cicada

Chapter 605 Over the Ocean
Latitude 22°26'00.00"N,
114° 12'00.00" East Longitude.

The temperature is 25 degrees and the weather is cloudy.

The French cruise ship Antlepont slowly approached the pier of the Star Ferry Pier in the port city. On the shore were countless citizens who picked up their relatives and friends, small merchants who made a living by the pier, and punks who fished in troubled waters.

Watching the huge cruise ship come to a stop, the cheers resounded throughout. Maritime accidents are frequent in this era, and the tragedy of the Titanic more than 20 years ago is still in front of us. Long-distance travel is very dangerous.

Nowadays, it is normal for people to be happy when their relatives, lovers or friends arrive safely in the port city. As for the happiness of merchants and gangsters, it is easier to understand, because there is money to make.

"Get out, get out."

In the crowd, a group of black-clothed youths yelled loudly, pushing away all the people blocking the way, and made way for a middle-aged man in a white suit, a top hat, and a civilized stick in his hand.

Amidst countless yells and curses, the middle-aged man took off his sunglasses, looked up at the deck of the cruise ship and smiled, and the two well-dressed young men beside him also breathed a sigh of relief.

This scene was captured by a pair of binoculars on the Antlepont. The owner of the binoculars immediately put down his hands, walked to the sun umbrella not far away, and reported softly to a man who looked like a nobleman.

"I saw Section Chief Gu and the others, but no follower was found. Do you want me to pick up the ship at the boarding port and hand over the weapons and communication equipment to Wu Chunyang? There should be no security checks."

"No need, I haven't figured out the backgrounds of the people on board. Let's meet up in the restaurant at night. Old Gu and the others don't have the protection of diplomatic privileges, and their identities must be kept secret." Zuo Zhong on the recliner said leisurely.

After boarding the Antlepont from Shanghai, he enjoyed a rare relaxing time. He lived in a luxury suite, drank champagne, and used public funds. His life was a hundred times more comfortable than when he was in Jinling.

The mission was also very smooth. Mao Yi, the director of the Gongxian Armory Factory, was a new-style literati who was easy to deal with. The two of them had a lot in common on many things, and the time on the road was not difficult.

Only the weapons and communication tools they carried almost had problems. The French captain was determined not to allow passengers to carry dangerous items on board, saying that he had learned the lesson from the Liuguo Hotel in Peking.

Mother's.

Zuo Zhong almost turned his nose when he ate melons. Fortunately, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs notified the French Consulate that the stubborn old white man gave in. It was simply inexplicable.

It's not the damn [-]th century now, which lunatic would hijack a cruise ship on the sea, and there is nowhere to escape in the face of capture and escape. Does he want to paddle a small sampan to bombard the battleship?

"Okay, deputy director."

Gui Youguang touched his bald forehead, and walked back to the side of the ship to watch Gu Qi, Wu Chunyang and Shen Dongxin walk up the gangway under the guidance of the sailors, and quickly disappeared among the many boarding passengers.

Since the port city was only a temporary passing point for the Antlepont, a few hours later, the cruise ship set sail again amid the cheers of the crowd, heading towards Saigon, the French colony in Asia.

That night, in the luxurious restaurant, Zuo Zhong met Gu Qi who had been separated for several days. The two did not speak or make eye contact. They only exchanged a small note when they passed each other.

There are hundreds of tourists and crew members on this ship. Any one of them may be a Japanese or German spy. They must be careful in their actions. Unless necessary, it is best to keep a proper distance.

As for weapons and communication equipment, such a large ship always has some unnoticed corners, and it is very easy for the elite of the Secret Service to complete the handover without meeting each other.

A few days later, the cruise ship arrived in Saigon smoothly.

Annan in this era is still in the era of a feudal dynasty. The last emperor, Ruan Phuc, married the queen last year. Of course, this has nothing to do with Zuo Chong. He is not interested in watching monkeys bark their teeth.

The Antlepon stayed in Saigon for a few days, replenished some food, fresh water, coal and tropical fruits, and then continued the journey, passing through Singapore and Colombo into the vast North Indian Ocean.

From here, the passengers saw nothing but the sea. Many people who took the boat for the first time gradually became numb from the excitement at the beginning, then became afraid, and finally simply lay flat on the bed.

In order to make everyone less bored, and to prevent people from being too bored and making troubles, the dance hall and bar on the cruise ship are open all day for guests in luxury suites and first- and second-class cabins.

You mean the guests in the third and fourth class cabins?

Poor ghost, go back to the bilge at once.

It was another boring day, the musicians played various musical instruments, the melodious music floated in the resplendent ballroom, and more than a dozen luxuriously dressed men and women danced in the middle of the dance floor.

Not long after the song ended, the nearby passengers smiled and applauded, everything seemed so polite, Mao Yike and Zuo Zhong were among them, they applauded and chatted in a low voice.

"How about Deputy Director Zuo, that White Russian countess has seen you several times, and this kind of down-and-out nobleman is most happy to spend the spring night with a young talent like you, so you can be regarded as honor for the country."

Mao Yike, who looks gentle, doesn't speak politely. His eyes swept around and stopped on a tall, fair woman. He raised his wine glass and nodded slightly towards her.

