Qiaoshan said, shaking his hand and feeling overjoyed.

"Nephew, where have you been all these years?"

After reaching the cooperation, Lu Qiaoshan asked.

"Went to Southeast Asia."

"Uncle Lu, cheer up, good things are near," Zhang Shaojie patted him, put on his hat, and walked out.

A prison guard immediately pushed the door open and walked in:

"Lu Qiaoshan, time to go back to the cell."

Interrogation room.

Wu Jingzhong hung up the phone, returned to his seat, looked at Li Ya, and said:

"Captain Li, the facts are clear; these two are field agents of the Dangtong Bureau."

"Station Master, I want to interrogate them again," Li Ya was a bit unwilling.

As he was speaking, a staff member walked in:

"Station Master, the Dangtong Bureau has come to demand their people."

"They still have the nerve to come and demand people?"

"Let's go, take them and go meet them," Wu Jingzhong ordered.

Lu Baoxing hurriedly took off the handcuffs for the two, and escorted them together to the Station Master's office.

Yu Zecheng walked behind, looking at Old Luo, who was covered in blood; besides feeling uncomfortable, he felt very lucky.

Lu Qiaoshan really didn't fulfill Li Ya's wish.

He let Hong Zhiyou win the bet again.

Outside the Station Master's office, Xie Ruolin was already waiting.

"Station Master Wu."

Xie Ruolin bowed politely and asked.

"You've got some nerve, planting undercover agents right under the nose of the Secret Service Bureau," Wu Jingzhong said, looking at him with authority.

Xie Ruolin wasn't intimidated; it was just acting, after all.

Besides, he had seen plenty of those intelligence-selling people in the Ministry of National Defense who had much higher ranks than Wu Jingzhong.

"Station Master Wu, mutual supervision between the Secret Service Bureau and the Dangtong Bureau... that's an old tradition from the days of your Boss Dai."

"Haven't you also planted undercover agents on our side?"

"It's work, after all; everyone should... understand each other."

Xie Ruolin stuttered, neither humble nor pushy.

"Understand?"

"Do you believe I'll shoot these two people right now?"

"Tell your Sun Chuanzhi to come and talk to me."

"You disrespectful brat!"

Wu Jingzhong pointed at his nose and cursed loudly.

"Station Master Wu, don't... don't be anxious, isn't he calling now?"

Just then, the phone rang, and Xie Ruolin pointed at the phone.

Wu Jingzhong answered with a gloomy face: "It's me."

"Heh, you're something else, brother, planting undercover agents right under my nose."

"I'm warning you, you'd better keep your hands clean."

"Otherwise, I'll tie you up right now, and we'll see each other at the Military Law Department!"

"Bang!"

Wu Jingzhong slammed the phone down.

He was acting, but not entirely.

In terms of age and seniority, Sun Chuanzhi was not his equal; by showing off his old-timer status in the Military Statistics, the other party could only take it.

"Station Master Wu, can the people be taken away now?" Xie Ruolin asked.

"Get lost."

Wu Jingzhong waved his hand impatiently.

"Thanks."

Xie Ruolin nodded, smiled, and led the two away.

"Station Master, this..." Li Ya was so angry he could smoke, and could only watch them leave.

"Li Ya, monitoring and eavesdropping are minor matters. Right now, Ye Xiufeng has just been elected as a National Assembly representative and a leader of the National Assembly Presidium, and he is being highly valued by the Chairman."

"Furthermore, the Chairman has repeatedly emphasized the need for sincere unity and a crackdown on Red agents."

"At a time like this, falling out with the Dangtong Bureau over two ants is truly unwise. You've beaten them and interrogated them as you should have, and Lu Qiaoshan and Sun Chuanzhi have also vouched for them; there's no point in continuing the interrogation."

"It doesn't matter if you made a wrong arrest; at least you've cleared Zecheng's name, haven't you?"

Wu Jingzhong's expression softened as he comforted Li Ya.

"Captain Li!"

"If it weren't for you, I would have become a Red agent and a traitor to the Secret Service Bureau again. Thank you for clearing my name."

"I'll treat you to a drink tonight."

Yu Zecheng said, looking at Li Ya with a smile.

"No need."

"We're old classmates, helping each other is only right."

"Next time someone reports you or your... wife, I'll help clear your name again."

