Yu Hua Tai, a very high-end restaurant, but to avoid being photographed by reporters, it had a relatively hidden back door specifically for the high-ranking officials of the mountain city. Cars could pass through the back door directly to the courtyard.
Two very inconspicuous cars were parked in the Military Control Headquarters’ General Affairs Department. They were not official license plates but private cars prepared for Chen Han Wen. The expenses were not covered by the bureau’s funds. Instead, they were purchased by Xu Zhong Yi in the name of the Zhong Yi Trading Company.
When Xu Zhong Yi drove to the back door of Yu Hua Tai, Zheng Jie Min’s car was already waiting inside. Like Chen Han Wen, his car also had a private license plate, but Xu Zhong Yi recognized the owner of the car at a glance.
“Qi Pei Lin from the Intelligence Department?”
Xu Zhong Yi muttered this in his heart and did not say it directly. Instead, he told Chen Han Wen, “Chief, Director Zheng has arrived.”
Chen Han Wen glanced at the car in front of him and said, “Qi Pei Lin’s car?”
Xu Zhong Yi nodded and immediately told Chen Han Wen about Qi Pei Lin’s information: “Yes, it’s him. Qi Pei Lin from the Hangzhou training class, also a veteran in our Military Control Headquarters. However, he is from the same hometown as Director Zheng, so he is not heavily used, but his abilities are unquestionable.”
That should be right then.
The majority of the personnel in Tan Zhong Shu’s Military Intelligence Eighth Bureau were those familiar to Chen Han Wen: Tan Zhong Shu, Liu Xin Jie, Shen Ming Zheng, Qi Pei Lin, Sun Da Pu... These individuals would remain the backbone of the Eighth Bureau.
Chen Han Wen appeared calm on the surface but was secretly delighted. These individuals either had deep backgrounds or were loyal to Tan Zhong Shu. They were indeed capable, but the interests of the party were not the most important thing in their hearts.
Loyalty was.
“Okay, let’s go up. After all, Lao Zheng is the Deputy Director, it’s not appropriate to make him wait too long.”
After saying this, Chen Han Wen opened the car door and got out. Xu Zhong Yi followed immediately.
Liu Xin Jie understood what was going on and looked at Tan Zhong Shu with worry in his eyes.
It seemed that many people had their eyes on this piece of the pie to integrate the intelligence agencies in Shanghai.
Tan Zhong Shu saw Liu Xin Jie’s worry and smiled, shaking his head to reassure him.
He had worked in Shanghai for many years, with connections and personnel there. As long as he could ascend to the position of Director of the Eighth Bureau with Chen Han Wen’s help, no matter who came, he could control them.
Moreover, even if someone wanted to cause him trouble, they would have to consider the weight of Chen Han Wen, who had put him on the path to becoming Director!
“Get out, let’s eat!”
Tan Zhong Shu and Liu Xin Jie got out of the car, with Xu Zhong Yi leading the way. Under the guidance of the waiter, they walked towards the private room where Zheng Jie Min was.
Inside the private room, Zheng Jie Min was doing psychological work on his confidant Qi Pei Lin: “Chen Han Wen is a veteran. Many people have received his favors. He should have immense power but is not someone who is keen on power. Dai Li could only sit firmly in his seat because of him. Don’t worry about our relationship. As long as Chen Han Wen is willing to use you, Dai Li will not say anything.”
“Understood, Director.”
Qi Pei Lin was still the same as before, holding a cigarette in his hand and saying respectfully, “Please rest assured, Pei Lin will always be your loyal supporter. No matter where I am, as long as you need me, I will go through fire and water without hesitation.”
Zheng Jie Min was pleased to hear Qi Pei Lin’s words, but he still spoke in a tone of instruction: “You’re good in everything, but you’re too sentimental. That’s not good. It won’t help your career.”
Qi Pei Lin smiled and echoed, “Without your help, how could Pei Lin have achieved what he has today? Loyalty is always my top priority in my heart.”
