Anti-Japanese War Espionage: I Have an Omniscient Perspective

The news of Lu Dahong's assassination spread throughout the French Concession through various means the following day.

The matter was being discussed everywhere—in the alleyways, in front of newsstands, and on the streets.

Newsboys hawked newspapers still wet with ink, their bold headlines on the front page jarring and alarming: "Lu Dahong, a Chinese chairman in the French Concession, was shot dead in a hail of bullets last night; gunfire at Wing Fung Estate shattered the rainy night."

Inside the tea room on the first floor of the right building of Lianhua Film Studio, steam filled the air as members of the undercover team ate their meals.

They remained silent during the meal, but after finishing, they sat around the wooden table and chatted.

Chen Shan finally inquired about the madman: "Team leader, where did you take that person from the door?"

"Why do you care about this? He's not a Japanese informant," Lin Rui replied.

"Who is that person?" Su Wan asked curiously.

Lin Rui explained, "The 21st Army Group of the Guangxi Clique suffered heavy losses at Yunzaobang. He was the only one left in his unit, and he didn't even know when they were retreating. Nobody cared about him, and he looked like a madman."

"So that's how it is. He's so pitiful. He traveled thousands of miles to fight, and all his comrades died." Su Wan sighed.

Chen Shan hesitated, but ultimately said nothing.

Just then, the cries of newsboys came from outside, and they were especially loud today.

Chen Shan got up and walked to the iron gate. "Kid, come here. What are you shouting for? Who died?"

The newsboy came over and said, "Sir, this is a big deal. I can't explain it clearly. You should buy a newspaper to read it."

"Okay, give me one."

"Which kind do you want? I have some new reports, news reports..."

"I don't read newspapers related to Japanese people. Do you have the Huamei Morning Post?"

"Yes, three copper coins."

Chen Shan paid and returned with a newspaper.

He looked at the headline on the front page and exclaimed in surprise, "Lu Dahong was shot dead last night in Yongfeng Village, riddled with bullets. It seems it was our anti-traitor squad who did it."

"Who is Lu Dahong?" Zhao Erzhu asked.

"I can't explain it to you." Chen Shan ignored him.

Su Wan explained, "The Chinese chairman in the French Concession owns a waterworks, power plant, docks, shipping, steel mill, and hospital. He's very famous. My cousin told me that he made his fortune with the French, and now he's getting close to the Japanese."

Zhao Erzhu echoed, "This traitor should have been dealt with long ago. Relying on the Japanese for support, he acted arrogantly in the concession. Now he's finally gotten his comeuppance."

Chen Shan looked at the newspaper and said, "It says the person who did it was clean and efficient, and escaped unscathed after killing the person. The police didn't even catch a glimpse of him."

The group chatted excitedly, each of them talking at once.

Lin Rui listened calmly, and when others asked for his opinion, he casually added, "Those who betray their country for personal gain never have a good ending."

His tone was calm, his eyes were composed, and his face showed no trace of emotion related to last night's operation, as if the person who had been strategizing and leading the team to take the lives of the traitors in the rainy night was not him at all.

He has now resumed his undercover identity and, in the eyes of others, is merely the manager of Lianhua Film Studio, having absolutely no connection to this sensational assassination case in Shanghai.

After a while, Lin Rui stood up: "I'm going out for a walk."

As the manager, he would go out every day, and the others were used to it, simply responding and continuing their discussion of the thrilling assassination.

......

Lin Rui went out, bought a pack of cigarettes from Sun Xiaoliu's cigarette stall outside the teahouse across the street, finished his daily rendezvous, and then headed south.

Thirty minutes later, we arrived at the intersection of Belle Street and Avenue Joffre, turned east, and arrived at the new contact point.

He entered the stationery store at the new contact point, and as usual, took a thread-bound notebook to the counter to make contact.

After exchanging the secret code, the stationery store owner whispered, "You've come at the right time. The higher-ups want you to report the situation. Go out the back door."

Lin Rui picked up the thread-bound notebook and walked to the back of the stationery store. The clerk waiting there opened a hidden door and they crawled through it together.

As usual, after exiting through the back door, the clerk took out a black hood and had him put it on. They deliberately took a few detours before arriving at the secret hideout.

They were then led up to the third floor, where the hood was removed.

Team Leader Li stood in front of him, pointing to the door behind him: "Go in, the station chief is waiting for you inside."

Immediately, Lin Rui pushed open the door and entered.

The lights were on in the room, and only the station chief was sitting there. The ashtray on the table in front of him was already filled with several cigarette butts.

"Sit down." The stationmaster gestured to the chair opposite him, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable authority.

Lin Rui stood at attention, not sitting down, but straightening his posture, and reported clearly, word by word: "Reporting to the station chief, the assassination of Lu Dahong has been successfully completed. The target has been confirmed dead, and all team members have safely withdrawn. They have been met by the Green Gang brothers in the foreign concessions, and there is currently no risk of exposure."

The stationmaster nodded: "Sit down and explain in detail."

Lin Rui then sat down in the chair.

He spoke about everything from accepting the mission to conduct solo reconnaissance, to meeting with Zhou Zhitang for joint operations, all the way back to the rainy night operation last night.

The entire process of the Yongfeng Estate stand-in operation, from interrogating the maid to pinpointing Building No. 7, to the surprise attack on a rainy night, the chaotic shooting to eliminate the traitors, and the subsequent evacuation and backup, is well-organized and detailed.

After listening quietly, the station chief finally smiled slightly and nodded: "Well done. This operation not only eliminated the traitors but also served as a warning to others, giving those pro-Japanese elements in Shanghai a hard slap in the face."

He picked up a piece of intelligence in front of him: "The concession is in an uproar. The entire police force has been mobilized, turning Yongfeng Village upside down, but they found nothing. The French Concession board of directors is furious and has contacted our people through secret channels, demanding that we hand over the person."

Lin Rui remained unmoved: "The station will naturally not agree."

"Of course." The stationmaster sneered. "Lu Dahong's defection to the Japanese was already a problem in the eyes of the concession's higher-ups. Their anger was simply because they lost face. Seeing our firm stance and unable to find any evidence, they have now compromised, and the matter is considered closed off within the concession."

At this point, the station chief's tone suddenly turned serious: "But the Japanese will definitely not let this go. The Special Higher Police and the military police have already been mobilized, and if they discover anything amiss, the consequences will be unimaginable."

He stared at Lin Rui and issued a death order, word by word: "I'm giving you a gag order now. From this day forward, you are not allowed to mention this operation to anyone, not even within the undercover team. You are not allowed to utter a single word about it. If you leak it, you will be court-martialed."

"Understood, Your Excellency!" Lin Rui replied in a deep voice.

The station chief's expression softened slightly, and he changed the subject, asking about the recent situation of the third undercover team: "You've done a good job establishing a foothold on Belle Street under the cover of Lianhua Film Studio. There are many literary and artistic groups on that street, and most of the shops are bookstores, drama clubs, art studios, and theaters. The Communists must be hiding among them. Continue to maintain good relations and don't make any rash moves."

Lin Rui nodded: "Yes, I have been acting according to orders and maintaining normal contact with all parties without arousing suspicion."