Chapter 972
The Arrival of the King
Since returning to China in 1935 and entering the field of espionage, Zhang Anping's experiences have been nothing short of spectacular, with numerous near-death experiences along the way.
But the most unforgettable thing is definitely not those times spent dancing at the gates of the underworld, but rather:
After heading to Shanghai to take charge of the special intelligence group, Zhang Anping plotted against Chen Moqun, intending to have Gu Shenyan replace Chen Moqun as the district head of the Shanghai area at that time.
From any perspective, Zhang Anping's scheme was successful—Chen Moqun ultimately had no way to defend himself, and Gu Shenyan was "utterly loyal," so it seemed he was destined for a smooth rise to power.
But Dai Chunfeng, with a single slap, made Zhang Anping realize what it meant to overturn a table:
They arrested and investigated all key personnel in the Shanghai region, including Chen Moqun and Gu Shenyan!
Saying that man proposes, God disposes is an exaggeration for Dai Chunfeng, but this incident had a huge impact on Zhang Anping at the time, so much so that from then on, he was prepared for someone to overturn the table every time he made a plan.
Although most of the layouts did not require the use of a countermeasure to prevent the table from being flipped, Zhang Anping never let his guard down, even when he was walking on thin ice.
As an undercover agent, he couldn't afford to lose!
Before this business trip to the United States (which he was dawdling over), Zhang Anping placed each chess piece on the chessboard and made numerous contingency plans.
These contingency plans proved to be necessary. For example, Wang Tianfeng used Zhang Anping's "favor" to obtain the privilege of investigation within a limited time from the director, which was exactly what Zhang Anping had planned. Fortunately, Zhang Anping had prepared enough contingency plans. Zheng Yingqi's "self-exposure" card was played in advance under these circumstances.
Even the slightest clues in the Mingjing case were part of Zhang Anping's carefully prepared backup plan.
It's clear that the core purpose of Zhang Anping's numerous contingency plans is actually just one thing:
Distract Wang Tianfeng by making him investigate spies everywhere and make him make enemies everywhere, so that he will eventually be overwhelmed like a flood.
Originally, Zhang Anping was confident that he could trap Wang Tianfeng with these backup plans, but the growth of the Mao faction exceeded his expectations. In addition, Mingtai's second imprisonment made him instinctively wary while he was far away in the United States. This game was too big, and there was not much room for error for either Minglou in the Northeast, Lao Zheng and Lao Xu in Xuzhou, or other comrades in the Bureau Headquarters.
As he played all these backup plans in quick succession, Zhang Anping grew increasingly uneasy as he faced an ever-decreasing pool of options.
According to his plan, he would continue to dawdle until the situation in the Northeast was about to settle down. At that time, he would re-enter the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics with the momentum of a king's return. He would leave the chaotic period at this time for the Huaihai Campaign. He would take advantage of Minglou's uprising to humiliate Mao Renfeng. Once he had humiliated him enough, it would be the end of the Huaihai Campaign.
The uprisings of the special armed forces and the traffic police corps will, with the help of divine intervention, become the key to Mao Renfeng's "turning defeat into victory".
However, Wang Tianfeng's special power from the GFB was too great, and Minglou's "self-exposure" could easily become a failure without his own support. Therefore, after much thought, Zhang Anping changed his original intention to continue to dawdle. He used the global trade communication channels to have someone send the current situation of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics to the United States and then to him.
As a member of the delegation, his communications with China were actually restricted. He couldn't carry a public radio in the US to contact China and could only use official channels. Theoretically, he was completely unaware of the current situation within the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics (BIS), so this was the only way he could "learn" about the BIS's current state.
After receiving the telegram from Global Trade on the surface, he became "anxious" and, after discussing with the other members of the delegation, decided to abandon the meaningless lobbying. Only then did he send a telegram to Nanjing through proper official channels, stating that the Americans were deeply disappointed with the situation in Northeast China and had reneged on their plan to aid ten American-equipped divisions.
Of course, the Nationalist government was aware of this, and sending Zhang Anping to the United States was merely a matter of taking a chance and making a few moves.
Since Zhang Anping had sent a telegram stating that there was no hope, the Nationalist government agreed to let Zhang Anping lead the delegation back.
