Spy war in the Republic of China, peak undercover

"Lu Yang, the Shanzitang's influence in Shancheng is so deep and complex that it poses a serious threat to the Party-state's rule and the people's stability.

I've decided to conduct a complete cleanup of the Shanzitang! "Chen Yijun's voice echoed in Lu Yang's office, with unquestionable determination. In her hand was a detailed investigation report, which listed the various crimes committed by the Fifth Master of the Shanzitang and his subordinates in recent years.

Lu Yang put down the case file and looked up at Chen Yijun. She was wearing a crisp, dark blue Central Committee uniform, which made her look even more heroic, yet also radiated a chilling aura. He knew Chen Yijun was serious this time.

"Yijun, you know better than I do how deeply the Shanzitang has its roots in Shancheng," Lu Yang said calmly. "Pao-Brother culture has a long history in the Sichuan and Chongqing regions, and even a single move can have far-reaching consequences. Taking rash, large-scale action could cause unnecessary unrest and even be exploited by Japanese spies."

Chen Yijun snorted coldly, "Womanly kindness! Lu Yang, have you forgotten that Shanzitang secretly colluded with Japanese spies, smuggled contraband, and may even be involved in deeper espionage activities? Doesn't the clue about 'Nightingale' point to them? If we don't eradicate this cancer, how can we talk about resisting the Japanese and saving the country?"

Lu Yang was certainly aware of the dangers posed by the Shanzi Tang, and the records in his notebook were shocking. But he was even more aware that Chen Yijun's actions, beyond the so-called "elimination of harm for the country," were likely also tainted by the long-standing power struggle between the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics and the Military Bureau of Investigation. The Shanzi Tang, to some extent, was inextricably linked to certain factions within the Military Bureau of Investigation. Eliminating the Shanzi Tang would undoubtedly weaken the Military Bureau of Investigation's influence in Shancheng, something the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics would welcome.

"Yijun, I have no objection to eradicating the Pao brothers." Lu Yang pondered for a moment and said, "But the methods and approaches are worth discussing. If we attack with all our might, some will inevitably slip through the net, and we might even alert the real mastermind and let him escape. Moreover, if the operation gets out of control and triggers large-scale social unrest, neither you nor I can bear the responsibility."

Chen Yijun's eyes were sharp as a knife: "So what do you think?"

Lu Yang stood up and walked to the window, looking out at the bustling streets. "Yijun, a head-on confrontation with this local tyrant isn't the best strategy. How about... let's try a different approach?"

"What kind of game is this?" There was a hint of impatience in Chen Yijun's tone, but there was also a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

Lu Yang turned around, a meaningful smile on his face: "Yijun, have you heard of 'cutting off the firewood from under the cauldron'?"

Chen Yijun raised her eyebrows slightly. "You mean..."

"The Shanzitang's ability to run rampant in Shancheng stems from a few factors: first, the brotherhood and tight organization of the Pao brothers; second, their control over smuggling channels and the resulting illegal income; and third, their collusion with certain officials," Lu Yang analyzed slowly. "To completely dismantle the Shanzitang, we must address these three areas."

"First, we can use the intelligence networks of the Military and Central Bureaus to gather information about the conflicts and corruption within the Shanzitang, sow discord, and disintegrate their organization. The Pao brothers are not monolithic, and it's not uncommon for brothers to turn against each other and for the sake of profit to fight among themselves."

"Second, cut off their financial resources. We can work with customs and the anti-smuggling team to crack down on their smuggling channels. At the same time, we can shut down their various illegal businesses in Shancheng, such as opium dens and casinos. Without a source of income, Shanzitang will be like a stream without a source."

"Third, and most crucially, we must remove their protective umbrella. We can secretly gather evidence against officials who colluded with the Shanzitang and, when the time is right, bring them down in one fell swoop. Without official protection, the Shanzitang will be like a snake with a broken spine."

Chen Yijun listened quietly to Lu Yang's analysis, the impatience in her eyes gradually giving way to solemnity. The three points Lu Yang raised were indeed the key to attacking Shanzitang.

"It's easy to say," Chen Yijun pondered, "but implementing it is fraught with difficulty at every step. Especially those officials who are colluding with the Shanzitang, many of whom hold high positions of power. If we're not careful, we could end up in trouble."

Lu Yang walked up to Chen Yijun and looked at her with a burning gaze. "Yijun, there are risks and rewards. If we succeed, not only can we eradicate the cancer that is Shanzitang, but we can also follow the clues and unearth a deeper network of Japanese spies, and even...reach the power of that mysterious 'employer'."

