My spy diary

Chapter 653 Wang Xinheng (Seeking monthly votes)
“Good tea!”

As Wang Xinheng spoke, he calmly placed the tea leaves into the cabinet, then took out a tea canister from in front of the cabinet. “This is a Longjing tea that one of my old subordinates gave me. I didn’t even take it out when Director Dai came. You’re lucky today. Please sit down—just sit down. I’ll brew the good tea myself.”

While preparing the tea set and thermos, Wang Xinheng continued:
"Have you read the newspapers? Commander Gu has become the target of everyone's criticism now."

Zhang Yi grunted in agreement and picked up the newspaper on the table to read.

While Dai Chunfeng was in Jiangshan County, the newspapers controlled by the Military Intelligence Bureau in the mountain city had already begun to create momentum. Once he returned to the mountain city, he immediately went to the Chairman and filed a scathing complaint against Commander Gu and the Third War Zone. The evidence was conclusive, and the Chairman was furious. He ordered Li Jue to be executed immediately as an example to others, and at the same time sent a telegram to severely reprimand Commander Gu.

As Dai Chunfeng had predicted, Chen Tumu, Hu Zongbei, and other generals from the Whampoa Military Academy also seized the opportunity to publish articles criticizing them.

In an instant, major newspapers in the mountain city followed up with their reports, exposing and condemning the incident. Public opinion was in an uproar, and Commander Gu and his Third War Zone became like rats crossing the street, hated by everyone.

Only then did Commander Gu truly realize Dai Chunfeng's prowess, and he began to actively improve and repair his relationship with Dai Chunfeng and the Loyal Army and Nationalist Army.

The tea brewed quickly, and as soon as the lid was lifted, a delicate fragrance immediately filled the air.

"Come, have a taste. Although it's not West Lake Longjing tea, it has a unique flavor."

The tea brewed by Wang Xinheng is called Meitan Longjing, which is made by the Meitan Central Experimental Tea Farm in Guizhou. Its processing method is derived from West Lake Longjing. Due to its outstanding quality, it is highly sought after by university professors who moved west and people from all walks of life. Its price has risen and it is hard to find.

Wang Xinheng gently lifted the teacup, brought it to his nose, closed his eyes slightly, held his breath, and let the steam slowly seep in through his nose. Once his internal organs were sufficiently nourished by the tea's aroma, he gently parted his lips, took a small sip, and let the tea trickle into his mouth from between his teeth. Then, he let it linger in his mouth before reluctantly swallowing it, making a series of sounds.

"It's truly excellent tea!" Zhang Yi took a sip and echoed the sentiment. To be honest, although it was made using the so-called West Lake Longjing process, it wasn't actually tea from West Lake, so it was somewhat disappointing.

As Wang Xinheng sipped his tea, he secretly realized that Zhang Yi's mind was not on the tea, and he was well aware of Zhang Yi's true intentions.

For him, Zhang Yi was his former subordinate, who had been diligent and supportive during his tenure. In particular, his return to headquarters was closely related to Zhang Yi's downfall of He Shangyou. Therefore, whether it was reciprocating or sharing information, this senior colleague who had benefited from the situation felt obligated to offer something in return.

Therefore, without waiting for Zhang Yi to explain his purpose, he immediately said:

"There are many differences between being a secretary and being a leader. My experience, haha, you probably don't know, is that I've also worked as a secretary."

"Did the section chief also work as a secretary?"

This surprised Zhang Yi. He had seen Wang Xinheng's resume. Wang Xinheng was from Cixi, Zhejiang. He entered Shanghai University at the age of 17, but was wanted by the French Concession police for participating in progressive activities during his university years. The following year, he went to the Soviet Union to study at Moscow Sun Yat-sen University.

After returning to China, he worked as an editor for a period of time and also ran a newspaper. In 32, through a recommendation, he served as a political instructor for the first class of the Political Training Research Class of the Military Commission, and then as the deputy director of the Operations Department of the Airborne Special Service. He had no experience as a secretary at all.

Was this part of his resume deliberately concealed?

"Hehe, that was 33 years ago." Wang Xinheng chuckled, sighing with emotion. "That year, I was sent to Wuhan to serve as a secretary at the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Provincial 'Suppression Headquarters,' where I stayed for three years. In 36, I was transferred to the Second Division of the Chang'an Headquarters as its director. During the Chang'an Incident, I was trapped like a turtle in a jar and almost lost my life!"

"So that's how it is. Chang'an that year was like the eve of a storm; it appeared calm on the surface, but undercurrents were surging!"

Zhang Yi sighed, thinking to himself that the First Division of the Chang'an Headquarters was the intelligence agency of the young marshal Zhang, while the Second Division was a branch of the Chairman's personal office, collecting various intelligence for the Chairman's decision-making. In other words, Wang Xinheng was already engaged in intelligence work at this time, and was directly serving the Chairman.

But why would he deliberately hide this part of his resume?

Is it because he felt embarrassed about being detained during the Chang'an incident?
Surely not! Boss Dai was also detained, and this experience became something he boasted about.

