Chapter 82: I Am Dai Chunfeng

“Salute!”

The sedan carrying Yu Ping’an drove through the main gate of Number Thirty, Xiongzhen Tower.

He yawned.

After much thought, Yu Ping’an could not figure out why Okada Toshihiko had gone out late at night, and in the end he decided to investigate personally.

Just half an hour earlier, he had personally witnessed Okada Toshihiko’s motorcade swaggering back to the Okada Residence.

Other than learning that Okada Toshihiko had gone to an inn called Yunlong Inn to pick up a young man, there were no other intelligence leads.

“Deputy Director Yu, we just received intelligence. At a checkpoint, police questioned a Japanese man carrying diplomatic identification issued by the Japanese Consulate in Hangzhou,” Wu Yuanfang hurried over and reported.

“Anything suspicious?”

“This person had previously been in contact with Okada Toshihiko. He separated from Okada and the others at Yunlong Inn. According to the surveillance team, this Japanese man seemed to know the young Japanese man whom Okada picked up.”

“Investigate!” Yu Ping’an stopped walking. “First investigate the Japanese consulate and see whether such a person actually exists.”

“Yes, sir.”

“What else?”

“According to reports from our men, the Japanese man taken away by Okada bears some resemblance to the young Japanese agent in the photograph we possess.”

“Some resemblance?”

“It was still before dawn, and the streetlights there weren’t very bright. Visibility was poor. They could only make out a vague outline from a distance.”

“Interesting.” Yu Ping’an chuckled softly. “Go investigate whether the young Japanese man in the photograph was among the Japanese agents we killed yesterday.”

“Yes, sir!”

At that moment, Zhao Yansheng hurried over.

“You may go.”

“Yes, sir.”

Only after Wu Yuanfang had left did Zhao Yansheng step forward and report quietly, “Director, Director Dai has arrived.”

“When did he arrive?” A flash of surprise crossed Yu Ping’an’s face. The telegram he had received last night indicated that the man was still in Guangzhou. Yet he had already reached Hangzhou without stopping to rest.

“An hour ago,” Zhao Yansheng said quietly. “Director Dai is waiting for you in your office.”

“Pass the order down. Place the area around Xiongzhen Tower under lockdown,” Yu Ping’an said. “No unauthorized persons are to approach.”

“But, Director, wouldn’t that be too conspicuous? Director Dai arrived secretly.”

“Now that he’s here, what secrecy is left?” Yu Ping’an shook his head. “Do as I say.”

Dai Chunfeng had been outmaneuvered by the British in Hong Kong and had suffered considerable embarrassment. One could say he had lost a great deal of face.

Yu Ping’an intended to restore that face for the Director.

Had Dai Chunfeng not arrived secretly, and had he known in advance, he would have led the entire instructor staff of the Special Training Class out to welcome the Director’s safe return.

Yu Ping’an strode quickly forward, his leather boots striking the marble floor and producing a series of Tap, tap, tap sounds.

As he approached his office, he slowed his pace.

Knock, knock, knock.

The sound of knocking echoed.

“Come in.”

Yu Ping’an pushed open the door and entered. He saw Dai Chunfeng seated behind his desk. Without raising his head, the man was concentrating intently on reading a document.

Yu Ping’an gently closed the door and quietly walked to the desk. Without speaking, he stood there respectfully, admiring the sight of Dai Chunfeng reading documents as though he were gazing upon an exceptionally beautiful woman.

After several minutes, Dai Chunfeng put down the document and looked up, seeing Yu Ping’an waiting with a smile.

“Bingyan, you’ve arrived. Why didn’t you say anything?” A smile appeared on Dai Chunfeng’s usually stern face.

“Seeing Director Dai return safely fills Ping’an with joy,” Yu Ping’an said with a beaming smile. He walked to the cabinet behind the door and took out a box of tea. “Top-grade oolong tea. I didn’t dare open it before the Director returned.”

“You, you.” Dai Chunfeng burst into laughter. “It’s just a box of tea. You could have sampled it yourself first.”

Yu Ping’an’s attitude pleased him immensely.

