Spy war in the Republic of China, peak undercover

"How many clues do we have about their actions?" Lu Yang asked.

Ye Wanru shook her head. "There aren't many clues. They're acting very cautiously. All we know is that they'll be making an important transfer of supplies soon, and it's very likely related to the weapons stolen."

Lu Yang's eyes fell on the map, which was a detailed map of Chongqing city with several suspicious locations circled in red.

"We must first find their lair," Lu Yang said in a deep voice, "Only by uprooting them can we completely dismantle this organization."

Ye Wanru stared at the map and fell into deep thought.

"Judging from their activity patterns, they should have a secret contact point or a safe hiding place," Ye Wanru said softly. "Can we start with Li Ming?"

Lu Yang raised his eyebrows and looked at Ye Wanru. "You mean, follow him?"

Ye Wanru nodded. "This is the most direct method, but also the most dangerous. Li Ming is a cautious person and has strong anti-reconnaissance capabilities."

"I know." Lu Yang stood up and walked to the window, looking out at the hazy night of Chongqing. "But we don't have time. We have to take this risk."

"I'll go on the tracking mission myself." Lu Yang said in a firm tone.

Ye Wanru shook her head. "No, you can't go. Although you've been recalled by the Military Control Commission, the police's wanted warrant hasn't been revoked. If the police find you, it will cause unnecessary trouble. Besides, you haven't been seen in Chongqing often, which could easily alert Tanaka Ichiro."

Lu Yang turned around and looked at Ye Wanru with a questioning look in his eyes. "What are you going to do?"

Ye Wanru walked to the table and picked up a document with the words "Action Plan" written on it.

"My identity is a colonel in the Military Control Commission, responsible for intelligence analysis. My actions are legal within the Military Control Commission. I will approach Li Ming with my new identity and obtain clues from him." Ye Wanru said calmly.

Lu Yang's face darkened. "It's too dangerous, Wanru. Li Ming is no ordinary traitor. He's likely under surveillance by Tanaka Ichiro's men. If you're exposed, the consequences will be disastrous."

Ye Wanru looked directly into Lu Yang's eyes, without a trace of retreat in her eyes. "This is the most effective and fastest way. Besides, I have a deep understanding of Tanaka Ichiro's psychology, so I am confident."

Lu Yang's heart was filled with worry, but he knew Ye Wanru's professional ability and her determination. She was never someone who would give up easily.

"How do you need me to cooperate?" Lu Yang finally compromised. He knew that this was not the time to argue, and they had to cooperate closely.

A smile crossed Ye Wanru's face. "You will be responsible for peripheral support, providing the necessary fire cover and retreat routes. Once I give the signal, you must arrive immediately."

Lu Yang nodded. He knew this was the greatest support he could give Ye Wanru. "I'll stay outside until you come out safely."

"There's one more thing." Ye Wanru lowered her voice a bit, a hint of mystery in her eyes, "I also want to use your 'identity' to put some pressure on him."

Lu Yang was stunned for a moment, then he understood what Ye Wanru meant. Although his identity as a major general in the Military Control Commission was not public, it was a deterrent to some intelligence personnel.

"You mean, use the fact that I killed Zhang Datou to intimidate Li Ming?" Lu Yang asked.

Ye Wanru smiled but didn't answer directly. Instead, she picked up the phone and dialed a number. "Hello, is this Captain Wu? I need some rumors about the Night Owl. I want something that'll give people the chills."

Lu Yang looked at Ye Wanru and sighed at her plan. He knew that she would not only use his public identity, but also the mysterious and even bloody aura around him to put psychological pressure on the enemy.

Over the next few days, rumors about "Night Owl" began to spread throughout Chongqing. Some claimed he was ruthless, others said he was elusive, and still others claimed he was a killer secretly trained by the Military Control Commission to deal with troublesome traitors and spies. These rumors spread like a plague through Chongqing's underworld, making those with ulterior motives feel uneasy.

As someone in the intelligence community, Li Ming naturally heard these rumors as well. Suspicious by nature, these rumors, both true and false, dogged him like a thorn in his side, keeping him awake and unable to eat. He began to wonder if something had gone wrong somewhere on his end, attracting the terrifying "Night Owl" of the Military Control Commission.

With Ye Wanru's careful planning, her new identity as an "intelligence expert" transferred from Shanghai naturally led her to cross paths with Li Ming. Taking advantage of an accidental "opportunity", Ye Wanru established a connection with Li Ming's company under the pretext of handling a small-scale smuggling case.

