Chapter 306: This Guy Has Poked a Hornet's Nest Again

"Captain Li, what are you doing?"

"Want... want to break the rules?"

Xie Ruo shook his head, smiling coldly as he asked.

"Old Xie, we are friends; I don't want to make things difficult for you."

"You have your faith in money, and I have my principles."

"Since we can't reach an agreement, we have to do things by the rules."

"You are suspected of trafficking intelligence and colluding with the Reds."

"Come with me."

Li Ya waved his hand, and several staff members rushed out from the corner, roughly pinning Xie Ruo down.

"Understood."

"Low-life tactics; if you can't eat, you smash the pot."

"Testing my faith?"

"I, I like it, so let's give it a try."

"Let's see if your fists are harder, or if my... my mouth is harder!"

Xie Ruo laughed with disdain.

"Is that so?"

"I'd like to try that too."

"Take him away!"

Li Ya waved his hand, and someone immediately shoved Xie Ruo into a car.

Fearing prying eyes, he did not enter the station through the main entrance.

He took the special underground passage requested from the Station Chief, going directly into the most concealed basement for interrogation.

Once inside the basement.

Lu Baoxing had already heated the stove and branding irons, the electric chair was set up, and all kinds of torture instruments were prepared.

"Get on."

Two staff members roughly pushed Xie Ruo onto the electric chair.

"Old Xie."

"I have always considered you a friend; that piece of intelligence is very important to me, and I need the original."

"Tell me, who exactly bought it?"

The temperature in the room was a bit high; Li Ya took off his coat, rolled up his shirt sleeves, and leaned against the interrogation table to ask.

"That's right."

"We are... friends."

"If you can't beat me to death today, I'll still do business with you later."

"But from now on, there, there won't be any discounts."

"Don't be troubled, come on."

Xie Ruo smiled, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes, his whole body trembling.

Since he started this line of work, he knew he would eventually encounter someone who would force a sale or eat him alive; he had long been mentally prepared.

But nothing could defeat his faith in money.

His family background was not wealthy, he wasn't considered smart from a young age, and he was often mocked for his stutter.

During the Japanese occupation, his parents, grandmother, and younger sister all died under the butchers' blades of the devils.

He had no connections and no background.

He struggled hard and lived with difficulty.

He took university entrance exams.

He worked like a beast of burden for Shang Bo, and later relied on his savings and clinging to a woman's skirt to enter the Dangtong Bureau.

Relying on integrity, efficiency, and professionalism, he went from an obscure errand boy to landing his first business deal.

And now, he was the "Little Jinmen" known to everyone in the Jinmen underground.

He had realized his own life's value.

Relying on his own professionalism, he lived the life he wanted.

More importantly, professional competence brought him not only material gains but also the pleasure of being trusted, respected, and admired.

This was far more important than money, even transcending life and death.

Li Ya could make him die.

But betraying his profession and selling out his faith was absolutely impossible.

"Apply torture."

Li Ya waved his hand.

Lu Baoxing picked up a whip and lashed out at his head and face.

He was beaten until his skin was torn and flesh was mangled, screaming repeatedly.

"Old Xie, speak."

"If you don't confess, I'm using the branding iron," Li Ya said.

Xie Ruo didn't speak, only sneered at him with a sinister look, as if Li Ya were just a pathetic clown.

"Hmm."

Li Ya waved his hand.

Lu Baoxing took the red-hot branding iron and thrust it fiercely into Xie Ruo's chest.

Black smoke rose.

The charred stench of skin and flesh burning from the iron permeated the room.

Xie Ruo convulsed all over, and after a few screams, he passed out directly from the pain.

Splash.

Li Ya splashed a ladle of water on his face, waking him up.

"Old Xie, don't make things hard for yourself."

"Isn't it just a name?"

"Say it, and I'll send you to the hospital immediately."

Li Ya continued his psychological attack.

"No... impossible," Xie Ruo panted, smiling weakly.

"Then there's no other way."

"Apply the electricity."

Li Ya gave the order and walked out.

Two days passed.

