Chapter 33: Walking with Wolves

The warehouse was filled with the scent of medicinal herbs, feeling like some forgotten corner of the world.

Chen Ji thought silently: The position of a Sicao (Department Head) in the Military Intelligence Bureau carries a very high security clearance. Since his uncle was able to instruct a Sicao to look after him, he must be a major figure within the intelligence network.

But why had his mother married into the Chen clan of the Ning Dynasty? And why had he remained in the Ning Dynasty?

Seeing his silence, the Sicao seemed to misinterpret it: "You seem to still harbor resentment toward your uncle."

Chen Ji lowered his eyes and asked with an ambiguous tone, "Does my uncle still remember me?"

The Sicao brushed the dust off his clothes and said nonchalantly, "Don't speak out of anger. Back then, he had to consider the big picture from his position. There was naturally a reason why he didn't bring you back to the Jing Dynasty. Perhaps if he had, you would have been harmed by petty people instead."

"Is that so? Is my uncle's situation very bad?"

After the manager of the Hundred Deer Pavilion left, the Sicao seemed to become more talkative.

He said calmly, "Currently, your uncle has been framed by villains and stripped of his official rank."

So, his uncle had already been ousted?

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

He felt no sense of belonging to either the Jing or the Ning Dynasty, but no matter where he went, it would be better than walking a tightrope here.

However, the Sicao said coldly, "You cannot leave yet. Since you have already approached Yunyang and Jiaotu, you must make use of this identity."

The Sicao's tone was indisputable.

Chen Ji remained silent for a long time. "Then I will follow your arrangements, Lord Sicao. I will strive to gain the trust of Yunyang and Jiaotu."

At that moment, the Sicao shifted the topic: "Wait... your method of transmitting intelligence follows Zhou Chengyi's error-based cipher, yet the Military Intelligence Bureau never taught you the Fanqie method. Where did you learn the Fanqie method? And why did you discover the *Instructions for Close Learning*?"

For a moment, Chen Ji did not know how to answer.

He could not explain to the people of this world that since he was a child, he had wanted to become a diplomatic military officer, so he had read extensively through popular science, intelligence, and reasoning books.

He could not explain to the people of this world that seven months ago, he had been admitted to the Army Foreign Language Institute with the highest scores in both the written and oral examinations.

And that school, which was about to be renamed the "Army Strategic Support Information Engineering University," was never a place that only taught foreign languages; the written and oral exams for the special recruitment batch were not about foreign languages either.

The Sicao narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, "Why aren't you speaking? Who taught you?"

As he spoke, an invisible pressure suddenly closed in. Chen Ji clearly saw the man reach for the dagger hidden in his sleeve once again.

He quickly weighed the information in his mind and replied, "My mother taught me."

"Oh?" The Sicao's tone remained 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 Fanqie method; that would be too much of a coincidence."

Chen Ji 'recalled': "My mother also told me that using the Fanqie method alone to hide information makes one easily exposed if they encounter someone else who understands it. Therefore, she created a new method to hide intelligence on top of the Fanqie method."

"Hm?" The Sicao grew interested. "What method?"

Chen Ji said, "My mother called it a codebook."

"A codebook?"

Chen Ji found a jar of medicinal wine in the warehouse, dipped his finger in it, and wrote on the ground: *"Willow beside the path, seeking low breath; Wave hits the shore, competing with the sun. Oriole's song emerges, bringing joy; Striking the palm, letting the gentleman know."*

The Sicao asked solemnly, "What use is this poem?"

Chen Ji did not answer, but simply continued writing: *"Spring flowers fragrant, autumn mountains bloom; Honored guests sing with golden cups, a lonely lamp burns in a silver basin. To the eastern outskirts, past the western bridge; Rooster crows to herald the dawn, strange plums obscure the ditch."*

Chen Ji explained, "The first poem consists of twenty characters, and each character has a different initial consonant. The second poem consists of thirty-six characters, and each character has a different final vowel. These two poems serve as the codebook; one simply numbers the characters in sequence. The twenty characters of the first poem are numbers one through twenty, and the same applies to the second poem, numbering one through thirty-six."

The Sicao was somewhat puzzled. "How is it used?"

Chen Ji said, "With this codebook, if you want to transmit the words 'Continue,' you only need to write '19, 27, 15, 11.' Someone who knows the codebook can immediately translate the information upon seeing the numbers, but someone who doesn't will never be able to crack it in their lifetime. Suppose the *Instructions for Close Learning* was used to transmit messages this way; even if the opponent intercepted the book, they still wouldn't understand it."

The Sicao marveled, "Interesting."

Multi-layered encryption technologies like codebooks existed in ancient times and were greatly expanded during World War I and II.

It was not infallible, but in intelligence work, as long as you were one step ahead, you could achieve a total victory over your opponent.

