Chapter 55: Seeking Credit or Seeking Your Head?

"You will face retribution!"

Ma Kui gave Lu Qiao a cold look, then took his pistol and walked toward the unarmed civilians.

Bang! Bang!

Ma Kui pulled the trigger repeatedly.

One shot for each.

Poor souls, they went to the underworld with their grievances before they even understood what was happening.

Click!

Lu Qiao stood to the side, excitedly taking photos.

There were two sets of photos in total.

One set with the elderly and children.

One set with the young and able-bodied.

"Ma Kui, oh Ma Kui, let's see how you jump now!"

"Carry them away!"

After finishing the photos, Lu Qiao gave a sinister smile and got into the car.

Jinmen Station.

After receiving the call from Lu Qiao, Wu Jing immediately summoned Hong Zhiyou and Yu Zecheng.

"Gentlemen, Ma Kui has successfully wiped out the Red tickets."

"The printing plant has also been broken."

"Those who needed to be killed were killed, and those who needed to be arrested were arrested."

"The trouble now is how to report this to the Special Commissioner so he will file a report for us."

Wu Jing rubbed his temples, looking very troubled.

"Station Chief, why not send some gifts to Commissioner Wang?" Yu Zecheng suggested.

Wu Jing paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, shaking his head with a sigh: "Not safe; sending gifts depends on the person."

"If you send them to the wrong person, you're just handing them leverage."

"I'm not close with Wang Puchen, and he is a confidant of Mao Renfeng."

"After the incident with Mao Sen last time, I've already developed a rift with the second Mao."

"If I try to bribe him now, I'm afraid I'll be in deep trouble, and the charges will only pile up."

"Zhiyou, what do you think?"

Yu Zecheng turned his head and tossed the difficult question to Hong Zhiyou.

Truly my good third brother... Hong Zhiyou said in a low voice:

"Station Chief, I think Commissioner Wang will cooperate."

"Oh? Tell me more." Wu Jing asked in surprise.

The Station Chief didn't understand Wang Puchen, but Hong Zhiyou did.

Wang Puchen was low-key, shrewd, and cautious.

His main focus was to get the job done without making enemies.

Just like his nature—silent and taciturn—he would stop at nothing to complete his superiors' tasks; Ma Hansan was a living example of someone who was paralyzed by him and eventually sold out.

When Fu Zuoyi prepared to surrender, many people didn't believe it.

Wang Puchen keenly sensed the danger and successfully pulled out before the liberation of Beiping.

This shows that this man is very good at assessing the situation.

Right now, Dai Li is getting close to the Americans and is obsessed with becoming the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, desperately needing achievements to show his face before the Generalissimo.

Otherwise, there wouldn't have been that joke about preparing a victory banquet for Wu Jing.

This operation in Jinmen is an opportunity for both Wu Jing and Dai Li.

Anyone who dares to stir up trouble is just looking for death.

A smart person like Wang Puchen would naturally not do such a stupid thing.

Wu Jing is a bystander who is confused; the matter is too big, and he has lost his composure for a moment.

Otherwise, it would be impossible not to see through this.

"Station Chief, I think Commissioner Wang is probably more panicked than we are right now!" Hong Zhiyou pointed out nonchalantly.

Wu Jing's gaze sharpened, and a smile gradually spread across his face:

"Zhiyou is right."

"I'm anxious, he's anxious, and Boss Dai is even more anxious!"

"But it's not appropriate for me to discuss this personally; you go." Wu Jing pointed at Hong Zhiyou.

"Yes, Station Chief." Hong Zhiyou nodded.

"Zecheng, go to the warehouse and pick out some good things to put in Commissioner Wang's car." Wu Jing's eyes shifted as he came up with another plan.

It was obvious the old fox wanted to distance himself.

He wouldn't give Wang Puchen a chance to grab any leverage or excuses.

Even if it were exposed later, he could still turn the tables on Wang Puchen, claiming he colluded privately with Secretary Hong to accept bribes and deceive his superiors.

Hong Zhiyou cursed Wu Jing's family in his heart and walked quickly to the reception room.

Wang Puchen was smoking, his eyes filled with exhaustion.

He was very conflicted right now.

Before coming, Mao Renfeng had given him repeated instructions: once he found a small tail on Wu Jing, he was to report it to the headquarters inspection office immediately.

He had to win back the game lost with Mao Sen.

