Chapter 257: Ma Hansan, You're a Stand-up Guy!

Hong Zhiyou pushed open the door and walked in.

The interior was incredibly luxurious.

There was a black leather sofa on three sides and a white marble coffee table.

Even the floor was covered in a high-quality carpet.

A beautiful, large chandelier hung overhead.

It was worthy of a headquarters unit; it was spacious and high-class through and through.

Lu Qiaoshan was dressed in a Western suit, wearing gold-rimmed glasses with a chain, sitting with his legs crossed, and playing with a matchstick while pointing it into an ashtray.

"Section Chief Lu!"

Hong Zhiyou put on the appearance of a country bumpkin who had just arrived in the city, standing at the doorway and rubbing his hands with a smile.

"Yo, isn't this... that little Hong?" Lu Qiaoshan crossed his legs even higher, bouncing his leather shoe, with no intention of standing up at all.

"It's me, Section Chief Lu," Hong Zhiyou said, pointing to himself.

"Quick, come over and sit."

Only then did Lu Qiaoshan put down the match and beckon him over.

"Your place is truly grand, even grander than the Station Chief's office," Hong Zhiyou complimented with a smile.

"Heh heh."

"Him?"

"This set of Falanxi-imported sofas of mine is worth more than all the furniture in his entire room," Lu Qiaoshan said with a disdainful, arrogant laugh.

"Brother Shan, you are truly thriving now."

"You're radiating prestige."

Hong Zhiyou walked over to the sofa and sat down, then exclaimed in surprise, "As expected of an imported item, it really is soft."

"It's office hours now, so let's stick to our official titles," Lu Qiaoshan said flatly, glancing at his designer watch.

"Yes, Section Chief Lu," Hong Zhiyou said.

"Nice watch," he added.

"My son had someone buy it from Switzerland; it's purely handmade, the same model as the one He Yingqin has," Lu Qiaoshan laughed.

"Impressive."

"Section Chief Lu, I came in such a rush this time that I didn't bring any gifts. Since your birthday is coming up around the end of the year and I might not be able to make it, here is a golden mouse as an early birthday celebration for you."

Hong Zhiyou took a medium-sized mouse made of gold out of his bag and placed it on the desk.

"Oh."

Lu Qiaoshan gasped in pleasant surprise and picked it up to examine it.

It felt heavy.

The material was good; it must be worth quite a lot.

"Little brother, you came all this way, why bring anything at all?" Only then did Lu Qiaoshan pour him a cup of tea.

"I hope Section Chief Lu doesn't mind."

"Back in Jinhai, you taught me many things."

"I have always kept that in my heart."

Hong Zhiyou smiled.

"That's true."

"Back in Jinhai, if it weren't for you, little brother, I wouldn't have been able to get out unscathed," Lu Qiaoshan shook his head and chuckled lightly.

"How are things for you here, Section Chief Lu?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"It's alright."

"I just send documents to Mao Renfeng from time to time or go to the Secret Service Bureau to look around; it's just a job of nitpicking."

"Little brother, I still remember the favor you did for me."

"How about it? Do you want to work with me?"

"Come and be my secretary."

Lu Qiaoshan asked with a smile.

"Even if I wanted to, the Station Chief wouldn't let me go," Hong Zhiyou said.

"Hmph."

"Wu Jingzhong has serious problems—corruption, bribery, the leaking of secrets during the Dai boss's trip, and so on. If others don't know, how could I not?"

"After the New Year, once Director Zheng takes the post of Vice Minister of National Defense, I will be transferred to become the Deputy Chief of the Sixth Division."

"At that time... heh heh."

"Little brother, for the sake of our friendship, I advise you: leaving early is the best policy."

As soon as the Station Chief was mentioned, Lu Qiaoshan's expression changed immediately, and he said gloomily.

"Section Chief Lu, is there some kind of misunderstanding here?"

"When you were sent to Jingling, the Station Chief didn't even blink an eye."

"Besides, his punishing you was just official business."

Hong Zhiyou said hurriedly.

"Official business?"

"Do you take me for a fool? That was him and Li Ya putting on a double act. Why was I sent to Jingling? Wasn't it all because of the word from Director Zheng?"

"If I just let him make a move, would Wu Jingzhong dare to touch a single hair on my head?"

"I'm warning you, don't go down the wrong path with him to the very end, or you won't have a good outcome."

Lu Qiaoshan shook his index finger and said very arrogantly.

"No."

"Section Chief Lu, when you say it like that, I don't even know how to talk to you."

