My spy diary

Chapter 582 A Sure Thing (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Two guards escorted Zhang Yi to the solitary confinement room.

The so-called solitary confinement cell is not a small dark room in prison, but an empty room with a large iron cage inside.

"Are you trying to lock me in a dog cage?!"

The two guards exchanged a glance, and one of them said with a forced smile, "Director Zhang, you've misunderstood. It's just an iron cage. We brothers are just following orders. Please bear with us."

Another person chimed in, "Yes, please bear with us. As long as you don't leave the cage, everything will be fine. Just let us know if you need anything."

Zhang Yi grinned: "That's more like it!"

He then obediently crawled inside.

The two men breathed a sigh of relief, locked the iron cage, and asked, "Director Zhang, would you like something? Cigarettes, tea, or a newspaper?"

Zhang Yi took out a cigarette, lit it, pondered for a moment, and said, "I came to the station today to gather some intelligence related to Japanese spies, but I was distracted by this mess. Here's what I'll do: you guys report this to Lieutenant Jia and ask him to pass on a message to Boss Dai, oh, preferably intelligence related to tomb raiding from various places."

The two men exchanged bewildered glances, wondering why their section chief, who had just been fighting with someone, was suddenly concerned with tomb raiding. Curious but not daring to ask, they meekly agreed and left.

After the two left, Zhang Yi crossed his legs, leaned against the iron cage, and closed his eyes to rest.

In another office, a section chief from the telecommunications department was playing a recording for Mao Qiwu and his adjutant, Jia.

As the old-fashioned wire tape recorder pressed play, the voices of Zhang Yi and He Shangyou came through the speaker.

"Get to the point. I don't have the patience to listen to you beat around the bush."

"Okay, keep it simple. He followed me last night, did you arrange that?"

"Yes."

Then came Zhang Yi's voice: "Oh, those things Secretary Meng said, you arranged that too?"

"Yes." That was He Shangyou's voice.

Upon hearing this, Mao Qiwu's brows furrowed:
"Play it again."

The telecommunications section chief rewound the button and pressed the player again. Mao Qiwu and his adjutant Jia listened intently.

He Shangyou's voice came through the recording again.

"Are you done talking? I have other things to do."

"Now that we've finished talking, it's time to settle the accounts."

Then came a loud bang.

Mao Qiwu pressed the stop button and said thoughtfully:
"So, it really was Director He who spread this rumor?"

Deputy Jia glanced at him and said, "That makes sense. What man can stand such despicable slander? It's understandable that Director Zhang was furious."

Those of them, all seasoned in officialdom, knew all too well the destructive power of such rumors. Even if Director Zhang truly had a penchant for men, this couldn't be brought up openly; otherwise, it would severely damage Director Zhang's image, ultimately escalating into a scandal. This wouldn't just affect Zhang Yi's personal image, but would also impact the entire Military Intelligence Bureau's reputation.

Mao Qiwu remained expressionless, smacked his lips twice, still not quite believing it. He thought to himself that Director He was always a man who concealed his cleverness and kept a low profile. Even if he were to spread such rumors, he would leave it to others to let the rumors ferment slowly, rather than having them come from his secretary's mouth.

Just then, the door opened. Mao Qiwu turned around and saw Boss Dai.

"How did it go?" Dai Chunfeng asked as soon as he entered the room.

The head of the telecommunications department nodded: "We've basically figured it out." He paused, looked up, and said in a low voice with some difficulty, "Judging from the recording, Director He is definitely to blame."

Dai Chunfeng remained expressionless, stroked his chin, and said nothing. After a while, he patted the head of the telecommunications department on the shoulder:

"Go back now, keep today's events a secret."

"Yes." The head of the telecommunications department responded sternly. He knew all too well the gravity of the situation. If anyone found out about the bugging device, he would be in deep trouble.

He had just left when a commotion erupted in the hallway.

Hearing the noise, Deputy Jia came out to take a look, but when he returned, he seemed hesitant to speak.

Dai Chunfeng frowned and asked, "What is it now?"

"He Chang has arrived."

"Let him in."

Still seething with anger, He Shangyou said indignantly as soon as he entered, "Director, is just confinement too lenient on him? This matter cannot be left like this."

Boss Dai took the tea from Mao Qiwu, took a sip, looked at He Shangyou, whose mouth was crooked and eyes were slanted, and asked:
"Did you have someone spread these rumors?"

"I didn't!" He Shangyou was on the verge of tears. "What good would it do me? This is someone framing me. I—"

Boss Dai's face was unreadable. After a moment's thought, he said, "Why do I find it increasingly difficult to understand you?"

These words made He Shangyou somewhat apprehensive and confused. He rubbed his forehead, which was aching and numb: "Director, I would like to talk to you alone."

Dai Chunfeng gestured for Mao Qiwu and Deputy Officer Jia to leave.

