Yu Guangyou called Huang Xianzheng from the airport duty room to report that Ning Zhiheng had arrived safely in Wuhan. After hanging up, he quickly left the duty room.
"Station Chief Ning, the section chief wants you to go directly to his residence; a family dinner has been prepared for you tonight!"
Then, smiling at Sun Jiacheng, he said, "Major Sun, I have arranged accommodations for you. I will take you there now!"
Sun Jiacheng looked at Ning Zhiheng, and seeing Ning Zhiheng nod, Sun Jiacheng smiled and said to Yu Guangyou, "Thank you for your trouble, Secretary Yu!"
After saying that, he handed a suitcase to Ning Zhiheng, then turned around and led the others into other cars.
Ning Zhiheng and Yu Guangyou got into a black sedan and drove away quickly, soon passing through the city of Wuhan and heading west.
Sitting in the back seat of the car, Ning Zhiheng looked out the window and sighed, "Wuhan truly lives up to its reputation as a major city in Central China and the provisional capital of the Republic of China. Its prosperity even surpasses that of Nanjing. It's a pity that with this major war, I wonder what will become of it!"
Hearing Ning Zhiheng's remark, Yu Guangyou, who was sitting next to him, smiled slightly and said, "Station Chief Ning has just returned from Shanghai, a famous metropolis in Asia. Do you still find the sights of Wuhan pleasing?"
"Each has its own merits and unique charm. This is my first time in Wuhan, so it's naturally quite new. Secretary Yu, I've been away from headquarters for over a year now. I wonder if there have been any changes in the situation here?"
Ning Zhiheng had been away from the central government for a long time and was now quite unfamiliar with the Military Intelligence Investigation Department. He wanted to learn about it from Secretary Yu first.
Yu Guangyou dared not neglect Ning Zhiheng's question and said in a deep voice, "The situation at headquarters is indeed very different from that of a year or so ago. The director is now vigorously recruiting young students and forces from all sides to join the Military Intelligence Bureau, and the number of personnel has increased significantly. He is also vigorously promoting the key personnel under his command. The number of personnel at headquarters is now several times that of a year ago. Local stations are also starting to expand one after another. Everyone is vying for power and personnel, trying to gain the upper hand in this promotion."
Ning Zhiheng had expected all of this. He frowned and asked, "Haven't we in the Baoding faction done anything?"
"Of course, we can't let this good opportunity pass us by. We've recruited a lot of people, and the two section chiefs have been going back and forth, unable to reach a conclusion. This time, your job assignment is of utmost importance, as you probably know. The section chief invited you to the family dinner today to discuss this with you properly."
Yu Guangyou naturally knew that Ning Zhiheng's status in the Military Intelligence Investigation Department was now very different from what it was a year or so ago.
A little over a year ago, Ning Zhiheng was just a young and promising action team leader whose influence was limited to the headquarters and who was quite influential among young officers.
Ning Zhiheng, however, has won the hearts and minds of everyone in the Military Intelligence Investigation Department, including the veteran agents, with his outstanding performance on the Pudong battlefield and behind enemy lines in Shanghai. Several major operations and intelligence reports have greatly elevated the Military Intelligence Investigation Department's status within the General Headquarters.
Even veteran intelligence chiefs like Zhao Ziliang and Gu Zhengqi now have to treat Ning Zhiheng on the same level and dare not be negligent in the slightest.
Rumors are circulating among high-ranking officials that Ning Zhiheng will receive a significant promotion, with his rank likely to rise another level. His next position will also hold an important place in the power structure of the Military Intelligence Investigation Department.
For a military intelligence colonel who was only twenty-two years old, to rise to such a high position was an incredible thing for others, but for Ning Zhiheng, everyone felt it was only natural and no one felt anything was wrong.
Ning Zhiheng asked some further questions, which Yu Guangyou answered one by one.
After listening to Yu Guangyou's introduction, Ning Zhiheng pondered inwardly. It seemed that there were undercurrents in the headquarters as well, which strengthened his belief that he should not stay here for long.
His task today was to have a proper talk with Huang Xianzheng. He had to do everything he could to persuade Huang Xianzheng and gain his support so that he could proceed with the next negotiations with the Director.
The car soon arrived at a mansion, which was Huang Xianzheng's residence in Wuhan. It was much smaller than his residence in Nanjing. Now that the original Nationalist government in Nanjing had moved to Wuhan, the huge government agencies and hundreds of thousands of refugees had crowded into the city. The level of overcrowding was unimaginable. It was only because the Military Intelligence Investigation Bureau was a privileged department that Huang Xianzheng was able to get this mansion. Many government officials had to rely on renting houses to make a living, which was really miserable.
Ning Zhiheng followed Secretary Yu into the mansion. At that moment, a middle-aged woman dressed in luxurious clothes came out of the mansion. She was Huang Xianzheng's wife.
Ning Zhiheng was a frequent visitor to Huang Xianzheng's home and was quite familiar with Madam Huang. He quickly bowed and said, "Greetings, Madam!"
Mrs. Huang smiled kindly and invited Ning Zhiheng to sit down on the sofa. She said with a smile, "Zhiheng, it's been so long since I've seen you. Your director has been talking about you every day. You're finally back today. He just called to say he'll be leaving get off work early and will ask you to wait a bit! I've made some good dishes for you. Please have a few drinks!"
"Thank you for your trouble, Director!" Ning Zhiheng said respectfully, turning around to take out an exquisite jewelry box from his suitcase and handing it to Madam Huang with both hands. "I remember your birthday is coming soon. This is a set of jewelry that I specially ordered from France. I wonder if you would like it?"
Mrs. Huang was taken aback. Seven days later was her birthday, and she hadn't expected Ning Zhiheng to remember it. Her face lit up with joy, and she said happily, "Haha, I almost forgot about it myself. Old Huang was talking about it the other day, but I was too lazy to celebrate. Women don't like to celebrate their birthdays when they get older, afraid of being reminded that they've gotten another year older. Haha, Zhiheng, you're so thoughtful! And it's even custom-made from France? I can't resist, I have to see it for myself!"
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