Chapter Fifteen: Lü Heruo Narrowly Escapes Having His Identity Exposed by the Taiwan Garrison Commands Intelligence Bureau

55

It was a damp, gloomy night in early February 1950. A cold wind suddenly swept through Taipei. The streets were slick with moisture, and neon lights flickered unsteadily in the puddles, like fragments of the citys troubled thoughts. The entrance to the Eastern Printing House stood half open, its lights dim and yellow. The air was filled with the mixed odors of printing ink and damp paper. A withered tree outside the entrance swayed in the wind, as though warning of impending danger.

A black sedan silently pulled up at the entrance to the alley. Several plainclothes agents from the Taiwan Garrison Commands Intelligence Bureau slipped inside in separate groups. Their movements were swift and precise, their eyes cold and watchful. Without saying a word, they subdued Xiao Dongping, the owner of the printing house. Books, newspapers, and leaflets were scattered across the floor after being kicked aside. Xiao Dongping had no time to resist. All he managed to utter was, "Who... who are you...?"

"Shut up!" one of the plainclothes agents barked coldly. He slammed the butt of his gun against the corner of the table, producing a dull thud. They quickly seized Xiao Dongping and dragged him into the car.

The night grew deeper.

Unaware of what had happened, Lü Heruo entered the alley, weary from his journey. He wore a flat cap and an old wool overcoat, carrying a small cloth bag of packaged tea leaves. His expression was as calm as ever. He pressed the doorbell and waited a few seconds before the door creaked open. The yellow light inside was still on, but Xiao Dongping was nowhere to be seen.

"Who are you looking for?" A man in plain clothes leaned against the doorway. His tone was flippant, and his eyes moved up and down Lü Heruos body like those of a poisonous snake.

"Im here to see Mr. Xiao. Ive brought him some tea." Lü Heruo smiled, his voice calm and composed.

The plainclothes agent raised an eyebrow. "Bringing tea? Whats your name?"

"Lü Shidui, sir."

"Lü Shidui?" Another plainclothes agent approached and scrutinized him before holding out his hand. "Your ID card. Hand it over."

Lü Heruo paused slightly. A faint smile remained on his face, but his fingers had quietly tightened around the cloth bag. He then slowly took out his wallet, pulled out his identification card, and handed it over.

"Sir, I havent broken any laws. Isnt it a bit excessive to demand my ID?"

The plainclothes agent took it and examined it. "What a coincidence. You have the same surname, Lü?"

Lü Heruo shrugged, pretending to be unconcerned. "Whats wrong with having the surname Lü? There are plenty of people in Taiwan with that surname."

"What is Lü Heruo to you?"

The moment those words were spoken, the air seemed to freeze. The light bulb flickered slightly, as though the pressure in the room had suddenly dropped.

A flicker crossed Lü Heruos eyes, but the corners of his mouth curled into a self-mocking smile. "Lü Heruo? Never heard of him. Is he some kind of stage performer?"

The plainclothes agent sneered. "Stop playing dumb. Youre not going anywhere today."

Lü Heruo remained composed. He shifted his feet slightly and glanced at an old overcoat hanging behind the door and a cigarette pack crushed underfoot. He knew this place was no longer safe.

Several plainclothes agents approached and surrounded him. One of them patted him on the shoulder, his tone carrying a warning. "Youd better sit quietly and wait. Well go back and check your identity. If what you say is true, you can leave. But if youve been lying..."

Before he could finish, his hand had already moved to the holster at his waist.

"Ill wait," Lü Heruo said softly, his tone unchanged. His eyes, however, had already surveyed the exits and layout of the entire room.

Five hours passed. The cold of the late night was penetrating. At last, the plainclothes agents received a report: there was no evidence to substantiate their suspicions. "Lü Shidui" was indeed a legally registered identity and was not the wanted fugitive known as "Lü Heruo." Because he had long used his pen name in literary circles, the Intelligence Bureau agents had mistakenly assumed that "Lü Heruo" was his real name.

"All right. You can leave now." The plainclothes agent tossed his identification card back to him, his voice still dripping with contempt.

Lü Heruo took his ID card and gave a cold smile. "Thank you for your hospitality, sir. You can keep the tea."

With that, he turned and walked away. His figure remained straight in the darkness, like an unbroken pen shaft silently writing the story of those who were about to be silenced.

