PDLP 158. Sworn an oath by blood
158. Sworn an oath by blood
With only one day left until Lunar New Year's Eve, the atmosphere at the Jing'an Second Branch of the Public Security Bureau was somewhat heavy and oppressive.
Zhou Hongyi kept his promise. After all his colleagues returned to work, he not only prepared rice, flour, and oil for each of them, but also gave them a large red envelope. However, the police officers in the Second Precinct noticed a change in their chief's mood.
If we were to talk about Zhou Hongyi before, he would definitely be considered a representative of being close to his subordinates. He was always smiling at everyone, generous and lavish, and extremely protective of his own. Everyone in the branch office liked him very much.
Today, however, Zhou Hongyi's face no longer held his usual smile; instead, it exuded an aura of authority, an aura that made people unable to look him in the eye and willing to pledge their allegiance.
After distributing the red envelopes, the gates of the Jing'an Second Precinct were locked. Zhou Hongyi stood on a table, looking down at all the police officers, and said in a deep voice, "Brothers, tomorrow is New Year's Eve. After you've received your gifts, go home early and have a good New Year. But I also hope you can remember that while we can have a good New Year, some of our brothers will never be able to."
Those damned Japanese devils killed my men without any reason. Just yesterday, they killed my closest confidant right in front of me, based solely on suspicion, without any concrete evidence. I, Zhou Hongyi, tolerated it then, but I won't back down. While I don't yet have the power to openly challenge them, I will never stand idly by and let my people be bullied! I hope everyone realizes that what they are today could very well be what we face tomorrow. I can't control others, but the brothers of the Jing'an Second Branch must unite as one. Only unity can make us strong!
I have an idea, and I'm only telling you this because we're all brothers. If you're willing to follow me, then you're my own brothers, Zhou Hongyi's brothers. From now on, we'll share life and death, fortune and misfortune. I won't stop you from reporting me, but if we meet again, we'll be enemies. I, Zhou Hongyi, am notorious for holding grudges. I'll make sure you get stabbed three times and stabbed six times. That's not too much to ask, is it?
If anyone tries to play both sides with me, I hope you can escape Shanghai alive. Because once I catch you, not only you, but your whole family will be wiped out. No one will be spared. I'm telling you, even God can't save you!
Now, those who decide to work with Zhou Hongyi, cut your finger with a knife and drink this bowl of wine; those who don't want to work with me, take the money, and I'll send someone to take you out of Shanghai and make your way to the farthest reaches of the world; those who want to betray me, then leave your lives here today. Ten numbers, choose for yourselves. One, two…”
Zhou Hongyi began to count, and the police officers below were infected by his words. They were all filled with righteous indignation. Led by Wang Shun, several captains took the lead and cut their fingers with knives, dripping the blood into the wine glasses in front of them.
"Director Zhou treats us like family. We're all human, and I, Wang Shun, am loyal to you. Wherever you go, I'll go. I know that Director Zhou will never mistreat his brothers, no matter where he goes. With such a leader, what more could we ask for?"
"Exactly! Just look at the people in other branches. They envy our Second Branch so much. I want to work under Director Zhou too!"
"Born in chaotic times, we all live by risking our lives. With Director Zhou backing us up, it's better than being someone else's scapegoat. I'll do it too!"
"Just tell us, Chief, who do you want us to take down? We brothers won't hesitate."
The police officers, one after another, cut their fingers in protest. A few, however, remained undecided. Zhou Hongyi, having activated his [Eye of Insight], knew their thoughts. He beckoned to one of the officers, who approached with his head down. But when the officer was three steps away from Zhou Hongyi, he suddenly looked up and plunged his knife into Zhou Hongyi's throat.
"what?"
His actions shocked everyone, but he was too close to Zhou Hongyi for anyone to react.
Zhou Hongyi had noticed him long ago; the moment the guy looked up, his defeat was inevitable.
Zhou Hongyi dodged to the left, his hands moving in a swift motion, his right hand gripping the other man's wrist while his left hand braced against his elbow. The policeman, who had suddenly launched his attack, thrust his knife forward, but in the blink of an eye, the knife had strangely plunged into his own chest.
Zhou Hongyi held his wrist like that, letting him stab himself in the chest. In the other man's terrified and incredulous eyes, he used more force to make the knife go deeper, and even twisted it.
The policeman coughed up blood and his body went limp. Zhou Hongyi grabbed his hair and pulled the knife out of his chest. Blood spurted into the air, soaking the surrounding policemen in blood.
"Brothers, look closely. This man is the spy planted by the Special Higher Police among me. They don't trust me. Although I've known this for a long time, I haven't exposed him. But today, he knows too much and must be eliminated. I'll ask you one last time: Who is willing to follow me, Zhou Hongyi? Who wants to give up and stay out of this?"
At this moment, Zhou Hongyi was also covered in blood. Coupled with his powerful aura and ferocious expression, the policemen who were still hesitating swallowed hard and decisively cut their fingers, dripping the blood into their glasses.
Zhou Hongyi glanced around and said, "Alright, since you brothers trust me, rest assured, following Zhou Hongyi will make your lives ten or even a hundred times more exciting than others. Come, let's drink this cup together!"
"Drink this cup together!"
Everyone drank the blood wine in their hands in one gulp. In an instant, everyone's blood boiled and their emotions soared. They couldn't wait to grab their guns and rush out to fight the Japanese devils.
This is the seed that Zhou Hongyi planted earlier, which has begun to sprout. He used hatred and fear as nourishment and water it, and now it has finally blossomed and borne fruit.
After drinking a toast with all the police officers from the Second Precinct and pledging allegiance to each other, Zhou Hongyi assigned them their first task: to have a good New Year and keep everything as usual.
He wouldn't presume to confront the Japanese army in Shanghai head-on with just a hundred or so policemen; he would remain hidden in the shadows. However, the recent Japanese mopping-up operations had severely impacted the intelligence systems of the Communist Party, the Kuomintang, and even Zhou Hongyi himself. For someone engaged in underground work, if intelligence transmission was disrupted, wouldn't that be laughable? Therefore, Zhou Hongyi's first task was to repair his own intelligence network and connect it with the Communist Party, the Kuomintang, the guerrillas, and even other patriots, weaving it into a larger, more complex, three-dimensional network.
Now, all the people he can use can become his eyes and ears and mouthpiece. These hundred-plus police officers will be dressed in police uniforms and scattered throughout every corner of Shanghai. He will either bind them with benefits or intimidate them with force, and he is not afraid that there will be traitors among them. In the subsequent subtle exchanges, Zhou Hongyi will also use his superb rhetoric to brainwash and train these people.
With these police officers as his eyes and ears, his sources of information were secured. However, since they were police officers, they could only collect intelligence. Using them to transmit intelligence would make them too conspicuous. Therefore, Zhou Hongyi needed another group of people who were familiar with the terrain of Shanghai, especially the back streets and alleys, and who were also clever and agile.
After considering all these characteristics, Zhou Hongyi almost instantly pictured the image of the little newsboy.
That's right, these little newsboys are the best candidates. Now, more and more newsboys are enrolling in the school run by Zhou Pan'er. Zhou Hongyi can organize them and teach them some necessary counter-surveillance knowledge. With the intelligence of Xi Yazi and the others, they should be able to digest it quickly. Letting them deliver messages will definitely be twice as effective.