At eight o'clock in the evening, Zuo Shaoqing had arrived at the revolving door.【】
She needed to come earlier so she could sit quietly for a while and think about how to deal with Mace.
She ordered four cold dishes and a bottle of white wine. Let Mace drink a little wine, maybe he would tell the truth.
The person who ordered for her was none other than Liu Qiuyue's cousin, Xu Xiaoyu. She stood timidly in front of Zuo Shaoqing, her hands intertwined and her lowered eyes hiding uneasiness.
"Does your cousin come here often?" Zuo Shaoqing asked calmly.
"Yes." Xu Xiaoyu replied softly.
"Did she teach you what to do?"
"yes."
"Don't leave the turnstile, it's safer here."
"yes."
Zuo Shaoqing looked at her and felt that he really had nothing to say to her, so he said, "Go ahead."
Xu Xiaoyu asked: "Um... open the bottle?"
Zuo Shaoqing thought for a moment and said, "Let's wait for the guests to arrive."
Xu Xiaoyu left quietly. Only Zuo Shaoqing was left in the Begonia Room. An electric fan was blowing "buzzingly" in the corner, which made Zuo Shaoqing's heart feel less hot.
The surroundings were very quiet, so quiet that there were some people. Anxiety and uneasiness were lingering in her heart. Zuo Shaoqing had to think that she was currently helpless.
At nine o'clock sharp, there was a gentle knock on the door. Then, the door of the private room opened gently. Mace appeared at the door like a ghost, with a devilish smile on his face. Standing behind him
It’s Xu Xiaoyu.
Metz walked in and saw the cold dishes on the table, with a satisfied smile on his face. He took this as a signal that Zuo Shaoqing agreed to cooperate. He said: "Very good, very good, we really should have a drink."
Xu Xiaoyu walked to the table, picked up the white wine on the table, and prepared to open the bottle.
But Metz took the wine bottle and the corkscrew from her hands and said, "Little girl, it's up to me to do it. You can go."
With a hint of malice, Zuo Shaoqing looked at Metz carefully observing the mouth of the bottle. She thought to herself: "You cunning foreign devil, you are afraid that I will poison you to death!"
Metz smiled and said: "Very good wine, from 1927." He started to open the bottle, inserted the cork into the cork, screwed it in bit by bit, then pressed the handle, and the cork was finally lifted out.
.
He poured wine into two large goblets, brought one glass to Zuo Shaoqing, and said, "Let's touch it, okay? Then, first of all, I wish you good health, and then I wish you a happy mood."
Zuo Shaoqing clinked glasses with him and took a sip. Then she looked at Mace calmly and waited for him to speak. An extremely vulgar country saying came to her mind: "You deserve to die, the bird is up!"
Metz's jaw moved as he chewed the thinly sliced Cantonese sausage. "I've always been surprised that Chinese sausage can still taste like this. It's really great."
Zuo Shaoqing remained silent, just staring at him coldly.
Of course, Metz must understand the look in her eyes. He put down his chopsticks and said with a smile: "I believe you have already considered the suggestion I made to you last time." A sharp light gray light flashed in his eyes.
, "If I guess correctly, you have already asked your superiors for instructions, right?"
Zuo Shaoqing didn't want to answer his words. She had already thought that she should make the situation clearer. Du Ziyuan told her to ensure safety. This is indeed crucial.
She asked softly: "Mr. Mace, I want to know why you chose me?"
Mace was obviously prepared for this problem. He said: "It's a matter of heroes cherishing each other. You are the best agent I have ever seen. Alert, capable, calm, and super capable. The most important thing is, you are the best agent I have ever seen."
People admire wisdom. We are peers, and I know what kind of agent is the best. I respect you, I really do."
At least at this point, Zuo Shaoqing knew that Metz was telling the truth. Then, she continued to ask: "But you must also know that we have different aspirations and different ways. Why didn't you tell me about my situation?
Ye Gongjin?"
This time, Metz showed a bright smile like a child and looked at Zuo Shaoqing, "Why? What's the benefit of doing that to me?"
This answer surprised Zuo Shaoqing. She gritted her teeth and said: "Didn't you support the Republic of China government? Didn't you support Chairman Chiang's civil war? As far as I know, you are the most hostile, aren't you?
