The working group encountered great trouble when interrogating Liu Yongyi. No matter how the comrades of the working group asked, whether with a cold attitude, a stern attitude, or even anger, Liu Yongyi remained silent from beginning to end. If Liu Yongyi spoke nonsense and cursed the People's Party loudly, it wouldn't make the working group feel so tricky. But Liu Yongyi chose silence as his way of confrontation, which made the working group feel extremely difficult to deal with.

At the founding meeting of the People's Internal Affairs Commission, the instruction given by Chen Ke was: "The main task of the People's Internal Affairs Commission is not to physically eliminate counter-revolutionaries; the Internal Affairs Commission must first defeat these counter-revolutionaries spiritually. Counter-revolutionaries are not born; anyone's choice is gradually formed in life and learning afterwards. The reason why you comrades present can be selected into the organization of the People's Internal Affairs Commission and granted such great authority is because based on your previous performance, we believe you are firm revolutionaries. Since you are firm revolutionaries, then you comrades must firmly believe in the justice, advanced nature, and invincible essence of the revolution. Revolutionary violence can cut off a person's head, but may not be able to make a person bow his head. The commander of three armies can be captured, but the will of a common man cannot be taken away. In future work, when facing those counter-revolutionaries, I require everyone to first overwhelm them spiritually, let them understand that the justice these counter-revolutionaries think they have is wrong in front of the revolution."

It was because of Chen Ke's instructions that the comrades of the working group could face their work with a firm mentality. Since they firmly believed they were right, there was absolutely no need for the working group to really get angry. Anger is merely a means, a technique. Anger shouldn't be a completely useless way of venting adopted out of helplessness. But the comrades of the working group were all young people; facing Liu Yongyi's firm confrontation, everyone had almost unbearable anger in their chests.

"For such a diehard counter-revolutionary, just drag him out and kill him."

"He wants to resist to the end! Even if he refuses to confess, relying solely on others' exposure, he is dead for sure."

"No matter what, we must pry open this guy's mouth."

Listening to the murderous words of the comrades, Qi Huishen was very surprised by Liu Yongyi's attitude and method. Judging from now, Liu Yongyi had made up his mind to die. This was easy to understand; the People's Party could not let Liu Yongyi go. At this critical moment when the base area was expanding rapidly, even if only to establish prestige, actions like Liu Yongyi's could not be forgiven. Otherwise, what if others followed suit? Qi Huishen's rank was already very high; he knew very well the views on secret societies within the high level, especially Chen Ke's firm advocacy that the main work goal in the future was to build a strong grassroots government organization. To achieve this goal, various forces that once dominated the countryside must be wiped out. Qi Huishen understood Chen Ke's personality and attitude towards work very well; once he made up his mind, no matter what difficulties there were, Chen Ke would spare no effort to promote the established policy.

Thinking of this, Qi Huishen stopped everyone from continuing to get angry unnecessarily. "Comrades, Liu Yongyi seems to understand that he can absolutely not survive this pass. That's why he behaves like this. But I think there is something very strange here. If according to the norm, ordinary political organizations would have tortured Liu Yongyi long ago. I don't think Liu Yongyi can maintain this ruthlessness under torture. Why does he dare to do this to us? Does he know our People's Party doesn't allow torture, or did someone give him advice? I think this matter must be clarified first."

Hearing Qi Huishen's analysis, the young comrades immediately felt enlightened. Indeed, everyone only noticed Liu Yongyi's silence but forgot to analyze the reason for this silence. If whips, soldering irons, tiger benches, and chili water were used, Liu Yongyi should have "sung" long ago. Where would it be his turn to be so stubborn?

"Secretary Qi, where to start checking?"

"Look at the data; Liu Yongyi is detained alone. Then first investigate whether this person has had any in-depth contact with our People's Party, and at the same time check what the comrades guarding Liu Yongyi have said. Did they inadvertently reveal any details about the interrogation? In addition, when you interrogate Liu Yongyi again, I allow you to talk about his family."

Hearing Qi Huishen's words, everyone showed a surprised look on their faces. The regulations formulated by the working group did not allow mentioning the issue of threatening the prisoner's family. If the threat mode of implicating the nine clans [guilt by association] was adopted, the other party would be extremely easy to submit, but it also meant that both sides had actually completely torn their faces. On this issue, the working group was very cautious.

