Chapter 7: Capturing the Spy

Yao Jiangjie grabbed Zhang Anping’s hand firmly. “Tell me the details!”

If they really were Japanese or Communist spies, that would be a jackpot.

The Special Services Department didn’t pay poorly; even in the current climate where most were receiving national crisis military pay, the department still disbursed eighty-five percent of the salary in hard cash.

But the biggest income for the Special Services was actually the “performance bonus,” commonly known as the reward—capturing Japanese or Communist spies could easily earn several months’ worth of pay. For the Security Division, which had no side income, this was a huge temptation.

“Sir, they’re here—” Yao Jiangjie crouched down and sketched a rough map. “Right behind this wall. It should be two people taking turns taking photos, swapping shifts around six to seven in the evening. I’ve inquired; the family here moved out long ago, leaving an empty house. They likely climbed over the wall to get in.”

“The courtyard is surrounded by occupied houses. If they’re climbing over the wall, the best entry point is this dead-end alley.”

Yao Jiangjie asked, “Are you sure it’s two people taking turns?”

“They’re just secretly photographing. More people would be unsafe. The number definitely won’t be many.”

“Damn it, let’s nail this!” Yao Jiangjie felt a surge of excitement. The Security Division’s daily job was just guarding the gate, but if they caught spies, it would be far more prestigious than the Intelligence or Operations Departments catching a bunch of spies. The key was, this might even get him promoted!

Yao Jiangjie shouted at the top of his lungs, “Zhu Qi! Go call all the rested brothers! I’m going big on this one!”

Clamor erupted.

After a chaotic noise, all the dozen or so rested members of the Security Division assembled.

“Brothers, Zhang Shihao has discovered spies! Our time to feast and drink is coming!” Yao Jiangjie began his briefing. “Today’s operation will be led by Zhang Shihao! If anyone dares to drag their feet or disobeys orders, I’ll enforce battlefield discipline! Understand?”

The crowd was hesitant and unsure. Just at noon, the squad leader had said Zhang Shihao was ungrateful. How had it suddenly become Zhang Shihao commanding the operation?

Yao Jiangjie glared at the silence, “Are you all mute?”

“Understood!”

Only then did the Security Division members respond in scattered voices.

Zhang Anping was also puzzled. Yao Jiangjie hadn’t liked him before; why had he suddenly handed him command?

Yao Jiangjie poked Zhang Anping. “Brother Zhang, what are you waiting for? Assign the tasks quickly!”

The term “brother” was uttered with genuine goodwill.

Previously, Yao Jiangjie disliked Zhang Anping because he thought he was just a slacker collecting a paycheck, common in the Security Division. If someone acted aloof, they could just get lost.

But Zhang Anping’s professionalism while drawing the sketch and describing the discovery of spies made him realize this man was a genuine expert—and the fact he hadn’t gone to the Operations Department upon finding the spies showed good judgment.

In that case, how could he not call him brother?

Is this brotherhood?

No, it’s a gateway to promotion and fortune!

Zhang Anping, seeing the situation, didn’t hold back either. Since the Security Division had no map, he drew a rough sketch on the ground and said:

“The spies I found are right here. Their shift change is between six and seven p.m. The morning shift change is probably before we start work. If we’re going to capture them, the best time is just after their shift change.”

Someone questioned, “Why catch them after the shift change? Wouldn’t it be better to catch them all at once in the middle of the swap?”

Thunk.

Yao Jiangjie tapped the head of the questioning guard. “Listen to Brother Zhang first!”

“They’ve been under surveillance for quite a while. If it’s always just two people, the day shift is manageable, but the night shift one definitely can’t hold out alone, so there must be at least three people,” Zhang Anping explained.

“Four people for prolonged stakeouts isn’t impossible either. If we catch them during the shift change, the remaining spies will quickly sense something’s wrong and escape.”

“Catching them after the change gives us at least seven or eight hours for interrogation. Once we break their mouths, we can catch them all and maybe trace the ringleader.”

After Zhang Anping’s explanation, everyone suddenly understood, and their eyes were filled with admiration.

