Green Mountain
Chapter 144 - 103, Lu Jin

Chapter 144: 103, Lu Jin

Military Intelligence Department Chief.

These five characters seemed to possess some kind of magic over the Spies.

From the day they joined the Spy Department, their instructors, their superiors, were constantly reminding them, "Find the Military Intelligence Department Chief, capture the Military Intelligence Department Chief."

The moment Chen Ji spoke those words, a few Spies in black attire unconsciously drew their blades in the dimly lit alley!

Under the night sky, dozens of gazes simultaneously turned toward West Wind.

West Wind stood next to the gray tiles and white walls, a bit flustered under their stares, and he looked at Jin Zhu, "Lord, how did I become the Military Intelligence Department Chief? I’m not any Division Head."

Jin Zhu was initially taken aback, but then he understood what Chen Ji intended to do, and he patted West Wind’s shoulder with a smile, "If I say you are, then you are."

West Wind panicked even more, "You’re not planning to sacrifice an innocent to achieve merit and present me as the Military Intelligence Department Chief to the court, are you?"

Jin Zhu’s expression darkened, and he took off the wooden ox mask from his face, knocking on West Wind’s head, "Looking at how timid you are, son, it’s no wonder I haven’t been able to promote you to Hai Dongqing’s position all these years. I really don’t understand why I promoted you in the first place!"

West Wind hastily said, "Of course, it’s because I’m utterly loyal to you!"

Jin Zhu laughed in annoyance, "We’re having you impersonate the Military Intelligence Department Chief to deceive the Liu Family, not to hand you over to the court."

West Wind breathed a sigh of relief, but then he grew more panicked, "I can’t impersonate him."

Standing by and wearing a tiger mask, Chen Ji calmly said, "Gentlemen, now is not the time for jesting. The Military Intelligence Department Chief is a mystery; perhaps many Jing Dynasty spies have never even seen what he looks like. If we impersonate him, we can lure out more secrets from the Liu Family. Lord, if you still trust me, let me make the arrangements from now on."

Jin Zhu sized up Chen Ji, but Chen Ji’s face remained hidden behind the tiger mask. He silently pondered for a few seconds, "You tell us what we should do, and we’ll follow your plan this time."

The Spies suddenly looked at Chen Ji.

One Spy asked doubtfully, "Lord?"

Jin Zhu raised his hand to stop him from continuing, "No need for further words."

Chen Ji looked toward West Wind, "West Wind, let me ask you, who is the Military Intelligence Department Chief’s superior? What position do they hold?"

West Wind thought for two seconds before answering, "The superior of the Military Intelligence Department Chief is naturally the Jing Dynasty Military Strategist Envoy. The former one was Lu Jin, but it’s now the recently appointed Lu Guanwu."

Chen Ji continued to inquire, "What position did Lu Guanwu hold before he became the Military Strategist Envoy?"

West Wind responded, "Before that, he was... a member of the Privy Council?"

Chen Ji asked further, "And before that?"

West Wind was taken aback, "Lu Guanwu previously laid low in the Privy Council and was inconspicuous, so few people paid attention to what he did before that. Besides, we soldiers don’t need to remember all that."

Saying so, he turned to look at the black-clad Spies in the alley, all wearing bamboo hats, "Do you know?"

The Spies looked at one another and silently shook their heads.

Chen Ji turned to Jin Zhu, "This is where the problem lies. Liu Mingxian is highly cautious, and there will surely be probes when we meet in three days. If West Wind is to impersonate the Division Head, we first have to make him familiar with various Jing Dynasty information."

"That makes sense," Jin Zhu nodded, "Let’s go, we’re heading to the inner prison. The Imperial Capital sends new official gazettes to the various Spy Departments each month to update some information. The gazettes for Henan Province are all stored inside the Luocheng City inner prison."

Chen Ji appeared puzzled, "I’ve been to the inner prison before, so why haven’t I seen these gazettes?"

Jin Zhu glanced at him, "These gazettes can only be read by great Spies at or above the Hai Dongqing level; naturally, you can’t see them. However, under pressing circumstances, we might have to make an exception today."