"Not to threaten Liu Yongyi with implication of his family. Change the way of saying it." Qi Huishen explained.

After intense preparation, the new interrogation began. This time the chief interrogator was Qi Huishen. Liu Yongyi sat on the stool with his hands tied behind his back without saying a word. Facing Qi Huishen, Liu Yongyi even closed his eyes, looking completely like a dead pig not afraid of boiling water.

"Liu Yongyi, you seem to be alone, but your next-door neighbor's daughter who married into Fengyang Prefecture shares the same father with you, right? What was her name again? Oh, I remember her name is Wang Chaihua. Fengyang Prefecture is also in our hands now. When you die, we will notify Wang Chaihua to collect your corpse."

When Qi Huishen spoke halfway, Liu Yongyi's closed eyes had opened completely. His breathing became rapid, his Adam's apple moving up and down constantly, as if some words were blocked in his throat.

"After Ms. Wang Chaihua married into Fengyang Prefecture, you went to see her several times. Presumably your relationship is very good. Moreover, although not of the same surname, she is your sister after all. She will definitely collect your corpse and won't let your corpse expose in the wilderness."

Hearing this, Liu Yongyi tightened his lips tightly, and a painful look appeared on his face.

Qi Huishen acted as if he didn't see it. "Liu Yongyi, don't think everyone doesn't know some things. The eyes of the masses are snow-bright. Many things everyone doesn't say with their mouths, but their hearts are like a bright mirror. Just like you used someone else's name to join our police organization in our base area. What was that name again? Let me see." While speaking, Qi Huishen opened a document and looked at it. "Oh, called Li Fugui. Speaking of which, Comrade Li Fugui, you have also been a policeman, so you are also our revolutionary comrade. Comrade Li Fugui, can you report to the organization why you launched a counter-revolutionary action?"

Liu Yongyi, who had remained expressionless throughout the interrogation, finally became expressive. Expressions of anger, surprise, and disappointment changed constantly on his face. Qi Huishen maintained a relaxed and calm look on his face all along; as if he saw nothing, he continued to ask: "Comrade Li Fugui, do you have anything to say to the organization?"

"I have something to say." Liu Yongyi spoke for the first time in the interrogation. "I f*ck your mother."

As soon as the voice fell, the guard next to him flew a kick onto Liu Yongyi's face, kicking him directly off the stool. Before Liu Yongyi fell completely, the guard on the other side had quick hands and sharp eyes; he reached out and grabbed Liu Yongyi's queue, forcibly holding him back and not letting him fall to the ground. Two guards held up Liu Yongyi, whose face was swollen, and forcibly pressed him back onto the stool to sit.

Qi Huishen still acted as if he saw nothing; treating enemies, People's Party comrades would never be soft-hearted. This is a most basic stance. Whether silent or speaking, Liu Yongyi had already shown an extreme attitude. There was no longer any stance to be polite to him.

"Liu Yongyi, since you have been a policeman of our People's Party, you must know what your end will be. So I think we don't need to waste these efforts anymore. You might as well tell the truth why you opposed our People's Party. We won't ask you about accomplices or helpers. No need for you to say; those people spoke much faster than you. You just need to say what you think in your heart, and then we won't bring you for trial anymore. This is also a matter of mutual convenience."

Qi Huishen's words were clear; Liu Yongyi knew he absolutely had no possibility of being spared. If he didn't speak the words in his heart at this time, he could only take them to the underworld. He moved his swollen cheeks slightly; the guard's kick used a lot of force, and speaking wouldn't be so fluent for a while. When he felt better, Liu Yongyi said viciously: "You broke my Big Brother Liu's fort and killed several of my good brothers. I absolutely cannot not avenge this hatred. Otherwise, how can I, Liu Yongyi, still mix in this Liujiapu?"

"Then you infiltrated the police force preparing to assassinate People's Party people?" Qi Huishen asked.

"There are plenty of people in the police force who want revenge; no need for me. I just wanted to see if I could rescue Liu Eighth Master."

Hearing these, Bi Qingshan immediately asked: "Who exactly wants..."

Just halfway through speaking, Qi Huishen pressed Bi Qingshan's shoulder, forcibly stopping Bi Qingshan from continuing to ask about the traitor issue.

