It's not unusual for a gun to have multiple names.
However, the name "Da Du Xia Zi" is generally only used by gunsmiths.
Others usually call it a "Bao Ke Qiang," and only in written form is it referred to as the "Type 81 Ma Bu Rifle."
Since Hu Jia said "Da Du Xia Zi," it indicates that the person who inspected his gun was either a gunsmith from an arsenal or someone who worked on the production line.
Upon returning to the office, Hu Jia eagerly unfolded a map of Chongqing, occasionally circling spots with a red pen.
He was looking for a place called "Ping."
Hu Jia and his companions never expected that by trying to extract clues about the key from Zhang Hangjiang's mouth, they would unexpectedly hear information about the Bao Ke Qiang.
Do you recall what Feng Si once told Lu Qingqing?
Feng Si said that during that period, Hu Jia was constantly investigating "Er Jiu Liu." One day, Hu Jia suddenly found him and told him never to return to Chongqing.
Before he left, Feng Si overheard Hu Jia muttering, "That gun is a police gun."
Up until now, Lu Qingqing and Ouyang Wen had been unable to understand why Hu Jia mentioned "police gun." Now, it seemed the answer lay within this "Da Du Xia Zi."
Here, let's briefly discuss firearms during the Republic of China era. During the warlord era, firearms were particularly expensive. Our "Hanyang Zao" only produced rifles, so very few people could afford handguns during that period; it was almost exclusively the wealthy elite.
It wasn't until 1921, the year Hu Jia lost his memory, that the Hanyang Arsenal finally managed to replicate the Mauser submachine pistol with a fixed 10-round magazine.
Even though they were replicated, the price remained very high.
Taking the Zhejiang Provincial Public Security Bureau's police force in 1936 as an example, they were equipped with 1612 handguns, 874 rifles, and 54 carbines, with long guns accounting for one-third of the total.
In some poorer provinces, the proportion of long guns was even higher.
For instance, in September 1912, the Ministry of the Army of the Beiyang government imported 200 "Bao Ke Qiang" from Germany. Each gun was supplied with 500 rounds of ammunition, costing a total of 11,600 taels of silver, approximately 16,000 silver yuan. This works out to 80 yuan per Bao Ke Qiang with 500 rounds of ammunition.
In 1924, the imported short-barreled police Bao Ke Qiang, with 500 rounds of ammunition, cost only 70 yuan per unit, a full 10 yuan cheaper. During the same period, a Hanyang Zao Mauser rifle cost around 43 yuan. Excluding the cost of ammunition, the difference between the two was not significant.
In 1918, anyone using a "Da Du Xia Zi" to kill someone was either a person of power or a wealthy magnate. It was unlikely for such individuals to commit robbery, so the police at the time speculated that a petty thief had stolen a Bao Ke Qiang and committed the murder.
However, no one had considered one crucial point: this type of gun was also found in police stations.
Zhang Hangjiang said that when he encountered Mou Jixuan and Hu Jia on the street at that time, Hu Jia mistakenly thought Zhang Hangjiang was a helper called by Mou Jixuan and immediately said, "We've found it. That gun should be a Da Du Xia Zi."
Zhang Hangjiang said that at the time, he heard Hu Jia mention a place name that included the character "Ping," and that he had gone to find a Master Liang there for inspection.
As for which "Ping" it was, Zhang Hangjiang didn't hear clearly.
But it was definitely a place name.
Therefore, Hu Jia's return now was to find that Master Liang who had inspected the gun, perhaps that person could recall something.
At the same time, Hu Jia finally understood why Zhang Hangjiang insisted that he personally investigate Zhang Hanghai's case; it turned out they had met before.
...
