When Chen Runeng was handing over to Mei Mingzhang, he was attacked by unknown armed forces.
Chen Runeng and the Zhongyi National Salvation Army were beaten and fled. All food, salt and ammunition were lost. Mei Mingzhang and dozens of others were captured. If Mei Mingzhang had not taken off his military uniform in time, he would have almost fallen into the hands of the opponent.
After Xie Xuan heard the news, he rushed to the office immediately.
Xie Xuan asked with a cold face: "What's going on? Why were you attacked?"
Chen Runeng said with lingering fear: "I don't know, we were attacked just as we were about to hand over."
Although he was the number one killer of the military, he had never been on a real battlefield. Bullets were flying everywhere and he almost died there.
Xie Xuan asked: "Who attacked you?"
Chen Runeng said: "It's not like bandits, it's a bit like guerrillas, or even the New Fourth Army."
Xie Xuan asked: "How did they know? Did Mei Mingzhang's receipt get printed?"
Chen Runeng said: "Before I had time to fight, gunshots rang out all around."
Xie Xuan asked: "What did Mei Mingzhang say?"
Chen Runeng said: "It was very chaotic at the time. They just wanted to evacuate and came back without saying hello."
Later, Xie Xuan reported to Li Junshi: "Minister, there are changes in this matter. I want to meet with Mei Mingzhang in person before Mr. Wang comes to explain the situation."
Li Junshi asked worriedly: "He was attacked just now. If you go over there immediately, will there be any danger?"
Xie Xuan was thinking about himself, and he was very touched.
Little did he know that when Xie Xuan went to Northern Jiangsu, it was just like returning to his own home. Neither the Loyalty Salvation Army nor the New Fourth Army would touch him.
Xie Xuan said: "We can't let Cheng Zemin succeed, right? By the way, to show sincerity, we may still need to bring some food and ammunition. Otherwise, it will be difficult for me to talk to Mei Mingzhang."
Li Junshi asked: "Okay, how much more can I give?"
Xie Xuan muttered: "Let's cut it in half. Fifty thousand kilograms of grain, two thousand five hundred kilograms of salt, and fifty thousand ammunition."
Li Junshi said: "Okay, you can make arrangements. In addition, bring more troops."
Xie Xuan was very grateful: "Thank you, Minister, for your concern."
After returning, Xie Xuan asked Ma Tian to lead three action teams. Each team must be equipped with a radio station so that they can communicate with each other and with Suzhou.
In addition, he also went to the military police station, found Captain Imamura, told him that he had a secret operation, and asked him to contact the Japanese army. Once he was attacked, he requested the Japanese army to provide rapid support.
In addition to accompanying the gendarmerie, Xie Xuan also sent telegrams to Jiang Changli of the First Army and Peng Guowen of the Second Army, asking them to send troops to escort them along the way.
If Xie Xuan needs it, he can mobilize more than 10,000 troops at any time.
Finally, Xie Xuan went to Shantang Street and left his action plan. He hoped that Yang Zhiyi's radio station could be sent to the New Fourth Army as quickly as possible and requested the New Fourth Army's cooperation.
Naturally, such a big move could not be hidden from Ueno Naomi. After she heard the news, she found Xie Xuan and wanted to go with her.
Xie Xuan advised: "Miss Shangmei, this mission is very dangerous, and it is not a spy operation. You should stay in Suzhou."
Naomi Ueno insisted, "No, I have to go together."
Xie Xuan said: "Okay, you can go, but you can't interfere with my actions, and you can't inquire about my affairs. Just treat it as a trip. If you agree, you can go together. If you don't agree, you can't go."
Ueno Naomi said: "Okay, I won't pry or interfere with your actions, just keep them mysterious. Just treat me as a blind, deaf and dumb person. Is that okay?"
After leaving Suzhou, Naomi Ueno couldn't help but be curious, and asked Xie Xuan from time to time about the content of this operation.
"Brother Xuan, are you using the food, grass and ammunition this time, or are they for others?"
Xie Xuan asked: "Don't you want to be blind, deaf and mute?"
"But people are curious."
Xie Xuan said: "I can tell you, but you can't tell others."
Ueno Naomi was already involved in this matter, and it was impossible to hide it from her.
Rather than letting her investigate secretly, it is better to be honest with him. Anyway, he is helping Li Junshi plot against Cheng Zemin, and the Japanese should not care.
Ueno Naomi said quickly: "I will definitely not tell others."
Xie Xuan told Ueno Naomi about Chen Runeng's contact with Mei Mingzhang and about sending food and grass.
Ueno Naomi murmured to herself: "How could it be such a coincidence?"
She would not believe a coincidence. There must have been something wrong that caused Chen Runeng to fail in delivering food.
Xie Xuan said: "I have to thank you. If I hadn't accompanied you to Hanshan Temple, I might not have been able to come back."
Ueno Naomi smiled and said: "Look, I am your lucky star."
"Then I have to thank you."
Naomi Ueno asked: "Then tell me more about what's going on here. Who do you think the unknown armed force is?"
Xie Xuan said: "I suspect it is the New Fourth Army, or at least the guerrillas or local forces of the New Fourth Army."
Ueno Naomi asked: "Not many people should know the meeting place agreed upon by Chen Runeng and Mei Mingzhang, right?"
"My side is absolutely confidential. Except for me, Mr. Li, and Chen Runeng, the other escorts don't know about it. But Mei Mingzhang doesn't know about it. You also know that the Loyalty and Salvation Army has no sense of confidentiality at all. They I think the ordinary officers over there know about it.”
"It seems we won't know until we meet Mei Mingzhang."
For safety, Xie Xuan walked slowly.
Ma Tian led a small team to clear the road, with a distance of three kilometers. If there was anything abnormal ahead, Xie Xuan's team would stop.
In the evening of the next day, we arrived at a small town near Mei Mingzhang's residence.
Xie Xuan did not enter the town, and asked people to camp on a hill outside the town. Then he asked Chen Runeng to contact Mei Mingzhang, and the two parties met in an open space outside the town.
Mei Mingzhang is in his forties, with a dark face and thick brows.
He frowned when he saw Xie Xuan was so young and there was a pretty woman next to him.
Chen Runeng introduced: "This is Mr. Xie Xuanxie, deputy director of the Secret Service Department and member of the Qingxiang Committee."
Xie Xuan cupped his hands towards him and said: "Hello, Captain Mei, in addition to discussing the terms of cooperation between the two parties, Xie is here this time to find out who was responsible for the previous attack. If possible, we must pursue him. Return the lost food and fodder.”
Mei Mingzhang sneered: "With just you guys, can you find the lost food and grass?"
Xie Xuan asked: "Does Commander Mei know which team was attacked?"
Mei Mingzhang said: "Taihu Guerrilla Detachment."
Xie Xuan asked again: "How did they know?"
Mei Mingzhang said angrily: "How could I know that?"
Xie Xuan asked: "Didn't Commander Mei have a relationship with the Taihu Guerrilla Detachment?"
Mei Mingzhang shook his head and sneered: "You spies have really long ears. I do have some friendship with the Taihu Guerrilla Detachment, but that's not enough."
