Kingsman Agent in Film and Television

Zhang Anping's compromise was beyond everyone's expectations—yesterday, when faced with Mao Renfeng's attempt to offer a way out, everyone in the bureau meeting hoped that Zhang Anping would accept it.

Even after Zhang Anping caught the ladder, they still felt a tremendous impact.

The reason is simple: in their hearts, Zhang Anping is truly a model of integrity for the Party and the country, and a model of putting public interests above private ones. They genuinely believe that Zhang Anping would severely punish members of the Shanghai Secret Service involved in smuggling for the sake of the Party and the country's interests.

Even if these people were Zhang Anping's students, he would never show them any mercy.

But now, Zhang Anping has actually chosen to compromise!
A profound sense of absurdity washed over them, but beyond that absurdity, a strange emotion also arose within them:

You, Zhang Anping, are just an ordinary person like us!
Zhang Anping didn't care about the stares of the crowd. After Mao Renfeng announced the end of the meeting, he "drifted away." However, the news spread rapidly within the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics.

From the headquarters to the stations and groups in various places, the news spread like wildfire within just a few hours.

Stunned!

Whether they were members of Zhang's faction or members of other factions, they were all greatly surprised by the rapidly spreading news.

Many members of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics who were not part of Zhang's faction addressed Zhang Anping as "Commander Zhang," which shows their respect for him. The absurd events happening in the current Party and the country were repeatedly challenging their bottom line, their principles, and their trust.

Many people were utterly disappointed with the Nationalist government as a result, but some still firmly believed that the party-state could be saved.

The reason is simple: the Party-state still has people like Commander Zhang who are patching things up!

For this group of people, this is the last glimmer of light, a glimmer of light called hope.

But when news of Zhang Anping's compromise spread rapidly, and when Zhang Anping chose to compromise with Mao Renfeng for the sake of the Shanghai station, that glimmer of hope was completely extinguished for them.

Even Commander Zhang couldn't escape this fate. Is their adherence to and trust in the Party and the State still necessary?
……

Office of the Director.

As the section chief looked at the Bureau of Secrecy's "internal publication" provided by Zheng Yaoquan, he couldn't help but recall his own past struggles and setbacks.

“Anping, there are some…”

He wanted to say "urgent," but after recalling his previous failed anti-corruption efforts, the words stuck in his throat.

Everyone could say that Zhang Anping was too hasty, but he was the only one who couldn't say it.

The section chief looked up at the empty sky and murmured inexplicably:
"Seize the day!"

"It's just... a pity."

The section chief sighed again, thinking that Zhang Anping's compromise with Mao Renfeng was just a reflection of his own situation.

"Burn it!"

He pushed these "internal publications" forward to Wang Tianfeng, whom he was temporarily acting as his adjutant. Wang Tianfeng silently accepted the materials and turned to leave, but was suddenly stopped by the section chief:

What do you think of Anping's compromise?

Clearly, the section chief was asking for your opinion on Zhang Anping's compromise with Mao Renfeng regarding the Shanghai secret station smuggling case.

Wang Tianfeng replied without hesitation, "Anping won't let this go so easily."

"Hmm?" The section chief looked at Wang Tianfeng with a puzzled expression. Wang Tianfeng's answer seemed a bit nonsensical.

Wang Tianfeng repeated:

“Anping, he won’t let this go so easily.”

The answer was still completely irrelevant, yet the tone remained as firm as ever.

At this moment, the section chief also understood Wang Tianfeng's subtext—Anping would never stoop to such a level!

Zhang Anping was absolutely not involved in the Shanghai secret station smuggling case.

The section chief smiled and said, "Then we'll wait and see—actually, I trust your judgment too."

Wang Tianfeng turned to leave again, but stopped at the door and looked at the director with slight hesitation.

Seeing this, the section chief spoke up directly: "Speak."

"You just said that Anping is a bit... a bit anxious, isn't he?"

The section chief used the same soft murmur again:
"I think he's also seizing every minute."

Why do you think he's in a bit of a hurry?

The section chief shook his head: "Actually, the best option for him right now is to do nothing—Mao Renfeng is just a rabbit's tail!"

