Period drama: Old Cao's carefree life

Chapter 108 could very well be a mutiny.

"????"

Xu Jingge was somewhat taken aback and asked in astonishment, "What do you mean? You mean you can bring people out of the military police headquarters?"

"More or less," Cao Weida nodded. "This isn't the first time we've worked together. Didn't I help you bring people out last time?"

Xu Jingge's lips twitched, feeling nothing but absurdity.

These are completely different things!
Last time, at least I was caught without being exposed while rescuing someone, but this time it's different, this time I'm completely exposed!
How did they manage to rescue the person like that?
Will the Japanese spies release them?
If he weren't still sitting here unharmed, he would have suspected that Cao Weida had already betrayed him!

"Jingzhe, this is no joke. You absolutely cannot speak carelessly. If the mission is not completed, we will all be held accountable by our superiors!"

Cao Wei Da scoffed dismissively, "Your superior is your superior, what does he have to do with me?"

"It's just that my little arm can't twist your thigh. I'll have to give your so-called superiors a few big slaps."

Xu Jingge opened his mouth, unsure how to respond for a moment. It seemed Jingzhe harbored considerable resentment towards her superiors.
Go ahead and argue; he's actually angry inside too.

If I don't refute him, it doesn't seem right to slap his superior in the face right in front of him.
Cao Wei Da didn't make things difficult for him, and knowing when to stop, said:

"You guys are good at intelligence gathering and assassination (I added in my mind: I'm your grandmaster when it comes to assassination!), but when it comes to building relationships, you're really no good. What's the use of all you do all day long?

"You know Fujita Sōsuke, the captain of the Military Police Headquarters, right? He's a profit-driven old Japanese devil. He's realized that Japan will be defeated sooner or later, so he has no interest in outsmarting or fighting the anti-Japanese elements. He's only thinking about how to make money every day."

"I took the opportunity to make contact with him and reached an agreement with him to use money to ransom anti-Japanese personnel imprisoned in the East Asian Academic Research Association, the Military Police Headquarters, the Matsui Special Service Agency, and even the Special Higher Police interrogation room. As long as there is money, anything can be discussed."

He briefly explained the situation, and Xu Jingge's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets upon hearing this.

"You mean to say that as long as we have money, we can get our captured comrades out?!"

To be honest, his brain was starting to shut down. In the past, he would have fought them to the death, outwitting and outmaneuvering them.

Prisoners who were captured usually had only three fates: either they surrendered, they were killed, or they were tortured to the point of wishing for death but being unable to die.

It seems like a fantasy to think that if someone suddenly tells you that none of these problems exist, and that as long as you pay them, they can release you even if you're caught in a hurry.

But seeing Cao Weida's very confident expression and the reasonableness of his words, he couldn't help but believe that perhaps such an option really existed.

His worldview was somewhat shattered, and he still found it hard to believe, but Cao Weida was used to it and sneered:

"Hard to imagine, right? Actually, it's not surprising at all."

"I don't believe you don't know that the Kuomintang has been doing smuggling business with the Japanese high-ranking officials all along. You guys are working your lives off the line, but those of them sitting in offices have long been exchanging favors and living the high life together."

"Don't talk nonsense!" Xu Jingge's expression changed drastically. Discussing one's superiors in private was a matter of life and death. Cao Weida was far too audacious!
"Ha, burying their heads in the sand! They dare to do it, but I'm not allowed to say anything? You tell me if you know or not." Cao Wei Da wasn't afraid at all. This corrupt regime would be swept into the dustbin of history sooner or later. What was there to be afraid of?

Of course, the main reason was that he believed Xu Jingge wouldn't be stupid enough to report these words.

Besides, we've already started cursing, what's wrong with saying a few more words? There's nothing to be afraid of!
They're practically sending me to my death, and I can't even vent my anger? That's ridiculous!
Xu Jingge remained tight-lipped, saying, "It's none of my business to comment on what's right or wrong with the higher-ups."

"Is it because it's not their turn, or because they don't dare?" Cao Weida chuckled twice, waving his hand dismissively. "Forget it, I'm too lazy to argue with someone as stubborn as you. You should quickly inform your superiors whether or not to rescue them. Give me an answer tonight if you can, as I'm in a tight spot."

"Oh, by the way, please try to minimize my presence. I don't want to attract the attention of your superiors and get pushed into a fire pit again!"

"Remember this, this is the first and last time. If you dare to do this again, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

What could Xu Jingge do? He could only nod with a wry smile. This time, they had almost ruined the person's life. They had even forcibly dragged the person onto the boat. He could understand if the person was upset.

After a moment's hesitation, he finally spoke and asked, "Since you already have a solution, then what did you just do?"

“What did I do wrong?” Cao Weida retorted confidently. “I just happened to have a way. What if I didn’t? Would I really have to risk my life to complete the mission?”

"What? He told me to die, and I'm supposed to be grateful to him? I'm not being a masochist!"

