aircannonsinc Chapter 31 Protecting the Raven at All Costs
Chapter 31 Protecting the Raven at All Costs
With such a generous reward, brave men are bound to come. In no time, all sorts of people started to have their eyes on it.
Thugs, disillusioned politicians, spendthrifts, and even some ordinary people struggling to make ends meet all stared wide-eyed, trying to find any clues around them that might be related to "crows".
Some unscrupulous individuals, driven by greed for rewards, began making baseless accusations and spreading rumors.
Today people say that Old Wang next door is behaving strangely, tomorrow they accuse Mr. Zhang upstairs of being a spy because he lives a secluded life. Although most of these accusations are unfounded, they still cause widespread panic, and many innocent people are subjected to investigations and even torture for no reason.
This evil wind quickly spread to the mountain city as well.
At the Military Intelligence Bureau headquarters, Dai Chunfeng held the reward leaflets and newspapers collected by Mao Qi from various stations in the Japanese-occupied areas, but his expression remained completely calm.
"Director, Tsukamoto Kameichi's move is too vicious! This is an open conspiracy! He uses huge profits to exploit the weaknesses of the human nature of everyone who might know about Crow! We can't guard against it!" Mao Qi said worriedly.
Dai Chunfeng smiled slightly and said, "Hehe! Crow? This kid is cunning!"
We don't even know who he is, yet the Japanese want to find him?
Chen Jianghe, the only person who had ever seen Crow, was already working at Zhazidong. His former superior, Eagle Hai Dongqing, had already sacrificed himself. So, apart from the file we have that contains a sketch of Crow based on Chen Jianghe's dictation, it's safe to say that no one knows who Crow is!
Only you, me, Chen Jianghe, and that sketch artist—no one else knows what a crow looks like!
No, that sketch artist, immediately arrange for him to be monitored 24 hours a day. Human nature is greedy, the Japanese are offering such a huge temptation, we can't gamble with human nature!
Human nature is susceptible to temptation; if someone claims they can resist temptation, it only means the temptation wasn't strong enough!
"Yes, Director, I'll arrange a team to monitor you 24 hours a day! How about it?" Moltke replied respectfully while making the shape of a pistol in the shape of the number "eight" with his hand, indicating whether to execute him directly to prevent future troubles!
He was also extremely worried because the word "Crow" had been leaked due to his mistake, and he certainly didn't want Crow to be arrested because of his mistake. If he were held accountable in the future, he would definitely be implicated!
"Sigh! Although this is safer, talent is hard to come by. This sketch artist is a master and has made many contributions. We cannot lose our conscience because of unknown risks. Let's keep an eye on him!"
Of course, if there are any unusual developments, a decision must be made immediately!
However, Qi Wu, I've been looking at this crow's sketch for a long time. What kind of outfit and hairstyle is this?
Look at those white, intricately made leather shoes (sneakers), those trousers made of industrial tarpaulin with several holes, that intricately made shirt with English lettering, a zipper, and several pieces of different fabric pieced together, and that backpack...
I asked Director Ji Jian (Tang Zong) to give these garments to the Ministry of Industry and designers from Britain, the United States and France for identification. The answer I got was that, apart from a pair of ripped pants that looked a bit like the pants of American cowboys from decades ago, they knew nothing about the rest. They had never seen such an outfit anywhere in the world!
Moreover, European and American designers were amazed, calling it a genius clothing design that was both beautiful and appropriate, and they all went back to Europe and America to apply for patents!
Look at that hairstyle again. At first glance, it looks like a very ordinary short haircut, but upon closer inspection, it is very neat and well-arranged, with a strong overall aesthetic appeal. It is definitely the work of a master barber. At least there are no barbers like this in Shanghai!
Therefore, taking all factors into consideration, the crow most likely came from the United States or Hong Kong!
"Your Excellency is truly insightful! I wouldn't have noticed this if you hadn't analyzed it so carefully. No wonder Chairman Mao always says that you are the number one expert in the national intelligence community!" Mao immediately flattered him and, seeing that his superior had said so much, poured him some tea out of concern that he might be thirsty.