Suppressing his doubts silently, he thought for a moment and asked:
"Wasn't Director Mao Qiwu also at the Chang'an headquarters at that time?"

"He came to the Xi'an headquarters from the Third Section of the Wuhan Headquarters, working in the Third Division. He was probably on a secret mission, so we didn't have much contact." Wang Xinheng glossed over the matter, shaking his head. "We've gone off-topic. Where were we?"

"The difference between being a leader and being a secretary."

"Yes. In my experience, when you're a secretary, you need to be meticulous and careful in everything you do. But when you're a leader, you need to know how to focus on the big picture and let go of the small details. It's not good to be too serious about everything. Otherwise, if you do everything yourself, you'll be exhausted."

To be a secretary, one must be unwavering in one's judgment, even to the point of being stubborn. The leader is the decision-maker, and the secretary is the relayer and executor. What one understands must be executed, and what one does not understand must be understood through execution. On the other hand, the leader must be appropriately suspicious and know how to be flexible in his actions.

A secretary must be loyal and devoted to the leader they serve, and must not go back on their word, whether it is right or wrong. A leader, on the other hand, should not be so stubborn. Sometimes it is necessary to have multiple options. If one thing doesn't work out, another thing will. One should not believe only one side of the story. Listening to both sides will lead to clarity, while believing only one side will lead to obscurity.

In short, a secretary is controlled and on the defensive, only able to advance by retreating, while a leader is the controller and on the offensive, needing to learn to advance steadily and cautiously, step by step. A secretary who acts like a leader is prone to overstepping boundaries and committing a major taboo, while a leader who acts like a secretary will not achieve much.

You are now both a leader and a secretary, both subject to and in control of others. Knowing how to appropriately manage relationships with superiors and subordinates, and effectively play your role, is a skill in itself. Of course, theory alone is insufficient; you will need to carefully consider and experience it in your work to truly master it.

Wang Xinheng spoke eloquently, and seeing that Zhang Yi was listening attentively, he added:

"Of course, being clever and tactful is good. It's ideal to do things without offending or even pleasing both sides. But then again, how can you do things without offending anyone? Sometimes, finding a balance means walking a tightrope. Being tactful can be the same as being slippery and inconsiderate, and it will only make people think you're two-faced."

Zhang Yi knew that Director Wang's words came from the bottom of his heart and were entirely for his own good, so he quickly stood up and saluted.
"Your words are more enlightening than ten years of study! Thank you for your guidance, Chief."

Wang Xinheng smiled meaningfully:

"Haha, you're too kind, brother. This is hardly guidance; it's just some old news. As the saying goes, even if you haven't eaten pork, you've still seen a pig run, right? I believe in you. With your abilities and experience, you're more than qualified to be the deputy director's secretary."

"You flatter me. I must thank Boss Dai for his trust and promotion. I am deeply humbled and feel a great sense of responsibility. I hope you will continue to support me in my future work and lend me a helping hand."

"Easy to say, easy to say!"

These words were transmitted clearly, word by word, to Dai Chunfeng and Mao Qiwu, who were wearing earpieces, through the wiretap in the phone.

Dai Chunfeng tossed aside his headphones and looked at Mao Qiwu, his face full of frustration:
"They didn't say anything, did they?"

"That's not necessarily true," Mao Qiwu coughed to cover his embarrassment, then thought for a moment and said, "It's said to be tea, but it's probably not as simple as just tea leaves, is it?" As soon as he finished speaking, seeing the uncertain smile on Dai Chunfeng's face, he quickly changed the subject, "I really didn't expect that Director Wang Xinheng had experience as a secretary. How did he get into the 'Suppression Headquarters'?" "Kang and Ze. They were classmates at Moscow Sun Yat-sen University." Mentioning this name, Dai Chunfeng looked disgusted.

This man was a senior member of the third class of the Whampoa Military Academy and was selected to study at Sun Yat-sen University in Moscow in 26. Even after arriving in the Soviet Union, he continued to use various means to report unusual remarks made by his classmates to Chiang Kai-shek in China, gaining Chiang's trust and further consolidating his own position.

The following year, after returning to China, he was immediately appointed as the personnel advisor in the adjutant's office. It was this man who organized a group of veteran Whampoa Military Academy graduates to establish the Fuxing Society. When the Fuxing Society's Special Service Department was established, he thought the position of director was rightfully his. However, Chang unexpectedly chose the junior member Dai Chunfeng.

Kang held a grudge against this and targeted Dai Chunfeng at every turn. Later, under Kang's influence, who spread rumors that "members of the Fuxing Society only know the Fuxing Society and not the Party and the State," Chang ordered the dissolution of the Fuxing Society and the formation of the Three People's Principles Youth League. Only then was Kang able to become the head of the organization department of the Three People's Principles Youth League, finally fulfilling his dream of becoming a department head.

Later, he also served as the director of the Third Department of the Political Department, and the director of the Special Training Class of the Central Military Academy and the Special Training Class of the Political School.

"So he's one of Kang's men?"

