Spy wars start with lurking Secretary Hong

Chapter 502 Too much
The huge explosion blew the Japanese-style wooden door of the Ono Restaurant off its ground.

Pedestrians and diners on the street screamed in terror, creating chaos.

Police officers and patrolling Japanese soldiers, armed with guns, rushed over and surrounded the scene.

Liu Xiong and Xiao Guohua mingled in the crowd of onlookers, tiptoeing to peek inside.

The black sedan had been reduced to a twisted, charred pile of scrap metal, still emitting thick smoke, and the air was filled with the acrid smell of gasoline and burning flesh.

The people inside the car had long since been blown into indistinguishable charred remains.

The two exchanged a smug look and laughed, then turned and quietly slipped away from the crowd.

……

Binjiang Provincial Police Department, Director's Office.

Ma Wendong was holding the handkerchief embroidered with cherry blossoms, his body trembling uncontrollably, the extreme humiliation causing him immense pain.

Just then, the phone on the table rang urgently.

He took a deep breath and picked up the microphone.

"what?"

The news coming from the other end of the phone made Ma Wendong's pupils shrink suddenly, and he froze.

After hanging up the phone, he felt as if all his strength had been drained, and slumped into a chair in despair.

Zhang Ling is dead!

This young man, who had only been under his wing for a few days and was just about to make his mark, was blown to pieces right there in the street.

Ma Wendong didn't even need to investigate to know that this was Hong Zhiyou's counterattack.

He never expected that Hong Zhiyou's counterattack would be so fierce, completely unlike his submissive demeanor when he handed over the gold mine.

In the past, Ma Wendong had a delusion that Hong Zhiyou was nothing special.

Now he finally realized that he had made a huge mistake and bit into a red-hot iron plate.

Hong Zhiyou has never been an easy target.

Suddenly, his expression changed drastically as an even more terrifying thought entered his mind.

He picked up the phone and dialed his home number with trembling fingers.

Soon, the obedient voice of the servant, Xiangzi, came from the other end of the phone.

Suppressing his fear, Ma Wendong asked in a hoarse voice, "Where is Madam?"

"You went out to learn the piano? With whom?"

"It's Mr. Hong. He just... just picked up his wife in his car," Xiangzi said.

Do you know where they went?

"No... no need to look anymore, let's just leave it like this."

After hanging up the phone, Ma Wendong could no longer suppress the volcano within him and let out a beast-like roar.

"Hong Zhiyou, I'll go to your ancestors for eighteen generations!"

Wow!

He suddenly waved his hand, sweeping all the documents, pen holders, and teacups off the desk and onto the floor.

He humiliated himself with a handkerchief and killed his subordinates, then lured his wife away to have an affair.

Beast!
This is a blatant slap in the face!

That's too much! That's outrageous!

Ma Wendong felt a sharp pain in his chest, his vision blurred, and he almost fainted on the spot.

He braced himself on the table with both hands in agony, his body trembling violently, tears welling up uncontrollably in his eyes.

Jia Huizi, why?
Why demean yourself like this?

You're humiliating me!
After the pain came endless resentment and chilling murderous intent.

Ma Wendong clenched his fists tightly.

good good!
You bombed my subordinates, slept with my woman, Hong Zhiyou, I'll kill you!

Ma Wendong's face was so gloomy it could drip water. He forced himself to calm down and carefully considered how to make Hong Zhi suffer the most terrible death.

There are only two ways for Hong Zhi to die.

One option was to send someone to assassinate him.

But this is the least secure option, as Hong Zhi has many ruthless and vicious henchmen.

Zhang Ling's fate is a bloody example.

If the assassination fails, that madman who even dared to sleep with his own wife will definitely retaliate in an even more insane way.

The second option is to find irrefutable evidence and arrest him in a lawful and impartial manner.

This also requires an impeccable breakthrough, at least a fact that Commander Kato and Section Chief Yamanari of the Military Police cannot deny.

The best way is to capture members of the Anti-Japanese United Army.

Then, let that madman Shiro Ishii deal with Hong Zhiyou.

Yes, let Ishii do it, that way I can perfectly get myself out of the way.

