Kingsman Agent in Film and Television

Xu Baichuan arrived in Nanjing four days ago. On his first day there, he shamelessly stayed overnight at Zhang Anping's house with his cat.

It's clear that Xu Baichuan actually had a lot to say to Zhang Anping at the time, but because they were at the Zhang family's house, he couldn't say what was on his mind. So he could only express his envy, jealousy, and hatred towards the now-luxurious Zhang family.

After the two brothers got quite drunk, they started reminiscing about their glorious past, and before they knew it, the night had passed.

The next day, Zeng Moyi and Zhang's mother, seeing that Xu Baichuan was single, started trying to set him up with someone. Xu Baichuan couldn't resist their enthusiasm and agreed to meet the person they were trying to set him up with. However, he was busy with other official duties until today, when he finally finished. He then specially invited Zhang Anping to his empty and lifeless home for another round.

But it's clear that this time is different from the time Zhang Jiayi reminisced about his glorious past.

Zhang Anping came to the Xu family alone—Xu Baichuan was away, and the Xu family didn't even have a servant. Usually, it was the couple who took care of things, so they were quite familiar with the place.

Just like before, the Xu family home was still deserted. Although Xu Baichuan had specially brought over a few side dishes and turned on all the lights in the villa, the fact that he was all alone inevitably created a desolate feeling.

After Zhang Anping entered the room, he saw Xu Baichuan standing alone in a daze, so he deliberately grinned mischievously and said:

How did the blind date go?

"Mo Yi told me that he's a college graduate who just entered the municipal government. You, you crude brute, are so happy now, aren't you?"

Xu Baichuan only came to his senses after hearing Zhang Anping's mockery, and said irritably:
"When she heard that I used to be a member of the Military Intelligence Bureau, she was terrified. Seeing that she was very uncomfortable, I just left."

"Huh? How can there still be such prejudice?" Zhang Anping's face immediately fell. "Wasn't all that funding I spent on newspaper advertising a waste?"

When Zhang Anping joined the Special Service Department, he suggested to Dai Chunfeng that they promote the profession of espionage in the newspapers. To put it bluntly, it was about whitewashing. As for its use, it did have some merit. At the beginning of the full-scale War of Resistance against Japan, the Special Service Department expanded, and highly educated talents came to join one after another.

However, the subsequent attempts to whitewash the propaganda efforts were less effective, especially after it was reorganized into the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics. Once control of the propaganda apparatus fell into the hands of the Mao faction, the propaganda became less effective year after year, much like Wang Xiaoer celebrating the New Year.

In addition, various dirty deeds of the Military Intelligence Bureau and the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics were exposed from time to time. Even though Zhang Anping gained a lot of fans with his reputation for integrity, the reputation of spies kept declining. Every time he thought he had hit rock bottom, he was always only halfway up the mountain.

Therefore, Xu Baichuan responded with disdain to Zhang Anping's words:
"They've done so many rotten and despicable things, how can they possibly whitewash their reputation?"

"You, Xu Baichuan, are you going to curse me after putting down your rice bowl?" Zhang Anping deliberately exclaimed, "Let's go, let's go, let's go to the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics!"

Xu Baichuan sneered: "This is the current state of the Security Bureau, always throwing accusations around."

"Alright, alright," Zhang Anping said impatiently, "Don't tell me you didn't know this has always been the way things are—hey Lao Xu, you seem to have a lot of opinions about the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics these days!"

"Is it because you have strong opinions about the Bureau of Secrecy?"

Xu Baichuan hummed as he poured wine for Zhang Anping, then raised his glass to clink with Zhang's, downed it in one gulp, and slammed the glass down on the table.
"I have strong opinions against the Party and the State!"

"Do you know what I've been doing these past few days? Running around like a servant to everyone!"

"I've been begging and pleading everywhere for military funding. Damn it, someone from the GFB gave me a blatant hint—a blatant hint! They're so generous that if I give them three big bucks, they'll approve the full amount of military funding. Otherwise, I'll just have to wait. They said half a percent of the funding won't make anyone starve!"

Xu Baichuan suddenly bulged his veins and slammed his fist heavily on the table:

“Anping, was the War of Resistance hard? The Loyal Salvation Army was behind enemy lines, and the Japanese were blockading everywhere. But even under such difficult circumstances, the number of times the Loyal Salvation Army looted civilian property in a year was always in the single digits, and every time they were severely punished!”

