Chapter Sixteen: Case Analysis

Why did Yukida Koki have such a clear and profound memory of that pot of fresh flowers? It must hold significant value for him. What purpose does it serve? There are potted flowers everywhere on the windowsills of houses along the streets—so why is it that he remembers this particular one so vividly? It must have a unique meaning for him, and perhaps it is closely related to his covert mission.

In his previous life, Ning Zhiheng had seen similar plots in espionage dramas and novels—a pot of flowers is ordinary, but placed at a certain location and time, its meaning changes entirely. If his guess was correct, someone must have been using that pot of flowers to convey information to him.

But what kind of information was it? It was a rose bush, and since roses bloom for a long period, they are a very common flower in Nanjing, so nothing seems out of place. Still, there must be some special significance behind it. All this awaits further investigation, but one thing is undeniable: this is an extremely important clue.

How should he use this clue now? Ning Zhiheng found himself at a loss. In both his previous and current lives, he was unfamiliar with investigative techniques and had little experience. Despite his meticulous mind, his time in contact with espionage and intelligence was too short, and he had not undergone formal training—this was not his area of expertise.

His strengths lay only in the combat knowledge he had acquired in two years at military academy. He could handle action squad missions thanks to his shooting and fighting skills, but intelligence gathering was more difficult.

In the Military Intelligence Bureau—a department dedicated to espionage—the Intelligence Division was most skilled and familiar with these methods. The only intelligence officer he had met was Huang Taoguang.

How could he subtly relay this clue to Huang Taoguang and let him pursue the investigation further? That was the challenge. Ning Zhiheng could not explain how he had obtained this clue—it was entirely thanks to the miraculous power of the Bodhi tree that he had gleaned a hint.

More importantly, he did not want anyone to know about the Bodhi tree—this was his greatest secret, the foundation of his survival in both lives, his talisman. He would never reveal even the slightest detail to anyone, not even his closest confidants.

Thinking about this gave Ning Zhiheng a headache, but he had to find a way to alert Huang Taoguang. He decided to approach Huang Taoguang first and act according to the situation. To root out other hidden Japanese spies, he had to give it his all.

Ning Zhiheng hurried to the Intelligence Division and inquired about Huang Taoguang’s office. At that moment, Huang Taoguang was in his office, staring at a pile of documents, troubled.

As the main handler of this Japanese spy case, he had invested so much effort, only for it to end in vain—just three cold corpses as the result.

From his experience, he knew that this was only a tiny fraction of the Japanese spy group. The organization behind them remained unscathed.

No matter how he wrote his report, this outcome would hardly satisfy his superiors.

Just then, someone knocked on the door. He opened it and was surprised to see Ning Zhiheng standing there.

He had only met this young colleague from the action squad twice—once during the arrest of Fu Cheng, and again recently in the basement of the Interrogation Division.

But as an intelligence officer, his memory was sharp. He remembered the young officer's information: they had exchanged introductions during their first meeting, and this young officer was named Ning Zhiheng. He had heard vague rumors that Ning had some background.

“Brother Ning, to what do I owe the pleasure of your unexpected visit?” Huang Taoguang greeted him warmly and invited Ning Zhiheng into the office.

Ning Zhiheng glanced around and immediately noticed the stack of files on the desk—presumably the case files for Yukida Koki.

He smiled and said, “Forgive my intrusion, but there are some things I wish to consult with you. I hope you won’t mind sharing your expertise, Brother Huang.”

“Oh, you have something to ask? Please speak freely. I will answer what I know,” Huang Taoguang responded warmly. He turned and brewed a cup of tea for Ning Zhiheng, setting it before him, and the two sat facing each other.

Ning Zhiheng pondered for a moment, then asked softly, “Brother Huang, with your experience, what kind of role do you think Fu Cheng played in the spy organization? What was his function?”

Huang Taoguang nodded with a smile, knowing that Ning Zhiheng was a recent transfer to the action squad and a graduate of Whampoa Military Academy, where there was no systematic training in espionage.

At this time, the Republic’s government was not yet mature in intelligence and espionage training. Unless one was a specialist like them, outsiders were unlikely to understand these methods and knowledge.

Since Ning Zhiheng had joined the Military Intelligence Bureau and wanted to learn more, it was both appropriate and reasonable.

