Chapter 31: Gaining an Advantage While Still Complaining

Before coming, the superior had warned Old Wei.

Liu Wensheng was highly likely to have defected and had been subjected to interrogation.

Once confirmed, execute him on the spot.

Old Wei had previously intentionally touched Liu Wensheng's chest, and seeing the look of pain on his face, he knew this man had indeed defected from the organization.

Bang, bang!

Old Wei decisively pulled the trigger.

Blood splattered across Liu Wensheng's chest.

"Old Wei, you!"

He opened his eyes wide and fell headfirst to the ground.

Old Wei turned and ran.

"Oh no!"

The gunfire in the church startled Ma Kui and Qi Physician outside the door.

Both men burst in at the same time.

Ma Kui fired a shot at the fleeing Old Wei, hitting him squarely in the thigh.

Old Wei let out a muffled groan and nearly fell.

He used the church pews as cover to exchange fire with Ma Kui and his companion.

Soon, the bullets ran out.

The experienced Ma Kui signaled, and he and Qi Physician slowly flanked him from left and right.

"Hoo, hoo!"

Old Wei panted heavily.

The traitor had been eliminated, and knowing there was no hope of survival, he suddenly lunged out, feigning an attempt to aim his gun at Ma Kui.

"Don't shoot!"

Ma Kui shouted.

However, it was too late.

Qi Physician instinctively fired a burst into Old Wei.

"It was worth it..."

A trace of a smile appeared on the corner of Old Wei's mouth as he collapsed into a pool of blood.

"Who told you to shoot!

"He was already out of bullets, just a fish on the chopping block.

"Are you a pig?"

Ma Kui backhanded Qi Physician, knocking him over.

Old Wei was the number two figure of the Jinhai Regional Committee and its actual helmsman.

His value was far higher than Liu Wensheng's.

Now, Liu Wensheng was gone, and this fat fish, Old Wei, was also dead.

A perfectly good game of chess had been completely ruined.

Ma Kui was so angry he was fuming; the more he thought about it, the angrier he got, and he gave Qi Physician, who was on the ground, a brutal beating:

"I told you to shoot!

"I told you to shoot!"

In the Jinhai Station conference room, the air was nearly suffocating.

"Bang!"

Wu Jingzhong slapped the table and said self-mockingly:

"A perfectly good piece of meat, and it went rotten before I could take a bite.

"Boss Dai is still waiting for me in Jingling to hold a victory banquet.

"Now, it's all ruined."

As he spoke, he pointed angrily at Ma Kui: "Captain Ma, how do you explain this?"

Ma Kui gritted his teeth, his head tilting in resentment:

"Station Chief, we followed the plan for the rendezvous; who would have thought Liu Wensheng would be gunned down by the other side the moment he went in.

"This clearly means someone leaked the intelligence."

"Leaked intelligence, who?" Upon hearing this, Wu Jingzhong was furious.

"I used a secret dedicated line; only a few people in the station knew, and you were the one who picked the people.

"Tell me, who is it?"

He pressed aggressively.

"I don't know, but I have a gut feeling that there must be a Red agent in our station, and it is highly likely they are in this very conference room." Ma Kui scanned everyone with a sharp gaze and argued coldly.

"Indeed.

"Red agents are convenient; whenever a job is botched, it's always a leak by a Red agent, never fails." Lu Qiaoshan shook his head and sneered.

He was truly happy at this moment.

Not only did Ma Kui fail to gain any merit, but he also messed everything up.

With this pile of dung on his head, he could forget about being promoted to Colonel in this lifetime.

"You Lu, don't you kick a man when he's down..." Ma Kui's veins bulged, and he was about to explode.

Wu Jingzhong slapped the table: "Enough.

"Director Liu, start the investigation from within the station; everyone must undergo screening."

"What about Captain Ma and Qi Physician..." Liu Xiong asked in a low voice.

"Suspend their salaries for three months first," Wu Jingzhong said angrily.

"Yes!"

Liu Xiong accepted the order.

Everyone returned to their offices to undergo screening.

"Secretary Hong, where were you at the time?" Liu Xiong asked.

Hong Zhiyou gave his account one by one.

After lasting about an hour, the station began letting people go one after another.

Lu Qiaoshan found an opening and slipped into Hong Zhiyou's office again.

Immediately after, Yu Zecheng followed behind him.

"Director Lu, Director Yu, come, have some tea."

Hong Zhiyou set out the tea cups, and the three began to chat.

"Old Yu, Secretary Hong, you say such an important figure, and they didn't even notify us.

"Listen to Ma Kui's tone; he's the only loyal and capable official in the whole station, and we're all treacherous subjects."

Lu Qiaoshan spread his hands, crossed his legs to show off the soles of his leather shoes, and began to complain.

"Let him be a loyal official; that's not something you can eat," Yu Zecheng laughed.

