Chapter 1053
Mao Renfeng: A new game begins where the pieces are broken!
Mao Renfeng painstakingly launched a purge of the headquarters of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics, sending Shen Zui, the leader of the Zhang faction, to Yunnan, transferring others out of real power, and detaining many people at the No. 3 base for investigation.
But can he really sever Zhang Anping's tentacles at headquarters by doing this?
The answer is:
He's overthinking it!
Among Zhang's faction, there are not many members of our party, really not many, only about 40%.
Because among the core members of the Mao faction, the number of our party members is not 40%, but 80% or more!
The reason is simple: Zhang Anping's core followers were those who had worked their way up with him step by step. Although he vigorously developed his comrades, there were ultimately limitations.
The hairs are different.
The Maoist faction has experienced many ups and downs, weeding out far too many spies. After the great wave of change, the core members who remain in the Maoist faction are all genuine talents!
True gold refined through countless trials!
This is also why Chai Ying tried to rebuild the communication channel after Zhang Anping was placed under house arrest—for someone with such resources, rebuilding a channel to communicate with Zhang Anping was really too easy.
Of course, because of Zeng Moyi's obstruction, she did not build any more channels.
Now that she had received Zhang Anping's instructions, Chai Ying naturally wouldn't be "polite" and immediately began to implement Zhang Anping's plan to "aid the enemy."
Qiu Ning!
The entry point was Qiu Ning, whom Zhang Anping had chosen.
Qiu Ning is currently the director of the Operations Division at the Bureau Headquarters—in principle, Qiu Ning's qualifications are insufficient for the position of director.
However, he was a key general of the Mao faction, and the Mao faction was a typical case of "when there are no great generals in Shu, Liao Hua is the vanguard." After driving away Shen Zui, Mao Renfeng made an exception and allowed Qiu Ning and another key member with similar qualifications to take over the core action department and intelligence department.
Thus, after much back and forth, these two powerful agencies within the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics remained under the control of Intelligence Group No. 2.
Previously, Chai Ying's identity was kept secret from Qiu Ning, but as Qiu Ning became the head of the action department, in order to reduce intermediate steps, Chai Ying and Qiu Ning met in a real way—now, Chai Ying is meeting with Qiu Ning in secret again.
Chai Ying handed over her revised "proposal" to Qiu Ning:
"Comrade Qiu Ning, here is a suggestion for you to take a look at first."
Qiu Ning took the letter and began to read it. The more he read, the deeper his brows furrowed. Finally, he turned the letter face down and said in a low voice:
"Sister Chai, I object to this!"
Chai Ying wasn't surprised. Instead, she asked, "Oh? Why?"
Qiu Ning solemnly said:
"Right now, the infighting within the Security Bureau has reached an extremely fierce point—I estimate that Mao Renfeng and Zhang Anping will soon be at each other's throats! Moreover, Li Dai, the acting chief of staff, is also trying to extend his reach into the Security Bureau. If this strategy is implemented, Mao Renfeng will probably be looked at more favorably by that person in Xikou."
"As a result, the Li faction's influence will also be unable to penetrate."
"This is not good for us!"
Chai Ying countered:
"Do you think Mao Renfeng can defeat Zhang Anping?"
"We can't win!" Qiu Ning answered without hesitation. "Sister Chai, you should know about yesterday's events, right?"
He was referring to Li Shi's public criticism and attempt to shift blame to Zheng Yaoquan at the banquet.
"I know."
"Mao Renfeng and Zheng Yaoquan are in the same boat. This time they lost a lot of points—but Zhang Anping also had his moments. This time he must have been furious and made insinuations about the chief attendant in front of the attendants."
Qiu Ning said slowly, "So I guess Mao Renfeng and Zheng Yaoquan will be held accountable this time no matter what, and Zhang Anping is obviously extremely angry this time - he will definitely press his advantage and once he does so, the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics will be in chaos."
"Disorder helps us to make plans."
Chai Ying nodded slightly, agreeing with Qiu Ning's assessment, but then she raised another possibility:
"But what if Zhang Anping can't do anything to Mao Renfeng?"
Qiu Ning's eyes suddenly lit up.
The chaos he desired was the chaos of Zhang Anping's large-scale "massacre" of Mao's faction;
But the chaos that Chai Ying was hoping for was the chaos of Zhang Anping and Mao Renfeng continuing their deadly struggle.
Both are chaotic, but although the former is more chaotic in the early stages, it will quickly return to order once Zhang Anping finishes his purge—while the latter will remain chaotic indefinitely!
