Chapter 319: Wealth Lies in the Present Day

"What could possibly happen to the Boatmen Gang?" Lu Qiao asked curiously.

"I just received word that the news of the Boatmen Gang smuggling opium with us has been leaked. Right now, several newspapers in Jinhai have published it; the city is quite lively at the moment," Anderson said.

"When I arrived, the morning paper hadn't been issued yet."

"Releasing the news at this hour... quite a clever tactic."

Lu Qiao's gaze darkened as he began to ponder.

"The students will very likely use this to stir up trouble."

"You are an expert in this area. The General wants you to return immediately; you must suppress this matter."

Anderson ordered arrogantly.

"There's no need to be in such a rush, is there? It's nothing more than shouting a few slogans."

Lu Qiao wanted to use this opportunity to drag those foreign devils down with him.

The opium trade had nothing to do with him anyway.

If he wanted to suppress the protests, shouldn't he be offered some benefits?

"Hmm, there is no rush."

"But if the General is dismissed, you can go ask the heavens for your shipment of arms," Anderson replied with a cooperative smile and a nod.

"Long Er and Lin Sufang, those two pigs!"

Lu Qiao's smile stiffened. After spitting out a curse, he dared not linger and hurried out.

"That Lu is no gentleman; he is always looking to take advantage."

"He is far worse than Hong."

"Hong has never won my money, yet he actually won five hundred US dollars from me."

"If it weren't for the fact that Hong refuses to traffic in opium, I certainly wouldn't be friends with such a piece of shit."

Philson watched Lu Qiao's retreating back and began to curse.

"Yes."

"Among those who cooperate with us, Hong is forever the most trustworthy friend," Anderson hurriedly nodded in agreement.

"No matter."

"Making a fortune is what matters."

"Anderson."

"You are to mobilize a group of soldiers to go and protect Miss Lin."

"Once Miss Lin is captured by their people and this matter blows up, it will be extremely disadvantageous for us."

"The President has already confirmed that the Department of Defense will move into the Pentagon."

"I certainly don't want to be the first unlucky bastard to be put on trial in the Pentagon!"

Philson chewed on his cigar and frowned.

"General."

"If it really comes to it, we could just hand over Miss Lin, and find two of our own scapegoats to say that you were completely unaware of this matter," Anderson suggested.

"NO."

"The opium trade cannot stop."

"Miss Lin and the Boatmen Gang must be protected."

"There is no faster way to make money than this. As long as we hold on and stall, and complete a few more deals, we can head straight back to America."

"By then, we can buy two large fishing boats, call up a group of beauties, and enjoy the tenderness of the sea to our heart's content—wouldn't that be nice?" Philson was accustomed to making quick money and naturally did not want to give up this fat piece of meat.

"Yes, sir."

Anderson sighed to himself.

Alas.

Philson still did not understand the essence of Eastern culture.

In all things, one must know when to advance and when to retreat.

Quit while you're ahead.

At a time like this, if he still won't let go, I fear he will find it hard to escape death.

Fortunately, he knew how to "play both sides" and had left himself a way out with Hong.

Thinking of this, he used the excuse of mobilizing troops to leave the barracks by car, hurried to a small hotel, and picked up the phone:

"Hong."

"Philson has given the order for me to send men to protect Lin Sufang."

"What do you need me to do?"

"Do nothing at all?"

"But... but I want to do something for you. You know, we are good broth..."

"OK, I understand."

Jinhai Station.

Li Ya walked quickly into the Station Chief's office: "Station Chief, have you read today's morning paper?"

"I have."

"These Americans truly have a heart that will not rest until they destroy our China."

"Trafficking opium from within our borders and dumping it on our own people—what difference is there between their actions and those of the Eight-Nation Alliance back then?" Wu Jingzhong scolded coldly.

"Indeed."

"These damned fellows, riding on our heads and acting like tyrants, while engaging in such shameless business."

