My spy diary

Chapter 530 Hit with a Blow
The April 1st commemoration meeting ended hastily, and Dai Chunfeng returned to his office with a gloomy expression.

Upon learning that the Chairman had summoned Xu Zeng'en by name today, he became even more agitated and rebuked Mao Qiwu: "You came up with a terrible idea."

The old man is easily influenced, and Xu Zeng'en has already formed a prejudice against him. It seems that things are likely to turn out badly for him.

Mao Qiwu said cautiously, "Director, should I ask Tang Naijian about it again?"

"Then what are we waiting for?" Although he said that, Boss Dai had no illusions about Tang Heng. To put it nicely, this guy was cautious; to put it bluntly, he was cowardly and afraid of death. He was also a habitual opportunist. The old man didn't come to the commemorative meeting, and neither did he.

Sure enough, Mao Qiwu finished the call quickly: "He said that Xu went through Mr. Bree's connections, but he didn't know the specifics of what he talked about with the old man, only that they talked for an hour."

"So long?" Dai Chunfeng's mood worsened.

"Is it again..." Mao Qiwu was about to say something more when Zhang Yi's voice came from outside the office: "Deputy Officer Jia, I have something to discuss with the Director."

Deputy Jia asked in a low voice, "Is it serious? If not, let's report it another day. The Director is busy right now."

"It's urgent, it concerns Xu Zeng... we can't afford to waste a single moment," Zhang Yi replied, sounding very anxious.

"What's he doing here? Get rid of him!" Dai Chunfeng frowned and waved his hand at Mao Qiwu like shooing away a fly, telling him to send Zhang Yi away. But when he heard the second half of Zhang Yi's sentence, he suddenly snapped to attention: "Let him in!"

While Dai Chunfeng was restless, Xu Zengen was quite relaxed.

After submitting his two carefully prepared "stepping stones" through Mr. Bray's connections, he waited anxiously in the office like a scholar waiting for the results of a civil service exam, eagerly anticipating the announcement of the results from Mr. Chang, the chief examiner.

For Xu Zeng'en, success or failure hinges on this one move.

Persistence pays off. In the afternoon, news came from the attendant's office that the Chairman had summoned him.

Xu Zeng was overjoyed and immediately took the "Emergency Measures to Stabilize the Economy" and the "Plan to Strengthen Price Management," which he already knew by heart, and drove to the official residence of Shangqing Temple to pay his respects.

Upon hearing this news, the senior agents of the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics felt that their future prospects depended on this one move, and that they shared both honor and disgrace. They were all filled with trepidation.

After discussing it, they all stopped going to work and gathered at Xu Zeng'en's house to await news.

Two hours later, Xu Zengen returned.

When everyone saw Boss Xu get out of the car whistling, looking smug and carefree, they instantly had a premonition of victory in sight and great success.

Sure enough, Xu Zeng'en said triumphantly, "It's done! The president thinks my proposed economic reform plan is insightful. After a detailed study, it can be implemented. Haha, colleagues, the future is promising!"

Anyone familiar with Chang's personality and style knows that for him to say something "not without insight" to his subordinates is already a high compliment. The implication is that he affirms and is satisfied with Xu Zeng'en's proposed "reform plan".

Hearing what Boss Xu said, the group of agents felt reassured and were overjoyed. They were eager to follow "Minister Xu" to the Ministry of Economic Affairs to take up their posts right now.

Everyone respectfully escorted Boss Xu back into the house, opened the champagne and red wine that had been prepared beforehand, and accompanied by the soft songs from the record player, the atmosphere was lively with clinking glasses.

"Director, this is my recent work plan. Please review it." Zhang Yi entered Boss Dai's office, bowed respectfully, and handed over the documents. The so-called work plan was nothing more than the usual stuff about repairing the detention center and how to strengthen management. But the real bargaining chip was the incriminating material about Xu Zeng'en attached to the back of the document.

"Subtract age from people, add money to things"—only by making better use of the resources at hand can people create more value for themselves.

Dai Chunfeng glanced at it a few times, then closed the document with satisfaction.

"Sit down." As he spoke, he personally poured a cup of tea and handed it to him.

"Thank you, Director!" Zhang Yi quickly stood up, accepted the teacup with trepidation, his outstretched hand trembling slightly.

"Don't be shy, sit down." Dai Chunfeng waved his hand and spoke in an extremely friendly tone. Even so, Zhang Yi was still enveloped by the powerful aura he created, and couldn't help but feel uneasy. He had no choice but to sit down with one buttock on the ground.

Dai Chunfeng glanced at him, leaned back in his chair, and asked, "How are you? You've been in the detention center for two days now, are you adjusting well?"

"We are still in the learning and adaptation phase, and we haven't fully figured out many things yet," Zhang Yi briefly explained the situation at the detention center.

