Chapter 26: A Comrade Arrested

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The following day, after work began, Song Yingge summoned Zhang Ke.

“I have a task for you.”

“Team Leader, just say the word. I guarantee I’ll get it done,” Zhang Ke replied solemnly.

“Relax. There’s no need to be so tense. There’s a rickshaw company called Prosperity Rickshaws. Look into its background.”

Song Yingge’s rule was to make his move only after laying the groundwork.

There was no hurry. He could investigate Prosperity Rickshaws thoroughly before taking action.

If the company had powerful connections that could not be offended, then it would naturally be impossible to touch it openly. He would have to strike from the shadows instead.

“Prosperity Rickshaws?” Zhang Ke murmured. “Team Leader, I believe we received a piece of intelligence about it today.”

“Bring it here and let me see.”

Zhang Ke fetched the report and handed it to him.

“The owner of Prosperity Rickshaws, Chu Junzheng, and his son, Chu Yue, were murdered one after the other. Wang Sheng is under serious suspicion.”

After reading the report, a prompt appeared in Song Yingge’s mind.

“Intelligence value: Gold. Considerable value.”

A faint smile appeared on Song Yingge’s face.

“Now that’s interesting.”

“Tell me the details.”

“I recruited some of my former colleagues at the police station as informants. This intelligence came from one of them, a police officer named Zhang Rong.

“The deaths of Chu Junzheng and his son were highly suspicious.

“Some time ago, Chu Junzheng was robbed and murdered on his way home from a banquet.

“Only a few days later, his son Chu Yue also drowned.

“After the deaths of father and son, Prosperity Rickshaws, which had been registered under Chu Junzheng’s name, fell into Wang Sheng’s hands.

“Wang Sheng is a professional manager who had been working at the company for only a few months.

“As the person who benefited most from the deaths of Chu Junzheng and his son, he is highly suspect.

“But without evidence, the police have been unable to arrest him,” Zhang Ke said.

“Police need evidence to make an arrest. Since when has our Special Services Bureau needed evidence?” Song Yingge replied.

“You’re right, Team Leader. In that case, should we still investigate the company’s background?” Zhang Ke asked.

“Both Chu Junzheng and his son are dead. If there really were someone powerful behind them, the company would never have fallen into Wang Sheng’s hands. There’s no need to investigate further.”

Zhang Ke then led Song Yingge to the informant, Zhang Rong.

Song Yingge noticed that the two men looked somewhat alike. After asking, he learned that they were cousins.

“Now that Chu Junzheng and his son are dead, who is left in the family?” Song Yingge asked.

“Only a mother and daughter. Chu Junzheng’s wife, Jiang Shuning, came to the station every day for a while, asking about the progress of the case. But she hasn’t come in the past few days.

“I know where they live. Shall we go and take a look?”

“Lead the way.”

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The three men arrived at Chu Junzheng’s home, only to find it empty.

After asking around among the neighbors, they learned that the family had moved away in the middle of the night several days earlier.

No one could say where they had gone.

“They must have been threatened by someone. That’s why they moved,” Zhang Ke reasoned.

Faced with such a situation, a lone mother and daughter truly had no choice but to flee.

“If they really moved away, then at least that would be a favorable outcome. I’m afraid there may be more to it than that,” Song Yingge said.

“What do you mean, Team Leader?” Zhang Ke asked.

“Let me ask you both something. Of the neighbors we just questioned, who actually saw the mother and daughter move?

“They all said they heard noises during the night, got up to investigate, and saw workers moving things out of the Chu residence.

“But in the dead of winter, who would move house in the middle of the night?”

Only then did Zhang Ke and Zhang Rong realize what Song Yingge was implying.

“I hope the mother and daughter are still alive,” Song Yingge said.

The three men entered Chu Junzheng’s home and searched it. Most of the belongings had indeed been removed.

However, the few women’s winter garments left in the wardrobe indirectly confirmed Song Yingge’s suspicion.

“Find a telephone booth and notify Sun Xi. Tell him to bring the men from Fourth Squad to the area around Prosperity Rickshaws,” Song Yingge instructed Zhang Ke.

What came next was no longer suitable for Zhang Rong to be involved in.

After giving him ten yuan as a reward, Song Yingge sent him home.

