My spy diary

Chapter 554 Acting (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Li Mulin, beaming with joy, said, "This is the first time our Yuzhou station has ever seized a codebook."

Not wanting to spoil the mood, Zhang Yi casually offered a few words of praise. As the saying goes, "one man's meat is another man's poison." Although it wasn't exactly "poison," the deciphering of the code was a crucial leap from "unsolvable" to "breakthrough." In the past, a military codebook would have been a treasure to the Military Intelligence Bureau, but times have changed. With the Military Intelligence Bureau's current technological reserves, this thing was merely icing on the cake.

Seeing Zhang Yifeng's nonchalant demeanor, Li Mulin stopped smiling and pointed to the radio next to the radio station, explaining, "I had the people from the Telecommunications Department's technical section look at this thing. It shows signs of use, but it hasn't been modified. It's just an ordinary radio. Perhaps he used it to receive intelligence, but we don't know the specific channel, so we don't know where to start now."

Zhang Yi nodded, looking thoughtfully at the radio station beside him.

"Director Zhang, what do you think about us using it to send a telegram to Xiao Rui's superiors?" Li Mulin was a smart man and seemed to have guessed something.

Zhang Yi smiled and said, "I have the same idea, but it's not so easy to put into practice."

Even disregarding writing style and habits, the telegraph transmission method alone makes it difficult to impersonate.

Just like their handwriting, each telegraph operator's telegraphing habits are unique. Their key-tapping habits bear a strong personal imprint, such as rhythm, speed, force, pauses, and habitual errors. These differences can be noticed by those familiar with them. Details determine success or failure, and they are not so easy to imitate.

Li Mulin, with an expression of complete understanding, analyzed, "What if? Although we don't know Xiao Rui's true identity, he only came to light after Sato Kenjiro was arrested, and his public position is the director of the war zone's confidential office. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't risk sending a message personally. The information he obtained might have been relayed through Sato Kenjiro. Even if he has already sent a message, they probably won't have much information on that side in a short time."

Zhang Yi remained noncommittal. The Japanese called radio operators "signal soldiers." They were trained systematically as well. In addition to strong professional skills, a professional radio operator must also have strong psychological qualities and focus. They are often meticulous and rigorous, and can remember the other party's telegraphing method in just one time, without needing to repeat it many times.

"Director Zhang, is it worth trying anything, even if it seems hopeless?" Li Mulin asked when Zhang Yi remained silent.

"We need to make this a complete charade. Osawa Kanjiro, the head of the Japanese Kaifeng headquarters, is no ordinary man. It won't be easy to fool him. One wrong step, and he'll become increasingly suspicious. Besides, no one can guarantee he doesn't have spies in Luoyang. Therefore, we must be extremely careful and meticulous in crafting everything—'Xiao Rui's' mental state, the wording of the telegram, and the method of sending it. Also, what are you planning to send the telegram about?"

"When the false is taken for the true, even the true becomes false!" Listening to Zhang Yi's analysis, Li Mulin tapped his fingers lightly on the table and suddenly said, "Now I am not Li Mulin, I am Xiao Rui. Tonight, I led my men to attack the Military Intelligence Bureau's safe house, but because my informant, Secretary Liu, was exposed, we fell into the Military Intelligence Bureau's ambush. I took a desperate gamble, thinking I had a slim chance of survival, and fought to the death, finally injuring Zhang—that is, Director Zhang—and then led the remaining men to break through the encirclement. Just then, the people from the Military Police Headquarters arrived. After a bloody battle, I managed to escape?"

Li Mulin's tone was both like asking Zhang Yi and like talking to himself: "Then, I rushed back to my residence and sent a telegram to Osamu Kanjiro, the head of the Kaifeng government agency. Just then, the pursuers caught up. At the critical moment, I detonated a grenade and died together with the enemy?"

"A brilliant idea!" Zhang Yi exclaimed, thinking it was a shame that Li Mulin wasn't a storyteller.

“It’s no coincidence that makes things happen!” Li Mulin said, still feeling unsatisfied. “In that case, it’s reasonable that there are some differences in the telegram methods. Besides, a telegram that ends abruptly doesn’t need a signature, making it easier to gain the trust of the recipient.”

"Okay, I have no problem with that, I'll cooperate unconditionally, but we need to keep it confidential."

"Don't worry, I'll make sure you give them the instructions."

Zhang Yi glanced at his watch and nodded: "Let's not delay, let's get started."

"Yes."

Half an hour later, after a flurry of preparations, a grand performance directed by Li Mulin officially began.

With an explosion, radio waves also traveled through the clouds to thousands of miles away.

Late at night, inside the Kaifeng Special Service Agency building.

Chief of the agency, Kanjiro Sawa, sat in his office, staring intently at the telegram that the communications officer had just delivered.

