My years of espionage

Chapter 2000 Big Manhunt

In late August, Nanjing was still scorching hot.

Li Hao cautiously observed his surroundings, then pulled down the brim of his hat and entered a teahouse.

"Please come to the private room upstairs."

Li Hao ordered a pot of tea, melon seeds and peanuts, and a plate of snacks. He listened to the opera playing on the stage on the first floor and waited patiently.

He raised his wrist to check the time on his watch, and just then, the door to the private room was pushed open.

Peach came in.

……

"Was the journey smooth?" Li Hao asked Taozi.

“I’m quite familiar with this area, and I took the back roads without encountering any checks,” Taozi said. “However, there are checkpoints on almost all the main roads and major thoroughfares.”

“They’re holding photos of you two,” Li Hao said seriously.

On his way here, he was stopped at the checkpoint by military police who examined his photo and asked if he had seen Peach and her husband.

“This isn’t right,” Peach said. “It’s not just the Japanese and No. 21 Yihe Road, or the police station.”

Peach picked up her teacup, gulped down a cup, and continued, "According to what I know, gangs like the Anqing Gang and the Huangdao Society have also gotten involved, and even the lowly scoundrels are asking around looking for people."

……

“Brother Fan is also aware of the situation you mentioned,” Li Hao said to Qiao Chuntao. “Brother Fan also thinks it’s very strange. The enemy’s search for you two is much more extensive than we imagined.”

"They're arresting me like I'm a deputy director," Peach said, frowning.

Then, he fell into thought, and his face quickly darkened.

"Did you guess it, Chief?" Qiao Chuntao asked Li Hao.

He had just thought it over carefully, and there was only one explanation for the enemy's level of concern: his true identity had been exposed.

As the head of the Nanjing station of the Shanghai Special Intelligence Bureau and Xiao Mian's capable subordinate, Xiao Mian was worthy of such a large-scale manhunt by the enemy.

There is only one possibility for their identity to be exposed: someone leaked their information.

The identity of the leaker was almost obvious: it was Ada, who had been ordered to blow up the pontoon bridge police station but had yet to return.

Ada may have already fallen into enemy hands, or even more likely defected to the enemy and revealed his situation to them.

“Brother Fan does have this suspicion.” Li Hao nodded and said, “You told Brother Fan that Ada knows your identity and where you live. These facts are enough to explain everything.”

……

"Scoundrel!" Qiao Chuntao said through gritted teeth, her eyes flashing with coldness.

Ada was a subordinate he had high hopes for. He was clever, skilled, and had a strong fighting spirit, but he never expected that Ada would betray him so quickly after being captured.

"The only thing we can be thankful for now is that the Director didn't inform Nanjing before coming here," Qiao Chuntao said solemnly. "Ada didn't know the Director was in Nanjing when he was assigned the mission. Otherwise, if the enemy knew the Director was in Nanjing..."

As he spoke, he shook his head and frowned, saying, "Then the entire Wang Jingwei regime and Japanese agents in Nanjing will go crazy. They'll dig three feet into the ground to find the magistrate."

“Right now, in the eyes of the enemy, you, Station Chief Qiao, are a hot commodity. Your appeal to the enemy is no less than that of Brother Fan,” Li Hao said with a smile.

"Haozi, please tell the Chief, 'If that moment really comes, I, Taozi, would rather die for my country than...'"

……

"Why are you saying that?!" Li Hao's face darkened.

Taozi stopped talking, but both he and Li Hao knew that if things didn't go well, this would be the best possible outcome.

"Brother Fan is quite familiar with the surrounding area of ​​that safe house in Lingjiao Alley," Li Hao said to Qiao Chuntao. "The enemy won't be able to find it for a while, but we can't let our guard down."

"What does the Director mean?" Qiao Chuntao asked.

“There is no such thing as absolute safety in safe houses for you anymore,” Li Hao said. “The enemy will search everywhere like madmen; even ordinary residences will be searched.”

“No.” Qiao Chuntao’s expression changed and she said decisively, “That’s too dangerous. If Xiaoying and I are found at the Director’s residence, the Director will be unable to clear his name.”

"You really are a smart girl, Peach. No wonder Brother Fan thinks so highly of you," Li Hao said. "You guessed it before I even said anything."

"I reiterate, I do not accept this approach," Qiao Chuntao said.

……

“I don’t want you to accept it either,” Li Hao said, looking at Qiao Chuntao. “Taozi, I don’t mean anything by it. If I were in your shoes, I would make the same choice as you.”

He said to Taozi, "For us, protecting Brother Fan will always be our top priority."

