April 1945, Chongqing.
Song Xiao An, Chief of the Third Division, Internal Affairs, of the KMT Military Unification Bureau, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, was known as the "Little Zhuge of the Military Unification Bureau" because of his Buddhist faith and his exceptional talent for strategic planning and meticulous calculations.
At that moment, he was tense, listening to the occasional shouts coming from Director Dai's office, causing beads of sweat to constantly drip from his forehead.
He held a set of Buddhist beads in his hand, constantly twisting them: "Commander Ming Cheng, you've really gotten me into trouble."
He wasn't praying for promotion or wealth at this time, only for not being shot.
Dai Li, Deputy Director of the Military Commission's Investigation and Statistics Bureau, with the rank of Major General, was the actual controller of the Military Unification Bureau. He was furious, looking at Chen Han Wen and pointing with one hand on his waist and a handkerchief in the other: "Who told you to go to Shanghai and kill people? The headquarters of the 76th Bureau was blown to smithereens by you. Li Shi Qun died, and Ding Mo Cun was seriously injured by your attack. If he hadn't been lucky, he would have been sent to heaven by you. What do you want? Did I not tell you that we're not enemies with the 76th Bureau? The Communists in Shaanxi are, and the New Fourth Army..."
Chen Han Wen sat on the sofa, as if not hearing Dai Li's reprimands. When he saw the water boiling, he picked up the teapot and started brewing tea.
Chen Han Wen, courtesy name Ming Cheng, held the rank of Major General and was the Chief of the Military Unification Bureau's General Affairs Division.
Brewing, rinsing, filtering... he went through the entire process of making gongfu tea in a calm and orderly manner. Dai Li acted as if he didn't see it, continuing to berate Chen Han Wen: "When the Principal heard about it, he went ballistic, cursing and swearing, and said he wanted to see you. I quickly pleaded with the Principal. If it weren't for me, you'd be in the Principal's office getting lectured right now."
Finally, Chen Han Wen spoke: "Lecture me, I've been lectured before."
Hearing Chen Han Wen's words, Dai Li couldn't help but sigh in relief. He sat down on the sofa, still pointing at Chen Han Wen and scolding him: "The Principal is in a bad mood now, can't you stop making him angry?"
Chen Han Wen acted as if he didn't hear. He poured the clear tea into the cup and placed it on the table in front of Dai Li, looking at him impatiently and saying, "It was me. You tell me what to do about it."
Hearing Chen Han Wen's words, Dai Li knew he was angry.
It was true. Chen Han Wen had just returned to Chongqing from Shanghai, and he was called into Dai Li's office and scolded for half an hour.
With his personality, it was indeed difficult for him to listen to half an hour of scolding.
"The impact of this incident is huge. The Principal is very angry, and Chen Cheng is adding fuel to the fire. The Principal said that you must be punished severely and there will be no cover-up!"
Dai Li wanted to tell Chen Han Wen about Chang Kai Shek's punishment, but the words got stuck in his throat. After a moment's thought, he revealed the inevitable: "You won't be able to keep your Major General rank, it'll be revoked."
Chen Han Wen didn't care: "Whatever."
"Your salary... will be docked for half a year."
"I don't mind."
As the Chief of the General Affairs Division, Chen Han Wen was responsible for the procurement of supplies for the Military Unification Bureau's headquarters and the review of the eight major divisions, the Internal Affairs Department, and the field trips. His position was quite lucrative.
Chen Han Wen didn't rely on his salary to live. Whether it was docked or not wouldn't affect his income.
Besides, he had Dai Li. If he ran out of money, he could just ask him for some.
Seeing that Chen Han Wen accepted the first two punishments, Dai Li hesitated whether to tell him the last one: " ...also, you'll be confined, for half a month!"
"?"
Chen Han Wen put down his teacup, tilted his head and looked at Dai Li: "How long?"
"Half... Ming Cheng, this is after I reasoned with the Principal."