"
"Young leader, what you said is correct. But I still have the same question, will it benefit me if I betray you?"
"When you say I... you mean..." Zuo Shaoqing was really confused.
"When I say me, I mean the U.S. government. Will betraying you do any good to the U.S. government? Can it change the political trend of the country? Can it turn things around? Can it change the situation of the war?"
Zuo Shaoqing was speechless. She felt that Mesi's purpose was beyond her understanding.
"Dear young team leader," Metz said to her gently, "do you know the war situation in the Northeast? The latest one."
Zuo Shaoqing thought for a while, she really didn't know. She couldn't meet Du Ziyuan, and every meeting was so hasty. She had heard some broadcasts on the radio. She never believed the Kuomintang's reports on this. Because she has a younger sister
Now, she rarely listens to the radio broadcasts in Yan'an.
She could only shake her head and said, "I'm not sure, please tell me."
Metz looked at her seriously and said, "My information is very accurate. On September 12th, your army had already begun to take action in the Northeast, and their target was Jinzhou and Jinxi. But it was not until yesterday that the authorities paid attention to it.
Do you know who got nervous first? It was Fu Zuoyi, the top officer in the Peking War Zone, who had always had a conflict with Chairman Chiang Kai-shek. He took the initiative to send an urgent telegram to Chairman Chiang, requesting that he send his best-equipped troops to form an eastward marching corps.
, to rescue Northeast China. This action taken by Chief Fu is unprecedented in China. What does this mean? Once Northeast China is lost, North China cannot be saved. He knows very well."
Zuo Shaoqing looked at Metz, and she was really surprised. An outside US intelligence agent actually knew the country's battlefield situation so clearly. "Mr. Metz, how do you know this?"
Metz smiled and said: "This is what I do, and I must understand these things. I also asked some experts who know military knowledge, of course our experts. They told me that if Jinzhou and Jinxi are lost, Northeast China will face disaster.
.As a result, Northeast China will inevitably be lost. The next thing to be lost will be North China. The more serious result is that the entire north of the Yangtze River will be lost."
The joy in Zuo Shaoqing's heart was the kind of mixed joy. She was born in a theater troupe and wandered in the countryside for many years. She lived at the bottom of society and knew the sufferings of the people at the bottom. She later became the leader of the Luofengling bandit village.
Later, it was Du Ziyuan who explained to her why the people living at the bottom were so miserable, and thus led her to the revolutionary road. She has struggled on this road for ten years, and now she has finally seen the light of day. However,...
From the mouth of an American intelligence agent.
However, no matter what, such news still made her feel happy. She smiled slightly and said, "Mr. Mace, what you said really makes me very happy. But it still can't answer my question just now. As you just said
Yes, even if you keep me, I won't be able to turn things around for you. I'm just a little person."
Metz looked serious and stared at Zuo Shaoqing's face with his sharp eyes. He said softly: "But, we believe that Mr. Huaishu must be a big shot in your party."
Zuo Shaoqing suddenly became alert and stared at him sharply. Could this be Metz's purpose? She asked fiercely: "What do you mean?"
Metz waved his hand to Zuo Shaoqing, "Please don't be nervous, young leader. I really don't mean any harm. We just have a longer-term vision. The U.S. government takes actions for long-term goals. There are two possible futures for the country."
The first situation is that it is ruled by your party, and the second is that the Kuomintang and the Communist Party divide the Yangtze River and rule. In either case, we may need to deal with your party. Therefore, we need a pipeline, our pipeline, a pipeline that can lead to the top.
We believe that if Mr. Huaishu agrees, he should be a good channel. Young team leader, do you know who he is?"
Zuo Shaoqing's mind was spinning instantly. But vigilance was an instinct she could not give up. What does cunning Metz mean? She shook her head, "Mr. Metz, I don't know, I really don't know." Even if Zuo Shaoqing is daring,
, she didn’t dare to tell who the “Sophora Tree” was. She hoped that Metz would believe her.
Metz's face was calm and calm, and it was unclear whether he believed Zuo Shaoqing's words.
He lowered his head, took out a few pages of paper from his wallet, and sent them to Zuo Shaoqing, "Dear young team leader, let's solve this problem first. We can talk about other things later."
