Kingsman Agent in Film and Television

In the office, Zheng Yi reported: "District Chief, Secretary Pan wants to see you."

"Secretary Pan of Mao Renfeng?"

"Ah."

A playful smile appeared on Zhang Anping's lips: "Let him in."

Mao Renfeng is in a hurry this time, he's so impatient!

After Secretary Pan entered, he greeted Zhang Anping with utmost respect: "Director Zhang."

Zhang Anping asked casually, "Secretary Pan, is there something you need?"

Although Secretary Pan is called "Secretary Pan" in front of Zhang Anping, his position is not just that of a secretary. Like the secretary of the bureau chief, he usually holds the title of office director. Previously, he and Zheng Yi were both deputy directors of the office. After Mao Renfeng was promoted to director, his position rose accordingly and he became the director.

Zheng Yi also holds the position of deputy director of the office, but she prefers the title of secretary. People below either call her Secretary Zheng or Director Zheng, and almost no one calls her Deputy Director Zheng.

Secretary Pan's situation is similar. Now everyone basically calls him Director Pan. If someone calls him Secretary Pan, he won't react on the spot, but he will definitely make things difficult for them later.

But Zhang Anping still addressed her as Secretary Pan as before, and Secretary Pan didn't feel the slightest bit of resistance.

"Director Mao has reserved a table at Liuhuachun Restaurant and would like to invite Director Zhang to dine with him tonight."

After Secretary Pan finished speaking, Zheng Yi, who was waiting to the side, revealed a cold smile. He wanted to invite the district chief to dinner.
Ha, do you deserve it?!
But Zhang Anping's answer was beyond her expectations.

"it is good!"

This answer stunned not only Zheng Yi, but even the messenger, Secretary Pan. They agreed?!
You actually agreed?
He was prepared to be kicked out—after he took on the task, he had been wondering if even the director himself would have a hard time handling it, let alone him, a mere mortal.

Zhang Anping saw surprise on Secretary Pan's face, and while smiling inwardly, asked, "What time?"

"Seven, seven o'clock."

"I see."

Secretary Pan respectfully took his leave, thinking to himself that he had to hurry up and reserve a seat.

As soon as Secretary Pan left, Zheng Yi couldn't help but ask:
"Chief Qu, why did you agree?"

Zheng Yi was dissatisfied that Mao Renfeng had invited Zhang Anping to a banquet, but Zhang Anping was so arrogant that he didn't even show up.

Zhang Anping smiled mysteriously: "Someone is offering me a bargaining chip, so it's understandable that I'd be a little reserved."

Zheng Yi didn't quite understand what Zhang Anping meant, but Zhang Anping didn't explain further. Instead, he said, "Make a reservation with Liu Huachun, um, let's do it at 7:30."

???

Didn't you and Mao agree to meet at seven o'clock?

Zhang Anping had already picked up the phone: "Connect me to the Party Communications Bureau—this is Zhang Shih-hao, connect me to Ye Xiu-feng!"

"Director Ye, I've reserved a table at Liuhua Chun Restaurant for 7:30 tonight. Would you mind making the effort?"

Zhang Anping's tone clearly carried a hint of "joking," which was a deliberate display of familiarity, even though he and Ye Xiufeng weren't actually that close.

Ye Xiufeng on the other end of the phone didn't mince words. He had been waiting for Zhang Anping's call—you cooperated with me, then turned around and killed my people. Don't you have any explanation?
When the phone rang, he naturally didn't refuse and immediately agreed—he even turned down a rather important meeting for it.

After hanging up the phone, Zhang Anping's smile widened.

This phone call only deepened Zheng Yi's doubts. Seeing that Zhang Anping had no intention of explaining, she could only keep quiet.

After Zheng Yi left, the smile on Zhang Anping's face disappeared.

How come Mao's methods suddenly became so much more sophisticated?
He had initially thought that Mao Renfeng should come to invite him in person, or at least make a phone call, but sending her secretary instead made Zhang Anping wonder about the change in Mao Renfeng's mindset.

Isn't he worried that he might simply ignore someone who has strong opinions about him?

If someone else were to act as an intermediary, there would be room for maneuver even if Zhang Anping refused. However, the secretary represents Mao Renfeng's will, and in front of Zhang Anping, the secretary's status is not qualified.

Why did he send his secretary?

……

In Mao Renfeng's office.

"He agreed?"

"Well—after I finished speaking, Deputy Director Zhang agreed and even asked about the time."

Mao Renfeng waved his hand: "I know, go and make the arrangements—try to make it as formal as possible."

After the secretary left, Mao Renfeng picked up her teacup but didn't drink it; instead, she stared blankly at the teacup.

After a long while, Mao Renfeng gently shook her head:

"This guy..."