The discipline of the Loyal Salvation Army was modeled after that of the New Fourth Army. This was the tone, red line, and ironclad rule set by Zhang Anping when he reorganized the Loyal Salvation Army. However, the Loyal Salvation Army was ultimately subordinate to the combat order of the Nationalist government and did not have the effective political commissar and instructor system of the People's Army. Therefore, there were bound to be some oversight in its supervision.

However, the single-digit number of looting incidents per year, placed within the ranks of the National Revolutionary Army, could be considered a testament to the resurrection of Yue Fei's army. Compared to the devastating floods, droughts, locust plagues, and Tang Sanzang that the people of Henan deeply resented, the Loyal Salvation Army behind enemy lines truly deserved the title of "Yue Fei's Army resurrected."

But without comparison, there is no harm. Compared to the New Fourth Army at that time, this was a complete disgrace.

However, the Loyal Salvation Army as a whole was still very righteous, which is beyond doubt when compared to the National Army as a whole.

"But do you know how many robberies of civilian property occurred within the entire traffic police headquarters in just the first three months?"

Xu Baichuan said in humiliation:
“Through a thorough investigation of the entire traffic police brigade, I found 65 such cases—the worst being a squadron (company) that bankrupted an entire family!”

“I wanted to kill the company commander on the spot, but he cried and told me that during the War of Resistance Against Japan, he had never harmed a single civilian, but now, if he didn’t want his brothers to starve to death, he had no choice but to harm the people. Is 40 yuan a month for a private first class too much?”

"But two packs of cigarettes are gone!"

"We distributed various in-kind subsidies, but the brothers had to take care of their families, and even more so because we had to take care of the families of those who died in battle, they had to squeeze out in-kind supplies and money from their own pockets."

"In the end, I didn't execute the squad leader who made the mistake—as long as he didn't harm ordinary people or landlords, it was fine, as long as he didn't starve the landlord's whole family."

"The traffic police brigade is shouldering the burden, shouldering it to the death, but what about the other military units?"

"During the War of Resistance Against Japan, people suffered because they had to fight the Japanese. They endured the hardship, gritted their teeth, and had hope and spirit. But what about now?"

"Fight, fight, fight, fight a damn civil war—and then the financial system collapsed, money became worthless, soldiers couldn't get enough to eat, so they had no choice but to take up arms and rob!"

"Damn it! Back in the Zhongjiu Army, I told the soldiers that we were defending our country, and we were dying a worthy death. Whether we starved or froze to death, it was still a worthy death! Because we were defending our country, because we would rather starve or freeze to death than harm our people like the Japanese!"

"But now? How am I supposed to explain this to my brothers?"

"Do you expect me to tell my brothers that we would rather starve or freeze to death than harm the people because we are protecting our homeland?"

"I just can't bring myself to say it!"

Zhang Anping listened with a gloomy expression, continuously chugging his liquor. After Xu Baichuan finished speaking angrily, he muttered to himself:
"If we don't crack down on corruption, the country will perish!"

"Anti-corruption?" Xu Baichuan seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world: "Didn't you fight against it? Didn't the section chief fight against it? But what was the result?"

"Behind the red gates, meat and wine go to waste, while on the roads, frozen corpses lie—hundreds of millions of dollars are being used to buy investment packages! What a fine investment package! It's become the most common phrase on the lips of Nationalist government officials!"

Zhang Anping said, lacking confidence:
"Things will get better, things will get better. As long as the Communist Party is wiped out, everything will be alright."

Xu Baichuan burst into laughter:
"Exterminate the Communists?"

"Anping, can you even fool yourself?"

"After the war ended, the morale of the National Revolutionary Army was soaring. We had defeated the tough Japanese devils, so wouldn't a mere bunch of Communist troops who didn't fight back be easily defeated?"

"The results of it?"

"The more we fight, the stronger they get; and what about us? We get more and more timid!"

"Playing the field without engaging in combat? I get angrier the moment I hear those four words! My Loyal Salvation Army was a guerrilla force back then, but was fighting as a guerrilla force any more comfortable than fighting on the main battlefield? Millions of Nationalist troops fought on the main battlefield for eight years, and how many Japanese soldiers did they kill? On the eve of victory, they even caused the massive collapse in the Henan-Hunan-Guangxi border region!"

Unbiased data speaks for itself—the number of enemy casualties on the main battlefield was indeed greater than that on the rear battlefield, but the difference was far less than five or ten times!
Moreover, in each major battle, they still accounted for the majority of the enemy casualties.