Hearing the other party's narrow words, Zuo Zhong took a sip of whiskey and scolded with a smile: "Brother Mao doesn't look like he went to university in Germany, but he looks like an expert who has experienced in the Parisian pink circle."

"Hahaha, that's wrong."

Over there Mao Yike shook his head, and said triumphantly: "Everyone says that the Germans are serious and old-fashioned. I don't think so. It's just that the Hans are better hidden, so they won't be easily discovered."

Zuo Zhong was a little helpless. He felt that if Xu Enzeng met him, he would definitely become a brother with different surnames. By the way, Xu Enzeng studied mechanical and electrical engineering at Carnegie University.

Could this be the secret attribute of engineering men?
The two laughed and chatted for a while, Zuo Zhong saw no one around, and said in a low voice: "After passing the port of Djibouti, the next stop is Istanbul, and the cruise ship will stay there for two days.

The local situation is very complicated, and the relationship between the Turk and the Republic of China is not harmonious. The factory manager Mao tries to stay in the cabin as much as possible, and does not walk around on the deck at will. I am afraid that the Japanese will do something there. "

As soon as they met, he introduced the dangers of the trip to the other party, especially the threat posed by the Japanese. As the person in charge of the largest arsenal in the Republic of China, Mao Yi knew that this was not unfounded worry.

Hearing what Zuo Zhong said, Mao Yike showed doubts: "I know, when we were studying abroad and returning to China, the captain and crew also reminded us that Istanbul is really so dangerous?"

"It's more dangerous than you think."

Zuo Zhong answered firmly, seeing that the other party didn't understand, he patiently explained: "Istanbul is located at the junction of the Eurasian continent, and many spies and criminals choose to make transactions here.

In this city full of smuggling, conspiracy, murder, and deceit, as long as you find the right people and have money, you can buy anything, intelligence, medicine, guns, and even people.

For example, weapons experts like you are popular in the population market, because gangsters and anti-government elements need people to manufacture and maintain firearms, and are willing to pay an attractive price. "

Mao Yike was horrified when he heard it. He didn't think he was a nerd. He had traveled to many countries during his study abroad, but this was the first time he had heard of such a place where all kinds of evils gathered.

Thinking that when he returned to China, he was going to get off the boat to see the exotic streets, Mao Yi was terrified. If he did, he would probably be dead by now.

"Brother Mao, I'm not scaremongering."

Zuo Zhong patted the other party on the shoulder, staring at him: "We are a government mission, and it is easy to inquire about whereabouts. If I were Japanese, I would pay a sum of money and hire gunmen to kill you directly while docking.

Without you as a weapon expert, we rough people would not know the authenticity and quality of the pattern, and more importantly, killing you would deal a heavy blow to the military equipment manufacturing industry of the government.

Therefore, for the sake of safety, please follow Zuo Mou's instructions for the following itinerary. Food and drink must be inspected before they can be imported. If there is any offense, please ask Haihan. "

"Okay, Mao knows."

Mao Yi is not a person who does not know what is good or bad, and he can make the famous secret service stand ready, which shows that the danger is imminent, and the gunman is probably waiting for him in Djibouti or Istanbul.

So many years of studying and working have taught him one thing, that is, to respect professionals, and never point fingers in fields that he does not understand, especially when it is about life.

Zuo Zhong said something, seeing that Mao Yike's reaction didn't seem to be fake, he relaxed a little, thankfully he didn't meet the kind of protection target who knew there was danger but insisted on running around.

If he encounters this kind of person, then he will implement the second set of plans, directly lock the person in the cruise ship room, and then release him after Marseilles. It is better to be sued by the other party than to fail the mission.

Just as he was thinking about it, Mao Yike asked furtively again: "Deputy Director Zuo, should we transfer to other ships in Djibouti? There are many Australian cruise ships passing by, and the Japanese would never think of it."

"Don't be so troublesome. From today onwards, everyone will randomly change rooms every morning, as long as Director Mao doesn't dislike first- and second-class cabins." Zuo Zhong thought of Zhang Jingyao and decided to follow suit.

"Don't dislike it, don't dislike it."

Mao Yike quickly waved his hands, and said with a smile that he is also a person who has experienced hard times. He used to travel abroad to save money and took the third-class cabin, but now he is satisfied with living in a second-class cabin.

You don’t need to think about it to know that this is a polite word. Those who can go to Germany to study cannot be poor. It is nothing more than the difference between a family with [-] acres of land or [-] acres of land, otherwise they would not even be able to afford a boat ticket.

Zuo Zhong clinked a glass with him, looked at the cloudy sky outside the window and the rattling curtains blown by the sea breeze, and said to himself that the rest of the journey is bound to be uneventful.

In this tense atmosphere, the Antlepon passed through Djibouti without incident, passed through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, and then arrived in Istanbul through the narrow Dardanelles.

When the cruise ship approached the shore under the control of the tugboat, the setting sun fell on the Byzantine-style dome of the Blue Mosque, and the ancient and mysterious prayers could be vaguely heard from inside.

Enthusiastic seagulls performed flying skills over the ship to their heart's content, while Zuo Zhong stood on the side of the ship, taking advantage of the last ray of sunshine to enjoy the city conquered by countless powerful civilizations.

　There are easter eggs
　　
　
(End of this chapter)