Chapter 392: Wu and Yu Meet

"I should go now; you must take care of your safety." After finishing his steamed bun, Yu Zecheng stood up and said.

"Zecheng, you be careful too." Zuo Lan nodded.

Yu Zecheng left quickly.

He returned home.

Hong Zhiyou returned after two in the morning again.

Yu Zecheng was truly worried for him.

To outsiders, Hong Zhiyou was handsome and wealthy, highly valued by Jianfeng, and a general at a young age—the quintessential child of destiny.

In reality, Yu Zecheng knew he lived more exhaustingly than a landlord's donkey.

During the day, he had to fawn over the Jiang father and son in the office and battle with Mao Renfeng.

At night, there were all sorts of social engagements; he often accompanied Kong Lingwei and that group of wealthy people to play mahjong, dance, and drink until two or three in the morning, sometimes even all night.

Compared to his days in Jinhai, where he ate and drank well, made money, exercised, and had beauties by his side.

Hong Zhiyou, burdened by worldly affairs, looked noticeably worse.

Ugh!

Yu Zecheng stood by the railing on the second floor of the backyard, silently watching Hong Zhiyou retching violently.

He had originally intended to discuss meeting Vice Minister Wu with Hong Zhiyou.

On second thought, he fiercely dismissed the idea.

In a place like Wandao, the situation was too complex.

The water was too deep.

He had better not drag Zhiyou into the water.

He would work alone.

Like when he dealt with Li Haifeng, he would be a lonely warrior.

Even if he were caught one day, at least it wouldn't implicate Zhiyou and the Station Chief so much.

"Are you done watching?"

"Can you pour a glass of water!"

Hong Zhiyou shouted at him.

"Oh." Yu Zecheng snapped out of it and hurried over to help him into the house.

"Why did you drink so much?" He poured a cup of hangover tea for Hong Zhiyou, frowning with concern.

"No choice, these people are too crazy."

"It's about financing."

"If I don't drink a few more glasses, Lady Jiang will dump the bill on me."

"Last time I smashed Kong Lingkan's abacus on Ghost Island, the Lady's prejudice against me grew deeper. She personally oversees the Yuanshan Hotel; if I don't work hard, she'll be whispering in the Chairman's ear again."

"Drink more, raise more money, at least let her feel I still have some value."

"So I can help us hold on until we leave Wandao."

Hong Zhiyou smiled helplessly and bitterly.

"Zhiyou, why don't you leave," Yu Zecheng said solemnly.

"That's right!"

"Make a call to MacArthur, have him find a pretext to transfer you to Tokyo again, then you can detour back to Xiangdao."

"Jianfeng wants to use the two of us to hold you by the throat."

"Then let it be as he wishes; we will stay here, and he can kill or carve us up as he pleases."

"At my age, do you think I'm afraid of death?"

At some point, Wu Jingzhong had walked over draped in a coat, his face full of determination.

In his life, he had collected so many antiques and still hadn't seen enough; his greatest wish for the rest of his life was for Rui Rui to give him a big, fat grandson to inherit the family business.

To drink tea, look after the child, and look at those treasured antiques.

However, he now knew that this small wish was likely in jeopardy.

From the moment Hong Zhiyou called him "Dad," Wu Jingzhong had made up his mind: if his dream of retiring in Xiangdao was shattered, so be it, but he absolutely could not let Zhiyou be trapped here, driven and toyed with by others.

He certainly needed him, but Rui Rui, Qiu Ju, and the child needed him more.

"Dad!"

"What is wrong with you two tonight?"

"I once made a promise to Rui Rui and Senior Sister: no matter where we go, we came as three, and we will return as three—not one can be missing!"

"I must bring you all out of Xiangdao completely intact."

Hong Zhiyou wiped the tea stains from the corner of his mouth, his eyes like iron.

"If things go on like this, I'm afraid you won't live long." Wu Jingzhong let out a long sigh.

As he spoke, he looked at Yu Zecheng with complex eyes.

Yu Zecheng's eyes were slightly red, and he licked his lips uneasily; he could not face Wu Jingzhong's gaze.

He was here to lurk, and he had a mission to fulfill.

But if he made a move, it would implicate Hong Zhiyou.

"Sleep."

"In a person's life, the worst that can happen is death; let's leave it to fate."

