Chapter 983
Two Things About Mao Renfeng and Zheng Yi's Desperate Fight for Military Power
Also at night, a group of people who couldn't stand the light of day secretly gathered together.
"This time, I will definitely not let this go easily!"
"An opportunity! Gentlemen, this is our chance to turn the tide!"
These veterans, who had been suppressed to the point of near-invisibility by the Zhang and Mao factions, once again grasped at a straw—this time, by all accounts, the Zhang and Mao factions seemed determined to fight to the death.
"The Zhang faction is weak, and they have a weakness that they can't let go of Minglou. This time, the Mao faction has a very high chance of winning—should we help the Zhangs fight the Maos?"
"No, I think we should help the guy surnamed Mao—I always felt that Zhang Anping was a bit strange. Even though he's weak now, I still don't think Mao Renfeng can beat him!"
"How could that be! Zhang Anping has Ming Lou in his hands..."
"If we really examine this closely, is Ming Lou's matter a handle against Zhang Anping? Gentlemen, don't forget whose side Ming Lou works for!"
"That's true. If we really want to examine this matter closely, Minglou's actions can't really be considered a weakness of his."
"Furthermore, everyone, don't forget that Zhang Anping has been the deputy director of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics from beginning to end—Zheng Yaoquan and Mao Renfeng are both directors! As a deputy director, he has repeatedly suppressed the directors who hold real power. Zhang Anping is too strange!"
"That's right. In that case, why don't we side with Mao Renfeng? As long as we defeat Zhang Anping this time, can Mao Renfeng really take over such a huge pie like the Zhang faction? Then we can also get a share!"
Just as an agreement was about to be reached, one of the elders said quietly:
"Gentlemen, why must we choose one of the two? Can't we just get rid of them both from the Security Bureau?"
"Now is a critical moment for the Party and the nation! The clouds of war are gathering over Xuzhou, Bengbu, and Pingjin, yet Zhang and Mao are still fighting endlessly for their own interests. Gentlemen, isn't this reason enough?"
Upon hearing this, all the elders' eyes lit up.
They all viewed it from Zhang Anping's perspective of wanting to back down, but if you look at it from a higher level, who can see Zhang Anping's willingness to back down?
All they could see was the two of them shifting blame and engaging in political infighting!
If both of them are out of the picture, then when the new director takes office, won't he have to rely on these people to stabilize the situation?
At that time...
They were all thrilled at the prospect of this outcome.
Having been suppressed by Zhang and Mao for more than two years, their own power has been shattered by the two's coordinated attacks, and now they have been reduced to voting machines at bureau meetings.
"Let's do it!"
"That's right! These two bastards have been ruthless to us from beginning to end. Now, it's time to show them our fists!"
"But... what if it doesn't work?"
If it doesn't work, they'll probably face retribution from the two of them!
"If it doesn't work out, it's just a matter of maintaining the status quo—how much worse can it get? What's the difference between us now and those who are enjoying their retirement?"
These words completely ignited the fighting spirit of the elders.
Yeah, how much worse can it get? They're already in this state, what are we afraid of?
I was already barefoot, and in this freezing cold, my feet were about to be lost. I took a gamble and tried to become a shoe-wearing person. If I failed, amputation was inevitable. What was there to be afraid of?
After reaching a consensus, the elders dispersed and, on this moonless night, began to travel in droves.
Du Yuesheng, who previously failed in his bid for mayor, summarized a lesson, which we might call the "chamber pot theory"—he was used when needed, but once he was done, he was quickly hidden under the bed to avoid being seen.
Du Yuesheng felt that these words were a reflection of his own life, but little did he know that they were equally applicable to the ranks of spies.
Most high-ranking officials in the Nationalist government would establish personal relationships with one or more high-ranking secret agents, which corresponded to Du Yuesheng's "chamber pot theory" and was intended for emergency use in critical moments.
It's obviously impossible to expect them to bear enormous pressure for these "chamber pots," but it would be perfectly acceptable for them to chime in and express their anger at the fact that the two leaders of the Security Bureau are still fighting amongst themselves under these circumstances!
Thus, under the cover of night, a "will" slowly took shape.
……
The morning sunlight dispelled the darkness that had enveloped the earth.
All the shady things seemed to have completely disappeared.
Zhang Anping, still feeling the hangover, swayed in his car. After passing a notice board, his gaze sharpened slightly. After driving for a while, he signaled the driver to stop and asked him to wait by the roadside. He then went to a restaurant and ordered a bowl of millet porridge to soothe his stomach.
Someone recognized him and greeted him: "Mr. Zhang!"
It's Chai Ying.
In fact, Zhang Anping came here specifically to order millet porridge after seeing the information on the notice board.
"Oh, it's you—perfect timing, let's sit together."
