CHAPTER 34: 33. WALKING WITH WOLVES

The storeroom was full of the scent of herbs, like some forgotten corner of the world.

Chen Ji silently pondered: The position of Si Cao at the Military Intelligence Department was of a high level of secrecy; his uncle, who had instructed Si Cao to look after him, must also be a significant figure in the intelligence community.

But why did his mother marry into the Ning Dynasty’s Chen Family? And why had he stayed in the Ning Dynasty?

Seeing his silence, Si Cao seemed to misinterpret his quietness, "You seem to still harbor resentment towards your uncle."

Chen Ji cast his gaze downward, asking with an ambiguous tone, "Does my uncle still remember me?"

Si Cao dusted off his clothes, speaking nonchalantly, "Don’t talk like that. Back then, he had to consider the whole picture from that position. There must be a reason why he didn’t take you back to the Jing Dynasty. Perhaps if he had brought you back, you would have been harmed by villains."

"Is that so? Is my uncle in a difficult situation?"

After the shopkeeper of Bailu Pavilion left, Si Cao seemed to become more talkative.

He calmly said, "Now your uncle has been framed by wrongdoers and has been demoted and dismissed from his post."

So, his uncle had already been dismissed?

Chen Ji asked, "When can I return to the Jing Dynasty?"

He felt no sense of belonging to either the Jing Dynasty or the Ning Dynasty, but anywhere would be better than walking the tightrope here.

However, Si Cao coldly replied, "You cannot leave yet. Now that you have come close to Yun Yang and Jiao Tu, you must make good use of this identity."

Si Cao spoke with unmistakable authority.

Chen Ji was silent for a long time, "Then I will follow Lord Si Cao’s arrangements. I will strive to gain the trust of Yun Yang and Jiao Tu."

At that moment, Si Cao changed the subject, "Wait... the way you pass information is through Zhou Chengyi’s method of intentional misspellings. The Military Intelligence Department has never taught you the Reverse Cut Technique. Where did you learn it? And why did you discover ’Reflections On Things at Hand’?"

Chen Ji did not know how to respond.

He could not explain to the people of this world that, from a young age, he had wanted to become a diplomatic military officer, so he had read a wide range of books on general knowledge, intelligence, and deductive reasoning.

He could not explain to the people of this world that, seven months ago, he had been admitted to the Army Foreign Language College with top scores on both the written exam and the interview.

And that the school, which was soon to be renamed "Army Strategic Support Information Engineering University," was never a place that only taught foreign languages. The special recruitment written exam and interview had not tested just foreign languages.

Si Cao narrowed his eyes slightly, "Why aren’t you speaking? Who taught you?"

As they spoke, an invisible pressure closed in abruptly. Chen Ji clearly saw the other party reaching for the dagger in his sleeve again.

He quickly weighed his options and answered, "My mother taught me."

"Oh?" Si Cao’s tone still tense, "I didn’t expect your mother to teach you such things when you were so young... What else did she teach you? Surely, she didn’t just teach you the Reverse Cut Technique. That would be too much of a coincidence."

Chen Ji ’recalled’, "My mother also told me that relying only on the Reverse Cut Technique to hide information could easily expose you if you met someone else who understood it. So, she created a new method on top of it to conceal intelligence."

"Eh?" Si Cao’s interest was piqued, "What method?"

Chen Ji replied, "My mother called it a ’password book’."

"Password book?"

Chen Ji found a jar of medicinal wine in the storeroom and used his finger dipped in the wine to write on the ground: "Willow edges beg for breath low, waves compete with the sun for a show. The oriole’s joyous song is released, clap your hands to share it with the east."

Si Cao spoke with focused curiosity, "What use is this poem?"

Without response, Chen Ji continued to write, "Spring flowers smell sweet, autumn hills open peat, merry guests need golden cups to greet, lone lantern shines bright, burning silver vat neat. To the eastern suburbs, crossing the west bridge, rooster’s crow rushes dawn, curious plum oddly shields the ditch."

Chen Ji explained, "The first poem has twenty words, each with a different initial consonant. The second poem has thirty-six words, each with a different final vowel. These two poems serve as the password book, with the words numbered in sequence. The twenty words of the first poem are numbered one to twenty; the second is the same, numbered one to thirty-six."

Si Cao still confused, asked, "How do you use it?"

Chen Ji said, "With this password book, if you want to convey the word ’continue,’ just write nineteen, twenty-seven, fifteen, eleven. Those who know the password book can immediately translate the information upon seeing the numbers, but those who don’t will never decipher it in their lifetime. If ’Reflections On Things at Hand’ were to pass messages using this method, even if someone intercepted it, they still wouldn’t understand it."

Si Cao exclaimed with admiration, "That’s quite interesting."

Encryption techniques such as those in the password book, were already in existence in ancient times, and they came to prominence during World War I and World War II.

They are not infallible, but in intelligence work, you only need to be one step ahead to completely defeat your opponent.

