Spy war in the Republic of China, peak undercover

Looking at the troops around him, the situation before him remained as hazy as a fog. As the battle progressed, things became increasingly unpredictable.

At this moment, all tactics and plans seemed to have lost their meaning. Every inch of land and every brick and stone in the Northeast seemed to be controlled by an unknown force.

Qinglan lowered her head, as if trying to gather herself. Her hand gently stroked the wooden table beside her, occasionally looking out at the cold street. The occasional clatter of horse hooves pierced the silence outside, but those sounds quickly faded in the winter wind. Her eyes were tired, and her face pale, but she maintained a calm demeanor. Lu Yang knew she understood the current situation better than anyone else.

"Can we really escape?" Qinglan suddenly spoke in a low and calm voice.

Lu Yang was silent for a moment. He looked out the window, his gaze piercing the gray haze and resting on the distant mountains. "We can only take it one step at a time," he whispered.

Qinglan remained silent, simply staring at Lu Yang. She understood that she no longer had many options. Every step was fraught with risk, and every decision would bring unforeseen consequences.

"We need to decide quickly," Dai Yunong's voice came from behind him. He walked into the room, his face heavy, the map tightly clenched in his hands. "Take a look at this." He unfolded the map and pointed to an area in the northeast.

Lu Yang and Qing Lan both moved closer. The map was intricately marked, with many areas designated as dangerous, some even labeled "death zone." Lu Yang stared at the area, his brows furrowed slightly.

"This is the only place we can pass through," Dai Yunong said solemnly, "but the enemy has set up a tight defense line along the way."

"What do you mean?" Qinglan asked.

"What do you mean?" Dai Yunong sneered, pointing to a red circle on the map. "This is a major Japanese military base. Anyone trying to approach will be immediately discovered. Do you think we can escape?"

Qinglan was silent, clearly familiar with this kind of danger. She looked at Lu Yang, seemingly waiting for his decision.

Lu Yang thought about it, and suddenly a hunch told him that things might be far more complicated than they had imagined. Although the enemy's defenses seemed impenetrable, if they gave up, they might lose a more important opportunity. For him, running away was never the solution.

"I have a plan," Lu Yang finally said, "but first, we must ensure that we can stay here safely for a while."

A hint of alertness flashed in his blue eyes: "Do you have a way to stay under the enemy's nose?"

"Yes." Lu Yang's eyes suddenly became firm, "But, we need to find someone." He paused, "Ye Wanru."

Qinglan frowned, clearly confused. "Ye Wanru? What can she do for us?"

Lu Yang smiled calmly, a complex light flashing in his eyes: "She is not only a source of information, but also the last chess piece we can use. She has been operating within the enemy and holds extremely important intelligence."

"But she has been gone for a long time." Qinglan reminded.

"It is precisely because she left that she can help us better." Lu Yang's tone revealed an indescribable confidence.

His words suddenly made the atmosphere in the room solemn. Even Dai Yunong couldn't help but reveal a trace of worry. "Are you going to find her?"

Lu Yang nodded, "Yes. We must use all possible resources."

Qinglan took a deep breath, seeming a little uneasy. She glanced out the window. A thin layer of frost had accumulated on the window, and cold air seeped in through the cracks. This winter seemed like it would never end.

"Okay," she said softly, "so how are you going to contact her?"

"I have her secret code." Lu Yang's voice was low, but every word revealed a firmness. "You stay here, I'll do it."

"You know what to do, right?" Dai Yunong asked.

Lu Yang smiled slightly, as if to appease their worries. "Don't worry, I will be careful."

On this cold morning, Lu Yang once again embarked on his journey. The streets were thick with snow and fog, as if the entire city were shrouded in mist. Walking along these gray streets, exhaustion and fear were written on everyone's face. An oppressive atmosphere hung in the air, as if every inch of land was bearing the weight of history. The Northeast winter showed no mercy, as if it wanted to freeze all life on the edge of the world.

Lu Yang walked through a familiar alleyway and entered a dilapidated courtyard. He didn't feel nervous at all, but instead felt like he was being dragged back to a familiar life. This was where he and Ye Wanru had once met. There was no one guarding the door, and everything was as peaceful as ever. The only difference was that behind this calmness lay an unspeakable crisis.

"I'm here." Lu Yang said softly and pushed open the door to the yard.

Inside the courtyard, the air was chilly and the ground was covered in snow. The sound of the wind outside the door gradually died away, and the entire courtyard seemed completely isolated from the outside world. At this moment, a window quietly opened, and a familiar figure peeked out from behind it.

Ye Wanru smiled slightly, with a complex look in her eyes. "You're finally here."

Lu Yang didn't respond, but nodded, his eyes swept around, and whispered: "The enemy has set up a defense line, we must act quickly."

