Spy wars start with lurking Secretary Hong

Chapter 447 The Special Envoy is Recruited

“Zhou Yi, I’m very pleased with your determination. I believe we will definitely find that mole.” Gao Bin nodded.

The two of them went to the interrogation room together.

“Lai Wenbin, alias Zhang Hua, codenamed Crippled Beggar, special envoy of the Manchurian Provincial Committee of the Red Tickets,” Gao Bin said in a deep voice as he sat down.

"You've arrested the wrong person! I'm just an ordinary passenger!" Lai Wenbin shouted, looking aggrieved and frightened.

"They're quite good at pretending."

"However, I know you very well."

"The last time Sun Yuejian and his group transported medicine from Fengtian to Harbin, the car was provided by your informant at Mitsubishi, and the medicine was also collected by you."

"You belong to the core circle of the entire underground organization of red tickets, and you have indeed done a lot of good things."

"Tell me about your mission in Fengtian this time."

Gao Bin asked slowly and deliberately.

Lai Wenbin knew that saying anything at this moment would be superfluous and powerless, so he could only remain silent.

"You don't want to talk about it."

"But have you ever thought that even if you get a beating, you'll still have to tell the truth eventually?"

"Not only that, once you confess, your own people will no longer trust you, and they may even ostracize and investigate you."

"You won't be able to do anything then. No matter how red your heart is or how burning your blood is, you'll only end up as a nobody and a scrap."

Is this really what you want?

"Tell us, and we'll give you the best treatment. We'll even make you an advisor in the military police."

"Actually, there are many people like you within our ranks. For example, Cheng Bin, the commander of the First Division of the First Army of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army, now holds an important position and lives a life of luxury."

"Don't expect anyone to save you. There are no human relationships in Manchukuo, and the Japanese won't give you a chance to pull strings."

Zhou Yi handed him a cigarette and said gently.

"I've heard this kind of talk a hundred times in my dreams."

"If I were afraid of death and wanted to surrender, I would have quit this line of work a long time ago."

"Come on, use whatever tricks you have up your sleeve."

"I've long wanted to experience the torture methods of your Special Agents."

Lai Wenbin took a deep drag on his cigarette and said with a tough-guy tone.

Gao Bin and Zhou Yi exchanged a smile.

Almost every red ticket holder who comes here says something like this, but most of them can't withstand the pressure and eventually confess honestly.

"Take him away," Gao Bin said.

"Small ingredients."

He gave instructions to Old Tu, the interrogator standing nearby.

"Understood." Old Tu accepted the order and had Lai Wenbin taken away.

Gao Bin rubbed the documents in his hand, stood up and said, "That's all for today, Captain Zhou, let's go."

Leave the interrogation room.

As Zhou Yi walked, he said, "Red tickets are tough nuts to crack. Last time, Zhang Pingjun and the bearded man from the Anti-Japanese Alliance didn't utter a single word until they died."

"Yes, that's why I focus on the red tickets. They are different from Dai Li's people; they have faith."

"Faith is something you can't eat or wear, but it's like a magic pill. Once instilled in them, they become invincible warriors."

"If this thing is allowed to spread, I think His Majesty's benevolence and fortune will not be able to withstand it."

Gao Bin said this with great importance.

"This is what Stalin meant by soldiers made of special materials."

"However, I still prefer to believe in the Japanese tanks and planes. War is ultimately about strength, and no matter what material it is, it can only be reduced to ashes under the cannons," Zhou Yi said.

"I hope so." Gao Bin smiled and left on his own.

……

Zhou Yi returned home that evening.

Gu Qiuyan was playing the piano when she saw Zhou Yi's worried face, so she immediately came over to greet him.
"What happened? Has something happened again?"

"Yes, something big has happened. The special envoy sent by the Manchurian Provincial Committee was betrayed and arrested by Liu Kui at the train station this morning." Zhou Yi put down his briefcase and rubbed his temples, looking troubled.

