My spy diary

Chapter 697 Intelligence (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

P.S.: Just got back from the hospital, posting this now and editing later!
Dai Chunfeng's face was somewhat gloomy: "The mole, I'm now basically certain who he is."

As he spoke, he gave Zhang Yi a meaningful look, "I suppose you already have a name in your heart, right?"

Zhang Yi asked cautiously, "You suspect that Director Wang has a problem?"

As Dai Chunfeng spoke, he sized up Zhang Yi: "Otherwise, how do you explain the leak?"

A pair of eyes were fixed on Zhang Yi, not missing a single expression on his face.

He thought to himself that if Zhang Yi was indeed that person, that Red Party mole lurking in the upper echelons of the Bureau, upon hearing that he had already begun to suspect Wang Xinheng, he would inevitably point the finger at Wang Xinheng, either directly or indirectly.

He prefers the latter.

However, Zhang Yi frowned, looking quite puzzled, and said:
"That possibility cannot be ruled out. But objectively speaking, I don't think it's Director Wang."

A fleeting look of surprise crossed Dai Chunfeng's eyes:
"What's the reason?"

“It’s very simple.” Zhang Yi remained calm throughout, showing no sign of guilt. “First, there’s no motive. What benefit would Director Wang gain from doing this? That’s the first point of doubt.”

Is there a second one?

"Operation Lone Boat should have been personally overseen by Director Wang, right? From the selection of agents to loyalty tests, background migration, specialized training, simulated infiltration drills, and delivery, everything should have been top secret, completed in separate segments. Even those who participated in the training only knew the 'what' but not the 'why.' According to discipline, they should have been isolated during this period. The security measures should have been very strict, with no possibility of leakage. However, only Director Wang possessed the core information. If it were leaked, he would become the target of everyone's criticism. Let's assume, let's assume he is that person, would he be so foolish as to shoot himself in the foot? Wouldn't that be an admission of guilt? This is the second point of doubt."

"Any more?"

"Yes! Director Wang Xinheng, one of the eight directors of the Bureau Headquarters, is in charge of the Party and Government Intelligence Department. He holds a high position and wields great power. The Director entrusted him with important responsibilities, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that he is a trusted confidant. He has no shortage of fame and fortune. What benefits could the Red Party offer him? Why would he betray the Party and the country? This doesn't make sense!"

Dai Chunfeng sighed. This explanation was reasonable; he used anger to mask his inner frustration.
"It doesn't make sense, and that's what I can't understand either, but the intelligence was still leaked."

Zhang Yi nodded in empathy, and was about to speak when Dai Chunfeng immediately asked:

"Where do you think the problem lies?"

"To be honest, I don't know either." Zhang Yi took a deep breath.

Dai Chunfeng leaned forward, looking at him closely:
"Just saying, consider it casual conversation."

Zhang Yi remained expressionless: "Perhaps, among these 24 agents, there is a Communist Party mole?"

“That’s a possibility,” Dai Chunfeng said, looking at him. “Anything else?”

"Director, to be honest, I don't understand how the Lone Boat Project works," Zhang Yi said thoughtfully. He could tell that Dai Chunfeng was still testing the waters, or rather, probing with his words. If his analysis was inadequate, or if he showed any evasiveness, he would immediately become suspicious, so he deliberately paused.

Seeing his hesitation, Dai Chunfeng thought to himself that he might have new ideas that needed to be verified with what he already knew, so he gestured to him:

"You said."

"Although it is said that those involved are often confused while bystanders see things clearly, I have too few clues. I know nothing about how these people left the mountain town, their identities, the time, or the route they took, so I can't make any effective speculations."

“That’s true.” Dai Chunfeng smacked his lips and rubbed his temples, as if talking to himself, “The world is bustling, all for profit; the world is bustling, all for gain. But what if high position, great power, important responsibilities, fame and fortune—none of these are what he desires?”

Before Zhang Yi could say anything, he immediately continued:
"If he really is that person, then what he did was definitely not just for fame and fortune. The Red Party has a belief, and their belief is not just empty talk; it is terrifying when it is put into practice."

As he spoke, he looked intently at Zhang Yi and asked, "Do you have any faith?"

"Faith?" Zhang Yi's tone was full of surprise.

"Yes, do you have any beliefs?"

Seeing the probing look in his eyes, Zhang Yi said with a serious expression:
"I believe in the Three Principles of the People."

Dai Chunfeng smiled and thought the words were naive: "The faith that comes out of your mouth is just a pretense. Stop using loyalty to the Party and the country as a pretense and say something real."

Zhang Yi shifted halfway around, feigning unease, looking embarrassed.

Dai Chunfeng squinted as he sized up Zhang Yi:

"Is it difficult? What do you believe in? You can't even answer such a simple question. You must be feeling quite insecure." He asked with a hint of sarcasm.

