My years of espionage

Chapter 2045, Third Round
"Take good care of him." Cheng Qianfan looked at the man in the baseball cap with interest and said to Hou Pingliang.

This man was surprisingly tough; even after being branded with a hot iron, he insisted that he was a member of the Communist Party and that assassinating Cheng Qianfan was an act of eliminating traitors for the country.

More than half an hour later, Hou Pingliang delivered the assassin's confession to the study.

"Brother Fan, the gunman has confessed," Hou Pingliang said.

“Tell me,” Cheng Qianfan said to Hou Pingliang.

"The two gunmen were named Hou Mingyi and Hou Mingtang. They were cousins. The one who was killed was Hou Mingtang."

"Hou Mingyi confessed that he was not a member of the New Fourth Army of the Red Party. He and his cousin were bribed to assassinate you, Brother Fan."

"Bribed?" Cheng Qianfan put down the confession he was reading and looked up at Hou Pingliang. "It says here that Hou Mingyi doesn't know who paid them off."

“Yes, Brother Fan.” Hou Pingliang nodded.

……

“No, this isn’t right.” Cheng Qianfan shook his head, then turned to Haozi, who was listening nearby, and said, “Haozi, do you know what’s wrong?”

"Money," Li Hao said after thinking for a moment. "The confession only mentions in a sentence or two about being bribed to assassinate them. The most important thing is that Hou Mingyi didn't say how much money this person gave them."

“I understand.” Hou Pingliang pondered for a moment and said, “It’s possible that Hou Mingyi knows who the person behind the scenes is, but he hasn’t implicated them because of money.”

“Go and interrogate them again.” Cheng Qianfan nodded and said to the two, “Haozi, go too.”

……

Hou Mingyi was indeed a tough nut to crack. Despite being tortured, he still insisted that he didn't know who was behind the scenes who paid for the hitman.

"Hou Mingyi, I'm asking you one last time." Li Hao looked at Hou Mingyi with a cold gaze. "I'm asking you one last time."

"Don't rush to speak," he said coldly. "If you don't confess honestly, your mother, wife, and children will all go down to the underworld to die with you. Think it through before you speak."

Hou Mingyi was clearly provoked by those words, and he glared at Li Hao.

"Since you've taken this job, you know what we do," Hou Pingliang said from the side. "If we say we'll kill your whole family, then we'll make sure not a single one is missing."

Hou Mingyi fell silent.

Finally, he said, "I'll say it."

Saying those words felt like my soul had been ripped out.

……

"That man repeatedly warned the Hou brothers that if they failed, they must not reveal the person who hired them."

"If we don't take any action within half a month after they were caught, it means they haven't confessed, and someone from Hou Mingyi's family will send them a large sum of money."

“And if they confess, that man threatened to kill their whole family,” Li Hao said.

“One-eyed dragon.” Cheng Qianfan looked at the latest statement. Hou Mingyi only knew that this person’s surname was Zhao and that he was from No. 76 Jisifeier Road. He did not know the person’s true identity.

However, Hou Mingyi mentioned that he was cautious and had secretly followed this person before, and saw him go to see a one-eyed man.

"Who did you think of?" Cheng Qianfan asked Li Hao and Hou Pingliang.

"Qu Yan".

"The one surnamed Qu."

"Yes, Qu Yan," Cheng Qianfan sneered, "Wan Haiyang, Wan Haiyang, you're courting death!"

……

"Brother Fan, what's the next step?" Li Hao asked.

"Pretend nothing happened," Cheng Qianfan said.

"what?"

“Hou Mingyi hasn’t spoken,” Cheng Qianfan said. “He’s been keeping the word that the assassin is a tough nut to crack and hasn’t said a word.”

"understood."

……

The next day.

"Are you alright? I heard you were attacked by an assassin at the train station yesterday," Liu Xia asked Cheng Qianfan with concern as soon as she saw him.

“Two reckless gunmen,” Cheng Qianfan said. “One is dead, and the other has been arrested and is currently being interrogated.”

"Which part did it?" Liu Xia asked.

"The gunman insists he's a member of the Communist Party," Cheng Qianfan said. "The Communists are all tough nuts to crack; he hasn't said a word. Sister Xia, do you think he might be a member of the Communist Party?"

“It’s no news that the Red Party wants to kill you,” Liu Xia said after thinking for a moment. “But why did they do it at this time? And how did they know you came to Nanjing yesterday?”

“Good question, Sister Xia, that’s a great question.” Cheng Qianfan nodded. “I decided to return to Nanjing from Suzhou on short notice. The Red Army doesn’t have eyes and ears everywhere. How did they know I was coming to Nanjing and how did they manage to set up such a precise ambush?”

"So, you suspect it wasn't the Red Party that did it?" Liu Xia said. "Then could it be the Chongqing side?"

