Chapter 57: Seeking Outside Help

Not long after, Lin Mucheng emerged from the tailor’s shop, glanced around, and then strolled toward the inner street, as if intending to continue his stroll. The middle-aged man tailing him caught this movement in the corner of his eye; he calmly swallowed the last dumpling, placed two copper coins on the table, rose, and followed at a leisurely pace.

At this moment, Ning Zhiheng was accompanied by Liu Yong, Xiong Hongda, and Gong Ji’an. He tilted his head slightly, signaling for Liu Yong to follow alone, while the others kept their distance, ready to rotate if needed.

Spies who have undergone rigorous training possess excellent short-term memory; if the same faces appear repeatedly, they quickly notice. Lin Mucheng’s shopping excursion didn’t last long; around noon, he entered a Western restaurant for lunch.

The middle-aged man glanced down at his long gown and black cloth shoes, realizing that such attire would stand out in a Western restaurant. Instead of going in, he pretended to linger casually nearby.

Surveillance requires both skill and patience. Ning Zhiheng was meticulous, but he lacked systematic training. Among his team, only Xiong Hongda and Gong Ji’an had some experience; the others still had gaps in their technique. Their level might suffice for following Lin Mucheng, but it was not enough for this middle-aged man; a single misstep could give them away.

Ning Zhiheng realized he needed help from a true expert. He did not have such talent among his own men, but his senior, Wei Liangbi, had been at the Military Intelligence Bureau for a long time—perhaps he could provide such a person. At this stage, Ning Zhiheng felt his abilities were stretched thin.

He was only ahead in this operation because he had the advantage of working on his own turf—he had spotted the target early, set up the bait, and cast the net, gaining the initiative. But in terms of true espionage experience, he lacked confidence. He resolved to return to the Military Intelligence Bureau that very day to seek Wei Liangbi’s assistance.

After finishing his meal, Lin Mucheng returned home to rest. The middle-aged man followed at a measured pace, employing superior tracking skills; Lin Mucheng remained unaware, while Ning Zhiheng’s men kept a distant watch.

That afternoon, Lin Mucheng went as usual to the Army Officers’ Club to play cards and chess, and did not go out again that night.

The tail abandoned his post at dinnertime, hailing a rickshaw and leaving. The rickshaw puller, of course, was Ning Zhiheng’s man.

By dusk, the rickshaw puller returned.

“How was it? Where is this man staying?” Ning Zhiheng asked.

“It’s an inn in the eastern part of the city, not far from here, sir. I can’t read, so I don’t know the exact name. Shopkeeper Liu and the others are still watching him—they sent me to tell you!” The puller rubbed his rough hands awkwardly.

Ning Zhiheng smiled. “Well done. Take me to the inn later. This is for you!” He placed a twenty-yuan banknote on the table. The puller’s eyes widened; he accepted it respectfully with both hands, repeating his thanks.

Ning Zhiheng turned to Chen Yanqing behind him. “You’ll stay here tonight—just observe Lin Mucheng, record any activity, and do not intervene. That tail will be back to watch him tomorrow. As long as we’re here, he can’t slip away!”

Chen Yanqing nodded and saw Ning Zhiheng to the door.

Ning Zhiheng climbed into the rickshaw. The puller put all his strength into the journey, quickly and steadily bringing them to the tail’s lodging.

Ning Zhiheng got out some distance away and, following the puller’s directions, arrived at the inn entrance. It was a three-story building called the Yunlai Inn.

As soon as he entered, a man in his forties, who seemed to be the manager, came up to greet him, “Sir, do you need a room? Our inn is clean, with hot water and reasonable prices. Satisfaction guaranteed!”

Before Ning Zhiheng could reply, Liu Yong appeared and said to the manager, “No need, he’s my brother, just here to find me!” Then he gave Ning Zhiheng a meaningful look, and Ning Zhiheng followed him upstairs to a room on the second floor.

Inside, Xiong Hongda and Gong Ji’an were already waiting. Upon seeing Ning Zhiheng, they stood up. Liu Yong quietly closed the door behind them.

“Where is he now?” Ning Zhiheng whispered.

Xiong Hongda also lowered his voice, “Third room to the east, right across from ours. He came back and hasn’t left since. We booked this room to keep watch.”

“Good work. Check with the front desk to find out exactly when this tail checked in. We’ll take turns watching him tonight—no carelessness!” Ning Zhiheng wanted to know when this tail had arrived in Nanjing; the timing was crucial.

If he had only checked in yesterday or today, it meant he came straight to follow Lin Mucheng, and the screening of other Shadow Group members might not have begun. Alternatively, Lin Mucheng might be the first to be screened, with others to follow. If he had been in Nanjing for some time, what had he been doing? He might have already contacted other Shadow Group members.

