Anti-Japanese War Espionage: I Have an Omniscient Perspective

Lin Rui, who already knew where Lu Dahong was hiding, certainly wouldn't let the action team return empty-handed.

He said in a deep voice, "Captain Zhou, Lu Dahong clearly anticipated that someone would try to assassinate him, which is why he made this arrangement. But we can't just leave empty-handed. After this failure, it will be even harder to have the opportunity to act in the future."

Zhou Zhitang was taken aback, looking at him with suspicion: "Mr. Lin, what do you mean by that? Lu Dahong isn't here, how are we supposed to make a move?"

"Captain Zhou, think about it carefully. We've deployed people to monitor the exit of Yongfeng Estate, and from this afternoon until nightfall, we haven't seen any suspicious individuals or vehicles leaving," Lin Rui calmly analyzed. "Lu Dahong set up a double to prepare for the assassination attempt. Although he's not in Apartment 17, he's definitely still hiding in Yongfeng Estate. As long as we find his hiding place, we still have a chance to succeed in the assassination tonight!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhitang frowned, pondering Lin Rui's words. After a moment, he understood: "You're right, I was confused in my haste! Thanks to you, otherwise we would have really made a wasted trip!"

"We shouldn't delay, let's go ask that servant again," Lin Rui said. "He's worked for the Lu family for so long, he must know where Lu Dahong is hiding in the village. He was just too scared to tell the truth earlier."

Zhou Zhitang immediately nodded and arranged for his men to go downstairs, wake up the unconscious servant, and take her to the third floor.

When the maid woke up, she saw the cold eyes of the crowd and the dark muzzles of guns. She was so frightened that she trembled all over and kowtowed repeatedly, begging for mercy.

Zhou Zhitang walked up to the servant, his tone icy yet tinged with a hint of admonition: "I'll ask you one last time, where is Lu Dahong hiding in Yongfeng Village? If you dare lie, I'll not only kill you, but I'll also find your entire family and make you all pay for Lu Dahong's treasonous crimes! But if you tell the truth, we'll spare your life and that of your family. You need to think carefully: are you going to be an accomplice to evil, or will you atone for your crimes through meritorious service?"

"But I really don't know where he went!" the maid cried.

"You!" Zhou Zhitang was about to make a move.

Lin Rui raised his hand to stop her. "I'll do it." He stood in front of the maid, his face gentle. "I know you're willing to cooperate with us, right?"

The maid nodded quickly.

"Then think about it, if Lu Dahong were hiding inside Yongfeng Estate, where do you think he would go?"

His words calmed the servant down, and she tried to recall.

"I remember now. Sir, no, Lu Dahong once said that he would buy a house for his in-laws in Wing Fung Estate. He actually did buy it. I saw him go to Building No. 7 once, which should be where his in-laws live."

Lin Rui looked at Zhou Zhitang: "This clue is very important. We can try again. If it doesn't work, we'll retreat immediately."

"Good!" Zhou Zhitang's eyes flashed with fierce light. "Brothers, since Lu Dahong has used a double, he has probably also arranged people in Building Seven. A fierce battle is inevitable. Take out your weapons, don't be afraid to make a sound."

Eight men, armed with weapons, quickly emerged from the back door of Apartment 17 and, taking advantage of the rainy night, rushed straight towards Building 7.

As soon as I arrived at the gate of No. 7 courtyard, I saw two guards huddled in the gatehouse, chatting and sheltering from the rain, completely unsuspecting.

Two team members stealthily crept over, their daggers flashing coldly as they precisely stabbed the two guards in vital areas. They then covered their mouths to prevent them from making a sound, cleanly and efficiently eliminating the guards.

"Charge!" Zhou Zhitang kicked open the door of Building 7 and led everyone straight into the living room. At this moment, Lu Dahong and the bald man were sitting on the sofa drinking tea. Hearing the noise, the two turned their heads sharply, and the relaxation on their faces was instantly replaced by fear.

Zhou Zhitang's gaze was fixed on Lu Dahong as he stepped forward, his tone full of sarcasm: "Master Lu, do you still remember me? It's been so long! I, Zhou Zhitang, have become a stray dog, while you've sided with the Japanese, becoming a traitorous puppet official, enjoying immense prestige! Let's put it this way: today, only one of us can live! You decide, will the stray dog ​​live, or the traitor?"

Lu Dahong turned pale with fright and quickly stood up, backing away while begging for mercy: "Director Zhou, spare my life! I had no choice. I'm willing to give you all my assets, just please spare my life. I promise I'll never associate with the Japanese again!"

