Spy Wars: I am the Captain of the Military Police

Chapter 720 More Interesting Than Expected

Zhou Zhengqing waved his hand, the relaxed and happy look on his face still lingering. "No need. Let's go back to headquarters."

He needs to go back and digest the results of tonight.

It was late at night, and the streets of the French Concession were filled with a tired silence after the carnival.

The car drove smoothly across the gravel road, and outside the window were the shadows of the rapidly receding sycamore trees and the tightly closed shop doors.

Zhou Zhengqing leaned back in the comfortable back seat, closed his eyes and rested, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the rhythm of the dance music on his knees.

Reiko sat quietly beside him.

Suddenly, the car jolted slightly and the driver stepped on the brakes.

Zhou Zhengqing opened his eyes and frowned slightly.

At the intersection not far ahead, several military trucks covered with thick canvas awnings were parked across the middle of the road. Their headlights were so bright that they illuminated a small area as if it were daytime.

A group of rough men in dark casual clothes were violently pushing seven or eight people with their hands tied behind their backs and rags stuffed in their mouths onto a truck.

Those people had expressions of fear and despair on their faces, and they made muffled groans as they struggled.

Zhou Zhengqing's gaze passed through the car window and fell on a short man wearing a black windbreaker, smoking a cigarette and giving orders next to the truck. His name was Itai Yudai.

What is this bastard doing here? Isn't he supposed to be keeping an eye on those cultural relics?

"Stop the car." Zhou Zhengqing's voice was emotionless.

The convoy slid silently to the side of the road and stopped.

Zhou Zhengqing pushed open the car door and walked out. Lingzi followed closely behind him, keeping half a step away. Nakamura Shunsuke also hurriedly got out from the passenger seat and jogged to catch up.

"Itai-kun." Zhou Zhengqing's voice echoed in the quiet street, with a hint of ridicule: "What a big scene.

What? After hearing that we have obtained the temporary law enforcement power, you can't wait to bring people to the French Concession to test the waters?

Who were they arresting? Anti-Japanese elements?

Upon hearing the voice, Itai Yudai turned around and saw that it was Zhou Zhengqing. He immediately put out his cigarette, walked quickly forward, and gave a standard standing attention bow: "General!" There was a barely perceptible excitement and a look of seeking credit on his face.

He stepped aside and motioned Zhou Zhengqing to look at the people being escorted next to the truck.

Under the bright car lights, the faces of those people were clearly visible. Although they looked disheveled, the ruthlessness and traces of well-trained training remaining deep in their eyes could not be completely concealed.

"They're from the Military Control Commission!" Itai Yudai lowered his voice with a hint of pride: "A group of action teams lurking in the French Concession!"

He paused, a strange and sarcastic smile on his face: "I didn't expect these idiots to be so bold!

They actually planned to set up an ambush tonight on your way back to headquarters from the Santa Ana dance hall!"

The relaxed and teasing look on Zhou Zhengqing's face froze instantly, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

Itai Yudai continued, his tone full of cat-and-mouse playfulness: "However, this matter is very interesting. I would like to report it to you in person."

The night wind seemed even colder, blowing up the fallen leaves on the ground and making them swirl.

The low roar of the truck engine was particularly clear in the silence. Among the Military Control Commission personnel with their mouths gagged, someone struggled to raise his head, staring at Zhou Zhengqing with bloodshot eyes filled with deep hatred and despair.

Zhou Zhengqing stood there quietly, with no expression on his face.

The little bit of ease and comfort that had remained in the dance floor just now had long since disappeared, replaced by a deep pool of silence. He slowly raised his hand and gently stroked the cold hilt of the saber at his waist.

"Very good." He finally spoke, his voice returning to his usual calm, but even colder than before: "Itai-kun, well done. Have someone take them back, and you get in the car with me."

"Hi!!"

Zhou Zhengqing stopped looking at him and turned to walk towards his car. Lingzi silently opened the door for him.

After getting into the car, Zhou Zhengqing leaned back in the back seat and closed his eyes again.

The car door slowly rose, blocking out the noise of the truck engine outside and the desperate gazes.

The car started again on the deserted streets of the French Concession, but the air inside the car was even more stagnant and sticky than before.

Zhou Zhengqing leaned back in the back seat with his eyes closed.

After recounting the incident in detail, Itai Yudai sat in the passenger seat and carefully observed the commander's expression through the rearview mirror.

The convoy drove through several intersections.

Itai seemed to have pondered for a long time, and finally broke the oppressive silence when entering the Japanese concession.

His voice was low, with a hint of deliberate caution: "General... Regarding this ambush tonight, there are some complicated internal circumstances, which may involve disputes within the Military Control Commission."

Zhou Zhengqing didn't even raise his eyelids, just nodded, which was a signal for him to continue.

Ban Jing took a deep breath and spoke faster: "The person who planned the ambush this time was actually from the Second Division of the Military Control Commission! He should have been sent undercover to be with Lao Tan.

Old Tan didn't explain it directly, but I suspect he was trying to tell me that the undercover agent planted by the Second Division near Old Tan might have deliberately instigated Old Tan to carry out this ambush plan!

"Reason?" Zhou Zhengqing's voice was calm.

"They might be trying to make Old Tan and his army unit a target for us, so that they can ambush them under the protection of one of our squadrons. That's basically impossible.

Their goal might just be to get us, the Japanese, to strike at the Second Military Intelligence Bureau's forces in Tianjin." Ban Jing's tone carried the smugness of a hunter who had seen through a trap.

He took a breath and continued, "But that old Tan! He is indeed an old fox! He not only resolutely refused!

It seems... and it seems that he is also keenly aware that there is something wrong with someone around him!"

"So," Zhou Zhengqing's lips curled upward ever so slightly, the arc of his mouth cold and cruel. "When Old Tan blocked the path to instigating a fight, that traitor, or the people behind him, decided to take matters into their own hands and frame them?"

"That's right! General, you're wise!" Ban Jing slapped his thigh heavily, with a mixture of fear and relief: "They probably thought that even if they couldn't kill him with one strike, if they could injure the general or create chaos, that would be a huge achievement!

But they never expected..."

The smugness on Ban Jing's face was mixed with a hint of disbelief: "I never expected that Old Tan, who should have wished you dead, would refuse to take action, and actually... actually 'send' the news to me!

Otherwise, my men wouldn't have been there at that exact moment to block them at the ambush point!"

The street lights passing by outside the car window cast alternating light and dark shadows on Zhou Zhengqing's face, and the ice deep in his eyes seemed to be slowly surging and cracking.

A group of conspirators who would rather use the enemy's hands to eliminate their internal competitors?

This chess game is more interesting than expected.

"Itai-kun." Zhou Zhengqing's voice returned to its usual calmness, but even deeper: "Those survivors, carefully interrogate them.

But the focus is not the specific action plan, but their affiliation, who gave the order, and where the chain of command comes from.

Especially that traitor next to Old Tan! I want to know who he directly reports to."