At this point, the Sicao finally softened his tone, choosing to believe Chen Ji. "Your mother taught you well, and you have learned well. When your mother came to the Ning Dynasty to go undercover, she became a famous talented woman in Jinling in just three years. I didn't expect that she was not only skilled in the arts but also mastered the uses of the Fanqie method. I will report this matter regarding the codebook and the *Instructions for Close Learning* to the Bureau Chief to request credit for you. You are currently a 'Sparrow' level spy, right? This merit is enough to promote you to 'Pheasant' level."

Chen Ji breathed a long sigh of relief in his heart: He had gambled correctly.

According to his guess, both his mother and uncle were from the Jing Dynasty, yet his mother had strangely married into the Chen clan of the Ning Dynasty. The only explanation for this was: his mother was also a spy!

Back then, his mother and uncle had come to the Ning Dynasty together. His uncle had single-handedly built the Military Intelligence Bureau's intelligence network in the south, while his mother had married into the Chen household to gather intelligence.

Chen Ji changed the subject. "Lord Sicao, my main task next is to approach Yunyang and Jiaotu. Can you tell me more about them?"

The Sicao nodded. "When dealing with Yunyang and Jiaotu, never believe a single word they say. The only reason these two were promoted is that they climbed over the corpses of their colleagues. They may use you today, but they might abandon you tomorrow."

Chen Ji asked in confusion, "Won't doing this provoke the resentment of their colleagues?"

"No. The Secret Intelligence Bureau is a place that only looks at merit, not sentiment. They are ruthless to their own people, and even more ruthless to us," the Sicao thought for a moment and added, "Of course, given their relationship with Chancellor Du, other colleagues might be angry but dare not speak up."

"Hmm?"

"Yunyang and Jiaotu are both orphans adopted by Chancellor Du, trained for over ten years into the death soldiers they are today. Perhaps their abilities are not superior to others, but when it comes to killing for the Chancellor, they show no mercy."

Chen Ji suddenly remembered that on the night Zhou Chengyi died, Yunyang and Jiaotu had each sworn oaths by their parents...

As they were speaking, Manager Yuan pushed the door open. "Lord Sicao, it has been arranged. Changjing will be at..."

The Sicao said coldly, "Slap his mouth."

Manager Yuan froze for a moment, but ultimately gritted his teeth and slapped himself ten times.

The Sicao's muffled voice came from behind his mask: "The different intelligence lines are not allowed to share information with one another. Have you forgotten even this basic principle? Do you still hope to succeed Zhou Chengyi and become the Gyrfalcon of Luocheng?"

Manager Yuan lowered his head. "This subordinate was reckless."

Suddenly, Chen Ji spoke from the side, "Lord Sicao, I will do my best to approach Yunyang and Jiaotu, but I have one request."

"Speak."

Chen Ji stared at Manager Yuan and said, "I need the Military Intelligence Bureau to transfer everyone who knows my identity as a spy back to the Jing Dynasty, and they must never be allowed to return to the Ning Dynasty. Otherwise, if I work hard to approach the Twelve Zodiacs and someone else is captured and gives me up, all my efforts will be in vain."

The Sicao fell into thought.

Manager Yuan's expression changed drastically. "Lord Sicao, he is using official business to settle a personal grudge!"

Chen Ji shook his head. "It is not a personal grudge. You already know my identity; if you are captured, you will inevitably give me up."

"I won't!" Manager Yuan said urgently. "Lord Sicao, I have managed Luocheng for six years. No one is more suited to this place than I am."

The Sicao pondered for a moment and walked straight toward a medicinal herb chest.

He opened the chest, pulled out a sheet of oil paper used for preserving herbs, and calmly spread it on the floor.

Seeing this, Manager Yuan turned to flee the warehouse.

But just as he turned, the Sicao had already flashed behind him. Using only one hand, he lifted the stout man and dropped him onto the oil paper.

In the next moment, the Sicao kicked the back of Manager Yuan's knees, forcing him to kneel.

He drew a dagger from his sleeve and looked at Chen Ji. "Today's interrogation was unavoidable; do not hold a grudge. If today's events become a thorn in your heart, I will pull it out for you now. From now on, focus on approaching Yunyang and Jiaotu. Aside from me, the Bureau Chief, and your uncle, no one else will know your identity as a spy."

As he spoke, the Sicao gripped Manager Yuan's jaw and plunged the blade into his heart. "Yuan Ming, by abusing your position, you have embezzled eight thousand three hundred and twenty-seven taels of silver from the Hundred Deer Pavilion over six years. This pavilion was established to raise funds for the Military Intelligence Bureau, yet it became a place for you to line your own pockets. You are disloyal."

Manager Yuan gasped for air, unable to utter a single word.

As the Sicao twisted the dagger to shred Manager Yuan's heart, he lifted the man's blue-faced, fanged countenance to look at Chen Ji. "Without absolute loyalty, there is absolute disloyalty. Chen Ji, I give this sentence to you as well. Keep it in your heart."

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

(End of Chapter)