Chapter 1071
Information Overload
After the Guard Battalion left with Li Dai, only the Secret Service personnel remained at Yuhuatai.
A spy asked Qiu Ning what to do now and whether to continue the execution. Qiu Ning glared at him and said, "What torture is there left? Send the person back!"
This is obvious. The director's word is law; he can't go back on his word, can he?
But when Zhang Anping heard this, the meaning changed.
He looked at Qiu Ning with a playful expression:
"Director Qiu, now... you seem to know how to make decisions?"
Cold sweat beaded on Qiu Ning's forehead: "Commander Zhang, your subordinate, your subordinate..."
Zhang Anping's captivating eyes stared intently at Qiu Ning: "Tell me, where did the news leak from?!"
Qiu Ning's forehead was covered in cold sweat, and he lowered his head in shame, saying, "This subordinate was unaware. I will immediately launch an investigation."
Five days!
Zhang Anping said coldly, "I want results within five days—you can try to pass yourself off as someone else!"
"Your subordinate dares not."
"roll!"
After seeing Qiu Ning off, Zhang Anping walked toward the section chief with a somber expression, bowed slightly, and whispered:
"I am incompetent and have caused the director to suffer."
Having witnessed Zhang Anping's reprimand and ultimatum to Qiu Ning, the section chief understood that Zhang Anping had not actively intervened in this matter, but he still frowned and asked:
"What's going on? How did you get involved?"
Zhang Anping smiled wryly upon hearing this:
"The call came to me from the duty room at the bureau headquarters—Director Mao doesn't dare to show his face, so they can only contact me."
Too afraid to show their face?!
This was actually the same as the section chief's guess, but after Zhang Anping confirmed it, he still couldn't help but feel a surge of anger.
"Deputy Director Zhang, please ask Director Mao for me—is he even a man? Why does he have so little sense of responsibility?!"
That's a very harsh statement, especially the question of whether he's a man or not, which involves personal attacks.
This is precisely why we can see the section chief's anger.
Not only did you fail to handle the tasks assigned to you well, but after causing a mess, instead of thinking about how to solve the problem, you dragged others down with you while you yourself hid away.
Absolutely irresponsible!
The fact that the section chief could say something like that clearly shows he was extremely angry.
Zhang Anping remained silent, clearly expressing his dissatisfaction—I was supposed to do this myself, but you handed it over to Mao Renfeng!
If it had been handed over to me, things wouldn't have come to this!
The section chief could sense Zhang Anping's dissatisfaction. Although he had already explained, he hadn't expected things to turn out this way.
Seeing the slight dissatisfaction Zhang Anping showed, the section chief sighed and then extended an invitation: "Let's go back together."
"Ah."
After Zhang Anping got into the section chief's car, the section chief, abandoning his usual authoritative demeanor, lightly patted Zhang Anping on the shoulder:
"This isn't your fault; it's my fault for not thinking things through properly—I never expected that Mao Renfeng would mess up something so simple!"
"From now on, you should take on more of the responsibilities within the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics. Do you understand what I mean?"
As mentioned before, even if the person in Xikou is extremely dissatisfied with Mao Renfeng, he needs to be patient and not make any moves against him easily—if Mao Renfeng were to directly side with the Attendant's Mansion at this time, the consequences would be too severe.
The section chief understood this principle very well as well.
But this time he really couldn't hold back—it's always the subordinates who take the blame for those above them, and what's the result?
Instead, he has to take the blame for the people below him.
Taking the blame isn't a big problem. He's willing to take the blame for a loyal subordinate like Zhang Anping—Zhang Anping has proven his loyalty through his actions, and he's more than happy to take the blame for such a loyal subject.
But when he thought about how this happened, he became unhappy!
Coupled with Mao Renfeng's irresponsible behavior, the section chief couldn't help but "remind" Zhang Anping:
Get this bastard out of power quickly, then kick him away when the time comes!
I'm done!
Zhang Anping responded with a somber expression, but inwardly he couldn't help but mutter to himself:
Old Mao, Old Mao, Old Mao, it's time for me to lend you a hand again...
