Ning Zhiheng had also worried about this situation before. With so many supplies piled up at Yangon Port, if transportation wasn't arranged in time, the losses would be incalculable if they were caught off guard.
The director, of course, understood the seriousness of the situation and immediately instructed Bian Ze: "I remember we just applied to the Myanmar government for license plates for a thousand military vehicles a few days ago. Now the situation has changed. You immediately send an urgent telegram to the Myanmar action team and tell them to quickly change to civilian license plates. If the Myanmar government really takes action, we can still try to get away with it and make preparations for the follow-up."
"Yes!" Bian Ze nodded and left to accept the order. The bureau chief then stood up, picked up the telegram, and walked towards the door. "I will go to the headquarters to report this situation immediately."
Wei Liangbi quickly took the military cap off the coat rack next to him, handed it to the director with both hands, and said respectfully, "I have some things to report to you."
"Let's talk on the way, come with me!" The director waved his hand, and Wei Liangbi followed closely behind. The two of them went out the door one after the other.
Meanwhile, inside the Tan Mansion in Shanghai, Ning Zhiheng was practicing his martial arts in the courtyard. After a round of Xingyi Quan, his muscles and bones felt relaxed and his mind was refreshed.
When he was in the city, he was surrounded by Japanese bodyguards, so he couldn't do whatever he wanted. It had been a long time since he had been able to unleash his martial arts skills so freely.
At this moment, Ji Hongyi strode in from outside the gate, looking at Ning Zhiheng from afar. He didn't dare to disturb him and waited quietly to the side until Ning Zhiheng calmed down and composed himself before stepping forward.
Ning Zhiheng spoke up first: "What, have you been hiding from me these past two days?"
Ji Hongyi looked embarrassed and hurriedly shook his head, explaining, "That's not how it is. My whereabouts were not kept secret, and I made a major mistake that almost threatened the safety of the organization. I am willing to accept any punishment and would never dare to shirk my responsibility in the slightest."
Ning Zhiheng snorted, his face still gloomy, which frightened Ji Hongyi so much that he dared not say anything more.
Ning Zhiheng took the hot towel from Zuo Rou, wiped his face and hands, and then said calmly, "Has Yue Ze explained the situation to you this time?"
"I understand. The section chief reprimanded me severely because I was careless and negligent in my duties, giving the enemy an opportunity. Please punish me, Section Chief."
Ning Zhiheng has always been strict with his subordinates and has long held considerable authority over them. So when Ji Hongyi realized he had made a big mistake and almost been exposed, he hadn't dared to approach Ning Zhiheng for the past two days. Today, however, there was a major situation that forced him to come and report.
Ning Zhiheng handed the handkerchief back to Zuo Rou and said calmly to Ji Hongyi, "Merits will be rewarded and mistakes will be corrected. Even if you're avoiding me, you won't escape this punishment. I'll remember it. Now, tell me, what have you been doing these past few days?"
Hearing Ning Zhiheng say this, Ji Hongyi felt relieved. He knew Ning Zhiheng's character and temperament. As long as he didn't lose his temper on the spot and was careful afterward, things would naturally pass peacefully.
Ning Zhiheng came to the corridor, moved the mahogany chair aside and sat down, gesturing for Ji Hongyi to sit opposite him as well.
Ji Hongyi continued, reporting in a low voice: "I was just about to report to you that the day before yesterday, the same day we took action against Cha Yutang, Wei Hongde, a director of the Municipal Council of the International Settlement, was kidnapped. However, it happened in broad daylight, and I have been investigating this matter for the past two days."
Ning Zhiheng frowned upon hearing this, and asked somewhat uncertainly, "Wei Hongde, that real estate tycoon?"
Ji Hongyi hurriedly nodded and agreed, "Yes, that's the person!"
Ning Zhiheng looked puzzled and asked, "Is his kidnapping related to you? Why do you need to get involved?"
The Wei Hongde mentioned by the two men was no ordinary person; he wielded considerable influence in both the Shanghai International Settlement and the French Concession.
He was the chairman of Shanghai Hengtong Real Estate Company. It was rumored that two-thirds of the land in the Xujiahui area belonged to his companies. Taking advantage of the booming economy in the concessions in recent years, the value of the land he owned increased several times, making him extremely wealthy. Not only that, he also owned more than ten department stores throughout the French Concession and the International Settlement, and also dealt in antiques. He was extremely wealthy. Moreover, he was shrewd and adept at social maneuvering. He had a close relationship with the British Consul and served as a Chinese director of the Shanghai Municipal Council of the International Settlement.
With such wealth and status, Wei Hongde was naturally a well-known figure in Shanghai, living a life of luxury and wealth. Such a heavyweight was kidnapped in broad daylight, and coincidentally, on the same day that Ning Zhiheng attacked Cha Yutang.
After Ji Hongyi's further narration, Ning Zhiheng gained a general understanding of the process.
It turns out that just the day before yesterday at noon, Wei Hongde and his wife were returning from a banquet when they were intercepted at the intersection of Aidoya Road by a group of fierce-looking kidnappers at gunpoint. The kidnappers forced the driver, bodyguard, and Wei Hongde's wife out of the car and then hijacked the car with Wei Hongde as their hostage.
The entire operation was carried out swiftly and efficiently. The Wei family didn't even have time to react before Wei Hongde was easily abducted. The kidnappers' final words were: "Go back and wait for a phone call. Prepare the ransom. If you dare to report this to the authorities, we'll kill him immediately!"
There are many wealthy tycoons in Shanghai, and being kidnapped and extorted is not uncommon. Even Wei Hongde himself was kidnapped in his early years and was only able to escape after paying a ransom.
So after the incident, Madam Wei did not call the police, because she knew that the police officers could not do much, and if they made a big fuss and the other party killed the hostage, then everything would be over. Besides, the Wei family had plenty of money, so as long as it could be settled with money, it was not a problem.
The Wei family dared not make a sound. After Mrs. Wei returned home, she indeed received a call from the kidnappers. They made an outrageous demand, asking for $300,000 right off the bat, and specifically stated that they only wanted US dollars and not other currencies.
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