Warlords: Rising from the Northwest Border and Sweeping Across the Powers

"Interesting," he said to himself, "Several important members of the Prime Minister's staff are questioning the necessity of this action. They think that now is the time to seek peace talks instead of intensifying the conflict..."

Smith's eyes became sharp: "Check for me if anyone has been deliberately creating public opinion about the peace talks between England and the Bird Empire recently."

"General!" Another investigator rushed in, "While we were sorting out the intelligence, we found some suspected traces of Soviet spy activities!"

Smith took the information, looked at it carefully, and suddenly sneered: "What a coincidence, all the clues point to Su Weiya..."

He stood up and paced back and forth in the room: "No, these clues are too obvious, so obvious that it seems someone deliberately placed them there."

&34;The General means...&34;

"Someone is trying to mislead the direction of our investigation," Smith's eyes became sharp, "and the method is very clever. Not only did they create false clues, but they also exerted influence at the political level. This is not like Suvia's style..."

He suddenly stopped and said, "Go, focus on investigating the suspicious activities from the East in the past six months. Especially..." He paused, "The intelligence personnel from China."

"Gentlemen," Smith said at the investigation team meeting, "Based on the clues we have so far, the Soviet spy is the most likely suspect. I suggest that we focus our efforts in this direction."

After his subordinates left, he left his most trusted assistant Thompson alone.

"Sir," Thompson lowered his voice, "you really think it was the Soviets who did this?"

Smith sneered: "Of course not. But I want everyone to think so."

He pulled a notebook from a drawer: "Have you noticed? These so-called 'Soviet clues' appear so timely, as if they were waiting for us to discover them."

&34;You mean...&34;

"Someone is playing a big game," Smith said sharply, "They not only anticipated our investigation, but also laid out misleading evidence in advance. This method..." he said meaningfully, "is very similar to the Chinese style."

"But sir," Thompson said, confused, "we haven't found any evidence pointing to China."

"That's the point," Smith stood up and walked to the window. "A truly good intelligence agency would not leave any direct evidence. But..."

He turned around and said: "Give me a record of all the activities of the military leaders in the past six months, especially those seemingly ordinary social activities."

In the following days, Smith ostensibly led the investigation team to track down clues of the "Soviet spy", but in fact he was secretly conducting another investigation.

"Interesting," he looked at the report sent by Thompson, "Major General Blake's adjutant Wilson has appeared in the same teahouse four times in the past three months."

&34;Is there anything wrong with this?&34;

"The problem is," Smith pointed to the report, "every time he went there, he would meet a Chinese businessman. And this businessman happened to have come to London from Hong Kong three months ago."

他继续翻看资料：&34；更有意思的是，就在&39；雷霆&39；计划制定期间，威尔逊曾经以&39；身体不适&39；为由请过三天假。而在这三天里，那个华裔商人也突然消失了。&34；

&34;Will Wilson be summoned?&34;

"No," Smith shook his head, "It's not the right time yet. I want to see who else is protecting him in secret."

At this time, a new memorandum from the Prime Minister's Office arrived. Smith read it carefully and thought deeply.

"It's really interesting," he said to himself, "Several important members of the Prime Minister's staff are not only questioning the bombing, but are now actively promoting peace talks. And among these members..." His eyes stopped at a name, "This Mr. Richard Brighton is particularly active."

"Brighton?" Thompson thought for a moment. "He is a senior adviser to the Prime Minister and has great influence in the Cabinet."

"Check his background for me," Smith said, "especially when he entered the prime minister's office."

Three days later, Thompson brought back a detailed investigation report.

"Sir, Brighton has a very complete resume. He graduated from Oxford, worked in the Foreign Office for many years, and was transferred to the Prime Minister's Office three years ago."

"It's so complete," Smith sneered. "It's as complete as if it was designed."

He stood up and walked to the large map hanging on the wall: "A spy lurking in the military, a senior adviser who influences decision-making..."

&34;You mean...&34;

"The Chinese are playing a big game," Smith narrowed his eyes, "and what we are seeing now may just be the tip of the iceberg."

Late at night, Dragon's Nest.

"Urgent report!" The encrypted telegraph machine suddenly rang, "The situation has changed. Smith is an extremely scary man, and he seems to have noticed me. At the cabinet meeting today, he submitted a proposal for an investigation into the Prime Minister's staff. Although the wording was cautious, it was obviously directed at me. This man is too perceptive, and he is slowly approaching the truth with just some tiny details. Request instructions! - Longyan"

Yan Shuangying put down his teacup, his eyes sharp. Longyan was an important chess piece that he had laid out in England for many years, and now he had become a senior adviser to the Prime Minister. Once exposed, the loss would be immeasurable.

"An Yu," he pressed the communicator, "contact Polaris immediately."

Soon, a string of passwords came.

"Polaris received. He currently holds an important position in the Russian military and can create 'evidence' in our favor at any time. Please instruct us."

燕双鹰快速回复：&34；启动&39；寒冬&39；预案。你要让整个英格力都相信，&39；雷霆&39；计划的泄露与沙俄有关。&34；

"I understand. I will expose the true colors of several key figures and create some documents to imply that this was planned by the Tsarist Russia. However..." Polaris seemed a little hesitant.

&34;What's the problem?&34;

"Isn't it too much to fabricate evidence now? I'm afraid someone like Smith won't believe it easily."

At this moment, An Yu walked into the office: "Director, I have the same concerns. Is it too late to let Polaris take action now? Smith has already suspected that China..."

Yan Shuangying sneered: "You all forgot Polaris's identity. He is now an important figure in the Russian military, holding a high position of power. His one hint is more convincing than a hundred forged documents."

He stood up and walked to the window: "Besides, this is not just a matter of fabricating evidence. Polaris's actions will attract the attention of the Russian high-level officials, and they will inevitably react. By then, even the top officials of England will have to reconsider the truth of the matter."

An Yu suddenly realized: "You mean, let Tsarist Russia unknowingly become our cover?"

"That's right," Yan Shuangying turned around, "That's why we had to wait until now to let Polaris take action. The more critical the moment, the more natural his actions will seem."

He walked back to his desk and continued to send messages to Polaris: "What you need to do is not only to create evidence, but also to make the top leaders of the Tsarist Russia believe that England is targeting them. Let them deny, explain, and fight back."

"Great!" Polaris responded immediately, "I know what to do now."

"There is one more thing," Yan Shuangying suddenly said, "Smith cannot be kept. He is too dangerous."

An Yu was shocked: "You want to get rid of him?"

"No," Yan Shuangying shook his head, "to bring disgrace upon him. Polaris, when you create evidence, you must deliberately leave some clues for Smith to track down. But these clues..." He sneered, "will eventually lead him into a trap that will destroy him."

"I understand," Polaris replied, "I will make him fall into a dilemma unknowingly in the process of pursuing the truth. At that time, no matter what choice he makes, he will bring shame upon himself."

"Very good," Yan Shuangying nodded with satisfaction, "Remember, make everything look like it happened naturally. The more perceptive Smith is, the more he should be convinced that he has discovered the truth."

&34;Yes!&34;

After issuing the final instructions, Yan Shuangying leaned back in his chair with a deep look in his eyes. In this silent contest, every step must be carefully designed and every move must be cleverly planned.

Now, it depends on how Polaris can mislead the investigation and set up a trap for Smith to humiliate himself without exposing himself. It will be a wonderful contest.

"An Yu," he suddenly said, "tell Europe One and Longyan to stay calm and do what needs to be done. Polaris will take care of everything."

"Understood!" An Yu immediately went to arrange it.