"Family fortune?" Zhou Zhitang sneered, his eyes filled with contempt. "Lu Dahong, don't you even know who you are! With the nation in peril, you only care about your own wealth and glory, betraying your country and compatriots. We don't care about that dirty money you have! Today, we're here to take your dog's life and warn those with the same thoughts!"

Seeing that begging for mercy was useless and knowing that he was doomed, Lu Dahong's eyes flashed with madness. He turned around and ran wildly toward the bedroom, trying to find a way to survive.

"Fire!" Zhou Zhitang shouted, pulling the trigger first. The other team members also opened fire, and the dense gunfire rang out in the rainy night.

The bullets struck Lu Dahong precisely in the back and legs. He screamed and fell heavily to the ground, struggling for a few moments before going still.

The reason why the crowd chose to shoot indiscriminately was to serve as a deterrent, to let all traitors who wanted to join the Japanese know through the gunfire and bullet holes that those who betray their country for personal gain will surely die!

"Operation successful, evacuate immediately!" Zhou Zhitang gave the order, and everyone rushed out of Building 7 without stopping. They then climbed over the wall and evacuated Yongfeng Village along the backyard of Apartment 17.

The eight men ran desperately through the rainy night, fleeing quickly along the narrow alleyways, but the pursuers they had anticipated did not appear.

They didn't hear the piercing whistles and shouts coming from the direction of Wing Fung Estate until they had run quite a distance away.

"These guys are only just realizing it? We overestimated them," Zhou Zhitang laughed.

"I'm afraid they were terrified by the gunfire," Lin Rui responded.

The group ran to a secluded alleyway before stopping, panting heavily. Rain and sweat mingled on their faces, but their expressions of elation were undeniable.

Just then, several men dressed in blue short jackets emerged from the shadows at the alley entrance.

Zhou Zhitang and the others immediately tensed up, gripped their guns tightly, assumed a defensive posture, and locked their eyes on the newcomer.

Lin Rui quickly pressed down on Zhou Zhitang's arm and whispered, "Captain Zhou, don't be nervous, they're on our side."

Zhou Zhitang's wariness remained. He turned to Lin Rui and asked suspiciously, "Mr. Chen, who are they?"

Lin Rui softened his tone and said slowly, "Captain Zhou, these are all brothers from the Green Gang. As you all know, Lu Dahong is the Chinese chairman of the French Concession. Today, we openly assassinated him in the concession. This has caused a huge uproar. The French Concession police will definitely do everything they can to search for him, and they may even join forces with the Japanese army to seal off the entire concession."

He paused, then continued, "The higher-ups anticipated this situation and specifically instructed that after your operation succeeds, you absolutely cannot stay in the French Concession. These Green Gang brothers are here to meet you. They will find a way to send you from the concession to the southern countryside to hide for a while, until the situation here has completely calmed down, and then arrange for you to return."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhitang's guarded expression gradually faded, replaced by gratitude and reluctance.

He patted Lin Rui heavily on the shoulder and said with emotion, "Brother Lin, we owe you a great debt this time. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have been able to kill that traitor Lu Dahong, and we would probably have been wiped out. Now we're troubling you again to arrange our escape route. I, Zhou Zhitang, will remember this kindness!"

"Brother Zhou, you flatter me." Lin Rui shook his head, his tone firm. "We are all doing this for the country, it is our duty. Once you get there, lie low and wait until things calm down. Then we will fight side by side again and continue to eliminate traitors and serve our country."

"Alright! Let's fight side by side, eliminate traitors and serve our country!" A resolute light shone in Zhou Zhitang's eyes as he turned and shouted to his men, "Brothers, salute Brother Lin!"

The six subordinates straightened up, bowed deeply to Lin Rui, and shouted in unison, "Thank you, Mr. Lin!"

Lin Rui quickly stepped aside and waved his hand, saying, "Brothers, no need for formalities. Let's hurry and follow the Green Gang brothers. Time waits for no one, lest things get complicated."

Zhou Zhitang looked at Lin Rui again, grasped his hand tightly, and squeezed it hard. All the words he wanted to say were condensed into one sentence: "Brother Lin, take care! We'll be waiting to see you again!"

"Brother Zhou, brothers, take care too!" Lin Rui shook hands with him just as firmly.

After saying goodbye, Zhou Zhitang did not hesitate any longer. He gave his brothers a wink and turned to follow the Green Gang man into the depths of the alley.

A figure in a blue short jacket led the way, followed closely by Zhou Zhitang and the others, and soon disappeared into the vast rainy night.

All that remained were a series of shallow footprints, which were quickly washed away by the cold rain.

Lin Rui watched them leave, wiped the rain off his face, looked around to make sure there was nothing amiss, and then disappeared into the deeper darkness of the alleyway, as if he had never been there at all.

Only the cold wind of the rainy night remained, whistling softly through the alleyways.