Chapter 3: Joining the Intelligence Division

Two days later, through the arrangements made by Dai Li, Song Yingge obtained the status of a police officer at the Sixth Police Bureau and, upon his recommendation, entered the Special Police Training Class at the Central Police Academy.

The Central Police Academy was established in 1936, with Chairman Chiang serving concurrently as its president and Li Shizhen serving as the dean of education. To vie for control over the academy, Dai Li initiated the formation of the School Affairs Committee. Li Shizhen was merely a committee member, while Dai Li held the position of chairman. The Special Police Training Class was also established with Dai Li's support, intended specifically for training secret agents, with study terms ranging from two months to one year. Song Yingge’s cohort was slated for exactly two months.

During the training period, Song Yingge did not hide his talents. He wanted to climb to a higher position as quickly as possible to gain access to more classified intelligence. His outstanding performance drew attention, and after graduating with top honors in all subjects, he became a target for recruitment by various departments of the Secret Service. Putting aside his university degree and training record, his connection to Dai Li alone was enough to make departments eager to bring him into their ranks.

At the Caodu Lane office of Dai Li:

"Tell me, which department do you want to join?" Dai Li asked.

Song Yingge stood at attention, offered a military salute, and said, "I will obey the arrangements of my superiors."

Two months of training had added a touch of military discipline to Song Yingge's demeanor. Dai Li was very satisfied with this and said deliberately, "Then go to the General Affairs Section and handle the logistics well."

"Yes, I will obey the boss's arrangements." Song Yingge stood at attention and saluted, then wore an expression of reluctance. "Are you really sending me to General Affairs?"

"Aren't you supposed to obey orders? What, are you planning to defy military orders?" Dai Li asked with a straight face.

"Yes, yes, I obey orders." Song Yingge said, pulling a gift box from his coat, handing it to Dai Li, and opening it eagerly. "I noticed you’ve been using that fountain pen for a long time, sir, so I bought you a new one."

"This must have cost a pretty penny, hasn't it? You've learned how to butter me up quite quickly." Dai Li took it and saw it was a name brand. It was a Parker pen, retailing for fifteen dollars, equivalent to nearly fifty yuan in legal tender. Song Yingge’s current monthly salary was twenty yuan; a single pen was worth more than two months of his pay. Of course, fifty yuan meant little to Dai Li; what he cared about was the gesture.

"This is just a sign of my filial respect for you, sir. How could it be considered buttering you up?" Song Yingge replied.

Dai Li accepted the pen and said, "Speak up, which department do you really want?"

"The Intelligence Section!" Song Yingge said decisively.

The Intelligence Section was the core of the Secret Service, not only providing access to vast amounts of intelligence but also offering the easiest path to merit. As a deep-cover operative, this was Song Yingge's top choice.

"I heard you received top marks in intelligence analysis during your final exams?" Dai Li asked.

"Yes!" Song Yingge replied.

Dai Li stroked the pen and pondered for a moment. "Fine, I will grant your wish." With that, Dai Li made a phone call, and a man walked in shortly after.

The man was of medium build with a genial smile; it was Wei Si, the Chief of the Intelligence Section, a graduate of the second class of Whampoa with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

"Chief!" Song Yingge saluted.

Wei Si first saluted Dai Li before turning to Song Yingge. "Not bad, a fine-looking young man, and a Zhejiang University graduate to boot. I hear your training scores were top-tier in every subject?"

"Reporting to the Chief, training is one thing, but actual field operations are another," Song Yingge replied.

"Good, neither arrogant nor impatient. Boss, this is a promising talent; leave him to me to train," Wei Si said.

The Intelligence Section was a key asset that Dai Li had to keep under his control. If Wei Si were not a trusted confidant, he would not have been able to hold the position of Chief. Dai Li’s fondness for Song Yingge was undisguised. As long as Wei Si was not foolish, he would naturally take special care of him.

"I’m leaving him in your hands; you must train him well," Dai Li said.

Wei Si hurried to pat his chest in assurance. "Training him well" had two meanings: one was to cultivate his skills, and the other was to ensure his personal safety. If a man were injured, missing an arm or a leg, how could that be considered "well-trained"?

