Chapter 26: To Be An Official, You Need Connections
Originally, Boss Dai could have been removed from office and investigated at any time, but fortunately his good brother, Commander Hu of the 34th Army Group, rushed back from the Northwest to Nanjing after hearing the news and stepped in to coordinate.
He first approached the Chen brothers and then spent a large sum of money among the higher-ups, finally managing to keep Boss Dai safe.
The final punishment was all thunder and no rain.
Since Boss Dai was not an internal party member, internal disciplinary action could not be taken. After negotiations among the higher-ups, the punishment decision was: “Merit in the capture, negligence in guarding, merits and demerits offset each other, neither reward nor investigation.”
This allowed Boss Dai to narrowly escape disaster. At this time, hearing that this old rival had appeared in China and was planning to come to Chongqing, Boss Dai’s face suddenly darkened.
“How does Tan Rongzhang have news of Nantian Yangzi? Does a Detective Brigade Captain like him also want to enter the Internal Affairs Special Services Department?”
Mao Qi Wu hurriedly explained: “Director, Captain Tan received a secret report and joined with Director Lin of the Special Services Section to launch a roundup operation.”
“It seems to have yielded rich results so far. This operation seized one radio and captured three Japanese undercover personnel.”
“Director Lin personally conducted the interrogation and only then forced this news out of their mouths.”
Boss Dai’s brows furrowed slightly, meaning that it was clearly Lin Zhao who took action, yet Mao Qi Wu was crediting the merit to Tan Rongzhang.
His group of brothers-in-law was helping too blatantly.
Of course, the matter between Mao Qi Wu and Tan Rongzhang was no secret in Chongqing either.
Mao Qi Wu’s wife was named Xiang You, originally Xiang You, affiliated with the Revival Society Special Agent Corps, and quite well-known internally.
In Year 23 of the Republic of China, Xiang You went to Beiping on a secret assassination mission against the traitor Yin Rugeng.
Originally, she planned to poison his food, but unfortunately, things did not go as planned.
That day, a guest suddenly visited, and Yin Rugeng went to discuss matters with the guest, causing the operation to fail.
After the assassination plot was exposed, Xiang You fled Beiping in panic.
Later, she received instructions to use her beauty to go undercover in Xi’an. At that time, General Yang was planning the “December 12th Incident,” and after learning this intelligence, Xiang You quickly transmitted it back to Nanjing.
Upon hearing the news, Boss Dai hurried to the airport to intercept and prevent the superior from boarding the plane.
But after hearing the report, the superior slapped Boss Dai twice, citing “no evidence, slandering a famous general” as the reason.
As a result, the Xi’an Incident that shocked the land of China occurred.
Last December, most agencies of the Jinling Government relocated to Chongqing, and Xiang You moved to Chongqing along with the Special Agent Corps.
To shake off this clingy subordinate, Boss Dai introduced her to Mao Qi Wu as his wife.
Mao Qi Wu smilingly accepted on the surface, then turned around and found a mistress in Chongqing.
For anyone else, in this era, a man carousing outside could be tolerated.
But Xiang You was not one to yield easily. After all, Mao Qi Wu was not from the orthodox Revival Society; he had leaped into prominence only because of Boss Dai’s favor.
For such a person, even as Deputy Director of the Secretariat of the Military Statistics Bureau, Xiang You still felt he had no real ability.
Thus, using the skills she learned in the Special Agent Corps, she caught Mao Qi Wu and his lover Mao Shuyun in a room with little effort.
At the critical moment, Tan Rongzhang stepped forward, took that green hat, and wore it squarely on his head.
After this incident, Mao Qi Wu also came to value him greatly. This time, the capture of the Japanese spy team was clearly led by Lin Zhao of the Internal Affairs Special Services Department with Tan Rongzhang providing assistance with his unit.
Yet in Mao Qi Wu’s report, it was the opposite: Tan Rongzhang obtained the clue, cooperated with Lin Zhao, and finally successfully captured the Japanese spy group and seized one radio.
So, it had to be Tan Rongzhang who was willing to go all out; otherwise, this merit would never have come to him.
Boss Dai had no intention of quibbling over such a minor matter. In officialdom, welcoming and sending off, each getting what they need—claiming some merit for one’s own people was not uncommon.
“Has Director Lin found out the purpose of Nantian Yangzi’s trip?”
“She is someone who never shows up without treasure. Without an important mission, Dohihara would not easily let her out.”
Mao Qi Wu stammered: “Shanghai Station sent a message that the Japanese want to establish a New Government in Nanjing. They urgently hope to invite someone with sufficient weight to go and preside over the overall situation.”
“I guess the purpose of Nantian Yangzi’s trip is related to this matter.”
After speaking, Mao Qi Wu guiltily glanced around, with a profound and inscrutable expression.
At this time, Boss Dai had unconsciously frowned. Although Mao Qi Wu had not said it explicitly, with Boss Dai’s intelligence-gathering ability, he naturally understood who this person with sufficient weight in his mouth would be.
The problem was that this person’s identity was very sensitive; he was the drafter of Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s will.
He was also currently the highest-ranking person internally, theoretically Chongqing’s number two figure.
However, the superior had never taken him seriously, only because his abilities were mostly manifested in political matters, with no real military power.
“Who else knows about this?” After thinking deeply for a long time, Boss Dai silently asked.
Mao Qi Wu respectfully said: “Director Lin reported it to me alone. Not many people know. After receiving the report, I came straight here without mentioning it to anyone along the way.”
Boss Dai nodded silently. “That’s good. Have Lin Zhao arrange manpower to monitor Mr. Wang’s every move.”
“I want to know everyone he meets and everything he says to them.”
“Also, Qi Wu, I hear you’re very interested in the Shanghai Station Chief position?”
As soon as Boss Dai said this, Mao Qi Wu broke out in a cold sweat.
What Boss Dai hated most was people overstepping their authority.
Mao Qi Wu was Deputy Director of the Secretariat, responsible for confidential information and intelligence collection work, belonging to the internal affairs department.
But the appointment of personnel for this Shanghai intelligence agency clearly did not fall under intelligence collection.
Mao Qi Wu took a breath and respectfully replied: “Director, I have no such intention. It’s just that these past few days, Zhao Lijun approached me, wanting to know what arrangements you have for him.”
“After all, now Chen Gongshu has gone to Beiping, Shen Shuyi was sent by you to Yunnan to watch Chairman Long, Wan Tianmu is staying in Nanjing, and only Zhao Lijun is idle in Chongqing.”
“He also wants to contribute to the Party and Country.”
Boss Dai sighed, seemingly accepting Mao Qi Wu’s explanation.
The two were originally fellow townsmen from Jiangshan, and Mao Qi Wu was someone he had personally promoted. As long as it did not involve principle issues, Boss Dai still valued Mao Qi Wu greatly.
“For Zhao Lijun’s matter, have him come ask me himself. No need to be so secretive.”
“Qi Wu, I remind you: when doing things here, follow the rules. No one can break the rules, or if something happens to you one day, no one will speak up for you.”
Mao Qi Wu nodded awkwardly: “Director, I understand.”
