My years of espionage

Chapter 2099 Extra 1 (Peach)
Hong Kong Island, 1950.

March 3rd.

Villa area.

The thick fog began to spread from the sea and slowly climbed up the hillside.

The streetlights above the gate of Cheng's mansion were on, and searchlights occasionally shone around it.

Despite complaints from neighbors to the police about the noise from the searchlights at Cheng Mansion and the fear and unease caused by the armed guards at the gate.

However, after Mr. Cheng from the Cheng Mansion arranged for his subordinates to make a very 'polite' visit, the noise quickly stopped.

In the study, Cheng Qianfan was not wearing the uniform of a Nationalist general; he wore a bathrobe underneath and an American military woolen overcoat on top.

He sat in a velvet high-backed chair in front of the fireplace, the fire inside warming the room.

On the marble countertop sat a Citizens' radio, which was playing the "Message to Compatriots Nationwide" broadcast by Taiwan's Central Broadcasting Station on a loop.

Just two days ago, Chiang Kai-shek announced his reinstatement as president, ending the term of acting president Lee. At the same time, President Chiang issued a "Message to the People of the Nation" through the radio, calling on "the people of the nation" to support the party and the country and to face the national crisis together.

Cheng Qianfan's lips curled into a cold smile. He did not turn off the radio, but let it play "A Message to Fellow Countrymen" on a loop.

He casually picked up the newspaper on the table; it was the Hong Kong edition of the Sing Tao Daily.

Cheng Qianfan flipped to the international section, his gaze landing on the Japanese news page. Under the direction of the Americans, the Japanese puppet government officially announced the stripping of the Japanese Red Party of its public authority, and a large-scale crackdown on Red Party members began in Japan.

Newspapers reported that just the day before yesterday, Japan arrested another 193 members of the Communist Party. In just one and a half months, Japan has arrested and purged nearly 20,000 members of the Communist Party and left-wing groups.

He flipped through the newspaper and saw the section on mainland China.

This section focused on reporting the cooperation between the newly established red regime and its Soviet big brother, Russia.

Just last month, the Kuomintang Air Force carried out the "February 6th Bombing" of Shanghai.

Because the bombing caused serious civilian casualties and triggered strong political, economic and social repercussions on the mainland, the new China decided to accelerate the construction of the People's Liberation Army's navy and air force in order to resolve the Taiwan issue in the second half of 1950.

At the same time, the new China was also actively seeking military assistance from Soviet Russia to solve the air defense problems of major cities such as Shanghai and Beijing.

Following communication between the People's Republic of China and the Soviet Union, the Soviet Union deployed its air force and air defense forces, equipped with advanced jet aircraft and anti-aircraft artillery, to East China, North China, and South China, and provided the People's Liberation Army with a large amount of naval and air military equipment in preparation for an attack on Taiwan.

"Clearly, the Red regime's countermeasures sparked further speculation within the Truman administration about the evolution of Sino-Soviet relations."

After discovering the large-scale arrival of Soviet military aid and advisors in coastal areas such as East China, the Truman administration believed that the Soviet Union had begun using many key locations in China as forward military bases against the United States.

……

There was a knock on the study door.

Bai Ruolan wore a dark green cheongsam with gold trim, and the full-green jade bracelet on her wrist gleamed warmly under the light.

She brought over a plate of fruit.

"The apples from Luochuan were just delivered to Hong Kong Island yesterday," Bai Ruolan said to her husband.

"Where are Sesame and Nannan?" Cheng Qianfan asked.

“Xiao Bao went to his classmate’s party and brought these two little ones with him,” Bai Ruolan said.

"Are there any bodyguards with you?" Cheng Qianfan asked immediately.

"Haozi arranged for Amao to bring people to follow him." Bai Ruolan emptied the cigarette butts from her husband's ashtray, frowned at him, and said, "Smoke less."

Seeing that her husband was in low spirits, she comforted him, "In my opinion, things are pretty good in Hong Kong now. It's scary in Taiwan, with all sorts of open and covert attacks."

"Yes, I'm fine," Cheng Qianfan said with a smile. "I also think Hong Kong is nice."

