A Reconnaissance Account of the Soviet Area (Part Six)
The cawing continued incessantly, and two crows landed with a "thud" on the eaves. As a "pearl" fell, the victim cursed loudly and angrily threw stones at the roof.
The crows scurried about, their hoarse cries echoing as they flew towards the dark clouds.
Zhao Fengnian, who was sitting upright, felt a tightness in his heart. He pressed two fingers against the window frame and gently pushed open a crack. The person who came in was a young man dressed very simply. However, while the lady of the house was closing the door, he secretly groped her buttocks.
The female homeowner chuckled and swatted his hand away, then playfully poked his forehead, seemingly unbothered by his affection. Zhao Fengnian pursed his lips, not wanting to meddle in other people's business; their best outcome, he thought, was simply to be reincarnated and start anew.
"Hey, isn't this Xie Gaosheng, Vice Chairman Xie?"
"Looks like it really is, that brat's been messing around with women again. Ugh~"
He overheard the whispers of his teammates beside him, and Zhao Fengnian, after closing the window, asked suspiciously, "Our people?"
The two team members exchanged a glance, then nodded solemnly. He was the vice chairman of the county Soviet provisional government.
It was truly a case of "searching high and low without finding it, only to have it come to you effortlessly." Wu Hao's instructions flashed through Zhao Fengnian's mind, and he smiled slightly. He would take care of both the tigers and the flies that came to him.
Before long, the lights in the main house came on, and a soft light shone through the window paper, illuminating the corner of the wall. Zhao Fengnian pressed his ear against the outer wall, and the conversation reached his ears.
"Where's my brother? I need to talk to him about something."
"My husband is not here today; he's out running errands. Please come back tomorrow."
"He's not here, isn't that perfect?"
"Go away, you rascal, we have guests at home."
"What are you afraid of? Let's offer a sachet first..."
The two argued for a long time before getting to the point. Zhao Fengnian numbly picked at his ears, trying to get the vulgarities out of his mind.
"You don't come here unless you have a reason. What do you want by coming here so late at night?" The female homeowner changed her attitude when she saw that he didn't speak. "If you have any inside information, just tell me quickly. It's hurtful to keep things from me."
Xie Gaosheng pondered for a moment: "My dear girl, I'm just telling you this, but you absolutely must not tell anyone else. I just received some fresh news that there's a high probability that the goods in our cave have been confiscated."
"Hey, I thought it was something big. I already know. Is there any new information?" Compared to the female homeowner's disappointment, Zhao Fengnian's heart began to pound. Their night raid on the cave was a top-secret mission. How could a county-level cadre know about it?
"Girl, you're quite well-informed. Do you know that the guy surnamed Lu is actually an undercover agent sent by the organization?" Xie Gaosheng asked in return.
"What?" The female homeowner seemed incredulous, her voice rising sharply.
"It's true, I have connections. I've seen the list of those undercover agents. It's written in black and white that Lu Wei is listed separately. He's the most special one, a separate entry." Xie Gaosheng said with a hint of sourness, "And you still wanted to promote him."
"What list of undercover agents?" the female homeowner asked in disbelief.
"It's a group of secret agents under Wu Hao, most of them in Shanghai, and some in the Soviet area and other bases. He has eyes and ears everywhere. I bet that kid surnamed Lu has already made things clear to the organization. The organization told him to continue his disguise. The destruction of the cave base this time is definitely related to him," Xie Gaosheng answered confidently.
You can guard against anything, but it's hard to guard against a traitor within your own ranks! His lifestyle is problematic; he's colluding with spies to traffic opium, and he has powerful protectors. This little fly seems quite large indeed. Zhao Fengnian lowered his breathing and focused on eavesdropping.
The female homeowner paced back and forth inside the house, while Xie Gaosheng comforted her, "Fortunately, Lu Wei doesn't know much. I've already taken care of everything. As soon as this kid shows his face, we'll arrest him immediately. Dead men tell no tales."
“I believe you. This isn’t the first time you’ve done this. But what if Lu Wei doesn’t show his face, or is protected by other lurkers?” the female homeowner asked worriedly.
"Hahaha, the fact that he doesn't show his face only proves he's suspicious. We can decide what charge he's on, can't we?" Xie Gaosheng laughed wildly.
