A Covert Battle (Part 2)
The interplay of light and shadow flickered erratically. After the light in the duty room bounced a few times, it suddenly went out.
A moment later, the lights came on again, and everyone assumed it was because it was too cold at night and the wiring was faulty. The draft through the platform shook the tree branches, and the grass rustled.
Inside the carriage, Captain Shen was wide awake after being woken up by the Meng couple. He yawned and slumped listlessly in his seat. He hadn't heard Yuanyuan's voice today and didn't have the energy to work.
Earlier, after he finished eating, he was about to have a long phone conversation with his lovely girlfriend when Team Leader Dai called him personally, asking him to lead a team to the train station to search for and arrest members of the G Party.
According to reliable informants, the Kuomintang's liaison point at the Hankou Wharf was uncovered. In order to claim credit, Team Leader Dai specially released a Kuomintang defector and asked him to take him to identify Kuomintang members one by one from the train carriages.
Having nothing better to do, Captain Shen thought that such a trivial matter could be left to his subordinates. How could an ordinary courier possibly know any high-ranking members of the Communist Party?
The real high-ranking officials are all very discreet. For example, the calm and collected gentleman next to him would have been a good choice to impersonate the disorganized Sichuan Army. However, his wife is the biggest flaw.
The lady isn't mute. When a woman is truly angry, she hits and curses at the same time, sometimes even biting. How could she be so quiet? Captain Shen scratched the scabbed mark on his hand, remaining noncommittal about Mrs. Meng's performance.
Moreover, for a lady of such high status, her nails were cut too short. Upon closer inspection, one could also see thin calluses on the fingertips of her left hand, but not on her right. Her shoulders were uneven, which were marks left by long-term playing of stringed instruments. The lady could afford a leather coat now, so she probably didn't need to work as a musician to earn money anymore.
He only agreed to let her go because he wanted to know if his wife would contact the G Party outside. Ideally, they would send someone to rescue her, so he could catch them all in one fell swoop. No, he probably knew he couldn't escape, so he tried every means to send his wife out. But any struggle the prey makes before it dies is futile.
Sigh~ I still want to hear Yuanyuan's voice. Why don't I wait until I finish work and take the train to Shanghai to surprise her?
Thinking this, Captain Shen's lips curled up slightly. He thought his idea was great and hoped that the party members next to him wouldn't be ungrateful and would cooperate with his work. He was already annoyed that his boss made him work overtime, and he didn't want to delay his date plans any further.
He would be very, very unhappy. Captain Shen had worn a long groove into the wooden handrail. Even though Captain Shen's heart was filled with dark clouds, he still maintained an ominous calm on the surface.
He decided to try and get some information out of him before making the arrest: "Mr. Meng, how many children do you have at home?"
“There are two, both boys,” Mr. Meng replied casually, as if he had expected him to speak.
"Oh, no wonder you're so worried, madam. Boys are all mischievous. I'd like to have a daughter someday." Captain Chen yawned again.
Mr. Meng smiled broadly and flattered, "A girl is fine too, she's good. Mr. Chen looks very young, are you married?"
"Not yet. I'll ask a matchmaker to propose to my girlfriend's family after I've reached adulthood," Captain Chen said slowly.
Mr. Meng, who was standing next to him, was quite surprised and gave him a thumbs up, praising him: "Mr. Shen is truly a young man of great talent. At such a young age, he can already manage dozens of people. He has a promising future."
"You can't compare to Mr. Meng. Your outfit alone is worth a year's salary for me." Captain Chen feigned curiosity and inquired, "What kind of business does Mr. Meng run? I'd like to know what kind of work can make money lately?"
“I’m in the tobacco business, not a big shot, just enough for my wife and kids,” Mr. Meng suggested. “But if you want to make quick money, you should go to the stock market. If you’re lucky, you can even get a wedding house and a dowry.”
"Hmph, tobacco," Captain Shen thought to himself, wanting to laugh. He was a Sichuanese who smoked and was in the tobacco business, so how could he not smell of tobacco at all? He could at least make it look convincing.
Captain Chen casually glanced at Mr. Meng: "No, I'm not very bright, and I don't have any inside information. I don't dare to get involved in finance, otherwise all the money I've saved will be wasted. Are you and your wife in a hurry to go back to your hometown? The night bus is cold and uncomfortable. Why don't you stay in Nanjing for another day? You can see the sunrise in Nanjing."
“Oh dear, with kids at home, how can my wife have the mind to go out and have fun? You’ll understand when you have kids.” Mr. Meng’s answer was still impeccable.
"Well, thank you for your kind words. Madam has been on the phone for quite a while, and she hasn't finished explaining yet?" Captain Shen changed the subject, his cold eyes devoid of any warmth, but he maintained a smile on his face.
“How would I know? My wife can’t put the phone down once she picks it up. Anyway, if the train can leave, I’ll have someone call her,” Mr. Meng said, taking the initiative.
