Chapter 163

Lin Yu put away his pistol, glanced at Lei Nuo's corpse, turned and left the office. In the hallway, the French clerks huddled in the corner saw him come out, trembling all over, terrified that the next dead person would be themselves.

He walked down the stairs all the way, his leather shoes making a crisp sound on the marble floor. The French officials in the lobby saw him, all lowered their heads, daring not to meet his gaze. These usually haughty foreigners were now like stray dogs, not even daring to breathe too loudly.

Arriving at the front gate of the Public Administration Bureau Building, Lin Yu stood on the steps, gazing at Xiafei Road in the night. The street was deserted, only the streetlamps swaying in the cold wind. He lit a cigarette and took a deep drag.

"Sir......" Feng An cautiously stepped forward, "What should we do with these foreigners of the Public Administration Bureau?"

Lin Yu turned his head, his gaze sweeping over this Gothic building. The red bricks and gray tiles stood out starkly in the night, the spired towers like a spear driven deep into Shen City's night sky. For twenty years, this building had been the symbol of the French running roughshod over Shen City.

"Do you know?" Lin Yu suddenly spoke, his voice tinged with disgust, "I despise these white-skinned foreign devils the most."

He flicked ash from his cigarette and continued, "They lord it over our land, using these damned buildings to flaunt their so-called 'civilization.' In reality, they are more savage than anyone."

Feng An dared not respond, merely waiting silently for Lin Yu's order.

"I hate their buildings just as much." Lin Yu turned, his eyes icy, "These buildings are as arrogant as they are, making one feel sick."

He violently stomped out his cigarette butt on the ground, "Blow it flat. Let these foreign devils see that their good days in Shen City are over."

"Yes!" Feng An immediately turned to arrange it.

Lin Yu stood on the steps, watching soldiers begin to carry explosives into the building. Soon, this symbol of colonial rule would be reduced to rubble in the flames.

Half an hour later, Lin Yu sat in a Buick car, gazing at everything before him.

The soldiers had withdrawn to a safe distance; the Public Administration Bureau Building stood still in the night, as if awaiting final judgment. For twenty years, this place had been the French power center in Shen City, where countless Great Dry merchants groveled and countless commoners suffered oppression.

"Ignite." Lin Yu said calmly.

Boom!

A deafening explosion blasted across the night sky. In an instant, flames shot skyward, shrapnel flew. The exquisite Gothic spires collapsed with a roar, the ornate arched windows reduced to powder. Inside the building, successive explosions continued to erupt.

Help! Ausecours!

Piercing screams came from the flames. The French officials trapped inside the building were now wailing in the sea of fire. Once they had lorded over the people with contempt, but now they would perish together with this symbol of colonial rule, reduced to ashes.

The entire French Concession was shaken by the massive blast. In the distant Western-style houses, lights blinked on one by one. People stood at their windows, watching this shocking explosion. The firelight painted half the sky red, thick smoke rising straight to the clouds.

Boom—!

Accompanied by a final tremendous roar, the Public Administration Bureau Building collapsed. The red bricks and gray tiles, the exquisite carvings, the decorations flaunting French glory—all turned into a heap of rubble. Twenty years of colonial rule collapsed in a single night.

Lin Yu gazed at the wreckage before him, his face showing no emotion. The firelight illuminated his face, etching a stern outline. The foreigners' cries faded, replaced by the crackle of burning flames.

"Sir," Feng An whispered beside him, "the foreigners in the Concession have been terrified."

"Good," Lin Yu nodded, "let them be afraid. Let them know what the price is for running roughshod over this land."

The car slowly drove away, leaving behind a sea of fire. This night will be forever etched in Shen City's history. The fall of the French Concession's Public Administration Bureau marks the end of an era and heralds the beginning of a new one.

The car crept through the night, Lin Yu gazing at the firelight outside the window as he began to outline the next plan to Zhou Wei.

"From today on, Shen City will have no French Concession." Lin Yu's voice was icy, "This land has always been the territory of the Great Dry."

Zhou Wei immediately took out a notebook and began recording.

"Those French nationals," Lin Yu continued, "may choose to stay in Shen City, but they must pay double taxes and regularly remit land rent each year. All their privileges here are abolished."

"Sir," Zhou Wei raised his head, "what if they refuse?"

Lin Yu snorted coldly, "If they won't? Then let them roll back to France. Any foreigner who dares defy my will shall be executed. Let them understand: in Shen City, my word is law."

"Understood." Zhou Wei quickly noted it down.

"Second, the French Concession Police Bureau is abolished immediately." Lin Yu looked out the window, "Those lackeys of the foreigners are all disbanded. From tomorrow onward, our security forces will take over law enforcement."

"Yes. Those police......"

"Those willing to stay loyal may remain; those unwilling, get lost." Lin Yu interrupted, "I don't need a bunch of useless lackeys who obey foreigners blindly."

Zhou Wei nodded and continued recording.

"Third, and most importantly." Lin Yu's voice suddenly turned even colder, "From today on, the French are no longer privileged citizens. In Shen City they have no special rights. Anyone who dares look down on our people or order locals about shall be killed on sight."

"Sir, wise." Zhou Wei wrote the final point in his notebook.

"Make them understand," Lin Yu gazed at the distant firelight, "the rules on this land need to change. Whether French or other foreigners, they must abide by the rules I set."

The car turned a corner, and Lin Yu suddenly thought of something: "Right, those French firms—have them re-register. Raise their tax rate to three times that of local businesses. They like making money here? Then let them pay the price."

"Sir," Zhou Wei hesitated, "would this......"

"What might happen?" Lin Yu turned his head, "Might we offend the French? Might it cause a diplomatic incident?" He snorted, "Zhou Wei, you've followed me this long—how are you still so hesitant?"

Zhou Wei lowered his head: "Subordinate knows his mistake."

"Remember," Lin Yu's voice echoed in the cabin, "this is our land. From today on, the sky over Shen City will change."