Chapter 47: It turned out to be an undercover agent

  The atmosphere in the living room suddenly became particularly heavy.

  Lan Xin put down the bowl in her hand and stared at Irina in a daze, clearly extremely shocked.

  Ziwei and Ziling stood behind Tang Chao and Lanxin respectively, exchanging secret glances with each other, their eyes filled with astonished expressions.

  Tang's face showed no emotion, looking very calm as he pulled out a cigar, struck a match and seriously toasted the tobacco leaves back and forth.

  Irina took a deep breath and looked fairly calm and composed.

  "I'm just a slave of the Mu family from now on, can't control my own destiny like before, and said a few words of complaint." Irina obviously didn't plan to argue back, in a slightly aggrieved tone, calmly said: "If this is also considered a crime against the heavenly way, I have nothing to say."

  "You dare to meddle in the affairs of my Mu family! When did it become your turn to speak out of turn?" Mu Haolin gritted his teeth, pointing at Irina's high-bridged nose, and said indignantly: "Irina, in the second year of Xuantong, you came to Canglong Ridge. Over the years, I, Mu Haolin, have always treated you with courtesy and respect, as if you were a superior guest. Don't think that no one knows about those things you did behind our backs. I only turned a blind eye because you didn't do anything to betray the Iron Rider Alliance or my Mu family. But this time, you're wrong, seriously wrong! Because you've severely endangered the fundamental interests and survival of my Mu family!"

  "Lao Mu, let's talk this through calmly, no need to get agitated." Tang Dynasty lit his cigar and slowly took a puff, saying indifferently: "From what I gathered from your words earlier, Irina seems to have another identity, am I right?"

  "Yes, boss. But what her specific identity is, I don't know for the time being." Mu Hailin nodded and replied: "But one thing is certain, there must be someone behind her."

  Irina, still calm and collected, turned around with a hint of a smile. "No wonder you always take the initiative to get close to me. To put it bluntly, it's seduction. If I'm not mistaken, you want to figure out my identity and background, right? Beautiful spy lady, are you working for the Russians, the British, the Germans, or the Japanese?"

  "Are you a spy?!" Mu Hailin's face changed greatly upon hearing this, his eyes wide with shock as he stared at Irina, exclaiming in surprise.

  "Mr. Tang, I admire your wisdom and insight." Irina smiled calmly: "However, you guessed wrong, I'm not working for foreigners, I am a secret investigator of the third group of the Special Investigation Department of Xinjiang Station, directly under the Presidential Palace, code-named Huo Feng, with the rank of Junior Lieutenant. Nine hours ago, I just received the commendation order for promotion to Senior Lieutenant, and the relevant documents are currently in Dihua, I haven't gone to pick them up yet."

  "Haha, from junior lieutenant to captain, it seems your merits are not small." Tang Dynasty took a deep drag on his cigar, lightly exhaling the pale blue smoke, and smiled calmly: "It looks like you've organized what you saw and heard at the Tang family fortress into detailed materials and reported them to your superior, which is why you got this promotion. Am I right?"

  "Mr. Tang, since you said you're a big shot, I believe you should understand why I'm doing this." Irina smiled sweetly: "If you really are a big shot, then I'm sure you know what kind of work the Secret Service is involved in, and with tasks at hand and responsibilities to uphold, please forgive me, Mr. Tang."

  "What evidence do you have to prove you're from the Secret Service?" Tang Chao's gaze suddenly sharpened as he asked in a low voice.

  "You can go directly to the Secret Service Department and ask for Tang." Irina saw Tang's change in expression, she also put away her flirtatious mask, becoming cold and detached, her tone also turning icy: "My number and file are on record at the Secret Service Department. The real one can't be fake, the fake one can't be real, just check and you'll know."

  Tang Dynasty's mind was racing quickly, and the beautiful snake in front of him had obviously given him a difficult problem.

  From Irina's calm expression and tone, Tang basically could determine that she was a spy without a doubt. But whether she was really Yuan Shikai's person or had other hidden motives, Tang couldn't determine for the time being. However, based on what she just said, the code name and number didn't seem to be fake either.

  What she said "true can't be fake, fake can't be true" was a moment of anger or had a hidden meaning, Tang Dynasty couldn't make a correct judgment on this.

  It is said that a thief's heart is always uneasy. When Li Kui met Li Ghost, his feelings were probably similar to those of the Tang Dynasty at this time.

  "Don't you think that since I'm thousands of miles away, it's impossible for me to get in touch with the Presidential Palace, so you came up with these lies to deceive me and try to get past?" Tang Chao stared at Irina's eyes without any expression, his sharp gaze seeming to pierce through her heart.

  "Mr. Tang, don't you have an airship?" Irina said calmly with a cold smile: "I remember that the airship has a high-power military wireless telegraph station. With such a large scale, you should be able to contact the Presidential Palace directly through the telegraph station. I am in the Tang family's castle, which is your territory, and I won't be able to escape anyway. You have plenty of time to verify and investigate."

  The Tang Dynasty was now scolding himself in his heart for being too careless and losing strategy. At the same time, he also secretly hated himself for being blinded by lust and not seeing that the woman in front of him was actually a very dangerous viper! Fortunately, when they were on the airship earlier, he didn't reveal the function of his wristwatch, otherwise, even if he killed her now to silence her, it would be pointless, because she must have already sent out all the intelligence related to Tangjia Fortress.

  He had incorporated Mu Hai Lin and Tie Qi Meng, among others, into his ranks, and was somewhat complacent, forgetting that this was an era full of crises and pitfalls.

  That night, among the 320 people who changed shifts, Irina was not there. I should have realized it immediately. Because Mu Hailin had said that anyone he thought was unreliable would not be brought here. He had already subtly hinted to himself, why didn't he think of it?!

