Chapter 118: The Situation Is About to Turn Chaotic

In the French Concession, inside the guest room on the second floor of Sun Gongguan.

Qin Chang'an stood by the window, gazing at the night outside. This was the third time he had checked his watch; it was only nine o'clock in the evening.

"Young Commander, you should rest." his personal aide Li Yong whispered.

Qin Chang'an ignored him, continuing to pace back and forth in the room. Since the day before yesterday, when he had a secret talk with Sun Lingyun and the others at Bailemen, he has been staying here. It's not that he doesn't want to return to Security Command Headquarters, but... he glanced at the faint sentries outside the window; that place is no longer safe.

"Uncle..." Qin Chang'an stopped in his tracks, a flicker of complexity crossing his eyes.

"Young Commander," Li Yong handed him a cup of tea, "I just received news that Regiment Commander Yang summoned several regiment commanders this morning."

"Which ones?"

"The First Regiment's Zhang Zhi Yuan, the Third Regiment's Wang Deming..."

"They're all his cronies." Qin Chang'an snorted coldly, "What happened after the meeting?"

"I don't know the specific details." Li Yong felt a bit ashamed, "Our people planted in the Security Command Headquarters can't even get close to the inner circle."

Qin Chang'an let out a heavy sigh. This is the crux of the problem—over the years, Yang Chengdong has run the Security Army for years, and nearly all key positions are filled by his confidants. In name, he is the Young Commander, but he actually feels like an outsider.

"My father passed away too suddenly..." Qin Chang'an clenched his fists. That mysterious Fourth Bureau Chief Lin Yu, in just a short month, has overturned the entire situation in Shen City. And now, even his uncle is beginning to eye him, the Young Commander, with a tiger's gaze.

"Young Commander, should we..." Li Yong hesitated, "Ask Young Master Sun to step forward?"

"No." Qin Chang'an shook his head. "It's not the time yet. I know this uncle of mine too well; he'd rather see everything destroyed than let outsiders interfere in the Security Army's affairs."

He walked to the table, staring at the Security Army's deployment map: "Going on like this isn't a solution. On the surface, my uncle treats me with respect, but behind the scenes he keeps undermining my authority. Those old-timers who were loyal to my father are either transferred away or sidelined."

"I've already had my brothers keep an eye on Regiment Commander Yang and his confidants." Li Yong said, "As long as they make any move..."

"Is that useful?" Qin Chang'an gave a wry smile, "With just our few people, can we monitor the entire Security Army?"

The room fell into silence. The night outside grew deeper, and in the distance came the footsteps of patrol units.

"Keep watching." Qin Chang'an finally said, "Especially the uncle's confidants. The moment they show any abnormal behavior, report it immediately."

"Yes." Li Yong responded and withdrew.

Qin Chang'an walked back to the window. The French Concession's night was brightly lit, but his heart grew heavier. He knew that this strange balance between him and his uncle could not last much longer.

It was like two beasts trapped in a cage, sooner or later they would have to fight to the death.

Inside the study on the first floor of Sun Gongguan, smoke swirled.

"Young Master," Chief of Staff Xu Jishi pushed up his glasses, "The Security Army's recent movements have been highly unusual."

Sun Lingyun held a glass of red wine, standing by the floor-to-ceiling window. The lights of the French Concession shone brightly in the night, but he knew that beneath this calm surface, turbulent currents surged.

"Yang Chengdong, this guy..." Sun Lingyun gently swirled his wine glass, "He's lain low in the Security Army for twenty years, like an old dog—appearing docile, but once his interests are touched..."

"What do you mean, Young Master?"

"He won't just stand by while we meddle in the Security Army's affairs." Sun Lingyun turned around, "Especially now, Chang'an is right here with us."

Xu Jishi's eyes flashed with realization: "So these past two days..."

"That's right." Sun Lingyun set down his wine glass, "Yang Chengdong will definitely strike first. It's just a matter of whether he'll target our two battalions or..."

He didn't finish, but the atmosphere in the study suddenly grew grave.

"Young Master," Xu Jishi said in a low voice, "Should we first secure the funds..."

"Already on it." Sun Lingyun walked to the desk, opened a telegram, "I've had the Hong Kong side prepare two million silver dollars, ready to be transferred to Shen City's Citibank at any time. The weapons and ammunition are also en route, hidden in that batch of cotton yarn."

Xu Jishi secretly gasped with awe. No wonder he's the young master of the Sun family—this layout is far deeper than he imagined.

"By the way," Sun Lingyun suddenly asked, "Have you set up a meeting with the Public Administration Bureau's director, Mr. Bai Lang?"

"It's set for half an hour from now, at the Lichun Yuan."

"Good." Sun Lingyun adjusted his tie, "These foreigners really know how to sail with the wind. Although Lei Nuo, that director general, is tough to deal with, as long as we secure Bai Lang's crucial vote, the Public Administration Bureau won't..."

He hadn't finished speaking when footsteps came from outside the door.

"Young Master," a guard hurried in, "I just received news that several regiments of the Security Army are secretly mobilizing."

Sun Lingyun's eyes narrowed: "Have you cleared the target?"

"Still checking, but..." the guard lowered his voice, "It seems to be headed for our camp."

"Hmph." Sun Lingyun gave a cold laugh, "Yang Chengdong really can't sit still. Uncle Xu, have someone prepare a carriage; we're going to meet this Director Bai Lang."

Half an hour later, in an elegant room on the second floor of Lichun Yuan.

"Young Master Sun." Bai Lang raised his cup, speaking fluent Chinese, "I knew this day would come sooner or later."

"Oh?" Sun Lingyun raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean, Director Bai?"

"Cut the act." Bai Lang set down his cup, a glint of shrewdness in his eyes, "Your Great Dry people's tricks are no secret to us. The Security Army is about to implode, right?"

Sun Lingyun didn't deny it, merely saying lightly, "If something really happens, I don't know whether the Public Administration Bureau can..."

"It depends on the price." Bai Lang spoke bluntly, "You know, Lei Nuo's side has always maintained neutrality. But if the benefits are sufficient..."

"Twenty percent."

"What?"

"Once it succeeds," Sun Lingyun's eyes sharpened, "the Public Administration Bureau can take an additional twenty percent of Shen City's customs revenue."

Bai Lang's eyes lit up, but then he showed a troubled expression: "This... probably isn't enough."

"Plus priority use of the docks." Sun Lingyun upped the ante, "How about that?"

"Deal!" Bai Lang almost eagerly extended his hand, "I, representing several directors, guarantee you that if the Security Army implodes, the French Concession will absolutely not intervene. And..."

He lowered his voice: "If you need any 'special support,' just speak up."

Watching Bai Lang's retreating back, Sun Lingyun's mouth curled into a cold smile. These foreigners, indeed, are still the same old lot. But... he gazed out at the night sky, now he couldn't bother with all that.

"Uncle Xu," he suddenly said, "Get things ready; we're likely in for a hard fight."

"Young Master, you mean..."

"Since Yang Chengdong dares to make a move," Sun Lingyun's eyes flashed with a cold glint, "then we'll meet force with force, water with earth. This Shen City, too, is time for a change of master."