With the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Red People's Army swept away the remnants of the Kuomintang like autumn leaves, and the entire Kuomintang government fled to Taiwan.

So many people, high-ranking officials, and local tyrants have suddenly flooded into this tiny island of Taiwan, and they've practically fought tooth and nail to seize power and profit.

Having firmly grasped power within the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics and successfully ousted Tang and Zheng, Qi Wu turned his attention to other individuals within the Bureau who might threaten his position.

As a representative of the younger generation of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics who was on par with Sheng Shuyu, Cheng Qianfan is now the biggest figure among the younger generation, now that Sheng Shuyu has been captured by the Red Army.

Furthermore, Zhong Guohao, Qiao Chuntao, Wu Shunjia, Jiang Luozi, Mao Xuanyi, Li Tongyun, and others were all former subordinates of Cheng Qianfan. Back then, they all followed Cheng Qianfan to Taiwan in advance, established themselves there, and secured their positions.

It could be said that after Qi Wu withdrew from the mainland to Taiwan, he was surprised to find that the entire Taiwan Security Bureau had been almost completely managed by Cheng Qianfan.

This was naturally unacceptable to Qi Wu.

Subsequently, Cheng Qianfan was promoted in name only but demoted in reality, and was relegated to Hong Kong Island to serve as the head of the Hong Kong Island station of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics, and concurrently as the deputy director of the National Government's Hong Kong Island Office.

"Don't worry," Cheng Qianfan said to his wife. "I'm not just saying that to comfort you; I genuinely think Hong Kong is pretty good."

He smiled and said, "At least in this small area, I feel like I've regained my authority in the French Concession."

"Your character," Bai Ruolan scolded her husband.

……

Just then, footsteps were heard at the bottom of the stairs.

“It’s Haozi,” Cheng Qianfan said with a smile, recognizing Haozi’s footsteps.

"Brother Fan," Li Hao said as he pushed open the door and entered, "There's a coded telegram from Taipei that needs your personal translation."

This is a separate coded message between Qi Wu and Cheng Qianfan, known only to Cheng Qianfan and Qi Wu. Even Zhou Ru does not know this coded message.

"Go to the telecommunications room," Cheng Qianfan nodded to Li Hao and said.

He led Li Hao to the telecommunications room.

Zhou Ru handed the telegram she had just received to Cheng Qianfan with both hands.

"Haozi, stay. Everyone else, leave," Cheng Qianfan nodded and said.

Zhou Ru went out with another telegraph operator.

Cheng Qianfan took an iron box out of his briefcase, opened it with a key, took out a codebook, and began decoding the telegram.

The telegram was quickly translated.

Cheng Qianfan's eyes narrowed, and his heart skipped a beat, as if he had fallen into an abyss.

"Where is Taozi now?" Cheng Qianfan looked up at Li Hao.

“Didn’t Brother Fan send him to Macau to investigate the Li Husheng case? I reckon he hasn’t come back yet,” Li Hao said to Cheng Qianfan.

"Not back yet?" Cheng Qianfan frowned.

“Yes, Brother Fan.” Li Hao nodded.

"Where are Xia Xiaoying and the child?" Cheng Qianfan asked again.

"I'm here." Li Hao nodded and asked, "Brother Fan, is something wrong?"

"A secret telegram from the Director," Cheng Qianfan said solemnly, "Cai Qintian, the director of the Red Party's Taiwan Working Committee, has been captured!"

"What?" Li Hao exclaimed in surprise, then said with delight, "Great! This is the biggest fish the Red Party has caught on Taiwan."

"The biggest fish?" Cheng Qianfan slowly shook his head. "That's not necessarily true."

"There can be a fish even bigger than Cai Qintian?" Li Hao exclaimed in surprise.

"After Cai Qintian was arrested, he quickly expressed his willingness to surrender and cooperate with the party and the state," Cheng Qianfan said with a smile. "He identified Wu Cuiwen, the deputy chief of staff of the Ministry of National Defense, as a member of the underground Communist Party!"

"Deputy Minister Wu is a member of the underground Communist Party?" Li Hao was stunned. "How is that possible?"