Just as Gu Qiuyan was about to speak, Aunt Liu brought over stew, porridge, and steamed buns.

"Aunt Liu, you should get some rest," Gu Qiuyan said.

"The kitchen has boiled water; the master will be soaking his feet later, so don't forget," Aunt Liu instructed before leaving.

Gu Qiuyan stood in the stairwell, making sure Liu Ma had gone downstairs, and then slammed the door shut before saying:

"What's going on? It's just bad news every day."

"Don't complain. That's how it is in our line of work. Bad news is the most common thing. No news is the best." Although Zhou Yi was very hungry, he ate as slowly as he spoke.

“The special envoy has met with Lao Wei, and may also have met with Sun Yuejian. This is a fatal threat to us,” Gu Qiuyan said, frowning.

"It's hard to say for sure about Sun Yuejian, but he must have met Lao Wei and stayed at our transportation station."

"If he were to leave, I don't know how many people would die."

Zhou Yi said in a deep voice.

"Then what should we do?" Gu Qiuyan asked.

"Don't worry.

"Gao Bin has temporarily lowered his guard against me and asked me to investigate the two department heads. He has now shifted his suspicions to these two people and other section chiefs in the department."

"I noticed that some of the vendors who used to be on the roadside are no longer there."

"The surveillance should have been lifted."

Zhou Yi observed it carefully when he returned.

"How dare he investigate two department heads?" Gu Qiuyan asked, somewhat surprised.

"There's nothing he wouldn't dare to do. He's so close to Keiichi Kato and the head of the Special Higher Police that they're practically inseparable. Gao Bin has a lot of connections; otherwise, Hong Zhiyou wouldn't have become a section chief so quickly."

"Getting back to the main topic, I'll meet with Lao Wei at the breakfast shop tomorrow morning. You all need to be prepared to evacuate at any time. None of us know how much intelligence Lai Wenbin has."

"Be prepared to be martyred at any time if necessary."

"It's a bit cruel, but what can we do when we're standing on the edge of a cliff?"

Zhou Yi spoke in a seemingly casual tone, trying his best not to make Gu Qiuyan so anxious.

"Heavens!" She touched the child in her womb, her brows furrowing tightly.

"Maybe he...he can hold on."

"Or do you have any way to rescue him?"

Gu Qiuyan said.

"Don't have that kind of thinking. People in our line of work must prioritize the worst-case scenario."

"As for saving him, there is absolutely no possibility."

“Our strength is too small, and Gao Bin has just cleared me of suspicion. If I have any thoughts at this time, it will lead to disastrous consequences.” Zhou Yi shook his head.

"Who do you think betrayed the special envoy? Logically speaking, very few people would know that someone of his level came to Harbin..." Gu Qiuyan became even more anxious as she thought about it.

“At least it wasn’t Lao Wei, otherwise I wouldn’t be standing here now.” Zhou Yi said, having almost finished eating.

"I'll go get you some water," Gu Qiuyan said.

"No, you're pregnant. I'll handle these things myself from now on," Zhou Yi said, raising his hand to stop her.

"Thank you." Gu Qiuyan smiled.

After spending more time with him, she felt that Zhou Yi was a pretty good person. Apart from lecturing people and spouting grand principles, he was mostly reasonable and gentle.

……

One o'clock.

Gao Bin quietly arrived at the police station.

The police officer on duty saluted him as soon as he saw him.

"Shh!"

Gao Bin made a gesture and went straight to the office.

He picked up the phone and dialed a number.

No one answered.

He kept dialing again and again.

After several attempts, Li Hong's slightly panting voice finally came from the other end.

"You're really in a good mood. Come to the police station. I've already arrested Lai Wenbin. Come over... and identify him." Gao Bin said coldly and hung up the phone.

……

inside the room.

Li Hong broke free from Lao Qiu's grasp: "Let's rest for a while, I need to go to the police station."

