socalfunplaces Chapter 57: The winds have probably really shifted!
Chapter 57: The winds have probably really shifted!
Feng Manna thought about it again and felt more at ease: With someone working under my nose, I can keep track of their every move. Wouldn't it be easier to find their weaknesses than to do so from across mountains and rivers?
It can be considered a blessing in disguise.
Aoki Takeshige smiled as he watched the two embrace, nodding in satisfaction: "Good! You are both the sharpest blades of the Special Operations Headquarters. I hope you will work together to quickly eradicate all anti-Japanese forces underground in Shanghai and restore peace to this city!"
Everyone responded in unison, "Hai!"
Subsequently, Takeshi Aoki deployed a new mission: to use existing clues as a guide to delve deeper layer by layer and eliminate the underground party members, military intelligence agents, central intelligence agents, and various anti-Japanese key figures lurking in Shanghai.
Two hours later, Zhou Xiao, Lan Yanzhi, and Feng Manna walked out of the section chief's office side by side.
The three remained silent—the so-called "deep sisterly affection" was nothing more than a thin layer of frost on their faces, which would crack at the slightest touch.
Just as they stepped out of the Special Higher Police Department's gate, a gleaming black sedan slowly pulled up. The door opened, and a man in his fifties stepped out: his short, stiff silver hair, a dark long robe that accentuated his slender figure, and a heavy pocket watch hanging from a gold chain on his chest.
"Hahaha!" He looked up at the Special Higher Police Department sign, laughed loudly, and strode in.
Zhou Xiao's heart sank suddenly—
The visitor was none other than Zhang Wanlin, a tycoon from Shanghai.
He wasn't afraid that Zhang Wanlin would betray him and expose the incident of him saving Lin Yiyi;
What truly sent chills down his spine was that Zhang Wanlin's appearance this time strongly suggested that he had decided to surrender the city to the enemy—if Yongxin Company were to completely side with the Japanese, the consequences would be unimaginable.
If it's true... Zhou Xiao's eyes sharpened, and a new plan was rapidly taking shape in his mind.
He had originally only intended to take Zhang Wanlin's life to avenge Lin Yiyi's family's massacre. But now, Zhang Wanlin had openly stepped into the Special Higher Police's gates—if he was truly colluding with Aoki Takeshige in secret, or even siding with the Japanese puppet regime, then Aoki Takeshige could no longer be allowed to live. The prey had changed, and the gun had to be turned around accordingly.
Sixth Brother Zheng Yaoxian will be arriving in Shanghai soon. Zhou Xiao decided to personally wrap and seal this "meeting gift" in gold foil.
Bi Zhongliang's body was barely cold when the faint sound of Sixth Brother's footsteps could already be heard. Zhou Xiao immediately overturned the old plan, escalating this purge into a powerful blow to his superior and mentor!
The moment Zhang Wanlin's figure flashed past the Special Higher Police's iron fence, Zhou Xiao's heart skipped a beat: if they were to touch him, Aoki Takeshige would inevitably be overthrown as well.
Feng Manna spotted the man at a glance and raised an eyebrow slightly: "Third Brother, do you recognize him?"
Zhou Xiao shook his head.
He had never actually met Zhang Wanlin in person, but when he was planning to expand his influence in Shanghai's underworld, he had thoroughly investigated the backgrounds of the three major gangs—Zhang Wanlin's resume, photo, and ruthless methods were all stored in his mind. That's why he recognized him at a glance.
Feng Manna lowered her voice: "Zhang Wanlin, one of the three leaders of the Yongxin Gang, is ruthless and shrewd, and never leaves any room for maneuver in his actions. His subordinates call him 'Bone-Breaking Lin' behind his back."
Zhou Xiao's gaze darkened: "What's he doing at the Special Higher Police?"
"I don't know." Feng Manna paused, squinted, and speculated, "It's probably because Yongxin has given up and wants to side with Aoki Takeshige."
"The Japanese have only occupied Shanghai for a few years, yet they've already set their sights on Yongxin, this tough nut to crack. But Huo Tianhong and Lu Yusheng are adamant about not giving in, and the matter has been dragging on and on."
"Now that Zhang Wanlin is going to the meeting alone, it seems the winds have truly shifted."
"If Yongxin were to truly submit, the Special Higher Police would immediately gain an airtight intelligence network, and become the eyes and ears of half of Shanghai."
