The Bravest

September 1939, 9, 29 a.m.

Gangcun gave Zhang Wu enough face. Before discussing the future plan with Zhang Wu, he hosted a banquet for Zhang Wu in a restaurant for officers inside the military police headquarters to show his welcome and respect for Zhang Wu. The guests were Li Shiqun and Lin Jie.

After some false compliments and toasts, they seemed to have become a family. Of course, someone would take photos and record the process as a souvenir or as evidence.

After drinking, Gangcun warmly invited the three people into a private tea room, and after showing off his so-called superb tea art, he finally got to the point.

"Zhang Sang, I know your abilities. Now there is a matter that requires your abilities, so Gangcun would like to ask for help from Zhang Sang."

"Captain Gangcun, you are too polite. Since I, Zhang Wu, have agreed to join you, I will do my best." Zhang Wu also let go. Since he was already here, he might as well make the best of it.

"No, no, no, Mr. Zhang, don't talk about you, talk about us now, we are a family now." Gangcun showed the hypocrisy of the Japanese to the fullest, and he paid no attention to polite words: "Mr. Zhang, although the intelligence agencies of Great Japan are very powerful, they are still out of reach for Chongqing, a city in the remote mountainous area. So, I hope that Mr. Zhang will go back to Chongqing to lurk and provide intelligence support for the Imperial Japanese Army. Please don't refuse, Mr. Zhang. Please, Mr. Zhang." After that, he stood up and bowed to Zhang Wu.

Gangcun did this all of a sudden. Zhang Wu was stunned for the first time when he faced a Japanese bow and didn't know how to respond. Even Lin Jie, who had watched too many dramas, spit a mouthful of tea on Liu Yang's face. Just as he was about to cover his mouth with his hand to hold back his laughter, he saw Gangcun standing up and looking a little angry. Lin Jie immediately wiped the tea from his mouth with his sleeve and bowed to Gangcun seriously, "I'm sorry, Captain Gangcun, I was shocked by your respect for Mr. Zhang who just joined us. It shows that Captain Gangcun values ​​Mr. Zhang very much, and it also shows that Japan is a country that pays great attention to etiquette. I don't think Mr. Zhang will refuse Captain Gangcun's request."

Zhang Wu was interrupted by Lin Jie and reacted. He stood up and said to Gangcun: "Don't worry, Captain Gangcun. I will not let you down."

Gangcun, who had been stern-faced, suddenly regained his chrysanthemum-like smile. "Mr. Lin, you are too kind. Being polite is a basic quality of the Japanese. As for Mr. Zhang, I am relieved. To express my gratitude to Mr. Zhang, the Military Police Headquarters will send several of the strongest special agents to serve as his assistants to help him do his job better."

Zhang Wuming knew that this person was sent to monitor him, so he could only smile and express his gratitude. He also raised his teacup and toasted Gangcun with tea instead of wine.

Such a big plan was decided by Gangcun in just a few words. Lin Jie felt that the Japanese still had some merits, especially the bowing trick. It was obviously a threat, but they pretended to beg for help, so as to show how polite and high-quality they were.

"Since Mr. Zhang has agreed, the plan can be finalized. Now let's discuss how to implement the plan. Director Li, do you have any specific ideas?"

"The plan was proposed by Old Liu. Old Liu, tell me what you think. Is there a detailed implementation plan?" Li Shiqun was originally noncommittal about the plan and had not given it any specific consideration, so he pushed the question to Liu Yang. Anyway, Gang Village obviously wanted to take the lead in the plan, and if anything went wrong, the credit would go to Gang Village. If anything went wrong, he would have to take the blame, so it was better for him to say less.

Liu Yang was sprayed in the face by Lin Jie. In such an occasion, it was not good to interrupt Gangcun's performance. Now it was finally his turn to appear. "Ahem, Director, Gangcun Captain, I have already made a preliminary plan. First, there will be a press conference tomorrow on the 76th to announce that Zhang Wu is a hidden agent of the Military Control Commission. During the day of the reunion of the Wan family, he took advantage of Director Li's trust in him and launched an assassination attempt on Director Li, but failed and escaped. After investigation, the Shanghai Police Station and the Military Police have uncovered two bases of the Military Control Commission and killed several people. The main culprit is still at large. Now the police station and the Military Police Headquarters have increased the reward and hope that the general public will provide clues. Once verified, they will all be rewarded heavily." At this point, Liu Yang picked up the teacup and drank tea, wanting to keep the secret, but the other three just watched, waiting for him to continue. No one thought that Liu Yang's drinking tea was secondary, and the main reason was to have someone come out to show off, so that the plan could be more exciting.

