Espionage codename: Shen Gongbao

Chapter 115 Fanning the Flames

With a tap of my finger, I was instantly transported to the exciting world of Chapter 115, "Stirring Up Trouble (Seeking Monthly Tickets)".

Just as I was pondering this, the door was pushed open.

Hu Junhe strode in and closed the door behind him.

"Hey bro, have you heard?"

Wang Xuesen put down his teacup: "What is it now?"

He pointed at Hu Junhe and laughed, "Your older brother just likes to play riddles with me."

"They called me in the middle of the night last time, but they wouldn't answer."

Hu Junhe blew on his bangs and gave an awkward laugh, saying:

"As for what happened last time... you already know about it."

"I've been waiting for Mao Liying's case for over half a month, and I still haven't gotten her out of jail, but that idiot Wu Sibao beat me to it."

He waved his hand.

"Forget it, let's not talk about it anymore, it just makes me angrier."

"Let's talk about what happened today."

He leaned forward and lowered his voice.

Something terrible has happened in the building.

Wang Xuesen served him tea.

"What's the big deal? Tell me slowly."

Hu Junhe took the teacup but didn't drink from it, holding it with both hands:

"Warrant Lieutenant Shibuya just gave Director Li a thorough dressing-down."

He paused, glanced towards the door to make sure no one was eavesdropping, and then continued.

"And a new order was announced on the spot."

"From this day forward, every road post at No. 76 must be staffed with an inspector military policeman."

"at the same time……"

He held up two fingers.

"Cut the number of checkpoint posts in half."

Wang Xuesen's pupils suddenly contracted: "Is that so?"

Hu Junhe frowned at him: "You're so close to Shibuya, didn't he tell you beforehand?"

Wang Xuesen smiled innocently:

"Old Hu, the Japanese are all cunning as devils. They might call you 'brother' or 'older brother,' but if something really happens, will they tell me?"

Hu Junhe nodded in deep agreement.

"That's true."

He took a sip of hot tea, burned his tongue, hissed, and put the cup back on the table.

"This is a big problem."

"The director is now relying on this little bit of extra income to pay everyone's salaries."

"With half the checkpoint destroyed and the military police standing there, who would dare to lay a hand on it?"

"The budget for Project 76 was effectively cut in half."

At this point, he leaned closer and asked with concern:

"Hey! Do you think it might be because something happened to Sanhu's side?"

"If the director finds out that I've secretly set up a post in Liujiagang, I'll be in big trouble."

Wang Xuesen chuckled inwardly.

coming.

Old Hu finally panicked.

The incident at the checkpoint was actually a scheme orchestrated by him behind the scenes, in which Qingfu fed Bai Junqi.

That idiot Bai Junqi has brought trouble upon Li Shiqun.

A chain, link by link.

Hu Junhe's act of setting up a private outpost in Liujiagang to make money was precisely the weakest link in the entire chain.

Now Lao Hu is in a hurry and has come to me for help to cover it up.

now it's right.

You owe someone a favor.

The more you owe, the better.

Wang Xuesen pretended to know nothing:

"What are you afraid of?"

"It was Peng Sanhu who resold the supplies, while you, my friend, have been clean and honest from beginning to end."

"As long as you act uprightly, sit properly, and have a clear conscience, that's all that matters."

Hu Junhe, feeling embarrassed, coughed twice and lowered his head to avoid Wang Xuesen's gaze.

"Aren't Sanhu my men?"

"If he gets into trouble, won't the director try to pin the blame on me?"

Wang Xuesen pondered for two seconds, then slowly nodded.

"Too."

"The truth about the three tigers can't be hidden forever; you can't keep a secret forever."

"But in my opinion, the director may not investigate further."

"Besides, setting up these positions isn't something only you can do."

"How many checkpoints did Wu Sibao and his gang set up in the city in secret? The director turned a blind eye to it all."

"You went all the way to that godforsaken suburb of Liujiagang, what's a little bit of shady business?"

"Compared to Captain Wu, this is just a small fry."

Hu Junhe rubbed his hands together, his face contorted in pain. "That's where the problem lies."

"Wu Sibao is the director's own brother."

"Who am I?"

"I'm like stinky dog poop on the street; everyone who passes by has to step on me."

"Can you even compare them?"

As he said this, he shook his head and gave a self-deprecating smile:

"Just you wait and see, I'll most likely be the one to take the blame again."

"With less funding, a large portion of it will definitely go to the intelligence department."

