Chapter 24: Change Places and Mix

  The investigation by Mao Renfeng lasted for three days. Three days later, he did not reveal any views on the entire surprise attack incident, but instead summarized all the materials and sent them directly to Dai Li in Chongqing. Then, he waited with everyone else for the final decision from Chongqing. During this period, except for Lin Xiaotang and a few others, everyone was shrouded in deep worry, with the instructors and superiors worrying about their own careers, while the trainees worried about the prospects of the training class.

  The wait was brief, and within two days, there was news from Chongqing. Along with Dai Li's order came a man named Bai Qi, the eight-character mustache officer who had previously poached Lin Xiaotang and others from the 57th Division. Bai Qi was the head of the International Section under the Military Affairs Bureau of the Military Intelligence Bureau, which Lin Xiaotang had learned about earlier from Shen Zui.

  Bai Qi announced Dai Li's decision on handling the matter: Since the Linli training class has been exposed, in order to avoid the enemy's agents from raiding and infiltrating again, it was decided to relocate the training class to the vicinity of the Military Bureau's headquarters in Chongqing's Luojia Bay, while reducing the scale of the training class. Some students with outstanding performance will graduate immediately and take up their posts, while the rest of the students will follow the relocation of the training class to Chongqing for further study.

  Deputy Director of the Training Department was succeeded by Tao Yishan, Yu Lesheng was reassigned as Director of the Teaching Affairs Office, but still in charge of daily affairs of the Training Department. Wang Xiang, Director of the General Affairs Office, was removed from office and temporarily replaced by Shen Zui. Xie Ligong remained as Chief Instructor. In addition, a batch of instructors and cadres of the Training Department were also transferred out, and the list of new instructors and cadres is to be determined.

  As for Pei Zhongwei's matter, it wasn't even mentioned.

  Thus, a brutal raid was turned over lightly and cleverly.

  The decision was announced, and the auditorium immediately erupted into a flurry of discussion. Yu Le Xing felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders, but his expression remained unchanged. Shen Zui, on the other hand, couldn't contain his excitement. Zheng Jie Min's Guangdong faction had completely lost its influence and control over the training class after this incident.

  After the meeting, Shen Zui found Lin Xiaotang and asked him to go to Yu Le Xing's office. This made Lin Xiaotang very surprised, as if he had smelled a conspiracy, although his heart was nervous, but he still went with a stiff upper lip.

  Yu Le Xing's office has not changed, previously some informed students said that the new deputy director Tao Yi Shan and Dai Li are just nominal in the training class, so the actual master of the training class is still Yu Le Xing. Except for his official duties, Yu Le Xing emerged unscathed from this storm.

  As she walked into the office, Lin Xiaotang was taken aback to see Mao Renfeng, Yu Leixing and Bai Qi all sitting inside. Shen Zui led Lin Xiaotang into the office, turned around and was about to leave when Mao Renfeng called out to him, asking him to sit down. Lin Xiaotang glanced sideways and inadvertently saw a hint of joy in Shen Zui's eyes that he couldn't conceal.

  The purpose of several big brothers in the training class who came to Lin Xiaotang was very simple. Lin Xiaotang can no longer stay here.

  Actually, Lin Xiaotang had a premonition long ago. After Mao Renfeng talked to him, he vaguely felt that he might have to leave the training class. The reason is simple: Lin Xiaotang was without backing in the Military Commission, just a small soldier, and because of the surprise attack incident, he offended high-ranking officials at the Ministry of National Defense. Moreover, due to the handling decision brought by Bai Qi, he also unknowingly offended Zheng Jieming, the second-in-command of the Military Commission. How easy would it be for him to continue to muddle along safely?

  Maoren Feng and Yule Xing saw Lin Xiaotang's expression unchanged, and they were also very surprised. The first thought was that this young man's psychological quality was very strong.

  Lin Xiaotang paused for a moment, looked up and stared at the several big shots, "May I ask what arrangements do you have for me next?"

  Ma Renfeng straightened his body, withdrew his gaze which had been full of interest, and smiled as he said: "The top is planning to send you to Shanghai."

  Lin Xiaotang raised an eyebrow, "Oh?"

  "At present, the party and state are in need of people, coupled with your outstanding performance in the training class, this is why they want to send you to Shanghai."

  Maoren Feng finished speaking and exchanged a quick glance with Yu Le Xing before waiting quietly for Lin Xiaotang's response.

  Unexpectedly, Lin Xiaotang did not think and immediately stood up, saluting the several big shots, "Your subordinate obeys!"

  Maoren Feng, Yu Le Xing including Shen Zui were all stunned, only Bai Qi was still drinking tea slowly and lazily looking at Lin Xiaotang, with occasional flashes of sharp light in his eyes.

  Yu Le woke up with a start and remained stunned for a while, before saying after a long time: "Don't you need to think about it some more? Shanghai is currently an enemy-occupied zone, sending you there means you'll be carrying out covert missions, the danger is self-evident, are you really willing?"

  Shen easily seized the opportunity to interject, making eye contact with Lin Xiaotang while saying: "You don't have to mind what the superior thinks. This kind of mission should first ask for your personal willingness. If you're not willing to go, it's not like we can't discuss it. Don't feel any pressure, just speak the truth!"

  Maoren Feng coughed a few times, turned his head and glared at Shen Zui fiercely. Although Shen Zui was close to Maoren Feng, he immediately realized that he had misspoken and awkwardly lowered his head. His intention was to keep Lin Xiaotang by his side, relying on his connections in the Military Bureau, plus Lin Xiaotang's intelligence and abilities, as long as they operated properly, it wouldn't take a few years to rival Tang Zong and Zheng Jieming, he really didn't want to let such a talented person slip away from him.

