Spy wars start with lurking Secretary Hong

Chapter 517 Extorted by Dai Li
"Commander, I..."

Motooka Kazuo wanted to argue a few more points, but Shibayama Kenshiro swept him with a cold gaze, devoid of his usual politeness and perfunctory manner, leaving only a naked warning:
"Mr. Hongang, this involves imperial secrets, so I'll have to trouble you to stay here for a few more days."

The soldiers in the prison immediately stepped forward and roughly dragged Motooka Kazuo out.

Tada Shun waved his hand as if shooing away a fly, and a smile returned to his face:
"Mr. Hong, I'm sorry you had to see this."

"I'll treat you tonight, let's go for a drink, just to calm your nerves."

Hong Zhiyou smiled and agreed, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Commander."

……

As night falls on Tianjin, the city lights begin to twinkle.

An elegant Japanese-style pub.

The aroma of sake filled the private room.

With the addition of those five hundred taels of gold, Tada Shun and Honma Masaharu's attitude towards Hong Zhiyou could no longer be described as merely warm; they were practically like brothers.

The wine glass was raised again and again, and then put down again and again.

The conversation during the meal ranged from the customs and culture of the region beyond the Great Wall to the cherry blossoms in Tokyo, and then to the furs from the region beyond the Great Wall, medicinal herbs from Yunnan, and various businesses that could be exchanged for hard currency in turbulent times.

Tada Shun's words were full of promises; as long as Mr. Hong asked, the North China side would definitely cooperate fully.

Hong Zhiyou accepted everyone who came, displaying the ruthless nature of a profit-driven businessman, and became very friendly with everyone.

The banquet lasted until midnight.

Slightly drunk, the group dispersed.

……

The following morning at 10:00 AM.

Hong Zhi had slept enough before slowly getting up.

He walked barefoot to the window, pulled back the curtains, and squinted to admire the long-awaited autumn scenery of Jinhai.

The door was pushed open gently.

Xiao Guohua pushed the food cart in.

"Section Chief Hong, the restaurant has prepared hot milk and sandwiches. Please have something to eat first."

Hong Zhi didn't have much of an appetite.

He took a cigarette from the pack on the table, lit it, and took a deep drag, trying to clear his head as quickly as possible from his hangover.

Seeing this, Xiao Guohua spoke in a low voice.

"Ding Mocun sent someone to deliver a message."

"It is said that Zhang Qun and his group have arrived in Tianjin and will officially begin peace negotiations at the British Club at 2 pm this afternoon."

"Director Ding would like you to prepare to attend."

Upon hearing this, Hong Zhi scoffed:
"Ignore them. This is just a formality, something for outsiders to see."

"How could they possibly let me attend such an important meeting?"

He stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, his eyes sharpening.

"We need to leave this place of trouble as soon as possible."

"So that if something goes wrong at the negotiating table, we won't be blamed."

"With us not around, there will be less trouble."

Xiao Guohua nodded. "Then... Madam Huizi's wedding?"

Hong Zhi waved his hand.

"I've already spoken to her, so you don't need to worry about her."

"In that case, you should immediately call Zeng Che's parents, or anyone you can contact, and ask them to move the people away as soon as possible, lest things get complicated."

“I’m worried that if the talks with the Japanese break down, they might change their minds at any time.”

Xiao Guohua lowered his voice, "The station chief called this morning and said the same thing as you."

Hong Zhi smiled:

"He's got good eyes and ears; he's in Harbin, yet he knows everything that's going on in Tianjin."

He stood up and patted Xiao Guohua on the shoulder.

"Old Xiao, after you finish the call, hurry home and tell your wife to pack everything up so she can be ready to leave at any time."

"clear."

Xiao Guohua accepted the order and quickly left.

Hong Zhiyou changed into an inconspicuous set of civilian clothes, took Peng Hu with him, and drove to the Japanese Army Hospital.

In the intensive care unit, Hong Zhi met Zeng Che.

After a night of treatment and rest, although he was still weak, his mental state was much better than it was in prison.

Upon seeing Hong Zhiyou enter, Zeng Che struggled to get up.

"Mr. Hong..."

Hong Zhiyou quickly stepped forward and pressed down on his shoulder, "Station Chief Zeng, don't move, lie down properly."

"Now is not the time for reminiscing."

"I'm worried that the Japanese might change their minds. For your safety, I've already notified your families in Jinhai, and they'll be coming to pick you up soon."

"Once you get home, contact someone as soon as possible to secretly help you leave Tianjin."

"Let's focus on healing our injuries first; we can talk about the rest later."

