Whitehall is a street in the city of London, England. It connects the Houses of Parliament to Downing Street. In and around this street there are a number of British government offices such as the Ministry of Defence, the Foreign Office, the Home Office, and the Admiralty.

Hence the use of Whitehall as a synonym for the British executive branch. In the southwest corner of Whitehall is 10 Downing Street, the symbol of the British government.

The long wartime system is slowly being dismantled, at least for the civil servants in Whitehall, who are accustomed to running from department to department on a daily basis, processing information from the battlefield.

Edward Bridges, rubbing his eyes with one hand, had just finished a stylized meeting as cabinet secretary. Having his secretary invite Norman Brooke, the titular civil servant, to come over, Edward Bridges lit a cigarette.

Edward Bridges and Norman Brooke co-lead the civil service in Whitehall and assist Prime Minister Winston Churchill in his efforts to deal with the world war, which is nearing its end.

But as the head of the Cabinet Office committee, Cabinet Secretary Edward Bridges is significantly busier than the civil servant.

"Edward, are you done with the various departments?" Norman Brooke hadn't even come in before the voice had entered Edward Bridges' Cabinet Office, and he walked in just in time to see the Cabinet Secretary thinking about life.

"Norman, you know, unlike the Prime Minister and the Ministers, those of us who do things are always busy." Edward Bridges squeezed out a smile, then snuffed out the cigarette butt in his hand, motioned for a seat, and said, "It seems that there is news from the front that Berlin seems to be captured by the Soviet Red Army." ”

"In terms of the losses of the Soviet Union in the face of the invasion of Germany, this is also justified." Norman Brooke said disapprehantly, "And the Americans don't seem to be willing to oppose it, we have limited influence in this matter." ”

"Americans? The Americans are simply deliberately humiliating us! "It's hard to imagine that the Americans would be more willing to listen to the Soviets than to us." ”

Norman Brooke shrugged, knowing that what the Cabinet Secretary said was true, and said, "After the war, things in Whitehall are no less than they were during the war, and it is a trivial matter to think of the return of the large number of demobilized soldiers, and the status of some colonies, and even how to divide the German occupation zone." ”

Scratching his itchy scalp, Edward Bridges had to admit that what the other party said made sense.

Norman Brooke was about to open his mouth to say relief, but his eyes saw the letter on the table, pointed to it and asked, "What is this?" ”

"It was Mountbatten's letter to the Prime Minister, it was sent by my secretary, and a commissioner from British India returned home with this letter to the Prime Minister, and we have passed the necessary checks, and another letter to the Indian Colonial Minister, Leo Emory, which I have sent to the Indian Ministry of Affairs." Edward Bridges explained, "The commissioner who came back to debrief, I've sent him to MI6. ”

"Just when he returns, we can know first-hand what happened in British India, and let MI6 ask about it." Norman Brooke slapped his thigh and said, "The present situation in the colonies is a major problem after the war, which we will have to solve sooner or later, and the parties are now arguing fiercely, and I already have a premonition that after the war is over, Congress will start a fierce quarrel." ”

"That's right, I was negligent. By the way, since we came back from India, we will find a senior MI6 official who has knowledge of the local area to verify, and it just so happens that I still have such a person in mind. With that, Edward Bridges picked up the phone, and the headquarters of MI6 was on the same street, so it was convenient to pass on information.

Alan Wilson, on the other hand, was idle in a huge 20-story building, looking out through the window, and it was hard to imagine that this building, which was part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was the current headquarters of MI6.

But then again, spies and diplomats do have something in common, and some people say that diplomats are legitimate spies, and that what they do is generally similar.

A short time later, a man about thirty years old with thick hair on his head, dressed in a smart suit, came in and said politely, "It's Commissioner Hyderabad who has returned to China, Alan Wilson, right?" I'm sorry for being late, but I've been sent to find out some information, so let's just talk casually, by the way, my name is Harold King Philby, and you can call me Harold. ”

"The reason why I have come to talk about India is because I was born in British India." Philby sat in front of Alan Wilson and smiled and opened his mouth, and the other party, Alan Wilson, relaxed.

Harold King Philby was born in Ambala, India, the son of a British scholar of Arabic languages who served as a civil servant in the Indian government. His parents had high expectations for Philby Jr., and when he was of school age, he was sent back to school in England.

"It turns out that Mr. Philby was born in British India!" Alan Wilson nodded clearly, introduced the current situation in British India, focused on the matter of Hyderabad, and finally added, "I believe that Mr. Philby also has a certain understanding of British India, in fact, it is difficult for me to believe that such a gentle and elegant person as you is engaged in intelligence work." ”

"It's not surprising that intelligence workers in particular like to look for back-ups from Oxford and Cambridge." Philby looked down at Alan Wilson's file, explained disappreciably, and then changed his words with some surprise, "You are a student at the Oriental College of Oxford University?" With such a young age to enter school, the outbreak of war may be considered bad news for you, delaying your studies. ”

"Actually, it's not a bad thing to work early." Alan Wilson looked at Philby's face and asked in his heart, "I didn't know that the intelligence service likes to recruit people from well-known universities, so that's the case." Where did Mr. Philby complete his education? ”

Philby glanced up at Alan Wilson and smiled in a calm voice, "When I went to school, I was at Cambridge University and Trinity College, and if I also finished my studies at Oxford University, I can be regarded as your senior." ”

Oh? When Alan Wilson heard this, his face did not change but his heart suddenly changed, Trinity College, Cambridge University? Born in British India? It seems that there is such a person among the Cambridge Five.

"Well, Whitehall wants to get first-hand information about British India, so I'm talking." Philby, who had been smiling since he entered the room, said that the questioning was over.

"I have just returned from British India and am a little new to London. If I have the chance, I would love to go around with Mr. Philby. Alan Wilson opened the invitation, he was too interested in the Cambridge Five.