Seeing Chen Han Wen question him, Dai Li quickly sat down beside him and explained: "The Principal said that the incident is too serious, and confining you for less than half a year won't appease the Japanese anger. I reasoned with him and managed to reduce it to half a month."
Chen Han Wen immediately stood up: "I'm going to see the old man. I blew up the 76th Bureau. Shouldn't I be getting some public support for this? Why does he want to confine me for half a year?"
Seeing that Chen Han Wen was about to go find Chang Kai Shek, Dai Li hurriedly pulled him back: "Alright, alright, stop giving the Principal a headache. You know that the Japanese are being bombed back to their homeland by American warships. They don't want to fight us anymore. Now we're joining forces to fight the Communists. You've indeed gained more public support for the Principal by doing this. But he wants to be president, and he can't rely solely on public opinion, can he?"
Seeing that Chen Han Wen wasn't buying this, he thought for a moment and said: "Half a month... is indeed too long, huh? Like this, go to the confinement room for three days, go there before work and leave after work, okay?"
Chen Han Wen thought for a moment and felt that this time was about right, so he no longer objected: "Alright, I'll go to confinement."
After saying that, Chen Han Wen took the tea leaves from Dai Li's table and walked out. Dai Li didn't mind at all, instead shouting at Chen Han Wen's back: "When you go to the confinement room, today doesn't count."
As the words fell, Chen Han Wen had already opened the door and walked out.
"This guy..."
Dai Li shook his head and smiled bitterly. Thinking of how the Principal was both laughing and scolding Chen Han Wen, he couldn't help but sigh: "He's the guy who saved the old man's life twice. The half-year salary deduction thing just went away. In the entire KMT, who else could enjoy such privilege?"
Chen Han Wen was a troublemaker, but even if he blew the sky apart, Dai Li wouldn't let him leave the Military Unification Bureau. After all, Chen Han Wen was a hot commodity in the entire KMT. If Chen Han Wen hadn't been in the same class as him, both in Huangpu Military Academy's Sixth Phase, and a very good friend, he wouldn't have been able to pull him into the Military Unification Bureau.
With Chen Han Wen in the Military Unification Bureau, Dai Li's position as "Director Dai" was as secure as Mount Tai.
He lifted his wrist and checked the time. He walked to the corner and turned on the radio, tuned to the channel, went back to his seat, took out a bottle of Black Label whiskey, poured himself a drink, and began waiting for the top commander's speech.
At nine thirty, Chang Kai Shek's voice came from the radio: "...In order to crush the arrogance of the Japanese invaders, our forces, Chen Han Wen and Song Xiao An, infiltrated Shanghai and bombed the 76th building on Sifei Road, Shanghai, eliminating XXX traitors from the 76th Bureau, including Li Shi Qun, Zhang Cheng Zhao... This location was a den of the Japanese invaders where they harmed our anti-Japanese progressives. Destroying it is to avenge the anti-Japanese progressives who were sacrificed..."
He spoke for over ten minutes, with only one message: I, Chang Kai Shek, am fully responsible for blowing up the 76th Bureau.
As for Chen Han Wen acting without orders...
Let's not let the people know about this. It would hinder Chang Kai Shek's continued gain in public support.
...
Chen Han Wen left Dai Li's office, and Song Xiao An immediately greeted him: "Commander, what did Director Dai say?"
Chen Han Wen said nonchalantly, "Six months of salary docked, three days of confinement."
"..."
Song Xiao An heard Chen Han Wen's words and couldn't help but twitch his mouth. Those outside might not know, but how could those in the Military Unification Bureau not know? Right now, Dai Li is plotting in-depth cooperation with the Wang Puppet government in Shanghai and Nanjing. Chen Han Wen blowing up the 76th Bureau is practically equivalent to ripping the heavens apart.
If it were anyone else, they would have been shot eighteen times over. Yet Chen Han Wen simply got a light six months of salary docked and three days of confinement.
This treatment... really, there's no one like him.