Alright, I'd better not say anything more, lest I add fuel to the fire. Xu Jingge wisely chose to keep quiet.

After returning, I drafted the intelligence report, and then deleted and revised it repeatedly until I was finally satisfied with it.

Looking at the contents of the scrap paper, Xu Jingge muttered bitterly to himself, "I've tried my best to describe it in a calm tone, but I really can't downplay you as much as possible."

If Cao Wei Da were completely downplayed, there would be no need for him to write this report, because the Military Intelligence Bureau requires that the source of intelligence be clearly stated, and he can't just make things up.

If his superiors find out, how many heads does he have?
At most, he can only offer some help within his own capabilities; beyond that, there's nothing he can do.

He shook his head slightly and handed the intelligence to the communications department. Soon after, the intelligence was received by the Yamashiro side.

At the entrance of the residence at No. 85, Zhongshan Fourth Road, YZ District, Shancheng City.

Secretary Mao, holding the intelligence in his hand, was indecisive, pondering repeatedly, and for a moment he didn't know how to report it.

Once it's reported, there will be a considerable price to pay, but if it's not reported, he can't afford the responsibility.

After much deliberation, he gritted his teeth and stamped his foot, "Forget it, I'm just a secretary. Let Boss Dai worry about it."

dong dong dong~
"Boss Dai."

"Mr. Mao," Boss Dai, who was reviewing documents, looked at the file folder in Mao Renfeng's hand that was marked "Top Secret," and asked, "Is this good news or bad news?"

Mao Renfeng was genuinely unsure whether it was good news or bad news, so he could only bite the bullet and say, "It should be considered good news, Mr. Dai, please take a look."

Seeing his troubled expression, Boss Dai became genuinely curious. He knew Mao Renfeng well, but he rarely showed such behavior.

After opening the file folder and glancing through it, I couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

Mao Renfeng waited with a slight bow, without urging him at all, knowing that Boss Dai was thinking.

After a long while, Boss Dai sighed, "Jingzhe has really given me a tough problem."

Mao Renfeng nodded with a wry smile. Indeed, this was no ordinary problem.

It's not enough to simply rescue those people; there are many issues to consider.

Money is actually the least important issue.

For example, some of those arrested were, after a period of time, accepted by the higher-ups as having sacrificed themselves, with some files destroyed and others posthumously confiscated.

For example, what if some of these released people surrender?
For example, if the positions of those who were arrested have already been filled, how should they be accommodated if those people return?

For example.
In any case, they have many issues to consider, and it's definitely not something they can decide on a whim.

But not redeeming is unrealistic. If the people below knew that they were risking their lives to complete the mission, but the people below were unwilling to pay even this little bit of money, what would they think?
Even a fool could figure it out: they must think these superiors are too unreasonable and don't take them seriously enough.

If none of you take us seriously, then what's the point of us continuing?

Everyone, wash up and take a break.

Passive resistance is secondary; the real danger is that if not handled properly, it could turn into a mutiny!
This is a consequence that Dai Li absolutely cannot accept.

Of course, this wasn't without its benefits. At least it let those who were risking their lives in enemy-occupied territory know that their superiors still cared about them, which boosted morale to some extent.

After much deliberation, deciding on the lesser of two evils, Dai Li tapped his fingers on his desk, making a 'clanging' sound.

He picked up another document that had been delivered and muttered, "Cao Weida is quite an interesting fellow."

After pondering for a moment, he took out a lighter and set it on fire. Seeing the flames completely engulf the paper, he poured some water into a teacup to thoroughly destroy the evidence before speaking:

"Mr. Mao."

"Boss Dai, what are your orders?" As Dai Li burned Cao Weida's documents, a barely perceptible look of surprise flashed in Mao Renfeng's eyes.

"How many people know about the Jingzhe (Awakening of Insects) solar term?"

Mao Renfeng answered without hesitation: "Because I am just an unofficial staff member, not many people know about it. As for the other stations, only Xu Zongren, the station chief of Suiyuan Station, knows a little about it. In our mountain city, including myself, there are only three people who know about it."

“Let everyone who knows him forget about him,” Dai Li said with a smile. “This guy is like a monkey, jumping around quite a bit in enemy-occupied territory, but he’s also capable. He’s not exactly good at procuring supplies, so let him make some contact with our undercover agents. We need to make the most of him.”

"Don't let him get involved in highly dangerous work like this in the future. It would be such a pity if something bad happened to him."

Mao Renfeng immediately understood: Boss Dai had his eye on the other party's ability to procure supplies!

Tsk, as expected, Boss Dai is planning to erase Cao Weida's information.

Such examples are rare in the Military Intelligence Bureau. It seems that Cao Wei Da is about to rise to prominence.
It's no wonder, though. There are plenty of people in the Military Intelligence Bureau who can do intelligence work and assassinations, but people who can get supplies and military funding for the Bureau are rare talents!

I need to find an opportunity to get closer to him. With such a skilled shopper for supplies, it would be a real shame not to hitch a ride and make some money.
(End of this chapter)