Chapter 236: Gambling on Corners
April 26th, Sunday, Capital City.
The military vehicle stopped outside the courtyard. Before Han Jieqian could turn off the engine, he saw his aunt Han Ting standing at the gate with a formal smile, waiting to greet him.
Han Ting glanced at Han Jieqian, whose hands were full of gifts, nodded slightly, and then approached Han Guowei. “Brother, Uncle just returned from the hospital a while ago… You all have been coming here in droves these days, and his insomnia has worsened again.”
Hehe, who asked us to be so lacking in ability? We need him to give us some guidance and advice at work.”
Han Guowei chuckled self-deprecatingly and walked into the courtyard.
Han Jieqian hurried a few steps to catch up but was stopped by Han Ting before entering. Her expression was somewhat serious: “Xiao Ge, I heard my father mention that you represented the Intelligence Bureau and went to the Wang family last time?”
Han Jieqian was taken aback, instinctively straightening his body and feeling a bit nervous.
The aunt in front of him, Han Ting—or big sister, as one might say—was the eldest daughter of Han Zhongzi from the Han family’s third branch, as well as the direct sister of Han Ping, the vice president of Huayao Group. She held the rank of major general and served as the deputy minister of the Dark Arrow Political Affairs Department, wielding considerable power.
Han Ting’s work capabilities were well recognized, and she was one of the more “productive” women married into the Han family, having given birth to a son and two daughters, although the son died young, leaving behind two daughters who grew into adulthood.
Within the heavily male-centric atmosphere of the Han family, Han Ting harbored a sense of resentment and found it difficult to truly connect with her nephews and nieces like Han Jieqian who seemed to “change tracks.”
“Each task at headquarters follows a strict organizational process, especially at the Intelligence Bureau. Aunt reminds you privately, don’t wade into murky waters that shouldn’t be waded into; you’re still too young.”
Han Ting’s words were somewhat pointed, but looking at the matter itself, it didn’t seem particularly targeted.
Han Jieqian adjusted the items in his hands and forced a smile: “I understand, I follow the leaders’ arrangements.”
As he walked past Han Ting, Han Jieqian moved forward confidently, having made a preliminary judgment in his mind: Han Ting was unlikely to be a mole.
Although her position was important, she had not entered the core decision-making circle of Dark Arrow. Her husband, Deputy Minister of Operations, Lu, was the one who had access to some secrets regarding the Blood Dragon Brigade.
The case of Zhen Guangquan, while handled under a state of secrecy, had a significant impact on Han Ting. She had strongly recommended Zhen Guangquan for the position of chief of staff of the Western Inspection Area last year, and any achievements he made brought her face.
However, the degree of trust and support she initially offered Zhen Guangquan now felt awkward.
During these days, Han Ting had to be very diligent in staying by Han Zhongliang’s side to take care of him, leveraging the old man’s influence in Dark Arrow so that she and Minister Lu wouldn’t get implicated.
In the sky, the spring sunshine was bright, and in the back courtyard, flowers bloomed in riotous color. The flowers cultivated over the years around the courtyard wall were competing for beauty, yet the atmosphere on site felt somewhat oppressive.
“Yesterday, Ye Zhijun came to tell me… Remember when you first consulted me about this? I warned you not to rely too much on the Wang family, as they ultimately have their own interests at stake. Even if there are some agreements, they do not align with our beliefs.”
Han Zhongliang, reclining in a chair, slightly closed his eyes, while several juniors around patiently listened.
With the Wang family having turned internal, they were seriously injured and it was hard to say it wasn’t a result of their competition with the Huguer family. The current environment is not wartime; they are now more concerned with the stability of interests among the blood clans of Huaguo.
“Look at the Liang family’s internal strife. In addition to sending personnel to intervene, they immediately took control of many of the Liang family’s assets, under the guise of protecting national assets. Hehe, those who don’t know would think it’s a fee collected for participation… now they’re playing the game of price manipulation again.”
Han Zhongliang went on with a lengthy discourse, clearly showing dissatisfaction with the outcome of this negotiation with the Wang family.
“Then, let’s follow Ye Zhijun’s suggestion. I’ll discuss it with Zhong Xianyu and find a time to send out a second representative to negotiate again with the Wang family.”
