Spy wars start with lurking Secretary Hong

Chapter 570 Watching the Show Tonight
In the afternoon.

Liu Zhenwen and Gao Bin walked out of the building side by side, ending their day's work. Both of them felt a sense of relief as they left the police station.

A black car stopped in the square in front of the entrance. The door opened, and a figure staggered out.

It's Zhang Tao.

He limped, his suit was wrinkled and stained with blood, and his face was covered in bruises; he looked utterly disheveled.

I was hoping the security bureau would silence this kid, but I didn't expect him to come back alive.

Gao Bin and the other man exchanged an unspoken glance, both inwardly feeling disappointed.

When Zhang Tao saw them, it was as if he had found his pillar of support. All his pent-up grievances burst forth, and he burst into tears.

"Director Liu, Section Chief Gao, I... I'm innocent!"

Liu Zhenwen frowned deeply: "Let's talk in the office."

Upon arriving at the office, Liu Zhenwen personally poured Zhang Tao a glass of water.

"Zhang Tao, what, what exactly is going on?"

"You went to make a meeting, how come you got arrested by the security bureau?"

Zhang Tao took the water glass, drank two sips, and calmed himself down.

He embellished his account of how the Security Bureau arrested him, and naturally, he cried again when he got emotional.

Gao Bin, with his pipe dangling from his lips, waited until he finished speaking before slowly exhaling a smoke ring.
"Zhang Tao, analyze this carefully, what exactly went wrong?"

Zhang Tao answered without hesitation.

"Only Director Liu and I know the location of the meeting in the police department. The problem must lie with the red ticket!"

Liu Zhenwen nodded, seemingly agreeing with this statement:
"Now the work group and the transportation station have reached a point of life and death, and there is infighting within their ranks. It's not surprising that He Qinghua was betrayed."

At this point, he chuckled dryly, his voice filled with disdain.

"It is said that the red ticket is noble and the faith is as firm as iron, which once gave Chiang Kai-shek in the interior a lot of headaches."

"In my opinion, it's just so-so."

“Look at Cheng Bin, Zhang Xiufeng, and this He Qinghua, they’re either stupid or surrendered. The Manchurian red flags have all been brought under our thumb.”

Gao Bin smiled and tapped his pipe in the ashtray.

"We can't think of it that way entirely. Isn't this expert in our police department a man with unwavering faith who has been fighting all along?"
"We still haven't caught him by the tail."

He changed the subject, his eyes gleaming with inquiry.

"Do you think it's possible that someone inside the Red Ticket organization directly told Chen Jingyu the meeting place?"
"Otherwise, how could he have caught He Qinghua so precisely on time?"

Liu Zhenwen tapped his fingers lightly on the table, making a dull sound.

"That's possible."

"It's also possible that the person first leaked the information to someone in our police department, and that person then sold the information to Chen Jingyu."

"If that's really the case, Lao Gao, the power of this line is probably greater than we imagined."

Upon hearing the word "someone," Gao Bin's nerves instantly tensed, and he abruptly looked at Zhang Tao:
"You didn't betray Captain Zhou's secret, did you?"

Zhang Tao's body trembled violently, his face turned deathly pale, and his eyes darted away.
"Director, I, I..."

"They beat me so brutally, I had no choice but to confess everything."

The air in the office instantly dropped to freezing point.

The smile on Liu Zhenwen's face vanished, replaced by a gloomy expression.

When you're out in the world, saving face is the most important thing.

Without any absolute evidence, to so blatantly use a head of the Special Affairs Section as bait—if word gets out, where will the police chief put his face?

Zhang Tao is such an idiot; he can't keep his mouth shut at all.

In just one night, such a hidden matter was exposed.

The key point is that this matter has absolutely nothing to do with He Qinghua's meeting.

If Zhang Tao had any brains, he could easily make up an excuse to cover it up.

Selling it on a whim is utterly unreliable.

Just then, the red telephone on the table suddenly rang.

Liu Zhenwen picked up the receiver and forced a smile.

"okay, I get it.

"Don't worry, Director Chen, I will cooperate fully."

After hanging up the phone, he looked at Zhang Tao, who had a terrified expression.

Zhang Tao quickly asked, "Director, is everything alright?"

Liu Zhenwen's smile was exceptionally warm.

"fine.