After a moment of silence, Zhang Anping said:
"I'll think of a way to keep them secret..."
He made a throat-slitting gesture.
After a slight hesitation, the section chief shook his head and said, "There's no need for that now."
"This matter has already blown up. Knowing his personality, he probably hopes we'll do something underhanded—we can't do anything that would give him a handle to use against us."
Zhang Anping clenched his fist in resentment, then said:
"Then I'll make arrangements to tamper with the list and find a way to secretly transfer all the important underground party members from prisons across the country to Chongqing!"
At this point, he couldn't help but say, with a hint of resentment:
"It seems that this group of people today... cannot be moved."
The section chief didn't speak, but nodded in approval of Zhang Anping's suggestion.
After explaining the situation, Zhang Anping said, "Then please put me down. I need to drive the car back."
The section chief was stunned: "You didn't bring a driver?"
The reason he took Zhang Anping with him was so they could have some private conversations in the car—as for the car, he didn't think it was anything to worry about.
As a result, Zhang Anping told him that he had to drive the car back.
Zhang Anping shook his head: "I left in too much of a hurry and didn't have my driver come over."
The section chief was both amused and exasperated: "I'll have someone take you home! You..."
This was truly the first time he had encountered a high-ranking official of the Party and the State who was driving himself.
But the biggest surprise was yet to come. After reporting back, the secretary who escorted Zhang Anping back couldn't help but mention something:
“Deputy Director Zhang drives his father’s car—as far as I know, his car is used strictly in accordance with the regulations for official vehicles of the Bureau of Secrecy and is never used in private time.”
The section chief was stunned for a long time after hearing this.
The initial raid on the Zhang family's property uncovered a "huge joke," which was already shocking enough. But what surprised him even more was Zhang Anping's meticulous attention to detail regarding official vehicles.
After a long while, he shook his head and said, "Get him a car in my name—he's really doing a very unusual job as an official. Everyone else gives houses and cars to their superiors, but when it comes to him, I'm the one giving him a house and a car!"
"Hey, why can't all the high-ranking officials of the Party and the State be as selfless as Anping?"
The section chief sighed softly, completely forgetting an ancient saying:
The superiors set an example for the subordinates!
……
Qiu Ning put the sunglasses that had fallen off earlier back on, concealing the intense anger in her eyes.
Four people!
In front of his adjutant, Zhang Anping shot and killed four people.
Of the four, only Zhao Weiheng was a fake; the other three were genuine underground party members—revolutionaries who, after being arrested, never betrayed their ideals in the face of torture and bribery from the enemy!
Four men, four shots, not one alive!
He had hoped that one of the three comrades who were shot could be saved, but reality proved to be cruel.
The blood debt has been added yet!
The prison guard then asked, "Director Qiu, these four corpses..."
Qiu Ning frowned: "Do I need to teach you? Bury it on the spot!"
After the prison guards left sheepishly, Qiu Ning rubbed his cheek, seemingly still resentful about the slap he had received earlier—but what no one knew was that his eyes, hidden behind sunglasses, were now terrifyingly red.
This place is called Yuhuatai.
Since the April 412th Counter-Revolutionary Coup 22 years ago, far too many heroic souls have been buried.
how many?
Qiu Ning couldn't give a specific number, but according to his rough estimate, it was around 100,000...
Their remains were always buried on the spot!
Buried on the spot, these four words represent the layers upon layers of the remains of heroes, forming a tragic scene of "skulls upon skulls" here!
During the War of Resistance against Japan, the chief aide shouted, "Ten thousand youths, ten thousand soldiers!" This was a roar of despair from a nation—representing the youth of the future, who went to the battlefield.
But in contrast, in this very place, the souls of 100,000 heroes are also buried!
The 100,000 youths and 100,000 soldiers represent a nation's tragic cry in despair, but the 100,000 heroic souls here are a bloody microcosm of a brutal regime's internal atrocities!
He gazed at the land through his sunglasses, muttering to himself:
When the sun fully shines over this land, this place must eternally tell the world about the bloody years that once passed!
