Chapter 320

Evening.

Jiang Jianfeng returned to his residence, his face full of exhaustion, and picked up the phone.

"Secretary Hong, come over here for a moment."

Soon, Hong Zhiyou arrived in response to the order: "Director, you summoned me."

"Zhiyou, Madam has arrived.

"She asked me to let the Yangtze Company off the hook in the name of brotherhood," Jiang Jianfeng said in a deep voice.

Hong Zhiyou looked at him, not daring to respond.

"I refused.

"Sealing off the Yangtze Company is crucial to stabilizing the Gold Yuan notes.

"If I give up now, I will have no way to answer to my father, nor to the people of Shanghai.

"Madam was very displeased at the time."

Jiang Jianfeng continued.

"By the way, Song Ziwen went to contact the American side today, wanting to take over the Yangtze Company's business, but he was also called off; it must be that Madam applied pressure over there," he added.

"She moved very quickly," Hong Zhiyou frowned.

"Report."

Just as they were speaking, a guard walked in.

"Speak," Jiang Jianfeng said.

"Mobile Corps Commander Liu has led his men to withdraw back to Quzhou," the guard said.

"Understood," Jiang Jianfeng waved his hand.

"Everyone says I use thunderous methods, but I think Madam is the one who truly does.

"Restricting my uncle on this side, and then withdrawing Tang Enbo's men—this is an attempt to sever my limbs,"

he said with some annoyance.

"Director.

"Don't be anxious. The Generalissimo is in Beiping; you can call the Jinhai Garrison Headquarters and say that the military supplies and grain prepared for Fu Zuoyi's troops have arrived.

"Ship this batch of goods to Jinhai overnight and have them stored in the American military warehouse.

"I am the secretary of the Jinhai American Aid Materials Committee; when the time comes, I can maneuver it to distribute a portion of this grain, transport it back to Shanghai by land, and distribute it to the common people here,"

Hong Zhiyou thought for a moment and said.

Jiang Jianfeng's tiger-hunting is destined to fail; even the Great Immortals couldn't save it.

Being able to disgust Kong Lingkan once is enough.

While at it, getting these tens of thousands of tons of supplies into our hands—after deducting what supports the Shanghai people, if we micromanage the rest and sell a portion to the Red side and Fu Zuoyi at a low price, that's pure profit.

This pocket is there to be picked.

"But if you do this, you will offend the Kong family and Madam; this will be very dangerous," Jiang Jianfeng said.

"Some things must be done by someone.

"To be able to serve the Director, how could I dare speak of danger," Hong Zhiyou said righteously.

"Good!"

Jiang Jianfeng patted his shoulder firmly.

"The Green Gang's ships arrived at Huangpu Wharf last night, just waiting for the Director's order.

"Within three days.

"Boss Du's side can finish loading everything and ship it to Jinhai,"

Hong Zhiyou said.

"Three days, can we hold off Madam?" Jiang Jianfeng frowned.

"Du Yuesheng is risking his life and livelihood to help us this time, so no matter what, we must hold on.

"In the Shanghai Bund, Madam cannot command the Green Gang.

"Tang Enbo's men just left, clearly not wanting to muddy the waters.

"The only people she can move are Xuan Tiewu's police bureau and the garrison headquarters' guards and military police; as long as Xuan Tiewu plays dead, she can only watch us load the ships,"

Hong Zhiyou analyzed with a firm tone.

"Xuan Tiewu is a very slick person; he certainly won't intervene. What I fear is Madam dragging Father back from the Beiping front line," Jiang Jianfeng frowned and said.

"The Generalissimo will certainly return.

"But he will definitely only return to clean up the mess after all the goods have been shipped away.

"Director, you should believe that a father's love is like a mountain; the Generalissimo will always favor you, no matter the time or place," Hong Zhiyou said confidently.

"Good.

"The Kong family has only been moving assets to North America all these years, and they play deaf and dumb whenever military supplies are mentioned.

"It is just right to bleed them heavily this time to provide for military funds.

"Father will certainly be happy to see it,"

Jiang Jianfeng said happily.

Hong Zhiyou looked at him, feeling secretly ashamed in his heart.

Comrade Jiang Jianfeng, I am sorry.

Growing up under the red flag, this pocket must be picked by me.

The Kong family.

Kong Lingkan walked in hurriedly: "Aunt, I just received news that Jiang Jianfeng is colluding with Du Yuesheng and is transporting grain to the Jinhai transfer center via American military and Green Gang ships.

"They are going to give our grain to Fu Zuoyi as military supplies."

"Jiang Jianfeng's move is ruthless and vicious.

"Little Sister, you must take action.

"Otherwise, these tens of thousands of tons of grain will truly go down the drain."

Madam Kong also chimed in to help.

"Transporting to Jinhai, that is the territory of Chen Zhangjie and Wu Jingzhong; once it enters the mouths of those hungry wolves, don't even think about getting it back.