However, the female homeowner gasped: "Hiss~ This time is different. Wu Hao's methods are unpredictable. I have a bad feeling that we have been watched for a long time. I think if Lu Wei doesn't show his face, you should play dumb and pretend you don't know anything. Just don't show your face."
"It's alright. I know more about things in the government than you do. Whether it's the Kuomintang or the Communist Party, their anti-corruption campaigns are all talk and no action. What's important is interpersonal relationships. The more important the gift, the more important the relationship." Xie Gaosheng said dismissively. "As for Wu Hao, he's far away. Who cares about him? Unless he personally returns to Ruijin to take charge, everyone is just going through the motions and giving him face."
"How dare you speak so arrogantly!" Zhao Fengnian clenched his fists tightly under his sleeves. No wonder the secret information was leaking everywhere. Who introduced this opportunist who was violating the Party's principles and discipline?
Bang—
The loud impact made people's eardrums throb, followed by several sounds like pounding leather, accompanied by screams. Zhao Fengnian looked up sharply and saw a bald-headed spy's figure reflected in the window.
The female homeowner screamed in surprise, "Ivy, let go! We're on the same side!"
"What 'one of us'? He brought his own men." The bald man said, throwing another punch. "Quick, tell me, how many men did you bring?"
Xie Gaosheng replied with a sob in his voice, "Tiger Lord, spare my life! I really didn't know there were tails following me. I'll take care of them right away."
"Useless thing, you can't even clean up your own mess, yet you dare to come here. Could it be that you're the traitor?" The female homeowner didn't defend herself, but instead pointed at Xie Gaosheng and scolded him.
"I really don't know, you have to believe me." Xie Gaosheng probably wanted to rip his heart out and show it to them right now.
Talk is cheap, and the bald man grabbed Xie Gaosheng by the collar, demanding more information, while the female homeowner yelled insults at him from the side. Zhao Fengnian was just waiting for their infighting to escalate...
"Stop!" A male voice interrupted their entanglement. Judging from the voice, it should be the fake leader with the binoculars. His figure overlapped with the crowd.
"What's all this noise about at night? Don't you know we have guests?" The fake leader's sharp question was filled with immense anger.
The room fell silent instantly. Xie Gaosheng mustered his courage and asked, "Comrade, which department are you in?"
"Shut up! I told you to speak, so stop trying to get close to me with your party stuff. Ivy, where did you see a tail behind him?" the fake leader asked calmly.
The bald agent snorted and said that as soon as Xie Gaosheng arrived, he heard crows inexplicably fly out of the woods and caw wildly. Based on his experience, he guessed that there must be something they were afraid of behind them, such as strangers.
So he took the opportunity to go out and investigate while smoking, and he actually saw a figure flash past in the bushes, seemingly carrying a long gun. Surely it wasn't a hunter out hunting in the village at night.
"Give me an honest answer: did anyone talk to you when you went out?" the fake leader asked.
"No, I'm from the countryside. People in the countryside go to bed early. I didn't see any houses with lights on on along the way," Xie Gaosheng replied, sounding aggrieved.
"Are the dogs in the village barking?" the fake leader continued to press.
"Yes, but it's nothing special. The dogs in my village bark like mad at the sight of a weasel; they're more timid than fleas," Xie Gaosheng answered honestly.
After analyzing the situation, the fake leader concluded that the person following them was extremely professional and had strong counter-surveillance capabilities. He believed they were likely professional investigators from the Communist Party. Fortunately, there was only one investigator, so they wouldn't be difficult to deal with.
This news was bad news for them, but good news for Zhao Fengnian. They couldn't rely entirely on Chunmei; even if reinforcements arrived at top speed, it would still take two hours.
If we can get in touch with our comrades outside in time and find the nearest militia team, we can work together to arrest the spies inside the house.
Unfortunately, the fake leader uttered a vicious plan the next second, shattering Zhao Fengnian's dream. No matter how strong his patience was, he couldn't help but feel terrified. This is what undercover agents fear most.
Hearing that there was no sound from the master bedroom, Zhao Fengnian dared not linger. He crouched low and tiptoed back, sneaking into the original room without leaving a trace.
