Kiyosumi's new code name
Crossing Nanjing Road, inside the Zhongji Watch Shop, Li Sheng was startled to see Wang Renyong wearing sunglasses. The two then hugged and greeted each other, completely ignoring Qingcheng who entered the room behind them.
Kiyosumi pursed her lips, thinking that it must have been a long time since the two had seen each other. Instead of being so affectionate and clingy, she thought she should just sew them together with thin thread and earn a good reputation for helping others.
The initial issue was very simple: the handover of authority.
From this day forward, Qingcheng will be Li Sheng's sole contact person, responsible for relaying new orders from the organization to Li Sheng and receiving various intelligence messages from Li Sheng, which Qingcheng will then organize and report to Wang Renyong.
Li Sheng thought there was no problem. Wang Renyong was too hard to find; he could drive you crazy in an emergency. Qingcheng was much easier to find.
Only Qingcheng stared blankly at Lao Wang, her eyes questioning why Li Sheng hadn't discussed this important matter—which concerned her—with her beforehand.
Old Wang, on the other hand, had an expression that suggested there was nothing to discuss, and lectured her in the tone of an old leader. He only had ten fingers in total, how many threads could he pull? He hadn't let Qingcheng do undercover work before because he felt she wasn't quite ready, but now that she was ready, why didn't she take the initiative to shoulder some responsibility?
Young people, you need to shoulder some responsibilities!
"It's okay, everyone goes through this process." Li Sheng comforted Qingcheng, then turned to Wang Renyong and said that Qingcheng's current status was not suitable for long-term contact with him.
Upon hearing this, Qingcheng also felt that his long-term contact with the military was indeed inappropriate, so he listened to Lao Wang's solution while making tea for everyone.
“That’s easy. Qingcheng, didn’t you scam Brother Kui of the Red Flower Society in Xuzhou, claiming to be a broker? Then I’ll package you as a江湖 (jianghu) broker. Of course, it won’t affect your public identity. You’re still the chief editor of the Shenbao newspaper, just doing some side work.” Wang Renyong exhaled and wiped his sunglasses.
“Being a middleman is a good idea. Commander Xiong and his section chiefs always have some shady dealings going on, so I can do them a favor and solidify my position in the military.” Li Sheng’s eyes lit up, and he happily punched Wang Renyong.
"It's not just about doing a favor; if what they're reselling happens to be the guns and medicines our army needs, they'll become ours in no time," Old Wang added.
“Since you’re going to be a member of the underworld, you have to pay your respects to the powerful. The powerful factions in Shanghai are the Green Gang and the Red Gang. Why don’t you take her to find a master?” Li Sheng said, his eyes starting to light up. “Also, the underworld values seniority the most. You have to find a really powerful master so that she has enough seniority.”
The two of them sang in unison, leaving Qingcheng no room to interrupt. She was now suffering in silence, unable to express her bitterness. She thought to herself: The Green and Red Gang has a high seniority. Surely they can't let Mr. Du or Huang Jinrong take her as a disciple. They have to publish it in the newspapers.
How could she possibly survive in the arts and culture world then? The arts and culture world is full of aloof intellectuals who despise associating with the lowest of the low, especially local thugs. She could already foresee the serious consequences of being ostracized by the bigwigs in the circle.
Suddenly, the two shouted in unison, "Old K!!" Qingcheng was startled and forced to jump back from her mental drama to reality. Wang Renyong patted his chest and assured Li Sheng that he would help Qingcheng clear her name.
With her innocent identity about to be tarnished, Qingcheng helplessly sipped her tea, hoping that her father, who cherished his reputation, wouldn't be angry in heaven. "You can't be a revolutionary without a white glove," she thought. "So what if you're low-class? How can you stop progressing just because you care about your own reputation?"
Perhaps sensing Qingcheng's slight mood, Wang Renyong said with a smile, "Don't think that there are only some thugs in the gang who fight fiercely. The master I'm introducing to you is a master of both martial arts and martial arts. After you meet him, you'll probably kowtow and offer him tea on your own initiative."
Since Wang Renyong had made such a guarantee, Qingcheng had nothing to argue about and said she would follow the organization's arrangements. Wang Renyong also told Qingcheng to reduce her exposure in public places from now on and not to take photos easily anymore.
However, if it were just a handover, there would be no need for Old Wang to come in person. What Wang Renyong said next was the most important part of today's meeting. Li Sheng had successfully infiltrated the 13th Army, gained a certain social status, and had become famous in the intelligence community. Many spies came to him wanting to join his cause.
Previously, for the purpose of protecting the Central Committee, Li Sheng only carried out tasks such as assassinating traitors and rescuing comrades. Now everyone needs to consider how to develop the organization.