Zhang Anping invited Chai Ying to sit down, but to avoid suspicion, he deliberately kept a distance between them, demonstrating excellent tact.
While the two appeared to be exchanging simple pleasantries, Chai Ying was actually rapidly relaying information to Zhang Anping:
"Sister Cheng told me that those idlers were plotting last night, and they wanted to join forces to drive out the two kings."
"Sister Cheng thought it was interesting, so she got involved."
"Sister Cheng" was the person in charge of the Nanjing underground Communist Party. These two sentences mean:
The veterans of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics, who had become idle, conspired to drive you and Mao Renfeng away. Sister Cheng saw this as an opportunity and secretly fueled the flames.
Chai Ying received the notification from the Nanjing underground party early in the morning. She was stunned when she received the news, not expecting that her comrades would get involved at such a critical moment.
She then quickly signaled for an urgent meeting.
"It's not a big problem." Zhang Anping remained calm and composed, saying, "There should be results today—no surprises."
He was quite certain that nothing unexpected would happen—the section chief had personally intervened, and his title as special envoy would definitely be changed.
However, given the chief attendant's personality, he certainly wouldn't promote him to the position at this time.
He thought for a moment and said to Chai Ying, "Do you and Mo Yi want to go for a walk tonight?"
"Great! I've just found a dress I like and I'm waiting for Mo Yi to give me her opinion!"
After agreeing to meet in the evening, the two chatted casually for a while. After finishing his millet porridge, Zhang Anping, wearing a top hat, offered to see Chai Ying off, but Chai Ying refused. Only then did he leave the restaurant and get back into his car.
On the way to the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics, Zhang Anping couldn't help but laugh to himself. He wasn't laughing at his own comrade for betraying him, a top spy, without his knowledge, but rather at the "talented individuals" within the Kuomintang.
He was quite certain that those idle people in the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics had never had any of their own comrades before.
Judging from the information from the underground party, some of these idle people in the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics must have "been pragmatic" and chosen to become "heroes".
Clearly, this was the direct deterrent effect of the Liaoshen Campaign!
[Wait a little longer, it's not ready yet! Only after the curtain falls on the Huaihai and Pingjin events... will it be ready!]
……
The internal divisions within the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics are extremely serious today.
Within just one hour of work, members of the Mao and Zhang factions clashed multiple times. Previously, the Zhang faction had been patient and restrained, suppressing the Mao faction's increasing pressure. But now that Zhang Anping had overturned the table, the Zhang faction naturally wouldn't tolerate it and launched a "beating" against the Mao faction.
It wasn't really a physical beating, but rather a legal and compliant form of harassment and investigation using various official powers—though it did include a few instances of physical assault. The Mao faction naturally reacted strongly. "You Zhang faction used to be powerful and I couldn't afford to offend you, but now that the Mao faction is powerful, if we're still bullied by you, then what's the point of our growth?"
As a result, Zhang Anping spent the first two hours after starting work dealing with the aftermath of various conflicts.
Don't be too ruthless or cruel! This apology drink might not taste so good once we recognize each other again.
Zhang Anping, though outwardly serious and displeased, was inwardly churning with a complex mix of emotions. The main reason was that he realized many of those involved in the conflict were his own people—clearly, these comrades were eager for the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics to descend into chaos, deliberately and tacitly stirring up trouble during this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
This is because they're afraid the Security Bureau will become divided and uncooperative!
Like Zhang Anping, Mao Renfeng also dealt with the aftermath of various conflicts, and his inner turmoil was no less than Zhang Anping's.
[After all the ups and downs, all the hard work and selection process, my people now possess the unity and fighting spirit of the Zhang faction!]
Although Mao Renfeng was furious and reprimanded many of his close associates, he did not punish a single one because he was too happy!
After the Military Intelligence Bureau was reorganized into the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics, his Mao faction grew to an unparalleled size, and he developed the illusion that he could command the wind and rain—as a result, he was harassed by Zhang Anping, harassed by Zheng Yaoquan who later took over, and eventually his faction collapsed and scattered.
This was a huge blow to him.
It also made him realize that no matter how powerful a faction becomes, without his own loyal followers, it's just a castle in the air, and they'll all scatter when disaster strikes.
Now, the Mao faction, after being tempered and refined, is incredibly united and possesses tremendous fighting power!
After so many ups and downs, a united Mao faction is truly his greatest achievement!
At this moment, a trusted confidant entered. Mao Renfeng thought the man was also there to "complain," but to his surprise, the man quietly reported on the collusion among the elders.
"Huh? These old fogies who've been sitting on the sidelines have actually started jumping around?"
Mao Renfeng sneered on the spot, then praised his confidant with a smile:
"Well done! Keep a close eye on them—these old guys can't cause any trouble. The idea is good, but unfortunately... it's not up to par!"
