Chapter 14: Journey to Jinling

Early the next morning, Li Wensheng, Wang Tianfeng, and their companion checked out of their rooms and headed to the train station.

They took the train to Yangcheng, from where they continued on toward Chongqing. The territories they passed through were all under the Nationalist Party’s control, so it took them less than five days to return to Chongqing.

Arriving at 174 Zhongshan Second Road—the headquarters of the Rejuvenation Society—they found the place had changed dramatically. The number of people coming and going had increased significantly, and the building itself looked more imposing. The four of them were not surprised, as they had already learned from a branch office on their way back that the Rejuvenation Society had been upgraded and was now the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics under the Military Commission, known in short as the Military Intelligence Bureau.

Since they were already on the way, the branch office had reported their return to headquarters. As soon as they entered the Military Intelligence Bureau, Dai Yunong summoned Wang Tianfeng and his two companions, leaving Li Wensheng to wait outside.

“Director, I have failed in my mission and did not bring the man back,” Wang Tianfeng said quietly.

“Tell me the details,” Dai Yunong inquired.

“Yes, sir!”

As Wang Tianfeng recounted the entire incident, Dai Yunong’s brow furrowed.

“So, you never saw him at all?”

“That’s right, Director. This man comes and goes without a trace. We couldn’t find even the slightest clue.”

Dai Yunong, his brow tightly knit, sighed inwardly. With not a single scrap of information, this man would be nearly impossible to track down!

Difficult as it was, Dai Yunong did not assign the pursuit to Wang Tianfeng’s group. He knew these three men could be ruthless with the enemy, but if tasked with hunting down the hero who had assassinated Emperor Hirohito, they would drag their feet, and even if they found him, they would let him go.

He had other people in mind for this assignment.

At that moment, Wang Tianfeng brought up Li Wensheng. “Director, what do you intend to do with Li Wensheng?”

Dai Yunong gave Wang Tianfeng a long look, then said, “I’ll see him in a moment. You all are tired from the journey—go back and rest early. Although this mission failed, you did blow up several enemy targets in Japan, and with the assassination of Emperor Hirohito, you’ve atoned for your shortcomings.”

“Yes, Director. We take our leave.”

Once the three had left, Dai Yunong picked up the phone and told his secretary to bring Li Wensheng in.

Hearing the secretary’s call, Li Wensheng took a deep breath and walked toward Dai Yunong’s office.

“Director, I am ashamed to have let you down,” Li Wensheng said as he entered, lowering his head in guilt.

Dai Yunong had always held the title of Director at the training academy, and he liked for graduates to address him as such—it showed they were his people.

After studying Li Wensheng for a moment, Dai Yunong smiled. “I remember you. You’re from Fenghua. You graduated from the academy a year ago, and I personally signed your assignment to the Shanghai station.”

“Director, I… I am unworthy of your expectations.” Li Wensheng tried to choke up, but not being a professional actor, he failed to produce the effect and could only bow his head lower.

“Heh, it’s nothing. Everyone fears death—I do too, or I wouldn’t have so many bodyguards. Wang Tianfeng told me you only failed to return after completing your mission, and you didn’t defect to the enemy. That’s much better than those traitors.”

“Director, at the time… I was too frightened. But betray my country? Never.”

Dai Yunong nodded slightly. “That’s human nature—I understand.”

Then his expression shifted and his tone hardened. “But failing to report back is a grave offense in the Military Intelligence Bureau. You’ve made a mistake, so you must face punishment. You won’t return to Shanghai—go take up a post in Nanjing.”

Li Wensheng rolled his eyes inwardly. Being sent to the Nanjing station now was almost certain death.

After the horrific massacre in December of last year, Dai Yunong had ordered the Nanjing station to carry out indiscriminate assassinations against the Japanese in the city.

The campaign had killed many Japanese, but it also meant operatives at Nanjing station were dying daily.

When Li Wensheng was in Shanghai, he’d already heard that the Nanjing station was nearly wiped out.

“Yes, Director. I will obey.” Li Wensheng straightened and replied in a strong, clear voice.

“Alright, off you go. Someone will come to you tomorrow with your appointment and contact details.”

“Yes, Director. I take my leave.”

Early the next morning, someone came to Li Wensheng at his hotel.

“Fuzi Street, Fenghua Restaurant, noon on February fourth. The code phrase: he says ‘Mountain above mountain, wind within wind,’ you reply, ‘Nonsense.’ The token is the other half of this banknote.” The man handed Li Wensheng the appointment letter and half a banknote.

“I understand. Thank you.”

After the man left, Li Wensheng put away the banknote and opened his appointment letter.

‘Appoint Li Wensheng, Captain, as leader of the Action Team, Nanjing Station, Military Intelligence Bureau.’

Li Wensheng was stunned. “Damn, I’ve been promoted? Captain, leading the action team—just how desperate is the Nanjing station for people?”

Nanjing and Shanghai were top-tier stations; their action team leaders were usually lieutenant colonels or colonels. Even at other stations, the position required at least a major.

After a moment’s confusion, Li Wensheng dismissed the thought. The appointment was official—Nanjing station would have nothing to say.

He began to pack for Nanjing.

Nanjing, ancient capital of six dynasties, had once been bustling with life, but now the streets were deserted, and many shops were closed.

The recent atrocity still stained the streets with dark red blood, and apart from the Japanese, no one dared wander.

Wearing a suit and gold-rimmed glasses, Li Wensheng stood out starkly from the common folk, and it wasn’t long before he caught the attention of the Japanese.

“Hey, you there. Stop!”

Hearing the awkward Chinese behind him, Li Wensheng halted and turned. Five Japanese soldiers approached.

“Open your suitcase,” the lead soldier barked.

Seeing their greedy expressions, Li Wensheng realized they thought he was rich and wanted to extort him.

Smack!

Li Wensheng slapped the soldier and shouted in Japanese, “Baka! Which unit are you with?”

Li Wensheng’s strength was now inhuman; even using only a fraction of it, the slap sent the soldier staggering back several steps, nearly falling.

Regaining his balance, the Japanese panicked and answered quickly, “I am with the 9th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division!”

“I will report this to your division commander,” Li Wensheng snapped, glaring at him before turning away.

The soldiers, clutching their faces, dared not utter a word.

Other agents fluent in Japanese would usually comply meekly, but Li Wensheng opened with a slap and exuded such authority that the Japanese instantly imagined he was either a senior official of their secret police or an aristocratic businessman. Who would dare question him?

Reaching Fuzi Street, Li Wensheng surveyed his surroundings. When he saw the Fenghua Restaurant, its doors wide open yet without a soul entering or leaving, his brow creased slightly.

“To arrange a contact in a place like this—what a mess,” Li Wensheng muttered to himself, then continued on. It was only February second; the meeting wasn’t for another two days.

He found a small inn on Fuzi Street, checked in, and then went out again to scout the area and study the streets.

No matter the size or difficulty of the mission, Li Wensheng always personally reconnoitered the surroundings, ensuring he could escape instantly if anything went wrong.