diymy Chapter 38 Dual-Line Intelligence
Chapter 38 Dual-Line Intelligence
Under Levi's arrangement, Finn became his ears. This one-eyed man, who always hung out in taverns and warehouses, always managed to bring back a bunch of news, some true and some false.
"Sir, Captain Jason of the South Wharf secretly unloaded three cases of Dutch gin last night without declaring customs duties."
"The 'Sons of Liberty' group seems to be looking for a blacksmith who can fix printing presses."
"Corporal Wallace of the dock patrol team, his wife is sick and he urgently needs money."
Li Wei sat in his office on the second floor of the warehouse, rhythmically tapping the table with his knuckles.
As he listened to Finn's report, he categorized, filtered, and reorganized the scattered information in his mind.
"Inadvertently reveal Captain Jensen's name and his ship's number to Mr. Boyle."
"Do I need to explain this to Boyle?"
"No need. Boyle with only a superficial understanding is the best Boyle."
Li Wei then handed Finn a slip of paper with several names written on it.
"Also, find an opportunity to give this list to Boyle's wife, Martha, alone. Have her 'casually' reveal it to the secretary's wife of the adjutant who often goes to his shop for tea."
"Martha is a smart woman; she knows what to do!"
The names on the note belonged to several petty thugs who made a living by stealing at the docks. They would occasionally sell their stolen goods to small businessmen connected with the "Sons of Liberty".
"Just a few pieces of trash? Is it really necessary to be so..." Finn took the note, glanced at it, and disdainfully stuffed it into his pocket.
"The Governor's Office needs achievements, but not too great ones." Li Wei didn't look up, continuing to sketch something on a piece of parchment.
"What we're going to feed them is bait, not whole fish."
Finn nodded as if he understood, then turned and strode away.
Having spent these past few days with Mr. Li, he has only come to understand one thing: to carry out Mr. Li's orders.
Levi turned to the other side, where Fiona was standing in front of a newly added long table with a huge map of Boston Harbor spread out on it.
With a thin charcoal pencil, she bent over and marked red crosses on the map, her figure quite eye-catching.
"Seamus's men reported that the shift change at Pier 2 on the north side last night was three minutes later than we anticipated."
"The patrol team on the west side passed through Tavern Street two minutes earlier."
"Very good." Li Wei walked over, picked up another charcoal pencil, and corrected a few lines on the map.
"Compile the latest schedule. Send it out using a kite as a signal."
"Yes, sir."
Li Wei established this dual-track system in just three days.
He provided the governor's office with insignificant "evidence" that would allow Lieutenant Hank and Lieutenant Gage to write a few lines in their reports.
He provided truly deadly intelligence to the "Sons of Liberty".
The rewards came quickly.
A week later, Adjutant Gage personally sent someone to deliver a document.
The document bears the wax seal of the Governor's Office and is a temporary trading license for the company "Liwei Oriental Trading Company".
This legal veneer allowed Li Wei's business to officially emerge from the shadows of the docks and stand in the sunlight.
The other reward, however, came with even greater twists and turns.
……
In a damp basement, the light from a whale oil lamp flickered.
Samuel was excitedly unfolding a piece of parchment he had just received, covered with dense lines and numbers.
"Look! This is the latest intelligence sent by Levi!" He pointed to the map and said to the men in front of him, "It details the British patrol routes and the precise timing of the troop rotations for the next week!"
A stocky, middle-aged man with calloused hands approached.
His name was Silas, a blacksmith, and one of the most radical members of the Sons of Liberty. He looked at the map skeptically.
"An Easterner, a speculator who made his fortune by bootlegging and extorting protection money."
"How could he possibly get his hands on this? Samuel, don't be fooled. This might be a trap set by the 'Lobster Soldiers,' just waiting for us to walk right into it!"
"He's not a speculator, he's..." Samuel tried to defend Levy, but found himself unable to explain what Levy really was.
An ally? A businessman? Or a gang leader?
"Who he is doesn't matter!" Samuel emphasized.
"Most importantly, he has what we need most! The intelligence about the printing press parts last time, and his elimination of 'Mad Dog' Barlow, didn't they all prove his value?"
"That's different!" Silas slammed his fist on the table.
"Barlow is everyone's enemy. Eliminating him would benefit that Easterner the most! But this patrol map... it's too detailed, almost like a trap. I will never gamble my brothers' lives on the integrity of a yellow-skinned monkey!"
"You..." Samuel's face turned pale with anger.
"Unless we can verify its authenticity." Silas, seemingly reckless, was actually quick to calm down, pointing to the location of the armory on the map.
"The map says that the guards will change shifts at the tavern on the corner at 9:15 the night after tomorrow, and the patrol won't pass by until 9:25. We have a ten-minute window of opportunity."
He looked up, staring intently at Samuel: "We'll use these ten minutes to send two men to the outer wall of the armory and paint our slogans. If they succeed, I'll believe him. If they fail… Samuel, you'll be held responsible for your naiveté!"
Two nights later, the night was dark and windy.
Two young men dressed in dark clothes lay in wait in the alley opposite the armory, their hearts pounding in their chests.
Time passed by, second by second.
At 9:15, the two guards at the armory gate yawned and walked arm in arm toward the street corner.
action!
The two men immediately rushed out and, as quickly as possible, painted two white slogans on the white wall of the armory with asphalt.
"Down with Tyrant George!"
"Give me liberty or give me death!"
Just as the last stroke was finished, the sound of neat footsteps in leather boots could be heard in the distance.
The two were terrified and scrambled away, disappearing into the darkness of the alley.
A squad of "lobster soldiers" turned the corner. The officer in charge glanced at the slogan on the wall, cursed, but did not investigate further. He simply urged the squad to continue.
In the basement, when the two young men breathlessly reported that the operation was a success, everyone fell silent.
Silas's face wore a complex expression, a mixture of shock, lingering fear, and excitement. He looked at Samuel, his tone stiff but admitting, "That Easterner had some integrity."
Li Wei's intelligence was accurate to the minute.
Soon, this trust translated into something tangible.
Three days later, a masked messenger from the "Sons of Liberty" knocked on the back door of the warehouse at midnight.