Wang Renyong wanted them to recruit agents within the 13th Army to develop our own Party organization.
This is tantamount to setting up a battle formation at someone else's doorstep, openly challenging them. But where there are people, there is a world of intrigue; where there is intrigue, there are injustices; and where there are injustices, there will be various grievances and regrets.
Wang Renyong explained his point of view: Some people are not valued by their leaders, some are obsessed with women, some are in financial straits, some are dissatisfied with the current state of corruption, some feel they have no way to serve their country, and some are hopeless about society. These are all weaknesses of human nature, and they can also become our breakthrough points.
With enough effort, we can find suitable candidates and exploit their weaknesses to get close to them, a process known as "getting on their good side." For example, if a candidate dislikes the corruption and incompetence of the Nationalist government, you can join them in condemning the government's incompetence and demanding that foreign powers leave China, thus creating a sense of shared responsibility.
While they were drinking tea, Qingcheng choked on Lao Wang's affected performance and coughed incessantly. She covered her mouth with a handkerchief and let Lao Wang continue his act. Lao Wang thought Qingcheng had a problem with it and asked, "How did you get recruited by Sister Cai?"
"Ahem, I wasn't recruited by Sister Cai, I came here myself," Qingcheng replied in a hoarse voice.
"This situation can also occur. Some young people who want to make progress may have been exposed to Marxism-Leninism in their early years and have already received some ideological enlightenment. It is easier to work with these people," Wang Renyong said confidently.
But Qingcheng immediately contradicted her, saying awkwardly, "I hadn't read Marxism-Leninism before. I was designing a mathematical model, and Sister Cai and her people kept going out to distribute leaflets on the street, so I used a normal distribution to analyze the locations and times they appeared, gradually narrowing down the range."
"Finally, I used the model to calculate the time and place of their gathering. To prove that my model was perfect, I went over to verify it." Qingcheng covered her face with her hand and secretly glanced at Wang Renyong. She found that he was completely stunned, as if he had been turned into a stone statue by a deity, and he was not moving at all.
Sister Cai had the same expression when she first met her. Qingcheng swallowed and added, "I climbed through the window and found that everyone in the house was a fellow countryman. I was very happy to announce my verification results to them. Hehe."
"What are you laughing at? I told you to charge forward, not to run amok." Wang Renyong said to Li Sheng, half-laughing and half-crying, "Li Sheng, we don't need people like this anymore."
Li Sheng suppressed a laugh and tried to smooth things over: "No, no, it's not that serious. Sister Cai was able to recruit her, which means she has other strengths, like being smart. How come you couldn't figure out when the spies would be meeting and where?"
"Yeah, do you really think I'm reckless? I always pick up and read the flyers they hand out, and I know they're patriotic compatriots, not shady characters. So I used them as models for my design, hoping to find them and discuss how to save the country." Kiyosumi pouted as she revealed her initial intention.
"You scared me to death! Explain yourself! Sister Cai, I'm so sorry." Wang Renyong clasped his hands together and bowed guiltily towards the west, seemingly cursing Sister Cai in his heart.
"Hey! Sister Cai is still alive and well, don't just worship her like that." Qingcheng complained helplessly, "And you, boss, how did you get in?"
"I ran away from my arranged marriage and then joined the army. To catch up on my studies, I went to night school, where I met a group of like-minded people," Wang Renyong said proudly, recounting his story of struggle.
"Didn't you graduate from Whampoa Military Academy? Why are you going to night school?" Qingcheng asked curiously.
"There's no conflict. I secretly took the entrance exam for Huangpu under the organization's arrangement, and I studied at night school before that. Qingcheng, your thinking is a bit skewed. Are there different levels of nobility and baseness among the ways to learn knowledge? The important thing is what you've learned and what you can do for the country, not how many diplomas you've obtained," Old Wang criticized.
“Not everyone is just trying to get a degree; many people are genuinely experts in a particular field. A degree is just proof of their efforts at a certain stage.” Qingcheng comes from a scholarly family, so she does not agree with Lao Wang’s view.
“I disagree with the idea of ‘mediocrity.’ Some people just like looking at those few sheets of paper. You might think they’re toilet paper, but others might think they’re gold leaf. Only clay figures covered in gold leaf are considered bodhisattvas, and only ordinary people would worship them. You’re a graduate of Whampoa Military Academy, so you speak with authority. If you said you were from night school, let’s see who listens to you,” Li Sheng retorted directly.