However, before that, we must first keep Hong Ji-yoo calm and absolutely not let this mad dog get away.

"Ogasa-kun!" Ma Wendong called out towards the door.

A young adjutant with a small mustache and wearing a military uniform strode in.

Ma Wendong coldly ordered, "Go and retrieve all of Qiu Daqiang's information. I need to see it now."

Adjutant Ogasawara dared not delay and quickly retrieved the documents.

Ma Wendong flipped through the pages one by one, a sinister smile slowly creeping onto his lips.

"Pass on my orders: have Yamamoto's Special Forces launch a secret raid on the Anti-Japanese Alliance and bring back two big fish for me."

Adjutant Ogasawa paused for a moment, then asked, "Chief, are you still investigating the matter of the bacterial drug from last time?"

“That’s right.” Ma Wendong’s eyes were filled with resentment. “I wanted to settle things peacefully and let the man surnamed Hong go, but now it seems I was too soft-hearted.”

“Dr. Ishii is the Army’s darling. This is a disgrace to him. He would be more effective than me in dealing with Hong Zhiyou.”

Adjutant Ogasawa immediately bowed his head and obeyed: "Hai!"

Watching his adjutant's departing figure, Ma Wendong's face was clouded with gloom.

Hong Zhiyou, this time even the Heavenly King himself can't save you!
……

Inside the room in the alley, the bed sheets were in disarray.

Hong Zhiyou relentlessly demanded more, as if he wanted to vent all the anger in his heart.

Jia Huizi's face was flushed, her breathing uneven, and she looked at him with dreamy eyes, overjoyed: "Why are you in such a good mood today?"

Hong Zhi pinched her cheek and said with a wicked smile, "It's not that I'm in a good mood, it's that I'm a bit irritable, so I can only call on you, the firefighter."

It was past 5 p.m.

Hong Zhi quickly rinsed off the sweat, put on a loose nightgown, and leaned back leisurely on the sofa with a glass of red wine in his hand.

Jia Huizi lay lazily beside him, tracing circles on his chest with her finger: "Tell me, what happened today?"

Hong Zhi took a sip of wine and said bluntly, "Ma Wendong is planning to steal my leather goods business."

"It looks like they might try to kill me. The situation is very bad for me."

Jia Huizi pursed her lips in surprise: "You just had a falling out with Ichiro, and you're already asking me out?"
"Isn't this going too far?"

“That’s just how I am.” Hong Zhiyou swirled his wine glass, looking at the scarlet liquid. “If someone treats me well, I’ll treat them even better. Since my mom has made me unhappy, I can only take it out on her wife.”

"Pfft." Jia Huizi was amused by him and laughed heartily. "You're so naughty. If Ichiro knew what you were thinking, he'd probably die of anger on the spot."

Hong Zhiyou grinned: "He already knows, and he's probably looking for you all over the world right now."

He leaned closer, staring into Jia Huizi's eyes: "Are you scared?"

"If I were afraid, I wouldn't have come." Jia Huizi snorted, a hint of disdain and resentment flashing in her eyes.

"Ichiro is a man of both skill and ambition."

"But he has always felt inferior when it comes to matters of love and sex."

"It's his own incompetence that he's wronged me. Even if I had an affair with you, what could he do about it?"

"Don't worry, he'll just pretend he doesn't know anything."

Jia Huizi frowned, somewhat puzzled: "I remember Father only sent him to explore the gold mine, not to steal your fur trade, right? How did you two end up falling out?"

“Everyone has selfish motives, and Ma Wendong is clearly an ambitious man,” Hong Zhiyou said calmly.

He changed the subject and his tone became serious.

"Madam, the Japanese army is currently suffering setbacks at the front lines. You must be prepared."

"If the Nomonhan Incident is lost, your Omura family will most likely become a victim of the military and the South Manchuria Railway Group's interests."

"After all, there are quite a few people who covet your father's position as chairman."

Jia Huizi was somewhat dismissive: "I don't think so. Father has people in the military and the palace."

“It’s always good to think a few steps ahead,” Hong Zhiyou advised patiently. “Have you considered that if the Nomonhan Incident is a complete failure, the Shiro Ishii troops who fought in Harbin will inevitably be held accountable?”

