Chapter 159: Everyone Has a Good Abacus

"Who is it, daring to run wild on my turf?" The one who rushed over was Sun Hao, Deputy Regiment Commander of the 11th Group Army, who was closest to this place.

Officer Mu's expression changed.

His first reaction was that Sun Sun Lianzhong wanted to intercept.

Before coming, Fu Fu Zuoyi emphasized repeatedly that no conflict should occur.

Especially not revealing that these materials were being transported to Zhang Yuan.

After all, this was the Chairman's secret mission.

Better to be treated as Red-tickets than to slap the old man's face.

If they are Red-tickets, the old man can fish them out.

Slapping the old man's face means eating a bullet.

"Captain Li, what's going on here?" Regiment Commander Sun asked.

"Regiment Commander Sun, this person is named Hong Hong Zhiyou, and he is a secretary at our Jinhai Station."

"I now suspect that he is colluding with Red-tickets to transport military supplies."

"I think you should also know what this road was used for in the past, right?"

Li Ya looked at Hong Hong Zhiyou and said coldly.

"Regiment Commander Sun, can you do me a favor? I'll..." Hong Hong Zhiyou wanted to pull him aside to use his "banknote power".

"Don't try that with me."

"Military supplies are rare items now; anyone who dares to smuggle military supplies is robbing our rations and harming our lives."

"Search them."

Regiment Commander Sun waved his hand and shouted.

"Yes."

Hong Hong Zhiyou looked at Kong Fang, both of them looking like defeated roosters, extremely dejected.

"Officer, there are military supplies, firearms, and medicine all over the top."

"They are all good American-made things."

"The flour is also in imported foreign packaging!"

Soldiers immediately reported.

"Military supplies, firearms, medicine—any one of these can cost you your head."

"And you still dare to be stubborn?"

Regiment Commander Sun pointed his gun at Hong Hong Zhiyou's forehead.

"I want to see Station Chief Wu." Hong Hong Zhiyou feigned trembling and panic.

This scene fell into Li Ya's hands, and he couldn't help but be smug:

"Brother Hong, I know you are the Station Chief's future son-in-law."

"But no one can protect you in this matter."

"Stay in the Baoding Pacification Office for a few days; once everything is confessed, you will naturally see the Station Chief."

"Take them all away." Regiment Commander Sun waved his hand.

"Mu..." Some soldiers wanted to reveal their identities, but were glared back by Officer Mu.

Officer Mu very sensibly took the lead in handing over his gun and squatting on the ground with his head in his hands.

Anyway, they had to have Officer Fu and the Chairman fish them out.

Would Sun Sun Lianzhong dare to eat them?

The soldiers swarmed up.

Driving the cars.

Arresting people.

Everything was arranged clearly, and they rushed to Baoding.

Hong Hong Zhiyou and Kong Fang were tied up, and he whispered: "Old Kong, don't panic, nothing will happen."

"I know."

"With you here, at most I'll get a beating, but I definitely won't die." Kong Fang said.

They arrived at the Baoding Pacification Office.

When Sun Sun Lianzhong saw so much equipment and materials, he cheered excitedly.

He immediately held a banquet to reward Li Ya and the Secret Service Bureau crowd.

"Officer Sun."

"The materials belong to you, but the people belong to me."

"Can you arrange a plane? I want to take the people to Jingling overnight."

"Some things are hard to explain once they reach Jinhai."

Li Ya finished eating and drinking and requested of Sun Sun Lianzhong.

"Brother, colluding with Red-tickets is a major matter. If you take the people away directly, I won't be able to explain many things later."

"How about this: if you want to interrogate or ask, do it here first."

"Rest assured, whether it's Wu Wu Jingzhong or the King of Heaven, I'll block for you."

"Once you've interrogated and found the names, report to Wu Wu Jingzhong, and then send them directly to Jingling."

"That also conforms to the procedure."

"I know Wu Wu Jingzhong; his roots are very deep."

"I know Wu Wu Jingzhong; his roots run deep."

"Even if you want to report to Jiang Jianfeng, you can't bypass your immediate superior directly, otherwise you won't be able to stay in Jinhai in the future."

Sun Sun Lianzhong advised him smoothly.

In the time it took to eat a meal, several trusted subordinates had already come to plead for Hong Hong Zhiyou.

It was clear that this man had deep connections.

The key was that Sun Sun Lianzhong didn't want to offend Wu Wu Jingzhong.