Chen Ji thought for a moment, "We don’t need to go to the inner prison. The journey is far, and it takes two hours to go back and forth every time, besides having to be blindfolded when entering and exiting, which is quite inconvenient. Rather, let Lord Jin Zhu send someone to escort these gazettes to Zhou Chengyi’s Mansion where we can set up a temporary strategic room."

Jin Zhu agreed at once, "Everything will be as you arrange! West Wind, take people with you!"

West Wind complied and summoned a horse-drawn carriage from another alley. He fetched a footstool and placed it on the ground, "Lord, please get in the carriage."

"Hold on."

Everyone looked toward the source of the voice and saw Chen Ji slowly approaching the carriage, examining West Wind, "Such a manner is unlike the dignified Military Intelligence Department Chief; where does a Division Head fuss over others as if he were their servant?"

West Wind replied in astonishment, "Isn’t it supposed to be three days from now? I am not the Division Head yet."

Chen Ji spoke, "If you don’t pay attention to details, sooner or later the opponent will discover something amiss. From this moment on, you are the true Military Intelligence Department Chief. Come, help the Division Head up."

Jin Zhu walked over with a smile, arranging the footstool, "Division Head, if you please."

West Wind protested in a panic, "Lord, please get in the carriage first."

Jin Zhu’s smile vanished abruptly, "Cut the chatter. If you ruin our big plan three days from now, I will strip you naked and hang you in front of the Imperial Music Bureau’s gate, so you can never hold your head up again in this lifetime!"

Hearing this, West Wind took a deep breath, stood tall and proud, and stepped onto the footstool onto the carriage.

Just as he was about to lift the curtain himself, Chen Ji stepped forward and lifted it for him, "Division Head, after you."

...

...

Inside the swaying carriage compartment, accompanied by the clatter of wooden wheels on cobblestone, West Wind sat in the back center, while Chen Ji and Jin Zhu sat facing each other.

Amidst the tense atmosphere, an uneasy West Wind silently pulled out a copper hand warmer from beneath his seat.

He pulled a fire inch from his bosom, wanting to ignite the silver charcoal powder inside.

However, he heard Chen Ji calmly say, "This is not something the Division Head should do."

West Wind offered a sheepish smile, "It’s cold, just trying to warm Lord Jin Zhu’s hands."

Yet Chen Ji’s expression remained unchanged as he solemnly said, "I’m not joking with you both; this is the Spy Department’s closest approach to the Liu Family. As long as we gain their trust, the rewards will be within easy reach."

He shifted gears, "Liu Mingxian is cunning and crafty; child’s play will never fool him. If he detects something amiss during our meeting in three days, he might completely retreat and remain inactive. Therefore, you both must act seriously; only if you believe it yourselves will Liu Mingxian be convinced."

West Wind was taken aback, then turned to look at Jin Zhu; his voice trembled, "Little... Little Jin, will you light the hand warmer for me?"

Jin Zhu: "..."

The corners of his mouth twitched, but without hesitation, he took the fire inch and copper hand warmer, offering a flattering smile to West Wind, "Division Head, it’s such a trivial matter for you to bother about. I deserve death for my fault."

West Wind shuddered, "Please don’t be like this, Lord. I’m scared."

Jin Zhu pressed on his shoulder, his voice icy, "You know how much I want to slaughter the entire Liu Family, make their men slaves and women harlots, never able to turn over again. In the face of this, ranks, pride, dignity, all mean nothing. Sit up straight and perform well!"

West Wind gradually calmed down, "Yes, I understand!"

Jin Zhu sneered, "Say it again!"

"I understand."

Chen Ji quietly watched this scene unfold, and he suddenly started to believe the story Jin Zhu had told.

While Jin Zhu lit the charcoal powder, he turned to Chen Ji and asked intently, "What should we do with that Deputy Director?"

Chen Ji pondered for a moment, "If we’re going to act, we must go all the way. Have our Spy pretend to be a Jing Dynasty spy, secretly send the Deputy Director North, and don’t come back until the job is done."

