Chapter 85

Xu Yan didn't expect to be misunderstood by Wen Xiuzhi as being greedy for money. He quickly tried to explain, "Brother Wen, that's not what I meant..."

"Ah, Brother Yan, there's no need to be embarrassed about this. After all, we are in a market economy now. Asking you to bring out your family's secret medicine and to personally help save someone, it wouldn't be right to let you do this for free, right?"

Wen Xiuzhi smiled warmly, "I understand the ways of the world, Brother Wen is well-versed in these matters. But there is one problem: we don't have any living patients with the Rampage Syndrome, so we can't test your medicine. We have to wait until there's a report of a Rampage Syndrome patient. As soon as we get the news, we'll take you to test your medicine. So, Brother Yan, you need to be prepared to go at any time."

"Ah, when will we set out?"

Wen Xiuzhi smiled wryly, "It's hard to say. The appearance of these patients is unpredictable, just like the updates of old pigs. Sometimes, several cases will happen within a week, making us run around the country non-stop, unable to keep up. But sometimes, it can be calm for several weeks. Just be ready and wait for orders."

Xu Yan hesitated for a moment and then asked the question he was most worried about, "But Brother Wen, I'm neither a police officer nor a soldier. What identity will I have to join your special task force? If you let me join, what if someone accuses me of leaking information? That would be hard to handle, right?"

Wen Xiuzhi smiled, "That's not a problem. Since your current identity makes it inconvenient for you to get involved, why don't you join our Intelligence Department?"

Join the Intelligence Department?

Xu Yan's mouth opened wide, not reacting for a long time. After a while, he stammered, "Let me join the Intelligence Department? That means... I have to join the military?"

"Yep!" Wen Xiuzhi said with a smile, "A young man with aspirations joining the national defense, a college student joining the military, this is a good thing that is being promoted now. You're just twenty, right? A student at a key university, if you join the military, you should have a bright future... I think you can start as a lieutenant, at least. Don't be ungrateful, the military pays well, even better than civil servants!"

Hearing Wen Xiuzhi's words, Xu Yan was suddenly very confused. He had fantasized and dreamed about his future career. In his imagination, after graduation, he would most likely return to his hometown to take over the family business, following in his father's footsteps to become a furniture merchant. Or, if he was lucky, he could become a civil servant, which was the path his parents expected him to take.

As for joining the military and becoming a soldier—this thought had never crossed his mind, even in his wildest dreams. Being a soldier required courage, perseverance, and a strong spirit, as well as a willingness to sacrifice and serve. Xu Yan felt he was not cut out for it. He couldn't bear the constraints of military life or the hardships. In short, he didn't want to.

"This... If I have to join the military, I really haven't thought it through. I'm still a college student, not yet graduated... Uh, my health is poor, I can't run a five-kilometer cross-country... In short, this is a big decision, I need to discuss it with my family... Uh... Let's not do it for now."

Xu Yan said this in a flustered and incoherent manner. Seeing his panicked look, Wen Xiuzhi found it amusing. He put on a serious face and said, "Brother, this won't do! Joining the military and serving the country is a sacred duty for every eligible citizen! Since the state has called on you, whether you like it or not, you must join the military. Otherwise, the Military Service Law is not a joke. Refusing to serve is considered desertion, and you could end up in jail!"

"Ah!" Xu Yan exclaimed, "End up in jail?"

He wasn't sure if Wen Xiuzhi was joking, but seeing how serious he was and the mention of the Military Service Law, which sounded quite intimidating, it couldn't be entirely false, right?

At this moment, Xu Yan really felt unlucky. He never imagined that being taken away by the police would result in him being drafted into the military. This outcome was just too bizarre.

Seeing Xu Yan's blank and dazed look, Wen Xiuzhi knew he had scared the young man. He laughed, "Brother, don't be like that! Actually, many people would be thrilled to join our Intelligence Department! In fact, many wealthy and influential business leaders in society are eager to join our Intelligence Department. They would be willing to pay millions to get in. If I didn't get along with you and if you didn't have a connection with my family, you probably wouldn't even have a chance to join."

Xu Yan was confused, "Brother Wen, I don't understand. Why would those business leaders and big bosses want to join the military? Are they tired of their comfortable lives and want to train in the military?"

"This is a complicated matter... Let me explain it to you slowly."

Listening to Wen Xiuzhi's explanation, Xu Yan finally understood: The General Staff Intelligence Department's agents are divided into internal agents and external informants. The internal agents, like Wen Xiuzhi, are active-duty military officers who serve in the military. They follow military discipline, wear uniforms, and the management and systems are the same as in the military.

However, the situation with external informants is more complex.

