Spy game? Stop guessing, I really am an undercover agent!

Chapter 209 Doing something you know you can’t do

"The blood of Imperial warriors cannot be shed in vain."

Doi-man said in a deep voice, "Mr. Chen, I have another plan here, and I hope you can assist the Special Higher Police in completing it."

As he spoke, Tu Feiyuan pulled out a plan from the pile of documents and gently pushed it in front of Chen Yang.

Chen Yang took the folder with both hands, opened it, and saw a chrysanthemum-patterned confidential symbol above the file, with four large characters written below.

"Operation Blunt Knife"

The entire plan was only a few hundred words long, and Chen Yang quickly finished reading it. When he saw the signature at the end, Chen Yang frowned slightly: "Major Nantian wants to use Lao Zhong as bait to lure the Red Party to rob us?"

"Mr. Doiyuu, I think we still need to reconsider."

Tu Feiyuan looked at Chen Yang and asked, "What's the reason?"

"The Red Party just launched a retaliatory operation against us, and Major Nantian immediately threw out such a bait. Even a fool can see that there's something fishy about this."

"Don't assume that our opponents are all brainless fools. If they were that easy to fool, the Empire would have succeeded in its numerous encirclements and suppressions."

"Does Section Chief Chen mean that my plan was completely useless?" Just then, a clear and melodious voice came from the office doorway.

"Major Nantian, I'm not saying the plan is useless, but that if you reveal this plan now, it will be easy for the Red Party to see through it." Chen Yang patiently explained, "Instead of setting up an ambush at Ruikang Apartment, it's better to set up the location on the way."

As the art of war says, "Surround three sides and leave one open."

"If you don't leave them a way out, why would they easily take risks?"

Nantian said in a deep voice, "Section Chief Chen, as the head of the Transportation Section, I believe in your expertise. However, when it comes to intelligence work, I think you are still an amateur."

"You probably underestimate the Red Party's camaraderie with its comrades."

"Moreover, the importance of this old Zhong to the Red Party has been underestimated."

“I have already spread the word that Old Zhong has suffered a mental breakdown and has started to reveal some inside information.”

"In this situation, do you think the Red Party can just sit idly by?"

"They only had two choices: either kill Lao Zhong to silence him before he confessed."

"Either we take the risk and rescue them."

"To be honest, Section Chief Chen, your job is transportation. Let's leave this intelligence work to our professionals."

She said I was an amateur, an amateur, an amateur...

Chen Yang frowned and asked the most pointed question: "How can Major Nantian be so sure that they would come even knowing it was a trap?"

Yoko Nanada smiled slightly, a hint of madness appearing in her eyes: "Because they are members of the Red Party."

"Section Chief Chen, don't use the rules you used to work in the Nanjing government to judge the Red Party's mentality."

There's a Chinese saying: "Knowing it's impossible, yet still doing it?"

"That's just the kind of people they are..."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yang fell silent. After a long while, he bowed to Doiyu and said, "If Major Nantian insists, our Special Committee can send people to assist us. However, I don't want our people to suffer any further losses."

"Mr. Doiyuu, Section Chief Minamida, the Transportation Department still has a lot of work to do, so I'll take my leave now."

"Section Chief Chen, take care," Nan Tian said with a smile.

After Chen Yang left, Doiyu stood up and said, "Yoko, are you confident about this operation? I can help you shift the blame for Nakamura's death to Matsui, but what if you fail again this time?"

"I think headquarters will reconsider whether you are suitable for a leadership position."

Yoko Nanta said respectfully, "Teacher, I admit that I underestimated the Red Party's methods in the Nakamura case. I never imagined they would use explosives in such a despicable way."

"However, please rest assured this time. I have made a detailed plan and there will definitely be no mistakes."

Doi-Yuan frowned, pondered for a while, and said, "Yoko, I want Fujita to be in charge of this plan, and you will assist him."

Yoko Nanada's expression changed slightly: "Teacher, you still don't trust me? You want me to give up the credit that's already in my hands?"

Tu Feiyuan said calmly, "It's not that I don't trust you, but I think that between merit and no demerit, it's more appropriate for you to choose the latter."

"Besides, Fujita has always been in charge of capturing Lao Zhong. It's only because Matsui-kun and Ando-kun don't have much energy that I asked you to capture Xue Lian."

"It makes sense to hand this plan over to Fujita; it was originally his responsibility."

“If you insist on taking it, it’s fine if it’s a trap, but if you make a contribution, you’ll be stealing your superior’s credit as a subordinate.”

"This is not a good thing for you."

"Yangzi, being a leader isn't about focusing on your own little corner of the world; you need to learn how to unite people."

“I understand, teacher. I will do my best to assist Colonel Fujita.” Yoko Minamida emphasized the words “do my best to assist”.

Anyone could hear her dissatisfaction. Before Tu Feiyuan could speak, Nantian Yangzi bowed and quickly left the office.

"Sigh," Tu Feiyuan looked at the student with a headache. Nantian was very qualified as a special agent, but as a leader...
That's quite a difference. I wonder if she can change her mindset and stop taking so much credit for my work. Otherwise...

Shanghai, the French Concession.