He waved his hand and walked quickly back into the room.

"Heaven is great, Earth is great, but sleep is the greatest."

"Sleep."

Hong Zhiyou spread his hands and went off with a smile.

……

The next day.

Yu Zecheng went about his daily office work handling important matters.

It was almost noon, time to get off work.

After hesitating for a moment by the telephone, he suddenly grabbed the receiver and dialed the office of the Vice Minister of National Defense: "Hello, is this Vice Minister Wu?"

"Greetings, Vice Minister, this is Yu Zecheng from the Investigation Section of the Inspectorate Office of the Data Group."

"It's like this, there is an order from Basheng Garden for the Investigation Section to assist Director Zheng Jiemin of the Second Group of the Executive Yuan in auditing national defense expenditures. If it is convenient for you, may I come to your office?"

"Good!"

"See you at the office at two in the afternoon."

Yu Zecheng hung up the phone.

Checking his watch, he went to the Inspectorate Office.

Seeing him, Wu Jingzhong smiled and said, "You came just in time. A new Halal restaurant opened on Jinan Road; I haven't had hot pot in a long time, let's go try it together."

"By the way, Master, where is Zhiyou?" he asked.

"He was called to Basheng Garden by Jianfeng for lunch."

"He's urging for the second batch of grain to be sent from Tokyo."

Wu Jingzhong smiled.

"What have you been busy with lately?" Once at the restaurant, Wu Jingzhong asked.

"Originally, it was to catch Old Zheng."

"But Zhiyou didn't provide much information, and I haven't been able to get any leads on my end, so I'm currently assisting Director Zheng in auditing the national defense expenditures."

"The grain has arrived, and the loans have arrived."

"Jianfeng cares very much about this chance to turn things around; he is keeping a tight grip on the military and national defense, and has already executed several officers, just for fear that this last bit of family assets will follow the same path."

Yu Zecheng smiled.

"Hmm, auditing is good; this is what you are good at."

"Why catch those Red agents?"

"You aren't suited for it."

Wu Jingzhong pointed at him and smiled with satisfaction.

Yu Zecheng looked at him, smiled slightly, and didn't dare to speak.

……

Basheng Garden.

After Jianfeng and Hong Zhiyou finished eating, they took a walk in the garden.

"It's a rare sunny day."

"Since coming here, the sea breeze is strong and it's very damp; the old cold-related illness I suffered from in the Soviet Union has flared up again, especially these two legs, which ache faintly whenever it's cloudy."

"People, you know, need to bask in the sun from time to time; only by living in the sunlight can one feel refreshed."

Jianfeng said as he walked with his hands behind his back.

"Yes, your subordinate has also been suffering from a stomach ailment lately; now, if I eat even a little too much, I get an upset stomach," Hong Zhiyou said truthfully.

"That's from the drinking."

"The Lady's work is indeed exhausting for you."

"The money is almost collected; I will put in a word for you to withdraw from that fund-raising committee of hers," Jianfeng said.

"Thank you, Director." Hong Zhiyou said with great joy.

"It is like this: Mao Renfeng and Ye Xiangzhi have proposed an economic secret war.

"At present, the mainland lacks gold and supplies; they want to follow the method Dai Li used in the Japanese-occupied zones back then: printing counterfeit currency.

"We will use the counterfeit currency to purchase their scarce supplies and disrupt their market.

"Once their economy collapses and internal chaos arises, we will have an opportunity for a counter-offensive.

"What is your opinion?"

Jiang Jianfeng asked.

He had deeply felt the pain of the economy when he was "beating tigers" in Shanghai.

Once prices skyrocket, the common people face famine.

That kind of pervasive panic is no less than dropping an atomic bomb over a city.

"This is a brilliant move.

"Director Mao still has some tricks up his sleeve." Hong Zhiyou agreed happily.

In fact, this matter was a joke.

Ye Xiangzhi and the others had a good idea.

But the denominations printed were too large, to the point that the agents sent out to spend the money were exposed on a large scale, and a whole wave of them was captured by the mainland.

It was purely the act of a fool lifting a rock only to drop it on his own feet.

"I don't trust them; why don't you handle this matter?" Jiang Jianfeng said.

"Director.

"I am currently catching Lao Zheng, and I fear I cannot spare the time.

