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

Chapter 220 Wow. Wife Zhongzheng
Qingqi Qingyin stood at the door, quietly watching Chen Yang in his seat. Finally, he took a step forward.

This step represents his attitude.
The two sat facing each other. Chen Yang picked up the wine pot on the table and personally poured Qing Qi Qingyin a cup of warm Shaoxing rice wine.

Huadiao wine tastes similar to sake, but this particular Huadiao wine, aged for over ten years, has a much richer and more mellow flavor than sake.
After a few drinks, the atmosphere became slightly more relaxed. Chen Yang dismissed all the waiters, leaving only the two of them in the private room. Qing Qiqingyin bowed slightly and asked, "What did Director Chen mean by what he just said?"

Chen Yang smiled and glanced at Qing Qi. The other party was elegant and composed, and spoke with great refinement. She seemed more like a scholar than a professional soldier.

“Lieutenant Colonel Haruki,” Chen Yang put down his wine glass, his expression becoming serious, “Your visit this time is surely not just for a casual look.”

Qingqi Qingyin's right hand trembled slightly, and he immediately picked up the wine cup, pretending to be nonchalant as he took a sip of wine.

Indeed, his mission was to audit the consumption and allocation of supplies by the Expeditionary Army over the past six months, on behalf of the Inspection Department, under the orders of Eiji Kujo, the Minister of Inspection.

This is a position with immense, albeit hidden, power, enough to make even the generals of the Chinese Expeditionary Army Command wary.

Qing Qiqingyin put down his wine glass, remaining calm: "Oh? Director Chen seems to have heard something?"

“Shanghai is like a pot of boiling oil,” Chen Yang said meaningfully. “On the surface, the Imperial Army is powerful and the reformed government has been established.”

"But in the shadows, various forces were deeply intertwined, including the Chongqing faction, the underground Red Party organization, European and American forces, the Shanghai Municipal Council, the Shanghai Municipal Council, and even various Green Gang leaders, who were constantly fighting each other."

"Even with the Special Affairs Committee's strength, it's far from enough to untangle all this mess."

He paused for a moment, observing Haruki's reaction. Seeing that the other party was just listening quietly, he continued, "Lord Kagesa is a man of great talent and ambition, but his energy is mainly focused on macro-strategy and 'peace work' with Yamashiro."

“At the level of implementation, especially in economic, financial and other areas, as well as in dealing with the unseen wars within the concessions, we often felt powerless.”

Qing Qiqing nodded slightly: "It's inevitable that you'll have to work hard. Director Chen holds a high position, so these are all things you are expected to do."

"Moreover, the interests of the empire are paramount."

"It is precisely for the benefit of the Empire!" Chen Yang leaned forward, lowering his voice even further, full of sincerity. "Lieutenant Colonel Qingqi, with your identity in the Inspectorate, you can access core data on the flow of various materials and funds without hindrance. Your keen insight and profound understanding of the economic aspects are exactly what we urgently need right now."

"Our Special Committee, on the other hand, has informants and executive power all over Shanghai."

"What do you mean?" Qingqi Qingyin seemed to have guessed something, but remained calm.

“On behalf of Lord Yingzuo and our entire team, I sincerely invite you,” Chen Yang said with a burning gaze, “not only to complete the audit tasks of the Supervision Department, but also to stay.”

Qingqi Qingyin remained silent for a moment, then lightly tapped the table with his fingertips.

He did discover many problems during his visit. There were many suspicious points in the consumption of supplies by the dispatched army, and the logistics system was full of loopholes. He was also very interested in the intricate financial and economic power struggles in Shanghai.

Simply coming once and writing a report is certainly not enough to satisfy his ambitions.

"Stay? I'm afraid it's not that simple," Qingqi Qingyin said slowly, taking a sip of Shaoxing wine.

Chen Yang raised his glass and gently clinked it against his: "Qingqi-jun, you should know that it's not that I need you to stay, but that many people hope you can stay."

"Lord Kujo has high hopes for you, and your every move affects the careers of many people."

"The Empire's war is currently in a period of stable development. As the leader of the Inspectorate, you should be aware of the Empire's current predicament."

"We are currently unable to develop large-scale combat. If logistics go wrong at this time, the deployment at the front will face an unprecedented crisis."