"This kind of poison left by the Boatmen Gang really needs to be rooted out."

"Station Chief, I would like to volunteer to arrest this scum."

After ten years of ups and downs, Li Ya's patriotic blood had still not cooled.

"No rush."

"Let the wind blow a little longer. Once it gets big enough and national public opinion rises, the Generalissimo will have to demand an explanation from Truman."

"Besides, the nail that sticks out gets hammered down. If you rush in now, aren't you just making an enemy of the Americans?"

"Don't forget, they claimed to be maintaining order in Qingdao, but they killed plenty of our citizens."

"These people don't pay with their lives for killing."

"Even the Generalissimo can't afford to provoke them. You should hold back for now and wait and see."

Wu Jingzhong furrowed his brows and tapped his chest.

Li Ya felt a warmth in his heart and said gratefully: "Thank you for the guidance, Teacher."

He gave a slight, bitter smile: "The Japanese left, and the Americans arrived. This land of ours is truly plagued by disasters."

"I don't know when the Generalissimo will be able to restore a pure land."

"If there really comes a day when we have to fight the Americans."

"I will still be the first to charge forward!"

"Hehe, just wait, that day will come." Wu Jingzhong laughed.

Just as they were speaking, Lu Qiao walked in.

"Captain Li is here too." He adjusted his glasses and said with a smile.

"Station Chief, then you two talk?" Li Ya looked coldly at Lu and prepared to leave.

"Hey."

"Why leave?"

"If it's about the student protests, we can discuss it together," Wu Jingzhong said.

"That works, let's do it together then."

"Station Chief, you know that we are currently at war with the Red tickets. If the news of the Americans and the Boatmen Gang dumping opium breaks now, it will be detrimental to military aid."

"In my opinion, it would be best to take measures early, before the stench spreads to other regions."

Lu Qiao said.

"Department Chief Lu has some high insights?" Li Ya rolled his eyes upward and asked.

"That, naturally, I do."

"Don't forget that Department Chief Lu is the proud student of Deputy Minister Zheng. I read that White Paper of Minister Zheng's again today; it really has some substance," Wu Jingzhong laughed.

At the mention of the White Paper, Lu Qiao felt a sharp pain in his chest, and his face turned pale.

"I wouldn't call them high insights."

"I have two points of advice: First, control the newspapers and use this opportunity to properly rectify the public opinion front in Jinhai."

"Second, at all costs, we must protect the Boatmen Gang."

"Protecting the Boatmen Gang is protecting the US military."

"Only in this way will it not affect the Generalissimo's overall strategy for suppressing the tickets."

Lu Qiao took a breath in secret and said, enduring the pain.

"Department Chief Lu is truly racking his brains for the Party and the State," Li Ya sneered.

Lu Qiao raised the corners of his mouth and smiled without a word.

"Qiao Shan's considerations are very sound. How about this: to deal with the students, it is better to dispatch the military for a greater deterrent effect. You can draw men from the Garrison Headquarters and report the specifics to Commander Chen," Wu Jingzhong laughed.

"No, are you not sending people from the station?" Lu Qiao asked, stunned.

He had been thinking of using men from the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics; if something went wrong, Wu Jingzhong could at least share some of the blame, but he hadn't expected this old fox to refuse to take the bait at all.

"Captain Li, do you still have any men available?" Wu Jingzhong didn't refuse, instead kicking the ball to Li Ya.

Li Ya glanced sideways at Lu Qiao, pursed his lips, and said nothing of substance: "Station Chief, you know as well as I do that since the reorganization, our establishment has been greatly reduced; I've even closed the Third Section's branch in Beiping.

"Now, a portion of them have gone to catch military corruptors.

"The remaining men have to keep an eye on the underground printing shops and transit stations of the Red Tickets.

"I really have no one left."

"That can't be right, I just saw Mi Zhiguo and Song Fei smoking and idling downstairs when I arrived," Lu Qiao said, annoyed.