“The Red Party wants to kill me, and Chongqing also wants to kill me,” Cheng Qianfan said. “These are the people openly trying to kill me. There are many people secretly trying to kill me, but I don’t know who this time is trying to take my life.”

"Let me know if you need any help when you have the results," Liu Xia said. "I want to see who has the audacity to try and harm Fandi."

“Of course,” Cheng Qianfan said with a smile. “Sister Xia, your reputation is much more useful than mine.”

"loquacious."

……

Cheng Qianfan met Chu Mingyu that afternoon.

"Things have come to this point completely unexpected," Chu Mingyu said, frowning and rubbing his temples.

“With Matsui Hisataro’s support, even Mr. Wang can’t refuse Matsui Hisataro’s request,” he said. “Moreover, objectively speaking, Hang Qixing’s plan is beneficial for further regulating and restricting the power of the Special Agent Headquarters, as well as for integrating the power of the intelligence agencies.”

“Nephew understands.” Cheng Qianfan nodded. “Both publicly and privately, it would be difficult for Mr. Wang to reject Hang Qixing’s proposal.”

"Uncle Chu," he said with a wry smile, "but this will put my intelligence department in a very awkward position."

“I know, I know.” Chu Mingyu nodded repeatedly. “Even if you don’t come to Nanjing, I will call you to come as soon as possible.”

He said to Cheng Qianfan, "This matter is a sudden situation and cannot be changed, but we will make arrangements for you later."

As he spoke, Chu Mingyu glanced at Cheng Qianfan and said, "Mr. Wang also mentioned you, praising you as a loyal and capable pillar of the Party and the country. When Jessfield Road was in chaos, you were willing to go there, which is a demonstration of loyalty. We cannot let loyal and brave people feel disheartened."

……

"Mr. Wang is truly..." Cheng Qianfan's eyes showed emotion, and in the end, all her words were condensed into a single expression of gratitude and concern, "How is Mr. Wang's health?"

“He’s still recovering,” Chu Mingyu said, adding, “Don’t worry, Mr. Wang is recovering very well.”

That means the physical condition is not very optimistic, and the illness may recur.

Cheng Qianfan pondered silently to himself. He understood Chu Mingyu's temperament. Chu Mingyu's addition of "Don't worry, Mr. Wang is recovering very well" actually indicated that Wang Tianhai's recovery was not going well.

……

"Regarding your plans, there are two directions now," Chu Mingyu said, looking at Cheng Qianfan. "I'd like to hear your thoughts."

"Uncle Chu, which one would you like your nephew to choose?" Cheng Qianfan asked immediately.

"Aren't you going to listen to which two options are available first?" Chu Mingyu asked.

“Whichever Uncle Chu needs me to choose, I will go for it!” Cheng Qianfan said.

His tone was firm, and his expression was sincere.

Chu Mingyu looked at Cheng Qianfan with eyes full of satisfaction and appreciation.

"I don't actually have a preference between these two options," Chu Mingyu continued. "As you know, I don't know much about espionage work, and I can't say which one is more suitable for you or has better prospects."

He flicked his cigarette ash and said to Cheng Qianfan, "So, you can think about it carefully and make a choice."

“Nephew understands.” Cheng Qianfan nodded.

……

"The Political Department has an Intelligence Bureau and a Political Security Bureau."

"You should know what the intelligence agency does."

"Let's focus on the Political Security Bureau. Hang Qixing's plan is to establish a First Bureau and a Second Bureau under the Political Security Bureau, with a division of territory and power between the two bureaus."

“The current situation is,” Chu Mingyu said, “you can choose to go to the intelligence bureau and ask Hang Qixing for the position of deputy director of the intelligence bureau. That should still be possible.”

"There is another option: the Political Security Bureau can set up a third bureau, and you can become the director of the third bureau."

After saying that, Chu Mingyu looked at Cheng Qianfan and said, "That's roughly the situation. If you don't understand anything, just ask me."

……

"Uncle Chu," Cheng Qianfan pondered, then asked, "The Intelligence Bureau is a department set up by Minister Hang outside of the Special Agent Headquarters. I'd like to know what Minister Hang's considerations were for the establishment of this Intelligence Bureau?"

"You've hit the nail on the head." Chu Mingyu nodded slightly.

"You know that Hang Qixing was previously at the Military Commission's Northern Jiangsu Headquarters," Chu Mingyu said.

Cheng Qianfan nodded.

“The Intelligence Bureau is essentially starting from scratch. It’s Hang Qixing’s bargaining chip and weapon to suppress and control the Political Security Bureau. He will inevitably choose to give important positions to his own people,” Chu Mingyu said.

He flicked his cigarette ash. "If I'm not mistaken, Hang Qixing will employ the subordinates of the former Military Commission's Northern Jiangsu Headquarters."

"In other words, they are basically all Minister Hang's classmates from the Whampoa Military Academy or people from the Artillery School." Cheng Qianfan pondered and asked.

