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墨書 Inktalez
The economic development of the Base of Resistance was finally on the right track after the war, yet it seemed to be choked by an invisible black hand, frequently encountering obstacles. The flow of goods was hindered, prices fluctuated inexplicably, and a strange sense of unease permeated the market. The organization keenly sensed that behind this chaos, the Underground Bank might be the key issue. Lin Feng, a seasoned intelligence operative, was urgently tasked with delving into this situation to uncover any hidden plots by Kuomintang Agents, striving to tear down the veil and protect the financial order of the American Side.
Lin Feng quickly transformed into a wealthy and well-traveled businessman, dressed in fine silk and satin, wearing a gold watch, and holding a walking stick that exuded affluence with every gesture. To enhance his disguise, the organization provided him with a group of attendants: a cautious accountant and a strong bodyguard, as they made their way to the county town where the Underground Bank was most rampant.
Upon arriving in the county town, Lin Feng headed straight for the largest Underground Bank, Hui Tong Money House. This money house was located on one side of the busiest street in town, with a bright red door and shiny brass rings. Though bustling with activity, it also exuded an air of mystery. A few burly men loitered at the entrance, seemingly indifferent but casting watchful eyes over passersby—clearly sentinels for the money house.
As Lin Feng approached, an observant clerk came forward with a bow: "Boss, please come in! Are you here for currency exchange or loans? Our Hui Tong Money House has an excellent reputation here; we are honest in our dealings." While his words were warm, his eyes revealed shrewdness and scrutiny.
Lin Feng slightly raised his chin and let out a casual hum: "I have several large transactions to conduct in this town and need a secure place for my funds. I’ve heard you have extensive connections here." With that, he strode confidently into the money house.
Inside, the sound of abacuses clicking filled the air as accountants busily immersed themselves in ledgers. However, Lin Feng’s gaze roamed around, scrutinizing every corner and face. He was led to a private room where the money house owner, Jia Fugui, soon arrived in haste. This man was short and stout, with small eyes that sparkled with cunning; when he smiled, his eyes squinted into slits. "Ah! A distinguished guest! I apologize for not welcoming you properly!" He greeted Lin Feng while instructing someone to serve tea.
Lin Feng got straight to the point: "Boss Jia, my business is substantial; my cash flow is significant. What I fear most is instability. I’ve heard that you not only handle exchanges but also offer special services—like smoothing over relationships with officials to avoid trouble. Is that true?" His words seemed casual but were laced with intent to probe whether there were official forces backing the money house, particularly any involvement from Kuomintang Agents.
Jia Fugui’s expression shifted slightly before he regained his smile: "You jest! We are legitimate businessmen who rely on reputation and connections; we would never engage in illegal activities. However, in these chaotic times, it’s only natural to make more friends and support each other." His words were carefully crafted yet confirmed Lin Feng's suspicions about deeper waters beneath.
In the following days, Lin Feng frequently visited Hui Tong Money House under various pretenses—sometimes pretending to negotiate large currency exchanges while observing their financial reserves and exchange channels; other times waiting for business partners inside for hours to monitor personnel movements and secret signals. He discovered that the money house's cash flow was quite suspicious; large sums were funneled through seemingly ordinary businesses and warehouses that rarely saw frequent transactions or clear accounts.
To further investigate these leads, Lin Feng decided to infiltrate from within the money house itself. He intentionally befriended a young accountant named Xiao Chen. Xiao Chen was an honest man who felt discontent about some dark dealings within but dared not voice his concerns. Lin Feng often came to his aid when he faced difficulties from superiors, gradually earning Xiao Chen's trust.
One night, Xiao Chen secretly approached Lin Feng with an anxious expression: "Boss Lin, I know you’re a good person. This money house isn’t clean at all. I accidentally saw some ledgers indicating large sums marked as tribute payments sent regularly to higher-ups; I don’t know exactly where they go or who receives them."
Lin Feng felt a chill run down his spine; he knew they were getting closer to the truth. He reassured Xiao Chen: "Don’t be afraid; you did well. If we can uncover this evidence, it will be a significant achievement for us."
