Chapter 150: Scrounging for Favors

After saying that, Tian Yaopeng looked at Gao Fei, and after a moment of silence, let out a sigh. "Since you sought me out today, you must have some business in mind."

"That's right. We took the risk of being discovered by your government just to rescue you, so naturally, we want something in return," Gao Fei replied directly without beating around the bush.

"With my wretched life, I never thought there would come a day when I'd still be of use to someone." Tian Yaopeng made a polite gesture inviting him to speak.

"You have been in Shanning for so many years. Even though you are now wanted by all sides, I imagine you still have a few friends," Gao Fei said with absolute certainty.

Tian Yaopeng nodded slightly.

"Very well. Mobilize your network and find out the true intent behind the authorities' frequent troop movements recently."

"Military intelligence? That is going to be very difficult to handle. Early last year, the military's political department established a special counter-espionage unit specifically to deal with your infiltration and intelligence gathering," Tian Yaopeng said with a troubled expression.

"Commander Tian can rest assured. As long as your intelligence is accurate, we will safely escort you out of Shanning, and you will be completely free," Gao Fei played his trump card directly.

Gao Fei simply had no other choice now. He had already activated all his insiders in Shanning, but the intelligence he managed to obtain yielded little use.

At such a critical juncture, any matter concerning troop movements was of monumental importance, leaving zero room for error.

Therefore, Gao Fei had set his sights on Tian Yaopeng. After all, Tian Yaopeng's previous identity was that of a secret agent, and he was quite proficient in intelligence operations.

Hearing Gao Fei's promise, a gleam of hope flashed in Tian Yaopeng's eyes. Although he knew this promise was likely just an illusion, he was still deeply tempted.

Once he escaped the quagmire of Shanning, he would truly be free. At the very least, he wouldn't have to worry about his own safety anymore, and the world would be his oyster.

In the end, Tian Yaopeng nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile.

Bai Zeshao and the others had already arrived at Yihe Road, and Ren Qiang had begun setting up his equipment.

"Ren Qiang, exactly how many unidentified radio stations are there on Yihe Road?" Bai Zeshao inquired.

"Didn't our section chief tell you yesterday?" Ren Qiang asked without lifting his head.

"No, she said you would tell me today," Bai Zeshao shook his head.

Ren Qiang put down his work, looked outside the surveillance vehicle, and said, "Actually, I don't know either."

"Are you kidding me? You don't know? Stop messing around, we are on a mission right now," Bai Zeshao said, looking at Ren Qiang in disbelief.

"I'm not tricking you, I really don't know," Ren Qiang spread his hands and said earnestly.

"You really don't know?" Bai Zeshao asked to confirm once more.

"Really don't know," Ren Qiang nodded.

"Then isn't there even a rough number? Is it that you don't know, or that your section chief didn't tell you?" Bai Zeshao persisted, unwilling to let it go.

"Our section chief did tell me—there are five. But the ones I am picking up on the monitor right now total ten," Ren Qiang said helplessly.

"How did so many radio stations suddenly pop up?" Bai Zeshao paused, asking in surprise, "Didn't your telecommunications section keep records of these extra stations before?"

"We did keep records, but the five extra ones just now were only discovered by me at this very moment. The signals are just extremely unstable and intermittent, which is why I said I don't know the exact number of stations," Ren Qiang wore a helpless expression. Then he asked, "What should we do now?"

"Out of these ten radio stations, how many do you have under control?" Bai Zeshao inquired.

"Three. These three are commercial radio stations and have already been registered with the post office," Ren Qiang replied quickly.

"Good. Then let's start with the remaining seven. However, these radio stations can't possibly stay powered on all the time, right? How are we supposed to monitor them if they do?" Bai Zeshao asked skeptically.

"You're right, so we can only wait for a rabbit by a tree," Ren Qiang nodded and said helplessly.

"Then what if these radio stations never turn on, or don't turn on for the next couple of days? Won't we miss the deadline to complete the mission?" Bai Zeshao said with deep concern.

"Hehe, based on our previous observations, these radio stations are bound to turn on either every morning or every afternoon," Ren Qiang smiled and said.

"Old Ren, can't you just finish everything in one breath? This is truly agonizing," Bai Zeshao gave Ren Qiang a playful, exasperated punch.

"Stop messing around, there's movement!" At that moment, the monitoring equipment suddenly beeped, and Ren Qiang immediately put on his headset and went to work.

Bai Zeshao stopped disturbing Ren Qiang and waited quietly.

Before long, Ren Qiang suddenly instructed the driver, "Drive forward, and keep the speed steady."

The surveillance vehicle started moving with a gentle sway and soon stopped in front of a storefront.

"We've arrived, this is the one," Ren Qiang said to Bai Zeshao.

"Xiaobing, bring the men and let's go check out the situation," Bai Zeshao said, stepping out of the car first and walking toward the entrance of the shop.

When the group walked inside, the shop's radio was still operating. The person in charge of the store looked a bit nervous upon the arrival of the Special Service Branch personnel: "Gentlemen, what brings you to my humble shop?"

"This isn't a humble shop, and humble shops don't need radio stations, do they?" As Bai Zeshao spoke, he signaled one of the telecommunications section agents to start inspecting the store's radio.

Soon, the agent shook his head at Bai Zeshao and the others.

"Boss, didn't you know that privately setting up a radio station is illegal? Confiscate the radio for me," Bai Zeshao said in an overbearing tone.

"Don't do that, young brother. We're all just trying to make an honest living here. Rest assured, I'll go register it at the post office right away," the store manager said as he covertly shoved a wad of cash directly into Bai Zeshao's hand.

Following that, everyone who had entered the shop was slipped some money as well.

Bai Zeshao glanced at Liu Xiaobing and said, "Fine then. Be more careful next time. Pack up and move out."

Bai Zeshao and his team came quickly and left just as fast.

Yet, as soon as they left, the store manager spat toward the doorway. "Those bastards! Every time the year-end comes around, they come out to shake us down."

"So what do we do now, boss?"

"What else can we do? Go register it. Damn it, that's another hefty expense. I didn't register it in the first place just to save some money, but I never expected those greedy ghosts to find out anyway," the manager said with a helpless expression.

Outside.

Everyone wore smiles on their faces. The money slipped to them by the boss just now was not a small sum, which counted as a tidy little bonus for them.

Consequently, the looks they cast toward Bai Zeshao carried a few more shades of gratitude.

"Alright, look serious everyone! We are executing a mission right now; shaking down shops was just a side perk," Bai Zeshao emphasized to the group.

"Yes!"

Shortly after, everyone returned to the vehicle and waited for Ren Qiang to resume monitoring.