Chapter 3: Find this kid a job

  "Yale University?"

  "In New Haven, Connecticut, USA, a very famous university was founded over 200 years ago. Moreover, we have just contacted the US Embassy through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and they reported that Time Magazine did publish some related photos last year, but only in one issue, and at that time they thought it was ordinary civilian casualties, so they didn't pay much attention. However, they have already sent someone to New Haven to prepare for contact with John Magee and others."

  Zheng Jieming's report was quickly sent to Wuhan. At this time, Wuhan was immersed in a very decadent mood... In the battle with the Japanese army, the National Army had occasional victories, but overall, they were defeated one after another, retreating step by step. Everyone from top to bottom had already clearly recognized that: the greater Wuhan might not be able to hold on. Chiang Kai-shek was extremely anxious about this. However, upon hearing Zheng Jieming's relatively affirmative report that the Japanese army may have committed a large-scale massacre in Nanjing and that there may be conclusive evidence of this serious incident, he immediately summoned Dai Li.

  "What else did he say?"

  Nanjing, the capital city, was already a great shame and loss of prestige when it was occupied by the enemy. Now, even the residents of the city are being slaughtered by the Japanese devils. Although he had mentally prepared himself for this, Chiang Kai-shek's heart still couldn't help but throb with pain: What a shame! What a shame! If this were confirmed to be true, would he, as the leader, still have any face left? But this matter must be investigated clearly. At this time, the war situation was unfavorable, and the entire government was filled with a sense of defeat. Moreover, facing the Japanese ferocious attack, many high-ranking officials in the government, such as Wang Jingwei, were already wavering and secretly advocating for the theory that "resistance would lead to national subjugation". If they could expose the Nanjing Massacre and reveal the cruelty of the Japanese at this time, then national sentiment would inevitably surge, and support for continuing the war effort would increase. At the same time, as the victimized party, he could also play some emotional cards in international society, thereby gaining the support of Western societies... In short, this intelligence was a double-edged sword, hurting both others and oneself, but it couldn't be ignored.

  "There's nothing much else. Just a few students think it should be noted." Dai Li replied in a low voice.

  "What point?"

  "Zheng Jiemin said, the man also asked him, 'Has Guangzhou been lost?'"

  Guangzhou?

  "Yes!"

  "Are you saying that person has intelligence that the Japanese may be planning to divide their troops and attack Guangzhou?"

  "Yes!"

  "Traitor!" Chiang Kai-shek suddenly cursed loudly: "I think this man is a Japanese spy."

  "Principal Mingjian!" Dai Li responded solemnly, but then his tone changed, "However, two days ago, Wu Yicheng sent a telegram saying that he had heard rumors that the Japanese might launch an attack on Guangdong... Principal, with Shanghai and Qingdao having fallen into enemy hands one after another, Guangzhou is now our most important port. If we lose it..."

  "You don't understand, this is a Japanese trick!" Chiang Kai-shek sneered coldly, "In order to attack Wuhan, they have already invested more than 300,000 troops... Japan has only a few divisions in total? And yet they want to divide their forces to occupy large areas of land. They are already exhausted. Although our military situation is unfavorable, the layered interception has also caused significant losses to the Japanese army... The battle has been going on until now, although the Japanese have increased their troops several times, their losses are also in the tens of thousands, and they are already at the end of their tether. As long as we hold on, we will definitely be able to keep Wuhan safe. Guangzhou? ... We have a million-strong army in Wuhan, can the Japanese afford to divide their forces? They have already exhausted all their strength and it is impossible for them to withdraw more troops!"

  "The principal is right. It's very likely that the Japanese are putting out a smoke screen to disperse our troops." Dai Li responded.

  "Don't bother with these... Lock that person up and interrogate him thoroughly. See what his background is! He actually dares to use this despicable trick to influence our military deployment, I think he has ulterior motives." Chiang Kai-shek sneered again.

  "Yes, the student will go and let Zheng Jiemin take a look. Only..." Dai Li responded with a sound, but he didn't move, instead taking another step closer to Chiang Kai-shek: "Principal, if the intelligence provided by that person about Nanjing is true after all..."

  "...do you think it's true?" Chiang Kai-shek asked after a moment of consideration.

  "The students think it's very likely." Dai Li replied.

  "That... let's not catch him for now, let's just observe the person first. We'll talk after we have proof!" Chiang Kai-shek said in a deep voice after thinking for a moment.

  "Yes!"

  Dai Li responded with a single word, and secretly shook his head. You're really unlucky. Why can't you just honestly say what you know? Do you have to add another sentence... Now you've really gotten yourself into trouble! The National Army has been losing battles for a long time, and the old man is furious these past few days. Don't you think you're asking for trouble? You don't even consider who you are. Do you think you're Wu Tiecheng? He's at least the governor of Guangdong Province, so it's reasonable for him to report that the Japanese army might attack Guangzhou. Even if he's wrong, there's still a reason for it. But what about you? You suddenly pop up and dare to speak out of turn just because you know some information. If the old man listened to you, what would he become?