"The Security Bureau called and said that thanks to your assistance, they caught He Qinghua, this big fish. I will give you credit for this."

"You've suffered, go and rest first."

Zhang Tao felt as if he had been granted a pardon and thanked him repeatedly.

"Okay, thank you, Director! Thank you, Director!"

As he limped out of the office, the door was closed again.

Liu Zhenwen slammed his hand on the table and muttered, "That bastard!"

"He not only betrayed us, but he also caused another disaster!"

Gao Bin frowned: "What's wrong?"

Liu Zhenwen squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth.

"Chen Jingyu just called and said that Zhang Tao was jealous of Wenwen and Zhiyou getting too close, so he deliberately stirred up trouble with He Qinghua and slandered Zhiyou for colluding with Lao Wei to do business."

"The idea was to persuade He Qinghua to use the anti-traitor squad to kill Zhi You."

"Chen Jingyu told us to notify Zhiyou to come over for questioning."

Upon hearing this, Gao Bin felt a surge of anger rising to his head.

"This Zhang Tao is even more stupid than He Qinghua!"

"He's treating the Gao family like an easy target!"

Gao Bin became increasingly angry as he spoke, pacing back and forth in his office.

"If he has evidence, he should call that old Wei over for a face-to-face confrontation!"

"If such a ridiculous thing really happened, there's no need for Chen Jingyu to interrogate him. I'll personally kill Hong Zhiyou and show him no leniency!"

Liu Zhenwen snorted inwardly; Lao Gao was an actor too.

He Qinghua's arrest had already alerted the enemy; where could they possibly find that old Wei?
Besides, Chen Jingyu is just a dog kept by Hong Zhiyou. He made this call clearly to instigate trouble.

He smiled and slowly offered his advice.

"Forget it, Lao Gao, why bother arguing with such an idiot."

"This is a matter for the young people. I think we should let Zhiyou handle it himself."

Gao Bin stopped in his tracks.

He knew that when Liu Zhenwen said those words, it was tantamount to completely giving up on Zhang Tao.

"A perfectly good game of chess, ruined by these idiots."

"What can we do?"

Gao Bin shook his head and sighed deeply before turning and walking outside.

"I'm leaving now, going home to take care of the baby."

……

Three days later.

The streets of Harbin are chilly and desolate.

A military truck slowly drove up and stopped in the center of the square.

The crowd was dispersed by the police.

He Qinghua was escorted off the car by two military police officers.

Behind him was a white wooden sign with a line of large black characters that read: "He Qinghua, Head of the Harbin Work Group for Red Tickets".

Harbin hasn't held a referendum in the streets for a long time.

This was a joint decision by Yu Jingtao and Commander Kozuka, aimed at completely deterring the resistance forces lurking beneath the surface of the Ice City and making them give up all hope.

It has to be said, this move is indeed ruthless.

This was at least a serious blow to the morale of the anti-Japanese forces in Harbin.

It even gives people a sense of oppression, as if there is no hope of ever turning things around.

At least Zhou Yi, who was standing there, had this feeling.

After several days of torment, He Qinghua was haggard, but he still stood tall with his eyes blazing and a calm smile on his face.

Death seemed to him to be a trivial matter.

Hong Zhiyou and Zhou Yi led a team of police officers to set up a cordon around the square and began clearing the area.

This time, the person in charge of the execution was Zhou Yi.

His expression was calm as he walked step by step to He Qinghua:
“He Qinghua, if you reveal the intelligence from the General Committee now, I can report to the department and let you go.”

He Qinghua raised her head and looked at the cold man in front of her.

He wasn't sure if Zhou Yi was one of his own.

But none of that matters anymore.

The work group he led fell into Zhang Tao's trap. He persecuted and framed Comrade Lao Wei, and almost helped the enemy uncover the most valuable hidden agent lurking in the police department because of his own stupidity.

He no longer deserves to live, nor does he have the face to live.

He smiled at Zhou Yi, a smile that contained relief, apology, and even more resolve.

"I only wish to die."

He Qinghua forcefully uttered four words.

Zhou Yi's gaze lingered on his face for two seconds before he turned away and walked to the side.

He didn't say another word.

He simply raised his hand, and coldly pressed down hard with a few fingers.

"Execution!"

puff.

Two soldiers kicked He Qinghua in the back of the knee, and he fell heavily to his knees.