This man was a classmate of Jiang Jianfeng and Zheng Zheng Jiemin, and the Secret Service Bureau was there to keep the military in check; it wasn't worth the trouble.

He needed the military supplies.

He definitely couldn't take the blame.

If there was going to be a scene, let it happen at the camp; once it was over, Li Ya could go and fight it out with Wu Wu Jingzhong himself.

As for who Hong Hong Zhiyou's shipment was for.

The Reds?

The Zhang Yuan Office?

Sun Sun Lianzhong didn't care at all.

Soldiers don't need to talk about too much reason.

If it passes through his territory and he catches it, then it's his.

Isn't that how the Central Army snatches territory?

This was also a rule that the Generalissimo had always tacitly approved.

"Fine, since you've spoken, I'll conduct the interrogation here," Li Ya said, knowing these group commanders were all old foxes, and he had no choice but to give up.

"Chief, can I have a word in private?" Mobile Corps Commander Gao, who was stationed at Qingfengdian, leaned in and said.

Sun Sun Lianzhong walked inside: "I know you want to plead for him; smuggling military supplies is a serious crime, and this is a capital offense."

"Chief."

"This Hong Hong Zhiyou has very strong connections; he's well-connected in both the underworld and the official world."

"Especially in Xiangdao, his background is very deep."

"The Rong family, the Zhigong faction..."

"By the way, he also has a very good relationship with Commander Philson of the US Marine Corps."

"They were classmates in America."

"I've helped him before, and this man is very generous."

"Even Ma Ma Hansan recognizes his connections."

"Just look at these items, all American-made; this isn't something that can be achieved just with money."

"If Li Ya wants to arrest and interrogate him, that's their internal Secret Service Bureau business, and it's Wu Wu Jingzhong's affair."

"Why should we get involved?"

"Just give Secretary Hong and that bunch some food and drink, keep an eye on them so they don't get beaten or cause any deaths, and that's enough."

"Let Wu Wu Jingzhong and his people handle it themselves."

Gao Gao Zhiqi advised.

"Hmm."

"What you say makes sense; actually, that was my intention as well."

"Go ahead and make the arrangements."

"I'm exhausted; I'm going to sleep."

Sun Sun Lianzhong deliberated for a moment, then yawned and gave his instructions.

"Captain Li, there's no rush with the interrogation."

"Someone, get Secretary Hong and the others outside some good wine and food."

Gao Gao Zhiqi gave the order and brought Hong Hong Zhiyou into the inner room.

Hong Hong Zhiyou didn't stand on ceremony and ate and drank as he pleased.

"Old Gao, do you have a cigarette?" After finishing and wiping his mouth, he reached out and asked.

Gao Gao Zhiqi felt for a pack of cigarettes and matches and handed them to him:

"Brother, you really are a strange man."

"Your head is about to be on the chopping block, and you can still eat so heartily."

"I'm not dead yet, am I?"

"Thanks, brother; I'll treat you to something fancy another day," Hong Hong Zhiyou lit a cigarette and smoked it with composure.

"Who is it for?" Gao Gao Zhiqi asked curiously.

"Don't ask; asking will only lead to trouble," Hong Hong Zhiyou said.

"Understood."

"I've already given the word; if Li Ya dares to use torture, you just shout to the guards outside."

"On our own turf in Baoding."

"I can't promise anything else, but I can certainly guarantee you'll remain unharmed."

Gao Gao Zhiqi said very loyally.

Last time, when Hong Hong Zhiyou rescued someone from bandits, he had given him six thousand US dollars in one go.

Gao Gao Zhiqi knew this guy was truly capable.

"Thanks, brother; I will certainly repay you in the future," Hong Hong Zhiyou reached out and shook his hand.

"Alright."

"I'm off."

Gao Gao Zhiqi smiled, turned, and walked out.

Li Ya walked in with his hands in his pockets: "Secretary Hong, your capabilities are truly great; you're even well-connected in Baoding."

"In this day and age, who would turn their back on money?"

"Except for you, Captain Li."

"I just earned you five gold bars last night, and today you're here to take my life."

Hong Hong Zhiyou looked at him and said with a half-smile.

"Brother, I don't want to either."

"I've said it before, I sincerely want to be friends with you, and I admire and am grateful to you."

"But involving the Reds, my heart just can't get past it."

"I hope you understand."

Li Ya took a slight breath and expressed his helplessness sincerely.

"Are you so sure I'm a Red?" Hong Hong Zhiyou asked.

"I'm not entirely sure."