Liu Yang took another sip. Finally, Lin Jie, who had experience in serving leaders, saw Liu Yang's embarrassment and asked, "Director Liu, what's next?"

When Lin Jie called him Director, Liu Yang forgot about the tea on his face. He put down his teacup and said, "Next, Mr. Zhang will show up in front of the public, disrupt the press conference, and then flee the scene. After that, it depends on Mr. Zhang's performance. The pursuit will continue. This is the most realistic way."

"Oh, Director Liu's plan is perfect. In this way, it will be natural for Mr. Zhang to return to Chongqing." Lin Jie's flattery skills have also improved.

"Very good, it seems that Mr. Liu has put in a lot of effort and the plan is good, but I still have some small details to add, I hope Mr. Liu doesn't mind." Gangcun was obviously not very satisfied with Liu Yang's plan, and looked embarrassed with a sincere look on his face.

"It's my honor that Captain Gangcun can help me find out the shortcomings and fill them in." Liu Yang naturally would not refute.

"Well, since Mr. Liu asked, I'll say it. It would be better to add a link to this press conference."

"Captain Gangcun, what do you think should be added?" Lin Jie raised his eyes.

Gangcun was very satisfied with Lin Jie's tact. "In fact, I think it is not only necessary to release the case, but also to expose the Military Intelligence Bureau agents who destroyed the peaceful life in Shanghai. We should also ask Liu Sang to show up publicly and express his unwillingness to be in cahoots with the Military Intelligence Bureau, to abandon the dark and join the 76th."

Liu Yang's face didn't look good after hearing Gangcun's words, but he didn't dare to object. Unexpectedly, Lin Jie said, "Captain Gangcun asked Director Liu to come forward. It shouldn't be that simple. I just can't think of any deeper meaning behind it."

"Haha, Mr. Lin, you are worthy of being my junior, and you still understand me," Gangcun felt comfortable being photographed and also praised him.

"Letting Liu Sang come forward is mainly to make Zhang Sang's appearance more reasonable."

"How can we make it more reasonable? What ideas does Captain Gangcun have?" Lin Jie answered very naturally, without any awkwardness. This opened the eyes of Liu Yang and Zhang Wu. It is not so easy to be a traitor. Even Li Shiqun clearly felt that Lin Jie was better at speaking than usual, or better at taking pictures.

"Since Mr. Lin asked, I won't keep you in suspense. When Mr. Liu is answering the reporter's questions, Mr. Zhang can suddenly appear and shoot and injure Mr. Liu in public. This would be more reasonable. Mr. Liu, what do you think?" Gangcun asked directly without giving Liu Yang any chance to object.

"This is indeed more reasonable." Liu Yang could only agree. Once you are on this pirate ship, you have no choice.

"Captain Gangcun's move will further clearly prove the brutality of the Military Control Commission." Lin Jie flattered him again.

"Director Li, do you have anything to add?" Gangcun finally remembered Li Shiqun, who had been silent, and asked for his opinion.

"Captain Gangcun's plan is already perfect, and I have nothing to add." Seeing that Gangcun had already been decided, the cunning Li Shiqun certainly would not find fault.

In the end, Gangcun made the final decision: "It's decided then. The press conference will be held on the first floor of the Peace Hotel at 3 pm tomorrow. One day should be enough time. Director Li will be in charge of the external security. Liu and Zhang will stay. Director Li can take Lin back to prepare first."

Half an hour later, Li Shiqun's special car came to pick him up, and Lin Jie followed him into the back seat of the car.

"Xiao Jie, what do you think of this plan?" Li Shiqun asked suddenly as the car drove out of the gate of the gendarmerie headquarters.

"Director, I don't have any opinion. This is a plan led by Gangcun."

"You little rascal, you were very cooperative just now and seemed to be optimistic about this plan, but now you seem to not care about it. Don't play tricks on me, just tell me what you really think," Li Shiqun would definitely not let Lin Jie get away with it so easily. It's not that Li Shiqun valued Lin Jie's ideas, he just habitually wanted to pry into other people's hearts and compare them with his own ideas.

"The director insisted that I speak, and you can't blame me if I'm wrong." Lin Jie took some time to organize his words.

