Chapter 248: Another Trap

Zeng Qirui was tactful and didn't respond.

In fact, he also feared and hated Chen Yongren.

Just a few days after he arrived, he killed eight Action Bureau brothers right in front of me, including two of my left and right hands.

They're all working for the Japanese—who's more noble?

If Gu Yongshan could really get a hold of Chen Yongren's weak point, she could not only save face before the Japanese but also get them to increase funding for the 76th.

The next day.

Although they knew Chen Yongren's true identity, nothing changed in their daily lives.

Hua Lei, as usual, prepared delicate snacks.

Chen Yongren wanted to go to the interrogation room today to keep up the act, but before he could set out, he received a call from Tengyuan Jintai.

"Go report inside the agency now?" Hearing the voice on the other end of the line, Chen Yongren was somewhat surprised.

"Chen Sang, you're a consultant of the Special Service Committee—any problems?" Tengyuan Jintai said with a smile.

"No!" Chen Yongren replied firmly.

He had originally planned to first stroll around the interrogation room today to get a sense of the three Red Party members' thoughts.

Then, using a report as an excuse, he would go to the Tufheyuan Agency to find out exactly what ship the Red Party intended to blow up.

Unexpectedly, the old devil Tengyuan Jintai actually invited him directly.

That actually saved a lot of trouble.

After exchanging a few polite words, Chen Yongren set off for the Tufheyuan Agency.

Because they had obtained Chen Yongren's approval in advance.

Early the next morning, Gu Yongshan and Zeng Qirui pretended to bring three turncoat Red Party members to capture people in Songhu, attempting to use the "lure the snake out of its hole" method to draw out the hidden Red Party.

Chen Yongren had already leaked the news to Chen Dian; after getting the tip, they decisively chose to stand down, and the 76th wasted the whole morning with nothing to show for it.

A certain street in Songhu.

Zeng Qirui panted, "Chief Gu, the Red Party surely sensed something was off and hid completely; back when I dealt with them in the Central Bureau, each one was sharper than a monkey."

"Chief Zeng, you seem pretty proud of your time in the Central Bureau?" Gu Yongshan sneered.

"You woman…" Zeng Qirui snapped.

"They must have gotten the tip beforehand—otherwise how could they not show a single clue?" Gu Yongshan ignored Zeng Qirui's defense.

"Do you still suspect Chen Yongren?" Thinking of yesterday's phone call, Zeng Qirui felt a pang.

"Of course." Gu Yongshan nodded: "Besides him, who else knows about this? Are you suggesting you tipped off the Red Party?"

"Chief Gu, that's not something to say randomly." Zeng Qirui panicked, waving his hands: "If the Locust Army hears this, we'll be in trouble."

Gu Yongshan pursed her lips: "Look at your useless self!"

"Anyway, when are you planning to screen them?" Zeng Qirui hurriedly changed the subject.

"So eager? Did you tip him off beforehand?" Gu Yongshan asked deliberately.

"Chief Gu, why do you always say such things?" Zeng Qirui spread his hands helplessly: "You think I want this brat to ride on our heads and shit?"

Gu Yongshan snorted coldly: "I doubt you'd dare, but let me tell you—I know everything you've done, using your authority to clear out your old rivals, and that's enough."

"If the Locust Army found out, you'd be secretly keeping half of every batch of supplies you turned in…"

"Chief Gu, rest assured, no fourth person will ever learn of this." Hearing that, Zeng Qirui's heart turned cold and he immediately said:

Damn it.

This little vixen really investigated me in private; from now on I have to restrain myself, can't let her catch any leverage.

"Treating me as a vase, I want to see which flower dares to stick itself here." Gu Yongshan ignored Zeng Qirui's oath.

"We've searched all morning with nothing to show—should we keep looking?" Zeng Qirui asked.

Gu Yongshan said: "The enemy's already on guard; searching further would be pointless. We must keep using those three as a breakthrough and, no matter what, pry open their mouths!"

Zeng Qirui didn't say more, just nodded.

"Tonight we'll set up a banquet, invite Consultant Chen to eat together, then see if he'll walk into the trap!" Gu Yongshan teased Zeng Qirui.

"You've always wanted to ease relations with him—today's a perfect chance!"

Zeng Qirui's face darkened: "Dragging me along to screen him is supposed to ease relations?"

"Of course." Gu Yongshan laughed: "If Chen Yongren has no problem."

"You can gladly butter him up."

"If he does have a problem, that's a great chance for us to earn merit!"

……

Tufheyuan Agency

Yesterday Chen Yongren was still wondering what ship the Red Party intended to blow up.

Now Chen Yongren can be certain.

Their target is the ship of the Peace Conference.

Put bluntly, it's the old devil bringing a bunch of traitors to Songhu for a banquet, using it to promote the idea of peace and friendship abroad and attract more people to defect.

However, the so-called boarding a ship is entirely a smokescreen.

Through probing the minds of Tengyuan Jintai and Tufheyuan Er.

Chen Yongren has already learned that the conference members' mode of travel is a special train!

The Red Party's intelligence has made a mistake.

"Chen Sang, as the chief consultant of the Special Service Committee, regarding this Peace Conference, do you have any special suggestions about the safety of members boarding a ship?" Tufheyuan Er asked in a pretentious manner.

"This is a screening of you."

"Whether you pass the test depends on your performance."

【After all, this position is too important; we absolutely cannot have any problems in personnel.】

Damn it.

This old bastard is deliberately providing false information to me.

Seeing Chen Yongren silent, Teng Yuan Jintai beside him said: 「Chen Sang, it's fine; you can speak freely in this discussion, and even if you say something wrong, we will never blame you. 」

Hearing this, Chen Yongren slightly bowed his head and said: 「Then I, your humble servant, dare to voice my modest opinion. 」

「Because we are traveling by ship, we need not worry about the enemy planting explosives along the road, nor need we worry about anyone ambushing us on the way. 」

「We only need to shift our attention to the dock and the ship itself. 」

「Before the voyage begins, the dock should be sealed off in advance, outsiders prohibited from entering, and then the Military Police will be responsible for guarding. 」

「Take a photo of each person boarding, make a list from them, and distribute tickets and invitation letters with personal information to them. 」

「Each person has only one exclusive ticket and invitation; everyone boards the ship with the ticket and letter. 」

「Letters, tickets, and invitations—none can be missing. 」

「The photo on the invitation must match the one on the list. 」

「It is best to ensure that every person boarding has someone they know, so as to prevent anyone from assuming a false identity and muddying the waters. 」

「While sailing the vast sea, to avoid indiscriminate poisoning, we must also prepare for food safety on the ship. 」

「Besides arranging overt guards, we also need to place some undercover agents, disguising them as guests to blend into the crowd. 」