"But Liu Xiong was sure, and I believe he wouldn't be wrong."

"Last time at Gazikou, you were transporting goods for the Reds."

"But you destroyed them."

"Now, with both human and material evidence present, what else can you argue?"

"That Kong Fang outside is a Red courier."

"You've also met Yong Yong Jianqiu; this guy is a comprador who specializes in laundering for the Reds, and this batch of supplies is traveling along a Red transport line."

"Isn't it obvious?"

Li Ya circled around him and said.

"These are all your conjectures."

"Kong Fang left the organization long ago; he's a bandit now and my informant."

"There's no point in saying anything more."

"You'll naturally know who this batch of military supplies is for by tomorrow morning."

"If there's nothing else, get some rest early."

Hong Hong Zhiyou raised his hand and said.

"Do you think I have no way to deal with you if you don't confess?" Li Ya sneered.

"You never had a way to deal with me in the first place."

"Send me to Jingling?"

"Can you even walk out of this military camp?"

Hong Hong Zhiyou said.

"Stealing military supplies and colluding with the Reds is a capital offense."

"And these are high-end goods smuggled from the Americans; with such large-scale transport, do you think the superiors will sit idly by?"

"If Jiang Jianfeng calls Sun Sun Lianzhong, does he dare keep you?"

Li Ya curled his lips and played his trump card.

"Jiang Jianfeng will make the call."

"Why don't we both wait for the call?"

"Let's see if you can take me out of this military camp?"

Hong Hong Zhiyou stared at him and said with a calm, steady smile.

"I just love your confident look."

"Fine."

"I hope your mouth can stay this hard until tomorrow morning."

Li Ya said coldly.

Then, right in front of Hong Hong Zhiyou, he walked to the telephone and dialed Jiang Jianfeng's secret line:

"Connect to line one."

"Okay, I understand."

"Thank you."

Hanging up the phone, Li Ya looked at Hong Hong Zhiyou and said:

"Comrade Jiang Jianfeng was just called away by the Generalissimo; you're quite lucky."

"Then we'll see the truth tomorrow morning."

"Brother Hong, perhaps this is your last night; enjoy it well."

"Good night."

Li Ya shrugged with a hint of apology.

From the bottom of his heart.

He really wanted to be friends with Hong Hong Zhiyou and become brothers.

Unfortunately, they weren't on the same path.

"I will enjoy it, thanks," Hong Hong Zhiyou smiled faintly, walked to the bed on the side, and lay down.

Zhang Yuan Pacification Office.

The adjutant walked hurriedly into the operational conference room.

"Commander, something has happened."

"The supplies shipped from Jinhai were hijacked by Sun Sun Lianzhong's men," the adjutant whispered.

"Everyone, let's stop the discussion for today; everyone go back and rest," Fu Fu Zuoyi dismissed his staff officers and military officers.

"Are you sure it was hijacked?" Fu Fu Zuoyi frowned.

"Sure."

"Our people, along with Secretary Hong from the Secret Service Bureau, have all been detained," the adjutant nodded.

"Detained."

Fu Fu Zuoyi walked with his hands behind his back, nodding slightly.

"Let them detain them."

"It's good that they did."

"If Sun Sun Lianzhong wants to fatten himself up like a pig, let him eat."

"Once he's fat, he'll be ready for the slaughter."

"Don't make a fuss about this; just pretend we don't know."

"Without military supplies, equipment, and medicine, how can we fight? I'm sure the Generalissimo himself can understand my difficulties."

Fu Fu Zuoyi paced a few steps and said with a crafty smile.

He had no interest in infighting.

Even less did he want to be Chiang's cannon fodder; Sun Sun Lianzhong had suffered a huge loss at Handan last year.

Aren't the direct subordinates fond of snatching things and showing off?

Let them be.

"What about the people?"

"I'm afraid they'll be executed as Reds," the adjutant reminded him.

"They won't."

"Wu Wu Jingzhong and Jiang Jianfeng will step in," Fu Fu Zuoyi said.

Night, 10:00 PM.

Wu Wu Jingzhong was soaking his feet, playing with a porcelain bottle in his hand; at the thought of that basement full of treasures, his lips curled upward uncontrollably.

"Old Wu."

"I heard at the Military Families Association today that He He Zhiyuan from headquarters has left and gone to Xiangdao to do business," Mei Mei Qiuju said while knitting a sweater on the side.

"Who?" Wu Wu Jingzhong asked.