Zeng Che's eyes were a little red, and his lips moved slightly:
"Mr. Hong, I am deeply grateful for your life-saving grace."

"I will remember this kindness and repay it in the future."

Hong Zhi smiled, his smile carrying a touch of carefree chivalry. "Alright, let's not stand on ceremony."

"Take good care of yourself, and when the time comes, we'll find a place to have a good drink together."

He gave a few more detailed instructions, then turned and went downstairs without lingering any longer.

The sun is a bit dazzling.

Hong Zhiyou had just stepped out of the hospital when a cold voice suddenly rang out behind him.

The voice was very close, carrying a metallic chill.

"Don't move."

"If you make a move, I'll kill you."

"Move forward."

A hard object was pressed firmly against Hong Zhiyou's lower back.

Peng Hu, who was waiting in a car not far away, immediately sensed that something was wrong.

His expression changed, and he pushed open the car door, ready to rush over.

Hong Zhi shook his head calmly, signaling not to act impulsively.

Peng Hu stopped abruptly in his tracks, his fists clenched tightly, his eyes fixed on this side.

Hong Zhiyou showed no sign of panic, and his voice remained calm.

"Brother, which group are you from?"

The man behind him didn't answer his question, but instead pressed the muzzle of his gun against him again.

“Cut the nonsense.

"Turn left, do you see that black Ford sedan?"

"Go up."

Hong Zhi looked in the direction the other person indicated and saw a slightly worn black sedan parked quietly on the side of the road.

He strode over and opened the car door.

Inside the car sat a man in a gray long shirt, his expression indifferent.

When Hong Zhiyou saw the person's face clearly, his heart skipped a beat.

He is very familiar with this person.

Ye Ziming was Dai Li's trusted clerk.

Clearly, Ye Ziming didn't recognize him. He extended his hand, which had been hidden in his sleeve, and handed Hong Zhi a black hood, coldly instructing:

"Young man, put it on."

Did Hong Zhi ask any further questions?

He took the hood and put it over his head.

The car door closed, completely shutting out the sunlight and noise from the outside world.

The car started slowly, and the journey continued in silence.

Hong Zhi leaned back in the back seat, relaxed, and held his breath.

He could feel the car circling around the city several times before finally driving onto a bumpy road.

I don’t know how long it took, but the car finally stopped.

Someone helped him out of the car.

The path beneath my feet is paved with stone slabs, and the air carries a faint scent of damp earth.

He was led a short distance, passed through a door, and stopped in what seemed like a room.

The surroundings were eerily quiet; not even a whisper of wind could be heard.

A moment later, someone removed the cloth covering his head.

As light returned to his field of vision, Hong Zhi blinked and realized that he was in an elegantly furnished study.

Ye Ziming stood to the side, his expression respectful.

At the desk, a man in a black Zhongshan suit was quietly observing him.

The man wasn't very tall, but he had thick eyebrows and bright, piercing eyes that seemed to see right through people.

It was an aura that could only be cultivated by someone who had long held a high position and controlled life and death, a kind of power that sent chills down one's spine.

Despite it being their first meeting, Hong Zhi instantly recognized the other person's identity.

Dai Li, Director of the Military Intelligence Bureau.

Hong Zhiyou immediately composed himself, put on a look of fear and trepidation, and quickly bowed.

"Your subordinate, Hong Zhiyou, has met Director Dai."

Dai Li waved his hand.

Ye Ziming immediately understood, bowed respectfully, and quietly withdrew, closing the door behind him.

Only the two of them remained in the room.

Dai Li then raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly:
"I know about the rescue of Zeng Che."

"You did a good job."

"I have already asked Director Mao Renfeng to record a merit for you."

Hong Zhiyou quickly bent down even lower, his voice revealing his "overwhelmed with gratitude".

"Thank you for your guidance, Director."

"This is my duty, and I dare not claim credit for it."

Dai Li crossed his arms and leaned against the edge of the large mahogany desk, seemingly casually changing the subject.

"You're very well-connected in Northeast China."

"What do they all call you... Hong Caishen?"

"I heard that even Yang Sen and Long Yun have to ask you first if they want to get some good furs from beyond the Great Wall?"

One sentence caused a cold sweat to instantly break out on Hong Zhiyou's forehead.

He knew that the real test was coming.

"Director."

"The Northeast is bitterly cold, and I am only following Station Chief Wu's orders to raise some funds for the station's activities."

"As for the specific buying and selling operations, they are all handled by designated personnel."

"Right now, the Japanese are cracking down hard, so mountain products are in short supply and there is indeed a shortage in the market, which is why they seem so precious."

