Chapter 53: The Workplace is a Battlefield

Wu Jingzhong was just fretting over how to explain things to the Special Commissioner, never expecting him to arrive uninvited.

"Tsk!

"Misfortunes never come singly." He looked at the three bunglers, Hong Zhiyou included, and muttered with a frown.

Previously, he had boasted to Boss Dai, claiming he would surely achieve a miraculous feat this time.

Boss Dai had telegraphed his praise: This plan is peerless; it will surely crush the Red Bandits.

He even claimed a victory banquet was being prepared for him in Jingling, just waiting for him to report the success to the Generalissimo.

Well, this is another clumsy farce where the truth is about to be exposed.

"Renchu, the situation is like this..."

Since he could no longer hide it, Wu Jingzhong had no choice but to downplay the severity of the situation.

"I repeatedly emphasized to Tian Baihua at the Garrison Command meetings that the Security Brigade must mop up the remnants of Sun Meiyao's forces to ensure there is no trouble in the Party-State's vital areas.

"But he wouldn't listen.

"Look at Mawang Town; officials, military, bandits, and ransom-seekers are all mixed together like a hodgepodge stew."

"Now it's a mess; the Red Bandits have fallen into my net, but a group of troublemakers has cut in from the side.

"Renchu, when a man is down on his luck, even drinking cold water makes his teeth ache.

"It just happened, there's no helping it."

Wu Jingzhong clapped his palms together to complain while shifting the blame onto the Security Brigade.

"Ahem!"

Wang Puchen puffed on his cigarette and smacked his lips twice: "Where is Captain Ma?"

"Captain Ma is heroic.

"He led men to follow the vehicles and charged into the Red Bandits' stronghold on the Baoding hilltop.

"Currently, both sides are engaged in battle. I just called Mobile Corps Commander Yao in Baoding, ordering them to rush over as reinforcements.

"With the Security Brigade's assistance, we will surely achieve a total victory!"

Wu Jingzhong spoke glibly, blowing things out of proportion.

"Ahem!"

Wang Puchen looked up at him, spitting, smoking, but saying nothing.

"Brother, about the report..."

Wu Jingzhong no longer minded the harsh smoke; he leaned in close, serving tea and fawning.

"Wait for Captain Ma to return," Wang Puchen said unhurriedly.

"Very well.

"Brother, go rest first; once he returns, I will notify you," Wu Jingzhong said.

After Wang Puchen returned to the reception room.

Wu Jingzhong closed the door, stood with his hands behind his back, and said coldly:

"The three of you, care to explain?

"If Commissioner Wang's report isn't written well, you and I can just pack our bags, go home, and hold our babies."

The three looked at each other, none daring to speak.

Especially Lu Qiaoshan, whose face was so dark he looked like he wanted to kill.

Wu Jingzhong scanned them with his gaze and pointed at him with a smile:

"Qiaoshan, you don't have to worry about where to go. Failing to capture Yong Jianqiu is a small matter.

"Transferred back to Jingling, Officer Zheng will at least give you a position as an aide or attendant."

Wu Jingzhong had to single out Lu Qiaoshan.

Because the key to resolving this situation was Ma Kui.

He had already built Ma Kui up as a hero, but Lu Qiaoshan and Ma Kui were at odds; if he kept being stubborn, things would be very difficult to handle.

Therefore, he had to share the blame first and give him a warning.

"Station Chief, if I lost my touch, wasn't it because of Station Chief Ma's intelligence..."

While Lu Qiaoshan cursed his ancestors to the eighteenth generation, he shook his head and gave a bitter smile.

"Jingling is good; it's easy to find shelter under a big tree!"

Wu Jingzhong didn't take the bait, just looked at the ceiling and sighed.

Lu Qiaoshan wore a slick, awkward smile.

Hong Zhiyou and Yu Zecheng exchanged glances; both truly sympathized with old Lu.

He had finally found a chance to stomp Ma Kui to death.

Yet, Ma Kui became a hero, and Lu Qiaoshan ended up taking the blame for "failing."

One can only say that ginger is still spicier when it's old; old Wu really can turn his hands to create clouds and rain.

And yet, Lu Qiaoshan had no choice but to accept this move.

What kind of place is Jinhai?

Aside from Shanghu, it is the most prosperous city in the country.

The key is that the heavens are high and the Emperor is far away.

As long as Wu Jingzhong doesn't target him, Lu Qiaoshan holds a key position, extorting and taking bribes; he could count money until his hands cramped.

In Jingling, there are Jiang Jianfeng, Song, and Chen fighting for power.

Below them, Zheng Jiemin, Ye Xiufeng, and Dai Li are fighting to the death.

You could throw a brick on the street and hit a field officer.

If Lu Qiaoshan were transferred back, he would be a small shrimp to be manipulated by others; how could he be as happy and free as he is now?

"Station Chief, I don't think you need to be so pessimistic.

"As long as we are united, we can handle the Commissioner, and this matter will be a great achievement."

