Chapter 11: Arms

Three Japanese spies at the same time?

This came as a big surprise to Zhang Yong.

Could it be a group crime? And a backup?

It's a bit of a problem.

I can't deal with it.

There are only six of us.

There's no way we can fight three with six.

Never mind that for now. Hurry up and follow them. Soon, they found the three Japanese.

But they weren't in disguise.

They were all dressed as Japanese ronin and were sitting inside a café. They were gesticulating. They seemed to be in high spirits.

Frowning.

Could the murderers be them?

Or one of them?

'Could it be them?' Cao Mengqi also saw them.

'I'm not sure,' Zhang Yong shook his head. He could only tell who was Japanese. He couldn't tell who was a Japanese spy.

If they were Japanese disguised as Chinese, then there was definitely something wrong.

However, if they are Japanese who are acting openly, then it is hard to say. He cannot arrest anyone rashly either.

At present, China and Japan are not officially at war. The Japanese can move freely in the Songhu area. Without concrete evidence, it is useless to arrest them.

'Investigate the time they spent in the store.'

'Okay.'

Cao Mengqi sent someone over.

The results of the investigation came quickly. These three Japanese people have been sitting there for two or three hours.

The waiter had a very strong impression of them. Because they had been very noisy. They had sung and danced as if they owned the place, as if they were Japanese. Very arrogant.

He was 100% sure that none of the three Japanese had left the premises.

The café had been keeping an eye on them for fear that they might try to leave without paying.

'They're not the ones,' Cao Mengqi said angrily.

'It's better if they're not,' Zhang Yong let out a sigh of relief. It was actually a good thing to rule them out.

So, has the murderer already fled?

Zhang Yong felt that it was unlikely. A long-distance transfer would increase the possibility of exposure.

The greatest possibility is to hide nearby.

Perhaps, there is a safe house of the Japanese invaders nearby.

Lin Xiaoyan had a spare safe house nearby. The radio and code book were kept here. Other Japanese invaders may also have them.

What should be done?

Only a painstaking effort can be made to search in a grid pattern.

One street is searched after another. As far as possible, all areas are kept within the range shown on the map.

The premise is that the person firing the gun is Japanese.

If it isn't, then it will be very troublesome.

However, Zhang Yong feels that, given the Japanese character of seeking revenge, the person firing the gun is definitely Japanese.

They want revenge. They want to provoke. They can't do it through the hands of a traitor.

'I'll search every street.'

'There are too many streets. We won't be able to search them all.'

'I only need to walk through them once. You all follow me. There's no need to spread out.'

'That's fine.'

Cao Mengqi had no objections.

The worst thing to do would be to search house by house.

Not only would it be a waste of manpower and resources, it would basically be ineffective.

They were all professional agents, so how could you possibly search house by house and find them? He had already thought of how to deal with it.

Frankly speaking, in terms of professionalism, the Japanese spies were more professional than the Lixing Club.

Zhang Yong led the men in a grid search.

Suddenly he asked, 'Captain Cao, are we at the Lixing Club all so short of people?'

Cao Mengqi answered sullenly, 'Not really. We had more than a hundred people in the Songhu office before. Our team alone had three action teams.'

'So why now...'

'It's not that the Chairman is flying around, busy chasing the Red Party. He's flying here and there all the time. Boss Dai is in charge of security, and he doesn't have enough people either. He has to keep transferring people. That's why everyone at the Songhu office has been transferred. There's only one team left, Team 8. And I'm the only person left in Team 8.'

'I understand,'

Zhang Yong nodded. He didn't ask any more questions.

At the moment, Zhang Yong's thoughts were still on the pursuit of the Red Army. But the Red Army had already crossed the Chishui River four times, shaking off the main force of the White Army and advancing towards Sichuan and Chongqing.

'Did you hear that they're talking about upgrading the Songhu District?'

'I heard. But Director Tang may not be able to come back. If they replace the district head, we won't have an easy time.'

'Which Director Tang?'

'Let's find the Japanese spy first!'

Cao Mengqi didn't answer directly. He probably felt that the topic was sensitive.

Zhang Yong immediately shut up. He was just asking.

He guessed that this Director Tang might be Tang Zong.

Boss Dai, Zheng Jiemin, and Tang Zong were known as the early Big Three of the Military Commission.