Han Guowei understood his father’s meaning and nodded slowly.
It was too late!
Han Zhongliang opened his eyes with a cold expression: “Ye Zhijun mentioned it to me yesterday, and I shamelessly followed up, but the other party didn’t even acknowledge my attempts.”
The Wang family suspected that Dark Arrow also had moles, this overt manipulation was executed perfectly, yet it left the Han family exposed. If any errors occurred, a puddle of muddy water wouldn’t turn into anything less than excrement!
Though the words sounded rough, they contained truth, and Han Guowei exchanged a glance with his cousin Han Pan, feeling quite awkward. As for the timid Han Jielise, she did not dare make a sound.
“Han Jielise!”
“I’m here, Second Uncle!”
Hearing the old man calling for her, Han Jielise quickly tidied up and walked over beside her direct aunt.
Although the Wang family had the motives of stirring up discord and bargaining, ultimately it was the safest way and was also your second experience! The previous generation of men in the Han family hadn’t died out yet, and the burden must be placed on your shoulders.
“Before the Wang family changes its strategy, you must step up. Don’t hesitate to discuss anything uncertain with your third uncle, Wu Zhongxian, or Ye Zhijun for advice. If worse comes to worst, your grandfather can still provide references, understand?”
“In any future dealings with the Wang family, you need to think twice before acting. Don’t just blurt things out on a whim or make inquiries haphazardly; people’s intentions are concealed. Those folks are all hundreds of years old, mind you!”
Han Zhongliang slowly rose from the recliner, turning his gaze directly at his grandson, his body slightly tilting; Han Pan quickly supported him.
“Mm, I understand!”
Han Jielise nodded, glancing at her third uncle Han Guowei, noticing he seemed a bit distracted.
“By the way, Second Brother, I’ve heard Wu Zhongxian and Lu Shanghe are preparing to move the main forces of the Blood Dragon Brigade south. Tingting, are you aware of this matter? Why is it so difficult to select a few people?”
Han Zhongliang seemingly lost interest in discussing the Wang family and turned his attention to Han Pan.
“Second Uncle, Old Lu never brings up these specific tasks at home. If you ask me, I don’t know either…”
Han Jielise was somewhat taken aback, not expecting the old man would begin questioning her, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
Han Guowei thought for a moment and quickly put on a smile. “Dad, Minister Lu has only been involved with the Blood Dragon Brigade for a few years; it’s not just him, by the time I or Wu Zhongxian would be able to grasp it, it would still be uncertain, since this time a vast number of troops need to be extracted, far more than just a few or a dozen individuals.”
“The Blood Dragon Brigade is too young; they simply cannot compare to the secret units in Europe and America that have accumulated experience over a century. They’re starting from zero in many aspects. From the moment they were established, they’ve adhered to our military tradition of training the old with the new, prioritizing the capable. If extreme casualties occur, it might affect future operations…”
Listening to his son’s explanation, Han Zhongliang’s expression gradually improved, and he finally sighed softly, “I understand. Lu Shanghe likely approached me with the same concerns, fearing responsibility… How about this, he and Wu Zhongxian should bring the files and preliminary selection lists over in a few days, and I’ll help sort through them and give you some suggestions.”
“That’s great, Second Uncle! My husband is under a lot of pressure this time, and Wu Zhongxian calls home often at midnight; if he can get your guidance, the work will be much easier!”
Upon hearing this, Han Jielise hastily steadied the older gentleman, feeling elated that the old man was helping ease the pressures on her husband—this is what it meant to be the backbone of the Han family; a little nudge to the juniors could resolve numerous troubles.
“Alas, I won’t live many more years; in the future, it will be up to you siblings to support the Han family… Furthermore, since Zhen Guangquan’s matter has already been concluded by the organization, let it go; don’t keep harming more people for a lifetime.”
“Let’s leave it at that for today. You all can go about your business; if you want to wait for dinner together later, that’s fine too.”
Just a few exchanges left Han Zhongliang looking fatigued, signaling the end of the conversation.
After exchanging a glance with his nephew, Han Guowei silently nodded, donned his military cap, and sent the old man back to his room.
