MSS Overlord: Dai Li

Author: Yang Hui
Publisher:
Publishing Date: July 1, 2001
Features: Known for his ruthlessness, Dai Li was hailed as "Chiang Kai-shek's Sword," "China's Gestapo," and "China's Mysterious Figure." U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt once asked Chiang Kai-shek to meet "China's Himmler—Dai Li." Chiang Kai-shek valued Dai Li but feared his growing power. Dai Li seemed to be aware of his fate: "I will either die in the hands of the Communists or in the hands of Chiang Kai-shek."
Detailed Introduction:
Chapter 1: A Turbulent Childhood
Dai Li's original name was Zai Chunfeng, born into a declining family and losing his father at a young age. He was restless, competitive, lustful, and fond of others' privacy, enduring hundreds of whippings from his mother over a decade. However, the glory of his ancestors once excited him, motivating him to study hard to honor his family. Yet, changes in fate made the imperial examination out of reach.
- Dai Guangming Divination, Moving to Xianxia Ridge by Night
- Dai Chunfeng’s Birth, the Family’s Hope for a Nobleman
- A Scholar in a Private School, Losing the Dream of the Imperial Examination
- "Youth Society" President, Seeking Pleasure and Flirtation
Chapter 2: Wandering in Shanghai and Hangzhou
Dai Chunfeng enrolled at Hangzhou No. 1 High School but was expelled within half a year for violating school rules, marking the start of his "wandering" life. He tasted the bitterness of being a captive, the hardship of being a beggar, and the boredom of being a "small petty thief." It was also during this time that he bathed in West Lake and struck up a friendship with Hu Zongnan; he also became brothers with Du Yueshan in Shanghai. Notably, in Shanghai’s Gold Circle Exchange, he met Chiang Kai-shek, Dai Jitao, and the Chen brothers, all of whom would later play pivotal roles in his fate.
- Dai Chunfeng Buys a Mirror, Designed to Conceal His Gaze at Women
- Bathing in West Lake, A Fortuitous Encounter with Hu Zongnan
- Just a Captive, Then a Beggar
- Making Brothers with Du San in Shanghai
- Chen Guofu’s View of the "Small Petty Thief"
Chapter 3: Becoming a Disciple in Huzhou
Wang Yaqiao, the leader of Shanghai’s "Fulian Party" and then China’s largest assassin, recruited soldiers in Huzhou. Upon learning of this, Dai Chunfeng joined Wang Yaqiao’s ranks overnight, becoming a legitimate official for the first time and proudly sworn brother with him. He dreamt of "rising to prominence." However, good times were short.
- Repairing the Fence, Joining Wang Yaqiao
- Four Sworn Brothers in Huzhou
- A Soldier Punished by Sunlight, Losing His Life
- A Desperate Battle on Songjiang River, Escaping Death
Chapter 4: Latecomer at the Whampoa Military Academy
In his, Dai Chunfeng met Mao Renfeng, who told him, "The revolutionary spirit is strong at Whampoa." With Chai Luming’s help, he secretly left home and joined Guangzhou. Renaming himself Dai Li, he went through trials and was eventually admitted to the Whampoa Military Academy. He began collecting intelligence against the Communists, determined to become Chiang Kai-shek’s bodyguard. However, fate took a turn when he was nearly killed for pocketing money while buying food.
- Mao Renfeng’s Guidance, Deciding to Go South to Guangdong
- "Cutting Corners," Joining the Whampoa Military Academy as a Latecomer
- A "Paid Investigator" Who Sold Himself
- "Pilgrimage" to Xikou to Gather Capital
- Risking Death for Corruption and Prostitution
Chapter 5: Emerging from the Shadows
When Dai Li joined Chiang Kai-shek, the latter was engaged in power struggles with regional strongmen. With little influence, Chiang Kai-shek’s guards, gatekeepers, and even cooks dismissed him as a mere "individual spy." Yet, Dai Li endured what others couldn’t. His efforts paid off, earning him the title of Chiang Kai-shek’s "Sun Wukong." Chiang Kai-shek’s stroke of the pen left the words "Tough and Unyielding" as a gift.
- "An Outsider Intelligence Officer," His Most Humiliating Period
- Making Enemies to Overcome Them
- An Ensign Liaison Officer’s Worldly Wisdom
- Chiang Kai-shek’s Gift: "Tough and Unyielding"
- Tang Shengzhi Offers 100,000 Yuan Reward for Dai Li’s Capture
- Chiang Kai-shek’s Ally in Controlling Northeast Forces
Chapter 6: Rising Star of the "Revive Society"
In his isolated position, Chiang Kai-shek repeatedly berated Dai Li and others. Inspired by a book given to each attendee at a meeting, Dai Li boldly submitted his own proposal. Chiang Kai-shek then established the "Revive Society" and appointed Dai Li as its Special Intelligence Chief, overriding objections. Though he feigned humility, he was well-prepared.