The big shots were fighting like gods, and the little soldiers like them only had to suffer.

So, they quickly made money when they could. Otherwise, they would not have the chance in the future. When the direct descendants returned, they would have nothing to do.

This is not the case. Li Boqi's previous words revealed a piece of news.

Boss Dai's promises are not always worth much. What seem to be bright promises may just be an empty cheque.

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Zhang Yong examined himself.

He was not from Jiangsu or Zhejiang.

He was not from the Whampoa Military Academy.

And he had not attended any real training courses.

He guessed that it would not be easy to become Boss Dai's right-hand man. Other people would also try to block his way.

The struggle was fierce outside.

The internal struggles are just as fierce. Maybe even more so.

The crucial thing is that catching Japanese spies is not currently the focus of Boss Dai's work. He is more concerned with making money.

Haha...

The future is really hard to say.

It's too much trouble to think about it. Just bury your head in catching Japanese spies. Catch as many as possible!

As time goes by, and the national enthusiasm for the war against Japan grows, sooner or later Boss Dai's focus will have to return to the struggle against Japan.

Suddenly there is a discovery.

A red dot.

A Japanese!

Immediately turn. Move towards the target.

Gradually approaching. Discovered is a slum. Everywhere messy.

Closer and closer to the target.

See the target.

Is a porter. Very strong.

He is sitting in front of his house. Behind is a thatched cottage. Very dilapidated.

Zhang Yong does not move a muscle.

This coolie porter is definitely a Japanese spy.

A Japanese person, disguised as a coolie porter, living in such a place is really crazy!

Seeing Zhang Yong and the others appear with guns, the coolie porter seemed a little surprised. But he didn't seem too nervous. He acted quite naturally. Cao Mengqi and Wei Yong didn't feel anything was wrong.

Until...

Zhang Yong suddenly drew his gun and aimed at the target.

'Don't move!'

The coolie porter was slightly stunned. A flash of anger crossed his eyes.

Cao Mengqi and Wei Yong immediately rushed up.

The coolie porter suddenly reached down and swept up a handful of dust, blocking Cao Mengqi and Wei Yong.

'Bang!'

'Bang!'

The gun went off.

It was Zhang Yong who had fired. Two shots in a row.

Both hits. Precisely on the coolie porter's shins.

The coolie porter immediately wilted and was no longer able to stand up. However, his movements were still ferocious, and he continued to grab dust from the ground and throw it around.

Of course, this was useless. Zhang Yong was using a brand new Browning M1935 high-powered pistol. No matter how brave the Japanese spies were, they could not resist Cao Mengqi and Wei Yong with bullets in their legs. Soon, he was tied up. The knots were firm. A rag was stuffed in his mouth.

Cao Mengqi went in to search his house.

He found the cellar...

He found the ammunition...

'Damn! There's a lot of stuff!'

Cao Mengqi cursed. He came out and slapped the coolie porter.

That was dangerous. Fortunately, he seized the man decisively when he was off guard. Otherwise, once this guy was armed, at least half of them would be dead.

Zhang Yong walked into the thatched hut and inspected the arms in the cellar.

Good stuff, no wonder Cao Mengqi was so surprised. They could equip a small unit.

There were at least five Mosin-Nagant rifles. Five revolvers. Seven Browning pistols. And a large quantity of ammunition. And grenades. And wooden-handled hand grenades.

The pistols are all old-model Browning M1903s, also known as Ma-Pai guns. The calibre is 7.65 mm. The latest Browning M1935 high-powered pistol has a 9 mm calibre. So the bullets for the two are not interchangeable. It seems that the Japanese spy has not yet obtained the latest M1935 model.

'Pang!'

'Pang!'

Outside, Wei Yong is slapping the face of the Japanese spy.

This Japanese spy is also very tough. Tied up tightly, he can still struggle.

The point is, he was very unconvinced. He kept glaring.

He was still so tough even though he had been shot in the legs. One look and you could tell he was a good fighter.

Zhang Yong pulled out his pistol and aimed at the Japanese spy's knees.

'Bang!'

'Bang!'

Two more shots.

He blew both of the Japanese spy's knees away.

Should be quiet now, right?

Sure enough...

The Japanese spy fainted.

'Take him back!'