Chapter 123: Summoned for Another Audience (I)

Ning Zhiheng and Wei Liangbi arrived at the office of Operations Division Chief Zhao Ziliang. Just as they were about to knock, the door opened, and Zhao emerged alongside Deputy Chief Xiang Yan.

"Well now, the two of you showing up together? What’s the situation? Have you unearthed another Japanese spy? If so, I’ll have to put in for another commendation for you both!" Zhao Ziliang had been in high spirits lately and couldn't help but tease them.

He held the two protégés in high regard. Both were young, promising, shrewd, and capable, and as fellow graduates of the Whampoa Military Academy, they had a solid foundation. In his eyes, they were talents worthy of cultivation with bright futures ahead.

The case of the "Shadow" spy cell two months prior had been a massive success for the Operations Division. It had allowed Zhao Ziliang to hold his head high before Intelligence Division Chief Gu Zhengqi. In several high-level meetings, he had mocked Gu, asking what the point of the Intelligence Division was if they were inferior to the Operations Division in both intelligence gathering and field operations. That had left Gu fuming and humiliated on more than one occasion, yet he had no rebuttal, as the Operations Division had delivered the most textbook-perfect case in the history of the Military Intelligence Investigation Bureau. Lately, Gu had been going out of his way to avoid Zhao just to escape the relentless mockery.

"You really are a master of strategy, sir. How did you know?" Wei Liangbi asked, stunned. He wondered if someone had tipped off the Chief, though he himself only understood the case in fragments.

Seeing the change in Wei’s expression, Zhao felt a flicker of surprise; he had only been joking, but Wei’s reaction suggested he might have guessed correctly.

Xiang Yan, standing to the side, was a sharp man. His interest was piqued, and he smiled, "Did we actually guess right? Is it important? The Chief and I were just heading to report to the Director about the plan to purge subversive elements."

Wei Liangbi quickly replied, "It is very important. We have discovered a Japanese spy lurking within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs—he is a department head in the Planning Office."

"What?" Zhao Ziliang frowned, lowering his voice. "Is the information confirmed?"

"We have already captured one of his subordinates, who identified him. We need higher-level authorization to proceed with verifying his identity," Ning Zhiheng interjected solemnly.

Zhao nodded. This was a grave matter, especially involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where officials were notoriously difficult to investigate.

"Then let’s go together. We’ll report this to the Director in person," Zhao said with a wave of his hand.

Wei and Ning exchanged a glance, nodded, and the four men headed quickly toward the central office building.

They reached the Director’s office, knocked, and were ushered into the side lounge by the secretary. The secretary then knocked on the inner office door.

"Director, Chief Zhao and his team are here."

"Show them in," came the Director’s deep voice.

The secretary opened the door and gestured for them to enter. The four men walked in, and the secretary closed the door behind them.

Inside the spacious office, the Director was in conversation with the two heads of the Intelligence Division, Gu Zhengqi and Bian Ze. He looked surprised to see the four men enter.

The Director had summoned the leaders of the Operations Division to discuss the purge of subversive elements and had brought in the heads of the Intelligence Division to ensure cooperation. It was a high-level meeting, and he hadn't expected to see Wei Liangbi and Ning Zhiheng.

The Director was also very fond of the two disciples. He had personally pinned their medals at the victory ceremony and even made a special appearance at their celebration banquet to show his favor.

He gestured toward Wei and Ning, teasing Zhao, "Well, bringing your protégés along? Are you in such a hurry to step down and let them take over?"

Zhao Ziliang chuckled, "With their talent, I’ll likely be handing them the reins within two years!"

Gu Zhengqi, the Intelligence Division Chief, found Zhao increasingly insufferable. He had been avoiding him to escape his taunts, but now he was stuck in the same room. Deciding to strike first, he said, "Chief Zhao, this is a meeting between our two divisions. Isn't it a bit inappropriate to bring them along?"

Zhao, holding the psychological advantage, ignored him entirely and turned to the Director. "Director, I brought them because they have uncovered a case that requires your attention. They have identified a department head at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a Japanese spy and need authorization to verify his identity."

"Such a thing?"

"Another Japanese spy?"

The Director and Gu Zhengqi were both stunned. The "Shadow" cell case from two months ago was still fresh in everyone’s minds. It had brought great prestige to the Bureau, and the Generalissimo himself had praised the Bureau’s capabilities on several occasions. To discover another spy—and a Ministry official at that—within just two months was a matter of extreme importance.

The Director sat up straight and looked at Wei Liangbi, "Tell me, what is the situation?"

Wei immediately pointed to Ning Zhiheng. "I only know the basics. Zhiheng handled the legwork, so I brought him to report."

"Oh?" The Director and the two Intelligence chiefs turned their gaze to Ning Zhiheng. "It’s Zhiheng again! Tell us the details; we are all ears."

Ning Zhiheng stepped forward, bowed slightly to the Director and the four chiefs, and began. "Ten days ago, my informants picked up a lead. A local pickpocket stole a large sum of cash and two precious jade pieces from a residence. We caught the thief, but during the follow-up investigation, we discovered that the victim, rather than reporting the theft to the police, vacated the property the very next day, cleaned it thoroughly, and vanished."

"That’s an attempt to cover one's tracks! The victim is either hiding something, or the stolen goods were illicit," Gu Zhengqi said, proving his worth as a veteran agent.

"Exactly, Chief Gu. I thought the same. My team reported this to me four days ago. After further interrogation of the thief, I recovered the items and realized the jade pieces were unique ornaments and tokens of Japanese nobility. I concluded the victim was Japanese, and likely of high status."

"This is vital information! We must focus all our strength on finding him. Do you have any leads?" Gu asked immediately. A Japanese aristocrat hiding in the city was clearly a spy of high importance.

"We found him yesterday morning," Ning replied. "He is using the cover identity of Tian Liqun, a section editor at the Minsheng News Agency. He is currently under our surveillance."

"You found him already?" asked Bian Ze, the Deputy Chief of the Intelligence Division, who had been silent until now. He was ostensibly asking out of curiosity, but in reality, he was skillfully giving Ning a chance to shine before the Director. He knew how difficult it was to track down a hidden spy in a city of millions.

Bian Ze felt a debt of gratitude to Ning for killing the spy "Snow Wolf" who had murdered thirteen of his men, and he had promised to repay him. This was his subtle way of elevating Ning.

Ning Zhiheng replied, "I have enjoyed drawing since childhood, especially portraiture. Based on descriptions from his landlord and neighbors, I sketched his likeness. I then determined his patrol area and deployed a large team to stake it out. Yesterday morning, we spotted the target and had the landlord confirm his identity. We have established surveillance points at his workplace and his residence. Captain Shao Wenguang is in command, with nearly twenty men monitoring him around the clock."

Everyone in the room nodded in approval. Ning’s operational capability and efficiency were truly impressive.

"So, this suspected Japanese aristocrat is already under your control?" Gu Zhengqi felt a complex mix of emotions. He was pleased that another spy had been caught, but frustrated that it was the work of Zhao Ziliang’s men rather than his own. He decided he would continue to avoid Zhao to save face.

"Yes. Captain Shao Wenguang is a seasoned operative who led the tracking of the 'Snow Wolf' and discovered the 'Black Sparrow' of the Shadow cell. His skills are beyond doubt, so with him leading the surveillance, there is no risk of the target slipping away."