At the very least, he had to get Wu Jing transferred out of Jinmen and let his own people take over this lucrative spot.

However, Boss Dai's order was: assist and supervise Wu Jing in winning the battle.

A victory.

Only victory is allowed, no defeat.

Boss Dai wants the credit, Director Mao wants the fault.

Wang Puchen was inclined toward the latter in his heart.

Once Boss Dai is promoted, Director Mao is very likely to take charge of the Military Statistics Bureau.

Both emotionally and logically, he should side with his fellow townsman.

"Commissioner Wang!" Hong Zhiyou stepped forward to greet him.

"Secretary Hong, sit."

"I know you; you handled the case of Station Chief Mao quite well last time."

"Zhou Xiangxian speaks very highly of you."

"You're from Hangcheng too, right?"

Wang Puchen coughed a few times and asked with a friendly smile.

"Thank you, Commissioner, I am from Hangcheng." Hong Zhiyou replied respectfully.

"Then we are fellow townsmen."

"Where is Station Chief Wu?" Wang Puchen asked.

"He is getting on in years and really couldn't hold on any longer, so he went to rest; it's just hard on you, Commissioner Wang."

"Regarding the report, I hope..."

Hong Zhiyou smiled.

"I have already drafted the report; take a look."

Wang Puchen handed him the handwritten report.

Hong Zhiyou was terrified after reading it.

The report was accurate to the word, reporting everything truthfully.

What was worse, Wang Puchen added a sentence: suspecting that there are Red ticket spies in the Jinmen Station, colluding with the Yong family.

The thing the Station Chief feared most had happened.

Mission failure plus spies.

With these two things put together and reported to the headquarters inspection office, I'm afraid even Boss Dai couldn't save Wu Jing's job.

After all, Jinmen is of the utmost importance to the Party and State.

Not only Wu Jing, but the entire Jinmen Station would have to be purged and rebuilt.

Wang Puchen was secretly observing Hong Zhiyou's expression.

But he saw this secretary put down the report and smile faintly:

"Commissioner Wang hasn't sent it yet, so you must have your considerations."

"Then tell me, what are my considerations?" Wang Puchen asked with interest.

"You are worried about whether you want your future or your head," Hong Zhiyou said.

Wang Puchen's eyes turned cold instantly: "My head?"

"That's right."

"Director Mao is your classmate, and this is an opportunity for you."

"You bet correctly; your future is boundless."

"But don't forget, as long as Boss Dai is here for a single day, the Juntong Bureau belongs to Dai, not Mao."

"The moment you send this telegram is the moment you meet your end."

Hong Zhiyou said with resounding finality.

Wang Puchen looked at him coldly, cold sweat already seeping from his back.

Hong Zhiyou stared back at him, completely unfazed.

"But knowing something and failing to report it—according to the family rules, you know the consequences." Wang Puchen spat, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, and said vaguely.

"Since it's a family rule, it was set by the head of the family."

Hong Zhiyou smiled, poured a cup of tea for Wang Puchen, and said in a humble and warm tone:

"The military mediation is coming soon; Boss Dai and the Chairman need good news."

"Never mind that the Jinmen Station has performed a great service."

"Even if the Jinmen Station were bombed by the Reds and washed in blood, you would still have to report that Jinmen is peaceful and that Wu Jingzhong has performed a miraculous feat."

"I have said all I have to say."

"Your future or your head, Commissioner Wang, choose for yourself!"

Wang Puchen watched him silently.

Before he left, Boss Dai's cold, sharp gaze had made him tremble inexplicably.

Hong Zhiyou was right.

Jinmen was a landmine.

Whoever lit it would die.

The best way was to let it stay buried underground, never to see the light of day.

"You just said a great service was performed."

"Tell me about it." Wang Puchen exhaled a puff of smoke and asked in a deep voice.

Hong Zhiyou recounted the achievements one by one: Ma Kui "heroically killing the enemy," Department Chief Lu providing accurate intelligence, the dismantling of the Red printing plant, and the killing of several "key backbone members" of the local committee.

Wang Puchen felt goosebumps all over his body as he listened.

To keep his rice bowl, Wu Jingzhong had abandoned all face and bottom lines.

He was using every possible means.

He even suspected that if he sent this report out, he would be shot in the back by Wu Jingzhong and buried with it before it even reached Beiping.

(End of chapter)