Chapter 1057
Zhang's Method of Feigning Weakness
January 27, 1949 AD, the 29th day of the 12th lunar month.
Nanjing, headquarters of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics.
Tomorrow is Lunar New Year's Eve, and today is the last day of work. Even in secret service agencies, everyone is slacking off at this time—everyone is looking forward to getting off work as soon as possible and having a peaceful New Year.
The appearance of a car made everyone at headquarters uneasy.
Because their Commander Zhang got out of that car.
When they saw Zhang Anping get out of the car, everyone at the bureau headquarters held their breath.
Zhang Anping hasn't appeared at the bureau headquarters for a long time. What happened during his absence?
First, Zhang Anping's specially trained troops "rebelled" in Xuzhou after Zheng Yaoxian and Mao Renfeng seized their military power. Then came the legend that Zhang Anping beat up Mao Renfeng, the director of the bureau, at the gate of the Xuzhou Suppression Headquarters.
Next came a major purge at headquarters, in which almost all of Zhang's key figures were purged. Among them, the most tragic was Shen Zui, who also served as the head of the intelligence department and was exiled to Yunnan.
Finally, Zhang Anping, who was forced to return from Beiping, was placed under house arrest and interrogated on the orders of Mao Renfeng. According to news from the No. 3 base, Mao Renfeng, the director, shamelessly demanded that the agents at the No. 3 base treat Zhang Anping poorly in terms of food!
And now, Zhang Anping is back!
I returned safely and peacefully from Xikou!
What will happen next?
The mere thought of Zhang Anping's temperament sent shivers down the spines of every agent in the headquarters.
Oh no, oh no, this New Year is probably not going to be peaceful...
Who knows what kind of earth-shattering reversal will occur at headquarters next...
Normally, Mao Renfeng purged the headquarters, and the Zhang faction within the headquarters was almost completely wiped out. Even if Zhang Anping returned, he would have to temporarily become a clay statue – that would be the normal course of events.
Without subordinates, what waves can they possibly make?
For some reason, all the agents at headquarters felt that such a thing would not happen to Zhang Anping.
On the contrary, they firmly believed that:
Even if Zhang Anping has no confidants within the bureau headquarters, his words still carry the weight of law!
This is the reason why they were all wailing in their hearts.
If that's what the spies were thinking, what about Mao Renfeng?
At this moment, Mao Renfeng stood by the window with a gloomy face, her eyes filled with hatred, staring intently at the figure getting out of the car downstairs.
Heaven is not on my side!
At this moment, Mao Renfeng had only one thought in her mind.
The upheaval in Beiping was a powerful blow to Zhang Anping!
The results of it?
Everything was messed up, completely messed up by Zheng Yaoquan!
Not only that, but he also made a huge mistake by speaking carelessly, and the blame fell on the chief attendant.
Now, Zhang Anping is back, safe and sound from Xikou.
After taking a deep breath, Mao Renfeng summoned her secretary:
"Notify the security department to send some people up here, ready to be deployed at any time."
Faced with Mao Renfeng's inexplicable order, the secretary was stunned for a moment before realizing the reason—the director was worried that Zhang Anping would lose his temper.
When a politician loses their temper, it's usually a magical attack, but Zhang Anping's outburst was a physical attack!
Learn from past mistakes!
Thinking of this, the secretary became anxious and quickly went out to dial the security department's number.
If the Director were to get beaten up by Zhang Anping again at the Security Bureau, all that pride he had just managed to regain would be gone...
Having just finished a conversation with the head of security, the secretary looked up and suddenly broke out in a cold sweat.
Because Zhang Anping was standing quietly at the door of the bureau's office...
The secretary intended to maintain the usual respect and greet Deputy Director Zhang, but for some reason, her mouth just wouldn't cooperate:
"Commander Zhang."
Zhang Anping, standing at the door, showed no emotion on his face, only casually asking, "Mao Renfeng, are you here?"
exist……
The secretary's instincts controlled his mouth:
"The Director just went out on an inspection—please have a seat, I'll go find him!"
Without a word, the secretary rushed to the door and respectfully invited Zhang Anping into the office.
Zhang Anping glanced at his secretary with amusement, but didn't make things difficult for her. He strode into the nominally bureau office, but actually the secretary's office, and plopped down on the sofa with an air of nonchalance.
"I have other matters to attend to; I need to see Mao Renfeng as soon as possible."