Chongqing is a mountainous city, and where there are mountains, there are cliffs. Hence, Chongqing has places like Zengjiayan, Majiayan, Guanyinyan, Gaotanyan, Egongyan, Jindouyan, Huayan, and Hongyan;
From the moment a Chongqing native lands, they are destined to climb hills and ascend slopes. Thus, we have Jiulongpo, Songlinpo, Shibanpo, Kuangshanpo, and Wangjiapo;
Since we're talking about slopes, there must also be flat ground, and flat ground is called "Ping." Therefore, you will see place names like Daping, Yangjiaping, Chenjiaping, Huangjuèpíng, Nanping, and Mawangping.
But with so many places named "Ping," which one was the place where Hu Jia had his gun inspected?
Looking at the dense network of circles on the map, Hu Jia felt his head ache.
Just then, the office phone rang.
"It's bad, Liang Yingzhang is in trouble." The call was from Lu Qingqing, and her heavy breathing could still be heard in her voice.
Which Liang Yingzhang?
Yu Yue, who answered the phone, was confused. However, she quickly realized, "Liang Yingzhang? Master Liang? The one who inspected the boss's gun?"
Hu Jia snatched the phone, "What happened? Where are you? What happened to Liang Yingzhang?"
Lu Qingqing quickly reported a place name, "The old man can still be saved. The patrol officers are guarding him now. I need to go to Xicheng Prison."
"To prison?"
"We only found out about Master Liang from Zhang Hangjiang this morning, and something happened to him this afternoon. This can't be a coincidence."
Hu Jia paused. Right, how could there be so many coincidences?
Could it be?
"There's a mole!" They knew that during the interrogation of Zhang Hangjiang, besides Hu Jia and his group, there were only two prison guards present.
He couldn't suspect anyone from their own team, so the only person who could have leaked Zhang Hangjiang's confession was those two prison guards.
"I'll go catch the person. You go and guard Liang Yingzhang first." Lu Qingqing hung up the phone. Hu Jia and Li Yang quickly put on their coats and ran out.
But as they stepped out, they encountered a patrolling officer, who ran up breathlessly, "Captain Hu! The Zhang Hanghai you asked us to look for has appeared."
Uh.
Zhang Hanghai's reappearance was within everyone's expectations. The hanging case had been resolved, his suspicion had been cleared, so where else would he go but back?
However, Hu Jia had no time to concern himself with him now, nor was there any need to. Just as he was about to dismiss the officer, the young policeman spoke up, "He's here to report a case, saying he was kidnapped."
This shocked everyone.
Didn't Zhang Hanghai escape on his own? How could he claim to have been kidnapped?
Could his kidnapping also be related to the "Dao Ren"?
"Captain Hu, leave this to me!" Luo Wenwu said.
...
Finally, only Hu Jia and Li Yang arrived at Daping, the place where Liang Yingzhang was discovered.
Looking at the man on the hospital bed, Hu Jia had no recollection, but he had a feeling that this old man was the master who had inspected the gun.
Beside the bed, an old woman was weeping softly. Upon inquiry, it was revealed that she was Liang Yingzhang's wife.
She recounted that in the afternoon, as they were resting at home, a group of people suddenly broke in. The leader directly asked, "Is your surname Liang?"
Seeing Liang Yingzhang nod, the group immediately pulled out a gun and placed it on the table, saying, "What gun is this?"
"Da Du Xia Zi!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the group, without another word, grabbed a stick and struck Liang Yingzhang.
Liang Yingzhang collapsed into a pool of blood without even a sound.
"Do you recognize them?"
"No!"
"Have you offended anyone recently?"
"No!"
"Did they say anything else besides those two sentences?"
"No!"
Hu Jia took a deep breath. It seemed the other party's objective was very clear: to find a Liang surnamed elder who could call a Bao Ke Qiang a "Da Du Xia Zi."
It seemed he had ultimately implicated him.
Hu Jia's anger flared. It appeared old man Liang Yingzhang would not wake up anytime soon. Hu Jia instructed Li Yang to stay and protect him, and then he turned and rushed towards the prison.
He was determined to find out who the mole was!