Chen Yijun's heart skipped a beat. Lu Yang's words had stirred a deep desire in her to find the truth. She knew that the "employer forces" Lu Yang was referring to were most likely the mastermind behind the "Sakura Club" she had been tracking.

"This plan requires the joint efforts of the Military Control Commission and the Central Control Commission." Chen Yijun said, with a hint of relaxation in her tone.

Lu Yang nodded. "That's right. Yijun, I know you and I belong to different camps, and there are some grudges between us. But in this national crisis, do we have a common enemy?"

Chen Yijun fell silent. The relationship between her and Lu Yang wasn't just about opposing factions; it also involved complex emotional entanglements. But at this moment, she had to admit that Lu Yang was right.

"Okay." Chen Yijun finally made up her mind, a look of determination flashing in her eyes. "Lu Yang, I'll trust you for once. I agree to this plan. But you have to remember, if I find out that you have other intentions, or if you use this to deal with the Central Bureau of Investigation, I will never let you go!"

Lu Yang extended his hand: "Yijun, it's a pleasure to work with you."

Chen Yijun looked at his outstretched hand, hesitated for a moment, and finally shook it. The two hands that had once held each other on campus were now tightly clasped together again because of a common enemy, but this time, their identities were no longer the same.

The tiles on the roof made a crackling sound under Lu Yang, like grinding teeth.

He gripped the edge of the tile tightly, letting the broken pieces pierce his palm and ooze blood. This erroneous investigation had led him to the Avengers' lair.

Cold sweat slid down my spine, soaking my underwear in an instant.

He could clearly hear Chen Shougen's off-key singing voice coming from the room. Each note was like a blunt knife, repeatedly cutting through his mind the bloody memories of three years ago.[6] That night, he personally pinned the "Red Party liaison" to the execution stand. The sound of gunfire echoed through the rainy night of Nanjing, confirming the other person's death. Now, this ghost who should have been lying in the loess was standing alive in the room, humming the damned song "Red Rice and Pumpkin Soup." The centipede-shaped scar on the back of Chen Shougen's neck was the mark left by his interrogation. He would not admit his mistake.

The night watchman's footsteps grew closer, and the light from the lantern filtered through the cracks in the beams, casting flickering shadows on the roof. Lu Yang's heart felt as if it were being gripped by an invisible hand, and every beat was accompanied by a tearing pain. He clung to the ridge of the tiles, his body blending into the roof, even deliberately slowing his breathing until he could hardly feel the movement of air.[1]

He knew he had to leave quickly. The night watchman's lantern beam had already swept across the courtyard wall. The door hinges downstairs were still making a harsh creaking sound. Chen Shougen had already entered the inner room, and his humming gradually faded away. This was the only window. Lu Yang quickly glanced around, his eyes landing on the rusty iron drainpipe under the eaves. This pipe seemed out of place among the small town's houses, but now it became his only way out.

He moved cautiously, each step like dancing on the edge of a knife, afraid to break a tile. The cold iron pipe shone dimly in the darkness. He reached out and grasped it, feeling slippery and cold. A stinging pain ran through his fingertips, the scratch from the tile. He ignored the pain, pushing his legs against the wall, and like a giant bat, he slid down silently.[2]

He stumbled as he landed, a sharp pain in his right ankle. He gritted his teeth and quickly retreated into the shadows of the corner. The night watchman's footsteps approached from afar, stopping outside the courtyard gate.

"Old Zhang?!" The night watchman shouted towards the courtyard gate with a puzzled voice.

Lu Yang's heart tightened. Zhang Qishan was still at the landlord's house, "getting to know the people's sentiments"? This old man, he failed at the crucial moment. He pulled out his pistol, the cold barrel resting against his palm, ready to respond to any situation that might arise.

After a while, the gate creaked again, and it was Chen Shougen who pushed the door open and stuck his head out.

"What's the matter, Lao Wang?" Chen Shougen's voice was a little tired, but he seemed extremely alert. He looked around and his eyes swept over the shadow where Lu Yang was hiding.

Lu Yang's heart nearly stopped beating. He could feel Chen Shougen's gaze lingering on him for a moment, like a venomous snake spitting out its tongue. The air seemed to freeze, and he dared not even breathe. He just stared at Chen Shougen, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the pistol.[3]

"Nothing, I just heard some noise here." The night watchman's voice was a little doubtful. He raised the lantern and shone it into the yard. The light flashed across the place where Lu Yang was hiding.

"I was fixing the roof and accidentally dropped a tile," Chen Shougen explained casually, his tone calm and composed. He didn't ask any more questions, just glanced around once more and slowly closed the gate.

