Espionage codename: Shen Gongbao

Immediately, someone brought in Scar, who was covered in blood and had a bruised and swollen face.

"Director Ding, this man is a notorious intelligence broker in the black market, nicknamed Scarface." Hu Junhe gave a brief introduction, then grabbed Scarface and pushed him in front of Mao Ziming:

Do you know Secretary Mao?

"I...I know him," Scarface stammered.

"You..." Mao Ziming's lips trembled.

"Old Mao, they beat me too brutally. I... I really can't take it anymore. I'm sorry." Scarface looked miserable, his arrogant demeanor completely gone.

"Scarface, tell me," Hu Junhe said.

"Director Ding, I have bought intelligence from Mao Ziming eight times, including..." Scarface confessed everything in detail, even taking out the account book.

The time, the location, the amount of money given, and all other details of the intelligence were recorded clearly.

"So that's why our recent operations have been repeatedly thwarted and intercepted. It turns out it was you who did this, and now you're trying to pin the blame on me."

"Fuck you, you son of a bitch!"

Wang Tianmu's temper flared up again, and he rushed over and slapped Mao Ziming twice.

"Mao Ziming has both witnesses and physical evidence. What else do you have to say?" Hu Junhe pulled Wang Tianmu away and questioned him sharply.

"Me, me!"

Mao Ziming had no way to argue, so he could only look to Ding Mocun for help: "Director Ding, please save me. I was confused for a moment and blinded by greed. I know I was wrong."

"Ha, now you know you were wrong."

"Didn't you just say you were having tea with friends?"

"I really want to tear your mouth apart!"

Hu Junhe's face hardened, and he poked Mao Ziming's forehead sharply.

"Someone come here!"

"Let's use family discipline first. Tear his mouth off for me."

He gave the order in annoyance.

"yes!"

Ma Laosan and another interrogator brought out sharp hooks and, laughing strangely, moved towards Mao Ziming from either side.

Mao Ziming is usually arrogant and domineering.

Nobody in this building likes him, and now that they've caught him, they're going to make him suffer.

"director!"

"I...I was really wrong. Please, for the sake of how long I've followed you, please put in a good word for me and spare my life."

Mao Ziming was so frightened that tears streamed down his face as he struggled and howled.

"brute!"

Ding Mocun wished he could devour him alive.

All the advantages I painstakingly built up have been destroyed in one fell swoop.

Li Shiqun has probably been keeping an eye on Mao Ziming for more than just a day or two.

Why not arrest them earlier or later? Making a move now clearly means they're targeting me.

Hey!

It’s over.

It's all over!

Hu Junhe waved his hand.

Ma Laosan and his companion used iron hooks to grab Mao Ziming's mouth from both sides. With a ripping sound, Mao Ziming's cheeks were pierced through, blood gushing out, and he let out a series of pig-like screams.

"The evidence is sufficient."

"Gentlemen, please move along."

Wang Xuesen felt a chill run down his spine and raised his hand.

The group left the interrogation room.

"Given the seriousness of this matter, I will report it to the Military Police and the head of the Kagesa Agency. Chief Ding, I hope you can provide a response by tomorrow," Shibuya said expressionlessly.

"I have failed to properly manage my subordinates, and I will certainly reflect on this deeply." Ding Mocun bowed and accepted the order.

After Li Shiqun and Shibuya's group left, Ding Mocun angrily clenched his fist in his palm: "Mao Ziming ruined me!"

"Xuesen, come to my office."

After he finished speaking, he turned to look at Wang Xuesen.

Upon entering the office, Ding Mocun wiped the cold sweat from his brow with a handkerchief and said anxiously, "Xuesen, Mao Ziming knows too much. Who knows what his foul mouth might say?"

"I might get dragged into this."

"This is indeed unfavorable for the director, but it's far from a pessimistic time. However, it's inevitable that you will have to bleed out, director," Wang Xuesen said after thinking for a moment.

"I'm not afraid of bloodletting, what I'm afraid of now is that mad dog Li Shiqun biting me and not letting go." Ding Mocun paced anxiously with his hands behind his back.

"Tell me, how should it be placed to make it effective?" He turned to look at Wang Xuesen.

"Two steps."

"After something like this happened, the most urgent thing, besides severing ties with Mao Ziming, is to send money," Wang Xuesen said.

"How should I send it, and to whom?" Ding Mocun's mind was in complete turmoil.