"Madam, you must call Tang Enbo immediately and have him mobilize soldiers to block the Green Gang from transporting the grain."

Kong Xiangxi also said decisively.

"Good," Madam Jiang also became anxious.

After dialing the phone.

After a few simple sentences, she hung up.

"Tang Enbo has gone to southern Zhejiang to build defensive fortifications, saying he won't be able to return for a while," Madam Jiang said.

"Then transfer to the construction site; you must make Tang Enbo send men," Kong Xiangxi pointed at the phone and urged again.

After inquiring about the construction site's phone number, Madam Jiang dialed again...

"Tang Enbo is inspecting the construction site; he cannot be reached," Madam Jiang shook her head helplessly.

"This Tang Enbo, he drops the chain at every critical moment; he is truly unreliable."

Kong Xiangxi cursed angrily.

"How about mobilizing the Confidentiality Bureau or the Party-Affairs Bureau to try?" Kong Lingkan suggested.

"Useless.

"I have already contacted them; with Jiang Jianfeng, that killer star, around, they are all like shrinking turtles, not daring to show their heads at all," Kong Xiangxi snorted coldly.

"Father, you have a very close personal friendship with Director Xuan; have him mobilize the Military Police Headquarters.

"Now, besides Director Xuan, there is no one who can suppress Du Yuesheng's thirty thousand Green Gang members."

Kong Lingkan said impatiently.

"Useless.

"Director Xuan is sick again; I went to the hospital to visit him this morning, and he couldn't even speak.

"Playing dead to this extent, it's clear he doesn't want to get involved in this matter."

Kong Xiangxi shook his head and sighed.

"This dog thing, occupying the latrine but not pulling a stool!

"He only knows how to watch the show."

Kong Lingkan couldn't care about any aristocratic elegance anymore and started cursing with foul language in front of Madam.

Madam frowned, very displeased, but ultimately endured it.

"It must be the ghost trick Hong Zhiyou came up with.

"That kid is more cunning than a fox and covered in thorns; he's truly annoying!" Kong Lingkan became angrier the more he thought about it and could only pace back and forth in the room, fuming.

"Little Sister, if it really doesn't work... call the Generalissimo.

"If we drag it out like this, hundreds of thousands of US dollars will truly be gone."

Seeing the look Kong Xiangxi gave, Madam Kong hurriedly took Madam Jiang's hand and suggested with a smile.

"Aunt, I beg you," Kong Lingkan made a cross on his chest and requested.

"Alright.

"You wait, I'll go upstairs and call him," Madam Jiang sighed faintly and said.

She truly did not want to call the Generalissimo back from the front line; that would appear too ignorant of the big picture.

But right now, Jiang Jianfeng has gone crazy.

Besides the Generalissimo, no one can control him.

Thinking of this, she still dialed the Beiping Headquarters' number.

Beiping Headquarters.

"Generalissimo.

"My troops are at most three days' distance from Shijiazhuang.

"The Red side's Northeast Field Army is fighting inside the pass.

"The North China Field Army, closest to Xibaipo, is far away, over five hundred miles out; to return the army, it would take at least six days.

"This time difference is enough for us to fight a surprise attack.

"Zheng Tingfeng's troops have a high degree of mechanization and march very fast; once we lightning-strike to retake Shijiazhuang, the main force can immediately slant toward Xibaipo and settle the situation in one stroke.

"I request the Generalissimo's approval."

The tall and sturdy Fu Zuoyi pointed at the map and offered his strategy to the Generalissimo beside him.

"It's not like we haven't fought Xibaipo before.

"We've bombed it many rounds with planes alone.

"At the same time, the Red side has always loved setting up feints; could this be a trap?

"We have already suffered a great loss in Jinzhou; the Liao Yaoxiang Legion was completely annihilated, and the 94th Army cannot be lost again."

The Generalissimo said sternly.

Fu Zuoyi was speechless.

Back then, Du Yuming suggested many times not to retake Jinzhou, but you insisted on sending the Liao Yaoxiang Legion to their deaths; now that you know the loss, isn't it too late?

He now truly doubted whether this Principal and his high-achieving students like Hu Zongnan knew how to fight at all.

"Generalissimo.

"Right now, the war is deadlocked; the Red side has been knocking at the gates, and Jinan has also been lost.

"Using a surprise move in this chaotic situation might lead to victory.

"Once Xibaipo is taken, the Red side will be leaderless, their morale will surely collapse, and the armies might even act independently and turn into scattered sand; then we will have enough opportunity and time to gather and annihilate them."

Fu Zuoyi said.

Just as the Generalissimo was about to speak, Yu Jishi walked in: "Generalissimo, a call from Madam."

The Generalissimo stopped paying attention to Fu Zuoyi and returned to the room to answer the phone:

"Good, I know.

"Calling him might not be effective; I will return to Shanghai as soon as possible."

He hung up the phone.

He was quite troubled.

