33. Walking with Wolves
The warehouse, filled with the scent of herbs, seems like a corner of the world that no one cares about.
Chen Ji thought silently: The position of Si Cao in the Military Intelligence Department is highly confidential. Since his uncle asked Si Cao to take care of him, he must be a big shot in the intelligence field.
But why did his mother marry into the Chen family of Ning Dynasty? Why did he stay in Ning Dynasty?
Si Cao saw that he was silent and seemed to have misunderstood him: "You seem to still be resentful towards your uncle."
Chen Ji lowered his eyes and asked in an ambiguous tone, "Does my uncle still remember me?"
Si Cao dusted himself off and said calmly, "Don't say such angry words. When he was in that position, he had to consider everything. He naturally had his reasons for not accepting you back to Jing Dynasty. Perhaps if he accepted you back, you would be harmed by a villain instead."
"Is that so? My uncle is in a bad situation?"
After the shopkeeper of Bailu Pavilion left, the Si Cao seemed to talk more.
But he said calmly: "Now your uncle has been framed by a villain and demoted."
It turns out that his uncle has already stepped down?
Chen Ji asked, "When can I return to Jing Dynasty?"
He felt no sense of belonging to either Jing Dynasty or Ning Dynasty, but no matter where he went, it was better than walking on the tightrope here.
However, Si Cao said sternly, "You can't leave yet. Now that you're close to Yunyang and Jiaotu, you must make good use of this identity."
Si Cao's tone left no room for doubt.
Chen Ji was silent for a long time. "Then I will follow Sir Si Cao's instructions. I will strive to gain the trust of Yun Yang and Jiao Tu."
At this point, Si Cao changed the subject: "Wait a minute... your intelligence line is using Zhou Chengyi's typo method. The Military Intelligence Department has never taught you the Fanqie method. How did you learn about Fanqie? And how did you discover the Jinsi Lu?"
Chen Ji didn't know how to answer for a moment.
He couldn't explain to the people in this world that he had wanted to be a diplomatic military attaché since he was a child, so he read popular science, intelligence, and mystery books.
He couldn't explain to the people in this world that seven months ago, he was admitted to the Army Foreign Languages College with the first place in the written test and the first place in the interview.
The school, which is about to be renamed "Army Strategic Support Information Engineering University", has never been a place that only teaches foreign languages. The written tests and interviews for the special recruitment batch are not in foreign languages.
Si Cao narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, "Why aren't you talking? Who taught you that?"
As he spoke, invisible pressure suddenly approached, and Chen Ji clearly saw the other party reaching for the dagger in his sleeve again.
He quickly considered the information in his mind and replied, "My mother taught me."
"Oh?" Si Cao's tone was still unrelenting. "I didn't expect your mother would teach you these things when you were so young... What else did she teach you? She couldn't have just taught you the Fanqie method, right? That would be too much of a coincidence."
Chen Ji recalled, "My mother once told me that if we only used the Fanqie method to hide information, it would be easily exposed if we encountered someone who also knew the Fanqie method. So, she created a new method based on the Fanqie method to hide intelligence."
"Huh?" Si Cao became interested: "What method?"
Chen Ji said, "My mother calls it a code book."
"Codebook?"
Chen Ji found a jar of medicinal wine in the storeroom and used his finger to write on the ground: "By the willows, I seek the air to flow low, while the waves fight for the sun. The orioles whisper in my dreams, and I clap my hands to let you know."
Si Cao said in a serious tone, "What's the use of this poem?"
Chen Ji didn't answer, but continued writing: "Spring flowers are fragrant, autumn mountains are blooming, guests singing joyfully need golden cups, the solitary lamp shines brightly on the silver vat. In the eastern suburbs, across the West Bridge, the crowing of cocks heralds the dawn, and the strange plum blossoms cover the ditch."
Chen Ji explained, "The first poem has a total of twenty characters, and each character has a different initial consonant. The second poem has a total of thirty-six characters, and each character also has a different final vowel. We can use these two poems as a code book and number the characters sequentially. The twenty characters in the first poem will be numbered from one to twenty, and the same goes for the second, numbered from one to thirty-six."
Si Cao was a little confused: "How do I use it?"
Chen Ji said, "With this code book, if you want to transmit the word 'continue', you only need to write nineteen, twenty-seven, fifteen, and eleven. Anyone who knows the code book can immediately translate the message after seeing the numbers, but those who don't know the code book will never be able to decipher it. If the 'Jinsi Lu' transmits messages in this way, even if someone intercepts the 'Jinsi Lu', they still won't be able to understand it."
Si Cao exclaimed: "It's quite interesting."
Multi-layer encryption technology such as code books has existed since ancient times and was developed and promoted during World War I and World War II.
It is not omnipotent, but intelligence work has always been about as long as you are one step ahead, you can defeat your opponent.