"Forget it."

"I have a dinner appointment with the North American Ambassador in Jingling, and a card game later, so I won't linger."

Hong Zhiyou shook his head, stood up, and said.

"North American Ambassador?"

"You have dealings with Smith too?"

Lu Qiaoshan hurriedly uncrossed his legs and asked.

"It's nothing much, just helping the National Government raise some military supplies, and I have a casual meal with the Naval Commander, Cole."

"Brother, your time is precious, so I won't disturb you any further."

Hong Zhiyou stood up, tucked his bag under his arm, and prepared to leave.

Hong Zhiyou wasn't bragging.

Having secured the military aid this time, Cole, as a bigwig in the North American military aid faction, had sent an invitation as soon as he got off the plane, inviting him to the embassy for a meeting.

"Don't go, Zhiyou."

"Since you're already here, Brother Shan misses you; let's chat a while longer."

Lu Qiaoshan had thought Hong Zhiyou hadn't made a sound in nearly half a year, but he hadn't expected him to be doing better and better.

"No."

"I'm afraid if I stay any longer, you'll have me detained and thrown into Yuhuatai Prison."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"Look, you're just saying that out of spite, aren't you?"

"Isn't Brother Shan doing this for your own good?"

"With Wu Jingzhong holding onto that position, the Secret Service Bureau headquarters and the Ministry of National Defense have long found him an eyesore; investigating him is only a matter of time."

"If we weren't like brothers, would I leak this news to you?"

Lu Qiaoshan pulled him back and said with a chuckle.

"If Section Chief Lu puts it that way, then I can rest easy," Hong Zhiyou sat back down.

"Little brother, does your wine have any presence in Jingling? I went to an Italian restaurant to eat last time, and they served the Axe brand; that's your brand."

"I asked them where they got it from."

"They said it was sold by Longdong, isn't that just a shell company for the Song family?"

"Little brother, you're something else, you've even hooked up with Song Ziwen."

Lu Qiaoshan rubbed his fingers together in a money-counting gesture, looking envious.

"As expected of someone in intelligence, nothing can be hidden from you."

"That's right."

"Longdong Company is my distributor," Hong Zhiyou said.

"I wouldn't dare think about the Jingling market."

"Can you allocate a batch to me?"

"My son is being transferred to the Huadong Inspection Office next month and has to go to Suzhou. I've inquired, and there's no agent there yet; you should help Lu Ming out with this," Lu Qiaoshan said.

"That wouldn't be good; I've already promised Young Master Yu from Hangcheng that he would be the agent for both Suzhou and Hangcheng," Hong Zhiyou said, frowning in a difficult position.

"Little brother, what is our relationship?"

"We're brothers."

"Oh, you have benefits but don't give them to your own people, instead giving them to outsiders; that doesn't make sense, does it?"

"No matter what, you have to allocate at least a little bit of Suzhou to me."

"Otherwise, given our friendship, it just doesn't look right."

Lu Qiao pulled him over with a look of enthusiasm, trying to get close.

"Suzhou is definitely something Yu Xuan won't let go of."

"I can put in a word for Yangzhou, though, and have him specifically allocate it to you."

"How does that sound?"

"However, the market price for this liquor has gone up now, so it might be a bit more expensive than before."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"Yangzhou?"

"That works, that works too."

"As long as there's something to eat, that's enough."

Lu Qiao agreed readily.

"Old Lu, have you heard about Li Ya's affair?" Hong Zhiyou cut to the chase.

"Sigh."

"That kid got lucky; he managed to fall in love with a damn international spy."

"The key is that this matter was hidden too deeply."

"It wasn't until the international legal battle started that I understood what was going on."

"A Colonel, and a Third-Class Cloud Banner Medal at that."

"Opportunities to earn merit these days are rarer than beauties; he really hit the jackpot."

"Heaven is not helping me."

"If I were still at the station, this credit would never have fallen to Li Ya."

Lu Qiao sighed sourly.

"That can't be right, your wife wouldn't allow it either," Hong Zhiyou laughed.

"I can't marry, but my son can at least date," Lu Qiao said.

"That's true," Hong Zhiyou nodded.

"Li Ya's ambition is very big now; with you gone, no one can keep him in check."

"Section Chief Lu, you were set up by him, plain and simple. As the big brother of the Nanchang Investigation Section, having lost such a big opportunity, haven't you thought about taking it back at all?"

He paused and took a sip of his drink.

Lu Qiao smiled and pointed at him: "You, my brother, are too cunning. It's that Old Wu can't hold the fort anymore, right?"

