Chapter Seventy-Nine: Focus

Chapter Seventy-Eight

Afternoon.

The matter concerning Li Hongwei was quickly settled, and the outcome was just as everyone expected: the evidence was irrefutable, and Li Hongwei would never shake off the label of a Red Party member. As for his ultimate fate, no one cared anymore; even if he survived, he would spend the rest of his days in prison. In these turbulent times, not a soul would bother with a deposed section chief.

Instead, people showed great interest in who would succeed Li Hongwei.

When Bai Ze heard the news that Li Hongwei’s case had been closed, he was momentarily stunned; doubts lingered in his heart. The Special Affairs Division had handled this matter with unusual haste, and many details remained uninvestigated before the case was abruptly concluded. Bai Ze had suspected a conspiracy, but before he could pursue these thoughts, a sudden and monumental event seized the attention of the entire nation, and he finally understood why Li Hongwei’s affair had been so swiftly dealt with.

On December 12th, the nation was shaken by the “Double Twelve Incident.” Old Jiang, who was inspecting Chang’an City, was detained by patriotic generals Zhang and Yang. Their reason for detaining him was to force him to cease the civil war and unite in resistance against the Japanese.

The moment the news broke, the whole country erupted in excitement; eyes from Japan, the Red Party, and the Nationalist Party all turned toward Chang’an. For a while, Chang’an became the epicenter of the storm, telegrams flying out in every direction, the city’s skies thick with an invisible web of radio waves.

Yet, for many, it remained hard to believe that Generals Zhang and Yang would actually detain Old Jiang.

Regarding how to rescue him, both the Nationalist Party and the Red Party harbored their own calculations. Within the Nationalist Party especially, the situation was tumultuous, currents of intrigue flowing beneath the surface, turning the already treacherous atmosphere even more obscure.

As Old Jiang’s sharpest weapon, the Special Affairs Division suddenly found itself in a frenzy. Whether it was senior officials or underlings like Bai Ze, everyone was on edge.

However, after ensuring the Division’s affairs were in order, Chief Dai boarded a plane and rushed directly to Chang’an.

No one knew how events would ultimately unfold, so everyone felt anxious, and if this crisis was mishandled, it could very well change the course of history.

Evening.

After work, Bai Ze hurried to Mr. Li’s residence on Chunhe Road, “Mr. Li, today’s events are truly earth-shattering—rumors are rampant everywhere.”

“How is the Special Affairs Division?” Mr. Li asked gravely.

“They’re practically frantic. Surveillance of the Nationalist Party has intensified, and just this afternoon, many high-ranking individuals were arrested. The atmosphere is tense to the extreme,” Bai Ze said, anxiety evident in his voice.

“These days you must be extra cautious. The situation is extremely sensitive now,” Mr. Li admonished.

“I understand,” Bai Ze nodded, then looked at Mr. Li with curiosity, “Mr. Li, how did you manage it?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean framing Li Hongwei as one of our own,” Bai Ze said with a smile.

“To be honest, I know as little as you do about the details. All I know is that everything was orchestrated by the comrade who infiltrated the Special Affairs Division. It’s truly unbelievable,” Mr. Li admitted, admiration in his voice.

At this moment, he genuinely wished to meet this fox, to see what manner of genius this person was. The daring and precision displayed in this operation were extraordinary—bold yet cautious, never shackled by fear. Truly a master spy.

“Incredible—that’s what a real undercover agent looks like,” Bai Ze marveled, then composed himself, “Mr. Li, the inspection group was disbanded this afternoon as well.”

“That’s only natural. Your inspection group was set up to catch the mole, but now that the mole has been apprehended, there’s no reason for it to exist anymore,” Mr. Li replied with a smile.

“True,” Bai Ze nodded.

“Xiao Bai, in the coming days you must pay close attention to intelligence from within the Special Affairs Division, especially anything concerning Chang’an. Always be vigilant,” Mr. Li instructed.

“I promise to complete the task,” Bai Ze replied resolutely, then eyed Mr. Li with curiosity, “Has the higher-ups expressed any opinions about today’s events?”

“Stop guessing, kid. Matters of the higher-ups are for them to consider. Your job is to keep a close watch on relevant news,” Mr. Li said, seeing Bai Ze’s hesitation.

“Mr. Li, is something going on?” Bai Ze asked.

“Yes, though traitor Lu Tiankang hasn’t been found, most issues have been dealt with. Soon, I may leave Shanning and return to headquarters to report what’s happened,” Mr. Li said slowly.

“Mr. Li, you’re leaving?” Bai Ze, after his initial shock, quickly calmed down. Mr. Li had previously mentioned his capture and the need for a series of examinations and reviews. Now that matters in Shanning were settled, his departure was inevitable.

“Mr. Li, once you leave, how will I stay in touch with the organization?” Bai Ze posed the crucial question.

“The higher-ups will send someone to Shanning to take charge of operations. You needn’t worry. If all goes well, I may not stay long at headquarters. As for your matter, few know about it; I hope you’ll remain cautious,” Mr. Li smiled.

“When will you leave? After the review, will you return to Shanning?” Bai Ze asked, unwilling to let go.

“The exact departure date isn’t settled yet, but even if I pass the review, it’s unlikely I’ll return to work in Shanning. My identity is already exposed—it’s not suitable for me to stay here,” Mr. Li said, a trace of melancholy in his gaze toward Bai Ze.

“Mr. Li, how will you deal with An Guoming? He’s completely betrayed the revolution, turned to the other side,” Bai Ze’s eyes flashed with murderous intent as he spoke.

“No mercy,” Mr. Li’s face was equally stern. “We in the Red Party may disdain assassination, but we have no qualms about dealing with traitors. I’ve already instructed Captain Guo to prepare. You need not worry.”

“Alright, Mr. Li, I’ll take my leave now.”