Chapter 157: Testing The Waters
Shanghai, Jinbei Road, Military Statistics Bureau Secret Stronghold.
The cigarette between Zhao Lijun’s fingertips burned to the end, the scorching ash falling onto the windowsill, burning a scorch mark.
Outside the window, the Huangpu River sunset looked blood-soaked, dyeing the safe house’s blinds dark red.
“Dong dong dong,” a crisp knock sounded.
Zhao Lijun was startled awake by the knock, only then realizing the cigarette in his hand had burned out.
Subconsciously tossing away the cigarette butt in his hand, Zhao Lijun said in a deep voice: “Come in.”
Lu Tao pushed open the office door and walked in, his leather shoes silent on the teak floor.
He calmly unbuttoned his gray overcoat, revealing a neatly pressed three-piece suit, dressed like a foreign firm comprador attending a business banquet: “The station chief urgently summons, is there new instruction from Chongqing?”
Zhao Lijun did not answer directly, but pushed Tang Shaoyi’s photograph across the desktop.
In the photograph, Tang Shaoyi was bending over to get into the sedan, a clear vermilion mole visible at the collar of his nape.
“Tomorrow night at nine o’clock, the target will meet Lieutenant Colonel Sonoda Kumakichi, person in charge of the Jinling Government military advisor group, in the Peony Hall on the second floor of Paramount Ballroom.”
“According to reliable intelligence, Tang Shaoyi, introduced by Kagesa, has decided to defect to the Japanese and will soon serve as president of the Executive Yuan of the Nanjing New Government.”
“After Boss Dai got the news, he was very angry and ordered us not to let Tang Shaoyi reach Jinling alive no matter what.”
He paused, staring into Lu Tao’s eyes, “The last mission failed, putting us in a very passive position. The first group and third group basically no longer have action capability. Now, in the station, only your second group has intact organization.”
“So, I plan to put you in charge of this mission.”
“You take six good hands to mix into the ballroom, kill the target, then evacuate via the freight elevator.”
“This is the Paramount Ballroom building floor plan. The freight elevator position is here…” While speaking, Zhao Lijun picked up a steel pen and drew the freight elevator position.
The steel pen tip scratched across the paper, Lu Tao’s eyes fixed intently on the position marked by Zhao Lijun.
After a long while, Lu Tao slowly shook his head: “Station chief, Paramount Ballroom is complex terrain. With only six people, I’m afraid the plan will be hard to succeed.”
“It’s not that Lu fears death, but I don’t want the brothers below to make meaningless sacrifices.”
“Shanghai Station only has so few seeds left now. If there are more unnecessary casualties, our future work will be hard to carry out.”
“If it really comes to that, I’m afraid the boss will be even more disappointed in you.”
“Team Leader Lu makes a good point.” Zhao Lijun pondered for a long time, pointing at the drawing and slowly saying: “But a mission is a mission. You have no right to bargain.”
“Alright then, for insurance, I’ll have Captain Xie assist the second group in executing the assassination mission.”
“He will take his Gray Pigeons to monitor Tang Shaoyi’s movements on the periphery.”
“You enter Paramount Ballroom in advance and await his instruction. If he determines assassination conditions are not met, he will issue an emergency evacuation signal.”
“Conversely, if he thinks it’s feasible to act, even if it’s extremely difficult, you must complete the mission. Otherwise, house law applies.”
“Understood,” Lu Tao nodded, “I’ll go select the manpower for the mission now.”
“Please rest assured, station chief. Our second group has no cowards who fear death.”
Zhao Lijun nodded, watching Lu Tao’s departing back, a ruthless glint suddenly flashing in his eyes!
At the same time, French Concession, International Hotel Room 706…
The room was filled with the aroma of Darjeeling black tea.
Mao Qiuying used tweezers to pick up an electronic component from the telegraph machine, rotating it under the light to observe.
This was a part Xie Zhipan bought from the black market. Just replacing this part cost one hundred sixty silver dollars.
Xie Zhipan quietly watched Mao Qiuying’s actions. Once Mao Qiuying confirmed the part was usable, he slowly said: “Superior’s order: new cipher book officially enabled.”
“Why?” She suddenly looked up at Xie Zhipan, “It’s not even a few days before the change. Does Chongqing know?”
Xie Zhipan said slowly: “Last action failed. Boss suspects internal issues.”
“The station chief carefully studied the entire action process. If there really was a problem, Team Leader Mao’s cipher book would have long been mastered by the Japanese.”
“So, to prevent intelligence leaks, we can only switch to the backup cipher book.”
“This is the station chief’s decision. If you have questions, you can verify with the station chief.”
Mao Qiuying slowly shook her head, “Captain Xie certainly wouldn’t joke about such a matter.”
“Then, what do you need me to do?”
Xie Zhipan took a piece of intelligence from his pocket and handed it to Mao Qiuying: “This is the station chief’s newly designed action plan.”
“We want to try again, to see if we can smoothly assassinate the target.”
“Send the plan to headquarters and request assistance from superiors.”
Mao Qiuying took the note, quickly scanned it, and slowly nodded: “No problem.”
“Then I’ll trouble Team Leader Mao. I’ll watch outside. Please handle it quickly.” Xie Zhipan said respectfully, then slipped out of the room.
French Concession, Beidaihe Road.
The agent codenamed Earthworm stuck to the stone carving behind the small church bell tower like a gecko.
Per Station Chief Zhao Lijun’s order, he shadowed Action Team second group leader Lu Tao like a shadow.
As Military Statistics Bureau Shanghai Station Action Team second group leader, Lu Tao was undoubtedly an excellent agent.
So, even getting a bit too close might result in him detecting he was being followed.
Precisely for this reason, maintaining a safe distance became paramount.
This distance could not be too close nor too far.
Too close, easy to expose; too far, easy to lose the tail.
In the entire Military Statistics Bureau Shanghai Station, no more than five people could do this.
Earthworm was one of those five. Only an Intelligence Section veteran like Earthworm could handle the balance with ease.
September weather was still sweltering. Hiding in the shadows of the church bell tower, through binoculars, he clearly saw Lu Tao’s black Buick stop in the back alley of Ruixiang Silk Shop.
Soon, a man in a long gown sneakily opened the back door of Ruixiang Silk Shop, looked out a few times. Seeing the car parked at the back door, he looked left and right, confirmed no one was watching, then stepped forward and opened the passenger door.
Due to the angle, Earthworm couldn’t see the man’s full face, only his profile—and that profile startled him.
The man’s left ear was missing its contour, like dough that had been torn and bitten.
“Ling Jing, Nanjing Special Affairs Committee Action Team leader.”
“Damn, this old guy really has issues.”
Inside the Buick, Lu Tao handed a document to Ling Jing.
“This is tomorrow night’s assassination action plan for Tang Shaoyi.”
“After Shanghai Station’s last failure, I’m the only one who can still complete the assassination.”
“Zhao Lijun assigned the mission to me.”
Ling Jing glanced at it briefly and slowly said: “Mr. Lu, is there a method to make Zhao Lijun act personally?”