A real expert!

Yao Jiangjie was overjoyed. If they uncovered an entire spy ring, the credit would be even greater.

He immediately said, “Let’s do it Brother Zhang’s way! No one goes home after work today!”

“Alright!” The men eagerly agreed, but one asked, “Can I send a message home?”

“Wait...” Yao Jiangjie was about to agree when Zhang Anping interrupted, “No! Everyone, including officers, if you need to send a message to your family, have the night shift brothers do it together. Tell them we’re going on a business trip and will be back in three to five days.”

Someone immediately expressed dissatisfaction, “Hey Zhang, what’s this? You don’t trust us?”

Zhang Anping quickly retorted, “If we catch the whole spy ring, each of us will get at least three months’ pay as a reward. But if anything goes wrong and the bonus is lost, are you willing to take responsibility? Everyone’s counting on that bonus to improve their lives!”

As a person from the future, Zhang Anping knew how to rally the majority against a troublesome few.

His words immediately resonated with the others, and the disgruntled guard wisely fell silent—if he kept pushing, those motivated by months of pay would gladly tie him up.

“Brother Zhang is a man of action!” Yao Jiangjie sincerely praised. Back when he was in the camp’s investigation section, they never had so many ideas during arrests.

“Brother Zhang, assign the brothers their tasks. How should we proceed with the operation?”

Zhang Anping laid out the plan:

“We absolutely cannot alert the enemy. The arrest must not be a noisy group charge! We have 15 people total, two per team, with three in command. That makes seven small teams.”

“Four teams will spread out to these four positions to prevent escape during the arrest. Three teams will handle the capture. Unless absolutely necessary, do not shoot! If it comes to shooting, aim for legs or arms—never vital areas.”

“Sir, I’m not familiar with the abilities of all the brothers. You’ll have to organize the specific assignments.”

Yao Jiangjie found Zhang Anping more agreeable and immediately followed his arrangement for personnel deployment.

He assigned Zhang Anping to his own group and, eager for glory, placed himself in one of the arrest teams.

The group began the anxious wait.

Night shift Security Division members arrived one after another, but everyone in the office remained silent about what was to come. Yao Jiangjie instead sent them all out to deliver messages to the families of the day shift, explaining they would be away on business for three to five days.

The night shift members, puzzled, followed the others out to deliver the messages.

The 15 men divided into seven groups left the Special Services Department after their shift and moved to the positions Zhang Anping had previously planned.

Shortly after the three arrest teams reached their assigned positions, they spotted a man sneakily carrying a food box into the empty alleyway. About seven or eight minutes later, he came out of the dead-end alley.

Though his clothes hadn’t changed, the man was clearly different.

All three arrest teams glanced at their watches.

Following Zhang Anping’s plan, they began timing fifteen minutes after the shift change man exited the alley before making the arrest.

Fifteen minutes passed. The three arrest teams scaled the wall into the unoccupied courtyard like a human ladder, then silently moved toward the backyard.

Sure enough, someone was guarding the backyard.

Seven men began closing in silently from three directions. As they neared, the guard spotted them, panicked, and bolted. But the prepared arrest teams pounced simultaneously, piling on him like a mountain and pinning him down.

The arrest method was grim and unseemly.

Zhang Anping muttered quietly, approached, and first clamped the man’s mouth shut to check for blades or poison. Finding none, he searched the body, discovering no pistol but a dagger.

He tossed the dagger aside and examined a small camera and numerous unused film rolls nearby.

“Japanese make, spy-specialized. Not bad!”

The captured spy’s face instantly drained of color as he tried to protest.

Yao Jiangjie boldly declared, “Take him away!”

“Wait.”

Zhang Anping stopped him, squatted down, and removed the spy’s shoes to inspect his toes, saying, “Japanese often wear wooden clogs; their toes look different from ours—hmm, he should be a Chinese.”

The spy hurriedly shouted, “I’m not Japanese! I’m not a spy! I’m just... I’m just a thief! These are stolen goods, yes, I stole them!”