Xie Ruo was tortured in turns, yet he never uttered a single word.

Li Ya was very annoyed.

He hadn't expected this damn stutterer to be so stubborn.

"Captain Li, the Security Section is notifying you to go to the Station Chief's office," a basement guard walked in to report.

"I know."

"Baoxing, keep beating him until he opens his mouth," Li Ya said.

"Captain Li."

"If we keep beating him, I'm afraid he won't hold up..." Lu Baoxing said.

"Call a doctor."

"Treat him while you beat him; give him injections and anti-inflammatories as needed."

Li Ya gave the instructions and walked out.

"Li Ya, how is it?" Once in the Station Chief's office, Wu Jingzhong asked.

"Teacher, this man's mouth is extremely tight."

"He's been electrocuted several rounds, and every available torture has been used, but he won't say a single word."

Li Ya said with some helplessness.

"Then let him go," Wu Jingzhong said.

"Teacher, we can't let him go."

"This man is a confidant of Sun Chuanzhi."

"But at the same time, he is a scalper; he knows many people, and naturally, he has offended many people."

"If he disappears, or if his body is dumped at the bottom of the river."

"Sun Chuanzhi might think he made enough money and ran away."

"But handing him over, isn't that just asking for trouble?"

Li Ya frowned.

His initial idea was to scare Xie Ruo, and it would be fine if the guy just spilled it.

I didn't expect him to be so stubborn.

The person is beaten half to death now; handing him over to the Dangtong Bureau would definitely cause trouble.

"Then deal with this person as soon as possible." Wu Jingzhong nodded.

A veteran of the Juntong Bureau, after all.

Quietly getting rid of a person or two is nothing.

Especially when it comes to someone with a background in the Zhongtong Bureau.

There is even less room for sentiment.

Wu Jingzhong knew this Xie Ruo, a black-market profiteer, had a decent relationship with Hong Zhiyou.

However, in his eyes, he did not count as an important figure.

The key is, if Li Ya really kills Xie.

Then that would be handing him a major handle; no matter how you look at it, this deal is worth it.

"Understood.

"Give me two more days; if he still doesn't open his mouth, I'll send him to the river to feed the fish," Li Ya said, nodding.

Medical room.

Physician Liao carried his medicine chest, following behind a basement clerk, and arrived at the lobby with hurried steps.

He ran straight into Yu Zecheng.

"Physician Sun, what happened?" Yu Zecheng asked.

"Deputy Station Chief Yu, this..." Liao Hua did not know how to answer for a moment.

"Go ahead."

Yu Zecheng knew the rules, smiled, and did not ask further.

"Yes."

Liao Hua hurried away.

"Is someone being tortured in the basement?" Yu Zecheng frowned sharply.

He walked quickly to the secretary's office and closed the door behind him.

"Zhiyou.

"I just saw Liao Hua go to the basement; did the station chief reveal anything over there?" Yu Zecheng asked.

"The station chief's heart is as deep as the sea.

"Not to mention I'm his prospective son-in-law, even if I were his actual son-in-law, he wouldn't necessarily tell me everything.

"It must be that Li Ya caught someone.

"I've seen him acting all strange these past few days."

Hong Zhiyou put down his teacup and pondered.

"I feel like something isn't right.

"The day before yesterday, Li Ya cornered Cuiping at the station chief's house and even asked about Chen Qiuping; he even had photos.

"Now, Cuiping is at risk of exposure at any time.

"Moreover, because of Qiuping's situation, she hasn't eaten for three days.

"Zhiyou, to be honest with you, I don't even know if I should withdraw or stay now.

"Once Li Ya confirms Cuiping's identity, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Yu Zecheng said with a tense expression.

"Don't panic.

"The fact that he is interrogating someone means he doesn't have a clear lead yet.

"Shall I go find out who was caught?"

Hong Zhiyou said.

For Hong Zhiyou, this was not difficult.

The basement guards were under the Security Section.

Plus, his relationship with Liao Hua and Lu Baoxing was not bad.

By the afternoon.

Hong Zhiyou had received the news.

The one caught was Xie Ruo.

