Spy war in the Republic of China, peak undercover

Lu Yang kicked open the door of the French Concession apartment, and Lin Wei followed closely behind him and slipped in.

Qinglan was the last one to come in. He locked the door with his backhand in one smooth move.

"Check the room." Lu Yang lowered his voice and his right hand reached for the pistol at his waist.

The three of them split up. Lu Yang checked the bedroom, Lin Wei the kitchen, and Qing Lan the living room. Every time they opened a drawer or lifted a curtain, it felt like defusing a time bomb.

"Safety."

"Safety."

"Safety."

Three whispers echoed in the darkness. Lu Yang finally breathed a sigh of relief and lit the kerosene lamp on the table. The dim light danced across the three people's faces, casting shadows of varying depths.

"How long can we stay here?" Lin Wei asked while rubbing her sore wrist.

Lu Yang took out his pocket watch and took a look. "Three hours at most. Matsumoto is not a fool. The French Concession is the first place he will search."

Qinglan suddenly took out an oil-paper bag from his pocket and said, "Fill your stomach first."

Inside the paper package were three cold, hardened steamed buns, but none of the three of them disdained them. Lu Yang devoured his portion in two or three bites, not even missing a sesame seed that fell on his palm.

"What should we do next?" Qinglan asked while licking the oil stains on his fingers.

Lu Yang didn't rush to answer. He walked to the window and lifted a corner of the curtain. The streets of the French Concession were strangely quiet, not even a drunk in sight. It was so quiet, so quiet that it made people feel uneasy.

"We need to find a boat." Lu Yang said suddenly.

"Boat?" Lin Wei and Qing Lan asked in unison.

"Yes, the ship to Hong Kong." Lu Yang turned around, the kerosene lamp casting two dancing flames in his eyes. "The Jing'an Temple incident must be reported, but the contact station in Shanghai is useless."

Qinglan frowned: "Now the docks are full of Japanese spies..."

"So we need an insider." Lu Yang pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from the bottom of his shoe. "Old Zhou gave it to me, saying we can contact this person if necessary."

There was only one address on the note: No. 128 Xiafei Road, Yongchang Customs Brokerage.

Lin Wei suddenly grabbed Lu Yang's wrist: "Could this be a trap? Lao Zhou..."

"I believe him." Lu Yang held the note close to the flame and watched it turn to ashes, "just like he believes in me."

The three of them fell silent. The kerosene lamp wick popped.

"I'll go." Qinglan suddenly stood up. "I'm familiar with the customs brokerage firm. I used to..."

"Let's go together." Lu Yang interrupted her, "Three people, three pairs of eyes, can always see more clearly than one person."

Lin Wei had already begun checking her weapon. She removed the magazine and counted the remaining bullets one by one. The sound of metal clashing was particularly crisp in the silence.

“Seven.”

“Five.”

“Three shots.”

Lu Yang pushed the last pistol to Qing Lan: "Use it sparingly."

Qinglan took the gun and suddenly laughed: "Remember what the instructor said during training? One bullet, one enemy..."

"Don't waste it," the three of them said in unison, and then they all laughed. The smile quickly disappeared in the solemn atmosphere.

Lu Yang blew out the kerosene lamp. Darkness instantly engulfed the entire room.

"Walk."

The three of them slipped out of the apartment like shadows. A fog had settled on the streets of the French Concession, a damp, cold mist tangling around their trouser legs. Lu Yang led the charge, Lin Wei in the middle, and Qing Lan at the rear, maintaining a perfect distance between them.

The plane trees on Xiafei Road were barely visible in the fog. The sign for the Yongchang Customs Brokerage Company was faded, but still barely recognizable. Lu Yang stopped at the corner and gestured.

“Something’s wrong.” He squinted his eyes. “It’s too bright.”

The light from the windows on the second floor of the customs brokerage was particularly eye-catching during this curfew.

"Maybe someone is waiting for us." Lin Wei whispered.

"Maybe he's waiting for someone else," Qinglan added.

Lu Yang took out three coins from his pocket, threw them into the air, and caught them steadily.

"Old rules. Advance from the front, retreat from the back."

The coin is spread out in the palm of your hand: two heads and one tails.

"It seems that God wants us to take a gamble." Lu Yang put the coin back into his pocket. "Qinglan, you stay outside and keep watch. Lin Wei and I will go in."

Qinglan wanted to say something, but ultimately just nodded. She retreated to the telephone booth across the street, her figure immediately blending into the darkness.

Lu Yang and Lin Wei reached the back door of the customs brokerage. The lock was rusty, but a gentle push opened it a crack. They exchanged a glance and slipped inside.

The customs brokerage was filled with goods, and the air was filled with the scent of tung oil and tea. Lu Yang moved closer to the pile of goods and suddenly pressed down on Lin Wei's shoulder.