"If Department Chief Lu really needs to use them, as long as they are willing to listen to you, you can dispatch them as you please," Li Ya said with a shrug and a smile.

"Qiao Shan, handle it through the Inspection Department.

"With such a big matter, the station must follow procedure; by the time the report reaches Director Mao, the students might have already torn the Cao Gang apart," Wu Jingzhong said.

"Fine, then I will ask for men from the Inspection Team."

Lu Qiao nodded and walked out quickly.

He returned to his office.

He picked up the telephone, wanting to report to Zheng Jiemin.

He stopped halfway through dialing the number.

Putting the receiver back, he paced the room with his hands behind his back.

Why was Hong Zhiyou so cocky?

Wasn't it just because he had gained the appreciation of the Americans, which gave him the qualifications to transport military supplies for the Chairman and the commanders of various war zones?

Zheng Jiemin and his wife were too greedy.

Lu Qiao didn't want to be a running dog or a tool; he wanted to "slaughter in all directions" just like Hong Zhiyou.

The arms sales had already proven that Hong Zhiyou's path to wealth and rising up was correct and reliable.

If he copied the homework, he would inevitably succeed as well.

Therefore... he must suppress the protest, show his face before the Americans, and become their "friend" and "brother" once and for all.

Thinking of this, Lu Qiao decided to independently command the suppression of this disturbance.

Whether he could be wealthy for the rest of his life depended on this one gamble today.

He picked up his briefcase and walked downstairs with hurried steps.

"Brother Shan, another meeting?"

Hong Zhiyou and Yu Zecheng, who had just returned from shopping, met him head-on and asked while carrying a large bag of fruit.

"Cao... nothing, little Hong, I have things to do, I'm leaving."

Lu Qiao was about to speak, but feeling it was inappropriate, he waved his hand and walked away quickly.

"Old Lu has been in high spirits lately; he must have found a big deal," Yu Zecheng laughed.

"How do you know?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"Didn't you hear him call you 'little Hong'?

"Whenever he uses that tone, he's definitely floating again. He won't be getting a promotion anytime soon, so all that's left is making a fortune," Yu Zecheng said as they walked.

"That seems to make sense," Hong Zhiyou shrugged, noncommittal.

"Old Lu is definitely going to impose martial law on the Cao Gang; I suspect Li Ya will try to sabotage him. Do you have any thoughts?" Yu Zecheng looked around and said in a low voice.

"Li Ya developed a batch of informants in Guo Youliang's student branch.

"These people have been to the Political Academy.

"Those who are to be developed into the Three People's Principles Youth League or reserve forces for the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics must have their files stored at the station.

"Go to the Confidentiality Section and check the files, and send them to me once you find them.

"Let Old Lu cut him down a few pegs for fun."

Office.

Once Lu Qiao left, Li Ya looked at Wu Jingzhong: "Teacher, do you think I should find something for Lu Qiao to do?"

"Find something?" Wu Jingzhong's gaze sharpened, and he put down the newspaper in his hand.

"Didn't we send a batch of students to the cadre school last time?

"Comrade Jianfeng's intention is that the Three People's Principles Youth League branch needs to recruit some fresh blood; we can take this opportunity to test their quality, and it will also help them infiltrate the Red Ticket student branch.

"It will be useful in the future."

Li Ya thought for a moment and said.

"Infiltrating the student branch is a good suggestion.

"However, you don't need to tell me about the affairs of the Three People's Principles Youth League."

Wu Jingzhong was sensitive and vigilant when it came to politics.

"You are my teacher and leader.

"And you are also an old classmate whom Comrade Jianfeng trusts.

"He instructed me to learn more from you, act according to your orders, and also wanted to use your discerning eye to help him vet things."

Li Ya said.

"Is that so?

"Let me ask."

Fearing that Li Ya was playing some trick that would make him take the blame later, Wu Jingzhong stood up, picked up the phone, and dialed a number:

"Jinhai Station Chief Wu Jingzhong, connect me to the Headquarters Number Two Residence."

