Kingsman Agent in Film and Television

Let's rewind to a few hours earlier.

Location: Shanghai Station.

Station Master's Office.

The head of the telecommunications department strode into the stationmaster's office and gently placed the file bag containing the coded telegrams on Xu Tian's desk:
"Station Master, a coded message from headquarters—it's a coded message from the teacher."

Xu Tian glanced at the sealed document and also noticed the security classification and corresponding password number—it corresponded to an emergency-level exclusive password book.

Seeing Xu Tian nod slightly, the head of the telecommunications department asked, "Shall I go and call the confidential secretary?"

"Ah."

After the director of the telecommunications department left, Xu Tian frowned slightly. Why hadn't he informed him of the exclusive codebook used in emergency situations beforehand via coded telegram?

Is this an emergency?
Looking at the sealed file folder, Xu Tian's mind raced.

A few minutes later, the Director of Telecommunications entered with his confidential secretary. The file folder containing the coded telegrams remained untouched in its original position.

After the confidential secretary greeted him, Xu Tian picked up the file folder and handed it to the secretary.
"Translate the telegram!"

After the confidential secretary checked that the seal was sealed and approved, he opened the seal and then sat down to begin translating the telegram. The director of the telecommunications department was required to be present according to regulations, and he tried his best to maintain an appearance of being there in accordance with the rules. However, Xu Tian's eyes were sharp, and he vaguely sensed the director of the telecommunications department's hidden impatience.

It must be him.

Xu Tian smiled inwardly, matching the head of the telecommunications department with a certain code name—his headquarters, the little territory he often talked about. How could such an important figure as the head of the telecommunications department be allowed to be controlled by spies?
Xu Tian glanced silently at his confidential secretary, who was earnestly translating telegrams, and smiled inwardly. This was indeed his style; only his own people could hold the highest secrets of the war effort.

Logically speaking, as the head of the station, Xu Tian should have control over all the resources of the Second Intelligence Group in Shanghai.

But the fact is just the opposite.

At Shanghai Station and Tianjin Station, the operating logic of Intelligence Group No. 2 was different from that of other places.

In places like Xuzhou Station and Jinan Station, as long as the station chief is one of his own comrades, he can control most of the Second Intelligence Group's power in the area. Only a few intelligence groups will escape his control, and their purpose is to prevent any unforeseen circumstances.

Meanwhile, at the Shanghai and Tianjin stations, the members of Intelligence Group No. 2 operated independently within multiple intelligence networks that did not intersect.

Whether it was Gu Shenyan before or Xu Tian now, the control of these intelligence groups was directed by the heads of each intelligence group, which meant that Xu Tian could not possibly have a clear understanding of all the members of the entire intelligence group.

But the network was too big. When the Shanghai station had no secrets left in the No. 2 intelligence group, Xu Tian could clearly feel the omnipresence of the No. 2 intelligence group in the Shanghai station.

Perhaps this is why he and Gu Shenyan eventually switched places.

While pondering, the confidential secretary finally finished translating the entire telegram. After checking it again, the confidential secretary, concealing the shock on his face, respectfully handed the telegram to Xu Tian.

Xu Tian watched slowly, his expression unreadable, but the shock in his usually calm eyes was impossible to hide.

Shanghai Railway Station dispatched a number of capable personnel to form several investigation teams to northern Jiangsu, southern Shandong, and southern Anhui.
Three locations and four stations, all secured?
The station chiefs of the four stations must ensure that no one escapes and must conduct a strict investigation.
Are the four station chiefs suspected of being communist collaborators or involved in communist activities?

【What is he going to do? 】

[No, he used an emergency-level, proprietary codebook... and he didn't inform me through organizational channels beforehand...]

[It happened so suddenly, he didn't have time to tell me!]

[It happened suddenly...]

Xu Tian quickly considered the reasons. Zhang Anping's decision to use the Shanghai station to handle large-scale censorship, aside from manpower issues, meant that having the Shanghai station conduct censorship meant it couldn't possibly be targeting their comrades...

