Chapter 227: Boss Dai, You’ve Fallen For It
The Military Statistics Bureau’s interrogation room in Nanjing was hidden deep underground in a certain Western-style building in the city,
and at this moment, the one bound to the torture rack was the former Shanghai Station Station Chief Wan Tianmu. At this time, his upper body was left with only a tattered, bloodstained sweatshirt.
His face, covered in bloodstains and bruised swelling, was even more terrifying.
His jaw hung slack as if dislocated, saliva mixed with blood threads constantly drooling from the corner of his mouth, dripping onto the filthy floor.
Every faint breath tugged at the intense pain throughout his body, making him convulse uncontrollably.
Two burly men wearing tank tops, exposing their sinewy arms, were also splattered with blood spots.
They handled him like a lifeless object, unfastening the iron cuffs locking Wan Tianmu’s wrists, roughly twisting his limp arms upward and stretching them, then clamping them tightly with another smaller set of iron rings, and hoisting him up again!
In an instant, the excruciating pain of bones and ligaments being forcibly stretched to the limit burst from Wan Tianmu’s throat in a beast-like whimper. His previously scattered gaze suddenly focused, filled with endless terror and agony.
“Station Chief Wan, you’d better confess.” The secret agent in charge of the torture sat on a chair nearby, legs crossed, using a slender bamboo skewer to pick at the dirt in his nail crevices.
“The newspaper said you were tortured mercilessly, the Japanese beat you badly, yet you walked out of Laohuqiao Central Prison completely unharmed.”
“You wouldn’t say you were just vacationing in prison, would you?”
Wan Tianmu shook his head with effort. “No, this is the Japanese’s conspiracy… I didn’t say anything… I really didn’t say anything…”
“Tsk tsk, as expected of our predecessor, tough bones indeed.” Zhao Biao gave a look.
One burly man picked up the cowhide leather whip soaked in the saltwater bucket, flicked his wrist, “Pa——!” a thunderous crack tearing through the air!
The whip tip precisely struck the inner side of Wan Tianmu’s left thigh. That already bruise-covered fragile flesh instantly tore open a hideous bloody gash, deep to the bone! Blood “splurt” sprayed out, splattering the executioner’s face!
Wan Tianmu’s body jerked like electrocuted, an indescribable shrill scream exploding from his throat as his entire body twisted violently under the iron chain restraints!
The agony gripped his heart and every inch of nerve like an invisible giant hand!
The whip did not stop. “Pa! Pa! Pa!…” It fell like raindrops on the same spot! Each lash was a repeated, brutal torment on the same horrific wound! Wan Tianmu’s screams started high-pitched, then turned hoarse from suffocation, finally reduced to desperate low roars and convulsions.
Saltwater was splashed on! “Ah!!!!” This was no longer a human cry, but a howl approaching despair.
The saltwater stabbed like countless steel needles into exposed nerves and fresh wounds. Wan Tianmu’s eyes rolled back, his body spasming violently, nearly fainting.
Next came the red-hot branding iron.
The sizzling red-hot iron block looked especially terrifying under the dim light.
The executioner did not press it against his body but slowly pressed it onto Wan Tianmu’s bare instep.
“Hiss~~~~~!!!” White smoke mixed with the stench of burning flesh surged up fiercely!
Wan Tianmu’s pupils contracted sharply to pinpoints. All screams vanished instantly. His whole body was like a bow taut to the extreme, mouth agape but emitting no sound, only desperate “geh… geh…” from deep in his throat.
The immense pain exceeded the limits of neural response, bringing a bizarre brief silence.
The next second, the scream pierced by agony burst out like a breached flood, heart-wrenching!
Tears surged uncontrollably. He wailed helplessly like a child.
The torture cycled repeatedly. Whip torture, water torture, bamboo skewers nailed into fingernail gaps… In every interval of torment, Zhao Biao’s death-like question would ring out again.
Wan Tianmu’s mental world completely collapsed. The intrigues of the political arena, the life-and-death struggles on the intelligence frontlines.
At this moment, they seemed so ridiculous and distant before the endless physical torment.
His proud intellect was crushed to powder by pain and fear.