The secretary's heart was pounding wildly, and she even abandoned any pretense of politeness. Was this time, going to be another full-blown brawl?
He couldn't help but steal a glance at Zhang Anping, thinking to himself that if they were to make another move, he didn't know how long the bureau chief could hold out...
"Please have some tea first, I'll go find the Director right away."
The secretary respectfully brought the tea, then quickly left, closing the door behind her without hesitation.
He stood at the door of another office and said in a low voice, "Hurry up and urge the security department!"
He then rushed to Mao Renfeng's office, not even daring to knock, and pushed the door open and went in.
Seeing Mao Renfeng still by the window, the secretary lowered her voice:
"Director, he's here, calling your name and wanting to see you—he's in my office right now."
Mao Renfeng was stunned for a moment before realizing who this "he" was, and her face turned pale involuntarily after realizing it.
Damn it, believe it or not, I'll pull out my gun and fight this bastard!
The thought of guns made Mao Renfeng chicken out again.
Zhang Anping's marksmanship is renowned, but when it comes to actually using a gun, I'm even less capable.
He suppressed his fear, but involuntarily lowered his voice like a secretary:
Where are the security personnel?
"It'll be here soon—I've already urged them again."
Mao Renfeng was furious: "How long is 'soon'?!"
The secretary dared not utter a sound.
Seeing this, Mao Renfeng walked to the table, picked up the phone, and personally called the security department.
It was obvious that he panicked, panicked to the extreme.
Secretariat.
Zhang Anping leisurely sipped his tea, but his heart was filled with smiles.
The kind of joy that makes you ecstatic.
Old Mao, isn't he being a little too guilty?
He had only drunk half of his tea when he heard footsteps outside. Zhang Anping casually slammed his teacup down on the coffee table and strode toward the door. He deliberately timed it so that the moment he opened the door, he bumped into a large group of guards in military uniforms.
Zhang Anping reached out, but the highest-ranking captain grabbed his hand and asked in shock, "What happened?!"
The security department is really something else; they didn't even send a single field officer, the highest-ranking one being a captain.
The captain was clearly kept in the dark; upon seeing that the person pulling him was Zhang Anping, he immediately saluted respectfully.
"Commander Zhang!"
Zhang Anping looked at the captain with displeasure, and the captain hurriedly replied:
"The Bureau Office requested the Security Department to urgently send someone up to the Bureau Chief's office; the specific reason is unknown."
"Ok?"
Zhang Anping feigned confusion, then went outside and followed the security personnel to Mao Renfeng's office.
Just as the captain was about to call out a report, the door to Mao Renfeng's office opened, and Mao Renfeng and his secretary appeared in the doorway—judging from Mao Renfeng's appearance, he probably wanted to take the security personnel to see Zhang Anping.
Then, he met... Zhang Anping.
Even though Mao Renfeng had a very thick skin, a blush involuntarily appeared on his face the moment he saw Zhang Anping—the kind of blush of shame.
The secretary was completely dumbfounded, with only one thought in her mind:
Why didn't I lock the door?!
Zhang Anping looked amused, then said in feigned surprise:
"Huh? Didn't you go on an inspection tour?"
Mao Renfeng gritted her teeth, then regained her composure: "Just got back—you came pretty fast!"
"Each each other."
As Zhang Anping spoke, he walked towards Mao Renfeng's office. The secretary glanced "helplessly" at Mao Renfeng, who gave him a subtle wink. The secretary immediately understood, first making way for Zhang Anping, and then, after Zhang Anping entered the office, he went out and said to the security personnel:
"I have some clutter in my office that I need to move. What's going on with the security department? Why have they sent so many people? A few of you come with me to move the stuff. The rest of you, wait here. We'll move everything down together in a bit."
This was originally intended as a cover-up by the secretary, but Zhang Anping insisted on causing trouble. He said in a leisurely voice:
"The table and coffee table have been replaced—"
"With so many people, we might as well use them!"
Mao Renfeng's lips twitched involuntarily.
You want to hit someone, but you have to hit them in the face, right?
"Hmph!" He simply snorted coldly, walked straight to his desk, plopped down, and looked at Zhang Anping, who was sitting imposingly on the sofa.
"Deputy Director Zhang, you're so eager to come to work right after finishing the investigation?"
"However, I remember I had someone specifically assigned to manage your office. I wonder what brings Deputy Director Zhang here?"
