Shaken trust

A long silence fell over the ward. Qingcheng did not immediately answer Li Sheng's request for a counterattack; she sat in her chair, seemingly deep in thought.

On his sickbed, Li Sheng struggled to drag his almost powerless body closer to Qingcheng and continued to persuade his superiors that the comrades were now at risk of being arrested every day, and that the headquarters had recently arrested a traitor named Huang Gui, who was the captain of the first detachment of the Red Team.

Now, even a simple safe house can kill dozens of team members. It seems he has even bigger secrets he hasn't revealed. Li Sheng suggested that Huang Gui be secretly executed before he harms more comrades.

Qingcheng was wearing a mask, so Li Sheng couldn't see her expression. Just looking at her eyes, he felt like she was smiling. What was so funny?

After a long silence, Qingcheng finally spoke up—rejecting Li Sheng's suggestion. She didn't even intend to report to her superiors for a decision; she had her own plans for that traitor Huang Gui.

The emotions that had been suppressed for so long erupted at this moment. Li Sheng used the loudest voice he could muster to demand, "Why were you told to give up? Why couldn't you kill the traitor? Why?"

Several times, after seeing his comrades on the verge of death from interrogation, he would ask himself the same question: Am I a spy or a traitor? Am I communist or communist? Who am I really?

“Of course you’re my comrade, don’t doubt yourself,” Kiyosumi replied decisively.

"Pah! Who do you think I am?" Li Sheng vented his recent frustrations to Qingcheng.

Watching his comrades die before his eyes every day, and being forced to act as an accomplice, drove him to the brink of madness. What tore him apart most was today's arrest; he watched his comrades fall one by one before his very eyes, and yet, inexplicably, he had saved the executioner. Li Sheng was on the verge of a breakdown, pounding heavily on the hospital bed as if it were Zhang Chong.

“I know you’re upset. Since you care so much about saving Zhang Chong, I’ll go kill him now, and then you won’t have to worry about it anymore.” Qingcheng made a move to get up.

"No! That's not what I meant." Li Sheng regretted his words as soon as they left his mouth. He wasn't a newbie agent; he knew the hardships involved firsthand. Why did he have to get angry at a young girl? But in secret operations, one couldn't tell their parents or their wives and children. Besides their superiors, who else could they confide in?

In the ward, Qingcheng patiently waited for Li Sheng to finish his rant before saying, "As your superior, I have to protect your safety, not only physically but also mentally. If you want to chat with someone in the future, you can always contact me."

After venting his emotions, Li Sheng felt much better. He gently shook his head, telling Qingcheng that she didn't need to be like that. At this time, everyone needed to unite. He was just angry about his own powerlessness.

Unexpectedly, Qingcheng lowered her head and said guiltily, "Your emotions are unstable right now, and I still assigned you a task. I was wrong too. I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault, it's my impulsiveness. I don't know why I had such a strong urge to kill Zhang Chong today. I felt like Zhang Chong was a little different, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it." Li Sheng was able to survive until now because he had an extremely keen sixth sense for danger.

After a pause, Qingcheng beside him nodded in confirmation of Li Sheng's sixth sense. Zhang Chong was indeed no longer the same Zhang Chong as before. He was now a dangerous spy who was well-versed in the organizational structure of our Party and understood our counter-intelligence methods.

How could this be? Li Sheng said that the two had known each other for quite some time, and he knew Zhang Chong's capabilities very well. Although he was enthusiastic about the arrest operation and was quite intelligent, he had been unable to get things right under Xu Qiao's ambitious and eager-to-achieve command.

Qingcheng sighed and explained jokingly that Zhang Chongneng's enlightenment was not because he hit his head on the car, but because he was enlightened by a master, who was none other than the traitor Zhang Tianhe.

After Zhang Tianhe joined the army, with Xu Qiao's support, he organized a three-month training course specifically to train spies to deal with us. Zhang Chong passed Zhang Tianhe's training in just three days, and his first case after graduation was the Confucius Temple case.