"Hmm, what you said is pretty much what I know. Oh, by the way, I heard you hung the words 'willing to give' in your office as your motto?" Dai Chunfeng smiled enigmatically, his smile seemingly carrying a complex meaning.

Zhang Yi was taken aback and quickly explained, "It's not really a motto, it's just an attitude towards life. If a subordinate commits a crime, one is naturally willing to accept the punishment. Once in the detention center, one should make the best of it and only think about doing one's job well."

"No complaints? Is that really what you think, or are you just putting on an act for others?" Dai Chunfeng's expression suddenly turned serious, and he habitually twitched his nose. "Willing to give up something, what have you given up, and what have you gained?"

"Huh?" Zhang Yi didn't expect Dai Chunfeng to ask such a question. He hurriedly stood up in a panic, his mouth wide open, not knowing how to respond for a moment.

"So young, yet so lifeless. How can you serve the Party and the country like this? Humph!" Dai Chunfeng snorted coldly, then changed the subject, "Yunyi, I completely trust you, but you acted on your own without consulting me, violating military law and family rules. I have no choice but to punish you and give an explanation to everyone."

"This humble subordinate is filled with trepidation. Director Dai has always been fair in his rewards and punishments, so how could I dare to complain? I have been reflecting on my mistakes behind closed doors for the past two days. I have no way to repay Mr. Dai's kind and caring attitude. I can only work hard and devote myself to the cause until my dying breath."

Upon hearing this, Dai Chunfeng chuckled, put away the incriminating material about Xu Zeng'en, and remained silent for a while before saying, "Have you ever heard of Yoshikawa Teisuke?"

"The nephew of the Emperor of Japan?"

Yoshikawa Teisuke was the nephew of Emperor Showa of Japan. After graduating from the Imperial Japanese Army Academy, he began working as a spy. He was later recruited by the spy chief Doi-maru and became the head of the intelligence agency for the five provinces of North China in 39. Last year, he moved the intelligence agency to the Shanxi-Shaanxi-Gansu Guild Hall in Kaifeng, Henan Province, to oversee the Japanese and puppet regime's intelligence activities in various regions.

“It’s good that you know.” Dai Chunfeng nodded. “This person is ruthless and insane. In order to retaliate against our assassination activities, he has been frantically searching for our underground agents and anti-Japanese organizations. Last year, he arrested more than 400 people, and this year it’s even worse. I just received a telegram from Kaifeng Station that this department executed more than 120 of our agents in one go yesterday. The methods were cruel and outrageous.”

"Does the Director mean to assassinate this person?"

"Hmm." Dai Chunfeng nodded and took out a file folder from the drawer: "Take a look at this first."

Zhang Yi took it with a puzzled look, opened it, and saw a personal resume of a person named Niu Zidao inside.

This man is from Jia County, Yuzhou, and currently serves as the head of the action group at the Yuzhou station of the Military Intelligence Bureau. Since the start of the War of Resistance against Japan, he has assassinated many staunch traitors. Among his most notorious assassinations are Liu Xingzhou, the puppet commander of Kaifeng Garrison, and Xu Baoguang, the chairman of the puppet regime's puppet committee. For a time, he became a ruthless figure feared by the Japanese and their collaborators.

However, behind this person's numerous achievements, someone wrote a line in red pen: "Upon investigation, Niu Zidao is indeed a Communist Party spy infiltrated into our station."

"He's a Communist Party spy?" Zhang Yi's eyes widened in astonishment.

Seeing his surprised expression, Dai Chunfeng smiled coldly: "Surprised, aren't you? According to the insider, this person joined the Red Party in Xuchang in his early years. He was later sent back to his hometown of Jiaxian to engage in the people's movement. After the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japan, he was sent by the Red Party to infiltrate the outer organization of the Military Intelligence Bureau by using his old connections. He advanced step by step until he became the leader of the action group."

"What does the Director mean?"

Dai Chunfeng remained expressionless, but his eyes flashed with cold light: "Since Yuzhou Station is incompetent, I'll trouble you to go there and get rid of Yoshikawa Teisuke and Niu Zidao together."

"Yes, please rest assured, Director. I guarantee I will complete the mission."

After Zhang Yi left, Dai Chunfeng pondered for a moment, then immediately summoned Mao Qiwu.

"Send a telegram to Yuzhou Station immediately. Also, send a few capable people from the Supervision Office to keep a close eye on him. If Niu Zidao is not dead, then he is definitely up to something. There is no need to ask me for instructions again; execute him secretly."

"Understood." Mao Qiwu bowed in agreement, then thought for a moment and asked, "What if he is innocent?"

"We'll see when the time comes." Dai Chunfeng smiled silently, pulled out the incriminating material provided by Zhang Yi from the drawer, and picked up the phone: "Connect to the Attendant's Office."