All dignity, all integrity, turned into the most humble desire to survive.
“Stop… please… stop…” Wan Tianmu’s voice was as faint as a silken thread, every breath carrying blood froth.
The heavy iron door slid open silently, and a straight figure walked in.
The newcomer wore impeccably pressed dark blue wool Zhongshan suit, hair neatly in place.
Wu Gengshu pulled out his pocket watch to check the time, then leisurely took out a real silk handkerchief, gently covering his mouth and nose, as if disgusted by the foul air here.
His gaze was calmly still, looking down from above at the mass of blood and flesh on the torture rack that was no longer human-shaped.
Wan Tianmu’s blurry vision caught that figure, like a drowning man seeing the only driftwood. Clutching at his savior, he cried out with his remaining strength, “Brother Moqian, stop, stop! I want to see Boss Dai! I’m innocent! I didn’t say anything.”
Wu Gengshu waved his hand, and Zhao Biao immediately had the executioners step back temporarily, but did not release Wan Tianmu’s restraints.
Walking slowly to the torture rack, Wu Gengshu avoided the bloodstains on the floor.
Padding with his handkerchief, he pinched Wan Tianmu’s chin, which twitched constantly from pain. “Brother Renqiang, at this point, you still won’t talk. Your brother is in a difficult spot too.”
“You’re closer to Boss Dai than I am. You should know better—if it weren’t his order, how would we dare lay hands on you.”
“Brother Moqian, hear me out. I… I’m willing to offer up… offer up… all my family assets! All of them! Gold! US dollars!” Wan Tianmu spoke incoherently, tears and snot streaming, fearing the tortures would return if he spoke slowly. “All of it! Hand it all to Boss Dai! Just beg… just beg Boss Dai… to spare… spare this worthless life of mine!”
A flicker of barely perceptible greed and calculation flashed in Wu Gengshu’s eyes, but his face remained icy cold: “All family assets? Including everything you know… everything?”
“Everything! Everything! Not a penny left!” Wan Tianmu shouted with all his strength. “I still have forty thousand US dollars in a private deposit at HSBC Bank. You pass the word for me—this money is yours.”
Wu Gengshu’s gaze was sharp as a knife, as if carving into Wan Tianmu’s brain marrow. After a long pause, he nodded slightly: “Brother Renqiang, I can’t guarantee it, but I’ll try.”
“If the higher-ups don’t agree, there’s nothing I can do.”
Wan Tianmu clutched at the last straw. “What I know… just beg… just beg Boss Dai… give me a chance to return to Chongqing for trial… no… to… to accept investigation! I’m willing to accept any disposition from Boss Dai!”
Wu Gengshu released his grip on Wan Tianmu’s chin, tossing the handkerchief away like trash into the filthy blood beside Wan Tianmu.
He leisurely pulled out a steel pen and an exquisite notebook from his pocket, as if discussing an ordinary commercial transaction:
“List your assets, including domestic and overseas deposits, real estate, stocks, calligraphy and paintings, valuable securities—a detailed list, plus related secret ledgers, passwords, locations of certificates, and everything you know.”
Zhao Biao immediately brought prepared paper and pen to Wan Tianmu and untied his twisted-back hands.
Wan Tianmu trembled so much he couldn’t hold the pen, so he dictated while others recorded.
“HSBC Bank… safe deposit box number… compartment… standard US gold bars… fifty pieces…”
“French Concession Avenue Joffre XX number, garden villa… key in floor hidden compartment…”
Just as he was about to collapse into unconsciousness, Zhao Biao looked at Wu Gengshu, making an extremely subtle gesture pointing to the complex, coldly gleaming electric torture device in the corner.
Wu Gengshu nodded expressionlessly.
Before Wan Tianmu’s scream could escape, a massive current had already surged through his battered body!
He convulsed and jerked violently on the torture rack again, like a rag doll flung by an invisible giant hand!
Eyes rolled back, foam spewing from his mouth.
This “extra treatment” was no longer for confession, but more like a final thorough humiliation and trampling, destroying the last shred of his human dignity.
When the current stopped, Wan Tianmu completely collapsed, soiling himself, like a pile of real muck.