After the line was transferred, Wu Jingzhong said with a respectful expression:

"Superior, it is Jingzhong.

"It is like this, Li Ya says there is a batch of students from the cadre school...

"Good, I understand.

"Goodbye, old classmate."

He did not mention a word about the Americans and the Cao Gang dumping opium.

First, Li Ya might have already reported to Jianfeng.

Second, if he hadn't reported, Jianfeng was not his direct superior, so there was no necessity to report to him.

Third, he wanted to watch the performance of Lu Qiao and Li Ya.

If this matter didn't blow up, Hong Zhiyou's play couldn't continue.

It wouldn't be too late to report to Mao Renfeng and Jianfeng after the matter became big.

"Jianfeng's meaning is for you to handle it yourself," Wu Jingzhong turned to look at Li Ya, not letting a single word implicate himself.

"Understood."

Li Ya nodded and turned to walk out.

After two steps, he looked back at Wu Jingzhong with a raised-eyebrow smile:

"Does Teacher not even trust me?"

"This matter is of great importance, especially since it involves Jianfeng; we must be frank and honest with each other. You know that my old classmate values the word 'loyalty' very much," Wu Jingzhong said sternly.

"Yes!"

Li Ya, who originally had some doubts, immediately became respectful upon hearing this.

The word loyalty made him instinctively feel closer to his teacher again.

Just as he reached the door, Hong Zhiyou walked in carrying fruit: "Captain Li, don't go, have some fruit."

"No need, I have things to be busy with," Li Ya said.

"Then take a bag."

Hong Zhiyou separated a bag and handed it to him.

"That works."

Li Ya thought he would be meeting student representatives later, so he could just use it as a reward for them, and took it.

"Is everything arranged?" Wu Jingzhong asked after closing the door.

"When I just came in, I saw Sheng Xiang go to Director Yu's office; it should be almost certain," Hong Zhiyou said.

"Hmm, that's good.

"Has the master behind the Cao Gang been dug out?"

Wu Jingzhong asked.

"Analyzing the news from Jingling, I actually roughly know who it is; now I'm just waiting for Lin Sufang to take the bait for confirmation.

"Furthermore, I've pondered it, and I have no grudges with that person; there's no reason for them to make a move on me."

Hong Zhiyou was quite puzzled.

"What's strange about that?

"There is always a group of people in this world who are bored to death all day and want to find some fun.

"Let's see.

"If it really is them, they are truly not easy to deal with."

As the Jinhai intelligence chief, Wu Jingzhong had already investigated it secretly.

"Someone can treat it."

"Once it's confirmed, I will make a trip to Jingling," Hong Zhiyou said.

"Hmm, that is the only way."

"Having run into this, it's a streak of bad luck."

"No matter what, we have to send this god away!"

Wu Jingzhong nodded and sighed.

Office of the Inspection Division of the Garrison Command.

Lu Qiaoshan was fastening his military uniform cuff when the phone rang.

"It's me."

"I know. Have someone bring over the list and photos found in the archives immediately."

Clack!

He hung up the phone.

"Old Lu, is there a situation?" Peng Chengtao asked with a smile, hands in his pockets while sitting on the sofa.

"Li Ya!

"He met with a few students in secret; he's trying to stir up trouble and find some work for me."

Lu Qiaoshan sneered with disdain.

"What do you plan to do?" Peng Chengtao asked.

"Open fire.

"Live ammunition suppression," Lu Qiaoshan said, his eyes turning cold without a moment's hesitation.

"No way.

"Since the recovery, there has been no precedent for live ammunition suppression in any major region; wouldn't that be too risky?" Peng Chengtao said.

"If we don't use guns, the students will never be afraid.

"I am not Bai Shiwei, nor am I Wu Jingzhong, shrinking back whenever I encounter students.

"Isn't Li Ya trying to light a fire?