“This madman wants to use his newly learned techniques to fight me,” Li Sheng said knowingly. No wonder Zhang the Madman dared to challenge the headquarters.

A scholar should be viewed with new eyes after three days of separation. Zhang Chong was originally a thoroughbred horse, just lacking a discerning eye to properly train him. Now, with the personal guidance of the great traitor, his reconnaissance skills have improved visibly.

"Not only that, your performance today is enough to make him suspicious of you." Qingcheng tossed him two dark objects.

Upon closer inspection, he saw two American-made listening devices. Li Sheng cursed Zhang Fengzi's ancestors for eighteen generations in his heart. Only the CC Clique used American equipment, while the army mostly used Czech and German equipment.

It turned out that after Qingcheng arrived at the ward, she first "cleaned" it up, and found two listening devices under the bed and in the flower pots on the windowsill.

“It’s not surprising that CC is listening to you. You should consider why Commander Xiong also suspects you.” Qingcheng finally took out a German-style bugging device and placed it on his right.

A chill ran down Li Sheng's spine. He stared incredulously at the object beside him; the small electronic device seemed to radiate heat like magma, making it too dangerous to touch. He hadn't even noticed Commander Xiong's suspicion of him. If it weren't for Comrade Xiao He's reminder, he might have been unwittingly killed by the mole right next to him.

Qingcheng's serious expression served as a reminder: a long and successful period of covert operations can gradually numb one, but we must not forget that we are night stalkers fighting in the heart of the enemy; one wrong step leads to another. Li Sheng needs to be especially careful from now on; all his actions must conform to the image of a Nationalist government official.

Especially at times like this, he should learn from Zhang Chong how to ruthlessly arrest Communist Party members, instead of worrying about the people one moment and hesitating to shoot his comrades the next.

“We can’t really kill our comrades,” Li Sheng couldn’t help but retort.

"We have to do it even if we can't. The comrades who are taken to headquarters will either betray us or die after suffering all that. We might as well give them a quick death first." Qingcheng's eyes still held a smile, but there was a hint of coldness in them.

A sudden pang of pain shot through Li Sheng's heart. He realized that the truth of the matter was just as cruel. After dealing with the devil for so many years, his hands were already stained with blood. What was the point of pretending to be noble?

But he didn't expect that Comrade Xiao He would be so ruthless. If he hadn't been forced to do so and there was no other way to rescue them, how could he have just turned on his own comrades, let alone the common people? He became a Bolshevik for the sake of his compatriots!

He couldn't bring himself to hurt others in order to protect himself; he would rather sacrifice himself.

Hahaha, Qingcheng burst into laughter without warning: "Brother Li, do you still think of yourself as a Kuomintang agent? Selflessness is a noble quality, and you are a Bolshevik at heart. The essential difference between us and them is that we stand on the side of the people."

Li Sheng suddenly realized that the little girl was playing a dirty trick on him, and he warned her seriously: "Don't make jokes like that in the future, they're not funny at all."

"Okay, okay, don't be angry," Qingcheng pleaded. "There's a balance to be struck when arresting comrades. Brother Li, you've been undercover for so long, you should know the tricks of the trade. You've been too stressed lately, always thinking about going easy on them, which is why you've fallen short and your flaws have been spotted."

Indeed! Li Sheng frankly admitted that he feels uncomfortable whenever he sees a comrade being arrested, as if it's all his fault for not being able to rescue his comrades.

Of course, it wasn't his fault, but rather the reactionaries' ambitions had swelled. However, Li Sheng's recent performance was too conspicuous; he was practically shouting: "I'm a member of the Communist Party, come and arrest me!"

Qingcheng advised him to adjust his mindset as soon as possible. Li Sheng's goal was not to save one or two comrades in front of him, but to infiltrate deeper and save more comrades. In three months, a large number of dangerous spies would be dispatched, and our work would be even more difficult then.

Relieved, Li Sheng thanked Qingcheng for her comfort. His most important task now was to avoid Commander Xiong's scrutiny, because he had been so busy lately that he couldn't figure out where Commander Xiong had seen through his disguise.