The team members who had been waiting crowded over. Looking at their conspicuous Nationalist government uniforms, Zhao Fengnian's ears were ringing. Should he watch helplessly as his young comrades died under his own bullets? Or should he tell them everything, give up the capture of the spies, and save their lives?
Most spies don't end well! The cawing of crows echoed in the empty room, and pessimism took hold. Zhao Fengnian felt as if he were tied to a stone roller, watching the huge stone wheel slowly roll over him. He had no strength left in his body because he had nothing to prove his true identity.
Caw, caw, caw—a crow flapped its wings and landed on the windowsill, as if calling to its friends, summoning a flock of crows. Their wings pattered against the window, but they weren't patting the window; they were patting Zhao Fengnian's anxious heart.
The crow's projection swelled and shrank, like a shadow puppet show. Suddenly, a thought flashed through Zhao Fengnian's mind: why not turn the tables on them?
The comrades inside the room were gathered in a small circle with varying expressions, clearly worried about the task ahead. Zhao Fengnian could sense their unease and hesitation, but he knew there was no turning back now, and the only choice was to forge ahead.
At the center of the crowd, Zhao Fengnian stared at each comrade, his eyes revealing an unwavering determination: "This is an order! You must survive, survive and dig out the rotten roots behind it, only then will you live up to our oath."
There were no lights in the hall. Zhao Fengnian straightened the wrinkles in his clothes by the moonlight, then kicked open the door to the master bedroom. The group of agents inside froze in place, with only the cobwebs at the base of the wall trembling.
Snap!
Amidst the wary gazes of the crowd, he slapped Xie Gaosheng across the face, causing Xie Gaosheng to fall backward. The atmosphere in the room instantly became tense. Zhao Fengnian, disregarding everything, slapped him again with his backhand.
"Brother Wu, what are you doing? Let's talk this out." The bald-headed agent grabbed Zhao Fengnian with a smile.
The bald man's words had little effect. Zhao Fengnian roared angrily, "Don't stop me! It was this bastard who wiped out my entire class!"
Without giving them any time to think, Zhao Fengnian recounted in vivid detail how he had naively trusted Xie Gaosheng, led the main force down a secluded path, encountered the Red Army, and barely managed to break through and escape.
The situation was urgent, and he had no time to study the details. It wasn't until he saw Xie Gaosheng again tonight that he realized it wasn't his own negligence, but that he had been framed and ambushed.
Everyone was extremely surprised. The bald agent scratched his head and looked at Xie Gaosheng with a puzzled expression: "Brother Wu, let's calm down and figure things out first. You see, we're all on the same side. Isn't there some misunderstanding?"
Zhao Fengnian said angrily, "What misunderstanding? My brother is dead! If it weren't for him, would I have been surrounded by the enemy? If it weren't for him, would we be in this situation today? Damn it, how dare they play me like this! I swear I will not rest until I avenge this!"
Xie Gaosheng covered his swollen cheek, his eyes bulging as if they were about to bleed: "You stinking white bandit, I don't know you, what nonsense are you spouting?"
"Fine, Vice Chairman Xie, you took my money and now you're pretending not to know me. If I hadn't been sent by my superiors to contact you, I would have believed you," Zhao Fengnian shouted, pointing at Xie Gaosheng.
Hearing Zhao Fengnian name names, the suspicion in everyone's eyes deepened. Xie Gaosheng, on the other hand, looked aggrieved and said, "Where did this madman come from? Why don't you kill him already?"
"I'm crazy? You bastard, you take my money to eat, drink, have fun, and have girlfriends and women, and you still think you're right?" Zhao Fengnian glared with bloodshot eyes. "Today I'm going to skin you alive!"
After saying that, he grabbed Xie Gaosheng by the collar and, in front of everyone, Zhao Fengnian punched him in the face again and again. His ruthless appearance made it impossible for anyone to stop him.
It wasn't until Xie Gaosheng slumped over, barely alive, that the ivy closest to them came to its senses and forcibly carried him out of the house.
The evening breeze made their clothes flutter, and the yard was covered with white and green bird droppings, which were sticky to the touch. Zhao Fengnian deliberately followed the path of the bird droppings, secretly glancing into the woods out of the corner of his eye.
