Chapter 53 School Rules

Caodu Lane, Interrogation Room.

Having lurked at the Tangshan Hot Spring Guest House for several years, Liang Xue could not possibly have cultivated only Liu Guoquan.

There was still a wealth of intelligence waiting to be mined from her.

"I have already shown my sincerity. What about yours?" Because she had betrayed Liu Guoquan, Liang Xue was spared torture yesterday and instead treated to good food and drinks; her spirits were lifted considerably today.

"Wang Sheng is already receiving medical treatment. You saved his life—isn't that enough?" Song Yinge asked.

"Besides that, there was another condition. It seems you've forgotten?"

"To kill Qin Song?"

"Before Qin Song dies, I will not reveal a single piece of intelligence."

Song Yinge sneered. "If Qin Song dies and you choose to keep your mouth shut, what am I supposed to do?"

"Do you know what the first rule of the academy is?" Liang Xue asked with a self-mocking smile.

"The academy rules of the Japanese spy training school?" Song Yinge asked.

Liang Xue nodded. "Rule number one: Kill the traitor at all costs. You can verify this with Qin Song. I have already betrayed Liu Guoquan; I have no second choice other than to cooperate with you."

Song Yinge stared straight into Liang Xue's eyes.

Liang Xue did not back down, meeting his gaze directly.

Song Yinge smiled slightly and said to Shen Wei, "Bring Qin Song in."

Before long, Qin Song was shoved into the interrogation room, forced to his knees on the floor.

Song Yinge drew his pistol and fired two shots into the ceiling—*bang, bang*. "Hear that? Real bullets." With that, he handed the pistol to Liang Xue.

Seeing this, Shen Wei stepped forward to intervene, "Team Leader Song, this..."

Song Yinge waved a hand. "To employ someone is not to doubt them; to doubt someone is not to employ them. I believe Miss Liang will not let me down."

Liang Xue took the pistol and, with a crisp *click*, chambered a round. "Thank you for your trust, Team Leader Song."

"Number 21, I suppose you didn't expect this day to come?" Liang Xue aimed the muzzle at Qin Song.

There was no trace of fear on Qin Song's face. "Number 7 and I will be waiting for you down below." He then turned his gaze to Song Yinge. "In the eyes of the Japanese, I am Chinese; in the eyes of the Chinese, I am a Japanese spy. Can you tell me who on earth I am?"

Song Yinge mused for a moment. "Your tragedy was created by this era. What kind of person you become is never decided by your birth, but by what you wish to be."

An individual was completely powerless against the torrent of an era.

If Qin Song had been born in a peaceful era, Song Yinge believed he would have been a good man.

Yet in this era, he possessed no right to choose his own destiny.

Hearing this, Qin Song smiled faintly. "I hope Number 7 and I won't have to be human in our next lives. Oh, and don't forget Chiyo Toyota; that is your promise to me."

Song Yinge shifted Qin Song's body so that his back faced Liang Xue. "Facing away from death is always better than facing it head-on."

"Miss Liang, please send him on his way." Song Yinge extended a hand, making a gesture of invitation.

Without hesitation, Liang Xue pulled the trigger, the bullet piercing the back of Qin Song's head.

Qin Song collapsed instantly, a pool of blood seeping out from his disheveled, bird's-nest-like hair.

Song Yinge clapped his hands lightly and walked toward Liang Xue. "I hope we have a pleasant cooperation moving forward."

Seeing that Qin Song was unquestionably dead, Liang Xue wore a morbid smile. She swiveled the muzzle around and aimed it straight at Song Yinge. "Team Leader Song, you are far too trusting, especially when the other party is a woman."

Song Yinge's expression shifted. "What is the meaning of this? I have already fulfilled what I promised you. Cooperate with me, and I can ensure you enjoy endless glory and wealth for the rest of your life—why court your own destruction?"

"Glory and wealth? The entirety of China will fall beneath the iron hooves of the Great Japanese Empire; how can you possibly guarantee me endless glory and wealth?" Liang Xue let out a strange, cackling laugh that grated harshly on the ears.

"Even if you kill me, you and Wang Sheng are bound to die. Isn't he your emotional sustenance? Can you bear to watch him die?" Song Yinge asked.

"When did I ever say he was my emotional sustenance? That was merely his own wishful thinking." Liang Xue's expression hardened. "Team Leader Song, it is precisely because there are so many people like you in China that you will never be a match for the Japanese. Go to your rest in peace."

Liang Xue pulled the trigger once more. The pistol produced a crisp click, but no bullet was fired.

"Miss Liang, you are far too trusting, especially when the other party is a handsome man." Song Yinge walked up to Liang Xue and plucked the gun from her grasp.

"I guessed there was only one bullet, or perhaps even none at all. But I had to take the gamble. Now that Number 21 is dead, at least I didn't lose the bet." There was no panic on Liang Xue's face; she appeared entirely calm.

"Why was it so imperative to kill Number 21?" Song Yinge asked.

"I didn't lie to you about one thing: the academy rule stating that a traitor must be killed at all costs is true. Even if it means making oneself a traitor, it must be done," Liang Xue said.