His final defense line was thoroughly breached…
Ten-odd minutes later, Wu Gengshu stood from the chair, looking at the dense list of wealth and names on the confession paper, a cold arc finally hooking at the corner of his mouth.
“Brother Renqiang, that’ll do for now.” With those words, Wu Gengshu slowly walked out of the interrogation room.
The telegram to Chongqing soon got a reply. Boss Dai, considering Wan Tianmu’s merits for the Military Statistics Bureau, ultimately agreed to his request.
Wu Gengshu immediately ordered Action Team Captain Lin Huaixin to escort Wan Tianmu on the road.
They planned to take a boat from Nanjing to Hunan, then enter Kuomintang territory and take a train to Chongqing.
Republic of China, March 22nd, night.
The Military Statistics Bureau’s secret escort convoy wound forward on the rugged highway.
The escort vehicle was a truck with several fully armed escort team members inside. The compartment had been modified with reinforced iron bars.
Wan Tianmu was imprisoned alone in a specially made iron cage at the innermost part of the truck, hands and feet in heavy shackles, with a thick iron chain on his ankle shackles connected to the truck bed steel plate.
Though his clothes had been changed to a blue long gown, the torture scars on his face could not be concealed.
Black and purple bruises everywhere, especially the deep-to-the-bone scar on his right cheek, exceptionally hideous and glaring.
Wan Tianmu huddled listlessly in the iron cage corner, head drooping, shoulders twitching nervously now and then. With the truck’s jolts, whimpers and groans occasionally escaped his throat.
That death-worse-than-life aura of dejection made the two action team members on guard feel a trace of contempt even through the iron bars.
This was the once high-and-mighty North China District Chief, Tianjin Station’s first Station Chief, Shanghai and Nanjing Military Statistics Bureau Station Chief?
Bah, traitor scum.
The canvas at the rear of the compartment was lifted a corner, and cold wind mixed with thick fog instantly poured in.
Escort Captain Lin Huaixin’s eyes swept over Wan Tianmu huddled in the iron cage, then carefully checked the arm-thick ankle shackles and weld points.
“Team Leader Wan, keep quiet. This road is unsafe. If you don’t want to attract unwanted things, control your noises.”
The huddled figure seemed to tremble more violently, the throat whimpers turning into a gasping intake of cold air: “Got it, Captain Lin.”
Lin Huaixin frowned, a trace of pity seemingly surfacing in his heart.
But that feeling was quickly cast aside.
The truck proceeded cautiously through the thick fog, visibility extremely low, like sneaking through a gray-white chaotic sea.
Suddenly!
Bang! Bang! Boom——!
The lead truck’s left front tire exploded almost simultaneously with a terrifying roar! Instant blowout!
Immediately after, a larger explosion boomed from under the locomotive!
Not an artillery shell, but definitely high-explosive with massive power!
The entire truck was like struck in the head by an invisible giant fist, tilting violently to the right!
The heavy body, under inertia, lifted tires off the ground, emitting teeth-grinding metal twisting sounds!
Chaos spun inside the compartment! The dim wind lamp extinguished instantly! The massive impact flung all unprepared people like sandbags!
The iron cage screeched with harsh metal friction under the huge centrifugal force!
Wan Tianmu’s body slammed hard against the iron bars, making a dull thud!
“Enemy attack!!!” Lin Huaixin, as an experienced action captain, wasn’t flung off in the explosion but instinctively lunged toward the iron cage!
He knew exactly what the opponent’s target was.
However, as the compartment tilted from the blast, Wan Tianmu huddled in the iron cage corner suddenly changed demeanor!
That muddy, despairing gaze instantly sharpened cold as a winter star!
Using the compartment’s tilt, Wan Tianmu kicked hard against the iron cage wall with his left leg, propelling his body upward!
At the same time, his right wrist, which had been unconsciously scratching the truck bed, shook sharply!
A faint “click” sounded, and the seemingly sturdy shackle lock on his wrist popped open!
And the iron chain connection at his ankle shackle snapped simultaneously!
All this happened too fast and too precisely! Wan Tianmu seemed to have known in advance someone would come to rescue him.
