Family scandals should not be aired in public.
The rain intensified, wetting half of the corridor. The howling wind whipped his face, feeling like he was being lashed with salt water. Only then did Gao Junxiao recover from his shock.
He walked a few more steps close to the wall and heard Commander Xiong roar: "You didn't do your job properly, and you still have the nerve to blame others."
Zhang Chong's face darkened: "Commander Xiong, there's a member of the Communist Party in your ranks, and you, as the highest-ranking officer, have chosen to protect him. Shanghai was originally surrounded like an iron barrel, but as soon as he left, the criminals disappeared as well."
Commander Xiong across from him sneered: "Heh, Zhang Chong, you've been arresting CCP members every single day of the year, and you've failed to catch at least a company of them. Meanwhile, Li Sheng has only taken one leave in the past two years, and I was the one who approved that leave slip. You might as well say I'm a CCP member too!"
“Commander Xiong, there’s no need for that. I’ve already sent someone to his hometown to ask the nun to give a talk. His mother did indeed observe a vegetarian diet on the mountain for a few days.” Zhang Chong said confidently.
"What kind of evidence is this? If the nun doesn't tell the truth as you demand, she'll probably be meeting Buddha sooner than expected," Commander Xiong said disdainfully.
“Facts speak louder than words. Commander Xiong, you should consider how to sacrifice a pawn to save the king.” Zhang Chong was not at a disadvantage in words.
The more Gao Junxiao listened, the more his brows furrowed. Zhang Chong had discovered the loophole so quickly; the situation was more serious than he had imagined. Li Sheng's condition was not good.
Within seconds, Gao Junxiao made his decision. He turned 180 degrees on the spot and, taking advantage of Zhang Chong's lack of awareness, quickly walked away in the direction he had come from. Commander Xiong had already intervened; if he couldn't protect someone, no one could.
At the entrance of the lobby, Commander Cai and Huang Xiaoxian chatted casually about the heavy rain. Taking a deep breath, Gao Junxiao gave Commander Cai a professional smile and saluted: "Commander Cai, please come in first. Our Commander Xiong happens to have some things to attend to. Is there anything else you would like to eat? I'll get it. Or, I can show you around the headquarters office building."
"No need. Commander Xiong, have you encountered any trouble?" Commander Cai asked bluntly.
Boom!
With a cracking sound, the entire corridor trembled. Commander Cai's bluntness caught Gao Junxiao off guard. He sighed, "Commander Cai, you're new here. Don't get involved with those people from the Party Affairs Section and the Investigation Section. We soldiers are better off not getting involved in politics."
Commander Cai's gaze lingered on Gao Junxiao's face for a moment, as if trying to find something. Gao Junxiao's heart was pounding in his throat, but he maintained his usual serious expression.
"Commander, please think it over. Even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake. We shouldn't interfere in Commander Xiong's affairs. Our duty as soldiers is to protect our country. As for partisan disputes, let others worry about them," Huang Xiaoxian advised.
“Young man, military affairs are an extension of politics. What’s the difference between a soldier who doesn’t understand politics and an executioner?” Commander Cai said emphatically. “At this time of national crisis, instead of thinking about going north to fight the Japanese, they are still fighting among themselves. It’s simply shameless.”
"Keep your voice down, or they might mistake you for a communist." Huang Xiaoxian waved her hand, her tone worried.
Upon hearing this, Commander Cai's face turned as dark as the sky outside. He said sternly, "Red elements every day! Red elements! What kind of hero kills a few intelligence agents? Have they ever seen the real Red Army? I have! In the end, they were just fooled by that foreigner called Marx. They are just young people who act too idealistically. If we follow Mr. Sun's original intention, those young people with good combat skills should have fought alongside us to resist foreign enemies."
"That's true, but Commander Cai, why did they have to come at the 19th Route Army's welcoming banquet? I'm afraid they're up to no good." Gao Junxiao's words were loaded with meaning as he glanced at Huang Xiaoxian.
Huang Xiaoxian immediately understood and said, "Isn't this just a way to give us a hard time? Nanjing originally wanted the Central Army to come to Shanghai, but we intercepted them, so they're definitely not happy about it."