"Director Chen," Qingqi finally spoke after a long silence, her voice unusually calm, "The Holy War of the Empire requires our joint efforts in all areas."

"The importance of logistical supplies is self-evident."

"But for now, my primary responsibility remains completing the audit report for the Department of Compliance."

"However, during this period, I can use my authority to assist you in accessing some data and information that may be related to economic sabotage and smuggling of goods. We can start our cooperation from this aspect."

Very good, those who understand the times are wise.
Upon hearing Qingqi's words, Chen Yang smiled.

"Excellent! Lieutenant Colonel Haruki, to our future cooperation and to the great cause of the Empire, cheers!"

"Cheers." Qingqi Qingyin also raised his glass.

With a light clap, Chen Yang put down his wine glass and clapped his hands.

The door to the private room opened, and a woman wearing a black floral cheongsam and with her hair in a bun walked in carrying a tray.
"Qingqi-kun, this is just a small gift, nothing special." Chen Yang nodded slightly to the woman, gesturing for her to sit next to Qingqi Qingyin.

The woman's appearance didn't seem to match her youthful and beautiful appearance at all; she was probably a few years older than Qingqi Qingyin.

With her snow-white skin and voluptuous figure, her appearance was very similar to the teacher "Yayama Sayuri" that Chen Yang remembered.

Qingqi Qingyin couldn't take his eyes off this woman.

As expected, the information left by Kagesa was reliable.

This Qingqi Qingyin does indeed have some Oedipus complex.
"Director Chen, what does this mean?" Qingqi Qingyin looked at the items on the tray, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"This is a gift specially prepared for Qingqi-kun: the appointment letter for the deputy director of the Mei Agency, and the account you opened at Huafu Fund."

"There's also a garden villa located in the Japanese quarter."

"This..." Qingqi Qingyin suddenly panicked.

As is well known, the Inspection Department is a powerless department, and even the Minister, Eiji Kujo, was able to establish himself only because of his family's influence.

Despite holding the titles of advisor to both the Inspection Department and the Third Section of the General Staff Headquarters, Haruki Yoshitaka's income was pitifully low.

This gifted him a villa with a garden.
“Qingqi-jun, as I just said, the door to wealth and honor has been opened, and you made a very correct choice to step in.”

"So, from now on, as long as I'm okay, you'll definitely be okay too..."

"Mrs. Morisawa, please take good care of Lord Haruki. I'll take my leave now."

"Hi," the woman said, bowing slightly in greeting.
Stepping out of the private room, Chen Yang slowly breathed a sigh of relief.

On the surface, Qingqi Qingyin came to Shanghai to investigate intelligence work under the guise of an advisor, but his real mission was to investigate the consumption of supplies by the Army Ministry under the orders of Director Jiu Tiao of the Inspection Department.

Over the past year, the expenditures of the dispatched troops have far exceeded the domestic budget, and the domestic situation is already overburdened.

Qingqi Qingyin was a pawn sent by the Ministry of Supervision to explore the situation.

Fortunately, this guy knew what was good for him; otherwise, his cruise ship on its return journey might have sunk at any moment.
"Boss" Lin Su appeared beside Chen Yang at some point: "Madam Senze is almost forty years old. Is it appropriate for you to have her accompany Lord Qingqi?"

Chen Yang pursed his lips. So what if he's almost forty? Some people like youthful innocence, while others prefer maturity.

Have you not heard someone surnamed Zhang once say, "Wow, what a perfect wife!"

***
Shanghai, Paramount Ballroom
In early March, Shanghai still lingers with the damp remnants of winter.

Under the cover of night, the dim yellow glow of the streetlights on Xiafei Road spreads in layers amidst the cold rain.

The facade of the Paramount Ballroom radiates an almost decadent glow.

The huge, shimmering neon sign—"Paramount"—with its blood-red letters flashing on and off like the irregular pulsation of some enormous and ominous vampire, illuminated a small patch of rain-soaked asphalt road in front of the door in a bizarre and surreal way.

The black Austin sedan splashed up murky water and came to a steady stop under the most dazzling spot of neon light.

The wiry bodyguard in the passenger seat jumped out deftly and alertly opened the car door.