After he finished speaking, he said self-deprecatingly:
"But sometimes, you have to seize every minute!"

Wang Tianfeng seemed to understand something, and left the director's office with the materials in his hand.

The section chief pulled his thoughts away from Zhang Anping's compromise this time, looked at the door where Wang Tianfeng had disappeared, and shook his head slightly.

Logically, he should have thrown Wang Tianfeng into some unseen corner, but he was ultimately curious about what kind of person Wang Tianfeng was that Zhang Anping would protect him more than once, so unexpectedly he let Wang Tianfeng temporarily act as his adjutant.

From what he can see so far, he only sees that Wang Tianfeng is a smart man.

But just how clever he is—that depends on whether Zheng Yaoquan's informants in the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics will be removed.

Meanwhile, Wang Tianfeng arrived at the boiler room specifically for burning classified materials. He personally threw page after page of documents into the boiler, his movements numb and mechanical.

Because he kept thinking about what the section chief had said:
Anping was getting a little anxious...

Mao Renfeng, now it's the rabbit's tail...

……

Human hearts always turn from disappointment to despair with each disappointment. In fact, many people had long since lost hope in the Nationalist government. The once idealistic and passionate youth had long been submerged and assimilated by the corrupt world.

Faced with Zhang Anping's compromises, and the compromises he made for the sake of his old stronghold, Shanghai Station, they would laugh self-righteously during the New Year's gatherings and say:
Look, even Deputy Director Zhang can't escape this, so how can I... possibly be spared?

Then, they chose to comfortably blend into the filth they had already entered—they put their arms around each other's shoulders and called each other brothers:

We need to manage our finances too!
But some who had been "struggling" gave up completely at this moment, and said to those like them: "Even Commander Zhang has compromised, so what can you and I do?"

"Perhaps, this is how it has always been throughout history."

"The so-called nationalism, democracy, and people's livelihood are all just a facade from beginning to end!"

However, after they completely gave up the struggle, they felt extremely unwilling—were they really going to abandon the ideals they once cherished and the burning passion they once had?

Not reconciled!

But such is the state of the world; what can they, like ants, do?

At this moment, someone responded softly:

"The blood we shed was not meant to make a corrupt world repeat the cycle of dynasties."

"Did our once burning ideal mean that China would remain a colony of the great powers, dominating and oppressing this magnificent planet?"

"We have the most hardworking and resilient people in the world, but are we just supposed to watch them be oppressed by the three great mountains?"

"Ever since the great powers began to bully us, we have tried many, many paths: constitutional monarchy, capitalism, republic... all of them failed!"

"Now, there is a path that can lead us to the light. Don't you want to learn about it?"

Those who had given up the struggle stared in astonishment into the distance.

Yes, and that road too...

They went from being labeled "bandits" by the Kuomintang to where they are today. The workers and peasants support them so much, and they are so honest and care so much about the people who are being bullied by the Nationalist government...

"Then... I'll go take a look at them."

……

Perhaps it was because of the eight-year full-scale war of resistance that people were filled with hatred for the smell of gunpowder;
Or perhaps the dazzling fireworks and the endless firecrackers after the end of the war did not bring people peace, stability and happiness.

Or perhaps it's the difficult living conditions, soaring prices, and depreciating currency that have left them with little money...

In short, there was no lingering smell of gunpowder in the air over Nanjing this year.

It was as if the "New Year" had never arrived at all.

Walking through the former Xiaguan disaster area, looking at the empty state of the area that was once filled with despair and numbness, Zhang Anping couldn't help but smile.

The disaster victims, who had been deliberately forgotten and ignored by the Nationalist government, made it through the New Year and ushered in a new life.

And they, like this country, are welcoming a new beginning.

How can I not be happy?

He then hurried to the secret hideout he had arranged to meet Chai Ying. Not long after he entered, Chai Ying appeared in a hurry.

Despite it being the Lunar New Year, Chai Ying looked exhausted and had lost weight in just a few days. However, upon seeing Zhang Anping, a look of joy appeared on Chai Ying's face.

"Comrade Anping, do you know exactly how many people our comrades in charge of united front work have recruited in the past few days?"

Before Zhang Anping could answer, Chai Ying eagerly stated the number:
"76 people!"