"Damn it, it's so late, is that old bastard Gao Bin trying to sleep with you?" Old Qiu said with a displeased look.

How can your thoughts be so filthy?

"Don't worry, Gao Bin has a prostate problem, he's not interested in this kind of thing." Li Hong rolled her eyes at him, annoyed.

“That’s true. If he liked women, he wouldn’t have died without an heir.” “But you can’t go at this time, it’s not safe,” Old Qiu said worriedly.

"Is it okay if I don't go?"

"Our lives are still in their hands."

"Alright, stop being jealous. I'll be back soon and spend time with you then."

Li Hong got dressed, went downstairs, woke up a Japanese military policeman, and drove directly to the police station.

……

When Li Hong arrived at the police station, Gao Bin led him to the interrogation room.

Old Tu brought the man in.

Lai Wenbin was stunned when he saw Li Hongren.

"Xiao Hong, you, how could you..." He instantly realized that he had been betrayed by Li Hong.

"Wenbin, I'm sorry." Li Hong's eyes reddened, her alluring demeanor tinged with helplessness.

"Sigh!" Lai Wenbin sighed, looking down.

He didn't start cursing.

That makes no sense.

"She and Lao Qiu have been doing things for me for three years."

“Mr. Lai, both the Sun Yuejian case and you were provided with information by her.”

"My advice won't work."

"And what about her? She's a woman who's slept on the same pillow, she must be significant enough."

"I'll give you five minutes alone. I hope you can give me a satisfactory answer later."

After Gao Bin finished speaking, he walked out.

"Wenbin, confess now, the Anti-Japanese United Army has no way out."

"With our petty theft and the few homemade guns of the Anti-Japanese United Army, we can't accomplish anything big."

"Now, on the main battlefield inside the Great Wall, Chiang Kai-shek's army is suffering repeated defeats and can only retreat to a corner of the mountain city. It won't be long before the Japanese will occupy the whole of China."

"The trend is irreversible; we cannot win. No matter how hard we try, it will be a futile sacrifice."

"Surrender."

“I will go to Xinjing, and we can meet there. For the sake of our friendship, please do me this favor.”

"I really don't want to see you..."

Li Hong burst into tears and sobbed.

Lai Wenbin lowered his head and sighed several times: "So be it. Now that I've been arrested, I have nothing left. The organization will no longer trust me. You are the only person I have left to rely on."

"Thank you, I will always remember your kindness to me," Li Hong said, wiping away her tears and nodding.

A moment later, Gao Bin walked in: "How is it?"

“I can cooperate with you,” Lai Wenbin said with some pain.

"It's getting late, you can go back now," Gao Bin instructed.

"Wenbin, take care."

Li Hong swayed her shapely hips as she walked away.

Only Gao Bin and Lai Wenbin remained in the interrogation room.

“Your nickname is Crippled Beggar. Now that you have surrendered to us, you can no longer live like a beggar. We must make you rich and powerful.”

"This is just a small token of my sincerity in cooperating."

Gao Bin took out a wad of cash from his pocket, a total of two thousand yuan, and placed it on the table.

“Thank you. What would you like to know? Please ask.” Lai Wenbin asked.

"What is your mission in Harbin this time?" Gao Bin asked.

"The Anti-Japanese Allied Army made a tactical retreat and hid in Yemapo, northwest of Laotuo Mountain. I came here on behalf of the Manchurian Provincial Committee to commend them and provide the transportation station with one hundred taels of gold as operating funds."

"The main purpose was to meet with the comrades who came down from the mountain and to commend them."

"The organization attaches great importance to this victory."

Lai Wenbin said.

"What did you say?
"What do you mean by tactical retreat?" Gao Bin was shocked.

"Our people were completely unharmed. The Japanese poisoned that batch of medicine. Someone tipped off Political Commissar Zhou. And those poisoned corpses hidden in the cave were actually bandits."