But he has already issued such a secret order and taken such a big step. If... if he fails to achieve his goal, then how will he explain it?
After recalling all the difficulties Zhang Anping had faced at the bureau headquarters over the past two years, Xu Tian gradually pieced together the core of Zhang Anping's countermeasures.

Zhang Anping used to often say one thing:

My little plot of land...

This refers to Shanghai—but to be precise, the Shanghai Military Intelligence Bureau, now known as the Shanghai Secret Service. He has no right to claim that the entire city of Shanghai is his territory.

Of course, Zhang Anping, now in a high position, wouldn't dare to say such things anymore.

The reason for rambling on like this is that although the Shanghai Secret Service was Zhang Anping's territory, the Mao faction, relying on the Ming family's foundation in Shanghai, had an extremely large business network. A large number of merchants relied on this network and the name of the Secret Service to avoid various arbitrary taxes and the prying eyes of various ambitious people.

Give them a chance!

Xu Tian guessed what Zhang Anping couldn't tell him—the information could be leaked to the Ming family's business network, which was ostensibly a network of Mao's interests, and could "influence" the Shanghai station to some extent!

But this alone might not be enough to protect all comrades, right?

Xu Tian knew that Zhang Anping must have a way to break the deadlock, but this was the only auxiliary method he could think of.

"Archive it!"

After handing the telegram to the head of the communications department, who was clearly afraid of missing out, he said in a deep voice, "Keep the contents of the telegram confidential for now!"

After leaving his office, Xu Tian ordered the Shanghai station to enter a state of combat readiness. Subsequently, the massive system of the Shanghai station sprang into operation, a large-scale investigation team was established, and then, within this framework, a series of investigation groups were formed.

The news also spread rapidly at the same time.

As the head of the Shanghai team of Intelligence Group No. 2, Xu Tian simultaneously issued various orders.

Just as Mingtai and Cai Jierong landed at Shanghai Airport, the Second Intelligence Group's Shanghai team secretly launched a "hunt" on the Shanghai station, with Mao's business network as the executor.

Zhang's faction has always been known for its swift and decisive actions.

The massive investigation team, shortly after Mingtai's arrival, boarded planes in small groups and departed for their respective destinations—from an outsider's perspective, this was clearly an extreme and rapid mobilization of the Zhang faction's forces within the Security Bureau.

The speed and efficiency of their actions were enough to amaze onlookers.
Zhang Shih-hao truly lives up to his name!
At the same time, the Shanghai business network of the Mao faction also delivered a report card that would greatly please Mao Renfeng:

The names of the heads of the various investigation teams under the investigation team established at the Shanghai station!

Despite some instances of misattribution, the overall accuracy rate is as high as 80%.

At this moment, this list was a lifesaver for the Maoist faction... like an aircraft carrier.

Of course, a business network is not a professional intelligence network; it is ultimately a group of stakeholders and a group of protected individuals.

So, they did something "stupid":
The telegram containing the list of the heads of the various investigation teams under the Shanghai Secret Station's investigation team was sent to four stations in three locations after being simply disguised...

……

Xuzhou Station.

"Stationmaster, the headquarters didn't send anyone directly; it's people from the Shanghai station who came—this is the name of the head of the investigation team from the Xuzhou station."

"Qin Hansheng? Immediately hand over the relevant information to the Xuzhou Party Headquarters and have them find a way to investigate this person's information. Make sure they are prepared to respond accordingly!"

The station chief naturally had no idea that the head of the investigation team was actually one of his comrades.

After all, the other party came from Zhang Anping's stronghold, Shanghai Station. And at this critical moment when they had formed a life-or-death alliance with the Party Committee of the Party Bureau, the task of dealing with the head of the investigation team outside could only be entrusted to them.

After all, the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics' system in the three locations was about to be paralyzed. According to the secret telegram from Nanjing, they could leave a very small number of trusted confidants outside to provide support, but most of them would ultimately have to carry out the "cooperation" work.

To put it simply:

They cannot be arrested or escaped; they must pretend they know nothing and have been "caught in one fell swoop."

This scene was also playing out in Jinan, Wuhu, and Yanzhou—and this was precisely the cooperation model between the Mao faction and the Party Central Committee.