Gao Junxiao then advised, "Since you guessed that the Party Affairs Investigation Section deliberately provoked trouble today, we must not take the bait. Go inside quickly and pretend you didn't see anything. Otherwise, if they dare to take away Commander Xiong's people today, they might dare to take away your people tomorrow."
“I’ve done nothing wrong, and I want to see which noisy dog is trying to ruin the welcome banquet.” Commander Cai’s lips were downturned, and every word he spoke revealed his dissatisfaction.
Seeing that she couldn't persuade him, Huang Xiaoxian had no choice but to follow her leader. Gao Junxiao watched their backs and curled the corners of his mouth. He had heard that Commander Cai was strong-willed and fearless of authority. He might as well try anything.
The cascading rainwater gathered into a waterfall on the glass, but the people in the lobby were still enjoying their food, unaware that the outside world was about to turn upside down.
After scanning the area, Gao Junxiao immediately spotted Luo Yudong, Commander Cai's confidential secretary. He rushed to his target and said anxiously, "Director Luo, something bad has happened! Commander Cai is furious that the people from the Party Affairs Investigation Section are causing trouble. You should go and try to persuade them."
"Huh? What's going on?" Luo Yudong put down his chopsticks, looking completely bewildered.
However, Commander Cai's adjutant jumped out of the table first and quickly gathered a group of men to run in the direction Gao Junxiao pointed.
People at the banquet cast curious glances at him. Luo Yudong pulled Gao Junxiao aside and asked him to explain the whole story.
“Zhang Chong, the section chief of CC, came to headquarters and arrested one of our colleagues, accusing him of being a member of the Communist Party. Commander Xiong got into an argument with him. But the timing was too coincidental. I was afraid that he had ulterior motives, so I tried to persuade Commander Cai to avoid suspicion. But he insisted on going to see him, and his face was darker than the sky outside,” Gao Junxiao recounted vividly.
Luo Yudong, his face tense, asked in a low voice, "Do you think Zhang Chong's arrests are a pretext, and he's actually after Commander Cai?"
Gao Junxiao nodded: "Your Commander Huang thinks this is a show of force, and I agree with his idea. We expect Nanjing wants you to behave yourselves in Shanghai in the future. Otherwise, they have plenty of ways to deal with you."
Luo Yudong gasped, his eyes darkening: "They're still fighting amongst themselves at a time like this. Let me ask you one more question: have they arrested people before?"
"Hmm—there was a commotion once. I hadn't gone to Xuzhou to suppress the bandits yet, and we were both quarantined. It was probably the first year that Commander Xiong took charge." Gao Junxiao recalled slowly.
"You are here to suppress bandits in Xuzhou. May I ask who you are?" Luo Yudong carefully examined Gao Junxiao.
"Gao Junxiao, currently serving as a counselor in the Military Law Department," Gao Junxiao repeated his identity.
"I've heard so much about you! Seeing is believing. Back then, we watched the special reports on the bandit suppression team every day, and it was so exciting!" Luo Yudong said with delight.
"It's all thanks to the brilliant writing of the war correspondents; I just did what I was supposed to do." Gao Junxiao changed the subject. "Now is not the time for reminiscing. I see that Adjutant Weng has gone to help, so Commander Cai won't suffer any losses for the time being. Do you have any other countermeasures?"
“Absolutely. Our Guangdong Army isn’t so easy to bully.” Luo Yudong smiled confidently. “Counselor Gao, could you take me to your office to make a phone call?”
"Please follow me." Gao Junxiao lowered his eyes and revealed a barely perceptible smile.
He deliberately led Luo Yudong out through a side door and along the corridor to his office. As soon as the call connected, Luo Yudong made a shushing gesture.
Gao Junxiao stood by the window, watching the rain outside. He quickly calculated that although the 19th Route Army had now been placed on the opposite side of the CC Clique, the worst-case scenario still needed to be considered. If Li Sheng was forcibly taken away, how could he sever his connections with his superiors and subordinates, especially his relationship with Mr. Xia?
Luo Yudong's affectionate greeting interrupted Gao Junxiao's thoughts: "Brother Guofu, how have you been? Have you had dinner yet?"
