svetikya Chapter 32 This is your next task!
Chapter 32 This is your next task!
Lu Hanqing sighed deeply: "How much effort did Yuan Nong put into getting her into the telecommunications department? If this connection is severed, he will be more heartbroken than anyone else."
Every message Zeng Moyi sent out from the telecommunications department was stained with blood and sweat.
"So, for the second option, I've decided to take a gamble." Zheng Yaoxian's eyes were gleaming. "I'm betting that Zhou Xiao won't betray her."
Infiltrating the Military Intelligence Bureau's communications department was harder than climbing to heaven. Once Zeng Moyi was killed, the underground Communist Party in Chongqing would lose one of its eyes and ears.
Those who infiltrate are always walking a tightrope in the dark.
"A bet?" Lu Hanqing stared at him. "What are the odds of winning?"
"Seventy percent." Zheng Yaoxian paused for a moment, then said calmly, "I believe him this time."
This was his assessment of Zhou Xiao, and even more so, his intuition honed through years of life-and-death experiences.
It's always been good.
Lu Hanqing did not speak again.
He trusted Zheng Yaoxian as much as he trusted his left hand to hold his right.
To rashly allow Zeng Moyi to withdraw immediately would be tantamount to tearing off the disguise right under the enemy's nose, greatly increasing the risk and with unimaginable consequences.
Staying might offer a glimmer of hope and a chance to gamble on unforeseen circumstances.
Lu Hanqing remained silent for a moment, his gaze calm, and looked up at Zheng Yaoxian: "Okay, I'll go and make arrangements for Yuan Nong right away."
"Yes." Zheng Yaoxian nodded. "Both plans will be implemented simultaneously—in case Zeng Moyi's identity is really exposed, I will secretly provide support and do my best to protect her."
Zheng Yaoxian's true identity is an absolute secret, and Lu Hanqing would never reveal a single detail to Yuan Nong, much less risk his life.
Protecting him was a duty ingrained in Lu Hanqing's bones.
"You're an old revolutionary too, I trust you." Lu Hanqing's tone suddenly softened, with a hint of genuine concern. "Old Zheng, if Zhou Xiao is truly determined to serve the Military Intelligence Bureau and is quick-witted, you absolutely cannot be careless."
"Don't worry." Zheng Yaoxian's lips curled slightly, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "The day he stands in front of me is the day he falls."
If Zhou Xiao is indeed a die-hard henchman of the Military Intelligence Bureau, aiding and abetting evil and harming comrades, Zheng Yaoxian will not hesitate to take action.
But a nagging intuition kept whispering in my heart: He doesn't seem like it.
After delivering the intelligence, Zheng Yaoxian turned and left, returning to Huichuntang.
No sooner had he left than Lu Hanqing found an opportunity to stroll into Changtai Department Store and pass on Zheng Yaoxian's information to Yuan Nong—as for who Zheng Yaoxian was, he didn't mention a word.
The following day marked the day Zhou Xiao officially "graduated" from his apprenticeship.
In the past two weeks, he followed Zheng Yaoxian and figured out the ins and outs of being a secret agent: how to conceal one's strength, how to leverage one's power, and how to weave a web on the edge of a knife; he also saw how Zheng Yaoxian won people's hearts without making a sound and how to use a cold face as a shield - all of which are the most important skin for an undercover agent.
Meanwhile, Zhou Xiao himself was not idle within the Military Intelligence Bureau. After several missions, his resume was enriched, and the system feedback was continuous.
As dawn broke, Zheng Yaoxian stepped into the gates of the Military Intelligence Bureau headquarters.
Our first stop was the telecommunications office.
Zeng Moyi was engrossed in organizing the Morse code, her fingers flying across the keyboard, her expression unchanged.
She remained unharmed throughout the night—Zhou Xiao ultimately did not speak.
You won the bet!
He wasn't wrong about it.
But a thorn still lingered in Zheng Yaoxian's heart: in the Zhazidong Concentration Camp, when Boss Dai threw that gun at him, Zhou Xiao caught it cleanly and decisively, pulling the trigger without even blinking...
Did he know all along that the bullet was a blank?
