Chapter 1695: Mutual investigation
Fang Peng's words were not just words. The Military Intelligence Bureau, like the Ministry of Security, is an intelligence agency with great autonomy. Most of the time, it can decide the objects of investigation on its own, especially in overseas colonies. Colonies like Manila, which were recently added to Haihan territory, still lack a complete public security management system, so the official relies heavily on the intelligence department. Almost all investigation work is completed by the intelligence department, rather than being handed over to the recent The established police system.
Of course, in the hearts of senior spies from the Military Intelligence Bureau like Fang Peng, he originally looked down upon the police force currently serving as the main force of local security. He believed that the abilities and qualities of these security police who were rushed to work after only a few days of training were extremely poor. It is limited and cannot undertake the corresponding tasks at all. In addition, the person he suspected was a police officer of the public security police, so he was naturally even more reluctant to report the case to the police headquarters, lest the police system protect his own people, which would make him even more troubled.
The Military Intelligence Bureau has its own set of standards for investigating and handling cases. Who initiates this investigation process is one of them. Fang Peng's superficial identity is just the head guard of Chaosheng Store, but his other identity is that the Military Intelligence Bureau is stationed in Manila. one of the persons in charge. Due to his outstanding performance during the war and his great contributions, the superiors now value him even more. Once the commendation order submitted to the Executive Committee is approved, he will be promoted. With his current authority, it is no longer a problem to initiate an investigation process, and the higher-ups will certainly not block it. Of course, Fang Peng still hopes that the Ministry of Security will also join in, so that the information found will be more comprehensive and reliable.
"Then... let's do what you want!" Seeing that Fang Peng refused to let go, Ran Tianlu probably wouldn't have any effect if he continued to object, so he could only agree first. However, whether to participate in the investigation in the name of the Security Department, Ran Tianlu felt that it would be safer to ask his superiors for instructions. After all, this matter involved the police system, and he did not want any misunderstanding between the Security Department and the Police Department.
On the other hand, Ran Tianlu also believed that with the capabilities of the Military Intelligence Bureau, it was more than enough to find out the matter. If necessary, there would be no need to dispatch personnel from the Security Department. At most, it would be enough to provide the Military Intelligence Bureau with technical support in file investigation.
At the same time, Qin Huacheng was also telling Ding Feng and Francis about his gains today. The observation outside the Chaosheng Merchant Store further confirmed the credibility of those rumors, but in fact it did not help Qin Huacheng and others really want to know the details of the Chaosheng Merchant Store. For them, it is still an unsolved mystery who is behind the operation of Chaosheng Commercial Store and for what reasons. As for the shopkeeper surnamed Ran, Qin Huacheng didn't even see anyone during this trip, so naturally there was no harvest to speak of.
"So we still know nothing about the situation of this shopkeeper Ran?" After listening to Qin Huacheng's description, Ding Feng expressed dissatisfaction with the current progress: "Is this person's backstage so big that you can even join him?" Can’t get enough of it?”
Ding Feng's words were quite harsh. Qin Hua was young and energetic, and his face became a little uneasy at the moment: "Master Ding's words are a bit biased. If someone were to reveal all the details in one day, Can you prosper in Manila? What happened to the previous businessmen with no background? Do you need me to recall it for Mr. Ding? "
After the Ding family and Qin Huacheng began to cooperate, Ding Feng also asked Qin Huacheng to check the dark materials of several competitors. As for how the Ding family squeezed out their competitors after getting these materials, Qin Huacheng knew something about the inside story. These things must be shady, and Ding Feng would definitely not like to be mentioned again.
Sure enough, Ding Feng's attitude immediately changed and he put on his signature fake smile: "It's just a joke, nephew, don't take it seriously! Of course I know what my nephew is capable of, otherwise how could I trust you with this matter?" Go take care of it.”
Qin Huacheng snorted lightly, obviously not believing Ding Feng's statement at all. During these days of dealing with Ding Feng, he gradually realized that this old fox often said one thing and did another, and his statements should not be disbelieved, let alone fully trusted. However, the Ding family has great wealth and local influence and can provide him with some help. In addition, now that Francis has made a comeback, Qin Huacheng does not want to fall out with Ding Feng because of these quarrels.