"He He Zhiyuan; you forgot, back at the Northwest Bureau, he was that flat-top guy who would call you 'Big Brother' and cling to your leg," Mei Mei Qiuju reminded him.

"Ah, yes."

"As one gets older, the memory really isn't what it used to be."

"He He Zhiyuan was just like Li Ya back then, full of loyalty and righteousness for the party and state."

"Even such a 'loyal official' has run away, sigh."

Wu Wu Jingzhong put down the antique and shook his head with a sigh.

"In this day and age, where are there any loyal officials? Liu Xiong was so upright, and Li Ya, whom he taught, isn't he learning to help people pull strings and collect gold and silver?"

"Playing mahjong today, Mrs. Lu said Li Ya helped the son of that Hexi landlord, Chen something, get into the Operations Team, and he raked in five gold bars."

"And it was Hong Zhiyou who made the introduction."

Mei Mei Qiuju started chatting about household matters on the side.

"Hong Zhiyou is right to do that."

"Personnel matters, it doesn't matter who does the work."

"Water that is too clear has no fish; everyone is muddy, so don't talk about anyone else; it's quite good."

Wu Wu Jingzhong nodded with a smile.

"Old Wu, you say we've saved up so many treasures, shouldn't we leave?"

"If we drag it out like this, I'm afraid it will be coveted by others if we're too late."

Mei Mei Qiuju said.

"No rush."

"He He Zhiyuan was forced away by Mao Mao Renfeng."

"That smiling tiger Mao Mao Renfeng loves to play little tricks; he never says anything on the surface, but he's a master at setting traps in the dark."

"It's not time for us to leave yet."

"Jiang Jianfeng's fortune is flourishing, and his influence is rising rapidly."

"If I give up my position now, when will I ever be able to fill my basement in Hexi?"

Wu Wu Jingzhong shook his head and said.

"That's true."

"When our child grows up, she won't even need to go to a museum; she can just slip into her grandfather's basement, which is more eye-catching than the Forbidden City," Mei Mei Qiuju's eyes lit up whenever she mentioned her grandchild.

"Who are you knitting this sweater for again?"

"Didn't you just finish one a while ago? Let's be clear, Wu Ruirui won't wear these things of yours; she loves those trendy things from the Americans, so it's just a waste of effort for you to knit them."

Wu Wu Jingzhong smiled and asked.

"It's for Hong Zhiyou's mother."

"We're family, after all; they aren't short of food or drink, so knitting a sweater is just a gesture of human kindness."

"It's better than being idle, isn't it?"

Mei Mei Qiuju smiled.

"Hmm."

"Take her mother to the hospital for a physical check-up another day; after all, she is the child's grandmother."

"Coming from the countryside, they are superstitious about these things."

"Someone needs to take her."

Wu Wu Jingzhong instructed.

"Understood; stop looking and go to sleep quickly," Mei Mei Qiuju put down the knitting, stood up, and got him a towel and poured water.

Wu Wu Jingzhong put on his slippers and was just about to enter the bedroom to sleep when Xiao Xiao Guohua's voice came from outside the door:

"Station Chief, Director Yu has an urgent matter and requests an audience."

"Let him in."

Wu Wu Jingzhong said.

Soon, Yu Zecheng walked in with a panicked expression:

"Station Chief, it's bad."

"Secretary Hong just called me and said he was arrested by Captain Li and Sun Sun Lianzhong's men; I don't know the specifics, but he said to ask you to call Jingling for reinforcements."

"Li Ya!"

"A fool even stupider than Ma Kui; it's exactly what I was afraid of!"

Wu Wu Jingzhong was so angry that his drowsiness vanished completely.

This was the Generalissimo's errand.

If it were ruined in his hands and delayed the plan to attack Zhangjiakou, it would be a capital offense.

"Teacher, what exactly happened? Didn't Captain Li just have Western food with Hong Zhiyou and act like brothers? Why did he run to Baoding to make arrests?" Yu Zecheng asked, completely confused.

"An ungrateful wolf."

"The Generalissimo secretly ordered me to transport military supplies to Fu Fu Zuoyi, specifically borrowing the Reds' route just to avoid Sun Sun Lianzhong's 11th War Zone."

"Now look, Li Ya, suspicious and paranoid, has blocked the way in Baoding."

"The people, the supplies, and the firearms have all been swallowed by Sun Sun Lianzhong."

"How am I supposed to answer to Fu Fu Zuoyi and the Generalissimo?"