…
On the way back to the headquarters’ guesthouse, the uncle and nephew didn’t speak, as if an invisible membrane sealed off their desire and space for communication.
“Aren’t you going to write me a new report? How much longer will it take?”
The car slowly stopped in the guesthouse’s parking lot, and just as Han Jielise’s hand approached the door handle, she heard Han Guowei let out a sigh from the passenger seat.
Han Jielise was taken aback, releasing the door handle and began to observe the vehicle’s interior and corners.
“Hehe, you’re quite cautious. What, afraid someone planted a bomb in the car? Don’t worry; this vehicle was selected randomly from a subordinate team of the central inspection area, and my confidential secretary has checked it.”
Han Guowei watched as his niece fidgeted with this and that, the serious atmosphere he had created finally dissipating.
“Hehe…”
Han Jieqian forced a smile, straightened up his posture, then took out his document bag from behind and flipped through a few handwritten notes: “I haven’t finished yet; how about you take a look first while I explain?”
Han Guowei glanced at her mysterious expression, silently took the papers, and began to read them line by line.
After about ten minutes, Han Guowei wore a strange expression as he crumpled the sheets of paper and stuffed them into his military uniform pocket.
“I know that Ye Zhijun has some points of suspicion, but your speculations are too numerous, and not a shred of solid evidence has emerged; that’s your old flaw.”
Han Guowei pointed at his pocket with a serious expression.
“Director Ye has always coordinated all intelligence work for Dark Arrow; even the preliminary intelligence deployments related to operational actions in the various inspection areas are reviewed by him… He even has the authority to filter and select analysis conclusions before you and Wu, the Chief of Staff, see them.”
“Third Uncle, when our special operations group faces critical matters, when have we ever insisted on incontrovertible evidence first? To eliminate hazards, we should think of the worst possible scenarios first… Zhen Guangquan serves as a cautionary tale; if we’d only acted sooner…”
At this point, Han Jieqian’s expression soured, filled with a kind of deeply conflicting tension.
Han Jieqian knew that Ye Zhijun could almost be described as his third uncle’s childhood friend, having grown up together in the same yard, and sharing a mentor-student relationship with the old man. To question Ye Zhijun would be to implicate the Han family.
“Continue talking!”
Han Guowei’s expression was much calmer than his niece’s, simply looking ahead with an indifferent tone.
“That day I asked you, who knows about the relationship between our Han family and the Wang family. Second Uncle, you, and I, besides that, there’s also Wu, the Chief of Staff, and Director Ye; that makes a total of five people.”
“It was Director Ye who first suggested that a member of the Han family engage with the Wang family to restore relations. You mentioned that during the party committee meeting, both you and Wu, the Chief of Staff, voted against it, considering the Han family’s sensitivity; the unwritten rule in Dark Arrow is that the Han family does not engage directly with the Wang family.”
“But afterward, Director Ye sought out Second Uncle directly and persuaded Grandfather to call Wu, the Chief of Staff, and during the second vote, you abstained, which allowed the resolution to pass.”
As Han Jieqian spoke, he subconsciously glanced out the car window.
“How do you know Old Ye sought out Grandfather at that time?”
Han Guowei was taken aback, displaying a hint of confusion.
Han Jieqian embarrassedly touched his head: “My mom mentioned it; it was her turn to take care of Second Uncle. Director Ye at that time particularly emphasized my advantage, saying I was the last male heir of this generation in the Han family, which could increase the probability of success.”
Hearing this, Han Guowei couldn’t help but let out a chuckle, feeling somewhat helpless: when it comes to intelligence, they just love to pry into people’s minds, and as a result, the Wang family produced an outcome that everyone found unacceptable, leaving us in a precarious situation.
“But that only proves that Ye Zhijun has a certain degree of suspicion but not enough! Everything you wrote is merely circumstantial or coincidental; it can only serve as conjecture, not conclusion.”
Han Guowei shook his head, neither fully denying nor granting ultimate approval of his niece’s earlier words.
“Third Uncle, concerning the truth, ten pieces of indirect evidence could form a direct conclusion. Ten coincidences could lead to a necessity! I can only catch these traces and piece them together, otherwise, what’s the point of us doing intelligence analysis?”
