Chapter 128

French Concession, Xiafei Road, Fourth Bureau Headquarters.

Lin Yu stubbed out the cigarette in his hand, brow slightly furrowed: "There's something I just can't figure out."

Shiteyin and Zhou Wei both looked toward him. The cannon fire outside continued, but the office was filled with an eerie silence.

"Yang Chengdong..." Lin Yu walked to the sand table, "On the surface he seems hot-headed, always ready to fight to the death. But actually, he's managed to survive twenty years in the Security Army, climbing step by step to his current position—he's certainly no reckless fool."

Zhou Wei pondered: "What the Bureau Chief means is..."

"Think about it." Lin Yu lightly tapped the sand table with his finger, "How many troops does Yang Chengdong have? The Security Army's 1st Division has 10,000 men, the City Defense 5th Brigade 5,000, the Mixed 7th Brigade about 7,000-8,000. With just that force, he dares to take on the Liu, Lu, and Sun families?"

Shiteyin frowned: "Perhaps he's been forced into a corner?"

"No." Lin Yu shook his head, "I know Yang Chengdong too well. He's been operating in the Security Army for years, his subordinates are all die-hard loyalists. Even if he really wanted to fight to the death, he wouldn't pick this moment."

"Then what does the Bureau Chief mean..." Zhou Wei probed.

Lin Yu stood by the window, gazing at the distant smoke: "That old fox must still have some hidden cards. Otherwise, given his temperament, he wouldn't have broken ties so quickly."

"Could it be..." Zhou Wei started to speak but stopped.

"Anything we say now is just speculation." Lin Yu turned around, his eyes deep, "But one thing is certain: Yang Chengdong dares to act now only because he has some backing. I know him too well—he never fights a battle he isn't sure of."

The office fell silent. The distant cannon fire continued, but a shadow hung over everyone's hearts. What is Yang Chengdong plotting? What exactly are his hidden cards?

"Keep observing." Lin Yu finally said, "Especially every move of the Security Army. Yang Chengdong is the type who seems reckless, and that's when you need to be most cautious."

Zhou Wei nodded, lost in thought as he left the office. He always felt that behind this seemingly chaotic battle lay more unknown secrets.

Security Army Headquarters, Yang Chengdong's office.

Cannon fire rumbled, shaking the window panes slightly. Yet at this moment Yang Chengdong couldn't care less about the battle; he stood respectfully before the desk, gazing at the middle-aged man across from him who was sipping tea.

He was an unremarkable-looking man, with a "designed" face that was instantly forgettable. But it was precisely this deliberate mediocrity that hinted at something profound and inscrutable.

"Sir." Yang Chengdong bowed slightly, "The fighting has unfolded according to plan. The Lu and Sun families' troops have taken the bait."

The envoy set down his teacup, gazing out at the rolling smoke: "You know well that the court's concern isn't these warlord squabbles."

"I understand, sir." Yang Chengdong lowered his voice, "As for the Fourth Bureau..."

"Lin Yu." The envoy murmured the name, "This suddenly appeared inspector is the key."

A flicker of complex emotion crossed Yang Chengdong's eyes. He knew his seemingly rash move was actually a step in a larger game. And the envoy before him, come from Yanjing, was the true player.

The cannon fire outside grew more urgent. This melee might just be the beginning...

Security Army Headquarters, Yang Chengdong's office.

"Sir." Yang Chengdong set down the telegram, "Just received news: the Sun family's Fujian 1st Division has already moved north by water and is expected to reach the outskirts of Shen City by dawn tomorrow."

The envoy continued sipping tea leisurely, as if this news could not affect his composure in the slightest.

"Sun Dingyuan." The envoy gently set down his teacup, "That old fox has finally been unable to restrain himself. For his son's sake, does he even care about the court's dignity anymore?"

"Sir, if we let the Fujian 1st Division enter the city..." Yang Chengdong worried, "our Security Army's forces..."

"You underestimate the court's dignity." The envoy smiled faintly, "No matter how arrogant Sun Dingyuan gets, he's merely a governor of five provinces. As long as he hasn't openly rebelled, he won't dare openly defy the court."

Yang Chengdong's eyes lit up: "What you mean, sir, is..."

"I've already drafted the telegram." The envoy took out a document from his pocket, "In the name of the Grand Council, I strictly order the five provincial governors not to mobilize troops without authorization. Otherwise..."

He paused meaningfully: "That is, showing contempt for the court and disobeying orders."

Yang Chengdong took the document, glanced at it, and sucked in a cold breath. This sternly worded telegram amounted to a warning to Sun Dingyuan: take one more step forward, and it's tantamount to rebellion.

"Sun Dingyuan." The envoy continued, "On the surface he's a bandit chief, but in reality he fears the charge of rebellion more than anyone. He now holds the post of governor of five provinces, receives an annual stipend from the court, and enjoys the authority of a regional lord—a life many envy."

"So he doesn't dare..."

"He dares not openly defy the court's orders." The envoy nodded, "At most he'll secretly support Sun Lingyun, but he won't dare move troops openly. Even for his own biological son, he must weigh the consequences."

Yang Chengdong let out a breath. With the court's order, even if Sun Dingyuan still loved his son dearly, he'd have to think twice.

"However." The envoy shifted tone, "Don't get too excited just yet. Although Sun Dingyuan won't come out openly, he'll surely find a way behind the scenes. This battle, you still have to rely on yourself."

"Yes." Yang Chengdong bowed in reply, "I understand, sir."

"Besides." The envoy stood, walked to the window, "Don't forget our real objective. These warlord squabbles are merely a smokescreen. What the court truly cares about is..."

"The Fourth Bureau." Yang Chengdong lowered his voice, "I've already sent people to watch Lin Yu's side. As soon as there's any movement..."

"Be careful." The envoy turned, eyes blazing, "That Lin Yu is no ordinary man. He managed to stir up Shen City's situation in just a month—his backing is certainly not ordinary."

Yang Chengdong nodded. He understood this all too well. Precisely because they couldn't see through Lin Yu's background, the court placed such importance on this suddenly appeared inspector.

The cannon fire outside continued. This seemingly chaotic battle concealed a deeper, unknown game...

French Concession, Sun Gongguan.

"Young Commander, a call from Fujian." The signal corps handed over a telegram.

Sun Lingyun was about to take it when the phone rang suddenly. He picked up the receiver, heard only a few words, and his face turned grim.

"Father..." his voice trembled, "Are you telling the truth?"

Who knows what was said on the other end, but Sun Lingyun's grip tightened until his knuckles whitened.

"But..." he wanted to say more, but the line had already gone dead.

Sun Lingyun stood by the window, gazing at the distant smoke, a flicker of complexity in his eyes. He knew this battle was probably far more complicated than he had imagined.

The cannon fire outside continued, but his heart had already been roiled by stormy waves...