He Shangyou watched the two leave before speaking, "Lin Jingyi confessed and revealed a high-ranking spy who was lurking in Baota Mountain."

"Which department?"

“Border Region Security Department.” Dai Chunfeng looked him in the eyes: “Go on.”

Upon hearing those three words, He Shangyou was instantly energized, his headache and dizziness vanished, and he recounted Lin Jingyi's confession.

After listening to He Shangyou's words, Dai Chunfeng thought for a moment and asked, "Did you get the codebook?"

"No." Seeing Dai Chunfeng's disappointment, he quickly explained, "Originally, I planned to use the maid who was lurking in his mansion, but then I thought, Lin Jingyi is dead, which would have already alerted the enemy. If I were to try to get the codebook, it would only ruin the plan."

Dai Chunfeng nodded calmly:
What are your next steps?

He Shangyou blurted out, "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind; luring the snake out of its hole, killing two birds with one stone." As he said this, he revealed an unintentional smile.

The door to the solitary confinement cell opened, and Yang Rong, the head of the intelligence department, entered with his secretary. He carried a can of tea and a stack of case files, while his secretary carried a teacup and a thermos.

He instructed his secretary to prepare tea and then sent him away. Yang Rongcai said with a smile:
"Brother, why were you so impulsive? Are you feeling better now? Why can't we sit down and talk things out instead of resorting to knives and guns? You should know that the martial world isn't just about fighting and killing; it's about human relationships and social interactions."

Zhang Yi disagreed, smiled and said, "That's true, but the martial world is all about fighting and killing first, and then human relationships and social interactions come into play."

There's a saying that the secret to good relationships is struggle. Only when you possess the ability to struggle will the other party be wary, because they know that provoking you will come at a price. In other words, the essence of human relationships is mutual exploitation and game-playing. Some relationships may appear harmonious, but in reality, they are the result of countless silent contests.

Having the ability to withstand the opponent's probing, to hold your ground in disputes, and even to rebuild boundaries gracefully after a falling out—this ability to stay in the game and maintain composure in conflict is what allows you to stay at the table and is a reflection of your capabilities.

Otherwise, others will only see you as a pushover, someone anyone can take advantage of. They'll treat you like a treasure when you're useful, and discard you like trash when you're no longer needed.

Yang Rong smiled knowingly and handed over the dossier:
"This is intelligence the boss asked me to gather. Why are you suddenly interested in tomb raiding?"

After saying this, he quickly waved his hand, "Forget it, since the boss didn't say anything, I shouldn't know. You shouldn't say anything either, knowing too much will make it hard to sleep."

"Then you're destined to have a sleepless night," Zhang Yi joked. "There's nothing wrong with saying it; it's related to Japanese spies."

Yang Rong nodded, not pressing for details. After a moment's thought, he said, "I don't know about the past, but after the outbreak of the First Sino-Japanese War, the Japanese government, based on the 'Wartime Measures for the Collection of Qing Dynasty Treasures' devised by Kuki Ryuichi, promulgated the 'Enemy Property Management Law.' They targeted not only the living but also our deceased ancestors, systematically carrying out tomb raiding activities across China. After the September 18 Incident, they intensified their actions, carrying out large-scale excavations in Northeast China, eastern Shandong, Shaanxi, and Gansu—it was utterly insane. Cultural relics and historical sites such as the Yongqing Mausoleum, the Liao-Jin Dynasty earthen city ruins in Fushun, the Longmen Grottoes, and Han-Tang tombs were all stolen and leveled."
Between 35 and 36, Hiroshi Ikeuchi and Kosaku Hamada led the looting of ancient Goguryeo tombs in Ji'an. In 39, a large-scale excavation lasting three months was conducted at the Liao Ancestral Mausoleum, during which the jade tablets of Yale's Abaoji and his wife were reportedly stolen. Last year, the Japan East Asian Archaeological Society and some East Asian Cultural Association began looting the Zhao Wangcheng site in Handan and the Northern Wei Pingcheng site.

Yang Rong, as expected of a veteran intelligence chief, was knowledgeable and had a strong memory; he could retrieve this intelligence with ease.

Zhang Yi had heard some of this information before, while others were new to him. The Japanese invaders' tomb raiding was not simply about plundering cultural relics and cultural embezzlement. In addition, it was also about providing "historical basis" for their colonial rule, constructing false historical narratives such as "Japanese and Chinese share the same ancestry" and "Manchurian and Mongolian bandits rule China," distorting the historical context of China, weakening the cultural identity and national consciousness of the people, and thus promoting cultural colonization and exercising spiritual control.

After a pause, Yang Rong continued, "A weak nation has no diplomacy. The Qing government could only protest. During the Republic of China era, warlords fought amongst themselves, and the warlords themselves were also robbing. Who had the mind to care about the Japanese? Bandits and tomb raiders followed suit. Hehe, the most famous of them all was Ma Futian. He originally planned to plunder the Eastern Tombs, but the news was leaked, and Sun Dianying was the one who slew the cicada behind him."