The room was quiet, and the faint sounds of their small talk could be heard. Luo Yudong replied, "I just arrived in Shanghai and I'm so tired I have no appetite. No, no, no, you came all the way from Nanjing, how could I accept that? Besides, your men have already come to invite someone for you; they're downstairs."
After a brief silence on the other end of the phone, a few awkward laughs followed. Luo Yudong laughed along, "They really know how to pick their days to arrest Communist Party members. Anyone who didn't know better would think everyone who comes to Shanghai has to undergo a pre-employment medical examination. Hahaha."
"I understand, I understand. We've come all the way to Shanghai for work. It just so happens that our troops are having some trouble adjusting to the new place, and the team is difficult to manage. You shouldn't mind using your own men to establish your authority, right?"
"Oh, it's just a token gesture. New officials always make a big show of things, you know. It won't cause any major trouble, you can rest assured. That person's name is... Zhang Chong. Yes, Zhang Chong, the 'Chong' in 'fullness', Zhang Chong."
Gao Junxiao promptly wrote down the name and showed it to Luo Yudong, who nodded his thanks and continued to call out to the person on the other end of the microphone: "Change to someone else. Why? Is it a relative of yours?"
After a long, rambling explanation, Luo Yudong suddenly sneered, "It would be best if he could back down, but what if he's stubborn? Our commander hates outsiders interfering, I'm afraid..."
"Okay, I'm relieved to hear that. I will definitely investigate thoroughly and give the Party and the country an explanation. Goodbye." Luo Yudong hung up the phone, his smile vanishing instantly.
Luo Yudong had the confidence to threaten Chen Guolao because he was backed by the entire Cantonese clique, the foundation upon which Dr. Sun Yat-sen built his fortune, and the elder among elders.
Moreover, Director Luo was a well-known fundamentalist in the Nationalist government and consistently leaned to the left. A glimmer of hope ignited in Gao Junxiao's heart: "Director Luo, what should we do next?"
"Just now, Guo Lao handed over the investigation authority of the headquarters to me. That Zhang Chong guy, tell him to get lost right now." Luo Yudong said, standing up and telling Gao Junxiao to lead the way quickly, afraid that if they were late, the army commander would execute Zhang Chong on the spot.
Thunder roared in their ears, and thick raindrops relentlessly lashed the ground. Suddenly, a gunshot rang out amidst the rain. Gao Junxiao and Luo Yudong exchanged a glance and immediately took off running.
A spy slumped on the ground came into view, opposite him was his adjutant, Weng, holding a pistol. The officers and soldiers in the auditorium pressed their eyes against the glass, eager to see more.
"Commander Cai, you've been turned to communism! You actually sympathize with the Communist Party. This is a betrayal of the Party and the country!" Zhang Chong pointed at Director Cai's nose and angrily rebuked him.
"Shut up, you target practicer." Lieutenant Weng's eyes flashed with murderous intent, his finger tightly gripping the trigger.
Commander Cai stepped out from the side and lowered the adjutant's gun: "Who betrayed the revolution? The policy of alliance with Russia and the Communist Party was proposed as early as the beginning of the Republic of China. If you don't believe me, go to Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum and see his handwritten manuscripts. They're right there in black and white."
A struggle flashed in Zhang Chong's eyes, but after a few seconds, as if he remembered something, he loudly retorted: "Now Nanjing is the only legitimate government representing China. What right does the Communist Party have to declare war on Japan? Who will represent China against the Japanese army then? Are they going to rely on their tattered 60,000 Red Army soldiers?"
“Why not? It’s everyone’s responsibility to defend our homeland. They are Chinese too. Right now, with the nation in crisis, we shouldn’t be divided by political affiliation. We should unite as compatriots to declare war on Japan.” Commander Cai argued forcefully. “I’ve fought against them before. In my humble opinion, the Red Army is top-notch in the country in terms of organization, tactics, and strategy. It’s time to let the Japanese invaders experience what it’s like to fight the Red Army and learn their lesson.”
"You're boosting the morale of others while diminishing your own. It's clearly your fault for poor command, suffering repeated defeats in Jiangxi. The military headquarters doesn't punish you, simply because they think you've at least put in the effort, even if you haven't achieved great things." Zhang Chong's eyes were bloodshot as he spoke rudely.