"Furthermore, Division Chief Ye has just defected and is eager to show merit; if I were to intervene now, he would think you, Director, do not trust him.

"Also, I am, after all, working as an inspector at the Confidentiality Bureau, and Mao Renfeng is already very unhappy.

"If I were to ride over his head again, the relationship would become even more rigid, and he would only hinder me further.

"Why don't we leave this matter to Division Chief Ye to handle?"

Hong Zhiyou politely declined.

Jiang Jianfeng paced for a few steps, thought about it, and nodded: "That works too. You still have work to do on the Lady's side, and the burden on your shoulders is indeed a bit heavy, so let Ye Xiangzhi handle it."

"Thank you, Director." Hong Zhiyou said quickly.

"By the way, when will you let Wu Rui bring Lele to the island?

"Now that you have settled down here.

"You can let them come over to live for a while; you don't say, but I, this great-uncle, also miss that little one quite a bit."

Jiang Jianfeng suddenly turned to look at him, his smile mixed with a bit of majesty.

Damn your eighteen generations of ancestors!

"Director, I'm afraid it's difficult right now. Wu Rui has to manage the business, especially the shipping route between the shipyard, Tokyo, and the island, which has not been very smooth.

"And now they are implementing a maritime ban; entering and exiting customs is too difficult.

"To leave the port, one needs approval from the Ministry of National Defense.

"And it requires Deputy Minister Wu's warrant, a whole stack of signatures, so I won't let them come.

"Mainly, my health hasn't been very good lately, and the tasks you assigned haven't been completed; even if they came, I wouldn't have time to accompany them, and that would only lead to resentment.

"Once I catch Lao Zheng and fully secure this year's remaining funds and grain, it won't be too late to bring them over."

Hong Zhiyou said, half-complaining.

"Alright, then it's settled. By the spring of next year at the latest, you must bring them over to see the new city of the Party-State." Jiang Jianfeng pointed at him and said.

"Yes, Director." Hong Zhiyou saluted and accepted the order.

Walking out of Basheng Garden, his back was already soaked with cold sweat.

The Jiang father and son are truly ruthless.

One Lao Wu and Yu Zecheng were not enough; they even wanted to use Wu Rui and her daughter to hold him hostage.

Regardless, the boat will naturally straighten when it reaches the bridge; I'll just drag it out for a few months at a time.

In the afternoon, Hong Zhiyou returned to the office.

"Teacher, where is Zecheng?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"He went to the Ministry of National Defense." Wu Jingzhong said.

"He went to the Ministry of National Defense?

"When?"

Hong Zhiyou was startled.

"What's wrong? Didn't you ask him to handle the audit of the Ministry of National Defense's funds?" Wu Jingzhong asked.

"Inside the Ministry of National Defense..."

Lao Wu was extremely shrewd; he immediately stood up and pointed, asking.

"Isn't it?"

"I have something to find him for, Teacher. How long has he been gone?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"More than half an hour." Wu Jingzhong said.

Hong Zhiyou looked at his watch; at this moment, Yu Zecheng had probably already made contact with Deputy Minister Wu.

"Sigh, what is meant to come will come."

Hong Zhiyou muttered in his heart.

However, the military deployment map of the island was indeed a miraculous achievement, and it had crucial historical significance for the later liberation of the Zhoushanqundao.

Sigh!

As long as I take out Chai Qian, I can protect Lao Yu and Deputy Minister Wu.

I'll sacrifice my life to accompany the gentleman!

Ministry of National Defense, Deputy Minister's Office.

"Zecheng, sit.

"Since our parting in Fuzhou, although we both serve the National Government, I didn't expect us to meet only today."

Wu Zhiqing gestured for Yu Zecheng to sit and poured him tea.

"Thank you, Deputy Minister." Yu Zecheng said respectfully.

"I came this time under the instructions of Jiang Jianfeng and Director Zheng; I hope the Deputy Minister does not mind." He added.

"Official business is official business; everyone performs their own duties.

"These are the expenditures; take a look."

Wu Zhiqing took out a thick financial ledger and handed it to Yu Zecheng.

Yu Zecheng looked at it carefully for a few moments and said: "It's too thick; I'm afraid it will take two or three days to reconcile. Can I take it back to the Confidentiality Bureau?"

"No.

"The accounts of the Ministry of National Defense are also classified; your people can work and reconcile the accounts here.

