Chapter 315: Young Master Kong

Two days later.

Central Bank building.

Hong Zhiyou walked in carrying a lunch box, laid everything out, took a pair of public chopsticks to stir them simply, then took half of each and started eating with rice.

After finishing the meal, he scooped some soup and drank it, then said respectfully: "Director, you may dine."

Jianfeng had already been watching with lowered brows.

The dishes were Huainan cuisine, which he loved.

This kid understood his taste.

The tasting was also very professional.

People die for money; since he was making such a big move, there would be people taking risks, using various methods to assassinate him.

Poisoning was what he had to guard against most.

The other party could play tricks in the food, or make special marks, or play tricks on individual ingredients.

Hong Zhiyou used public chopsticks to stir everything evenly, which maximally eliminated such hidden dangers. His secret agent quality was undoubtedly top-notch, and at the same time, it reflected his loyalty.

After all, the people closest to you are often the ones who pretend the most.

Daring to taste like this, his loyalty was commendable.

"Zhiyou, beating seven tigers in a row—how is the response and public opinion outside?" Jianfeng felt the burden on his shoulders and the pressure in his heart ease quite a bit, and he sat down to ask.

"The response is very good.

"Quite a few wealthy merchants have contacted me privately, wanting to sell at market price, or even lower than market price.

"At the same time, Mr. Ziliang, in order to cooperate with your instructions, transported 10,000 tons of fair-price grain from the Jin Shan Foreign Trade Company to stabilize market prices.

"Now, rice shops, department stores, and major stores are distributing rice and grain to citizens in limited quantities.

"The bank is also fully controlling the issuance of Gold Yuan notes, increasing the ratio of Gold Yuan notes to gold and silver, and the stock market is also taking action.

"Beating tigers on one side, stabilizing on the other.

"With the Gold Yuan notes operating healthily, great things can be expected, and the economy can be stabilized.

"I heard that in the alleys outside, nursery rhymes have already spread, and there are commoners calling you 'Jiang Qingtian' (Justice Jiang)."

Hong Zhiyou flattered him without leaving a trace.

He supported Jianfeng's financial tiger-beating.

Although the action was destined to fail, and the broken ship of the Jiang dynasty was about to sink, the common people were innocent.

Being able to bleed the Kong and Song families and those comprador capitalists, letting the people eat a few more mouthfuls of rice—why not?

Jianfeng really wanted to do things.

If he followed the gentleman through life and death, with Jianfeng's "human-like" nature, there would inevitably be conveniences in the future.

"That's great.

"Stabilizing the Gold Yuan notes and having the common people eat will stabilize the morale of the army at the front, and winning battles will be just around the corner.

"By then, the people of Shanghai will also support our army with food and drink,"

Jianfeng laughed wishfully.

"However, with the grain Song family released, I'm afraid it won't last long.

"Most of the flour, rice, and oil are still controlled by Kong Lingkan's Yangzi Company, as well as Wang Chunzhi, Du Yuesheng, and others.

"If we don't take them down, those who are still watching won't bleed,"

Hong Zhiyou said bluntly.

"Beat, must beat.

"Before I came, I made a military pledge to the Chairman: no matter who is involved, whoever dares to hoard and place the national livelihood in fire and water will be handled at all costs.

"Let's start with Du Yuesheng and Wang Chunzhi.

"Especially Du Yuesheng. You have a private friendship with him, and this person also had deeds of saving the country during the War of Resistance; he should be a person who understands right from wrong.

"Give him some good ideological work, see if he can hand over the things in a reasonable way, and cooperate with and promote my work.

"If he can cooperate with us, the Kong family side might loosen up and be easier to handle,"

Jianfeng said with his hands behind his back.

Hong Zhiyou understood.

Jianfeng had misgivings about the Kong family; many things couldn't be solved just by killing.

"By the way, Tang Enbo replied. He has already sent a brigade from the 57th Army, fully equipped and ready to go, and they will enter the city to garrison tonight," Hong Zhiyou said.

