Spy wars start with lurking Secretary Hong

Chapter 568: Catch Alive

In late August, the weather in Harbin suddenly turned cool.

morning.

Gao Bin walked into Liu Zhenwen's office.

"Old Gao, how's it going?"

"Have you caught the fox's tail yet?" Liu Zhenwen put down his pen and asked with a smile.

Gao Bin sat down opposite him, his face revealing undisguised disappointment.

He shook his head:
"Unfortunately, based on our current observations and through internal cross-monitoring, we have not seen any obvious signs of abnormality in Zhou Yi, Lu Ming, Liu Kui, and others."

Liu Zhenwen's brows furrowed, and his fingers tapped unconsciously on the table.

"This is indeed a troublesome matter."

"Could it be that our plan has been seen through?"

Gao Bin picked up the pipe and rubbed it in his hands: "That's very possible."

He sighed.

"We thought we could catch a big fish with this Lao Wei. In other words, the big fish probably knew Lao Wei well and was sure he wouldn't confess."

"Perhaps he's thinking a bit deeper, that if we really had evidence, we would have taken action against him long ago."

"So he simply chose to remain inactive."

Liu Zhenwen stood up and paced around the office a few steps: "Logically speaking, there shouldn't be no movement at all."

"That's his upline who he's worked with for many years, and he's also the leader of the transportation station. People aren't plants or trees, how can they be without feelings?"

"In any case, there should be at least a basic rescue plan, right?"

"That anti-traitor squad led by Hong Piao does have some tricks up their sleeve."

"He should at least try to find out information indirectly, or find a way to steal some information for reference."

Gao Bin said, "Yes, that's why it's so outrageous."

"Sometimes I even wonder if our opponents are too formidable, or if we misjudged our targets from the very beginning."

"Perhaps... it's not Zhou Yi."

Liu Zhenwen stopped, turned around, and looked at Gao Bin with a half-smile:

"Old Gao, you've been holding your grandson too much, and you've lost the vigor and determination you used to have."

"Who are you?

"The ace of the intelligence world, Mr. Doihara's prized student."

"Over the years, who has ever escaped your discerning eyes?"

Sometimes, when we deny the enemy, we are actually just denying ourselves.

"I think the most important thing for you right now is to cheer up. If you don't have to use 100% of your skills from when you were in Fengtian, you should at least use 70%."

Gao Bin gave a wry smile, tinged with self-deprecation: "Director Liu, I have to admit I'm getting old."

"To be honest, I can't read the newspaper clearly at all without my reading glasses now."

“Yesterday I took Chengzong to play in the garden. I only played with the child for a short while, and I was so tired that I couldn’t breathe.”

"Getting old."

Hearing this, Liu Zhenwen's serious expression softened a little: "I really envy you, you're already a grandfather."

"But what about me? Wenwen doesn't even have a boyfriend yet, so becoming a grandfather seems like a long way off."

He changed the subject and became serious again.

"Old Gao, I know you've been thinking about retiring."

"But if you don't dig this ghost out, will you be able to sleep at night for the rest of your life?"

"Alright then, I'll stand guard until the very end."

"Once this person is identified, you can withdraw anytime, and I will approve it immediately."

"After all, you don't want to have any regrets, to be a deserter, and to be secretly ridiculed and gloated by that person behind your back, right?"

Gao Bin fell silent.

Liu Zhenwen's words were like a needle, precisely piercing the part of his heart that he was most unwilling to accept.

He put the pipe to his lips, lit it, and took a deep drag:
"Yes, this dream must be fulfilled."

"We've been arm wrestling for so long, and we've made it to this point. There's no reason we shouldn't settle things once and for all."

Liu Zhenwen nodded in satisfaction:

“Let’s go back to Zhou Yi. If he doesn’t dare to make any moves during this period, it means he still has something to hide.”

Gao Bin shook his head:
"No, his life is the same as usual. He even went to see a play with his wife at Harbin Institute of Technology."

"Do you still remember Professor Jin, who always talked about freedom of speech?"
"His students even scratched Zhou Yi's car and sprayed 'traitorous dog' paint on it."

"Zhou Yi's refusal to inquire may not be due to anything he's hiding, but rather to his own dissatisfaction with the fact that the Special Service Section wasn't involved in this operation."

"Moreover, Captain Zhou is still somewhat arrogant."

"I think his inaction might not be because he feels guilty, but because he genuinely has no interest in this matter."