To gather information from various sources, the Intelligence Department has arranged for many agents in society. Some of these agents are genuine military personnel, just like regular agents, but they don't wear uniforms and don't reveal their identities. They have other identities and careers as cover in society.

There are also other personnel, known as "informants" or "line men." They are not real soldiers but are influential and capable people in society, including entrepreneurs, civil servants, ordinary citizens, and even some gang members who operate on the fringes of the law.

According to the unwritten rules of the Intelligence Department, when recruiting informants, they only require that the person be well-informed and capable, and that they be helpful to the Intelligence Department's work. The department generally doesn't consider the person's character or morals, as long as they are not enemies of our social system—after all, they're not looking for model students or moral role models. What good would it do to recruit a bunch of ideologically sound but useless people?

Xu Yan was still confused, "Brother Wen, I still don't understand. Those business leaders and big bosses, they aren't tired of their comfortable lives? They eat well and sleep well, why would they want to be informants for your Intelligence Department?"

"Ha ha, Brother Yan, you don't understand. In today's society, who can succeed without dealing with both the legal and illegal worlds? Wealthy business leaders, in particular, need to interact with both, and they inevitably face all sorts of troubles. For example, if a gang sees that you are rich, they might try to extort you. Or some officials, seeing that you are rich, might try to take advantage of you.

At such times, these business leaders join our Intelligence Department to find a protector and a shield. When they encounter trouble, they can show their ID and say they are from the General Staff Intelligence Department and know high-ranking officials. This often intimidates people, and others won't dare to mess with them.

With our informant ID, if you commit serious crimes like murder or arson, we might not be able to protect you, but for minor offenses like prostitution, gambling, or fighting, you can show your ID to the police, and they will release you immediately. Having our informant status can save you a lot of trouble. So, these business leaders are willing to spend a lot of money to get this status.

Brother, I'm not exaggerating. The last time I went to Wuyang City and had dinner with some local friends, there were a few local business leaders at the table. When they found out I worked in the Intelligence Department and was a leader, they were very excited. They said they would pay one million for a blue ID card and two million for a red military ID card. So, Brother Yan, you can enjoy this two-million-yuan benefit without spending a penny. This is an opportunity that others can only dream of!"

Xu Yan listened, feeling both amused and bewildered. According to Wen Xiuzhi, giving him the status of an Intelligence Department agent was a great benefit, but Xu Yan really didn't want it. Those business leaders might want this status to avoid trouble, but he didn't have a fortune and didn't need to deal with the mafia. He didn't have a habit of prostitution or gambling. Why would he need this status? Joining the military would just create unnecessary trouble for him.

At this moment, if Xu Yan were a calm and smart person, he would have firmly refused Wen Xiuzhi and refused to join. But our young Xu Yan was still in his youth, and he had the curiosity and impulsiveness of a teenager—General Staff Intelligence Department agent!

The name alone sounded exciting! How thrilling! If his classmates found out that he was a mysterious Intelligence Department agent, they would look at him with envy and admiration.

Xu Yan imagined a scene in his mind: one night, Gong Xueting was on her way home when she encountered some thugs. The useless Situ Xiao was beaten to the ground by the thugs—no, he was scared and ran away, leaving Gong Xueting to face the thugs alone, tears streaming down her face as she cried for help.

At this critical moment, he would suddenly appear, pull out his gun, and fire several shots, leaving the thugs either dead or injured, kneeling on the ground begging for mercy. Gong Xueting would look at him in disbelief, her eyes wide open, "Xu Yan, is that you? How do you have a gun?"

At that moment, he would casually blow the smoke from the gun and say to her with deep emotion, "I'm sorry, Xueting, there's something I've been hiding from you. I'm actually an agent of the General Staff Intelligence Department, and I've been serving the country..."

At that moment, Gong Xueting would look at him with admiration and adoration!

Wasn't this like a real-life version of the movie "True Lies"?

Seeing Xu Yan sitting there, drooling, Wen Xiuzhi immediately knew he had a chance!

He softened his tone, "When you become an agent of our Intelligence Department, not only will you have a uniform and an ID card, but you can also show your ID to anyone you don't like and take them to the police station for a good beating—"

Xu Yan was surprised, "Beat people in the police station? Don't the police stop you?"

"Ha ha, the Intelligence Department does things that local police don't interfere with. Tell you, Brother, the police not only won't stop you, but they will assist you if you ask."

Seeing Xu Yan's eyes darting around, showing interest, Wen Xiuzhi leaned in and said in a tempting tone, "And, you can carry a gun! We'll issue you a formal gun license. You can choose between the Type 64 or Type 92. I'll take you to the military shooting range, where you can practice as much as you want, with automatic rifles and machine guns. How about that, Brother Wen is treating you well, right?"

