Chapter Sixty: Visitors from the Northwest

Passing by the front entrance of the White Deer Bookstore, Song Yingge slowed his pace, making sure Old Zhao could see him.

Subsequently, Song Yingge walked into the alley and, taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, scaled the wall to reach the bookstore's backyard.

"Why are you coming here in broad daylight? Has something happened?" The two men entered the room, and Old Zhao asked impatiently.

"I have an uncertain piece of news that I hope you can verify with the organization."

"Let's hear it."

"Today, the Telecommunications Section received an urgent telegram from Chang'an, which Dai Li handed over to Zheng Guoen of the Third Intelligence Group to handle. I couldn't get my hands on the specific contents of the urgent telegram, but I deduce it's a surveillance or trailing mission. If the Northwest side has recently dispatched personnel to Jinling, please be sure to remind them to proceed with caution."

"This information is crucial. I will verify it with the organization immediately." Old Zhao pondered for a moment, then added, "You don't need to follow up on this matter. I'll have Zhao Rui figure out a way to find out what Zheng Guoen's assignment is."

"Old Zhao, this..."

"Your position in the Secret Service Directorate is too critical. From now on, without orders from the organization, you must not act on your own discretion. Even if a comrade dies right in front of you, you are not allowed to bat an eye. Do you understand?"

Song Yingge was silent for a moment. "I understand."

"No need to be discouraged." Old Zhao poured a cup of tea for Song Yingge. "After the organization's deliberation, we have decided to assign you two long-term tasks."

"Guaranteed to complete the mission!" Song Yingge's spirits lifted.

"First, climb higher. The higher you climb within the Secret Service Directorate, the better."

Song Yingge understood the organization's intent. Only by holding a high-ranking position within the Secret Service Directorate could he access more core intelligence and secrets.

"Second, under the premise of ensuring your own safety, we hope you can raise as much funding for the organization as possible."

"Has the one hundred thousand yuan from last time been used up?" Song Yingge asked.

"Living supplies are still relatively cheap, but military supplies are far too expensive. One hundred thousand yuan is merely a drop in the bucket." Old Zhao sighed heavily. "However, you don't need to bear too much pressure. Do what you can according to your capacity. This task doesn't rely solely on you either; all our comrades are finding ways."

Song Yingge spoke up, "After a while, another one hundred thousand yuan will be credited."

A few days ago, Xu Zhong and Zhao Yaohui had returned to Shanghai. If everything went smoothly, it wouldn't be many days before the second batch of funds would arrive.

"Where on earth is so much money coming from?" Old Zhao was somewhat suspicious and uncertain.

Two huge sums totaling two hundred thousand yuan combined—without figuring out the source, he could never feel at ease.

Song Yingge had no way to explain the source of the money.

He certainly couldn't say that he anticipated the full-scale outbreak of the War of Resistance and therefore went to fleece the little Japanese.

"Old Zhao, rest assured, the money is definitely clean and legitimate." Song Yingge patted his chest in guarantee.

"Comrade Lushan, I must remind you that as an undercover agent, even if you do certain things, the organization will not punish you. But your inner conviction in your red faith must remain firm; do not let yourself be corrupted." Old Zhao had clearly misunderstood, thinking Song Yingge had learned from the people in the Secret Service Directorate to engage in extortion and blackmail.

"Lushan assures the organization that he will firmly uphold the red faith and will never waver."

Not long after Song Yingge left, Old Zhao also stepped out, dodging people along the way until he arrived at a certain residential courtyard.

"You're here." Chen Fu was sitting by the courtyard well, washing clothes. Upon seeing Old Zhao, she greeted him softly.

Chen Fu had grown much thinner over these past few days.

Although Chen Xunlei had been rescued, considering Song Yingge's safety, this news had not yet been shared with Chen Fu.

"Where is Old Jiang?" Old Zhao asked.

"He had some business and went out."

"What time did he leave?"

"A little after nine."

Old Zhao glanced at his watch; it was now past eleven.

"Did Old Jiang go alone?"

"Big Brother Peng and Little Li went along with him."

"Could they have gone to pick someone up?"

Chen Fu hesitated and did not answer.

"Someone sent by the Northwest?" A foreboding feeling rose in Old Zhao's heart.

"Huashan, according to the organization's regulations, I cannot tell you." Chen Fu said with a troubled expression.

With a face full of anxiety, Old Zhao repeated what Song Yingge had reported. "If the Northwest really has sent someone, Old Jiang and the others are highly likely being monitored by the Secret Service Directorate. The situation is critical; I hope you can tell me the truth."

Chen Fu gritted her teeth. "Uncle Jiang did indeed go to pick someone up. The train is scheduled to arrive around twelve."

There was only half an hour left until the train's arrival.

At this moment, the operatives from the Secret Service Directorate must have already set up a deployment at the Pukou Railway Station.

"This is bad. There's no time left."

After reaching Xiaguan Pier, one still had to take a ferry across the river to reach Pukou Pier; in half an hour, it was simply impossible to make it in time.

"Do you know the rendezvous location?" Old Zhao asked.

If the meeting was set at a hotel, restaurant, or some other place with a telephone, there might still be a chance to pass the message to Old Jiang.

"I don't know." Chen Fu also realized the gravity of the situation and couldn't help but grow anxious.

"Did Little Peng and Little Li take their guns?"

"No. We generally don't carry weapons when we go out; in case of random inspections or checks, it's very easy to expose our identities."

Old Zhao paced back and forth in the small courtyard.

According to what Lushan had said, the Action Section of the Secret Service Directorate was not involved in this operation, so there was a high probability they wouldn't arrest Old Jiang and the others on the spot. Instead, they would secretly trail them, following the vine to find the melon, and only wipe them out completely after locating the stronghold.

If Lushan's judgment was correct, then perhaps there was still a sliver of a turning point in this matter.

"Old Jiang isn't here, and I have the highest rank. Now, you take my orders. You must immediately send a telegram reporting the situation here to your superiors, and then take people to evacuate all the important documents. Furthermore, there are some other comrades in Jinling whose disguised identities are known only to Old Jiang. To prevent Old Jiang from being captured and turning traitor, if Old Jiang and I haven't returned by nightfall, you need to verify their identities with superiors and then notify them to evacuate. Do you remember everything I said?"

Old Zhao instructed word by word.

"Rest assured, I will carry it out. What about Uncle Jiang's side?" Chen Fu asked.

"How many security personnel do we currently have?"

"Aside from Big Brother Peng and Little Li, there are only three left."

"Three? That's enough. Tell them to arm themselves with guns and immediately rush with me to Xiaguan Pier."

"Are you going to save them?"

"Save them if we can; even if we can't, we must get the message to Old Jiang and the others. We cannot let him blindly bring people back."

People of the Red Party were like this—succeed or perish, and no one feared bloodshed or sacrifice.

"Huashan, please take care of yourself." Chen Fu's eyes were slightly red; this departure might well be a final farewell.

Soon, Old Zhao took three security personnel and headed straight for Xiaguan Pier.

Upon arriving at Xiaguan Pier, it was already twelve o'clock, and taking a ferry across the river now was definitely too late.

The four of them could only scatter, observing the dock, but they failed to spot anyone resembling agents from the Secret Service Directorate.

Another ten minutes or so passed, and the ferry docked, with hundreds of people crowding toward the exit.

The four men cast their gazes toward the exit direction, but because there were too many people, it was difficult for a moment to find the figures of Jiang Quji and the others.

Suddenly, a familiar figure in the distance caught Old Zhao's eye.

"Lushan? Why is he here?"