Li Ya emphasized the word "wife."

"Good, I'll leave the purity of our family to you, Captain Li," Yu Zecheng nodded.

After saying this, Li Ya didn't even say goodbye; he walked out with his hands in his pockets, head held high, his face full of gloom.

"Zecheng."

"There's no smoke without fire; you must be cautious in your words and actions, regulate your own behavior even more, and don't let people keep playing tricks on you."

Wu Jingzhong looked at the "trouble" he had brought upon himself and felt as bitter as if he had eaten coptis.

"Yes, teacher, I will be careful," Yu Zecheng nodded.

"Alright, you two go get busy; I need to be quiet for a while, this Li Ya is giving me a headache," Wu Jingzhong waved his hand impatiently.

"Teacher, sorry for the trouble, you rest."

Yu Zecheng bowed, and just as he was about to leave, Wu Jingzhong thought for a moment and called out:

"After all, we did beat Sun Chuanzhi's people; we still need to maintain a decent relationship on the surface. Find some time to go to the hospital to see that one surnamed Luo, give him some money, and send him away for good."

"Alright, teacher." Yu Zecheng knew that Wu Jingzhong was giving him a legitimate opportunity to see Luo Anping, and he couldn't help but feel grateful.

After the two retreated, Wu Jingzhong sighed with a headache:

"A teacher is like a father; I haven't even been this concerned or had such a headache over my own daughter."

"Sigh, trouble!"

"It can be considered the debt I should pay for betraying the Red side back then."

"Zhiyou, will Old Luo and the others be okay on Sun Chuanzhi's side?" Yu Zecheng asked in a low voice after arriving at Hong Zhiyou's office.

"They will."

"Sun Chuanzhi is a smart man; as long as someone gives him cash and US dollars at a time like this, he'll naturally get things done," Hong Zhiyou said.

"Does Old Luo need to be transferred?" Yu Zecheng said.

"That depends on your thoughts."

"Since they've been labeled as Zhongtong, Li Ya will at most monitor them; arresting them will likely be very difficult."

"But we can't rule out Li Ya secretly shooting or playing tricks to vent his anger."

"If you can transfer them, try to transfer them."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"Good," Yu Zecheng nodded.

Establishing a traffic station is indeed not easy, but for Old Luo's safety, they had no choice but to transfer them.

Dangtong Bureau.

Sun Chuanzhi sat in front of his desk, wiping his glasses.

Knock, knock.

"Come in," he said in a deep voice.

Soon, Xie Ruolin walked in with a briefcase, his face full of smiles:

"Director, I've brought the people back. Do you want to see them?"

"Why would I want to see those messy people? Send them packing," Sun Chuanzhi said.

"Yes."

"By the way, this is what they've offered you."

Xie Ruolin opened the briefcase and took out five large and five small gold bars and three thousand brand-new US dollars.

Sun Chuanzhi's eyes lit up.

Ever since he was heavily scammed by Wu Jingzhong, he hadn't recovered, and with the world in chaos, US dollars and gold were scarce; he hadn't seen such fat pickings in a long time.

"Little Xie."

"Wei Jin doesn't know, right?" he asked.

"Hard to say."

"I'm just afraid Section Chief Wei will get involved and stir things up," Xie Ruolin said.

"This person is very troublesome."

"He's been with me for a long time, and he has connections above; I can't move him, yet he loves to meddle in other people's business."

"Headache, headache."

"If everyone were like you, wouldn't there be no problems at all?"

Sun Chuanzhi shook his head, feeling unhappy.

"Director, actually it's not hard."

"Isn't there a military weapons exhibition held by the Americans tomorrow?"

"Section Chief Wei has always been very interested in guns, cannons, and such; why not let him go and attend?"

A sly smile appeared at the corner of Xie Ruolin's mouth.

"Is it reliable?" Sun Chuanzhi asked directly, without pointing it out.

"Reliable."

"It's an American military event; even if Director Ye came, he couldn't find any fault," Xie Ruolin said.

"That's good, you go arrange it."

"First, keep me company and have some tea."

"Your sister-in-law, lately she's been instigated by those ladies and wants to go to Xiangdao."

"Isn't Hong Zhiyou very successful over there? You help me inquire if there's any good land or houses in Xiangdao and have him recommend some."

Sun Chuanzhi said.

(End of chapter)