Chapter 390: Passing on Information

The Bureau of Investigation and Statistics.

Qin Shuangcheng took the interrogation results and walked into Mao Renfeng's office:

"Bureau Chief, he has confessed."

"Quick, quick!" Mao Renfeng beckoned.

Qin Shuangcheng handed him a piece of paper, on which an address was written: No. 26 Quanzhou Road, Wanbei.

"Chen Da has confessed that Old Zheng is indeed their person in charge.

"Bureau Chief, this is a big fish."

He hurriedly sought credit.

"Well done, you may go down first." Mao Renfeng waved his hand.

After Qin Shuangcheng retreated, Mao Wanli said with a face full of joy: "Big Brother, we can execute the plan.

"In the past, we wiped out a Red nest on Shida West Road.

"I will go arrange for someone to 'sell' it to Hong Zhiyou."

Mao Renfeng waved his hand, changing the plan on the spot: "No! That won't achieve the effect of striking at Jianfeng.

"Doesn't he revere Hong Zhiyou as a sharp sword?

"Like this, you pick a small fish.

"Let Chen Da sell it to Hong Zhiyou.

"Once they discover that after lurking for so long, they only caught a small fry, while we have captured Old Zheng, let's see where his Data Group will hide their faces."

"Understood, I will go find Chen Da right now." Mao Wanli accepted the order happily.

Arriving at the interrogation room.

Chen Da was covered in blood, and a thick layer of white ants was crawling all over him; even though Mao Wanli was always cruel, seeing this scene still made his skin crawl.

"Chen Da, you have already confessed Old Zheng's address.

"Selling one is selling.

"Why not be thorough?

"Those who work underground, even if we let you go back, you will never be trusted again in this life.

"Your faith will only bring you suspicion, poverty, and pain.

"Defect to us, and not only can you avoid physical suffering, but I can also arrange an official position and a house for you, and introduce you to beautiful female clerks from the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics.

"How about it?"

Mao Wanli laid out the conditions.

Chen Da's endurance had reached its limit at this moment.

Especially since he had already given up the address, the discipline he had strictly guarded was like a floodgate that had been opened, impossible to block any longer.

His teeth chattered violently, and he said tremblingly: "I, I will cooperate."

"Good.

"Old Qin, clean him up." Mao Wanli ordered.

Soon, Qin Shuangcheng brought a bucket of gasoline, and after some scrubbing, scraped away the ants.

The shocking wounds all over Chen Da's body, now under the erosion and gnawing of the ants, were red and swollen, especially where some muscle fibers had become pus-filled and blistered; it was simply too horrible to look at.

"Tsk tsk.

"You people are just stubborn; you were going to surrender sooner or later, why suffer this ordeal?" Mao Wanli clicked his tongue and laughed.

Chen Da lowered his head and remained silent.

"Remember this address well; in a moment, a section chief from the Data Group will come to interrogate you.

"You just report this to him, understand?"

Mao Wanli instructed.

"Understood." Chen Da nodded gloomily.

Hong Zhiyou walked into the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics building.

Mao Renfeng personally led the section chiefs of the Bureau to welcome him in the lobby.

"Oh my, Zhiyou is truly young and promising.

"I originally thought Shen Zui was promoted fast enough.

"I didn't expect there to be a capable official like you in the world, Brother; I admire you, I admire you.

"From today on, you and I are of equal rank, so I should call you Major General Hong, Section Chief Hong."

A very cordial smile hung on Mao Renfeng's slightly chubby face, as if the two were old friends of many years.

"Bureau Chief Mao is too kind.

"Zhiyou just has a bit of good luck; I hope for your guidance in the future." Hong Zhiyou said politely.

"Being able to share a meal with the Chairman is something many people dream of.

"This isn't just having good luck.

"It is simply receiving great favor from above.

"Jianfeng and the Ministry of National Defense have already greeted me, knowing you were coming to set up a station; I had people work overnight to clear out the entire third floor and transfer it to you, Section Chief Hong can arrange it as you please." Mao Renfeng said while walking.

"Good.

"Thank you, Bureau Chief Mao." Hong Zhiyou smiled.

"Hey, why be so polite.

"We are all working for the Party and the State, we should naturally work with one heart." Mao Renfeng squinted and smiled.

