Chapter Nineteenth Reality is Cruel

  Unconsciously, Lin Xiaotang has been in the training class for half a year.

  During this period, many big things happened, but basically there was no good news. On the Sino-Japanese battlefield, the National Army retreated step by step, and Wuhan and Xuzhou fell one after another. The Japanese army's southward advance had already pointed directly at Hunan. In Nanjing, a puppet government supported by the Japanese was being prepared in secret, and it would soon make its debut.

  Training is dull, reality is cruel.

  The trainees in the training class are also quietly changing. The students gradually differentiate, and their initial grand ambitions slowly dissipate. Some classmates with good family backgrounds, represented by Pei Gang, are good at flattering and quickly get close to the instructors and officials of the training class. They like to drink, so they buy wine and meat; they like to play cards, so they set up card games. Anyway, their families have a solid foundation, and after graduation, they will definitely get a good job in the rear.

  But the exile students represented by Lin Xiaotang and Da Tou can only study hard, train hard, they are the main force of physical labor, but rewards and promotions are basically out of their reach because they have no money to bribe officials. Even after graduation, what awaits them will be the most dangerous tasks and positions.

  Lin Xiaotang's frustration can be imagined, and he began to doubt whether his decision to join the training class was correct.

  Before you know it, early summer has arrived. Linxiang has already had several spring rains, and for several days in a row, the air has been humid and sweltering. Locals say that there will probably be even more intense rainfall recently.

  In the afternoon, Director Yu Le Xing gave a report in person, so all students gathered at the school auditorium. It was strange that the female team did not attend.

  Because there were hundreds of people gathered in the auditorium, and the auditorium itself was not very large, many people without seats had to sit on the floor. Lin Xiaotang and Da Tou, Xiao Pi followed their usual practice, hearing halfway through, they took advantage of an opportunity to slip out.

  Behind the school auditorium is a small tributary of the Xiangjiang River, and Yu Yue Xing built a dike named "Rain Farmer Dike" after Dai Li's pseudonym to please him. It was used as a rest area for trainees during outdoor training breaks.

  The river embankment was planted with dense trees, which were the coolest in summer, and because of its hidden location, it had always been the best place for the three people to skip class.

  Today, Lin Xiaotang and the other two had just sat down under the tree shade and hadn't even lit a cigarette yet. Lin Xiaotang saw over a dozen people walking along the riverbank path towards them. The three of them quickly hid behind the trees on the riverbank.

  Before long, a dozen or so people had strolled to the middle section of the riverbank and stopped right above Lin Xiaotang's trio, seemingly admiring the scenery.

  Lin Xiaotang couldn't help but secretly cry out in distress, he poked his head out and stealthily looked upwards, through the trees, he discovered that these people were actually all high-ranking officials from the training class.

  Standing in the middle was the head instructor of the training class, Xie Ligung, with Wang Zonghua, director of the Political Department, and Wang Xiang, director of the General Affairs Department, among others. Shen Zui was also there, all accompanying a middle-aged man wearing a gray Zhongshan suit. Pei Gang, who had returned from injury, surprisingly stood beside the middle-aged man with a face full of pride.

  When Lin Xiaotang saw the middle-aged man's face clearly, his heart moved involuntarily. He did not expect that this middle-aged man was an old acquaintance, and it turned out to be Pei Zhongwei, the official who he and He Chong had rescued in Nanjing.

  He now stands beside Xie Ligu with his hands behind his back, looking spirited and confident, completely different from the dejected figure he was before.

  Xie Lige said, "Zhi Quan brother, I'm really sorry today. Director Yu has a report to do, which is personally arranged by Old Master Dai. I can only accompany you to inspect the training class. Director Yu repeatedly instructed me to apologize to you and he will make it up to you with a drink at dinner later."

