Chapter 234: Is Hong Zhiyou Dead?

Clap, clap!

Du Yuesheng clapped his hands.

Dozens more dark, imposing Green Gang experts surged over from all directions.

A thick, intense murderous aura permeated the air.

Hong Zhiyou looked at him, very calm, without a trace of panic on his face.

"Du Yuesheng!

"Do you recognize Mr. Zhou?"

Standing beside him, Zhou Yan took off his hat and let out a sudden, thunderous shout; his beard was like steel needles, his eyes like copper bells, his face like a lion's, and in his hand he held a short axe gleaming with cold light, his presence truly terrifying.

Du Yuesheng stared at him, his pupils shrinking abruptly.

He had spent his life licking blood from the blade and had seen every type of ruthless man; he was the sort who would not change his expression even if Mount Tai collapsed before him.

Yet at this moment, a trace of fear appeared on the face of this overlord.

"Axe Gang!"

He spat the three chilling words through his teeth.

An invisible shadow of death, cold as a snake, coiled around him, making his skin crawl.

He remembered.

The man before him was Wang Yaqiao's lieutenant.

That year, he had stood like a lackey, witnessing with his own eyes in a corner as Wang Yaqiao slapped the Shanghai overlord Yang Hu in public.

Yang Hu had not said a word, watching Wang Yaqiao depart.

And by Wang Yaqiao's side was this very man.

"You can try it.

"See if your men's blades and guns are faster, or if my axe is faster.

"I guarantee you will fall before Young Master Hong does!"

Zhou Yan stared at him fixedly, speaking with murderous intent.

Du Yuesheng swallowed hard.

He was a man of the gangs.

So was Wang Yaqiao.

The difference was that his gang had human relationships and petty, sordid dealings.

But Wang Yaqiao's gang did not.

They only had right and wrong, fighting and killing, never stopping until death.

This was a group of desperate outlaws that even the Generalissimo did not want to provoke.

Damn it!

"Stand down!" Du Yuesheng sat back down and waved his hand.

Swish, swish!

The elite killers of the Green Gang retreated like a receding tide.

The main hall returned to silence.

Moonlight spilled into the courtyard, white as jade.

"So it is Mr. Zhou in person; excuse my rudeness, please take a seat." Du Yuesheng raised his hand, then poured tea for the two of them.

Zhou Yan did not sit; he sheathed his short axe and stepped back to stand behind Hong Zhiyou.

Du Yuesheng looked at Hong Zhiyou again, his eyes carrying a bit more gravity.

Before, he knew he had underestimated this young man.

A man like Zhou Yan would not be driven by just anyone for money.

There was only one answer.

Hong Zhiyou must possess extraordinary personal charisma.

"Thank you." Hong Zhiyou smiled and nodded.

"Let me guess what Mr. Du is thinking first."

He blew on the tea leaves and said in a deep voice.

"I would like to hear your insights."

Du Yuesheng picked up the teapot and stood up to refill his cup.

"You are thinking of stabilizing Old Zhou first, being polite, perhaps even humbling yourself, to send me and Old Zhou away.

"Then, you would send the Green Gang's elite killers or use other means to eliminate me and Old Zhou.

"After all, this is the Shanghai Bund.

"After all, you are Du Yuesheng, a ruthless and cunning Green Gang leader who knows how to bend and stretch.

"What does a 'dragon crossing the river' like me count for?"

Hong Zhiyou laughed.

Du Yuesheng's eyes sharpened, he smiled slightly, and his silence served as an admission.

"Then, let us discuss whether it is better to kill me or not.

"I am a man who does not believe in morality or sentiment.

"I will discuss this in terms of money, clearly and plainly.

"How much have those who want me dead offered?"

Hong Zhiyou spoke his mind directly.

"The Dangtong Bureau has offered one thousand taels of gold.

"Someone in Jinhai has offered ten thousand US dollars.

"Someone at the Hennessy headquarters has offered twenty thousand US dollars.

"Someone at the Longdong Company has offered eighteen thousand US dollars.

"..."

Du Yuesheng crossed his legs and smoked a cigarette, tallying the accounts with him.

"Hmm.

