A Kuomintang agent's spy career during the War of Resistance against Japan

Chapter 76 A drop of kindness deserves a spring of gratitude; accepting a shipment without asking wh

Shanghai, French Concession Foch Road, Shanghai Bank Foch Road Branch!

A black Chevrolet sedan slowly came to a stop in front of an impressive Western-style bank building.

The car door opened, and the first person to step out was a man in his thirties who looked shrewd and capable, wearing a navy blue high-end suit, gold-rimmed glasses, and carrying a briefcase.

He quickly glanced around at his surroundings, then respectfully opened the back door.

Chen Gongshu, the newly appointed head of the Military Intelligence Bureau's Shanghai station, known as the "Number One Steel of the Military Intelligence Bureau" and the "Ruthless Scholar," slowly stepped out of the car.

His attire today was completely different from that in the mountain city. He wore a perfectly tailored British striped three-piece suit, shiny leather shoes, his hair was combed meticulously, and he wore a pair of non-prescription gold-rimmed glasses on his nose. He was holding a walking stick in his hand, looking every bit the distinguished banker or senior manager who had returned from studying abroad.

His gaze, peering through his glasses, calmly surveyed the building before him bearing the bronze plaque that read "Shanghai Bank, Fuxu Road Branch," a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips.

This will be his new battlefield and lair.

The shrewd man beside him was his trusted confidant from Changsha Station, Zheng Luxian, a master of operations, codenamed "Judge," who served as his assistant and the operations captain of the Shanghai Station.

"Manager, this is it," Zheng Luxian said in a low voice, his tone respectful.

Chen Gongshu nodded slightly and stepped into the bank.

The branch manager (deputy manager), who had already been notified, immediately came forward with a humble attitude. After a brief handover and inspection, Chen Gongshu went directly to the third floor.

The third floor, which was originally the bank's archives and high-level conference room, and was off-limits to unauthorized personnel, has now been completely cleared out and renovated.

The outer room is a spacious office for the bank president, complete with a mahogany desk, leather sofa, and a huge safe, exuding luxury and grandeur.

But passing through a hidden soundproof door reveals a completely different world: a radio, a cipher machine, filing cabinets, weapon racks, and even a makeshift medical operating table!

This place has become the new headquarters and heart of the Military Intelligence Bureau's Shanghai station.

"Yu Xian (Zheng Lu Xian's courtesy name) led the brothers to familiarize themselves with the environment, immediately set up a radio station, and started using a new codebook."

"Notify all known, confirmed, and undamaged perimeter contact points of the new contact method." Chen Gongshu took off his suit jacket, hung it up, and issued the order in a calm and decisive voice.

"Yes!" Zheng Luxian accepted the order and immediately led the twenty capable and experienced personnel who had come with him to get to work. Their efficiency was astonishing.

After settling in, Chen Gongshu picked up the phone and said to the operator, "Please connect me to the Tainan City Aquatic Materials Warehouse."

The phone rang for a long time before being answered. A tense and wary voice came from the other end: "Hey? Who is this?"

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Chen Gongshu spoke in a low but undeniably authoritative voice, "Fourth Brother Renjiang (Wang Tianmu's courtesy name), it's me. How have you been?"

Wang Tianmu, on the other end of the phone, was hiding in the safe house of the Nanshi Shenyao Aquatic Materials Warehouse, like a frightened bird.

Hearing that familiar voice, which he both feared and felt a strange warmth in it, he trembled, almost dropping the microphone: "Chen... Boss Chen? You... how come..."

"I'm now the branch manager of the Shanghai Bank's Fuxu Road branch. You have one hour to get ready and come see me on the third floor of the branch." Chen Gongshu's tone left no room for negotiation, directly stating the address, demonstrating his strong confidence and control.

"Yes...yes! Boss...I'll be right there!" Wang Tianmu felt a mix of emotions, including fear, shame, and a strange sense of relief.

An hour later, Wang Tianmu, accompanied by two of his men, circled around like thieves, making sure no one was following them, before being led through the bank's back door into a secret room on the third floor by Zheng Luxian.

When he saw the completely renovated, well-equipped, and even far superior underground command post, and Chen Gongshu's calm, insightful gaze, his last bit of resentment and grievance vanished.

"Chen... Boss Chen!" Wang Tianmu stood at attention and saluted, his voice choked with emotion, "I, your fourth brother, am incompetent! I have failed the Director's trust, and I have failed the fallen brothers! Please punish me, Boss!"

Chen Gongshu did not speak immediately, but carefully examined Wang Tianmu with his cold eyes, as if trying to see through his heart.

After a long while, he slowly spoke, his tone surprisingly not very reproachful: "Fourth brother, sit down and talk."

