bookcurios Chapter 139 How did you come to this conclusion?
Chapter 139 How did you come to this conclusion?
Zheng Yaoxian often took Su Ming on missions, allowing him to experience firsthand the harsh realities of espionage. Through repeated battles of wit and courage with the enemy, Su Ming gradually grasped the profound meaning of Zheng Yaoxian's teachings. No longer a young man operating on instinct, he gradually matured into a true agent capable of calm analysis and precise strikes.
Zheng Yaoxian was increasingly satisfied with Su Ming's performance. He knew his disciple had already developed the ability to stand on his own. Perhaps one day, Su Ming would become the most formidable figure in the Juntong, even surpassing himself. Zheng Yaoxian felt both a sense of relief and a faint sense of crisis.
In this world, Su Ming is no longer the expelled nobody, but a rising star, a "potent" figure, a figure his enemies tremble in fear. His future is filled with challenges and uncertainties, but he no longer fears them, knowing that no matter what lies ahead, he will persevere until he finally triumphs.
Zheng Yaoxian decided to personally assess Su Ming to determine if he possessed the potential to become a top-tier Juntong agent. While Su Ming's previous performance had been impressive, Zheng Yaoxian knew the real world of espionage was far more complex than it appeared. He needed to ensure that Su Ming relied not only on talent but also on the ability to make sound judgments in realistic, high-pressure situations.
Zheng Yaoxian carefully designed several tests, each of which was covert and complex enough to make it difficult for even the most experienced agents to escape unscathed.
The first test: information induction
Zheng Yaoxian's first test was Su Ming's ability to judge information. He deliberately arranged a false mission intelligence report, stating that a key underground party liaison was about to be exposed and urgently needed to be evacuated. Zheng Yaoxian "accidentally" revealed this information to Su Ming to observe his reaction.
After receiving the intelligence, Su Ming didn't act rashly. He calmly analyzed the source and credibility of the intelligence, finding several illogicalities: the timeline was inconsistent, and the contact's area of activity didn't match previous records. This made him doubt the authenticity of the intelligence. Rather than reporting it directly to his superiors, Su Ming quietly researched further information and ultimately confirmed it was a decoy.
He submitted his analysis to Zheng Yaoxian, carefully pointing out the flaws in the intelligence and suggesting a temporary halt to the operation to obtain more solid evidence. Zheng Yaoxian looked at the report Su Ming had submitted and nodded inwardly. Su Ming had demonstrated his calm analytical ability and high sensitivity to information.
The second test: counter-reconnaissance
Then, Zheng Yaoxian arranged a more direct test. He ordered Su Ming to go to Shanghai alone to carry out an intelligence exchange mission. The mission seemed simple, but it was actually an elaborate trap.
During his mission, Su Ming vaguely sensed someone following him. Despite the clever disguise, Su Ming still detected a discrepancy through subtle signs. He immediately changed his planned route, cleverly utilizing the terrain and flow of people in a narrow alleyway to successfully shake off the pursuer.
However, the test wasn't over. When Su Ming arrived at the designated intelligence exchange location, he found himself surrounded on all sides, seemingly blocked from all exits. Then, an "intelligence dealer" appeared and offered an exchange, but his words were full of loopholes, clearly a test for Su Ming.
Su Ming didn't rush to hand over his "intelligence." He feigned cooperation, but during the handover process, he exploited the other party's negligence, made a quick judgment, and fabricated a false intelligence report. He then decisively acted while the other party was inspecting the goods, subduing the "intelligence dealer." Throughout the process, he remained calm, quickly seeing through the trap and exploiting the other party's mistakes to counterattack.
Zheng Yaoxian observed all this through a telescope in the distance, a rare smile on his face. Su Ming had not only successfully passed this counter-reconnaissance test, but also demonstrated his ability to respond and his mental fortitude in an emergency.
The third test: psychological game
Finally, Zheng Yaoxian decided to personally test the situation and conduct a psychological game. He arranged a seemingly ordinary dinner party, inviting Su Ming and several senior agents from the Juntong. The atmosphere was relaxed and lively, but Su Ming remained vigilant.
During the meal, Zheng Yaoxian deliberately steered the conversation towards a mystery. This mystery had long been resolved within Juntong, but the details were deeply puzzling. Zheng Yaoxian was attempting to unwittingly guide Su Ming's judgment, to see if he would be misled by superficial clues.
Faced with the rhetoric of Zheng Yaoxian and other senior agents, Su Ming didn't jump to conclusions. Instead, he listened carefully to each person's words, quickly analyzing various possibilities in his mind. He noticed that Zheng Yaoxian's words were somewhat misleading. Combining this with the information he had previously gathered, he made a bold assumption: the truth of the case was completely contrary to what appeared on the surface.
As the dinner drew to a close, Zheng Yaoxian suddenly asked Su Ming, "If I asked you to reexamine that mystery, what would you do?"
Su Ming smiled faintly, his tone calm but confident, "I will re-examine the clues based on everyone's motives and interests. I suspect the key figure in that case is not the target we previously identified, but someone else."
Zheng Yaoxian raised his eyebrows and asked, "How did you come to this conclusion?"
Su Ming slowly recounted his analysis, pointing out several key points Zheng Yaoxian had intentionally or unintentionally left out in his narrative, and connecting them into a new logical chain. Zheng Yaoxian's face flickered with an appreciative smile as he heard this.
"Not bad," Zheng Yaoxian finally spoke, his tone filled with rare praise. "You not only have keen observation skills, but also strong logical reasoning skills. Most importantly, you weren't fooled by our deliberately designed appearances. This game, you won."
After these tests, Zheng Yaoxian was completely convinced of Su Ming's potential. He realized that this young man relied not only on intuition and luck, but also on the ability to conduct espionage operations that were comparable to those of a top-tier agent.
Zheng Yaoxian's attitude towards Su Ming changed fundamentally. He was no longer just an observer, but regarded Su Ming as a true comrade and successor. After that, Zheng Yaoxian began to teach Su Ming espionage techniques more systematically and gave him more autonomy in key missions.
As a result, Su Ming gradually rose to prominence within the Juntong, becoming a truly terrifying "arsenic" that terrified his enemies. Not only did he inherit Zheng Yaoxian's wisdom and tactics, but he also developed his own unique style, becoming a force to be reckoned with in the world of espionage.