This Mr. Sun's tomb raiding was probably the least technically sophisticated in history. He didn't need to consult feng shui, use a compass, or even a Luoyang shovel; he only used one thing: explosives.

Speaking of this person, Yang Rong only touched on the subject briefly, after all, the treasures this person brought from the Eastern Mausoleum had long been given to Chang, his wife, and other imperial relatives in exchange for the position of commander of the New Fifth Army. Boss Dai was his guide.

Changing the subject, Zhang Yi asked while flipping through the case files:

"Are there many tomb raiders in the area lately?"

“There are many, and it’s impossible to stop them.” Yang Rong sighed. “We can’t reach the occupied areas, but in the Nationalist-controlled areas, tomb raiders have formed their own systems, divided into two factions, north and south of the Yangtze River. The northern faction includes the Liaoshen Gang, Hengluo Gang, Guanzhong Gang, and so on, and their common tool is the Luoyang shovel. The southern faction includes the Changsha Gang, Jiangning Gang, Lingnan Gang, and so on, and they use short-handled sniper rifles. Among them, the most skilled are the tomb raiders from Changsha. They have a strong ability to distinguish the soil around the tombs, and it is said that they have even seriously summarized the four-character key to tomb raiding: ‘observation, auscultation, inquiry, and palpation.’”

"Tu Fuzi" does not refer to a specific person; it was originally a colloquial term for people in Changsha who made a living by selling yellow clay.

People still sell yellow clay? Times have changed. These days, people in Changsha mainly burn coal, and yellow clay needs to be added to the coal to increase its burning resistance. Therefore, the demand for yellow clay is huge, and thus the profession of selling yellow clay has gradually emerged.

High-quality yellow clay, known as "glutinous rice clay," is mostly used as backfill soil for ancient tombs. When excavating yellow clay, tomb raiders would occasionally find burial objects. After discovering that it was profitable, they switched careers and became tomb robbers.

In chaotic times, evil is revealed. People will do anything to survive. If they can't join the army, they'll rob tombs. If robbing tombs isn't enough, they'll rob. If their appetite grows too big, they'll kill and plunder.

Grave robbers have no sense of morality or ethics. When greed takes hold, even if most of those who rob graves together are relatives, and even blood relatives, it is not uncommon for sons to bury their fathers.

It is said that in order to prevent such things from happening, the tomb raiding industry had to change the rules, so that the son would go down into the pit and the father would guard it, thus ensuring safety.

Zhang Yi pondered. He vaguely remembered that China's uranium mines were mainly distributed in Hunan, Guizhou, Guangdong, Inner Mongolia, and Liaoning. Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, and Guangdong were beyond his reach, but at the very least, he had to ensure that Hunan and Guizhou would not be affected. Otherwise, if Japanese spies colluded with these profit-driven tomb raiders, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Director Yang, could you please instruct the intelligence officers in Hunan and Guizhou to keep an eye out for any suspicious individuals operating under the guise of exploration, research, or tomb raiding? I would be extremely grateful!"

"Don't worry, since it's a task entrusted by the boss, and it concerns the safety of the Party and the country, I, Yang, have no choice but to do it."

"Thank you, Director Yang. I have another painting called 'Ancient Plum Blossom'. Although it can't compare to the 'Ink Lotus' I gave to Boss Dai, it has its own unique charm. I'll deliver it to your residence when I leave."

Yang Rong gave him a meaningful look, his eyes shining:

"This is really good stuff, where did you get it?"

“Yu Dacheng, deputy director of the Municipal Construction Bureau,” Zhang Yi explained briefly.

"Brother, it's a good thing you were quick enough to stop him. Otherwise, if this corrupt official had gotten away, the treasures would have been lost to other places, and we would have become criminals against the country." He said with a hint of indignation.

Zhang Yi followed his words and said, "Yes, precious things should stay in the hands of those who know their stuff."

"Who says otherwise? Well then, I'll accept it without further ado." Yang Rong left satisfied.

On the other side, two cars were driving one after the other on the highway leading to the suburbs.

With a bruised and swollen face, He Shangyou sat in the back seat of one of the cars, closing his eyes to rest and think.

Their trip was to the Military Intelligence Bureau's 41st Farm. Firstly, given his current state, he couldn't show his face in public, so it was a way for him to recuperate.

Secondly, they set up a radio station at the No. 41 Farm to direct the undercover agents of the Party and government intelligence department who were lurking around the Pagoda Mountain to carry out their activities.

Finally, it was to make the mole within the organization reveal his true colors.

According to the plan he discussed with Boss Dai, the bureau would release some subtle hints, and since he was staying at the farm during this time, the mole wouldn't be able to see him and would definitely get restless. So, anyone who inquired about it would be the one with a problem, no doubt about it!

(End of this chapter)