Arranged marriage, love blossoms; a fiercely devoted soldier dotes on her alone.

at this time,

The office was completely silent.

Chen Hongwei's words deeply resonated with everyone present...

Apart from Xiao Zhan and Xia Keke, who come from wealthy families, the others on site are mostly from ordinary families and can all understand the hardships and difficulties of life for ordinary people.

Everyone who works within the system knows that without powerful connections to support you, it's incredibly difficult to rise to prominence on your own, let alone reach the level of a big shot like Chen Hongwei.

There has been an old saying that "it is easier to get an official position if you have connections in the court."

Xia Keke was born into a prominent family in Beijing. It could be said that her starting point was the end point for many people who struggle their whole lives.

Xia Keke had never lived in the countryside, so she didn't know what kind of life rural people led, nor did she understand the hardships and difficulties they faced.

Xia Keke thought for a moment and said, "Master, this cannot be an excuse for you to go against your conscience, forget your original intention and mission. Are you really willing to become someone else's pawn?"

"The key point is that in the end, Liu Shiyuan even made you take the blame."

"Master, I feel so sorry for you."

Chen Hongwei shook his head with a wry smile and said, "Coco, you're still young. In this world, there's no such thing as worth it or not, especially in officialdom. People often say that officialdom is like a battlefield, and a battlefield without gunpowder but without bloodshed. If we don't pay the price, why should others help us? Life is a gamble. If you win, you'll be a winner in life, perhaps even ruling the world. If you lose, you'll go to the eighteenth level of hell. You have to accept the consequences of your bet. It's that simple."

"In this high-stakes gamble, there is no such thing as willingness, only winning and losing. Let me tell you a story. In the late Qing Dynasty, Li Hongzhang was the most important official in the late Qing Dynasty. He devoted his life to the Qing court. When signing the Treaty of Shimonoseki, he was stabbed in the cheek by a Japanese ronin. Blood was flowing profusely, but he still insisted on negotiating and managed to save the Qing Dynasty 100 million taels of silver in reparations."

"But after he returned to China, he became a 'traitor'."

"Because the court at that time needed someone to take the blame, and he was the most suitable candidate."

He took the blame and bore the infamy.

"He thought he was a meritorious official of the Qing Dynasty, an indispensable pillar of the country. But when he was terminally ill and on his deathbed, the court sent people to visit him, not to offer condolences, but to urge him to sign the Boxer Protocol."

"Finally, before the ink was dry, the person had already breathed their last."

"After his death, the imperial court wrote a very beautiful eulogy."

"In fact, Li Hongzhang knew very well that his importance was never because of his loyalty, but because he could sign documents, take responsibility, and do the dirty work that others were unwilling to do. When he could no longer even sign documents, his value became zero."

Do you know why?

Xia Keke shook her head.

Chen Hongwei looked at the crowd and said, "There's a saying that goes, 'What goes around comes around.' Small fry like us are born to be victims of conflict."

Xiao Zhan curled his lip and said, "Chen Hongwei, don't make excuses for yourself. Everyone has the right to choose, and of course, they must also be responsible for their choices. Explain everything you know clearly."

"I won't make things difficult for you."

Now that things have come to this, Chen Hongwei knows he has no room for maneuver.

So he said, "Ask away, I will answer everything I know."

Xiao Zhan said in a deep voice, "Take Hong Tao away."

Shen Jun responded, "Yes."

Then, grabbing Hong Tao's arm, he said, "Let's go."

Hong Tao had long lost his previous sharpness, and said with a bitter face, "Pull it gently, you're going to break my arm."

Shen Jun scoffed, "Tch, so what if it's broken? It's not like anyone's going to die. If you had confessed earlier, I wouldn't have treated you like this."

Hong Tao rolled his eyes in anger, sighed inwardly, and endured it; when you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head.

at this time,

Only Xia Keke and Xiao Zhan remained in the office.