"Liu Eighth Master is still locked up in the base area now. Why did you give up, Liu Yongyi? It seems jianghu loyalty is still not as precious as your own life, Liu Yongyi." After finishing speaking, Qi Huishen suddenly frowned as if suddenly realizing, "Oh~~~! I understand. You have tried to rescue anyway; this is already worthy of friends. Since you couldn't rescue him, it's not that you, Liu Yongyi, are incapable, only that Liu Eighth Master's luck is bad. I understand; continue."

This ridicule angered Liu Yongyi quite a bit; his swollen face turned red. But he didn't know how to refute Qi Huishen.

Seeing Liu Yongyi refused to speak again, Qi Huishen asked again: "Then why did you think of running back to organize people to attack the fort and grab grain? I actually understand this matter the least. Tell me about this, and I won't ask anything else."

"Hmph, your People's Party is just a hundred or so people, starting from a small county town. Relying on this Liujiapu, I will definitely not be worse than you. What I really didn't expect was that you were really willing to spend capital. You actually helped the local common people plant thousands of mu of wheat. If not for this, how could only three hundred or so people follow me to attack the fort?"

"Among these three hundred or so people, many were deceived by you, right?" Qi Huishen continued to strike Liu Yongyi slowly.

"Hmph, that bunch of people..." A look of contempt appeared on Liu Yongyi's face. "That bunch of people are simply mud that can't support a wall [worthless], and the ones inside the fort too. Just because every family was distributed grain from a few mu of wheat fields, they could betray me. After driving away your People's Party, the whole fort belongs to everyone. These people just refuse to take a long-term view. Not just the fort, even this Wuhe County could be ours. As a result, those people simply remember the food but not the beating; after being beaten by your People's Party, these people simply don't take it to heart."

"Liu Yongyi, what the common people want is to live a good life. Even if you promise the sky, as long as you can't make the common people live a good life, everyone won't follow you. We broke the Liujiapu fort, but we didn't break the fort for ourselves; we did it for the thousands of common people outside the fort who were about to starve to death. I said before, the eyes of the masses are snow-bright. They see clearly what we did. If we transported the grain in the fort back to Fengtai County, do you think the common people wouldn't know? If we did that, without your incitement, the common people themselves would rise up and fight us to the end. You think the common people were bought by a few mu of wheat fields per family, then let me ask you, in this disaster year, who sincerely planted wheat for the common people, who sincerely distributed a few mu of wheat fields to the common people per family? Is it you, Liu Yongyi, or the former owner of this fort, Liu Eighth Master? Which of you can sincerely do such things for the common people?"

After hearing this, Liu Yongyi fell silent again. And the expressions of the surrounding working group members became proud and solemn invariably. Qi Huishen was right; in this disaster year, no, in present-day China, except for the People's Party, no government, political party, gentry, or secret society would sincerely do even the smallest thing for the common people. Not for their own interests, but purely out of consideration for the interests of the common people. This fact made all revolutionary comrades who heard these words feel a pride and self-esteem from the bottom of their hearts.

Seeing Liu Yongyi silent, Qi Huishen continued to ask: "Then why didn't you speak during the interrogation? I'm quite curious about this matter. Please be sure to tell me."

Hearing Qi Huishen's words, a strange look appeared on Liu Yongyi's face; this look was actually shame. After a good while, Liu Yongyi said: "When I was a policeman, some principles were taught in the troops. If you did something wrong, don't explain. I quite agree with this. Since I was caught, I'm dead for sure naturally. If I explain, it's like I don't want to die. In the past, I wouldn't say hundreds responded to my call in this Liujiapu, but absolutely no one dared to betray me like this. Unexpectedly, I took such a fall in your hands; I don't want to lose face again. So simply say nothing. Losing face once is enough."

Qi Huishen nodded silently; he could understand this explanation very well. "Take Liu Yongyi down."

Liu Yongyi didn't expect Qi Huishen to end the interrogation just like this; he felt a bit surprised instead. When taken out, he turned his head to look at Qi Huishen. At this time, Qi Huishen didn't look up to watch Liu Yongyi being taken out, but buried his head and started writing things. With an inexplicable feeling of loss, Liu Yongyi turned his head back to look ahead.

Three days later, the report on the Liu Yongyi counter-revolutionary group in Wuhe County was sent back to the People's Party Central Committee, and the investigation in Wuhe County came to an end.