Absolute power in officialdom

Chapter 169 Spy Shadows of the South City

Before Wu Zhiyuan set off, Director Chu Jianguo gave him the plane ticket, and only then did he learn that his destination was Nancheng, the capital of Southeast Asian country A.

Throughout world history, many cities have been hubs for spies, earning them the title of "spy capitals."

For example, during the Cold War, NATO and the Warsaw Pact engaged in thrilling espionage battles every day across Europe.

Berlin, Budapest, and Vienna have become the veritable "spy capitals of Europe."

Although Nancheng cannot be considered a spy capital, it is home to intelligence agencies from multiple countries.

After getting off at Nancheng Airport, Wu Zhiyuan took the airport bus to the city center.

As instructed by Chu Jianguo, he was to go to a meeting point at a company called Nancheng Sihai Trading Company.

This trading company, ostensibly dealing in rubber, coffee beans, tea, and aquatic products, is actually a key cover unit operated by the National Security Department in Nancheng for many years.

Chu Jianguo only asked Wu Zhiyuan to meet with the company's vice president, Liu Mingxuan, and said nothing else.

Compared to the urban development of China, Nancheng is much more shabby, and its urban scale is at best at the level of a third- or fourth-tier city in China.

Sihai Trading Company is located in Chinatown, with a six-story office building and a courtyard.

The courtyard contains a warehouse and also serves as a small parking lot, with goods constantly moving in and out.

From the outside, there was nothing unusual about it; it was just a busy trading company.

The receptionist on the first floor was a Chinese girl in her early twenties.

"Who are you looking for?" the girl asked politely.

"I'm looking for Mr. Liu Mingxuan."

Do you have an appointment?

Wu Zhiyuan lowered his voice: "My surname is Wu. I've reserved fresh cuttlefish, the kind with the ink sac still attached."

The girl asked, "Does it need to have full ink sacs?"

"The darker, the purer."

"Mr. Liu is on the third floor, I'll take you there."

There is a closed door on the third floor; you need to swipe a card to enter.

The girl swiped her card to open the door.

In an office, the girl knocked on the door.

"Please come in!" a man with a southern accent replied from inside.

The girl said, "Mr. Liu, a Mr. Wu wants to buy fresh cuttlefish. The ink sacs are full and the color is very pure."

Liu Mingxuan stood up and shook hands with Wu Zhiyuan.

The girl left and gently closed the door behind her.

"Comrade Zhiyuan, the organization has transmitted your basic information, including your photo, via encryption. Please have a seat."

Liu Mingxuan made Wu Zhiyuan a cup of tea and then sat down on the sofa.

"Zhiyuan, the ministry has drawn many people from all over the country to support us, and you are one of them."

Several comrades came earlier, and recently several more have arrived.

Let me briefly introduce the mission and the situation.

Although Country A is a small and poor country, it has an important geographical location, especially Nancheng Port, which is a natural deep-water port. It is not only a key fulcrum of my country's Maritime Silk Road, but also a strategic hub for ensuring the security of energy transportation channels and deepening cooperation with Southeast Asia.

my country also plans to use Nancheng Port as a military support and training base.

The current government of Country A is pro-China, but the opposition is also very powerful. They are eager to seize the opportunity, with the covert support of the CIA, to overthrow the current government.

Opposition leader Suha has repeatedly threatened publicly that if he comes to power, he will review or even tear up several cooperation agreements with China, including the Nancheng Port project.

Sukha's biggest economic pillar is the Song Group, owned by Song Yaozu.

Song Yaozu is a third-generation Chinese American who not only engages in legitimate businesses but also runs casinos and nightclubs, and even participates in illegal activities such as telecommunications fraud, arms smuggling, and money laundering.

He had a close relationship with Sukha and was Sukha's biggest financial backer.

By the way, in country A, casinos and sex services are legal if you apply for a business license, which is different from China. After all, each country has a different legal system.

The CIA is intensively executing Operation Tide in South City, intending to overthrow the political situation in Country A, support Suha, and stifle the South City Port project through a series of intrigues.

Liu Mingxuan took a sip of tea and continued, "According to the plan, a leader from China will come to Nancheng Port next month to attend the official launch ceremony of the base."

However, once Suha comes to power, there will be great uncertainty about the activation of the base.

Our intelligence indicates that CIA agents are attempting to assassinate Long Yun, the current leader of Country A.

We have informed Long Yun through special channels, but we know very little about when the enemy will take action or how.

Therefore, our struggle is not only against Sukha, but also against CIA agents.

Frustrate the enemy's Tide Project and ensure the base's launch ceremony is held as scheduled next month. This is a daunting task before us.

In light of your outstanding performance in Operation Furnace and other special operations, headquarters has decided to appoint you as the deputy leader of the team. You'll find out who the leader is in due time.

If there is any important information, you can contact me directly.

I must remind you that in our Sihai Company, many employees are not our own people.

Because we are a well-run trading company, we have recruited a significant number of local employees.

Liu Mingxuan took out a file folder from the drawer: "Your disguised identity has been arranged. From now on, you are a newly recruited salesman of Sihai Company, named Wu Qianjin."

The file folder contains employee cards, work permits, business cards, and some basic business documents.

You need to familiarize yourself with the trading company's business processes as soon as possible; this will be your cover for daily work.

Wu Zhiyuan took the file bag and looked through the items inside.

The photo on the employee card is of him, but his expression and demeanor are more down-to-earth, and his name is clearly printed as "Wu Qianjin".

The business card has a simple design, and the title is "Business Representative of Nancheng Sihai Trading Company".

Wu Qianjin, an extremely ordinary name.

Wu Zhiyuan knew that from now on, he would have to forget his identity as "Wu Zhiyuan" and become a salesman named Wu Qianjin.

"There are several advantages to being a salesperson," Liu Mingxuan explained. "First, you have a lot of freedom of movement. You need to go out frequently to visit clients, inspect goods, and coordinate logistics. It's reasonable for you to go in and out of ports, warehouses, docks, and other places, which makes it easier for you to collect intelligence and conduct on-site investigations."

Secondly, it has a wide reach, and you may encounter people from all walks of life, which is conducive to establishing intelligence networks and obtaining information.

Third, it is relatively low-key and not likely to attract too much attention.

You need to quickly learn some basic trade knowledge and industry terminology. There are several reliable senior salespeople in the company who will help you get started.

I will gradually arrange for you to get in touch with the other members of the group.

They are currently scattered in different cover positions, some in the port management department, some in local logistics companies, and others infiltrated into certain commercial organizations with indirect ties to the opposition or the CIA.

Unless absolutely necessary, use single-line connections whenever possible to minimize lateral contact and ensure safety.

Liu Mingxuan stood up, walked to the window, opened a crack in the blinds, and looked outside: "Sihai Company itself is operating normally and its business is booming, which provides us with a good foundation for our activities and a source of funding."

Your office is on the second floor in the marketing department, where you share a large open space with three other salespeople.

Remember, at work, you are Wu Qianjin, a diligent salesperson eager to achieve results.

Liu Mingxuan turned around: "Comrade Wu Qianjin, the situation in Nancheng is more complicated than we imagined."

Not only CIA personnel, but also intelligence agencies from other countries are involved.

Long Yun's security level has been raised, but we believe that the assassination will likely not be carried out through conventional forceful attacks, but rather through more covert and insidious means.

We only have a superficial understanding of the specifics of the Tide Project.

Your mission is to work with the team leader and lead the rest of the team to be firmly planted in Nancheng, uncover the enemy's movements, disrupt their rhythm, thwart their plans, and ensure the Nancheng Port base launch ceremony goes smoothly.