Huang Taoguang appreciated young men like Ning Zhiheng—educated, eager to learn, and willing to acquire new knowledge. The country desperately needed such talented individuals. He was happy to share some basic espionage knowledge.

He replied with a smile, “We found a radio transmitter in Fu Cheng’s residence, which indicates that he was responsible for transmitting intelligence. We have a common nickname for such personnel—‘carrier pigeon.’

The carrier pigeon is a crucial link in intelligence and espionage groups, serving as the relay station for information between the spy squad and headquarters. All intelligence eventually flows to him for transmission to headquarters, and he also receives instructions via radio. Fu Cheng had two Japanese spies specifically assigned to support and protect him, which shows how important his role was.

We usually call those spies who infiltrate our government ‘moles.’ Such spies are highly valuable—they are placed with great effort by the enemy, and their identities can withstand scrutiny, often more so than our own personnel. Their concealment is excellent.

A spy squad may have one or several moles, but there is only one carrier pigeon. Because of its importance, Fu Cheng’s capture will surely alert the other members of the group.

Their reaction time will be very short—they’ll quickly go into hiding, and once safety is confirmed, they’ll use prearranged methods to receive activation orders and begin new operations.

This approach makes our investigation exponentially more difficult, and hope becomes extremely slim.”

Ning Zhiheng now understood how vital Yukida Koki’s role was in the organization. He continued, “When a mole transmits information to the carrier pigeon, what methods are usually used?”

Huang Taoguang patiently explained, “The transmission of intelligence, as we understand it, generally involves several methods.

The first is direct contact: two people meet and pass information directly. This method is straightforward and effective, but also dangerous. It means both parties know each other, perhaps even their hidden identities. If one link is compromised, it’s possible to trace others in the organization. This is the most basic method.

The second is written communication: the mole sends a letter to the carrier pigeon. Using prearranged codes and word sequences, the intelligence is embedded in a regular letter and sent through the post office. This method is relatively safe, but has major drawbacks. Delivery times can be long, since postal management is lax and delays or losses are common. If such a situation occurs, it’s impossible to control, so this method is rarely used.

The third is indirect transmission: usually a designated secret location, which we call a ‘dead drop.’ The mole places the intelligence in the dead drop, which is always a very hidden spot. The carrier pigeon, to minimize exposure, cannot check the drop frequently and must rely on the mole to signal when to collect intelligence by other means. With this method, the two parties never meet and do not know each other’s age, appearance, or hidden identity. The benefit is security; the drawback is that the process is cumbersome, suitable for intelligence that isn’t time-sensitive, but not for urgent information.

Sometimes intelligence is transmitted through newspaper announcements. The information is coded and sequenced according to prearranged ciphers, and inserted into published articles.

This method was widely used in previous years—the underground Red Party often relied on it. But now it is seldom used, since it is risky, and everyone is more cautious. Our Military Intelligence Bureau has a dedicated team to examine newspapers issued in the market, identifying and screening suspicious information.”

After listening, Ning Zhiheng realized how deep the knowledge of espionage work truly was, with countless methods and intricacies that outsiders could never imagine.

“Is it possible for a mole to have a backup radio, transmitting intelligence directly to headquarters?” Ning Zhiheng pressed, unwilling to let go of a more direct method.

“That is possible, but in our understanding of Japanese espionage organizations, it is very rare.

The risks are considerable. As a mole able to penetrate and access classified information, he must be a key member—such people are extremely valuable to the spy organization.

Cultivating such a spy is very costly. Every such operative is precious to the organization, and they won’t let valuable agents take unnecessary risks.

Now, all espionage departments have specialized communications units for monitoring radio signals. For example, our Bureau’s Communications Division has advanced equipment.

If they detect unfamiliar radio signals, they investigate, determine frequency and location, and once they search, the radio can be easily exposed. Sending telegrams is inherently dangerous, with many risks.

Japanese spies are meticulous—they usually divide roles: moles gather intelligence; carrier pigeons transmit it. This splits the risk into two links and minimizes exposure.

Last year, the Central Party Affairs Investigation Division caught a Red Party underground operative because a mole transmitted directly, raising suspicion. That mole decisively took his own life, but ultimately nothing was gained.

There are many such intelligence transmission methods—none fixed—everything adjusts according to circumstances,” Huang Taoguang continued, clarifying further.