The secret agencies during the Anti-Japanese War, those mysterious intelligence officers and their life-and-death struggles. But even in the secret service field full of gunsmoke, there are people who can make huge fortunes for themselves in the gray area of the rules. In Tianjin, there is such a spy station chief Wu Jingzhong, he and his deputy Yu Zecheng, in a crisis-ridden environment, changed huge amounts of wealth, and even in the turbulent year of 1948, they were able to escape the danger like lightning.
In China in the 1940s, especially in big cities like Tianjin, spy activities were routine. Wu Jingzhong, the head of the Tianjin Station of the Secret Bureau, is not only a shrewd intelligence leader, but also a "businessman" with extremely high skills. His deputy, Yu Zecheng, is also not a fuel-efficient lamp, and the two work together seamlessly, playing the game of power and money.
Let's take a look at this stationmaster Wu first. During his tenure, he single-handedly covered Tianjin's intelligence network. But in those turbulent times, in addition to gathering intelligence, he was better at using his power to accumulate wealth for himself and his team. How did he do it? It turned out that they were using a stipulation that the seized materials could be rewarded by the case-handling units. This sounds reasonable, but in practice it opens the door.
For example, in 1948, an important year, Yu Zecheng seized Ji Weimin's stolen goods during an operation, including a large amount of gold and silver treasures. According to the regulations, these materials should be handed over, but Yu Zecheng and Wu Jingzhong only handed over a part, and the rest naturally flowed into their own pockets. This method of operation of theirs, not just once or twice, has almost become the norm.
Yu Zecheng's methods are even more clever, he can not only get gold and silver treasures from them, but also solve some thorny problems for Wu Jingzhong at the right time. For example, he once traded a Song Dynasty night pearl and a one-foot-tall jade golden Buddha for Wu Jingzhong's trust and more power. This method, although it looks glamorous, is actually full of risks behind it.
Skynet is magnificent, negligent but not leaky. When Lou Zhaoyuan, the head of the inspection department, was transferred back to Nanjing for corruption in 1948, the entire Tianjin spy system felt the pressure. Wu Jingzhong skillfully escaped from Tianjin by escorting Lou Zhaoyuan to Nanjing. He fled not only to avoid falling into the same fate, but also to preserve the wealth he had accumulated over the years.
After Wu Jingzhong fled, Li Juncai took over the position of stationmaster. Unlike Wu Jingzhong and Yu Zecheng, Li Juncai focused more on the quality of intelligence work than on the mere collection of wealth. Although this change in management has brought intelligence work back on track, it has also exposed many problems in previous management.
In the process, it is not difficult to see that although the secret services are shouldered the important task of collecting intelligence, in those days, they were more like a huge interest group. Within the group, the struggle for interests and power has never stopped. Wu Jingzhong and Yu Zecheng are only part of the system, and it is precisely because of the loopholes in this system that they can use their power to seek their own benefits.
But there are always two sides to the story. Inevitably, in their accumulation of wealth, a crisis was sown. When the external political situation changes, so does their wealth and status. Wu Jingzhong's escape can be said to be his clever side, but it also exposes his sensitivity to changes in the situation and his strong sense of self-preservation.
In this history, we see the complexity of human nature. In a game of thrones, everyone can be a predator or a prey. Wu Jingzhong and Yu Zecheng remind us that in any era, the temptation of power and wealth is always difficult to resist, but how to stay sober in the face of temptation is a test that everyone must face.
These stories, although they took place decades ago, are still profound. We can still see a similar situation in today's society, whether in politics, business, or anything else. Game of Thrones never stops, and how to stay true to one's heart in this game without losing morality and principles is an eternal topic.
Through Wu Jingzhong and Yu Zecheng, it is not difficult for us to find that history is always strikingly similar. In every era, people seek balance in the game of power and wealth. They are not only a footnote to history, but also a reminder and reflection for people today. In the face of the temptation of power, how we should choose and act is not only a historical evaluation of them, but also a plan for our own future. In modern society, such historical warnings are more important than ever, reminding us that maintaining one's principles and morals is the most basic and important responsibility of every human being, no matter what the circumstances.