After listening, Liu Zhenwen leaned back and sank heavily into the large leather chair.
"Truth and falsehood are intertwined, and falsehood is also true."

"Old Gao, if Zhou Yi is that person... then his cultivation is probably even more profound than they imagine."

Gao Bin nodded as well: "Yes."

"Now it seems we can't lure anyone out of this photo."

"But this is also a good opportunity for us to delve deeper into the Manchurian General Committee. After one of my contacts was exposed, the General Committee lost its intelligence leverage."

"Moreover, after General Zhao's death, the Red Ticket Committee underwent major reforms, and its contact methods and other aspects changed."

"We need some new methods now."

Liu Zhenwen had always greatly admired Gao Bin's professional skills. He leaned forward slightly and asked, "Section Chief Gao, what good plans do you have?"

Gao Bin's eyes flashed with a sharp light:
"I think we can do it this way."

"Trying anything as a last resort."

"Have Zhang Tao meet with He Qinghua and tell him that we have identified Zhou Yi as the red ticket agent lurking in the police department."

"But there is no absolute certainty at the moment."

"Have He Qinghua confirm Zhou Yi's identity with the General Committee as soon as possible."

"Judging from Zhang Tao's information, He Qinghua is very concerned about this secret line, and he is very likely to contact the Manchurian General Committee."

"In this way, it will benefit both of us."

"Yili, if the General Committee can confirm Zhou Yi's identity, then I can retire directly."

"Erli, even if Zhou Yi's information is top secret and only Lao Wei knows it, He Qinghua's contact with the General Committee, whether by phone, telegram, or through a private meeting or a dead mailbox, as long as we keep an eye on it, we may be able to follow the clues to find the Manchurian Committee's lair, find their key figures, and carry out the next step of infiltration or arrest."

"Regardless, we've won this move."

Liu Zhenwen's eyes lit up as he listened, and he praised, "Old Gao, I knew you were still as sharp as ever!"
"We're on the same page! Let's do it your way and squeeze every last drop of value out of He Qinghua!"

Gao Bin stood up: "Then I'll go and make the arrangements."

As soon as Gao Bin left, Liu Zhenwen immediately pressed the doorbell on the table.

A moment later, Zhang Tao appeared at the door.

"Director."

Liu Zhenwen waved to him.

"Meet with He Qinghua tonight and tell him..."

……

night.

In the damp and cold basement, the iron door emitted a screeching sound.

Chen Zhen was startled and quickly grabbed the half-eaten plate of dumplings and liquor in front of Lao Wei and moved it to his own side.

Soon, He Qinghua walked in.

Chen Zhen quickly put down his chopsticks and stood up straight.

"Team leader, you've arrived."

He Qinghua glanced at the leftover food on the table and waved his hand, "It's alright, keep eating. You've been staying here every day lately, it must be really tiring."

Chen Zhen immediately wiped his mouth and put the dumplings and wine aside.

"Team leader, it's all for the organization to eliminate traitors, this little bit of hard work is nothing."

He Qinghua waved his hand again, and Chen Zhen, understanding the situation, bowed and withdrew, closing the iron gate behind him.

Only He Qinghua and Lao Wei remained in the basement.

He Qinghua walked up to Lao Wei, his eyes filled with complex emotions as he looked at the dried bloodstains on his body and his weak appearance.

"Wei Shan, are you still unwilling to talk about it?"

"You have no hope."

“If you still have any conscience towards the organization or your beliefs, you should speak out about that comrade.”

"At least, he has the right to contact the organization again."

"The talents that the organization has carefully cultivated should not be wasted because of your selfishness."

Old Wei pursed his lips, not even having the strength to lift his eyelids.

He was too lazy to even mock He Qinghua anymore.

Chen Zhen and his men have already betrayed him, all eager to make a fortune and start businesses, while He Qinghua remains completely unaware, like a blindfolded fool.

Of course, he couldn't tell He Qinghua about Chen Zhen's matter.

Firstly, He Qinghua wouldn't believe it.

Furthermore, saying so would jeopardize the rescue operation that Hong Zhiyou and Zhou Yi might be secretly planning.

Old Wei still had some confidence in Zhou Yi and Hong Zhi.

Seeing that Lao Wei remained silent, He Qinghua continued, "It seems you intend to keep this person's name to yourself."

Old Wei finally moved and weakly uttered a single word.