"I'll take it all."

Lu Qiaoshan said.

"Should we ask General Chen for instructions?" Peng Chengtao said.

"Ask for instructions, my ass.

"Although I am under the dual jurisdiction of the Second Department and the Command, he, Chen Zhangjie, is from the Shanxi-Suiyuan clique and can't even mobilize the 94th Army; does he dare to control me?

"Besides, he is dying for us to make some noise.

"Otherwise, staring at maps all day is so boring."

Lu Qiaoshan snorted coldly and laughed.

"Maybe we should still ask Officer Zheng for instructions," Peng Chengtao still felt it was a bit crazy.

"No need.

"With the Americans backing us, what are you afraid of?

"Besides, Officer Zheng is busy with a thousand tasks; if we ask him about everything, it will make us subordinates look too incompetent.

"Don't worry, I'll take responsibility if something happens."

Lu Qiaoshan was determined to hold onto the Americans' thighs tightly and would not stop until he achieved his great cause.

"Fine, then I'll send you some men," Peng Chengtao nodded and said.

Boatmen's Guild.

When the newspapers reported it everywhere, Long Er and Lin Sufang immediately dispatched hundreds of men to guard the residence until it was impenetrable.

They even set up machine guns on the high walls.

However, these could not scare the students and workers who were used to seeing big scenes.

The student representatives handpicked by Li Ya charged at the very front, waving their fists incessantly and shouting slogans of justice.

Hong Xiaohui stood shoulder to shoulder with Guo Youliang.

"Down with American imperialism, down with the shameless remnants of the feudal Boatmen's Guild."

Her throat was already becoming hoarse from shouting.

"Senior Student Guo, Huang Shun and the others are starting to stack sandbags; they are going to storm the Boatmen's Guild," Hong Xiaohui said excitedly, pointing at the group at the very front.

"Indeed.

"I didn't expect Huang Shun and the others to be so proactive; I hadn't seen that before," Guo Youliang was also pleasantly surprised.

The branch's combat camp had gained a few more fierce warriors, which was extremely beneficial for propagating red ideology.

Just as they were speaking.

Columns of military vehicles entered the scene.

Soldiers from the Garrison Command and the American military entered from the left and right respectively.

The well-trained soldiers set up roadblocks immediately.

Swish, swish.

Soldiers immediately crawled into position to set up machine guns.

Or stood in high positions.

The sound of weapons being loaded echoed one after another.

It was still the familiar recipe and the familiar taste from the past.

The students were long accustomed to it and continued to shout slogans crazily, pushing forward.

Hong Xiaohui was just about to follow Guo Youliang and squeeze forward.

Two burly men suddenly lunged out from the side, grabbed her arms, dragged her out of the crowd, and pulled her into a nearby residential house.

"You, what are you doing?" Once the door closed, Hong Xiaohui struggled free.

"I told them to do it," Hong Zhiyou walked down from the second floor unhurriedly.

"Brother, we had an agreement: you do your thing, and I won't interfere.

"I'll do my thing, and you don't interfere either."

Hong Xiaohui said with great dissatisfaction.

"No rush.

"I'll intervene this one time, and after this, I won't anymore.

"Follow me."

Hong Zhiyou pulled her up to the second floor.

He opened the window a crack and pointed at the people charging at the front:

"Do you find those few students a bit strange?"

"A little," Hong Xiaohui said.

"They just returned from training at the cadre school; they are undercover agents for the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics and the Three People's Principles Youth League planted in your student branch.

"Do you know why they are charging at the front?

"Because they need to perform, they need your acceptance, and they need to become your 'leaders.'

"I told you that you are still young, and the branch is already riddled with holes.

"We know everything you are doing."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"I, I know, but that doesn't affect us making our voices heard. Besides, we've held parades before and nothing happened; these soldiers wouldn't dare to open fire, would they?" Hong Xiaohui said.

"That is the reason I brought you here."

(End of chapter)