  Lin Xiaotang looked at Shen Zui with gratitude, immediately straightened his back and replied loudly: "Thank you for the kindness of all the officials, but my humble opinion is just that. I came to Hunan from Nanjing, originally intending to participate in **, kill the enemy and report to the country, which was also the purpose of my joining the Military Commission later." Lin Xiaotang suddenly chuckled and scratched his head, pretending to be embarrassed, "If I really let me stay in the office in the rear, I'm afraid I wouldn't get used to it!"

  Maoren Feng burst out laughing and stood up, walking around from behind the table to pat Lin Xiaotang's shoulder, saying to Yu Le Xing: "Brother Bingyan, look at this! This is the true nature of our Military Intelligence elite!"

  Yu Le woke up with a smile and nodded in agreement, but Shen Zui's face was somewhat unnatural.

  "Alright, young man, don't worry. Our field missions are all planned and executed by Director Dai, so safety is guaranteed. You've just graduated, and they won't assign you anything too difficult. Just stay in Shanghai, lay low, and wait for further instructions. Take the opportunity to experience the international metropolis. I'll also put in a good word for you with Station Chief Wang Tianmu at the Shanghai station. He's a veteran of Military Intelligence, follow him closely and learn from him, and you'll have no problem rising through the ranks!"

  After Lin Xiaotang left, Yu Le Xing made an excuse to leave with Shen Zui and returned to Shen Zui's office. Yu Le Xing quickly locked the door and looked at Shen Zui with a mixture of anger and annoyance on his face. "Are you crazy? How could you make a move in front of Mao Renfeng?"

  Shen's face was filled with grievance, "Elder brother-in-law, wasn't I thinking for our benefit? We finally managed to get out of this situation cleanly, and Zheng Jiemin's people were also kicked out of the training class. This is exactly the perfect opportunity for us to make a big move! And you saw Lin Xiaotang too, he's the leader of those fugitive students, they'll follow him wherever he goes. If we can recruit him, he'll definitely be our powerful ally in the future. Moreover, he and my elder brother are sworn brothers, such a person can't be let go!"

  "You don't understand anything!" Yu Le Xing's saliva splashed onto Shen Zui's face, "You're a small person with big ambitions. I've long seen that you're not someone who is easy to deal with. Please think carefully, why did the boss completely clean out Zheng Jie Min's people this time? Why didn't Tang Zong take the opportunity to arrange for someone to be in charge? And what about Mao Ren Feng, has he interfered with the training class even once in all these days? The investigation has yielded results, and they've even sent someone specially to deliver the materials back to Chongqing. What's going on?"

  Shen said no more, for he was an intelligent man and had instantly grasped the unusual meaning behind Yu Yue's words. Yes, Zheng Jieming's men had been purged, so why hadn't Tang Zong and Mao Renfeng taken the opportunity to plant their own people? It was because Dai Li was consolidating his power and wanted to keep the core members of the training class firmly in his grasp. At this point, whoever tried to take control of the training class would only end up worse off.

  Shen Zui suddenly broke out in a cold sweat. The Yu Le Xing in front of him was his brother-in-law, originally from *** who had defected and escaped, so he was always cautious in his daily dealings. Shen Zui had benefited from his recommendation to join the Military Commission and become Dai Li's confidant. Usually, Shen Zui looked down on this relative who was always timid and fearful, but at this moment, Shen Zui couldn't help but admire Yu Le Xing's meticulous thinking and deep strategic planning.

  Yu Le Xing's subtle reminder to Shen Zui was that Lin Xiao Tang was introduced into the training class by Yuan Gong, which surprised Shen Zui greatly. He couldn't help but feel a little resentful towards Lin Xiao Tang, wondering why he had never mentioned such a deep background before.

  Yu Le woke up to see his thoughts, "Alright, don't blame that kid either. I think he still doesn't understand how he got into the Military Unity. Bai Qi is here too, probably at Yong Gong's behest. I guess there are things to arrange for him. Didn't you see that Bai Qi didn't say a word from start to finish? So, in the future, tone down your sharpness and try to keep a low profile, got it? That Lin Xiaotang is a clever person, do you think he can be kept just because you want to?"

  At night, Lin Xiaotang brought two bottles of wine and a bag of peanuts, called Da Tou and Xiao Pi to Yun Nong di, and briefly told them about the meeting with the superior today.

  Dahou's eyes lit up after listening, "Lao Qi, you're going to Shanghai? You must take me with you, I'm a Shanghainese!"

  Lin Xiaotang took a sip from the wine bottle and handed it to Da Tou, "What's this? You also want to change your surroundings like me?"

  Dahou took a big gulp of wine and handed the bottle to Xiaopi, "That's it, staying in this training class is almost suffocating me to death. If it weren't for you two insisting on coming, I'd rather die than come here!"

  Xiao Pi took over the wine bottle, his eyes dodging slightly, he took a sip of wine and coughed uncontrollably.

  Lin Xiaotang smiled and patted his shoulder, "Alright, I and Da Tou are lone wolves, no strings attached, wherever we go is home. You're different, your family is still in Chongqing, this time you can go back and reunite with them. We're brothers, no need to say more nonsense, listen to me, just stay in the Military Bureau and do well, Shen Instructor also appreciates you, in the future when you become an official, it'll be good for us two."

  Xiao Pi's eyes suddenly became moist, looking at Lin Xiaotang and Da Tou, he rushed up to hug them tightly, shouting in a crying tone: "You two listen to me, you must live well, if you really can't make it, don't try to hold on, just come to Chongqing to find me, I'll support you!"

  Lin Xiaotang and Da Tou laughed and pushed Xiao Pi away, "Get out, you dead husband!" The three of them tussled and laughed together.