After obtaining permission, Zhang Anping did not go through the official channels to return to China. Instead, he bypassed the delegation and used his personal connections to board a US military aircraft. While others took at least 72 hours due to procedural issues, Zhang Anping completed the journey in just 48 hours. This was partly due to his personal connections, but also because Zhang Anping was widely known in the United States.
After a 48-hour journey, Zhang Anping returned to Nanjing and immediately went to see the section chief.
The section chief was quite surprised when he met Zhang Anping. Upon learning that Zhang Anping had completed his return journey in a mere 48 hours, he couldn't help but feel a lingering sense of unease.
"You really are incredibly daring! You actually dared to fly such a life-threatening route!"
The section chief assumed that Zhang Anping was flying the Arctic route—a route rarely used by Americans, mainly due to the severe weather, the limited number of airports along the way, and the extremely high difficulty of rescue operations after an accident.
Zhang Anping did not explain the misunderstanding; he said:
"The Ministry is truly worried about the situation within the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics—with the war situation currently unfavorable, the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics, as the eyes and ears of the Party and the State, should focus its efforts on external affairs, rather than endless internal strife..."
At this point, Zhang Anping quickly stood up: "It was the department that abused its power."
The section chief personally stepped forward and pressed Zhang Anping down to sit, saying sincerely:
“When you were in the Security Bureau, I never worried about causing any trouble. But during the time you were gone, I was truly exhausted!”
The section chief looked like he had something on his mind.
He was truly exhausted—because the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics had always caused trouble, he had already developed some resentment towards Zhang Anping, feeling that he had overestimated Zhang Anping.
But after Zhang Anping left, especially after he specifically instructed them to "be united" and "not fight amongst themselves," the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics was in complete chaos. The Mao faction's rampant expansion, the Zhang faction's infighting, and the stubborn Wang Tianfeng's indiscriminate killings made the section chief miss Zhang Anping terribly.
When Zhang Anping was in the Bureau of Secrecy, although the Bureau would occasionally cause trouble, there was at least a limit—and this limit, in the eyes of the current section chief, was entirely a sacrifice and a sense of the big picture that Zhang Anping made for the sake of stability.
Looking at it now, he doesn't even know how to evaluate this once incredibly powerful organization!
Zhang Anping did not follow the section chief's lead, but instead volunteered:
"Director, I want to go to the Security Bureau. I know this is overstepping my authority, but if the Security Bureau is unstable, it's like being blind and deaf."
The section chief couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. Zhang Anping rushed back, first running to his side to ask for authorization. This caution and discipline far surpassed those scoundrels who treated their long-established spheres of influence as their own private domains!
"You..."
After his still-unsatisfied "criticism," he said:
"In urgent situations, we should act expediently. Here's what we'll do: I'll make a call to the GFB, and you can temporarily take on the title of GFB Special Envoy at the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics. Once the formalities are completed, you can continue as the deputy director."
At this point, the section chief's expression turned serious:
“Anping, Mao Renfeng has disappointed me greatly! After you are reinstated this time, you should play it safe and keep a low profile. Do you understand what I mean?”
Zhang Anping understood what the section chief meant—the section chief was nominally not in charge of intelligence agencies such as the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics and the Party's Intelligence Bureau, but he only nominally lacked management authority.
In fact, he wielded considerable influence over intelligence agencies, even having the permission of his chief aide.
Otherwise, Wang Tianfeng wouldn't have so easily jumped from his position as section chief to become deputy director of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Anping said solemnly:
"Please rest assured, Director, the department will do its utmost to fulfill its duties!"
The section chief couldn't help but pat Zhang Anping on the shoulder again. He knew that when others said "I will dedicate myself to the cause until my dying breath," it was just empty talk, but when Zhang Anping said it, he truly believed it!
Flying all the way along the Arctic route, this guy's heart is full of the Party and the country!
……
After obtaining the letter of appointment for the GFB special envoy from the section chief, Zhang Anping rushed to the headquarters of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics.
Although he had been away from the Security Bureau for three months, when his borrowed car was stopped at the gate, the sentry immediately and without hesitation stood at attention and saluted as soon as he got out.
"Good day, Commander Zhang!"
Zhang Anping nodded slightly:
"I want to go in—do I need to register?"
