Chapter 73: The First Principle of an Agent

Hangzhou, Imperial Street, the residence of Fang Jinghua, a senior official of the Communist Party Municipal Committee of Hangzhou.

“Secretary Fang, I want to know the name of that fallen comrade.”

Gao Lan spoke with a grief-stricken expression.

It was that unknown comrade who had warned them at the cost of his own life, allowing them to escape danger.

Fang Jinghua shook his head.

He could not tell Gao Lan.

It seemed somewhat cruel.

These comrades who gave up their precious lives would have their names recorded only in the archives.

Some were not even recorded in the archives.

What they had done, who they were, would never become known to the public.

Even among Party comrades, what should not be known could not be known.

That was organizational discipline.

After Gao Lan left, Fang Jinghua remained silent.

Sorrow lingered in his heart.

This was a comrade he was not particularly familiar with.

He only knew that the man’s name was Meng Qiang.

He scarcely even remembered what he looked like.

Suppressing his grief, he began to think.

Why had Nationalist agents appeared at Selling Fish Bridge Wharf?

Were they targeting Gao Lan and the others?

How had the agents known that Gao Lan would bring people there?

How had Meng Qiang learned about the ambush waiting there?

Who had informed Meng Qiang?

Had Huai Tree told Meng Qiang this urgent intelligence?

Everything was merely speculation.

Fang Jinghua rubbed his temples.

He suffered from fairly severe migraines, and his head was throbbing painfully.

Knock, knock.

A knocking sound came from the door.

“Who is it?”

“Uncle, it’s me.”

A young man wearing a black padded cotton jacket entered.

“Did you find out anything?” Fang Jinghua asked eagerly.

“I did.”

The young man picked up a water ladle, scooped water from the storage jar, drank two large mouthfuls, and continued.

“Neighbor Granny Lu said the husband and wife had a fight. The man left home, and the woman, after being beaten, took the child back to the countryside.”

“Back to the countryside?”

Fang Jinghua sought confirmation once more.

“That’s what she said.”

“Mancang, Uncle has a task for you.”

Fang Jinghua said.

“Uncle, go ahead.”

“Quietly investigate where that woman took the child. You must find them.”

Fang Jinghua’s expression became extremely serious.

“Remember, you must be careful. Protect yourself, and protect them as well.”

“Uncle, I understand.”

Mancang nodded vigorously.

Then he suddenly asked in a low voice:

“Uncle, is this how you found my mother and me back then?”

Fang Jinghua froze momentarily.

He said nothing.

He merely patted Mancang on the shoulder.

Luo Six was beside himself with anxiety.

He desperately wanted to meet his superior and report the events that had occurred at Selling Fish Bridge Wharf during the day to the Municipal Committee leadership.

However, for reasons unknown, whether due to some consideration or because something had happened, Action Team Leader He Qichen had suddenly ordered the entire team into lockdown.

No one was allowed to leave the compound.

No one was allowed to make phone calls.

Violators would be dealt with under military law.

Thus, Luo Six found himself trapped in the compound.

Had Gao Lan and the others escaped successfully?

Had that woman and her child gotten away safely?

Why had agents from the Party Affairs Investigation Department appeared there in ambush?

So many questions swirled through Luo Six’s mind, preventing him from finding peace.

Just as he was at his wit’s end, the lockdown order was lifted.

Luo Six was overjoyed.

However, he did not leave immediately.

Instead, he loudly called out and gathered several fellow team members, taking them to a nearby restaurant for a lively meal and drinks.

Number Thirty Xiongzhen Tower.

“Director, I’d like to request leave to go to the inn and retrieve my luggage.”

Cheng Qianfan found Yu Ping’an.

“Approved.”

Yu Ping’an nodded.

With Kawada Eikichi and his group completely wiped out, Cheng Qianfan could naturally return to the inn to collect his belongings.

“Will you remove the disguise yourself?”

Yu Ping’an asked with a smile.

“No.”

Cheng Qianfan shook his head.

In reality, he could.

But at this moment, he had to be unable to.

“Go find Amei and have her remove it for you. Leave through the side entrance. There are fewer people there.”

So her name was Amei.

“Thank you, Director.”

Cheng Qianfan saluted.

“I’ll take my leave.”

“Go ahead.”

His face felt burning hot.

“Go wash your face.”