Inside apartment 203 of Ruikang Apartment, the curtains were drawn, and only a dim table lamp was on.

Old Zhong was dressed in rags, with injuries on his face, and was tied to a chair with his head down, seemingly unconscious.

In the corner of the room, Fujita Takeshi, a senior section chief of the Special Higher Police, dressed in civilian clothes, slowly wiped his glasses with a white handkerchief.

Yoko Minami, dressed in a smart trench coat, stood by the window, coldly observing the wet street below through the gap in the curtains.

"Is everything arranged?" Fujita asked slowly, his voice steady yet carrying an undeniable sense of authority.

Yoko Nanada didn't turn around. "Colonel Fujita, please rest assured, the action team is already in place. The wonton stall downstairs, the bookstore clerk across the street, and the bicycle repairman on the street corner—they're all our people."

“The front and back doors of the apartment, as well as all possible entry routes, are under our surveillance. If they come, there is absolutely no chance of escape.”

Fujita put on his glasses, a cold smile playing on his lips: "'Blue Fox' is cunning, just like a fox."

"His information has been filed with the Special Higher Police for a long time, but we have never been able to confirm his identity. The Jiangsu-Zhejiang Action Team also participated in this operation; they are all fearless desperados."

"Major Nantian, you are very clever. Using Old Zhong, this piece of rotten meat, to lure these fierce dogs who are eager to protect their master is the perfect solution."

Fujita walked up to Old Zhong, reached out and lifted his chin. "Guess what? Will your comrades come to see you off on your final journey? Or... will they come to accompany you on your way?"

Old Zhong struggled to raise his head, spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva, and gave a hoarse, cold laugh: "Idiot..."

Fujita released his grip with disgust and carefully wiped his fingers again with a handkerchief: "Whether I'm an idiot or not, we'll find out soon enough."

"Major Nantian, remember, I want 'Blue Fox' alive, at least with a breath left to get a confession."

"Understood." Yoko Nanada's eyes were sharp as knives. "Please rest assured, Colonel Fujita, I will be very careful."

Across the street, on the second floor of a coffee shop.

Lin Xueli changed into the attire of a clerk in the foreign concession, wearing a Western-style suit and a top hat with the brim pulled low. He pretended to read a newspaper, but his eyes never left the Ruikang Apartments across the street.

Sitting opposite him was his partner, Sun Yong, a team member codenamed "Carrier Pigeon".

He looked somewhat anxious, glancing at his watch frequently.

"Team leader, from this morning until now, there haven't been any unusual people coming in and out. Are you sure the intelligence is correct?"

"Are they really that careless?"

"The intelligence is probably true, but, Comrade Carrier Pigeon, this place may not be as simple as it appears."

"It's too quiet..." Lin Xueli said in a low voice. "Old Zhong has been arrested for more than 24 hours. According to convention, the Special Higher Police will either conduct an emergency interrogation or transfer him to the Hongkou Command Headquarters."

"Now, it's so 'coincidentally' that we know he's still locked up in this not-so-hidden apartment in the French Concession... It seems to me like a trap waiting for us to stick our heads out."

“They knew very well that Lao Zhong knew too many important relationships and top-secret files, and once he opened his mouth, the entire underground organization in Shanghai would face annihilation.”

"He's forcing us to take a risk."

Lin Xueli's gaze swept downstairs: the calluses on the wonton stall owner's hands were oddly positioned, unlike those from someone who frequently held a spoon.
The bookstore clerks were too focused on the street, not the books in the store; the mechanic's tools were too neatly arranged, and even the tire valve core models...

“Look at that mechanic,” Lin Xueli gestured, “the ‘damaged’ bicycle tire under his feet has a new valve core, and it hasn’t even gotten muddy yet.”

"He was pretending to be busy; he hadn't actually fixed any cars at all."

Sun Yong followed the gaze and his expression changed.

"Also," Lin Xueli continued, "the window on the third floor of the apartment has an incorrect angle of reflection. There's someone inside. If I'm not mistaken, someone inside is currently using binoculars to watch everything happening downstairs."

"This is an elaborate death trap, just waiting for us to jump in."

Sun Yong asked anxiously, "Then what should we do? Should we give up on Lao Zhong?"

“We can’t force our way in.” Lin Xueli’s mind raced. “Fujita Tsuyoshi of the Special Higher Police loves to play mind games… He might be hoping we make some kind of ‘logical’ desperate attempt.”

"He wants us to try this at the cost of our comrades' lives?" Sun Yong's expression turned grim.

Lin Xueli nodded and lowered his voice: "Don't rush, both sides are waiting for an opportunity."

"They are waiting for us to make a move, while we are waiting for them to show a weakness."

"Now we'll see who has more patience."

Sun Yong worriedly said, "But what if Lao Zhong really can't hold on and reveals some secrets?"

“No,” Lin Xueli said in a deep voice, “Comrade Carrier Pigeon, you must trust your comrade.”

As soon as he finished speaking, several black cars appeared on the long street. The cars quickly stopped at the entrance, and a familiar figure got out of the car as the door opened.

Lin Xueli's expression suddenly changed in the coffee shop, and he muttered, "Why is he here?"

(End of this chapter)