  One misstep leads to constant passivity.

  How many more hidden dangers like Irina are lurking in the current Tangjia Fort, Canglong Ridge?

  Irina represented Yuan Dadao, so is there still a loyal follower of Sun Dapao lurking in the dark?

  Recalling his interactions with Irina and the words they had exchanged, Tang Dynasty couldn't help but have a sinister intent stirring in his heart.

  Nor did I know what kind of intelligence the beautiful snake reported to her superior. If she also told him about the secret vault, if this were to reach Yuan Shikai's ears, wouldn't the President, who is currently worried about money, be overjoyed!

  Although the Tang Dynasty was confident that it could stop all invading enemies outside the Duanhun Gorge, this would also inevitably lead to a severe loss of its own strength, resulting in a situation where both sides would suffer heavy losses, and possibly benefiting the onlooking powers such as Britain, France, and Japan.

  At the thought of this serious consequence and its chain reaction, Tang suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

  It seemed that Irina felt the hidden murderous intent in Tang Dynasty's eyes, and her heart suddenly tightened. Tang Dynasty really wanted to kill her, and now she was afraid that there would be no place for her to cry out for injustice.

  Irina felt that she couldn't just sit and wait to die, she had to save herself. She calmly analyzed Tang's current mindset and then said calmly: "About the secret gold vault, I didn't mention a word. Because I haven't seen it with my own eyes, nor have I seen even half a tael of gold. This kind of unverified and unreliable information, I wouldn't casually report to my superiors."

  Here is the translation:

  At Irina's words, Tang Dynasty secretly let out a sigh and stared at her with his sharp eyes, saying coldly: "I remember I told you before, even if President Yuan wants to come and take away the gold, I won't agree. Not even a fly can get in. Even if you report back to your superior, my attitude remains the same. The president is wrong, he's taken a path that will lead to his downfall. His entire life of wisdom will be destroyed on this path. So, knowing it's a dead end, I won't follow him down this road. Tang Family Fortress at Duanshou Gorge, it's the culmination of my and countless overseas Chinese people's hard work. I absolutely won't let anyone touch it, no one is allowed!"

  In the end, the Tang Dynasty was almost shouted out with a red face and a thick neck.

  At this time, Tang suddenly felt his wristwatch vibrating on his hand, guessing that Xiaoming had something important to find him.

  "Watching her, don't let her go anywhere! Just stay here." Tang Chao hastily instructed Mu Hailin and hurriedly walked towards the building, "I'll go take care of something, I'll be right back."

  Entering the secret passage from the bedroom, Tang Chao immediately asked into the air, "Xiao Mao, what's going on?"

  A mechanical voice of a kitten sounded in the channel: "Just intercepted a telegram, the content is related to you, boss, so I think it's necessary to inform you in time."

  "What's the content?" Tang Dynasty asked with great interest.

  The telegram was sent from the Beiyang Army Headquarters to the Xinjiang Governor's Office, with the following content: The Tangjiabao militia has made great contributions in suppressing the rebellion and is hereby granted the designation of the newly formed 9th Division of the Beiyang Army. Tang Chao, commander of the Tangjiabao militia, is appointed as the division commander of the new 9th Division, with the rank of lieutenant general, and is awarded the title of second-class earl. Additionally, he is also granted the position of South Xinjiang Garrison Commander, responsible for pacifying all rebellious parties and bandits within the South Xinjiang region. The division's organization, equipment, military pay, and personnel recruitment are to be handled independently by the 9th Division itself. This appointment is to be conveyed through the Xinjiang Governor's Office, with the 9th Division directly under the dual jurisdiction of the Army Headquarters and the Presidential Palace, and the Xinjiang Governor's Office has no authority to interfere in any military affairs of the 9th Division.

  "Haha! Heaven won't destroy Cao, it's really when you want to sleep someone will give you a pillow, whatever you want comes!" Tang Dynasty excitedly jumped up and laughed loudly on the spot.

  "Boss, do you need me to print out the original text for you?"

  "Go ahead, according to the military telegraph standard format currently used by the Beiyang Army, I'll come down and get it right away."

  Fifteen minutes later, Tang Chao returned to the large hall downstairs from his bedroom upstairs with a spring breeze on his face, and his spirit and appearance were like a completely different person compared to when he just left.

  The Tang Dynasty didn't say anything, but directly took out the telegram that was fake but equally authentic from his pocket and handed it to Irina.

  Irina took the telegram with a suspicious look, glanced at it briefly, and her face suddenly showed surprise, but then returned to calm. After carefully reading the entire telegram, she handed it back to Tang Chao, stood up straight, saluted, and respectfully shouted: "General, Lieutenant Irina, pays respects to you!"

  "You don't question why this telegram ended up in my hands?" Tang Chao was in a great mood at the moment, looking at Irina with a relaxed smile.

  "Ilina replied loudly: 'Reporting to the General, with the scale of Tangjia Fort, the equipped weapons and equipment, there are several high-power military wireless transmitters, and related communication codes, I think it's very normal.'"

  Tang saw Mu Hailin with a puzzled expression on his face, so he handed the telegram in his hand to Mu Hailin.

  Mu Hailin finished reading and smiled: "Boss, from now on, should we continue to call you boss or master?"

  "Now that we have the formal appointment from the Ministry of the Army, of course, we will use military ranks." Tang Dynasty replied without hesitation: "However, this news is temporarily sealed and not to be leaked. Let's wait for the arrival of the Governor's Office personnel, the formal handover of authorization documents and letters of appointment, and then we'll hold a grand ceremony to mark the establishment of our army."

  "Yes! Sir." Mu Hailin replied with a salute.