Once Song Yingge reached the area around Prosperity Rickshaws and met up with Sun Xi, he began issuing orders.

“Sun Xi, take two men and keep Wang Sheng under surveillance. Remember, it’s better to lose him than to let him realize he’s being followed.”

“Liu Dazhi, take two men and investigate Wang Sheng’s family background and social connections.”

Wang Sheng had been at Prosperity Rickshaws for only a few months. Even with Chu Junzheng and his son dead, the company should never have fallen into his hands.

There was certainly someone behind him, and most likely that someone was Japanese.

So they had to cast the net wide and see how many fish they could catch.

After receiving their orders, the two men led their respective teams away.

“Zhang Ke, take two men and search the secondhand markets and pawnshops,” Song Yingge ordered.

The furniture in Chu Junzheng’s home had been extremely valuable. Once removed, it was unlikely to have been piled up somewhere untouched—it would have been too conspicuous and taken up too much space. Most likely, it had been sold to secondhand dealers.

As for the jewelry and other valuables in the house, pawnshops would have been the natural choice for anyone trying to turn them into cash.

If this line of investigation could save Jiang Shuning and her daughter, it would at least be a proper answer to the spirits of Chu Junzheng and his son.

“Remember, if you find them, don’t alert anyone. Just make sure they’re safe,” Song Yingge said.

“Yes, Team Leader,” Zhang Ke replied.

After assigning the work, Song Yingge found himself with some free time. He returned to Cao Du Alley, intending to visit Zhao Meili in the Communications Section.

On the way, he saw the First Squad of the Intelligence Section hurrying out with men from the Operations Section.

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“When were you discharged, Yang Li? Are your injuries healed?” Song Yingge asked one of the operatives who looked familiar.

“Team Leader Song, thanks to you, I’m completely recovered. Look—I’m well enough to go on missions again,” Yang Li said, thumping his chest.

“Good. Stay safe.”

After speaking, Song Yingge casually swept his gaze over the group.

There were thirty-one men in all from the Intelligence and Operations Sections.

With so many people mobilized, it was almost certainly an arrest operation.

“Should I follow them and take a look?”

Song Yingge weighed the advantages and disadvantages, but ultimately decided against it.

He hoped they were going after a Japanese spy, not one of his own comrades.

If it really was one of their own, Song Yingge would have no easy way to rescue him.

Unfortunately, the things one hoped for often failed to happen, while the things one feared came true.

By afternoon, Song Yingge heard the news.

The First Squad had returned with a Communist Party member in custody—and one of fairly high rank.

Song Yingge wanted to inquire about the matter, but he was afraid of appearing too obvious.

After turning the matter over in his mind, he finally found an excuse.

He went to the First Squad of the Intelligence Section and walked in.

“Is Team Leader Zhou here?”

“Team Leader Song, you’ve come. Team Leader Zhou is in the interrogation room,” one of the squad members replied.

For the sake of secrecy, the Special Services Bureau had a rule:

Unless someone had taken part in an arrest, they were not permitted to come into contact with prisoners captured by another squad.

“Then I’ve come at an unfortunate time.”

Song Yingge put on a hesitant expression.

The squad member was quick-witted. Seeing that Song Yingge did not leave immediately, he offered, “Would you like me to pass a message to him?”

“Forget it. I shouldn’t interfere with Team Leader Zhou’s work.”

With that, Song Yingge left.

Near the end of the workday, Zhou Weiqiang came to find him.

“Team Leader Song, I heard you came looking for me this afternoon?”

“Yes. I heard you were in the interrogation room, so I didn’t want to disturb you,” Song Yingge replied.

“We arrested a prisoner and had to interrogate him right away. What did you need me for?” Zhou Weiqiang asked.

“Isn’t Team Leader Wang going to Shanghai to take up his new post after New Year’s Day? I was thinking of inviting him to dinner tonight as a farewell,” Song Yingge said.

“That would be appropriate.” Zhou Weiqiang thought for a moment before speaking.

“We could choose another day. I wouldn’t want to interfere with your work,” Song Yingge said.

“Tonight will do. Someone else can continue interrogating the prisoner,” Zhou Weiqiang replied.

“Good. Then it’s settled.”

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