The Sixth Bureau, Episode 1: Your Friend From Nanjing

Bloomberg Audio Studios. Podcasts, radio, news. Today's date is Wednesday, 04/25/2018. The time is 03:12PM. The following is a consensual body recording with the subject, Ji Chao Chun. The recording starts now. There's a guy sitting in a red Chevy Malibu in front of an apartment complex near Downtown Chicago. He's waiting for someone to walk out of the apartment building. After a few minutes, the person does. He's young and he's wearing a warm up jacket and glasses. He has a buzz cut. His name is Ji Chao Choon. The guy in the red car gets out, walks toward Ji, and yells to him in Mandarin. We were all holding our breath because this is that interaction that we've prepared for. The two men are being watched. She's a little confused, a little flustered, and you can see that in his body language. He keeps his distance. You are a friend from Nanjing sent me to you. This reference to Nanjing, it's code. It's a way of saying, hey. We know the same people. And, Xi, he understands it. Oh, I get it now. I think at that point, g's demeanor relaxed, and their body language got closer. Is it a good time to talk? Roughly, how long will it take? My car is parked over there in red. No problem. No problem. The two men walk towards the red car and get in. I'm not sure if you are aware. Something went down with the friends in Anjin. I am not aware. Do you know whom I am referring to? Xi hesitates. The man pulls out his phone. Let me show you this. I have heard of him. Have you heard that something happened to him recently? I am not aware. The stranger says his name is Chen and suggests that the two of them go somewhere more private than his car. He says he has a room at the Hyatt, which is nearby. At first, Xi tries to get out of it. I really don't have time right now. I apologize. But Chen pushes back. This is important. When people have issues, such as this talk with you, they come to me. But I do not want to talk too much about it because Okay. I understand. Xi gives in. They drive to the hotel. And it was immediate. Let's start moving. Let's start getting into place. So at that point, I left for the hotel and got to the lobby. Chen parks the car, and the two men walk into the hotel. I am simply a spectator sitting near the hotel bar and enjoying my afternoon. But my true goal is to keep my eyes on the two individuals that are briskly walking into the hotel lobby and making their way to the elevator. The two men take the elevator up to a room. Ji sits down at a small table at the foot of the unmade bed. We'd already gone into the hotel room and …