56

Based on Xiao Dongpings testimony, the Intelligence Bureau had obtained the name of Su Yulan. In early spring, a thin mist hung over the mountain roads halfway up Grass Mountain. Intelligence Bureau agents drove toward their destination in the morning light. By the time they arrived at the hideout of Su Yulan and her daughter, dawn had barely broken. The mountain cold penetrated to the bone. Without knocking, they kicked the wooden door open with a tremendous crash, and several men dressed in black filed inside.

Su Yulan awoke with a start and instinctively picked up her daughter, shielding her protectively. The child burst into tears. The agent leading the group spoke in a cold voice. "Were from the Intelligence Bureau. Youre Su Yulan, arent you? Wed like you to come with us."

Several hours later, the mother and daughter were taken to an interrogation room in the Bureaus basement. The walls were stained and peeling, and the lighting was harsh and pale. The air was heavy with the stench of sweat and tension, as though fear itself had congealed in the room.

Piercing screams from the neighboring room drilled into Su Yulans ears like iron nails. Trembling, she lowered her head and tried to comfort the daughter in her arms. The child had cried herself into exhaustion and was now curled up against her mother, sobbing softly. Su Yulan herself was shivering uncontrollably from the cold.

Xing Aihua sat at the table and put on a seemingly gentle expression. He spoke slowly. "Su Yulan, weve completed our investigation. Youre Lü Heruos live-in partner. As long as you cooperate and tell us where he might have gone, we wont give you any trouble. Youre only a person connected to the case. Do you understand?"

Su Yulan raised her head and forced herself to meet his gaze. Suppressing the sob caught in her throat, she spoke steadily. "I only heard him mention that he wanted to make a trip to central Taiwan. As for whom he was going to see or where he was going, he really didnt tell me."

Xing Aihua tilted his head and smiled, like a cat watching a canary trying to escape. He tapped his pen lightly against the tabletop. "Youre the person closest to him. How could he possibly leave without telling you where he was going?"

Gu Zhengwen stood leaning against the wall, his arms folded across his chest. His expression revealed nothing. He spoke slowly and deliberately. "Dont be afraid. Well investigate on our own. All you have to do is tell us the truth."

Su Yulan held her daughter tightly against her chest, trying to draw some warmth from her small body. She knew that every word she spoke could lead the agents closer to Lü Heruos whereabouts. She took a deep breath and answered cautiously. "He mentioned Lukang... but he didnt give me any details. When I asked him, he only said that I was just a housewife and shouldnt concern myself with such matters."

Gu Zhengwen suddenly straightened up, his gaze sharpening. "Lukang? Was he going there to look for Ku Yen-pi-hsia? We know he used to work as a private tutor for the Ku family. The Ku family is wealthy. This woman might help him, isnt that right?"

Su Yulans eyes flickered. She realized that she had let something slip, but it was already too late. She lowered her voice and said, "About that... I really cant say for certain, sir."

Gu Zhengwen exchanged a glance with Xing Aihua. Her reaction had clearly given them a direction in which to pursue their suspicions. Gu Zhengwen stepped closer to the table. His voice dropped, but his words carried an unmistakable threat.

"Su Yulan, you must sign this statement. Well go to Lukang and verify everything ourselves. I hope you havent lied to us. Otherwise..."

He did not finish the sentence. Instead, he rapped his knuckles heavily against the tabletop several times. The muffled blows sounded like an alarm bell, echoing against the cold, hard walls.

Su Yulan nodded and signed the statement with a trembling hand.

That night, she was returned to her cell. Beneath the flickering yellow light bulb, she sat on the cold concrete floor, holding her sleeping daughter in her arms. Her eyes were vacant. She did not know whether the choice she had made was right. She only knew that certain names and certain clues must never again pass her lips.

Several days later, while fleeing from the authorities, Lü Heruo heard on the radio that Su Yulan and Ku Yen-pi-hsia had been arrested one after the other. His expression changed instantly. Sitting on an old wooden chair, he gripped his knees tightly with both hands until his knuckles turned white. Regret and self-reproach surged through him like a dark tide.

He murmured to himself, "Im the one who brought this upon them..."

For a moment, he even considered turning himself in immediately, hoping that doing so might secure their freedom in exchange. But then his expression turned cold. He understood clearly that this was no way to save them. It would only plunge him into the abyss as well. The Intelligence Bureau would never simply let the matter rest.

"I cant go... I cant let anyone else sacrifice themselves for me."

He covered his face and lowered his head. Tears silently slipped through the gaps between his fingers.