The sound of leather shoes stepping on the puddles was exceptionally clear.

The person who emerged from the car was Huang Xianggu, a member of the Central Executive Committee, and the person who emerged from another car right after was Chen Mingchu, also a member of the Central Executive Committee.

He was more cautious than Huang Xianggu. His gaze behind his gold-rimmed glasses was as sharp as a hawk's, quickly sweeping across the complex corners where lights and shadows intertwined, the various vehicles parked at the entrance of the dance hall, the dark alleyways where the neon lights couldn't reach, and even the dark windows of the apartment building across the street.

Two cold-faced attendants stood guard by his side like iron statues, never leaving his side.

Inside the heavy, carved glass doors of the Paramount Ballroom, the frenetic brass of a jazz band and the clamor of the crowd merged into a scalding wave that surged into the cold, rainy night.

In the shadows not far away, against the base of a low wall on Ferguson Road, Zhao Lijun took a deep drag on his cigarette.

The extinguished red cigarette butt of the "Old Knife" brand cigarette hissed and went out instantly on the damp wall.

The smoky, fiery smell briefly overwhelmed the damp cold.

"Location locked. Targets: Huang and Chen. Kill without mercy." His voice was low, almost blending into the patter of the night rain.

"Remember, at 7:55, I will give the signal to start."

He paused, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the two figures under the neon lights, surrounded by bodyguards, about to push open the door. "Gentlemen, national and personal vendettas, kill the traitors! Do not fail the leader's expectations! Do not fail the nation!"

"Yes!" From the darkness behind, several suppressed yet sharp auras responded silently, like blades poised to be drawn.

There were no grand pronouncements, just a single, understated syllable, yet it revealed a murderous intent.
In the distance, the shimmering glass door, filled with decadent music, resembled a gaping maw greedily devouring everything. The glass door of the Paramount was pushed open again, and the surge of heat and laughter briefly stirred the cold air before returning to its original position.

The orchestra inside the door erupted again, beating out an even more frenzied rhythm, the drumbeats almost pounding into one's chest.

Zhao Lijun's gaze was fixed on the two target figures. Huang Xianggu and Chen Mingchu, surrounded by bodyguards, walked back to their car and talked about something. Huang Xianggu gestured triumphantly in the air.

It's now
"Do it!"

The low growl was mostly swallowed up by a sudden burst of intense drumbeats in the dance hall, but the hunters lying in ambush all at the same time received the signal!
In an instant, death, lurking at the edge of the neon lights, suddenly raised its cold head like a black python that had been lying in wait for a long time!

"Bang!" From the shadows on the right, Agent Wang Shun, codenamed "Old Knife," was the first to unleash a thunderous roar.

The pistol spat out blinding flashes of light, the bullets whistling as they tore through the thick, humid air, their target aimed directly at Huang Xianggu!
"Watch out..." Huang Xianggu's well-maintained, shiny head suddenly jerked back!
Half of an expensive mink hat bounced high into the air, tracing a desperate and fleeting arc.

The sound, like a hard nut shell cracking open, was instantly drowned out by the booming, mournful sound of the saxophone playing in the Paramount Ballroom.

Warm blood mixed with viscous brain matter splattered in specks on the front of his dark brocade robe and also splashed onto the dark painted door panels of the gleaming Austin sedan.

In an instant, his entire body seemed to have its bones removed, and he fell straight down onto the wet ground.

His body curled up and twitched unconsciously on the wet ground, then fell still.

Dark blood quickly spread beneath him.

At the very moment Wang Shun fired his gun!
Zhao Lijun darted out from the shadows of the pile of cars on the left like an arrow released from a bow!

Both pistols were already raised high at the same time!
The gun was locked firmly on Chen Mingchu, who was trying to dodge to the back of the car!

"Protect Mr. Chen!!" The bodyguards brought by Chen Mingchu reacted extremely quickly.

Almost the instant "Old Knife" fired his gun, the two most elite guards protecting Chen Mingchu charged forward like bulls, using their sturdy bodies as human shields!

At the same time, he instinctively pulled the thing from his waist outwards!

Zhao Lijun pulled the trigger. "Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The bullets tore through the rain, but were quickly stopped by the target!