Gao Junxiao keenly sensed that Zhang Chong was acting very strangely today. Zhang Chong was usually reserved, so how could he be so hysterical? First, he disregarded Commander Xiong's face and arrested people on the spot without any evidence. Then, he spoke arrogantly to his superior who was several ranks above him. Did he want to die?
"Heh, you talk as if your Central Army has ever won. It's just the pot calling the kettle black. Oh no, your equipment is even better than ours." Luo Yudong suddenly spoke up, the painful truth slapping Zhang Chong in the face.
Zhang Chong's face turned red, and he spoke loudly as if trying to convince himself: "What do you warlords know? Only our Nanjing government truly cares about resisting Japan. The Communist Party's declaration of war is just empty talk and a show of force. When it comes to the main battlefield, we, the Central Army, will have to take the lead."
“Oh right, we’re all old warlords in their shabby past. Only you are a loyal dog of the Party and the State. I’m sorry to trouble you to stay here.” Luo Yudong impatiently gave him the order to leave. “Just now on the phone, Guo Lao transferred the authority to investigate the Communist Party of China involving the Shanghai Songhu Command to me. You can get out now.”
"Impossible!" Zhang Chong stared wide-eyed in disbelief.
"Really, I'm right here. Section Chief Zhang, release him and please go back." Gao Junxiao gestured for him to leave.
"Section Chief, Guo Lao has spoken, let's go back." The agent looked troubled.
Zhang Chong glared fiercely at Gao Junxiao, then suddenly grabbed Li Sheng, pressed a gun against his head, and said, "Fine, I'll go, but Li Sheng must be taken with me."
In this critical moment, Li Sheng, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up and mocked, "Zhang Chong, you're sick."
"You Communists are the ones who are sick. It's because of you that Nanjing has been unable to declare war on Japan." Zhang Chong tried to deceive himself with these words. Gao Junxiao, who was standing to the side, kept feeling that something was wrong.
"I have nothing to hide, and I'll die with a clear conscience, unlike some people who have nowhere to vent their frustrations and can only deceive themselves." Li Sheng smiled indifferently.
"Why are you speaking such blunt truths?" Gao Junxiao shook his head helplessly. Provoked by this, Zhang Chong was so angry that he smashed the butt of his gun on Li Sheng's forehead. Blood immediately flowed down his cheek. He roared at Li Sheng, "Don't be so arrogant! The evidence is on its way."
"Zhang Chong, put down your weapon. Guo Lao has not only given me the power to investigate, but also the power to deal with you. If you leave now, I can pretend nothing happened. Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite," Luo Yudong snapped.
"Zhang Chong, don't be stubborn and refuse to listen to reason. Release them!" Commander Xiong, now emboldened, waved his hand, and several soldiers surrounded Zhang Chong and his men.
The humid air felt like an invisible membrane, making it hard to breathe. Something was wrong, very wrong. Gao Junxiao repeatedly pondered Zhang Chong's words. The evidence was already on its way, so why didn't he wait for solid evidence before arresting the person? What was his purpose?
With a thunderous roar, Gao Junxiao understood in a flash. He cursed Zhang Chong for being despicable and charged into the encirclement, tackling Zhang Chong and Li Sheng to the ground simultaneously.
Bang, bang, bang... Shell casings fell to the ground, and the three men wrestled together. Li Sheng, not to be outdone, used the handcuff chain to tightly strangle Zhang Chong's neck. In the struggle, Zhang Chong raised his right arm and aimed at Li Sheng again.
In a flash, Gao Junxiao pressed down on Zhang Chong's back and snatched the gun. Bang! He immediately felt a sharp pain, but he had no time to think. He swayed and narrowly dodged Zhang Chong's fist, then kicked Zhang Chong in the abdomen. Zhang Chong fell to the ground.
No one expected Zhang Chong to go so mad. They rushed forward and pinned him to the ground, letting him roar like a wild beast.
After subduing Zhang Chong, Commander Xiong immediately turned to the soldiers and ordered them to take Gao Junxiao to the infirmary.
"Ah Xiao, you're injured." Huang Xiaoxian was the first to rush over and cover his wound. Bright red blood dripped from between his fingers. Gao Junxiao glanced at his wound in the direction of her gaze. Fortunately, it was a minor injury. He had only been grazed by a bullet on his shoulder. As long as he wasn't disfigured, it was fine.