In the corner of my eye, wisps of white mist clung to the tips of the branches, making it impossible to see anyone hiding there.
"Brother, do you have a light?" Zhao Fengnian asked with a worried look, pulling out a cigarette and putting it in his mouth.
The bald-headed agent handed over an exquisite lighter, which Zhao Fengnian accepted without hesitation. With a click, a small flame instantly appeared on the lighter, illuminating his red collar badge.
"Screw him, that Xie guy is a real piece of work, Brother Wu, calm down." The bald agent said, pulling out his cigarette case as he spoke. Zhao Fengnian kindly lit one for him, a small gesture that brought the two closer.
Exhaling a puff of smoke, Zhao Fengnian looked up at the sky and sighed: "When I came out, I brought a whole company with me, and now there are only this many people left. The higher-ups are not giving me supplies or support, and they keep urging me for the city defense map, urging me every day, urging me every day. I had no choice but to do something. I wanted to do a damn good job, but I ended up disturbing my brothers' dinner party."
"That's all in the past. The officials above only care about their own image and don't care about the lives of us below. They have no idea how difficult the troublemakers in the Red Area are. Otherwise, would we still need to wear the poor Red Army uniforms?" the bald-headed agent cursed indignantly.
Zhao Feng scoffed, "But I've been wearing this outfit and nothing's happened to me. But you're the one whining and complaining about this and that. You think you're afraid of barefoot farmers when you have a gun?"
"That's because you're lucky." The bald man turned his face away and muttered, "The people here are full of martial spirit. Some militiamen dare to shoot at our regular army with hoes and hunting rifles. Who knows, one day they might stretch and their heads might explode."
Holding a cigarette, Zhao Fengnian said decisively, "Don't listen to Xie's nonsense. How could the militia possibly defeat the regular army? I've never seen such a powerful militia team."
"Of course I have. I've been in this wretched place for over a year..." The bald agent immediately realized he had said the wrong thing. He cleared his throat, pointed to the shadow cast by the side room, and changed the subject. "It's easier to do things with fewer people. You'd better change into civilian clothes, put your guns in boxes, cover them with some scraps of cloth and millet, and say you're here to do business."
Sure enough, after more than a year, an idea flashed through Zhao Fengnian's mind: perhaps he could learn more about the enemy's intelligence from the bald-headed spy.
Zhao Fengnian continued to probe, a hint of warm concern in his eyes: "Why aren't you wearing any? Fishing boats are more inconspicuous than official boats, aren't you afraid people will recognize you and report you?"
"It's alright, we have this." The bald agent pulled out a Soviet area pass from his pocket, then quickly put it away. "Official boats are symbols of power, and no one dares to check them. On the contrary, all the fishermen around here know each other, so it's the sudden appearance of a group of strangers and several unfamiliar fishing boats that attracts attention."
Isn't this pass only issued by the Central General Affairs Department? Zhao Fengnian calmed himself down: "The higher-ups are really thoughtful. You're carrying opium, that stuff has a smell, you can only cover it up with raw fish. Taking the waterway is a good choice, but it's still too conspicuous and easy to be tracked."
"Brother Wu, what are your thoughts?" the bald-headed agent asked, leaning closer.
“The river has varying widths, and your boat is so big, so the route is limited and resupply is inconvenient. For the last section, you can try going by land with your permits. Wear civilian clothes and transport fish or river delicacies. You can mask the smell and make it stink, and the guards won’t bother to check it closely,” Zhao Fengnian suggested. “Although the land route is slower, it’s safer.”
"Hmm~ That makes sense. How come I didn't think of that?" The bald agent scratched his head, his face full of conviction.
"Don't take it seriously, I was just saying. Your boss has his own ideas." After saying that, Zhao Fengnian threw his cigarette butt into the distance and walked towards the farmhouse. Suddenly, he turned 180 degrees and tackled the bald agent to the ground.
Bang!
There was a gun hole where the bald man had been standing. The bald agent was startled and quickly drew his gun to return fire, leaving spent cartridges scattered all over the ground.
The opposing team was not to be outdone, and sparks flew. Zhao Fengnian roared, "Get down!"
The two men lunged forward, sprawling to the ground and scrambling behind a stack of wood. The bald man, his eyes wide with terror, cried out, "Tail! It must be Tail! How could I forget about him!"