This was somewhat unexpected for Hong Zhiyou.

It was not hard for Li Ya to know that Xie Ruo had trafficked intelligence about Qiuping.

But Xie Ruo had lined up many deals for Li Ya and was a member of the Dangtong Bureau; logically, it was unlikely Li Ya would arrest him.

Now it seems he had overestimated Li Ya's character.

This person simply had no bottom line.

To achieve his goal, he would stop at nothing.

The current dilemma was that the station chief did not want to get involved in this muddy water.

Yu Zecheng was also a suspect; getting involved with Xie Ruo without any personal connection would undoubtedly be like sticking a red-label tag on his own forehead.

Hong Zhiyou had asked Liao Hua.

Old Xie had already been beaten to the point of breathing his last.

If he wasn't rescued now.

Given the station chief's intention to keep things quiet, it meant he wanted to "cold-handle" it.

Saving a life is like fighting a fire; not a moment can be delayed.

"Who to find?"

Hong Zhiyou frowned slightly and soon thought of someone.

Lu Qiaoshan!

The bait buried on Shang Bo's side had been set for so long, it was time for it to explode.

But he could not be the one to say it.

He had to find someone to quietly pass the word to Sheng Xiang.

Lu Qiaoshan would definitely act.

Because he had a handle held by Xie Ruo.

Sheng Xiang had once sold the intelligence on Yuan Peilin's hiding place in the Embroidery Spring Pavilion, and the buyer was none other than Xie Ruo, which had caused Sun Chuanzhi to lose a large sum of money.

Although it was fake intelligence.

But if Li Ya were to pin the Yuan Peilin affair on Lu Qiaoshan, it would be no small crime.

After all, the case of Yuan Peilin's murder involved the bombing of Yancheng, and even the Generalissimo was alarmed.

It would all depend on Old Lu.

Originally, this move with Shang Bo was left for Lu Qiaoshan.

Now it was just the right time to use it.

Doing this was not difficult.

Soon, Hong Zhiyou found someone to locate Sheng Xiang at the black market, made a small profit of over ten US dollars from him, and leaked the news.

3: 6 PM.

Sheng Xiang walked into Lu Qiaoshan's office with hurried steps:

"Brother Shan, something happened."

"So jumpy.

"What is it?"

Lu Qiaoshan had been feeling a dull, stabbing pain in his chest for the past few days, and at this moment, he was still flipping through that white paper.

Thinking that these words, like pearls of wisdom, were all his own hard work.

Then looking at the three large characters "Zheng Jiemin" on the cover.

He was extremely annoyed.

What was even more depressing was that last night, Zheng Jiemin had come to urge for the manuscript without mentioning a shred of his credit.

He had mentioned several times whether his name could be added to the new draft.

Zheng Jiemin had dodged the question and refused him.

"Brother Shan.

"Xie Ruo has been caught," Sheng Xiang said.

"He's been caught, what are you panicking about, what's wrong with you?" Lu Qiaoshan rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"Brother Shan.

"He was caught by Li Ya; it's said he's been locked in the basement for days, and he's almost beaten to death by now.

"Liao Hua from the medical room let it slip while drinking with someone."

Sheng Xiang said in a low voice.

"What does that have to do with us?" Lu Qiaoshan frowned and said.

"Brother Shan, please don't forget.

"Regarding the Yuan Peilin matter, I once sold intelligence to Xie Ruolin.

"According to rumors outside, when Liao Hua was treating Xie, he personally heard Li Ya interrogating Xie, mentioning the case of Yuan Peilin's assassination.

"Xie is a tough nut to crack; he has been holding out.

"But in my opinion, he won't be able to hold out for long; if he happens to spill, it will be trouble.

"Don't forget, the intelligence on Okamura was bought from him.

"Yuan Peilin plus Okamura—the Chairman has inquired about both cases. Brother Shan, saving a person is like fighting a fire; we can't afford to wait."

Sheng Xiang said anxiously and heatedly.

He was a direct participant in both matters; if Xie really spilled, every arrest would be spot on.

"This is indeed a troublesome matter.