"This Tang Enbo.

"He always acts for profit. After people were killed and grain was released, his troops arrived.

"Too treacherous,"

Jianfeng frowned in dissatisfaction.

"Arriving is good after all.

"Director, the food is getting cold, let me take it to heat it up,"

Hong Zhiyou said with great insight.

"No need, this is much better than the dry, hard rye bread in the Soviet Union.

"You go get busy,"

Jianfeng waved his hand.

Hong Zhiyou was just about to leave when Long Tao walked in: "Director, Director Xuan is here."

"Just as you said.

"Once the guillotine is raised and heads roll, it's more effective than any order or panacea. I don't worry about having no one to use," Jianfeng pointed at Hong Zhiyou and laughed.

"It's still the Director's well-planned strategy," Hong Zhiyou didn't dare take credit at all.

Soon, Xuan Tiewu walked in, full of smiles: "Director."

"Is Director Xuan's illness better?" Jianfeng asked with a smile.

"Better by more than half, no major issues.

"Several hundred elite police officers from the Police Bureau have all assembled, ready to wait for orders. Director, wherever you point, we will strike, and we will not hesitate to go through fire and water,"

Xuan Tiewu straightened his body and saluted Jianfeng.

"Good. With Director Xuan helping me, why worry that the livelihood of Shanghai won't flourish?

"Captain Long, from now on, I appoint you as Shanghai Police Assistant, concurrently managing the mobilization of the Economic Brigade and police resources, ensuring that the investigation of stolen goods and the seizure of stolen goods are implemented in place," Jianfeng ordered righteously.

"Yes," Long Tao obeyed loudly.

Kong family back garden.

Kong Lingkan sipped red wine, his face no longer showing the arrogance of being invincible, looking gloomily at Wang Lie:

"Jianfeng seems to be playing for real.

"Zhang Yequ is my man.

"He is aiming at me.

"What's even more hateful is that Song Ziliang actually bled to dismantle my stage. I really can't swallow this breath."

"*Heh*, the streets and alleys are now all blowing Jianfeng's trumpet. I think he wants to use this opportunity to move up," Wang Lie said.

"Move up?

"He doesn't have the Song family's blood in his bones; there's no chance he'll move up.

"What about Weiping?" Kong Lingkan asked.

"Still holed up at home. I think he can't come out.

"This guy hoarded quite a bit of grain, and we also have a lot stored in the Green Gang's wharf warehouses.

"Once Du Weiping turns against us, it will be fatal for us,"

Wang Lie frowned.

"We have to guard against it.

"I heard Hong Zhiyou visited Du Yuesheng.

"If Du Yuesheng's brain twitches, who knows, he might really turn the tables on us.

"We can't sit and wait for death; we must take the initiative to attack,"

Kong Lingkan put his wine glass down heavily on the table and said grimly.

"How to attack?" Wang Lie asked.

"Jianfeng kills my people, I dare to kill his people.

"Doesn't Hong Zhiyou like to pretend?

"Let's start with him,"

Kong Lingkan said coldly.

"Who to find?" Wang Lie said.

"Stupid.

"Post a bounty. Whoever can kill Hong Zhiyou, I... we will reward them with 1,000 taels of gold," Kong Lingkan changed his words as they reached his lips.

*Bastard... * Wang Lie cursed inwardly, but his face remained smiling:

"Your move is still high.

"There are countless desperate people in Shanghai. This way, there will be thousands of people wanting Hong Zhiyou's head.

"Unless he stays in the Central Bank building and doesn't come out.

"But as long as he dares to show his head, he's dead."

Just as he finished speaking.

*Bang. *

The red wine bottle on the table burst open.

Before Kong Lingkan understood what was happening, another shot hit the stone table.

"Assassins!"

Kong Lingkan and Wang Lie were so scared they hurriedly lay behind the table and shouted.

The Kong family's elite security team immediately surrounded them.

