Ning Zhiheng watched as the telegraph operator sent the intelligence twice before he felt relieved. The importance of this intelligence was self-evident; it would have a significant impact on the upcoming battle to defend Wuhan.
The Guangzhou area had only eight divisions of defense forces, less than 100,000 troops, and they were scattered along the long coastal defense front.
Li Jiangguan's division was stationed at the closest point to the supply line, which is why the Japanese defectors targeted him.
Li Jiangguan has now begun substantive contact with the Japanese, attempting to use their power to become the de facto ruler of Guangzhou. Surrender and betrayal are only a matter of time.
But now, thanks to timely intelligence, Ning Zhiheng discovered this conspiracy in advance. As long as this Japanese plan is thwarted, at the very least, it can be guaranteed that after the Battle of Wuhan begins, unless the Japanese are determined to turn against the British and French, the transportation of military supplies for the Chinese government can be guaranteed!
With medicine, airplanes and gunboats, gasoline in the cars, and bullets and shells in the rifles and cannons, the soldiers had the resources to fight a war of attrition against the Japanese; otherwise, it would all be just a pipe dream.
After finishing their business, Ning Zhiheng and Zuo Rou left the telecommunications room and went to Ning Zhiheng's office.
"This intelligence must be so important, and it must have cost a lot of money, right?" Zuo Rou asked with a hint of helplessness.
She has been under immense pressure lately. The intelligence station's businesses have expanded, but the financial pressure has only increased, leaving her, the head steward, feeling suffocated. In particular, the purchase of intelligence is a bottomless pit, leaving her with no resources to make a living. If it weren't for the solid foundation Ning Zhiheng had built up in the past, she would have been unable to sustain it by now.
Ning Zhiheng nodded and held up three fingers.
"Thirty thousand dollars? My God, that's our entire month's profit, and all we got in return were these two pieces of paper?" Zuo Rou exclaimed in shock. She felt a sharp pain in her chest, clutched it, and let out a long breath!
Ning Zhiheng smiled slightly, stepped forward and took Zuo Rou's hand, gently comforting her, "It is a bit expensive, but the British did a very good job this time. They even found out the identity of the Japanese spy who was hiding there. It's still worth the price."
Besides, this is a matter of utmost importance. Let alone $30,000, even $300,000 would be worth it. You know how crucial this intelligence is. It ensures our soldiers have clothes to wear, food to eat, and ammunition to keep them well-equipped for battle. If they are wounded, they will have sufficient medicine to treat them, preventing them from lying in hospitals waiting to die. These are priceless! Isn't our intelligence work precisely to serve the soldiers on the front lines? Don't worry about the money; if you don't use it, it's just a piece of paper, but if you use it, it can save lives. It's a worthwhile trade!
Zuo Rou felt sweetness in her heart as Ning Zhiheng held her hand. Ning Zhiheng was always calm and rarely expressed his feelings. Although the two of them spent every day together, they rarely even held hands.
“You don’t need to explain to me. I’m just a little reluctant. I know the importance of this matter, but the intelligence station really can’t keep up with the funding right now. In just this month, we spent $100,000 on intelligence purchases and another $30,000 on arms purchases. Even so, Director Huo applied for another $20,000 to open a dance hall. Now we have more and more businesses, but the initial investment is so large. I have to start using the reserves now!”
Listening to her pour out her grievances, Ning Zhiheng knew that the intelligence station's financial pressure was making it difficult for her to cope, so he could only say, "Purchasing weapons is a must. Our smuggling channels must not touch weapons, otherwise if something goes wrong, it will be impossible to explain, and the consequences will be very serious. So we can only buy from those arms dealers."
Yueze also reported to me about opening a dance hall. He mainly wanted to open more entertainment businesses, as such places attract all sorts of people and are convenient for intelligence gathering. After all, he is in charge of intelligence work, so it's understandable that he's a bit impatient to do his job well.
As for why we're investing so much, you know that these kinds of industries require the installation of eavesdropping equipment. The electrical materials and equipment are ridiculously expensive right now, and the associated renovations and installations also cost a lot. You should approve it first, otherwise it will delay things. Besides, our funding won't be a problem soon!
Zuo Rou had no choice but to nod in agreement. After a moment's hesitation, she asked uncertainly, "You know, with Director Huo handling such a large amount of funds and spending money like water, wouldn't that...?"
After she finished speaking, she looked at Ning Zhiheng. Although she didn't say it explicitly, the expression on her face clearly showed her meaning.
"Corruption?" Ning Zhiheng said with a half-smile. He sat back down in his chair, his tone indifferent. "I still trust Yue Ze. He's not the kind of person who would bow down for money. Besides, the intelligence station is full of my people, and I have some arrangements in place. He wouldn't dare to do that. You don't need to worry!"
Knowing that Ning Zhiheng had made arrangements in advance, Zuo Rou was relieved. She then asked, "The medicines have arrived in Hong Kong this time. I have arranged for our two trading companies to take over and transfer the medicines. The accounts are ready. Should we sell them locally or store them? If we can find a way to send them to the mainland, the profits will be huge!"
Ning Zhiheng had already planned for this. He waved his hand and said, "Distribute the goods locally! We'll use up these medicines in the French Concession. Although the profit will be less, it's the safest way. Even so, it's still several times the profit. What we need now is safety and to recover funds as quickly as possible. These goods will continue to arrive in the future, so there's no need to store them. As for sending them out of Shanghai, the risk is too great. The Japanese are very strict in their inspections, and there are many checkpoints on the way to the interior. It's difficult to transport military supplies out. I will try to find a way to open up a transport route with the interior in the future, but it's difficult to do now!"
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