Chapter 075: Comrades in Perfect Harmony

On the evening of November 9th, 1929, at the Qingmu Pharmacy, Chen Jiehua’s analysis continued.

“There are only seven people. If they scatter, it’s actually harder to cover each other. With seven, Bai Xin, who’s afraid to die, definitely wouldn’t go first or last. So, the second or third out is the safest bet! Why choose the front door? Because most people would pick the back, so if I take the front, it’s actually safer and more discreet!”

“That makes sense. In that case, with our limited manpower, we should focus on the front door?”

“Send the best marksmen, those with steady hands, to guard the front. In addition, Meixiu will be stationed on the third floor of number 31 across the alley. From that vantage, she can see over the cars—fifteen meters—if her hands are quick, she can fire at least three shots with a rifle!”

“Who lives at 31?”

“Meixiu and I checked. 31 hasn’t been sold yet.”

“Let’s talk about the front door again. The front of 43—the Fan Residence—faces 22 and 23, both vacant. Some comrades can hide inside 22, and those who recognize Bai Xin in 23, to keep watch on the outside.”

After Zhao Shiyu and Fujiwara Meixiu nodded, Chen Jiehua continued, “Now, the back door. It’s a bit more complicated: across the way, 62 and 63 are occupied, only 61 is empty. The comrades at the back can all hide in 61—should be no problem.”

“I’ll be at the shooting point on the third floor of 51 across the alley—the same position as 31, looking down from above. If they come out the back, I can guarantee at least four kills. If Bai Xin isn’t among those four, then he’s truly blessed by fate.”

“The getaway car will be parked across the street on Xiaphi Road. When the shooting starts, it drives to the entrance of Hehe Lane, ready for our comrades to retreat.”

“Meixiu and I will withdraw on our own. No need for backup.”

“What if they split between the front and back doors?”

“That makes it simpler. Meixiu and I don’t need confirmation—just take out everyone on our respective sides. If anyone’s left, the comrades can finish the job easily.”

“Now that the layout and entry/exit points are clear, the last thing is timing. On the twelfth, within twenty-four hours, when are they most likely to come out?”

“My bet is night—between midnight and dawn. Another window is between ten and noon.”

“Old Zhao, look: November 12th, 1929, lunar October 12th, is an auspicious day to travel; the eleventh, however, is inauspicious. If it were me, I’d pick the twelfth.” Chen Jiehua picked up the calendar, flipping to the twelfth and eleventh.

“You’re hinting at something,” said Fujiwara Meixiu, who was already familiar with his way of speaking.

“Old Zhao, listen: Meixiu’s caught on. If it were me or you, we’d both pick the twelfth, right?”

“But Bai Xin isn’t a fool, and Fan Zhengbo is even craftier. Might they pick the eleventh or thirteenth, and use the twelfth as a decoy?”

“You’re right, that’s entirely possible. Tell me quick, I need to report all this to the leadership.”

“All right, I’ll be quick. This morning, I went to the Sixteenth Pier. On the twelfth, there’s only one steamer heading south—to Hong Kong at 9 a.m. On the thirteenth, there’s a steamer to Europe, but it also stops in Hong Kong.”

“If I were Bai Xin, I’d leave on the twelfth—head to Hong Kong first, then transfer to the Europe-bound steamer on the thirteenth. That thirteenth departure is just to throw you off.”

“So, most likely, they’ll leave the house at Hehe Lane after ten p.m. on the eleventh and before seven a.m. on the twelfth. If our comrades are to ambush, best to quietly take positions with rations on the night of the tenth.”

Zhao Shiyu promptly relayed Chen Jiehua’s deductions to the organization. After weighing everyone’s opinions, the person in full charge, Fourteen, assigned two comrades to take up early positions on the third floors of 23 and 61, watching the opposite side all day. Others dispersed at nearby intersections, disguised as vendors or residents, ready to move to their assigned spots when the time came.

After nine p.m. on the eleventh, Chen Jiehua and Fujiwara Meixiu, in disguise, avoided the sightlines from 43 and entered 31, leaving Meixiu with two rifles and ammunition. Chen then hurried to 51, taking up position on its third floor.

At about 10:50, two cars slowly entered Hehe Lane from the opposite end, parking beside 51—exactly as Chen Jiehua had predicted!

Clearly, they were preparing to flee.

“Damn, the bastards are crafty! Lucky I anticipated their anticipation—any later and we’d have missed them,” Chen thought.

Soon, the back door of 43 opened a crack. A secret agent slipped out, checked both ends of the lane, then went out to the main gate and looked along the street. The winter night in Hehe Lane was unusually quiet. Satisfied, the agent returned to the car and raised his hand.

Chen Jiehua was instantly alert—there was a lookout on the roof of 43! That was a detail he hadn’t considered.

A moment later, seven people filed out of 43’s back door. The fourth was a woman.

“Bai Xin! Let’s see where you run!”

The comrade on watch at 61 opened the door, blocking the sneaky seven and shouted. Chen Jiehua saw clearly—the third man hesitated. That was him!

At the same time, comrades from 41 and 62 rushed out.

Then, two shots rang out. The shouting comrade fired first, taking out the first armed agent—shouting was the signal, everyone picked their targets.

Chen Jiehua ignored the main battle, quickly shot the lookout on the third floor, switched rifles, and took down the first agent at the door. The lookout was the biggest threat. One of the agents tried to run.

What followed was a chaotic pistol battle, comrades from other alleys rushing in, swiftly subduing all seven in the confusion. Bai Xin, shot twice, tried to dash for the car, but Chen Jiehua’s third, freshly loaded shot arrived just in time—a bullet through the head.

Chen’s aim was always to ensure the target’s elimination. He didn’t know if they wore bulletproof vests—so a headshot was the surest way.

His fourth shot, calculated through the roof of the car, took out the driver of the lead vehicle. Almost simultaneously, Fujiwara Meixiu, as previously arranged, shot through the roof of the second car, killing that driver as well.

Chen quickly gathered the shell casings and guns, stowed them away, slipped down the stairs, crossed from 51 to 31, collected Meixiu’s rifle and casings, and the two of them slipped away through the alleys under cover of darkness.

Once the mission was accomplished, Zhao Shiyu checked Bai Xin—shot through the head, dead beyond doubt—then signaled the others to scatter.

Only after everyone was gone did the French Concession patrol arrive leisurely, blowing their whistles.