There were footsteps upstairs, and... the sound of an abacus?

The two of them tiptoed up the stairs. Light from the second floor leaked through the crack in the door, drawing a golden line on the ground. Lu Yang pressed his ear to the door.

"...30% is too little, it should be at least 50%." said a hoarse male voice.

"Fifty percent? Do you think I'm running a charity?" Another voice sneered, "In this world, being able to ship things out is a skill..."

Lu Yang suddenly pushed the door open and walked in.

The conversation in the room suddenly stopped. Behind the desk sat a middle-aged man wearing round-framed glasses, and across from him was a tall, thin man in a long gown. They both turned their heads at the same time, their expressions frozen.

"Excuse me." Lu Yang pointed his gun at them. "Excuse me, who is 'Abacus Li'?"

The man with glasses was the first to react: "Are you...Lao Zhou's people?"

The man in the long gown suddenly leaped up, pulling out a dagger from his sleeve. Lin Wei's gun fired first, the bullet grazed the man's ear and lodged in the wall.

"The next shot won't miss." Lin Wei said coldly.

The man in the long gown froze in place, and the dagger fell to the ground with a clang.

The man with glasses—it seemed he was Abacus Li—wiped the sweat from his forehead: "We can talk it over... Did something happen to Old Zhou?"

"We need a boat to Hong Kong," Lu Yang said, getting straight to the point. "The sooner the better."

Suanpan Li's glasses caught the light. "The inspections are stricter now... you have to pay more."

Lu Yang slapped a stack of French currency on the table: "Is that enough?"

Without even counting, Li Shuan shook his head: "Who wants this now? Either US dollars or big yellow croaker."

Lin Wei suddenly took out a cloth bag from her waist and poured out three gold bars: "Is it enough to buy your life?"

Suanpan Li's eyes lit up immediately. He reached out to grab it, but Lu Yang raised the muzzle of his gun and said, "Do it first."

"Tomorrow evening at midnight." Suanpan Li retracted his hand. "Go to Shiliupu Wharf and look for First Mate Wang of the Changhe. Just say...just say you're here to deliver tea."

Lu Yang put away the gold bars: "If the ship doesn't arrive..."

"I'll use my head as your chamber pot!" Suanpan Li swore.

Suddenly, three cat meows were heard from downstairs—Qinglan's secret signal. Lu Yang's face changed: "Someone is coming."

The man in the long gown suddenly rushed to the window: "Help! There's..."

Lu Yang's bullet pierced his throat with pinpoint accuracy. Suanpan Li collapsed in his chair, his crotch soaked.

"Remember, tomorrow night at midnight." Lu Yang said this and pulled Lin Wei out of the room.

There were already chaotic footsteps and Japanese shouts coming from downstairs. The two rushed out from the back door and bumped into Qinglan who came to meet them.

"Spies from the police station!" Qinglan said hurriedly, "At least six, all armed!"

The three of them entered the alley. Footsteps were getting closer behind them, and flashlight beams were flickering across the walls.

"Separate!" Lu Yang made a quick decision. "See you at the dock tomorrow night!"

Lin Wei was about to say something when Lu Yang pushed her into a forked path. Qing Lan understood and ran in another direction. Lu Yang deliberately made noises to draw the pursuers towards him.

He wandered through the maze of alleys, his heart beating so fast that it seemed like it was going to explode in his chest.

Turning a corner, I suddenly bumped into a wall of flesh - a burly man in a police uniform.

"I got you!" The big man raised his baton with a grin.

Lu Yang ducked to avoid the attack and hit the opponent in the ribs with an elbow.

The big man bent over in pain, and Lu Yang took the opportunity to throw him over his shoulder, knocking him heavily to the ground.

The baton rolled to the side, Lu Yang picked it up and ran towards the alley entrance.

A whistle sounded behind me, and more footsteps came from all directions.

Lu Yang suddenly stopped - there was a dead end ahead.

There were high walls on three sides, and the only way out was blocked by five armed secret agents.

Lu Yang slowly turned around and spun the baton in his palm.

"Looks like tonight..." He grinned, revealing his sharp white teeth, "I need to stretch my legs."

Five secret agents stared at Lu Yang with their gun muzzles like the eyes of poisonous snakes.

"Put down your weapons and put your hands up!" the leading spy shouted sternly, his voice echoing in the narrow alley.

The baton in Lu Yang's hand dropped, making a slight metallic friction sound. He looked around, the high walls like a cage, trapping him inside.

"It seems that I can't escape tonight." Lu Yang's mouth curled up with a hint of sarcasm, but his eyes were as cold as a knife.

"Stop talking nonsense! If you don't surrender, we will shoot!" another spy roared impatiently, his finger already on the trigger.

Lu Yang suddenly laughed, and his laughter seemed particularly abrupt in the quiet alley.

