Chapter 63: Bringing People from the Central Bureau

"Sixth Brother, I’ll trouble you to take two people back to the Military Bureau’s Second Division in a bit, then go investigate the matter with the dog," Li Wensheng said as he slowed his steps at the entrance of the Central Bureau, turning to Zheng Yaoxian.

"Two!" Zheng Yaoxian immediately broke into a smile. "Section Chief Li, this isn’t asking me for a favor, it’s giving me an opportunity. If word gets out that I, Zheng Yaoxian, brought two people back from the Central Bureau to the Military Bureau, even the Boss will have to praise me."

Li Wensheng smiled and walked inside.

Gao Zhanlong was already waiting in the courtyard of the Central Bureau. When he saw Li Wensheng bringing in a woman, he was taken aback.

"Captain Gao, this woman claims her man is with the Central Bureau. I’d like to ask, who exactly is her man?" Li Wensheng asked with a genial smile.

"Section Chief Li, could you tell me what’s going on?" Gao Zhanlong asked, his face full of confusion.

Before Li Wensheng could reply, Zheng Yaoxian jumped in, preening himself.

"Heh, Gao Zhanlong, you have the nerve to ask? This woman is a Japanese spy. She was taking photos of our Section Chief Li right across from the entrance. She was caught red-handed, camera still in her bag. She’s a Japanese agent—so tell me, wouldn’t her man be the same?"

Gao Zhanlong’s face turned ashen with rage. Whether or not this woman’s man was a Japanese spy, since she was, her man would have to be treated as one too. The Central Bureau having a Japanese spy in their midst, and being caught by the Military Bureau, was a complete humiliation. If someone else from the Military Bureau had discovered this, there was no way the Central Bureau would simply hand people over. But it just had to be Li Wensheng.

"Captain Gao, Sixth Brother might sound blunt, but he’s got a point. We both work in intelligence—we know how careful we must be, how nothing can be overlooked. If the woman’s a Japanese agent, even if her man isn’t, he might have inadvertently leaked information. We must interrogate thoroughly. What do you think?"

"You’re right, Section Chief Li," Gao Zhanlong replied, forcing down his irritation.

"Since you agree, Captain Gao, I’ll trouble you to hand her man over to me. Technically, the Central Bureau has the right to handle Japanese spies, and I shouldn’t be asking you for him. But I’ve just returned to the city and haven’t found my footing yet. Besides, since I caught the woman myself, I have a right to follow up. Captain Gao, for the sake of a newcomer desperate for merit, please help me out," Li Wensheng said earnestly.

Gao Zhanlong glared at the woman as if he could eat her alive, then looked back at Li Wensheng.

"Section Chief Li, this is a serious matter, I need to report to Deputy Director Xu."

"No problem, but Captain Gao," Li Wensheng cast a glance at the crowd of Central Bureau personnel watching from a distance, "let’s pull the man out and keep him under control first. We wouldn’t want him to escape—that would leave the Central Bureau open to charges of sheltering a Japanese agent."

Gao Zhanlong’s anger grew, but facing the mysterious Li Wensheng, he had no choice but to hold it in.

"You’re right, Section Chief Li. I’ll have someone identify him right away. Xiao Mao, bring over all those girls from Personnel!"

Soon, five women walked over.

"Take a look—do you know who her man is?" Gao Zhanlong asked.

The five women sized up the woman, then turned to Gao Zhanlong with questioning eyes.

"Speak up!" Gao Zhanlong barked, face dark with anger.

"Captain Gao, she’s Intelligence Section’s Wang Zhiyan’s girlfriend," one woman promptly replied.

"Are you sure?"

"I’m sure, Captain Gao. I’ve seen her waiting for Wang Zhiyan outside the Central Bureau a few times after work."

"Action Team, go secure Wang Zhiyan from Intelligence Section. If he escapes or dies, you’ll answer with your heads," Gao Zhanlong snapped, striding to the crowd and shouting.

Three men from the Action Team hesitated a moment, then drew their pistols and dashed toward the main building.

Gao Zhanlong turned back to Li Wensheng, who appeared unruffled, took a deep breath to compose himself, and walked over.