A thought flashed through Zheng Yaoxian's mind, and a chill ran down his spine: This kid is much more cunning than he had expected.
"Team Leader Wang, do you have any telegrams for me today?" he asked casually, just to find an excuse to step into the telecommunications office and avoid arousing suspicion.
Team Leader Wang hurriedly replied, "Sixth Brother, please wait a moment. I'll get it sorted out right away and bring it to your office!"
"OK."
Back in the office, Zhou Xiao was already sitting and waiting.
"Zhou Xiao, good morning!" Zheng Yaoxian entered with a smile, casually placing his briefcase on the table.
Good morning, Sixth Brother.
Zheng Yaoxian was in a good mood. He took out his cigarette case, his fingertips just touching the cigarette when he paused, put it back in his pocket, and looked directly at Zhou Xiao: "You've completed your one-month term—now you're a very useful agent."
"I've worked in the Military Intelligence Bureau for many years and seen quite a few promising talents, but you are the most outstanding one I've ever picked. When I first met you in Nanjing, I asserted: you were born for this job. And the truth has been absolutely right."
"You can master all the courses at the Military Intelligence School in half a month and excel in every subject; in the half month you've spent with me, you've relied on your abilities to break through, make contributions, and take every step steadily, without relying on luck or chance—in some aspects, you've been even more steady and ruthless than I was back then."
"So, you can go solo now."
He wasn't exaggerating at all when he said that.
Zhou Xiao is indeed qualified.
"It's all thanks to Sixth Brother who trained me." Zhou Xiao's tone was sincere, and he truly respected Zheng Yaoxian. This ace of the Military Intelligence Bureau was shrewd, meticulous, patient, and good at deception. He was quick and accurate when he made his move. If he really became an opponent, he would probably feel a chill down his spine.
"You know what you're doing, you should understand what to do next," Zheng Yaoxian said.
"Please give instructions, Sixth Brother."
Zheng Yaoxian smiled, stood up, walked to the safe, clicked open the lock, took out a brown paper bag, turned around and stared at Zhou Xiao seriously: "Zhou Xiao, listen to my command!"
Zhou Xiao suddenly straightened his back, put his feet together, tucked his chin slightly, and fixed his gaze on Zheng Yaoxian's face like a nail.
"By unanimous resolution of the Military and Political Council and the high command of the Military Intelligence Bureau, in view of Comrade Zhou Xiao's outstanding performance during his time with the Military Intelligence Bureau, he is hereby appointed as the Deputy Chief of the Intelligence Section of the Military Intelligence Bureau's Shanghai Station, in charge of all intelligence affairs of the Shanghai Station, effective immediately!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the letter of appointment was handed to Zhou Xiao.
He raised his hand in salute and solemnly accepted it with both hands.
Zheng Yaoxian stared at him, his tone solemn: "You are now a major, and according to the regulations on matching rank with position, you are to be appointed as a deputy section chief. How vital is the Shanghai Intelligence Section? For someone your age to be appointed to this position is unprecedented in the history of the Military Intelligence Bureau. This is not only an affirmation of your abilities, but also a trust placed in you by your superiors regarding your vision and courage."
"As long as you achieve a few more outstanding accomplishments in Shanghai, the position of section chief will probably be vacated for you very soon."
"Thank you for your guidance, Sixth Brother!" Zhou Xiao's voice was clear and resounding.
Deputy Chief of the Intelligence Section at Shanghai Station?
Could that section chief be Ming Lou?
Mingtai has already shown up, so how could Minglou be absent?
This trip to Shanghai suddenly ignited a burning passion in his heart—his blood was surging, and he was eager to try.
Zheng Yaoxian took out a new file folder from the drawer and handed it to Zhou Xiao: "This is your next task."
Back in Nanjing, he had already planned Zhou Xiao's path: to replace the Japanese spy "Shadow," return to the Special Higher Police, and become the sharpest nail driven into the enemy's heart.
The entire plan had been repeatedly rehearsed and was perfectly executed.
Zhou Xiao opened the bag and read it page by page, his gaze calm yet sharp.
This operation was codenamed: Dragon's Dive.