"I know." Ye Wanru's voice was low and firm, as if she had anticipated this situation. "But, you also know that this is not an easy task. We don't have much time to act."

Lu Yang's heart tightened. Yes, time was running out. Every minute and every second weighed like a huge rock on their heads. And yet, this city remained silent, covered in the emotionless ice and snow.

"We need to find a gap to break through." Ye Wanru continued, "Also, I have some new intelligence that may provide us with some breakthroughs."

Lu Yang looked at her, his eyes revealing a hint of relief: "You are really indispensable."

Ye Wanru did not respond, but turned and walked into the house, motioning Lu Yang to follow.

The old house had a simple layout, cluttered with debris, its walls creaking, and a stale air. She pushed open a closed door, revealing a simple workspace. The desk was piled high with documents and maps, and the photographs hanging on the walls were mostly old black-and-white, brimming with nostalgia.

"These are the latest intelligence I've gathered," she said, pointing to a map on the table. "These marked areas represent information I've obtained through internal channels. I can basically confirm the enemy's next moves."

Lu Yang walked to the table and carefully examined the markings. Behind each mark was hidden danger. It could even be said that these places were the enemy's key defense areas.

"There's a place among them," Ye Wanru pointed to a red area on the map. "I plan to go and see it myself. It might be the key to a breakthrough."

Lu Yang looked at her, a hint of uneasiness flashing in his eyes. "The place you're going to is too dangerous."

Ye Wanru smiled softly, a resolute look in her brow. "I know it's dangerous, but if I don't go and see, how can I know if there's a chance? Someone has to do it." She spoke calmly, as if stating something mundane.

Lu Yang was silent. He knew Ye Wanru's character. Once she made a decision, she wouldn't change it easily. Moreover, the current situation didn't allow them to hesitate.

Outside the window, the north wind howled, sweeping up the snow on the ground and slapping it against the old window frames, making a series of harsh noises. The dim light inside the house flickered, reflecting on the two people's faces, making them look particularly solemn.

"Okay," Lu Yang finally compromised, "but you have to promise me that you'll be careful. I'll meet you outside."

"Don't worry," Ye Wanru raised the corners of her mouth slightly, revealing a confident smile, "I'm not that easy to be caught."

She picked up a heavy black coat from the table and put it on, then took out a pistol from the drawer, checked the magazine skillfully, and then put it on her waist.

"I'm leaving." She said to Lu Yang in a relaxed tone, as if she was just going out for a walk.

Lu Yang looked at her, feeling a mixture of emotions, but unable to express himself. He knew that this trip was full of unknown risks.

Ye Wanru pushed open the door and walked into the snow. Her figure quickly disappeared in the vast snow fog, leaving Lu Yang alone standing in the empty room.

Lu Yang walked to the window, looked at the streets outside covered in wind and snow, and silently prayed for Ye Wanru's safe return.

Time passed by minute by minute, each second feeling like a century. Lu Yang waited anxiously, the air in the room seemed frozen, oppressive and suffocating.

Suddenly, a burst of hurried footsteps came from the distance, getting closer and closer, becoming clearer and clearer. Lu Yang's heart suddenly tightened. Could it be that Ye Wanru came back?

He walked quickly to the door and opened it.

Outside the door, the wind and snow were still raging. A figure staggered over, leaving a series of deep footprints in the snow.

It’s Ye Wanru!

Lu Yang's heart suddenly rose to his throat.

Ye Wanru ran to Lu Yang, her face pale, her breathing rapid, and her body covered with snowflakes.

"How is it?" Lu Yang asked anxiously.

Ye Wanru didn't say anything, but took out a note from her arms and handed it to Lu Yang.

Lu Yang took the note and carefully identified the handwriting on it in the dim light.

There was a line of words written on the note: There has been a change of plan, please come to the old place as soon as possible.

Lu Yang finished reading the note, his brow furrowed. A change of plans? What on earth had happened?

He raised his head and looked at Ye Wanru, only to find that Ye Wanru's face was even paler and her eyes were full of fear.

"What's wrong?" Lu Yang had an ominous premonition in his heart.

Ye Wanru took a deep breath and said tremblingly: "I...I'm exposed."

Lu Yang suddenly felt a chill running from his feet to his head. Exposed? What did this mean?

"They... they already know our plan." Ye Wanru's voice became smaller and smaller, almost inaudible.

Lu Yang's head was buzzing, as if it was about to explode. He knew that things were getting more complicated.

"We must leave here immediately." Lu Yang made a quick decision.

"But..." Ye Wanru hesitated, "Will there be an ambush at the old place?"

Lu Yang gritted his teeth, a look of determination flashing in his eyes. "I can't care less, let's get out of here first."

He took Ye Wanru's hand and rushed into the wind and snow.