You were allowed to marry into No. 76 family, and you were promoted to director?

Chapter 269 Advance
After reading the telegram, Xia Gong beckoned Gao Xiaojuan and Liu Qinghuan to sit around the stone table as well, then handed the telegram to Zhu Zhili:
"Xiao Zhu, you should take a look too. It concerns the Military Intelligence Bureau and also the situation in Shanghai."

Zhu Zhili could hardly believe what she was hearing, but seeing Xia Gong handing over the telegram, she took a deep breath, filled with emotion, and solemnly accepted the telegram from Xia Gong's hand.

This scene greatly surprised both Gao Xiaojuan and Liu Qinghuan.

They both knew perfectly well that this woman was named Zhu Zhili, a former Kuomintang agent who had defected to the organization, and had only arrived at the base today through secret channels.

In principle, cases like Zhu Zhili's require further review and verification.

But to my surprise, Xia Gong trusted her so much!

Or was Xia Gong testing Zhu Zhili?
With these questions in mind, the two focused their attention on Zhu Zhili.

After reading the telegram, Zhu Zhili's expression became somewhat complicated. She frowned, pondered for a while, and then looked at Xia Gong and said:

“Xia Gong, based on my understanding of the Military Intelligence Bureau, it’s not impossible for them to buy intelligence from an arms dealer. But this intelligence is too important. How did an arms dealer obtain this intelligence? And why would the Military Intelligence Bureau believe this intelligence?”

"Therefore, I believe that this German arms dealer's identity is not simple."

"And I remembered something."

Not to mention Xia Gong, even Gao Xiaojuan and Liu Qinghuan are very curious about what Zhu Zhili has thought of.
"Before the Battle of Shanghai, the German-equipped divisions of the Kuomintang Central Army were established with the help of a German general named Seeckt. At that time, there was also a German working alongside General Seeckt."

"After General Seeker returned home, that German did not go back. That man's name was... yes, his name was Marus."

"Subsequent German-equipped equipment was always traded between Marus and the Nationalists. However, as the German army launched the war, Marus gradually faded from the Nationalists' view. This German arms dealer was very likely Marus."

Upon hearing this, a glint flashed in Xia Gong's eyes, and Liu Qinghuan also said thoughtfully:

"According to what you've said, if the Military Intelligence Bureau really did buy the intelligence from Marus, it's quite credible. At least, the Military Intelligence Bureau will believe it."

Xia Gong smiled and nodded:

"Xiao Liu is right. Marus has already built up a high level of trust within the Kuomintang. Since he dared to sell an oil exploration report to the Military Intelligence Bureau, the Bureau will believe it regardless of whether the information is true or false."

"Moreover, this intelligence is too important. Even if there are different opinions within the Military Intelligence Bureau, the Bureau will not give up on getting its hands on it. It's better to take a chance than not. Besides, this intelligence comes from Marus."

After speaking, Xia Gong looked at Zhu Zhili and asked:
"Xiao Zhu, are you sure that the arms dealer who sold intelligence to the Military Intelligence Bureau is this Marus?"

Zhu Zhili shook her head with a wry smile:

“Xia Gong, this is just my guess. There are so many arms dealers in Germany, it’s really hard to say whether it’s Marus. But if I could get a photo, I could tell.”

Xia Gong smiled and nodded, then continued:
"It's alright, just assume this intelligence came from Marus. So, if it was intelligence that Marus sold to the Military Intelligence Bureau, then, Xiao Zhu, how much of this intelligence do you think is true and how much is false?"

Zhu Zhili thought carefully for about half a minute before looking directly into Xia Gong's eyes and saying:
"It's probably fake!"

"Oh! Why?"

Zhu Zhili's words confused both Gao Xiaojuan and Liu Qinghuan. How did she make that judgment?
Xia Gong nodded in satisfaction, then asked a question with a hint of scrutiny.

"Marus's identity is special, no matter what, because he was previously working for General Seeckt. To put it bluntly, Marus is most likely a member of the German military."

"If he really obtained such important intelligence, not handing it over to the German army could be explained by the fact that the German army was too far away to reach the place where the oil source was discovered."

"But no matter what, he shouldn't have sold the intelligence to the Nationalists. You should know the world situation better than anyone right now. Germany and the Nationalists are now only superficially united. The German army is most likely to cooperate with Japan now."

"Therefore, if Marus obtained this intelligence, he most likely gave it to the Japanese rather than sold it to other countries."

Liu Qinghuan looked at Zhu Zhili in surprise. She couldn't understand why the Military Intelligence Bureau would abandon such an outstanding agent, forcing her to ultimately defect to the organization in order to survive.