The other party was elusive; he could see you, but you couldn't see him. The bald man, unwilling to give up, poked his head out again. Whoosh! A bullet grazed the top of the bald agent's head and embedded itself deeply in the earthen wall. A large patch of blood seeped from his bald head, which was quite dazzling.
"Ivy, what's going on?" came the impatient voice of the fake leader from inside the house.
"Boss, Tail's leading a large force is coming. We need to retreat quickly," the bald man replied, wiping the blood from his head and panting.
"What retreat? I'm going to kill that Xie kid first." The fake leader's trust in Xie Gaosheng plummeted.
"Brother, don't be impulsive, that kid is useful." The bald agent, excited, ran towards the window. A ruthless glint flashed in Zhao Fengnian's eyes, and he swiftly pulled the trigger…
ah! ! !
The bald agent screamed, clutching his chest and knocking over a pile of firewood. Wood rolled all over the ground. Zhao Fengnian hurriedly pressed on his wound. A bullet pierced the bald man's back and came out of his lung. Crimson blood flowed continuously from the bullet hole.
"Help! My bald brother has been shot!" Zhao Fengnian shouted, his palms covered in warm blood. He gritted his teeth and dragged the bald man toward the door. "Hang in there, brother!"
Bang! The door was kicked open, and two burly agents rushed out, quickly setting up two light machine guns to fight back. With the support of strong firepower, Zhao Fengnian and the female homeowner hurriedly dragged the bald man into the house and put him on the ground.
Da da da...
A burst of gunfire came from behind. Zhao Fengnian caught a glimpse of several dark figures moving by the window and felt a chill run down his spine. Was there an armory in this house? Their equipment had been upgraded. Even if Sun Dadan brought his troops, they would still suffer losses.
The dim oil lamp illuminated his bald, pale face. He coughed up a mouthful of blood, his body convulsing in pain, mumbling, "Run! Run!"
The agents swarmed forward, shouting for blood to be repaid in blood. The fake leader grabbed the bald man's arm and calmed him down, saying, "Don't say anything, I'll handle it."
Unbeknownst to them, Xie Gaosheng, who had been trembling in the corner, slowly moved to the door and suddenly drew his gun, aiming it at the fake leader.
Just then, Zhao Fengnian pulled the trigger first. The bullet whistled out of the barrel, and Xie Gaosheng screamed and fell to the ground. His pistol came loose, and a bloody hole appeared in his shoulder.
No one will escape tonight.
Bang! Zhao Fengnian fired another shot into Xie Gaosheng's legs. After the shots rang out, only the man's screams remained in the room.
The next second, Zhao Fengnian felt a chill run down his spine as the cold barrel of a gun pressed against the back of his head. A cold laugh came from the fake commander's mouth: "Heh, Company Commander Wu, good marksmanship. Why don't you shoot him dead?"
"Are you stupid? If you kill him, how are you going to negotiate with the Communist Party later? He's still the vice chairman of the Soviet on the surface." Zhao Fengnian's expression remained unchanged, but his chest was already pounding like a war drum.
"Really? You've thought of everything." The fake commander coldly waved his hand at the female homeowner. "Go and take a look in the side room. Are all his soldiers dead? How come there's such a commotion outside, yet he's still as calm as a mountain inside?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the female homeowner sprinted out of the house like she'd been injected with adrenaline, reporting in just three seconds: "There's no one inside, only military uniforms and hats wrapped in quilts."
The situation was bad. Zhao Fengnian quickly searched his mind for a suitable excuse: "What? These deserters, if I catch them, I'll deal with them according to military law."
"Keep pretending. If you don't give the order, do you think those scumbags will dare to run away?" The fake commander excitedly nudged Zhao Fengnian on the back of the head, and with his other free hand, he confiscated his weapon.
“Why would I throw away the city defense map for a mere CCP scout?” Zhao Fengnian retorted. “Damn it, you’re just looking for trouble. I think you’re the one who couldn’t hold back. The wheat isn’t even milled yet, and you’re already trying to discard it after it’s done its work. My men didn’t run away; they were killed by you.”
