Chapter 71: Who Is The Hunter, Who Is The Prey
Shanghai, French Concession, Jinbei Road
This is a standalone three-story building located on the edge of a slum.
The French Concession has high-end villas and luxury apartments for foreigners, and naturally, it also lacks no such buildings inhabited only by the poor.
In the third floor room, more than a dozen men wearing short jackets stood to one side, while a figure wearing a long gown sat on the old-fashioned grand tutor’s chair in the room.
These men wearing short jackets were all bursting with muscle and powerfully built.
In contrast, the one sitting on the grand tutor’s chair looked like a frail scholar, and moreover, his eyes were slightly closed, as if he was about to fall asleep.
Knock knock knock, a faint knocking sound rang out, and the man on the grand tutor’s chair instantly opened his eyes, while one of the men nearby wisely went to open the door.
The door opened, and a slim figure slipped inside. The man on the grand tutor’s chair immediately stood up, made a silencing gesture, and led the newcomer into another room.
“Commissioner Yu, all matters have been arranged properly.” As soon as they entered the room, the newcomer eagerly handed over the intelligence he was carrying to Yu Zuobai.
“Director Hu has already gained the trust of the Japanese devils. This is the intelligence he passed out, with markings on it, instructing us to proceed to the next step according to plan.”
“This is the information supplied by Li Demin from the Economic Department General Affairs Section whom we captured.”
“The entire map of the material warehouse, the placement of various materials, and after the gold enters the warehouse, according to their regulations, it should be stacked in this position.”
The newcomer pointed out the spot circled in red on the map for Yu Zuobai to see.
“The sewer entrance of the warehouse is in this position. The Economic Department has been adding to the warehouse recently, all pipelines have been newly inspected, absolutely clear and unobstructed, no mistakes.”
“Also, the explosives you wanted have been prepared.”
Yu Zuobai carefully reviewed all the intelligence, closed his eyes as if going over all the action details in his mind, confirmed everything was fine, then opened his eyes and said: “We have no major issues here. Battalion Commander Zhou, how are arrangements on your side?”
The newcomer was named Zhou Weilong, and his current position was Reconnaissance Battalion Commander of the Loyal Salvation Army Training Regiment First.
Since ancient times, anyone who could become a reconnaissance battalion commander had to have real skills.
Zhou Weilong was no exception; not only was he exceptionally skilled in combat, his reconnaissance ability and combat ability were also top-notch.
“Commissioner Yu, rest assured, I’ve arranged everything, we will definitely rescue Director Hu.”
Yu Zuobai nodded, took a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Zhou Weilong: “Battalion Commander Zhou, this is your evacuation route map.”
“I’ve arranged two boats at the Xinkaihe Wharf in the French Concession. After completing the mission, evacuate quickly. Tomorrow morning, we’ll meet at Dianshan Lake in Kunshan.”
Zhou Weilong took the paper, glanced at it once, and memorized the information on it.
“Commissioner Yu, how will you get out?”
As soon as the words were out, Zhou Weilong suddenly froze, as if he shouldn’t be asking such a question at a time like this.
Yu Zuobai patted Zhou Weilong’s shoulder and said: “We have our own methods. This time Brother Shude suffered such torture for Party and Country. Battalion Commander Zhou, you must rescue him.”
Zhou Weilong said solemnly: “Rest assured, Commissioner Yu, we’ve made foolproof preparations and will not fail your expectations. With nothing else, I’ll head back first.”
“Battalion Commander Zhou, be careful on the road.” Yu Zuobai earnestly reminded him.
Zhou Weilong saluted, turned, and left the room.
Yu Zuobai reviewed the intelligence in his hand again and couldn’t help muttering to himself: “Genius, able to design such an action—this person really is a genius.”
“They say the most brilliant hunter always appears in the form of the prey. This person truly understands the ways of power and strategy.”
Shanghai, Maigen Road, Economic Department Material Warehouse.
Dusk was deep, and with the sound of the train braking sharply, the freight train from Nanjing to Shanghai stopped at the platform of Shanghai East Station, that is, Maigen Road Station.
On the platform, several Japanese devils wearing “Military Police” armbands shouted in their gibberish, while a group of platform laborers pushed handcarts, unloading the black boxes from the freight train one by one.
Then, under the command of the Japanese devils, they were loaded onto trucks parked in the distance.
By the time the truck arrived at the material warehouse, it was already eight o’clock at night.
April was deep into spring, the night wind blew over the material warehouse, and in the distance, the freight train let out a long wail and set off again to the next station.
At this time, at the front and back doors of the material warehouse, many fully armed Japanese soldiers were quietly ambushing in hidden corners at street corners.
Ando Shinichi raised his wristwatch, the hour hand pointing to exactly eight o’clock, and the material warehouse was still as quiet as ever.
Lieutenant Nakamura from the Action Team came forward and asked: “Major Ando, could the intelligence be wrong? Are those people not daring to come?”
Ando Shinichi frowned: “Which cat doesn’t steal fish? With a ton of gold right here, they will definitely come.”
As if verifying Ando Shinichi’s words, just as he finished speaking, a member of the Special Higher Police Affairs Investigation Team came running over, panting.
“Report to Major Ando, targets spotted.”
“About a dozen or so, targets have infiltrated the material warehouse. Should we capture them immediately?”
Ando Shinichi’s pupils contracted slightly, and a trace of excitement involuntarily appeared on his face: “Pass the order. Encircle from front and back. Don’t let a single one escape. If they resist, shoot on the spot. Move out.”
“Hai”
Inside the material warehouse, more than a dozen figures pushed open the warehouse iron door and quickly rushed in.
By the light, Yu Zuobai looked around; the various structures in the warehouse matched the description in the intelligence exactly. At this moment, there wasn’t even a single shadow.
It seemed the Japanese had long ago dispersed all the patrols and staff in the warehouse to catch them.
While it was convenient for them, it was also convenient for Yu Zuobai and the others.
“Proceed according to plan.”
“Three per group. First and second groups load the gold. Remember, each bag can only hold thirty-five pieces.”
“Third group prepares for demolition.”
“Fourth group, find the sewer entrance.”
“Remember, we only have five minutes. Move fast.”
At the command, the more than ten people immediately divided into four groups and carried out their respective mission objectives.
The first and second groups totaled six people. These few accurately found the gold storage location right away, pried open the boxes, took out pre-prepared special back baskets, and methodically put the gold into the back baskets.
The third group had only three people, each holding detonators and explosives, but the amount of explosives wasn’t much.
Of course, with just a few people, the explosives they could carry were naturally very limited.
But they showed no panic at all. They went to a corner of the material warehouse, looked at the flour piled higher than mountains in front of them, and inserted the detonators into it one after another.
The remaining group quickly found the sewer entrance at the edge of the warehouse. The three worked together to lift off the manhole cover, revealing a pitch-black opening.
“Report to the officer, groups one and two have completed action.”
“Report to the officer, group three has completed action.”
“Report to the officer, group four has completed action.”
Yu Zuobai nodded slightly, looked at the pocket watch in his hand: “Still time. We can play with the Japanese devils a bit more.”