"Yes."

He Qinghua's body stiffened for a moment, then he let out a long sigh, as if he were feeling sorry for a lost lamb.

"OK then."

His voice became cold and formulaic.

"I will convey the opinion of the General Committee."

"Given your acts of treason and betrayal of the organization, Wei Shan, tonight is the last night of your life." Old Wei smiled coldly and said nothing.

He Qinghua looked at Lao Wei again, feeling disappointed and regretful, and even more heartbroken by Lao Wei's selfishness.

He turned around and walked out without looking back.

Stepping out of the basement, He Qinghua sighed in disappointment and said to Chen Zhen, who was guarding him, "Sigh, he still won't confess. I've already given him a chance."

"Since he is determined to die, let's grant his wish."

Chen Zhen's lips trembled: "You, you mean to execute Lao Wei?"

He Qinghua nodded: "The General Committee is very dissatisfied with Wei Shan's anti-Japanese propaganda and pleasure-seeking behavior, and has decided to execute him as a warning to the other branches."

He paused, looked at Chen Zhen, and his tone became cold and resolute.

"Go and carry out the order later, send Wei Shan on his way."

Chen Zhen's heart sank suddenly, and he thought to himself, "Oh no!"

Hong Zhiyou had just instructed them to protect Lao Wei's life a few days ago, and now He Qinghua is about to make a move. What should they do?
Old Wei is going to die, how am I supposed to take over this business?
Just when he was at his wit's end, He Qinghua spoke up again:

"Zhang Tao said he wanted to meet me tonight to tell me some important information."

"After we deal with Lao Wei, you'll come with me."

Chen Zhen's eyes lit up suddenly; his opportunity had arrived.

He quickly stepped forward and lowered his voice, saying, "Team leader, I think it's better to deal with Lao Wei after we meet."

He Qinghua frowned. "Why? Didn't you keep saying you wanted to execute Wei Shan as soon as possible?"

Chen Zhen leaned even closer, his voice revealing a deep thoughtfulness:
"Team leader, think about it, what if Comrade Zhang Tao brings us the exact information about that undercover comrade?"

“Let’s keep Lao Wei around. What if he’s willing to speak up?”
"If all else fails, we can reveal that person's name and observe Wei Shan's reaction."

"Whether it's true or false, perhaps we can glean some clues from his face."

"At least it provides an extra layer of verification, doesn't it?"

He Qinghua fell into deep thought.

Chen Zhen's words do make some sense.

Wei Shan may be as stubborn as iron, but he's not made of stone. He couldn't possibly remain unmoved upon hearing the name of someone who had shared life and death with him.

Having an extra confirmation step is always a good thing.

He hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded.

"Well, that makes sense.

"Then we'll talk about it when we get back."

He Qinghua then issued new instructions.

"Take some men and go to the abandoned factory to investigate and clear out the surrounding area to ensure everything is safe."

"I'll call Zhang Tao once it's completely cleaned up over there."

The weight that had been hanging over Chen Zhen's heart finally lifted, and he quickly replied, "Yes! I'll take care of it right away!"

He immediately summoned two trusted henchmen and drove straight to the abandoned factory on the outskirts of the city.

As Chen Zhen passed a small shop with a sign hanging above it, he slammed on the brakes and pulled the car over to the side of the road.
"You two wait in the car, I'm going to buy a pack of cigarettes."

We entered the shop.

Chen Zhen quickly picked up the phone and dialed a number.

The moment the fourth call rang, he slammed the phone down without hesitation.

"Boss, give me a bag of Lao Baduo."

He tossed down a few coins, picked up a cigarette, turned around, got back into his car, and headed straight for the abandoned factory.

……

inside the room.

Hong Zhiyou had just fallen asleep.

The phone in the study rang.

He didn't move, he just listened.

Four tones!

Hong Zhiyou frowned, his eyes sharpening.

This was the secret code he and Chen Zhen had agreed upon.

The third tone signifies that Lao Wei is safe and sound, and everything is under control.

The fourth tone signifies a sudden change in the situation; He Qinghua and Zhang Tao are to meet tonight, and immediate action is necessary.

Hong Zhi reached for the phone on the bedside table and quickly dialed a number:
"Old Chen, let's move."

"Remember, capture them alive."

……

abandoned factory
Chen Zhen stood alone in a corner on the first floor, keeping watch.