As planned, Zhou Xiao and Zhou Hanguang share the same surname and clan, while Feng Zixiong and "Shadow" Zhou Hanguang had lost contact for many years. Now that Zhou Hanguang has been eliminated, Zhou Xiao will take over his identity and return to the Special Higher Police to carry out subsequent missions.
For the past thirty days, agents of the Military Intelligence Bureau's Nanjing Station have been copying Zhou Hanguang's handwriting day and night, continuously sending secret messages to Feng Zixiong to create the illusion that he is still active—all in order to wait for Zhou Xiao to enter the game smoothly and take over seamlessly.
The entire covert operation was meticulously planned and executed, leaving no room for error.
As Zhou Xiao was reviewing the confidential files, Zheng Yaoxian looked up and said, "This time, God is truly on our side. In the past month, the situation in Shanghai has changed dramatically."
"The Military Intelligence Bureau's Shanghai station wiped out Feng Zixiong's spy network in one fell swoop. The couple were killed on the spot, leaving only their daughter, Feng Manna, alive."
"A few days ago, Feng Manna took the initiative to ask to meet 'Shadow'—saying that it was to fulfill her parents' last wish, to meet him and go on a blind date; if they got along well, they would get engaged and start a family."
"So, your trip back this time is ostensibly for a blind date, but it's very likely you'll actually be wearing a wedding dress and getting married."
"Huh? Really getting married?" Zhou Xiao was taken aback, instinctively scratching the back of his neck. "I've never even held a girl's hand!"
Zheng Yaoxian smiled and said, "In this line of work, how can everything go as you please? Many people have pretended to be husband and wife to infiltrate enemy camps and even 'gave birth' to children twice."
"Besides, this is just a meeting. Whether or not we get married depends on the situation, the degree of discretion, and the timing."
Zhou Xiao grinned: "Just kidding, boss."
These words sound easy, but the truth is crystal clear – when you're deep in the lion's den, there's no room for jokes. Knowing when to bow your head and when to turn away is the instinct of an undercover agent.
If Zhou Xiao had watched the TV series "Rouge", he would probably already know all about Feng Manna's background.
Unfortunately... I didn't read enough, and I had to piece together all the clues on the spot.
Zheng Yaoxian continued, "According to the latest intelligence from the Shanghai station, Feng Manna appears to be a quiet, recent graduate, but deep down she is a carefully crafted spy by the Special Higher Police. Her disguise skills are top-notch, and her actions are meticulous. You must tread carefully when dealing with her; the slightest carelessness will lead to total defeat."
Zhou Xiao nodded: "Understood."
"There's one more thing you need to remember." Zheng Yaoxian pulled out two yellowed photos from the file bag. "One is of Feng Manna, and the other is of her former close friend—Lan Yanzhi."
"Lan Yanzhi comes from an extraordinary background; her father, Lan Changming, is a banking tycoon in Shanghai. But her true identity is that of a rising star agent of the Kuomintang's Shanghai station. She has only been in the business for a short time, but she has already shown amazing talent—photographic memory, superb hearing, and meticulous logic, excelling in everything. However, this identity is top secret."
"What's even more intriguing is that Feng Manna was behind the deaths of Feng Zixiong and his wife. Now the two are bitter enemies, facing each other with knives."
"Tsk, how interesting." Zhou Xiao lightly ran his fingertip over the two black and white photos, his gaze shifting between the two men's brows. "Former classmates, now each on their own, facing each other across the distance."
It must be said that these two young ladies are indeed elegant—their faces are beautiful, their demeanor is calm, and their every move exudes the composure and confidence of well-bred ladies.
"That's right." Zheng Yaoxian's tone turned serious. "Your return to the Special Higher Police this time is codenamed 'Pluto.' To ensure everything goes smoothly, I will be your sole contact, and the one who knows your true identity completely."
"Also, let me remind you, the undercurrents in Shanghai are turbulent—our people are planted in the Mei Agency, Shang Mansion, the Special Higher Police, as well as the 76th Division, the Special Affairs Committee, and even various key departments of the Japanese puppet regime. But they don't recognize your face, let alone know that you are 'Pluto.' If they misjudge you, they will not hesitate to take action against you."