"What's the difference between this and the old eight-legged essay of the Qing Dynasty? It neglects practicality and emphasizes dogma. Sooner or later, the interests of the vast majority of workers will be gradually eroded by the poisonous insects of capital. Class struggle will never stop until capitalism is completely destroyed." Wang Renyong roared in a fit of youthful indignation.
Qingcheng shook her head: "We can't just copy Marxism-Leninism. The social state described by Marxism-Leninism is too idealistic, and no country can reach that state for the time being. In reality, there is no market economy without capital. A fully competitive market is beneficial to people's livelihood and the economy, but it is also wrong for the Nationalist government to do nothing. They should make plans for some public industries, such as the military industry, medical care, and education, and prepare a set of intervention policies to deal with capital monopolies, instead of fattening up a group of compradors who profit from the national crisis."
“Yes, the national conditions are different, and the cultures of the East and West are completely different. Although we are currently learning from the Soviet Union, I believe that we will eventually find our own path and achieve a society that is very close to our ideal state.” Li Sheng considerately handed Old Wang some tea. “Oh, let’s put this matter behind us. Wang Renyong, you can continue.”
Old Wang took a sip of tea with a satisfied smile: "Well, we are all special cases. Li Sheng is a typical example. He was developed by his childhood friend and then recommended to Commander Xiong by an elder from his hometown. That elder was his instructor at military academy. Commander Xiong naturally takes good care of people recommended by their teachers."
"China is a society based on personal connections and has a strong sense of local sentiment. You can survive if you don't understand reason, but you will have nowhere to go in this world if you don't understand human feelings." Li Sheng patiently gave Qingcheng a lesson in society. "Developing downlines is a meticulous, rigorous, and lengthy task, especially the enlightenment of ideas. It is not something that can be done overnight. If it is someone you know, it will be easier for you to instill ideas from the shallow to the deep, and you will not attract the attention of spies."
Wang Renyong then chimed in, saying that while acquaintances are certainly helpful, when making choices, he hoped that everyone would not be bound by their original social class. He pointed out that they were there to advocate for the poor, and that the vast working people were the foundation of their party.
For example, the cleaning lady in the office, the telephone operator, the typist, stenographer, draftsman, and file keeper in a confidential unit, the close friend of a high-ranking official's wife, or the nanny of a mistress's family, the waiter in the teahouse near the government office, and so on.
Many seemingly insignificant professions and positions can develop unlimited potential.
For intelligence work, obtaining the General Staff's operational plans is certainly desirable, and stealing an Enigma machine is even more exciting. However, a small screw, a tiny bearing, or even a horseshoe can change the fate of a war.
However, Li Sheng also lamented that in a low-ranking position, he might hear snippets of confidential information, but he would not be exposed to core intelligence unless someone was deliberately planted to extract information.
To infiltrate core departments, one needs extremely high levels of intellectual development, a thorough understanding of human nature and social dynamics, and unwavering faith. All three are indispensable.
Only such people can climb to high positions without losing their way, and obtain a constant stream of important information from the top echelons of the Nationalist government.
"We need to develop both talented individuals and cogs in the machine. Let's grab one in each hand." Wang Renyong made two gesturing motions in the air, then clenched his fists and showed them to Li Sheng and Qingcheng respectively.
Li Sheng slapped Wang Renyong's fist away and looked up to ask, "And what about the background check? I don't want a spy to infiltrate through my channels."
"So we need to give Qingcheng a shady background. You two will verify the information from both the legitimate and criminal sides to see if it matches. Put aside any doubts for now, and finally bring me the list of those who pass the review so that we can file it with the organization," Wang Renyong said calmly, leaning back on the sofa.
"No, if I go to develop this business, wouldn't I have to expose myself first? What if I'm a spy?" Kiyosumi was still a little confused.
“It depends on the person, but I suggest you don’t rush things. Before they express a strong desire to join the Party, you should play word games with them, use a double standard, and keep yourself in the dark. I believe you can do this well,” Li Sheng patiently explained to Qingcheng.
“Once you have your own downline, you won’t need to do it personally anymore. They’ll grow deeper and deeper in the dark soil, like the roots of an old tree. But the rules can’t be broken. Except for the two of you, who can cross paths, everyone else must strictly adhere to the single-line contact method,” Old Wang warned, taking a sip of his tea.
Qingcheng and Li Sheng both said "yes" in unison.
"By the way, I'll give you a code name so it'll be easier to send messages and make contact." Wang Renyong stroked his chin and pondered for a moment. "Li Sheng is a peony, so you'll be called... White... Fatty White."
In an instant, my clear expectations shattered into dust.
