Ning Zhiheng's return journey went relatively smoothly. Under Liu Ruichang's arrangement, Ning Zhiheng departed from Chongqing, detoured to Changsha, and then boarded a convoy transporting smuggled goods to enter Jiangxi.
Along the way, the transport convoy had no trouble passing through the Kuomintang-controlled areas, and no one dared to stop it. However, when it was about to enter the Japanese-occupied areas, all personnel went on high alert.
Looking at the Japanese checkpoints in the distance, Liu Ruichang stepped forward and reported, "Chief, the Japanese checkpoints are just ahead. Our forces stop here. But don't worry, I sent a telegram to the Shanghai intelligence department earlier, and they have already sent someone to meet you. This route is very safe and there won't be any problems."
Ning Zhiheng nodded. Ishikawa Takeshi had also cleared the various military checkpoints in the Japanese-occupied areas, and the cargo transport had been very smooth these past few times.
At this moment, a truck drove up from a distance and soon stopped in front of the convoy. The door opened and a young man jumped out and ran quickly to Ning Zhiheng. It was Nian Zhe, one of Ning Zhiheng's men, who was also in charge of the transport convoy.
"Station Master! You're back! I've been waiting for you here for two days!" Nian Zhe said happily to Ning Zhiheng.
This time, the station chief was away from Shanghai for a long time, and everyone was secretly worried. Without the station chief in charge, everyone felt as if they were missing a backbone. The entire intelligence station was in a state of unease and on high alert. Fortunately, the station chief finally returned.
Nian Zhe was also a protégé of Ning Zhiheng, having followed him since the Nanjing period. He later went to the Shanghai front and fought in Pudong, where he made great contributions in the capture of Bai Xiangqi and Wu Anhe, earning Ning Zhiheng's favor. Ning Zhiheng praised him for every major achievement afterward, and finally, in this promotion, he entered the ranks of colonel-level officers.
Like Sun Jiacheng, he was also promoted by Ning Zhiheng from a common soldier to a major in the Military Intelligence Bureau, and was also Ning Zhiheng's devoted follower.
Ning Zhiheng looked at Nian Zhe and said with a smile, "Still calling me station chief? Haven't you received the notification from headquarters?"
This time, the headquarters promotion and the personnel changes in various departments have been announced. Nian Zhe was promoted to major in this promotion.
"Reporting to the Chief, I'm just used to calling him that, and I can't change it right away!" Nian Zhe said with a grin.
This is not entirely Nian Zhe's fault. Ning Zhiheng's job changes have been very frequent in the past two years. From the initial action team leader, action group leader, special agent brigade captain, intelligence station chief, to the current action department chief, his subordinates have to change their titles almost every now and then. In the early days of the intelligence station, they called him group leader, brigade captain, and station chief all at once. Even Ning Zhiheng was too lazy to correct them and just answered them without thinking.
"Is there a problem with the Japanese checkpoints?" Ning Zhiheng asked.
"Please rest assured, Director, there will be no problem. The first two trips were handled by a Japanese man named Hirao Daichi. He is very capable. As soon as the Japanese garrison saw him, they immediately let us through. The subsequent transports were all handled by me, and everything went smoothly. Our trading company's vehicles can now move freely in the Japanese-occupied areas."
Ning Zhiheng's Japanese identity is top secret. Only Zuo Rou and Yi Hua'an know about it. Even Huo Yueze doesn't know, let alone a key member like Nian Zhe. Therefore, he is unaware that Hirao Daichi is the manager of the Fujiwara Company in Japan, and that his superior is the chairman of the Fujiwara Company.
His current task is limited to transporting goods; other matters are naturally handled by others.
As for the business traces between Fujiwara Company and the two trading companies under the Intelligence Section, Zuo Rou also used several shell company accounts and went through several detours to completely erase them. Now, all the checkpoints only recognize Nian Zhe. As long as he shows up, the Japanese garrison will let them through regardless of the name of the trading company.
This was done for security reasons, to prevent detection by Japanese intelligence or anti-smuggling agencies. If any trouble arose, they could simply change the name of the trading company, keeping the same business the same, and the transportation of smuggled goods could still be guaranteed. Of course, this was just a precautionary measure. Currently, neither the Military Police Headquarters nor the Special Higher Police would dare to cause trouble for the Fujiwara Company.
The payment for this smuggling transaction had been wired to a Shanghai account through Citibank. Liu Ruichang handed the draft to Nian Zhe, and both parties signed and sealed it as proof.
The two then handed over the goods again. To avoid suspicion, this time the convoy was filled with local specialties from inland China and was transported to Shanghai. After a series of strict handover procedures were completed, Nian Zhe led the convoy into the Japanese-occupied area.
Ning Zhiheng disguised himself as a truck driver and mingled in the convoy. The convoy slowly entered the Japanese checkpoint. The checkpoint was very strict, with Japanese soldiers heavily armed and on guard.
As the convoy entered, the soldiers were about to board the vehicles for inspection when they were stopped by a Japanese officer on duty.
At this moment, Nian Zhe, who was sitting in the first truck, jumped off, went up to greet the Japanese officer, handed his pass to the officer, and skillfully stuffed a stack of banknotes into the officer's pocket. The two obviously knew each other, chatted a few words amicably, and then the Japanese officer waved his hand. Without any inspection, the convoy passed through the checkpoint smoothly.
Thus, once inside the Japanese-occupied territory, all the checkpoints were the same. As long as the officers on duty saw that it was Nian Zhe, they would pass through without inspection. Of course, Nian Zhe would also give him a small bribe. The convoy smoothly entered the city of Shanghai.
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