Chapter 1070
The Boss's Skills
Yuhuatai.
The intrusion of a convoy caused both sides to shift their attention.
Which side are you from?
Amidst the expectant gazes of both sides, Li Dai, the chief attendant, and Huang Lao alighted from their carriage and, under the protection of the guards, slowly walked to the center line where the two sides were facing off.
Instead of responding to the menacing Secret Service, Li Dai, the chief attendant, turned against his own people first:
"Nonsense! Put down your gun! How can you point a gun at your own people?"
The guard battalion naturally carried out his orders without hesitation. Even though the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics was still watching them closely, they still put away their guns without hesitation. Zhang Anping glanced deeply at Li Dai, the chief of staff who hadn't even looked at him, and then waved to signal the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics to put away their guns.
Li Dai, the chief attendant, continued to ignore Zhang Anping, his "stern" gaze falling on the adjutant:
"What's going on? I told you to stop the execution, so why are you pointing guns at the Secret Service agents? Don't you know that if the guns were to go off accidentally, it would be a huge incident?"
The adjutant saluted and quickly reported:
"Reporting to the Chief of Staff, the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics has not only torn up your warrant, but also insists on continuing the execution—I have no other choice."
"Oh?"
After giving a strange "oh," Li Dai, the chief attendant, turned to look at the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics. He first glanced at Zhang Anping, who was dressed in civilian clothes, then looked at the corpse on the ground. A cold glint flashed in his eyes before he spoke:
“Deputy Director Zhang, don’t you know that I’ve already spoken with the section chief? The official order will be issued tomorrow—at which time these underground party members will be released in batches!”
"What about the section chief? What about the 'gentleman' of Xikou? What about the Attendant's Office?!"
Facing Li Dai's chief attendant, Zhang Anping naturally wouldn't dare to be arrogant or domineering. At this moment, when Li Dai's chief attendant began to accuse him of serious offenses, Zhang Anping immediately offered a respectful yet barbed explanation:
"Acting Chief Attendant, the execution was decided long ago. Our Security Bureau is acting in accordance with regulations!"
"On the contrary, the Guard Battalion inexplicably overturned the previously agreed-upon matters—I don't understand, is the Guard Battalion protecting these death row inmates, or is it opposing for the sake of opposing?"
Li Dai, the chief of staff, glanced at Zhang Anping with some surprise. He knew that Zhang Anping was exceptionally capable. Among the Kuomintang's existing intelligence chiefs, although Zhang Anping was often criticized by public opinion, he had the best reputation in the military. But no one had ever said that this guy was so sharp-tongued!
He was labeling someone, implying that the person in Xikou said one thing and did another, and that the person in Xikou had no intention of negotiating at all.
However, Zhang Anping characterized the execution as a decision that had been made long ago and was in accordance with the rules. On the contrary, he argued that Zhang was deliberately finding fault and opposing for the sake of opposing.
But how could Li Dai, the chief attendant, be stumped by such a question? He explained in a gentle tone:
“Deputy Director Zhang, you are also a key official of the Party and the State—don’t you understand the current situation? Before leaving, ‘Sir’ expressed his willingness to negotiate. I, Li, have taken on ‘Sir’s’ important responsibility and must carry out the negotiations to the end!”
"Since we are going to negotiate, we must at least show goodwill. After all, we were the ones who broke the Double Ten Agreement first, and now we are at a significant disadvantage."
"There may have been some oversights in our previous considerations, but right now, the top priority is to hold peace talks. Does Deputy Director Zhang understand?"
Don't be fooled by the gentle tone of Li Dai's words; in reality, every word he uttered was a veiled attack!
Zhang Anping was now in a dilemma—no matter how he refuted it, he would drag the person from Xikou into it, and once he was dragged into it, it would prove one thing:
That guy from Xikou is just saying one thing and meaning another!
Of course, this is true. Anyone who knows Xikou even a little bit about him knows what a huge lie his so-called expectation of peace is.
However, Zhang Anping could not admit it in this setting.
The reason he was so passive can be summed up in one simple way:
The two are severely unequal in status!
