Chapter 95: Leading a Team Alone

Yu Ping’an’s expression was equally grave.

He cleared his throat and read the telegram aloud.

“Section Chief Dai, relay to Yu, Xie, Ke, and Mao at Hangzhou Xiongzhen Tower.”

“It has been learned that officers within the Hangzhou Garrison Division have colluded with the Japanese. They must be severely punished without exception. Any persons suspected of involvement in the case are to be arrested immediately and escorted to Nanjing. After investigation confirms the facts, all shall be dealt with according to military law.”

“By this order,”

“Chairman of the Military Affairs Commission of the National Government, Chiang Kai-shek.”

Carefully putting away the telegram, Yu Ping’an looked around at everyone.

“The Chairman places great importance on this matter and has granted us discretionary authority. All of you must understand that the greater the authority, the greater the responsibility.”

“Tomorrow’s arrests and subsequent operations must not be botched.”

“If anyone causes problems, the Chairman won’t need to take action. Director Dai will deal with you himself.”

Everyone patted their chests and repeatedly declared that there would absolutely be no mistakes on their side.

As the frontline contributor who had discovered the traces of the Japanese agents, Cheng Qianfan lacked the rank to attend, but Yu Ping’an took good care of him and allowed him to stand guard in the conference room and listen in.

At this moment, after hearing the telegram from Principal Chiang in Nanjing, Cheng Qianfan was secretly shocked.

He truly had not expected this matter to directly alarm the residence of the Nanjing leader.

After reporting to Yu Ping’an, Yu Ping’an had telephoned Director Dai in Nanjing.

Director Dai then telephoned the Attendants’ Office of the leader’s residence.

After Chiang Kai-shek learned of the matter, he instructed the Attendants’ Office to reply to Dai Chunfeng.

Director Dai then sent a reply telegram back to Hangzhou Xiongzhen Tower.

In less than an hour, telegrams had flown back and forth several times before the leader’s instruction finally reached Xiongzhen Tower.

This showed just how seriously Nanjing regarded the matter.

Cheng Qianfan could roughly guess why Nanjing attached such importance to it.

Although the National Government had nominally unified the country, Chairman Chiang’s Central Army actually controlled only provinces such as Henan, Hebei, Anhui, Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangsu, Suiyuan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, and Chahar.

Among them, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai were the National Government’s moneybag.

Zhejiang was also Chairman Chiang’s home province and could not be allowed to fall into danger.

The military, moreover, was regarded by the leader as the unshakable foundation of his rule.

Naturally, Nanjing was extremely vigilant and furious regarding Japanese infiltration of the Hangzhou military.

What Cheng Qianfan did not know was that when Yu Ping’an telephoned Nanjing, Director Dai happened to be accompanying the Chairman at the principal’s residence of the Central Military Academy.

A communications officer accompanying him delivered the telegram from Hangzhou Xiongzhen Tower to Dai Chunfeng.

Dai Chunfeng directly presented it to Principal Chiang.

Chiang Kai-shek flew into a rage and immediately dictated a telegram, sending instructions to Hangzhou Xiongzhen Tower.

Although the Special Service Office had long possessed the authority to monitor the military, many restrictions had limited its actions.

This instruction granted the Special Service Office at Hangzhou Xiongzhen Tower the authority to act first and report later when dealing with military officers.

In particular, the authorization that “mere suspicion is sufficient grounds for arrest” was extremely rare.

As a result, many senior Special Service Office officials, including Yu Ping’an, found it difficult to conceal their delight.

Everyone accepted their orders and departed.

Yu Ping’an beckoned with his hand, and Cheng Qianfan hurried over.

“You discovered this intelligence and understand the situation best,” Yu Ping’an said as he walked. “I have already informed Team Leader Wan and Captain He. You will lead your group in accompanying the operation. You must ensure that this operation proceeds without the slightest mishap.”

“This subordinate understands. Thank you, Director.” Unable to conceal his excitement, Cheng Qianfan immediately stated, “This subordinate will spare no effort in cooperating with Team Leader Wan and Captain He to complete the mission.”