Zhang Anping glanced at Mao Renfeng with a half-smile, and said in a provocative tone:
"Old Mao, what do you think my intentions are?"
Mao Renfeng choked and wanted to call for help.
He really wanted to yell, "Get this guy out of here!"
"Deputy Director Zhang, that's enough!"
"enough?"
After repeating the sentence with a smile, Zhang Anping suddenly changed color and slammed his hand on the coffee table: "Have you said enough?"
"Hey, you surnamed Mao, do you think I'm good enough?"
Mao Renfeng regretted it; she should have known better than to come to work today.
He looked at Zhang Anping with a sinister expression, his eyes flickering slightly. After holding up three fingers, he looked at Zhang Anping with an extremely obvious threatening gaze.
His meaning was clear:
I can't do anything with you, but if you keep causing trouble, don't forget about Outpost Three!
Zhang Anping's expression turned cold, but the coldness quickly dissipated, clearly indicating that he had taken the threat to heart. He glared hatefully at Mao Renfeng before pulling out the warrant from his pocket.
"Come here and get it yourself!"
The word "get lost" made Mao Renfeng's face turn red, and the head of the security department, who had rushed over to the door, quickly stepped aside and disappeared through the doorway.
The head of security, trying to disappear, did his best not to make a sound, but his movement caught Mao Renfeng's attention. Mao Renfeng was almost furious. Threatening Zhang Anping with the secret service cadres waiting to be "investigated" at the No. 3 stronghold was extremely shameless, but he had no other choice.
After all, if Zhang Anping continues to make a scene like this, he will be the one who loses face.
But why would this desperate move be seen by his own trusted subordinate?
At this moment, Zhang Anping revealed a mocking smile, clearly saying:
I did it on purpose!
Mao Renfeng's lips twitched again and again, but in order to get rid of this plague god as soon as possible, he could only get up and walk towards Zhang Anping.
A warrant?
After receiving it from Zhang Anping, Mao Renfeng opened it and felt a sinking feeling in his heart when he saw the familiar words. After reading it, his heart sank to the bottom.
His original thought was: "I can't do anything to you, Zhang Anping, this time. No problem, I'll just run away with the Secret Service! You're a jinx, I can't afford to mess with you, but I can at least avoid you!"
From now on, wherever I am, the script will be there!
You'll be a deputy director in name only!
But the order in front of him shattered his hopes—although the order only required Mao Renfeng to unconditionally support Zhang Anping financially, given Zhang Anping's methods, if he didn't make a fuss about the word "unconditionally," Mao's name would be written backwards from now on!
Mao Renfeng showed no remorse, not because he didn't regret it, but because he didn't want to "alert the enemy." Just as he was about to put away the warrant, Zhang Anping snatched it away.
Having seized the warrant, Zhang Anping gave Mao Renfeng a defiant look, using this attitude to "assure" her:
Just you wait and see how I'll use the word "unconditionally" to torment you from now on!
Mao Renfeng, barely suppressing her irritation, asked, "Is there anything else?"
Zhang Anping smiled faintly:
"Attendant Zhuang asked me to pass on a message to you."
"Say!"
He called you at 11 a.m.
Zhang Anping laughed heartily, as if he had successfully teased Mao Renfeng, then stood up and, as he left, murmured:
"My men must all be back at headquarters by 1 p.m., or else..."
He left with a few words that seemed to leave him wanting more, only to leave Mao Renfeng, whose face grew increasingly ashen. Zhang Anping, however, was determined to provoke him further; he shouted from the doorway of the secretary's office:
"Hurry up and move them! With so many people brought over, we can't leave without moving a few things."
Zhang Anping left under the watchful eyes of everyone in the security department. Only after Zhang Anping's figure had completely disappeared from their sight did the head of the security department reappear at the door, trembling with fear.
"Commander, we...we've retreated?"
Mao Renfeng, both angry and furious, rebuked:
"Get out of here!"
After the hurried footsteps faded into the distance, Mao Renfeng got up and slammed the door shut. Then, panting heavily, he paced back and forth in his office.
Mad!
I'm so angry!
Previously, Zhang Anping at least maintained a semblance of respect, but ever since he beat me up in Xuzhou, this bastard has become increasingly arrogant!
This time, they went even further, defecating on our heads, and to make matters worse, the security department witnessed it all...
If this gets out, what will become of his reputation!
"what?"
Mao Renfeng was suddenly taken aback. Zhang Anping was usually too lazy to use his words, but this time he insisted on provoking her in various ways...
