Chapter 108: Could Easily Turn Into A Full-blown Mutiny
“？？？？”
Xu Jin’ge was somewhat at a loss, stunned as he said: “What do you mean? Are you saying you can get someone out of the Gendarmerie Headquarters?”
“Something like that,” Cao Weida nodded, “This isn’t our first cooperation. Didn’t I help you get someone out last time too?”
“.” Xu Jin’ge’s mouth twitched, feeling nothing but absurdity in his heart.
This was completely different!
Last time the rescue was at least of someone captured without being exposed, but this time it was different—this time they were completely exposed!
And yet, they could still rescue the person just like that?
Would the little devil’s special agents let them go?
If he weren’t sitting here completely unharmed right now, he would suspect Cao Weida had already defected!
“Jingzhe, this isn’t a joke. You absolutely cannot speak carelessly. If the mission fails, we’ll all be held accountable by the superior!”
Cao Weida scoffed dismissively, “Superior, superior, that’s your superior. What the hell does it have to do with me?”
“It’s just that my little arm can’t twist your thigh. At the very least, I have to give your so-called superior a few big slaps.”
Xu Jin’ge opened his mouth, momentarily not knowing how to respond. It seemed Jingzhe harbored quite a grudge against the superior.
Refute him? He actually felt angry inside too.
Don’t refute? But slapping his superior in the face right in front of him didn’t seem right either.
Cao Weida didn’t make things hard for him and stopped while ahead, saying:
“Gathering intelligence, assassinations—you’re good at that（ He added in his heart: Assassinations, I’m your grandmaster at it!）—but when it comes to relationships, you’re really no good. You just know fighting and killing all day—what’s the use in that?”
“You know the captain of the Gendarmerie Headquarters, Fujita Sosuke? He’s an old little devil who only cares about profit. He’s already realized Japan will eventually be defeated in war, so he has no interest in fighting wits and courage with anti-Japanese elements anymore. He’s just thinking about how to make money all day.”
“I took the chance to connect with him and reached an agreement. We’ll use money to redeem anti-Japanese personnel locked up in the East Asia Academic Research Association, Gendarmerie Headquarters, Matsui Special Agent Agency, or even the Special Higher Police interrogation room. As long as there’s money, anything can be discussed.”
He briefly explained the general situation. Hearing this, Xu Jin’ge’s eyes nearly popped out,
“You mean, as long as we have money, we can rescue the captured comrades?!”
To be honest, his brain was starting to crash. In the past, they fought wits and courage, pitting life and death against each other.
Captured prisoners usually had only three outcomes: surrender, be killed, or be tortured to the point of wishing for death but unable to die.
Now suddenly someone tells you none of that is a problem—as long as you pay, even if they’ve just been captured, they can be released. No matter how you think about it, it sounds like a pipe dream.
But Cao Weida’s expression was extremely certain, and what he said made sense, making him have to believe a little—maybe there really was such an option?
With his worldview somewhat collapsing, he still found it hard to believe, but Cao Weida acted as if it were commonplace, sneering:
“Hard to imagine, right? Actually, this isn’t strange at all.”
“I don’t believe you don’t know—the Kuomintang has always been doing smuggling business with the little devil’s higher-ups. You guys risk your lives every day, licking blood from the knife’s edge, but those sitting in offices have long been trading back and forth, feasting together.”
“Don’t talk nonsense!” Xu Jin’ge’s face changed drastically. Privately discussing the superior was a heads-will-roll matter—Cao Weida was too bold!
“Heh, covering your ears while stealing a bell. They dare to do it, but I’m not allowed to say it? Just tell me if you know or not.” Cao Weida wasn’t afraid at all. This corrupt ruling class would eventually be swept into the dustbin of history—what was there to fear?
Of course, mainly he believed Xu Jin’ge wouldn’t be stupid enough to report these words.
Besides, he’d already cursed them out—discussing a bit more, what was there to fear!
They’re sending this old man to his death, and I can’t even vent? There’s no such reason!
Xu Jin’ge was inscrutable, “The superior’s rights and wrongs aren’t for me to comment on.”
“Is it not your place, or are you just scared?” Cao Weida sneered twice, waving his hand in disappointment, “Forget it, no point talking more with a stubborn one like you. Hurry up and inform your superior, see if they want to rescue them. Best give me a reply tonight—I’m short on time.”
“Oh right, please try to downplay my existence as much as possible. I don’t want to attract your superiors’ attention and have them push me into the fire pit next time!”
“Remember, this is the first time and the last. If you dare pull this again, don’t blame me for turning hostile!”
What could Xu Jin’ge do? He could only nod with a bitter smile. This time they’d nearly pitted him to death, and he was someone they’d forcibly dragged onto the ship—understandable to have a temper.