All his expressions and actions were just performance to lower Lin Huaixin’s guard.
Lin Huaixin had indeed underestimated Wan Tianmu’s ability. A master who worked the intelligence line for twenty years—how could ordinary handcuffs and shackles hold him.
Seeing this, Lin Huaixin’s heart jolted: “He… he faked it?! Impossible!!”
Wan Tianmu moved fast as a ghost. The instant he broke free of the shackles, his body flipped outward hard.
The moment his body landed, gunfire followed immediately.
“Da da da da da!”
“Da da da da!”
Storm-like gunfire suddenly erupted from the thick fog and darkness on both flanking hillsides!
Not the sound of bandit muskets! It was the mixed roar of light machine gun and Type 38 rifle precise bursts!
Bullets poured with overwhelming density and accuracy, madly spraying the entire convoy’s head and tail!
“Red Fang Squad! Extracting target!” A low and deep powerful voice rang out.
Hearing the opponent’s standard Japanese pronunciation, Lin Huaixin’s heart sank to the bottom.
This was a professional special operations squad—their combat ability and weaponry far superior by several levels.
And their target was obviously Wan Tianmu…
“Mr. Wan! Quick! This way!” Squad Leader Lieutenant Kobata handed a rifle to Wan Tianmu while covering his withdrawal to the rear.
Their evacuation route was clear and swift.
Wan Tianmu made no extra moves or words, took the rifle, and silently followed the squad away.
Their goal was rescue, not annihilation.
The gunfire gradually sparse. Lin Huaixin punched the truck body, looking at his variously wounded team members.
“Captain, what now?” Zhao Biao asked, clutching his wound.
“What can we do?” Lin Huaixin spat a mouthful of turbid air. “Go back…”
Chongqing, Luojiawan 19, Military Statistics Bureau confidential room.
Third floor office. Zheng Yaoquan barged straight in.
“Director, urgent telegram from Fuji Mountain.”
Boss Dai seemed to have anticipated this telegram, merely glancing up at him without speaking.
Sure enough, the next second Zheng Yaoquan said gravely: “Director, what’s the deal with this Wan Tianmu? How did he suddenly betray us?”
“What else could it be?” Boss Dai closed his eyes. “After Zhao Lijun left Shanghai, I sent Wan Tianmu to replace him.”
“But recently I sent him to assassinate Fu Xiaoqi, and he got captured by the Japanese. The newspaper said he was tortured badly but still wouldn’t leak a single secret. Yet after a week in custody, the guy walked out of Laohuqiao Central Prison unscathed…”
“Sowing discord!” Zheng Yaoquan didn’t need to think. “This is obviously sowing discord. What? You fell for it?”
“Who doesn’t know it’s sowing discord?” Boss Dai wearily opened one eye slit. “But in my position, how dare I make hasty decisions?”
“What if Wan Tianmu really contacted the Japanese, or simply surrendered to become a traitor? The loss to the Military Statistics Bureau would be enormous.”
“I have only a few capable men under me, and Wan Tianmu is one. He’s worked successively in Beiping, Tianjin, Luoyang, Nanjing, Tongguan, and along the Longhai line. Now he’s Shanghai Station Chief… Do I dare be careless?”
“But if that’s all, it shouldn’t have made him betray, right?” Zheng Yaoquan still didn’t understand.
“I had Wu Gengshu arrest him for interrogation!” Boss Dai sighed annoyedly here. “Maybe they went too hard on him. The guy paid Wu Gengshu a fortune to plead for him…”
“Wu Gengshu took the money and spoke well of him, begging me to spare his life. He repeatedly guaranteed no betrayal. To show sincerity, Wan Tianmu agreed to return to Chongqing.”
“This—” Zheng Yaoquan, the old fox, could guess the rest without thinking.
If it was a trap, Wan Tianmu was surely surrounded by Japanese, every move under Japanese surveillance.
The roadside ambush was premeditated by the Japanese.
So, as soon as Wan Tianmu was rescued, he was immediately put on a special train arranged by Kagesa to Shanghai.
