Chapter 161: Plotting
Shanghai, Wutong Road, civilian house next to the mansion of Alliance League elder Xu Chongzhi.
This is the Military Statistics Bureau’s new stronghold.
After eliminating Lu Tao, to prevent mishaps, Zhao Lijun immediately ordered the abandonment of the Jinbei Road Military Statistics Bureau stronghold,
Group Two’s full personnel went dormant in place, awaiting the awakening order from the Chongqing special commissioner.
It was only at this time that Group Two’s agents learned that team leader Lu Tao had long ago colluded with the Nanjing Special Affairs Committee.
The failure of the assassination of Tang Shaoyi was due to the intelligence he leaked.
Fortunately, this was in Shanghai; if it were in Chongqing, Boss Dai would definitely impose collective punishment, making coffins from the wood of the crowd.
All agents of Group Two, even if not immediately shot, would at least have a layer of skin peeled off.
One must know, Boss Dai is the only deputy director in the history of the Military Statistics Bureau. The Military Statistics Bureau can have many directors, but there is only one deputy director. With his personality, he dares to use the harshest methods.
Outside the window was the gloomy Shanghai autumn day; the sycamore leaves in the French Concession had begun to turn yellow.
Military Statistics Bureau Shanghai Station station chief Zhao Lijun stood with hands clasped behind his back by the window, gazing at the scene of falling leaves outside, his thoughts drifting who knows where.
Behind him on the wall hung a full-view map of Shanghai, marked with complex information using thumbtacks of various colors…
Knock knock knock, a burst of knocking pulled Zhao Lijun’s thoughts back instantly.
“Come in.”
With a creak, the door was pushed open. Telecommunications Group team leader Mao Qiuying held two telegrams and said anxiously: “Station chief, urgent telegram from Chongqing, please review it.”
Zhao Lijun’s sharp gaze instantly focused on the telegram in Mao Qiuying’s hand.
The air in the office seemed to solidify for a moment.
Zhao Lijun took the telegram and opened the first one: “Chongqing, Code Jia, secret order: Target: Tang Shaoyi. Identity: Former Prime Minister of State, now secluded in Shanghai, recently frequent contact with Japanese side. Nanjing side reports this person has concrete evidence of treason and collaborating with the enemy.”
“Special: This person has high prestige; if he publicly defects, the impact would be extremely bad. Order your station to immediately take action and sanction him. This order, Dai.”
Looking at the first telegram, Zhao Lijun couldn’t help but feel some difficulty; he had already reported these matters before, and now it was just rehashing old issues.
That said, what he lacked was evidence, right? Tang Shaoyi’s attitude was already very clear; he was just one step away from going to Nanjing.
Now Shanghai Station was short on manpower; Group Two’s full personnel dormant in place, and Groups One and Three, even unscathed, had only four or five people left.
With so few people, how to break into Tang Mansion? That’s right, Zhao Lijun liked killing people, but he didn’t like sending himself to death.
Sighing, Zhao Lijun opened the second telegram. Just glancing at it, his eyes bulged instantly.
This intelligence was actually a detailed action plan proposal.
It clearly listed all the deployments of the Nanjing Special Affairs Committee around Tang Mansion.
There were three strongholds around Tang Mansion: one at the back door, led by Action Team leader Ling Jing, with a total of seven personnel.
The second stronghold was at the side of Tang Mansion, led by Intelligence Department squad leader Gao Bin, with five personnel.
The third stronghold was at the front door, led by Intelligence Group squad leader Zhang Zixian, with four subordinates.
The intelligence suggested entering through the main gate; the main guards at the main gate were Zhang Zixian and his subordinate Chang Mao, plus two Intelligence Group members and one driver.
As long as Chang Mao and Zhang Zixian were dealt with, the other two were negligible.
And the method to deal with these two was clearly instructed above.
Chang Mao liked gambling but had a good reputation, never defaulting on debts.
This could be utilized to set up a trap to bring him down, transferring him away from the guard point at the start of the action.
The second was Zhang Zixian, nephew of Special Affairs Office director Zuo Mingquan. Being young, he was always indulging in wine, sex, wealth, or gambling; his biggest flaw was lechery.
Zhang Zixian had a mistress at Jin Yu Lou named Cui Cui.
It was suggested to use this woman to lure Zhang Zixian away before the action.
The method was also very simple: this Cui Cui was Jin Yu Lou’s top courtesan and became Zhang Zixian’s exclusive after catching his eye.
But Cui Cui was born to be a flesh Bodhisattva; reportedly, her addiction in that aspect was much greater than ordinary women.
As long as a burly, strong man was found, it would be easy to lure her out.
Then, by bringing her to unintentionally pass by Zhang Zixian on Fukaisen Road, no one else needed to call; he would follow on his own.
The remaining matter was how to approach Tang Shaoyi; the proposed scheme was to pose as an antique dealer from out of town coming to Shanghai.
Tang Shaoyi favored collecting antiques; if some rarities could be found, he would definitely agree to meet.
After reading the detailed plan proposal, Zhao Lijun couldn’t help but click his tongue in admiration.
It seemed the Nanjing Special Affairs Committee had not only his own plant but likely one from headquarters as well.
Moreover, headquarters’ plant was clearly stronger than his own, able to know all the situations here in Shanghai.
Could that person be from Nanjing headquarters?
Zhao Lijun knew exactly where his own plant was, so he dared to make such a bold guess.
Destroying the two telegrams on the spot, Zhao Lijun picked up the telephone on the table and called another secret contact point.
“Hello, is this Boss Xie of Heji? Hello, hello, this is Old Zhao from Hongbin Lou.”
“Tomorrow there’s a big job; how many men do you have? Bring them all.”
“Hey, rest assured; the boss said as long as the job is done beautifully, money is no issue.”
“Good, good, good, then it’s settled. Bring everyone you can move; I’ll talk salary with the boss—five silver dollars per person, how about it?”
“Hey, times are tough now, making money isn’t easy. Five silver dollars a day—if you don’t want it, plenty of people are scrambling to do it…”
“Good, good, then it’s settled. See you tomorrow…”
……
In the next few days, Zhao Lijun followed the plan given by Chen Yang, separately arranging for targets to approach Chang Mao and Cui Cui at Jin Yu Lou.
It had to be said that the plan made by Chen Yang was highly operable.
Group One’s member “Paper Kite” monitored Chang Mao’s whereabouts and soon discovered the gambling den he frequented. To complete the mission, Paper Kite and two other group members set up a pig-slaughtering scam for Chang Mao…
On the first day, they deliberately lost 60 silver dollars to him.
On the second day, they deliberately lost another 90 silver dollars to him.
Just as Chang Mao was smug, thinking he had hooked a big fish, on the third night, from 10 p.m. until dawn, Chang Mao not only coughed up the previous 150 silver dollars he won but also lost 300 silver dollars with interest.
Finally with no choice, under the witness of the gambling den boss, Chang Mao wrote an IOU, stating he would raise the owed amount within two days.
And at Jin Yu Lou, it went even smoother; Xie Zhipan’s subordinate Gray Pigeons effortlessly enchanted Cui Cui beyond reason.
This also proved one thing: in the world, only swindlers are sincere.
Because they sincerely want to swindle you.
After three or four days, all preparations were complete. Zhao Lijun looked at the date September 17 on the calendar and slowly revealed a cruel smile…