"By the way, I have a meeting at the Ministry of National Defense.

"Arrange things yourself; if you need help, just go directly to Section Chief Ye."

Saying this, he looked at Ye Xiangzhi, blinked slightly, and ordered sternly:

"Section Chief Ye, the matter of taking care of Section Chief Hong is left to you; you must not be negligent."

"Don't worry, Bureau Chief." Ye Xiangzhi's eyes sharpened, and he replied in a deep voice.

"Section Chief Hong, then I shall take my leave first." After Mao Renfeng finished speaking, he walked away arrogantly with his hands behind his back, followed by his entourage.

"Brother Ye, please."

Hong Zhiyou raised his hand.

Ye Xiangzhi kept a poker face and followed Hong Zhiyou to the third floor without much emotion.

Seeing there were no outsiders around, he let out a breath, massaged his cheeks which were sore from tension, and said:

"Finally, I don't have to pretend anymore.

"Brother, congratulations; I have been a field officer for so many years, and you have come to Wandao for only a few months and successfully jumped three ranks from Major, suddenly becoming a general officer; you've surpassed my entire life."

Ye Xiangzhi said with an envious smile.

"Brother Ye, do you think it's my good luck, or is it due to my ability?" Hong Zhiyou pushed open an office door at random, and dust billowed out.

This Mao Renfeng was full of lies; the third floor hadn't been used at all.

This floor didn't even know how many years of dust had settled.

"Of course it is due to ability." Ye Xiangzhi flattered.

"Ability?

"Do you believe that?

"I am just a businessman; in terms of professional capability, you are one of the four ace assassins of the Military Statistics Bureau, and you have achieved far more merit than I have.

"The reason I was promoted was never because of my skills.

"But rather... because I followed the right person!"

Hong Zhiyou walked to the largest office at the end of the corridor and pushed the door open.

Ye Xiangzhi's heart stirred, "Please enlighten me, Brother."

"From the first moment I saw you in Jingling, I knew we could be friends.

"There are many people in the Military Statistics Bureau with your ability.

"But most of them don't understand politics.

"Brother, who can't see now that the Chairman is impatient to help Jianfeng ascend to the top?

"First it was the Data Group.

"In a while, it will be the Director of the General Political Department of the Ministry of National Defense.

"Yet Mao Renfeng still fantasizes about competing with Jianfeng for the intelligence system; isn't this like throwing an egg against a rock?

"I am telling you this because I find you and me to be on the same wavelength.

"Don't blame your brother for not reminding you if you lose your head one day."

Hong Zhiyou opened the window and said with a cold smile.

"Teach me, Brother Hong." Ye Xiangzhi looked around and his face changed drastically.

"Only by following Comrade Jianfeng is your only way out for the future." Hong Zhiyou said.

"To be honest, I also know that following the Smiling Tiger to the end won't lead to a good outcome, but I have no connections." Ye Xiangzhi said quite helplessly.

"Didn't I just come?

"Jianfeng appreciates you very much; if you are willing, from today on, you are a member of the Data Group." Hong Zhiyou said.

"That's great, I will go report in a while." Ye Xiangzhi was overjoyed.

Water flows to lower ground, and people strive for higher positions.

If he were capable of getting into the Data Division, would he still need to watch Mao Renfeng's expression?

"No rush.

"You work for me first.

"Your mission is to go undercover, stay by Mao Renfeng's side, steal core secrets, and secretly assist me," Hong Zhiyou said.

"Understood.

"How should I behave? Mao Renfeng is skilled in psychology and the art of reading people; I'm afraid I won't be able to deceive him," Ye Xiangzhi said in a low voice.

"You don't need to do anything.

"You don't need to appear hateful toward me, nor do you need to be too cooperative.

"Just act as you would normally toward an ordinary person."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"Understood," Ye Xiangzhi nodded.

"Find some people to clean up the third floor; my people will be working here from now on."

Hong Zhiyou gave the order and then left.

As soon as he left, Ye Xiangzhi turned and went to Mao Renfeng's office.

"How was it? Did Hong Zhiyou go to the interrogation room?" Mao Renfeng asked.

"No, he went home, saying that since he'd luckily gotten a holiday, he wanted to take a good day of rest.

"However, the cleaners I arranged are already in place and have started tidying up.