Meanwhile, other informants dispatched by Lin Feng also yielded results. They discovered that several businesses closely associated with Hui Tong Money House had Kuomintang Agents lurking behind them. These agents disguised themselves as merchants or clerks while utilizing the bank's financial network to hoard supplies and manipulate prices to disrupt the American Side's market; simultaneously, they covertly funded reactionary forces in an attempt to economically undermine the Base of Resistance.
As evidence mounted steadily, Lin Feng understood that uprooting this group required waiting for the perfect moment. He continued to engage with Jia Fugui at the money house while feigning ignorance to keep them relaxed; at the same time, he secretly sent gathered evidence back to Base of Resistance to consolidate their strength for an impending crackdown.
Finally, on a dark night when winds howled ominously, Base of Resistance coordinated with economic regulatory authorities in a Joint Operation based on Lin Feng's intel and launched a surprise raid on Hui Tong Money House and associated businesses. They seized numerous illegal transaction ledgers, correspondence from agents, and hoarded scarce supplies on-site. Jia Fugui and several agents attempted to resist but were swiftly subdued by trained soldiers.
With this Underground Bank's dark dealings exposed, Base of Resistance's economic development returned to normalcy. Prices stabilized, goods flowed freely again, and people's lives gradually regained peace. Lin Feng once more demonstrated his wisdom and courage on this unseen battlefield for American Side’s cause; yet his steps did not halt as he ventured towards new Information Battlefields quietly ahead.
Crushing Enemy Agents' Food Conspiracy
Above Base of Resistance loomed dark clouds once more as Kuomintang Agents saw their front-line defeats mounting and sought to stab from behind by targeting American Side’s lifeblood—food supplies. They meticulously plotted a malicious conspiracy aimed at buying off grain merchants to hoard stocks so that no food would be available in markets; sabotaging granaries so that stored food would go to waste; spreading rumors about food shortages to incite panic among people and fundamentally shake American Side’s foundation.
Lin Feng—the ever-vigilant intelligence operative—sharply sensed an unusual atmosphere permeating the air. He quickly sprang into action knowing that if food supply issues arose, countless people would face starvation and Base of Resistance’s stability would be shattered.
The first task was monitoring grain merchants. Lin Feng organized an elite intelligence team whose members disguised themselves in various roles infiltrating every aspect of food transactions. Some posed as small grain vendors carrying burdens through market streets daily while keeping tabs on merchants’ stock movements; others disguised as wealthy merchants’ stewards frequently visiting large grain shops conversing with owners and clerks about food inventories and sales intentions; still others pretended to be dockworkers observing grain ships coming in and out along with cargo loading quantities.
Soon enough, this intelligence team uncovered some clues. Several grain merchants who typically thrived had recently increased their purchase volumes significantly while rarely selling any stock; their warehouses remained tightly shut with added guards watching over them. Lin Feng concluded that these merchants had likely been bought off by Kuomintang Agents. He decided to target one particular merchant named Wang Fugui from Fengyu Grain Shop—a respected figure in the industry—believing that breaking through him could lead to unraveling everything else.
Lin Feng personally visited Wang Fugui at Fengyu Grain Shop. Upon meeting him directly stated: "Boss Wang! I’ve heard there’s some unrest in the grain market lately—people hoarding supplies causing disturbances. You’ve been in this business for years; you shouldn’t wade into such murky waters." Wang Fugui’s expression changed slightly before he feigned calmness: "What are you talking about Boss Lin? I conduct my business honestly; how could I engage in such unethical practices?"
Lin Feng smirked coldly: "Let’s speak plainly here—I've already gathered some evidence showing your warehouse is overflowing with grain while none is being sold on market shelves! Why is that? If you remain obstinate about this matter and are found out later on—not only will your business suffer but you’ll also face dire consequences."
Under the relentless pressure from Lin Feng, Wang Fugui's psychological defenses gradually crumbled. He cried out the truth: "Boss Lin, I had no choice! A few days ago, some mysterious individuals claiming to be from the Kuomintang came to me. They gave me a large sum of money and threatened that if I didn't stockpile goods, they would ruin my business and harm my family."
