ABSTRACT
Shen Zui was born in 1914 and, at the age of 18 in 1932, joined the Guomindang's internal security agency, the Bureau of Confidential Information, in the south-west district. Shen remained in the Guomindang's 'Gestapo' for 18 years, during which time he moved through the ranks from messenger to secret agent to section chief and, for his last six years, was director of the department of general affairs. Dai Li's organization had two main purposes according to Shen's account: to eliminate the Communist element and to rid the Nationalist government and the Guomindang of those who failed to support Chiang Kai-shek. Reflecting on the secrets of the Communists' success in reforming their enemies, Shen pointed to the fact that, with their entire patient if dogged persistence, they never demeaned one. Shen appears to harbour no regrets over his reformation and he told his story with enthusiasm and good humour.
