When Liu Qinghuai came down again, the original wicker box had turned into pieces of wicker, and the color had turned into light brown. It was covered with dense white writing.
Code book!
This is the codebook they thought the lost notification delay enabled.
"Translate the message first!"
Lu Pengzhi instructed.
Liu Qinghuai quickly got the telegram and translated it.
This is an urgent message from Captain Peake, the head of "Operation East".
Operation Eastern is a huge plan formulated by the US Marine Corps Secret Service and the British Military Intelligence Service. It aims to collect intelligence, harass, sabotage, and even assassinate the Japanese behind enemy lines, as well as safeguard the interests and safety of British and American people in Shanghai. Most of its members are
There are British and American people with public identities who worked together with the Loyalty and Salvation Army from Chongqing who stayed around Shanghai and made small achievements in Shanghai during the isolation period.
Because Lu Pengzhi had accurately predicted that Germany would attack the Soviet Union, he was designated as the liaison person representing Chongqing.
Lu Pengzhi took the telegram, looked at his watch, and breathed a long sigh of relief.
Fortunately, it's not too late.
He immediately got dressed and went out, heading straight to the Oriental Grand Theater on Yuyuan Road.
What Jia Zhengting didn't expect was that Lu Pengzhi's secret was no longer in the box but on the box.
When Liu Qinghuai saw Lu Pengzhi going out without asking, he immediately started writing down the code book.
tacit agreement.
When Lu Pengzhi arrived at the Oriental Grand Theater, the opera "La Traviata" performed here was coming to an end.
He gave the janitor Old Thomson 20 dollars, ignored Old Thomson's thanks, and went straight backstage. When he had just sat down in the dressing room, he heard "Yankee Song" playing from the front desk.
This is Americans trying to gain a sense of presence on an isolated island.
Peake is not only the director of this play, but also plays the male protagonist Armand, and the heroine Margaret is played by Su Marie. The Oriental Theater is also Peake's property.
A moment later, Pique walked in wearing a costume and humming a Yankee song. He glanced at Lu Pengzhi who was sitting in the corner. Without saying anything, he took out an envelope from a costume box, handed it to Lu Pengzhi, and started taking off his makeup.
.
Lu Pengzhi knew the rules and didn't say anything. He picked up the envelope and came out of the theater.
The moment he opened the car door, the big clock on the Bund struck the last stroke of eleven o'clock. When he returned to his residence, the big clock should have struck twelve o'clock, because he had to take a detour to prevent it.
Tracked.
At this time, Liu Qinghuai had already finished transcribing the secret code written on the wicker box. He handed it to Lu Pengzhi.
Lu Pengzhi didn't seem to be interested in the new code book, so he asked Liu Qinghuai to proofread it by himself and destroy the box. He opened the envelope he brought from Peake and took out a map marked "Operation Scorpion Removal" inside to study and judge it.
Lu Pengzhi was engaged in intelligence analysis and strategic research. He got confused when he saw words like "action", so he asked Liu Qinghuai to come with him to study.
Liu Qinghuai couldn't help shouting when he saw it, "This is absolutely not feasible."
Lu Pengzhi raised his head and stared at Liu Qinghuai, as if wanting to hear his reasons.
Liu Qinghuai pondered for a moment, "The bait is a bit big."
"You mean Mu Tian?"
"That's right. What do Americans think, using a living person or us Chinese as bait? This is too unethical, isn't it? Besides, we don't have enough manpower."
"Manpower is a problem, but this is a perfect opportunity. The Green Scorpion will rely on the support of the Japanese secret service to stir up troubles and create various excuses for the Japanese army to enter the concession. Seizing this opportunity to give him a heavy blow can combat Japan's arrogance
Arrogance, boost the morale of our soldiers on the front lines of the war of resistance."
"Theoretically, this is true. However, during the operation at Waibaidu Bridge, although that area is a public concession, it actually belongs to the Japanese-occupied area. How to evacuate after the incident is completed is a problem. If you cannot escape intact, then it means action
If it fails, the bait will be eaten.”
"That's right. The reason why the Japanese ronin chose to take action at Waibaidu Bridge is because they have reserved an evacuation route. To the north, they can enter the Japan General Assembly, and to the south is the Japanese Consulate. There are also Japanese naval task forces stationed in the whole area. There is no doubt that they can take action here.
