Chapter 6: Trust is Deception

  "What's going on?! Ah!" Bellia waved the telegram in her hand, shouting like a madman.

  "Comrade Bellia... Comrade Bellia, the exact time for sending reports is below." The secretary's woman was frightened and stuttered as she spoke.

  "Let me tell you!" Bellia was almost mad at this time, he roared, "And what is the specific situation of the battle on the side of Daluki?!"

  "Let me say it, Comrade Beria," Chu Si Nan said with a smile, slowly and calmly. He knew why Beria was so frantic at this time. As the notorious head of the secret police, Beria had never had much power in the military, while Lieutenant General Yershakov was one of his few confidants. Now that Yershakov had fallen, it undoubtedly cut off one of Beria's arms in the military, making him fall behind in the struggle with Khrushchev and Bulganin's regime until he was secretly executed.

  "At the latest, it was last night at midnight, two mechanized armies and one infantry army of the German army, under the support of two tank armored divisions and a whole artillery group, launched a strong forced assault on the front-line fortifications of Velikiye Luki. Chu Si Nan spoke as if telling a story, "At the same time, on both wings, there were two motorized infantry divisions making a detour to encircle. Faced with the dense artillery fire and powerful offensive of the German army, the forward positions of the 22nd Army held out for less than an hour before collapsing completely. At 2:30 in the morning, General Yershakov faced the fierce attack of the German army and was forced to decide to abandon the defense of the first line of Velikiye Luki and retreat to the second line to continue organizing the defense. Unfortunately, a German tank unit that had broken through appeared in front of his command post, and a powerful high-explosive shell buried him and his entire command post, including General Yershakov, Major General Markov, and Major General Kalmannov, with no survivors."

  Chu Si Nan said with a smile, turning his head to the woman and saying: "This beautiful miss, am I right?"

  "Oh, it's like this, the battle report says so." The woman nodded and said hastily.

  "Bang!" A light sound, the war report file in Bellia's hand fell on a messy pile of overturned tables. His slightly swollen eyes stared straight at Chu Si Nan, as if he had seen something terrifying or a treasure that made him drool.

  I've found the treasure, I've absolutely found it! This was the only thought that filled Belya's mind at this moment. Compared to this talking, thinking, and most importantly, fortune-telling and star-calculating living treasure, what is a mere Yershakov? He's simply nothing at all.

  As for how Chu Si Nan was able to describe the situation on the distant front lines so clearly, Bellia couldn't think of any other explanation besides believing that he was a genuine astrologer with supernatural abilities. Hitler trusted his court astrologer and would consult him before taking political or military action, which was almost common knowledge worldwide. In the past, Bellia had only laughed at such things, being a materialist who didn't believe in such superstitions. But now it was different - the facts were right in front of him: if Chu Si Nan wasn't an astrologer, then how did he know about the situation on the front lines? And how did he know so accurately and in such detail? Bellia wouldn't believe that someone had leaked information to Chu Si Nan, after all, this was the headquarters of the secret police, and even he himself had only just found out about it.

  Chu Si Nan kept staring at Bellia, he could guess what the old generals in the prison cell were thinking, their hatred for this spy chief was making their teeth itch. He was probably considering whether to buy himself off or how to kill him as soon as possible.

  "Comrade Baili, how's that? I've been proven right, haven't I?" Chu Sina spoke up first, "I think your people can no longer bring forth evidence to prove my guilt or innocence. So now, what do you plan to do with me? Throw me back into the dungeon again, release me as innocent, or send me to a secret execution ground?"

  Bailly did not respond immediately, his brow furrowed, pacing back and forth in the spacious conference room, one large hand constantly rubbing his smooth chin, as if considering something.

  Chu Si Nan didn't go disturb him either, she just sat there watching him pace back and forth, listening to the creaking sound of his footsteps.

  "Comrade Chusonan, I believe you are innocent," said Belyaev finally stopping in his tracks. He stood before Chusonan and patted him on the shoulder, speaking in a warm tone, "I would be willing to release you right now, after all, you are a talent, an irreplaceable talent. I have long yearned for some of the mysterious powers from your mystical country, which I had previously thought were just legends, but it turns out they are real. Without a doubt, in this time when the Soviet regime is threatened by fascist forces, your appearance is the greatest help to us. I will not allow those who seek to put their own interests above the cause of the Soviet revolution to persecute you, even if it means I have to pay a heavy price."

  Chu Si Nan knew that the old fox in front of him, named Bellia, had already begun to think for himself. This was undoubtedly a good sign, after all, he also needed to use him now. Throwing out an appropriate bait might make the old fox even more determined to walk into the trap.

  "Comrade Belyaev, are you hinting at Comrade Khrushchev?" Chu Si Nan said calmly.

  "Oh, no, not at all, I wasn't referring to anyone," Beria shook his head, "whether it's Comrade Khrushchev or Comrade Brezhnev, they are our most trusted comrades, and this is what Comrade Stalin has expressed more than once in public. Of course, they may have some minor issues, but that doesn't matter, how could I possibly be referring to them?"

  Chu Si Nan secretly sneered, thinking to himself that he had underestimated the old fox, who was not only targeting He Luo Xiao Fu alone, but also included Boliedi Nie Fu.

  "Oh, is that so?" Chu Si Nan nodded solemnly and said, "Then why doesn't Comrade Bellia suggest to Comrade Stalin to give Comrades He Luo Xiao Fu and Bo Lie Jie Nie a better opportunity to show off? If I'm not mistaken, the German army will definitely capture Smolensk this time, and after that, they will abandon their plan to attack Moscow and turn south to attack Kiev and north to capture Leningrad. These two battles will be extremely fierce, just in time to test the will of our revolutionary comrades. If Comrades He Luo Xiao Fu and Bo Lie Jie Nie can come to the front line, I believe... heh heh, they will be even more trusted by Comrade Stalin. But on one condition: they must win and return alive."

  "Are you sure that the German troops will give up their advance on Moscow and turn to take Kiev and Leningrad?" Belia asked skeptically.

  "I can't be certain of anything, but one thing I am certain of is my own judgment." Chu Si Nan replied.

  "Ha, then let's look forward to Comrade He Luo Xiao and Comrade Bo Lie Zhen's early victory and return!" Bellia was overjoyed, he obviously deeply trusted Chu Si Nan's judgment.

  "Orderly," he said with a laugh, pulling Chu Si Nan's hand, "hurry up and get ready, I'm going to have dinner with Comrade Chu Si Nan."