Chapter 33: The Top-Secret Mission

"Principal, I have almost finished investigating that person's identity," Dai Yunong said as he finally met with the old man after waiting three hours in the attendant's room. His first words made the old man furrow his brows.

"Finished is finished. What do you mean, 'almost finished'?"

"Principal, the situation is this: I have confirmed his identity, but I don't yet have conclusive evidence."

The old man's eyes lit up. "Then hurry and find solid proof. If you really can't, then use your Military Intelligence methods."

"Principal, his identity is somewhat special, so it's not easy for me to use those methods."

"Special? He's a foreigner?" The old man asked, puzzled.

"No, Principal, he's not a foreigner. He's actually a distant relative of yours, so after confirming his information, I came to ask for your instructions."

The old man's eyes widened in surprise. "A distant relative of mine!"

"Yes, Principal. Here is his portrait and dossier," Dai Yunong said, handing over the files and picture.

Curious, the old man took the documents, glanced at the portrait of Li Wensheng, set it aside, and began reading through the dossier.

After a while, the old man finished reading, frowning deeply as he pondered. It took him some time to suddenly realize, "Ah, it's him. I remember now—he's from my grandaunt's line. I once heard that I had a cousin, a learned scholar, but we never kept in touch. I didn't expect he had already passed away."

After his sigh, the old man felt troubled. The dossier stated that Li Wensheng was the sole survivor of his grandaunt's branch; everyone else had either died of illness or been killed by the enemy. Li Wensheng was the only remaining bloodline of his grandaunt, making him the old man's nephew. By rights, as his uncle, he shouldn't harm his nephew.

But Li Wensheng was too capable, and the old man had never interacted with him—only a faint blood relation, no real affection. Who knew if Li Wensheng might one day defect to Yan Prefecture and attempt an assassination? The chance was slim, but as the leader of the Nationalist Party, even a slight threat to his safety had to be eliminated.

Seeing the old man so conflicted, Dai Yunong immediately understood his thoughts and quietly said, "Principal, he is still officially with Military Intelligence. He never resists orders and always completes them admirably."

The old man looked deeply at Dai Yunong. "Yunong, you want to protect him."

"I dare not, Principal. I only feel he could be even more useful."

After a few moments' thought, the old man sighed. "He is my nephew; I don't wish to harm him either. Yunong, you may protect him, but you must assign people to keep him under constant surveillance. He must not disappear unexpectedly. Above all, prevent any contact from Yan Prefecture. I don't want to see him suddenly become one of theirs."

Dai Yunong was overjoyed and quickly replied, "Yes, Principal. I will make sure he never becomes one of Yan Prefecture's people."

"Good, Yunong. Go about your work."

"Yes, Principal. I'll take my leave."

After Dai Yunong departed, the old man picked up Li Wensheng's portrait from the desk and murmured, "I hope this slender blood tie keeps us from becoming enemies."

He kept Li Wensheng for the reasons Dai Yunong mentioned—Li Wensheng's extraordinary usefulness—and also because he truly couldn't bring himself to act. For even the faintest possibility, if an uncle killed his nephew, and that nephew ended his grandaunt's bloodline, should this ever come to light, he would be condemned by all.

The old man's agreement thrilled Dai Yunong. With such a capable man at his disposal, the day Military Intelligence achieved great merit was surely coming.

The excitement only faded once he returned to Military Intelligence. When it was gone, he remembered the old man's instructions. After a moment's thought, he picked up the telephone and said, "Come in!"

Soon, his secretary entered. "Sir!"

"Upgrade Li Wensheng's file to top secret. Without my written order, no one is allowed to access his records."

"Yes, sir."

"Good. You may go."

After the secretary left, Dai Yunong picked up the phone again to contact Shi Xiaozhen.

Then, Dai Yunong took ten gold bars and a codebook from the safe. Leaving Military Intelligence, he went to the second-floor private room of Qianxiang Restaurant in Yuzhong.

"Chief!" x5

Shi Xiaozhen and four others were already waiting in the room. When Dai Yunong arrived, they stood and saluted.

"Sit, sit, this is your victory banquet—no need to be so formal," Dai Yunong said with a smile.

Once they sat, Dai Yunong instructed his bodyguard to go outside and order food.

When the bodyguard left, Dai Yunong pulled ten gold bars from his briefcase and placed them on the table.

"Chief—"

Shi Xiaozhen had barely spoken when Dai Yunong raised his hand to stop her. "Military Intelligence has always rewarded and punished fairly. You completed your mission beautifully and deserve a reward. But as this was a top-secret operation, it can't be announced publicly, so I can't raise your ranks; I can only reward you with money."

Shi Xiaozhen hesitated, then stood and said, "Thank you, Chief!"

The other four followed suit, "Thank you, Chief!" x4

"Sit, sit. Today is your celebration—be at ease, no need for formality."

When they sat, Shi Xiaozhen gathered up the ten gold bars. Then Dai Yunong said, "I have arranged your future assignments. Given how efficiently you completed this task, I think it's best to keep you together as a team so you can continue to work well."

All five were delighted. Though they sometimes argued, they found cooperating together very pleasant; staying as a team was ideal.

"Next, your team will go to Jinling. This time, you will act as a Special Operations Group, assisting the Jinling Station Action Squad in destroying enemy supply materials. Supporting the demolition is your official task, but your true mission is top secret: you are to keep a close watch on Action Squad Leader Li Wensheng. He must always remain in your sight, and my covert network will help you with this. Also, prevent anyone from Yan Prefecture from contacting him. If you see any from Yan Prefecture approach him, eliminate them immediately."

Dai Yunong's words left Bai Yan and the others confused. To surveil the Jinling Station Action Squad leader was a top-secret mission? And if Yan Prefecture people approached him, they were to be dealt with—without concern for Li Wensheng himself?

Shi Xiaozhen's pupils contracted slightly. Dai Yunong's words instantly reminded her of his drastic reaction yesterday to a certain portrait.

"So the person in that portrait is Li Wensheng. Li Wensheng is that man," Shi Xiaozhen thought to herself.

"You must be mentally prepared; this top-secret mission is a long-term assignment. No matter where Li Wensheng is transferred, I will have you follow him."

Dai Yunong then produced the codebook from his briefcase. "For this top-secret mission, you answer only to me. This codebook is for our communication. Any telegrams about the mission will go to headquarters, but use this codebook."

"Yes, Chief. We will complete the mission," Shi Xiaozhen said, accepting the codebook, straightening her back and saluting.

The four others, still in confusion, stood and saluted as well. "We will complete the mission." x4

"All right, all right, sit down."

Once they were seated, Dai Yunong continued, "Tomorrow, you leave for Jinling. I will send a telegram to Jinling Station to assign you a radio."

Just as Dai Yunong finished speaking, there was a knock at the door. "Sir, the dishes are ready."

Having said all he needed, Dai Yunong turned and called out, "Come in!"

After that, he no longer discussed official matters, chatting casually with Shi Xiaozhen and the others. When the food arrived, Dai Yunong ate a few bites and then took his leave.