"That's nearly one hundred thousand US dollars; it seems my head is quite valuable.

"It is indeed a good deal."

Hong Zhiyou laughed.

"Indeed.

"One hundred thousand US dollars is enough to equip a large army.

"I didn't expect you to be worth so much money either.

"So, shouldn't you die?"

Du Yuesheng squinted his eyes and asked with a cold laugh.

"I should!

"If I could, I would want to kill myself too."

Hong Zhiyou joked.

"Then let us calculate how many people will lose money if I am killed," he continued.

"You have seen it.

"Hennessy and the Longdong Company are the ones who want me dead the most.

"Because I sell liquor.

"You also know that behind Longdong are Mr. Song Ziwen and Mr. Song Ziliang.

"If I die, the Song family will lose nearly one hundred thousand US dollars in pure dividends every year.

"Mr. Powell, the East Asia regional head of Hennessy, will suffer a significant loss.

"And Major General Felson of the Marine Corps.

"And the Rong family in Xiangdao.

"And profiteers like Ma Hansan.

"Of course, there is also the Generalissimo.

"Fu Zuoyi succeeded in his surprise attack on Zhangjiakou, and the Generalissimo was overjoyed, wanting to use the strength of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army to completely clear Li Zongren's New Guangxi Clique out of Beiping.

"The condition was four hundred thousand dollars in military supplies, as well as the merger of the Zhangyuan and Baoding administrative offices.

"Fu Zuoyi would be stationed in Beiping to serve as the commander-in-chief.

"Right now, the Kong and Song families are frantically hoarding money and are unwilling to part with a single US dollar.

"Who do they rely on?

"They rely on profiteers like me.

"The Generalissimo's task for the Jiangsu-Zhejiang financial clique is two hundred thousand US dollars, and Yu Xuan has entrusted me to raise and exchange one hundred thousand US dollars.

"Come, you started out selling fruit; you are better at calculating than I am.

"You calculate how much they will lose if I die?"

Hong Zhiyou tapped the table lightly and asked in return.

"You are worth much more than I thought." Du Yuesheng's brow furrowed.

He had originally thought Hong Zhiyou was just a profiteer in Jinhai, a lackey for Wu Jingzhong to rake in money.

He had not expected that the figures involved in this matter.

Not a single one was someone he could afford to provoke.

If such a person were to die in the Green Gang, to say nothing of others, Song Ziliang would demand his life.

"Therefore, this business deal of yours worth one hundred thousand US dollars cannot be done.

"I am afraid that you might have the money to earn, but no life to spend it."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"Those are all other people's accounts.

"Now, let me speak about your account.

"After Dai Li died, you know better than anyone that without this backer, you won't be able to enjoy your glory in Shanghu for many more days.

"I have heard that you have real estate in Xiangdao.

"But you don't seem to be doing very well over there.

"I can help.

"If you make friends with me, I will let you be the agent for the Yuezhou Winery.

"This winery has investments from the Rong family.

"If you go sell for them, you can establish a connection with the Rong family.

"There is also my connection to the Zhigong lineage in Xiangdao, as well as Station Chief Wu's old classmate Xie Ruo; these are enough for you to secure a living in Xiangdao.

"I won't say you'll be above all others, but at least it will be decent.

"It might not bring you an immediate profit of one hundred thousand US dollars.

"But it can allow you and your children to live well.

"Nothing is more important than being alive.

"Old Du.

"You are already old.

"This underworld no longer belongs to you.

"Lower your profile and shrink your ambitions; that will be good for you.

"Right now, I can still sit here and drink tea with you.

"But if the red flag is planted in Shanghu.

"Or if the Jiangzhe financial clique decides to take a knife to you.

"At that moment, you will either be a prisoner or a fleeing refugee; do you think you would still have the qualifications to sit in the Victoria Hotel and drink tea with me?"

Hong Zhiyou leaned back, lifted his chin, and sneered.

A layer of cold sweat seeped out on Du Yuesheng's back.

Hong Zhiyou's words were like sharp knives stabbing into his heart.

After Dai Li died.

He had spent countless sleepless nights pondering this very question.

Whose will the future landscape be?