"This is not a provocation!"
He realized that this wasn't a provocation at all; Zhang Anping was clearly trying to annoy him.
Especially that last shout, what was the point?
Can it yield any real benefits?
Do not!
It's just a momentary outburst of words!
"why?"
Mao Renfeng was even more puzzled. In the past, Zhang Anping usually spoke with "facts," which were various forms of suppression against the Mao faction. But this time, why was he just talking?
"Is it related to Attendant Zhuang?"
Confused, he glanced at the clock and patiently waited for Zhuang's call.
Before I knew it, it was 11 o'clock. About three minutes later, the phone rang.
"It's me, Mao Renfeng."
The phone was filled with static, and Mao Renfeng couldn't recognize the voice on the other end at first, so she tentatively asked, "Attendant Zhuang?"
"it's me!"
Although the other end admitted it, Mao Renfeng only heard it after it was repeated several times—that's how long-distance calls with multiple transfers work.
The two then began to shout at each other, sometimes having to repeat a sentence several times to convey its meaning. This whole ordeal took a full ten minutes to finish the phone call.
As if she had just fought a battle, Mao Renfeng hung up the phone, wiping away her sweat, but couldn't help but smile.
No wonder Zhang Anping insisted on gaining an advantage verbally and came over to provoke him.
So it's because Attendant Zhuang didn't "betray" him!
After meeting Zhang Anping in Xikou, Mao Renfeng's biggest worry was:
Zhang Anping and the servant Zhuang Wai Zui are probably going to get a word in the head servant's notebook about it!
But the phone call dispelled his worries.
Attendant Zhuang covered for himself with the head attendant, shifting the blame to Fu Huabei, who was far away in Beiping!
This result made Mao Renfeng breathe a sigh of relief.
Of course, Attendant Zhuang's concealment was not unconditional—on the phone, Attendant Zhuang made his meaning very clear:
He didn't want to see the two heads of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics continue their infighting. This time, he helped Mao Renfeng with only one request: to release the key members of the Zhang faction who were being investigated as soon as possible. It's better to resolve conflicts than to perpetuate them.
Mao Renfeng only declined briefly before agreeing to Zhuang Shicong's "mediation." In fact, he understood that since he hadn't managed to defeat Zhang Anping this time, given Zhang Anping's methods, the key members of Zhang's faction under investigation were destined to have their investigations concluded. So, repaying Zhuang Shicong's favor in this way was actually extremely worthwhile!
"But why is Attendant Zhuang helping me?"
Although Mao Renfeng had repaid Zhuang Shicong's favor, he was still full of doubts. Zhuang Shicong's attitude of protecting Zhang Anping from the beginning was extremely firm, otherwise he would not have been able to stay in Nanjing for several days. But at the last moment, he helped him out.
why?
Is it really for the greater good?
"impossible!"
Mao Renfeng didn't believe that. If he couldn't figure it out, he stopped thinking about it and immediately began to think about the trouble Zhang Anping had caused earlier.
Based on Zhuang's phone call, he immediately understood Zhang Anping's purpose in doing so:
The so-called fault-finding and verbal sparring are all just smoke and mirrors!
His real purpose was to say, "My men must be back at headquarters by 1 p.m.!"
The purpose of doing this was to "save face"—with the purge of Zhang's core members, Zhang Anping being investigated by himself, and the various events in Beiping, Zhang Anping must have realized that his prestige had been severely damaged.
Therefore, this method was chosen to "save face".
After realizing this, Mao Renfeng gritted her teeth in anger—this guy was using punishing her as a way to "save face"?!
That's...too much!
[Huh? The way he did it actually shows he has a guilty conscience!]
Guilty?
Complaints!
Yes! It must be because of the complaints!
Thinking of this, Mao Renfeng couldn't help but reveal a playful smile.
Several idioms came to mind:
Out of options, outwardly fierce but inwardly weak, outwardly tough but inwardly timid...
"Although we didn't defeat him this time, Zhang Anping's complaints must have greatly displeased the chief attendant!"
"Although I don't understand why he got his hands on this warrant, Attendant Zhuang must have realized that, which is why he chose to cover for me at the crucial moment!"
"Doesn't this just prove..."
Mao Renfeng revealed a sinister look:
As long as he wields the hoe well, the wall behind Zhang Anping will eventually crumble! (End of Chapter)