Chapter 391: Is the Deputy Chief One of Us?

Hong and Yu arrived at the interrogation room.

Having received notification, Mao Wanli had arrived at the interrogation room a step ahead.

Seeing Hong Zhiyou, he stood up with a sour expression and introduced: "Inspector Hong, this is Chen Da, Deputy Secretary of the Wan Island Working Committee."

Chen Da sat in the chair, his brows drooping, his eyes devoid of any spark.

Yu Zecheng sighed silently in his heart.

No one wants to be a traitor.

And not many people can withstand the brutal torture of the Secret Service Bureau.

Not everyone has the courage and determination of Jiang Aimei.

Even if they do hold out, according to organizational principles, it is very difficult to be put back into service.

"Has he confessed?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"He's been locked up for so many days, his mouth has remained very tight," Mao Wanli said.

"Then continue the interrogation."

Before his seat on the bench had even warmed up, Hong Zhiyou stood up to leave.

"Is the Inspector not going to interrogate him?" Mao Wanli was stunned.

He had intended to let Chen Da leak false intelligence to disrupt Hong Zhiyou's investigative route; who knew Hong Zhiyou would play completely outside the rules.

"Interrogation is your business. Secretary Mao is a veteran of the Secret Service; I believe you will certainly be able to pry something out."

Hong Zhiyou smiled and rose to leave.

This turn of events left even Yu Zecheng confused.

Back at the office, before Yu Zecheng could speak, Hong Zhiyou said:

"He has already confessed."

"However, this might be good news for you."

"How so?" Yu Zecheng asked.

"Mao Renfeng should not have caught Old Zheng yet," Hong Zhiyou said.

"That's great."

"As long as Old Zheng is still out there, the underground organization on Wan Island can be reorganized!" Yu Zecheng said happily.

Hong Zhiyou looked at him, silent.

"Is there a problem?" Yu Zecheng realized something was not quite right.

"You wouldn't be trying to actually catch Old Zheng to earn merit for Jianfeng, would you?" he asked worriedly.

Recently, he had been feeling that something was wrong.

It was Hong Zhiyou's attitude.

Back in Jinhai, regarding Shopkeeper Qiu, Dong Cheng, Jiang Aimei, and others, Hong Zhiyou would always coordinate and use every means at his disposal to help him rescue comrades of the organization.

But after arriving on Wan Island, Hong Zhiyou was clearly not very invested.

This was certainly related to the terrifying high-pressure tactics of Jianfeng and Mao Renfeng.

Yet, logically speaking, for a figure as important as Old Zheng, Hong Zhiyou should not be this indifferent.

This was not a good sign.

Without Hong Zhiyou's cover, it would be very difficult for him to stay undercover and complete the organization's tasks.

"I have some materials here, take a look." Hong Zhiyou clicked a lighter to light a cigarette, took a faint puff, and tossed a file to him.

Yu Zecheng took a look.

Inside was some information on Chai Qian, a person in charge of the Working Committee.

"This only shows that his working style has problems," Yu Zecheng said after reading it.

"Have you ever thought that once this person is caught and turns traitor, the entire underground organization will be uprooted?" Hong Zhiyou said.

"That can't be."

"He is a veteran comrade who climbed snow-capped mountains and crossed the grasslands..."

Before Yu Zecheng could finish, Hong Zhiyou interrupted him:

"Chen Da and Li Kai were too."

"No one can survive the torture of Qin Shuangcheng."

"I, for one, hope Mao Renfeng never finds him."

"I can only wish him good luck."

"However, you had best not hold out too much hope," Hong Zhiyou added.

He had no way to convince Yu Zecheng.

Nor did he want to.

Chai Qian was the greatest future traitor and saboteur of the Wan Island underground organization.

No one would believe this if they heard it.

After Old Yu left, Hong Zhiyou picked up the desk phone and dialed a number:

"Is there news?"

"Good, bring it over."

Half an hour later, Sun Xing arrived at the office.

"Sit."

"Your complexion doesn't look right," Hong Zhiyou said, frowning as he saw his pale face.

"I didn't eat breakfast; I felt a bit dizzy while driving just now. It might be low blood sugar," Sun Xing said.

"Take this."