Gao Junxiao gasped for breath a few times, and with Huang Xiaoxian's help, he stood up. But instead of going to the infirmary, he pushed through the crowd, came to Zhang Chong, and unexpectedly punched Zhang Chong.
Blood immediately spilled from the corner of Zhang Chong's mouth. Zhang Chong was stunned, but Gao Junxiao refused to give up. He stepped forward, grabbed Zhang Chong's collar, and punched him twice more.
Perhaps Gao Junxiao's aura was too overwhelming, because no one around dared to step forward to break up the fight. Finally, Zhang Chong came to his senses and roared angrily, "Damn it, you're a member of the Communist Party too!"
Stubborn to the end, Gao Junxiao said in a trembling voice, "He's still not awake. No matter how secure President Chiang's position is, Nanjing will not declare war. This is a difference in economic strength and national power, and has absolutely nothing to do with how many political parties there are in China."
Zhang Chong coldly turned his face away, pretending not to hear. Gao Junxiao unbuttoned his collar and continued to curse, "If you want to die, go die somewhere else. Nobody cares about you. But if you think you can use your death to help Nanjing turn the tide, you're being too naive."
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Chong's expression changed immediately, and even Commander Cai and Commander Xiong cast intriguing glances at Gao Junxiao.
Under immense pressure, Gao Junxiao grabbed Zhang Chong and said, "If you take a narrow path, you'll easily end up on a dead end. To save the country, you must first save yourself."
Zhang Chong's eyes were slightly red, and he was visibly dejected. He stared at Gao Junxiao for a long time before retorting in a hoarse voice, "Don't save me, save the country."
Gao Junxiao released his hand and smoothed the wrinkles on Zhang Chong's Zhongshan suit: "No conflict, I want it all. Come with me to the infirmary, you're injured too."
Their conversation sounded like a coded message, leaving everyone completely confused. Commander Xiong was the first to speak up, showing his support for Gao Junxiao: "Quickly, quickly, take them to the infirmary. Everyone else, disperse."
Everyone then seemed to wake up from a dream and took their places. Zhang Chong broke free of his restraints and slowly walked towards the infirmary, with Gao Junxiao following closely behind, supported by Huang Xiaoxian.
In the infirmary, Gao Junxiao listened to Huang Xiaoxian chanting a blessing mantra while the doctor bandaged his wound. It was all a jumbled mess of tunes, so awful.
He couldn't help but call out, "Stop reading, my head is spinning."
"Alright, alright, I'll write you two talismans later. Remember to burn them and soak them in water to drink; it'll help your wounds heal," Huang Xiaoxian coaxed. "Oh, you're so wicked! You're getting married next month, and you'll have your wedding night. What if it works out..."
"Shut up! My shoulder is injured, it's not like you're injured." Gao Junxiao was both amused and exasperated. He couldn't believe what he was getting out of his mouth. He shouldn't have let him do the word divination in the first place.
Huang Xiaoxian pouted, looking aggrieved: "I was worried about you. You were so impulsive just now, you didn't even consider the consequences."
“If I don’t stop Zhang Chong, the consequences will be much more serious,” Gao Junxiao replied.
"What's wrong? I really don't understand, they're even willing to risk their lives," Huang Xiaoxian asked in confusion.
Remembering his current status, Gao Junxiao shook his head, unwilling to say more. Huang Xiaoxian persisted, pleading with him for a long time. Gao Junxiao couldn't resist her persistent nagging and asked Huang Xiaoxian to bring Zhang Chong over so he could confront Zhang Chong face to face.
Before she could finish speaking, Huang Xiaoxian dashed off and returned with a man shortly after. Gao Junxiao was unsure if the man with the swollen, pig-like head in front of him was Zhang Chong, but he confirmed it when he saw his light gray Zhongshan suit. "Oops, I hit him too hard just now. No wonder my hand hurts. I need to take good care of it later. I can't let Hua Hua worry."
"Tell me, how did you figure it out?" Zhang Chong's mouth-like area moved slightly.
Gao Junxiao's mind raced. How he figured it out wasn't important; what mattered was how to get information about the witness from Zhang Chong and find a way to intercept him.
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