Once the red flag is unfurled, he will inevitably be on a dead-end path.

Even if the National Army wins.

The Jiangzhe financial clique will inevitably harvest everything; there are many in Shanghu coveting his benefits, and wouldn't replacing him just take a single word from the Ministry of National Defense, or no, even the Shanghu Police Chief?

A trumpeter is always just a trumpeter.

Even if the troupe changes, no matter how well you play, you still have to see if the audience wants to listen.

If they don't want to listen, it remains a dead-end path.

He had wanted to go to Xiangdao and had been planning it for a long time.

But that place is a mix of dragons and snakes; the foreigners and major factions have long since carved out their territories. If he wants to carve out a world for himself there, without the support of foreigners and people of Dai Li's level, becoming the top boss is basically a fantasy.

The most heart-piercing fact:

He is indeed old.

He no longer has the energy or drive to fight and struggle.

To be able to land safely in his later years and ensure his children and grandchildren have food and clothing is already his greatest luxury.

"It seems that I have no choice but to make friends with you.

"Drink tea."

Du Yuesheng smiled.

"No one has ever suffered from being friends with me.

"I once told Mr. Yin that my business philosophy is the one-nine rule: nine for friends, one for me.

"That is what I said, and that is what I do.

"Because maintaining friendships has never relied on sentiment.

"It relies on solid benefits and money.

"Therefore, whether it is the Americans, the French, the garrison officers, or even Mr. Ziliang, they all treat me as a confidant and family.

"Mr. Du, trust me.

"One day, you too will defend this 'one' of mine at all costs for the sake of that 'nine'."

As Hong Zhiyou spoke, he stood up and reached out his hand.

Du Yuesheng sat still, quietly smoking a cigarette.

The smoke shrouded his face.

It was very blurry.

Like a mysterious stone statue.

Until he finished smoking, he stubbed out the cigarette butt fiercely in the ashtray, then reached out his hand and shook Hong Zhiyou's hand with a heavy, powerful grip:

"There is no one who does not like money.

"All paths lead to the same end; young man, you see through the ways of the world very clearly.

"I will make friends with you."

"Thank you, Mr. Du." Hong Zhiyou said.

"I can let the person go.

"But I am afraid it will still be very difficult for you to leave Shanghu alive.

"There are too many people who want you dead.

"If I don't kill you, someone else will."

Du Yuesheng said.

"Mao Sen?" Hong Zhiyou raised an eyebrow and said.

Du Yuesheng nodded and said: "That's right, Mao Sen hinted to me that I should keep you in Shanghu."

"You know the methods of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics.

"To a certain extent, by letting you go, I am taking a risk myself.

"I believe you are also clear about Mao Sen's character.

"Once you leave, he will certainly be dissatisfied with me and cause trouble."

He paused, then looked at Hong Zhiyou: "Of course, I said that since I have accepted you as a friend, I will bear these risks myself.

"I am just very curious, how will you leave?

"According to reliable information, Mao Wanli returned to Jingling this morning."

"If I couldn't leave, why would I have come?

"It's just that I need Mr. Du to perform a play with me."

Hong Zhiyou smiled confidently.

"What play?" Du Yuesheng asked.

Hong Zhiyou leaned in closer and whispered a few words.

After hearing this, Du Yuesheng immediately shouted:

"Men, Hong Zhiyou has insulted me too greatly; execute him with blades."

Dozens of executioners rushed out.

After a period of noise.

The courtyard returned to silence.

At the same time.

At the Shanghu Garrison Headquarters, dozens of military vehicles were dispatched.

Telegrams flew to all parts of the country like snowflakes.

Phone calls broke the silence of the night.

Hangcheng.

Mao Sen woke up very early; after practicing a set of Tai Chi, he made his daily tea.

His mood was quite good.

"Station Chief, there is news from Shanghai." The secretary walked in quickly.

"Read it," Mao Sen said.

"Hong Zhiyou has been executed by Du Yuesheng," the secretary said.

"Continue," Mao Sen said.

"It is said that during the negotiations for the VIP, Hong Zhiyou angered Du Yuesheng, and as a result, he and his entourage were hacked to death on the spot by Du Yuesheng's hatchet men.