The crowd in the square was kept behind the police line. Their faces were either numb or bewildered. A few pairs of eyes burned with anger, but most showed sympathy and helplessness.

He Qinghua looked at them, at this land he had fought for, and a smile appeared on his face. "Don't be afraid, the sun will eventually rise, and the people will ultimately prevail..."

His voice wasn't particularly passionate; in fact, it sounded somewhat weak.

But that fearless attitude in the face of death was like an invisible torch, instantly dispelling the fog and fear in some people's hearts.

For at least a moment, their hearts pounded, and their blood seemed to boil.

Snapped!
The crisp sound of gunfire shattered the oppressive silence over the square.

A military policeman pointed a gun at the back of He Qinghua's head and pulled the trigger.

He Qinghua's body suddenly lurched forward, collapsing onto the cold ground, and soon fell silent.

Lu Ming stood up, walked over, and reached out to feel He Qinghua's carotid artery.

He pulled out his pistol and shot himself in the back of the head.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, he executed a fancy gunfight, neatly holstering the pistol into his waist holster.

"Section Chief Zhou, everyone can get a good night's sleep tonight." Lu Ming walked to Zhou Yi's side, his face showing relief that his task was completed.

Zhou Yi smiled but didn't say anything.

Hong Zhiyou's gaze swept across the crowd and landed on a familiar figure in the distance.

It's Liu Ya-wen.

She stood there, pale-faced, her body trembling slightly.

He was about to step over and say a few words when he saw Zhang Tao walk quickly to Liu Yawen's side, take off his suit jacket, considerately drape it over her shoulders, and then help her into a car.

Zhou Yi laughed and said, "Even at a time like this, he can still act."

Lu Ming laughed and said, "That's right. After all that, it turns out you infiltrated the work group. That's quite an achievement."

"He can even fool the big bosses in the red tickets, so fooling a woman is a piece of cake for him."

He leaned closer and lowered his voice.

"I heard that Director Liu has allocated special funds to hold a celebration banquet for Zhang Tao at the Modern Hotel tonight."

Lu Ming looked at Zhou Yi and Hong Zhiyou and asked, "Old Zhou, Zhiyou, are you going?"

Hong Zhiyou took out a cigarette case from his pocket, flicked one out, and put it in his mouth.

"Why not go? It's free food, so why not take advantage of it?"

Lu Ming chuckled, "That's true. Okay, I have some work to do at the dock, I'll be going now."

"See you at Madier tonight."

After saying that, he waved to the two of them and drove away.

Hong Zhi opened the car door and sat in the passenger seat next to Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi started the car and drove it into the hall.

He felt a strange sense of loss.

"Are you sympathizing with He Qinghua?" Hong Zhiyou lit a cigarette, took a puff, and broke the silence.

Zhou Yi stared straight ahead, his voice calm.

“I don’t sympathize with him, I’m just reflecting on the fact that not everyone with faith and principles can do underground work.”

"When he looked at me for the last time, I think he already knew who I was."

"From the time he was arrested until his execution, he didn't say a single word."

"Old He is not a bad person, he just did something wrong."

"Something completely wrong."

Hong Zhi gave a disdainful snort:
"Yes, if I hadn't intervened, he could have sold out the entire underground organization in Harbin, and even the Manchurian General Committee."

"Sometimes, your own people are far more terrifying than your enemies."

“Especially when such a stubborn and foolish person is in the position of a chess player, no matter how good the game is, he will ruin it all.”

At this point, he smiled, a hint of self-deprecation in his voice.

“I used to think that Lao Wei was stupid and reckless, always wanting to fight each other.”

"Now it seems that compared to people like He Qinghua, Lao Wei is already a dragon among men."

Zhou Yi turned the steering wheel and onto another street.

"What are your plans to do with Chen Zhen?"

Hong Zhi flicked his cigarette ash. "I originally wanted to keep it for Lao Wei to deal with, to vent my anger. But that would easily burden him with the burden of malicious retaliation, which would be detrimental to his future recovery."

"Moreover, the people at the transportation station and the work group only knew that He Qinghua was arrested by accident and remained steadfast, but they did not know how much trouble he had caused."

"It's inappropriate for Lao Wei to deal with He's confidants at this time."

"Therefore, it is up to me to deal with these traitorous dogs."

Zhou Yi asked, "Is there a way?"

Hong Zhi nodded.