Dai Chunfeng was very pleased to hear the words of the "top intelligence expert". He smiled and took a sip of tea before continuing, "However, we cannot be careless. Send a telegram to each station immediately!"
Especially Shanghai Station, Nanjing Station, Beijing Station, Tianjin Station, and Hangzhou Station! Order: First, all stations must immediately enter the highest alert state, with all personnel lying in wait and not moving unless absolutely necessary.
Second, given the huge losses suffered by Shanghai Station in the early stages, the most capable and reliable field staff and operatives should be immediately dispatched from Hangzhou Station, Nanjing Station, Beijing Station and Tianjin Station, with ten people dispatched from each station to secretly reinforce Shanghai Station!
Then, 12 people were transferred from the third Qingpu Special Agent Training Class, and 40 people were transferred from the fourth station to make up for the 52 people lost by the Shanghai Station, so that the Shanghai Station could be restored to a full-strength Class A station with 108 people. Tell them that what I want are veterans who can fight tough battles and keep absolute secrets!
Third, send a top-secret telegram to Wang Tianmu: Ensure Crow's safety at all costs! This is a death order! If anything happens to Crow, Wang Tianmu won't need to come back to see me!
He commanded all the reinforcements, and their sole mission was to counter any Japanese reconnaissance and capture operations targeting Crow! He was to use every means at his disposal to eliminate any potential threat!
Fourth, have Yaoquan (Zheng Jiemin) do his utmost to investigate and punish the Japanese spies infiltrating our Military Intelligence Bureau or the Ministry of National Defense. We must find out how the code name "Crow" was leaked. We won't be able to sleep soundly until we catch the moles within our ranks!
"Yes!" Mao Qiwu finished recording and immediately turned to send the message. He knew that Dai Chunfeng was concentrating his elite forces to fight a covert battle with Tsukamoto Kameichi in Shanghai, the main battlefield, to protect the crows.
Soon, radio waves pierced through the flames of war, transmitting the highest orders of the General Staff to various locations.
At Hangzhou Station, the ace action team leader, codenamed "Pufferfish," boarded a cargo ship bound for Shanghai with nine capable men.
Under the personal command of Station Master Shen Zui, the remnants of Jinling Station, including the ten members of the "Nightingale" team, who were most skilled in reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance, infiltrated Shanghai overnight.
Beijing Station, Tianjin Station, and Qingpu Station also dispatched their best personnel to Shanghai through various channels.
A protective network composed of the most elite forces of the Military Intelligence Bureau began to be quietly woven around "Crow".
At this moment, Han Zhenhua was driving a brand-new Stypton Sedgrenade, with the charming Lin Xiaowen in the passenger seat and Susan Cole looking around curiously in the back seat, preparing to go for a drive on the Bund.
He rolled down the car window, a gentle breeze caressing his young face, but when his gaze swept over the newly posted wanted poster on the street corner, his heart skipped a beat!
Fuck you, the Military Intelligence Bureau is really unreliable. In just two months, my code name has been exposed.
One hundred thousand silver dollars? A high-ranking official position to choose from three options? And there's one more requirement. The Japanese really think highly of me. With such a high reward, I'd even sell myself.
Kameichi Tsukamoto's bounty strategy unexpectedly had another effect, propelling "The Raven's" reputation to unprecedented heights.
If the existence of "Crow" was previously known only to high-ranking officials and intelligence systems in both China and Japan, then this overwhelming and outrageously high bounty has thoroughly made the name known to the general public and the international community.
"Crow! It's Crow again! I heard that the two major losses the Japanese suffered in Hangzhou Bay and Nanjing were both due to information delivered by him!"
"More than that! The latest air battle victory on the second day of the second lunar month, the Dragon Head Raising Festival, was also thanks to his accurate intelligence, as reported in the newspapers!"
"My God, three times! And each time it's crucial intelligence! Those Japanese devils must hate him to death!"
"A hero! This is a true unsung hero!"