I have seen your self-criticism in the telegram from headquarters.

Victory and defeat are common occurrences in warfare, especially given the vast disparity in strength between the enemy and ourselves this time. Furthermore, Ma'er Ma Gui's actions were not a defection, but rather a consequence of uncontrollable factors such as medication, not a fault of the battle.

Wang Tianmu was stunned. He hadn't expected Chen Gongshu to be so "forgiving," and he was immediately overwhelmed with gratitude, almost bursting into tears: "Boss! I...I..."

"The boss has already given clear orders," Chen Gongshu handed him a copy of a telegram, "You are demoted to lieutenant colonel deputy station chief, to atone for your crimes by assisting me in my work."

Let bygones be bygones. From now on, unity and regrouping are the right thing to do.

Wang Tianmu took the telegram with trembling hands and read it over and over again.

The demotion was within his expectations, and even lighter than he had anticipated! More importantly, Chen Gongshu's attitude was not one of kicking him while he was down, nor of reprimanding or humiliating him; on the contrary, he showed him a certain degree of respect and trust!

At this moment, the slightest displeasure that Wang Tianmu felt from being replaced vanished completely, replaced by an impulse to die for one who understands him and utter submission.

He knew his own abilities were limited, and he was good at execution rather than overall planning. Now that a strongman like Chen Gongshu was in charge, he felt that the heavy burden on his shoulders had been taken over, and he felt much lighter.

"Stationmaster! Boss, from now on, I, the fourth brother, will follow your lead! Wherever you point, I will go! No questions asked!" Wang Tianmu snapped to attention again, his tone excited and sincere.

"Very good." Chen Gongshu nodded, then revealed a very faint smile. "Then, now hand over to me all the information you have, especially the possible clues about 'The Announcer Bird,' as well as the personnel and strongholds that can still be contacted at the station."

And details about those two traitors, Mao Baoying and Wu Zhiguo.

Wang Tianmu immediately spilled everything he knew, including his anticipation of another call from "The Good News Bird," his doubts about Mao Baoying's miraculous escape from assassination, Wu Zhiguo's kung fu, throwing axe, his complex background as a member of the Swallow Sect of Lightness Skill, and his recent performance. Moreover, he was promoted to deputy director of the Shanghai Police Bureau for his "great achievement" in capturing Ma Gui, which led to the complete annihilation of the Shanghai station.

When Chen Gongshu heard that Wu Zhiguo came from the "Swallow School of Lightness Skill" in Daming Prefecture, Shandong Province, was a disciple of Li Xian, and that after becoming the police chief, he did not blindly flatter the Japanese, but instead protected the interests of the people in some trivial matters, a glint of light suddenly flashed in his eyes!

"Wait! You said Wu Zhiguo is from the Swallow Sect of Lightness Skill in the Daming Prefecture of Luzhong?"

"His master is Li Xian, the 'Swallow in the Clouds'?" Chen Gongshu interrupted Wang Tianmu.

"Yes...yes. Boss, you know this sect?" Wang Tianmu was somewhat surprised.

Chen Gongshu did not respond to Wang Tianmu's words, but continued, "Fourth brother, your most important task now is to transfer the remaining 17 key personnel from the original Shanghai station to Zhengzhou and Luoyang as soon as possible. They are all the top talents of our Military Intelligence Bureau!"

But they have already been exposed. Every day they stay in Shanghai increases the danger, and the loss of each one is a major loss for the Party and the country!

Moreover, this time I brought 30 key personnel from Zhengzhou Station at once, which made Changsha Station, which is already a Class B station, very short-handed. You should take these 17 people there first and stay in Zhengzhou and Luoyang for a while. Firstly, to avoid the limelight, and secondly, to allow your elites to integrate into the Zhengzhou and Luoyang Station team as soon as possible!

Yu Xian has already arranged the specific travel arrangements and your status in Zhengzhou!

Wang Tianmu was deeply moved upon hearing this, and immediately stood at attention and gave a perfect military salute: "Yes, sir! We will definitely complete the mission! Take care, boss!"

After Wang Tianmu left, Chen Gongshu slowly took out a small swallow dart, carefully carved from sandalwood, from the inner pocket of his suit jacket.

This swallow-shaped dart, barely an inch long, is exquisitely crafted. Its wings are as thin as cicada wings, with sharp edges, and a glint of cold light flashes at its beak. The dart is engraved with intricate details using micro-carving techniques.

The inscription reads: "A drop of water in need is repaid with a spring of water; accepting a shipment is done without asking who the owner is." These fifteen small ancient seal characters are accompanied by an even smaller "显" character mark below.