Zuo Shaoqing looked at the pages in front of him and felt a little angry, "This is all in English, I don't understand a word of it. Can you explain it to me?"
Mace showed a bright smile, "Dear young team leader, you don't need to understand. The front is an explanation, indicating that you are voluntarily joining our organization. The following pages are your basic information, and I will fill in all the content.
It's been filled in for you. All you need to do is fill in your name on the line at the bottom of each page."
But Zuo Shaoqing still looked at him with doubts.
Metz continued: "For you, this thing will not bind you. For us, it is an indispensable procedure. What I signed back then was also such a thing."
Zuo Shaoqing laughed loudly, "There is no secret in the world that will not be leaked. This thing will be leaked at any time. It will only make me die faster."
Mace also laughed, "What you said does make sense. However, I told you last time that we have considered everything and we can ensure your safety." After saying this, he took out his bag again.
Same thing.
Zuo Shaoqing came out. It was an audio tape. The tape was very small and the content was not long.
Metz brought the tape to Zuo Shaoqing, "This is a tape. You can listen to it after you go back. Then you can know how we ensure your safety. In the words of your countrymen, it
It’s a talisman.”
Reason told Zuo Shaoqing that at least on this tape, she should believe what Metz said. On the other hand, Du Ziyuan did tell her that her superiors had agreed to her accepting Metz's request to join the intelligence agency. Finally, now she also did
There was no other choice but to sign.
Zuo Shaoqing took out her pen from her pocket and signed her name on the horizontal line at the bottom of each page: Zuo Shaoqing.
Metz took back the pages, said seriously, and opened his mouth to smile, "Dear Ms. Zuo Shaoqing, it is indeed as I said, it will not restrain you. Everyone who knows you in Nanjing knows that,
Zuo Shaoqing is not your name, is it? In fact, I believe that Su Shaoqing is not your name either. Dear Ms. Su Shaoqing, can you tell me your real name?"
Zuo Shaoqing looked at him carefully and suppressed the smile on his face, "No. I guess, Metz is not your real name. You will not tell me your real name."
Mace nodded, "I hope you believe me, so I try to be honest with you. However, it may take many years before we can be honest with each other. Now please believe me, we very much hope to establish contact with Mr. Huaishu."
Zuo Shaoqing said more carefully: "I don't know. Maybe you also know that Ye Gongjin is looking for the locust tree. Let me tell you, I am looking for him too. I know he is in danger. If I can find him, I will first make sure that he is safe."
Safe. As for whether I will tell you or not, that depends on the situation."
Objectively speaking, neither Zuo Shaoqing nor Metz fully believed what the other said. Of course, neither of them told the truth to the other. They had long passed the age of innocence.
But there is a special reason why the CIA, represented by Metz, is willing to guarantee Zuo Shaoqing's safety and even recruit her.
At that time, the CIA, which did not become famous until later, could not look down upon the world. Its history was still too short. It was officially established on September 18, 1947. Before that, it was called "CIA".
"Intelligence Coordination Office", "Office of Strategic Services", or "Central Intelligence Group" (g), it is a disorganized, chaotic and complex intelligence agency without clear goals. President Roosevelt wanted to abolish it several times. It
He was further squeezed and restricted by the FBI and Naval Intelligence, and remained stagnant until Rear Admiral Roscoe
8226; When Hillenkott returned to the CIA for the second time as director, he gained a new understanding of it and set new development goals.
It's just that this time is still too short. It's no wonder that Dai Li established contact with the US Naval Intelligence Agency instead of the CIA. Mao Renfeng inherited Dai Li's tradition and did not take the CIA seriously.
But in Rear Admiral Roscoeum
8226; In the hands of Hillencott, the CIA began to grow rapidly like a newborn baby. He recruited a large number of intelligence elites and began forward-looking research on its business. This is what Mace said
The idea was to establish some kind of inside contact with the Communist Party that would rule the country in the future. This was a short-lived idea, because after Roosevelt's death, Truman became president. A few years after Truman came to power, he completely changed the United States' China policy.
But at that time, Metz tried his best to win over and recruit Zuo Shaoqing, but it had consequences that no one could have imagined.
Ye Gongjin was really frightened by this incident and broke into a cold sweat.