“Steal your ass!” Yao Jiangjie bellowed. “Traitors are worse than the Japanese! Take him away!”

The others were eager to haul the man off, but Zhang Anping signaled to cover his mouth and hide his head first.

Yao Jiangjie gave Zhang Anping a thumbs-up. “Brother, very professional! You surely know how to interrogate?”

“Interrogation is simple,” Zhang Anping said dryly. “Pepper water, tiger bench, and if that doesn’t work, nail pulling—fingernails and toenails. Few can endure the pain when all their nails are ripped off.”

The spy immediately wet himself in terror.

Zhang Anping sneered with disdain. Is that all? And they dare call themselves traitors!

The man was brought back to the Special Services Department. By then, the Intelligence and Operations Departments had left for the day. The eager Security Division gladly took the prisoner into their office for interrogation.

Someone volunteered, claiming experience with Communist suspects and eagerness to practice with this traitor. Zhang Anping smiled and noted the man’s name silently, saying, “Start with the tiger bench—don’t remove the gag.”

This was the best tactic for these psychologically weak traitors—after one round on the tiger bench, they’d be begging for mercy.

Of course, Zhang Anping intended to torment him on purpose; a few lashes would have been enough to get the information.

The spy trembled violently, but it was useless. The tiger bench was applied mercilessly with several bricks, and he passed out.

A bucket of cold water revived him. Zhang Anping removed the gag. The man immediately wailed and confessed.

To be precise, he was a money-hungry fool. There were three of them, bribed daily with one yuan. Their task was to stake out behind the wall, point the camera at a small hole in the wall, and snap pictures of passersby.

Zhang Anping interrogated, “How did the transaction with your handlers work?”

“Every few days, someone came to collect the film.”

“How many days exactly?”

“Sometimes three, sometimes six.”

“How long have you been doing this?”

“Half a month.”

“How many times have you delivered film?”

“Three.”

Zhang Anping took notes as he questioned. After finishing, he said, “Give him another round of pepper water, then ask the same questions again. If his answers don’t match, something’s off.”

“Sir, I’m telling the truth! Spare me! I’m telling the truth! Spare me!” The spy cried desperately, but Zhang Anping remained impassive, ignoring him.

Yao Jiangjie was completely convinced. Zhang Anping was more professional than any expert he’d seen in the investigation section. This man was far too talented for the Security Division’s humble quarters—he was destined to be a big shot in the Special Services Department.

Because they already had the addresses of the other two spies, Yao Jiangjie asked, “Brother Zhang, Brother Shihao, should we go catch them?”

“That’s not our business anymore. Report it!” Zhang Anping said flatly.

“What? Such a big achievement and we’re just reporting it?” Yao Jiangjie was incredulous. The others were unhappy too—just catching two small-time thugs, why report and give away credit?

“If we move, we’ll at most catch the other two. Let the Operations Department handle it—they might catch the big fish behind the scenes!” Zhang Anping explained.

Yao Jiangjie was unwilling and pulled Zhang Anping aside. “Brother Shihao, you’re so professional; don’t you have a plan?”

A plan?

Of course he had one, but relying on this bunch of low-level Security men could doom him. Even if he had a plan, he wouldn’t dare use it!

Zhang Anping whispered, “The mastermind behind this is almost certainly Japanese. They even send someone to collect the film, showing they’re very cunning. This person might have someone watching their three lodgers. If we can’t find the watchers, we won’t catch the mastermind!”

“Then the big achievement turns small, and worse, we might get blamed! Better to let the Operations Department do the work. If they succeed, we get our share. If they fail, it’s none of our business.”

Yao Jiangjie was stunned.

If only he could think that far, he wouldn’t still be an insignificant minor major.

Yao Jiangjie sincerely said, “Brother Shihao, from tonight on, you’re my sworn brother!”

“Squad leader,” Zhang Anping finally dropped the formal “sir” and said, “Tell the Operations Department my suspicions. If things go wrong, they won’t hold a grudge against us, understand?”

“Brilliant!”

What else could Yao Jiangjie say? He gave a thumbs-up.

This maneuver truly earned his wholehearted respect.