Chapter 14, Section 1, Investigation Room 1 of the Miao Township Wu Zu Chapter 1

In this manner, Hao Wenming led me and Sun Fatty to the Investigation Office downstairs. Once we left the office of the Bureau Chief, Director Hao's demeanor underwent a remarkable transformation, becoming quite talkative compared to his earlier silence. I found it surprising how quickly he changed, and before we even entered the office, he and Sun Fatty were already on familiar terms.

The Investigation Office had an open layout, with around a dozen desks in the main office area. Hao Wenming's office was in one of the smaller rooms inside. Glancing around, I noted that all the typical office supplies were present, but it was conspicuously devoid of people.

"Those two desks by the entrance are yours," Hao Wenming pointed to the desks, "Our office has ten members in total, including you two. However, most of them have been borrowed by the Second Office, and they won't be back for over half a month. There's one more person I'd like you to meet, Po Jun, Po Jun! Where is he?"

"Right here," a voice came from behind us. Sun Fatty and I turned to see a giant of a man entering from outside.

The newcomer appeared to be in his twenties or early thirties, towering over two meters in height. Despite his massive stature, he moved with surprising agility. As he approached, I estimated that not only Sun Fatty but even I, standing at 1.78 meters, barely reached his shoulder. He casually addressed Hao Wenming, "Boss Hao, Director Ouyang from the Fifth Office called. He wants you to bring the newcomers to his office to collect equipment before he finishes work." His words were delivered in a monotone voice, devoid of any inflection.

"Why is Old Left in such a hurry? Tell him to wait a bit. Let me introduce you guys first." He gestured towards the tall man. "This is Pu Jun, but we just call him 'Bai.' They've even started calling him 'Po Jun.' He's been here for a few years and is one of the veterans at the Bureau."

After the introductions, Hao Wenming led us out of the Investigation Office. As we toured the Bureau's building, it remained eerily quiet, with few people in sight.

On the fourth floor, we came across an office with an older man leaning against the door, next to a sign that read "Fifth Office, Investigations."

Upon spotting Hao Wenming, the older man became visibly anxious and began speaking in a heavy Shaanxi dialect, "Hah, you, this slowpoke, finally showed up." Hao Wenming shot him a glance and retorted in a Beijing accent, "Old Left, what's the rush? It's not even that late."

Old Left seemed genuinely hurried and paid no further attention to Hao Wenming. He picked up two briefcases with combination locks from the floor and pushed them towards Sun Fatty and me, saying, "Are you two new here? Don't say a word about anything. These are the Bureau's equipment. Take them now, and we'll handle the paperwork later." Without waiting for the elevator, he headed straight for the stairs and disappeared.

Sun Fatty and I stood there, holding the briefcases, dumbfounded by Old Left's abrupt departure.

Hao Wenming shook his head and mumbled to himself, "He must have stumbled upon something good again." He then patted our shoulders and said, "Let's find a place for you to test the equipment, and I'll brief you on what the Bureau is all about."

In 1982, a department known as the "Special Cases Handling Office" split from the Ministry of Public Security. This "office" kept an exceptionally low profile, to the extent that even within the police force, very few knew the exact nature and scope of its work.

In fact, this department had existed since the early days of the People's Republic of China. It was established based on the foundation of the "Religious Affairs Handling Committee" from the Nationalist era. Its earliest predecessor was the Special Archives Management Division of the Capital Garrison Force, which later fell under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Security, initially known as the "Ministry of Public Security Special Archives Management Division."

At its inception, the Special Archives Division had a staff of only seven individuals – one director and six officers. The first director was a former political commissar of a Chinese People's Volunteer Army unit that had fought in the Korean War. Little is known about the six officers. This modest team laid the groundwork for the six investigation offices within the Bureau, several decades later.

When the Special Archives Division was first established, its office was located in the outskirts of the capital (the current location of the Bureau). At the time, this area was a forgotten corner, rarely visited by outsiders. Apart from the monthly visits from the Ministry's finance department to distribute salaries and office funds (it remains a mystery why they weren't allowed to collect their salaries at the Ministry of Public Security), very few outsiders ever came to the area.