He shook his head repeatedly, "It's unbelievable."

"Our colleagues from the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics have searched Vice Minister Wu's residence and arrested Wu Cuiwen and his wife," Cheng Qianfan said solemnly.

He snorted coldly, "I never expected that the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Nationalist Government's Ministry of National Defense would be a member of the Communist Party's underground. The Communist Party is simply omnipresent; is there any place they can't infiltrate!"

As he spoke, Cheng Qianfan slammed his hand on the table.

"This is unbelievable," Li Hao said, shaking his head with a serious expression.

He looked at Brother Fan, "Brother Fan, what does this have to do with peaches?"

"According to Cai Qintian's identification, the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics arrested many people. Some of them realized their mistakes and were willing to surrender to the Party and the State. Based on the identification of Cai Qintian and others, the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics obtained a huge list of underground members of the Red Party."

He glanced at Li Hao, frowning as he spoke, then snorted coldly, "Taozi is on this list too!"

"What?" Li Hao exclaimed in shock. "They said Taozi is a member of the underground Communist Party? How is that possible, Brother Fan!"

“Even Vice Minister Wu Cuiwen might be a member of the underground Communist Party, so what else is impossible?” Cheng Qianfan said coldly.

"Brother Fan, this is different!" Li Hao quickly said.

"Oh?" Cheng Qianfan looked at Li Hao and snorted coldly, "I want to hear you tell me how it's different."

……

Return to the study.

"Brother Fan, to be honest, do you believe what they say about Taozi being a member of the underground Communist Party?" Li Hao offered Brother Fan a cigarette, lit it for him, and said.

“I don’t want to believe that any of you have a problem.” Cheng Qianfan glanced at Li Hao and said, “From the bottom of my heart, you are all brothers who have gone through life and death with me. I hope that all of you are well.”

“That’s right, Brother Fan,” Li Hao said immediately. “Taozi’s loyalty to you is beyond question.”

He said with some excitement, "Brother Fan, you've always said that Taozi is the smartest and most capable among us. You've also often said that with Taozi around, you can feel much more at ease."

“Brother Fan, think about it, why did the people on the island specifically identify Taozi as a member of the Communist Party underground, instead of other people?” Li Hao said.

"What exactly are you trying to say?" Cheng Qianfan frowned and asked Li Hao.

“Brother Fan, there’s definitely something wrong with this,” Li Hao said. “They pushed you to Hong Kong Island, and they’re still not satisfied. This move against Taozi is a further step. What’s that saying again…”

He thought for a moment and said, "Call it clipping the wings!"

"So, your view is that Taipei is slandering Tao Zi. They took advantage of this arrest of underground members of the Red Party to insert Tao Zi's name into the case, and are trying to take action against Tao Zi to clip my wings?" Cheng Qianfan said with a gloomy look in his eyes.

"That's just how I feel," Li Hao said.

"Whether Taozi has any problems or not, we'll find out by bringing him here and questioning him," Cheng Qianfan pondered. "As long as he has no problems, I guarantee he'll be fine."

“Brother Fan,” Li Hao said in a low voice, “Taozi was on the list of underground Communist Party members they mentioned over there. Even if they deliberately framed her, they can’t clear her name.”

He said to Cheng Qianfan with great concern, "Given the Chairman's hatred for the Red Party, even if Taozi is innocent, he would rather kill the innocent than let her go."

“Hate?” Cheng Qianfan sneered. “Everyone in the Red Party has the right to kill them!”

“Brother Fan, the problem now is that we absolutely cannot let Taozi fall into their hands,” Li Hao said. “They can fabricate charges against Taozi, accusing her of being a member of the underground Communist Party. If they capture Taozi, they might try to force a confession and make her make false accusations…”

"Bullshit!" Cheng Qianfan cursed. "I believe Taozi. Even if he were to be attacked with knives and axes, he would not betray me, much less falsely accuse me."

“Brother Fan, you said it yourself, you believe in Taozi.” Li Hao was delighted and immediately said.

"Let me think about this carefully," Cheng Qianfan said, his expression serious as he pondered.

……

A moment.

“Taozi isn’t a Red Party member,” Cheng Qianfan told Li Hao.