"It was simply a matter of business, not an act of presumption. I hope the director will investigate further."

After listening, Dai Li smiled noncommittally:
"God of Wealth, hello."

"It just so happens that both Madam and Madam Kong have a fondness for furs."

They were all very happy to hear that you had come to Jinhai.

"Here's what you'd like to do: pick out a few of the best quality items and give them to Mr. Ye to take back. It'll be a small token of your appreciation."

Hong Zhi breathed a sigh of relief and quickly wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Yes, I will take your orders."

However, this is just an appetizer.

Dai Li stared at him, then changed the subject:
"Wu Jingzhong said in his report that you in Manchukuo successively brought down the department head and even seized a gold mine?"

Good means.

This is someone who asks for things but doesn't forget to frame Lao Wu, hoping to create an internal power struggle between them.

If it weren't for the fact that he was well aware of the power struggles and tactics of the Chairman and Dai Laogou, and that Lao Wu was his future father-in-law, most people might have actually developed a rift with him.

Hong Zhiyou pretended his throat was dry and swallowed hard.

"Reporting to the Director...this is indeed true."

Dai Li's eyes lit up: "Oh, how profitable is gold mining? Is gold inexhaustible?"

"Damn it..." Hong Zhi quickly explained, "Director, it's extremely difficult to extract gold and then refine it to increase its purity. To be honest, I've never seen a real finished product yet."

"But I heard that the Japanese exploration results showed that the reserves were astonishing."

"You've just taken over, you have plenty of time to practice slowly, don't rush."

At this point, Dai Li suddenly sighed deeply: "Alas!"

He slowly walked to the window, his back to Hong Zhiyou, his voice carrying a hint of heaviness.

"Right now, the Nationalist soldiers are fighting a bloody battle on the front lines, and the situation is critical."

"The Chairman worried day and night about the soldiers' food, clothing, and pay, and often had sleepless nights."

He turned around and stared intently at Hong Zhiyou.

“Zhiyou, ah.”

"Throughout our Military Intelligence Bureau, there have been many heroes and brave men, but there are not many capable people like you."

"You must share the burdens of the Party and the country, and solve the problems for the Chairman."

Hong Zhiyou was completely numb.

He understood.

The capable are expected to do more work; this means he'll have to bleed money.

He never imagined that Dai Li, that old dog, would actually come all the way to Tianjin to bleed him dry. Now there was no escaping him.

He knew Dai Li well; he was unpredictable, his temper could change faster than turning the pages of a book, and he wouldn't even blink before killing someone.

Hong Zhiyou became even more respectful and said:

"I will never forget the kindness and support shown to me by the Director."

"Over the years, while infiltrating Manchukuo, I have managed to raise some funds for the Party and the State."

"I have 100,000 yen, which I am willing to hand over to the Director for military expenses."

Dai Li's gaze fell coldly on him, and he sneered:
"One hundred thousand?"
"Just the amount you confiscated from Ma Wendong's house alone must have been more than this."

Dai Li strode up to him, his sharp eyes seeming to see right through him.

"You are an honest person."

"But now the country is broken and the family is destroyed, and the land is shattered. Every person of insight is willing to give up their family and property to repay the country."

"Young people should prioritize the overall situation."

Cold sweat was already trickling down Hong Zhiyou's temples.

Dai Li seemed not to notice and continued, "Some time ago, Commander Gu Zhutong complained to the Chairman that there was still a million-dollar shortfall in military spending at the front."

He paused, staring at Hong Zhiyou:
"The Northeast is rich and prosperous. I think raising this amount of funds shouldn't be too difficult for you, right?"

one million!

Hong Zhi's mind was buzzing, almost completely blank.

He forced himself to calm down and braced himself to speak.

"Director, raising funds... shouldn't be difficult."

"However, the amount is huge, and it will probably take some time to process."

Dai Li was satisfied with this answer: "How about this?"

I'll give you a year.

"By this time next year, I must have raised one million yen."

At this point, he changed the subject and added a sentence softly.

"Add another ten thousand taels of gold."

Hong Zhiyou's heart skipped a beat.

He gritted his teeth and figured he had ways to get a million banknotes. He kept a lot of them for himself, since the Japanese money would eventually become worthless anyway.

But ten thousand taels of gold is real hard currency; every tael is like cutting into his flesh.

Dai Li frowned. "What's wrong? Is something wrong?"

"no!"

"Your subordinate will do everything in his power to share the burdens of the Party and the country and to help the Chairman overcome his difficulties!"

The gloom on Dai Li's face finally dissipated, and a smile appeared on his face.

