Espionage: I became sworn brothers with Zheng Yaoxian at the beginning, and became the Seventh Broth

Chapter 168 Fourth-Class Yunhui Medal

Two days later, at the office of Villa No. 1, Honggongci.

Ye Shaohong was bending over the desk, processing the documents in his hands.

A telephone rang.

Ye Shaohong picked up the phone casually, and as soon as he announced his name, the words coming from the earpiece immediately brought a smile to his face.

The commendation order for the Japanese spy assassination team has been issued.

Unfortunately.

Ye Shaohong failed to be promoted this time, which was exactly what he had expected.

Ye Shaohong wasn't too disappointed. This was the reality of the times. Unlike the later stages of the War of Resistance against Japan, when the Nationalist government's military rank system was on the verge of collapse, and ranks such as colonel and even general could be offered up at will.

In early 1937, the Nationalist government's military rank system was still very rigorous.

To be promoted, one needs to have made great contributions, meet the required years of suspension, and be approved by the Military Affairs Department of the Military Commission before being promoted.

At the same time, there is a distinction between military ranks that are officially conferred and those that are actually conferred.

Field-grade officers of this era could definitely be considered the backbone of the Nationalist government's army.

Take Zheng Yaoxian for example. He joined the Special Service Department at the end of 1932 and after four years of struggle, he has only just been promoted to major.

Ye Shaohong has only been in the Special Service for a short time.

It's only been three months, and he's already a captain in the military department, about to be promoted to lieutenant. It's simply impossible for him to advance to the rank of colonel in such a short time.

After all, at this time, Dai Yunong's full title was only Colonel Director of the Second Division of the Bureau of Survey and Statistics, and Lieutenant Colonel.

Ye Shaohong's qualifications are too shallow. Even if someone above him wants to help him, they have to be careful.

Despite not being able to be promoted in rank, and having made significant contributions this time, the Military Command decided to award Ye Shaohong a Fourth-Class Yunhui Medal.

The Fourth Class Order of the Cloud Banner is the highest medal that a lieutenant-level officer can receive.

Therefore, Ye Shaohong was very satisfied.

However, he wasn't promoted, but his subordinates were.

Thanks to his merit in eliminating a Japanese spy assassination squad, Li Yunlong, who had only been with the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics for a little over a month, received a promotion ahead of schedule.

He was promoted from second lieutenant to first lieutenant. Finally, he was worthy of his current captain's position.

This small promotion and award ceremony was held in a small conference room in the second building.

The ceremony was presided over by Xu Baichuan.

In addition to Zheng Yaoxian, the two section chiefs of the Political Section and the International Section of the Second Division were also present at the meeting.

Group leaders Song Xiaoan and Zhao Jianzhi also participated.

The Fourth-Class Yunhui Medal was personally pinned on Ye Shaohong by Xu Baichuan. At that moment, everyone, including Zheng Yaoxian, looked at Ye Shaohong with envy in their eyes.

This is absolutely an honor.

Nationwide, there are very few people who can receive the Fourth-Class Yunhui Medal while still a junior officer.

Therefore, at the end of the awarding ceremony, everyone applauded in celebration.

Li Yunlong's promotion ceremony was much simpler. Xu Baichuan didn't even do it himself; Zheng Yaoxian changed his rank first.

Even so, Li Yunlong was overjoyed. He was very pleased with himself. After the ceremony, as soon as Xu Baichuan, Zheng Yaoxian and other high-ranking officials left, Li Yunlong took the initiative to propose to hold a promotion banquet that night.

I want Ye Shaohong, Song Xiaoan, Zhao Jianzhi and others to attend the banquet together.

Both Song Xiaoan and Zhao Jianzhi found reasons to refuse.

Ye Shaohong originally didn't want to get involved in this mess, but now Li Yunlong can be considered his capable subordinate.

Song Xiaoan and Zhao Jianzhi could disregard Li Yunlong's feelings, and Li Yunlong couldn't find fault with them. But Ye Shaohong couldn't refuse; if he didn't go, it would be difficult for Li Yunlong to lead his troops in the future.

So after thinking it over, Ye Shaohong agreed.

Li Yunlong was very happy. He had a bright smile on his face and thanked Ye Shaohong repeatedly. Then he went out with a smug look on his face. Judging from his appearance, he should be going to prepare for the promotion banquet.

Ye Shaohong went back to his office by himself.

Not long after, there was a knock on his office door.

The person who came in was Zhuang Yifan.

Today happens to be the third day, which is also the last day that Ye Shaohong and Zhuang Yifan agreed upon.

Ye Shaohong originally thought that Zhuang Yifan would come over in the evening.

It's ahead of schedule now.

Seeing Zhuang Yifan stride into the room, Ye Shaohong raised an eyebrow, his expression showing a hint of anticipation.

"Dongfang Hui confessed?"

"Hit it!"

As Zhuang Yifan approached, Ye Shaohong was surprised to find that, unlike when they met a few days ago, Zhuang Yifan was pale, listless, and his eyes were bloodshot.

Occasionally, when his gaze flashed, a fierce glint could be seen.

This scene caught Ye Shaohong's eye, causing him to immediately frown.

"How long have you not slept?"

"Two days and two nights!"

Zhuang Yifan forced a smile, his lips already cracked and bleeding, and pulled at the corners of his mouth.

"Confused!"

"You haven't slept for two days and two nights, and the case has been solved. So why aren't you sleeping? What are you doing here? Are you trying to burn yourself out?"

This result was unexpected for Ye Shaohong, and he was genuinely annoyed. He was both impressed by Zhuang Yifan's desperate efforts and resentful of his recklessness.

"We can't sleep. Dongfang Hui has confessed, but there are still three Japanese spies we haven't captured."

"Team leader, this is the interrogation record. Take a look. If there are no problems, I would like to request an immediate arrest."

Zhuang Yifan's words surprised Ye Shaohong slightly.

He is not the kind of person who clings to power.

From the very beginning of his tenure, Ye Shaohong delegated the authority to arrest people to his team leaders.

It was precisely because of this that Li Yunlong dared to lead his men out to arrest people after obtaining a confession from Chizuru Uesugi.

But what's wrong with Zhuang Yifan today? He actually needs to ask him for permission?

Could it be that?

Ye Shaohong's mind raced, and he immediately took the interrogation transcript from Zhuang Yifan's hand. He frowned and flipped through it for a while, finally finding the root of the problem.

"The head of the Equipment Section of the Ministry of Police?"

"Wow, it's a big fish."

"No wonder Dongfang Hui refused to confess even at the cost of her life. It turns out that their intelligence team members had already been planted in the core institutions of the Nationalist government."

"This kind of person can't be allowed to live. You want to arrest him...?"

At this point, Ye Shaohong paused again. He looked at Zhuang Yifan's pale face and bloodshot eyes, and finally couldn't help but offer a word of advice.

"How about... you go find a place to sleep? There's no rush to arrest this person. I can arrange for someone to monitor him first."

"It's not too late to arrest him after you've rested."

"Anyway, this credit is yours, and no one can take it away from you."

Ye Shaohong meant well; he didn't want to see his capable subordinate, Zhuang Yifan, ruin his health because of this case.

The results of it?

Zhuang Yifan simply shook his head.

"Team leader, let me lead the team myself. This is the first case I've personally supervised since joining the Special Service Department."

"I want to see things through to the end, otherwise I'm afraid I'll regret it when I get old..."