Song Yinge clapped his hands. "I genuinely admire the Japanese capability for brainwashing. However, I must remind you: in this round, you lost the bet."

"Get up, the play is over." Song Yinge walked over to Qin Song and gave him a kick.

Qin Song, who ought to have been dead, actually scrambled back to his feet. "Blanks hurt quite a bit, too."

At this sight, Liang Xue's expression underwent a drastic change. "You suspected me from the very beginning?"

If the bullet count being restricted to one could be rationalized away by Song Yinge's cautious nature, the fact that the very last cartridge in the magazine was a blank could only mean one thing: Song Yinge had never trusted her at all.

"You were simply too greedy." Song Yinge shook his head.

"The moment I learned of Liu Guoquan's background, I began to suspect your cooperation was feigned.

As the person who turned Liu Guoquan, you could not possibly have been unaware of who backed him.

Even if he were exposed, relying on Gu Rong's connections, his life would not be in jeopardy.

After lying low for a period and spending some money to grease the wheels, he could easily make a comeback.

When that time came, given his greedy and lustful nature, with just a little scheming from you lot, he would go right back to working for your side.

In the end, while it looked like you had surrendered a big fish, the Japanese suffered no actual loss.

As for the academy rule you mentioned, Qin Song had already warned me the day you were arrested.

Therefore, I had no choice but to suspect your true motives."

Hearing Song Yinge's words, Liang Xue lost all her spirit; she knew she had lost this round.

"It looks like you and Number 22 will be dying before me." Qin Song walked up to Liang Xue, an expression of sheer gratification on his face.

"Traitor," Liang Xue said with utter disdain.

"As long as I can avenge Number 7, what does it matter if I become a traitor?" Qin Song cared not a whit. "Once Chiyo Toyota is dead as well, I can go join Number 7 with a clear conscience."

It was difficult for Song Yinge to comprehend the twisted logic of these two individuals.

"It seems you have no intention of cooperating?" Song Yinge asked.

Liang Xue lowered her eyelids and offered no reply.

Cursing to waste any more breath on someone mentally unhinged, Song Yinge instructed Shen Wei, "Subject her to every single one of our most excruciating tortures, then throw her into the dark cell."

With that, Song Yinge left the interrogation room.

Back in his office, Song Yinge summoned Sun Xi and ordered, "Keep a tight watch on Liu Guoquan's end. Once the Japanese discover Liang Xue has been arrested, they will definitely send someone to tip him off."

"We've already assigned men to watch him. The moment the Japanese dare to leak any news, we'll make sure they pay dearly," Sun Xi said.

"How many men did you assign?"

"Two."

"If there's any development, notify me immediately."

"Yes, Team Leader."

Liu Guoquan had already made it onto Song Yinge's hit list.

The moment anyone appeared to tip him off, his days would be numbered.

...

Shanghai, Japanese Consulate.

"Lieutenant Commander Yamashita, the ten operatives dispatched to rescue Pear have arrived in Jinling and established contact with Vulture." Zhou Shun handed a telegram to Jiro Yamashita.

Jiro Yamashita glanced at the telegram. "Order Vulture to relay instructions to Nightingale: execute the plan immediately and ensure Pear is rescued at all costs."

"Yes, Lord Commander," Zhou Shun said.

Yamashita Jiro looked at Zhou Shun, a flash of displeasure crossing his eyes as he rebuked, "Had it not been for your incompetence, there would have been no need for the Empire's brave soldiers to risk their lives for this?"

Zhou Shun stood at attention, lowering his head and not daring to retort.

"Has that translator talked yet?" Yamashita Jiro asked.

The translator Yamashita referred to was named Wu Mu. He was Chinese, having studied in Japan in his youth. Upon returning to China, upon the recommendation of his Japanese teacher, he secured a position as a translator at the Japanese Consulate in Shanghai. Later, corrupted by greed, he was bought off by the Special Service Department's Shanghai Station, frequently leaking intelligence to the Shanghai Station by utilizing his official position.

It was Wu Mu who had originally provided the Shanghai Station with the intelligence regarding the infiltration cell's trip to Jinling.

After Zhou Shun was released, he was tasked with rooting out the mole within the consulate. Through rigorous investigation, he confirmed that Wu Mu bore heavy suspicion.

"Chinamen have no backbone; he has already confessed," Zhou Shun said with a look of disdain.

"Have him pass a message to the Shanghai Station: state that in three days, an infiltration cell will enter Jinling to prepare for the assassination of Principal Chiang," Yamashita Jiro commanded.

"Yes!"

After Zhou Shun departed, Yamashita Jiro stared at a photograph on his desk of Yamashita Pear smiling brightly, his gaze gradually sharpening. "If you suffer even the slightest mishap, I will make that Chinaman pay for your life with his own."

...

Jinling.

After requesting leave from the newspaper office, Zhao Ming walked toward a small courtyard near the Zhonghua Gate.

Circling the small alleys a few times to ensure he was not being tailed, Zhao Ming knocked on the door and entered the courtyard.

Shortly after Zhao Ming stepped inside, Zhang Ke emerged from the mouth of the alley. "Strange. Why would he come to a small courtyard for no good reason?"