  Pei Zhongwei chuckled and waved his hand: "Director Yu is too polite, this time I'm accompanying Director Fu Shenglan, it's not about inspecting at all. Jingzhong brother also knows that I'll be going to Shanghai soon, and coming to Linli is purely to select a work assistant according to the arrangement of our superiors."

  Xie Li Gong smiled and said, "Please rest assured, brother Zhi Quan. We will definitely cooperate fully. Among the sixty students in the special training class of the female team, all are refugee students. Tomorrow, I will definitely let you choose the one that satisfies you."

  The people behind him suddenly burst out laughing with an unspoken understanding. Shen Zui stood at the end of the team, his face extremely unnatural.

  Pei Zhongwei patted Pei Gang's shoulder and said to Xie Li Gong: "Jing Zhong brother, this useless nephew of mine is still okay in class, right? Hasn't caused any trouble for you all?"

  Xie Ligong smiled warmly: "No, your nephew is a talented student with excellent academic and moral character. After graduation, he will definitely be a pillar of the party and the country. Director Zheng Jiemin has also communicated with Director Yu and me, and after his studies are completed, he will be arranged to work in Chongqing."

  Pei Zhongwei nodded: "To be honest, my elder brother also thinks so. Xiaogang, this child has been spoiled by his family and is better off with his elders." ??Rebel Agent 19 of the Republic of China

  A group of people chatted idly for a while, Pei Zhongwei was obviously not in the mood, urging everyone to head back, and they walked towards the campus direction with loud laughter.

  After the group of people walked far away, Da Tou sat on the ground with a thud, pointing at their backs and said resentfully: "See that? That's our superior, just look at his face, only knows how to find work assistants, what's the difference between work assistants and work wives (note 1)!"

  Xiao Pidi nodded: "That's the kind of virtue that officials have, but I didn't expect that Pei Gang's backstage was so hard, and he could even get Zheng Jiemin to personally make a phone call!"

  Lin Xiaotang furrowed her brow: "Xiao Pi, you go down first later and find Fang Rou in the girls' team, tell her to be careful!"

  The little fart nodded.

  The three of them stayed a little longer, watching the sunset slowly sink down, and the surroundings gradually darkened. Xiao Pi bid farewell to Lin Xiaotang and prepared to go back and find Fang Rou.

  Lin Xiaotang called out to him, asking him to go ahead and call Fang Rou over here, then go get some wine and snacks. Tonight's sky was cloudless, the moonlight would be great, a few people took advantage of this opportunity to gather together. Anyway, the officer had already announced in the afternoon that tonight they would be receiving visiting officials, so the cadets were free to do as they pleased.

  Lin Xiaotang suddenly felt a little urgent to urinate, so she said goodbye to Da Tou and ran to the riverbank on one side of the river to find a place to relieve herself.

  After finishing urinating, Lin Xiaotang let out a sigh of relief, buckled his belt and was about to head up the riverbank when he seemed to hear a faint sound coming from the surface of the water. He didn't pay attention to it, thinking it was just the fish and shrimp in the river making trouble.

  Before he had taken two steps, Lin Xiaotang keenly heard the faint sound of two people breathing, and immediately became alert, crouching down to hide in the tall grass by the shore.

  The river surface was illuminated by the newly risen moonlight, and with the gentle breeze, it occasionally made a "gurgling" sound.

  Lin Xiaotang carefully observed her surroundings, and although everything around her was still quiet, she was certain that she hadn't misheard.

  Lin Xiaotang looked around and slowly shifted her gaze to the river surface.

  No! On the water surface, two thin pipes about five or six inches long stood upright, if it weren't for the students cleaning up the reeds and aquatic plants on the riverbed to prepare for today's inspection, these two pipes would have been very hard to spot.

  Two pipes seemed to have come to life, sliding quietly and straight towards the shore, as they drew closer, the breathing sound became clearer.

