Chapter 703: Deliberately Framed

Chen Yongren reacted extremely quickly; upon hearing the explosion, he immediately shielded Jing Xiang beneath him.

Immediately after, a piercing scream rang out.

The venue instantly descended into chaos.

The Japanese soldiers in charge of security also grabbed their guns and aimed in all directions.

Ze Tian Mao was also startled by the sudden explosion and crouched down.

What's going on?

After listening for a while and confirming there was no further movement, Ze Tian Mao suddenly remembered there was still someone beside him!

He followed the sound, saw that Chen Yongren was still alive, quietly breathed a sigh of relief, and hurried over to Chen Yongren.

Seeing him comforting his fiancée, he also wisely chose to stay silent.

Several members, including Zhongyuan Shen and Anteng Zhongsi, had already taken up positions beside Chen Yongren to stand guard.

"Don't be afraid, I'll protect you, nothing will happen." Chen Yongren held Jing Xiang, gently patting her back, and whispered reassurance.

Jing Xiang's body trembled slightly; she instinctively leaned into his embrace and lightly nodded.

Chen Yongren looked around.

The attendees of the banquet were crouched on the ground, their faces still shaken with fright.

The spot where the time bomb had been placed was blown open into a large gap.

Several unlucky souls closest to the blast were blown to the ground and died instantly, while a few fortunate ones who weren't killed lay on the ground, writhing in pain and groaning.

"Chief Director Sir, how are you? Are you injured?" Ze Tian Mao only then asked.

Someone had sneaked into the venue and planted a bomb, proving that security had a major problem; if the Yuan Chief were to have an incident again on his own turf, the trouble would only grow worse.

"I'm fine; it's you who's in trouble," Chen Yongren snorted coldly, glaring at Ze Tian Mao with eyes almost blazing: "Commander Ze Tian, is this how you call protecting my safety?"

Directly confronted by Chen Yongren's question, Ze Tian Mao's expression became somewhat unnatural.

It's understandable; encountering such an incident on the first day would be hard for anyone to accept, especially since this person himself had come looking for trouble.

Chen Yongren said coldly: "I've only just arrived in Songhu, and these resistance fighters already know my movements; I seriously doubt your intelligence system is functioning properly!"

Upon hearing this, Ze Tian Mao's face darkened.

"Please rest assured, Chief Director Sir, I will definitely send people to thoroughly investigate this and give you a satisfactory answer." Ze Tian Mao hastily told the soldiers beside him: "Immediately draw a company's forces…"

"No need, Commander Ze Tian." Chen Yongren directly refused: "I don't want my life to constantly face unknown risks; I trust my own guard detail more."

After being snapped at by Chen Yongren, Ze Tian Mao felt both anxious and embarrassed.

Just a mere major, yet he dares to mock me like this?

But considering his identity, Ze Tian Mao could only swallow his anger.

Who let him have such overwhelming power and influence?

"Zhongyuan Shen." Chen Yongren looked toward Zhongyuan Shen.

"Huh!" Zhongyuan Shen stepped forward immediately, straightening up and saying: "Chief Commander, to avoid any accidents, we've already arranged lodging at the Li Cha Hotel in advance; we can check in right now!"

"I'll check the vehicles." Anteng Zhongsi said, taking a few members with him and turning to leave the venue.

Originally, Ze Tian Mao had also made two preparations; if any security issue arose at the Hui Zhong Hotel, he would bring them into the 13th Army Headquarters for protection.

But now the situation has far surpassed what Ze Tian Mao had imagined.

Ze Tian Mao also clearly understood that, at this point, no matter what he said, the Yuan Chief would probably no longer trust him.

The originally jovial venue suddenly grew somber and oppressive.

The Japanese soldiers were bent over, cleaning up the scene and sending the wounded to the hospital for treatment.

Chen Yongren patiently soothed Jing Xiang's feelings, deliberately ignoring Ze Tian Mao standing nearby.

Soon, Anteng Zhongsi returned: "Chief Commander, the vehicle inspection is complete; it's safe, we can set off."

Chen Yongren nodded expressionlessly and told Jing Xiang: "Jing Xiang, let's go back and rest first."

Jing Xiang obediently nodded.

As he approached Ze Tian Mao's side, Chen Yongren said coldly: "Commander Ze Tian, I hope you can promptly give me a satisfactory answer; otherwise, don't blame me for not giving you face!"

Having said that, Chen Yongren couldn't be bothered with what Ze Tian Mao might say, and left under the protection of Zhongyuan Shen and a few others.

Watching Chen Yongren's departing back, Ze Tian Mao's face remained gloomy and uncertain.

It could sense that if this matter wasn't cleared up, the days ahead for all units in Songhu would be unpleasant.

This young man with a humble expression was actually not simple; Ze Tian Mao didn't believe a small gift could buy him off.

"Chuan An Fu." Ze Tian Mao looked at his chief of staff, Chuan An Fu, and said coldly: "Investigate thoroughly—who was in charge of the venue's security tonight, and which departments had the opportunity to come into contact with the envoy's schedule!"

"Furthermore, re‑investigate the identities of everyone who attended the banquet tonight, assign personnel to interrogate them, find out what they did before the explosion started, and see if any witnesses can be found."

"Remember, it's all the guests at that time, as well as the service staff!"

Before the banquet began, they had clearly undergone a thorough inspection, with no trace of explosives found.

Therefore, this bomb could only have been temporarily hidden somewhere, then smuggled into the venue after the banquet started.

Ze Tian Mao's investigative direction was correct, but he never imagined that all of this was Chen Yongren's deliberate arrangement.

……

While Ze Tian Mao was wholly focused on his investigation, Chen Yongren also brought Jing Xiang back to the Li Cha Hotel.

Chen Yongren was also quite familiar with this place.

Back then, to obtain the trade details of the Germany‑Japan alliance, Chen Yongren had once killed several German translators here.

Li Cha Hotel.

Zhongyuan Shen had already rented out the entire floor.

The accompanying company was distributed inside and outside the hotel to protect Chen Yongren and Jing Xiang's safety.

In a certain luxurious suite.

"General Okamura, this bunch of idiots don't know what they're doing—I just arrived in Songhu and encountered an assassination!" Chen Yongren was on the phone reporting to Okamura Neiji.

"What? An assassination?" Even the old devil Okamura couldn't stay calm.

If the Yuan Chief gets into trouble, I won't be able to escape responsibility either.

What are the Central China idiots doing, letting resistance fighters infiltrate to this extent?

Over the phone, even the old devil Okamura could feel Chen Yongren's anger, and he soothed: "Chief Director Sir, rest assured, I will definitely give you a satisfactory answer to this matter!"

"General, your excellency." Chen Yongren suddenly lowered his voice.

"What's wrong?" Okamura Neiji asked.

Chen Yongren said: "Could all this be a deliberate act by the Central China Army, trying to make me retreat because it's too hard?"

"What?" Okamura Neiji blinked, then immediately understood Chen Yongren's meaning.

Just like the accidental death of Cun Xigong, the Central China Army, worried about being found out, deliberately staged a show.

The Yuan Chief had recently experienced something like this, so it's only natural for him to think that way.

If that's really the case, then they're being too arrogant.

This is a special commissioner of the General Headquarters loyalists—do they really think they're the local emperor of Songhu?