Lu Qiaoshan clearly understood this logic; he gritted his teeth and forced a smile.

As a native of the south, he had spent no small amount of money to get transferred to Jinhai.

He had made a mistake with the Cao Gang affair a while back, and half of his loot was scraped away by "Wu Jingzhong."

Now he still held the lucrative posts of Police Department Chief and Waterway Inspection Office Director; how could he be willing to leave without having made enough?

To be packed off and transferred now would be a massive loss.

"Oh?

"A great achievement? What kind of great achievement.

"Director Lu, tell me more."

Seeing him get the point, Wu Jingzhong asked with a satisfied smile.

"First, immediately send the garrison troops to redeem Captain Ma and his men, then find a dozen scapegoats from Mashan Town to pose as Red Bandits so Captain Ma can claim the credit.

"Doesn't Captain Ma have intelligence on the Red Bandits' underground printing plant?

"Raid a few places overnight and arrest a batch of workers.

"With both ends blooming, how could it not be a great achievement?"

Lu Qiaoshan's eyes flashed with cold light as he came up with a devious plan.

"Good!"

Wu Jingzhong laughed and praised him loudly:

"Director Lu is worthy of being a veteran of the Nanchang Investigation Section; this move is brilliant.

"Zecheng, Secretary Hong, you should learn from this."

"Yes, yes!" The two hurriedly flattered Lu Qiaoshan.

"Qiaoshan, leave the investigation of the Red Bandit printing plant and finding the scapegoats to Sheng Xiang.

"I have already called Mobile Corps Commander Yao in Baoding.

"You go and pick up Ma Kui; on the way back, pass by Mashan Town, find a remote village, and let Ma Kui do the deed himself."

Wu Jingzhong lifted his chin and gave the orders sternly.

"Understood." Lu Qiaoshan bowed gratefully.

Sheng Xiang was his own man, so there was no risk of him intentionally ruining things or kicking him while he was down.

By picking up Ma Kui, Ma Kui would owe him a favor.

"Passing the decree" for Ma Kui to find scapegoats.

It wasn't just the Station Chief protecting and valuing him.

It also allowed him to hold a leash on Ma Kui.

He had been given "favors" inside and out.

"Station Chief, I will go handle it now." Lu Qiaoshan couldn't wait.

"Wait."

Wu Jingzhong took a pair of gold-rimmed glasses from his drawer and handed them to him with a smile:

"A friend gave them to me, saying they are the same model as Ma Xieer's. My old eyes aren't dim yet, so I won't pretend to be a scholar.

"Take them; if the lenses don't fit, you can have them refitted at the Army Hospital."

"Thank you, Station Chief!" Lu Qiaoshan took them with great joy.

"Go, you've worked hard." Wu Jingzhong nodded.

Lu Qiao no longer held a shred of dissatisfaction; he cast a smug glance at Hong Zhiyou and Yu Zecheng, then trotted off.

Wu Jingzhong watched Lu Qiao leave with a cold, gloomy gaze, then sat back in his chair, exhaled, and teased:

"This time, he shouldn't end up exposing his backside, right?"

"Alright, no one is to sleep tonight; just wait."

"Station Chief, with Department Chief Lu taking action, it will surely be a success."

"You should get some sleep; Zhiyou and I can wait for the news," Yu Zecheng said with a respectful smile.

"Zecheng, Zhiyou."

"Do you know why I didn't let you two handle it?" Wu Jingzhong narrowed his eyes and said, looking slightly weary.

"Compassion and care," Hong Zhiyou replied, simple and concise.

"Indeed."

"The workplace is like a battlefield; if you block someone's path, they will take your life!"

"Go."

Wu Jingzhong opened his eyes and waved his hand meaningfully.

After the two left, his brows furrowed, and he pulled open a drawer to take out a secret report.

The telegram was several pages long:

"Yu Zecheng."

"Formerly subordinate to the important Red spy and bandit Lu Zongfang."

"After assassinating Li Haifeng, this person was identified by Japanese-puppet agents, severely wounded in a gunfight, and saved by the Xiangnan-born merchant Situ Guangzong."

"After recovering from his wounds, he returned to the Jingling Station on his own, and was confirmed by Ye Ziming to have returned to Shancheng."

"Investigation: Shortly after Yu returned to the Jingling Station, Situ Guangzong moved his entire family to the Philippines to inherit ancestral property."

"According to intelligence from the Xiangdao Station, Situ Guangzong's daughter confirmed that no such rescue of Yu took place."

"However, Situ is a distant relative of Chen Bijun and is suspected of being pro-Japanese; it is possible he provided secret medical treatment."

"Investigation: Situ has suffered a stroke and lost his speech, making it impossible to verify personally."

"Yu, past remains in doubt."

After reading it, Wu Jingzhong put away the telegram and sighed with a chilling, grim tone:

"In doubt!"

"Sigh, I show you compassion, but who shows compassion to me?"

(End of chapter)