Along the way, they encountered several other military units, all heading to the Shanghai battlefield. The military vehicles slowed down as the troops mingled among them. By the time they reached the outskirts of Shanghai, it was already dark.
The lead vehicle exited the main road, turned onto a side road, and stopped at a military camp.
Ning Zhiheng got out of the car and was about to ask about the next part of the itinerary when Secretary Liu, who was also wearing a major's uniform, came over and said to Ning Zhiheng, "The commander has ordered that all personnel take the time to eat and rest. Your unit can only stay for half an hour."
"All personnel get off the vehicle and rest. We will depart in half an hour!" Ning Zhiheng quickly turned around and gave the order. Huo Yueze, who was standing next to him, began to direct the rest of the other personnel.
Secretary Liu then said to Ning Zhiheng, "Team Leader Ning, the Director wants you to go there."
"Yes!" Ning Zhiheng replied.
Ning Zhiheng followed Secretary Liu to an office in the military camp. The section chief, who looked tired, was looking at the battle map in front of him. When he saw Ning Zhiheng come in, he waved to Secretary Liu, who quickly left and closed the door.
"Zhiheng, do you think I'm being unreasonable by specifically requesting you to go to the front lines this time?" The section chief looked at Ning Zhiheng and asked directly.
Ning Zhiheng, with a serious expression, stood at attention and replied, "Zhiheng has no such intention. Serving on the battlefield is a soldier's duty. Moreover, this is fighting for the country, so we should dedicate ourselves to the country and give our lives!"
Upon hearing Ning Zhiheng's words, the magistrate nodded heavily. He knew that this young man had enough courage and boldness to face any obstacle head-on. Whether it was capturing Snow Wolf alone in Nanjing, assassinating the enemy chieftain in Hangzhou, or infiltrating the enemy's inner circle in Shanghai to eliminate traitors, all his actions were enough to prove everything.
“Zhiheng, I had no choice but to send you to the battlefield this time. This war has completely exceeded all our expectations. We originally thought it would be a annihilation campaign, but it has unexpectedly escalated and become what it is now. The special operations force has 20,000 officers and soldiers, and nearly half of them have been lost in just one battle on the north bank of the Suzhou River. The officers of the Military Intelligence Bureau have suffered particularly heavy losses. They are all elites of the Party and the State, all graduates of the Whampoa Military Academy. When I heard the news, I didn’t sleep for two days. I just couldn’t accept it. But this is a national war! We have no choice. It is difficult to recruit the second batch of officers on our own initiative. We can only assign them directly. As the leader of the younger generation of the Military Intelligence Bureau, you have an inescapable responsibility and must set an example for others.”
"Thank you for your high regard, Director. I, Zhiheng, will certainly fight bravely and forge ahead, and will never fail your expectations," Ning Zhiheng replied loudly.
If Ning Zhiheng hadn't been a seasoned official with considerable experience and insight, and if Huang Xianzheng, another veteran of the bureaucracy, hadn't provided the analysis, the impetuous young military officer would have been deeply grateful for the director's sincere and heartfelt words.
In fact, it was nothing more than the fact that the Director was deeply stimulated by this long-coveted struggle for military power. He did not expect that when it came to the struggle for military power, not only did Shen Xun, who had never shown his face, jump out from the shadows, but even the Baoding faction, which had always been submissive, reached out to seize power.
What's most alarming is that these actions actually received the leader's support and approval. This made the Chief of Staff, who had always enjoyed the leader's deep trust, feel extremely threatened. He had founded and developed the Military Intelligence Investigation Department single-handedly, pouring all his efforts into it, and it was also the foundation of his future political career. He would never allow anyone to meddle with it or threaten his authority.
Previously, the Baoding faction had grown in strength. Disregarding Huang Xianzheng's consistent submissiveness, he directly suppressed Wei Liangbi, a key member of the Baoding faction, ultimately causing Wei Liangbi to voluntarily leave the Nanjing headquarters and be transferred to the border city of Chongqing.
Now he had to suppress the growing power of the Baoding faction once again, so he focused his attention on Ning Zhiheng, the current leader of the Baoding faction.
Although he greatly admired Ning Zhiheng's talent, none of that mattered when someone threatened his position. Taking advantage of this opportunity, he transferred Ning Zhiheng away from the Nanjing headquarters and sent him to the Shanghai front. Even if Ning Zhiheng was eventually able to escape from the battlefield, it would probably be difficult for him to return to the central government. This was a way to suppress the rising power of the Baoding faction and give Huang Xianzheng a strong warning.
This kind of scheming is naturally not something that can be told to outsiders, but the Director, who has always considered himself a ruthless and powerful figure, has no psychological barriers to it and never hesitates to do things!
Ning Zhiheng's response was sincere and heartfelt, which greatly pleased the department head.
He stepped forward and patted Ning Zhiheng on the shoulder affectionately, then said in a gentle voice again, "This time, when we go to the heart of Shanghai, you will serve as the deputy captain of the Special Agent Brigade. Captain Weng Xiangrong is also a veteran who has followed me for many years. He was specially transferred from Guizhou to be the old station chief of the military intelligence station. He has the qualifications, but his abilities are somewhat lacking. He was also injured in this major battle and is currently recuperating in Nanshi, Shanghai. After you go there, you will take over the full command of the Special Agent Brigade and await orders from the United Front Work Department. You must not slack off in any way."
At this point, his voice became somewhat stern: "Otherwise, you'll be court-martialed! I don't show any leniency here!"
"Yes!" Ning Zhiheng quickly stood at attention and answered.
The conversation ended quickly. This area, between Qingpu and Songjiang, was already a rear base for the Shanghai army. The commander was going to stay here to handle some matters, and most of the special operations team was also resting here. Ye Zhiwu and his men were also going to stay here to be added to the special operations team.
The Fifth Detachment and the Special Service Brigade were stationed in Nanshi. Ning Zhiheng was responsible for leading his troops into the right flank of the entire war zone, to Nanshi District of Shanghai, to find the rest and reorganization site of the Fifth Detachment and the Special Service Brigade, to replenish personnel, and to await the next military order from the United Front Work Department.
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