Zhou Xiao sneered: "That's right. The gangs in Shanghai aren't just for show; they're like roots embedded in the fabric of the concessions. If the Japanese dared to act tough, they would have chopped the three tycoons to pieces and fed them to their dogs long ago—they're afraid of them, which is why they've been pampering and flattering them."
fear.
Even a cunning old fox like Takeshi Aoki has to consider the thousands of connections and tens of thousands of people behind Yongxin, so he would rather win them over than force them.
Lan Yanzhi suddenly spoke, her words unhurried: "It might not work out. Huo Tianhong and Lu Yusheng are more stubborn than the rocks at the bottom of the Huangpu River."
"Zhang Wanlin's coming alone shows that Yongxin is not united. If everyone were to submit, the three of them should have come side by side, not him wandering in alone."
Zhou Xiao nodded: "Let's go. This mess is none of our business."
The three turned and got into the car, the engine roared and kicked up a cloud of dust.
The moment Zhang Wanlin stepped into the Special Higher Police, the deal was already set in stone. Either a secret agreement had been reached, or a pledge of loyalty had been made—either way, he and Aoki Takeshige were now bound together.
If only Zhang Wanlin were killed at this moment, Aoki Takeshige would be furious and hold him accountable. He would also stare at Zhou Xiao and ponder repeatedly: "I just stretched out my hand, and you chopped off my finger right after? Was it a coincidence, or was it premeditated?"
Zhou Xiao had, of course, prepared an escape route: Lin Yiyi.
They say she offered herself to him, and he, in a fit of rage for her, committed suicide; Zhang Wanlin was the mastermind behind the massacre of the entire Lin family. This reasoning is flawless—investigate Lin Yiyi, and she does indeed have a blood feud; investigate Zhang Wanlin, and his hands are piled high with lives. Anyone would believe it: it's perfectly normal for a man to go mad for a woman once in a while.
But Aoki Takeshige was no ordinary man. He was a seasoned spies who had been in the world of espionage for thirty years, and even the most elaborate lie would leave a ripple under his watchful eye.
"I was just about to recruit this man, and you had to kill him at this crucial moment?"
This thought, though not explicitly stated, is enough to plant a seed of trouble.
Zhou Xiao's current identity is that of the deepest-hidden undercover agent. The slightest doubt will cause a dam to burst—the surface may appear calm, but beneath, undercurrents are already tearing each other apart.
But what if we orchestrated a flawless "accident" to send Zhang Wanlin and Aoki Takeshige to the afterlife together?
Dead people won't suspect anything.
The day a new section chief takes office is the day the old problems are burned away.
The newcomer is so unfamiliar with the layout of the Special Higher Police's offices that he doesn't even know which way they face. How could he possibly bother digging up Aoki Takeshige's coffin? He might even have to rely on Zhou Xiao, the "veteran," to guide him.
To send the murderer to find the murderer is nothing short of wishful thinking.
The case was destined to remain unsolved, with the finger pointing directly at the Military Intelligence Bureau or the underground Communist Party—no one would have imagined that the real executioner was sitting in that office where the light was always on late at night.
Therefore, Zhou Xiao completely changed his strategy: with one arrow, he killed two eagles, beheading Zhang Wanlin and killing Aoki Takeshige. This not only presented a generous gift to Sixth Brother but also removed two malignant tumors from Shanghai.
Inside the carriage, he closed his eyes and remained silent, but a spiderweb had already formed in his mind—every thread tied to the time, place, witnesses, and timing. Involving the head of the Special Higher Police, there was no room for the slightest flaw; everything had to be airtight, leaving no room for even a wisp of wind to penetrate.
Lan Yanzhi and Feng Manna are now like strangers; their eyes brush past each other, leaving only the crisp sound of ice shards colliding. The car is eerily quiet; even breathing feels like drumming.
They arrived at the Special Operations Headquarters in silence.
Upon returning to his unit, Zhou Xiao immediately summoned all members and solemnly introduced Lan Yanzhi.
He stood at the front of the stage, his gaze sweeping over every face: "From today onwards, Lan Yanzhi officially joins the Special Operations Headquarters, under the jurisdiction of the Intelligence Department, as a staff member."
"I hope everyone will work together with one heart and one mind to defend our territory and fulfill our responsibilities."
"yes!"
