Chapter 36: Eastern Concession Gendarmerie

Inside the Eastern Concession consulate, a solemn atmosphere prevailed.

President Tengtian Zhengyi of the Health Union Association sat upright, watching Consul Mucun Ye hang up the phone.

"Tengtian," Mucun Ye said in Japanese, "Qin Dong Zhi, that old fox, has taken a stance."

"Oh?" Tengtian Zhengyi's eyes lit up.

"He said…" Mucun Ye sneered, "Let us handle the grudge with the Fourth Bureau ourselves."

"Excellent!" Tengtian Zhengyi sprang to his feet, bowed deeply, "Then we'll entrust it to the consul. That Lin Yu not only seized our goods but also took the Health Union Association headquarters; this grievance must be avenged!"

Mucun Ye lightly sipped his clear tea, a flash of cold light flickering in his eyes.

"Tengtian, you need not worry," he said calmly, "There is a Gendarmerie of about a thousand men within the concession."

He set down his teacup: "Seizing a small Fourth Bureau is no problem."

"Shanben!" he called out to the doorway.

"Hey!" a burly officer hurried in.

"Notify the Gendarmerie," Mucun Ye said coldly, "Prepare for action. Let these ignorant Chinese know the might of our Great Japanese Empire!"

"Hey!" Major Shanben stood upright, saluted, and strode away.

Tengtian Zhengyi watched the scene, a flash of satisfaction in his eyes.

"Lin Yu," he growled, "This time we'll see where you run!"

On the training ground of the Eastern Concession Gendarmerie headquarters, a thousand gendarmes stood in perfect formation.

Major Shanben Zhong stood on the raised platform, his gaze sweeping over the troops. Though this Gendarmerie was not the army's main force, its members were all well‑trained elites.

"Gentlemen!" Major Shanben Zhong shouted in Japanese, "Today we will teach those ignorant Chinese a lesson!"

He looked around and began to issue orders:

"First and second companies, each soldier is issued a Type‑30 rifle with 100 rounds." This is standard Japanese army equipment; though an old model, it remains reliable if well maintained.

"Third company, equipped with Type‑11 light machine guns, each with 1,000 rounds."

"Fourth company, responsible for operating four heavy machine guns, each with 2,000 rounds."

"All officers receive Type‑26 revolvers."

Shanben Zhong nodded with satisfaction. This firepower arrangement was more than enough to deal with a small Fourth Bureau.

"Everyone!" he gripped his command sword, "This operation is to make those Chinese understand who the true masters of the concession are!"

"Hey!" the orderly response rang across the ground.

A thousand fully armed gendarmes glittered with cold light under the sun. This stationed force was about to show its fangs.

"Advance!" Shanben Zhong ordered.

"Director Lin," Zhou Wei hurried into the office, "The headquarters called, saying it's a friendly reminder…"

"Oh?" Lin Yu, sipping tea, raised an eyebrow at the words.

"They say the Eastern Concession Gendarmerie is marching toward us. About a thousand men, fully armed."

Lin Yu set down his teacup, a cold smile curling at his mouth.

"That old fox Qin Dong Zhi…" he murmured, "plays a good hand."

The situation was clear. By not giving the commander face, he'd sent the Easterners to test his limits.

If he weren't a match for the Easterners, he could use them to eliminate his own troublesome element.

If he could handle the Easterners, proving sufficient strength, Qin Dong Zhi would have to reconsider his attitude toward him.

"Notify Battalion Commander Feng An," Lin Yu's eyes flashed coldly, "Prepare the First Battalion for battle."

Zhou Wei hurried away.

This unit, transformed from elite troops of the German Empire's army, far surpassed ordinary forces of this era in both equipment and training.

"Since Qin Dong Zhi wants to see my hand," Lin Yu sneered, "let him have a good look!"

This battle is not only to show the Easterners, but also to show Qin Dong Zhi!