Xiao Zhan said to Chen Hongwei, "Now you can tell me everything you know."

Chen Hongwei swallowed hard and organized his thoughts before saying, "I am Liu Shiyuan's chariot on the chessboard, Liu Shiyuan is the king, and Hong Tao and Liu Qiang are the two advisors next to the king."

Xiao Zhan raised an eyebrow and said, "So you mean there's one more car? That's what makes it symmetrical, right?"

Chen Hongwei nodded and said, "Yes!"

While recording the video, Xia Keke asked, "Is the other car in the same class as yours?"

Chen Hongwei: "Probably, but I don't know who the other party is. Only Liu Qiang knows."

Xiao Zhan asked, puzzled, "Why didn't you know?"

Chen Hongwei explained, "Liu Shiyuan divided the chessboard in two. Liu Qiang and Hong Tao are not only Liu Shiyuan's right-hand men, but also the two players on the chessboard. They each manage one half of the chessboard, and my rook is under Hong Tao's control."

Xiao Zhan sneered, "Heh heh, Liu Shiyuan has quite the imagination, managing to come up with such a bizarre management model."

"So, Wang Guoyong is also on your side?"

Chen Hongwei: "Yes, Wang Guoyong's code name is Ma."

Xiao Zhan: "Then whose cannon is on your side?"

Chen Hongwei: "Pao is Jia Fugui."

Xiao Zhan then asked, "And who is Xiang?"

Chen Hongwei: "Liu Chuanren".

Xiao Zhan asked curiously, "Why is Liu Chuanren an elephant?"

Chen Hongwei: "The elephant and the advisor work together to protect the palace area, forming a solid 'Advisor and Elephant' defensive line, which can effectively stop the opponent's chariot, horse, and cannon attacks. Although the elephant is mainly defensive, it can cooperate with the horse and cannon in the game. For example, the horse can jump over the elephant's shoulder to go straight for the chariot, or provide support for the cannon."

"For example, in high-level games, the presence of a bishop often creates the illusion of a 'tight defense,' forcing the opponent to hesitate about their attack direction and buying time for the player to adjust."

Xia Keke asked, "You have your chariot, horse, cannon, advisor, and elephant for this half of your formation. How many pawns are you still missing?"

Chen Hongwei: "The soldiers I know include Ren Jiaguang, Wang Meng, and Su Haihua. The other two soldiers are under the jurisdiction of that side."

Xiao Zhan: "So, if we capture Liu Qiang, we can find out who the advisor, bishop, chariot, horse, cannon, and pawn are on the other side of the board?"

Chen Hongwei: "Yes."

Xiao Zhan: "Do you know where Liu Shiyuan is hiding?"

Chen Hongwei shook his head and said, "I don't know. Only Liu Qiang and Hong Tao know where Liu Shiyuan is hiding."

Xia Keke and Xiao Zhan exchanged a glance. On the way here, the two of them had interrogated Hong Tao in the car.

Hong Tao kept feigning madness and claiming ignorance.

Xiao Zhan: "Is there anything else you want to say?"

Chen Hongwei: I've told you everything I know.

Then he looked at Xia Keke and said, "Keke, can I ask you for a favor? Please call my wife and tell her I'm away on a business trip. You know, your wife isn't in good health and takes medication all year round. She can't handle any kind of stress."

Xia Keke looked at Xiao Zhan.

Xiao Zhan nodded.

Xia Keke: "I'll call my teacher's wife in a bit."

Xiao Zhan stepped forward, grabbed Chen Hongwei's arm, and said, "Let's go."

Chen Hongwei turned his head and looked around his office, his eyes revealing endless reluctance.

I can't come back after leaving here today.

once Upon a time,

He was ecstatically savoring the pleasure and sense of accomplishment that power brought him in this office.

Today, in this very office, I have lost my high position and power, and have become a prisoner.

Power is a wonderful thing!