At this point, Si Cao finally relaxed his tone and chose to believe Chen Ji. "Your mother taught you well, and you've learned well. When your mother came undercover in Jing Dynasty, she became a famous talent in Jinling in just three years. I didn't expect that she was not only proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but also had a deep understanding of the use of the fanqie method. I will report this code book and the "Jinsi Lu" to the Chief Secretary and request a reward for you. You are now a 'Que'-level spy, right? This achievement is enough for you to be promoted to the 'Pheasant' level."
Chen Ji breathed a sigh of relief: The bet was right.
According to his guess, his mother and uncle were both from Jing Dynasty, but his mother strangely married into the Chen family of Ning Dynasty. The only reason that could explain this was that his mother was also a spy!
Back then, my mother came to Ning Dynasty with my uncle. My uncle established the Military Intelligence Department's intelligence network in the south, and my mother married into the Chen family in order to obtain intelligence.
Chen Ji changed the subject: "Master Si Cao, my next main task is to approach Yun Yang and Jiao Tu. Can you tell me more about them?"
Si Cao nodded. "When dealing with Yun Yang and Jiao Tu, never believe a word they say. They only rose to prominence by stepping on the corpses of their colleagues. They might use you today and abandon you tomorrow."
Chen Ji wondered, "Won't this cause public outrage among their colleagues?"
"No, the Secret Service is a place that only values merit, not favoritism. They are cruel to their own people, and even crueler to us," Si Cao thought for a moment and then explained: "Of course, given their relationship with the Poison Minister, other colleagues may also dare not speak out.
”
"Um?"
"Yunyang and Jiaotu were both orphans adopted by Du Xiang. Over the past decade, they've been trained to become the assassins they are today. Perhaps their abilities aren't as great as others, but when it comes to killing for Du Xiang, they're ruthless."
Chen Ji suddenly recalled that on the night Zhou Chengyi died, Yun Yang and Jiao Tu each swore an oath by their own parents...
As they were talking, Manager Yuan pushed the door open and walked in: "Master Si Cao, it has been arranged. Chang Jing will be at..."
Si Cao said coldly: "Slap him."
Shopkeeper Yuan was stunned for a moment, but finally gritted his teeth and slapped himself ten times.
Si Cao's dull voice came from behind his mask: "The various intelligence channels are forbidden from sharing information with each other. You've forgotten this principle, and you still want to replace Zhou Chengyi as the Saker Falcon of Luo City?"
Shopkeeper Yuan lowered his head and said, "It was my fault that I was reckless."
Suddenly, Chen Ji said, "Master Si Cao, I will do my best to get closer to Yun Yang and Jiao Tu, but I have a request."
"explain."
Chen Ji stared at Manager Yuan and said, "I need the Military Intelligence Department to transfer everyone who knows my identity as a spy back to the Jing Dynasty, and never return to the Ning Dynasty again. Otherwise, if anyone else is arrested and gives me away, all my hard work in approaching the Twelve Zodiac Signs will be wasted."
Si Cao seemed to be thinking about something.
Manager Yuan's expression changed drastically: "Master Si Cao, he is seeking revenge for his personal gain!"
Chen Ji shook his head: "This is not a personal vendetta. You already know my identity. If you are arrested, you will definitely give me away."
"No!" Shopkeeper Yuan said anxiously, "Master Si Cao, I have been running Luocheng for six years. No one is more suitable for this place than me."
Si Cao pondered for a moment and walked straight towards a box of medicinal herbs.
He opened the box, pulled out a piece of oil paper used to preserve medicinal herbs, and spread it on the ground calmly.
Upon seeing this, Shopkeeper Yuan turned around and tried to flee the warehouse.
But just as he turned around, Si Cao had already flashed behind him, lifted up the fat body with just one hand, and placed it on the oil paper.
The next moment, Si Cao kicked Manager Yuan in the knee, forcing him to kneel down.
He pulled a dagger from his sleeve and looked at Chen Ji. "I had no choice but to interrogate you today. Don't harbor any grudges. If what happened today becomes a thorn in your heart, I will remove it for you now. From now on, you can approach Yunyang and Jiaotu with peace of mind. Apart from me, the Chief, and your uncle, no one else will know your identity as a spy."
As he spoke, the Si Cao grabbed Manager Yuan's jaw and stabbed him in the heart. "Yuan Ming, you exploited your position to embezzle eight thousand three hundred and twenty-seven taels of silver from Bailu Pavilion over the past six years. This Bailu Pavilion was originally established to raise funds for the Military Intelligence Department, but it became a place for you to enrich yourself. You are disloyal."
Manager Yuan gasped and couldn't utter a word.
Si Cao twisted the dagger, crushing Shopkeeper Yuan's heart. He raised his fanged face and looked at Chen Ji: "If there is no absolute loyalty, then there is absolute disloyalty. Chen Ji, I give this to you as well. Remember it in your heart."
Chen Ji watched this scene silently. He knew that he would have to travel with these jackals, tigers and leopards from now on.
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