My spy diary

Chapter 652 Eavesdropping (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

"By the way, Director Mao, may I have this letter of complaint?"

Upon hearing this, Mao Qiwu's teacup hovered in mid-air. This was completely unexpected, but he understood that refusing at this moment would be somewhat embarrassing and would make him appear guilty. So, with a forced smile, he said:
"Of course! What, is Deputy Director Zhang planning to find this person? Do you have any leads?"

"That depends on what the handwriting experts have to say!" Zhang Yi chuckled. "I'm just curious about what kind of person is holding this pen."

As he spoke, he put away the letter of complaint that Mao Qiwu had handed him, and looked at Dai Chunfeng, asking, "Chief, if the handwriting matches someone in the bureau..."

"Arrest on the spot."

"Yes!" Zhang Yi straightened up and bowed, then changed the subject, saying, "There's something else I was just about to report to the Director. I'm thinking of transferring Monkey to be my adjutant, and having Qian Xiaosan take over as the director of the Judicial Office. What do you think?"

"You handle it yourself. Just ask Director Gong for this kind of thing." Dai Chunfeng seemed a little tired, so he leaned back on the sofa, rubbed his temples, and closed his eyes to rest.

"Thank you, Director. I'll take my leave now." Zhang Yi bowed and turned to leave.

Taking advantage of his momentary lapse in attention, Dai Chunfeng suddenly opened her eyes and subtly gave Mao Qiwu a wink.

Mao Qiwu understood and immediately said, "Director, I have something else to report."

"Oh, then you stay here." As he said this, Dai Chunfeng's gaze remained fixed on Zhang Yi's retreating figure. Once he disappeared, he abruptly stood up, his previous exhaustion vanishing instantly, his eyes changing completely. He pointed at Mao Qiwu's nose and launched into a tirade:

"Look what you've done! You spoke so confidently back then, patting your chest and guaranteeing that everything would go perfectly, and what happened? You've turned a perfectly good pot of rice into a half-cooked mess. Forget about the Red Party, you haven't even touched its shadow. If this continues, I won't care about my reputation anymore."

Upon hearing the words "Red Party," Mao Qiwu's eyelids twitched. He winked mysteriously and said with feigned seriousness:
"Speaking of the Red Party, I have something to report."

"What?" Dai Chunfeng looked surprised.

Mao Qiwu then recounted how Zhu Hua, the driver at the Eighth Route Army office, was short of money, and how he and Mao Zhongxin devised a plan to persuade him to defect. Dai Chunfeng's eyes gleamed as he listened intently, eagerly awaiting the key points, but once again, he was met with failure. He smacked his lips twice in frustration.
"Even a clever cook can't cook without rice. And you, with such a good opportunity, have turned it into a half-cooked meal, utterly useless. Why send anyone but Mao Zhongxin, that good-for-nothing good-for-nothing!"

"Yes, I acted too hastily," Mao Qiwu said, glancing at Dai Chunfeng's expression with trepidation. He continued, "I know this kid is uneducated and incompetent, but he is, after all, from Jiangshan. We know him well, so we can use him with confidence. I've already arranged for him to be Zhang Yi's secretary, to keep an eye on his every move." As he said this, he grinned and said sarcastically, "But judging from Zhang Yi's attitude, he seems quite unhappy."

"Really?" Dai Chunfeng replied absentmindedly.

Mao Qiwu glanced at him and continued, "Furthermore, I've already turned Qian Xiaosan, one of his subordinates, against him. Together with Zhong Xin, they'll work from the inside and outside, forming a powerful duo, allowing us to control his every move and completely bring him down."

Mao Qiwu was speaking with smug satisfaction, but then he realized that Dai Chunfeng wasn't listening at all. Instead, he sat there silently, frowning and lost in thought, so he stopped talking. After a moment of silence in the room, Dai Chunfeng suddenly snapped out of it. He rubbed his temples and asked Mao Qiwu:

Why did you stop talking?

“Why should I talk about it if you won’t listen?” Mao Qiwu replied.

Dai Chunfeng smiled as an apology and said:
"Is Mao Zhongxin any good? Also, you just said that Qian Xiaosan went to Zhang Yi's house last night?"

"Yes."

"Is this a case of shifting blame onto someone surnamed Hou?"

"Yes." Mao Qi nodded confidently. "Given Zhang Yi's shrewdness, he probably won't believe his one-sided story. But that's exactly what I want. I want him to fall into suspicion, to fight amongst himself, like dogs biting each other."

"You're still the most cunning one, with a compassionate heart but ruthless methods." Dai Chunfeng gave him a half-smile, then asked, "Brother Shanyu, do you still think he's that kind of person?"

"It's hard to say," Mao Qiwu said with a wry smile. "They're very popular right now, and without solid evidence, I wouldn't dare to doubt them easily."

