Zhang Puze

Biodata

Appearance

• Wears a military uniform bearing two bars and four stars on its shoulders; his exact rank is not stated 3.
• Frequently smokes cigarettes while reviewing reports, deliberating, or negotiating with the production team 3 16 17.

Personality

Zhang is patriotic but pragmatic. He initially supports allowing Racial Insight to proceed because the agreement offers a way to break the Ten Conglomerates’ encirclement of Dragon Country. Once Jiang Ye demonstrates exceptional mathematical talent, Zhang prioritizes bringing him home safely over the possibility of further achievements on the show 3 28.

He can remain calculating despite visible anger: after the production team demands expensive concessions, he seeks authorization but continues bargaining rather than immediately accepting. His approach becomes especially severe in national-security matters, including threats of execution for secrecy breaches during the search for suspected supernatural ability users 17 47.

History

Appointment and the international contest

Dragon Country establishes a special department after Jiang Ye becomes an unwitting contestant in Racial Insight, appointing Zhang as its director. His initial review finds nothing exceptional in Jiang Ye’s family background, academic record, or social connections; intelligence also indicates that the Ten Conglomerates selected him randomly 3.

Zhang explains to his staff that the authorities accepted the contest to obtain relief from the conglomerates’ encirclement. Although the organizers expect isolation to expose human failings and damage Dragon Country’s cultural confidence, Zhang argues that Jiang Ye’s national culture may lead him to behave differently. He also verifies that the authorities have not secretly contacted Jiang Ye about the show 3.

Recognizing Jiang Ye’s value

When Jiang Ye appears to prove Zhou’s Conjecture, Zhang reviews separate contingency plans for a correct or incorrect proof. He waits for Elder Yang’s assessment before acting. Yang’s confirmation—and his judgment that Jiang Ye could become a leading figure in national mathematics—prompts Zhang to mobilize the department 11 12.

Later, psychological experts conclude that Jiang Ye needs an enormous disturbance to shock him out of his apparent mental breakdown. Zhang accepts a proposal to stage another plane crash nearby and contacts the production team 16.

The team demands payment for the plane, a US$50 million sponsorship, and the cost of an additional satellite crash. Zhang reasons that the organizers may have a replacement contestant in reserve and are exploiting Dragon Country’s greater need to preserve Jiang Ye’s talent. After his superiors authorize the expense, he continues negotiating to reduce the cost; the production team subsequently announces both crashes 17.

Attempt to bring Jiang Ye home

After Jiang Ye’s proof of Goldbach’s Conjecture is confirmed, Zhang argues for his return to Dragon Country. Elder Wang and Elder Yang favor keeping him on the show, fearing that fame and wealth at home could disrupt his mathematical work 28.

Zhang counters that the production team will not let Jiang Ye study indefinitely and that his growing value makes him increasingly vulnerable. He also argues that officials can continue supporting him after his return. The elderly leader in a Zhongshan suit accepts this position and instructs Zhang to attempt to bring Jiang Ye back despite the conglomerates’ resistance 28.

Disinformation campaign and the Sunset Plan

A viral campaign accusing Jiang Ye of being a government-backed fraud briefly causes Zhang and his colleagues to question whether higher authorities have secretly supplied the proofs. His superior rejects the theory, explaining that nobody would willingly surrender the immense value of three world-class mathematical achievements. Zhang acknowledges his mistake and receives orders to act against those abusing Jiang Ye 31.

The department begins investigating the instigator’s background, finances, and calls. Zhang decides that Jiang Ye’s completion of the Seven Millennium Prize Problems would provide a stronger rebuttal than an immediate official explanation 32.

He personally leads the arrest of Chen Haoyu and his girlfriend. During a telephone confrontation, Charlie reveals that the controversy prompted the conglomerates to uncover a mole. Zhang interprets the revelation as the loss of a covert comrade, crushes the phone, and warns Chen about the consequences of treason 33.

After leading mathematicians confirm the Riemann Hypothesis proof, Zhang launches the Sunset Plan, coordinating action across major domestic internet platforms 38 39.

The resulting official response identifies Chen Haoyu, publishes recordings of his calls with the conglomerates, and announces account bans and financial penalties 39.

Tiger incident and military-background investigation

When an escaped tiger approaches Jiang Ye’s route, Zhang urgently attempts to contact the production crew, but its staff stall his calls. He later expresses disbelief that Jiang Ye might confront an adult tiger with only a pistol, knowing that his records show no military training 42 44.

Jiang Ye’s six-shot killing of the tiger leaves Zhang astonished. Subsequent checks find no record of Jiang Ye—or relevant connections—in domestic special forces or national-security departments. Zhang therefore leaves open the possibility that Jiang Ye received training through an overseas organization 44 45.

Search for supernatural ability users

As Jiang Ye attempts to repair industrial equipment after studying at extraordinary speed, Zhang orders an early search for hidden supernatural ability users. He argues that starting before the repair’s outcome is known offers an advantage if it succeeds, while a failed repair would allow the operation to be called off 47.

Zhang warns that foreign agents may assassinate any discovered ability users and declares secrecy breaches punishable by immediate execution for treason. He simultaneously emphasizes protecting Jiang Ye, suggesting that his learning speed and performance against the tiger may indicate two separate supernatural powers—an assessment rather than confirmed knowledge of Jiang Ye’s system 47.

He distributes a higher-level think tank’s deterrence strategy: stage apparent supernatural feats using magic tricks, detain foreigners—particularly white foreigners—and publicly present them as ability users. The intended threat is retaliation against these supposed foreign assets if the conglomerates harm Jiang Ye. The plan depends on the conglomerates being unwilling to gamble on whether the claims are genuine; it would lose effectiveness if they acquired enough ability users of their own 47.

Relationships

• Jiang Ye — The central subject of Zhang’s department. Zhang monitors his circumstances, negotiates interventions, advocates his return, and coordinates measures to protect him 3 17 28 47.
• Elder Yang — Mathematical adviser whose verification of Zhou’s Conjecture helps establish Jiang Ye’s importance. They later disagree over whether remaining on the show serves Jiang Ye’s interests 11 12 28.
• Elder Wang — Participates in the discussion about Jiang Ye’s return; Zhang rejects his concern that fame and wealth justify keeping Jiang Ye on the show 28.
• Old Leader — Senior authority to whom Zhang reports and turns for instructions. He corrects Zhang’s suspicions about Jiang Ye and orders a firm response to the online attacks 31 33.
• Charlie — Conglomerate adversary whom Zhang confronts over the phone during Chen Haoyu’s arrest 33.
• Unnamed daughter — His six-year-old daughter repeats the claim that Jiang Ye is a bad man, illustrating how far the smear campaign has spread 33.