He had occupied Yu Ping’an’s office.

He had deliberately pretended to read documents and made Yu Ping’an stand waiting for a while.

Yet Yu Ping’an had shown not the slightest resentment. The only thing he displayed was delight at his superior’s safe return.

This box of tea pleased Dai Chunfeng even more.

“If it’s Bingyan’s tea, then it must be good tea.”

Yu Ping’an pulled over a chair and sat across the desk, his expression serious as he reported on work matters.

“Regarding Qingdao, Song Fuguo of the French Concession Intelligence Group under the Shanghai District has sent his nephew to carry out an assassination mission. Based on the timing, he should already have arrived in Qingdao.”

“Regarding Tianjin, Zeng Li is organizing an Anti-Japanese Assassination Corps. Following your previous instructions, Director, recruitment is being focused on students in order to compete with the Communists for influence over the younger generation.”

“And what about Nanjing?” Dai Chunfeng, who had been listening all along, suddenly asked.

“This subordinate does not know,” Yu Ping’an replied.

There were Zheng Jiemin and Tang Song in Nanjing.

He could know what was happening there.

However, it was best not to know.

So he chose not to know.

Dai Chunfeng gave Yu Ping’an a long look and nodded with a smile.

“Bingyan, continue.”

Yu Ping’an continued his report.

“What? You captured Guo Tianxun, and he’s Japanese? Named Kawada Eikichi?!” Dai Chunfeng, who had remained remarkably composed until now, exclaimed in shock and slapped the desk as he sprang to his feet.

His excitement was understandable. Dai Chunfeng did not know Kawada Eikichi, but he knew Guo Tianxun. The Special Service Office had suffered many defeats at Guo Tianxun’s hands and lost countless personnel.

This man, along with another traitor named Jin Bihui, had been listed by the Special Service Office as the two traitorous agents who had to be eliminated as quickly as possible.

Yet it turned out that Guo Tianxun was not a Chinese traitor at all, but a genuine Japanese intelligence agent whose Japanese name was Kawada Eikichi.

“That’s right, Director.” Yu Ping’an revealed a somewhat proud smile. “Interestingly enough, the greatest contributor to capturing that villain Kawada Eikichi was a new trainee from the Special Training Class.”

“Oh?” Dai Chunfeng was greatly surprised. A newly enrolled trainee had actually been credited by Yu Ping’an as the principal contributor in capturing Kawada Eikichi?

“Speaking of which, that new trainee is actually a fellow townsman of yours, Director,” Yu Ping’an said with a smile. He stood up, walked behind the desk, opened the safe, and took out a file pouch.

“A native of Zhejiang?” Dai Chunfeng asked in surprise as he accepted the pouch and casually glanced at the sealing wax mark.

The seal indicated that the file had never been opened, not even by Yu Ping’an, who had stored it.

He believed Yu Ping’an would not falsify such a matter. There was no need.

“Not merely a native of Zhejiang, but specifically from Jiangshan County in Quzhou Prefecture.” Yu Ping’an laughed heartily. “Director, you have an extraordinary young fellow townsman.”

Dai Chunfeng became even more surprised. He opened the pouch, removed the documents, and began reading carefully.

“I’ll read the file. You continue explaining how you captured that Kawada Eikichi.”

Yu Ping’an continued speaking at an unhurried pace.

Ring, ring, ring.

The telephone on the desk rang.

Dai Chunfeng signaled with his eyes, and Yu Ping’an picked up the receiver.

“Deputy Director Yu, a call on Line Three.”

“Who is it?”

“Cheng Wufang.”

“Put it through,” Yu Ping’an said, revealing a look of surprise.

Covering the mouthpiece, he quietly told Dai Chunfeng, “It’s a call from Cheng Qianfan.”

“Oh?” A subtle change appeared in Dai Chunfeng’s expression. Yu Ping’an immediately handed him the receiver.

The moment Dai Chunfeng picked up the receiver, he heard a young man’s voice coming through.

“Deputy Director Yu, this is Cheng Wufang.”

“I am Dai Chunfeng!”