Amei, wearing a mask, spoke in a hoarse voice with obvious impatience.

Cheng Qianfan washed his face.

The cool water combined with the burning sensation on his skin, creating a peculiar effect.

He shivered.

He then returned and leaned toward the dressing table mirror to examine himself.

Although the lighting was not particularly bright, it was still possible to see a handsome young man.

He nodded in satisfaction.

“Why haven’t you gotten lost yet? What are you still doing here?”

Amei drove him away.

“Thank you.”

Cheng Qianfan did not mind her attitude.

He thanked her sincerely.

This woman was not someone to provoke.

If nothing else, anyone entrusted with this work was undoubtedly one of the Director’s most trusted confidants.

And this Director was not Deputy Director Yu Ping’an.

It was Dai Chunfeng, Director of the Lixingshe Special Service Office and Director of the Hangzhou Special Training Class Office.

Leaving through the side entrance.

He did not go directly to the inn.

Instead, he first found a restaurant, casually ordered several dishes, and hastily ate a little.

Afterward, he had the owner pack up the unfinished food.

Only then did he carry the packed dishes back to Yunlong Inn.

“Shopkeeper, bring me a pot of hot water later.”

Rather than sneaking upstairs, Cheng Qianfan openly called out to the innkeeper, who was bent over his account books.

“Certainly.”

The innkeeper nodded.

“You’ve had your meal and come back?”

“Mm.”

Cheng Qianfan nodded.

He muttered that the restaurant’s food had been somewhat salty, then went upstairs.

The innkeeper smiled and said nothing.

He had just been wondering why he had not seen the guest occupying that superior room for so long.

Now that Cheng Qianfan had returned openly carrying packed food, that slight sense of oddness subconsciously disappeared.

Naturally, the innkeeper could not remain behind the counter at all times.

He would instinctively assume that Cheng Qianfan had simply come and gone while he happened not to be there.

The possibility that the innkeeper was a Japanese spy or an agent of some other force was extremely low.

Yet Cheng Qianfan remained cautious.

He did not relax in the slightest merely because this was Hangzhou, territory controlled by the Nationalist government, and because he himself was an agent of the Special Service Office.

Being able to avoid arousing the suspicions of an ordinary passerby was the first principle for an agent to survive.

No one had taught him that.

It was an insight he had gained himself.

Yu Ping’an knew that Cheng Qianfan had worked hard today.

He had conducted surveillance and also participated in the operation.

Therefore, he specially permitted Cheng Qianfan to rest at the inn for one night and return to duty the following morning.

That was exactly what Cheng Qianfan had hoped for.

Tonight, he absolutely had to transmit the intelligence regarding the traitor Wen Changjian’s confession to the Hangzhou Communists.

On the way back, Cheng Qianfan had already thought of a possible channel for transmitting the intelligence.

It was also the only avenue through which he could currently contact the local Communist underground in Hangzhou:

Luo Six, the member of the Hangzhou District Action Team of the Special Service Office who had partnered with him for half a day.

But how should the intelligence be transmitted?

What exactly should be transmitted?

Both required careful consideration.

Especially the latter.

At Yang Million’s residence, Cheng Qianfan had personally interrogated Wen Changjian.

Naturally, he knew the inside details better than anyone.

Yet precisely because of that, he could not reveal everything.

There had been four people present at the scene:

Yu Ping’an, Deputy Director of the Special Training Class Special Commissioner’s Office.

Wan Delong, instructor and leader of the Special Training Class Operations Group.

Zhao Yansheng, Yu Ping’an’s absolute confidant and adjutant.

And himself.

If detailed intelligence were transmitted outward and later discovered by Nationalist intelligence agencies, the identity of the leak, the Communist hidden within the Special Service Office, would become almost obvious at a glance.

Therefore, how to phrase the information so that the Communists could generally understand what had happened and take it seriously, while avoiding any suspicion that the source was the interrogation room at the Yang residence, was the problem Cheng Qianfan now needed to consider with utmost care.

Yes.

After obtaining intelligence, determining how to transmit it and what to say required even greater caution than obtaining the intelligence itself.

The risks were greater.

He had to be careful.

A single incorrect word in the intelligence could expose him.

Intelligence itself was the most direct evidence.

It was ironclad proof capable of revealing and tracing back countless details.