Chapter 596: Improper motives

For the time being, there is nothing to do.

Apart from being on guard, everyone is arranged to rest.

Zhang Yong also found the best room for himself and slept like a mess. Yang Lichu slept in the next room.

When he woke up, it was already midnight. He was dazed. He was in a daze. Suddenly, he opened his eyes and looked at the bedside phone.

His room had a phone.

For some reason, he felt that the phone might ring.

It was a very strange feeling.

Before, he was often woken up in the middle of the night by the phone. The callers were often unexpected people.

Would there be a call tonight? There was a little expectation.

So he slept on his stomach. Dazedly, he waited for the phone to ring.

As it turned out...

For a long time, the phone didn't ring.

Never mind, I guess it's not coming. Sleep peacefully. I still have work to do tomorrow...

Relax.

Prepare for deep sleep.

'Ring ring ring...'

'Ring ring ring...'

Just then, the phone rang.

Zhang Yong: ...

What's this law called?

When you want it to come, it doesn't. When you don't want it to come, it does...

Rub your eyes.

Brace yourself. Lean half out of bed.

Pick up the receiver.

'Hello.'

'Are you Zhang Yong?'

'Yes, that's me.'

'Someone told me to warn you to leave Hangzhou quickly. Otherwise, you'll be dead.'

'Oh. Who is this...'

Before he could finish, the call was disconnected.

Zhang Yong: ...

It sounds like a threat?

The caller was a stranger. An unfamiliar voice.

I have to leave Hangzhou on my own?

Otherwise, I'll be dead?

Oh, it sounds like that.

That's what the caller said. He said my life would be in danger. But he didn't say I would be killed.

How boring.

Someone actually called to threaten me...

No. Someone called to disturb my sleep.

It's not a bad idea to talk business over the phone in the middle of the night. But threatening me?

If I, Zhang Yong, were to leave Hangzhou because of a phone call, would I still have any face? If you're so capable, come to the Huaqiao Hotel and threaten me in person...

Gently put the receiver down. Pull back the covers. Go back to sleep.

Although the winter nights in Hangzhou are not as cold as those in Tianjin, they are still extremely cold. And there is no heating...

Damn it...

'Ring ring ring...'

'Ring ring ring...'

Suddenly, the phone rings again.

Zhang Yong picks up the receiver. No words. Still threatening? Go ahead.

He's not sleepy anyway. Perfect for listening to the other person fart.

The result...

'Captain Zhang.'

'Captain Zhang.'

It was Jiang Guohu's voice.

Zhang Yong: ?

What is this guy up to? Calling in the middle of the night. Is he trying to tell me that you're planning to run away?

I advise you not to do that.

Otherwise...

A lazy response, 'What is it, Boss Jiang?'

'Well, Captain Zhang, I've got the 50,000 silver taels you asked for...'

'Is that what you wanted to tell me?'

'Sorry to have bothered you. It's just that a friend of mine would like to have a chat with Captain Zhang...'

'What friend?'

'A female friend. Young and pretty...'

'No need. Tomorrow will be fine.'

Zhang Yong understood immediately. This Jiang Guohu. He was testing him.

He must have brought a pretty woman back from outside. And then used her to test him. That was why he deliberately called in the middle of the night.

'Captain Zhang...'

'I have a female colleague living next door. It's not convenient.'

'Ah, I understand.'

'I'll call you when it's convenient. Have her wait for me.'

'Good, good, good!'

'That's it!'

Zhang Yong hung up the phone.

He was thoughtful.

It seemed that Jiang Guohu really wanted to get close to him.

Not only did he send money, he also sent a woman. I guess he wants to get more information from me.

Sure enough, my fictional Plan 226 can also be used to bait fish.

Jiang Guohu must really want to know what it is.

In that case...

Let's reel him in slowly!

On the other end of the line, a woman dressed entirely in black was frowning.

This Zhang Yong, he didn't take the bait?

Hmph, it was only a matter of time.

No fish can resist the bait.

There are so many beautiful women at Tegao Technology, there's bound to be one that suits him.

Kamagawa Kagami was ineffective. That doesn't mean she's ineffective.

She must be better than Kamagawa Kagami.

...

The next day, Zhang Yong got up.

After washing up, he felt refreshed. He walked out of the room and saw Yang Lichu.

Yang Lichu didn't say a word and went straight into his room. She opened the bathroom and the closet and looked around.

'Looking for something?'

'A woman.'

'There wasn't one last night.'

'Just last night?'

'More or less!'

'Pervert.'

Yang Lichu pouted her lips and went happily.

Zhang Yong: ...

I'm stupid! How dare I do anything under your nose?

Other people who cheat on their wives don't even bother to wipe their mouths. I will.