After taking a deep breath, Zhang Anping chose to admit his mistake:
"This was due to the Bureau of Secrecy's negligence in failing to make timely adjustments."
"Zhang will lead the team back now."
What a lackey!
Li Dai, the chief attendant, couldn't help but glance at Zhang Anping again. His "gentle" explanation was full of pitfalls and traps, and no matter how Zhang Anping answered, he would fall into them.
Surprisingly, he chose to take responsibility:
The fault lies entirely with the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics; the one in Xikou is absolutely not wrong!
"To admit one's mistakes and correct them is the greatest virtue!" Li Dai's chief attendant nodded gently, but then changed the subject:
"However, there is one thing that Li doesn't understand:"
He spoke slowly and deliberately:
"Why did Deputy Director Zhang tear up Li's warrant so easily?"
"Even if Mr. Li did not receive the important responsibilities of the Party and the country from 'Mr.', Deputy Director Zhang should not treat Mr. Li with such contempt!"
As he finished speaking, Li Dai's expression turned extremely cold.
He was, after all, a top commander who had led thousands of troops, and he was the first to achieve a major victory on the main battlefield of the War of Resistance against Japan, which enhanced my country's prestige.
Zhang Anping did not offer any explanation, but obediently admitted his mistake: "Zhang knows he was wrong."
"Wrong?" Li Dai's chief attendant's gaze was icy. For a commander-in-chief, a handwritten order meant that he was there in person. How dare you, a mere head of secret services!
Seeing that Li Dai, the chief attendant, was about to seize the opportunity to make trouble, Zhang Anping "explained":
“The execution of the underground party criminals had already been decided! But someone tried to stop it. Zhang thought that someone had deceived the acting chief of staff and had not thought things through. He asked the acting chief of staff to punish him.”
Zhang Anping: I was going to execute a major underground party criminal, but someone used your warrant to cause trouble. I didn't think the acting chief of staff would sympathize with the Communists—that's why I tore up the warrant. I did this to save face for you!
Li Dai, the chief attendant, was amused by Zhang Anping's sophistry. He clapped his hands and "revealed" Zhang Anping's meaning:
"So it was because Deputy Director Zhang was considering Li's interests? I thought it was because Deputy Director Zhang knew that as the acting chief of staff, my orders couldn't really leave the Chief of Staff's residence, so he was acting with impunity!"
“However…” his expression was icy, “I, Li, cannot accept this kind offer!”
“I will definitely discuss this matter with ‘sir’!”
Zhang Anping couldn't help but admire Li Dai's skillful handling of affairs.
He completely positioned himself as the victim:
Government orders cannot leave the Attendant's residence!
Generally speaking, people have to "put on a show," regardless of whether they are weak or not, they have to let everyone know:
I'm terrifyingly strong!
However, the Chief Attendant-in-Chief of the Imperial Household Department did the opposite. He first revealed that government orders could not leave the Imperial Household Department, then used the phrase "I cannot accept this" as a starting point, and finally revealed his true purpose:
I need to communicate with "the gentleman".
The communication was a pretense; the real purpose was to reveal the truth through these facts:
The one in Xikou was nominally out of office, but in reality, he still firmly controlled power—the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics being a typical example.
I, the legally appointed acting chief attendant, have to maintain my dignity through "communication"!
His sharpest strike was:
If Zhang Anping goes unpunished, it means that the retired gentleman in Xikou had no real intention of negotiating.
In addition, it can also demonstrate the fact that he "did not die but remained alive".
Zhang Anping couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "As expected of the mastermind who forced the chief attendant to resign for the third time, such methods are truly brilliant!"
From the perspective of a loyal subject of the party and the state, he found himself in the awkward position where whatever he said would be wrong.
At this moment, all Zhang Anping could do was bow his head—or even ask for punishment himself, so as not to let the person in Xikou be "tricked" because of this.
But, will it really be like that?
……
The section chief, along with a battalion of soldiers from the city defense command, was stationed not far from Yuhuatai. He could have led his troops there directly, but after hearing that Li Dai, the chief attendant, had already gone, he did not rush over. Instead, he sent people to inquire and find out the situation.