While they were chatting, Xu Zhong Yi pushed open the door and said in a low voice, bowing his head, “Director Zheng, good evening.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Han Wen’s voice came from behind: “Old senior, Han Wen is late.”
Zheng Jie Min was a student of the Huangpu Military Academy, Class Two, while Chen Han Wen was from Class Six.
Moreover, today’s gathering was a private one, so it was appropriate for Chen Han Wen to call him “senior”.
Chen Han Wen walked in, and a radiant smile immediately appeared on Zheng Jie Min’s face: “No, no, it’s me, your senior, who came early. After all, I’m the host today. I’m the one who is out of line by letting you come first, Han Wen.”
Qi Pei Lin also quickly stood up and said respectfully, “Chief Chen.”
Chen Han Wen already knew that Zheng Jie Min had brought Qi Pei Lin today. He pretended to be surprised and said, “I was wondering who my senior brought. It’s Pei Lin!”
He then said to Zheng Jie Min, “Senior, Pei Lin is a master, a hidden intelligence expert in the Intelligence Department.”
Being praised by Chen Han Wen, Zheng Jie Min was already flushed before even taking a sip of alcohol: “Haha, to be recognized by you, Chen Han Wen, if I were to be more humble, it would mean I don’t acknowledge your judgment. From now on, Pei Lin will be working under you. If he does anything wrong, feel free to hit him, scold him, whatever.”
“No, no, senior, let’s sit down and chat. By the way, I’ll introduce you to two of our Huangpu classmates.”
Zheng Jie Min, being the host, sat in the main seat. Qi Pei Lin sat next to him as the co-host. Chen Han Wen and Tan Zhong Shu sat on Zheng Jie Min’s left and right as the main guest and co-guest, respectively. Xu Zhong Yi and Liu Xin Jie sat on the sides of Chen Han Wen and Tan Zhong Shu, respectively.
Qi Pei Lin called for the waiter to serve the dishes, and he stood up to pour the wine. Xu Zhong Yi and Liu Xin Jie tried to be polite, but Qi Pei Lin stopped them.
Zheng Jie Min was a distinguished guest, and the manager of Yu Hua Tai knew how to read the situation. After Qi Pei Lin finished pouring wine for everyone and the dishes were served, Zheng Jie Min had a round of drinks. Only then did Chen Han Wen start introducing Tan Zhong Shu and Liu Xin Jie to him.
“Senior, Tan Zhong Shu and Liu Xin Jie are students of the Huangpu Military Academy, Class Seven, our juniors.”
After Chen Han Wen finished, he added, “They were soldiers before. They joined our Military Control Headquarters after the Changde Campaign. When I returned to Shanghai, it was he who took over my position there.”
“Tan Zhong Shu? I know you.”
Zheng Jie Min, of course, didn’t know Tan Zhong Shu, but after listening to Chen Han Wen’s introduction, he pretended to have known Tan Zhong Shu’s name for a long time and said to him, “In the Changde Campaign, you were a soldier in General Yu Cheng Wan’s 57th Division?”
Tan Zhong Shu immediately stood up and looked straight ahead: “Reporting to Director Zheng, I was indeed the battalion commander of the 169th Regiment in the 57th Division. But we didn’t have time to break out with the division commander. Xin Jie and I were pulled out of the pile of corpses by the locals.”
Mentioning the Changde Campaign, mentioning the 57th Division, Zheng Jie Min also sighed: “The 57th Division, the elite force! Come, let’s have a drink, to the brothers of the 57th Division!”
Tan Zhong Shu naturally dared not be neglectful. He picked up his wine glass and drained it in one gulp.
Zheng Jie Min pulled Tan Zhong Shu back down and then asked Chen Han Wen, “Zhong Shu is a member of our Military Control Headquarters. Is he still working in Shanghai?”
Chen Han Wen did not hide anything and told Zheng Jie Min, “Yes, isn’t Boss Dai going to integrate the Military Control Headquarters in Shanghai? He wants to establish a separate intelligence department, the Eighth Bureau. Zhong Shu is familiar with the situation in Shanghai, so he was called over for questioning.”