"Originally, Hong Zhiyou was going to spend the night at the Shanghai Garrison Headquarters.

"After receiving the news, Staff Officer Li of the Garrison Headquarters immediately sent troops to the Green Gang headquarters.

"They were in a standoff for a long time.

"Only then did Staff Officer Li manage to take the bodies away."

The secretary reported.

"I see," Mao Sen nodded indifferently.

As he spoke, he stood up, returned to the inner room, and dialed a number:

"Connect to the bureau line, Shanghai Station.

"Hello, Station Chief Wang, this is Mao Sen.

"I heard that there was bloodshed at the Green Gang headquarters last night, and even Staff Officer Li of the Garrison Headquarters was alarmed. May I ask if this is true?

"Okay, I understand.

"Thank you, Station Chief Wang."

Hanging up the phone, Mao Sen returned to the courtyard and took a gentle sip from his teacup.

According to what Wang Xinheng said, there was indeed a major disturbance last night.

Now, Du Yuesheng could no longer be reached.

He returned to the courtyard, where a section member was whispering to the secretary.

Soon, the secretary reported:

"Station Chief, there is new information.

"Du Yuesheng has already let Staff Officer Li take him away."

"Taken away?" Mao Sen frowned.

Du Yuesheng still had some status in Shanghai; to dare to arrest someone so blatantly, it seemed Hong Zhiyou might really be dead.

"Have the people at the Garrison Headquarters inquire about it.

"Especially Hong Zhiyou.

"Whether he is alive or dead, I want confirmed news."

Mao Sen instructed the secretary.

"Understood, Station Chief, I will have someone look into it right away," the secretary replied.

Mao Sen put down his teacup, stood up, and let out a long sigh of relief.

It is good that he is dead.

It is also time to let Wu Laogou taste the power of the Shanhe Gang.

Bureau Chief Mao was in a high position and could not move freely.

But he was not!

To be beaten and not fight back.

That was absolutely not Mao Sen's style!

He would not only fight back, but make Wu Jingzhong suffer ten times, a hundred times over.

Hong Zhiyou was Wu Jingzhong's tool for accumulating wealth.

He was even his prospective son-in-law.

With this scoundrel gone, Wu Jingzhong would feel far more pain than he himself did when he lost Steward Zhuang back then.

Mao Wanli had not managed to secure the position of Deputy Station Chief of the Jinhai Station.

Killing a Hong Zhiyou.

Could be considered a small victory.

What was even more gratifying was that the one who did the deed was Du Yuesheng.

Even if Wu Jingzhong knew he had secretly instigated it, he would have no way to find fault; this pent-up anger alone could suffocate him.

How satisfying.

……

Jingling.

Mao Renfeng leaned back in his soft leather recliner, looking at his nephew Mao Wanli with a smile:

"Wanli.

"With your merits and seniority, it wouldn't be a problem to be sent out as a station chief of a Grade B station.

"Zheng Jiemin will soon be transferred to the Ministry of National Defense to serve as Vice Minister.

"Once he is transferred, I will arrange it for you immediately.

"If you have any preferences, you can bring them up."

He had always been satisfied with this nephew.

"Uncle, can Wang Xinheng of Shanghai be moved? If I could go to Shanghai, Mao Sen and I could act as mutual support, and the Shanghai-Hangzhou area would be entirely ours," Mao Wanli said ambitiously.

"Don't even think about Shanghai.

"Don't look at how prosperous that place is; it is the base of the Jiang-Zhe financial clique, and if you get too deeply involved, something will go wrong.

"Furthermore, right now Jiang Jianfeng is constantly cracking down on corruption.

"In my opinion, sparks will fly there sooner or later; going to Shanghai at this time is like jumping into a fire pit."

Mao Renfeng shook his head and said.

"Then what about Jinhai?" Mao Wanli asked, his heart still set on it.

"Look, this is Yu Zecheng's appointment letter and commendation order for Deputy Station Chief; I've only held onto it for a day, and Wu Jingzhong is already calling to urge me.

"Don't think about Jinhai for the time being."

Mao Renfeng said.