The contents of the telegram were shocking, and Osawa Kanjiro's face twitched involuntarily.

So many people went to assassinate Zhang Yi, but they fell into someone's ambush. Not only did they manage to wound Zhang Yi, but they also failed to kill their target and ended up being wiped out.

Kanjiro Osawa's expression was very gloomy.

"Major, Major, Major!" the communications soldier called out several times before finally drawing his attention.

Kanjiro Osawa frowned and asked impatiently, "What is it?"

The communications soldier hesitated for a moment, then said, "Major, the frequency band and code are fine, but today Yu Fu's telegram transmission method was fast and urgent, which is different from his usual transmission method last time. I suspect that the telegram might be sent by the Military Intelligence Bureau under a false name. In my humble opinion, should we send someone to verify the situation first?"

Kanjiro Osawa was always suspicious, but at this moment he disagreed with his subordinate's opinion, frowning as he said, "Impersonation? The telegram was only half-sent, clearly a last-ditch effort by Yu Fu. The speed and haste are to be expected. Besides, even if this is a conspiracy by the Military Intelligence Bureau, what benefit would so many telegrams bring them? Did they deliberately release the news of Zhang Yi's injury to lure our people to gather information so they could be wiped out in one fell swoop?"

"Yes. However, Major Osawa, Zhang Yi is a treacherous and cunning man, and we must be wary of him."

"Regardless of whether the intelligence is true or false, we must send someone to check. If Zhang Yi is indeed injured, this is a rare opportunity; we must kill him at all costs!"

Signal Corps: "Major Osawa."

Kanjiro Osawa had clearly made up his mind. He waved for the communications soldier to leave, reached out and picked up the telephone receiver, dialed two numbers, and said coldly:

"Qiushui-kun, come to my office immediately."

Akimizu-kun quickly knocked and entered. Osawa Kanjiro focused his gaze on him, paused for a moment, and then said, "Your brother's actions in Luoyang—"

Qiu Shuijun gazed at him without saying anything, but her eyes filled with anticipation.

Kanjiro Osawa continued, "The operation failed."

When Osawa Kanjiro said this, his tone was rather peculiar, and Akisui-kun immediately understood. A hint of sadness flashed in his eyes: "Is it a whole corpse?"

Kanjiro Osawa didn't say anything, but picked up the kettle next to him and poured himself a glass of water.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Qiu Shuijun understood everything. He frowned and asked again, "Was it broken?"

"The prognosis is probably grim." Osawa Kanjiro's tone was tinged with sorrow as he handed him the telegram. "This is his last message. Perhaps he has already sacrificed himself for the country and become a hero of the empire."

Qiu Shui glanced at the telegram and quickly finished reading it. He said in a deep voice, "I want to see him alive or dead. I must bring his ashes back to my hometown."

Seeing his distress, Osawa Kanjiro sighed and comforted him, "Don't be sad. Once we conquer Luoyang, we will find his body. At that time, we will not only solemnly commemorate our hero, but also make those damned Chinese pay a heavy price."

Qiu Shui gritted her teeth: "Absolutely! Blood debts must be repaid in blood! We must exterminate them all!"

Kanjiro Osawa nodded at him, saying nothing more about the topic. He took a sip of water and then went straight to the mission: "This mission is time-sensitive; you need to set off for Luoyang tonight."

"Hey! Is there anything I need you to bring? I'll get it ready right away." Osawa Kanjiro gave him a look and then said, "Memorize it."

"clear."

Then, Osawa Kanjiro took a pen and wrote a few words on a piece of paper, then pushed the paper in front of Shusui and said, "Remember this place."

Qiu Shui looked at the words carefully, and after a while, nodded to indicate that she had memorized them.

Kanjiro Osawa nodded, then pointed to a line of text at the bottom of the paper: "The text after the address is for making contact."

Qiu Shui took another closer look: "I've memorized them all."

Seeing that he had already memorized it, Osawa Kanjiro took out a lighter, lit the paper, and then threw it into the ashtray: "Shusui-kun, I appoint you as the head of the Luoyang Agency. After you make contact with Liuying, you must use her power to quickly find out the whole process of the assassination, find out whether Zhang Yi was injured, where he lives, and look for any opportunity to strike."

Qiu Shui was overjoyed: "Yes."

"Once you have obtained reliable intelligence, report to me immediately, and I will send new personnel to support you."

"Yes, sir, I guarantee I will complete the mission."

As the rabbit falls and the crow rises, it's a new day again.

Since the beginning of summer, the air has been a bit hot and dry, but a light rain fell last night, making the weather mild and humid.

Early in the morning, the square-faced and pretty-boy commanders from the theater command arrived again.

This time, with a phone call from the theater commander, Li Mulin warmly received the two.