Hong Zhiyou pulled open a drawer and handed over a box of chocolates:

"Keep this in the car. If your low blood sugar acts up, just eat a piece."

"Also, you're off for the next two days. Go to Wanbei Hospital for a physical tomorrow morning."

"Getting things done is important, but your health comes first."

As he spoke, he opened the chocolate box and handed a large piece over first.

"Chief, I'm really fine. Why get a physical? It's troublesome if they find something," Sun Xing said while taking it and eating.

"You cannot avoid medical treatment out of fear of illness."

Hong Zhiyou stood up, walked to the desk, and picked up the phone: "Hello, Dean Cao? I have a friend coming for a physical tomorrow. Please arrange it—a full checkup."

"Good, thank you. Let's go bowling another day."

"Tomorrow morning, on an empty stomach," Hong Zhiyou said.

"Really, no need..." Sun Xing still wanted to refuse.

"This is an order!" Hong Zhiyou's tone allowed for no objection.

"Alright." Sun Xing nodded, a warmth spreading through his heart.

He had previously been a secret agent for Mao Renfeng, specifically tasked with assisting Ma Kui in causing trouble at the Jinhai Station.

Later, he secretly followed Hong Zhiyou.

He had originally thought that upon returning to the Wanbei Secret Service Bureau, with the influence of his old boss Mao Renfeng, Hong Zhiyou would not dare to trust him, or would be suspicious of him.

During this time, Sun Xing had been constantly anxious.

He had not expected that Hong Zhiyou would never even mention that, continuing to arrange for him the most core and confidential tasks.

For this kindness of recognition, Sun Xing could only repay him with his life.

Now, seeing Hong Zhiyou being so thoughtful, he secretly rejoiced that he had truly not followed the wrong person.

"This is the information on Old Zheng."

"Following your leads, I used the connections of Gu Youniu and Luo Youzhang in Wanbei to inquire about wealthy merchants who were indeed leaning toward the Red side."

"To be precise, it's not leaning toward the Red side; it's opportunism."

"There are many such people among wealthy merchants, students, and even the upper echelons of the National Government. Old Zheng and his group are frantically printing newspapers and leaflets, and these people, fearing the Red ticket will take the island in the future, are all secretly placing their bets on Old Zheng."

"Many have even joined the Party."

"I asked a few; their joining the Party was just a matter of a word from Old Zheng, and their credentials were also issued by Old Zheng."

"However, after the Third Field Army suffered setbacks in the battles for Jinmen and Zhoushanqundao a while ago, coupled with the arrest and bloody suppression of many key members of the Wan Island Working Committee, these people have wavered."

"I privately caught a few wealthy merchants; I didn't even interrogate them, just had two cups of tea with them, and they confessed some leads on Old Zheng."

"This is the portrait of Old Zheng that I had Gu Youniu copy and draw based on their descriptions."

"After identification, it should be at least ninety percent accurate."

"Take a look."

Fearing Mao Renfeng would intercept or send people to cause trouble, Sun Xing took off his leather shoe and took out the portrait folded and hidden in the heel.

Hong Zhiyou opened it and saw a middle-aged man inside.

"This person's real name is Chai Qian, nickname Old Zheng; it is confirmed he is the person in charge of the Working Committee."

"According to the leads from those people."

"This person loves to put on airs, likes to wear suits and ties, loves French wine, and is especially fond of Western-style steak and foie gras."

"Oh right, he also has a sister-in-law who is very close to him and is also his private secretary."

"Honestly, when I heard their statements, I simply couldn't believe it."

"That such a person could actually be a person in charge."

"The Jinhai Local Committee was full of loopholes from the start; because their scope of work was so broad, it was very easy to show their true colors."

"This is simply delivering themselves to our doorstep."

"At this rate, I think their intelligence network here will be finished sooner or later."

Sun Xing shook his head and smiled, somewhat unable to fathom it.

"Not everyone has faith."

"Never mind him, take a look at this first."

Hong Zhiyou took out a detailed map of Wanbei, with many circles marked on it.

"Combined with your intelligence, I can now confirm that someone in the upper echelons of the Bureau of Confidentiality or the Ministry of National Defense, or in the Second Administrative Group, is leaking information to Chai Qian."

