Tan Zhong Shu was deeply grateful when he heard Chen Han Wen's words. He had come to curry favor with officials, but in Chen Han Wen's mouth, it became an assessment from his superiors. This changed the nature of the situation entirely, having a very positive impact on Tan Zhong Shu's position.
Zheng Jie Min immediately said: "With Han Wen here, Zhong Shu is the director of the Eighth Bureau. Come, let's raise a toast to our junior brother's promotion!"
Zheng Jie Min was a veteran alcoholic, his drinking capacity could be described as bottomless. Chen Han Wen was the same, earning the reputation in the Military Control Commission for "always drinking." Whether it was baijiu, red wine, or beer, he always drank from start to finish, never showing signs of intoxication.
Xu Zhong Yi couldn't hold his liquor, but seeing Zheng Jie Min and Chen Han Wen enjoying themselves, he couldn't refuse to drink either. After a while, he went outside to sober up. When he came back, he was indeed much clearer, but instead of going directly to his seat, he walked up to Chen Han Wen, leaned down and whispered something in his ear.
After listening, Chen Han Wen gestured for Xu Zhong Yi to sit down. He remained seated, raised his wine glass and continued: "Senior, thank you for your hospitality. I'll raise a toast to you, then I'll make the rounds."
"Good!"
Zheng Jie Min raised his glass and continued drinking. After Chen Han Wen finished his round, he signaled Tan Zhong Shu to continue drinking, then got up and went outside.
As soon as he stepped out, he was pulled into the next private room.
It was none other than Dai Li.
Dai Li's eyes were dark as he looked at Chen Han Wen and asked: "Who are you drinking with?"
Chen Han Wen calmly replied: "Old Zheng."
Dai Li's face darkened: "Why are you drinking with him?"
"If I don't drink with him, should I drink with you?"
Chen Han Wen glanced at Dai Li and muttered under his breath: "Little wimp."
“……”
Dai Li's face grew even darker, and he clenched his fist tightly.
If he wasn't weaker than Chen Han Wen, he would have already fought him.
It was common knowledge in the Military Control Commission that Dai Li couldn't hold his liquor. He distinctly remembered that at their graduation party in school, Chen Han Wen had been like a bottomless pit, drinking the entire Sixth Phase under the table. Dai Li was one of the first to fall.
"Alright, alright, it's just a drink with Old Zheng, are you jealous?"
Chen Han Wen looked at Dai Li and said disdainfully: "How are you getting more like a woman as you get older? You're not even a bit decisive."
"Chen Han Wen, you're the woman!"
Dai Li couldn't help but retort. Then he said: "I'm not against you having dinner and drinks with Zheng Jie Min, but it's not the right time. Don't you know he's currently using his connections to seek the position of director of the Military Control Commission?"
"He's trying to get it, but doesn't the old man know who to choose? He's just wasting time."
As he spoke, Chen Han Wen seemed to think of something and turned to Dai Li: "You want to leave?"
“……”
Dai Li sighed and said to Chen Han Wen: "You can see through everything. Yes, I want the position of Commander of the Navy. The Military Control Commission is an intelligence agency, you can't go beyond Major General unless I die and then I can get another promotion on my shoulder."
Chen Han Wen laughed inwardly: You guessed right.
History repeated itself. Dai Li wasn't satisfied with being just a Major General, and after the War of Resistance Against Japan, Chiang Kai-shek also restricted the power of the Military Control Commission. Therefore, Dai Li wanted to leave the Military Control Commission and set his sights on the position of Commander of the Navy. Later, he died in a plane crash. Chiang Kai-shek then gave him the rank of Lieutenant General.
Dai Li's death was a huge boon to the CCP's secret front.
The Military Control Commission was never the same after that, no longer wholeheartedly working against the CCP. Instead, it began to fight among itself.
Chen Han Wen knew that Dai Li's pursuit of the Commander of the Navy position was walking a tightrope. For the sake of the CCP's interests, he also wanted to see Dai Li leave the Military Control Commission. A monolithic Military Control Commission was not what Chen Han Wen wanted.
However, to conceal his true intentions, Chen Han Wen pretended to be concerned for Dai Li: "You're playing with fire by doing this. The Commander of the Navy position is not something you can touch."
"That's true."
Dai Li clearly knew that he wasn't qualified to be Commander of the Navy, but he seemed very confident: "But I have you. When the time comes, you'll come to the Navy with me, and the old man won't be able to say anything."
"I'm not going!"
Chen Han Wen immediately refused, telling Dai Li: "The old man is currently eyeing the two cents in my pocket. If I go to the Navy, he'll make me buy warships, and then I'll have spent the money and the Navy will still not belong to me?"
It was clearly a losing proposition, and Chen Han Wen definitely wouldn't do it!
Even if Chiang Kai-shek came himself, it wouldn't work!
Speaking of which, Chen Han Wen looked at Dai Li: "Old Dai, you're not also eyeing those two cents in my pocket, are you?"
"Hehe."
Dai Li was embarrassed when Chen Han Wen revealed his inner thoughts, he chuckled uncomfortably:
"I don't have much in my pocket, I need Han Wen's help. Don't worry, I won't shortchange you."
"No deal."
Chen Han Wen rolled his eyes and told Dai Li: "Our party's fruits are all being ruined by you lot, the money I have is useful. Don't think about taking a single penny, not from you, and not from the old man."
It was a joke, why had Chen Han Wen saved so much money?
Wasn't it for the postwar layout of his business?
Especially Japan and Australia and Hong Kong, these three territories Chen Han Wen must have. Now, give money to Chiang Kai-shek to buy warships?
Dream on!
Before Dai Li could continue to persuade him, Chen Han Wen immediately said: "Also, I advise you not to have any thoughts about the Commander of the Navy position. Stay put in the Military Control Commission, otherwise, you will anger the old man, and I won't be able to protect you."
Hearing Chen Han Wen's persuasion, Dai Li thought that Chen Han Wen didn't want to pay up, so he didn't take it to heart: "Hmm, I understand, I'll think about it carefully."
Seeing that Dai Li said this, Chen Han Wen guessed that he didn't take it seriously, and Chen Han Wen was happy to see Dai Li seek his own demise.
"I'm going to drink. By the way...keep the director's position of the Eighth Bureau in Shanghai for me. Tan Zhong Shu is a good fit for the director position, you can work on it. If it doesn't work, I'll go to the old man and plead for him."
Hearing Chen Han Wen's words, Dai Li was also helpless.
The Eighth Bureau, which he valued, had been snatched away by Chen Han Wen. Although he was reluctant, he couldn't control him. He could only laugh and say: "Don't worry, as long as you say so, it's yours. Hehe…"
Chen Han Wen was a great Buddha, a money god. Dai Li didn't want to offend him over a mere Eighth Bureau.
What if he wasn't happy in the Military Control Commission and went to the National Government's Central Control Commission?
Wouldn't Chen Li-fu make fun of him to death?
Seeing that Chen Han Wen was about to leave, Dai Li quickly said: "Han Wen, be careful of Song Ziwen recently. He's also eyeing your money. The Americans want to give money to the Nationalist Party, but they don't have collateral. You know what I mean?"
"That dead womanizer Song Ziwen...no one can touch my money!"
Dai Li was overjoyed when he heard this, but Chen Han Wen's next words froze the smile on his face: "Why did you say ‘also’? You want to get some of my money too, you old rascal?”
“ …No, no, we're good brothers, Han Wen. Go have your drinks with Zheng Jie Min, I'll go first.”