"Just send it to three people."

"First, there's Zhou Fohai. After all, you're one of his people. Have your sister-in-law send money to Yang Shuhui so he can speak on your behalf to the bureau chief."

"Secondly, there are Warrant Officer Shibuya and Li Shiqun. As long as they don't escalate the situation, the director's life will not be in danger."

Wang Xuesen's analysis was unhurried and deliberate.

"I can understand sending it to Shibuya and Zhou Fohai."

"But will Li Shih-Chun give up so easily?"

Ding Mocun rubbed his temples, looking troubled.

"certainly!"

"I'm still here, aren't I?"

"However, it's not enough for Li Shiqun to just have money; Director, you also need to humble yourself and delegate authority."

Wang Xuesen continued to guide him.

"Selling at a low price is no problem."

"As long as I can get through this, I'll shine his shoes for him."

What does "delegation of authority" mean?

Ding Mocun lit a cigarette and asked, displeased.

"Abolish the four-department system and return the power within each department to Li Shiqun for reform," Wang Xuesen said decisively.

"Wouldn't that leave me completely at their mercy?"

Ding Mocun leaned forward and growled, his hands resting on the table.

He knew that once he lost this power, unless he left No. 76, he would be killed by Li Shiqun sooner or later.

"Uncle, why don't you understand?"

"Is this Mao Ziming's business?"

"Mao Ziming is nothing. They're after you and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs faction. Whether you let them pass or not is not up to you."

"Take the initiative and do Li Shiqun a favor; that's called retreating to advance."

"And as long as the money is in place, I guarantee you'll at most be back to where you were before the four-hall system, and your life won't be in danger."

Wang Xuesen said with great certainty.

"If we could go back to the way things were before, we'd be incredibly grateful."

How much money do you want?

Ding Mocun gritted his teeth and said.

"Ten 10 10-ounce yellow croakers!" Wang Xuesen quoted the price and specifications.

"Thirty-five thousand yuan?"

"This is equivalent to ten years of my salary."

"No, absolutely not!"

Ding Mocun cried out in pain.

"I have to go out for some business at noon."

"Take your time to figure it out."

"Call me when you've made up your mind."

Wang Xuesen was too lazy to argue with him any longer. He glanced at his watch, gave a perfunctory reply, and got up to leave.

……

5:30 p.m.

Wang Xuesen returned home.

Wanjia and Li Lu were making dumplings in the living room, chatting and laughing, and seemed to be getting along well.

"I'm back!"

Wanjia turned around and greeted her.

"Mr. Wang." Li Lu's spring-like expression faded, and she gave a graceful bow in greeting.

"Mrs. Mao is here. Let me see what she's up to."

"dumpling!"

"Why did you suddenly decide to make dumplings? We don't have that custom in Shanghai, do we?"

Wang Xuesen asked with a surprised smile.

Su Wanjia was stunned for a moment, her eyes filled with panic, thinking that she had done something wrong again.

"Well, my mother is from Chengde. When she was alive, she would make dumplings for every festival. I learned a little bit from her," Li Lu explained.

"I see."

"Then I'm in for a treat tonight."

Wang Xuesen smiled happily.

"I'm glad Mr. Wang doesn't... I'm glad you don't mind," Li Lu said, blushing.

Just then, Wanjia was squatting by the cabinet looking for soy sauce.

Seeing her shy and charming appearance, Wang Xuesen took the opportunity to kiss Li Lu on the cheek and then gave her a squeeze on her shapely buttocks.

Li Lu was surprised by his audacity and almost screamed out loud, her pretty face turning red involuntarily.

"Xuesen, go upstairs and take a shower first. You smell like smoke, it's suffocating." Wanjia turned around and saw Wang Xuesen standing there like a wooden post, so she quickly instructed him.

"Yes, madam."

"Mrs. Mao, you're busy."

Wang Xuesen smiled politely, picked up his briefcase, and went upstairs.

"Lulu, why is your face red? I'll go move the fan over. This big pot of water is quite hot when it's turned on." Wanjia noticed that Li Lu's cheeks were red and thought it was because the kitchen was too hot.

"Okay, thank you, Wan'er." Li Lu nodded quickly.

After finishing their dumplings for dinner, Wang Xuesen read the newspaper, but his eyes kept glancing at the slender flesh beneath Li Lu's cheongsam.