Luo Xingchao paused at the alley entrance, glanced around but found nothing unusual, then turned and walked into the alley.
The alley was winding and almost deserted. As Luo Xingchao walked around a corner, a voice suddenly sounded behind him.
"Don't stop, keep going forward, find a room at Yongchang Tavern up ahead and wait for me!"
Luo Xingchao didn't turn around. He walked quickly forward and, as instructed, arrived at a small tavern ahead. He looked up at the tavern's sign before stepping inside. He asked the innkeeper for a room, casually ordered a few dishes, and quietly waited for the other party to arrive.
The young man stood guard at the corner, checking his watch to calculate the time. Only after confirming that Luo Xingchao was not followed did he step forward and follow.
Soon the two were sitting opposite each other in a room at Yongchang Tavern. Luo Xingchao looked at the young man in front of him and said excitedly, "Team leader, no, station chief, you've finally found me!"
Although Luo Xingchao had only met Ning Zhiheng a few times, he had a very deep memory of him. When they first met, Ning Zhiheng was the action team leader who had come to Shanghai from headquarters. In just half an hour of conversation, he was exposed by Ning Zhiheng and became a prisoner. Later, Ning Zhiheng was fully involved in his defection and personally verified his identity. He was also one of the witnesses who proved his true identity.
But after that, he never saw Team Leader Ning again. He only heard some news occasionally during the Battle of Shanghai, and learned that Team Leader Ning had made great achievements on the Pudong battlefield, but there was no news of him after that.
It wasn't until a little over a month ago, when he and his colleagues were all captured by the Japanese, that the traitor Cui Guangqi finally revealed that after the Battle of Shanghai, Team Leader Ning had never left Shanghai. Instead, he had gone into hiding and become the deputy head of the Shanghai Military Intelligence Station, leading another group of elite agents to fight behind enemy lines.
The sensational bombing of the Fukuoka warehouse and the widely publicized assassination of Lu Tianqiao, a Green Gang boss, in the French Concession were both the work of Station Chief Ning.
Seeing Ning Zhiheng alive and well again, he couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions. It's really hard to explain the fate and encounters between people. After going around in circles, he and Team Leader Ning had met again. He already had a vague idea of the other party's purpose.
“Luo Xingchao, codename Wooden Fish!” Ning Zhiheng uttered these words calmly, his sharp eyes fixed on Luo Xingchao’s eyes. “From now on, you are under my command and will only accept my orders.”
When Luo Xingchao heard the code name "Wooden Fish," he already understood Ning Zhiheng's meaning. Only his superiors Zheng Hongbo and Hou Weizhao knew this code name, and now that Ning Zhiheng had revealed it, there could only be one explanation.
"Did Station Chief Zheng and the others evacuate?" Luo Xingchao asked in a low voice.
"After you were arrested, all the remaining personnel at the intelligence station were immediately evacuated. Staying behind would only make them easy targets for the Japanese. Before Station Chief Zheng left, he entrusted your connections to me!" Ning Zhiheng said in a deep voice. He rubbed his hands together, took out two photos and a notebook from his pocket, and handed them to Luo Xingchao. "I have arranged a new address for your family. They are doing well. As for your son, I have sent him to the best private school. This is his notebook. His handwriting is very neat. He is a clever and bright little fellow!"
Ning Zhiheng tried to keep his tone as gentle as possible, as he didn't want to provoke Luo Xingchao's displeasure.
In fact, Luo Xingchao had already prepared himself. As a veteran agent of many years, he naturally knew the dangers involved. Moreover, he was an agent who had defected to the enemy once, so it was certain that the other party would be wary. The Military Intelligence Investigation Department's methods were always strict, so he was not surprised!
Luo Xingchao took the photos and the notebook. Both photos showed his parents, wife, and two children.
From their clothing and facial expressions, it was clear that they lived a wealthy life. Their smiles were genuine, and their clothes were clean, tidy, and well-fitting. These were all custom-made high-end garments, not temporary ones. Seeing this, Luo Xingchao finally felt completely relieved!
He quickly picked up the notebook again, and when he opened it, he saw rows of neat but childish handwriting. He observed it carefully, not letting any word slip by, and after a long while, he nodded.
Ning Zhiheng took out a box of matches, struck one, and lit it. Luo Xingchao brought the photos and notebooks closer, watched them burn, and then threw them on the ground. The two of them stared at the photos and notebooks burning to ashes. Finally, Luo Xingchao stepped forward and kicked the ashes away.
"What do you need me to do?" Luo Xingchao asked in a low voice.
Ning Zhiheng stood up straight, his gaze becoming increasingly sharp, and said in a deep voice, "First of all, I need to know the names of those who died at the scene of the arrest, those who were arrested, and those who defected to the enemy among the intelligence station's personnel. Give me their names!"
Although more than a month has passed since the arrests, Ning Zhiheng still doesn't know the specifics of what happened. Among those arrested, who became a martyr? Who became a traitor? Who should be remembered? Who should be punished accordingly? These questions need to be answered!
Luo Xingchao took out a pen from his jacket pocket, looked around, and wanted to find paper to write it down, but Ning Zhiheng waved his hand and said, "You can just dictate it. My memory is excellent, I won't make a mistake!"
The information on these team members was collected by Zheng Hongbo and handed over to Ning Zhiheng. With Ning Zhiheng's memory, he quickly memorized it. In fact, many trained agents can also do this.
Luo Xingchao quickly recited the list of everyone. Ning Zhiheng mentally matched each name with each document, and finally nodded and said, "I will report the list of martyrs to headquarters as soon as possible, and provide compensation to their families. Those who betrayed us must be eliminated, especially Cui Guangqi. Headquarters has issued a kill order, requiring him to be eliminated as soon as possible!"
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