"This guy is hiding now."

"The area around Jiefang South Road is where Gu Zhengwen's reconnaissance and defense team is staked out."

"This is the location of Ye Xiangzhi's Second Division."

"This is where Yu Zecheng is lying in wait..."

"Chen Dakai has already confessed Chai Qian's address."

"What is certain is that none of the above strongholds will be Chai Qian's actual place of residence."

"Given Mao Renfeng's personality, since I am currently on inspection duty, he will definitely set up a smokescreen to confuse me."

"And the two of them, Gu and Ye, as his confidants, are the best chess pieces."

"Then, using the process of elimination, keep a close eye on the remaining streets in secret."

"Start with the Western-style restaurants, especially Chai Qian's sister-in-law."

"Around nineteen or twenty years old."

"With Chai Qian's flair, there must be servants at home."

"But due to his status, he certainly wouldn't live in a conspicuous, grand mansion."

"So it must be an old house tucked away from the main street, convenient for escape, yet with a relatively high consumption of meat and groceries, generous spending, and perhaps even a touch of petty-bourgeois sentiment, such as a piano, a gramophone, and so on."

"Following these clues, we should be able to lock onto Chai Qian's true residence very soon."

"Once found, I will make the next arrangements."

Hong Zhiyou tapped his pen on several key streets and analyzed.

"Director."

"I used to think you climbed to where you are today by relying on money and connections, but now it seems I was wrong again; you are the true ace agent." Sun Xing said with an expression of admiration.

"Stop flattering me, I know exactly what I'm worth." Hong Zhiyou laughed with a sense of shame.

He merely knew some history and could arrange investigations precisely.

But Mao Renfeng did not know about these matters regarding Chai Qian.

Therefore, he might not know, and would not dare to believe, that the person in charge of the Red Ticket Wanbei, who had won battle after battle on the intelligence front, would dare to privately solicit "sponsorships."

Mao Renfeng would not think of the wealthy merchant angle.

He had simply exploited a loophole.

"By the way, what does Gu Youniu think of my investigation into Chai Qian?" Hong Zhiyou asked suddenly.

Gu Youniu is an absolute talent.

His language skills and acting were superb, and he hadn't expected his sketching to be top-notch as well.

He was once an attendant to Chen Qiuping, having come over from Yancheng, and still held the status of a Red Ticket Party member.

It wasn't that Hong Zhiyou was wary.

He felt it necessary to understand a bit, to save Gu Youniu from ending up like old Yu, like the Calabash Brothers trying to save their grandfather, only to have them all get caught one by one and wiped out by Mao Renfeng.

"He said he trusts you."

"Whatever you tell us to do, he does." Sun Xing answered truthfully.

He spent his days with Gu Youniu now, closer than real brothers, and was truly afraid that the two of them would cause some conflict.

"Hmm."

"I see. You can discuss things more with Youniu; he has a sharp mind." Hong Zhiyou said.

"Yes."

"Then I'll be going." Sun Xing let out a secret sigh of relief, picked up his hat, and prepared to leave.

"Take two more boxes."

"Ruirui sent them from Xiangdao; I have a toothache and can't eat this stuff, so take them and share them with Youniu and the others."

Hong Zhiyou took a paper bag and stuffed all the chocolates, sandwich cookies, and miscellaneous items from his drawer into it for him.

Sun Xing really did covet these exquisite foreign sweets.

"Alright, then I won't stand on ceremony." He smiled and took them.

"Is the money still enough?" Hong Zhiyou asked again.

"Enough."

"Youniu has earned quite a bit, the two of us can't spend it all." Sun Xing said.

"Hmm, go ahead." Hong Zhiyou nodded.

Just as Sun Xing reached the lobby carrying the items, he ran into Mao Renfeng.

He lowered his hat, pretending not to see him, and tried to brush past.

"Sun Xing." Mao Renfeng called out to him.

"Director Mao." Sun Xing hurriedly saluted respectfully.

"Off to see Inspector Hong? Why come to the Bureau of Confidentiality and not have a cup of tea with this old leader of yours?" Mao Renfeng smiled, but his eyes were filled with displeasure.

"Not at all."