The fake commander turned to face Zhao Fengnian, glaring at him fiercely. Zhao Fengnian, undeterred, raised his eyes to meet his gaze. The fake commander suddenly laughed: "I know, you're not one of us. No officer in the Nationalist government would let his subordinates go first, leaving himself in danger. You—you're a member of the Communist Party, aren't you?"
The last sentence was a statement of fact, and also the fake leader's final conclusion. Zhao Fengnian replied calmly, "How can accusing the other party of being a tactic of the Communist Party be contagious and spread all the way from Nanjing to Ruijin? If you want to kill me, just say so. There's no need to make baseless accusations."
Just as the two were arguing, the gunfire outside stopped, and the previously noisy crows had disappeared, leaving only a graveyard-like silence in the yard.
At the fake leader's signal, the female homeowner went to open the door. The moment she opened the door, a powerful gust of air sent her flying to the ground, knocking her unconscious.
"Surrender and you will not be killed; prisoners will be treated leniently!" Two dark figures suddenly rushed into the inner hall and shouted.
The red star above their heads shone so brightly; reinforcements had arrived. Zhao Fengnian breathed a sigh of relief; at least he was no longer isolated and helpless.
Unexpectedly, the fake leader's expression changed, his pistol fell heavily to the ground, and he said with a sob, "Comrades, you've finally arrived. When I was on patrol, I discovered that the White bandits were active here. I never expected that they would break into a private house and try to insult the female homeowner. I couldn't stand it anymore, so I fought with them, and my brother was injured in the process."
Other spies followed suit and laid down their weapons to prove their innocence.
The distorted facts disgusted Zhao Fengnian, and he blurted out: "They are not comrades, but henchmen of the Nationalist government. This room is a spy station. I want to see your leader. I have something to say."
"Shut up, you White bandit! I'll kill you right now!" A young soldier picked up his gun and pulled the bolt.
Another immediately stopped him: "No, he has no weapons, we can't kill prisoners."
The two young soldiers were locked in a stalemate, neither able to convince the other. Taking advantage of the situation, the fake commander brainwashed them: "Comrades, don't believe the White bandits' nonsense. You're not worthy to see the commander. Die!"
The fake leader flicked his toe, and his pistol magically returned to his hand. But Zhao Fengnian was already in a defensive stance. Almost simultaneously, he kicked the fake leader in the groin.
Bang bang bang!
Thump!
The fake commander cried out in pain and knelt on the ground. The bullet missed its mark, and the teapot shattered with a piercing sound. Unfortunately, Zhao Fengnian couldn't dodge in time, and the bullet still struck his shoulder.
The young soldier in front of him held the gun barrel, his eyes showing no fear, only icy calmness. In contrast, the other man was terrified, his mouth agape.
Something's fishy! But he couldn't care less. Zhao Fengnian endured the pain, pulled a dagger from his boot, and stabbed it directly into the fake leader's throat. Crimson blood gushed out, and the farmhouse returned to silence.
The young soldier who fired the shot narrowed his eyes, about to fire again, when at the critical moment, a short knife spun out of the darkness and pierced straight into the back of the soldier's head, killing him instantly.
"Who's there?" The remaining soldiers cautiously moved behind the door.
"You don't even know who I am? You're going to get a spanking when you get back." A short man speaking with a Sichuan accent walked into the house, followed by a large group of armed men.
"Secretary Deng!" The young soldier greeted the visitor with a respectful salute.
"Take everyone out of the house and keep a close watch on them. Don't let them escape. I need to interrogate them." The short man, though not large in stature, exuded an undeniable air of authority.
The mission was complete. Zhao Fengnian lay on the ground, panting heavily. His white shirt was stained red with blood. His vision gradually blurred, and he vaguely saw a familiar figure rushing towards him, patting his face with concern. It was Chunmei.
"Oh dear, young lady, don't mess with him! He's been shot! Comrade Zhao, do you still recognize me?" The short man squatted down in front of Zhao Fengnian, his brows furrowed.
Zhao Fengnian mustered his strength, placed his trembling hand on the man's hand, and grinned, saying, "You are Comrade Xiao Deng."
"Good to know. Leave everything to me. You just focus on recovering." Xiao Deng patted the back of his hand, and a reassuring warmth flowed from his palm to Zhao Fengnian.
I can finally get a good night's sleep tonight.
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