In fact, Mao Renfeng was waiting for Zhang Anping to refuse so that he could personally extend an invitation.

When you're in a different position, you see things from a different perspective.

In the past, he was the deputy director, Zhang Anping's rival, and regarded Zhang Anping as his biggest opponent and obstacle;
But now, he is the bureau chief.

Zhang Anping remains his opponent, but the difference is that he is not only his opponent but also Mao Renfeng's "soldier".

So, in the past it was about fighting, but now, in Mao Renfeng's view, it should be about suppressing him. Zhang Anping wants to fight him, but what Mao Renfeng wants to do is suppress Zhang Anping and let Zhang Anping play the role of a "soldier." After all, no matter what achievements or merits Zhang Anping makes, the greatest merit is actually his, the director of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics.

Moreover, Zhang Anping possesses many golden statues, one of which is:

Commander Zhang is selfless!
This is like a play where one side has red and black masks representing loyalty, bravery, and integrity, while the other side has white, blue, and green masks representing treachery and cruelty. Who among the audience wouldn't side with the righteous side?

Mao Renfeng admitted that his reputation in the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics was terrible, but people are always forgetful—now that he was in a leading position, he had to act more magnanimous.

Nothing could better showcase one's magnanimity than highlighting Zhang Anping's stubbornness, pettiness, and inflexibility.

Unfortunately, Zhang Anping didn't fall for it.

In response, Mao Renfeng could only conclude that Zhang Anping had an overly keen sense of smell, or that Zhang Anping was ultimately a man of action, and even with a heart full of resentment, he still prioritized getting things done.

"It seems that suppressing him is much easier than fighting him!"

Thinking of this, Mao Renfeng couldn't help but smile with delight.

The perspective has changed; many problems from the past are no longer problems!
……

Liu Huachun.

Zhang Anping arrived right on time—Director Jiang always made sure to arrive on time when he invited him to dinner. How could Lao Mao possibly arrive early?
Before the car even reached the entrance of Liuhuachun, Zhang Anping saw Mao Renfeng's slightly plump figure, but there seemed to be someone chatting with him in front of him.

As the car approached the entrance of Liu Huachun, Zhang Anping rolled down the window a crack, and a conversation reached his ears:

"Brother Ruwen, my distinguished guest has arrived, so I'll have to keep my conversation going for now. We can talk again another day!"

After saying this, Mao Renfeng left the person he was talking to and went straight to the car, which had slowed down. Once the car had come to a complete stop, he approached it.

"Brother Anping, your sense of time is truly amazing! Accurate, absolutely accurate!"

Mao Renfeng gave Zhang Anping a thumbs-up in praise.

Is it a mockery?
Zhang Anping glanced at his watch: "I'm not late."

“I didn’t say you were late—besides, I know Brother Anping is busy with a lot of things, so he certainly didn’t mean to leave me hanging. Let’s go inside and talk.”

Mao Renfeng acted very familiarly and enthusiastically, without the slightest bit of the reserve of a bureau chief.

Those who were just chatting with Mao Renfeng were stunned. Mao Renfeng's distinguished guest was actually his mortal enemy, Zhang Shih-hao.

The key point is that Mao Renfeng is still "licking" her boots just like before?
He's practically the official director of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics now, is it appropriate for him to be so obsequious?

Mao Renfeng didn't care about the strange looks from others. He led Zhang Anping to the reserved private room, nodded to the waiting secretary to indicate that the dishes should be served, and then pressed Zhang Anping down to sit down, thus showing his friendly attitude.

But without a doubt, the action of "pressing down" clearly revealed his identity at this moment!
Zhang Anping looked at Mao Renfeng with amusement. After the secretary left, he tapped the table lightly with his finger:
"Director Mao, is there really no need for us to go through with this?"

Upon hearing this, Mao Renfeng sighed deeply, sat down opposite Zhang Anping, and said with a sigh:

"Anping, all the things we've been through..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Anping interrupted him:

"Director Mao... if this is what you're trying to tell me, then I... won't stay here and get my ears dirty."

"There are some things I'm tired of hearing."

These are sharp words, but they undoubtedly reflect the past of the two of them.

How many times did Mao Renfeng truly open up to Zhang Anping?

It's likely that even Mao Renfeng himself can't remember.

Mao Renfeng's face stiffened, and he wanted nothing more than to slam his fist on the table and show Zhang Anping who the hell was the director—how arrogant was Zheng Laoqi in the past? He would always put his stinky feet on the table and talk to Mao Renfeng like that!

Now, all they talk about is the "Director"!
You, Zhang Anping...

Never mind! Mao Renfeng composed herself and said:

"You were the one who spearheaded the cadre exchange list—Brother Anping, you're not the type to give up halfway, you can't abandon this task!"