"Or rather, his bacteriological warfare did not achieve the desired effect, and even had the opposite effect."

"If you were in that situation, how would you defend yourself?"

Jia Huizi frowned and pondered: "I would say... the battle plan was leaked in advance, which led to the failure. This is the most common way the military shirks responsibility."

"Madam, think about it again," Hong Zhi prompted her. "Who is the biggest culprit behind the leak of secrets?"

Jia Huizi was silent for a moment, then a name surfaced in her mind, making her heart skip a beat:
"It's...Ichiro?"

“Of course,” Hong Zhi said with certainty. “Not to mention that Ma Wendong holds both military and political positions in Binjiang Province, he should be responsible for the security of the Ishii Department’s secret combat plan.”

"More importantly, Vice Minister Yoshijiro Umezu of the Army and others have high hopes for Shiro Ishii's bacteriological warfare unit, and they would never touch Shiro Ishii."

"Moreover, in order to facilitate the reshuffling of the higher-ups and remove your father from office, Ma Wendong has no choice but to take the blame."

Jia Huizi's expression changed slightly: "That's possible."

"This is also what I'm worried about for your wife."

Hong Zhi looked into her eyes and said, word by word, "Do you think there's a possibility that Ma Wendong, at the most crucial moment, in order to protect himself, will shift all the blame onto you and completely sever ties with your Dacun family?"

"In this way, we can both avenge our personal grudges and extricate him from responsibility."

"And incidentally, it can also put me in a difficult position."

"This is a plan that kills several birds with one stone."

"Ichiro...would he do that?" Jia Huizi's voice was tinged with fear.

"Whether he is or not, you can actually sense it with your heart."

Hong Zhiyou continued, "If he becomes increasingly polite, respectful, and considerate towards you, then you should be careful."

At this point, he kissed Jia Huizi and said softly, "Did you read 'Water Margin' that I asked you to read last time?"
Sometimes, nothing is more poisonous than the person you share a bed with.

You must be mentally prepared.

"If we lose, there will probably only be one of you and Ma Wendong who survives."

"I hope that you are the one who survives."

Jia Huizi smiled charmingly and gave him a flirtatious glance: "You're just like Ximen Qing, always looking for someone to do bad things."

Hong Zhiyou shook his head: "Ximen Qing is just a womanizer, but not a heartless man."

"Okay, I'll be careful." Jia Huizi nodded obediently.

After a brief kiss, Hong Zhi straightened his clothes and left gracefully.

……

At the street corner, a man in a leather jacket stealthily slipped into the back seat of a black sedan.

"Section Chief Lu, we found out. Hong Zhi is dating Madam Ma... hehe."

The man chuckled lewdly.

In the shadows inside the car, Lu Ming's shrewd face remained expressionless; he simply spoke calmly:
"Sixth Brother, Section Chief Hong is no ordinary man. If you don't want to end up as fish food in the Songhua River, I advise you to keep your mouth shut."

The man called Lao Liu's smile froze, and he hurriedly nodded and bowed, "Yes, yes, I understand, I understand."

Back at the police station.

As soon as Lu Ming stepped through the gate, he bumped into Liu Kui.

Liu Kui glanced at him sideways, his tone tinged with displeasure: "Where did you go? The section chief was looking for you earlier but couldn't find you."

Lu Ming's heart skipped a beat, but he remained outwardly calm: "I went out to take care of some personal business. What's wrong?"

Liu Kui sidled up to him mysteriously and told him about Zhang Ling being bombed:

"Director Ma gave a direct order, instructing the department to fully assist the military police in investigating this matter."

At this point, Liu Kui lowered his voice again and whispered in Lu Ming's ear:
"Chen Jingyu is currently being interrogated by the military police!"

He sighed and shook his head.

"Hey, Harbin is getting more and more dangerous. We have to be careful when we go out from now on, because we might get sent to our deaths one day."

Lu Ming was struck dumb, frozen in place.

Liu Kui didn't know Zhang Ling's true identity, but he did!

That was a sharp knife that Ma Wendong was preparing to use against Hong Zhiyou!