Lin Feng, on one hand, reassured Wang Fugui, promising that as long as he cooperated, the organization would ensure his safety. On the other hand, he used this information to trace connections and gathered a list of grain merchants colluding with the Kuomintang agents. Subsequently, the Base of Resistance swiftly took action to control these merchants, forcing them to sell grain at regulated prices to stabilize market supply.
At the same time, repairs on the granaries were being carried out with great urgency. The Kuomintang agents had repeatedly attacked the American Side's granaries; some roofs were blown off and leaked severely, while others had their walls knocked down, raising concerns about security. Lin Feng organized militia members to form repair teams. The elders brought new thatch and tiles in baskets with children in tow, while young men climbed onto roofs to mend the damaged areas; women sewed up burlap sacks for grain storage; and militia members intensified patrols, setting up lookout posts around the granaries to prevent further sabotage by agents.
At a repair site called Ping An Granary, Lin Feng personally directed the efforts: "Everyone put in more effort! This grain is our lifeline; we must make these repairs solid so that the enemy has no opportunity." With everyone working together, after several days and nights of hard work, the granaries were renewed and the grain reserves were well protected.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield of public opinion, rumors spread by enemy agents about a decrease in grain production proliferated like a virus. Some uninformed individuals began to worry and even started hoarding food. Lin Feng realized that he needed to quickly dispel these rumors and stabilize public sentiment.
He organized a group of propagandists to spread the truth in various villages and markets. The propagandists utilized performance stages at markets to enact vivid skits exposing the Kuomintang agents' schemes and informing people that grain production on the American Side was steadily increasing and that there was plenty of food in storage. They also went door-to-door distributing flyers that explained food policies in simple terms to reassure everyone. In one small village, propagandist Xiao Li addressed a gathering of villagers: "Fellow Villagers, don’t listen to those bad people! Our Base of Resistance's land reform has led to more people farming with better harvests; everyone can eat their fill without worry!"
Lin Feng also used the Base of Resistance's newspapers and broadcasts to continuously release authoritative information about grain stock levels and harvest news, effectively countering the rumors.
Through this series of countermeasures, the American Side's food supply was secured, public sentiment stabilized, and social order maintained. The Kuomintang agents' food conspiracy was thoroughly crushed. Once again, Lin Feng safeguarded the glimmer of hope for the Base of Resistance on this smoke-free battlefield, forging a solid barrier for the liberation cause.
In a secret meeting deep in the mountains
A coded letter arrived in Lin Feng's hands like a mysterious command. It contained only a few terse words but conveyed an undeniable urgency instructing him to venture into the deep mountains for a clandestine meeting with a self-proclaimed Mysterious Guest who claimed to possess crucial intelligence. Lin Feng understood that this could be another critical confrontation regarding the survival of the Base of Resistance. Without hesitation, he packed lightly and set off down this perilous path filled with uncertainty.
As he traversed through dense forests where thick branches blocked out sunlight, only fragments of light filtered through gaps in the leaves. Lin Feng followed a rarely traveled path winding through the woods; beneath his feet, dry twigs snapped softly underfoot, echoing loudly in the stillness of the forest. His eyes scanned his surroundings warily as he took each step cautiously—years of intelligence work had instilled in him a habit of always being on guard against danger.
Yet danger approached quietly from behind. Not far away came faint footsteps—deliberately muted but unmistakable to Lin Feng’s keen ears. A chill ran down his spine as he discreetly quickened his pace while pretending to tie his shoelaces, stealing glances behind him. He spotted several shadowy figures flitting between trees—agile and exuding an air of trained professionalism: they were Kuomintang agents! Clearly, they had somehow learned of his whereabouts and were tracking him.
Lin Feng calculated that engaging them directly would be risky; he didn’t know their exact strength, and any gunfire would surely alert the Mysterious Guest and jeopardize their entire operation. Thus, he decided to use the terrain of the forest to evade them. He deliberately deviated from his intended route toward a thicket overgrown with brambles. Once inside, he crouched low and moved slowly under cover of thorns, striving not to make a sound.
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