After hesitating a moment, he still asked: “Since you already have a solution, then what you said earlier…”
“What about me?” Cao Weida retorted righteously: “I just happened to have a way. If I didn’t, would I really have to risk my head for the mission?”
“He wants me dead, and I should be grateful? I’m not a masochist!”
Better not to say more, lest he pour oil on the fire. Xu Jin’ge wisely shut his mouth.
After returning, he drafted the intelligence, then revised, deleted, and modified it until he was somewhat satisfied.
Looking at the content on the draft paper, Xu Jin’ge muttered bitterly to himself: “I’ve already tried to narrate it in as flat a tone as possible, but downplaying you as much as I can—I really can’t do that.”
If he completely downplayed Cao Weida, he wouldn’t need to write this report at all, because the Military Statistics Bureau required clarifying intelligence sources—he couldn’t just make things up.
If the superior found out by any chance, how many heads did he have?
At most, he could only help within his ability—beyond that, he was helpless.
He shook his head lightly and handed the intelligence to the communications section.
Not long after, Shancheng received the intelligence.
Shancheng, at the residence at No. 85 Zhongshan Fourth Road, YZ District entrance.
Secretary Mao, holding the intelligence in hand, was overcast and uncertain, pondering repeatedly, unsure how to report it.
Once reported, it would require a considerable price, but not reporting—he couldn’t bear that responsibility.
After much deliberation, he gritted his teeth and stamped his foot, “Forget it, I’m just a secretary. Let Boss Dai worry about it.”
Knock knock knock~
“Boss Dai.”
“Mister Mao.” Boss Dai, reviewing documents, looked at the file bag marked ‘Top Secret’ in Mao Renfeng’s hand, “Is this good news or bad news?”
Mao Renfeng really didn’t know if it was good or bad and could only brace himself: “It should count as good news, Boss Dai. Please take a look.”
Seeing his troubled expression, Boss Dai grew curious. He knew Mao Renfeng well, and such a display was rare.
After opening the file bag and glancing at it, he fell into deep thought.
Mao Renfeng slightly bent at the waist, waiting without any urging. He knew Boss Dai was thinking.
After a long while, Boss Dai sighed, “This Jingzhe really gave me a tough problem.”
Mao Renfeng nodded with a bitter smile—indeed, this was no ordinary dilemma.
It wasn’t just about rescuing them—there were many issues to consider.
Money was the least of the problems.
For example, some captured had been presumed sacrificed after a time, with parts of their files destroyed and others posthumously honored.
For example, if there were any who had surrendered among those released, what then?
For example, positions of those captured had already been filled—how to place them if they returned?
For example…
Anyway, there were many issues to consider—not something decided on a whim.
But not redeeming wasn’t realistic either. If the lower levels found out they were risking their lives upfront while the rear wouldn’t even spend this money, what would they think?
No need to think—they’d surely see these superiors as inhumane, not treating them as people.
If you don’t treat us as people, why the hell should we keep working!
Everyone wash up and slack off.
Passive resistance was secondary—the worst was mishandling it could spark a mutiny!
This was a consequence Dai Li absolutely could not accept.
Of course, doing this had benefits too—at least letting those in occupied territory risking heads and spilling hot blood know their superiors still cared, boosting morale somewhat.
After weighing both sides and choosing the lesser harm, Dai Li tapped his desk with his fingers, producing ‘clang clang clang’ echoes,
picked up a document sent along, and murmured: “Cao Weida really is an interesting guy.”
After pondering with head lowered a moment, he took out a lighter, lit it, watched the flames consume the whole paper, then poured some water from the teacup to thoroughly destroy it, before speaking:
“Mister Mao.”
“Boss Dai, your orders.” While Dai Li burned Cao Weida’s document, a flicker of surprise imperceptibly passed through Mao Renfeng’s eyes.
“How many people know about this Jingzhe’s document?”
Mao Renfeng answered without hesitation: “Since he’s just non-staff personnel, not many know. For outer stations, only Suiyuan Station Station Chief Xu Zongren knows some. Here in Shancheng, including me, three people total.”
“Have everyone who knows forget him,” Dai Li smiled at the corner of his mouth, “This guy’s like a monkey, hopping lively in occupied territory, but capable too. He’s good at supplies—have him connect with the dark lines. We need to make full use of him.”
“No more high-risk jobs for him in the future. What a pity if something happened.”
Mao Renfeng immediately understood—Boss Dai had taken a liking to his supply-gathering ability!
Tsk, sure enough, Boss Dai planned to erase Cao Weida’s information.
Such cases were rare in the Military Statistics Bureau… It seemed Cao Weida was about to soar to success.
No wonder though—intelligence gatherers and assassins, the Military Statistics Bureau had plenty, but talent that could get supplies and military funds for them was scarce!
Better find a chance to get close to him. With such a supply expert, it wouldn’t do not to hitch a ride and make some money.
