After these two incidents, the Japanese were unable to ascertain the true cause and became suspicious of you. Ultimately, they had no choice but to sever all contact with you. Therefore, you should truly thank me for being safe and sound for the past three years.”
Lin Mucheng stared blankly at Ning Zhiheng, not knowing what to say for a moment. If it was really as he had said before, and this person had done so much for him without his knowledge, even going so far as to kill twice to cover up his identity and almost losing his own life, then he was truly indebted to him!
"That's all just your side of the story!" Lin Mucheng said vaguely, it was unclear what he meant. Was he denying his identity as a Japanese spy? Or was he denying the sacrifices Ning Zhiheng had made for him?
Ning Zhiheng smiled slightly and waved his hand, saying, "Brother Mucheng, I'm not saying this to make you thank me! Actually, I had my own selfish motives at first. Your identity is too special. I was afraid that if I exposed you, it would affect the reputation and interests of the Baoding Clique. I was also afraid that your father, You Gong, and the elders of the Baoding Clique would be dissatisfied with me. So, after weighing the pros and cons, I simply decided to keep your secret. But then one problem after another came, and I had no choice but to continue to silence you and keep the truth hidden. But then things got out of my control. The Sino-Japanese War broke out in full force, and you and I were both sent to Shanghai to participate in the Battle of Shanghai. I could barely protect myself, so I couldn't take care of you anymore. Fortunately, the Japanese didn't dare to confirm your position, and they were unwilling to give up such a valuable pawn as you. So things just dragged on like that."
Ning Zhiheng's words were a mix of truth and falsehood. He wasn't really that noble, wholeheartedly thinking of the Baoding faction and Lin Mucheng. At that time, his foundation was still shallow, and he was simply afraid of the Lin family's revenge and the oppression of the Baoding faction. If he had really exposed Lin Mucheng, he would probably have died a violent death long ago.
Lin Mucheng lowered his head and sighed softly, as if venting the pent-up frustration in his heart. His face seemed to age ten years in an instant, revealing a pained expression. Overwhelmed with emotion, he finally spoke: "These past few years haven't been easy for me either. I've always been afraid that the Japanese will come knocking on my door again. They have something on me. I'm afraid they'll coerce me into betraying my country and nation, and that my crimes will implicate my father and family. I've been awakened by nightmares countless times in the dead of night."
In the end, I came to a realization: I might as well risk my life to atone for my past crimes. So, in every battle, I was always at the forefront. Wherever it was tough, wherever it was dangerous, I rushed in without hesitation. Everyone thought I was brave and fearless in battle, but they didn't know that I only hoped that one day, a bullet from the battlefield would hit me here, and I could be completely free. That way, no one would ever know that Lin Mucheng was once a traitor, a coward!
Having said these words, Lin Mucheng seemed to have suddenly shed a heavy burden, feeling a sense of relief. The fear that used to haunt him whenever he thought about this matter had vanished without a trace. He looked up at Ning Zhiheng and continued, "Thank you, Zhiheng. I never imagined that someone would go to such lengths to protect me. I can never repay such a debt of gratitude. But what are your plans now that you've brought this up?"
When Ning Zhiheng heard Lin Mucheng reveal his true feelings, he was deeply moved. He had no doubt about the changes in Lin Mucheng's mindset, so he said, "What plans? What other plans could there be? I've kept this from you for so many years, I can't just go back on my word and hand you over, can I?"
To be honest, I dare not wait any longer. These past few years, you have fought bravely on the front lines of the War of Resistance, repeatedly achieving meritorious service. You have risen rapidly through the ranks. If it weren't for your relatively short tenure, you would probably already be a general. There are rumors that you will soon be promoted again, at which point you will command even more military power, meaning your potential threat will grow ever greater. If I don't bring this up now, and the Japanese come knocking, and you do something foolish, I will regret it deeply. It would be as if I have personally sown the seeds of this disaster, and I fear I will reap the bitter consequences!
At this point, Ning Zhiheng walked back to the dining table, picked up the wine bottle and filled his and Lin Mucheng's glasses, and said again, "I'm afraid you'll go astray again. If that happens, your loved ones will be hurt and your enemies will be happy. I can't bear that consequence!"
Lin Mucheng then understood Ning Zhiheng's good intentions. He was afraid that the higher his position, the greater the harm he would cause, and today he was forcing Lin Mucheng to make a statement.
Now that his mind was cleared, he no longer hesitated. He reached for his wine glass, raised it in front of Ning Zhiheng, and said frankly, "I've made up my mind. If they dare to come to my door again, I will kill them with my own hands. At worst, we'll fight to the death. I will never be coerced by the Japanese again."
"Good, that's the attitude I want!" Ning Zhiheng said happily. He raised his glass and clinked it with Lin Mucheng's, and the two of them drank it down in one gulp.
Now that things are out in the open, Ning Zhiheng laughed and said, "Brother Mucheng, these past few years haven't been easy for you either; I've been worried sick too. Now that things are clear, I can finally relax."
At this moment, Lin Mucheng no longer had the initial estrangement and wariness towards Ning Zhiheng. When he learned that this person had been secretly protecting him all these years, his gratitude was beyond measure. Regardless of Ning Zhiheng's initial intentions, all the efforts he had made for him were genuine. Especially after the two of them shared a secret, their relationship underwent a dramatic change. This was also the first time in many years that he had let down his guard with someone.
“Zhiheng, I will never betray my country again, but the Japanese still have some dirt on me. They used this dirt to coerce me in the first place. If they come to me in the future and find out my stance, I’m afraid they will expose these things. I’m not afraid of my own life, but I’m afraid that being a traitor will bring shame to my family and implicate my family, especially my father’s reputation. If that happens, I will never be able to atone for it.”
Lin Mucheng had long since disregarded life and death, but this was the most important knot in his heart.
Ning Zhiheng, of course, had a plan. He smiled and said, "Brother Mucheng, you're overthinking it. What's the big deal? Those things are nothing more than a letter of allegiance and a few photos. Oh, and a few pieces of worthless intelligence!"
"You, how did you know!" Lin Mucheng was utterly astonished; Ning Zhiheng actually knew even this.
Ning Zhiheng chuckled and said, "There are only a few tricks to turning people to defect, everyone knows that, there's not much room for innovation. I've already thought of everything for you. These tricks might work on others, but they're useless against me. Don't forget who I am. I'm a high-ranking official in China's top intelligence agency, the director of the Second Operations Division. In terms of rank, there are only a handful of people in all of China's intelligence agencies who are higher than me. With me as your witness, who would dare to question your identity?"
Lin Mucheng was overjoyed upon hearing this and quickly stepped forward, asking, "Tell me, what are you planning to do?"
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