It was an ordinary afternoon at the Chongqing docks. Amid the bustling crowd, Ye Wanru, dressed in a plain cheongsam and exuding elegance, was chatting with a dock manager, a document in hand. Her gaze casually swept over a short, plump figure arguing with several porters not far away. It was Li Ming.

"Mr. Li, please stay." Ye Wanru's voice was crisp and pleasant, with a hint of official majesty.

Li Ming turned around when he heard the voice and saw Ye Wanru, a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes. "Miss, are you calling me?"

Ye Wanru walked up to Li Ming with a formal smile on her face. "I'm Ye Wanru, a special commissioner from the Ministry of Military Affairs. I have a few questions for Mr. Li."

Li Ming's heart trembled, but he remained calm on the surface. "Special Commissioner Ye, what can I do for you?"

Ye Wanru pulled a document from her bag and handed it to Li Ming. "This is an investigation document regarding several recent smuggling cases, involving several unidentified accounts at your company. We suspect someone is using your company to conduct illegal transactions."

Li Ming took the document and scanned it quickly, his mind already understanding. The Military Control Commission was targeting him. He immediately realized that this might be related to the rumors about "Night Owl."

"Special Commissioner Ye, there must be some misunderstanding here." Li Ming forced a smile, but his tone was a little stiff. "Our company has always been law-abiding and would never participate in any illegal transactions."

Ye Wanru looked at him with a half-smile. "Mr. Li, words are not enough. We need to check your bank's accounts to prove your innocence."

Li Ming's heartbeat began to accelerate. He knew that once the Military Control Commission intervened, his secret could be exposed at any time.

"Well...Special Commissioner Ye, the bank's accounts are commercial secrets. I'm sorry that I can't show them to anyone at will." Li Ming's attitude became tough.

Ye Wanru's face darkened, her eyes sharp as a knife. "Mr. Li, please cooperate with our investigation. Otherwise, we have the right to take compulsory measures."

She paused, her tone becoming more meaningful. "Chongqing has been quite unstable lately. Some people have been doing things they shouldn't be doing, which has attracted people they shouldn't be messing with. I hear there's a rumor going around about a 'Night Owl' lately. He's ruthless and ruthless, leaving no one alive, and he specializes in cleaning out those filthy creatures."

When Li Ming heard the word "Night Owl," his body trembled violently, and beads of sweat oozed out of his forehead. He knew the rumors about "Night Owl," of course, and those gory details made him shudder. Ye Wanru's words were undoubtedly a warning to him.

"Special Commissioner Ye, can you give me a few days' grace? I need time to sort out the accounts." Li Ming's voice trembled slightly.

Ye Wanru looked at him with a half-smile, but didn't respond directly. She simply pulled a business card from her pocket and handed it to him. "Here's my contact information, Mr. Li. Please think about it carefully when you get home. We, the Military Control Commission, have always been impartial, but we will never tolerate treachery. Remember, you don't have much time left."

After saying that, Ye Wanru turned around and left the dock with her assistant.

Li Ming held the business card like a branding iron. He looked up at Ye Wanru's retreating figure, his heart filled with fear and uneasiness. He knew that the Military Control Commission had set its sights on him, and the so-called "Night Owl" was like a sword hanging over his head.

He had to report this to Ichiro Tanaka as soon as possible and seek a solution. He had a vague feeling that this time, he might be in big trouble.

Meanwhile, hidden on the second floor of a teahouse across from the pier, Lu Yang sat by the window, taking it all in through a telescope. He saw the sweat on Li Ming's forehead and the fear in his eyes, and he knew that Ye Wanru's first move had succeeded.

"The rat has taken the bait." Lu Yang curled his lips into a cold smile. He put away the telescope and his eyes fell on the cargo ship at the dock that was about to set sail.

In the twilight of night, Lu Yang and Ye Wanru walked side by side on the streets of Chongqing. Their shadows were stretched long by the streetlights, as if foreshadowing the complexity and length of this mission.

"The Director's arrangements are very thorough." Ye Wanru whispered, "But Tanaka Ichiro is no fool. He must be on guard as well."

Lu Yang nodded, his eyes scanning the dark corner of the street. "So we have to proceed with caution. The plan mentioned that Li Ming would go to the underground tavern in 'Bluestone Alley' to meet with an intelligence dealer named 'Old Eight'."