'Captain Zhang.'

'Captain Zhang.'

Suddenly, Jiang Guohu came rushing over.

Zhang Yong then stopped Yang Lichu. He told her to come with him to meet Jiang Guohu.

'Boss Jiang, you're here so early in the morning...'

'This is...'

'Oh. My colleague. He is also my superior. He outranks me. Never mind. Go on.'

'Well, the money you asked for is all ready...'

'Thank you. Give it to me now!'

'Okay. Look...'

Jiang Guohu took out an envelope.

Zhang Yong took it and opened it. He glanced inside.

It was good. All of it was in the form of bank notes. And they were all from Citibank. That's right. Citibank. HSBC. We are very happy to accept them.

'Thank you. As I said, you will be handsomely rewarded when the job is done.'

'Captain Zhang, you're too kind.'

'Mr. Jiang, if you encounter any problems in the future, you can come to me. If I can't solve it, I'll find someone who can. Including the Commissioner.'

'Thank you. Captain Zhang is really too kind. How dare I?'

'It's only right.'

'I'll take my leave now. If you need anything, please come to me.'

'Thank you! Thank you!'

Zhang Yong was beaming from ear to ear. He saw Jiang Guohu off with great care.

The two men put their arms around each other's shoulders, as if they were closer than brothers.

At the same time, he casually handed Yang Lichu the envelope.

Yang Lichu took the envelope, glanced at it, and looked at him with confusion.

So many banknotes? Extorted?

"Borrowed.'

'What?'

'I borrowed it from Jiang Guohu.'

'He is...'

'Correct.'

Zhang Yong answered with a smile.

Yang Lichu was still very clever.

Without prompting, she guessed that Jiang Guohu was a Japanese spy.

In fact, apart from being a Japanese spy, who else would be so willing to ingratiate themselves with Zhang Yong?

Fifty thousand silver taels was no small sum.

Someone must have an ulterior motive!

"For me?'

'Spend it as you like. I'll borrow some more.'

'You can still borrow?'

'I think I can borrow four or five times.'

'That much?'

'More or less.'

Zhang Yong nodded.

Yang Lichu fully understood what he meant.

In other words, there might be four or five more Japanese spies like Jiang Guohu in Hangzhou.

They were rich, well-connected and well-respected. They were well-camouflaged.

If Zhang Yong wanted to arrest them, he would need evidence. Otherwise, Xuan Tiewu would definitely make a big deal out of it.

This was not Shanghai. This was not Nanjing. They could arrest the spies and interrogate them slowly afterwards.

They must catch them in the act.

Otherwise, it will be very passive.

However, it is not that easy to find ironclad evidence.

So, Zhang Yong, this guy, changed his approach. He baited the Japanese spies, luring them to take the bait themselves.

'Be careful.'

'Yes, sir!'

'You're so talkative!'

'You're right, sir.'

'You...'

The Japanese spies are really rich!

Zhang Yong stood by the Qiantang River and sighed.

Just one Jiang Guohu can 'borrow' 50,000 taels of silver. If it were a matter of confiscating property...

Unfortunately, this is impossible.

Because there is Xuan Tiewu in the way. As a result, he cannot force his way through.

If he forcibly arrests someone, the spy's connections will definitely ask Xuan Tiewu to intervene. Zhang Yong cannot handle this for the time being.

In Hangzhou, even the Chief of the local branch is no match for Xuan Tiewu.

The Chief is still young and needs time to grow.

But that's fine.

This Japanese spy will be useful. He's useful now. He'll be very useful in the future.

The Japanese launched a full-scale invasion, and that was an unstoppable historical fact. Hangzhou will probably fall around December 1937.

It won't be recovered until after the Japanese declare unconditional surrender.

It will be occupied for eight years.

During those eight years, if the military wants to operate in Hangzhou, someone must provide cover.

Who would be best?

Jiang Guohu would be perfect. He can be used as a front. It will be most effective.

Now, he can also be used as a cash machine. Keep taking money from him.

Even if Jiang Guohu doesn't want to, he dares not complain. Otherwise, his identity may be exposed.

From time to time, he will use a little information to cover him...

The map prompts the entry of a small white dot.

Zhang Yong doesn't turn around. He silently monitors the movements of the small white dot.

Is it him?

Is he really in Hangzhou?

Sure enough, the small white dot gradually approaches.

Very cautious.

Zhang Yong deliberately turned around, so that the other person could see his face.

Sure enough, soon afterwards, the small white dot slowly approached from the side. Still very carefully. But after all, it came over.

'I'm here,'

Zhang Yong waved to the other person.

He thought it was someone else. It turned out to be Huang Shang.

Long time no see, he actually came to Hangzhou? Is he a lark?