A cold, mocking look appeared on Zhang Anping's face. He seemed unsurprised by Mao Renfeng's words, and he gave a chilling smile:
"Director Mao, you've won back the hearts of the people, but am I supposed to take the blame for stirring up trouble and offending people?"

"Director Mao's abacus beads are about to fall into my face!"

Mao Renfeng suppressed the urge to slam his fist on the table and stand up: "Brother Anping, if you really don't want to talk, you probably won't agree to my invitation to the banquet, right?"

Zhang Anping stared intently at Mao Renfeng, his gaze filled with even more mockery:
"Director Mao, some things... shouldn't be taken for granted—"

"Do you know what the biggest mistake I've made so far is?"

Mao Renfeng smiled and said, "How could you be so kind as to spare me, Mao?"

Zhang Anping's lips curled into a mocking smile, as if to say, "You really think too highly of yourself," which reignited Mao Renfeng's nameless rage, who was now in the position of the victor.

"I shouldn't have let you force me to take over the reorganization of the Military Intelligence Bureau!" Zhang Anping leaned forward, getting incredibly close to Mao Renfeng, and coldly said to Mao Renfeng, who was stubbornly refusing to back down:
"Only by being able to fight can we stop war; only by daring to fight can we make peace—I didn't understand this principle in the first place, which is why I let you drag me into this game, and in the end, you challenged my bottom line time and time again!"

After speaking, Zhang Anping turned back, sat down in his seat, and said calmly:

"I won't make the same mistake twice!"

Mao Renfeng's expression became uncertain; Zhang Anping's attitude was beyond his expectations.

A virtuous person can be deceived by reason!

This statement was the guiding principle behind Mao Renfeng's repeated actions against Zhang Anping since the establishment of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics. However, after the recent incident of impersonating an underground party member, Zhang Anping changed his previous apprehension and adopted a posture of "it's all or nothing."

Zhang Anping's statement now is essentially a reiteration of his previous stance.

So, is this something he deliberately brought up and emphasized?

Or does he really have this plan?

If it's the former, then trying to suppress Zhang Anping is just a pipe dream.

But if it is the latter, then he can continue to deceive the gentleman with his principles!
Mao Renfeng quickly came up with a solution; he asked directly:

"Wang Tianfeng, what do you think about reinstating him as the head of the intelligence department?"

The intelligence department is now headed by Shen Zui, who is a traitor to Mao's faction. Others believe that Wang Tianfeng is dead, but Mao Renfeng knows that Wang Tianfeng is hiding in the shadows.

So he offered this condition, partly to strike at Shen Zui, and partly to show his sincerity.

"Posthumously conferred an honor?" Zhang Anping scoffed. "Even if he were posthumously conferred an honor, it wouldn't be for Director Mao!"

This is rejection.

Mao Renfeng's pupils contracted slightly. Zhang Anping seemed to want Wang Tianfeng to remain hidden in the shadows.

Is this to investigate the Communist Party?

He offered a second gesture of "sincerity":
"You continue to make the decisions regarding the list."

Zhang Anping sneered: "And then you, Director Mao, are trying to win people's hearts?!"

choke!
That's really harsh!

But it's also true that Zhang Anping promoted the exchange of cadres in the past, and the vacant positions naturally belonged to him. But now that Mao Renfeng is the director, Zhang Anping can't get the vacant positions!
Continuing to promote cadre exchanges without securing vacant positions is simply a waste of time and effort, like giving someone else a free ride.

Taking a deep breath, Mao Renfeng said slowly:
"You and I will split it in half!"

Half and half what?
These are positions that become vacant after the exchange of cadres.

Zhang Anping's pupils shrank, looking as if he hadn't expected Mao Renfeng to go to such lengths.

“Brother Anping, you want to do things, and so do I—I admit I have selfish motives. I can’t compare to you, but now that I’m in this position, things still need to be done.”

Mao Renfeng spoke frankly and sincerely:

"Therefore, I support what you're doing!"

"But some people have no regard for the interests of the Party and the country; all they care about is their own selfish interests. These people are destabilizing factors that affect our work, and they must be removed!"

Zhang Anping looked even more shocked.

But he quickly realized what he meant and sneered, "Brilliant, Director Mao is truly brilliant! As brilliant as a three-story building!"

"But this knife..."

"Why should I become a knife?!"

Mao Renfeng's previous remarks, to put it bluntly, indicated his support for Zhang Anping's approach to purging power within the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics. However, from the current perspective, it was essentially using Zhang Anping as a tool.

Zhang Anping chose to be direct and outspoken!

Mao Renfeng said disappointedly, "Brother Anping, I always thought you were a man of action, but I never expected you to be so focused on profit and personal gain. Are all people capable of such change..."