Only when the door was sealed and the light completely disappeared did Lu Yang breathe a sigh of relief. He could feel his back was already soaked, and the cold sweat on his forehead flowed into his eyes, causing a stinging sensation. He wasted no time and quickly slipped away from the corner of the wall, following the path he had come from, towards the town entrance.[4]

On the way, he studiously avoided any noise, even the splash of snow. Chen Shougen's nonchalant words, "Repairing the roof," and that eerie Red Party ballad echoed repeatedly in his mind. Why would a man who was supposed to be dead reappear as a carpenter? What deeper secrets lay behind this?

He returned to where he had parked his car, but Li Wei's car was empty. Lu Yang's heart sank. Where had Li Wei gone? Had he been discovered? Or...had he betrayed him? Earlier, when he had searched Chen Shougen's house, he had slipped a note under the passenger seat with the codeword "Wait at the usual place." Now, the note was still there, lying quietly.

Lu Yang's eyes fell on a faint mark on the snow beside the car. It was a handprint, with a few drops of dark red blood scattered nearby. His heart skipped a beat, and he squatted down to examine it carefully. The blood had begun to solidify, proving that Li Wei had been gone for some time. He wiped the blood with a handkerchief, only to discover a familiar lotus pattern embroidered on it—the code for the Red Party contact!

He stood up suddenly, his eyes icy. Li Wei, the police officer he had personally recruited, was actually involved with the Red Party? This shocked and angered him even more than Chen Shougen's resurrection. He remembered that when he was at Zhang Qishan's house, Li Wei had repeatedly tried to smooth things over for Zhang Qishan and was evasive about Chen Shougen's background. It turned out that the old man had known Li Wei's background for a long time, and might even have known Chen Shougen's identity clearly.[5]

Lu Yang clutched the blood-stained handkerchief tightly, his nails nearly piercing his palm. He suddenly realized that from the very beginning, he might have fallen into an elaborate trap. Li Wei was the bait, Zhang Qishan was the pawn, and Chen Shougen was the hunter waiting for him to fall into the trap.

He walked to the car door and opened it, but didn't get in immediately. He pulled the note from under the seat, his eyes fixed on the codeword on it. He had once confidently believed that this was his way of controlling Levi, but now it seemed more like a bait set by the other party.

He did not send a retreat signal. Zhang Qishan was still at the landlord's house. How would he react? Would he be mistaken for "Old Wang next door"? Or would the landlord discover something unusual? Lu Yang sneered. He no longer cared about these things. He only knew that he had to get to the bottom of everything as soon as possible. Chen Shougen's resurrection, Li Wei's sudden disappearance, and the Red Party lotus were like an invisible net that trapped him tightly.[6]

He got into the car, didn't start the engine, and simply sat quietly, smoking one cigarette after another. His face was lost in the smoke in the night, a complex expression on his face. He had once been the sharpest knife in the Military Intelligence Bureau, but now he found himself like a fool, toyed with by a group of "dead men" and "pawns." This humiliation nearly drove him mad.

He thought of the Japanese spies in Huangyangba. They disguised themselves as refugees, yet still lived a respectable life. Meanwhile, Chen Shougen, a true carpenter, lived in such poverty that even his meals consisted of coarse rice and sweet potatoes. This undoubtedly embodied the Red Party's arduous and simple lifestyle.

Lu Yang put out his cigarette butt in the ashtray. He decided not to be passive anymore. He would take the initiative. He wanted to let these “dead men” and “pawns” know that the sword of the Military Control Commission would never rust.[7]

He started the car, and the roar of the engine broke the silence of the town. The car slowly drove out of the town. He didn't look back, but a new plan had already been outlined in his mind.

"Old man, do you think this is over?" Lu Yang muttered to himself in a low voice, his voice cold. "This drama has just begun."

The car disappeared into the night, and the town returned to silence, leaving only the sound of wind and snow, and the faint barking of dogs in the distance.

In Chen Shougen's room, under the dim oil lamp, he hummed a song, picked up a plane, and skillfully polished a piece of wood. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, and a subtle light flashed in his eyes.

"Leaving so soon?" Chen Shougen muttered to himself, a hint of amusement in his voice. He placed the planer on the workbench and picked up the Ta Kung Pao newspaper beside him. The date was exactly the same as the one Lu Yang had seen at the execution ground three years ago.

His fingertips gently stroked a small photo in the newspaper - it was Lu Yang wearing a military uniform, standing in front of the execution team with a grim expression.

"Major General Lu," Chen Shougen's eyes fell on the photo, and the smile on his lips deepened, "Long time no see."