Dai Chunfeng's eyes regained that undeniable confidence. He looked at Mao Qiwu and said in a serious tone:
"This is a very important matter, and I would like to hear your opinion first."

"As for me," Mao Qiwu paused, then said directly, "I still firmly believe in that saying: if someone always arouses suspicion for no reason, even without substantial evidence, they should not be trusted. Working with such a person always leaves me feeling a distance, and I simply cannot entrust them with my responsibilities."

“But he just saved my life.” Dai Chunfeng shook his head, still shaken by the memory of that night. He sighed, “You didn’t experience it firsthand, so you have no idea how dangerous it was. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say I was hanging by a thread. If he hadn’t stepped forward at the crucial moment and shielded me, I don’t know if I would still be alive to see you! As the saying goes, a life-saving debt should be repaid with a spring of gratitude.”

"These are two different things!" Mao Qiwu interrupted him, shaking his head vigorously. "Brother Yu Nong, I have no doubt about his determination to resist Japan, but resisting Japan does not necessarily mean opposing the Reds. The two are not mutually exclusive. We cannot assume that he is of one mind with us just because he resisted Japan and saved your life, and therefore lower our guard against him. Don't forget, that Senior Brother Chen, who graduated from the first class of Whampoa Military Academy, also saved the Chairman's life!"

Upon hearing this, Dai Chunfeng fell silent, his expression shifting between light and shadow.

Mao Qiwu couldn't figure out what he was thinking for a moment, and muttered, "Brother Yu Nong, Director Dai, forgive my bluntness, but I see you are hesitant. Is there something you can't say about it?"

"What's the secret?"

“You can’t bear to kill him, and you don’t want to believe that person is really him.” Mao Qiwu spoke bluntly and earnestly advised, “Brother Yu Nong, I know that you personally promoted him and have high hopes for him, but I’m afraid that these high hopes will be let down.”

As your fellow townsman, classmate, and subordinate, I must advise you: since you have suspicions about him, you must not tolerate them, and you must not condone evil. The Chairman once said, "It is better to kill a thousand innocent people than to let one guilty person go free." If you keep him around, and another leak occurs, the consequences will be unimaginable!
"Furthermore, although he's from Jiangsu and Zhejiang, he's not one of our Jiangshan gang. His sudden rise to a high position—what are the Jiangshan youths supposed to think? Mao Qianli, Zhou Nian, Xing, Pan Qi, and Wu—aren't they all capable? They've been suppressed because they offended Zheng Mingyuan, who then spoke ill of them to the old man, preventing them from being promoted or given important positions. The brothers have long harbored resentment, and now Zhang Yi has appeared, riding roughshod over them. I'm afraid that if this continues, it will indirectly affect your reputation, Director." Mao Qiwu, usually so submissive, suddenly hardened his tone, catching Dai Chunfeng off guard.

Because Mao Qiwu had failed several missions, he originally wanted to give him a dressing down, but unexpectedly, he attracted a lot of discussion from the other party and was instead rebuked by him.

Within the Military Intelligence Bureau, besides Zheng Mingyuan, Tang Heng, and Mao Qiwu, there was absolutely no one else who could speak to him in such a tone. However, Zheng and Tang spoke in a sarcastic and ambiguous manner, while Mao Qiwu spoke frankly and critically. Since expelling Zheng Mingyuan and Tang Heng from the Military Intelligence Bureau, he held absolute power; the Bureau was his personal fiefdom, and his subordinates obeyed him without question. Now, being openly criticized, he was caught in a dilemma, unsure whether to laugh or cry, and could only reply with a sarcastic remark:
"Brother Shanyu's words have truly enlightened me!"

Mao Qiwu's words were certainly not out of genuine concern for the Jiangshan Gang or Boss Dai's reputation, but rather for his own benefit. He had been agitated just moments before, but now, catching a glimpse of Dai Chunfeng's mocking gaze, he felt a chill run down his spine and realized he had gone too far. Regretting his words, he tried to make amends, so he shamelessly said:

"Director, Qi Wu is straightforward and outspoken, and his words may be harsh, but his intentions are good."

“Brother Shanyu, your explanation only makes it seem like you’re trying to hide something,” Dai Chunfeng said with a mocking smile. He knew Mao Qiwu’s thoughts perfectly well, but this was exactly in line with his current personnel management principle: let his subordinates fight like dogs while he acts as an arbitrator. This was a tactic he had learned from the Chairman.

After pondering for a moment, he changed the subject, "Your accusations just now are not without merit. Throughout history, who hasn't relied on people from their hometown, confidants, old friends, or students? Ultimately, it's because they know each other well, share common interests, and can trust each other without any reservations."

But he didn't say the rest of the sentence. As he rose in rank and power, he often read books like "Zizhi Tongjian" and "Collected Works of Zeng Guofan" to learn about the ancients' ways of governing and employing people, and to learn about many of his brilliant historical anecdotes about employing and persecuting people.