“What I worry about now is the safety of our stations.” Boss Dai looked somber. “With Wan Tianmu’s experience, he’s extremely familiar with Beiping, Tianjin, Shanghai, Luoyang, Nanjing, Qingdao, and such places.”
“Since he chose to side with the Japanese, he’ll surely leak that intelligence… We’ve really taken a hard fall this time.”
“Then hurry and notify evacuation.” Zheng Yaoquan grew anxious.
“Too late.” Boss Dai wiped his face. “As soon as Wan Tianmu boards a vehicle, the Japanese devils will act. I dare say our major stations have already been hit. Phone them? Way too late…”
“What does the Fuji Mountain telegram say?” After long silence, Boss Dai slumped back again, eyes narrowed like a deflated man.
For some reason, Zheng Yaoquan suddenly felt sympathy for Boss Dai. He was indeed domineering, offending countless people.
But it had to be admitted: to run such a massive organization and suppress the real demons and ghosts within, the pressure on Boss Dai was immense.
Zheng Yaoquan said slowly: “Fuji Mountain telegram says Wan Tianmu has agreed to cooperate with the Japanese, serving as Senior Advisor to the Special Affairs Committee.”
“Now he’s planning an intelligence agency with Ding Cun and Li Qun, targeting Shanghai’s Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics, Military Statistics Bureau, and Communist Party.”
“Fuji Mountain originally wanted to delay, but Kagesa thinks intelligence work best not involve Fuji Mountain.”
“Just need Fuji Mountain to provide material assistance.”
“Director, forgive my bluntness—we must find a way to kill Wan Tianmu!”
Boss Dai sighed deeply: “Fuji Mountain is indeed clever.”
“Even figures like Kagesa and Dohihara fully trust him—not easy.”
“Tell him not to pay Wan Tianmu excessive attention, lest it raise suspicion.”
“If we really act, I’ll arrange someone else.”
“Director, we’ll discuss these later. The key now is to save some people first.” Zheng Yaoquan said gravely: “If Shanghai’s intelligence network is uprooted, our painstaking plan to keep Wang in Shanghai fails.”
“News from Hanoi: Chen Gongshu just withdrew, and Mr. Wang can’t sit still.”
“That Imai Takeo sent Takagi Ken to escort Wang back to Shanghai.”
“By itinerary, he should arrive in Shanghai in a few days.”
Boss Dai sighed: “For the assassination, I had Wu Gengshu arrange it. He’s sent Dai Xingbing to infiltrate Shanghai.”
“But Shanghai Station’s internal spy isn’t found yet, and Wan Tianmu has fled to Shanghai.”
Knock knock knock. Before Boss Dai finished, urgent knocking sounded.
“Come in.” Boss Dai frowned slightly, sensing it might relate to Wan Tianmu again.
Sure enough, Mao Qi Wu pushed open the office door, panting: “Director, trouble in North China.”
“Pei Ji San betrayed, selling out Tianjin Station’s thirteen contact points to the Japanese.”
“Tianjin Station Deputy Station Chief Zeng Che couldn’t evacuate in time, recognized by secret agents downstairs and captured on the spot.”
“This morning, Japanese captured Tianjin Station Station Chief Chen Zi Yi in Tianjin English and French Concessions.”
“Tianjin Station is completely done…”
Sure enough, what you fear comes.
Boss Dai’s mouth tasted bitter. He’d erred on Wan Tianmu, but this mistake couldn’t be admitted.
“Yaoquan, come with me to Huangshan Villa.” After half a silence, Boss Dai decided to steady the top first.
Military Statistics Bureau didn’t lack money—intelligence networks could be rebuilt—but if the top pursued to the end.
Boss Dai didn’t know how severe the consequences would be.
In the car to Huangshan Villa, Boss Dai looked at the receding scenery and suddenly said: “Yaoquan, if I can’t pass this time, I plan to recommend you take over Military Statistics Bureau.”
“This—” Zheng Yaoquan jumped, waving hastily: “Director, this isn’t right. Not shirking, but Brother Qi Wu is more suitable than me.”
“He—” Boss Dai scoffed: “Yaoquan, you think I can’t see? Mao Qi Wu is just a smiling tiger.”
