Chapter 63: The River-Crossing Pawn

Hearing that voice, Zhang Jun felt as though he were listening to heavenly music!

He rushed to the doorway in a single stride and said respectfully, "The boss is back!"

Upon suddenly catching sight of Ma Hongqi, Jiang Feng was startled. His face burned with heat, and he stammered, "G-Governor Ma! W-Why didn't you give me a-notice?"

With a piercing gaze, Ma Hongqi swept his eyes over him and said in a deep voice, "Do I need to report to you wherever I go? You even presumed to reassign my secretary? What crime has young Zhang committed? Did his working here offend your eyes? Huh?"

Jiang Feng bent forward and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve. "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. I only heard that Governor Ma is about to be promoted to Deputy Secretary of the Organization Department of the Central Committee."

Ma Hongqi waved his hand. "From whom did you hear that?"

Jiang Feng did not dare to say another word.

"Young Zhang, come in."

Ma Hongqi pushed open the office door and seated himself in the chair.

Following him inside, Zhang Jun stood before the desk.

Looking around the spotless office, Ma Hongqi nodded in satisfaction. "You cleaned all this, didn't you?"

"Yes," Zhang Jun replied. "I clean it twice a day."

Ma Hongqi asked, "Have you been to Han Yuxian's home?"

"I went to visit Elder Han once and played a few games of chess with him."

Ma Hongqi nodded. "Very good. I went back to the Reception Guest House just now and received the foot-bath medicine you sent me. Thank you. How much was it?"

Zhang Jun hurriedly claimed it was nothing, not much money at all, and that it was his treat for the boss's foot bath.

Not daring to inquire about his transfer, he exchanged a few pleasantries and prepared to withdraw.

Ma Hongqi called him back. "Young Zhang, I have been busy these past few days dealing with some important matters, which is why I haven't returned your call."

He didn't need to explain, yet he did!

This showed that he regarded Zhang Jun not merely as a secretary, but as a friend.

Deeply moved, Zhang Jun said, "I understand."

After a brief hesitation, Ma Hongqi said, "What Jiang Feng said just now is true. I am indeed going to be transferred to work in the Organization Department of the Central Committee."

A dull roar echoed in Zhang Jun's head, and his throat tightened. He wanted to say something, but nothing came out, until he finally squeezed out: "I will follow you to the capital, Boss!"

Ma Hongqi said slowly, "It won't be that soon, though! After the Lunar New Year, I won't be coming back here. Young Zhang, since we've been colleagues, there's no need to mince words between us. You are a fine comrade, but I cannot take you with me to the capital. Please understand."

*It's over,* Zhang Jun thought to himself.

Gazing intently at him, Ma Hongqi said, "I have already spoken with the comrades in the General Office. Before I leave office, I will promote you to Deputy Division Chief. This rank is not high, and it can be handled entirely within the General Office. Do you have any objections?"

Zhang Jun thought: *To be a Deputy Division Chief in the General Synthesis Division?*

Or to be assigned downward as a deputy bureau chief in some local bureau?

Or perhaps to become a deputy county magistrate in some lower county?

Taking advantage of the fact that Ma Hongqi was still in office, if he made a request now, the boss would likely grant his wish, right?

As a deputy division chief in the General Synthesis Division of the General Office, opportunities to meet provincial leaders were abundant, but true promotion was extremely difficult; very few people could last long enough to become a deputy secretary-general. For officials at the department level, personnel authority rested with the provincial government, but how many leaders in the province actually knew the staff of the General Synthesis Division?

Unless one possessed deep connections, that would be a different story altogether.

To become a deputy bureau chief in some bureau of the provincial capital—if one wasn't aiming for a greater future—would be the most suitable choice. Regardless of whether one could eventually step up to head the bureau, a deputy bureau chief held a certain amount of real power, and by staying far away from the center of power, one could lead a carefree and relaxed life.

In a small county, however, power had long since formed an ironclad monopoly. If he wanted to integrate himself into it, he feared he would lack both the strength and the ability, and rising through the ranks would become even harder because once Ma Hongqi left, he would have no one backing him from above. Yet, if he truly possessed ability and the confidence to achieve political accomplishments, he could be appreciated by higher-ups, making promotion the fastest of all.

After all, anyone aspiring to become a major leader was required to have grassroots working experience.

No matter which place he was assigned to, there were both advantages and disadvantages.