Zhang Ke intended to walk closer to investigate the situation when two men suddenly emerged from the alleyway.

Watching the two men walk toward him, Zhang Ke instinctively sensed something amiss. Subconsciously, he shoved his hand into his jacket and gripped his pistol.

The two men didn't even spare Zhang Ke a glance, and the three of them simply brushed past one another.

Zhang Ke turned around, watching the departing pair, his suspicions far from dispelled.

Contemplating a certain possibility, Zhang Ke hurried toward the nearest teahouse. There was a telephone inside; he needed to notify Song Yinge immediately.

Inside the courtyard, Zhao Ming found only eight operatives, whereas the telegram had stated there were ten, prompting him to ask urgently, "Where are the other two?"

"Keeping watch outside the courtyard."

"Call them back immediately. Without my orders, no one is allowed to leave this courtyard."

While Zhao Ming was speaking, the two other operatives vaulted over the wall and landed inside, immediately unleashing a torrent of angry curses at Zhao Ming. "Idiot, you've been tailed."

A jolt went through Zhao Ming's heart. "Are you certain?"

"Take him down; I suspect he has already defected."

"A bunch of fools, let go of me right now! Even if I've been tailed, the enemy surely lacks sufficient manpower right now to launch an arrest. For all we know, he might be off notifying others this very second. We can still make a safe retreat by using this time."

The group exchanged glances, ultimately choosing to trust Zhao Ming.

Elsewhere, upon receiving Zhang Ke's phone call, Song Yinge immediately led his men to the location, only to find the bird had flown.

After inspecting the courtyard thoroughly, Song Yinge stated with certainty, "There are traces of people living here—around ten of them."

"Team Leader, could the Japanese be planning another major operation?" Zhang Ke asked.

"There's too little information to deduce. Find them, and we'll know. Ten people aren't easy to hide."

"Now that the place is deserted, Zhao Ming must realize he's been tailed. Should we close the net on Gu盈 and the Jiangshan Hall?" Zhang Ke walked up to Song Yinge and asked in a low voice.

Song Yinge pondered for a moment before saying, "Take down Jiangshan Hall first to feed Zhao Ming false information. Let him mistakenly believe there was a leak within Jiangshan Hall itself, which is why he was exposed."

Although he lacked hard evidence, Song Yinge had a preordained gut feeling that the mission of this batch of Japanese spies was likely inextricably linked to Gu Ying.

He would leave Gu Ying dangling as bait for now.

Even if his intuition proved wrong, arresting her later would not be too late.

Upon returning to Caodu Lane, just as Song Yinge was preparing to muster his men and raid Jiangshan Hall at the docks, he received a phone call from Dai Li summoning him to the office.

"Take a look at this." Dai Li handed a telegram to Song Yinge.

Song Yinge took it with both hands and opened it. "'Urgent telegram from Shanghai Station: The Japanese Army Intelligence Agency has dispatched an infiltration cell to arrive in the capital in three days with the intent to assassinate President Chiang. Requesting their capture.'

Intelligence value: White. Virtually worthless."

Huh? Was this piece of intelligence a fake?

Song Yinge's mind raced, and he immediately arrived at a conclusion: the people at the Shanghai Station had been duped.

There were two possibilities: either the underground agent of the Shanghai Station within the Japanese intelligence agency also didn't know this was fake intelligence, or the Shanghai Station's agent had been exposed and turned double, deliberately passing on false information.

If it was the latter, those little Japanese devils were trying to muddy the waters so they could fish in troubled streams.

Relating this back to Zhao Ming, Song Yinge made up his mind.

"Director, please entrust this mission to me. As long as they dare to come, I will wipe them out in one fell swoop, leaving them no chance to endanger Principal Chiang," Song Yinge guaranteed.

This was by no means an easy assignment.

If there were any lapses during execution that caused the Generalissimo to be frightened or even injured, the consequences would be catastrophic.

Dai Li was well aware of this. Seeing that Song Yinge did not shirk responsibility, but instead volunteered proactively, his satisfaction grew even deeper.

"If you have any requests, just state them," Dai Li patted Song Yinge on the shoulder.

"Director, I would like temporary command authority over the 1st and 2nd Sections of the Action Department," Song Yinge requested.

Hearing this, Dai Li walked over to the telephone and dialed Liu Yan of the Action Department. A moment later, hanging up the receiver, he asked, "Any other requests?"

"Reporting to the Director, none. Your subordinate guarantees the completion of the mission."

Leaving Dai Li's office, Song Yinge first returned to his home in Tianyin Lane to fetch some money, then headed straight for the Xiaguan Wharf.

Before striking against the Shanhai Hall, some prior deployments were necessary.

Upon arriving at the Zhendong Hall's stronghold, Song Yinge summoned Nine-Fingers. "How many able-bodied men do we have in the stronghold right now?"

"There are roughly fifty-some odd men," Nine-Fingers said with an embarrassed expression.

The pace of recruiting soldiers and purchasing horses was simply too slow.

Yet this couldn't strictly be blamed on Nine-Fingers; after all, even a clever housewife could not cook a meal without rice.

Without money, nobody was willing to follow along and make a living.