"Commander Xiong isn't from the Zhejiang clique or the Whampoa clique. How could he have risen to his current position? He must be someone who's easy to deal with. Infiltrating the quagmire of the Nationalist government, he must have had his share of money, power, and women. You're still too clean," Qingcheng remarked.

“If I’m completely clean, then your fiancé is transparent. You’re his only woman, so he can take whatever bonus he gets and avoid getting involved in the infighting.” Li Sheng immediately retorted.

"Haha, he's different from us. But we can learn from his dedication to power," Kiyosumi analyzed with a smile.

Gao Junxiao's ability lies in laying the groundwork. On the surface, he appears to be indifferent, but in reality, every step he takes is paving the way for his lofty ambitions.

Commander Xiong's request to suppress the bandits seemed like a thankless task, a reluctant choice after his demotion. In reality, he wanted to rightfully regain military power; the bonus was just a bonus. Commander Xiong also saw through his junior brother's ambition.

Given that the benefits of winning over Gao Junxiao outweighed the drawbacks, Commander Xiong was willing to do him a favor and share the spoils. The retention of the independent battalion was the best proof of this. In the end, it was the Nanjing government that was paying for it. With the independent battalion, there would be independent regiments, independent brigades, and so on...

As for whether Nanjing will expand his army, don't forget that Chen Yao is a natural connection to him. The two are not only classmates who met when they were young, but also close friends. The more popular Chen Yao is in front of President Chiang, the more popular Gao Junxiao will become in the future. They will share the same fate, and if one suffers a loss, the other can still desperately try to make a profit.

Otherwise, how could Gao Junxiao have easily escaped from Xuzhou? It was because Chen Yao impeached Team Leader Dai in front of President Chiang that Team Leader Dai was recalled. In order to appease Chen Yao, who had helped him conquer the country in the Central Plains, President Chiang, along with other powerful figures, stirred up trouble for him.

Then, one has to mention Junxiao's peculiar hobby of undermining his rivals. Is it just to remove obstacles in his path and, incidentally, spite his opponents? Of course not. He is selecting allies for his future in the imperial court from among his peers.

As far as Qingcheng knows, Staff Officer Xu Xun has been recommended by his father-in-law to take up an important position in the Ministry of Transportation. Since the military and the government have always been closely linked, there's no need to guess who's behind this.

In addition, his fellow students at the Baoding Military Academy, his students in the first class when he briefly served as an instructor at the Whampoa Military Academy, and his study abroad relationship with the Japanese Army University meant that everyone, whether from the Baoding faction, the Whampoa faction, or the overseas-educated faction, considered him one of their own.

Qingcheng rolled her eyes and complained about Gao Junxiao, saying that even the most popular socialite couldn't socialize as well as him.

Even if Gao Junxiao is a socialite in the military, you still plan to marry him, right? Li Sheng suppressed a laugh and urged her to get to the point, but Qingcheng snorted and continued.

He not only promoted his peers, but also his subordinates. Several bandit-suppression experts left behind in the independent battalion had both military merits and powerful connections. As long as they were trained properly, the power in the military would gradually fall into the hands of those young people.

No matter how high their official rank becomes in the future, they will all have to bow their heads and respectfully call Gao Junxiao "Big Brother".

Li Sheng's throat went dry as he listened. He now understood why Xiao He wasn't afraid to expose herself in front of her fiancé. When you see through a person, what is there to be afraid of?

After the initial surprise, a feeling of sympathy welled up in Li Sheng's heart. Why did Gao Junxiao have to find such a capable wife? Wouldn't he be unable to hide his secret stash of money in the future? How pitiful.

"What did you learn from this?" Kiyosumi asked, like a teacher.

“Uh…we need to have a broader perspective,” Li Sheng said after a moment’s hesitation.

“Yes, that’s a very good answer.” Kiyosumi’s eyes curved into crescent moons, and she clapped her hands loudly. “From now on, you’ll have to follow the path of corrupt officials.”