"The Japanese plot did not succeed."

Lai Wenbin's words also revealed a hint of pride.

Gao Bin was deeply shocked.

This is absolutely devastating information.

It should be noted that, apart from Ren Changchun, a greenhorn, the only other person involved in this operation was his nephew, Hong Zhiyou.

If the Japanese knew that their "historic" plan had fallen through, they would surely unleash a massacre.

Zhiyou is likely to be in big trouble then.

"Can you be more specific? Is it a message delivered by a person, a pigeon, or something else?" Gao Bin asked.

"It can be confirmed that it is a person."

“Pigeons are not reliable for delivering messages. The Anti-Japanese United Army was hidden deep in the mountains and frequently changed camps, so the probability of pigeons accurately delivering messages was not high. Moreover, training such carrier pigeons required a lot of effort.”

"For such important and urgent intelligence, relying on pigeons is unlikely to be reliable due to their unreliable timeliness."

Lai Wenbin analyzed.

"people?

"Do you know exactly who it is?" Gao Bin asked.

“This is a top secret matter, only Political Commissar Zhou knows about it. He’s very tight-lipped, how could he possibly reveal it?” Lai Wenbin said.

"Remember, don't tell anyone about this," Gao Bin said, pointing at him.

“I know,” Lai Wenbin nodded.

Let's talk about something else.

"I thought only we liked to fuss over these fancy titles, but I didn't expect you bastards to do it too? I'm curious, what's the point of you doing this?" Gao Bin sneered.

"There's no other way. Some leaders of the Anti-Japanese United Army don't get along with the Manchurian Provincial Committee. The higher-ups feel that necessary commendations can help ease tensions," Lai Wenbin said.

“Okay, next question, have you met Sun Yuejian?” Gao Bin asked.

“I’ve never met her. She’s not on my side. But I’ve met Xiao Dong, one of her subordinates. It was Xiao Dong and I who coordinated the transportation of the medicine.”

"But I can tell you that she is in Fengtian now."

"So, you don't need to be too interested in her."

Lai Wenbin answered truthfully.

"All right.

"Then let's talk about Harbin. Where is that Anti-Japanese Allied Forces representative you met now?" This was something Gao Bin desperately needed to know.

“He has already gone back to the mountain,” Lai Wenbin said.

"Ah."

Gao Bin secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Does anyone else know about the Japanese plan failing?" he continued, while taking out his cigarette case and lighter to light a cigarette for Lai Wenbin.

"The only people who know about this are Political Commissar Zhou and the Captain of the Fourth Brigade, Fu Jun, the representative who came down the mountain this time, Manchuria No. 1 and me."

"You know, this is something that can't be known by too many people."

Lai Wenbin took a few puffs and leaned back in his chair.

"What about Li Hong?" Gao Bin asked anxiously.

“She doesn’t know either, I don’t tell her everything,” Lai Wenbin said.

"Write down the names of all the people in charge of the transportation stations and the underground organizations in Harbin that you've met and know," Gao Bin solemnly instructed.

Lai Wenbin laughed.

"What are you laughing at?" Gao Bin frowned.

"Section Chief Gao, you gave me two thousand yuan, and I have already given you a piece of intelligence of equal value."

"If I give up everything, how can I survive?"
"Everything should be done by waiting for the right price."

"Even Lao Qiu has become your hero and received a lot of reward money. I should at least go to the Japanese Military Police Headquarters to collect my reward."

"There's plenty of time in the future; I'll tell you the rest slowly."

Lai Wenbin smiled knowingly.

"You are very smart, but I must warn you, be careful that your cleverness doesn't backfire."

"You'll have to make do here tonight. Tomorrow I'll transfer you to the Military Police Headquarters. When you receive your reward, I expect you to truthfully reveal these names."

After Gao Bin finished speaking, he stood up and left coldly.

……

(End of this chapter)