"I just don't understand.

"Ma Kui has turned the sky upside down, and the Station Chief only fined him three months' salary, not even a demotion.

"Isn't that too much favoritism?"

Lu Qiaoshan switched back to his whiny mode.

In fact, everyone in the station knew it clearly.

Ma Kui was stupid, stupid in that he didn't understand human relationships and worldly wisdom.

But he was also one of the few people who actually got things done.

If they got rid of Ma Kui and replaced him with someone like Lu Qiaoshan, the Jinhai Station might as well close down.

Could Wu Jingzhong, that old fox, not understand this logic?

"Old Lu, stop acting like you've gained an advantage while still complaining.

"With Ma Kui's fall, the position of Deputy Station Chief is basically out of reach for him.

"You're the only Lieutenant Colonel in the station.

"Just wait to pop the champagne and celebrate."

Yu Zecheng complimented him half-jokingly.

"Where, where..." Lu Qiaoshan's mouth curled up so much he could barely suppress it.

Why did he come here?

Wasn't it just to show off?

As they were talking, Liu Xiong walked in:

"Secretary Hong, Director Yu, the Station Chief wants you both to come to his office."

Neither dared to delay and hurried to the office.

"Close the door," Wu Jingzhong ordered.

Hong Zhiyou closed the door, and Wu Jingzhong sat down and sighed:

"Sigh, that clumsy Ma Kui. Now look at this, he didn't save face, he just exposed his backside."

"What do you two think?"

Hong Zhiyou scooted to the side.

In terms of seniority, it had to be Yu Zecheng who spoke first.

When out in the world, one still had to observe the rules.

"Let Zhiyou speak first," Yu Zecheng said.

He knew Hong Zhiyou had participated in this matter and had more right to speak.

"Secretary Hong, you speak," Wu Jingzhong pointed at Hong Zhiyou.

"I feel that we cannot blame Captain Ma.

"When Liu Wensheng came to Jinmen, many places could have gone wrong.

"For example, transporting his wife and daughter from Beiping might have alerted the Reds.

"There is also the Jinmen Beiyang University and the Education Bureau.

"Furthermore, intelligence trading on the black market is currently rampant; who knows, perhaps the moment Liu Wensheng stepped into Jinmen, someone in Beiping was already driving up the price.

"Don't forget, he was sold out by someone.

"That person could easily take the opportunity to make another big haul.

"You must know that on the black market now, intelligence regarding the Reds, especially big fish like this, starts at at least two gold bars.

"Therefore, I believe the responsibility does not lie with the station, and certainly not with you, Station Chief.

"It must have happened in Beiping!"

Hong Zhiyou finished his analysis, decisive and firm in his conclusion.

"Hmm, that must be it.

"The Jinmen Station has an internal monitoring mechanism, members have an internal review every month, and this time you were personally in command; it is unlikely that our own people leaked the news," Yu Zecheng echoed.

As he spoke, he took out a handkerchief and blew his nose.

"Apologies, my rhinitis acts up as soon as autumn arrives, it's an old ailment," Yu Zecheng said with an awkward smile.

He had been to see Shopkeeper Qiu.

The streets were crowded and eyes were everywhere; in case someone saw him, he needed an excuse.

Just as they were talking, the phone rang.

"I bet it's Boss Dai," Wu Jingzhong pointed at the telephone.

Then his expression turned solemn, and he answered the phone.

"Yes, Bureau Chief."

"It is my fault, I failed, I have let down your trust."

He stood at attention, solemn, wiping sweat.

"It's impossible, I was personally in command, not even a fly could have slipped out, it must have been a problem over at Ma Hansan's side in Beiping.

"You know, Station Chief Ma has always been high-profile, and those subordinates of his are always making a racket; who knows where the leak happened that let the Reds find out.

"Oh, my Bureau Chief.

"I have been doing intelligence work with you since the Ji'e Lane days, could I commit such a low-level mistake?

"..."

Hanging up the phone, Wu Jingzhong wiped away a cold sweat, still shaken as he said:

"Good thing this old face of mine is still useful.

"We had Ma Hansan take the fall for us.

"The Bureau Chief's instruction: let this be the last time!"

"Let's go, time to eat!" Wu Jingzhong's eyes brightened, and he began to laugh.

"Station Chief, where to? I'll book a private room for you," Yu Zecheng said hurriedly.

"No need.

"We're going straight to my house; your sister-in-law specially prepared a fine late-night snack.

"Consider it a way for us to calm our nerves.

"As it happens, I still have matters to discuss with you both."

Wu Jingzhong unbuttoned his collar, and the murderous aura that had filled the office gradually faded.

Hong Zhiyou was hoping for exactly this.

He had already set the date with Long Er over the phone.

As expected, there would be a good show tonight.

(End of chapter)