"I understand—I was too naive." Qiu Ning admitted her mistake: "Sister Chai was much more thorough in her considerations."
Chai Ying smiled. It wasn't that she had considered things thoroughly, but rather that Zhang Anping had!
She returned to the main point: "Do you think Mao Renfeng would be moved by this suggestion?"
"Definitely!" Qiu Ning answered decisively, "Not only will I be tempted, but I will also act on it immediately!"
"However, in this way, his efforts to purge the Zhang faction seem somewhat... somewhat futile."
Chai Ying didn't respond, but instead asked:
"What are the chances that he contacted Zheng Yaoquan?"
Qiu Ning said carefully, "It's hard to say—I'm inclined to think that he won't communicate with Zheng Yaoquan. Although the two often work together, they always betray each other. Mao Renfeng may still be hoping for Zheng Yaoquan's downfall."
Chai Ying asked curiously, "He expects Zheng Yaoquan to fall? What do you mean?"
Qiu Ning said with a wry smile:
“Playing the game with Zhang Anping is too tiring! I’ve heard Mao Renfeng say this several times: that letting Zheng Yaoquan go back then actually made him have an easy life.”
“I think he probably had the idea of replacing Zheng Yaoquan and leaving the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics.”
Upon hearing this, Chai Ying almost broke down. No wonder Anping kept trying to "rescue" Mao Renfeng; it turned out that Mao Renfeng had been "tortured" to this extent!
"We can't let him jump out!"
After a moment's thought, Qiu Ning nodded and said, "I'll suggest to him then—if Zheng Yaoquan falls now, he'll have to face Zhang Anping directly! Just tell him that if Zhang Anping might replace Zheng Yaoquan, given Mao Renfeng's fear of Zhang Anping, he certainly won't abandon Zheng Yaoquan!"
"That's good—Comrade Qiu Ning, I'm entrusting this matter to you! Make sure you complete the mission!"
"Yes!"
Qiu Ning picked up the "proposal" again and silently processed it. After destroying the paper, she was about to leave when she remembered something else:
"Sister Chai, there's something I'm not sure about."
Chai Ying asked curiously, "What is it?"
"You know Wang Tianfeng, right?"
"Him? I know—he's a stray dog now! What happened?"
“Recently, my men have discovered Wang Tianfeng’s whereabouts several times. At first, I thought it was an accident, but after several times, I suspect that he deliberately revealed his whereabouts to me.”
deliberately?
Chai Ying's expression turned serious. She dared not underestimate Wang Tianfeng, who had repeatedly escaped Zhang Anping's schemes.
What do you think his purpose is?
Qiu Ning said uncertainly, "It's hard to say. So I want to find an opportunity to see if I can win him over!"
Chai Ying said decisively, "No need to take him down—if there's an opportunity, just deal with him directly! If that doesn't work, leak the information to the Zhang faction. They'll definitely protect him then, and Mao Renfeng can use this opportunity to attack Zhang Anping."
"it is good!"
……
The Mao family.
Faced with Qiu Ning's sudden visit, Mao Renfeng, who had recently married, did not blame him for his abruptness, but instead warmly invited him to her study.
"You wouldn't come here without a reason—you must have important information to share, coming so late?"
Qiu Ning shook his head: "Director, it's not intelligence, but... but rather my limited understanding of the situation."
"Haha, you're too modest! Tell me your brilliant ideas! To be honest, right now, I also don't know how to break this deadlock." Mao Renfeng's expression turned somewhat gloomy as he said this:
"With Zhang Anping sharpening his knives in front, Zheng Yaoquan, that incompetent teammate, and Li Dai, the chief attendant, watching us like a hawk, things are really tough!"
Mao Renfeng actually wanted to say that "there is also the distrust of the chief of staff in the middle," but considering that Qiu Ning was a vine attached to him, saying these things would only damage the morale of the army, so he changed his words.
Qiu Ning said slowly, "Director, I think we should retire while we're still ahead!"
Mao Renfeng's gaze sharpened slightly, a murderous intent rising within him. He then asked with a hint of doubt:
"How do you plan to retire gracefully?"
“Nanjing is no longer a safe place! The Imperial Household Department has already made its strategy of restricting the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics clear, and they are currently preparing personnel to parachute in—they will have a legitimate legal basis for this. Once they arrive, how should we handle the situation?”
Qiu Ning asked and answered himself: "So, I think we can make a clean getaway! On the surface, we can make a graceful retreat, but in reality, we can transfer all the core departments of my Security Bureau out of the open and make them go underground."
"This move can fundamentally sever the claws that the Li faction is trying to reach out."
