Chapter 20: Two Men

Chapter 20: Two Men

Halfway through the meal, Dai Su said, "I want to assign the task of identifying the traitor to your brigade."

Brigade Commander immediately stood at attention, "I assure you we will complete the mission."

Dai Su continued, "After our technical analysis of the film from this time, we found that the artillery deployment map only outlines the external environment vaguely. There is no detailed internal map, indicating that the person stealing intelligence didn't enter the artillery positions. What worries me the most is the accuracy of the 7th Division's intelligence, down to the defense of each battalion."

Zhou Lin remarked, "This implies that the informant is from the 7th Division."

"Exactly! And this person holds a certain level of authority within the 7th Division. Otherwise, they wouldn't have access to such detailed information."

Dai Su asked, "Did you follow Oshima to the military camp and see him make a call outside before heading into the grove?"

Zhou Lin nodded, "Oshima didn't approach the sentry; he went straight to the nearby phone booth. After the call, he went to the small grove."

"Did you see anyone coming out of the military camp, someone going from the camp to the grove?"

Zhou Lin recalled, "Reporting, no. During that time, no one left the camp through the main gate."

"So, that person didn't pass through the main gate when leaving."

Dai Su took a sip of wine, "A cunning fellow! But Oshima exposed him. Oshima went to the 7th Division's camp, indicating that the person is from the 7th Division."

Zhou Lin and the Brigade Commander nodded in agreement.

Dai Su pressed down, "Then we'll go to the 7th Division to expose him."

The Brigade Commander asked, "Go to the 7th Division?"

"Yes! I plan to send Zhou Lin to the 7th Division."

Zhou Lin, surprised, asked, "Me, to the 7th Division?"

"You've just graduated, and many students haven't been assigned yet. Moreover, you need to return to Nanjing to collect your diploma. During this time, with your father's intervention, we can arrange for you to be assigned to the 7th Division. This way, no one will suspect."

Zhou Lin nodded, finding the plan reasonable. Many of his classmates joined the military after graduation. With a word from his father, the necessary procedures would be handled.

Dai Su said, "So, you must return to Nanjing and then depart for the 7th Division."

Zhou Lin hesitated, reluctant to leave the current environment and people.

Dai Su noticed Zhou Lin's thoughts, "Of course, I won't send you alone to the 7th Division. I've arranged for someone to accompany you. Mutual support in case anything happens."

Zhou Lin asked, "Who from the 20th Squad will go?"

Dai Su smiled, "You underestimate them. I plan to send Wang Hong and Feng Zhaoqi to the 7th Division."

Wang Hong is the Brigade Commander, and Feng Zhaoqi is the platoon leader.

Zhou Lin couldn't believe both of them were going to the 7th Division.

It seems Dai Su takes the information leak in the 7th Division seriously.

The Brigade Commander stood up, "Chief, I don't want to leave you..."

Dai Su said, "Going to the 7th Division is just a public role. In reality, you're still a military intelligence person. The Chief told me that, based on wartime needs, military intelligence must send people to supervise the military situation. If anything unusual happens, report immediately and take action."

"Yes!"

"You go to the 7th Division as the Deputy Director of the Political Department, promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel."

The Brigade Commander's current rank is Major, so he is pleased with the promotion.

"Feng Zhaoqi will become the Inspection Team Leader, promoted to the rank of Captain."

Zhou Lin asked anxiously, "Chief, what about me? Will I be in the Political Department too?"

Dai Su took a bite and said, "This time, we're adopting a dual-track approach. Wang Hong and the others are on the open track, going directly to the Political Department. Zhou Lin is on the covert track, assigned through connections in Nanjing. You two must cooperate and not let anyone know you already know each other. Understand?"

Both replied, "Understood!"

Dai Su stared at Wang Hong, "I'm entrusting Zhou Lin to you. You're responsible for his safety. If something happens to you, he must remain unharmed. Is that clear?"

Wang Hong raised his head confidently, "I understand! I guarantee mission completion."

Dai Su said, "Wang Hong will report to the 7th Division the day after tomorrow, bringing the 20th Squad along. Add ten more people to form a complete Inspection Team of thirty-six members. In the 7th Division, anyone showing suspicious behavior should be eliminated without mercy!"

"Yes!"

"Zhou Lin, return to Nanjing tomorrow. Stay a few extra days in Nanjing, just to avoid suspicion. You should arrive ten days after Wang Hong and the others."

Zhou Lin said, "Yes!"

Dai Su raised his glass, "Cheers! Let's see how much you can drink."

Following orders, Zhou Lin began to drink. Dai Su took a sip, and Zhou Lin finished a bottle by himself.

The Brigade Commander got drunk!

Dai Su was also a bit dizzy.

Surprisingly, Zhou Lin wasn't affected at all.

...

The next day, Zhou Lin quietly left the military camp.

The Brigade Commander didn't allow anyone to see him off.

By now, everyone knew they had received a new mission. Since they would meet again soon, there was no sadness.

Zhou Lin took a car to the train station, carrying a bag that marked him as a student.

After buying a train ticket, Zhou Lin sat in the waiting room, observing two men.

The men themselves weren't particularly remarkable, but Zhou Lin was interested in their behavior.

What caught his attention was that the two men were carrying identical suitcases.

Was it a coincidence or deliberate?

Zhou Lin paid closer attention.

Initially, only one man was sitting in front of Zhou Lin.

After placing his suitcase down, he lit a cigarette.

Then, another man arrived, ignoring the first man and sitting next to him.

This obstructed the view from behind.

Sitting close, Zhou Lin could still see through the gap: the second man surveyed the surroundings, then placed his suitcase on the ground next to the first man's feet.

This brought their suitcases closer together without a word exchanged. One smoked, and the other read a newspaper.

Five minutes later, the ticket inspection started.

The second man took the first man's suitcase and went through the ticket gate first, then entered the station.

After that, the first man took the second man's suitcase and left the waiting room directly.

Outside the station, the man got into a car and left.

Zhou Lin witnessed it all.

He stood up, went through the ticket gate, and found his seat in the fifth carriage.

After settling in, Zhou Lin stood up again, scanning the surroundings out of habit.