My spy diary

Chapter 654 Mao Qiwu (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
"Deputy Director Zhang, the director requests your presence."

"Understood." Mao Zhongxin knocked on the door and came in to report that Mao Qiwu had invited him. Zhang Yi replied with a word, but did not move.

He pondered Mao Qiwu's intention in seeking him out at this moment.

It couldn't be about the whistleblower letter; it wouldn't happen that quickly. He quickly deduced that it was probably about the division of labor.

Thinking about it, he got up and went to Mao Qiwu's office.

Mao Qiwu was standing by the window, with the documents he had just reviewed on the table. Seeing Zhang Yi enter, he turned around and said:

"How fast time flies, it's already midsummer again."

Zhang Yi casually chimed in, "Yes, the cicadas' chirping boils the time, the heat waves push the days forward, one summer after another, one enlightenment after another."

As the saying goes, people need a "low-risk social buffer" when they are in an awkward situation, and the weather is the most suitable thing to talk about at this time.

Because weather is a safe and uncontroversial neutral topic, everyone can perceive it, it does not involve privacy stances, and it can act as a "lubricant" to quickly fill the awkward silence and help each other transition from a stiff state to natural communication.

Hearing Zhang Yi, who usually didn't spar with words, suddenly utter such elegant phrases, Mao Qiwu chuckled and asked with interest:

"Oh, what has Deputy Director Zhang realized?"

Zhang Yi straightened his body and solemnly said, "From this moment on, I will accept the assignment with one hand and risk my life with the other, to be loyal to the Director without hesitation."

"Pretentious, sycophant!"

Mao Qiwu snorted inwardly. He had originally planned to wait for Zhang Yi to say something archaic before taking the opportunity to criticize him. However, he did not expect Zhang Yi to be so cunning as to use Boss Dai's words from back then.

In 32, the Special Service Department of the Fuxing Society was newly established, and the old man appointed Dai Chunfeng as its director. This naturally aroused resentment among the senior members of the Whampoa Military Academy. They dared not disobey the old man's orders, but secretly caused Dai Chunfeng a lot of trouble. Some even directly threatened to overthrow Dai Chunfeng.

Upon hearing this, Dai Chunfeng, in a move of feigned retreat, immediately went to the old man to resign.

The old man said, "I'll arrange everything."

Dai Chunfeng replied, "From this moment on, I accept the order with one hand and carry my head with the other, determined to die for my country without hesitation."

He heard these things from his cousin, Mao Qianli.

Thinking about it, the scene from nine years ago seemed to reappear before my eyes—
At the time, he was living a secluded life as a secretary in Chongde County. To save face for the county magistrate, he had no choice but to take the blame and marry the woman the magistrate had impregnated. He thought to himself that he had done the magistrate such a great favor that the magistrate would surely favor him in the future, and that promotion and wealth would be a piece of cake. Even if others called him a "cuckold" behind his back, he would accept it. He secretly planned to take revenge once he had gained enough power.

However, on his wedding night, his cousin Mao Qianli suddenly showed up at his door.

When relatives from his hometown arrived, Mao Qiwu was overjoyed. He led his younger cousin into the study and said with great confidence:
"Sixth Brother, you've come at the perfect time. You can help Fifth Brother with his work. Once we brothers have settled down in Chongde, we'll work step by step, and in a few years, we'll be able to make a name for ourselves in Chongde."

As the saying goes, "A scholar who has been away for three days is no longer the same ignorant youth he once was." Mao Qianli, now a member of the Special Service, had broadened his horizons and perspective; he was no longer the narrow-minded, short-sighted young man from Bao'an Village. Upon hearing this, he jumped up immediately:

"Fifth Brother, you taught me from a young age to have lofty aspirations, how come you yourself are so short-sighted? Instead of exploring the vast world outside, you're content to stay in this godforsaken little county town? Even if you become a county magistrate, what good will it do?"

Mao Qiwu disagreed: "Originally, I thought everyone has their own ambitions, but after working as a secretary for so many years, I've come to understand that everyone has their own destiny. I, Mao Shanyu, am not a dragon that can soar through the heavens. Being a shrimp playing in the shallows is just as carefree as I am."

Seeing his fifth brother's dejected mood, Mao Qianli became anxious. The two were brothers, so they spoke without reservation and began to berate him:

"Fifth Brother, Fifth Brother, how can you belittle yourself like this? Even if you're not a dragon, you're still a rare talent, right? Take Dai Chunfeng for example, you grew up together, you must know your own abilities, which are definitely no less than his. But now he serves under the Chairman, he's powerful and influential, and everyone obeys his every command, while you're still stuck in a small county town, eating your food at the mercy of the county magistrate?"