Soon, his subordinates compiled the information they had gathered.
"The Bureau of Investigation and Statistics intended to secretly execute 95 key members of the underground party at Yuhuatai, but somehow the news was leaked, and the Imperial Household Department sent an adjutant with a battalion of guards to stop them."
"Later, Deputy Director Zhang came in person. He tore up the warrant from the Attendant's Office and shot several underground party members in front of the Guard Battalion." "The Guard Battalion finally ordered that anyone who dared to lay a hand on him would be killed without mercy, which stopped Deputy Director Zhang."
"Then, Chief Constable Li came in person—not only did he come in person, but he also brought a bunch of reporters with him."
Listening to the summarized information, the section chief couldn't help but ponder deeply.
Tear up the warrant?
His first reaction was that Zhang Anping had acted too impulsively, but after thinking about it again, he felt that Zhang Anping had done a brilliant thing. Standing in the position of deputy director of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics, using such methods to attack and ignore the Attendant's Mansion was very... brilliant.
Under the intervention of the Guards Battalion, were underground party members shot?
The methods were indeed ruthless, but what he saw was Zhang Anping's determination!
Given his methods, he will inevitably seize the opportunity to launch an attack.
Although Anping is quite capable, his status is vastly different from that person's. Anping might not be able to handle such an attack!
Thinking of this, the section chief decided to go to Yuhuatai immediately. Seeing that the soldiers sent by the city defense command wanted to follow, the section chief thought for a moment and then decided to have them withdraw.
The chief attendant of the Li family is a cunning old fox. With him present, there will be absolutely no simple armed conflict. Bringing troops there would only make people think you are a coward.
It's better to just let it go like this!
So, he drove to Yuhuatai in three cars, accompanied only by his personal bodyguards.
When they arrived at Yuhuatai, it was just as Li Dai, the chief attendant, was once again making trouble for Zhang Anping. However, he was not simply making trouble for Zhang Anping, but rather using Zhang Anping as a target to "attack".
All that could be heard was Li Dai, the chief attendant, speaking eloquently to the group of reporters:
"'The gentleman' was extremely sincere about the peace talks, and for this he was willing to step down and yield his position!"
"The Bureau of Investigation and Statistics has deviated from 'sir's' intentions—although Deputy Director Zhang repeatedly said that this was a matter that had been decided long ago, was it really decided long ago?"
"Therefore, I have always opposed espionage politics!"
"This experience has made me realize that we must take drastic measures against intelligence agencies—I'll talk to 'the boss' about reforming the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics and other intelligence agencies!"
The Li Dai attendant repeatedly used the word "sir" in every sentence, yet every sentence was like a sharpened knife aimed at striking "sir's" ribs, and every sentence was also a denunciation of "sir".
It was under these circumstances that the section chief strode into the scene.
Undoubtedly, the moment the section chief appeared, he attracted a lot of attention.
He strode quickly through the flashing lights and approached the chief attendant of Li Dai, asking with a puzzled look:
"Acting Attendant-in-Chief, what is this?"
"Director, you've come at the perfect time—"
Li Dai, the chief attendant, gave his adjutant a wink, and the adjutant, understanding, brought over the torn-up warrant. Only then did he speak:
“I had always heard people say that Deputy Director Zhang of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics was arrogant, but I never expected him to be this arrogant—he tore up the warrant that I had written myself!”
“You, representing ‘sir,’ communicated with me, and we agreed to release the arrested underground party members to show our sincerity in negotiations—but the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics insisted on carrying out this massacre the day before the order was issued!”
"This is utterly lawless! This is utterly arrogant and domineering!"
Faced with the two consecutive "slashes" from Li Dai, the section chief immediately frowned and looked at Zhang Anping:
"Deputy Director Zhang, what exactly is going on?"
Zhang Anping protested, "Reporting to the director, the execution was a decision made long ago. The Bureau of Investigation and Statistics is simply carrying out a resolution made half a month ago and has no intention of undermining the decision. Please investigate thoroughly, Director."