Mao Renfeng was pleasantly surprised. He had thought Qiu Ning was trying to persuade him to step down, but he never expected Qiu Ning's suggestion to be like this.
He couldn't help but get up and pace around, pondering the feasibility.
By transferring the Security Bureau's power out, leaving only an empty shell, is the only way to cut off the Li faction's claws that intend to control the Security Bureau?
Do not!
The benefits are just too many, too numerous!
First, completely sideline Zhang Anping, his mortal enemy—leave him an empty shell to cause trouble, and without other agencies, how can Zhang Anping control the entire Bureau of Investigation and Statistics?
He needs to rebuild!
If we need to rebuild, who will take the lead?
Xikou? Xikou wouldn't possibly support his reconstruction!
The Attendant's Office? If Zhang Anping relied on the Attendant's Office, then he would be a true "traitor"!
This is practically putting Zhang Anping in a very difficult position.
Second, to show loyalty!
The Li faction has taken over the Attendant's Office and is now trying to win over the people. The Bureau of Investigation and Statistics' decision to "retreat gracefully" and run away at this time is tantamount to completely rejecting the possibility of the Li faction getting involved in the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics, and cutting off the possibility of the Li faction controlling the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics through political and legal means.
And this is undoubtedly the greatest loyalty offered to the chief attendant! Third, comparison!
Zhang Anping harbored resentment towards the chief of staff, but he, the director of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics who was not favored by the chief of staff, decisively and resolutely expressed his support through his actions at a crucial moment.
The chief attendant always valued loyalty above all else, and ability second only. My loyalty was exactly what the chief attendant wanted.
The more Mao Renfeng thought about it, the more tempting the suggestion seemed.
Mao Renfeng immediately made a decision:
"Ning, your suggestion is excellent! It's exactly what I wanted to hear!"
"Let's do it!"
Let's do it now!
Qiu Ning hurriedly stood up: "Qiu Ning dares not take credit."
"Haha, don't be modest—the whole game was completely revitalized because of your suggestion! Haha, revitalized!"
Mao Renfeng was completely overjoyed, and then muttered to himself:
"Zheng Yaoquan must absolutely not be informed of this matter!"
"Only by comparing myself to Zheng Yaoquan can I truly appreciate my loyalty—Ning, your suggestion is invaluable! Invaluable indeed! I won't say anything more. Once this matter is settled, I will give you an explanation!"
Unexpectedly, Qiu Ning was not excited by Mao Renfeng's empty promises; instead, he calmly said:
"Director, I think you should bring Zheng Yaoquan along."
"Huh?" Mao Renfeng was puzzled. Why pull that guy out? That guy is in big trouble right now, and the military has made him a scapegoat. This time, he's probably in deep trouble himself. Why help him out?
Qiu Ning explained:
"What I'm worried about is..."
"What if Zhang Anping replaces Zheng Yaoquan in Xikou?"
Upon hearing this, Mao Renfeng's expression immediately changed.
is it possible?
Zheng Yaoquan has lost a lot of points this time; if the chief attendant is replaced...
He couldn't help but shudder; it was indeed possible.
In particular, Zhang Anping was appreciated by many high-ranking military officials, and his strategic vision was also extremely high—he was really suited for the position of director of the Second Bureau.
If Zhang Anping were to actually take over the Second Department, given his influence in the Bureau of Secrecy, wouldn't the Bureau of Secrecy become a subordinate agency of the Second Department?
After all that hard work and scheming, if I end up making Zhang Anping my boss, I'll regret it so much I'll want to bang my head against a wall!
But what if we take this opportunity to get under control of Zheng Yaoquan?
This collaboration already cost Zheng Yaoquan dearly, and now, under the guise of rescuing him, I'm making him suffer even greater losses...
Won't the owner of the second hall, this fat sheep, be completely fleeced?
Wouldn't the Second Department, which suffers from excessive bleeding, be subject to the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics in many ways?
Expanding our territory!
This is about expanding our territory!
Suppressing her lingering fear and elation, Mao Renfeng said to Qiu Ning, "Your reminder was absolutely right."
"If you hadn't reminded me, I would have almost dug myself into a deep hole!"
Qiu Ning bowed his head: "Qiu Ning dares not take credit."
"A merit is a merit! Ning, don't worry, I will remember this matter—saying anything now is meaningless, just wait and see!"
Perhaps to show that she valued Qiu Ning, Mao Renfeng then asked Qiu Ning to be her driver and take her to see Zheng Yaoquan.
On the way to the Zheng family, Mao Renfeng reviewed Qiu Ning's proposal once again and found it increasingly ingenious.