Han Jieqian clearly felt somewhat unconvinced, directly turning her head, angrily choosing not to speak.
“Hehe, you’ve grown stronger, and now you’re throwing a tantrum at me, trying to force my acknowledgment?”
Han Guowei responded with a snort, crossing his arms and allowing a self-mocking smile to grace his lips.
The old and young faced off in silent confrontation, creating an awkward atmosphere in the car.
“Kid, I want to take a gamble.”
Minutes later, Han Guowei suddenly spoke softly.
Han Jieqian blinked, turning her head, puzzled: “Gamble? Gamble on what?”
“The Wang family’s overt plans may seem like they are meant to defend against moles, but defense is ultimately passive.”
The two Wang family members you mentioned are actually an opportunity for us to turn the tables.
“A thousand-year-old turtle isn’t necessarily a pejorative term; these people have nearly become spirits…”
Han Guowei took off his military cap, holding it in his hands, his eyes gradually lighting up with a glint of excitement. “What I’m betting on first is whether we can seize this opportunity!”
Han Jieqian listened with rapt attention; upon hearing the word “active” she appeared contemplative.
Han Guowei took a deep breath, as if making a significant decision: “The second operation I’m organizing, rather than saying it’s a matter of the southern inspection area, it’s better to view it as a decisive battle with Dark Arrow and the behind-the-scenes puppet masters!”
“Even if the intelligence passed by the Wang family is only known to you, as long as you speak it out loud, it’s no longer a secret. It will inevitably reflect in my operational planning and intelligence work, and hidden moles within the headquarters will know.”
“For the moles, it’s merely taking one extra step, and whatever scheme they intend to implement, they will still be unprepared. Thus, while outwardly eliminating interference from moles in the intelligence transmission process, it doesn’t change the passive situation.”
“So starting now, any intelligence you obtain from the Wang family must not be disclosed entirely; you even need to learn to lie, and best of all if you can trick even me…”
At that moment, every word Han Guowei spoke left Han Jieqian speechless.
“What’s wrong, can’t understand? Heh, I can’t believe Wu Zhongxian went so far as to sing your praises!”
Han Guowei shot his niece a glance before letting out another cold laugh.
“Third Uncle, your second bet is whether the Wang family will secretly make a move, prompting me to easily cooperate with them to help Dark Arrow get through this hurdle?”
After a few minutes, Han Jieqian regained her senses and revealed a bitter smile: “Third Uncle, even if the Wang family still has strength, it’s primarily to guard against the Engel family. Besides, I can’t divulge Dark Arrow’s plans to the Wang family unilaterally, right?”
“Correct, you’re not stupid. However, don’t underestimate these old turtles. The Blood Dragon Brigade is already exposed; they can’t possibly be unaware of Dark Arrow’s current situation. If Dark Arrow continues to operate independently, the first to suffer losses will be the Wang family!”
Han Guowei smiled and continued to explain: “The Wang family in our eyes may greatly differ from the true Wang family… If Dark Arrow experiences any unexpected incidents this time and becomes incapacitated, do you think the Wang family will have it any easier?”
“Dark Arrow and the Wang family are two sides of the same coin. This is something your great-grandmother said long ago. Without the Wang family, Dark Arrow would be blind; yet without Dark Arrow, how can the Wang family receive the state’s covert backing against the pressure from the entire European and American blood clans?”
“I think we’ve reached such a moment again because the deployment of the Blood Dragon Brigade signifies Dark Arrow’s all-out effort. However, the strategy this time must be different, with Dark Arrow and the Wang family needing to fight their own battles to make it impossible for moles to grasp the reality.”
Han Guowei’s expression grew increasingly serious, and Han Jieqian couldn’t help but nod in agreement repeatedly.
“Han Jieqian, from now on, you are still an intelligence officer under Ye Zhijun, but I will allow you to operate independently. In any way you deem appropriate, gain the Wang family’s trust, earn their recognition, and prompt them to place their bets!”
“I will share all my plans and intentions with you for close cooperation with the Wang family; you can assess the significance at your discretion without needing to consult me.”
“From now on, treat all top executives, myself included, as moles!”
As Han Guowei finished speaking, he placed his hand on Han Jieqian’s shoulder, slowly tightening his grip, as if conveying all his expectations upon her shoulders.