At this point, Lord Si Cao finally relaxed his tone and chose to believe in Chen Ji, "Your mother taught you well, and you have learned well. When she came to infiltrate the Ning Dynasty, it only took her three years to become a famous talented lady in Jinling. I never expected that she was not only skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting but also had a deep understanding of the Reverse Cut Technique. I will report your merits along with this password book and the ’Reflections On Things at Hand’ incident to the Division Head to commend you. You are currently a ’Sparrow’ rank spy, aren’t you? This merit is enough for you to be promoted to ’Pheasant’ rank."

Chen Ji felt a sudden relief in his heart: he had bet correctly.

According to his speculation, both his mother and uncle were from the Jing Dynasty. Strangely, his mother had married into the Ning Dynasty’s Chen Family. The only reason that could explain this was that his mother was also a spy!

When his mother and uncle first came to the Ning Dynasty, the uncle established the Military Intelligence Department’s information network in the south, and his mother married into the Chen Mansion to acquire intelligence.

Chen Ji changed the topic, "Lord Si Cao, my main task next will be to get close to Yun Yang and Jiao Tu. Could you please tell me more about them?"

Lord Si Cao nodded, "When dealing with Yun Yang and Jiao Tu, never believe a word they say. These two have climbed up the ranks by stepping on the bones of their colleagues. They may use you today and discard you tomorrow."

Chen Ji was puzzled, "Wouldn’t such actions provoke the indignation of their peers?"

"Not at all, the Spy Department is a place that only looks at merit, not at personal relationships. They are ruthless to their own people, even more so to us," Lord Si Cao thought for a while then added, "Of course, given their relationship with the Poison Minister, it’s likely the other peers are too scared to speak out."

"Hmm?"

"Yun Yang and Jiao Tu are orphans adopted by the Poison Minister, trained over more than ten years to become Death Soldiers. They may not be as capable as others, but when it comes to killing for the Poison Minister, they are absolutely merciless."

Chen Ji suddenly recalled the night Zhou Chengyi died, Yun Yang and Jiao Tu swearing on their parents’...

While they were speaking, Manager Yuan entered, "Lord Si Cao, arrangements have been made, Long Whale tonight at..."

Lord Si Cao cut him off coldly, "Watch your mouth."

Manager Yuan was taken aback, but eventually, he clenched his teeth and slapped himself ten times.

Lord Si Cao’s muffled voice came from behind his mask, "It’s a fundamental principle that different intelligence lines must not inform each other, have you forgotten that? Still planning to replace Zhou Chengyi as the Hai Dongqing of Luocheng City?"

Manager Yuan bowed his head, "I have been rash."

But then Chen Ji suddenly spoke from the side, "Lord Si Cao, I will try my best to get close to Yun Yang and Jiao Tu, but I have a request."

"Speak."

Chen Ji, staring at Manager Yuan, said, "I need the Military Intelligence Department to recall all who know of my identity as a spy to the Jing Dynasty, and they must never be allowed back to the Ning Dynasty. Otherwise, if I painstakingly approach the Twelve Signs and someone else gets captured and gives me away, all my efforts will have been in vain."

Lord Si Cao seemed thoughtful.

Manager Yuan’s complexion changed dramatically, "Lord Si Cao, this is an act of vengeance under the guise of duty!"

Chen Ji shook his head, "This is not personal vengeance. You already know of my identity; if you were captured, you would definitely give me up."

"I wouldn’t!" Manager Yuan protested urgently, "Lord Si Cao, I have been managing Luocheng City for six years, no one is more suited for this place than I am."

Lord Si Cao pondered for a moment, then walked straight over to a medicine chest.

He pulled open the chest, drew out a piece of oil paper used for wrapping medicines, and calmly laid it out on the ground.

Seeing this, Manager Yuan turned to flee the storeroom.

But just as he was turning around, Lord Si Cao was already behind him, lifting the corpulent body with one hand, and brought him over to the oil paper.

Next, Lord Si Cao kicked the back of Manager Yuan’s knees, forcing him to kneel.

He pulled a dagger from his sleeve, looked at Chen Ji, "I also had to interrogate you today out of necessity. Don’t hold a grudge. If today’s events become a thorn in your side, then I’ll remove it for you right now. After this, you focus on getting close to Yun Yang and Jiao Tu. Aside from me, the Division Head, and your uncle, no one else will be aware of your identity as a spy."

As he spoke, Lord Si Cao gripped Manager Yuan’s jaw and thrust the dagger into his heart, "Yuan Ming, you have skimmed eight thousand three hundred and twenty-seven Silver from Bailu Pavilion over six years using your position. The pavilion was established to raise funds for the Military Intelligence Department, but it became your personal trough. You are no longer loyal."

Manager Yuan gasped for air, unable to say a word.

While twisting the dagger and grinding Manager Yuan’s heart to shreds, Lord Si Cao lifted his ghastly face to Chen Ji, "If there is not absolute loyalty, there is absolute disloyalty, Chen Ji, take this to heart as well."

Chen Ji silently watched the scene unfold. He knew that from now on, he would be walking with these wolves and tigers.