Last night they were still plotting how to take over Hong Zhiyou's leather goods business, and even arrested the owner of Futai Leather Shop.

This afternoon, people were blown to pieces and scattered everywhere.

Is this still necessary to check?
Even a fool could tell that this was Hong Zhiyou's thunderous retaliation!
Lu Ming's shirt was instantly soaked with cold sweat.

He had his plans working perfectly.

Thinking that Hong Zhiyou would definitely back down and hand over the fur business as well, just like he did last time when he handed over the gold mine.

In that way, he, as a "meritorious official," could be transferred to the Security Bureau and take over the lucrative position vacated by Lao Qiu.

But now it seems like I miscalculated everything!

Hong Zhiyou not only didn't back down, but instead flipped the table!
If these two gods start fighting, any mortal like myself who tries to take advantage of the situation will be doomed if I get involved!
The more he thought about it, the colder he felt on the back of his neck became.

No, we can't wait any longer!

If Zhiyou finds out, I'll be the next Zhang Ling.

Lu Ming gritted his teeth and strode towards Hong Zhiyou's office.

Hong Zhiyou was getting ready to leave work.

Having had his fill of comfort at Jia Huizi's place, he planned to go back early for a hot bath, as he still needed to receive a telegram from Gu Qiuyan that evening.

There was a knock on the office door, and Lu Ming slipped in.

Hong Zhi glanced at him but didn't say anything.

Lu Ming closed the door and stood there awkwardly, rubbing his hands, looking like a constipated person who wanted to say something but dared not.

Hong Zhi leaned back in his chair and exhaled a puff of cigar smoke: "Old Lu, what's wrong? Just say what you have to say."

As if those words had made up his mind, Lu Ming suddenly raised his hand and slapped himself hard across the face!
Snapped!
The sound is crisp and loud.

"Zhiyou, I'm sorry!"
"Brother, there's something I must tell you!"

“That bastard Ma Wendong, he… he secretly blackmailed me, forcing me to monitor you!”
"Brother, I really have no other choice but to..."

Lu Ming said with a mournful face.

Hong Zhiyou didn't even lift his eyelids, but simply flicked his cigarette ash slowly.

"Oh?

"What are you monitoring me for? Tell me."

Seeing his calm reaction, Lu Ming felt even more uncertain and quickly spilled everything out:

"Oh, they're mainly watching you... your affair with his wife."

"Nothing else, really, I swear to God, that's all!"

Hong Zhiyou smiled knowingly: "Then just tell him the truth."

Upon hearing this, Lu Ming's face turned pale, and he almost knelt down before Hong Zhiyou on the spot.

"No, Zhiyou! We're brothers!"
"If I hadn't had a gun pointed at my head, would I have done something as shameless as having a son?"

Hong Zhi waved his hand, interrupting him: "Old Lu, you've misunderstood."

"What I mean is, you should just report to Ma Wendong like this."

"Then, see what his next move is. If necessary, I can also help you by giving him some important information."

Lu Ming was stunned and couldn't quite grasp what was happening.

Hong Zhiyou looked at his foolish appearance and laughed: "Since we're brothers, it shouldn't be a problem for you to help me get some information from him, right?"

Lu Ming instantly understood, his fear turning into ecstatic joy, and he nodded vigorously.

"Of course, of course! No problem!"

"Don't worry, brother, I'll take care of it perfectly!"

He paused, then chuckled tentatively before asking, "I heard... Zhang Ling got blown up?"

Hong Zhiyou put a cigar in his mouth, raised his hands, and made an explosion gesture:

"boom!"

Lu Ming understood immediately and put on an indignant expression:

"Good riddance!"

"That overconfident fool should have died long ago!"

Hong Zhi pointed at him with his finger and said with a laugh, "Don't talk nonsense."

"Director Ma heard that and is going to kill someone."

Lu Ming quickly covered his mouth and nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, yes, I have a sharp tongue, I have a sharp tongue."

"Well... if there's nothing else, I'll be going now."

He felt guilty and just wanted to leave this place of trouble as soon as possible. Just as he turned around, Hong Zhiyou's voice came from behind him again.

"stop."