“Yes, Peach isn’t a Red Party member,” Li Hao nodded and said.

“Peach absolutely cannot be a member of the Communist Party!” Cheng Qianfan added.

"Yes, Brother Fan," Li Hao replied hastily.

"Peach must not be taken back to Taiwan." Cheng Qianfan tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

"Brother Fan, what do you mean?" Li Hao asked.

"You just said that Taozi is still in Macau and hasn't come back yet?" Cheng Qianfan looked at Li Hao.

“Yes, Peach isn’t in Hong Kong,” Li Hao said.

"Where are Xia Xiaoying and the child?" Cheng Qianfan asked again.

"I don't know." Li Hao shook his head. "Taozi has a precedent of taking his wife and children on business trips before."

"Half a day later, I will order the arrest of Taozi's family," Cheng Qianfan suddenly said. "Red bandits, everyone has the right to kill them!"

"Yes!" Li Hao nodded vigorously. "The Red Bandits should be killed by everyone!"

"How is the young Taoist priest now?" Cheng Qianfan suddenly asked.

"He bought land in Brazil and recruited many of his former compatriots, all of whom were former Nationalist soldiers who had fought in battles. He's doing very well," Li Hao said.

“Brazil is a blessed land,” Cheng Qianfan said with a smile and a sigh.

"A secret telegram from the Director: Qiao Chuntao is a member of the underground Communist Party. He's still in Macau. Contact him and trick him into returning to Hong Kong. Be careful not to let him find out," he said, glancing at Li Hao.

"clear."

"Qiao Chuntao is exceptionally capable; please be extremely careful," Cheng Qianfan cautioned.

“They’re all old brothers,” Cheng Qianfan suddenly sighed and said.

……

After Li Hao left.

Cheng Qianfan's face was terribly gloomy.

Cai Qintian!
Kill!

A surge of overwhelming hatred welled up in his heart.

Cai Qintian was the first person in charge of the underground party organization in Taiwan.

Logically, he should also meet with Cai Qintian.

However, Qi Wu ostracized him and forced him to go to Hong Kong Island.

Because he was no longer in Taiwan, they missed that meeting. After that, he was in Hong Kong and Cai Qintian was in Taiwan. Under these circumstances, a meeting would inevitably be risky. Comrade 'Farmer' believed that for safety reasons, the meeting plan between the two was cancelled.

Otherwise, Cai Qintian's name would be listed alongside Comrade Wu Cuiwen's name on the list of underground party members that he betrayed to the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics.

……

Two hours later.

Li Hao looked at Qiao Chuntao.

“Brother Fan knows you can’t be a Communist,” Li Hao said to Qiao Chuntao. “But, Taozi, you know, Brother Fan hates Communists the most. If it were anyone else, he would rather kill the innocent than let them go.”

“I know.” Qiao Chuntao nodded seriously. “Taipei wants to deal with Brother Fan. My innocence cannot be cleared, and I cannot let it fall into their hands.”

"Let's go to Brazil." Li Hao handed a wooden box to Qiao Chuntao. "The little Taoist priest is there."

“Eight hours after you, your sister-in-law, and nephew leave, a large-scale manhunt will begin here.” He looked at Qiao Chuntao, opened his arms, and the two embraced.

Take care, Peach.

"Take care, Haozi."

"Go to Brazil, but absolutely do not return to the mainland," Haozi whispered in Taozi's ear. "If news of your appearance on the mainland gets out, it will harm Fan Ge."

"And another thing," he said in a low voice, "Qi Wu is a hypocrite. He will definitely not tolerate Brother Fan in the future. You and the little Taoist priest are in Brazil, so Brother Fan will have a place to stay in the future."

"I understand." Qiao Chuntao nodded slightly. "Haozi, please take care."

P.S.: Dear readers, my new book, "The East Is Dawning," has been released. I sincerely request that you all visit "The East Is Dawning" and continue to support me. Thank you.

Dear readers, my new book, "The Dawn of the East," has been released. I sincerely request that you all visit "The Dawn of the East," add it to your collection, vote for the new book, and continue to support me. Thank you!