The two bodyguards who rushed forward trembled violently, and large blobs of blood burst open on their chests!
The loud banging at close range slammed into people's eardrums! The windshield of the Austin sedan, which was leaning against the barrier, suddenly shattered into a spiderweb pattern, and then exploded with a crash!
One of the bodyguards was knocked backward by the force of the impact, and the direction he fell was exactly the path Chen Mingchu had hurriedly retreated!
Chen Mingchu, who had tripped over the corpse, stumbled, and for the first time, his face, which was wearing gold-rimmed glasses, showed a distorted expression of extreme horror.

The dense bullets fired by Zhao Lijun pierced the bodies of the bodyguards standing in front of Chen Mingchu with a series of "thuds".
Chen Mingchu scrambled to hide behind the car, but Zhao Lijun fired several shots, the bullets viciously piercing the car body behind him and sending up blinding sparks.

A ricocheting bullet emitted a sharp whistle and slashed across Chen Mingchu's calf!
"Ugh—!" Chen Mingchu let out a wild, twisted roar of pain as the outside of his trouser leg was instantly soaked with blood!
The excruciating pain turned his face pale, and his legs went weak, almost causing him to kneel down!
The driver behind him also had his forehead cut by shards of glass, and blood covered half of his face.

The other two agents from the action team also rushed out of the side cover according to the predetermined route at the first moment!
Bullets rained down on Chen Mingchu's bodyguards and car like a storm!

The frequency of the pistol's slide bouncing even exceeded the dense drumbeats of the dance hall.

"Tap tap tap—!" An astonishing change occurred in those life-or-death seconds!

Suddenly, the canopy of a seemingly ordinary rickshaw across the street was ripped open! A jet-black submachine gun barrel burst out from the tear! A dense burst of flames, enough to make your scalp crawl, spewed from the muzzle!
Like the hissing of venomous snakes, the flames licked their bodies with ferocious ferocity almost the instant the two agents rushed out of cover!
There is an ambush.
An agent was struck repeatedly in the upper body as if by an invisible giant hammer, his body being torn apart by the violent kinetic energy and sent flying backward!

Several shocking holes were torn open in his chest by bullets!
He uttered a broken syllable with all his might, the light in his eyes completely drained away.

Its small, thin body fell heavily into the cold, stagnant water.

The agent Li Qiang next to him was grazed on the right shoulder by the first volley of bullets and staggered.

Before he could regain his footing, flames shot out from the dark corner on the other side!
The sound of bullets piercing flesh was chilling!

Gunshots rang out violently in the narrow space, and bullets pierced the hoods, body panels, and windows of the car parked in front of the door, leaving countless deep dents!
Fragments flew everywhere like a rainstorm, and the air was filled with thick, pungent gunpowder smoke and the strange, fishy smell of metal after being violently impacted.

Zhao Lijun felt as if his heart had been plunged into an ancient ice cellar, a piercing chill instantly spreading through his entire body! An ambush! An ambush had been planned all along!

Driven by instinct, his body moved almost rolling along the ground to dodge a barrage of bullets that swept towards him, the scorching bullets leaving sparks on the concrete where he had been standing.

He fired his two Mauser pistols fiercely at the rickshaw where a submachine gun was concealed!
"Old Knife" Wang Shun also reacted extremely quickly!
Huang Xianggu's body lay in a puddle a few steps away. Having completed the first round of kills, he rolled away to find the next cover the moment the gun fired.

Just as he rushed to the other car, he caught a glimpse of a reflective lens on the second floor of the Paramount Ballroom from the corner of his eye—another tongue of fire suddenly spewed out from an open window on the second floor!

It's a hunt targeting him, the one who fired the first shot!

"Pfft!" A dull, penetrating sound.

Wang Shun's body jolted violently! Then came a second sound! Blood splattered from his shoulder blade and lower back at the same time! The scalding liquid immediately splashed onto the cold car door, mixing with the rainwater and flowing down.

He let out a muffled "gurgling" sound, filled with unspeakable shock and pain, and slid limply from the car body into the cold mud.

