My spy diary

Chapter 583 Eyes Meet (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Military Intelligence Bureau Farm No. 41.

Section Chief Liu walked into the office silently. He looked at He Shangyou, who was sitting in a chair with his eyes closed, and hesitated to speak.

"Say what you want to say." He Shangyou did not open his eyes.

Section Chief Liu asked with a curious look, "Chief, does Director Zhang really like men?"

Mentioning this matter, He Shangyou became furious and let out a cold laugh:
"You actually believe this nonsense? Has that brat Xiao Meng gone mad? Spouting nonsense behind my back, isn't that just adding fuel to the fire?"

He had finally realized that he hadn't meant what he said and had inadvertently fallen into Zhang Yi's trap. If Zhang Yi hadn't said something, Boss Dai wouldn't have had that attitude.

So after thinking for a moment, he continued, "Since we're all on the same side, I'll say a few words. There are some things we can't say carelessly. If we cause trouble because of gossip and the boss holds us accountable, it won't be worth it."

Section Chief Liu replied sheepishly, "Yes."

Seeing that He Shangyou's expression was not good, he cautiously asked:
"Chief, are we just going to let this go like this?"

"Do you have any good ideas?" He Shangyou opened his eyes and asked quietly.

Section Chief Liu walked up to him, paused, and said, "Chief, a few of us went to Tangjiatuo and, after a lot of effort, finally found Lin Jingyi's hiding place. Guess what we found? Four corpses, all killed with a single shot."

Needless to say, it was definitely Director Zhang who did it. Two of the women were none other than Zhao Feiyan and Yang Guifei, currently riding high in the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics (CBI). They were Xu Zeng'en's darlings. Now that they're dead and Lin Jingyi has disappeared, if Xu Zeng'en knew Zhang Yi was behind it, would he let him off the hook?

He Shangyou took out a cigarette and was about to light it when he heard these words and stopped. He raised an eyebrow and asked:

"what do you mean?"

"Using someone else to do the dirty work!" Section Chief Liu looked at He Shangyou and made a chopping motion with his hand. "You're just too soft-hearted."

He Shangyou stared at him for a moment:
"and then?"

Section Chief Liu said with a serious expression, "And then? Then it was all over."

"idiot!"

He Shangyou snorted: "My dear Section Chief Liu, can't you use your brain a little more when you do things?"

How was Lin Jingyi found? Zhang Yi found her. We can't just eat and then complain, can we? What would others think? What would Boss Dai think?
One thing at a time, this is an internal matter of our Military Intelligence Bureau, and it's none of the Central Bureau of Investigation's business to interfere.

Zhao Feiyan, Yang Guifei, Lin Jingyi—two women who used their beauty to curry favor, and a traitor—they were all despicable. If Xu Zeng'en wasn't stupid, he wouldn't have gone to such lengths over this. Assassinating a decorated major general—did he want to start a full-scale war with the Military Intelligence Bureau?
"Hmph, besides, he's too busy taking care of himself right now; he probably doesn't even have the strength to help."

Section Chief Liu immediately lowered his head in embarrassment and fell silent. After a moment of silence, he asked with a curious expression:
"Chief, what happened to the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics?"

He Shangyou glared at him: "A good intelligence agent should have the ability to see in all directions, hear in all directions, and grasp the overall situation. You didn't even know about such a big thing?"

After He Shangyou explained, Section Chief Liu finally understood that the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics (CBIS) had been poached, and the person poached was the team leader in charge of core business.

The organizational structure of the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics (Zhongtong) and the Military Bureau of Investigation and Statistics (Juntong) differed. Under the director and deputy director, there were commissioners and group leaders, followed by deputy group leaders, section chiefs, chief secretaries, staff members, assistant staff members, etc. The investigation directors and group leaders of the external stations were at the same level.

A few lines of humorous verse from within the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics (CBIS): "Special agents are as numerous as dogs, section chiefs are everywhere, secretaries are ignored, and team leaders are sought after by everyone."