He knew perfectly well that the most difficult people to manage were the flawless, impervious, and invulnerable hypocrites—they were simply too difficult to control. The easiest to manage were the petty people with obvious weaknesses and flaws; you could hold them by the scruples in one hand and a whip in the other, making them obedient to your every command.

For those in positions of power, sometimes it's necessary to utilize people's strengths, and sometimes their weaknesses—those who are dishonest or obviously flawed, considered worthless by ordinary people, often possess exceptionally high loyalty to their superiors. Unscrupulous individuals like to gain personal benefits, provided they first secure significant advantages for their leaders. Incompetent people, while unlikely to achieve great things, will not jeopardize their own important endeavors. And so he continued:
“Zhang Yi is different. Although he’s not from Jiangshan, he’s from Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and the Chairman remembers him. Besides, he just saved my life. If we don’t reward him for his service, wouldn’t that discourage others? Who would be willing to wholeheartedly risk their lives for us in the future?”

Mao Qiwu sensed that this was an evasive remark and felt somewhat uncomfortable. Just as he was about to offer a few more words of advice, Dai Chunfeng continued:
“I know you feel wronged and unwilling, but even if you fight him to the death, the best outcome will be that both sides are injured. When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits. Tell me, who is the fisherman?”

"Zheng Mingyuan," Mao Qiwu blurted out.

Dai Chunfeng nodded slightly, let out a long sigh, and said meaningfully:
"It's good that you understand. He is the real chief secretary."

"Understood." Mao Qiwu nodded solemnly, but still unwilling to give up, he said worriedly, "That's true, but he's now the deputy director's secretary, handling all the bureau's confidential documents. If we don't take precautions, what if..."

“You’ve hit the nail on the head,” Dai Chunfeng interrupted him, smiling mysteriously.

"What does the Director mean?"

"We need to win over Zhang Yi on the one hand, and on the other hand, we must guard against and restrict him on the other."

"That must be exhausting!"

"That's what makes it fun. You watch him put on a show of pretense without making a sound, until at some point his true colors are revealed and he has nowhere to hide. In the end, he's driven to desperation and does something ridiculous. It's interesting just to think about it."

After saying this, Dai Chunfeng laughed smugly. Mao Qiwu deeply felt that his willpower was far inferior to Dai Chunfeng's, sighed silently, and then, remembering something, immediately said:
"By the way, Chief, I heard from Qian Xiaosan that Zhang Yizheng is planning to send gifts, and I heard that the scope is very wide. Isn't this openly forming cliques and factions?!"

"Is that so?" This question struck a nerve with Dai Chunfeng. Before Mao Qiwu could answer, he immediately summoned his adjutant, Jia, and asked:
Where is Zhang Yiren now?

Deputy Jia: "He just used the outside phone to call Director Wang. He should be at the Bai Mansion right now."

Dai Chunfeng tapped the table: "I remember there were eavesdropping devices installed over there, right?"

Deputy Jia nodded: "Should I connect the equipment now?" Seeing Dai Chunfeng nod, he immediately walked out of the office and soon returned with two staff members, each carrying a listening device.

The two plugged in the equipment, operated it for a while, then dialed a few numbers on a special phone on the workbench. After adjusting the dial on the headset for a bit, the crackling noise gradually subsided, and Zhang Yi and Wang Xinheng's voices became clear.

In the Bai Mansion, Wang Xinheng's office door was tightly closed, and above his head, a chandelier remained lit as usual. However, a miniature listening device, which had been installed there long ago, faithfully recorded everything he heard.

Zhang Yi and Wang Xinheng seemed completely unaware, sitting on opposite sides of the sofa talking to each other.

Wang Xinheng: "I never imagined that after you went on that trip to the Southeast with Boss Dai, you'd be the deputy director's secretary now. You're my superior now, shouldn't I salute you?"

"I am still a junior. If it weren't for the cultivation and promotion of the Director and the Bureau Chief, where would I be today? I will never forget the care and support you have given me over the years. I won't mention these things in front of you." Zhang Yi said humbly, giving Wang Xinheng plenty of face.

Wang Xinheng smiled with satisfaction.

Zhang Yishun handed over the tea he had brought:

"Knowing that you, Chief, have a fondness for this, this is just a small token of my appreciation. Please take a look."

Wang Xinheng took the tea leaves and immediately felt their weight. He knew this was no ordinary tea, but pretending not to notice, he calmly opened the tea canister, tore off the wrapping paper, picked up a few leaves, smelled them, chewed them, and immediately nodded.
"Excellent tea, excellent tea!"

As he spoke, he gently tore open the wrapper, revealing several pieces of golden yellow croaker underneath. He smiled knowingly, now even more satisfied.

(End of this chapter)