Hong Zhiyou smiled and said nothing.

Lu Qiao's face darkened, and he said sharply: "Now you think of me? When you were helping Li Ya drive me away, when you were hell-bent on blocking my path, why didn't you think of old ties then?"

"Let's talk about Li Ya," Hong Zhiyou said.

"Don't you worry, I won't swallow this bitter pill for nothing; none of them should think they can get away."

"Just wait, see how I deal with them when spring comes next year."

"Jinhai Station, I will kill my way back sooner or later!"

Lu Qiao said through gritted teeth.

"Alright, Section Chief Lu, you go ahead and get busy then, I won't disturb you anymore."

Hong Zhiyou stood up and said.

He could tell that Lu Qiao's life must be quite strained.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so covetous upon seeing that golden mouse.

Furthermore, there are many high-ranking officials and nobles in Jingling.

If he wants to scrape up some profit, he has to wait his turn in line.

Moreover, this person is vengeful.

He is likely desperate to return to Jinhai to settle the score with Li Ya.

According to the Station Chief's intentions, since the Deputy Station Chief position for Yu Zecheng was already decided, if Lu Qiao could go back to be the Intelligence Section Chief and fight with Li Ya, it would relieve some of the pressure on Yu Zecheng.

Now it seems that's not going to happen.

This person is too vengeful.

He is even thinking of plotting against the Station Chief.

If Old Lu had expressed even a little gratitude or goodwill toward the Station Chief, this could have worked.

Now, this matter naturally cannot be brought up.

"Brother, walk slowly, don't forget about the liquor," Lu Qiao stood up and saw him to the door.

"Take care."

Hong Zhiyou bowed slightly and walked away quickly.

Lu Qiao turned back into the office, quickly took off the gold chain from his glasses, and carefully placed it into a jewelry box; he had borrowed it from someone.

Once he was done wearing it, he naturally had to return it.

Ever since he returned to Jingling, all his family assets had been scraped clean by Ke Shufen.

He couldn't get any profit here either.

His life was as tight as could be.

His wife, Li Xiufen, complained at home every day, blaming him for letting Li Ya set him up, for leaving the easy life in Jinhai, and for having to come to Jingling to act like a servant to others all day long.

Lu Qiao was seething with hatred inside.

"Jinhai."

"I must go back."

"What I lost, I must take back."

"Li Ya, Wu Laogou, just you wait!"

Hong Zhiyou went to the embassy for a brief meeting with Anderson.

This commander, who once had an excellent relationship with Dai Li, was very talkative.

Hong Zhiyou took this opportunity to discuss the 100, 00 USD in supplies; Anderson was very generous and directly allocated 200, 00 USD in supplies, selling them to him at a very low "friendship price."

At the same time, Anderson also sent Ambassador Smith and merchants from the north to start endorsing a new stock that Hong Zhiyou was secretly manipulating.

After all, this was a mission assigned by the Jiang father and son.

Anderson understood the implication and naturally offered his full support.

Having settled this major matter.

Hong Zhiyou flew non-stop to Beiping.

By the time he arrived in Beiping, it was already past ten at night.

Ma Hansan sent Liu Yuzhu to drive to the airport to welcome him personally.

Liu Yuzhu was wearing a black peony-patterned national-style cheongsam, with a hot figure, an exquisite bun, and makeup; she was as beautiful as a fairy.

"Sister, what was shipped in the first batch?"

As Hong Zhiyou spoke, he reached out along the slit of her cheongsam.

"Annoying," Liu Yuzhu tapped him lightly and said with a coquettish pout.

"They say a moment of a beautiful night is worth a thousand pieces of gold."

"Old Ma definitely won't give me that chance, so I only have this bit of time in the car."

Hong Zhiyou laughed.

Old Ma is a shrewd person; if they were to stop to do something, he would count the time on his fingers, and he would immediately realize that the two of them were up to something.

Last time he sent Liu Yuzhu to Jinhai.

That was given by Old Ma, so Hong Zhiyou could naturally accept it.

To make a move once he was on someone else's turf would be asking for trouble.

It would be even more troublesome if Ma Hansan started suspecting that there was something fishy about the Xiangdao affair.

Between beauty and money.

Hong Zhiyou still knew which was more important.

Liu Yuzhu knew his incorrigible nature, so after scolding him a few times, she let him be.

"About seventy or eighty thousand dollars worth of antiques and gold were shipped."

"You... the place you found has nice scenery."