The person poached this time is Xiang Benshan, a graduate of the History Department of Nanjing Central University. He was an active member of the CC Clique during his student days. After joining the Special Agent Headquarters, he was in charge of intelligence work in the Intelligence Section for a long time.

After the establishment of the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics (CBIS), he was promoted to head of the First Group, in charge of the Red Party's intelligence work.

Although the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics (CBIS) wasn't as strict as the Military Bureau of Investigation and Statistics (MBIS), which emphasized "going in standing and coming out lying down"—once a spy, always a spy—they were still bound by subjective and objective factors and the CBIS's discipline. Even until death, a spy could not switch sides. Xiang Benshan wanted to switch sides, but Xu Zeng'en wouldn't easily give in. However, the one playing the victim was Chen Tumu.

Chen Tumu was incredibly powerful at the time, not only controlling the Three People's Principles Youth League, which was established by Chang and his associates to suppress the CC Clique, but also holding important positions such as Minister of the Political Department of the Military Commission, Commander-in-Chief of the Sixth War Zone, Director of Education of the Central Training Corps, Secretary-General of the Three People's Principles Youth League, and Chairman of the Hubei Government.

He was a powerful figure in the central government and a high-ranking official in the provinces. Xu Zengen was too busy flattering him to even think about competing with him.
It's impossible for someone to rise to such a position without some political ambition. After Chen Tumu took control of the Three People's Principles Youth Corps, his first idea was to establish the Corps' Investigation Department, to create his own intelligence organization and build his own intelligence system.

Accordingly, Chen Tumu instructed his relative Guo Ji to take charge of recruiting talent and establishing an investigation department.

Guo Ji had always worked in the Political Department and was an outsider to intelligence work. Although he had been trying to recruit talent and strengthen his team since taking office, he hadn't made any progress in the past six months.

Chen Tumu was greatly dissatisfied with this, so Guo Ji had no choice but to point his hoe at Xiang Benshan.

The two were classmates in the History Department of Jinling University. They had frequent contact and a close friendship, but they always kept their friendship to themselves and did not get involved in each other's work.

This time, Guo Ji approached Xiang Benshan directly, revealing his identity and his bargaining chips:
Firstly, Chen Tumu's existing power and future political prospects are incomparable to those of Xu Zengen and his ilk.

Secondly, as long as Xiang Benshan is willing to switch jobs, he will be the de facto head of the Sanqing League's investigation department.

Xiang Benshan was naturally a smart man. The Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics (CBIS) had a high start but a low finish, and was a complete mess. Even a fool could see that Chen Tumu was at the height of his political power, and he was promised a prominent position with generous treatment and a bright future.

Therefore, he was immediately interested when Guo Ji mentioned it.

Therefore, through Guo Ji's introduction, he met secretly with Chen Tumu and had several private talks, and both parties were very satisfied.

With Chen Tumu's promise, Xiang Benshan returned and immediately submitted his resignation to Xu Zeng'en.

Boss Xu was naturally unwilling to give up and tried to persuade him again and again, offering a whole bunch of promises to dissuade him from the idea. However, Xiang Benshan was determined to leave, believing that "it's better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix." The two sides directly broke off relations.

"Is that so?" Section Chief Liu was astonished. After regaining his senses, he said, "Chen Tumu and Boss Dai don't get along. With Xiang Benshan, an expert, joining him, the Investigation Department will inevitably rise in rank, and then there will be another competitor."

"That's Mr. Dai's business," He Shangyou snorted. "Is the radio station set up yet?"

Section Chief Liu quickly replied, "Okay, you can call them anytime."

He Shangyou stood up and sighed softly, "Let's go take a look."

Two years ago, in order to infiltrate and infiltrate the Baotashan border area and carry out an infiltration plan to collect intelligence on high-ranking Red Party members, the bureau established the Hanzhong Training Class in Hanzhong, Shaanxi Province, under the guise of training anti-Japanese cadres.

As of March this year, nine training sessions have been held, training 631 special agents.