Wu Wu Jingzhong paced angrily in the room.

"Teacher, we can't wait."

"We must call Fu Fu Zuoyi and let him demand them himself."

"Furthermore, demand the people from Commander Sun."

"If Li Ya interrogates them in Baoding and uses torture to hurt Hong Zhiyou, it will be troublesome."

Yu Zecheng said with concern.

"You're right."

Wu Wu Jingzhong nodded.

Sun Sun Lianzhong was a direct subordinate and had always been arrogant; the name of the Secret Service Bureau alone wouldn't be enough to get the people back.

Moreover, this was Fu Fu Zuoyi's business to begin with.

It's better to distance himself first, let them bite each other, and have them disturb the Generalissimo, which is far better than asking for help himself.

Thinking of this, he dialed the Zhang Yuan Office:

"I am Wu Wu Jingzhong from the Jinhai Station; please connect me to Commander Fu."

"Please accommodate me; tell him I have an urgent..."

Before he could finish, the other side hung up the phone.

"Son of a bitch."

"Fu Fu Zuoyi is playing dead and won't take the bait; now we're in trouble," Wu Wu Jingzhong said.

"He probably wishes this batch of military supplies had been hijacked."

"Zhangjiakou is Nie's home turf."

"If they really start fighting, it will be harder to chew than Handan, and it will mean bloodshed."

Yu Zecheng said on the side.

"Yes."

"Right now, the Generalissimo is being pressured step by step by the Americans to implement constitutional government and elect a president."

"With the Americans dangling the hook, everyone underneath wants to go up and sit in the chair."

"The Generalissimo is trying every possible way to let the peripheral factions like Li Li Zongren and Fu Fu Zuoyi charge into battle, while preserving his trusted direct subordinates like Sun Sun Lianzhong and Hu Hu Zongnan."

"They aren't stupid either."

"They just hold out and demand things; if they don't get them, they don't move."

"Look, isn't this the performance they're putting on?"

Wu Wu Jingzhong clapped his hands, his head aching severely.

"Teacher, what should we do?" Yu Zecheng knew the matter was serious and asked cautiously.

"Whoever's dog it is, let them manage it."

"What else can we do?"

"I can't manage it anyway; let certain people come and manage it themselves."

Wu Wu Jingzhong was thoroughly annoyed with the fool Li Ya.

He took a deep breath and walked to the telephone.

Yu Zecheng tactfully went to the balcony with Mei Mei Qiuju.

"Zecheng, what exactly is going on?"

"I just heard that Hong Zhiyou found a job for Li Ya worth five gold bars and even treated him to Western food."

"Why would he attack his own people?"

Mei Mei Qiuju asked with a worried expression.

"Mistress, Li Ya is just like Liu Xiong; he doesn't care about personal feelings, only about the Reds."

"People like them see everyone as a Red."

"They won't let go until they've bitten off a mouthful of blood."

Yu Zecheng shook his head and said.

"That damn bastard."

"It was a waste for me to even give him a pair of leather shoes."

"If Hong Zhiyou loses even a single hair, I'll tear his head off."

Mei Mei Qiuju thought about how Hong Zhiyou might be beaten or even executed, and couldn't help but get teary-eyed with anger.

"Mistress, no need to worry."

"I spoke with the people over there when I arrived."

"They said Commander Sun gave the order to keep the people at the office and let Li Ya conduct the interrogation on the spot, and they're being served good food and drink, so they won't be beaten," Yu Zecheng said.

He knew Hong Hong Zhiyou was transporting military supplies for Fu Fu Zuoyi.

But he was completely unaware of this turn of events.

However, upon further thought, he understood Hong Hong Zhiyou's intention.

Using the Generalissimo's hand to remove Li Ya, this stumbling block.

High.

It's truly high.

Thinking back to when Shopkeeper Qiu dragged Hu Die into the water.

The Ma Ma Hansan assassination incident, and the "harmony" from afar with Boss Dai.

It made Yu Zecheng have to sigh.

In today's chaotic world, only Hong Hong Zhiyou, with his great skill and bold heart, could play this kind of high-end game.

On this side, Wu Wu Jingzhong calmed his emotions, organized his language, and dialed Jiang Jianfeng's dedicated line:

"Hello, connect to Jiang Jianfeng."

"Please convey that I am Wu Wu Jingzhong from the Jinhai Station, and I have an urgent matter to report."

"If he's not there, I'll wait."

"I'll wait until he replies."

(End of chapter)