Chapter 40: Speed Is the Essence of Warfare

In fact, the French Concession Police Bureau is entirely an administrative organ of the French Empire, having no connection at all with the Great Dry Dynasty. These police officers usually flaunt their power in the concession, relying on French influence to act tyrannically.

But at this moment, facing the black, gaping muzzles of Lin Yu's men, who still dares to utter even a single "no"?

"Hurry up! Move faster!" the second company commander stood by the road, coldly watching the police.

Dozens of police officers stepped onto the street trembling. When they saw the corpses strewn everywhere, many of their faces turned ashen instantly.

A young police officer saw a body shattered by mortar fire and vomited on the spot, shouting "Wow!"

"Ugh..." dry gagging sounds rose and fell.

These police, accustomed to pampered ease, had never seen such a scene: corpses riddled with holes from MG42 machine guns, limbs mangled beyond recognition by shells, and the Eastern constabulary who were blown apart, their brain matter mixing with blood...

"Shut the fuck up!" the second company commander roared, "Anyone who vomits again will keep company with those Eastern men!"

The police fell silent as if chilled, forced to endure nausea while clearing the bodies.

"The chief is right," a soldier sneered, "These French Concession lackeys should be shown what bloodshed really is!"

Hearing this, the police dared not lift their heads, and could only work silently.

Who let them aid the Easterners in oppressing their compatriots? Today they should taste this feeling!

One by one, corpses were loaded onto carts, blood seeping through the carriage gaps and leaving dark red streaks on the bluestone pavement.

This night was destined to be unforgettable for these police for the rest of their lives!

In the Fourth Bureau conference room, Zhang Zhi Yuan wore a grave expression.

"Chief," he said, looking at Lin Yu, "This time we annihilated the Eastern constabulary; our strength was exposed a bit too much."

"What?" Lin Yu was drinking tea, not even lifting his head.

"That old fox Qin Dong Zhi must be getting restless," Zhang Zhi Yuan sighed, "Shen City has always been Qin's domain; Qin Dong Zhi is the local emperor here."

He stood up, pacing back and forth in the room: "On the surface he is a high official of the court, but in fact he has long been beyond the court's control. In recent years, he has effectively ruled Shen City with an iron fist."

"Chief, if you were just an ordinary junior bureau chief, even if you jumped around, he wouldn't pay you any mind. But now..." Zhang Zhi Yuan stopped, "Having such an elite unit in your hand will likely make you a thorn in Qin Dong Zhi's side."

Lin Yu set down his teacup and sneered, "Once he learns of my role as Inspector, he'll sooner or later become an enemy rather than a friend. I don't care about his opinion."

A cold glint flashed in his eyes: "The Easterners actually dared to strike at me; this won't end here."

"What the chief means is..." Zhang Zhi Yuan was slightly taken aback.

"Speed is the essence of warfare!" Lin Yu stood, "Tonight we will storm the Eastern Concession and set their consulate ablaze with a single fire!"

"Burn the consulate?!" Zhang Zhi Yuan jumped in fright, "Is this… too much…"

"With the constabulary gone, their consulate is left with only a guard unit, essentially a hollow shell." Lin Yu's eyes flashed coldly, "If we don't give them a taste of color, they'll still think the Fourth Bureau is easy to bully!"

"But…"

"There's no 'but'," Lin Yu interrupted, "Have Feng An prepare; once night falls we move. This time the Easterners will understand the price of provoking the Fourth Bureau in Shen City!"

Zhang Zhi Yuan looked at Lin Yu's unquestionable gaze, knowing persuasion was useless. He sighed, "That Qin Dong Zhi…"

"Let him think whatever he wants!" Lin Yu sneered, "Once he learns of my Inspector role, that old fox will pay me increasing attention!"

"Moreover," he continued, "These years Qin Dong Zhi has ruled Shen City like a king, having long forgotten he is a subject of Great Dry. When I uncover his background, he'll have a good look at me!"

Zhang Zhi Yuan sensed the murderous intent in Lin Yu's words. It seemed the waters of Shen City were about to be thoroughly churned!

"Prepare," Lin Yu waved, "Tonight the Easterners will also taste what despair is!"

In the conference room, Lin Yu's voice was ice‑cold to the bone. This night was destined to become another storm of blood and gore.

Night fell, and the engines of the first battalion's military trucks roared.

Twenty German‑made military trucks lined up in order, each loaded with fully armed soldiers. The barrel of an MG42 machine gun glinted coldly in the night, and the 81 mm mortar was ready to fire.

Lin Yu stood on the command vehicle, studying the map. The Eastern Concession of Shen City lies in Jiangkou District, adjacent to the Huangpu River, covering about 2.5 square kilometers. The area stretches north to Jiangkou Road, south to Hongjiang Road, west to Qingyun Road, and east to the riverbank.

The concession is divided into three zones: the north is a commercial district packed with various Eastern shops; the center is the administrative zone, where the consulate and other institutions are concentrated; the south is a residential area housing many Eastern expatriates.

"Chief," Feng An came over, "The troops are ready."

"Very good," Lin Yu nodded, "We set out from Xiafei Road, first pass through the French Concession, then enter the Eastern Concession via Qingyun Road."

"The target is the consulate in the administrative district," he continued, "Do not stop along the way; go straight in. Fast, precise, ruthless!"

"Understood!" Feng An turned to relay the orders.

The engine roar grew louder. The twenty trucks slowly started, forming a steel torrent in the night, rolling out from Xiafei Road straight toward Jiangkou District.

As the convoy passed through the French Concession, the streets were empty. The bloody battle that afternoon had driven everyone to stay indoors.

Lin Yu stood in the vehicle, watching the passing buildings on either side, a faint sneer curling his lips.

The Security Army headquarters was brightly lit in the night.

"Grand Marshal!" Li Mingze hurried into the office, his face unusually grave, "A major incident has occurred!"

"What happened?" Qin Dong Zhi set down the document in his hand.

"The Eastern constabulary has been completely wiped out!" Li Mingze's voice trembled, "On Xiafei Road, a Fourth Bureau armed unit slaughtered them, leaving bodies strewn everywhere!"

"What are you saying?" Qin Dong Zhi sprang to his feet, looking at Li Mingze in disbelief, "An armed unit of the Fourth Bureau? What a joke! Lin Yu is only a director of the Action Bureau; where does he get an army?"

"But it is true!" Li Mingze wiped cold sweat from his forehead, "Witnesses say that unit was well equipped and ferocious. In less than half an hour it crippled a constabulary of over a thousand men."

"Impossible!" Qin Dong Zhi paced back and forth in the office, "All the troops of Shen City are under my control; Lin Yu, a mere junior director, could not possibly have such power."

"Grand Marshal, this…" Li Mingze began, then stopped.

Before he could finish, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded from outside.

"Report!" an intelligence officer rushed in, "The Fourth Bureau's troops just left Xiafei Road, twenty trucks, fully armed, advancing toward the Eastern Concession!"

"What?!" Qin Dong Zhi's face changed dramatically. The news completely shattered his perception.

A director of the Action Bureau actually commanding an armed unit? And daring to march openly toward the Eastern Concession?

"This Lin Yu..." a cold glint flashed in Qin Dong Zhi's eyes, "What exactly does he intend?"

The waters of Shen City seem about to boil over completely!