A soft voice sounded from behind: "Director Qiu, are you very free?"
Qiu Ning shuddered, the bloodshot in his eyes vanishing rapidly. He turned around and saw Zhang Anping standing coldly behind him.
"Commander Zhang."
Qiu Ning stammered involuntarily.
Zhang Anping gave Qiu Ning a cold look: "Come with me!"
Qiu Ning was filled with trepidation, following behind Zhang Anping like a puppet on a string. When they reached the car, he saw Zhang Anping get into the driver's seat, and with an indescribable complicated expression, he got into the back seat.
Faced with Zhang Anping's return and the taking of Qiu Ning away, the agents who were cleaning up the mess couldn't help but show a flicker of emotion.
What's going on here?
As the car started and drove, Zhang Anping asked leisurely:
"Director Qiu, are you confident that you can find out which link in the chain of the leak within five days?"
After a moment of silence, Qiu Ning replied, "I will do my utmost to investigate and find out the truth."
Zhang Anping turned around and glanced at Qiu Ning, then said:
"Then I will wait for Director Qiu's conclusion—there is another matter that I need Director Qiu's help with."
"Please give your instructions, Commander Zhang!"
"Because of your recklessness, we can no longer secretly execute key underground party members—but releasing a tiger back into the mountains is a major taboo. Therefore, for the next period of time, you need to secretly inspect various stations and groups. Among the prisoners, all key members of the underground party must be identified immediately and secretly sent to Chongqing for detention."
"Director Qiu, you've already made a mistake once. I hope this time, there won't be any more slip-ups, otherwise..."
Through the rearview mirror, Zhang Anping gave Qiu Ning a warning that seemed to have more to say.
Qiu Ning immediately replied:
"Please rest assured, Commander Zhang, I will absolutely not make any mistakes this time!"
After slamming on the brakes, Zhang Anping turned to look at Qiu Ning:
"Remember what you said!"
"get off!"
After Qiu Ning got out of the car, she watched Zhang Anping's vehicle drive away and finally felt relieved.
Heaven knows how agonizing it must have been for Zhang Anping to ride in his car.
By this time, they were more than three kilometers away from Yuhuatai. Qiu Ning hesitated for a moment and dismissed his impulse—he had previously planned to secretly return to Yuhuatai, dig up Zhao Weiheng's body, and bury it somewhere else.
He couldn't accept that a spy would be buried alongside his comrade!
But after being given a ride by Zhang Anping "on the way," he has now "come to his senses."
As a spy hidden in the enemy camp, I shouldn't be overwhelmed by too many negative emotions. Even if I wanted to move Zhao Weiheng's body, I shouldn't be the one to do it.
"I should go see Comrade Chai Ying and tell her about this!"
After "abandoning" Qiu Ning, Zhang Anping drove to a secret base, immediately disguised himself, and transformed into a Nationalist soldier.
They then drove out a hidden truck and took a detour to Yuhuatai.
He deliberately brought Qiu Ning back "on the way"—he knew Qiu Ning's personality; given his nature, he would definitely dig up Zhao Weiheng's body to prevent it from defiling the burial place of the hero's soul.
But he needed to recruit the other three comrades, whose goals were almost identical. However, he couldn't wait for Qiu Ning, nor could he let Qiu Ning notice anything amiss, so he took the opportunity to bring Qiu Ning back with him.
After this ordeal, Qiu Ning will inevitably use Chai Ying to achieve his goal. Even if he discovers that the "corpses" of Yuan Nong and the other two have disappeared, he will only assume that Chai Ying secretly collected the bodies of her comrades.
That was his real purpose.
After returning to Yuhuatai via a small path, Zhang Anping immediately began searching. Upon finding traces of the burial, he quickly started digging with his hands.
The four men were buried very shallowly. After digging for a while, Zhang Anping dug them out. He carefully wiped the soil from the mouths and noses of the three men and carried them back to the truck.
Qiu Ning would not allow a spy like Zhao Weiheng to be buried in the same place as his comrades, but Zhang Anping could accept it.
because……
After reburying Zhao Weiheng's body, Zhang Anping casually joked, "Poor kid, this is people's war!"