Behind enemy lines, fierce battles broke out every now and then, and sometimes, when they came to blows, they fought to the death.

Xu Baichuan harbored such resentment because the current traffic police brigade was not treated like a central army in terms of supply. Several times he tried to reason with them and talk about the past of the Loyal Salvation Army, but they would just say "guerrillas" and didn't care about the history of the Loyal Salvation Army at all. Sometimes, when they got annoyed, they would say "guerrillas but not fighters".

He didn't care about these criticisms, but if they concerned military funding and supplies, then he had to care. But prejudice was a stubborn mountain, and no matter how he explained, it was useless.

“Old Xu, I know the traffic police brigade has been having a tough time lately—just bear with it, things will get better.” Seeing Xu Baichuan’s agitation, Zhang Anping pressed him down to sit and comforted him, “I have funds on hand. The special armed forces will soon complete their training, and then they will be sent to train with the traffic police brigade for a period of time. I will approve some funds to subsidize them then.”

If Xu Baichuan had relaxed his discipline, the traffic police brigade wouldn't be struggling so much. But Xu Baichuan didn't want to see the Loyal Salvation Army—even if it was called the traffic police brigade now—fall into disarray.

That reputation was earned through the sacrifices of countless brothers during the War of Resistance against Japan, and it was an ironclad rule that countless brothers endured to survive the cold and hunger.

As a general in the National Revolutionary Army, he was all too aware of the consequences of lax military discipline.

Faced with the subsidy offered by Zhang Anping, Xu Baichuan remained unmoved and instead steered the conversation toward special armed forces.

He wasn't in the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics' cadre ranks, but the label of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics on him couldn't be removed!
Therefore, he was very concerned about the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics. When the special armed forces were established, Xu Baichuan noticed Zhang Anping's operational definition of them. At this time, when Zhang Anping brought up the special armed forces, how could he possibly tolerate it?
"You'd better not send your damn special forces to my doorstep—they disgust me!"

These words enraged Zhang Anping. Zhang Anping, who had just been trying to appease Xu Baichuan, slammed his fist on the table and roared, "Xu Baichuan, are you sick in the head?"

"Illness? I really am sick!"

Xu Baichuan also slammed his fist on the table in anger:

"Have you forgotten the Japanese devils' mopping-up operations back then? Have you forgotten the Japanese devils' Three Alls policy?"

"No, you haven't forgotten! You must remember it very well! Otherwise, you wouldn't have been able to create this so-called special armed force—isn't this just a replica of the Japanese devils' mopping-up operations?"

"It's just that the large-scale sweep has been turned into a small-scale infiltration by elite forces!"

"Do you think I don't understand what so-called special armed forces can do by infiltrating?"

"This is a civil war, a civil war between brothers! You, Zhang Anping, the Zhang Anping who created the ironclad rule of loyalty to the army, have now created a special armed force that's like the Japanese sweeping up the enemy—aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning?!"

In fact, Xu Baichuan was not that kind of person at all. If the original timeline had continued, Xu Baichuan would have been a spy chief who would not have cared about the country or its people.

But in this particular time and space, he was manipulated by Zhang Anping to go to the Loyal Salvation Army, an army personally reorganized and bound by ironclad rules and red lines by Zhang Anping.

To make matters worse, on the brutal battlefield behind enemy lines, he was fighting alongside not only the Loyal Salvation Army but also the New Fourth Army!
Those who are close to Zhu are close to those who are black.

Xu Baichuan's Loyal Salvation Army was modeled after the New Fourth Army. As for the New Fourth Army's discipline, even the most brain-dead person couldn't find anything wrong with it.

Having fought in this environment for years, and with countless brothers sacrificing themselves for this "way," Xu Baichuan's transformation was actually expected—in the original timeline, he was ultimately a person who chose the light, so how could he be without conscience?
A person with a conscience will gradually develop a stronger sense of conscience in the environment they are in, which will eventually reshape their values.

It was precisely because his values ​​had been reshaped that he was able to question his best friend:
Aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning?
Faced with Xu Baichuan's questioning, Zhang Anping, enraged, grabbed his collar:
"Xu Baichuan, are you crazy? Do you know what you're saying?"

Xu Baichuan coldly retorted, "Do you dare say... that you can face your conscience?"

Zhang Anping plopped down and remained silent for a long time.