These people mainly studied political and social courses and fighter jet skills courses, including political reconnaissance, shooting, grappling, and disguise. They also received training in skills such as demolition, assassination, poisoning, guerrilla warfare, photography, and tracking. Trainees mastered secret communication methods, learned how to write and develop messages using rice water and alum water, and also learned "universal developing solution" and mercury explosive formulas, as well as methods for compiling telegrams and messages.

After graduation, the trainees formed special investigation teams of the Military Intelligence Bureau and were successively sent to Baotashan and various anti-Japanese base areas, either to lie in wait or to carry out anti-crime activities.

However, for various reasons, these people either lost their footing or were captured. Some were sent to dig cave dwellings for labor reform, some die-hards became "living specimens" for others to criticize at meetings, and some turned around and became the vanguard in dealing with their colleagues.
The group he can still contact now is his only remaining member. If it gets lost too, it will truly be a case of trying to get water in the bamboo basket.

Just as He Shangyou was about to leave, the phone rang. He glanced at Section Chief Liu and went into the inner bedroom. There were two single beds with rolled-up bedding in this room, which was where the plainclothes officers guarding the farm rested.

Beside the bed was a wooden table piled with miscellaneous items, and above the table on the wall hung a map of the city.

A hand-cranked telephone on the corner of the wooden table was ringing. He Shangyou walked over and picked up the receiver.

On the other end of the phone was Ding Henian, the deputy section chief who remained at the intelligence department:
"Where does it grow?"

"So? Did he inquire about it?"

"After being released from solitary confinement, I went straight home."

"Did you release the information I told you to?"

“Everything was arranged exactly as you instructed, without a single mistake. We deliberately waited until he left before going upstairs, and then we made some conversations about undercover work and operations. He was standing not far away from us, so he could hear us. But he just left without even glancing at us.”

"Just because you don't seem concerned on the surface doesn't mean you don't care in your heart!" He Shangyou reprimanded, then asked:
"and then?"

"Yes, he left the headquarters a minute ago. We don't know where he's going yet, but he made a phone call on the way. We found out through the telecommunications department that the number he dialed was for an antique shop on Minsheng Road in Yuzhong District. I called back to confirm."

"Antique shop? What's he going there for? To make contact?"

"should be."

"Could this antique shop be a communication station for the underground Communist Party? Interesting! Have the people transferred from various intelligence points arrived yet?" He Shangyou's lips curled into a smile with interest.

"There were six groups in total, all of them were unfamiliar faces, and each car was equipped with a walkie-talkie."

He Shangyou pondered for a moment, then instructed, "Don't follow too closely. Remember the lesson from last time—you can wait for him near the antique shop in advance, keep an eye on him, see who he meets with, and try to get all the information about them."

Half an hour later, Zhang Yi's car was parked on the side of the road, and he walked through the gate with the gold-plated plaque of "Chunhui Pavilion" hanging on it.

He came here not to make a meeting, but to meet the person in charge here.

Having received Zhang Yi's promise, the intelligence chief Yang Rong was very efficient and immediately introduced him to someone who had a good personal relationship with the head of the Changsha tomb raiders, namely Lei Wennuo, the owner of Chunhui Pavilion.

Chunhui Pavilion has quite a history. Its predecessor was the Secret Pavilion, founded in 1766 in Liulichang, Beiping by Zhou Youzhuang, a high-ranking official of the Ministry of Rites of the Qing Dynasty. In 35, a branch was established in Hankou and renamed Chunhui Pavilion. In 38, it moved to Chongqing. It was a gathering place for celebrities and literati in the cultural and artistic circles. It mainly dealt in calligraphy and paintings by famous people, the Four Treasures of the Study, as well as seal carving, seals, and book mounting. Zhang Daqian, Xu Beihong, Fu Baoshi and others were all frequent visitors here.

Stepping into Chunhui Pavilion, one is greeted by its antique decor, exquisite furnishings, and a dazzling array of antiques and calligraphy.