It all depended on how Zhang Jun weighed them.

"I will obey the boss's arrangement," Zhang Jun finally chose a universal, all-purpose answer.

Ma Hongqi nodded slightly and asked, "You know Yiping County, don't you?"

Of course Zhang Jun knew it. He thought: *Is he going to send me down to serve as a deputy county magistrate? Starting from the grassroots is also a path to promotion.*

"Boss, Yiping County is a county under the jurisdiction of the provincial capital, a forty-minute drive from the urban area."

"Correct. There is a town called Chengguan Town there. Have you heard of it?"

"Chengguan Town is where the county government is located. A county consists of many towns, and the place where the county government sits is called Chengguan Town."

"More or less. Chengguan Town lacks a town party secretary, and this post is concurrently held by a member of the county standing committee. Go and take that position!"

A member of the county standing committee and concurrently town party secretary!

If he performed well, the next step would be executive deputy county magistrate, followed by county magistrate and county party secretary.

This developmental trajectory was exceptionally clear.

*Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix!*

At the very least, in Chengguan Town, Zhang Jun would be the top leader!

Yiping County was only a forty-minute bus ride from the provincial capital. Making a round trip on the same day was entirely possible, just a bit tiring, while returning once a week would be quite effortless.

Yet, why did the boss want to arrange for him to go to that specific place?

Sensing his doubt, Ma Hongqi said, "My return to the capital this time is not of my own accord. Many people say that my coming down here was just to gild my resume, and I admit that. However, I, Ma Hongqi, genuinely wanted to accomplish real, solid achievements! To leave just like this leaves me unreconciled."

With deep emotion, Zhang Jun said, "Boss, I understand you, and I support you!"

With a trace of desolation, Ma Hongqi murmured, "Yet how could the games played among the upper echelons ever be something we can decide? Let us treat my return to the capital as a brief rest! I hope that one day, I can return once more to this heated land where I once worked, to fully unfold my ambitions and realize my political ideals!"

These words were stirring and impassioned, exciting even Zhang Jun's emotions.

Composed and steady, Ma Hongqi said, "Young Zhang, I deeply appreciate your character, and I want to use you as a chess piece planted in Yiping County! When the day of my return arrives, we shall join forces once again! What do you say?"

This was the first time Ma Hongqi had chatted with Zhang Jun for so long, spoken so many words, and poured out his innermost thoughts.

Instantly, Zhang Jun was overcome with a feeling of profound devotion—that a scholar would willingly die for one who truly knows him. He straightened his waist and said in a clear, resonant voice, "I am willing to serve as the vanguard and act as your chess piece!"

Are you kidding me?

Could just anyone become Ma Hongqi's chess piece?

What did this signify?

It signified that Ma Hongqi regarded him as one of his own, and might even pull him into his personal inner circle!

An inner circle!

That was precisely what Zhang Jun lacked and desperately needed.

As he was now, he couldn't even touch the fringes of such circles.

Only by first becoming Ma Hongqi's chess piece could he possibly hope to become a member of that inner circle.

Ma Hongqi stood up, walked over to Zhang Jun, and patted him on the shoulder.

Zhang Jun felt as though his very bones had grown lighter by several ounces.

"Young Zhang, you must prepare yourself for a brutal struggle!" Ma Hongqi said earnestly. "You are a master of Go; you should know the importance of fighting for territory. I have no one available to use in the province, but I want to start by using you—a single spark can start a prairie fire! Rally a group of comrades who share the same ideals! Do you understand my meaning?"

Nodding heavily, Zhang Jun replied, "I understand."

An inner circle could not be called a circle, nor could political factions be openly named; they could only be referred to as rallying comrades.

Yet Zhang Jun suddenly realized that Ma Hongqi's arrival and departure were both part of the open struggles and covert clashes between two circles or major factions.

Ma Hongqi was unwilling to resign himself to defeat; he refused to admit loss and still wanted to make a comeback. That was why he was using Zhang Jun as a chess piece, burying him deep within enemy territory.

To put it bluntly, Zhang Jun was simply a pawn crossing the river!

If he developed well in the future, he would naturally be absorbed into the Ma faction as a capable general.

If Zhang Jun turned out to be mere cannon fodder or faded into mediocrity among the masses, he would simply have to rely on his own good fortune.

Zhang Jun had no choice.

Rather than living a mediocre life, he would rather use his remaining years to fight a magnificent, earth-shattering battle!