This is a huge loss for the Military Intelligence Bureau!
Gao Xiaojuan grew to like Zhu Zhili more and more the more she looked at her. Someone with such outstanding abilities and unique insights into intelligence analysis was perfect for the intelligence room.

If Qian Hanmin brings Zhu Zhili into the intelligence room, then Liu Qinghuan can stay in the communications room.

After listening to Zhu Zhili's words, Xia Gong smiled and said:

"Okay, that's a good analysis."

"However, what if I told you that not only did the Military Intelligence Bureau obtain this intelligence, but we also obtained it through other channels, and most importantly, the United States, Britain, and Russia also obtained this intelligence? What do you think?"

Zhu Zhili was truly dumbfounded.

So many countries obtained this intelligence; it all seems like a setup!
But who would set up such a scheme to attract agents from all over the world? What was the person behind it thinking?
Seeing Zhu Zhili's bewildered expression, Xia Gong continued:
"Of course, I can also tell you definitively that the Military Intelligence Bureau bought this intelligence from Marus!"

Zhu Zhili opened her mouth, as if to say that all her previous analyses were wrong.
Seeing through Zhu Zhili's thoughts, Xia Gong smiled and said:

“Xiao Zhu, your analysis is correct. This further proves that the oil exploration report mentioned in the intelligence that Marus obtained is 100% fake.”

"But... why would Xia Gong do that?"

Zhu Zhili has now confirmed that Marus must also know that the oil exploration report mentioned in the intelligence he sold is fake.

But what exactly was his reason for doing this?
Why gather agents from so many countries together?
Xia Gong shook his head.

This is what he is still thinking about.

Xia Gong naturally learned of this matter from the telegram sent by Zhao Xuan.

Before Zhu Zhili arrived, Xia Gong was in the room looking at the telegram and thinking about this matter.

Two hours later, the group of people at the stone table in the courtyard still couldn't figure it out.

Xia Gong returned to the cottage, and Gao Xiaojuan and the other two also left the courtyard.

At the entrance of the courtyard, Gao Wanyou looked at Liu Qinghuan with a smile:
"Comrade Qinghuan, I can rest for a while later. Xiao Song will come to relieve me. Are you free tonight? I'd like to invite you to my house for dinner. I've got some canned food, which will be a good snack."

Gao Xiaojuan looked at her silly younger brother with a half-smile.

Liu Qinghuan was still pondering what had happened earlier when she suddenly heard Gao Wanyou's words. Coming back to her senses, Liu Qinghuan smiled and shook her head.

"Sorry, Lao Gao. Xia Gong just instructed me to take Comrade Zhu Zhili around the base area to familiarize her with the environment. Also, Zhu Zhili's place isn't ready yet, so I have to go help her."

After saying that, Liu Qinghuan gave Zhu Zhili a look, and Zhu Zhili, who originally wanted to say no, swallowed back the words that were on the tip of her tongue.

"Comrade Zhu Zhili, let's go. I'll show you around and we can buy some daily necessities while we're at it."

"Sister Gao, if there's nothing else, Zhu Zhili and I will be leaving now."

Gao Xiaojuan smiled and nodded. After the two left, Gao Wanyou looked at Gao Xiaojuan with a bitter expression:

"Sister, it's me."

"Shut up, you big idiot!"

Gao Xiaojuan rolled her eyes at her silly younger brother, but finally couldn't help but say:

"Little brother, haven't you realized? Qinghuan treats you like a friend, like a platonic friend. She has absolutely no romantic feelings for you." Gao Wanyou scratched his head, looking at his sister with a helpless sigh.

"Oh, sister, you should at least think about your brother's marriage. I'm not getting any younger."

"Alright, alright, I'll keep an eye out for you. Go do your job and protect Xia Gong. If Xia Gong loses even a single hair under your protection, see how I deal with you!"

Watching Gao Xiaojuan turn and leave, Gao Wanyou looked up at the sky and sighed softly:
"If Qinghuan isn't doing well, Comrade Xiao Zhu seems like a good option too. Gao Wanyou, keep it up! You can do it!"

At this moment, Liu Qinghuan, who was leading Zhu Zhili towards the street where the local people lived in concentrated numbers, glanced at Zhu Zhili beside him and smiled:

"Zhu Zhili, thank you for earlier."

Zhu Zhili shook her head expressionlessly:

"No need, but since you don't like him, why don't you just say so?"

Liu Qinghuan's lips twitched slightly. Gao Wanyou was a complete fool when it came to relationships. Liu Qinghuan had told him frankly several times that she didn't like him.

As a result, Gao Wanyou confidently declared that he would not give up!

"Forget it, let's not talk about him anymore, Zhu Zhili."

"You can call me Xiao Zhu."