- Someone Who Skillfully Guessed Chiang’s Thoughts
- Chiang Kai-shek Personally Appoints Dai Li as Special Intelligence Chief
- The Future Three Heavyweights of the Military Intelligence Bureau, Already Engaged in Rivalry
- Competing for the Opium Suppression Supervision Division
Chapter 7: Manipulating People’s Hearts
Dai Li recruited followers, bringing relatives and friends in but entrusting them with secret surveillance rather than power. His Whampoa "big brothers" now became subordinates, difficult to control, serving only as figureshead. From all walks of life, from petty thieves to scoundrels, anyone politically savvy was welcome. To control field agents, he held individual talks and encouraged mutual surveillance. The result was that Wang Guanghui, who obtained important Communist intelligence, was soon executed for trying to report it directly to Chiang Kai-shek. Zhou Xunyu, who played both sides, only realized his fate when he died in his wife’s hands.
- Ye Yanshi’s "Old Dai" Comments, Rejected by an Old Classmate
- Recruiting Loyalists into the "Garden of Dreams"
- Grateful for Help, Recruiting Mao Renfeng as a Key Assistant
- "Special Agents Among Special Agents": Mutual Surveillance
- Zhou Xunyu Monitored by His Wife
- Wang Guanghui’s Small Group Betrayed, Executed
Chapter 8: Ecstasy at the Police Academy
Jia Jinan told Dai Li, "Stop visiting brothels, or you’ll get sick. There are so many female students nearby—why go far?" Dai Li agreed. He first seized the Zhejiang Police Academy as a special envoy, then fought with Li Shizhen for control of police education. He justified his actions by imitating the school principal’s care for students, though he was truly fond of young, beautiful women. Thus, Ye Xiati, Zhao Ailan, and Jiang Yiyi one after another left him "ecstatic." Meanwhile, Mao Xiuzong was left alone, becoming a "superfluous woman."
- Unexpected Gains from a Special Training Class
- A Special Envoy Seizes the Police Academy
- Internal Conflict and No One to Complain To
- The Original Wife Becomes a "Superfluous Woman"
Chapter 9: The Sword’s Bloody Reign
Dai Li was likened to "Chiang Kai-shek’s Sword." Once, Chiang Kai-shek asked him, "Song Qingling and others in Shanghai have been opposing me lately—what should I do?" The "sword" was drawn: Yang Xinfu’s bloody demise in Shanghai, followed by the assassination of the press magnate Shi Liangcai in Hangzhou’s Bao’ai Town. Dai Li also arranged for Shen to prepare a special car—not to kill Song Qingling, but to injure her.
- The Gun’s Out—Yang Xinfu’s Bloody Death
- The Press Magnate’s Soul Ends in Bao’ai Town
- The Shadow Near Song Qingling
Chapter 10: Master-Servant Rivalry
Wang Yaqiao’s repeated attempts to assassinate Chiang Kai-shek enraged the latter. Yet, to use the killer, Chiang Kai-shek sent Dai Li twice to recruit him, both times rejected. Chiang Kai-shek furious: "Dai Yurong, if you can’t kill Wang Yaqiao, I’ll let Wang Yaqiao kill you." Dai Li then personally took action, relentlessly hunting him. The great killer feigned death in coffins, dressed as a woman, escaping death time and again. But Wang Yaqiao finally fell into Dai Li’s beauty trap, dying in a small building in Wuzhou, Guangxi.
- Your Path, My Bridge
- The Three Brothers Recruit Wang Jiuguo
- The Great Killer Dressed as a Woman, Escaping Death
- The Three Brothers Recruit Wang Jiuguo Again
- Master-Servant Showdown in Hong Kong
- Wang Yaqiao Entrapped by a Beauty Trap
Chapter 11: Rescuing the Emperor in Xi’an
After winning the concubine of Northwest Army general Hu Yimin, intelligence flowed from Xi’an to Nanjing. However, Chiang Kai-shek’s urgent "suppression of the Communists" led to his capture in Xi’an. Dai Li knelt before his mother, vowing to share Chiang Kai-shek’s fate in Xi’an. He returned safely, though briefly hospitalized. When Soong Mei-ling, representing Chiang Kai-shek, visited him, he gained favor.