Finally, after a moment of silence, he said:
"If the skin is gone, what will the hair cling to? The Party and the country are now in danger. How can I stand idly by?"

"Besides, war is always about using any means necessary."

"This is a civil war!" Xu Baichuan whispered angrily. "During the warlord era, Sichuan was in conflict for so many years. Although it affected people's livelihoods, don't you know how much of an impact it had?"

"But if your special forces are deployed, the entire Land of Abundance will be ruined in two or three years—do you understand what a demonic blade is!"

"The war with the Communists is different from the warlord civil war!" Zhang Anping suddenly stood up, then looked at Xu Baichuan with a strange gaze:
"Old Xu, you're overthinking things. What you're thinking isn't something a soldier should be thinking about!"

"I'm very happy that you came to Nanjing this time, but..."

"you've changed!"

"You shouldn't be telling me this! This isn't something a soldier should say!"

Countless words remained stuck in Xu Baichuan's heart.

"Changed?" Xu Baichuan closed his eyes and finally began to say something against his conscience: "Probably in the last few days, I was stimulated."

"The 74th Army—the 74th Army that is currently being rebuilt. When I came to Nanjing, I took a walk around and saw that the former elite army had become so common. It must have been quite a shock."

I haven't changed, it's just that I can no longer see any hope!

I haven't changed; it's just that I've completely lost faith in the Nationalist government!

I've changed because I'm no longer in line with the Party and the State!

He wanted to say these words, but he...

I dared not speak to Zhang Anping in this state.

Upon hearing Xu Baichuan's words, Zhang Anping sighed deeply, clearly aware of the current situation of the 74th Army.

Widespread embezzlement, widespread deductions, widespread supply shortages, and widespread looting—well, to put it more elegantly, borrowing or requisitioning grain from local governments.

The former 74th Division, under the reorganization of the original personnel (officials from the 74th Division drawn back from various units), successfully became a common and mediocre Nationalist army unit.

"drink wine!"

Zhang Anping sat down again and used two words to define the content of the following conversation.

We only drink alcohol and don't talk about anything else.

Xu Baichuan's attempt to test the waters failed completely, or perhaps, it was a failure he had anticipated.

But he still cared about Zhang Anping after all. After drinking for a while, Xu Baichuan, his eyes blurry with drunkenness, asked, emboldened by the alcohol:
"Anping, I have a question—do you regret spending that money back then?"

He didn't specify which stroke, but Zhang Anping, who was also in a drunken stupor, instinctively knew which stroke it was.

He secretly gave a huge sum of forty million US dollars to his chief of staff.

Faced with Xu Baichuan's question, Zhang Anping, who was heavily intoxicated, did not answer.

No answer is an answer.

Xu Baichuan knew that Zhang Anping must be regretting it.

But there was no answer, which means that even though Zhang Anping was drunk, he remained rational, just like his loyalty to the Party and the country.

This completely made Xu Baichuan abandon his plan to conspire with his brother.

He didn't want to abandon his brothers, but his resolute decision involved many more people, and he had no choice!
After a long time, long enough that the three bottles of wine prepared by Xu Baichuan were completely finished.

Zhang Anping staggered to his feet:

"It's too late, I... I have to go home."

"Yes, it's too late."

Xu Baichuan did not try to stop him, just as he had made a decision not to try to keep his good brother.

As he escorted Zhang Anping to the door, Zhang Anping slurred:
"Old Xu, you, you and I are brothers. I didn't hear anything you said today, but a person must never go down the wrong path. I believe in you, brother, but please, don't let your brother down, okay?"

Xu Baichuan glared at Zhang Anping:
"What have I done to wrong you? What the hell is wrong with me complaining? You, you have the guts to arrest me!"

"Haha, I... I won't arrest you. You're my only brother left. If I arrest you, I'll have no brothers left."

Zhang Anping laughed heartily, ended the arm-in-arm gesture, and staggered away. After a few steps, he turned back:
"Old Xu, it's time to settle down. It's so lonely and desolate without a woman at home."

"nonsense!"

Xu Baichuan stared wide-eyed as Zhang Anping left, and as Zhang Anping walked away, his gaze gradually cleared.

When a person wants to get drunk, a thousand cups of wine won't make them drunk.

Without a doubt, this is exactly what Xu Baichuan is like now.

Watching Zhang Anping's departing figure, Xu Baichuan let out a long, drawn-out sigh... (End of Chapter)