“I understand.” Qiao Chuntao nodded. He didn’t blame Li Hao, but smiled and said, “On the contrary, I’m very pleased.”

"Get lost!" Li Hao laughed and cursed, "You're talking so breathlessly."

Then, with a serious expression, he looked at Qiao Chuntao and said, "This is Brother Fan's order."

Seeing that Qiao Chuntao was about to speak, Li Hao said, "Brother Fan said that this is a military order and must be obeyed."

"Qiao Chuntao, listen to my command." Qiao Chuntao sullenly drank a few sips of tea, and finally nodded.

Then he saw the smile on Li Hao's face.

He smiled too.

Whether it was him or Haozi, they were both willing to die without hesitation when it came to protecting Fan Ge. At the same time, they both cared about each other and hoped that the other could live on until the day of victory in the War of Resistance.

……

“Today, Fan will go to his aunt’s place,” Li Hao said. “Then, when he goes back, his wife will find out what’s going on, and his sister-in-law will have a big fight with him.”

"What about your sister-in-law?" Qiao Chuntao asked thoughtfully.

“My sister-in-law doesn’t know anything,” Li Hao blinked and said, “but she knows when to do what.”

"Women are just as capable as men," Qiao Chuntao exclaimed in admiration.

Although my sister-in-law Bai Ruolan did not join the Military Intelligence Bureau, and it could even be said that the director did not reveal his identity to her, she was intelligent and always knew how to do the right thing at the right time.

“You have two days to prepare,” Li Hao said. “To please his wife, Brother Fan will contact an opera troupe tomorrow and have them put on a show at the Cheng residence the day after tomorrow.”

He said to Qiao Chuntao, "What you two need to do is go to the Cheng family mansion to perform, and then secretly stay there."

……

“The plan is acceptable.” Qiao Chuntao nodded slightly after careful consideration. “However, I need to think more about the details.”

“You’re the expert, so you can handle the details,” Li Hao nodded and said.

He looked at Qiao Chuntao with a serious expression, "Taozi, this time Brother Fan is willing to risk his life to rescue you, so you must be careful, careful, and very careful."

"I understand." Qiao Chuntao nodded, and didn't say anything more.

……

chongqing.

No. 19, Luojiawan.

“This telegram arrived just in time,” Dai Chunfeng said, shaking the telegram in his hand. “It’s also very important.”

"As expected of 'Bluebird,' even after leaving Shanghai and arriving in Nanjing, they were able to gather such important intelligence," Dai Chunfeng said.

“Nanjing is also Qingniao’s territory,” Qi Wu said with a smile. “He made an early benevolent relationship with Li Mingzuan years ago, which was a brilliant move.”

Dai Chunfeng nodded slightly. Previously, Cheng Qianfan had been ripped off at an antique shop owned by Li Mingzuan, which led to the conflict.

Cheng Qianfan, however, was able to take advantage of this opportunity to meet directly with Li Mingzuan. The two hit it off immediately and began to make money together. Cheng Qianfan's handling of the matter was something Li Mingzuan greatly admired.

……

Dai Chunfeng pondered for a moment, then frowned slightly as he looked at Qi Wu and asked, "Regarding what the telegram said about the Japanese withdrawing troops—not only from Nanjing, but also from the Zhejiang-Jiangxi front—what's your opinion on this?"

"The Japanese have withdrawn troops, even from the Zhejiang-Jiangxi battlefield..." Qi Wu pondered, and said, "The most likely reason is that there are new battles, and other battlefields in other directions urgently need to replenish troops."

"You suspect the Japanese are planning a new campaign?" Dai Chunfeng asked thoughtfully.

"That possibility cannot be ruled out." Qi Wu nodded.

Dai Chunfeng didn't say anything more. He stood in front of the wall, staring at the map of the Republic of China on it.

He was thinking about where the enemy might launch their attack.

“I can’t figure it out, I can’t see through it.” Dai Chunfeng shook his head and said, “However, one thing is certain.”

He told Qi Wu, "Since the enemy has secretly withdrawn troops from the Zhejiang-Jiangxi front, this intelligence is extremely important to the Nationalist army on the Zhejiang-Jiangxi front."

……

"Director, do you think we should report to the principal immediately?" Qi Wu said.

“Of course.” Dai Chunfeng nodded excitedly and said, “Prepare the car immediately; I need to go to the Huangshan official residence to see the principal.”

……

Nanjing Military Police Headquarters.

Koizumi Shinzo hurried into the third floor of the office building and knocked on the door of Mori Juichiro's office.

"Major," Koizumi Shinzo said.

"What did you find out?" Mori Juichiro was carefully studying a piece of information. Without looking up, he asked casually.

