Inland, in a mountainous area.
On the winding mountain road, a military jeep sped along.
In the back seat, Han Gang, wearing the insignia of a lieutenant colonel, focused on the document in his hands.
This document had just been passed to him.
It contained information on a retired non-commissioned officer named Song Heping.
The credentials of this officer read like a thrilling pulp novel.
Han Gang couldn't help but admire the man after going through his file.
Today, he had to make a trip to Unit 203.
Because some of Song Heping's information was missing.
Although it was known that he had served in a certain special forces unit, he had suddenly retired. Before his retirement, he seemed to have participated in a selection and training program for Unit 203.
It is said that even ordinary non-commissioned officers from the special forces, upon retirement, are subject to a five-year confidentiality period during which they are not allowed to leave the force.
How did Song Heping manage to leave then?
Moreover, within just a little over a year abroad, he established a defense company of considerable scale with several hundred under his command, and his company is currently the largest transportation contractor for the US Army in Illiguo.
His journey was simply like a dream.
Could it be related to Unit 203?
Song Heping had actually been placed on the surveillance list half a year ago.
For a simple reason: information had been relayed from overseas.
An intelligence broker named "Lao Yinbi" sent a message saying that this person had approached him to buy intelligence, and upon discovery, "Lao Yinbi" realized this was no ordinary individual. He was involved in a deal concerning SA-9 missiles, deemed to be acting as an agent for the US Army, with the buyers being anti-government armed forces in Africa.
Owing to his professional sensitivity, "Lao Yinbi" felt that there was something more to this matter and thus sent back Song Heping's situation, asking the intelligence department to investigate his background.
At the time of the investigation, due to issues of classification and authority, it was found that there was a period in Song Heping's history that was a blank, speculated to be related to a highly confidential military unit, hence he was placed under surveillance.
Because Song Heping still retained his citizenship, he would inevitably return to the country someday, and once he returned, he would have to be interviewed.
This was the advice of the intelligence department.
As a relevant official at the agency, Han Gang had received a warning and obtained this notice.
Because Song Heping had returned.
Indeed.
This guy had actually returned to his hometown, seemingly because of matters concerning his family's admission into the household registry. However, over the past few days, he and another retired non-commissioned officer who had entered the country at the same time had registered a security company. They were currently recruiting and buying horses, recruiting mostly retired elites, mainly from the training units.
Among them were both officers and soldiers.
Currently, with the implementation of autonomous career choice, many officers had started seeking their own jobs after returning to civilian life.
While many excelled in the military, they became like dragons in shallow waters upon returning to civilian life, where nothing seemed to work out for them. Many squandered their demobilization pay to the point of having to drive taxis or work as security guards.
Many of those recruited by Song Heping were in such situations.
According to data obtained from the business sector, Song Heping's security company was engaged in overseas business. It appeared that everyone had signed contracts stipulating their destination was to service an oilfield security detail in Illiguo.
Legally speaking, there is nothing wrong with this.
There are few companies involved in the PMC business domestically, but it is allowed overseas.
As long as the contracts are signed with legitimate companies, there are no issues.
This time, the overseas labor contract was signed with a company registered in the Cayman Islands. A check showed it was a company established within the last year, with no issues in its business operations.
In other words, everything was legal.
This surprised Han Gang.
Just Song Heping alone wouldn't have been capable of such a global enterprise, thriving so impressively.
It showed he had an impressive roster of talents in his "Musician" defense company in Illiguo.
Even with his rank, Han Gang couldn't access many details in the document, such as "Lao Yinbi", which was clearly a codename; even he did not know who the person really was.
But based on Han Gang's experience, this had to be a high-level spy known to only a few people.
Song Heping's return to the country now seemed to be tangled in an economic dispute.
Fortunately, it looked like no major issues had arisen.
The local alert was sent to the provincial office. After being passed around, it finally reached Han Gang's department.
The chief instructed that Song Heping was a very valuable individual, and it was essential to establish contact with him. If possible, even offering him a position would be necessary.
Han Gang still remembered the scene in the chief's office before he departed; when the chief read through Song Heping's file and widened his eyes in surprise, he questioned how such a valuable person got away. What did he intend to do with so many recruits upon his return?
At that moment, Han Gang could only explain that this individual would surely not act against the country's interests, noting his low profile since returning and not even complaining after being extorted for two million.
It showed he neither wanted nor dared to make trouble in the country.
The chief laughed, handing the document back to Han Gang, saying, "You'd better go to Unit 203 and get a clear understanding of his situation. If he participated in their selection and training, there's definitely an assessment report. Find out how he left, what his temperament is like; there will be conclusions."
As a final word of caution, he said, "After you've got a clear grasp, I'll coordinate with 203. Don't just go pinning down Song Heping directly—you can't handle him. Let someone from his own unit talk to him."