They saw several bearded foreigners get out of a jeep across the way, their builds unusually burly, looking fierce and evil.

The leader was over 1.9 meters tall, with golden hair hanging to his shoulders, wearing a camouflage vest, his muscles almost bursting out of his clothes.

As he walked over, he made a shooting gesture at Kong Lingkan.

*Swish, swish! *

The security team formed a formation, guns loaded, ready for battle.

"Don't be nervous, my name is Raul, captain of the Third Squad of the French Foreign Legion. We are here to assassinate you," the big man pointed at Kong Lingkan and said in English.

French Foreign Legion, mercenary organization!

*Damn it, telling me not to be nervous? * Kong Lingkan hid behind a security guard and shouted in a foreign language:

"This is the Kong family, I advise you not to seek your own death."

"Don't be nervous, my friend.

"I won't fire.

"Someone gave me an order: as long as Hong Zhiyou dies, we will shoot you.

"So, from now on, we will follow you 24 hours a day to ensure Hong's safety,"

Raul said in a loud voice.

"What is all this?" Wang Lie looked at Kong Lingkan, his brain almost spinning into a blur.

*Protect Hong Zhiyou. *

*Why are you following Young Master Kong? *

*So it's a one-for-one trade. *

"You can call the police, but you know, we are the victorious nation, we have an embassy, and my American friends.

"Even if we go to the police station, at most one cigarette and you have to let us go.

"From this moment on, as elegant and devout Catholics, let God bless us to be together.

"Kong, my friend.

"You will get along well with Mr. Hong.

"OK?"

Raul leaned his gun on his shoulder and shrugged, asking.

At the same time, the other tough guys behind him also raised their guns and aimed at Kong Lingkan.

"Damn it."

Kong Lingkan spat angrily.

"What now?

"Do we still issue the bounty?" Wang Lie asked.

"Is your brain kicked by a donkey?

"If Hong Zhiyou dies, they will take my life in exchange. Do you want me to die?" Kong Lingkan glared at him and cursed in a low voice.

"Aren't they just a few foreign devils?

"Just have the security and guards wipe them out, sink them into the Huangpu River, who would know?" Wang Lie said.

"I shouldn't say you have no brain.

"This is a member of a mercenary group. Killing them will lead to an endless pursuit.

"Also, they are foreigners.

"Now the National Government is supporting 100,000 stationed American troops. Do you know how much it costs to supply them? It's equivalent to supporting 50 million National Army soldiers.

"In other words, one foreign devil is worth at least 500 heads.

"And they came through the American route; who knows if there's an American financier behind them.

"If you wipe out this squad, it's equivalent to killing thousands of people.

"Once Falanxi and North America pursue it, it will be a serious international diplomatic accident. I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to find a place in the National Government or North America,"

Kong Lingkan was meticulous in his calculations, and the gains and losses were clear.

"Then we just let it go?" Wang Lie was somewhat unwilling.

"Nonsense.

"Not only can we not kill Hong Zhiyou, but we must also notify the Chamber of Commerce and the stinking fish and rotten shrimp outside—no one is allowed to touch Hong Zhiyou.

"Whoever dares to move Hong Zhiyou, I will wipe out their whole family,"

Kong Lingkan ordered grimly.

"Fine," Wang Lie nodded uninterestingly.

"Mr. Raul, I am willing to accept reconciliation. I swear to God that Hong Zhiyou will not have any danger in Shanghai," Kong Lingkan stepped forward and skillfully made a cross on his chest.

"Very good.

"However, words are not proof. From now on, we will protect you 24 hours a day until Mr. Hong leaves Shanghai," Raul was very satisfied with his attitude.

*Protect your grandfather... * Kong Lingkan's eyes rolled, and he asked with a smile:

"Can you tell me how much money Hong Zhiyou gave you? I'll pay double—no, triple, five times.

"I have plenty of money."

"Easy to talk about.

"I love American dollars.