"What Kang's man? He was also a classmate of the Crown Prince. Why don't you say he's the Crown Prince's man? In the end, everyone is the Chairman's man." Dai Chunfeng waved his hand, not wanting to talk more. Anyone who can climb to the top has a background and connections, and they are all deeply entrenched. It's hard to clearly define who is whose man.

Mao Qiwu gave an awkward smile, and was about to say something when he saw Deputy Officer Jia knock on the door and come in, looking as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Dai Chunfeng asked in a deep voice, "What happened?"

"Director Shen just called," Lieutenant Jia said cautiously, "saying that Mrs. Zheng just called, asking for living supplies."

“Ke Lijuan?” Dai Chunfeng said with disgust, as if stung by a scorpion. “She’s got all the inside information. I finally managed to get some money from Li Jue after racking my brains, and she’s already eyeing it. Humph, this money is for the bureau’s expenses, there’s no share for her.”

Lieutenant Jia gave a wry smile and said, "That may be true, but this woman is insatiable. If she can't get what she wants, she'll probably whisper in Zheng's ear and persuade him to speak ill of the Chairman. In that case, we'll be the ones who suffer."

Dai Chunfeng was perfectly aware of this; he simply refused to accept it. Hearing Jia's words, he snorted coldly.
"Does the General Affairs Department still have any stock? She likes Western goods, right? Pick out a bunch of unwanted items and send them to her." After saying this, he looked at Mao Qiwu and solemnly instructed, "You take care of this matter, and remember to register everything."

"Yes." Mao Qiwu felt a wave of disgust when he thought back to his meeting with Zheng Mingyuan, how the latter acted like an arrogant superior while he had to be obsequious and smile obsequiously. However, after hesitating for a moment, he still agreed. He thought to himself, "Now that there's a deputy director's secretary, let Zhang Yi experience what it's like to be subservient to others and ordered around!"
Meanwhile, as soon as Zhang Yi returned to his office, he called Director Gong to coordinate the transfer orders for Monkey and Qian Xiaosan.

He immediately summoned Qian Xiaosan.

"Director, how could you make him your adjutant? Have you forgotten what I said?" Qian Xiaosan was agitated and seemed very confused.

Zhang Yi glanced at him. He had already spoken with the monkey on the way back, so he naturally gave Qian Xiaosan a different story:
"It is precisely because he is suspicious that I keep him by my side, under my nose, to monitor him closely and keep track of his every move."

"I see," Qian Xiaosan said with a worried expression, his brows furrowed. "What about the outer perimeter? Should we also have someone monitor him?"

"I've already made the arrangements. I have a trump card to deal with him."

Zhang Yi spoke mysteriously, his words full of confidence yet concealing his true intentions. Qian Xiaosan didn't know what his so-called "secret weapon" was, but he knew that Zhang Yi often came up with some unbelievable measures that would somehow achieve the desired effect. So, he swallowed this "reassurance" with a mix of belief and doubt.

Zhang Yi glanced at him, his tone leaving no room for argument:

"That's settled then. The next task is to keep an eye on the judicial department for me."

"Yes."

"By the way, I've also figured out why you and the monkey were screened; it was because of a whistleblower letter."

"A whistleblower letter?" Qian Xiaosan was taken aback, then cursed angrily, "Damn it, which bastard is doing this kind of despicable thing behind the scenes?"

Mao Zhongxin, who was eavesdropping on the two men's conversation in the next office, unconsciously shrank back.

"I believe we'll find out the truth, and soon enough. Boss Dai just said that as soon as we find this person, we can arrest him on the spot!" Zhang Yi said menacingly.

Mao Zhongxin, flustered, knocked over the cup and frantically tried to wipe it clean.

Before I could finish tidying up, the phone on the table rang:

"Secretary Mao, come here for a moment."

"Yes."

He hung up the phone and nervously approached Zhang Yi:
"Deputy Director Zhang."

Seeing that Zhang Yi remained silent, he cautiously raised his head to look at Zhang Yi, but Zhang Yi remained unmoved.

"Deputy Director Zhang, summon me here."

"Have you finished copying what I asked you to copy?" Zhang Yi suddenly interrupted him.

Mao Zhongxin's heart tightened, and he quickly said, "I just copied it once. But don't worry, I'll definitely hand it in to you before I leave work."

"Okay, I'll wait. You go ahead and get busy."

"Yes." Mao Zhongxin replied sternly, then thought for a moment and said considerately, "Deputy Director Zhang, please don't overwork yourself." After saying that, he left.

Zhang Yi kept watching him until his figure disappeared through the doorway, then fell into deep thought.

To deal with someone, the first thing is to understand their weaknesses and preferences, and at the same time, to deeply understand and firmly grasp their psychology. In this respect, Mao Zhongxin, this guy who indulges in all sorts of vices, has too many loopholes, so there's no shortage of opportunities to exploit him.

Of course, if you don't kill the snake, you'll only get hurt yourself. Even a rabbit will fight for its life when cornered, let alone a human.
Since we're going to take action, we must go all out and defeat the enemy in one fell swoop!
(End of this chapter)