Yuhuatai is the final resting place of 100,000 heroic souls. Even if you, a lowly spy, were to be buried there, you would still have to live in constant fear!
This is Zhang Anping's "punishment" for Zhao Weiheng!
"This is for my Mo Yi!"
After completing the backfilling, Zhang Anping drove away from Yuhuatai at high speed—he wanted to rush to the operating room as fast as he could!
Looking back at Zhang Anping's risky maneuver, his preparations were actually very thorough.
Fearing that the timing wasn't right, he even deliberately got himself involved, bearing the infamy of being the executioner.
The most crucial part is the use of the fake death drug—the risk of using it on a large scale is far too great, which is why Chai Ying even opposed Zhang Anping's plan.
Her reasons for objecting were clear:
The most crucial and essential aspect of infiltration is self-preservation!
If a mistake occurs due to the large-scale use of the drug to induce a false death, leading to suspicion of Zhang Anping, the price would be far too high!
Fortunately, Zhang Anping was good at adapting. Since Chai Ying's reason for opposing was that there were too many people in the know, then he would reduce the number of people in the know!
He chose to administer the fake death drug to these comrades by mixing it into their last meal.
Once these comrades suffer a fatal injury, the drug to induce a state of suspended animation will take effect immediately.
But Chai Ying still objected—the reason being that there were too many "audiences." After taking the drug to fake death, the person had to "die" and could not reappear. If they did, Zhang Anping would immediately be in trouble.
Ninety-four people, that's too many!
Finally, Zhang Anping compromised again and chose to select fourteen people. If the plan went smoothly, he wouldn't "kill" so many people; if the plan didn't go smoothly, then he could only protect these comrades to a limited extent.
It was a cruel choice. Chai Ying, who had been rejecting Zhang Anping, was actually more heartbroken. Comparing Qiu Ning's difficulty in compiling this list, one can imagine the pain in Chai Ying's heart.
But this is the hidden front!
The brutal covert war!
Fortunately, the plan went smoothly, and Zhang Anping only "killed" three comrades in the end, thus completely achieving his goal.
Hiding three comrades is significantly easier than hiding 94!
……
Zhang Anping drove to a stronghold. Upon arrival, he flashed his lights as agreed, and the iron gate was immediately opened by the underground party members. After Zhang Anping drove in, the comrades on duty immediately moved in pairs and supervised each other. Zhang Anping personally carried the three comrades, who were wearing hoods, into the operating room hidden in the basement.
Three medical teams, unaware of each other's existence, immediately launched an emergency rescue operation.
The three simultaneous surgeries proceeded smoothly, and the three surgeons completed the bullet removal operation in approximately the same amount of time.
The three doctors, wiping away sweat and unaware of each other's presence, all shared the same thought:
[That was truly dangerous! If the bullet had been just half a centimeter off, even a miracle wouldn't have saved him!]
After completing their work, the three medical teams withdrew through three different routes, never encountering each other during the process, and adhering to the principle of covert medical care throughout.
After the medical team withdrew, Zhang Anping checked on the three comrades one by one, and after confirming their safety, he quietly wiped the sweat from his forehead.
This time, he panicked too—it was the first time he had mixed the fake death drug into his food, what if the drug failed?
What if!
These three things had been keeping Zhang Anping on edge.
Fortunately, everything went smoothly.
Perhaps because he was in his own absolutely safe stronghold, Zhang Anping was incredibly relaxed at this moment, and didn't even hear the footsteps behind him.
Until a teasing voice rang out:
"Haha, I never thought you'd secretly wipe your sweat sometimes!"
Zhang Anping turned around in surprise.
It really is Comrade Li!
Upon seeing Comrade Li, who appeared alongside Chai Ying, Zhang Anping exclaimed in surprise:
"Commander, what brings you to Nanjing?!"
Comrade Li smiled and said, "Why can't I come?"
Is Nanjing a den of dragons and tigers?
Even if it's a den of dragons and tigers, so what?
Are we really so desperate that we can't escape?! (End of Chapter)