"Okay," Jin Zhu subconsciously tucked the newly lit copper hand warmer in his hands.

Suddenly, West Wind reached out, "Little... Little Jin, the copper hand warmer."

Jin Zhu was startled, hurriedly pushing the hand warmer into West Wind’s bosom.

The carriage slowly came to a halt.

Jin Zhu was the first to climb out of the carriage, placing a footstool for West Wind like a servant, lifting the carriage curtain.

West Wind felt some apprehension, but Chen Ji calmly instructed, "Remember the most imposing personages you’ve encountered. What was their demeanor like?"

West Wind ventured, "Lord Wu Xiu?"

"I haven’t met Lord Wu Xiu. Just imitate him."

West Wind closed his eyes to recall, and when he opened them again, his demeanor had completely changed.

He descended from the carriage with a look of haughtiness, straightened his back after stepping out, didn’t give Jin Zhu another glance, and walked into Zhou Mansion as if no one else was present.

As soon as he crossed the threshold, West Wind turned back in delight, "Lord, is this the kind of impression you meant?"

Chen Ji smiled and confirmed, "Exactly, Division Head."

West Wind spread his hands to inspect himself, feeling quite satisfied. Then turned around and adopted the haughty demeanor again, striding into the backyard.

An hour later, Spies from the inner prison transported four wooden boxes, each sealed with a Yellow Paper Talisman.

Inside Zhou Chengyi’s study, Jin Zhu took a short knife to cut his own forehead, dabbed the fresh blood with his finger, and smeared it on the talisman seals, before peeling each one off, "Everything from the last three years is here."

Chen Ji handed a gazette to West Wind, "You must read all these official gazettes within three days. After three days, you have to be more knowledgeable about the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department than anyone in our Spy Department; you must be able to answer every question Liu Mingxian might have."

After speaking, he picked up a gazette and started reading it at Zhou Chengyi’s desk.

Jin Zhu rested his hand on the gazette Chen Ji was reading, smiling almost mockingly through the tiger mask, "The gazettes are critical to the Spy Department, and not something a Pigeon-level Spy should see. West Wind gets special permission because of the mission, but you... why do I feel like you’re here for these gazettes?"

Chen Ji moved Jin Zhu’s hand away and interjected, "Lord Jin Zhu, I need to read them, and so do you. It’s inappropriate for someone at the Division Head’s side to be clueless about the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department. Lord, is there anything more important than bringing down the Liu Family?"

He sat at the desk, looking directly into Jin Zhu’s eyes, unflinching behind the tiger mask.

After a moment, Jin Zhu suddenly laughed, "Somehow, I feel like I’m working a case with Lord Binghu, as if you’ve really become one of the Top Three, Lord Binghu himself."

"May it come to pass as you’ve said."

Jin Zhu pulled over a chair and sat across from Chen Ji, "Then let’s read together."

Chen Ji looked down and continued reading the gazette. However, the first gazette made his pupils contract slightly: In the summer of the 31st year of Jianing, Si Caoren was transferred to the Imperial Capital through Jinmen, dismissing his entourage and disappearing without a trace, suspected of meeting with an important figure, likely related to Lu Jin’s removal from office.

That single sentence carried too much information; the Ning Dynasty Secret Spy Department knew there were multiple Si Caos, and that they took their code names from the heavenly stems and earthly branches.

Moreover, the Ning Dynasty Secret Spy Department was also well-aware that the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department was in the midst of a power transition.

As Chen Ji read on, he unintentionally looked up, only to find that Jin Zhu wasn’t looking at the gazette in his own hands, but was glancing towards Chen Ji.

When Jin Zhu saw him looking over, he said with a smile, "Interested in this Lord Lu Jin? He’s the real deal. Our Spy Department has been butting heads with him for years, often at a loss."

Chen Ji’s insides tightened, then he casually responded, "I wouldn’t say interested. I’m just wondering if the infighting among the Jing Dynasty villains was precisely because of Lu Jin stepping down."