He took two steps forward, reached out and patted Hong Zhiyou on the shoulder with considerable force:
"Keep up the good work, I believe in you!"
"The future ultimately belongs to you young people!"

Hong Zhiyou immediately straightened up, put his feet together, and gave a standard military salute.

"Thank you for your guidance, Director!"

"correct.

"Don't forget to have someone prepare the goods and give them to Mr. Ye to take back."

After saying this, Dai Li opened the door and walked out with his hands behind his back.

Hong Zhi stood frozen in place until the door was closed again, at which point he slowly and slowly exhaled a long breath.

The study door was pushed open again.

Ye Ziming walked in with a professional smile on his face.

"Mr. Hong, please."

The black cloth blindfolded his eyes again.

Hong Zhi was helped out of the study and into the black Ford sedan.

The car started and drove slowly through the city.

After an unknown amount of time, the car stopped in front of the Army Hospital.

Ye Ziming personally removed the blindfold from his eyes and said with a smile:
"Young man, one million yen and ten thousand taels of gold, this task is no easy one."

"Work hard, and the Director will not treat those who have made contributions unfairly."

Hong Zhiyou gladly accepted the instruction: "Thank you for your encouragement, Mr. Ye. I will go through fire and water to serve my country."

Ye Ziming suddenly reached out his hand.

"Let's be friends."

"If there's anything you can't directly contact Boss Dai for in the future, you can come to me."

“Ye still has some influence within the bureau.”

Hong Zhi immediately grasped his hand, his attitude sincere, "It is my great honor to be able to make friends with Mr. Ye."

Ye Ziming smiled with satisfaction and released his hand. "Please."

Hong Zhi nodded to him.

"Take care, Mr. Ye."

After saying that, he pushed open the car door and got out.

Upon seeing Hong Zhiyou, Peng Hu jumped out of the driver's seat almost immediately and rushed to him, his face full of anxiety.

"Young Master Hong, are you alright?"
"If you don't come back soon, I'm going to call Blackie!"

Hong Zhi glanced back at the car that had sped away, his face darkened, and he spat out a curse:
"Damn it."

"I was bitten by a dog and had some blood drawn."

Peng Hu roared, "Damn it, Boss Hong, give me a word and I'll go and take him down."

"It's alright, we'll get our revenge sooner or later."

Hong Zhiyou knew that Dai Li was an insurmountable obstacle, and that in his previous life, he had only taken off after Dai Li was bombed.

Let's just endure it for now.

We got back to the hotel around 5 or 6 p.m.

Hong Zhi was really getting restless. After thinking for a moment, he picked up the phone and dialed the Mu family's number.

"Is this Butler Pang? I am Hong Zhiyou."

"Tell Miss Wanqiu that I want to see her."

An hour later, the doorbell rang for the suite.

Hong Zhi opened the door, and Mu Wanqiu, dressed in an elegant dress, stood gracefully at the door with a somewhat complicated expression.

Without saying a word, he pulled her inside and closed the door behind him.

As soon as she entered, Wanqiu put her hands together in front of her and looked at him somewhat awkwardly, not daring to meet his gaze.

Hong Zhiyou laughed.

"What, are you still angry?"
"Poetry has been replaced by the mundane realities of daily life; it must be unpleasant, right?"

Wanqiu raised her head, her voice tinged with grievance: "It's more than just unpleasant."

"It was like the sky was falling and the earth was being destroyed."

Hong Zhi laughed, "Then why did you come?"

Wanqiu's eyes suddenly reddened. She bit her lip and looked at him, "Because... I know you are a good person."

“I have a classmate who is Li Rupeng’s younger brother. He used to try to find me indirectly to inquire about the business my uncle was doing with the Japanese.”

"I know what kind of person his brother is. He's either a political figure or a member of the Kuomintang secret service."

"They were all anti-Japanese."

She took a deep breath, as if gathering all her courage: "You saved his brother, so I know you must be a good person too."

Hong Zhiyou's smile faded, and his brows furrowed.

How did you know I saved them?

Wanqiu whispered, "At lunch, I overheard my uncle mentioning to someone that you got that kid from the Li family out of the Japanese, and that's when I found out."

Hong Zhiyou's expression turned serious: "Wanqiu, in the future, you must listen to less, inquire less, and be more curious about these kinds of things."

Knowing too much is not good for you.

Looking at the undisguised concern in his eyes, Mu Wanqiu suddenly burst out laughing:
"Are you concerned about me?"

Hong Zhi looked at her and said matter-of-factly, "Of course, what man doesn't care about his woman?"

Wanqiu blushed. "You're such a bad person."