"Ha, are you kidding me? Where am I fat? Can you come up with a more normal code name?" Qingcheng felt like strangling Lao Wang. "Brother Li's code name is very good. Only the peony is truly the most beautiful flower in the country. How domineering!"
"You still don't understand, do you? The more ordinary the code name, the greater the difference between it and your real self, and the less likely it is to be exposed. Otherwise, I'll just call you Sai Jingang." Wang Renyong deliberately offered a second option.
Li Sheng said disdainfully, "The more you name it, the worse it sounds. Doesn't Xiao He have a peony pocket watch? Let's call her Peony. Peonies and peonies are inseparable, making it impossible for spies to tell them apart, and we won't need to find a new token."
“I agree.” Kiyosumi immediately raised both hands in agreement.
"Okay, that saves me trouble. I'll report it to you in a bit." Old Wang nodded in agreement. "Qingcheng, your code name from now on will be Peony."
After Li Shengxian left, Qingcheng dared to ask Lao Wang, "Section Chief, I'm now teamed up with Brother Li. Do we still need to participate in Project Deep Blue?"
“Nonsense, of course I have to participate. I just found out the Japanese are up to something. I’ve already had the script translated. Old Li and his team have already infiltrated the enemy’s heartland. There’s a lot more work to do, so don’t even think about slacking off.” Wang Renyong put his sunglasses back on, and Qingcheng nodded solemnly as they walked out of the watch shop together.
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Outside, a torrential downpour carried the scent of grass and the sweltering heat of the south wind. Gao Junxiao, Du Ying, and Qin Qulu sat in the large conference room, completely silent except for the rumble of thunder outside the window.
"Damn it, I'm going to kill those damn spies!" Commander Qin was the first to lose his temper, his eyes wide with rage as he drew his pistol, ready to rush out and kill.
"Senior brother, don't be impulsive. They're just conducting a routine inspection, and they're in the right." Gao Junxiao quickly pulled Qin Qulu back.
"Hmph, you can find all sorts of people like this while cracking sunflower seeds." Commander Du, fiddling with his gloves, added fuel to the fire. "Damn it, they're all high-ranking but have big tempers. They don't even respect me, the city defense commander. What good would it do you, Little Qin, if you went?"
Hearing that even Commander Du was helpless, Qin Qulu angrily sat back down in his seat. The story goes back to the morning when the three of them were in the conference room having a summary meeting on the bandit suppression. Suddenly, a guard came to report that a group of plainclothes officers had set up a roadblock at the entrance of the headquarters and were searching passing vehicles under the guise of inspection.
Commander Du thought someone was asking for trouble and causing trouble at his doorstep. But when he sent a squad of guards to surround the men in plainclothes, the man leading the group of men in plainclothes voluntarily handed over his sidearm and asked to meet with Commander Du. He said his surname was Dai and that he was the leader of the investigation and communications team.
Upon the guard's report, Commander Du immediately understood who the visitor was. He explained to his two brothers that the spy surnamed Dai was so arrogant, just like Chiang Kai-shek's dog—the fiercest mad dog.
Even if he's a mad dog, Commander Du is too lazy to bother with him. His sudden visit now is most likely because his master is up to something again.
Through the rain, they saw a man in black being "invited" over by guards. The guards were wearing raincoats, but he didn't even have an umbrella. Raindrops dripped from his hair, and his soaked clothes clung to his body in an uncomfortable way. He dragged himself step by step from outside the hall to the corridor.
He looked like a down-on-his-luck vagrant, evoking a sense of pity in people.
Perhaps knowing that his attire was inappropriate, Team Leader Dai stood at the door of the conference room without coming in. He bowed and apologized to Commander Du from a distance, his attitude extremely humble. But if he were truly humble, why would he have acted first and then reported later, daring to set up a roadblock in front of the headquarters?
Out of respect for his master, Commander Du still allowed him to step forward and ask questions.
As he approached, Gao Junxiao could see that the man was slightly older than him, with dark circles under his eyes as if he had been traveling through the night for many days. However, there was an almost manic excitement in his bloodshot eyes, and he seemed to have no signs of fatigue.
He really is a madman!
"Team Leader Dai, what are you trying to do by blocking the headquarters gate?" Commander Du asked in an unfriendly tone.
"My subordinates received intelligence that Soviet spies have appeared in Xuzhou City, and we intercepted a plaintext message sent by the military. Therefore, we suspect that the city's defense forces have been infiltrated by CCP spies," Team Leader Dai explained patiently, his back bent.
"How dare you!" Commander Du slammed his fist on the table in anger. "Although my city defense army is a miscellaneous unit, it is still paid by the Nanjing government and will never associate with rebels."
