aircannonsinc Chapter 13 The Raven Finally Appears
Chapter 13 The Raven Finally Appears
Zhao Lijun's eyes flickered as he quickly weighed the pros and cons.
Better safe than sorry! If it's real intelligence, we can't afford to delay anyone. But if it's a trap, the entire Shanghai station could be wiped out.
"Execute the 'Awakening of Insects' contingency plan!" Zhao Lijun made a decision instantly, his voice cold. "Tianmu, you immediately take the core documents, escort the radio operator and the codebook, and evacuate through the secret passage to the second headquarters (a backup safe house in the International Settlement). Report this matter to headquarters immediately!"
Shen Zui immediately called the action team leader, Fu Jingnian, and ordered him to take his team to the Madier Café on Xiafei Road. He instructed them not to approach directly, but to observe from the outside and make sure there were no ambushes before taking the items.
Remember, if you notice anything unusual, abandon the situation immediately; your safety is the top priority!
Then you go to the telecommunications department yourself and immediately find out where the call came from, and see if you can trace back to find out the crow's address!
I'll stay here to cover the rear. If I don't receive any news from you or a safe signal from you within an hour, Tianmu, you'll take full control of the station!
Once the order was given, everyone sprang into action immediately.
Wang Tianmu quickly packed his things, while Zhao Lijun began to check the weapons and destroy some unnecessary papers.
Shen Zui quickly finished the call and went straight to the second floor!
Upon receiving the call, Fu Jingnian, the action captain of the Military Intelligence Bureau's Shanghai station, immediately took off his suit, changed into a more ordinary worker's uniform, took out two Browning pistols from his drawer and tucked them into his waistband, waved to the outside, and five action team members who were already prepared and looked inconspicuous immediately followed.
Avenue Joffre remained bustling, with many foreigners and well-dressed Chinese sitting in the Madier Café.
Fu Jingnian, disguised as a worker looking for work, squatted on a street corner not far away, his sharp eyes scanning the area in front of and behind the coffee shop.
One team member posed as a rickshaw puller and loitered nearby, while another pretended to read a newspaper at a nearby newsstand.
After observing for nearly twenty minutes, everything inside and outside the café was as usual, and the back alley was quiet and deserted, with only a few trash cans and a rusty abandoned mailbox.
There were no suspicious vehicles parked, no lingering figures, and none of the tense atmosphere typical of espionage operations.
Fu Jingnian gave a wink to the team member who was disguised as a rickshaw puller.
The team member pulled the bike up and slowly turned into the back alley, pretending to stop and adjust the seat. He quickly approached the mailbox, his fingers deftly searching the bottom of the box. Soon, he touched a loose brick, moved it aside, and his fingertips touched a folded newspaper.
He quickly pulled it out, stuffed it into his pocket, then put the brick back in its place, picked up the cart, and slowly drove away from the alley.
The whole process took less than a minute and went unnoticed.
The items were quickly delivered to Zhao Lijun, who had already moved to the Second Headquarters of the International Settlement (a secret room in the backyard of a noisy teahouse).
However, what was spread out on the table was just an ordinary copy of the "Shenbao" newspaper, dated several days ago.
Zhao Lijun, Wang Tianmu, Shen Zui, Fu Jingnian, and Chen Jianghe, the intelligence chief who rushed over after receiving the news, sat around the table, examining the newspaper over and over.
"This is the 'newspaper' he was talking about? There's nothing there?" Wang Tianmu frowned.
"There's definitely something fishy going on. Crows wouldn't play tricks on us." Shen Zui picked up the newspaper, examined it carefully under the light, and then gently sniffed it. "There's no special smell. It's not regular black writing ink." He tried using a cotton swab dipped in water to gently wipe the edge of the newspaper, but no writing appeared.
"How about we roast it over a fire?" Chen Jianghe suggested.
Shen Zui took a match and carefully used the outer flame to heat the blank areas of the newspaper. The paper turned slightly yellow, but there were still no words on it.
"It wasn't developed using fire either." Shen Zui frowned.
Zhao Lijun said in a deep voice, "Try iodine vapor!" This is the most commonly used method for detecting invisible ink (starch-based).
Shen Zui immediately found some iodine, heated it, and let the steam fumigate the newspaper.
A miracle happened!
Where the iodine vapor had been applied, clear, pale blue lettering quickly appeared on the previously blank newspaper!
"Got it!" Shen Zui exclaimed in a low voice, and Zhao Lijun and Wang Tianmu immediately stepped forward.
The newspapers displayed the following: Starting November 30th, the Japanese army will launch a five-pronged attack on Nanjing: the 6th Division will advance south along Jinshanwei, passing through…; the 16th Division along…; the 9th Division along…; the 114th Division along…; and the Yoshino Detachment of the Marine Corps will advance west of Xinglong Bridge, and will outflank Nanfushantang on November 29th. The final request was that if this intelligence was confirmed, headquarters should recall the only person who had seen him, Bird's Nest, to the rear to ensure his safety and the safety of the entire military intelligence line. He should directly contact the Shanghai station by phone to relay the intelligence! (Crow!)
"It really is Crow! This...this is the detailed battle plan of the Japanese army's attack on Nanjing, and it's top-secret strategic intelligence! Copy it down immediately..." Shen Zui exclaimed in surprise.
Years of professional intelligence work had made Wang Tianmu oblivious to anything else; he instinctively pulled out paper and pen from his drawer, his fingers trembling slightly with excitement. Zhao Li quickly closed the doors and windows of the room, then covered any gaps with thick cloth to prevent anyone outside from noticing anything amiss. Shen Zui carefully laid the newspaper flat on the table, ensuring the writing was clearly visible, and reminded him, "The iodine vapor effect may not last long, Station Chief Wang, you need to be quick and accurate when copying; not a single word can be wrong!"
The five had a clear division of labor: Wang Tianmu was in charge of writing, Zhao Lijun checked the text, and Shen Zui and Chen Jianghe kept a close eye on the changes in the handwriting on the newspaper, providing suggestions and additions as needed.
Meanwhile, the action team leader, Fu Jingnian, stood at the window, constantly observing the pedestrians passing by outside to see if there was anything unusual!
"Station Chief, according to Crow's intelligence, the Japanese army has already launched a five-pronged attack on November 30th, which is today. There's no time to verify it, we must report to headquarters immediately!" Shen Zui said firmly.
"Yes, Station Chief, Deputy Station Chief Shen is absolutely right. I also think we should report it immediately. If this intelligence is confirmed to be true, our station will have made another great contribution!" Wang Tianmu excitedly echoed.
Only Chen Jianghe showed obvious displeasure. Originally, Crow was just his sole intelligence contact. As Wang Tianmu said, if this intelligence was true, not only would the entire Shanghai station be credited with a major achievement, but he himself would at least be promoted two ranks. But for such important intelligence, Crow not only hadn't contacted his superior, but also requested that he be transferred back to the rear… He had just been promoted from lieutenant to major, head of the intelligence group, and hadn't even had a chance to prove himself before being sent to the rear to retire?!
However, he also knew that if this important military intelligence was confirmed again, given Crow's value, let alone just asking to be transferred back to the rear, even asking to be "executed immediately" would probably not elicit the slightest hesitation from Boss Dai!
After all, he was the only one who had ever seen the crow's true face!