“Okay, I’ll find someone to ask right now. I’m almost done with work.” Captain Shen’s eyes also became eager.
Mr. Meng smiled faintly, nodded in agreement, and nervously reached for his waist.
The wind howled outside the car, like the rough, low rumble of an old man suffering from tuberculosis. Just then, the clatter of leather shoes came, and Mrs. Meng, wrapped in a leather coat, gracefully arrived and returned to her seat. The little spy who had accompanied her had disappeared.
Oh, she's actually back. Captain Shen admired Mrs. Meng's courage. If she wanted to run away, she would still have a chance. He wasn't very interested in her, but he was interested in her husband.
Mr. Meng, who was sitting by the window, was clearly more surprised. He questioned his wife almost the moment she appeared: "You took so long to make a phone call. I thought you had fallen off the platform."
"You idiot! You don't care about the hammer, and you blame me for being long-winded. The eldest son smashed the neighbor's window, do you know that?" Mrs. Meng's voice was a little hoarse, probably because she had been crying or yelling at someone before. "You still care about me? I must have done something terrible in my past life to meet you."
“How could I possibly miss you or care about you? Don’t be angry, don’t be angry. Your throat was already sore, just wait a little longer…” Mr. Meng patted his wife’s shoulder.
Before he could finish speaking, Mrs. Meng threw a tantrum, shoving and pushing Mr. Meng: "Wait my ass! I'm going back right now! The old man was so angry with that idiot he fainted! If he hadn't been brought in in time, he'd be lying on his back. Waaah—"
"Damn it, you little brat, when I get back I'll beat him to a pulp, he'll be rolling in the mud and his ass will be smoking!" Mr. Meng was so angry that his neck turned red.
Mr. Meng seemed to be making veiled criticisms. Captain Shen shifted his hips uncomfortably. Strange, how come Mrs. Meng suddenly became so eloquent? If she had put on a good show earlier, he might not have suspected her. What were these two members of the G Party up to?
"If you don't let me go back, I'll make you pay!" Mrs. Meng's sharp curses turned into claws that lashed out at Mr. Meng.
"What's wrong with you? It's not like I'm not letting you go back. You have to ask the boss." Mr. Meng climbed onto the table without regard for his image, then scrambled to another table, not forgetting to pull down the curtains to avoid his wife's attack. Finally, he simply escaped into the hallway. "Captain Chen, can you tell her when the car is going to leave?"
Captain Shen narrowed his eyes, becoming wary. The couple argued more and more heatedly, and at the same time pressed down on Captain Shen.
In the blink of an eye, a strand of hair was cleanly severed, and the blade grazed past his earlobe. Captain Shen had just dodged the man's military dagger when the sharp short knife was already upon him, with only half of his gun drawn. He hurriedly twisted his waist and pulled in his abdomen, barely managing to avoid the stab.
Mrs. Meng slashed at him again, and the moment the cold blade touched his waist, her left hand transformed into a tiger claw. With all her might, she twisted her hand back, and snapped two of Mrs. Meng's fingers. However, the woman pulled out the pistol from her waist.
She was just feinting; her real target was his sidearm.
The woman, her eyes bloodshot, pointed a gun at herself, her fingers twisted at an odd angle, yet she didn't utter a sound. It seemed she had met her match. Just when they thought they had the situation under control, Captain Chen gave a cold laugh and let out a loud whistle.
In the blink of an eye, the sound of hurried footsteps came from outside the carriage. It was probably the secret agents on duty who heard the noise and gathered around.
Captain Shen gave them no time to think. His arm shot out like a snake, snatching the pistol with a "whoosh." Almost simultaneously, Mr. Meng kicked him in the face with lightning speed.
The attack came without warning, leaving Captain Shen nowhere to dodge. He could only raise his leg to take the hit. With a loud "bang," the bullet went astray, and his pistol flew out of his hand. He lost all feeling below his knee. But Mr. Meng didn't seem to have gained much advantage either. Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, indicating that he had probably suffered internal injuries from the kick.
Mrs. Meng picked up her gun and locked the connecting door between the carriages tightly. However, the special agent on duty near the door stepped up the stairs just before the door closed, pointing his gun at her, creating a standoff.
The people who followed were locked outside the car and could not see what was happening inside. The curtains had been drawn at some point, and two figures could be seen through the curtains, appearing to be fighting.
"Leave me alive." Captain Chen struck out with a short, sharp blow, and the sound of metal breaking echoed throughout the carriage. Mr. Meng looked at the broken edge of the military dagger with disbelief, then suddenly leaned forward and threw a punch at him, the force of which was like a dragon emerging from the sea.
In the cramped carriage, Captain Chen endured the pain in his leg and dodged, seizing the opportunity to strike back, punching Mr. Meng in the chest and forcing him to take two steps back. His attacks became increasingly ruthless afterward, and tonight they would have no chance of escaping!
However, the next second, all the overhead lights in the carriages suddenly went out, plunging the entire station into complete darkness. Without light and with no one to direct them, the agents outside the train were thrown into chaos. Captain Shen immediately realized that someone had pulled the power switch for them.