- An Untrusted Intelligence Report
- Chiang Kai-shek Captured, Dai Li Goes to Xi’an
- Adventures in the Ancient Capital, Dai Li’s Near Misses
- Repaying Grudges, Zhang and Yang Become Prisoners
- Lucky Bet, Graced with Chiang’s Favor
Chapter 12: Dai and Chen’s Rivalry
Dai Li’s Special Intelligence Bureau and Chen Lifu’s and Chen Guofu’s Investigation Department were Chiang Kai-shek’s two deadly weapons. One mountain cannot hold two tigers; the ambitious Dai Li openly competed with the CC Clique. Soon, the Military Council Investigation Bureau was established, with Chen Lifu as director, making him Dai Li’s superior. Yet, Dai Li never respected Chen Lifu, ignoring reports and only looking for faults. When Chen Lifu won more votes than Chiang Kai-shek in the Nationalist Party Congress, Dai Li reported it, leading to his arrest.
- Internal Strife, No Room for Two Tigers
- Competing to Win, Fighting the Communists
- The CC Clique Forced Out of Postal Inspection
- Taking Advantage of Chen Lifu’s Downfall
Chapter 13: Secret Assassinations
With Japan’s full-scale invasion, Shanghai was on the brink of collapse. Dai Li, after securing Chiang Kai-shek’s approval, formed the Su-Zhe Special Action Team within a month, composed of gangsters, special agents, and workers. This team accepted the mission, fighting and dying in Nanjing. After Shanghai and Nanjing fell, Chiang Kai-shek prepared to retreat to Sichuan. Suddenly, Dai Li discovered the plots of Liu Xiang and Han Fuju.
- A Special Force in the Battle of Shanghai
- An Invisible Front Line on the Shanghai Front
- The Su-Zhe Special Action Team, Dying in Nanjing
- Eliminating Han Fuju, Clearing the Path to Sichuan
Chapter 14: Chief of the Military Intelligence Bureau
Promoted to Major General and Chief of the Military Intelligence Bureau, Dai Li’s ambitions soared. He immediately wrote "Political Detective" as a textbook for agents. With the rapid development of telecommunications, he cracked Japanese diplomatic codes, solving the problem of Japanese bombers attacking Chongqing. At the "April 1st" Conference, as people raised their glasses and shouted, "Wish Dai Sir Good Health," he flashed an enigmatic smile.
- From Chief to Deputy Chief of the Military Intelligence Bureau
- "Political Detective"—The "Agent’s Bible" of Autocratic Rule
- The Three Principles of Espionage: Intelligence, Action, and Telecommunications
- The Five Words of Espionage: Skirt, Office, Teacher, Money, and Dry
- The "April 1st" Conference Showcases His "Elegance"
Chapter 15: Pursuing a Woman Abroad
Wang Jingwei fled to Hanoi, and Chiang Kai-shek ordered Dai Li to deal with him secretly. Wang Jingwei was no ordinary figure—he had been a killer and had narrowly escaped assassination himself. Dai Li personally took action, flying to Hong Kong and Hanoi to make arrangements. However, Wang Jingwei was destined to escape death—poison and gas failed. In the end, the gunshot in Hanoi hit his deputy, Zeng Zhongming.
- Wang Jingwei Fleeing to Hanoi
- Commanding from Hong Kong, Directing Hanoi Operations
- Poison and Gas Plans, Both Foiled
- The Gunshot on Gaoliang Street Missed Wang Jingwei
- Pursuing the Killer, Who Was Killed by the Wang Family
Chapter 16: Dai Li and Women
Dai Li slept with as many women as he could. For some, he indulged without attachment. For those he pursued, he went to great lengths to win their favor. However, he had a habit: while he liked others’ women, he forbade others from touching the women he had slept with. Thus, Wei Daming nearly died for his relationship with Zhao Ailan. Even Song Lixiang, a maid in his mansion, and Zhang Xijian, a guard, were not spared.
- Zhou Zhiying’s Desire to Be the "Boss’s Wife" Leads to Imprisonment
- Why Dai Li Used the Name "Yu Huailong"
- Wei Daming Marries Dai Li’s mistress, Nearly Dies
- Song Lixiang Cheats, Nearly Dies
Chapter 17: Commissioned to Eliminate Enemies
After the war began, Dai Li, to maintain Chiang Kai-shek’s legitimate rule, launched suppression campaigns in Shanghai and Beijing, effectively undermining the Japanese puppet regime. Tang Shaoyi, former Premier of the Northern Warlord Government; Fu Xiaonian, Mayor of Shanghai under the puppet regime; Zhang Xiaolin, the black market head; and Wang Kemin, President of the Peking puppet cabinet—all were punished, even the Japanese Emperor’s special envoy was shot dead in Peking.