"Station Chief! Rescue point! Get out of here! We've got some brothers holding them off!" another young, up-and-coming agent yelled hoarsely at Zhao Lijun!
His sleeve was torn open by bullets, and one arm was covered in blood, but the pistol in his hand continued to fire stubbornly at the firing points that kept popping up across the street and on the second floor!
Bullet casings clattered and bounced on the cold, slippery ground. He tried to cover Zhao Lijun's retreat to the pre-arranged escape route to the side and rear.

The meticulously planned assassination operation took an unexpected and dramatic turn in an instant.

Of the accompanying special agent team, seven or eight agents have been killed in action, and the rest are in grave danger.
Zhao Lijun was so angry that he almost ground his teeth to powder, bloodshot eyes, the gunfire and the faces of the dead tearing at his vision alternately.

"Go!" Zhao Lijun's voice was forced into a roar that tore through the air by the booming gunfire.

The roar of the pistol never stopped, bullet after bullet pressing towards the most threatening position—the exposed second-floor window!

He seized that critical moment and turned around abruptly!
"puff!"

A bullet from the diagonal rear grazed the outside of Zhao Lijun's right arm with incredible precision!

The bullet ripped a deep trench through the flesh! A searing pain, accompanied by a burning sensation, exploded within me!

Zhao Lijun's vision went black, and his body swayed violently! Warm blood instantly soaked his entire arm. But his steps didn't falter in the slightest. Charge!

Upon witnessing the station chief being shot, Zhong He let out a roar that was almost like that of a wild beast. With his remaining left hand dragging his injured right arm, he staggered forward a few more steps and frantically pulled the trigger at a plainclothes agent who had just peeked out from the street corner to try to surround him!

He tried to use himself as bait to hold off the pursuers!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The sound of bullets slamming into the front of Zhonghe's vehicle was chilling!

He suddenly rolled to the side, but he was still a little too slow! A bullet pierced through the edge of the hood he was using as cover and finally wedged itself deep into his left thigh!

With a muffled thud, Zhong He was thrown to the ground, letting out a groan.

He struggled to get up, but fell down again due to the excruciating pain and blood loss.

In that instant, Zhao Lijun had already rushed into the entrance of a dimly lit alleyway piled with clutter.

The shouts of the pursuers and the sporadic gunshots behind them were deflected by the winding walls of the alley, leaving a shrill and hollow echo.

His injured right arm hung limply as if it were broken, and every breath he took was accompanied by excruciating pain from the tearing muscles in his arm.

The icy rain mixed with scalding sweat dripped down, soaking through his tattered clothes.

Without stopping for a moment, driven by an inhuman will, he trudged along the slippery, wet blue bricks.

With a screech, a long braking sound echoed from the alley entrance. The agent in charge of the pick-up shouted to Zhao Lijun, "Station Chief, get in the car."

Zhao Lijun gritted his teeth, quickly approached, and with a leap, jumped from the car window into the back seat. The car executed a beautiful drift, cutting through the rain and disappearing into the night.

The small, blood-soaked battlefield in front of the Paramount Ballroom, the neon lights at the ballroom entrance still tirelessly spinning and flashing, their crimson glow making everything a horrifying sight…

Huang Xianggu's magnificent brocade robe was soaking in the deep red puddles, and his expensive otter fur hat, torn to shreds by bullets, lay rolling beside a nearby car tire...

Behind the car, one temple of the gold-rimmed glasses was broken off and hung askew on Chen Mingchu's contorted face in pain. He was curled up by the car, groaning from blood loss...

With a clattering sound of leather shoes, Ding Cun and Li Qun slowly walked out of the Paramount Ballroom.

"You, you..." Chen Mingchu looked at the two figures, as if he understood everything.

Ding Cun waved his hand indifferently: "Someone, take Committee Member Chen to the hospital..."

Two agents bowed slightly, lifted Chen Mingchu up from the left and right, and shoved him into the car.

Li Qun watched the car drive away and sighed deeply: "Zhao Lijun, that murderous devil, truly lives up to his name. He's ruthless to others, and he's ruthless to himself too."

Ding Cun smiled and said, "Don't worry, his action team was almost completely wiped out this time, so there shouldn't be any major moves in the short term."

"Brother Li, now we can finally give Director Chen a satisfactory explanation..."

(End of this chapter)