"If I take them to the Confidentiality Bureau and something goes wrong, I won't be able to explain it to the Chairman."

Wu Zhiqing said sternly.

"Alright." Yu Zecheng said.

After the tea was mostly finished, Wu Zhiqing stood up and said: "Your people have arrived; contact the General Affairs Department directly. I have other matters, so I won't accompany you."

"Deputy Minister Wu, wait a moment.

"I heard the wontons here are quite good, but I wonder how they compare to the Gui Ji ones back home?"

Yu Zecheng suddenly looked at him and said in a deep voice.

Wu Zhiqing's eyes sharpened, and he coldly sized him up.

This was his second-tier dedicated code; it would only be activated when a designated contact was in an emergency. Even Chai Qian did not know it; only Ms. Zhu Yan, sent by the Huadong Bureau, knew it.

How did Yu Zecheng know it?

It was rumored that there were "red tickets" at the Jinmen Station.

"That depends on what kind of filling you like to eat?" Wu Zhiqing asked.

"Thin-skinned carrot and mutton filling.

"Must add dried shrimp!"

Yu Zecheng said.

"Comrade Zecheng!" Seeing that he was word-for-word correct, Wu Zhiqing quickly sat down next to him.

"Deputy Minister Wu, I never expected that we would actually..." Yu Zecheng held his hand, feeling extremely agitated.

"I was wondering why Mao Renfeng was targeting you everywhere; so that's why.

"Is Comrade Zhu Yan..."

Wu Zhiqing asked.

"She is fine, but because of the martial law, and to ensure your safety, she could only entrust me to come here.

"My codename is Deep Sea, belonging to the No. 1 Line, not under the Huadong Bureau.

"Currently, it is still safe."

Yu Zecheng said.

"You are Deep Sea!" Wu Zhiqing was quite surprised.

He never imagined that Deep Sea, who had repeatedly performed meritorious services on the intelligence front, was actually Yu Zecheng.

Immediately, he became worried.

Yu Zecheng had come risking his life.

If he had continued to lurk, even if everyone on this side in Wandao were arrested, he could probably have remained safe.

But now, his safety was tied to his own.

"With the failures at Jinmen and Zhoushan, the higher-ups are in urgent need of military deployment maps; I cannot access them at all, so I have to rely on you," Yu Zecheng said.

"Rest assured, Ms. Zhu Yan has already tipped me off before.

"I have long been prepared.

"Put on this pair of shoes."

Wu Zhiqing pulled open the cabinet under the desk, took out a pair of leather shoes, and handed them to him.

"Two maps, right inside the soles of the shoes.

"You are one of Jiang Jianfeng's people, so those outside will not dare to search you strictly.

"Comrade Zecheng, I am counting on you."

Wu Zhiqing patted his shoulder and said.

"Rest assured," Yu Zecheng nodded.

"Vice Minister, Chen Da has been arrested. It is highly likely he will reveal clues about Old Zheng. Mao Renfeng has secretly set up a dragnet; once Old Zheng is arrested, you will be in great danger.

"It is inconvenient for me to step forward; it would be best if you and the comrades from the Huadong Bureau could protect Ms. Zhu and Old Zheng so they can leave Wandao."

He urged him again, feeling uneasy.

"Old Zheng is very stubborn; he is unwilling to return to the mainland, saying he wants to fight to the end.

"I have issued a warrant, but he is unwilling to leave.

"No matter what, first ensure that Comrade Zhu Yan delivers the intelligence back to the mainland."

Wu Zhiqing urged.

"You must absolutely not get involved in these matters.

"Comrade Zecheng, once the Huadong Bureau line is destroyed, you will be the organization's last spark.

"Jiang trusts me extremely now, so I will not be in danger in the short term.

"It is you who must take care of yourself.

"In the future, unless there is a matter of utmost importance, do not come to see me again."

He grabbed Yu Zecheng's hand and patted it firmly a few times.

"Take care," Yu Zecheng nodded.

After speaking, he turned and left.

"Someone come here! From now on, whenever anyone from the Investigation Section of the Inspectorate comes to audit the accounts, block them outside and do not see them; tell them to go directly to General Affairs."

Staring at Yu Zecheng's retreating figure, Wu Zhiqing deliberately shouted to the guards outside, then slammed the door shut.

(End of this chapter)