In a safe house in the concession, Zuo Qiang reported to Ning Zhiheng and Huo Yueze: "We made our move near his house, and we also captured a driver and a bodyguard. The vehicle has been sent to the French Concession for safekeeping. The operation went smoothly and did not alert anyone."
Ning Zhiheng nodded and instructed Huo Yueze, "You'll be in charge of the interrogation. Make sure you confirm exactly how much he knows and how many people were involved. In short, nothing about us can be leaked!"
"Yes!" Huo Yueze nodded in agreement and turned to leave.
Two hours later, Huo Yueze finally finished the interrogation and returned to report the results to Ning Zhiheng.
“Cha Yutang confessed that he was persuaded by Li Zhiqun in mid-February to monitor Phillips and track us down. He sent a total of seven people to follow us the whole time. These people are all his trusted subordinates. Here is the list!”
He handed a list to Ning Zhiheng and then reported, "These people did indeed photograph some people who frequently contacted Phillips during the surveillance. Cha Yutang conducted some investigations and finally identified several suspicious individuals, including some of our people."
Ning Zhiheng was taken aback and said in surprise, "There really is one. Is it you, or Hongyi?"
In the Shanghai intelligence department, Huo Yueze and Ji Hongyi were specifically responsible for the intelligence market, and they were the only ones who could contact Phillips.
"It's Hongyi. I missed the last gathering because of something else. Cha Yutang spotted Hongyi in several photos. Hongyi is a well-known leader in the Subei Gang. Many people know him, so Cha Yutang found him without much effort. However, he only knows that Hongyi is an intelligence dealer who trades information, but he cannot confirm Hongyi's true identity. Nevertheless, he is listed as the most suspicious target."
As Huo Yueze spoke, he couldn't help but feel a little scared. Ji Hongyi was a core member of the Shanghai Intelligence Section and knew just as much about its work as he did. If he were exposed to the Japanese and Li Zhiqun, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Ning Zhiheng said in a low voice, "I didn't expect that after we've been lying low in Shanghai for so long, thinking we'd built this place up like a rock, someone still managed to slip up. Hmph, a mere Feng Sinian managed to drag Hongyi out through all sorts of tricks. That's why I always say that details determine success or failure, and you can't take any chances! If I hadn't been keeping a close eye on this person and if Muyu hadn't provided timely intelligence, you would have made a huge mistake this time."
Ning Zhiheng started by whispering, but then his voice grew louder and louder, clearly showing his dissatisfaction.
Huo Yueze quickly lowered his head and said, "It was indeed my negligence. Please rest assured, Director, I guarantee that such an incident will never happen again."
"I'm not just talking about you; Ji Hongyi is the same way. He's being followed and photographed without even realizing it!"
At this point, Ning Zhiheng's expression softened, and then he asked in a deep voice, "Where are these photos?"
"In the drawer of his study, there are not only Hongyi among the suspected individuals he has identified, but also photos and investigation materials of other people. This is his key, and I will send someone to retrieve it right away."
"Hurry up!" Ning Zhiheng nodded and handed the list to Huo Yueze. "Eliminate them tonight. No one involved in this should be left alive."
"Yes!" Huo Yueze took the list and went out to arrange for personnel to carry out the mission.
The next day, news of the disappearance of Cha Yutang, the chief Chinese detective of the International Settlement, quickly spread throughout the entire settlement. At the same time, several of his trusted subordinates also vanished without a trace overnight. It goes without saying that they had been murdered.
As the leader of the Chinese community in the International Settlement, Cha Yutang's involvement in such a major incident caused a great stir within the Settlement, becoming a hot topic of conversation among the people on the streets.
Surprisingly, the higher-ups in the concession, especially the consulate, did not pursue the matter too much. They simply issued a brief announcement and, even before they had confirmed whether Cha Yutang had been murdered, immediately appointed another Chinese detective to replace Cha Yutang, who quickly took over all the work of the police station.
They even notified the major newspapers and periodicals in the International Settlement to treat the matter coldly and not to report on it. Those with ulterior motives would naturally see through this tactic. Cha Yutang's disappearance, or rather his murder, was probably exactly what these high-ranking officials wanted, and they might even be involved. It's unknown who Cha Yutang offended to end up like this.
In the study of the Tan Mansion, Ning Zhiheng carefully examined the photos in his hand. On the table were some scattered investigation materials, which Huo Yueze had retrieved from Cha Yutang's home.
In the photo, Ji Hongyi and Phillips are standing next to a car, talking in hushed tones, with an elegant Western-style villa in the background.
The other photos were similar, with the same background, but the people in the photos had changed. Several of them were major intelligence dealers in the intelligence market. Although they were a bit far away, their faces were clearly recognizable.
Ning Zhiheng quickly recognized that the Western-style house was the villa of British intelligence merchant Anderson. It seemed that the party was being held at his home. Although it was secluded, it was not like a consulate or a high-class club where people were prohibited from entering. Therefore, the people following him seized the opportunity and secretly took photos of several attendees when the party ended.
The materials also show that Cha Yutang investigated these people afterwards. British intelligence merchant Anderson goes without saying; his name was at the top of the list of suspects because the gathering was held at his home.
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