"As soon as Old Ma heard from his adjutant that your island was related to the Rong family, he agreed decisively."

"He trusts the Reds and capitalists more than the people of the National Government now."

Liu Yuzhu was indeed well-trained; even while saying this, her logic remained clear, though her voice trembled slightly.

"I just feel bad for you and the adjutant on this trip to Xiangdao; you must have given him quite a few benefits," Hong Zhiyou winked and said with a wicked smile.

"Isn't this the trick you suggested?"

"And here you are, still acting jealous."

Liu Yuzhu's face flushed red, and she panted.

"Of course I'm jealous."

"Can't help it, I dream of you every single night; once you've tasted the flavor, you're like a man possessed for the rest of your life, I'm afraid I'll never be able to forget it," Hong Zhiyou said, tossing out a playful remark.

"You really do have a sharp tongue," Liu Yuzhu shot him a sidelong glance.

"Last time at the hotel, you complimented me the same way, sister," Hong Zhiyou laughed.

"You're annoying!"

"You're going to get yourself killed, the car is about to flip."

A few kilometers from Ma's mansion, Hong Zhiyou took out a handkerchief, wiped his hands, and finished the job.

"You little troublemaker!"

Liu Yuzhu gave a coquettish scold, quickly drank some water, and touched up her makeup in the vanity mirror.

Her expression quickly returned to its beautiful and capable state.

After getting out of the car, she smoothed her qipao with a pat to her hips and walked inside on her high heels.

When they arrived at the residence, Ma Hansan was sitting with his legs crossed, reading a newspaper.

Seeing Liu Yuzhu and Hong Zhiyou, he glanced at his watch; it was almost exactly the time he had estimated for the trip—Secretary Hong was a reliable man indeed.

"Yuzhu, it's getting late, you should go back and rest first," Ma Hansan instructed.

"Yes, Bureau Chief."

Liu Yuzhu smiled and walked out.

"Secretary Hong, thank you for the matter regarding Xiangdao."

"Great minds think alike, as they say."

"A few days ago, I went to the field headquarters to see General Delin; he is very optimistic about the war in the Northeast and North China, especially Hu Zongnan's offensive against Shanbei."

"I don't think so."

"If this battle is lost, Fu Zuoyi will have to enter Beiping."

"If it's won, once the external threats are gone, the Generalissimo will surely turn his blade on the Gui Clique and the Jin-Sui Clique."

"As for me, I was a nail driven into North China by Boss Dai when he was alive, acting under orders in a time of crisis. I'm neither part of the Whampoa Clique nor the Jiang-Zhe faction, and I'm not even one of those Cantonese like Zheng Jiemin."

"When the Boss was alive, he wanted to pull me out once he was done using me; thanks to you, my brother, I managed to dodge that bullet."

"Now that he's gone, I'm even less favored. The Bureau of Confidentiality sent a chain-smoker named Wang Puchen to watch me like a ghost that won't leave; he plays the fool in front of me every day, as if I don't know what Mao Renfeng is plotting."

"Why else would they strip me of my position as Director of the Beiping-Tianjin Office and Beiping Station Chief, only to give me a 'fat' job? They're trying to bury me alive, bit by bit."

"And yet, I'm accepting it all."

Ma Hansan tilted his chin, speaking with arrogance.

"But you're right; whether the Nationalist Army wins or loses, I'll be on the receiving end of that blade sooner or later. I might as well listen to you, brother, and prepare to run early."

He paused, leaned back on the sofa, and spread his hands with a smile.

"Bureau Chief Ma is truly insightful."

"I have a favor to ask this time. The Americans have allocated 200, 00 in military supplies, and I want to send them over through your channels; I hope you can make things convenient for me," Hong Zhiyou said, getting straight to the point.

His trust in Ma Hansan was even greater than his trust in Wu Jingzhong.

Why?

The two of them had carried the Boss's body away together; they had long since shared a life-and-death bond.

If Ma Hansan wanted to sell him out, it would be hard for him to escape.

If he were in trouble, Ma Hansan wouldn't fare much better.

Even though they didn't interact much and occasionally competed against each other, they were truly of one mind and one branch.

This was why Ma Hansan could "speak freely" and utter such treasonous remarks in front of him.

"You've got some nerve, kid. Don't you want your head anymore?"

"200, 00 in American supplies—that's how many trucks and how many men?"

Ma Hansan frowned.

"The problem is that the Red side pays a high price."

"Bureau Chief Ma, how can you be so sure that the future of the world belongs to the Nationalist Army?"