Lu Ming's body stiffened, and his expression instantly turned to one of fear and pain. He slowly turned his head and forced a smile that looked worse than crying.

"Brother... is there anything else?"

Hong Zhiyou took out a small stack of money from the drawer and casually tossed it on the table.

"Here's a little something for your trouble."

Lu Ming stared wide-eyed at the stack of banknotes, but quickly declined.
"This...this is too much trouble."

"We're all brothers, it's our duty to do this."

Hong Zhi pushed the money towards him, "Old Lu, why are you being so polite with me?"
"Take it."

Lu Ming then shakily reached out, stuffed the money into his pocket, bowed and scraped, and retreated with profuse thanks.

Once outside, he leaned against the wall, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and let out a long sigh of relief.

My life has finally been saved.

In the office, Hong Zhiyou's lips curled into a cold smile.

Sure enough, petty people are very useful.

Two thousand yuan was used to plant a time bomb with Ma Wendong.

……

That evening, Hong Zhi drove to Zhou Yi's building.

Gu Qiuyan had already packed up the radio equipment and put it into her suitcase.

Hong Zhi knew she was pregnant, so he quickly took the suitcase from her.

Gu Qiuyan got into the passenger seat.

The two didn't talk much along the way.

The car quickly arrived at the checkpoint in the street, where several armed soldiers with wolfhounds were checking passing vehicles one by one.

One of the young soldiers raised his hand, signaling for the car to stop.

Hong Zhiyou brought the car to a steady stop.

"Sir, please show your identification and cooperate with the inspection."

Guo Bing had a businesslike expression on his face.

No sooner had he finished speaking than a seasoned veteran who seemed to be the leader raised his hand and slapped him hard on the back of the head.

"You're blind!
"You dare block Young Master Hong's car? Get out of the way!"

After berating his subordinates, the officer immediately put on a fawning smile and bowed to the driver's cab in salute.

"Young Master Hong, I'm sorry to bother you, please go ahead."

Hong Zhi lowered the car window, took out two hundred-yuan bills from his wallet, and handed them over.

“Thank you.

"Buy some late-night snacks for the brothers."

The seasoned officer was startled and waved his hands repeatedly: "No, no, Young Master Hong, how could I dare!"

"If our superiors find out we stopped your car and asked for money, they'll shoot us!"

Hong Zhi stuffed the money into his hand: "Don't be so polite with me, just take it."

After saying that, he rolled up the car window.

"Thank you, Master Hong! Thank you, Master Hong!"

The officer, holding the money, shouted to the back, "Hurry up, let them through!"

The railing was immediately lifted up.

Hong Zhi stepped on the gas, and the car smoothly passed the checkpoint.

Gu Qiuyan had just had a real scare and was only now able to breathe a sigh of relief.

"It seems you're doing really well in Harbin; both the legitimate and criminal worlds respect you."

"If this were my husband, he'd probably argue for ages before it was approved. They might not even give us face and would have to check the suitcase, which would be a real problem."

Hong Zhiyou said calmly, "It's not the same system. Sometimes money is more effective than police credentials."

Gu Qiuyan's face showed admiration: "You're not that old, but you've already figured out these interpersonal relationships so well." "I have no choice but to rely on life's pressures," Hong Zhiyou said with a smile.

The car quickly drove into Hong Zhiyou's residence.

Gu Qiuyan skillfully set up the radio at the second-floor window. She quietly pulled open the heavy curtains a barely perceptible gap so she could keep an eye on what was happening downstairs.

Hong Zhiyou, on the other hand, leaned back leisurely in his chair, swirling the red wine in his glass and smoking a cigar.

Gu Qiuyan put on her headphones and began rapidly tapping on the keypad.

L……

The crisp sound of Morse code echoed in the quiet room.

She had only sent half of it when she suddenly stopped, her face turning deathly pale.

Through the gap in the curtains, she saw a traffic signal monitoring vehicle slowly driving towards her from a street corner not far away.

Gu Qiuyan's breath caught in her throat. She turned around abruptly, her voice filled with barely suppressed terror.

"Zhiyou, the surveillance vehicle is here. It must have just tracked my signal!"
"How to do?"

……

(End of this chapter)