His words were half true and half false, but the others didn't buy it. Although that crazy man He was also righteous, he was also known for his stubbornness and inflexibility. If he came to them for something like corruption and making money, they would probably shut him down in a few words.
"Old Huang, stop playing the victim. Others may not know, but we do. The Military Intelligence Bureau is being disbanded, but you're completely unscathed. Commander Lin and Commander Zhang are speaking up for you, and you're about to be promoted again as deputy director. You'll be the deputy director of the Second Bureau of the Ministry of National Defense! We're all graduates of the Baoding Military Academy, so why are you always the one getting the benefits? You'll have to treat us to a meal..."
This place is full of Kuomintang generals and veteran members of the Baoding clique. They are very well-informed. The Ministry of National Defense had just been established, and news of some personnel changes had already spread.
Huang Xianzheng was about to advance further, becoming a high-ranking official in the Ministry of National Defense. At this point, his status in the military far surpassed theirs. He could only rely on their past brotherhood to make arrangements in advance to avoid trouble later.
After everyone made a fuss, Huang Xianzheng couldn't take it anymore and had to promise to give special consideration to their businesses and restrain his subordinates from harassing them.
Meanwhile, in another corner of the banquet hall, two people were watching the men and women laughing and chatting at the banquet from afar, talking to each other in hushed tones.
One was Shen Le, the then-special commissioner of the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics in the Shanghai-Nanjing area, and sitting opposite him was Wen Hao, who had just regained his freedom.
Although Wen Hao was dressed smartly and his hair was neatly styled, his face was pale, his body was thin, and he looked as haggard as if he had aged twenty years. However, his eyes were still bright and revealed a hint of competence.
Wen Hao was able to appear here entirely because of Shen Le. He held an important position in the Nanjing puppet government and acted as a henchman for many years. After the restoration, he was among the first to be arrested.
After being imprisoned, Shen Le, mindful of their past relationship, went to great lengths to rescue Wen Hao, as promised. Although he came forward to prove that Wen Hao was the inside man he had recruited, Wen Hao's reputation was too great. He was a notorious traitor in the Nanjing puppet government and the Japanese's most trusted henchman. So, despite Shen Le's best efforts, he was still unable to rescue Wen Hao.
However, his efforts did have some effect. Wen Hao remained imprisoned and was not executed like other die-hard traitors. The situation finally took a turn for the better two months ago when the Military Intelligence Bureau, which was in charge of suppressing traitors, underwent a major upheaval and was in a state of panic. As a result, no one pursued the matter any further. Shen Le spent a lot of money and finally rescued Wen Hao a little over ten days ago.
When Wen Hao was imprisoned, he had already been tortured severely by the Kuomintang agents and subjected to brutal interrogation. He then endured more than eight months in a dark and damp prison, suffering immense torment. When he finally emerged from the prison, he was emaciated and utterly haggard.
With Shen Le's full support, Wen Hao was able to rejoin the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics, resume his former position, and appear openly at the celebratory banquet.
"Director, this kind of occasion is not suitable for me. I dare not be high-profile now. It's best not to show my face. It's better to avoid trouble!" Wen Hao sighed softly. He lived in fear every day in prison, afraid that one day he would be caught and sent to the execution ground. He barely escaped with his life. He was always worried and uncertain, and he stayed at home every day, afraid to go out. Today, he was forcibly brought to this banquet by Shen Le.
Upon hearing this, Shen Le grinned and said, "With the capital back in Nanjing, the whole country is celebrating. You're only more conspicuous by hiding at home. Don't think that just because you're at home, others won't find an excuse to deal with you. If they really want to cause you trouble, hiding won't help."
Wen Hao couldn't help but reveal a bitter smile. Given his status, his return to the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics (CBIS) naturally meant that many people were watching him. He still had a lot to do if he wanted to regroup.
"I called you out for two reasons: first, to help you relax, and second, to broaden your horizons and give you the opportunity to make some friends."
Shen Le pointed to the people in the banquet hall and continued, "Don't underestimate yourself. Don't be fooled by how well-dressed and respectable everyone here looks. Once you peel back the layers, they're just like everyone else. Look at that short, fat guy over there, who's that?"
Upon hearing this, Wen Hao followed Shen Le's finger and saw a short, fat man with a large belly, frequently raising his glass and chatting amiably with a Nationalist officer.
"Liu Xingye? That guy wasn't arrested?"
Wen Hao was somewhat surprised. This person was a deputy ministerial-level official in the Japanese puppet government, and could be considered a major traitor. How could he be here?
"He was arrested, but released in just ten days! His reputation isn't as great as yours. He squandered his fortune, clung to the Chen family, and claimed to be an undercover agent behind enemy lines. Bullshit! Others may not know his background, but don't you? In just a few months, he's become a member of the Nationalist government and is thriving again."
And the one on the left, a brigade commander in the Pacification Army, used to be just a bandit who harmed the people and wreaked havoc in the area. He was incorporated into the Pacification Army, but because he defected to the Nationalist Army before they entered the city, he also became a member of the Nationalist Army.
Although you've made a lot of mistakes before, you've also done some things for us. I've come to understand the world these days; there's no need to distinguish so clearly between black and white, so you don't need to worry too much.
Shen Le's words made some sense. After Wen Hao formed an alliance with him, although he attacked the Military Intelligence Bureau and the Red Party in many ways, he made an exception for the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics (Zhongtong) and did a lot for Zhongtong, such as rescuing captured personnel and providing funds for their activities.
Especially after the Japanese suffered defeats and retreated one after another in Southeast Asia, the Japanese puppet government also knew that the end of the Japanese was not far away, and they all began to look for a way out. Wen Hao also began to actively serve the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics (Zhongtong) and did make some contributions. This later became the main evidence for Shen Le's rescue of Wen Hao. Otherwise, given Wen Hao's status in the Japanese puppet government and his reputation as a traitor, even if Shen Le had connections, it would have been absolutely impossible for him to escape this calamity.
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