- Solving the "Zhidijixian" Plan Leak Case
- Assassinating Wang Kemin, President of the Peking Puppet Cabinet
- Beheading Tang Shaoyi, Former Premier of the Northern Warlord Government
- Zhang Xiaolin, the Black Market Head, Shot Dead
- Servant Zhu Sheng Kills His Master, Fu Xiaonian
Chapter 18: "Family Law" Rule
Dai Li saw the Military Intelligence Bureau as a family, with himself as the head. His management style was: promote those with outstanding performance, severely punish rule-breakers, and execute those he couldn’t control. During the war, many Military Intelligence Bureau agents "died for the law." Dai Li often lectured his agents, saying, "Comrades are like limbs, unity is family." Yet, few of them felt this "family’s warmth."
- The "Three-Character Scripture" of Espionage Rule: Official, Control, Coffin
- Dai Li’s Prohibition: "Six Unauthorizations"
- "Comrades Are Like Limbs, Unity Is Family"
Chapter 19: Seeking Connections for Status
Dai Li believed in "making friends is making roads," mingling in official circles to rise in rank. His connections were shallow, ignoring class and associating with scoundrels. Like Hu Zongnan and Du Yueshan, whom he had sworn brother with in Shanghai, he maintained close ties throughout his life. He used various means to please Song Ziyuan, the "nephew of the state," even treating his "prisoner" as a guest to achieve political ambitions.
- The Finance Minister of the Republic Became the Military Intelligence Bureau’s "Money Tree"
- A Unique Relationship with Hu Zongnan
- Packaging Hidden Intentions, the "Prisoner" Became a "Guest"
- The Black Market Head and the Espionage Chief, Working in Different Ways
- Friends Who Showed One Face to the Front, Another Behind
Chapter 20: Life-and-Death Showdown
Dai Li and Xu Enzeng led the two intelligence agencies, Military Intelligence Bureau and Central Intelligence Bureau, both known as "Spies Kings." In the mid-war, Xu Enzeng’s political status surpassed Dai Li, infuriating the ambitious and ruthless Dai Li. He struck hard, repeatedly succeeding, quickly ousting the Central Intelligence Bureau leader and later stripping him of his position.
- Zhao Lijun’s Death, Losing a Key Ally
- Repeated Cases, Chiang Kai-shek Enraged
- Delivering Heavy Blows, Xu Enzeng’s Ruin
Chapter 21: Feuding with the Powerful
Dai Li’s nature was to be overly competitive. Whether it was powerful figures or "royal relatives," anyone who opposed him earned his resentment. He not only feuded with the CC Clique for life but also seized Chen Cheng’s weak spot, Chiang Kai-shek’s favorite general, and even his soon-to-be son-in-law, who died in Dai Li’s hands. Especially to help Chiang Kai-shek mend old ties, he offending the "."
- The "Little Chairman’s" Near Death
- Kong Caishen’s Son-in-Law Dies Before Marriage
- Helping Chiang Kai-shek Mend Old Ties, Making New Enemies
Chapter 22: The Dream of a Couple and a Butterfly
Dai Li had many women in his life, but the actress Hu Die most captivated him. He conspired with Yang Hu, using both rewards and threats to abduct her, banishing her husband Pan Shengyong to spring city.
Book Contents:
Chapter 1: A Turbulent Childhood
Chapter 2: Wandering in Shanghai and Hangzhou
Chapter 3: Becoming a Disciple in Huzhou
Chapter 4: Latecomer at the Whampoa Military Academy
Chapter 5: Emerging from the Shadows
Chapter 6: Rising Star of the "Revive Society"
Chapter 7: Manipulating People’s Hearts
Chapter 8: Ecstasy at the Police Academy
Chapter 9: The Sword’s Bloody Reign
Chapter 10: Master-Servant Rivalry
Chapter 11: Rescuing the Emperor in Xi’an
Chapter 12: Dai and Chen’s Rivalry
Chapter 13: Secret Assassinations
Chapter 14: Chief of the Military Intelligence Bureau
Chapter 15: Pursuing a Woman Abroad
Chapter 16: Dai Li and Women
Chapter 17: Commissioned to Eliminate Enemies
Chapter 18: "Family Law" Rule
Chapter 19: Seeking Connections for Status
Chapter 20: Life-and-Death Showdown
Chapter 21: Feuding with the Powerful
Chapter 22: The Dream of a Couple and a Butterfly
Chapter 23: Sentimental in a Foreign Land
Chapter 24: Spies and Traitors
Chapter 25: The "Recovery" Official
Chapter 26: Overpowering the Ruler
Chapter 27: Dying on Dai Mountain