In Lin Gong Guan, Zhou Wei found Feng An inspecting the troops.

This battalion commander, transformed from Captain Feng Shiteyin of the German army, now bore a Chinese face, yet retained the Prussian soldier's rigor and pride.

"Commander Feng," Zhou Wei said, "Director Lin says the Eastern Concession Gendarmerie is coming this way, about a thousand men."

"Hmph," Feng An sneered, a hint of contempt flashing in his eyes, "These Eastern dwarfs? Worthy of sparring with our First Battalion?"

He turned to the orderly ranks. Every soldier wore crisp German-style Uniforms, M1916 steel helmets, and their Mauser 98K rifles shone. MG42 machine gunners checked ammunition, and the heavy weapons platoon's mortars were ready.

"Tell Director Lin," Feng An's eyes flashed coldly, "I will let these Easterners see what a real army is!"

He turned to the deputy battalion commander, "Relay my orders: each company deploy according to the preset plan. Set up all heavy‑machine‑gun fire points, and have the mortars ready."

"Yes!"

"These Easterners," Feng An said coldly, "probably don't know what the German Empire's military tradition is. Today, we'll give them a proper lesson!"

That Prussian‑born pride and confidence moved Zhou Wei as well.

This battle will surely astonish the Easterners!

The Gendarmerie convoy headed toward the French Concession.

"Major Shanben," the representative of the Public Administration Bureau sat in the co‑driver's seat, looking worried, "Please try to avoid firing in the bustling districts. This is a concession after all; if it disrupts commercial order…"

"Don't worry," Shanben Zhong, seated in the rear, sneered, "There's no need to fire."

He looked at the rows of foreign houses outside, disdain filling his eyes: "A tiny Fourth Bureau is just a ragtag crowd maintaining order. Compared with our regularly trained Gendarmerie, they're nothing but a mob."

"As long as we bring our troops to their doorstep," Shanben Zhong said contemptuously, "that kid Lin Yu will be scrambling to beg for mercy."

"That would be ideal," the co‑driver's representative sighed.

"Heh," Shanben Zhong leaned back, "These Chinese know nothing of limits. They think a few guns let them swagger in the concession? Today we'll show them what overreaching looks like!"

The convoy pressed on. Shanben Zhong was already picturing Lin Yu on his knees, begging for mercy.

"; Without spending a single soldier, we could easily deal with this arrogant guy," he muttered to himself, "; Such a weak opponent isn't even worthy of us drawing our guns.";

He had no idea that awaiting him was an elite unit from the German Empire. This arrogant lieutenant would soon pay a heavy price for his contempt.

Inside the Security Command Headquarters, Qin Dong Zhi was reviewing documents.

"; Commander..." the secretary said hesitantly, "; Are we really not going to handle the Fourth Bureau?";

"; How so?" Qin Dong Zhi didn't even lift his head.

"; No matter what, they're our own people." the secretary said carefully, "; Letting foreigners deal with our own people, this..."

"; Our own people?" Qin Dong Zhi snorted coldly, put down his pen, "; It depends on whether Lin Yu considers himself one of us!"

He stood up, walked to the window, and said: "; I told him to come see me—what did he say? Feeling unwell? Hah! Is he putting this commander of mine in his eyes?";

"; But..."

"; If that little bastard is willing to back down and apologize," Qin Dong Zhi narrowed his eyes, "; I can step in right now to settle this for him."

He turned around, his face showing a hint of coldness: "; This brat thinks he's above everyone—he deserves a lesson! Let him learn what proper hierarchy means in Shen City!"

"; Let the foreigners test his mettle," Qin Dong Zhi sat back down, "; If he really has the ability to take on the military police, I'll think more highly of him. If he's no match..."

He curled the corner of his mouth in a cold smile: "; Then let the foreigners help me clean house!"

The secretary looked at the old fox's expression and couldn't help but shiver. This isn't some probe—it's clearly a dead end!