"Also, I've already had people prepare listening devices; once the rooms are cleaned, I'll have them installed."

Ye Xiangzhi said.

"He didn't go to the interrogation room?

"This kid really doesn't play by the rules," Mao Renfeng stroked his chin, feeling a bit unable to fathom him.

"Bureau Chief, forget him. If he gets annoying, I'll find someone to strap a bomb under his car. The Dazhu Gang has a grudge against him anyway, so we can just pin it on the gang leaders," Ye Xiangzhi said viciously.

"Don't be impulsive.

"Hong Zhiyou is the Old Man's favorite right now; if you touch him, it will cause big trouble," Mao Renfeng patted his shoulder, feeling relieved in his heart.

Gu Zhengwen and Ye Xiangzhi were the few remaining trump cards in the intelligence system.

They were his own Qin Qiong and Yuchi Gong.

Jiang Jianfeng only had one Hong Zhiyou; he might be okay at business, but as for intelligence and espionage, he was likely just a showpiece.

Otherwise, anyone else would have gone to find Chen Da to get the intelligence firsthand.

If he doesn't even understand that, how can Hong Zhiyou play against him?

"Where has he gone now?" Mao Renfeng asked.

"He drove away. Should I find someone to tail him immediately?" Ye Xiangzhi said.

"Like this: he surely can't manage many things since he came to the Confidentiality Bureau. Use this opportunity to get closer to him and secretly monitor Hong Zhiyou's movements," Mao Renfeng thought for a moment and said.

"Understood," Ye Xiangzhi said.

At the same time.

Ministry of National Defense, an office.

Kuang Fuchun, the former Secretary-General of the Ministry of National Defense, closed the office door and quickly picked up the phone to dial a number:

"It's me.

"Chen Da has been arrested; be careful lately."

With that simple sentence, he quickly hung up the phone.

Kuang Fuchun was calling Chai Qian.

He was not a Red Ticket.

He was one of the high-ranking officials of the Party-State that Chai Qian often boasted about and built connections with.

Occasionally, everyone would drink, have a gathering, and brag.

When the Red Ticket army eventually arrived, Kuang Fuchun could transform himself and become "one of their own" under Chai Qian's guarantee.

In the upper echelons of the Party-State, there were many such people.

To put it bluntly, they were fence-sitters and opportunists.

Hong Zhiyou soon returned to the station.

Cleaners and decorators.

And a large batch of custom furniture.

Clang, clang—they hammered and tapped on the third floor for over ten days, decorating the entire third floor beautifully.

And Chen Da seemed to have been forgotten by Hong Zhiyou.

The reason Hong Zhiyou did this was purely to break Mao Renfeng's strategy.

The enemy wanted to throw a fast punch.

He would play slow Tai Chi.

Furthermore, the first time he saw Mao Renfeng at the bureau, from the arrogance that couldn't be hidden in his eyes, Hong Zhiyou knew that Qin Shuangcheng had likely already obtained Chen Da's confession.

Then he didn't need to rush; he would just watch Mao Renfeng from the shadows.

The longer it dragged on, the more mistakes the opponent would make.

He could then strike only after the enemy had struck.

There was one more thing: the first batch of grain and loans had arrived, and he had managed to score another meal with the Chairman.

With the friendship of two meals, Jiang Jianfeng now treated Hong Zhiyou like a brother and trusted him immensely.

After handing over this workload, he almost never asked about it again.

This gave Hong Zhiyou enough time and means to get things done.

Morning.

Hong Zhiyou's Action Division officially moved into the Confidentiality Bureau to carry out supervision and coordination.

The first thing was to appoint his staff.

Inside the luxurious office.

Wu Jingzhong walked in with his hands behind his back, looking around in surprise: "Tsk tsk, you, a Major General, are more imposing than me."

"Teacher, this office is yours," Hong Zhiyou said.

"Mine?" Wu Jingzhong was very surprised.

"I have already applied for you to be transferred here as the Inspector of the Action Division to assist me in capturing Old Zheng.

"Division Chief Yu will be the Chief of the Law Enforcement Section of the Action Division.

"Sun Xing will be the Action Team Leader.

"You all can just treat the third floor as a smaller version of the Jinhai Station."

Hong Zhiyou laughed.

"Then, what about the Wanbei Station?" Wu Jingzhong said.