The man surnamed Xu wanted to stand out from the crowd, but I'll make sure he doesn't get too cocky.

Xu Zeng'en's house was filled with guests, who were engaged in lively discussions.

the phone is ringing.

The maid answered the phone: "Hello."

She put down the phone, walked behind Xu Zeng'en who was talking animatedly, and whispered, "Sir, the phone."

"Bring the phone over here."

The maid dragged the telephone cord over and handed the phone to Xu Zeng'en, handing him the receiver.

"Hello, who is this?" Xu Zeng'en assumed it was a congratulatory call from someone with inside information who had heard about his impending promotion to minister, and didn't pay much attention. However, after listening for a couple of sentences, his expression changed, and he cursed fiercely, "Useless idiot, you can't even catch someone?"

The trusted aide beside him, noticing his expression, quickly asked, "Chief, what happened?"

"The Ministry of Economic Affairs' mission to arrest people has failed."

One of them immediately said, "I'll take some people there right now."

Xu Zeng shook his head in annoyance: "We've already alerted them. We need to think this through more carefully."

After hanging up the phone, he felt a little relieved. Fortunately, he had adopted a two-pronged strategy. Even if he couldn't bring down Weng Wenyi, it wouldn't matter. Anyway, the old man had already confirmed his plan, and he estimated that it wouldn't be long before Weng himself had to step down.

He didn't care at all, but Weng Wenyi wouldn't let it go.

Back in his office, Weng Wenyi recalled the tip-off phone call and quickly understood the whole story. Xu Zeng'en was clearly using a double-edged sword; he was after him.

In his view, he was upright and had nothing to fear. Since the man surnamed Xu dared to act like a ghost here, he might as well take the opportunity to make a big scene and get to the bottom of things so that he could stand tall in the future. Otherwise, if people suspected him of being a member of the Communist Party, it would not only damage his reputation, but also, like a thief who can't be guarded against for a long time, he would eventually be robbed.

Furthermore, he boasted that he was a well-known geological expert at home and abroad and had no intention of pursuing a career in government. He only reluctantly accepted the position of Minister of Economic Affairs because of Mr. Chang's kindness. Now that the economic situation was severe and he had become the target of public criticism, he might as well make a scene and then leave.

Therefore, Weng Wenyi went directly to Chang to complain, and said angrily:

"Chairman, the secret agents are running rampant, barging into government offices in broad daylight to arrest people, causing chaos and panic. How can we do our job like this? I'm here today to resign."

"Is that so?" Chang looked surprised. He had just summoned Xu Zeng, and he hadn't heard him mention it.

He frowned as he looked at the indignant Weng Wenyi, lost in thought.

Honestly, Chang also disliked Weng Wenyi; his incompetence was his biggest fault. However, Weng was a scholar, renowned for his integrity and uprightness—a breath of fresh air within the notoriously corrupt Kuomintang. His use of him was, of course, to serve as a fig leaf. Such matters are best left unsaid to outsiders.

Chang thought to himself, if even this fig leaf were to disappear now, wouldn't it be an eyesore for the government and make it easier for the Red Party and those democrats to launch attacks?

Therefore, no matter what, we must not let this person get away.

Damn it, those bastards in the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics (Zhongtongju) don't understand politics at all. They arrest people without any strategy. They're so reckless and disgraceful. Aren't they just making themselves look bad?

"Please calm down, sir. Those guys from the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics (CBIS) are indeed too unscrupulous. Don't worry, I will definitely give you an explanation for this matter. As for your resignation, there's no need to say more. I need you for a long time. Please go back first, and I will send someone from the CBIS to apologize to you later."

After much persuasion, Chang finally managed to send Weng Wenyi away, and immediately ordered his attendants to summon Xu Zeng'en.

"Deputy Director Xu? The president summons you. Come over immediately."

"Director Lin, what is it?" The person opposite me was Director Lin from the First Division of the Attendant's Office.

"You'll know when you get here."

Xu Zeng'en knew that this man was tight-lipped, so he didn't think anything of it and assumed that the Chairman had already decided to appoint him as Minister of Economic Affairs. He immediately changed his clothes and went to the man's residence with great ambition.

However, to his surprise, in the reception room, in addition to Chang, there were several government economic advisors and bigwigs from the political science department. Moreover, Dai Chunfeng was also present.

What surprised him even more was that the Chairman's attitude this time was completely different from before. He berated him harshly: "Where did you cobble together this nonsense? You're all talk and no action, yet you dare to meddle in the government's economy? I want you to focus on investigating party members, finding out who in the party, government, military, and education departments is dissatisfied with the government, and taking steps to prevent such dissatisfaction. Do your job well. As for economic matters, the relevant authorities will handle them. You don't need to worry about them anymore."

These words were like a blow to Xu Zeng'en's head, effectively sealing his fate in his attempt to become an official.

(End of this chapter)