"Do not make any noise on your end; keep a close eye on Li Ya in secret, and don't let him transfer the person away.

"Leave the rest to me."

Lu Qiaoshan instructed cautiously.

Xie Ruolin is no ordinary person.

He is a favorite under Sun Chuanzhi.

Likewise, he is also a tool for certain people in the upper echelons of the Ministry of National Defense; otherwise, how could he have obtained the top-secret intelligence on Okamura at the first opportunity?

And it was the only copy, too.

He was able to keep it to himself for so many days without it losing its effectiveness.

Once this news reaches the Ministry of National Defense, certain upper-echelon figures will surely be even more anxious and agitated than he is.

At the very least, there is one person Lu Qiaoshan knows of.

He Yingqin's adjutant, Lai Tonghai.

This person is deeply involved in the intelligence market.

With one Lai Tonghai and one Ye Xiufeng, if they can't handle a single Li Ya, he simply wouldn't believe it.

"Li Ya, oh Li Ya.

"You really know how to poke a hornet's nest."

A cold sneer appeared at the corner of Lu Qiaoshan's mouth.

"Zhang Li, go to the equipment room and get a listening detection device." For the sake of caution, he ordered.

Zhang Li accepted the order, stepped on her high heels, and walked away with her hips swaying.

Just watching her hips sway those few steps made Lu Qiaoshan annoyed.

Like Wu Jingzhong, his prostate might be fine, but he had absolutely no interest in women.

Aside from money and power, everything else was just fleeting clouds.

If it weren't for the fact that this woman knew foreign languages and would be of great use later, he would have cleared Zhang Li out long ago.

"Section Chief Lu, I've brought it." Zhang Li walked in.

Lu Qiaoshan personally checked it once to ensure the telephone was not being tapped, then instructed:

"Zhang Li, you go stand guard outside the door first; without my permission, no one is allowed to enter.

"Including... Secretary Hong."

"Understood, Section Chief Lu." Zhang Li accepted the order and walked out.

Lu Qiaoshan picked up the desk phone and quickly dialed Lai Tonghai's number:

"Adjutant Lai, it's me, Lu Qiaoshan.

"It's like this.

"Our Jinhai Station's Li Ya arrested Xie Ruolin today—yes, that scalper from the Dangtong Bureau.

"Xie Ruolin couldn't withstand the torture and entrusted someone to plead with me.

"He said he knows you.

"The problem is, I don't get along with this Li Ya; I'm sure you've heard about that little incident in Beiping.

"So, I was wondering if you could discuss this with Bureau Chief Ye on your end.

"I don't mean anything else by it.

"If he can be saved, then save him; if not, then it's his fate.

"But I see he's been beaten very badly; it's hard to say how much longer he can hold out.

"Hmm, what could Xie Ruolin have done?

"Nothing more than reselling some intelligence or dealing in some supplies.

"Alright then, sorry to trouble you.

"Give my regards to Minister He; goodbye."

He hung up the phone.

Lu Qiaoshan then made a call to Sheng Xiang, telling him to notify Sun Chuanzhi.

After finishing all this.

Lu Qiaoshan finally let out a sigh of relief.

That dog Li Ya is really jumping around quite happily.

He must quickly secure the intelligence from Old Shang to properly checkmate him.

Station Chief's office.

Wu Jingzhong was leaning on the sofa taking a short nap; as soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Yu Zecheng and Hong Zhiyou talking.

Just today alone.

He had attended four meetings.

It was the same old circular talk over and over; one day the Ministry of National Defense sends a special commissioner, the next it's someone from the Chairman's aide-de-camp office.

It was endless.

At his age, he really couldn't take it anymore.

He dozed off during a meeting and was even called out by Zhang Qun, which made him lose a great deal of face.

"Teacher is awake."

Hong Zhiyou hurriedly handed over a hot towel.

Wu Jingzhong applied it to his face to soothe his mind:

"Sigh.

"Zecheng, from now on, as long as it's not a meeting for the Chairman's special commissioners, you are to attend all others in my place.

"Day after day, it's nothing but meetings.