"Director Mao, don't flatter me—I'm not some hot-blooded youth who gets carried away by a few words." Zhang Anping sneered, "Director Mao, do you think I'd still believe your words now?"

"Zhang Anping!" Mao Renfeng slammed his fist on the table in anger; he was clearly unable to contain himself.

"Don't be so shameless!"

Zhang Anping retorted sharply: "A person's reputation is never given to them by others!"

"That's what I earned!"

"It's true that I earned it myself—you go ahead and earn it! Can't you see what's going on in this old man's mindset? You, Zhang Anping, can't get rid of me, and I, Mao Renfeng, can't get rid of you, Zhang Anping either!" Mao Renfeng said angrily.

"Since you still want to fight, then let's continue!"

"It's fine if I, Mao Renfeng, don't do anything, but you, Zhang Anping, in order to fight against me, don't even do anything—let's see how you'll face Chunfeng in the afterlife!"

"Don't try to intimidate me with your uncle's name—" Zhang Anping sneered, "If we really go to the underworld, let's see if your uncle will kill you, you bastard, or curse me, you good-for-nothing, to death first!"

Faced with Zhang Anping, who was so ruthless he even cursed himself, Mao Renfeng was speechless for a moment.

Actually, Zhang Anping didn't initially intend to escalate the conflict; he genuinely wanted to extort money from Zhang.

Taking advantage of this "peace talk," he deliberately tried to extort money from Mao Renfeng, intending to create a false impression for him when he met with Ye Xiufeng again later.
Zhang Anping is ultimately a person willing to do things, so we can continue to deceive him!
However, after talking with Mao Renfeng, Zhang Anping keenly sensed a change in Mao Renfeng's attitude.

In the past, Mao Renfeng was meticulous and calculating;

But now, Mao Renfeng is saying "half" the moment she opens her mouth.

what does this mean?
This means that Mao Renfeng changed his strategy towards Zhang Anping, from the past relentless "fight" to compromise, cooperation, and coexistence!
Zhang Anping could accept Mao Renfeng's concession because Mao Renfeng's temporary concession was merely a prelude to continued fighting.

But he couldn't accept Mao Renfeng's change—what a joke, if I'm not going to fight you, do you really expect me to do things?
If I do anything, won't I be completely exposed?

Therefore, Zhang Anping changed his strategy and directly rejected the olive branch offered by Mao Renfeng!

At this moment, Zhang Anping stood up abruptly and looked coldly at Mao Renfeng:
"Director Mao, I don't need you to tell me what to do—I know how to do it!"

"you……"

"If you want to fight, I'm ready!"

"As for your so-called goodwill—do you think I have to keep falling into the same pit again and again?"

After saying that, Zhang Anping resolutely turned around.

Mao Renfeng was furious. He believed he had a very accurate understanding of Zhang Anping's personality. As long as he chose to suppress him instead of fighting him, Zhang Anping would definitely give in for the sake of the bigger picture—after all, getting things done was the most important thing to Zhang Anping!
But Zhang Anping clearly harbored deep resentment and completely ignored him.

Even this time, the reason he chose to "eat" this meal with me was, to put it bluntly, to vent his pent-up resentment—but thinking about it, it's understandable. The duck that was about to be eaten flew away, and I rode on his head again, so it's only natural that he couldn't swallow this insult.

I understand, but my anger still surged.

"Hey Zhang, we... have a long road ahead of us!"

Mao Renfeng gritted her teeth. "When I was the deputy director, you ignored me. Now that I'm the director, you still ignore me. Why should I, the director, be treated so aggrieved?"
But the thought of the old man made Mao Renfeng feel discouraged again.

Just like he said to Zhang Anping, under that person's system of checks and balances, there's no point in him fighting with Zhang Anping...

Zhang Anping won't be eliminated, and I certainly won't be eliminated by Zhang Anping. What's the point of all this fighting?

Just as he was holding back his anger, the secretary cautiously pushed open the door and entered.

Mao Renfeng mistakenly thought he was asking whether to serve the dishes, so she said irritably, "No need to serve any dishes!"

"Director, Ye Xiufeng is here—he went to the second floor with Deputy Director Zhang."

Mao Renfeng was taken aback, then burst into laughter. Amidst the secretary's bewildered expression, Mao Renfeng laughed and said:
"So what if you can't swallow this insult?"

"Young people are just too hot-blooded!"

Mao Renfeng laughed heartily, "understanding" why Zhang Anping had chosen to host Ye Xiufeng's banquet at the same time he was hosting Zhang Anping's.

This is clearly a statement to himself:
I don't care about you. What I do is none of your business!
This expresses to herself a firm attitude that she will never "reconcile," but does Mao Renfeng care about this attitude?
I don't care! (End of Chapter)