Subsequently, under Wei Si's arrangement, Song Yingge became a member of the First Group of the Intelligence Section. The Intelligence Section was divided into three groups, each with one team leader, one deputy leader, and a dozen to twenty members. The leader of the First Group, where Song Yingge was assigned, was Zhou Weiqiang, who had interrogated him during the screening process. Song Yingge had not forgotten the grudge of the lash he had received back then.

Besides the Intelligence Section, the Action Section was another important department of the Secret Service. Although the two sections were theoretically on equal footing in the organizational structure, the Intelligence Section usually took the lead in actual operations, leaving the dirty and exhausting work to the Action Section.

Having left home in August, it had been over two months. Song Yingge had officially joined the Intelligence Section, and the first step of his infiltration mission could be considered successfully completed. But what excited Song Yingge even more than the successful infiltration was the news that the Long March, spanning twenty-five thousand miles, had been declared a victory with the successful meeting of the three armies. Although he was aware of the historical trend, he could not help but feel moved when the moment finally arrived.

That evening, Zhou Weiqiang hosted a banquet at the Changsheng Restaurant in Xinjiekou to welcome Song Yingge. About twenty people sat at two tables. Once the dishes were served, Zhou Weiqiang stood up, raised his glass, and said, "Today, our First Group is gathered here to welcome Song Yingge. I hope that in the future, we will all work together in unity to serve the Party and the State!"

Everyone stood up, raised their glasses, and downed them in one gulp. After Zhou Weiqiang proposed the first toast, the others followed in a more casual manner.

Song Yingge stood up, holding a wine pot in his left hand and a glass in his right.

"Team leader, as a newcomer, I hope you will be lenient if I make any mistakes in my future work." Song Yingge poured a drink for Zhou Weiqiang and downed it after speaking. "This second cup is also for you. I am deeply grateful for your hospitality today." Two cups finished. "This third cup is to honor your hard work and dedication to the Party and the State. I admire you greatly and will strive to follow your example in the future." The third cup went down his throat.

"Good! A fine man with a good capacity for liquor," Zhou Weiqiang praised, then finished his own glass.

After toasting Zhou Weiqiang, Song Yingge toasted the deputy leader, Wang Zhen, and every other team member without missing a single one. By the end of the round, he had consumed nearly a pound of white spirits, yet Song Yingge’s face remained composed, his breath steady, and he showed no sign of intoxication. He then proceeded to the second and third rounds. After this drinking session, he had effectively won over the members of the First Group.

Finally, Zhou Weiqiang paid the bill, totaling thirty-one yuan. While the Changsheng Restaurant could not compare to the Jinling Hotel or the Fuchang Hotel, it was still a well-known establishment in Nanjing, and the prices were naturally quite high.

The next day, upon officially starting work, the first thing Song Yingge did was head to Zhou Weiqiang’s office.

"Team leader, have you had breakfast?" Song Yingge asked, holding a bag of breakfast food.

Zhou Weiqiang naturally saw the food in his hand and said with a smile, "Then I suppose I’ll have a little."

As Zhou Weiqiang ate, Song Yingge chatted with him. Seeing that he had finished, he pulled a small gift box from his coat.

"Team leader, a friend gave me a watch two days ago, but I already have one. If you don't mind, please take it." Song Yingge opened the box to reveal a brand-new IWC watch.

Zhou Weiqiang picked up the watch and examined it. "Who gives a gift to their superior on their very first day of work?"

"Team leader, it really was a gift from a friend," Song Yingge insisted.

"I think you’re just making up a friend," Zhou Weiqiang teased, though he accepted the watch regardless.

"Coincidentally, there’s an intelligence lead from yesterday. Go keep an eye on it; treat it as practice." Zhou Weiqiang called in a team member. It was Sun Xi, who had previously monitored Song Yingge.

Sun Xi entered, saluted, and waited for instructions.

"There is an intelligence lead here. Take Song Yingge with you to look into it. You’re a veteran member, so I won’t say much else. I’ll only emphasize one thing: safety first." Zhou Weiqiang said this to Sun Xi, but he handed the file regarding the lead to Song Yingge.

The meaning was clear: Song Yingge was to lead, and Sun Xi was to assist. Sun Xi had no objections to this.