"If we keep meeting like this, there will be no need to do any security work at all."

He leaned his head against the sofa and complained unhappily.

In truth, he was not very willing to let Yu Zecheng go.

In the past, Lu Qiaoshan would have been very suitable.

But now that Yu Zecheng is the Deputy Station Chief, according to the system and rules, if he himself doesn't go, it must at least be him.

To have fewer headaches, he could only labor and toil.

However, his physical constitution really couldn't take it.

The meeting rooms were full of old chain-smokers; just the smell alone could choke a person to death.

"Indeed, the war at the front is tight.

"Both the front and rear lines need to summarize the united front, and intelligence is the most important of the important.

"Livelihood and the military need to crack down on reselling and corruption.

"City defense and military equipment also require the participation of the Confidentiality Bureau.

"Not to mention catching the Reds.

"Teacher, it's not that you have endless meetings."

Yu Zecheng smiled.

He had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time.

Being able to participate in such high-level confidential meetings would allow him to continuously transport intelligence to the organization's organs.

"Indeed.

"If we could win battles just by holding meetings, that would be great," Wu Jingzhong laughed.

Just as they were talking, the phone rang.

Wu Jingzhong got up to answer: "Hello, it's me."

As soon as he finished speaking, his expression turned serious:

"Bureau Chief Ye, I, Jingzhong, know absolutely nothing about the matter you mentioned.

"I won't hide it from you.

"I haven't even set foot in the station for a week; I've been out all day attending meetings, so I truly don't know what has happened in the station.

"Furthermore, as you know, Li Ya is one of Jianfeng's people.

"He has always acted on his own, and I can't keep an eye on him either."

"Yes, yes!"

"I'll go ask. If this is really the case, as long as there are no major issues, I guarantee I'll release the person."

"Goodbye."

Click.

He hung up the phone.

"Well then, Ye..."

Before he could finish his sentence.

The phone rang again.

"It's me."

"Oh, it's Adjutant Lai."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, Director Ye just mentioned it to me, and I am currently looking into it."

"Oh, he is dumping compressed biscuits for the Seventh War Zone, right? Since he is a person personally appointed by Minister He, how could Wu Jingzhong dare not comply."

"Rest assured, I will go ask Li Ya right now."

"I will strive to release the person as soon as possible."

After speaking, he hung up the phone.

"Ye Xiufeng and Lai Tonghai have both come to me asking for people." Wu Jingzhong curled his lips and sneered.

"Teacher."

"What exactly is going on?"

"Judging by the tone, Captain Li has arrested their people?"

Yu Zecheng asked.

"That's right."

"Li Ya arrested a profiteer from the Dangtong Bureau, the guy who used to go to Mu Liancheng's house to commit extortion and stutters when he speaks." Wu Jingzhong said.

"Xie Ruo." Hong Zhiyou said.

"Right, that's him."

"They say he colluded with the Reds and trafficked intelligence."

"I am truly fed up."

"If he's not firing at his own people, he's provoking old enemies. It's as if he thinks my days are too short and I have too much free time."

Wu Jingzhong laughed.

As for this matter with Xie Ruo, it didn't matter to him how it was handled.

It was Li Ya's business anyway.

If Li Ya came, he would just agree with him.

If someone came to bail him out, then he would release the person immediately.

Of course, he preferred the latter; letting outsiders put some pressure on Li Ya was fine, otherwise this guy would go on a rampage without end.

He didn't have that much energy or time to play along with him.

"Station Chief, Director Sun from the Dangtong Bureau is here and says he wants to see you."

"Will you see him or not?"

Just as they were talking, Lu Qiaoshan walked in and reported.

Although Sun Chuanzhi, as the office director of the Dangtong Bureau in Jinhai, belonged to the Party headquarters while the other belonged to the Ministry of National Defense, his status was equal to that of Wu Jingzhong.

Wu Jingzhong did not like this person.

But after all, they were both eating the Party-State's rice, and they would see each other often, so he still had to give him this bit of face.

"Invite him in." After thinking for a moment, he ordered.

(End of chapter)