"Commander Du, please calm down. You are a pillar of the Party and the nation, and naturally you would not associate with traitors. However, I have been favored and appreciated by the Chairman and have an obligation to clean up the ranks. I hope you will forgive me, Commander Du," Team Leader Dai explained with a smile.
"Bullshit! Get back to where you came from! I'm letting you go out of respect for Chiang Kai-shek. Get out!" Commander Du impatiently ordered him to leave.
“Commander Du, I have tried to persuade you with good intentions, but you will not listen. Then I can only inform Chairman Han to send his regards to your wife and elderly mother in Jinan.” Dai raised his head, the madness in his dark eyes had disappeared and been replaced by a cold and serious expression. His demeanor was completely different before and after.
This was a blatant threat, but he was just a dog who did dirty work, capable of any despicable thing. Gao Junxiao saw that Commander Du's knuckles were turning white as he gripped his gloves, and knew that he was trying hard to control his anger.
Finally, for the safety of his family, Commander Du relented: "What do you want?"
"Martial law is in effect for the entire army. Search for Communist Party members. All military vehicles must be inspected." After giving the instructions, Team Leader Dai turned to Gao Junxiao and the others and said, "Although you two are from out of town, you must also be inspected. Especially Director Gao, who is dispatched by our Central Army, you must set a good example for the local army."
Despite being accused of such a serious offense, Gao Junxiao didn't show much emotion, simply replying calmly, "Then I'll have to trouble Team Leader Dai. But when did that incident you mentioned happen? I've been traveling a lot and don't know what I might have missed."
"Thank you for understanding my difficulties, Inspector Gao, but I have already informed all the officers of the intelligence I have. The rest need to be investigated before they can be verified." Team Leader Dai did not answer Gao Junxiao directly, but laughed it off. However, Gao Junxiao's attitude seemed to have piqued his interest, and he couldn't help but take a few more glances at him.
"Team Leader Dai, stop staring at my junior brother. You can't learn his demeanor. Do your job properly, or I'll shoot you in the back. Others might find it dirty, but I don't." Commander Qin, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up, his words both sarcastic and threatening.
"Xiao Qin, don't steal their jobs. They're just trying to make a living from scraps," Commander Du said with a forced smile.
Knowing that there was no point in staying any longer, Team Leader Dai bowed to the three officers again before returning to the rain and disappearing into the mist.
"You guys love to argue all the time. Don't you know it's better to offend a gentleman than a petty person?" Gao Junxiao sighed helplessly.
"I just can't stand him." Commander Qin curled his lip in disdain.
"Han Fuqu, you damned bastard!" Du Ying threw down his gloves and cursed Chairman Han.
Under the astonished gazes of Gao Junxiao and Qin Qulu, Du Ying explained with a trembling voice and a heavy heart that he had originally arranged for his wife, children, and elderly mother to live in his hometown, where life was quite good. However, once the Central Plains War broke out, his hometown in Henan was the first to suffer.
At this point, Chairman Han pretended to be a good person and asked him to bring his wife, children, and mother to the relatively safe Jinan Prefecture. He was shrewd enough to bring his wife, children, and mother to Jinan separately and settle them in different places.
But Jinan Prefecture was, after all, someone else's territory. Overnight, his wife, children, and mother were brought before him at gunpoint, with the choice of either becoming the commander of Xuzhou's city defense or having the whole family go to the underworld for a reunion dinner.
A grown man could only lower his head and reluctantly accept the appointment. But that wasn't the most frustrating part. He was not allowed to bring his family with him when he became the city's defense commander. His wife, children, and mother were still under house arrest in Jinan as hostages. If he showed any disloyalty on the front lines, he would be executed immediately.
With tears in his eyes, Commander Du said to the two men with emotion, "You must hide your weaknesses well, so that they are not discovered by the vicious dogs. And don't be as foolish as me, handing yourself over to them as a hostage."
Gao Junxiao and Qin Qulu frowned and looked at each other. They knew the problem was serious. Everyone has a weakness.
Meanwhile, an unprecedented storm was brewing at headquarters. Faced with the threat of spies, Du, Qin, and Gao were surprisingly united. This Dai fellow not only dared to harass them, but also openly humiliated them and undermined their authority in the military. If they could tolerate this, they wouldn't be human.
Aside from their adversaries, the people within the Nationalist government who dislike them the most are those who understand spies best. The Nationalist government's intelligence agencies all suffer from the flaw of prioritizing action over intelligence, being overly enthusiastic about engaging in armed confrontation with the enemy, and disliking advance planning. The ten-man group is no exception.
Then they would have to start from scratch, wipe out these spies, and silence these vicious dogs in front of them.
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