"Huh? Wouldn't it be even stranger if I suddenly became greedy?" Li Sheng hadn't recovered from Qingcheng's jumping thoughts.

“Your eldest child should be starting school next year, right? And your son needs a small villa for his wedding. Your youngest is also over two years old and should start learning. Girls need to be nurtured in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting from a young age so they can grow up to be elegant ladies,” Qingcheng said matter-of-factly.

Good heavens, what did she go through in her childhood to be able to say these words so seriously?

"Two years old~~ What do you want my daughter to learn? She can't even speak clearly yet. But I can definitely afford the children's education fees. There's no rush for the villa. My son is five years old, not twenty-five." Li Sheng hurriedly held up the number five, knowing he could support his family.

"What you think is not important, what's important is what Commander Xiong thinks," Qingcheng said mysteriously. "You want to fight back, right? I need your wife's help to coordinate with us. She hasn't been exposed, so she shouldn't refuse, right?"

"I'll ask her when I get back. She and I aren't on the same line, and I don't know if she'll be free lately," Li Sheng said helplessly.

"It's okay, just call your sister-in-law later. She'll definitely understand what I mean," Qingcheng said confidently.

The script was then whispered to Li Sheng by Qingcheng. After listening, Li Sheng shook his head repeatedly, "No, no, it's too embarrassing. How can he let his wife complain about being poor in front of Mrs. Xiong? If Mrs. Xiong finds out, Commander Xiong will know that he doesn't give me enough living expenses. How will he ever be able to work at headquarters again?"

"Follow the instructions! Just relay the orders, and don't meddle in women's affairs." Qingcheng's tone softened again. "Substance is more important than face. We need to make preparations in advance to get through Commander Xiong's crisis of trust."

There's also the long-term storyline. Qingcheng, considering Li Sheng's current situation, helped him refine his external persona: fair-skinned but kind-hearted. It remains to be seen how this "fair-skinned" persona will be portrayed.

Taking the paper from Qingcheng, Li Sheng carefully read her advice. To fake it, the groundwork had to be laid, and the injury was the best opportunity to make adjustments. Li Sheng could take advantage of the rest to make arrangements.

Based on Li Sheng's previous experience as a middleman in the headquarters, Qingcheng advised him to expand his business not only in Longhua Headquarters but also to other headquarters.

She even thoughtfully compiled a list, all of whom were well-known middlemen in various command headquarters. These people would be Li Sheng's targets in the future.

After Li Sheng finished reading, Qingcheng told him that he could introduce himself to middlemen as being backed by Mr. Xia, a well-known broker in the underworld.

If they were to investigate, they would only find that Mr. Xia was a senior member of the Green Gang with the character "Xue" in his name, and that he was a disciple of Qin Fei, who was a disciple of Qin Fei, who was a disciple of Qin Fei, who was a disciple of Qin Fei, who was a disciple of Qin Fei, who was a disciple of Qin Fei, who was a disciple of Qin Fei, who was a disciple of Qin Fei, forming a very complete background story.

Actually, both Qin Fei and Mr. Xia are pseudonyms of Qingcheng. As for why she left the position open, besides increasing Qin Fei's mystery, it's also because the character "Wu" is of the same generation as Mr. Du. It would be too embarrassing for someone of this generation to do the work personally, so she simply left it open.

As long as Li Sheng can smooth things over with those key figures, establish long-term benefits, and control the economic lifeline of military and political officials, even if Li Sheng declines or is exposed in the future, countless hands will come to his rescue. It's hard to go from extravagance to frugality, and no one will turn down money.

"Xiao He, you didn't have your identity smuggled by someone, so you want to drag me down with you, did you?" Li Sheng stared at Qingcheng suspiciously.

"How could that be? I'm helping you put on a new look." Kiyosumi looked back with an air of confidence.

Li Sheng was speechless for a moment. Okay, he would obey the organization's arrangements. He also wished Comrade He and his wife a happy and harmonious life, and hoped they wouldn't go out alone and cause trouble for others, haha.