Before the sentry could answer, the officer in the guard post rushed out and, upon hearing Zhang Anping's words, immediately shouted:
"Welcome home, District Chief!"
The title "District Chief" is reserved for elderly people in the Shanghai district.
The security department at headquarters was controlled by Mao Renfeng, so Zhang Anping couldn't help but take a closer look at the officer after hearing his words, and then said with a grim expression:
"Aren't you in the operations department?"
The implication is, why were you transferred from the Operations Department to the Security Department? Did you defect?!
The officer said with shame:
"District Chief, the department has failed in its duties and has been implicated by Deputy Director Wang..."
Zhang Anping waved his hand to stop the other person from continuing: "I understand—"
"You go ahead and do your work!"
Zhang Anping strode into the bureau headquarters with a long face, but in his heart he was thinking: Old Wang definitely has a dog's nose, definitely!
When the agents at headquarters saw Zhang Anping, their eyes lit up, and they all stopped in their tracks, staring at him intently—many of them were Mao's trusted lieutenants.
Zhang Anping responded with a nod, then randomly pointed to someone and asked, "Where are Director Mao, Deputy Director Wang, or Deputy Director Shen?"
"A departmental meeting is in progress—shall I take you there?"
"No need!" Zhang Anping waved his hand and walked to the bureau's conference room on the third floor, leaving behind countless strange looks.
These gazes seemed to be saying one thing:
With Commander Zhang here, the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics... can finally have some peace and quiet again!
During the bureau meeting, the security force on the third floor was unprecedentedly strong—after all, this was the time when the bigwigs of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics gathered, and if they were all wiped out, it would be a huge joke.
However, despite the unprecedentedly strong security force, not a single person dared to stop Zhang Anping after seeing him—theoretically, Zhang Anping had no connection with the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics until he produced the GFB's letter of appointment as a special envoy.
Yet not a single guard or sentry stopped him.
Even when Zhang Anping stood at the window of the bureau's conference room and blatantly eavesdropped, no one stepped forward to stop him. Instead, they stood tall and proud, as if they were being inspected.
In this strange state, the meeting in the conference room proceeded "orderly" until Mao Renfeng began his concluding remarks, about to make the final decision, when Zhang Anping finally made his appearance.
"slow!"
After speaking, he walked to the door of the conference room. Without giving a signal, the guard on duty opened the door. Under the midday sun, Zhang Anping stepped into the conference room.
The meeting room was initially deathly silent, then Shen Zuiteng stood up abruptly:
"District Chief!"
The word "seat" contained unspeakable complex emotions and heartache—at least that's what Shen Zui thought.
But many people secretly slandered it in their hearts:
Sycophant!
The way he addressed her as "District Chief" was seen by these people as the epitome of flattery, exactly like the way An, who claimed a concubine as her mother.
At this moment, Wang Tianfeng also looked at Zhang Anping with a complicated expression. Everyone present was a top agent. Whether their abilities were top-notch or not was uncertain, but their eyesight was certainly excellent. They could all see that Zhang Anping was covered in dust and looked tired.
Wang Tianfeng could do it too.
Faced with Zhang Anping in this state, Wang Tianfeng didn't know whether to be happy or ashamed. After standing up, he moved his lips, wanting to call out to Anping, but was surprised to find that Zhang Anping completely ignored him and casually pulled over a chair to sit down.
"Everyone, I'm sorry to bother you—I'm really sorry."
After giving a perfunctory answer, Zhang Anping looked at Mao Renfeng with feigned suspicion and said:
"Director Mao, I just heard you say that you want to remove Director Ming from his post?"
From the moment he heard Zhang Anping's voice, Mao Renfeng felt as if dark clouds had gathered above his head, and his heart trembled instinctively. Seeing Zhang Anping's feigned question, he suppressed his discomfort and said calmly:
"Deputy Director Zhang..."
After calling out "Deputy Director Zhang," Mao Renfeng realized, "Pah, wasn't this guy already dismissed?"
Damn it, stop acting all high and mighty, I almost forgot about that!
Thinking of this, Mao Renfeng's expression changed, and her tone shifted from narration to an angry rebuke:
"Zhang Anping, this is the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics! This is the Bureau's most important meeting room—who are you to dare to brazenly eavesdrop on such a confidential meeting?"