"Well, I'll have his people bring over some of the inventory from Lao Wei's warehouse later, and we'll hold a signing ceremony."

"At that time, I will take this opportunity to have them all wiped out."

"Then let their bodies be dumped in the Songhua River, so that these traitorous dogs will disappear from this world forever."

Zhou Yi nodded coldly: "This is indeed the safest way to do it, and we should do it as soon as possible."

Hong Zhiyou looked out the window at the street scene rushing past.

"Not urgent.

"I think Gong Qingshan should have already received the news that Zhang Tao is holding a celebration banquet at the Madier Hotel.

"It's not too late to watch this play first."

……

The interior of the Romantic Restaurant.

Zhang Tao followed Liu Yawen in, walking in hurriedly.

Once the door was closed, it blocked the view from the outside.

Liu Yawen's forced composure crumbled instantly, and tears streamed down her face.

"What exactly happened? How could Mr. He..."

Zhang Tao quickly stepped forward, eagerly rolling up his sleeve to reveal the bruises on his body.

"Wenwen, I don't know either! When I met with him, the security bureau people showed up."

"If the director hadn't pulled me back, I would have gone to the underworld with Mr. He today!"

His voice was filled with lingering fear and grief.

"Fortunately, I am still alive, and sooner or later I will be able to get back in touch with the organization."

"Don't be sad, this is the cruelty of us underground workers."

Liu Yawen looked at his injuries and nodded, seemingly accepting the explanation.

"I understand, I will be more careful in the future."

Seeing this, Zhang Tao leaned forward again: "After this incident, you should understand, right? Today at the execution ground, you saw Hong Zhi smoking a cigarette and chatting with Zhou Yi."

"When Lao He was executed, he didn't even blink."

"He was a cold-blooded executioner."

Zhang Tao initially intended to make up a story, claiming that Hong Zhi had leaked the rendezvous location.

But he was afraid that if Liu Ya-wen let something slip, and Hong Zhi, that madman, came knocking on his door, he would be in deep trouble.

He swallowed his words back.

Liu Yawen said in a low voice, "I understand."

A hint of smugness flashed in Zhang Tao's eyes:
"Although I suffered a loss this time, Director Liu still protected me and even held a celebration banquet for me tonight, which shows your father's trust and affection for me."

"Wenwen, can't you see? We not only share the same ideals, but we also have the director's tacit approval."

"Perhaps we are the most suitable."

As he spoke, he tentatively reached out his hand, wanting to take Liu Yawen's hand.

"Will you come with me tonight? Otherwise, I'm afraid I won't be able to handle drinking alcohol bought with the blood of my comrades."

Liu Yawen instinctively shifted her body to the side, avoiding his hand.

Seeing the eagerness on Zhang Tao's face, she said tactfully, "Okay, I'll definitely be there tonight."

"I'm a little tired and want to rest for a while. See you tonight."

Disappointment flashed across Zhang Tao's eyes for a moment, then he put on a considerate smile and left the room.

……

night.

In the south of the city, there was an inconspicuous little hotel.

Gong Qingshan lowered his head and walked to the bathroom mirror.

He looked at the man in the mirror; his eyes were bloodshot, his beard was unkempt, and he looked utterly haggard.

He's been hiding here ever since he lost his job at the security bureau that day.

Everything he had—his future, his dignity, his hope—was destroyed by Zhang Tao.

He was no longer qualified, nor did he dare to go home.

He was afraid to face his wife's worried gaze, afraid to see the disappointment in his children's and parents' eyes, and even more afraid to hear the subtle mockery from his neighbors.

These days, whenever he closes his eyes, all he sees in his mind is Zhang Tao's arrogant and smug face.

Gong Qingshan knew he was finished.

As a man, the only thing he could do was to use his last bit of courage and blood to reclaim his dignity.

He picked up the razor and slowly shaved off his full beard, revealing his pale but resolute chin.

Then, he changed into his old police uniform and carefully buttoned up each button.

Finally, he pulled a pistol he had bought on the black market from under his pillow, skillfully checked the magazine, and loaded it.

The cold, metallic touch strangely calmed his chaotic thoughts.

He tucked the gun into his waistband, covered it with his coat, and turned to walk out of the room.

Target: Madier Hotel.

Zhang Tao, if I don't get better, neither should you.

Let's destroy each other together!

……

(End of this chapter)