"Actually, you, General Delin, Hu Zongnan, and Fu Zuoyi see it more clearly than I do."

"If the Red side falls, the only ones who benefit are the Jiang family and their son."

"Think of how many interests are entangled in this."

"Not to mention anything else, every time a ship carrying American military aid docks, how many pockets get lined along the transport route?"

"Except for the Generalissimo, no one wants to stop the war."

"Some want to be promoted to 'Viceroy of Shaanxi and Gansu,' some want to be 'Kings of Equal Rank.' All these 'impenetrable formations' are just things reported to the Generalissimo; everywhere you look, there are gaps being opened in secret to let supplies into Shanbei."

"If they really can't get them through, the American observer groups and reporters just go to Shanbei themselves."

"Why? If the war stops, what's left to talk about regarding military aid?"

"The Americans are panicking too."

"With so many people in Yanbian, if they had to rely on the little grain they grow in the mud pits, they would have starved to death long ago."

"By placing an extra bet, whether you go to Xiangdao later or the world changes, don't you have one more option?"

"I'm a businessman; if there's a huge profit, there's no reason not to earn it."

"Bureau Chief Ma, what do you think?"

Hong Zhiyou lit a cigarette and spoke unhurriedly.

Ma Hansan narrowed his small, single-lidded eyes and stared at him, then began to laugh:

"Little brother."

"I just heard this same speech from General Delin at the field headquarters the day before yesterday."

"It's not simple for you to have this kind of insight."

"Hmm, you do have the qualifications to do this business."

"Since you know there are many highwaymen on this route, how much do you intend to put on the table?" Ma Hansan stopped with the pleasantries and went straight to the point.

"Ten thousand US dollars," Hong Zhiyou said.

"Ten thousand US dollars isn't even enough for me to pay off those highwaymen."

"You're a businessman."

"And I am Lord Ma; have you ever seen a deity that doesn't eat the incense offered to it?"

Ma Hansan sneered with disdain.

"Bureau Chief Ma, just say it plainly," Hong Zhiyou said.

"Thirty thousand US dollars, not a cent less," Ma Hansan said, holding up three fingers.

"Thirty thousand? Isn't that a bit much?" Hong Zhiyou frowned.

"One cent less and this won't get done."

"Beiping is my territory, so it's easy to handle, but once you leave Baoding and enter Shaanxi, there are corps commanders and staff officers under Hu Zongnan—if you miss even one of them, you won't get through."

"Otherwise, without a pretext, what excuse do you have to ship so much cargo?"

"You're lucky with your timing; the Generalissimo is currently supporting Hu Zongnan with everything he's got, and there are many transport teams, so no one will look too closely."

"Thirty thousand, no room for negotiation."

"And that's only because I believe in your 'hedging your bets' theory; otherwise, I would never touch this head-lopping business."

Ma Hansan said righteously.

"Alright, thirty thousand it is," Hong Zhiyou agreed.

These 200, 00 in supplies had been acquired at a low price.

Based on market rates and the scarcity in Yanbian, the actual value was likely 300, 00 US dollars.

After deducting Ma Hansan's kickback and the various miscellaneous expenses for handling and transport in Jinhai.

He would still have at least 50, 00 US dollars in profit.

Plus the favor from the Rong family and so on.

It was definitely a huge profit.

"By the way, Bureau Chief Ma, do you know the bank manager Fang Buting?"

"A friend of mine has a daughter who wants to join the Beiping branch."

"Could you pull some strings?"

Hong Zhiyou hadn't forgotten his real business.

"Fang Buting is too upright, and he comes from a scholarly family with very prominent ancestors; he's too arrogant in his bones, and he looks down on people like me."

"He listens to me regarding work matters, but it's hard to talk to him about personal favors."

"However, I do know the branch's vault manager."

"He specializes in laundering money for the municipal government and the garrison; his name is Cui Zhongshi. I can introduce you to him."

"Manager Cui is very capable; for a small matter like this, as long as your money is in place, it won't be a problem."

Ma Hansan thought for a moment and said.

Cui Zhongshi!

Uncle Cui?

"Alright, how about tomorrow? Lady Jiang is coming through Jinhai, and I need to rush back," Hong Zhiyou said.

"Alright, I will call you now."

Ma Han picked up the phone and dialed a few numbers:

"Director Cui, it is me.

"Come to my office at nine tomorrow morning; there is something to discuss.

"Alright!"

He hung up the phone.

"Nine tomorrow morning!" Ma Han said.

(End of chapter)