"After this order is done, let's talk about cooperation," Raul still had professional ethics.

Just as they were speaking, a black Beetle drove over.

The passenger window rolled down slowly.

Hong Zhiyou's handsome face appeared before Kong Lingkan.

"Young Master Kong, thank you for your guarantee. May the Lord bless you."

Hong Zhiyou blinked and smiled at him, stepped on the gas, and drove away.

"Hong Zhiyou, I'll go to your ancestors' eighteenth generation. Sooner or later, I'll go to Xiaoshan, Zhejiang, and dig up your ancestral grave."

Kong Lingkan, who had suffered defeat after defeat, was so angry he broke his defense and cursed.

What kind of low-class tricks were these? He even brought in mercenaries.

Now it was good.

Punches were hitting cotton, unable to exert any force.

It was truly infuriating.

"Young Master Kong, what now?" Wang Lie said.

"Besides asking what now, what now, can't you think of what now?" Kong Lingkan said unpleasantly.

"I..."

Wang Lie opened his mouth but didn't make a sound.

He actually had a method, but seeing Kong Lingkan was in a fit of anger, it was better not to look for a scolding.

Let's talk another day.

"Rest assured, the sky won't fall.

"The Shanghai Bund is still my Kong family's.

"Let Hong Zhiyou keep his dog life for now, and see what tricks he can play. I don't believe that with Jiang Jianfeng's two brushes, he can do anything to me.

"Hmph."

Kong Lingkan flicked his hand and returned to the villa.

Hong Zhiyou rested his hand on the car window, blowing the wind of the Huangpu River, his mood feeling slightly relaxed.

The mercenaries were hired for him by Paul.

Raul's squad was originally executing a mission in Southeast Asia, protecting a wealthy merchant migrating to North America.

However, Paul's uncle knew the high-level management of the mercenary group.

They temporarily let Raul's squad take a plane overnight to enter the country and come to Shanghai, hanging under the American military's external establishment.

Of course, even without Raul's squad, he would have asked the American military stationed in Shanghai to protect him.

This was also his confidence in daring to come to Shanghai.

In the final analysis, Jiang, Song, Kong, and Chen held the Americans too high.

Hong Zhiyou drove to the Green Gang headquarters.

Du Yuesheng was waiting at the door early.

"Brother, good methods.

"I just received a call from Young Master Kong, telling the dog son to stop the assassination.

"Young Master Kong also threatened me that if anything happens to you, he will count this account on my Green Gang, and told me to restrain my subordinates,"

Upon meeting, Du Yuesheng said with a laugh that was not a laugh.

"He's good at shifting blame.

"Boss Du made an appointment with me today, it seems you've figured it out,"

Hong Zhiyou didn't talk nonsense and went straight to the point.

"Sigh.

"If I'm not mistaken, Jianfeng's next knife will be aimed at my head, right?" Du Yuesheng asked with a smile.

"Of course.

"Many people say you are the underground emperor of Shanghai. How about it, do you want to use some means to bump against it?" Hong Zhiyou raised his eyebrows and looked at him.

"How dare I.

"An axe hitting a bullet is undoubtedly an egg hitting a stone. I know exactly how many pounds I weigh.

"Tang Enbo's army is about to enter the city.

"Jianfeng's determination far exceeds my expectations!

"It's just that every family has its own difficult scriptures to read. As the head of the Green Gang, I have countless mouths waiting to be fed.

"Furthermore, I can't afford to offend the Kong family.

"They are the true compradors, holding the throats of nearly three-quarters of the people in Shanghai.

"I, to put it plainly, am just scraping some scraps from them,"

Du Yuesheng said candidly.

"Tell me your conditions," Hong Zhiyou had no interest in listening to his nonsense and asked directly.

"I am willing to sell the hoarded supplies at market price.

"In order not to offend the Kong family, I hope..."

Du Yuesheng looked around, leaned into Hong Zhiyou's ear, and whispered for a long while.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 316 =====