"If I can't even pay my brothers' wages by then, what's the point of working?"

At this point, he lowered his voice slightly and tapped the table with his finger.

"Brother, Ye Jiqing trusts you."

"If she and the director question you later..."

"You need to cover for me regarding the Liujiagang matter."

Wang Xuesen nodded: "That's a must, what kind of relationship do we have?"

"I remember everything about Chen Mingchu's undercover operation."

Hu Junhe breathed a sigh of relief and patted him, his eyes even welling up with a touch of emotion:

"To be honest, you're the only one I click with in this building. Ever since the first time we arrested Wu Kaixian in the concession, I knew we could be brothers."

"I'm counting on you, bro."

Wang Xuesen refilled his tea, and the two chatted casually, analyzing the situation.

We were chatting.

boom.

The door was violently pushed open from the outside.

Wu Sibao walked in carrying a paper bag. As soon as he stepped across the threshold, he saw Hu Junhe on the sofa.

He paused for a moment, his tone neither warm nor cold:

"Oh, Director Hu is here too."

Hu Junhe immediately put on a smiling face and gestured for them to sit down: "Sibao is here, please sit down."

Wu Sibao stood at the door without moving.

He waited a few seconds.

I thought that once Hu Junhe saw me come in, he would at least know to get up and leave.

Wu Sibao and Hu Junhe used to have a good relationship.

But after being secretly tricked by this bastard several times, he learned to be more careful.

In addition, Yu Aizhen would repeat to herself every day before leaving the house: Stay away from Lao Hu, that guy is full of bad ideas, be careful of him.

I've heard it so many times.

Even the best friendships can cool down.

The two of them are only putting on a good show; their true nature is rotten to the core.

Wang Xuesen quickly stood up to greet him: "Captain Wu! Come in and have a seat."

He took the paper bag from Wu Sibao, opened it, and saw that it contained six or seven large, bright red apples:

"You said you were coming, so why did you bring anything? You're too kind."

Wu Sibao casually tossed his round hat onto the table and sat down in a chair by the window.

"I passed by a fruit shop this morning and saw that these apples looked nice, so I bought you a few."

Wang Xuesen washed and sliced the two pieces, arranged them on a plate, and said to ease the atmosphere:

"You know what, it's been a while since the three of us got together to sit down and chat."

"That's true."

"Sibao, I have to say a few words of criticism to you."

Hu Junhe pointed at Wu Sibao.

"Of the three of us, you're the one who gets the most kickbacks."

"Many checkpoints and wide access routes."

"You have to take the lead and treat us."

They came right at the heart of the matter.

Wu Sibao stopped biting into the apple.

He glared at Hu Junhe and said angrily:

"It's all over, what's the point of hiring someone now!"

"No doubt it's some bastard who's jealous of our Unit 76 and is sabotaging us behind our backs!"

He slammed the apple core on the table and glared at Hu Junhe.

"Old Hu, your intelligence isn't accurate either."

"They've already broken into your house, didn't you even check beforehand?"

"What a waste of your position as head of the intelligence department."

Hu Junhe gave an awkward laugh, feeling embarrassed: "Look, everyone's getting along so well, why are you getting so worked up again?"

"The checkpoint has been cut; who wouldn't be worried?"

He hadn't finished speaking.

A series of hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor.

Click.

The door was pushed open.

Li Shiqun stood at the door, his face stern, and coldly ordered:

"OK."

His gaze slowly swept across the three people's faces.

"I've called so many times I've been trying to get a meeting on the phone, but I can't reach anyone."

"So you've all come here to hide away and have some peace and quiet, huh?"

Li Shih-Chun has always been mild-mannered.

At No. 76, the number of people he had publicly lost his temper with could be counted on one hand.

The moment he opened his mouth with that tone, all three of them were startled and stood up in a row, not daring to breathe.

Li Shiqun walked in, his gaze sweeping over the three faces twice:

"Can anyone tell me?"

"Why is the military police targeting the checkpoint?"

Quiet.

Hu Junhe was the first one standing.

Facing Li Shiqun's murderous gaze, he licked his chapped lips and forced himself to say:

"Director, has... one of our subordinates offended some Japanese businessman? Or some military supply supplier?"

Wu Sibao's brain was already not very sharp, and now it was even more of a mess.

He could only nod repeatedly, following Hu Junhe's lead.

Yes, yes.

"It must have been those clueless guys down there who caused the trouble."