Xiong Hongda nodded and left to inquire. He carried police credentials and was used to such tasks.

Before long, he returned and reported, “He’s registered under the name Cui Hai, checked in twelve days ago. He goes out early and returns late, always alone, and no visitors. He brought just one suitcase.”

Twelve days ago—this meant the Japanese Tokko headquarters had responded swiftly. Almost as soon as the order was sent for the Shadow Group to go underground, the spy Cui Hai was dispatched to Nanjing to screen and monitor the members.

Twelve days was enough time to do plenty. The windmill and puppet arrests had not been secret, especially the windmill operation, which had turned all of Beihua Street upside down—everyone knew about it. After the puppet’s residence was searched, six agents had moved in and stayed for days; this couldn’t have escaped notice. With a little effort, all these facts could be uncovered.

If Ning Zhiheng’s guess was right, as the subordinate developed by Huang Xiansheng, Lin Mucheng—whose suspicion was greatest—would be the last to be screened. The other members had probably already passed inspection and successfully resumed their activities.

Ning Zhiheng simply booked another room nearby. That night, he and his men took turns watching the spy, Cui Hai. The man left his room only once, to fetch hot water, and made no other moves.

At dawn, Cui Hai set out again for Lin Mucheng’s residence. Liu Yong had already stationed several rickshaws at the inn’s entrance; every movement was under surveillance.

Ning Zhiheng had considered sneaking into Cui Hai’s room to search, but reconsidered. A well-trained spy would have set warning traps—perhaps a slip of paper, a single hair, or something similar. Ning Zhiheng didn’t trust himself to leave no trace; this was a job for a true expert. To act rashly would only alert the target.

He left Gong Ji’an stationed inside the inn, with two rickshaws at the door to watch for strangers seeking Cui Hai. The rest continued to follow Cui Hai’s movements. Ning Zhiheng himself hurried back to the Military Intelligence Bureau and knocked directly on Wei Liangbi’s office door.

Wei Liangbi, who had just arrived at work, was surprised to see Ning Zhiheng, absent for over ten days. He poured him a cup of tea and joked, “You’ve been so secretive lately, if you didn’t come back soon I’d have had to put out a missing person notice!”

“I’m like the Monkey King meeting a real demon—I’ve come to beg the Jade Emperor for help!” Ning Zhiheng took the tea and sipped it.

“Oh?” Wei Liangbi’s eyes lit up, excitement in his voice. “You’ve found a lead?”

“A bit of progress,” Ning Zhiheng replied, a hint of pride in his tone.

Wei Liangbi’s spirits lifted. When this junior had taken leave to investigate on his own, he hadn’t had high hopes. All clues left by Fu Cheng and Huang Xiansheng had gone cold—otherwise, the so-called experts in the Intelligence Bureau would have solved the case.

The Fu Cheng case had dried up with his death; a few days earlier, the Intelligence Section had finally given up and withdrawn the surveillance point they’d maintained at his residence for over a month.

The same was true for Huang Xiansheng. As an independent agent, his superior, Windmill, had been arrested, his connection to Tokko headquarters severed, and he himself silenced by Qian Zhong. All they could find were records of his past activities.

But this had been his greatest value: he had alerted the Nationalists to problems in the 11th Division of the Central Army, enabling a timely response and the removal of a major threat.

Both Wei Liangbi and Ning Zhiheng had gained significant benefit from this.

“Well done, Zhiheng! Tell me everything,” Wei Liangbi urged eagerly.

“I’ve recruited some informants, as you know,” Ning Zhiheng began. He found some things difficult to explain, so he simply credited Liu Datong’s group. Whether Wei Liangbi believed it or not was irrelevant; as long as the results were good, he likely wouldn’t care.

“I do recall. The ones who provided the address Huang Xiansheng rented?” Wei Liangbi nodded. In fact, with his shrewdness and command, nothing in the Third Action Team could be hidden from him.

Recently, Ning Zhiheng had bailed out two prisoners from the police lockup and even captured a big fish; he hadn’t kept these things from Wei Liangbi.

Wei Liangbi appreciated this about Ning Zhiheng—he never kept secrets from his senior, always open and even requesting a safehouse. It showed trust.

“Your men are quite capable! Did they find the lead this time too?” Wei Liangbi was surprised. The Intelligence Section’s agents all had informants, but Ning Zhiheng’s team was exceptional—two major breakthroughs in just over a month. He wondered if he should recruit similar talent.

“Senior brother, used properly, these people can be invaluable,” Ning Zhiheng said with a smile. “This time, they’ve brought us a tremendous surprise!”