As night fell and people gradually drifted off to sleep, only in the cities of northern Jiangsu, southern Shandong, and southern Anhui, a rapid undercurrent was surging and connecting...

……

The next day.

3pm.

Under the leadership of the Shanghai Station investigation team, a large-scale arrest operation was launched simultaneously in multiple cities, with special operations teams as the backbone and the garrison as the auxiliary force.

The near-surprise arrest operation went extremely smoothly. Agents from numerous intelligence groups at the four secret stations were caught completely off guard by the raid. Not a single high-ranking official from any of the four stations escaped – even as prisoners, the high-ranking officials were utterly incredulous; some even roared that it was a mutiny. It was a remarkably successful operation.

The only drawback was that eight mid-level cadres from the four stations absconded beforehand, and more than twenty grassroots members also absconded.

Judging from the time they fled, the investigation team had already received the news while they were still on the plane.

……

Nanjing, headquarters of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics.

Zheng Yi quickly went to Zhang Anping and reported: "Regimental Commander, telegrams have been sent from Xuzhou, Yanzhou, Wuhu and Jinan, claiming that the raid was successful, all the high-ranking officials have been captured, and the rest have been taken into custody and are being prepared for interrogation!"

After nodding, Zhang Anping asked:

"No word has leaked out?"

Zheng Yi hesitated for a moment:
"The news may have leaked. According to statistics, out of the thousands of registered members across the four stations, thirty-two have gone missing, along with their family members. They disappeared last night..."

"Among them are nine field-grade officers, including three lieutenant colonels."

Zhang Anping's expression was gloomy, but then he said self-deprecatingly:
"No officer from the Military Intelligence Bureau could compare to an undercover agent."

He waved his hand somewhat listlessly:

"Notify the inspection department to lift the blockade."

"By the way, make a few copies of the report you have and give them to the bureau meeting."

After Zhang Anping finished speaking, he got up and left. Zheng Yi looked at Zhang Anping's back and felt that his figure looked somewhat desolate.

Her gaze immediately turned fierce, and she picked up the phone on the table:

"Security Department—This is Zheng Yi."

"Three days to find out exactly which link in the chain leaked the information!"

"No warrant from Mao Renfeng—any questions?"

Hearing the flustered reply from the other end of the phone, Zheng Yi angrily slammed down the phone, but the coldness in his eyes only intensified.
If they can't find out where the leak came from, then they should just pick a few people from the guard post and use them as a sacrifice.

……

The withdrawal of the garrison by the Inspection Division brought a sense of relief to the Bureau Headquarters, which had been tense for a long time. However, once the information about the three locations and four stations was released, the relief that had just appeared immediately turned into nothingness and... fear.

The Zhang faction and the Mao faction have clashed far too many times, but even when the Zhang faction was crushed to the point of collapse, there has never been a time when all four factions were taken over in one fell swoop.

And now, Zhang Anping has done just that!
The agents at headquarters couldn't help but look up at the sky. Was this gloomy sky about to brew a storm ten kilometers thick that would block out the light, just like it had two years ago?
Whether there would be a storm, Mao Renfeng didn't know.

But Mao Renfeng was not in a good mood at this time.

He was holding a photocopy of the report in his hand. Because he had been holding it for a while, black ink had gotten on his hands. But Mao Renfeng, who was very particular about cleanliness, was completely unaware of it and instead kept frowning deeply.

Three locations and four stations, 32 people "missing"—he understood that the word "missing" was Zhang Anping's deliberate embellishment, and the true identities of these 32 people were self-evident.

This data also prompted Mao Renfeng to reflect deeply.

First, the Communist Party's infiltration within the Bureau headquarters was indeed beyond imagination;

Secondly, the level of importance the Communist Party attached to Zhang Anping was also beyond imagination!

And the third is...

Zhang Anping may have had some intention of using this as an excuse to make a fuss, but the three locations and four stations were truly a complete disaster!

With three locations and four stations, the authorized staffing is over 1,300 people—the actual number should be 20% higher, let's say 1,700. That's a damn 1.88% undercover rate!
If the total number of people were even smaller, would the undercover rate be two percent?