Do you really think that Party discipline and national laws are just for show?
At this moment, Mao Renfeng thought of countless ways to torment Zhang Anping—undoubtedly, this was entirely driven by a desire for revenge.
Zhang Anping glanced at Mao Renfeng with a half-smile, then leisurely said:
"It seems the communication between the Security Bureau and the GFB isn't going very smoothly—"
After making a sarcastic remark, Zhang Anping threw out the letter of appointment issued by the section chief in the name of GFB.
That's why he specifically went to the section chief to ask for the necessary paperwork first. Unfortunately, he didn't expect that he could get to the final stage just by showing his face.
Upon seeing the letter of appointment for special envoy that Zhang Anping had presented, Mao Renfeng felt not just discouraged, but rather overwhelmed with relief, as if the sky had darkened considerably.
"Director Mao, the Security Bureau has really gotten powerful these days! They dare to dismiss a high-ranking official from the Security Bureau based on just a baseless rumor!"
Zhang Anping looked at Mao Renfeng with a mocking expression and said quietly:
"If I were to say now that I suspect you, Director Mao, are a communist sympathizer, would that same logic apply to getting you removed as the head of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics?!"
"absurd!"
After Zhang Anping suddenly roared and slammed his fist on the table, his gaze swept across the faces of each attendee, lingering deliberately on Wang Tianfeng's face for a few seconds before he angrily said:
"Do you even have any regard for Party discipline and national laws?!"
"Or do you think that Party discipline and national laws are just for show?!"
Mao Renfeng was hit squarely between the eyebrows by a bullet fired a few dozen seconds earlier. His face turned pale for a moment, but he quickly returned to normal. He told himself, "Why am I angry? Zhang Anping is speaking up for my general. Why am I angry?"
Despite thinking this, he still cursed inwardly for a while before finally calming down.
The others remained silent after being reprimanded, but Shen Zui's face lit up with joy. "My insistence was right; the district chief is standing up for me."
Only Wang Tianfeng's expression darkened.
Seeing that no one responded, Zhang Anping softened his tone:
"Of course, this is an internal matter for your Security Bureau, and I am an outsider..."
No one laughed; most people just looked at Zhang Anping with strange expressions.
Is this a matter for your Bureau of Secrecy?
You're an outsider?
“As an outsider,” Zhang Anping paused, then continued, “it is not appropriate for me to get too deeply involved. However, you should all be aware of the situation in the Northeast. Throughout history, the worst thing to do is to change generals on the eve of battle, especially when the situation is difficult—what do you all think?”
No one spoke up. Even Mao Renfeng was too lazy to say anything. His plan to withdraw Minglou had completely failed. There was no point in saying anything, so he naturally wouldn't waste his breath.
Seeing this, Zhang Anping said humbly, "Well, you guys continue—I'm just an outsider listening."
Mao Renfeng thought to himself, "What the hell is there to say? You're back now, what the hell can you say? You don't know anything else, and you can't even make any decisions right now!"
Thinking of this, Mao Renfeng didn't even bother to pretend anymore, and said with a gloomy expression, "Meeting adjourned!"
After saying that, he got up and left—he now had a strong army, and he was not afraid of anyone who wanted to clash with the Zhang fellow!
The other factions quickly got up and left, but they were secretly overjoyed. Zhang Anping had arrived, and given the current situation, the Zhang and Mao factions were likely to clash head-on. They could reap the benefits and perhaps even turn the tables.
Several of Zhang's key figures remained, making their stance quite clear:
Listen to Commander Zhang's teachings.
But Zhang Anping waved his hand at the group:
"You guys go back first!"
The group realized that they were about to have a private talk with Shen Zui and Wang Tianfeng—they should hurry up and leave, or they'd be fish in a breeding pond.
All the attendees left, leaving only Shen Zui and Wang Tianfeng to accompany Zhang Anping.
Zhang Anping also "removed the disguise from his face," leaning wearily against the chair and pretending to doze off. He tapped his fingers lightly as if calculating the time. He only opened his eyes suddenly after everyone else had completely left.
Unsurprisingly, his eyes were filled with anger at that moment.
"Alright! You two..."
"Very good! Very good indeed!"
Zhang Anping stared at the two men with a cold, sharp gaze. (End of Chapter)