"Everyone has their own fate!" Hearing that his good friend Dai Chunfeng had become a favorite of the Chairman, while he himself had worked diligently for seven years and was still just a lowly secretary, Mao Qiwu felt envious. He also realized his own pathetic state, and his cousin's words struck a nerve. His face darkened, and he muttered:
"Dai Chunfeng and I have completely different personalities. He was clever and mischievous from a young age, liked to take shortcuts, sought wealth and fortune through risk, dared to risk his life, and was willing to go all out, which is why he was able to soar to great heights. I dare not fly high, for fear of falling and breaking. I'd rather take things one step at a time. The county magistrate is already preparing to promote me to section chief, so the future looks promising. Having said all that, where are you working now?"

Mao Qianli said smugly, "I'm now working under Director Dai Chunfeng. The letter you sent back to your hometown was forwarded to Nanjing. When he heard about it, he was overjoyed and asked me to invite you to help him immediately."

"Don't worry, the Fuxing Society is quite large now, with many Jiangshan people working under him, but Dai Chunfeng always complains about not having capable assistants. If you go, he will definitely give you an important position. If we brothers join forces, our achievements will certainly not be inferior to Dai Chunfeng's."

It would be a lie to say that Mao Qiwu wasn't tempted by Mao Qianli's ambitious words. However, having served as a cautious secretary for seven years, he had become increasingly shrewd and reserved, rarely showing his emotions. At this moment, he remained silent, deep in thought, and began to make his own calculations.

He works as a secretary, a job that involves serving others, but if the person he serves is the chairman, he would be willing to be obsequious and subservient, even if he were whipped.

Unfortunately, he didn't know the Chairman at all, and the Chairman probably hadn't even heard of him.

Secondly, he couldn't easily guess Dai Chunfeng's true attitude.

It is said that one should not forget one's friends if one becomes rich and powerful, but how many people can truly do that?

Even if Dai Chunfeng doesn't forget her old feelings, she is still unknown and a newcomer, so she must be humble and unassuming. When will she be able to attract the attention of the Chairman and rise to the top?
Mao Qianli knew his cousin was a man of deep thought, so he directly took out Dai Chunfeng's letter:

"Fifth Brother, see for yourself!"

Mao Qiwu took it and looked at the familiar handwriting; his heart pounded.

Brother Qi Wu:

Stay safe!

Time flies, and nine years have passed since we parted ways in 1924. A man should be determined to serve his country and his country, Chairman, and not indulge in pleasure. Brother Qi Wu is ambitious and talented. If you could come out of seclusion and lend me a hand, I would be extremely honored and would certainly entrust you with important responsibilities, leaving a vacant position for you.” After reading this letter, Mao Qi Wu, suspicious and disillusioned, fled his arranged marriage that very night and went to Nanjing with Mao Qianli.

However, after arriving in Nanjing and meeting Dai Chunfeng, he was not greeted with high-ranking official positions and generous salaries, but rather with a letter of appointment as a "Special Commissioner of the Central Government stationed at the Jiangsu and Zhejiang Police Academy," which meant he would essentially be a secretary with no real power.

Thinking back on his past at the police academy, in the Wuhan headquarters, and in Chang'an, he had worked diligently and conscientiously, sparing no effort to curry favor with Boss Dai and Chairman Mao. After going through several storms and setbacks, he had finally achieved his goal of becoming the acting chief secretary, wielding great power in his own hands. With Dai Chunfeng's trust and reliance on him in all matters, he was given the opportunity to do things freely and display his talents, making him virtually second only to the emperor.

But now that Zhang Yi has been promoted to deputy director, the situation in the bureau has suddenly become unpredictable.

Mao Qiwu was overwhelmed with mixed feelings.

"Director Mao?" Zhang Yi's question pulled Mao Qiwu back from his reverie.

"Oh, it's nothing, sit down." Mao Qiwu touched the top of his head, composed himself, and returned to his seat.

Zhang Yi didn't sit down, but instead stood respectfully in front of his desk, looking like he was waiting for instructions.

This action seemed to make Mao Qiwu pause for a moment. He glanced at Zhang Yi, took a sip of tea, and then slowly said:

"This job is tough! There are so many things to manage, and so many complicated matters. There are countless meetings at all levels, and a ton of information to receive, organize, report, and compile. If I were to handle it all by myself, even if I had three heads and six arms or worked day and night, I probably wouldn't be able to manage. Luckily, the Director sent you here."

As he spoke, he touched his head again, leaned back in his chair, and asked with a smile.

"How is it, Deputy Director Zhang? Are you adapting well to the work of the Secretariat? Please feel free to offer any suggestions or criticisms. I'll speak frankly and without reservation."

"I have no suggestions, let alone criticisms," Zhang Yi said with a smile, very humbly. "I'm new here and completely clueless. I'm afraid I'll have to trouble Director Mao quite often in the future." He paused, then continued, "I'm a complete novice when it comes to secretarial work, and I have absolutely no confidence. Fortunately, with Director Mao here, I feel at ease. You take the helm, and I'll row the boat. If I don't do my job well, I hope Director Mao will be generous with your guidance and criticism. I will certainly accept it humbly and make timely corrections."