A big man, starting such a code name?

"It really is you,'

Huang Shang looked around warily and came to Zhang Yong's side.

He didn't expect that the person who had arranged the meeting with him was Zhang Yong.

If it wasn't for the unique symbol, he would not have come out so easily. The intelligence report had said that Zhang Yong was in North China.

'What? You think I'm someone else?'

'When did you come?'

'Yesterday.'

'That was fast.'

'When did you come to Hangzhou?'

'Two months ago.'

'Someone with the code name Lark has been targeted by the Party Affairs Investigation Department. Ye Wansheng is here with his men.'

'When did this happen?'

'Ye Wansheng and I were on the same train.'

'This...'

'Lark is not Li Jingqian, is she?'

'She is.'

'What?'

Zhang Yong froze.

This is unbelievable. What a coincidence! I was right!

Li Jingqian is Lark?

She came to pick up the radio?

This is ridiculous.

I'm getting anxious.

'No, you don't have anyone else? You arranged for a woman to pick up the radio? To do such a dangerous thing?'

'She volunteered. At first, her superiors didn't agree. But she kept asking, and they finally agreed.'

'Doesn't she know the danger?'

'We all know the danger. No one doesn't know the danger.'

'No...'

Zhang Yong paused.

He wanted to say, 'You're being too hasty.

Sending a woman to her death.'

But then he saw Huang Shang's serious expression, and he slowly held back.

Everyone had different positions. Different beliefs. Naturally, they also understood danger differently. They were not afraid of death.

For their beliefs, for a bright future, they are unflinching.

'Is it safe?'

'I don't know. I didn't handle it personally.'

'Xuan Tiewu is not someone to be trifled with.'

'We know.'

'Do you need any help?'

'Not for now.'

'We seem to have grown apart.'

'No. If we had, I wouldn't be telling you this information.'

'I'll carry the radio for you. You don't need Li Jingqian.'

'We have our own work principles. We will try our best. We will never sacrifice every comrade so easily.'

'She is a woman...'

Zhang Yong said, word by word.

He believed that Huang Shang definitely understood what he meant.

For men, there might only be torture. But for women, there are so many despicable things.

'She is a revolutionary.'

'She is a woman,'

'Let's not argue. You can go and see her. Talk to her face to face.'

'Really?'

Zhang Yong was quite surprised.

The other party actually allowed him to meet Li Jingqian?

What was this?

"You can go and see her. You can also persuade her. If she promises to change her mind, we will accept that too.'

'From the sound of your voice, it seems that you haven't persuaded her either?'

'No.'

'Don't you have strict organisational discipline? Bring out the organisational discipline! Forbid her from coming to Hangzhou.'

'Organisational discipline is not used to dampen enthusiasm for work. Zhang Yong, you still haven't figured it out. She is our comrade. She is not someone's woman. Your motives are impure. This is why you cannot become a revolutionary.'

'I...'

Zhang Yong held back.

Okay. My motives are impure.

But would you be willing to see a beautiful woman fall into the hands of a spy?

'Let's get down to business.'

'You first.'

'What are you doing leaving a mark?'

'I was looking for Zhuo Yungui. I don't know if he's here or not. But I need help.'

'He didn't come to Hangzhou. At the moment, I'm the only one here.'

'Good. Let's cooperate.'

'Cooperate in what?'

'I can get a sum of money. You can keep it for me.'

'Whose money? What's the source?'

'Japanese spies.'

'How do you keep it? What are the conditions?'

'There are no conditions. If I don't give this money to you, I'll have to give it to Chiang Kai-shek. You decide.'

'Let me think about it.'

Huang Shang pondered for a moment.

Zhang Yong had given him a difficult problem.

Of course he welcomed donations to the revolution.

The problem was that Zhang Yong had a special status.

This guy was the backbone of the secret service division of the Restoration Society. His status was second to none.

'If you have any difficulties, just say so.'

'Zhang Yong, we are worried that if you continue to do this, you will be suspected by the Restoration Society. And then suffer internal purges.'

'You don't have to worry about that.'

'No, you must never let your guard down against Dai Li. He is a very cunning person. And a very difficult enemy to deal with.'

'I know,'

Zhang Yong thought to himself. I don't need you to tell me that.

Why would the name Dai Li be remembered for so many years without a reason?

How could he possibly let his guard down against Dai Li?

He was always on guard against Dai Li turning against him, wasn't he? It seems that Li Boqi was also?

Yes.

Zhang Yong suddenly realised what was going on.

Li Boqi was acting so mysteriously, was he secretly preparing an escape route?

If Dai Li turned against him, he would immediately go into hiding?

Ah, this Li Boqi...

What exactly is he up to?