No wonder the Wang family’s view of Third Uncle is that he is a bold yet meticulous person; he dares to think whatever he wants, and the key is that he dares to act… Han Jieqian found herself sweating profusely, her heart racing considerably.
But Third Uncle, can I really rely on just my mouth, two eyes, and two ears to pull the Wang family down with me?
In fact, the only feasible plan to deceive moles is worth a bet, but with my youth and inexperience, once I step outside the Dark Arrow framework, it is impractical to play any tricks with the Wang family, making it difficult to support Han Guowei’s operational actions.
“You’re worried about lacking capital? Hehe…”
A mysterious smile suddenly appeared on Han Guowei’s face: “Think again… Actually, you possess a type of operational resource that even I can’t acquire, but you’ve got to fight for it yourself…”
The action resources I possess, how could a small character like me possibly have… wait a minute, it seems I might have…
“Are you referring to… Meng Huai?”
Han Jieqian finally understood Han Guowei’s meaning, her heart instantly lighting up, her eyes starting to shine.
“Yes, exactly. The strategic seeds can mobilize Dark Arrow’s top-tier operational resources in the shortest time, even the rocket forces, without requiring any post-explanation. This is a privilege even I, as a commander of the inspection area, do not possess.”
“Although you are just his straw man, if you can reach an understanding with him and leverage his authority, it won’t be difficult to use tactical missiles from the rocket forces.”
Meng Huai has already employed this once; do you think he is qualified to serve as your operational resource in collaborating with the Wang family? The truth is, I know you have long violated discipline and have been privately communicating with Meng Huai, but this is the opportunity you need to seize.”
Having said that, Han Guowei opened the car door and briskly left.
Right, Meng Ge mobilized aerial strike forces at the Old Street in Northern Myanmar, nearly eliminating the Black Blood Clan in Northern Myanmar, with all credit going to the Western Inspection Area… Han Jieqian clenched her fist, feeling increasingly excited as she thought.
Wait, the two members of the Wang family have been saying I am trustworthy and that we can cooperate, is not just empty flattery but rather a profound hint directed explicitly at me… Perhaps they have already calculated that someone from Dark Arrow would catch on to this and dare to take the gamble!
To avoid moles, dividing into two teams, one exposed and one hidden!
If that were the case, then the two women from the Wang family would indeed be terrifying!
Han Jieqian murmured to herself, feeling palms drenched with sweat.
…
…
By 7 PM.
Jiang Yan was still on leave, and Meng Huai remained diligently at the Golden River Club, like an introverted youth afflicted with autism, alone in the surveillance room, guarding an extremely monotonous post.
“Meng Huai, I’m sorry, Xiaodong and I are heading out for dinner; I’m counting on you to keep an eye on things. We should be back by around 11. I’ve locked the basement passage door, so you don’t need to check.”
Liang Tai poked his head into the surveillance room, sporting a silly grin. Probably because of the hope of love, any man would appear considerably more spirited or impulsive.
For instance, Liang Tai, who used to appear once a week, now popped up eight times in a day at the Golden Hall, using all sorts of excuses to bump into Xiaodong, saying a word or two, or even pulling a chair over.
Meng Huai smiled but said nothing, simply waving his hand.
Once the door closed, Meng Huai took out his phone, switched to a specific SIM card, and looked over the text message he received a few minutes prior, feeling quite puzzled.
The message was a string of Arabic numerals, grouped in fours, serving as an encryption method for non-face-to-face communication that he had arranged with Han Jieqian.
This was the first time they had used such a method, and the length was substantial right from the start.
Meng Huai pondered for a moment; he still returned to his room, retrieved a book, and began to decipher the encrypted message.
It took him over half an hour before he managed to translate the entire text.
Han Jieqian: Meng Ge, help me get a set of psychological test questions specifically for the special operations group or for the Blood Dragon Brigade, with standard conclusions.
Strange; he is a member of the special operations group himself; why does he still need me to intervene?
He doesn’t want anyone to know he wants these things… But what is he planning? Who is he testing privately?
Meng Huai thought for a while and decided he would reach out to the Strategic Task Support Center after midnight.