It’s a chestnut out of the fire. This Pique!”
"Let's ask for permission." Liu Qinghuai asked tentatively.
Lu Pengzhi pondered for a moment, pressed the map on the wall, stared at it and shook his head, "No need. Our mission is to cooperate with their actions. The instructions we received before coming to Shanghai are all based on the Eastern Operation. You go and prepare.
A plan to ensure the smooth implementation of the operation."
Liu Qinghuai took the map and was about to go out when Lu Penzhi emphasized: "Including Mutian's safety."
……………………
Eiichi Kuai dismissed Watanabe and others and carefully studied the map on the table. From Daqiao Prison to the French General Assembly, the prison car had to drive along Huade Road and the Waibaidu Bridge on the Bund for a while, turn into Aidoya Road, and walk along Fu
Xu Road keeps moving forward. Waibaidu Bridge is the only way it must pass.
The area north of the Suzhou River is fully Japanese-occupied. There are checkpoints set up by the Japanese military police there.
Ha, God help me!
Mu Tian, I want you to die, an ugly death!
Damn Chinese people, dare to humiliate my great Japanese samurai?!
Eiichi Kuai muttered inwardly, then looked back at the room full of firearms, with a proud and sinister smile on his face.
For a time, old and new grudges came to mind: Ono's serious injury, Gu Tian's misfortune...
He once again confirmed that his plan was accurate before going to the inner room to sleep.
……………………
Peterson raised the tin soldier in his hand above his head, looked at the lights on the roof for a while, placed it on the "Escort Route Map" in front of him, stood up and walked to the window, looking at Shanghai under the night sky and looking westward.
In the direction of the General Assembly of France.
He silently counted the intersections he would pass through to escort Mu Tian, thinking about possible situations.
Someone wanted Mu Tian dead! But why was the escort route map he got so routine? This broke his arrangement. His plan was to change Mu Tian's prison car when the convoy passed the Zhoushan intersection, and then escape. However, he sacrificed two people.
They were just Indian guards and drivers. As for their guilt, I was also prepared to take care of my family members.
no!
He dialed the emergency number.
After some anxious waiting, I was told that the plan must be implemented according to the plan!
Oh my God, what is he going to do? This is crazy!
Peterson put away the tin soldiers, and Jiang Xinda knocked on the door and came in.
"Good evening, Mr. Peterson. Are you looking for me?"
Peterson raised his head and glanced at Jiang Xinda, "Inspector Jiang, you will be responsible for the security of Mutian's escort tomorrow. Are the security measures at all intersections in place?"
"Report to Mr. Assistant, everything is ready."
Peterson smiled, picked up the escort route map, took a glance at it, placed it on top of a pile of documents, and pressed it, "This matter is not trivial. The concession authorities attach great importance to this trial and want to ensure that the trial proceeds normally. Yesterday
Something strange happened here at the bridge at night, and I'm investigating. I don't know what Inspector Jiang knows, or if he has any clues."
"Is there such a thing? I haven't heard anything about it, and I don't know what happened."
"At midnight last night, three gangsters were transferred to the bridge, but they happened to be put into Mutian's cell. Mutian's cell is in your jurisdiction, and you have no news at all? According to the records, you were the one in charge last night," Peterson said as best he could.
The tone was very tactful.
"Assistant sir, something special happened at home yesterday. Guo Xingkai was on duty on my behalf."
"Although this matter is serious, it can be big or small. Let's investigate slowly. The important thing is tomorrow's escort. I suggested changing the escort route, but the superiors did not approve it and continued the original route. This has raised new questions for our security.
requirements. In order to ensure nothing goes wrong, we must strengthen vigilance across the board. The burden on your shoulders will be heavy."
"Yes, yes. I will do my best no matter what."
"It's not that serious. He has nothing to do with us as soon as he gets off the bridge. As for the future sentence and sentence, we probably won't be here. As long as we pass tomorrow's test, everything will be over. You should go back and rest early.
Come on, I'll go see Mu Tian."
Jiang Xinda said goodbye, returned to his office, and immediately dialed a number. When the phone rang three times, he hung up, then dialed again, rang three more times, and hung up again.