“Within the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics and the Bureau of Party Affairs alone, more than forty people have contacted our United Front comrades! In addition, more than thirty people from institutions related to the two bureaus have also contacted us—I think this number will eventually exceed one hundred!”

"This is still because we haven't exchanged data with the United Front Work Department groups in various regions. If we were to summarize the data, the number would be astonishing!"

The Military Intelligence Bureau reorganized the Bureau of Secrecy, retaining a staff of over 10,000. However, the Bureau's subsequent expansions have pushed the number of staff past 20,000, heading straight for 30,000.

Compared to the total number of spies in the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics and the Party's Information Bureau, even if the total number is increased tenfold, it still doesn't seem like much.

However, the united front work led by Intelligence Group No. 2 was aimed at the core members of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics and the Party Affairs Bureau. Moreover, the targets of the united front work were carefully selected by each intelligence group, and these people often held certain powers. With this in mind, it is easy to understand why Chai Ying was so excited.

If this trend continues, it won't be long before various party groups and party branches appear within the Bureau of Secrecy and the Bureau of Party Affairs.

It was precisely because Chai Ying was so busy with these things that she suffered from severe sleep deprivation these past few days and even lost weight.

But compared to my current achievements, the lack of rest and weight loss are insignificant compared to my part-time job.

She couldn't help but praise Anping again: "Your compromise this time was truly brilliant!"

Although Chai Ying did not directly contact these people, she remained behind the scenes, constantly receiving various messages. From the feedback from her colleagues in the United Front Work Department, she could clearly see the impact of Zhang Anping's compromise on these people.

It was Zhang Anping's compromise, or rather, Zhang Anping's personal motives, that led to their utter despair of the Nationalist government and ultimately caused them to waver in their stance.

Zhang Anping shook his head: "It's not that I'm clever—the last straw did break the camel's back, but an oasis can't necessarily support a camel. And the conditions under the Nationalist government have made these people realize that this is not an oasis they can live in."

Zhang Anping used to be quite resistant to the idea of ​​giving honors to the collective.

But now he has a clear understanding of this—every time he swings his hoe, he can easily dig away a large corner of the Party-state's wall, not because Zhang Anping is really cunning or his plans are ingenious.

Rather, it is the Party-state itself that is decaying;
Rather, it is behind Zhang Anping that there is an organization that represents all the hopes of the Chinese people!

"You're always so modest!" Chai Ying didn't understand Zhang Anping's modesty. After playfully scolding him, she added:
"For the next period of time, my main task is to guide the United Front Work Department to have in-depth contact with these people who have turned against the Party, and then guide them—I'm afraid I'll have to let Mo Yi share some of my original work."

"No problem, but security during united front work must not be relaxed. All procedures must not be changed or relaxed arbitrarily because of the current victory! We must also pay attention to the review process and absolutely not let opportunists slip in—such people are too unstable, and if something goes wrong, it will definitely implicate others!"

Zhang Anping solemnly instructed that in underground work, the string must be kept taut; if it is loosened even slightly, it could lead to tragedy.

Chai Ying nodded solemnly, not finding Zhang Anping's nagging annoying. She was an old hand, having been stationed in the south since the Long March, so how could she not know this principle?
The two then exchanged views on united front work. Because the united front group had been separated from the original intelligence network, the security of the large-scale united front work currently being carried out against the Bureau of Secrecy and the Bureau of Party Affairs is very important. In addition, the placement of these personnel is also a problem. Although we have achieved remarkable results now, only by digesting these results can they be considered true achievements.

The work discussion went on and on until it was completely dark, when the two finally finished their work discussion and arrangements, their throats parched. Before parting, Zhang Anping specifically asked about Lao Lin's current condition.

After learning that Lao Lin had been discharged from the hospital, Zhang Anping paused for a moment and asked Chai Ying for Lao Lin's address—the implications of being discharged from the hospital were self-evident.

Chai Ying gave Zhang Anping an address:
"Only Secretary Chen and I know about this place. Old Lin doesn't want to make a big fuss when he leaves, so he only has a nephew who came from his hometown with him now."

Zhang Anping nodded slightly, without saying a word. (End of Chapter)