"Isn't it just that he had a stroke of good luck and picked up a Ji Weimin?" Mao Wanli said with dissatisfaction.

"That is called good luck.

"I gave you so much intelligence and sent so many men.

"You turned Qingdao upside down and didn't even see a shadow.

"How is it that Yu Zecheng caught him in twenty-four hours?

"Wanli, if you lose, you lose; you have to admit it."

Mao Renfeng rolled his eyes at him and said.

"However, this matter is not over.

"Zheng Jiemin has already taken Lu Qiaoshan away from the Inspection Office.

"He only gave him a disciplinary warning."

He paused, then added.

"Isn't that right?

"Eating inside and out is a major taboo against family rules, and it's solved with just a warning?

"Uncle, this is a great opportunity for us to counterattack Zheng Jiemin.

"The Old Cantonese Clique doesn't follow the rules, and he has nowhere to go to reason it out.

"That Lu Qiaoshan is even his god-relative.

"Uncle, we can't let this go."

Mao Wanli was anxious.

"Foolish.

"Zheng Jiemin is about to become the Vice Minister of National Defense.

"At that time, he will be the direct superior of our Secret Service Bureau.

"If I let Lu Qiaoshan go now to ease the relationship, it won't do us any harm.

"In any case, although we lost the position of Deputy Station Chief this time.

"The relationship between Zheng, Wu, and Jiang Jianfeng has also developed cracks, especially Zheng Jiemin; he will not swallow this insult.

"Just wait, this Lu Qiaoshan will sooner or later kill his way back to Jinhai.

"Don't forget, he is a veteran of the reconstruction of the Jinhai Station and knows many inside stories and Wu Jingzhong's private affairs.

"Once he kills his way back to Jinhai, it will be a bloody counter-strike.

"By then, don't talk about Deputy Station Chief.

"Even becoming the Station Chief is possible."

Mao Renfeng smiled with deep, calculating wisdom.

Upon hearing this, Mao Wanli immediately became happy again: "Uncle, now that you put it that way, I see things clearly."

"By the way, last night..."

Just as he was about to speak about Hong Zhiyou, Mao Renfeng's confidential secretary walked in:

"Director, Mr. Yanji from the Aide-de-Camp Office is here."

"Mr. Yanji!"

Mao Renfeng hurriedly stood up.

"Wanli, come with me to meet Mr. Yanji.

"He is not someone just anyone can see whenever they wish."

He signaled to Mao Wanli and personally went downstairs to the office building to welcome him.

"Mr. Yanji, what wind has blown you here?

"Please, come in, please."

Mao Renfeng said with a face full of smiles.

"What could blow me here other than the usual wind?

"Director Mao, I have come to see you about a major matter."

Chen Bulei said, getting straight to the point.

They arrived at the reception room.

After Mao Renfeng had tea served and everyone was seated, he asked, "Mr. Yanji, is there an assignment from above?"

"You could say that.

"And who is this?" Chen Bulei had never met Mao Wanli.

"My nephew, Mao Wanli," Mao Renfeng introduced.

"Wanli greets Mr. Yanji," Mao Wanli said respectfully.

As a man of letters, Chen Bulei had always turned up his nose at the "Three Maos" and even Dai Li, viewing them as low-lifes and butchers.

If it weren't for the fact that Zhang Qun was away on business today,

and that the matter concerned the vital interests of the Party and State, he would never have made this trip.

"Wanli, you go on out first," Mao Renfeng said, waving his hand after noticing his displeased expression.

"Yes."

Mao Wanli bowed to the two men and withdrew.

"Mr. Yanji, please," Mao Renfeng said, raising his hand to offer tea.

"I have come this time at the request of Young Master Yu of the Jiangsu-Zhejiang Chamber of Commerce to have you protect someone," Chen Bulei said.

"Protecting people is our Bureau of Investigation and Statistics' specialty.

"Someone who could make you run an errand yourself must certainly be no ordinary person."

Mao Renfeng laughed.

"Indeed, he is no ordinary person.

"He is Hong Zhiyou, the secretary of the Jinhai Station!"

Chen Bulei said.

(End of chapter)