The response was thunderous.
Acting Director Chen Shen remained impassive, his gaze lingering on Lan Yanzhi's face for a moment before slowly returning to Zhou Xiao, his lips slightly pursed, lost in thought.
After the meeting, Feng Manna stood up and walked up to Zhou Xiao, her voice crisp: "Director Zhou, what's my next task?"
"First, figure out the entire operational process of headquarters." Zhou Xiao's tone was calm. "Compile all the clues you have about the underground party and the military intelligence into a book and hand it over immediately. Take over the intelligence from headquarters for now."
Lan Yanzhi nodded gently: "Okay."
Back in his office, Zhou Xiao opened the window to let the wind in. He sat at his desk, his fingertips lightly tapping the surface, and began to deduce how to make Zhang Wanlin and Aoki Takeshige close their eyes forever in the same shadow.
Thirty minutes later, he suddenly stopped, looked up at the deepening twilight outside the window, and a very faint smile appeared on his lips...
The safest way to eliminate Zhang Wanlin and Aoki Takeshige is to let the matter disappear quietly—ideally, let it turn into a situation where they fight each other like dogs.
Regardless of whether the Military Intelligence Bureau shifts the blame or the underground party stirs things up, as long as no one focuses their attention on Zhou Xiao, the game is considered won.
Therefore, this operation absolutely requires the use of Mingtai's action team.
Over the next few days, Zhou Xiao meticulously planned every detail of the assassination, repeatedly analyzing and eliminating any loopholes. At the same time, he busily renovated the Zhou Mansion—whitewashing the walls, replacing the windows, adding lamps, laying carpets, and even replacing the doorknobs. Once the last Persian carpet was laid out, he carried an old leather suitcase and officially moved in.
The Zhou residence was his place of residence in Shanghai.
It's only two streets away from the Ming Mansion, and Ming Lou is currently still overseas. Zhou Xiao has long since memorized the details of the Ming family from "The Disguiser." With the two families so close, it will be much easier for them to whisper messages and take advantage of each other in the future.
During the same period, Lin Yiyi's injuries improved day by day.
Inside Zhou Enlai's Residence.
Hearing the soft sound of the courtyard gate, she immediately rose from her wicker chair and went to greet him on the porch: "Brother Zhou, you're back?"
She has been resting here for the past few days.
The wound was only between the skin and flesh, and with Zhou Xiao personally applying medicine and treating it, it recovered extremely quickly. What's even more remarkable is that she no longer deliberately lowered her voice or bound her chest and waist, but instead changed back into women's clothing openly and naturally, calling him "Brother Zhou" in a friendly and natural way.
"Hmm." Zhou Xiao looked up at her, "Does your injury still hurt?"
"It's no longer a problem," she replied with a smile.
At this moment, her black hair was slightly curled and loosely hung over her shoulders; her round face was bright and clear, and her eyes, like those of someone who had been immersed in a mountain spring, were clear yet revealed a stubbornness; her nose was straight and delicate, and her brows had both the gentleness of a lady and the sharpness of a blade; when she smiled, two shallow dimples bounced on her cheeks, her lips were pale pink, and she wore a plain white dress, her waist was slender, and her shoulders were supple. She was like a magnolia after the rain—dignified yet spirited, gentle yet sharp.
She came from a prominent family in Jiangnan, and her inherent composure was not something that could be faked.
With such beauty and charm, anyone who sees her will feel their heart skip a beat.
"That's good." Zhou Xiao nodded. "Rest for a couple more days, don't rush."
She couldn't contain herself and took a half step forward, her voice slightly tense: "Brother Zhou... when are we going to take action to avenge him?"
"We've waited this long, what's a few more days?" He paused, then suddenly stared into her eyes. "If I asked you to single-handedly storm Yongxin Hall and confront Zhang Wanlin's henchmen, would you dare?"
"What's there to be afraid of?" She straightened her back, her voice clear and sharp as a ripple. "I'm not even afraid of death, why would I be afraid of him? If it really comes to that, dragging him down with me would be worth it!"
"Okay." Zhou Xiao nodded. "Then we'll wait."
"Mmm," she responded softly. In this world, the only person she could entrust her life to was the one before her. She had no choice but to wait.
To bring down Zhang Wanlin and Aoki Takeshige, Lin Yiyi's blade also needs to be sharpened and kept in its sheath.