"There is no way to check this person's background, but if you don't want to alert the snake, you have to be careful. Otherwise, if the other party notices our intentions, how can we do this? You, Mr. Ding, can't send a team. Go to the south of the city and kidnap the other party directly?" After Qin Huacheng calmed down a little, he began to talk about his plan again: "I have already heard some information, but I still need to find someone to confirm the specific information. It will take two or three days at most. There are results. During this period, please don’t provoke each other, so as not to affect the progress of my investigation.”
Qin Huacheng deliberately kept it secret and did not reveal all the information he knew. Regarding the situation of Chaosheng Store and shopkeeper Ran Tianlu, Qin Huacheng believed that the security police in the neighboring district and the district where Chengnan Store was located should know more than he did. As for the next step of the investigation, he planned to learn from his counterparts in these two districts. Get started and see if you can get more useful information from them.
However, his statement sounded rather perfunctory to Ding Feng and Francis. The two old foxes exchanged glances, and they both read their distrust of Qin Huacheng in each other's eyes.
Although there is no superficial distinction between superiority and inferiority in the alliance formed by the three parties, there are still differences between the conditions of the three families before the war. The Ding family is a large local businessman, Francis is a high-ranking official in the Manila government, and the Qin family can only be regarded as a subsistence family. A passable little rich man. Moreover, the Ding family and Francis had a long-standing marriage relationship. Although the two families were estranged for a period of time after the war due to interests, with Francis' comeback, they came together again because of interests. And if the Qin family hadn't had two brothers, Qin Huacheng and Qin Huaming, recruited into the yamen by the authorities, they probably wouldn't have sat at the same table with the Qin family to discuss matters. In their eyes, a family like the Qin family that has just climbed up the ranks is actually like a nouveau riche who lacks any background.
Qin Huacheng had served in the colonial armed forces before the war, but he was just an insignificant soldier. Therefore, when the war came, he could only rely on money from his family to get through and escape. After the war, he became the captain of the Haihan Security Police detachment. Others may be afraid of his skin, but in the eyes of Ding Feng and Francis, this kid just got this position because of his good luck. Normally, it is enough to intimidate ordinary people, but it would be too immature to show off in front of yourself.
Qin Huacheng went out for a day, but he didn't get any precise information. Ding Feng and Francis thought it was a problem with his ability. If Qin Huacheng hadn't been able to take care of the Ding family's business every day in the port area, these two families would have kicked him out long ago.
Of course, they would not say these thoughts in front of Qin Huacheng. However, the longer this matter is delayed, the more detrimental it will be to the Ding family's local business layout. If Chaosheng Commercial Store is allowed to operate for one more day, the local market will be reduced. Although Chaosheng Commercial Inn seems to have a rich background, the two old foxes are very afraid of it, because in their view, no matter what the background of Chaosheng is, in the final analysis, it is nothing more than a profit. As long as they understand the situation If conditions better than Tide Rising were to be found later, there might be an opportunity to replace them. This operation is certainly difficult, but everything is possible. Even people like Qin Huacheng can climb up by luck, so of course there is a chance to pry off Chaosheng in the Manila market. And apart from Qin Huacheng, it doesn't mean that they have no other way to investigate this matter. As long as the money is in place, are they afraid that they will not find a way out?
How did Qin Huacheng know what these two old foxes were up to? His idea was relatively simple. He tried to find out the details of Chaosheng Merchant Store as soon as possible so that these two old guys could see how powerful he was and stop talking weirdly in front of him in the future. . Of course, in order to find out the matter, the necessary social expenses must be advanced to Ding Feng in advance.
When Ding Feng heard Qin Huacheng asking for money again, he couldn't help but feel a little bit sad. During the post-war period, the Ding family's expenses were far greater than their income. Seeing that the business has improved a little recently, he met a powerful person like Chaosheng Merchant Store again. competitors. And this Qin Huacheng didn't open his mouth anyway, and he would definitely ask for money when he opened his mouth. When dealing with him, he thought that this guy was not greedy for money. Now it seems that this impression is really wrong. Qin Huacheng is not greedy for money. , Just don’t be greedy for small money. When you ask, it must be a big amount, and you can’t give it without giving it.