"I really haven't had a moment to spare, I was just planning to pay a visit to Director Mao another day." Sun Xing said politely.

"What is this?"

"I'd like to see what treasures Inspector Hong has given you."

Mao Renfeng pointed at him and reached for the paper bag; Sun Xing looked slightly reluctant and tried to dodge to the side.

Mao Renfeng grabbed it firmly and squinted with a hum: "Hmm?"

Sun Xing had no choice but to let go.

Mao Renfeng flipped through it carefully, and seeing only some snacks, he couldn't help but sneer:

"Sun Xing."

"You were one of my guards, I sent you to Jinhai, I didn't tell you to go and never return, did I?"

"In Jinhai, that little business of yours with Wanli is long past."

"You've served your time in jail now, it's time to come back and report."

"Surely these few cookies haven't bought you off, have they?"

"As it happens, Li Wannian, the chief of the Third Division of the Bureau of Confidentiality, is unwell, and the position is vacant; I think you would be very suitable for it."

"How about that, this old leader of yours hasn't treated you poorly, has he?"

Mao Renfeng returned the bag to him and patted his shoulder.

"Director, I am currently working for Inspector Hong; why don't you discuss it with him? If he agrees, I am naturally willing to serve the Bureau Chief." Sun Xing said.

"Fine then."

"I'll discuss it with Zhiyou later."

"Go on."

Mao Renfeng smiled.

"Yes." Sun Xing saluted and walked away quickly.

"You two-faced dog, sooner or later you'll get what's coming to you!" Mao Renfeng stared at his back and snorted coldly.

Evening.

Yu Zecheng walked into the steamed bun shop as usual.

Zuo Lan walked over quickly.

"Sorry, the Ministry of National Defense does indeed have military deployment maps for Jinmen and Zhoushan, but I have no opportunity or channel to obtain them."

"Moreover, Jianfeng and Mao Renfeng have been watching very closely lately."

"The second person in charge, Chen Dakai, has confessed about old Zheng; only Mao Renfeng knows the specific situation."

"The comrades here in Wanbei are in great danger now."

"We must find a way to have them evacuate and go into hiding as soon as possible."

Yu Zecheng whispered quickly while eating a steamed bun.

"I understand."

"The situation here is very grim, I will notify Ms. Zhu as soon as possible."

"In addition, there is a lead on the island defense map."

"It's just that the situation has changed; Ms. Zhu has been in contact with people from the Work Committee, and for the safety of that comrade, she finds it inconvenient to meet, and dares not meet."

"My line only contacts you and Ms. Zhu, and it is still safe for now."

"I may have to trouble you to retrieve the intelligence."

Zuo Lan frowned with worry.

"Who is that comrade, would it be convenient to disclose?" Yu Zecheng asked.

"Vice Minister of the Defense Force, Wu Zhiqing!"

Zuo Lan said.

"Vice Minister Wu!" Yu Zecheng was astonished.

That was a Lieutenant General-level official, a figure deeply valued and trusted by the Jiang father and son.

He never expected that Vice Minister Wu would actually be one of their own.

For a moment, Yu Zecheng felt a surging power coursing through his body, as if he were not fighting alone.

Immediately after, he furrowed his brows again:

"Zuo Lan, has Vice Minister Wu had any contact with Lao Zheng?"

"It seems so," Zuo Lan said.

"What do you mean by 'seems so'? I need a definite answer," Yu Zecheng said sternly.

"Yes.

"His identity security clearance is very high; Chen Da might not necessarily know, but Lao Zheng definitely knows.

"According to what Ms. Zhu said, Vice Minister Wu is under the dispatch of the Huadong Bureau.

"This line is entirely under the responsibility of Lao Zheng."

Zuo Lan said.

"I understand.

"Tonight's radio broadcast will confirm the meeting code.

"I will find a way to go to the Defense Force to see him in the next few days."

Yu Zecheng thought for a moment and said.

Setting aside the matter of intelligence, judging by the tone of Hong Zhiyou, the extent of the damage to the underground organization in Wanbei might be even more severe than he had imagined.

He had to meet with Wu Zhiqing; it would be best if he could persuade him to leave Wandao immediately to ensure his safety.

……

(End of chapter)