Li Shiqun ignored them.

He turned his gaze to Wang Xuesen, his tone softening slightly:

What do you think?

He knew very well that Wang Xuesen never participated in the lucrative activities at the sentry post.

If there's a problem at the checkpoint, the only ones who could be harmed are these two people in front of us.

Wang Xuesen hesitated for a few seconds before speaking:

"Chief, I don't think the establishment of an inspection post in the military police is necessarily an internal problem."

He paused for a moment.

"It's also possible... that outsiders are interfering."

Li Shiqun frowned.

"The people outside?"

Hu Junhe and Wu Sibao also turned to look at Wang Xuesen at the same time.

Wang Xuesen spoke slowly and deliberately.

"Director, you see, Fu You'an set up the Shanghai West Police Headquarters a while ago, didn't he?"

"This Mayor Fu has always coveted our sentry post rights."

"They say they support the work of No. 76, but secretly they wish they could tear down all our guard posts and replace them with their own people."

"And Zhang Xiaolin."

"Our sentry posts are blocking so many roads!"

"He's the one who's most annoyed."

"It's not impossible that he might be stirring up trouble on the Japanese side."

As soon as he said this, Hu Junhe and Wu Sibao nodded in unison, as if they had planned it beforehand.

Li Shiqun gave them both a cold glance, knowing he wouldn't get any useful information, and waved his hand impatiently:

"Alright."

"You two go back to your respective offices first."

"Put away with what you have on hand, and we'll call a meeting when I give you my instructions."

Hu Junhe glanced at Wang Xuesen without making a sound.

Wang Xuesen blinked slightly, as if in response.

Hu Junhe then turned around and, one after the other, slunk out the door.

despair.

The door closed.

Li Shiqun personally locked the door from the inside and sat down on the sofa:

"Xuesen, do you think this crisis really originated from external sources?"

Wang Xuesen did not answer immediately, but first made tea for Li Shiqun:

"Brother, calm down and have some tea first."

Li Shiqun took the cup, but didn't drink it; he just held it in his hand.

Aside from the tea brewed by Ye Jiqing, he never drank anyone else's tea; holding the cup was a sign of respect for Wang Xuesen.

He gestured for him to get down to business.

Wang Xuesen then slowly said, "Both inside and outside, I suppose."

"It's true that some of the men on the sentry posts went too far; this is an objective fact."

"Take Peng Sanhu from the intelligence department for example."

"He was arrested by the Special Higher Police yesterday."

Li Shiqun's brows furrowed instantly.

"What?"

"Arrested by the Special Higher Police?"

Wang Xuesen nodded: "Fortunately, it was a misunderstanding, and Director Hu managed to get me out of trouble in time."

Li Shiqun angrily asked, "Is that so? Why didn't Hu Junhe report this to me?"

Wang Xuesen shook his head, pretending not to know too much: "Director Hu said it was a misunderstanding."

"It is said that Peng Sanhu was tracking a shipment of goods when he was arrested by the Japanese, who mistook him for a black market dealer."

"Regardless, I got Captain Okamura to vouch for his release."

"We can't just stand by and watch our own brothers die, can we?"

As for whether it's a misunderstanding or not.

"I'm afraid only Director Hu himself knows the truth."

Half-hidden, half-concealed.

They neither covered up for Hu Junhe nor made any definitive statements.

Wang Xuesen struck the perfect balance.

He knows Li Shiqun too well.

This person is inherently suspicious. If his subordinates form cliques, engage in favoritism, and cover for each other, that would be a serious taboo.

Li Shiqun will find out sooner or later about Hu Junhe's illegal postings in Liujiagang to make money.

Now, by appropriately revealing Peng Sanhu's affairs, Li Shiqun will know that he is not keeping secrets, but this will not push Hu Junhe to the brink of death.

Leave yourself an out; it's always good to be a decent person.

More importantly, it puts Lao Li at ease.

Li Shiqun said with a stern face, "Continue."

Wang Xuesen continued:

"But I think internal factors are not the main problem."

"We've been setting up checkpoints for quite some time now."

"The necessary arrangements with Warrant Officer Shibuya of the Military Police have already been made."

"The fact that the higher-ups suddenly took action at this time is most likely due to external factors."

He paused, looked into Li Shiqun's eyes, and offered a few words of advice:

"Brother, Wu Sibao and Director Hu are your confidants."

"Now that it has happened, people inside are in a state of panic."

"There's no need to exaggerate it."