"Okay, Xiao Zhu, let's go over there and take a look. We need to buy some daily necessities, including rice, flour, and oil. The organization has approved the funds. We use border currency here. If you brought money, you still need to go to the bank in our base area first to exchange it for border currency."

The two talked as they walked, and soon arrived at the street where things were sold.

Of course, this place can't compare to Shanghai. The streets are so long you can see the end of them, and the selection of goods for sale is very limited.

"Qinghuan, you're here too!"

Upon hearing the shout, Liu Qinghuan and Zhu Zhili turned their heads to look.

A man and a woman walked side by side toward them. The woman was carrying a vegetable basket, and the man was carrying a fish. They looked like a young couple going out to buy groceries as usual.

Huang Qian and Zhou Hao.

Previously, Liu Qinghuan had been keeping an eye on two people, mainly Zhou Hao, and had been subtly inquiring about Zhou Hao's situation through Huang Qian.

However, after so much time, Zhou Hao has not shown any unusual behavior, and Liu Qinghuan now basically believes in Zhou Hao.

Because of the long period of time they spent together, Liu Qinghuan became good friends with the engaged couple.

"Who is this?"

After Huang Qian and Zhou Hao stepped forward, Liu Qinghuan introduced them:

"Let me introduce you."

"Xiao Zhu, these two are also our comrades. Zhou Hao is Huang Qian's fiancé. Zhou Hao works in the action room now, and Huang Qian studied accounting before. She is now helping out in the logistics room."

"This is Comrade Zhu Zhili. She just arrived at the base today. I brought her out to buy some daily necessities."

The two shook hands, and Zhu Zhili forced a smile as she looked at the two people in front of her and said:
"Very happy to meet all of you."

Huang Qian was genuinely happy, and holding Zhu Zhili's hand, she smiled radiantly and said:

"Me too, it's a pleasure to meet you, Comrade Zhu Zhili. May I call you Xiao Zhu?"

"of course."

Zhou Hao stood beside Huang Qian, smiling silently.

After they separated, Zhu Zhili frowned slightly and looked at Liu Qinghuan, asking:
"Was Zhou Hao previously undercover at the Shanghai Police Department?"

“I remember, Liu Sen, the chief of the Shanghai Police Department, had a driver who I met a few times. He looked exactly like Zhou Hao.”

Liu Qinghuan sighed:
"It seems you've met his younger brother. They're twins; the older brother is Zhou Hao, who used to work in the north."

"He also returned to the base not long ago."

Zhu Zhili's brows relaxed; she hadn't expected the twins to look so alike.

Moreover, Liu Qinghuan's words were also telling Zhu Zhili that Zhou Hao was not a problem; otherwise, he could not have stayed in the base for so long, let alone work in the operations room.

Zhu Zhili didn't think much of it and followed Liu Qinghuan into a shop selling daily necessities.

In a secret room behind the Guanghua Bookstore on Hankou Road in Shanghai.

Wang Shuyu had just woken up when Sun Jianzhong called her over.

"Shuyu, Lao Bai just came by. The organization has given instructions to Comrade Hummingbird to cease operations, and for everyone else to remain still."

Hearing this, Wang Shuyu breathed a sigh of relief:

"Uncle Sun, it seems the organization has discovered some problems."

"It's probably that German arms dealer."

Sun Jianzhong shook his head:
"I don't know about that. Let's just do as the organization has instructed. I'll contact Hummingbird immediately and have her stop the operation."

Wang Shuyu smiled and nodded:
"Yes, as soon as possible. It's hard to grasp the timing right now, just in case."

A dozen minutes later, Sun Jianzhong returned to the secret room with a somewhat grim expression.

Wang Shuyu's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly asked:

"Uncle Sun, can't we get in touch with Hummingbird?"

Sun Jianzhong nodded coldly:
"According to the postman's intelligence, the Hua Mao Hotel has been sealed off by the police, and no one is allowed to enter except for guests who booked rooms before the sealing off."

"Moreover, it seems that the internal telephone lines of the Cathay Hotel have been cut off, and we can't get in touch with them at all."

Wang Shuyu sighed, her face grim.

"It seems Iwai Hisakawa has started making his move. What about Li Xiangjun? Has she checked in yet?"

"Not yet. Our people are near the Iwai Mansion and haven't seen Li Xiangjun come out. We guess she's still at the Iwai Mansion."

Upon hearing this, Wang Shuyu's expression changed again:
“Uncle Sun, the French Concession Governor may have also obtained intelligence about the oil exploration report. The police's deployment is likely an order from the French Concession Governor and has nothing to do with Iwai Ogawa. If the police start looking for that report first, Hummingbird will likely take action!”

(End of this chapter)