"Teacher, for the Wanbei Station, I would like to invite Wang Puchen to serve as the acting Deputy Station Chief to handle daily affairs for you," Hong Zhiyou said.

"Station Chief Wang?

"He is indeed a shrewd man, but he is Mao Renfeng's confidant; I'm afraid he might ruin things," Yu Zecheng brewed some tea, walked over, and reminded him.

"He won't.

"I know Wang Puchen; this person is the best at assessing the situation. He is very smooth in his conduct and work, and he has plenty of methods.

"He was given the cold shoulder by Mao Renfeng this time he returned.

"The Confidentiality Bureau headquarters even made him attend ideological training, and he even asked me to pass letters to Bureau Chief Mao and Jiang Jianfeng, but in the end, he only got a sinecure.

"After this incident, he has likely seen through Mao Renfeng.

"Having him act in the position is quite appropriate."

Wu Jingzhong nodded and said.

"Teacher, appointing you here was also Jiang Jianfeng's idea.

"Once we get familiar with the Confidentiality Bureau, you might be able to get a lateral transfer later to replace Mao Renfeng.

"Furthermore, the operations and intelligence of the Wanbei Station are mostly controlled by headquarters.

"Even if you hold the concurrent post of Inspector, working here won't affect your control over the Wanbei Station,"

Hong Zhiyou said.

"Bureau Chief of the Confidentiality Bureau? I won't think about that. I just hope this old bag of bones can return to Xiangdao safely, and I'll be satisfied," Wu Jingzhong said in a low voice with his hands behind his back.

Although he said that, he turned around and sat down in the leather office chair.

Both Yu and Hong could see it.

Even though the teacher said he didn't care, it was obvious that the position of Bureau Chief had tempted him.

After all, he was someone who had followed Dai Li.

Who wouldn't want to sit in the boss's chair?

"Let's talk business."

"From what we can see, Chen Da remains in custody, and Mao Renfeng's people have been searching for Old Zheng, but there is no trace of him."

"Logically speaking, such a secret operation should not have failed."

"In my opinion, it is highly likely that someone leaked the news."

Hong Zhiyou analyzed.

"As the primary person in charge of the Red Tickets on Wandao, it is not strange for Old Zheng to know a few high-ranking officials," Wu Jingzhong nodded.

"Do you have any ideas for the arrest?"

"Jiang Jianfeng is waiting for a report on our success; if there is no progress, it will be hard to explain."

He asked.

"I heard that Chai Qian is very fond of steak, Old Yu, you can go stake out a Western restaurant," Hong Zhiyou thought for a moment and said.

"At a time like this, he still dares to go to a Western restaurant?"

Yu Zecheng had the illusion that his intelligence was being rubbed into the ground.

"The desire for food, to you, is insignificant."

"But to some people, it is just like beauty or money—it makes them unable to extricate themselves, so it cannot be underestimated," Wu Jingzhong sneered.

"Fine, I will immediately go and deploy the men," Yu Zecheng avoided his sharp gaze and nodded in a deep voice.

"Mao Renfeng must have gathered quite a bit of intelligence."

"How have they arranged it?"

Wu Jingzhong needed to know the overall current situation.

"That guy is very cunning."

"He has scattered people like Gu Zhengwen and Ye Xiangzhi, distributing them in many places to stake out."

"Therefore, even Jiang Jianfeng cannot secretly receive effective information from Gu or Ye."

"But what is certain is that one of those spots must be Old Zheng's residence."

"However, it is not difficult to distinguish."

"Perhaps I need to look at the duty logs of the surveillance points."

Hong Zhiyou had a flash of inspiration and immediately had an idea.

If he remembered correctly, in history, Chai Qian not only liked eating steak but also had a beloved sister-in-law, and one who could not be separated from him even for a moment, even in prison.

As long as he flipped through the duty logs, he could find the exact address.

And this situation was something Mao Renfeng might not know, or perhaps would not consider important; with his own authority as an inspector, there was no reason for him to hide it.

"Hmm, the two of you go handle it; I am going to meet Renchu. If you want to invite someone to come out of retirement, you cannot do it without some sincerity," Wu Jingzhong instructed.

"Let's go, let's go see Chen Da first."

Hong Zhiyou stood up and said.

(End of chapter)