After an unknown amount of time, a beam of flashlight beam flickered three times in the darkness in the distance.

Chen Zhen immediately took out a flashlight from his pocket and returned the same signal with a bright light.

A moment later, a figure emerged from the darkness; it was Zhang Tao.

Chen Zhen waved to him, signaling him to hurry up and go up.

Zhang Tao nodded to him and quickly went upstairs.

Upon seeing Zhang Tao come up, He Qinghua immediately hurried over to greet him:

"Comrade Zhang Tao, is there any news?"

"That's right, team leader, the method you taught me is very effective!"

Zhang Tao said excitedly, "Zhou Yi, the head of the Special Affairs Section of the Police Department, seemed very flustered after seeing Lao Wei's photo. I secretly investigated and found that he bought his wife a train ticket to Fengtian and withdrew a large sum of money from the bank."

"Looks like they're planning to flee!"

Upon hearing this, He Qinghua was overjoyed:

"I never dreamed that this person would be Zhou Yi!"

He paced back and forth a couple of times, his voice filled with lingering fear and relief:

"When I first came to Harbin, I even put him at the top of my assassination list."

"Thank goodness they didn't lay a hand on us! What a relief!"

"Being in such a crucial department as the head of the Special Operations Section, it's no wonder that the troops in the mountains were able to receive advance warnings and escape danger so often."

Zhang Tao nodded in agreement: "Yeah, I didn't expect it to be him either."

Then, he changed the subject, a hint of worry appearing on his face:
"The problem now is that I'm afraid if I keep probing like this, I might really scare Zhou Yi away, and that would be a huge loss."

He looked at He Qinghua and earnestly suggested, "I think we should report to the General Committee as soon as possible and confirm Zhou Yi's identity as soon as possible."

"Once I've made up my mind, I can find an opportunity to confront him."

"After all, his position is too important. If he can join forces with me, we will be invincible in the police department!"

He Qinghua nodded in deep agreement:

"This photo is indeed a double-edged sword."

"If we really scare Zhou Yi away, it would indeed be a waste of the organization's efforts."

"It's not easy to infiltrate to this position."

He patted Zhang Tao on the shoulder and said solemnly, "Don't worry, I will contact the organization as soon as possible and give you a satisfactory answer."

Zhang Tao said urgently, "Yes, we need to hurry, this matter cannot be delayed."

As the two were talking, something unexpected happened.

A blinding beam of light suddenly shot in from all directions.

Then came the roar of a car engine and the howling of a wolfhound.

He Qinghua peered out the window and saw that more than a dozen cars had surrounded the factory, and secret agents in black coats jumped out of the cars.

"No, we are surrounded!"

His face turned deathly pale, and he instinctively shouted, "Chen Zhen!"

The only response he received was the howling night wind.

Chen Zhen wasn't stupid. Once he was sure Zhang Tao had gone upstairs, he immediately slipped away.

Zhang Tao also looked terrified.

He was still hoping to use He Qinghua to lure out the big fish from the Manchurian General Committee. Which blind bastard came to steal the credit at this time? Isn't this ruining Director Liu and Section Chief Gao's plan?

When he saw who it was, his heart skipped a beat.

Damn, he's from the Security Bureau!

Big trouble!

Downstairs, a thin figure carrying a tin megaphone stepped out from behind a car; it was Chen Jingyu, the deputy director of the Security Bureau.

"Listen up, you people upstairs!"

His voice was broadcast throughout the entire factory via loudspeakers.

"I know your name is He Qinghua, and you are the head of the Harbin production team!"

"Put down your weapons and surrender, and I might give you a chance to live!"

"Fuck you!"

He Qinghua roared and fired a shot in Chen Jingyu's direction.

The bullets struck the car, scattering sparks, which startled Chen Jingyu, who quickly shrank back behind the vehicle.

He Qinghua's eyes narrowed, and he turned to the panicked Zhang Tao, shouting, "Comrade Zhang Tao, there are too many of them! We have to split up and run as many as we can!"

Zhang Tao was more than happy to agree and immediately nodded.

The two men, one on the left and one on the right, rushed off in different directions from the factory.

Behind the car, Chen Jingyu gave a cold smile.

Still want to run?
There are no doors!

He swung his hand sharply at his subordinates behind him.

"Arrest them!"
"I want both of them to live!"

His men immediately obeyed the order and rushed upstairs from the four entrances.

……

(End of this chapter)