A short, stout, round-faced man approached and said with a friendly smile:

"My surname is Zhang, and I am the manager here. May I ask what this distinguished guest would like to buy?"

Zhang Yi didn't hide anything and readily handed over Yang Rong's business card:
Is your boss in?

"Director Yang?" Manager Zhang's expression changed, and he looked Zhang Yi up and down. "May I ask, sir, what is your relationship with Director Yang? Are you on official business there?"

"Colleague, what's wrong? Does Chunhui Pavilion discriminate based on who you serve?"

"Sir, you jest. It's just that..." Manager Zhang looked troubled and stammered.

"Just what?"

Manager Zhang's face darkened, and he glanced at Zhang Yi a few more times: "Those who do business value integrity and are willing to do business with honest people."

The Director Yang you mentioned bought three paintings and calligraphies from our humble abode and said he would send the money immediately, but several months have passed and we haven't heard a word from him.

We couldn't get in or out of the Military Intelligence Bureau, nor did we dare to. We had to ask someone to pass on a message, but that Director Yang always made excuses, saying he was out of town or that he'd definitely come back later. Therefore, our boss declared that anyone connected to Director Yang would not be received. So, sir, please proceed.

This clearly indicates that they are about to see the guests off.

Zhang Yi cursed Yang Rong inwardly for being shameless, saying that it was one thing for him to be pretentious, but he even tried to renege on this kind of money.

"How much money did he owe you? I paid it off for him."

Zhang Yi thought to himself, "There's a saying that one shouldn't owe favors or make ill-gotten gains. If the amount owed isn't much, I'll pay it off for Yang Rong, and I won't give him the calligraphy and painting that was promised to him."

The manager was somewhat surprised, gave him a deep look, and blurted out:

"Fifteen small yellow croakers."

Zhang Yi gasped: "So many?"

The manager rolled his eyes: "He took a painting of lotus and mandarin ducks by Zhu Hongshou, a painter from the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, a painting of scenic spots in Jinling by Zou Dian, a painter from the late Ming dynasty, and a painting of plum blossoms by Jin Nong, one of the Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou in the previous dynasty. These are all works by famous artists, and the prices are already low according to market prices."

Let alone fifteen small yellow croakers, Zhang Yi couldn't even afford five right now, much less pay for Yang Rong. He forced a smile.

"Okay, I'll go back and pass on your message, urge him to pay back the money as soon as possible. As for the rest, there's nothing I can do. Let's get down to business. Where's your boss?"

Upon hearing this, the manager cursed inwardly, realizing that this fellow was also a braggart who talked big without thinking. He snorted and pointed to the door:

"Please, sir. You want to see our boss? No way!"

"I don't like talking nonsense." Seeing that reasoning wouldn't work, Zhang Yi became blunt and coldly pointed to the door:
"I've already given you enough face by saying I'd pass on your message. Not only are you ungrateful, but you're also pushing your luck by trying to kick me out? Believe me or not, I'll wreck your shop today!"

"You dare?" The manager naturally didn't believe it. Boss Lei associated with only the most learned and influential people; he certainly had connections. Even if Chunhui Pavilion had fallen on hard times, it couldn't handle a cunning old fox like Yang Rong. Surely it could deal with a mere spy like you?

He immediately shouted inside, "Someone's causing trouble!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than two burly men, dressed in short-sleeved shirts and with pistols tucked into their waistbands, strode out menacingly.

Zhang Yi didn't take it seriously, sneered, and pointed towards the door: "Why don't you go out and see if I came alone? My colleague is sitting in that black Dodge over there. If you dare to lay a finger on me, I'll make you regret it."

Manager Zhang was half-believing and half-doubting. He gestured to his thugs to keep an eye on Zhang Yi, and walked out the door with suspicion.

Across from the antique shop, a black sedan was parked on the side of the road. The window was rolled down, and inside, a man dressed as a businessman was staring intently at the shop's entrance, his eyes meeting those of Manager Zhang, who was staring wide-eyed.

Their eyes met, each with a stern expression.

(End of this chapter)