  Lin Xiaotang stared unblinkingly at the two pipes, no doubt that there were two people under the pipes, but who would they be? What were they lurking here for? Moreover, on the other side of the riverbank, there was a sentry post of the local garrison, strictly sealing off this place, what was the purpose of their painstakingly sneaking in?

  Before long, the pipe approached the shore, and two ghostly figures emerged from the water one after another. They cautiously scanned their surroundings until they confirmed it was safe, then slowly climbed ashore.

  Two dark shadows simply wiped the river water off their bodies, then quickly climbed up the riverbank. Lin Xiaotang closely followed behind them and hid in a place not far from them.

  Two black shadows pulled out a small telescope from their bosom, carefully observing the movements of the training class teaching area in the distance, and occasionally exchanging something.

  Lin Xiaotang could only vaguely hear a few words, which was even more surprising to him, because the two men in black were speaking Japanese.

  Lin Xiaotang heard the words "troop deployment", "core area" and "key attack".

  Lin Xiaotang slowly and quietly moved towards the back of the black-clothed person, in order to solve the mystery in her heart, she could only take action to capture these two people, even if it meant leaving one alive. ?? Counterattack Republic's Special Agent 19

  Just then, a thick voice suddenly rang out: "Old Seven, where have you gone to die? Didn't you fall into the river? I won't swim! Eh, what's this?"

  Da Tou stood in front of the two men in black, and was stunned by the two dark shadows crouching on the ground. The two men in black were also startled by the sudden appearance of Da Tou's large body, and the three pairs of eyes were sizing each other up, falling into an eerie silence for a moment.

  A man in black reacted first, grabbed the ankle of Da Tou and pulled it into his arms. Da Tou cried out "Ah" and fell onto the riverbank.

  Another man in black drew a dagger from his bosom and stabbed it viciously at Da Tou.

  Lin Xiaotang saw that things were going badly, and with a flick of her wrist, she threw out the stone she had been holding in her hand, hitting the black-clad man's wrist squarely. At the same time, she shouted loudly: "Run quickly!"

  Dahou after all is also a training class out of the reaction or not slow, immediately rolled to the ground, and rolled out three or four meters away.

  The man in black winced as his wrist hurt, the dagger fell with a clatter, he made a move to reach for his gun at his waist, another person hurriedly pressed him down, saying softly in Japanese: "Don't use a gun!"

  The man in black nodded, picked up the dagger and rushed towards Lin Xiaotang's hiding place.

  The man in black rushed at Da Tou, who also got up and grabbed a thick branch with his hand, swinging it so fiercely that the wind and rain couldn't penetrate. The man in black was momentarily unable to do anything to him.

  Lin Xiaotang quickly stepped forward to meet the black-clad man, dodging his full-force stab. She turned her body and grabbed his wrist with one hand, using force on her arm. The black-clad man's hand holding the dagger couldn't exert any strength, and he obediently changed direction: "Pfft", the dagger directly stabbed into his own abdomen.

  The man in black let out a muffled hum, Lin Xiaotang snatched the dagger and leaned against the man in black, stabbing him several more times. The man in black's eyes widened in incredulity as he stared at Lin Xiaotang before slowly collapsing to the ground.

  Lin Xiaotang grasped the dagger tightly and ran towards Da Tou's direction while shouting: "Da Tou, catch him alive!"

  Note 1: Working wives: In addition to the full-time and part-time instructors, Dai Li also sent middle-level cadres from within the organization to teach classes at the Lintong Training Class on an irregular basis. These included Li Ren Shi, the head of the Hunan Provincial Station, Yang Ji Rong, the head of the First Department, and others. In addition to ordering them to give lectures, Dai Li also allowed them to select female students they liked as their "working wives", who were actually just mistresses or playthings for these cadres. For example, Li Guo Zhen, a special agent sent to work in Wuhan, and Fu Sheng Lan, who was later sent to the Shanghai Military Station but defected to the enemy and became a traitor, were both selected as "working wives" from this training class before taking up their posts.