The section chief rebuked him sternly:
"Avoiding the important and focusing on the trivial!"
"Why did you tear up the acting chief sergeant's warrant?!"
Zhang Anping spoke frankly: "These people are all key members of the Communist Party, and the execution was decided long ago. The Bureau of Investigation and Statistics carried out the death penalty according to regulations. This adjutant came over with the warrant to try to save them. I thought someone was trying to use the authority to their advantage. It was my oversight, and I ask the director to punish me."
The reporters who had been writing furiously just moments before now all wore strange expressions.
Zhang Anping, the head of the secret service, used to address Li, the acting chief of staff, as "Zhang Mou," but when facing the section chief, he addressed him as "subordinate"—no wonder Li, the acting chief of staff, was "disgusted" by secret service politics, and no wonder he wanted to reform the secret service organization!
The section chief thought to himself that Anping was cooperative, but outwardly he angrily rebuked her:
"quibble!"
After reprimanding him, he turned to Li Dai, the chief attendant, and said:
“Acting Chief of Staff, I didn’t expect that the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics had already decided to execute these criminals. The failure to communicate in time led to this blunder. This is all my fault.”
"Although Deputy Director Zhang acts impulsively, his intentions are good. You are a magnanimous person, could you please be lenient and let him off the hook?"
Huh?
Li Dai, the chief attendant, was slightly taken aback. The director had actually taken full responsibility.
On second thought, he understood why the section chief did this—he used the excuse of "failure to communicate in a timely manner" to define the matter and take responsibility. If he had persisted, he would have appeared aggressive.
If I, as an elder, continue to nag endlessly, it will only make me look like I'm making trouble for no reason!
His strong support for Zhang Anping sends a signal to the outside world:
No matter what goes wrong when you work for Xikou, Xikou will always support you!
The result is that the more they investigate Zhang Anping, the easier it becomes for him to win over people's hearts!
After giving the section chief a deep look, Li Dai, the chief attendant, chuckled self-deprecatingly:
"Since the director has said so, if I, as the acting head of the Imperial Attendant's Office whose orders are difficult to issue, were to pursue the matter further, it would seem that I lack any sense of magnanimity—"
"Very well, then I'll repay evil with kindness!"
The section chief thought to himself that he was a difficult person to deal with, then feigned shame and said, "If the acting chief attendant says such a thing, I'm utterly ashamed—"
“I’ll take these underground party members back with me! Once the acting chief of staff issues the order, the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics will not disobey. What do you think?”
Li Dai's chief attendant used a double entendre:
"From now on, the director must ensure smooth communication with intelligence agencies such as the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics. I can't be desperately trying to show goodwill while the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics is sabotaging me and stabbing me in the back."
The section chief assured: "This will absolutely never happen again!"
As Li Dai, the chief attendant, nodded slightly, signaling the troops to withdraw and prepare to leave, he stopped and turned back, saying:
“Deputy Director Zhang, you need to rein in your temper. You’re too bloodthirsty! Even when carrying out a predetermined decision, you shouldn’t take action yourself.”
"It would be... not good if word got out that the powerful deputy director of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics personally murdered a political prisoner."
Zhang Anping remained silent, only adopting a posture of being receptive to instruction.
As Li Dai's entourage was about to leave, Old Huang, who had remained silent throughout, suddenly spoke up:
"Is my doorstep too high, which is why my young friend Anping hasn't visited for so long?"
"This old man has grown up and is hosting a banquet tonight for you, young friend. Would you be so kind as to come and pay your respects?"
Old Huang actually quite liked Zhang Anping. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, when Zhang Anping took action to reorganize the Chongqing Air Defense Command, he personally stood up for Zhang Anping and even confronted the powerful Liu Jingfu for it.
But right now he was utterly disappointed in Zhang Anping. He only thought of how Zhang Anping had risked his life to save him, an old man, in Shanghai, so he wanted to have a good talk with Zhang Anping.
That's when he extended the invitation.
Zhang Anping did not refuse: "Since Elder Huang has invited me, I will certainly pay him a visit." (End of this chapter)