Distracted, Captain Shen had a gun pressed against his head. By the moonlight, he witnessed a terrifying scene that terrified him. His men fell to the ground, and the place where Mrs. Meng had been was gone. Instead, there was a "self" opposite him, wearing Mrs. Meng's cheongsam coat. She expressionlessly put her dislocated finger back in place and then pulled off his coat.
"This is absolutely disgusting!" That was Captain Shen's first reaction after realizing what had happened. Ugh~ He'd never dare bet with Yuan Yuan again—the loser had to wear a cheongsam. He never imagined he'd look like this in a cheongsam. Disgusting, utterly disgusting!
"You little rascal, don't move, or I'll make a hole in your head." Mr. Meng's words rang in his ears. With that thing on his head, he dared not move again. He hadn't married Yuanyuan yet, and he didn't want to die.
Before being taken away, Captain Shen glanced at the strange "himself" again. This person was definitely not Mrs. Meng from before. But no matter how amazing Sichuan face-changing is, he had never heard of it being able to transform into a real face. He had really seen something amazing today. It was a pity that he couldn't invite Yuanyuan to come and see it with him. It was too awesome.
A flashlight beam streaked past the window as the junior agent frantically smashed the car window with the butt of his rifle: "Captain Chen, are you alright?"
“There’s a member of the Communist Party impersonating one of ours. He just jumped out of the window and ran away. Go after him and make sure he’s alive.” Captain Chen leaned out halfway, and his voice was exactly the same as ours.
"Don't run, people are running that way." A soft-spoken agent led a large group of people away from the train area.
This was a ruse by the Communist Party to lure the enemy away from their stronghold. They sent people to rescue him, but in the toilet stall, Captain Shen's mouth was tightly covered by Mr. Meng, and he couldn't say a word.
Captain Shen watched helplessly as the two gang members bound his thumbs and locked him up. Hearing their retreating footsteps, Captain Shen felt a surge of anger and frustration, experiencing for the first time a profound sense of defeat.
When news of the successful interception at Nanjing Railway Station reached the church, Wang Renyong excitedly jumped onto his chair and proudly announced to Father Tong, "I told you, with my wife on the case, what can't we handle?"
Comrade Jade is a master of disguise, capable of a thousand faces. She's the most skilled disguise expert in the Second Division, so Father Tong wouldn't question her abilities. His biggest worry is Commissar Meng's wife, Sister Kong. She's been working in the Soviet area doing cultural and artistic work and has no experience behind enemy lines.
It was tough for her, a frail woman, to risk attending the congress, since one of the topics of the congress was "returning art to the people," and artistic representatives had to participate.
To ensure her safety, the organization assigned the battle-hardened Political Commissar Meng to escort her. The two were a real couple, and living and eating together would leave no trace.
Under normal circumstances, Commissar Meng could handle it, but this leak was extremely serious. Not only were all members of the CC Corps mobilized, but even the ten-person team laid a trap at the train station in order to claim credit.
This indicates that in their hometown, there were not only CC agents, but also agents from a ten-man group.
Just as Father Tong was worried about the situation in Hankou, the comrades who had flown to Jiujiang to intercept him sent back a telegram. After searching, they had made contact with Zhao Nanshan, the factory director, who was hiding in a hotel.
It turned out that those tracking Comrade Yingqi weren't spies, but rather comrades sent to intercept them, almost causing a major blunder. As a result, all comrades in Hankou and Nanjing were transferred to covert locations, and the interception operations in Jiujiang and Nanjing were successfully completed.
Now, all that's left is to intercept Comrade Peony at the Shiliupu Wharf, but no news has come back. Father Tong asked Wang Renyong worriedly if they needed to send help.
“No need. This is also to divert the spies’ attention and prevent them from knowing our true intentions,” Wang Renyong said meaningfully. “Things in the underworld should be resolved according to the rules of the underworld.”
The Shiliupu Wharf, at the junction of the French Concession and the Chinese-controlled area, was bustling with noise. The river wind, carrying a fishy smell, was so strong that it was hard to open one's eyes. Qingcheng exhaled a puff of white breath, feeling so cold that she hunched over. Perhaps she hadn't eaten dinner, because she felt that the riverside was particularly cold.
Wearing a thick coat, Qingcheng felt out of place. Beside her, thugs dressed only in training clothes, with machetes on their waists and sticks in their hands, swaggered toward the border with great momentum.
As expected of Shanghai's top gang, through the thin mist, Qingcheng could vaguely see on the other side of the border a line of thugs wielding axes and machetes, seemingly waiting for someone to arrive. Upon seeing the axes on the other side, Qingcheng's jaw involuntarily throbbed; the Axe Gang wasn't bad either.
She never imagined that one day she would witness the clash between the Green Gang and the Axe Gang. Her legs cramped a little, after all, she was the villain who stirred up trouble.
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