"Then let's ambush outside the tavern first." Ye Wanru's tone was calm, but with a hint of unquestionable determination.

"Yeah." Lu Yang responded without stopping.

The two of them walked through several alleys and finally arrived at Qingshi Lane. The alley was narrow and deep, with mottled brick walls on both sides. At the entrance of the alley hung a dim lantern with the words "Zuimenglou" written on it.

The pub looked shabby, but it was bustling with people. Two men dressed as waiters were standing at the door, with sharp eyes, constantly looking at the people coming in and out.

Lu Yang and Ye Wanru went around to the back alley of the tavern, squatted down in a blind corner, and carefully observed the surrounding environment.

"We can't just rush in," Lu Yang whispered. "If there really are Japanese spies inside, they'll definitely set a trap."

"I agree." Ye Wanru nodded, "We can wait until they come out before taking action."

The two looked at each other and reached a tacit consensus.

As time passed, the tavern became noisy, with cups clinking and laughter and insults emanating from the room. Around midnight, a figure emerged from the tavern.

The man was wearing a long gown and walked with steady steps. He looked like a veteran.

"It's Lao Ba." Lu Yang confirmed in a low voice.

Lao Ba looked around and then walked quickly towards the end of the alley.

Lu Yang and Ye Wanru followed quietly.

After walking for a while, Lao Ba suddenly stopped and looked around, as if he had noticed something. But he didn't stay for long and continued forward.

"He's testing me." Ye Wanru said softly.

Lu Yang didn't say anything, but just tightened his grip on the gun at his waist.

Just then, Lao Ba suddenly turned into a dead end and quickened his pace.

"Something's wrong!" Lu Yang shouted softly and rushed forward suddenly with accelerated speed.

Just as they approached the entrance of the alley, a dark shadow suddenly pounced out!

Lu Yang reacted extremely quickly, dodging the attack and at the same time raised his right hand and punched the opponent in the face!

There was a "click" sound, and the man fell to the ground with a groan.

"Don't move! Or I'll shoot!" Ye Wanru had already pulled out her pistol and pointed it at another figure that flashed out from the shadows.

The man raised his hands in surrender, a look of fear on his face.

"Who are you?" Lu Yang asked coldly.

"I'm... I'm Lao Ba's bodyguard," the man stammered. "We were just trying to get rid of the pursuers."

"Get rid of them?" Lu Yang sneered, "Do you think we are plainclothes police officers?"

The man's expression changed, as if he realized that he had said the wrong thing.

"Where is Ichiro Tanaka?" Lu Yang asked.

"I don't know... I'm just in charge of liaison." The man explained anxiously.

Lu Yang narrowed his eyes and stared at him for a while, then turned to look at Ye Wanru: "Take him back for interrogation."

Ye Wanru nodded, tied up the man with a rope, and escorted him back.

When they returned to the secret base of the Military Control Commission, Dai Li was sitting inside the house waiting for them.

"How's it going?" he asked.

"We caught one of Lao Ba's bodyguards," Lu Yang replied. "He said Ichiro Tanaka might not be in Chongqing, but in Hankou."

"Hankou?" Dai Li frowned. "How did you know?"

"I analyzed it based on what he said." Lu Yang walked to the table and pointed to several points on the map. "Old Eight has been traveling frequently between Chongqing and Wuhan recently, which means they are preparing to relocate. And—" He paused, "The captured bodyguard mentioned that a woman named 'Hongyun' is cooperating with the Japanese."

Dai Li's face suddenly darkened. "Hong Yun? Have you investigated this person?"

Ye Wanru shook her head. "No information at the moment."

"Investigate immediately," Dai Li ordered. "She may well have access to all the Japanese intelligence networks in Chongqing."

"Yes!" Lu Yang and Ye Wanru answered in unison.

After leaving the room, Ye Wanru looked through the documents and asked Lu Yang, "Who do you think this Hong Yun is?"

Lu Yang pondered for a moment and slowly said, "If it's true, then she is either a member of the Red Party or a traitor who betrayed the organization."

"What do you think?"

"The Red Party couldn't have let the Japanese infiltrate so easily." Lu Yang shook his head, "So I'm more inclined to believe he's a traitor."

Ye Wanru nodded. "Then let's check it out."

In the next few days, the two stayed up almost all night, collecting information about "Red Cloud" through various channels.

Finally, the clue was found in an old newspaper.