The next day, a spring breeze rustled the curtains, and after a good night's rest, Li Sheng felt much better. He rarely had the leisure to brew himself a pot of fine tea; Secretary Wu was indeed considerate. He inhaled the refreshing aroma of the green tea, took a small sip—the water temperature was perfect, and the aftertaste was endlessly sweet. Excellent tea!

Bang! The wooden door was suddenly kicked open.

Li Sheng was so startled that his hand trembled, spilling the good tea all over his hospital gown. As he wiped the gown, he scolded his subordinates, "Did you knock? You have no manners."

If Secretary Wu hadn't been busy with official business, Li Sheng wouldn't have let such a greenhorn accompany him to bed.

"My section chief, lie back down quickly, Commander Xiong is here." His subordinate helped him pull back the blanket, and before he could finish speaking, Li Sheng darted under the covers, his movements so swift that he didn't seem like a seriously injured patient at all.

Once he lay down on the hospital bed, Li Sheng immediately adopted a half-dead appearance, seemingly breathing more gasps than breaths. He weakly beckoned his subordinates to bring him the teapot and teacups.

His subordinate, unaware of what was going on, brought the pillow to him. Just as he placed it under his waist, the sound of riding boots clattering on the marble floor came from outside the door. Li Sheng pretended not to hear it, gulped down a mouthful of hot tea, and the choking sensation caused him to cough violently.

Commander Xiong, who was the first to enter the ward, strode over and personally helped him pat his back: "Little Li, quickly catch your breath."

"Why is the Commander here?" Li Sheng opened his mouth in feigned surprise, then his expression hardened. "I'm fine, please forgive my rudeness."

"You're in this state, and you still say you're fine." Commander Xiong took the fruit basket from his adjutant and placed it on the bedside table. "Take good care of your injuries. Leave the department's affairs to your subordinates. After supporting them for so many years, it's time for them to make their own work plans."

"It's nothing. I'm just destined to be a busybody. I have to do a lot of things myself. Besides, I was almost killed by the Communist Party and didn't dare to say a word. Zhang Chong will laugh at me from now on." Li Sheng coughed weakly a few times.

Commander Xiong immediately ordered him to shut up. "We're not going to compare ourselves to those crazy lunatics who are destined to be alone. He's a man with a family, elderly parents and young children. The pillar of his family can't fall."

"At home, yes, please, Commander, don't tell my wife about the injury. She's already worked so hard taking care of our parents and children; she absolutely cannot be distracted by this." Li Sheng effortlessly squeezed out two tears of guilt; he truly owed his family too much.

"What... what am I supposed to say to you? Confess now!" Commander Xiong's expression changed, and he said sternly.

"What does the commander want me to explain?" Li Sheng wiped away his tears and asked cautiously.

"Oh dear, are you keeping a mistress outside?" Commander Xiong's question confused Li Sheng. Wait a minute, wasn't the script supposed to be about being poor? How did it turn into keeping a mistress?

"I'm innocent! What mistress? Commander, you know I'm not into that kind of thing. Who told you that?" Li Sheng put on a tearful expression. He couldn't suddenly change his persona; what if Commander Xiong was bluffing him?

"Who else could it be? My wife and sister-in-law made a scene right outside the headquarters," Commander Xiong recounted the events of this morning with a sour expression.

Li Sheng had been away from home a lot lately, which aroused Mrs. Li's suspicion. To make matters worse, Mrs. Li found Li Sheng's hidden stash of money in the crack of a dictionary at home, which made her so angry that she searched the whole house.

They found quite a lot more, and the total amount was not small. Mrs. Li and Mrs. Xiong had always been on good terms, and after discussing it, they both felt that Li Sheng was keeping a mistress, which led to the incident at the headquarters.

This time, Li Sheng couldn't laugh anymore. He felt his heart was bleeding, and his whole body was starting to ache. Wife, you actually did it for real. I asked you to act, not to add scenes.

I've lost face, fine, but I've been hiding my savings for half a year! Xiao He, you owe me something!