“That Zhang Lei is at the Imperial Army Hospital,” Koizumi Shinzo said. “He is being guarded by Imamura Yutaku, one of Honda Junto’s men.”

"What's the prisoner's current situation?" Mori Jūichirō asked.

“I personally and secretly went to see the doctor,” Koizumi Shinzo said. “According to the doctor, Zhang Lei’s condition is very bad.”

……

"continue."

“Zhang Lei has been severely tortured, and his physical condition is in great danger, but…” Koizumi Shinzo said.

"But what?"

"The doctor said that Zhang Lei is suspected of having mental problems due to the severe torture he suffered," said Koizumi Shinzo.

"Hmm?" Mori Juichiro immediately closed the file and looked up at Koizumi Shinzo. "You suspect that the guy from Nagashima used a drug on Zhang Lei?"

"Judging from the doctor's description, it does seem to be this situation." Koizumi Shinzo nodded.

“They’ve even used the medicine. It seems this Zhang Lei is indeed very valuable.” Mori Jūichirō lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and said thoughtfully, “And judging from that guy from Nagashima’s attitude at the time, Zhang Lei must have given us some very important information.”

“That should be the case.” Koizumi Shinzo nodded and said, “Major, Zhang Lei is a prisoner handed over to our military police by Peng Yonghua. Even if there is any valuable intelligence, it belongs to our military police.”

Mori Jūichirō nodded slightly.

They were well aware of Peng Yonghua's ulterior motives in using the military police, but for Mori Juichiro and the military police, they were happy to see it happen.

They need that reason now.

With this reason, they were able to take food from the Special Higher Police and thus stand on a moral high ground.

……

“Just send someone to keep an eye on Zhang Lei,” Mori Juichiro said. “The important thing now is what that guy from Nagashima is doing.”

"Major Nagashima ordered Honda Jun to conduct the search." Koizumi Shinzo had already found out about this. "The Special Higher Police also ordered No. 21 Yihe Road, the police station, and even the Anqing Gang and the Imperial Way Society to help with the search."

As he spoke, he pulled out two photos from his person, handed them to Mori Juichiro, and said, "They are searching for these two people."

"Tell me about these two people," said Mori Juichiro, taking the photo and examining it carefully.

"Hai." Koizumi Shinzo then reported the situation to Mori Jūichirō.

……

"So, the gunfight at the Stone Granny Temple is actually directly related to the explosion at the Floating Bridge Police Station," Mori Juichiro said, stroking his chin.

“That should be the case,” Koizumi Shinzo said. “The Special Higher Police were clearly monitoring and secretly arresting people at the Shibaba Temple. They must have noticed something. The bombing at the Fuqiao Police Station was also to cover up the evacuation operation from the Shibaba Temple direction.”

“Logically, there’s no problem.” Mori Juichiro nodded. “That should be it.”

"With so many people and such a large-scale search operation, it's clear that the guy from Long Island takes Zhou Changliu and Tao Peipei very seriously." He looked at Koizumi Shinzo and asked, "Regarding Zhou Changliu and Tao Peipei, what do you think they might be involved with?"

……

"It's either the Military Intelligence Bureau or the Communist Party," Koizumi Shinzo said thoughtfully. "However, the Military Intelligence Bureau is more likely."

"reason."

"Explosions and gunfights again," Koizumi Shinzo said. "It's more like the style of the Military Intelligence Bureau."

“Military Intelligence Bureau, huh…” Mori Juichiro stroked his chin.

The Nanjing branch of the Military Intelligence Bureau was completely wiped out in the second half of last year, and even Qin Wenming, the head of the Nanjing branch, surrendered after being arrested.

Has Dai Chunfeng rebuilt the Nanjing branch of the Military Intelligence Bureau?
If this is the case, judging from the scale of the explosions and gunfights, this rebuilt Nanjing Military Intelligence Bureau district has already become quite powerful.

No wonder Nagashima Masato takes it so seriously!

No, this credit shouldn't be enjoyed by Nagashima Masato alone!
He needed the credit even more from Mori Jūichirō for cracking down on the Nanjing branch of the Military Intelligence Bureau again and wiping out the rebuilt Nanjing branch.

……

“Keep a close eye on him, keep a close watch on the man from Nagashima,” Mori Juichiro said. “I need to know every move that guy from Nagashima makes.”

"At the same time, we also have photos, and we are also secretly searching for Zhou Changliu and Tao Peipei," Mori Jūichirō said to Koizumi Shinzo.

"Hai." Koizumi Shinzo thought for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "Major, what if the Special Higher Police find the culprit before we do?"

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(End of this chapter)