Xu Yan hesitated, "But, Brother Wen, I heard that college students who join the military have to go through very tough training, and I'm still a college student. I don't have time for new recruit training!"

Wen Xiuzhi cursed in his heart, "What a coward! Wanting to be an agent and show off, but unwilling to go through new recruit training. This is too much to ask!"

Wen Xiuzhi despised him, but he had no choice. Xu Yan was a useless person, but he needed this useless person.

He smiled, "Don't want to go through new recruit training? That's not impossible to negotiate. Our military has a special recruitment procedure for talented people from society. Special recruits can skip the usual training—well, not completely, but the process is simplified. Regular new recruits train for three months, but special recruits only need one or two weeks—don't worry, the training for special recruits won't be too strict. There won't be any five-kilometer cross-country runs. You just need to learn military posture, saluting, shooting, and some basic knowledge of the military and our Intelligence Department. It won't be too hard. As a college student, you should be able to learn quickly."

"But, I worked hard to get into college, and I'm only in my second year. I still want to graduate and get a degree... Brother Wen, joining your Intelligence Department won't conflict with my studies, right?"

Wen Xiuzhi cursed in his heart but smiled, "How could it conflict? You'll be an external agent. You can continue your studies as a college student. We'll only call you when we need your help—basically, you'll get paid without having to work. How great is that!"

Seeing Xu Yan still hesitating, Wen Xiuzhi made a decision, "Alright, Brother, this is a great opportunity, don't hesitate. Let's make it official! I'll call the Political Department."

Without giving Xu Yan a chance to object, Wen Xiuzhi quickly took out his phone and dialed a number, "Hello, Old Dong, it's me, Xiuzhi. Yes, I'm still on a business trip in Jincheng, haven't returned to the capital... I'm sorry to disturb you so late, but there's an urgent matter. Do we still have special recruitment quotas for this year?

Yes, the special recruitment quota for military officers, save one for me. I need it right away... Ah, no more? No, no, Old Dong, this is important. I need that quota... Where to get it? I don't care. Old Dong, you must handle this. It's crucial for my current mission... Yes, the mission that the central leaders are paying attention to, very important!

Old Dong, this is unusual. When have I ever asked you for a favor? If you let me down, our decades of friendship will be at risk... Ah, that's right, you're my good brother! I'll remember this favor.

Who is the person? Don't worry, he has a clean record, no trouble—He's a college student, a student at Shudu University, only twenty years old... His name is Xu, Xu Yan... His ID number is..."

Wen Xiuzhi looked at Xu Yan, who recited his ID number. Wen Xiuzhi had a good memory and didn't need Xu Yan to repeat it. He immediately recited it accurately over the phone, "ID number is xxxx... Clean record, no criminal history... Oh, he's not a party member... The political review for him and his immediate family can be done later, no time now... Yes, his family information can be found in the police database, about 1.83 meters tall... Yes, yes—The one-inch photos for the ID and file, I'll send them to you with my phone later.

Old Dong, this is urgent. Please handle it as soon as possible. First thing tomorrow morning, start the process... His rank will be a captain... What, a lieutenant? No, that's too low, I can't explain it to him... If that doesn't work, ask Minister Liu for an exception. This isn't unprecedented. For special talents, we usually give special treatment... Yes, follow the special talent process...

Get the procedures done in the next two days, enter his information into the system, and send his ID and gun to me through the Jincheng Military District. I should still be in Jincheng for the next two days... No need for a uniform, we can contact the Jincheng Military District for a few sets."

After hanging up, Wen Xiuzhi took a photo of Xu Yan with his phone and sent it to the other party. Then he looked up and smiled at Xu Yan, "Done, I've sent the photo. Once the headquarters approves and records the file, they will send your gun and ID. At that time, Brother Yan, you'll be one of us."

At this moment, Xu Yan was speechless, only able to give a dry laugh.

Clearly satisfied with the progress made tonight, Wen Xiuzhi was very excited. He kept toasting with Xu Yan and telling him some impressive stories and legends about the Intelligence Department. Some of the things Wen Xiuzhi said were so strange that Xu Yan couldn't tell if he was serious or just exaggerating. They drank until around one in the morning, and the restaurant was about to close. The waiters came over several times to urge them to leave, and they finally got up to pay and leave.

Seeing that Wen Xiuzhi was a bit unsteady on his feet, Xu Yan was worried he couldn't drive, but Wen Xiuzhi didn't seem to care, "No problem, I won't drive. I'll stay at a hotel nearby. Brother Yan, go back on your own, I won't see you off."

They waved goodbye, and Xu Yan had only taken a few steps when Wen Xiuzhi caught up to him, reminding him to keep his phone on for the next few days so he could be notified when the ID and gun were ready. (To be continued)