"You could say that," Chu Mingyu nodded.

……

"Uncle Chu, have you selected the people for the First and Second Bureaus of the Political Security Bureau?" Cheng Qianfan asked. "If I'm not mistaken, it's Xiong Changhua and Wan Haiyang, isn't it?"

"The candidate has indeed been chosen," Chu Mingyu said. "However, you guessed the wrong name."

Cheng Qianfan looked astonished; he was genuinely shocked.

Isn't it Xiong Changhua and Wan Haiyang?

“The director of the First Bureau of the Political Security Bureau is indeed Wan Haiyang,” Chu Mingyu said.

"So there's been an unexpected change in the director of the Second Bureau?" Cheng Qianfan immediately asked.

“That’s right,” Chu Mingyu said, “It’s Hu Yunhe.”

It was Hu Yunhe!

Cheng Qianfan was astonished. This person had defected to No. 76, and compared to Wan Haiyang, he was relatively low-key and did not show off.

However, upon closer examination, Cheng Qianfan discovered that Hu Yunhe's rise to power was not entirely without precedent.

After defecting to the enemy, this person served as the deputy head of the Nanjing district of the Special Agent Headquarters and the head of the intelligence department.

Li Cuiqun's wariness of Su Chende in Nanjing is common knowledge. Under such circumstances, Hu Yunhe's appointment as deputy district head is itself very intriguing.

Two years ago, the Jiangsu branch of the Special Agent Headquarters expanded its organization and was renamed the Jiangsu Experimental Zone. Hu Yunhe got rid of Su Chende and took over as the district head.

In the same year, Hu Yunhe concurrently served as the director of the Second Bureau of the Investigation and Statistics Department of the Military Commission, in charge of intelligence.

This person was first a traitor to the Communist Party and then a traitor to the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics (CBIS), and he was very knowledgeable about both parties.

It can be said that Hu Yunhe is now considered one of the best intelligence workers among the senior executives of the Special Agent Headquarters.

If Wan Haiyang represents the action-oriented figure of the Special Agent Headquarters, then Hu Yunhe represents the intelligence system.

The decision by Nanjing and the Japanese to appoint Wan Haiyang and Hu Yunhe as directors of the First and Second Bureaus of the Political Security Bureau, respectively, was indeed the most appropriate choice at the time.

……

"Uncle Chu, where is Xiong Changhua?" Cheng Qianfan couldn't help but ask.

“He has been assigned to another post,” Chu Mingyu said.

Since Chu Mingyu was unwilling to say more about Xiong Changhua, Cheng Qianfan naturally did not press him further.

"Tell me your thoughts," Chu Mingyu said with a smile, looking at Cheng Qianfan. "You can share any thoughts you have with your uncle."

“Uncle Chu,” Cheng Qianfan said after a moment’s thought, “I’ve chosen the Third Bureau of the Political Security Bureau.”

"Why didn't you choose the deputy director of the intelligence bureau?" Chu Mingyu asked.

The deputy director of the intelligence bureau is half a rank higher than the director of the third bureau of the political security bureau.

In fact, Hang Qixing's division of the Political Security Bureau into the First Bureau and the Second Bureau was a calculated move. The Political Security Bureau no longer had a true director, as its rank was lower than that of the Intelligence Bureau.

"The Intelligence Bureau is a key base built by Minister Hang, and it can be said that all of its members are his trusted subordinates," Cheng Qianfan said without any hesitation. "If my nephew were to go to the Intelligence Bureau, even if he had inexhaustible strength, he would probably get stuck in the mud and wouldn't be able to do anything at all."

"Moreover, I think Minister Hang wouldn't actually welcome me to the intelligence bureau," Cheng Qianfan said.

Chu Mingyu nodded slightly, signaling Cheng Qianfan to continue.

……

“The Political Security Bureau is different,” Cheng Qianfan said. “The Third Bureau of the Political Security Bureau is completely under my control. My nephew has already thought it through and can reorganize the Intelligence Bureau, which is currently being rebuilt, into the Third Bureau.”

"Very good." Chu Mingyu smiled and nodded. "Since you've made your choice, you must do it well and not let me down, and not let Mr. Wang down."

"Yes," Cheng Qianfan replied respectfully. "I will follow Mr. Wang faithfully and strictly carry out any instructions from the Secretary-General."

Chu Mingyu nodded slightly upon hearing this.

Cheng Qianfan preferred the position of director of the Third Bureau of the Political Security Bureau, and he was quite satisfied with it.

This means that the Third Bureau of the Political Security Bureau will be directly under his leadership, and he will have established his own base within the intelligence agency. From now on, he will be able to speak louder than others and eat bigger pieces of meat.

……

"Do you know what's most important to you right now?" Chu Mingyu asked, looking at Cheng Qianfan.

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(End of this chapter)