"long-winded"

"Well, I said, hey, I don't think it's useful. An exposed undercover agent won't get any trust when he goes back, not to mention that most of the people in the same group are dead or betrayed. Who can prove that he has no problems, although it can't be proved that he has problems. Right, if things go wrong, it will be a waste of both the wife and the army." Lin Jie expressed his pessimism and teased Gangcun.

"Then you're still trying to flatter him, but be careful not to flatter him." Li Shiqun himself didn't realize that he had become much closer to Lin Jie after Lin Jie saved him. Just like now, he was very casual when talking to Lin Jie. "But, Gangcun is not that simple, there must be something else. Please help me analyze it. It's okay if I'm wrong. Just a casual chat."

"Director, I think Gangcun's mentality should be to try his best. Zhang Wu is of no value anyway, what if he succeeds? Also, Gangcun wants to train his own people in No. 76. It can't be said that he wants to check and balance the director, but the Japanese can't always let the director have the final say in No. 76. Gangcun's target should be Director Liu Yang. These are all I can think of," Lin Jie made a brief analysis. He didn't dare to say whether there was something fishy about Liu Yang and Zhang Wu's surrender.

"Why do I feel that Gangcun's target is you? This time, he is the one who pushed you into this plan. Xiaojie, the Japanese are Japanese after all. Although we are helping him, we must also be careful not to sell him out without knowing it." Li Shiqun nodded at Lin Jie slightly, which was both a reminder and a warning.

Gangcun, who stayed at the Military Police Headquarters, secretly explained his detailed plan to Liu Yang and Zhang Wu, and then left Zhang Wu alone to explain the arrangements for contacting the Japanese spies after arriving in Chongqing. The Japanese never believed in Li Shiqun, they just used him.

September 9, 30 p.m., first floor of Peace Hotel.

The Japanese occupation army's military police headquarters held a press conference here, hosted by Gangcun. He first introduced the incident that occurred on the Mid-Autumn Festival, when the military intelligence agent, former deputy captain of the No. 76 Action Team, Zhang Wu, assassinated the No. 76 director Li Shiqun. "For the Chongqing military intelligence agent to launch an assassination on the day when thousands of families are reunited, such an atrocity is a provocation to the Imperial Japanese Army and has seriously affected the stability and prosperity of Shanghai. We strongly protest and condemn this incident." Gangcun completely ignored the fact that Japan invaded China and described the Chinese people's resistance as an atrocity. Even the European and American reporters below couldn't listen to it. A blonde beauty reporter interrupted Gangcun's speech directly, "Mr. Gangcun, it seems that the Chinese assassinated their country's traitors without hurting innocent people. Instead, the Japanese military police broke into civilians' homes and killed innocent civilians many times on the pretext of searching. Do you have any explanation, Mr. Gangcun?"

"Next, I would like to introduce to you a peace-loving person named Liu Sang. He is an upright man who used to work in the Military Control Commission in Chongqing. After coming to Shanghai, the upright Liu Sang could not stand the atrocities of the Military Control Commission and surrendered to the Imperial Army. Now, please allow Liu Sang to tell us about the atrocities committed by the Military Control Commission agents in Chongqing." Gangcun's face was as thick as a city wall and he ignored the reporter's questions.

Liu Yang, who was sitting next to Gangcun, stood up. Before he could speak, another reporter asked, "Mr. Liu, have you been threatened? Have you been abused? Please answer my questions." Europe and the United States have not yet declared war on Japan and are not afraid of the Japanese at all.

"Please ask your question, reporter." Gangcun ignored the European and American reporters and directly asked the reporter from the newspaper controlled by the Japanese.

"Mr. Liu, what do you think of the atrocities committed by the Chongqing Military Control Commission? And what is your opinion on the co-prosperity sphere in East Asia?" These questions were all arranged in advance.

At this time, a reporter who relied on his strong body to squeeze to the front suddenly pulled out a pistol and shot Liu Yang. Due to the crowd of reporters, he only hit Liu Yang's right chest. Then he shot Gangcun in the shoulder. The scene was in chaos. The person disguised as a reporter was Zhang Wu. These were all designed by Gangcun. After Zhang Wu fired two shots, he took advantage of the chaos and followed the fleeing reporters and the pre-arranged supporters to sneak out of the Peace Hotel. Disappeared in the distance of the street.

This press conference ended like a farce. Who was the fish, who was the bait, who was the hunter, and who was the prey? None of this had anything to do with Lin Jie who was watching coldly from the sidelines.

The past three days have still not diluted the shock that the words “China will not perish” brought to Lin Jie. What should he do next?