While Ning Zhiheng and the director were talking in the office, several officers were chatting in an office of the First Operations Division.
Guan Xingxiu, the deputy captain of the action team, was disassembling and cleaning his sidearm. As he fiddled with the parts, he said casually, "You know, our Action Division One is a prestigious action division, and it's supposed to be the top department of the Military Intelligence Bureau. But we just sit here all day long, not knowing what to do. But I must say, my gun is getting shinier and shinier."
The action team leader next to him, Gong Maode, held a cup of tea in his hand. He took a small sip, felt it was a bit too hot for his mouth, put the teacup back on the table, and joked with a smile, "If you're really bored, go find your sweetheart and have a get-together. I'll cover your shift."
Guan Xingxiu curled his lip upon hearing this. He didn't have any girlfriends; they were just some dance hall singers. He had no money, and going to them would be embarrassing for him!
"I don't even have enough money to buy cigarettes. Am I supposed to go there and freeload? I can't afford to lose face like that!"
The officer Lian Lei, standing to the side, said helplessly, “You all work for the Military Intelligence Bureau, but those senior officers are all making a fortune. It’s just us who are stuck in this office, without even a chance to earn some extra money. Our pockets are emptier than our backsides. We don’t even dare to go out to eat with this meager salary. We’re getting worse every day.”
Guan Xingxiu snorted, assembled the gun parts in his hand, and said unhurriedly, "If our Operations Division wants to make some extra money, we have to go to the front line. At your rank, we'd give you an operations battalion, but I'm afraid you won't want to!"
The Military Intelligence Bureau's major divisions each managed their own area. Bian Ze's Intelligence Division One was mainly responsible for the work of military intelligence stations in various places, especially those behind enemy lines. They were responsible for collecting enemy intelligence and attacking enemy forces. They had a large area and sufficient funding, so the officers under their command lived relatively well.
Gu Zhengqi's Second Intelligence Division was responsible for internal counter-espionage and investigation work. Almost any case that occurred in the Kuomintang-controlled area was under their jurisdiction. There were many opportunities to manipulate things here, and the investigators often received a lot of benefits after a case was solved. This was the most lucrative department.
However, Zhao Ziliang's First Operations Division was in a somewhat awkward position. They were mainly responsible for armed operations against the enemy and controlled the Military Intelligence Bureau's armed force, the Loyal and Patriotic Army. In terms of strength, they were the largest, with tens of thousands of regular troops. The officers and key personnel in the army were all officers from the First Operations Division. However, they were also in the greatest danger, fighting directly against the Japanese army. Over time, they suffered heavy losses. The officers under their command could not interfere in internal affairs and had to replenish the front-line combat at any time. Life was very difficult, and morale was inevitably low. Therefore, they often complained when they were together.
Lian Lei leaned forward, lowered his voice, and said mysteriously, "Have you heard? The Second Action Division has been doing something incredible lately. In less than twenty days, they've arrested so many Japanese spies that the prisons can't even hold them all. The Second Division's action teams are arresting people and ransacking homes everywhere. They raided several companies from just one secretary-general of the municipal government and seized dozens of cars. There's a lot of money to be made in this. I heard that just from this case alone, every junior officer got this much!"
At this point, Lian Lei held up two fingers and waved them in front of his two colleagues, causing them to stare at him wide-eyed.
"Still in US dollars!"
"Hiss, hiss..." The two of them gasped.
“Everyone involved in the operation will receive a share. Tell me, how much will this cost?”
After a long while, Guan Xingxiu shook his head and clicked his tongue softly: "Tsk tsk, I heard that Ning Yanwang of the Second Operations Division dealt with a few officers who had embezzled money a few days ago. I thought he was a ruthless person who would eat people alive, but I didn't expect him to be so generous in this move."
“Old Guan, your information is outdated. Those officers were beaten to death by Ning Yanwang in front of all the officers of the Second Operations Division. One against five, they were beaten into a puddle of mud in less than a minute. One of my fellow villagers was in the Second Operations Division. He was so scared that his legs went weak on the spot and he didn’t recover for a long time.”
Guan Xingxiu's eyelids twitched in surprise, and he asked in astonishment, "You're kidding! There's such a fierce guy?"
"Old Guan, you weren't at the Nanjing headquarters before, so you don't know how formidable Ning Yanwang is. Back then, Ning Yanwang was the head of the action team in our action section. He really fought his way through the entire military intelligence department. In the end, no one dared to fight him. I sparred with him once, and one punch from him left me bedridden for several days. He almost crippled me. He's a monster!"
The action team leader, Gong Maode, was a veteran of the Military Intelligence Bureau, so he knew Ning Zhiheng quite well. However, his words really startled Guan Xingxiu, because Guan Xingxiu knew his team leader very well. He was an absolute fighting expert with extraordinary skills, far superior to Guan Xingxiu's own. Yet, such a skilled fighter couldn't even withstand a single punch from Ning Yanwang.
Lian Lei shook his head repeatedly as he recalled the scene: "That's right, I didn't even dare to step in back then. That guy would charge around recklessly, and several people couldn't stop him. He wouldn't even flinch when hit by heavy punches..."
As the group was talking in hushed tones, a knock came at the door, and an officer pushed it open and entered.
Gong Maode looked up, quickly stood up from his seat, took two steps forward, and greeted him with a smile: "Old Zhao, you haven't shown up for a long time. I haven't had time to ask you to have a drink. What brings you here today?"
The visitor was Zhao Jiang, who had escorted Ning Zhiheng to headquarters to report on his work. He took the opportunity to contact old friends and invite everyone to his celebration banquet.
Suddenly, Gong Maode's eyes lit up. Looking at Zhao Jiang's uniform, he exclaimed, "Old Zhao, what? You've been promoted to major? This…"
Gong Maode and Zhao Jiang had a friendship during their time in Nanjing. At that time, Zhao Jiang was promoted to action captain by Ning Zhiheng, while Gong Maode was an action captain under Ye Zhiwu. Later, their superiors were transferred to the Shanghai front. Without their backers, their days at headquarters became difficult.
The two were in similar circumstances and shared a common plight. They often drank together to drown their sorrows and got along quite well.
Later, the Military Intelligence Bureau was established, Ning Zhiheng returned, and Zhao Jiang became the head of the action group, whose position had already surpassed that of Gong Maode. Ye Zhiwu died in battle in Shanghai, and Gong Maode lost his backer. For the past two years, his military rank and position have remained unchanged.
However, their friendship remained unchanged, and they often sat together, showing a deep understanding between them.
This time, Zhao Jiang served as Ning Zhiheng's bodyguard captain and never dared to leave his side for even a moment. He even ate and slept at the Second Operations Division, so he had never met Gong Maode. But today, when they met, Gong Maode was greatly surprised!
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