After exchanging pleasantries, the two went straight to the interrogation room.

Their target was naturally Liang Fu.

Presumably knowing that the interrogation room was bugged, the two invited Liang Fu to the conference room.

Zhang Yigang had just finished breakfast and was sitting in his office drinking tea and reading the newspaper when he saw a missing person notice in the Yuzhou News.

Beside the missing person notice was another article containing coded messages that only he could decipher—messages secretly sent by Zheng Huhe.

After finishing reading the newspaper, Zhang Yi was about to go to the interrogation room to continue questioning Xiao Rui when Deputy Station Chief Li Mulin knocked on the door and came in: "Director Zhang, the people from the war zone command are here again. Chief Tang called personally, and we can't refuse."

Zhang Yi shook his head. The so-called Commander Tang was the deputy commander of the First War Zone and the commander-in-chief of the 31st Army Group. When Yuzhou suffered from floods, droughts, and locust plagues, as the highest-ranking officer, he not only failed to organize disaster relief but also levied exorbitant taxes, extorting money and grain from the people everywhere and forcibly conscripting men, causing widespread suffering. The people called him one of the "Four Evils".

Not only did this scoundrel levy exorbitant taxes, but he also instructed his cronies to buy up gold and engage in speculative business, causing immense suffering to the people. There was even a saying circulating in the area: "We'd rather the Japanese devils burn and kill than have this man, Tang, stationed here." This shows just how depraved and insane this scourge was.

Seeing that Zhang Yi remained silent, Li Mulin smiled mysteriously: "These two guys seem cautious, but they're actually incredibly stupid. Don't they know that the Military Intelligence Bureau is riddled with listening devices?" He paused, then pulled out a bunch of keys and asked with a smile, "Director Zhang, aren't you curious about what they were talking about?"

Zhang Yi glanced at him: "If you have nothing better to do, watching the excitement won't hurt."

Li Mulin smiled and nodded, leading Zhang Yi out of the office, through the corridor, and stopping at the door of the listening room. He looked around, unlocked the door with his key, invited Zhang Yi inside, and quickly turned back to lock the door from the inside. Then, he walked to the empty workbench, sat down, picked up the headset in front of him, put it on, dialed a few numbers on a special phone on the workbench, adjusted the dial on the headset for a while, said "It's ready," and handed the headset to Zhang Yi.

Zhang Yi took it and put it on; the voices in the conference room could be heard clearly.

The meeting room doors and windows were tightly shut, and the telephone faithfully recorded everything it heard. The people talking, however, remained completely unaware.

The square-faced man and the pretty boy sat at the head of the table, while Liang Fu sat opposite them, speaking in a low voice.

The man with the square face stared at him, his tone stern: "Liang Fu, you are a huge disappointment. An officer of the Central Army University, secretly colluding with Japanese spies—it's utterly appalling. Why did you do this? If not for your own future, shouldn't you at least consider your family? You've ruined your reputation! How heartbroken your parents would be if they knew!"

The pretty boy chimed in, "Yes, it must be so heartbreaking for an elderly person to outlive their child."

These words struck Liang Fu like a blow; his heart skipped a beat. Mentioning his parents was, without a doubt, an undisguised threat.

The square-faced man changed the subject: "Of course, catching spies is the job of the Military Intelligence Bureau. As for why we're looking for you, you should know the answer, right?"

The pretty boy chimed in, "Can we talk now?"

"Yes," Liang Fu replied with some difficulty.

Seeing this, the pretty boy took out a pocket recorder from his briefcase and pressed a button: "Do you know why I called you here today?"

Liang Fu: "I know. It's about discrepancies in the armory's accounts, someone stealing from the armory and reselling weapons."

The square-faced man nodded: "It's shocking! With a major battle imminent, in broad daylight, someone actually dared to do such a thing. The headquarters has already sent people to investigate, and after a thorough investigation, they found that the problems all occurred during your term of office. Do you have anything to say about that?"

"Yes. I did it all."

"Does Commander Wei know about these things? Was your predecessor involved?"

“I don’t know. He was completely unaware. I did it all on my own, in private, and sometimes I used his name to bully others. Let me reiterate, this matter has nothing to do with Commander Wei, my predecessor.”

"Hmm, can you take responsibility for your statements?"

"Yes. I take full responsibility for all the facts I have stated above."

The conversation ended quickly, lasting only a few minutes, but it was filled with unspoken understanding. It was clear that the square-faced man and the pretty boy were greatly relieved.

After the questioning was over, Liang Fu didn't even look at the written record before readily signing and affixing his fingerprint.

The conversation in the conference room was clearly transmitted to Zhang Yi and Li Mulin through the eavesdropping device. The two looked at each other and remained silent.

(End of this chapter)