Zhang Anping, that bastard, knows that a major battle is imminent and that the commander-in-chief cannot be easily replaced. How could the higher-ups not know this?
With war clouds looming over Beijing, Tianjin, and Xuzhou, how could the higher-ups possibly make a move against him at this critical juncture?
"He who is too short-sighted will never achieve great things!"
After making his final judgment with complete confidence, Mao Renfeng dismissed his trusted confidants and immediately began to ponder:
These guys are really annoying when they're acting up, but right now the most important thing is to get military power in our hands!
First, we'll deal with Zheng Yaoxian and get control of the Special Weapons Force. With military power as a foundation, we'll have more confidence in what we do in the future!
Clearly, Mao Renfeng was not concerned about the "turbulence" that was currently attracting global attention. He believed that the higher-ups would reach a final decision within the next few days—it would likely be a matter of assigning equal blame to both sides.
However, he did not expect that the fifty lashes would come so quickly!
Before ten o'clock, the people below rushed in in a panic:
"Chief, something terrible has happened! The section chief is here!"
The section chief is here already?
Mao Renfeng was taken aback. Given the current situation of the section chief, he should be "hiding" and not showing his face. Why did he come to the Bureau of Secrecy?
It must have been Zhang Anping who filed that false accusation!
Mao Renfeng clenched his fist. With his experience, he could say with certainty that even if the section chief himself came, the result would still be that both sides would be equally punished.
This will absolutely not change.
The problem lay in the phrase "the section chief personally arrived"—the hidden information behind it made him feel a great sense of crisis.
Although he was the director, he never lacked a sense of crisis after being promoted to the position.
But the fact that the section chief, despite his current predicament, is still willing to stand up for Zhang Anping is what truly frightens him.
What should I do?
……
The purpose of coming out was exactly as Mao Renfeng was certain.
The matter was settled with both sides receiving equal blame – both Mao Renfeng and Zhang Anping were reprimanded.
This was the result Mao Renfeng wanted, but the appointment announced by the section chief afterwards made Zhang Xi ecstatic:
Zhang Anping has been reinstated as deputy director!
This result has a strong sense of bias – Zhang Anping was dismissed, and Wang Tianfeng and Shen Zui became deputy directors. Later, Wang Tianfeng was "kicked out" by Zhang Anping, but Zhang Anping, as a special commissioner, brazenly exercised the power of a deputy director.
Now it's all right, I'm back to my original position!
It seems like we've come full circle and returned to where we started, but the problem is that Zhang's faction has added a deputy director, Shen Zui, to the bureau meeting!
Although Zhang's faction has been quite sluggish lately, the weight of a deputy director-general is still extremely important!
This also sent a signal to everyone in the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics:
Zhang Anping, in the end, "deeply understood the emperor's wishes"!
……
Mao is probably going to get angry!
【military power……】
Zhang Anping recalled the look in Mao Renfeng's eyes after seeing the section chief off, and couldn't help but worry:
It seems that Mao will be locked in a fierce battle for military power from now on!
After all, these days, having military power is the best way to save your life.
Zhang Anping's original intention and plan was indeed to have Mao Renfeng fight for military power. Zheng Yaoxian needed Mao Renfeng to force him to rebel. If Mao did not fight for military power, Zheng Yaoxian's uprising would lack a "trigger" and a key driving force, making the uprising seem very glaring.
However, Mao Renfeng's excessive and relentless pursuit of military power was something Zhang Anping was unwilling to confront.
He still needs this firewall to continue being the deputy director who can't be promoted. If Mao Zedong's fight for military power angers the chief of staff, this firewall might "expire." If he doesn't have this firewall... life will probably be tough!
Oh, so much sorrow...
While Zhang Anping was experiencing a happy dilemma, Zheng Yi was trying to guess what Zhang Anping was thinking at that moment.
His deliberate forbearance only emboldened Mao Renfeng to push her luck further. Now, although both sides are equally at fault, he has been reinstated and can use Mao Renfeng as a pretext to continue his schemes—so, his current frown is probably meant for me, isn't it?
Thinking of this, Zheng Yi felt a little disappointed.
Sure enough, as soon as she made no attempt to hide her disappointment, Zhang Anping immediately noticed the change in her expression and casually remarked:
"I noticed you hesitated several times before, is there something you want to say?"
Looking at Zhang Anping, who was putting on an act, Zheng Yi paused for a moment before slowly saying:
"Chief Qu, I have two things I'd like to report."
Two things?
Zhang Anping put down his pen and gestured:
"Go ahead."
Zheng Yi took a deep breath:
"The first thing—when I was in America, I saw a person."
Zhang Anping was startled, but his expression remained unchanged as he probed:
"Who?"
Zheng Yi uttered two words slowly: "A clear mirror." (End of Chapter)