Cheng Qianfan had said cooperate, not obey orders.

Yu Ping’an glanced at him but said nothing.

Cheng Qianfan knew this was Yu Ping’an’s way of taking care of him.

As a trainee who had not yet graduated, being allowed to lead a group independently in an operation and possess a degree of independent authority was an extremely rare opportunity.

If the operation succeeded smoothly, Cheng Qianfan would gain the impressive credential of having independently led a team to complete a mission.

Chiang Kai-shek’s manner of addressing Director Dai as “Section Chief Dai” also made Cheng Qianfan truly realize for the first time how highly the leader of the National Government regarded Director Dai.

“Section Chief” had been Dai Chunfeng’s position three years earlier when he concurrently served as Chief of the Investigation Section of the Nanchang Field Headquarters.

When Chairman Chiang addressed subordinates, he might use their official rank, courtesy name, nickname, or even fraternal terms. The choice depended on the person and the circumstances and followed certain conventions.

To people such as Chen Cheng and Xue Yue, he directly used their courtesy names, calling them Cixiu and Boling.

To people such as He Yingqin and Li Zongren, he added the word “Brother” after their courtesy names, calling them Brother Jingzhi and Brother Delin.

To people such as Li Jishen and Cheng Qian, he added “Mr.” after their courtesy names, calling them Mr. Renchao and Mr. Songyun.

To Bai Chongxi and Liu Fei, he directly used their official titles, calling them Vice Chief Bai and Vice Minister Liu.

To Hu Zongnan, he called him Younger Brother Zongnan.

Only Dai Chunfeng was addressed by the position he had held three years earlier while serving concurrently as Chief of the Investigation Section of the Nanchang Field Headquarters, namely Section Chief Dai.

When a superior addressed a subordinate by a former position, it signified closeness and trust. It marked the person as a confidant.

Cheng Qianfan did not rest in the Xiongzhen Tower dormitory.

That very night, he left Xiongzhen Tower and headed for the safe house where his group was stationed.

Yu Ping’an had created an opportunity for him to earn further merit.

His heart was filled with excitement, but his actions became even more cautious.

“Sir.”

“How are things?”

“No abnormalities. After work, Agent Six went to the Lexiaoyao Nightclub for entertainment. He returned to the hospital dormitory an hour ago and has not gone out since.”

“What about Hengrun Teahouse?”

“Adai took two men to watch it. The telephone hasn’t rung, so there should be nothing unusual there either.”

Cheng Qianfan let out a breath and nodded.

Among the members of this temporary team, Haozai was the one he was most satisfied with.

He handled matters with exceptional care while remaining quick-witted.

“Sir, there’s one matter I haven’t had the chance to report to you yet,” Haozai said.

“What matter?” Cheng Qianfan asked.

At that moment, muffled sobbing sounds came from the inner room.

“What’s going on?”

Cheng Qianfan’s expression changed drastically.

His first thought was that these fellows had failed to behave themselves and had somehow brought in a woman for amusement.

The sheer audacity of it!

“Sir, do you remember the incident where Agent Six prescribed the wrong medicine and caused a patient’s death?” Haozai quickly explained.

“The person inside is?” Cheng Qianfan strode into the inner room and saw a middle-aged man in a long gown tied up there, a cloth stuffed into his mouth. When he saw someone enter, his eyes filled with terror as he whimpered through the gag.

“About half an hour ago, this man was wandering outside the doctor’s dormitory holding a stone and intending to smash a window. This subordinate feared he would ruin things, so I took the liberty of capturing him. I hope you’ll forgive me, sir,” Haozai said cautiously.

“Make him behave himself,” Cheng Qianfan said with a frown.

Haozai jerked his chin.

An agent stepped forward and delivered a round of punches, kicks, and threats to the man.

Sure enough, he became quiet.

“Explain the situation,” Cheng Qianfan said in a deep voice after coming back out of the inner room.

“This man is the elder brother of the patient who died from taking the wrong medicine. He’s a compulsive gambler who forced his own wife to receive clients and earn money. Naturally, she refused no matter what, and eventually jumped into the river,” Haozai said.