  "But what's your background, anyway?" Dai Li left Chiang Kai-shek's office, his brow furrowed in concern: "The Japanese are keeping the Nanjing incident a tight secret, with almost no leaks whatsoever. Even our intelligence agencies have been unable to gather much information despite their best efforts. And yet you not only know that they carried out an organized massacre in Nanjing, but also have relatively specific numbers and can even track down evidence... Who are you? Why did you suddenly reveal yourself to us?"

  "Really?"

  "Really, it looks like!"

  Chongqing, Luojiawan 19th, Zheng Jiemin's office.

  "Director, what does Old Master Dai mean by this?" Xu Yuanju asked after spitting out a mouthful of smoke. He felt somewhat at a loss. As the head of Military Intelligence in Chongqing, his position within the agency was quite high. In current Chongqing, it could be said that he was only under Zheng Jieming, the secretary-general, or the director's secretary. Usually, he could understand Old Master Dai's various orders intuitively, but this time he really didn't get it. What did "looks like" mean? Was it to keep an eye on him? But Old Master Dai had specifically noted in the telegram that they couldn't "detain"! In other words, they had to give that guy a certain amount of freedom while not letting him leave Military Intelligence's surveillance... This matter wasn't difficult, but the telegram also said that they couldn't let that guy have it too easy. If it were usual times, this wouldn't be hard to understand - just monitor without arresting, and occasionally send someone to stir up some trouble. But the problem was, as Old Master Dai's old subordinate, he very clearly understood the other layer of meaning hidden in the telegram: they couldn't take the initiative to provoke the opponent, nor could they instigate people outside Military Intelligence to cause trouble.

  "In my opinion, Boss Dai wants to see who is backing this guy. Just because we can't figure out where the other person came from, we can't tell friend from foe for now, so he's telling us to keep a low profile and not let others find out. What if they turn out to be friends later? It would be embarrassing." Zheng Jiemin pondered.

  "Why can't you just be a bit more polite and give some face?" Xu Yuan asked.

  "How am I supposed to know? Maybe there's another reason." Zheng Jiemin was also baffled. Of course, he didn't know that Dai Li, with his meticulous mind as a top agent, had analyzed Qin Wei's sudden appearance. In Dai Li's view, whoever or whatever organization could gather statistics on the number of compatriots killed in Nanjing must have some background, and might even be a big shot. For example: the Chinese Communist Party underground, the British, Americans, or even the Soviet Union's Comintern... But among these people, the possibility of the CCP was extremely low - those poor devils had just barely established themselves in the north and were busy expanding their territory during the war, how could they have time for this? Besides, even if they got this intelligence, the Communist Party could simply report it through the Eighth Route Army liaison office, no need to go around in circles. Only foreigners, constrained by their international relations with Japan, might possibly do something so secretive... after all, they hadn't yet fallen out with Japan. But who would have thought that Qin Wei would coincidentally touch a sore spot of the old man's... As someone working under him, he couldn't just not show some courtesy, could he?

  "What are we going to do? This task is not easy to accomplish." Xu Yuanji said with a bitter smile.

  "What's so difficult about it?" Zheng Jiemin glanced at him disdainfully, "Just find a more troublesome task and assign it to that guy, isn't that settled?"

  "Is it a bit of trouble?" Xu Yuan couldn't help but smile wryly: "Director Zheng, you make it sound easy, but they're not our subordinates, why should they do things for us? If it were that simple, I wouldn't have come to bother you."

  "Haha, you're wrong about that," Zheng Jiemin said with a smile. "That kid may not be one of our men, but he's really got nothing to do right now... He himself said he can't go back! A pawn that has crossed the river cannot turn its head. Since it's like this, why is it hard for him to join our Military Affairs Bureau? Maybe this is exactly what he wants."

  "Will he do?" Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow, "From my observation, that kid hasn't received any training at all, and can only pretend to be something... Can this guy even join our Military Intelligence?"

  "How do you know he's not pretending to be a fake? I think his background is not simple. Boss Dai probably wants to tie him up first... Alright, let's give him an identity." Zheng Jiemin said.

  "What identity is suitable?"

  "Director Dai helped Xu Zhongqi onto the throne of the Chongqing Municipal Police Bureau, our Military-Uniformed Unit can't just help him for nothing... Let that little brat go into the police bureau with the brothers."

  "Police station?" Xu Yuan thought for a moment, "Then I'll give Xu Zhongqi a call and ask if he has any dirty work that needs to be done!"

  "It can't be too bad either!" Zheng Jiemin added.

  "Understood!" Xu Yuan nodded and walked to the side, picking up the phone and dialing towards the police station. However, soon Zheng Jieming found that his face didn't look too good.

  ……

  "What's wrong?"

  "Xu Zhongqi said the police bureau has no vacant positions and doesn't want our people."

  "Son of a turtle, does he dare to burn his bridges?"

  Zheng Jiemin was furious at once.

  "What should we do?" Xu Yuan also asked in a low voice.

  "How long has Xu been in office? He doesn't want to do it anymore, what can you and I say? Go report to Old Master Dai!" Zheng Jiemin coldly snorted.

  "What about that little guy?" Xu Yuan asked again. The task assigned by Dai Li was not completed yet.

  "Ah... " Zheng Jiemin furrowed his brow and thought carefully again: "Chiang Zhi-cheng mentioned a couple of days ago that the disabled veterans' sanatoriums in several nearby counties are not well-managed..."