"Section Chief Li, my men are going to secure Wang Zhiyan. May I notify Deputy Director Xu now?"

"Captain Gao, come now, don’t take my words as an order. I’m only looking out for the Central Bureau. If a Japanese spy escapes, even Deputy Director Xu would have trouble explaining."

"Then, on behalf of the Bureau, I must thank you, Section Chief Li," Gao Zhanlong said, eager to be rid of Li Wensheng, and turned to leave.

Watching Gao Zhanlong’s hasty retreat, Zheng Yaoxian burst into hearty laughter. After a few guffaws, he leaned in and whispered, "Section Chief Li, you’ve just given the Central Bureau a resounding slap in the face."

"Sixth Brother, don’t say that. That wasn’t my intention. I was really thinking of their best interests. Having a Japanese spy in their headquarters is already a disgrace. If she were to escape, even Deputy Director Xu couldn’t explain it away."

Seeing Li Wensheng’s sincere expression, Zheng Yaoxian’s mouth twitched slightly.

"Yes, yes, Section Chief Li, you’re just being considerate for the Central Bureau."

Not long after, Gao Zhanlong returned with his men.

"Section Chief Li, the man is yours," he said, gesturing to the people behind him.

Four men pushed forward a burly man, his hands tied behind his back, a cloth stuffed in his mouth.

"Thank you, Captain Gao."

Li Wensheng turned to Zheng Yaoxian, "Sixth Brother, I’ll trouble you to escort these two to the Second Division and hand them over to Deputy Chief Shi of the Counter-espionage Section. Please deliver a message for me: without my orders, no one is to interrogate them. If anyone asks, say I’m carrying out a secret mission under the Director’s orders."

"Understood, Section Chief Li. Don’t worry."

Zheng Yaoxian produced a pair of handcuffs from his coat, secured the woman, and led the two out to the car.

As soon as Zheng Yaoxian left, Gao Zhanlong turned to go, but Li Wensheng called out, "Hey, Captain Gao, don’t go! I still need to interrogate the suspect!"

Gao Zhanlong stopped, his face dark, and led Li Wensheng to the interrogation cells.

Once inside, just as before, Gao Zhanlong gave the interrogators a brief order to cooperate, then left.

"Please bring Mi Guangjun," Li Wensheng said, placing the woman’s handbag on the table, sitting down and crossing his legs.

This time, Mi Guangjun was very compliant, almost like a dog in Li Wensheng’s presence.

"Sir, I’ve confessed everything," he said quickly.

"Don’t rush. I called you just to have you bring in the people who were watching the dog hole. Get those you assigned to that post."

Inwardly, Mi Guangjun cursed, "Damn lunatic, why not just have me bring them over directly? Scared me half to death."

Soon, the interrogators brought in a plump, pale-faced man.

"You were on watch at the dog hole?"

The man nodded meekly, perhaps intimidated by Mi Guangjun’s injuries.

"Yes."

"The night Ebert moved into Sheng Mansion, you stayed at the dog hole all night? Didn’t doze off or leave your post?"

"Yes."

Li Wensheng turned to Old Niu, "Give him the appetizer."

Old Niu stepped forward, dragging the man toward the iron rack.

The man panicked and shouted, "I slacked off!"

Old Niu stopped, looking at Li Wensheng, who nodded slightly, so he released the man.

"How did you slack off?"

"There were four of us on the back wall. The others slacked off too; we took turns sleeping against the wall."

"I don’t want to hear excuses."

Under Li Wensheng’s icy gaze, the man hastily confessed, "I couldn’t manage it alone, so I dozed against the wall for a bit."

Li Wensheng stood before him, expressionless. "I’m not a patient man—think carefully before you answer. If what you say doesn’t match what I find out, you won’t get another chance."

The man trembled. "I didn’t just doze; I slept for three hours."

Li Wensheng returned to his seat, crossing his legs. "From when to when?"

"From two to five in the morning."

"How do you know so exactly?"

"My team leader has a watch. I asked him the time before sleeping, and again when I woke up."

"Bring me all four posted at the back wall," Li Wensheng ordered the Central Bureau interrogators.