PFC Chapter 1119 What's a little money?
Chapter 1119 What's a little money?
Chen Ming rubbed his hands, which were stiff from the cold, his knuckles turning red. He moved closer to the charcoal brazier, the warm steam hitting his face, but it didn't ease his brow. Instead, he looked at Yu Xiuning sitting opposite him with a wronged expression: "Wife, it's different!"
Back in Harbin, we had connections to back us up, so finding connections and gathering information went smoothly and was very easy to get started.
But things are different in Tianjin. Those people in the Public Security Maintenance Committee are all seasoned veterans, cunning old foxes. They're as sharp as monkeys, always watching their surroundings.
Yu Xiuning was fiddling with her needle and thread when she heard this. She suddenly looked up and glared at him, slamming the embroidery needle into the sewing basket with a "snap." Her voice was full of anger: "I think you've forgotten the pain once the wound has healed!"
She took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling slightly, and her tone softened, but it carried an undeniable firmness: "In this world, the claws of the Japanese puppet regime are reaching out longer and longer, and we are living like we are walking on the edge of a knife."
"If we don't take the initiative and find out their strength beforehand, we'll be unable to move an inch once the Japanese have woven a tight net around us, leaving us at their mercy!"
Seeing the argument escalating, Xu Zhongyi quickly stood up to smooth things over: "Sister, station chief, stop arguing, it's all about work."
He first looked at Chen Ming and said in a sincere tone: "Actually, what the station chief said makes sense. We have to be careful when it comes to eliminating traitors. We don't want to lose our brothers while failing to complete the mission. It would be a loss. We can't let our brothers die in vain."
Chen Ming nodded immediately and said to Yu Xiuning, "Look, even my brother says so! That's exactly what I mean. Brother Zhongyi understands me best. As the station chief, I have to consider the lives of my brothers. Otherwise, if the men are disheartened, how will they follow me? Don't you think so, wife?"
Seeing Chen Ming's voice getting louder and louder, Xu Zhongyi quickly looked at Yu Xiuning and said, "However, Sister Yu's concerns are not wrong. This matter cannot be delayed indefinitely."
"The higher-ups are pressuring us; they send telegrams every week to inquire about progress. If there's still no news, we won't be able to explain ourselves to them. We need to put some pressure on the station chief..."
Upon hearing Xu Zhongyi's words, Chen Ming immediately became displeased: "Brother, that's not fair of you. You're just playing games with us!"
After criticizing Xu Zhongyi, Chen Ming looked at his wife and said, "I know what I'm doing, and I've already made arrangements."
I've already sent Bangchui to inquire. He knows a few janitors in the maintenance committee; they're all inconspicuous figures, but they have regular contact with many people and things on the inside. Maybe he can get some useful information out of them."
"Idiot?" Yu Xiuning frowned, her tone full of disapproval. She picked up the fabric from the sewing basket and unconsciously rubbed it with her fingers: "His brain is so rough, he's clumsy and careless. What serious information could he possibly find out?"
"Don't end up not getting any information, but instead revealing your own identity and getting us all implicated!"
She pondered for a moment, her eyes sharpening as she looked at Xu Zhongyi: "I think we should let Zhongyi talk to Ogura Daichi more."
Ogura has some connections at the military police headquarters. If he really can't get any information out of them, he can just go directly to Nanzo Yunko.
The Special Higher Police (Tokkō) was Japan's intelligence core in Tianjin, with the best-informed network. She definitely knew some inside information about the establishment of the puppet government and the puppet municipal government.
"Hey, that's a great idea!" Chen Ming's eyes lit up, he slapped his thigh, his grievances vanished, and he looked excitedly at Xu Zhongyi: "Zhongyi, go find Nanzo Yunzi and have a good talk with her."
Let's say we want to do a big deal with her, not just arms, but also to exchange any useful intelligence we might have in the future.
She holds a high-ranking position in the Special Higher Police and is certainly well-informed about the formation of the puppet municipal government. If she's willing to open her mouth, we can get crucial information.
Xu Zhongyi hesitated, his brows furrowed. He added a piece of charcoal to the brazier, the sparks crackling, reflecting the complex expression on his face: "To be honest, I also want to get in touch with Nanzo Yunzi."
When Yudai Itai introduced Yunko Nanzo, I prepared a generous gift and even tried to slip her money, but she refused to accept it.
He sighed, his tone tinged with helplessness: "That woman is very cold-hearted, with no expression on her face. No matter what I say or do, she is completely unresponsive, and I can't understand her at all."
I don't even know her preferences, so I don't know where to start trying to please her. She's really hard to get along with.
"That's because you didn't pay enough!" Chen Ming waved his hand confidently, as if he had found the key to the problem. "As long as we can get the intelligence, what's a little money?"
There's no one in this world who doesn't love money. Nanzo Yunko is the head of the Special Higher Police; her status speaks for itself. Don't embarrass yourself by constantly throwing around pennies; she wouldn't even look at you.
He leaned closer to Xu Zhongyi and whispered his suggestion: "Next time you go, prepare more Japanese yen and US dollars, and buy some imported goods from the foreign firms in the concession."
Women all like these things, like the latest dresses, French perfumes, and British cosmetics; they buy several to take with them.
"My dear brother, you're too young to understand women's minds. I'll give you some advice later and make sure you can find the right solution."
As they were talking, Chen Ming suddenly felt a chilling aura coming from the side. He instinctively shivered and turned around to see Yu Xiuning looking at him with a half-smile and a hint of warning in her eyes.
He panicked and quickly changed the subject, his tone becoming somewhat hurried: "By the way, I've already sent out the telegram to Boss Dai, reporting on the arms deal."
The headquarters just moved, and things are in a mess. It'll probably take half a day for them to get a response after reporting to Boss Dai.
He looked at Xu Zhongyi, his expression becoming more serious: "The arms deal is of utmost importance. Try to stall Xiao Cang as much as possible, and do your best to prevent him from selling the goods to someone else."
This batch of weapons is extremely important to us; we must get our hands on it no matter what.
"Don't worry, stationmaster, I know what I'm doing." Xu Zhongyi stood up, dusted himself off, and said in a steady tone, "I'll tell Xiao Cang that we're raising funds and ask him to wait a few more days. I guarantee we'll keep this batch of goods."
"I'll head back now and contact Ogura. I'll come back and report as soon as I have any news."
"Go on, go on. Don't forget about Nanzo Yunzi. Come to me later, I'll give you some advice." Chen Ming waved his hand, and only after watching Xu Zhongyi's figure disappear outside the door did he breathe a sigh of relief, turn around and sit back on the edge of the kang.
Xu Zhongyi left, leaving only Chen Ming and Yu Xiuning in the room, with only the crackling sound of the charcoal fire burning in the brazier, creating a somewhat somber atmosphere.
After glaring at Chen Ming, Yu Xiuning picked up her needle and thread again, her fingertips holding the embroidery needle, and began to embroider, stitch by stitch.
After a while, he muttered softly, "Don't count too much on Boss Dai. He's always all bark and no bite."
I've heard that the government is facing a tight budget right now. The fighting on the front lines is intense, and a lot of money is being spent on military expenditures. There probably isn't much left for our intelligence stations behind enemy lines.