“Deputy Director Zhang is too modest. Hehe, since the Director asked you to come, it must be suitable.” Mao Qiwu gave him a meaningful look, picked up a draft of a document on the table and handed it over. “This is my carefully drafted division of labor for the deputy director’s secretary. Take a look, and if there are no problems, send it to Director Dai for approval.”

Zhang Yi thought to himself, "As expected," and took it to read it carefully.

The chief secretary assists the deputy director in presiding over the overall work of the Military Intelligence Bureau, coordinating the core affairs of the bureau's internal and external affairs, various departments, stations, and districts, and is responsible to the deputy director.

The deputy director secretary assists the director secretary in carrying out the work, focusing on three core areas: overall planning, communication and coordination, and execution and supervision.

When the former deputy director's secretary was in office, he mainly assisted Mao Qiwu in making decisions on field affairs, without a clear division of labor. Now, this document has added the phrase "division of labor and responsibility system". He is in charge of overall planning, communication and coordination, execution and supervision, and is in charge of the Action Department, Judicial Department, Management Department (Finance Department), and General Affairs Department. He is also in charge of the field work of major regions such as North China, East China, South China, and Central China, as well as the provincial stations. In addition, he is responsible for intelligence agencies stationed in countries such as Japan, North Korea, the United States, Germany, Italy, and Vietnam.

"Director Mao, isn't it inappropriate for me to be in charge of the Management Office and the General Affairs Office?" Fieldwork was one thing, and the Judicial Office was already his part-time job, but what about the Management Office and the General Affairs Office? Zhang Yi always felt that Mao Qiwu had ulterior motives, so he asked tentatively.

"What's wrong with that? It's like Han Xin commanding troops—the more the merrier. Taking on more responsibilities is both a form of training and a demonstration of commitment. I trust Deputy Director Zhang's abilities, so it's settled!"

Mao Qiwu's tone left no room for doubt. He watched the changes in Zhang Yi's expression and then changed the subject, "Oh, right, I just remembered something. Madam Zheng is making a fuss about wanting things again. Since you're in charge of the General Affairs Department, you can handle it."

Zhang Yi's heart skipped a beat. While feeling a headache, he also saw an opportunity to "use public office for private gain." He just wanted to visit Zheng Mingyuan, but he was struggling to find a suitable reason. It was like a pillow being delivered to someone who was sleepy.

He feigned difficulty, asking, "Director Mao, is this an order?"

Mao Qiwu said with a forced smile, "It's both a discussion and an order; it depends on how you interpret it."

Zhang Yi glanced at him, remaining silent for a long time. It wasn't until much later that he finally spoke:
"Ok."

"Okay, so be it."

"Your subordinate takes his leave!" Zhang Yi bowed respectfully and turned to leave.

Mao Qiwu watched him until his figure disappeared through the doorway. He thought for a moment, then picked up the phone and dialed a few numbers:

"Director Shen? It's me, Mao Qiwu. Come to me right now, yes, immediately! It's urgent!"

Back in his office, Zhang Yi immediately called Shen Xishan in the General Affairs Department, only to be told that Director Shen had just received orders from Director Mao to leave. He instantly realized that Mao Qiwu was behind this, and while he sneered inwardly, he was somewhat dismissive.

Unlike giving gifts to acquaintances like Wang Xinheng, it was impossible to give gifts to Zheng Mingyuan, who was the deputy director of the Second Department of the Military Command. It was even more taboo to do so in the presence of a third party. It would be better if Shen Xishan was not present.

Of course, to do something well, you need the right tools. To visit this self-important intelligence officer who likes to show off his knowledge, you have to cater to his tastes.

Zhang Yi first sent Monkey to the Military Intelligence Bureau's "April 1st Library" to find Zheng Mingyuan's books such as "Military Intelligence Science", "Detailed Explanation of Guerrilla Tactics", and "Espionage Service". He immediately abandoned "Detailed Explanation of Guerrilla Tactics", and after briefly flipping through the other books, he focused on reading "Espionage Service".

There are two kinds of arrogance: one is backed by real ability, and the other is blind self-confidence born of ignorance, which is nothing but pretense.

Zheng Mingyuan naturally belongs to the former category. Not only did he graduate from the second class of the Whampoa Military Academy, but he also studied at Sun Yat-sen University in Moscow. In 34, he went abroad to Europe to investigate the intelligence work of many countries. He is certainly a man of real talent and learning. At the very least, his book "Espionage Service" is very insightful.

For example, when discussing the principles of espionage, he emphasizes in the book that agents should be like "dormant volcanoes," lying in wait for a crucial moment to strike decisively.

When discussing classic infiltration methods, he listed five: planting informants, creating incriminating evidence, instigating internal power struggles, seizing control of economic lifelines, and taking complete control. This set of methods is also an important guideline for the Kuomintang agents to carry out infiltration activities today.

Learning from others' experiences can be beneficial, so Zhang Yi thought of taking the book back to Zheng Huhe to read, so that he could understand the enemy's intelligence thinking and tactics, and then deduce their action logic, so as to know himself and his enemy, prescribe the right medicine, and even use their strength against them.

(End of this chapter)