As the saying goes, "When you think you've reached the end of the road, a new path opens up before you know it." This time, I truly experienced what it means to find a way out from a seemingly hopeless situation.
Zifang, my son...
After expressing his feelings at this point, Mao Renfeng suddenly paused, and quickly spat in his mind repeatedly to suppress the thought.
Bad luck!
That's so unlucky!
……
The Zheng family.
Zheng Yaoquan, who always values his image, had no interest in managing it at this moment.
I can't sit still!
These four words perfectly capture his current state.
"How did a perfectly good game end up like this?"
After a frantic review, Zheng Yaoquan finally realized why he had gotten to this point:
It was that damned Mao Renfeng who came to his door, tempting him to join forces against Zhang Anping—and he couldn't resist the temptation, so he went to Beiping on his own initiative, which led to the current situation.
Thinking of this, Zheng Yaoquan clenched his fist.
They were clearly lured into the scheme by Mao Renfeng, but what was the result?
The wicked Mao Renfeng had recently extracted enormous benefits from him.
Damn it!
Thinking of this, Zheng Yaoquan couldn't help but smash the cup to the ground in a fit of rage, but then slumped into a chair.
That's it, that's it.
It's fine if he doesn't become the director. Let Mao Renfeng keep the profits he's made. Anyway, the Second Department will have nothing to do with him, Zheng, anymore...
Despite these thoughts, the feeling of frustration in my heart only grew stronger.
He thought of Xu Enzeng next door!
Xu Enzeng, having lost his position as director of the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics, is likely facing his own future.
Eh...
A long sigh revealed the bitterness he felt at that moment.
And right after that sigh, there was a knock on the study door.
Zheng Yaoquan initially wanted to explode in anger, but then he thought that he would definitely experience the bitterness of being forgotten once someone leaves, so he had to control his temper from now on. Therefore, he suppressed his anger.
"what's up?"
The servant reported from the study door: "Master, Director Mao of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics has come to visit."
Mao! Ren! Feng!
Although he had suppressed his anger, those three words reignited Zheng Yaoquan's fury.
I've left, and you're probably going to have a worse ending than me, Mao Renfeng!
snort!
Zheng Yaoquan stood up angrily: "Tell him to come to the study!"
The servant outside was taken aback. A distinguished guest has arrived, aren't you going to greet him personally?
He could only report back to the steward, who also didn't understand why Zheng Yaoquan was doing this, and could only bite the bullet and ask Mao Renfeng for help.
The butler's words were quite nice:
"Director Mao, a distinguished guest, has arrived. My master is waiting for you in the study. Director Mao, please follow me."
But Mao Renfeng, being a shrewd person, could easily see through Zheng Yaoquan's negligence. Normally, he might have stormed off, but now...
He's here to reap the benefits; he has that much of a sense of proportion!
"lead the way."
Zheng Yaoquan was now completely resigned to his fate. Even though he knew Mao Renfeng was coming, he didn't call anyone to clean up the broken cups in the study. He just waited for Mao Renfeng to come in.
As soon as Mao Renfeng entered the study, he saw the broken pieces on the floor and couldn't help but find it amusing:
Cheng Yao-Chuan, Cheng Yao-Chuan, that's all the vision you have!
He smiled and took the initiative to ask, "Is Vice Minister Zheng in a bad mood?"
Zheng Yaoquan coldly stared at Mao Renfeng: "Does Director Mao think it's okay to watch the show? I'm just taking my leave first!"
Mao Renfeng continued with a smile, "Why is Vice Minister Zheng so discouraged? Haven't you heard that a game of chess thrives from a broken end?"
Zheng Yaoquan initially thought Mao Renfeng was joking, but Mao Renfeng's relaxed smile made him realize that the other party was truly confident.
He just said that Zheng had only taken the first step – and that was his honest opinion. He didn't think Mao Renfeng could escape Zhang Anping's subsequent counterattack.
At that point, the two of them will be brothers in misfortune!
How could Mao Renfeng not understand such an outcome?
But Mao Renfeng seemed completely unburdened. Could it be... that the game truly began from a seemingly insurmountable break?
He immediately adjusted his posture and then called out:
"Someone come here! Serve Director Mao some tea!"
After the servant served tea, Zheng Yaoquan suppressed his negative emotions and asked in a very humble manner:
"Director Mao, the game of chess begins where the pieces break—what does that mean?"
Mao Renfeng looked at Zheng Yaoquan with a sly smile, then suddenly revealed a mercenary grin.
Then he struck a pose you know what I mean. (End of Chapter)