One in fifty is an undercover agent!
It's no exaggeration to say it's absolutely terrible.

Undercover rate?
Mao Renfeng was even more overwhelmed by the three words that came to mind—"Three stations and four locations, infiltrated to this extent, a bunch of good-for-nothings!"
"A bunch of bastards, I really... want to quit!"

Mao Renfeng slammed the photocopied documents on the table in a huff. His men were such a headache!

After berating his idiotic subordinates, Mao Renfeng couldn't help but think about the decisive retreat of these undercover agents, and suddenly became listless.

It's a bit... hurtful to my self-esteem.

The underground party was working hard to develop its own spies, but when Zhang Anping investigated, the underground party members fled at the first sign of trouble. In comparison, Mao Renfeng seemed like an idiot.

"Don't underestimate me... I'll show you what I, Mao, am capable of sooner or later!"

After secretly making a firm decision, Mao Renfeng returned his thoughts to the most important matter at hand—the headquarters had been sealed off before, and while he could pass on orders, the feedback from the outside was not timely and was sporadic.

Our current understanding of the three locations and four stations is based on this photocopy provided by Zhang Anping. But what is the real situation?
Are the three stations and four locations properly arranged?

Can we withstand Zhang Anping's sharp offensive in the upcoming defense?

"Fortunately, all these Communists have fled, which is actually good news."

He couldn't help but smile bitterly. From the Special Service Department to the current Bureau of Investigation and Statistics, more than ten years had passed, and this was the first time he felt that the Communist Party's escape was actually good news.

Just as I was reflecting on this, the secretary knocked on the door and entered: "Director, Deputy Director Zhao is here."

The Deputy Director Zhao mentioned by the secretary was the "secret envoy" who had approached Ye Xiufeng earlier, and also the most crucial executor of the Mao faction in the previous twenty hours.

"Let him in quickly."

……

Just as Mao Renfeng was meeting with his secret envoy, Wang Tianfeng appeared in Zhang Anping's office.

Zhang Anping, who hadn't slept all night, looked listless. When Wang Tianfeng entered, Zhang Anping didn't get up, but sighed and gestured for Wang Tianfeng to sit down, then said with a bitter expression:
"Actually, I was prepared for the leak."

"I just didn't expect the leak to be this serious—"

"They ran away, across three locations and four stations, a total of thirty-two!"

"And yet, I still have to mark them as missing in the documents."

Listening to Zhang Anping's weak words, Wang Tianfeng silently walked over, took out a cigarette, and handed it to Zhang Anping. Zhang Anping was stunned for a moment, then gestured for Wang Tianfeng to light it. After taking a puff, he was choked and tears streamed down his face. But he seemed determined to keep going, even though his body was reacting violently to refuse. He insisted on taking puff after puff.

Only then did Wang Tianfeng slowly speak: "The leak is more serious than you think."

"Ok?"

Zhang Anping stared at Wang Tianfeng in astonishment, the cigarette he was about to smoke freezing in his mouth.

After a long pause, Zhang Anping asked, "Is it serious?"

"It's more serious than you can imagine, much more serious."

Wang Tianfeng stepped back, sat down, and lit a cigarette for himself. In the past, Zhang Anping didn't smoke, and he didn't smoke much either. Even when he wanted to smoke, he never smoked in front of Zhang Anping.

After taking a deep drag, Wang Tianfeng slowly said:
"Last night, Jinan Station, Xuzhou Station, Yanzhou Station and Wuhu Station were bustling with activity."

"Among those who went missing, there were people from the four stations who were involved when they disappeared."

"besides……"

Wang Tianfeng abruptly tossed most of his cigarette butt into the teacup, his voice stiff as he said:

"The secret stations in the three locations were in secret contact with the Party headquarters. They were gathering evidence to prove that the Suppression of Rebellion Brigade had tortured people into confessing and implicating innocent people in the Communist Party."

After saying this, Wang Tianfeng looked up blankly and repeated in a blank tone:
"They are the Suppression Corps, using torture to extract confessions and accusing innocent people of being communists...evidence..."

(So ​​that's how two or three points can be interpreted...) (End of Chapter)