Hong Zhiyou grinned wickedly, then scooped her up in his arms and tossed her onto the bed.

"You dare call me a bad guy? I think you're asking for it..."

One is born, the second is cooked.

Having tasted success, Wanqiu was clearly more uninhibited and enthusiastic this time than before.

One is hot-tempered, the other is addicted.

It is a passionate love.

The night is getting darker.

It wasn't until after 10 p.m. that the two of them came out of the bathroom, embracing each other.

Hong Zhi helped her dry her hair and they flirted for a while before Wanqiu reluctantly got dressed.

When we arrived at the hotel, the evening breeze was cool.

Hong Zhi grabbed her hand.

I'm leaving tomorrow.

"After this parting, who knows when we'll meet again?"

He pinched her cheek.

"Just wait for me to come back."

Wanqiu tiptoed and gently kissed his lips, her eyes sparkling, "Besides you, I can't accept anyone else in this life."

After spending some more time together, Hong Zhi had Peng Hu drive the reluctant Mu Wanqiu back to the Mu residence.

……

The next day.

Mu Liancheng and Huizi's wedding was held at the most luxurious hotel in Jinhai. The event was a grand affair, with wealthy businessmen, dignitaries, and high-ranking Japanese military and political officials from all over the city coming to offer their congratulations.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Hong Zhi and his group quietly drove onto the highway leading to Beiping.

Upon arriving in Beiping in the afternoon, they transferred to a train and returned to Harbin.

……

Office of the Chief of the Special Affairs Section of the Jiamusi Police Department
After autumn arrived, the weather has turned noticeably cooler.

Yoshio Miyagawa was sitting opposite Zhu Yi, slowly sipping his tea.

The office door opened, and Old Cui, the special operations team leader, hurried in.

"Director Miyagawa, Section Chief Zhu, there's been a result from Jin Hai's side..."

Zhu Yi suddenly stood up and asked urgently, "Quickly, has Hong Zhi been captured?"

A bitter look appeared on Old Cui's face as he shook his head.

"No.

"We just received news that Hong Zhi has managed to persuade Tada Shun, the commander of the North China Area Army, to release Zeng Che and his men."

Zhu Yi was shocked: "What?"
Where is Hongang Ichiro?
"He's Mr. Miyagawa's special envoy, how dare Tada Shun disobey the military's orders?"

Old Cui sighed:

“Who knows?
"Hey, this Hong Zhiyou is really like Sun Wukong who has become a demon. I don't know what kind of evil magic he used, but he managed to rescue people from Hon'gang and Shibayama Kenshiro."

"Moreover, Zeng Che wasn't the only one rescued; all seven people were released."

"Hey!"

Yoshio Miyagawa leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh.

"I finally understand why someone as wise and outstanding as Mr. Shibuya could also die at his hands."

"This person is indeed extraordinary."

A strange chill slowly rose from the depths of his heart.

His trip to Manchukuo was indeed on the secret orders of that nobleman in Tokyo, specifically to deal with Hong Zhiyou.

But he was different from people like Saburo Shibuya and Ma Wendong.

Does he have any direct conflict of interest or belief with Hong Zhi?

The gold mines are now fully occupied, and he has no interest in getting involved in the fur trade.

To put it bluntly, he's here to work.

But now, his first shot, which he thought had victory in his grasp, has gone silent, which is undoubtedly a heavy blow.

Of course, it's not time to compromise yet.

Zhu Yi's expression was also very unpleasant:

"Director Miyagawa, things have gone wrong. What should we do next?"

Yoshio Miyagawa slowly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again a moment later, the turmoil in his heart had subsided.

He smiled faintly:
"Let's stick to the old plan."

"Since we can't take down Hong Ji-you head-on, let's start with the people around him."

He looked at Zhu Yi, his eyes turning cold.

"How is Zhou Yi's wife, Miss Gu, doing now?"

Zhu Yi quickly replied, "I heard she gave birth last week, it's a girl."

"very good."

Yoshio Miyagawa took a brown paper bag sealed with sealing wax from the drawer:
"Then let's start with Zhou Yi."

"I have a document here, a list provided by an important undercover agent of the Red Ticket Manchurian Provincial Committee. It contains information on several Red Ticket agents who are lurking in various organizations in Harbin."

He handed the document to Zhu Yi.

"You should immediately contact Section Chief Gao Bin of the Harbin Police Department by phone and see if you can use this list to set a trap."

"Let Zhou Yi walk into our trap willingly."

Zhu Yi took the document, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes:
"Yes!

"I understand, I'll call Gao Bin right now!"

……

(End of this chapter)