Zhang Yi seemed hesitant to say it: "I swear with utmost sincerity that I will uphold the Three Principles of the People, obey the orders of the leaders, abide by the discipline of the group, and faithfully perform my duties."

Dai Chunfeng interrupted him coldly:

"Enough! That's the oath we took when we joined the Secret Service. I know it better than you do, so stop reciting it verbatim. I want the truth!"

Zhang Yi glanced at him nervously: "Director, this is the truth. If there's any selfish motive, it's because you are a pillar of the Party and the country, and a trusted confidant of the Chairman. I am fortunate to follow you to make a living, and at the same time, I can also gain some benefits for myself." Faced with Dai Chunfeng's aggressive questioning, Zhang Yi became more and more frank, giving the impression that he was telling the truth because he couldn't hide it anymore.

"Did you catch it?"

"A little," Zhang Yi said with a helpless smile. "Director, some things are like window paper; why bother to puncture them?"

Dai Chunfeng suddenly laughed and said, "Everyone has their own selfish motives. I was just asking casually, and you took it seriously."

"Trying to fool me?" Zhang Yi pretended to suddenly realize something, looking embarrassed.

“You can’t find the mole even if you try to scam me. I’m not that free. Let’s get down to business.” Dai Chunfeng chuckled and changed the subject. “I’d like to give you a heads-up. I plan to have you investigate the undercover agents, starting with Wang Xinheng.”

Zhang Yi looked surprised: "This is inappropriate; it's the responsibility of the Supervision Office."

"There's no such thing as suitable or unsuitable. You're the only person I can trust now. No matter what method you use, you have to pull this cancer out!"

Zhang Yi gave a wry smile.

Dai Chunfeng noticed a clear bitterness in his expression and asked:

"What, do you think I'm just spouting platitudes, or do you feel unworthy of such praise?"

"You've misunderstood, Director. I'm just worried about betraying your trust. No matter how thoroughly we keep things secret, they know everything, and the thought of it is terrifying."

"Right?" Dai Chunfeng sighed, looking up at the ceiling. "To be honest, this mole has almost become my obsession. I dream about him all the time. Who do you think he is?"

Sitting opposite him, Zhang Yi seemed to have some feelings to say:

"Yes, but who exactly is he?"

Dai Chunfeng stared blankly, muttering to himself, "This person is right beside you, right beside me. He gets up at the same time as us and goes to bed at the same time. No, no, no, he gets up earlier than us and goes to bed later than us."

While we sleep, he gets up and does things we know nothing about. Then, we go to work together, leave work together, and look at the same blue sky. Anyone could be him, and yet, no one could be him. Do you want to know who he is? I've dreamt of him a few times, wearing a mask, standing next to me, staring at me.

Looking at the worried Dai Chunfeng, Zhang Yi didn't know what to say, so he followed up by asking, "Then have you seen him clearly?"

"I reached out, wanting to grab him and lift his mask to see who he really was, but he disappeared in the blink of an eye."

After listening, Zhang Yi hesitated for a long time before finally speaking:
"Director, what if we can't find out?"

"At all costs. Even if I die before I find him, I'll take him down with me." Dai Chunfeng said this with a hint of ruthlessness, but quickly added with a self-deprecating laugh, "The fortune teller said I lack water in my five elements, and this mole is my nemesis, so he must be someone with a strong earth element and a strong fire element. If we really can't find him, we'll just have to find a fortune teller to do it, and then, better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free! Hehe, just kidding."

Dai Chunfeng made it sound like a joke, and Zhang Yi smiled along. But both of them had heard of a psychologist's theory—there are no such things as jokes; every joke contains an element of seriousness.

After a pause, Zhang Yi took the initiative to change the subject:
"Director, if we're investigating Wang Xinheng, should we go straight to him and talk to him directly, or should we try to get to him indirectly from the outside?"

Dai Chunfeng waved his hand: "We can't alert them. Let's start with the Lone Boat Project. I authorize you to review all materials and interview all people related to this project. Try to find clues from the smallest details and analyze the situation clearly. Once we have some preliminary evidence, we can negotiate with Wang Xinheng. If we can't find any evidence, it's just a formality. If we can, then we'll have to go through the proceedings."

"Understood!" Zhang Yi stood up and saluted.

"It's almost a holiday, don't be so tense. Go home early, you can check after the holiday." Dai Chunfeng waved with a smile, "I'm tired, I need to go home and sleep."

After saying that, he yawned and stood up.

"Your subordinate takes his leave!" Zhang Yi nodded and turned to leave.

Dai Chunfeng watched his receding figure, her expression somewhat complicated.

