Chapter 31: The Table Set for the Corpse Banquet

Three days later, a light rain fell from the sky.

Inside the inn diagonally opposite Jingfu Embroidery Shop, Li Wensheng sized up the five people before him.

The Battle of Xuzhou was of utmost importance. To ensure the mission to destroy the supply materials would succeed, Dai Yunong had sent twelve groups to reinforce the Nanjing station.

The Intelligence Section received five groups, the Logistics Section two, and the Action Squad five. With five groups of ten men each, the Action Squad’s strength had increased significantly.

Li Wensheng glanced over the five men and said, “Familiarize yourselves with the streets of Nanjing as soon as possible, especially around Pukou.”

The Nanjing railway station was in Pukou. Since the supplies were to be sent to the front, the warehouse storing them couldn’t be far from the station and must be in Pukou.

“Yes, Captain!” all five responded in unison.

“Have you arranged your lodgings?”

“They’re set. The Logistics Section has already taken care of it,” replied one group leader, Wen Jing.

The other four nodded after Wen Jing spoke.

“Change your lodgings. Don’t stay where Logistics put you.

With the fighting at the front, and Nanjing being the most important city in the rear, inspections will be stricter than ever in the coming days.

If Logistics knows where you’re staying, you risk being exposed. Apply for funds from the Logistics Section and find your own place. Do not tell anyone where you’re staying—not even me.”

Wen Jing hesitated, then said in a low voice, “Captain, we’ll need a slip from you to apply for funds. Otherwise, Logistics won’t agree.”

Li Wensheng looked at Wen Jing with some disappointment. He’d thought these were true elites.

“Which station did you work at before, in the Military Bureau?”

“Captain, isn’t that an inappropriate question?” Wen Jing replied, troubled.

Li Wensheng smiled. “Even if you don’t say, I know you never worked in a Military Bureau station in occupied territory.”

The disdain in Li Wensheng’s expression, coupled with his youth, sparked anger in Wen Jing’s eyes, who was almost thirty.

Li Wensheng noticed but didn’t care. Such a fool was not worth considering as a confidant.

He turned to the other four. “And you? Do you understand what I mean?”

Seeing only blank faces, disappointment filled Li Wensheng’s eyes.

“Ah, all men who hold positions in the Nationalist areas and do little more than draw pay.

But I suppose it’s to be expected. In the occupied territories, Military Bureau stations lose men nearly every day. Headquarters won’t send reinforcements, let alone transfer people to support Nanjing.”

He muttered this to himself, then said, “So, you’re all the same as Wen Jing—none of you have worked in a Military Bureau station in occupied territory.

Let me tell you, here your old ways won’t work.

You can’t even leave a note behind, let alone be photographed.

Don’t think it’s just a slip of paper; even a note could give the enemy your handwriting to trace you.”

The four looked startled, though Wen Jing only curled his lip in indifference.

“Thank you for your instruction, Captain,” said Fang Daoguang, one of the group leaders.

Li Wensheng noted Wen Jing’s attitude but let him be—if he wanted to die, that was his business.

“Apply for funds from Logistics, I’ll speak to the Station Chief. The Chief will understand that in occupied territory, some things must be handled specially.”

“Yes, Captain, I’ll apply for funds from Logistics right away,” Fang Daoguang replied.

“From now on, do not contact me unless I contact you. The signal will be a missing person notice in the newspaper: ‘To Hui Ming, your elder brother has arrived in Nanjing and awaits you at Fengcheng Restaurant by tomorrow. Signed, Ma Guang.’

When you see this in the paper, come to this room immediately. But before you come up, check: if there’s no flowerpot on the balcony, turn around and leave at once.”

“Yes, Captain, I’ll remember,” Ma Daoguang answered quickly.

The others all nodded in turn.

“That’s all. You may go.”

Once the five had left, Li Wensheng stepped out and knocked on the door across the hall.

It opened at once—Yu Jiarong was inside.

After entering, Li Wensheng sat at the table. Yu Jiarong picked up the teapot and poured him tea, asking, “Finished talking?”

“All done.” Li Wensheng sipped his tea, then joked, “Tea poured personally by Deputy Captain Yu has a special fragrance.”

Almost all the original Nanjing station members were dead, and the explosives mission was urgent. For the Action Squad to function, Rao Zongze had told Li Wensheng and Yan Kexue while discussing work that he’d already wired Chongqing headquarters to nominate Yu Jiarong as deputy captain of the Action Squad.

“My credentials are thin; who knows if headquarters will approve. It’s too soon to call me deputy captain,” Yu Jiarong said modestly, though he could not conceal his delight.

“I was only a lieutenant when I became Action Squad captain. With the situation here, headquarters is bound to make exceptions.”

“Then I’ll take your good wishes,” Yu Jiarong replied with a broad smile.

Li Wensheng smiled but then grew serious. “Jiarong, have someone lease the room across the hall long-term.”

“Alright, I’ll have someone handle it immediately.”

“And, while they haven’t changed their lodgings yet, contact Logistics and get the addresses of the five group leaders.

Go in person—except for Wen Jing, tell the other four group leaders that the contact method I gave them is void. From now on, you’ll be their only point of contact.”

Li Wensheng had planned to manage the five groups himself, but their performance was so poor that it would only be a burden and liability. It was better for Yu Jiarong to handle them.

With Yu Jiarong keeping an eye on the Nanjing station men, he could escape quickly if trouble arose.

Yu Jiarong’s eyes flickered. He lowered his voice, “Wensheng, I don’t mind managing them, but why leave Wen Jing out? Did you spot something wrong with him?”

Li Wensheng shook his head. “No, but none of them have experience working in occupied areas and lack vigilance.

The other four may listen to me, but Wen Jing, perhaps because I’m young, refuses to accept me as captain and ignored my advice.

He’s too arrogant. I’m afraid his group will be discovered by the enemy soon. For safety’s sake, don’t contact him.

Even if he isn’t caught, if there’s a mission, I can still use the contact method I gave them.”

Yu Jiarong nodded. “Understood. I’ll go find out their addresses now.”

“Good. You go first. I’ll leave in a bit.

And contact the Station Chief for me—say that regarding funding, I hope the Action Squad can have special exceptions. I don’t want to write slips. We’re in occupied territory; I hope the Chief understands.”

“Alright.”

Yu Jiarong nodded and left.

After Yu Jiarong left, Li Wensheng sat for more than ten minutes before leaving.

After leaving the inn, he circled the area twice, and, seeing no one tailing him, returned to Jingfu Embroidery Shop.

While Li Wensheng was returning, Shi Xiaozhen and her team of five had just arrived back in Chongqing and contacted Dai Yunong.

They had returned with a portrait of the suspect.

Dai Yunong could not wait—she left the Military Bureau at once to meet Shi Xiaozhen.