"That's all, just think of spending money to buy peace!" Ding Feng could only comfort himself in this way. No matter how painful it is, he still can't offend Qin Huacheng at this time. No matter whether the things he is responsible for are finally completed or not, Ding Feng still has to continue to pay for this watchdog.
After sending Qin Huacheng away, Ding Feng sighed and said: "Always relying on Qin Huacheng is not an option if this continues. You have to go up to the top in the future."
Francis understood what Ding Feng meant, shrugged and said: "But the highest-ranking Haihan official I have daily contact with is my deputy. This is really a helpless situation."
Francis holds a full-time position in the Western Management Bureau, but the real leader with real power is Deputy Director Ge Yong. All of Francis's work arrangements are directly arranged by Ge Yong, and daily work reports are also submitted to Ge Yong. Seriously speaking, Ge Yong is the superior, and Francis has the title of director for nothing, but in reality, he is simply one level lower. Of course, he has nothing to complain about. He is thankful that Haihan is willing to give him this opportunity to make a comeback. He does not expect to gain the full trust of Haihan's senior management at this stage.
It's just that based on his current work situation, the people he usually interacts with the most are the people from the Western Management Bureau. Hispanic employees will give him some face, but if he wants to manage high-level connections, there is basically no chance. Senior military and political officials like Qiu Yuan and Xiao Liang had not met each other since the day the Western Management Bureau was listed.
Ding Feng said: "Perhaps the method you used last time can be used twice more to make the senior officials of Haihan notice you."
The method Ding Feng mentioned was that earlier they colluded with a group of Hispanic people to cause trouble to give Francis a sense of presence. The effect was indeed good that time, and Francis got rid of the role of the mascot of the Western Management Bureau and was finally assigned some practical work. However, he knew that this kind of trick could be played once, but if he played it a few more times, he would get burned. With Haihan's ability, it would not be too difficult to see through this kind of trick.
So Francis immediately rejected Ding Feng's bad idea. Even if the money to deal with the joints before and after came from the Ding family, he didn't want to take the risk of trying this kind of existence-clearing method again.
But Francis thought of another idea: "There are some well-connected Spanish businessmen in the city, and we may be able to find out more information through them. If Chaosheng Commercial Inn wants to do business in a Hispanic area, it might as well let people Come to talk or cooperate and see how the other party responds.”
Ding Feng thought about it and thought it was feasible, so he discussed it carefully with Francis on how to implement it. There are still many Hispanic businessmen staying in Manila. It is not easy for these businessmen to find their own position under the new rulers. If there is an opportunity to cooperate with someone like Chaosheng Commercial Store, Presumably businessmen will put aside their past prejudices against the Han people and play the role of licking dogs. What Francis has to do is to use his current job to arrange for these Hispanic businessmen to go to Ran Tianlu to discuss cooperation matters.
Time entered March 1637, and the complicated dispute in Manila also entered the stage where the Eight Immortals crossed the sea and showed their magical powers. Fang Peng launched the investigation process of the Military Intelligence Department and launched an investigation into Captain Qin Huacheng of the Public Security Police Port Detachment. . Qin Huacheng was busy visiting the two jurisdictions that had more dealings with Chaosheng Store, hoping to get more concrete information from his colleagues in the other districts. Francis and Ding Feng, on the other hand, are trying to encourage the Spanish businessmen they know to go to Chaosheng Merchant Store to discuss cooperation. Of course, the main purpose is to use this to find out the other party's background and see who Ran Tianlu is.
In this confrontation of mutual investigation, the only participant who was not so interested was probably Ran Tianlu. He himself has no consciousness of being a protagonist, and is still busy dealing with the business issues of the store every day, analyzing the local economic situation and its impact on social sentiment. However, rather than investigating a security police officer, he preferred to focus on dealing with the matter at hand. In the past two days, the number of Hispanic businessmen visiting his home suddenly increased, which made him even more busy.
(End of chapter)