The failure of the Lone Boat Project was something he hadn't anticipated at all. But the suspicion surrounding Wang Xinheng was impossible to clear, and as for whether he was the mole within the bureau, he couldn't say for sure. It would be best if an investigation could prove his innocence; if not...
Dai Chunfeng gritted his teeth. From the perspective of his superiors, he did not want anyone to suffer any mishaps, whether it was Wang Xinheng or Zhang Yi. But if he was an undercover agent, then everything would be different. Traitors should be dealt with without mercy.

The night is already deep.

There was a gentle knock on the door of Wang Xinheng's office at the Bai Mansion. Wang Xinheng put down a document he was reading.
"Come in."

As the secretary walked in, he immediately asked:

Still can't get through?

The secretary, observing his expression cautiously, said, "There has been no response."

Wang Xinheng sighed and said dejectedly, "What do you think?"

The secretary racked her brains for a long time, then gave a wry smile:
"Chief, I can't think of any good ideas right now. How about we start from within and question everyone involved in Project Lone Boat one by one?"

Seeing that Wang Xinheng remained noncommittal, the secretary paused for a moment, then continued:
"Chief, it's time to go home. Your wife has called several times already."

“Oh,” Wang Xinheng glanced at him, then said, “How many years have you been with me? Let me think, three years?”

"It's been three years and four months." Although the secretary felt that this statement was incoherent, she still answered truthfully, while helping him tidy up the documents.

Wang Xinheng's lips moved, but he didn't say anything.

The secretary considerately said, "Director, I'll go arrange a car first." After saying that, he left.

Wang Xinheng kept watching him until his figure disappeared through the doorway. He thought for a moment, then picked up the phone and dialed a few numbers:

"Me. Go to the secretary's office and take Secretary Liu to the interrogation room. Tell them to ask him if he leaked the Lone Boat Project. You can use torture."

Wang Xinheng hung up the phone, sighed, and leaned back in his chair. For a moment, he looked somewhat aged.

Meanwhile, Zhang Yi returned from the bureau headquarters, and as soon as he entered his home, he felt a wave of fatigue wash over him.

He took off his coat and habitually walked to the sofa, lay down fully clothed, but felt no sleepiness at all.

The bedroom door opened slightly, presumably Shen Ruozhu had come out, and Zhang Yi quickly closed his eyes.

After several days of hard work, this was a rare and precious moment of relaxation for him, and he didn't want to be bothered by any more annoying people or things.

But relaxation is by no means easy. Zhang Yi let out a deep sigh, and as soon as he closed his eyes, the figures of Zheng Huhe, Dai Chunfeng, Yang Rong, and He Zhiyuan, as well as the scenes that had happened in the past few days, began to flash in his mind.

There were people Zhang Yi desperately wanted to see, but couldn't. There were people he desperately didn't want to see, but had to. At this moment, although they weren't by his side, they didn't bring him ease or joy.

Where is Zhengzhou and Huhe right now? Is it safe?

How much of the information released by Yang Rong and He Zhiyuan is true and how much is false?

What will Dai Chunfeng do if he can't find the mole? He'd rather kill the innocent than let the guilty go free; how will he escape then?
One question after another came at Zhang Yi. He felt as if they hadn't gone far away, but were walking towards him step by step, their footsteps getting closer and closer, as if they were standing right next to him.

Zhang Yi suddenly sat up abruptly, panting heavily, his forehead covered in a fine layer of sweat. And indeed, someone was watching him—Shen Ruozhu, still looking sleepy, stood motionless beside the sofa.

Zhang Yi glanced at her silently, then closed his eyes.

Shen Ruozhu looked at him for a long while, then hesitated and said:
"You're too tired, why don't you go inside and get some sleep?"

Zhang Yi kept his eyes closed.

"Zhang Yi," Shen Ruozhu called again. Seeing that he didn't move, she slowly approached, intending to sit down next to him. Just then, the phone on the table rang. Zhang Yi immediately turned over and got up to answer the phone. Shen Ruozhu opened her mouth, but remained silent for a moment.

Zhang Yi picked up the phone, and a monkey's voice came through:

"Chief, Shen Yanzhi has been captured and just brought to the interrogation room. Would you like to hear his questioning?"

"I won't come. He'll handle the trial. If he can get it approved, great. If not, we'll put it aside for now and talk about it tomorrow."

"Yes."

After hanging up the phone, Zhang Yi and Shen Ruozhu exchanged a glance but remained silent.

Shen Ruozhu composed herself and said:
"You seem to have something on your mind!"

"Did you see it?"

Shen Ruozhu looked at him, her expression indifferent:

"Don't be nervous, I'm just guessing. You had a nightmare just now, didn't you?"

Zhang Yi was silent for a moment, then smiled and said, "I had a nightmare. In my dream, a little devil tried to seduce me." After saying that, he lay back down on the sofa, closed his eyes, and began to receive today's intelligence.

Today's intelligence has been updated.

(End of this chapter)