"Shoot? Are you sure... you dare to shoot here?" Lu Yang's voice was not loud, but it carried a heart-pounding chill.

The spies looked at each other, indeed they were a little hesitant. This was the French Concession, and although they were from the police station, firing at random would also get them into trouble.

"Don't listen to his nonsense! He's just stalling for time!" The leading spy seemed to see through Lu Yang's intentions and raised his gun again. "This is your last warning. Put down your weapons!"

Lu Yang's eyes narrowed. He knew that he couldn't wait any longer.

Just when he was about to risk everything and fight to the death, a clear female voice suddenly rang out at the entrance of the alley.

"stop!"

The voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable majesty.

The spies looked in the direction of the sound and saw a graceful woman in cheongsam slowly walking out from the shadows at the alley entrance.

The woman's face was delicately made up, her eyebrows and eyes were picturesque, and her gaze was radiant. In her hand, she held a small, exquisite Browning pistol, the muzzle of which was pointed directly at the leading spy.

"Who are you? How dare you commit murder with guns in the French Concession?" The woman's voice was as clear and pleasant as a yellow oriole singing in a valley, but the chill in her words made the spies shudder.

"Who are you? Mind your own business!" the leading spy shouted in a stern voice.

"It doesn't matter who I am. What's important is that you leave here immediately. Otherwise, don't blame me for being rude." The muzzle of the gun in the woman's hand was slightly raised, revealing a dangerous arc.

The spies looked at each other in bewilderment. They could tell that this woman was not to be trifled with. Moreover, the gun in her hand was no joke.

"We are from the French Concession Police Station and we are performing our duties!" The leading detective tried to use his identity to intimidate others.

"Can people from the police station bully others at will?" The woman sneered, "I don't care who you are, leave now, otherwise, you will bear the consequences!"

The spies hesitated. They could tell the woman wasn't joking. Besides, they didn't want to make a big deal out of it.

"Let's go!" The leading spy gritted his teeth and finally chose to retreat.

The five secret agents put away their guns in disappointment and left the alley in embarrassment.

Lu Yang looked at the woman in front of him, his heart full of doubts.

Who is this woman and why is she helping him?

"Thank you for saving me, young lady." Lu Yang said with a fist salute.

"You're welcome." The woman put away her gun, walked up to Lu Yang, and looked him up and down. "You are Lu Yang, right?"

Lu Yang was shocked. "Does the girl know me?"

"I guess so." The woman smiled, her smile blooming like a hundred flowers. "Someone asked me to help you."

"Who?" Lu Yang asked.

"Someone... you don't know." The woman smiled mysteriously. "Come with me. It's not safe here."

Lu Yang hesitated for a moment, but finally followed the woman out of the dark alley.

The two walked through several streets and came to a luxurious house.

"This is my home. It's safe for now." The woman pushed open the door and walked in.

Lu Yang followed him into the villa and saw that it was decorated magnificently, obviously belonging to a wealthy family.

"Girl, you haven't told me who you are yet?" Lu Yang asked again.

"My name is Su Manshu." The woman smiled slightly. "I'm from the 'Mei Agency'."

"Mei mechanism?!" Lu Yang's face changed drastically, and his eyes were full of vigilance.

The Mei Agency was an important base established by the Japanese secret service in Shanghai, specializing in intelligence gathering and subversion. This woman was actually from the Mei Agency!

"Don't be nervous, I'm not your enemy." Su Manshu seemed to see through Lu Yang's thoughts and said lightly.

"Then why are you helping me?" Lu Yang asked puzzledly.

"Because... we have a common enemy." A complicated look flashed in Su Manshu's eyes. "Matsumoto Shixiong is also my enemy."

Lu Yang's heart moved. Could it be that there was some grudge between this woman and Matsumoto Shixiong?

"I don't understand what you mean." Lu Yang said.

"You'll understand later." Su Manshu walked to the wine cabinet, took out two high-heeled glasses, and poured red wine into them. "Now, let's talk about cooperation first."

"Cooperation?" Lu Yang frowned slightly.

"That's right, cooperation." Su Manshu picked up the wine glass and gently swirled the red wine in it. "I know you're looking for a boat to Hong Kong. I can help you."

"What are your conditions?" Lu Yang asked. He didn't believe there was a free lunch in the world.

"My condition is very simple. Help me get rid of Matsumoto Shio." A hint of murderous intent flashed in Su Manshu's eyes.

Lu Yang was silent. He had not expected that this woman would actually put forward such a condition.

"Why should I believe you?" Lu Yang asked.

"Because you have no other choice." Su Manshu smiled slightly and handed a glass of red wine to Lu Yang. "Besides, we have the same goal, don't we?"

Lu Yang took the wine glass and looked at the bright red liquid in the glass, with a lot of thoughts in his mind.

Who is this Su Manshu? What deep hatred exists between her and Matsumoto Shixiong?

Can he trust her?