On one hand, he wanted to foster Jiang Jianfeng and help him establish his position.

On the other hand, there was Madam and the Kong-Song family; these people had deeply infiltrated the Party and State, and it also involved the matter of uniting with the US, so it was not easy to move against them.

Just as he was worrying.

The phone rang again.

Yu Jishi answered: "Generalissimo, Wu Jingzhong from the Jinhai Station has an urgent matter and requests an audience."

Jinhai Station.

Wu Jingzhong took out a handkerchief to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, and soon the Generalissimo's majestic voice came from the other end of the phone.

He hurriedly stood at attention, keeping his voice capable without losing a hint of the tension brought by awe:

"Generalissimo, I am Wu Jingzhong of the Jinhai Station.

"Acting on Comrade Jiang Jianfeng's orders, the naval warehouse is receiving military grain transported from Shanghai, expected to be one hundred thousand tons; the transfer can be completed within three days.

"Regarding when the first batch of grain will be transported to Beiping, I request the Generalissimo's instructions.

"Yes, yes!"

Beep, beep, the other end hung up the phone.

Wu Jingzhong wiped his sweat and let out a long sigh of relief: "Zhiyou, you are dragging my old bones to be buried with you."

The Generalissimo put down the phone.

"This Wu Jingzhong, he could just call the headquarters when transporting grain; to disturb you with such a trivial matter, it's simply nonsense," Yu Jishi said with dissatisfaction.

"No.

"Jiang Jianfeng and Madam have started 'fighting' in Shanghai.

"This Wu Jingzhong is actually a sensible person.

"You go tell Commander Fu to have him and the staff department carefully deliberate on the plan again, including equipping soldiers, weapons, and so on.

"We will stay here for a few more days."

The Generalissimo said lightly.

Wu Jingzhong called and spoke of Comrade Jiang Jianfeng.

This was showing his stance to him.

Wu Jingzhong is Jiang Jianfeng's man.

As for Jiang Jianfeng shipping away Kong Lingkan's grain, Madam had already mentioned it on the phone; it was clear that Jiang Jianfeng did not intend to let Kong Lingkan off.

This certainly wouldn't do.

There was no way to answer to Madam.

However, one could not let Jiang Jianfeng's prestige be diminished either.

The best way was to drag it out.

Wait for Jiang Jianfeng to finish shipping the grain, then return to settle this family matter.

Three days later.

Fu Zuoyi and his party escorted the Generalissimo to the airport.

"Yisheng, I think your surprise attack plan is feasible; if you can annihilate the bandits, I will personally celebrate for you and General Zheng in Nanjing when the time comes," the Generalissimo instructed.

"Yes, Generalissimo," everyone saluted in unison and watched the Generalissimo board the plane.

"Sigh.

"Loving beauty, not loving the country.

"At a time like this, with the soldiers' morale high, leaving just like that is truly chilling."

Fu Zuoyi returned to the car and sighed to his adjutant, Sun Wenjing.

"Indeed.

"The Generalissimo's visit this time really boosted the soldiers' morale..." Sun Wenjing also shook his head.

"A soldier's duty is to obey orders.

"Forget it, he goes his way, we continue to fight ours.

"Immediately order Zheng Tingfeng to march rapidly toward Shijiazhuang."

Fu Zuoyi ordered.

"Yes," Sun Wenjing accepted the order.

Shanghai.

Jiang Jianfeng returned to the office with a gloomy face.

"Director," Hong Zhiyou hurriedly stood up to make tea.

"Has the grain all been loaded and shipped?" Jiang Jianfeng asked.

"A total of nearly one hundred and fifty thousand tons have all been shipped to the Jinhai naval warehouse," Hong Zhiyou said.

"Good.

"As long as the goods are gone.

"Zhiyou, I just received news that the Generalissimo has arrived in Shanghai," Jiang Jianfeng said.

"Then you must find a way to see him, report the tiger-hunting work in person, and it would be best to strip the Kong family of their grain brokerage rights," Hong Zhiyou said.

"It's difficult.

"I have been there twice, and both times I was dismissed by Madam on the grounds that Father was resting and should not be disturbed.

"I have a bad premonition.

"Stripping the Kong family of their brokerage rights is probably difficult; the Shanghai trip is coming to an end."

Jiang Jianfeng sighed and said.

"No matter what, this market rescue has been effective; as long as your conscience is clear, that's enough," Hong Zhiyou comforted him.

"Just do good deeds, don't ask about the future.

"I didn't expect you, at such a young age, to have such a state of mind," Jiang Jianfeng laughed.

10:00 PM.

Jiang Jianfeng returned with red eyes; as soon as he entered the door, he ordered Hong Zhiyou:

"Zhiyou, no need to make tea; drink with me tonight; I must get dead drunk."

"Director, what is this?" Hong Zhiyou knew that what was meant to come had finally come.

Jiang Jianfeng didn't speak and picked up the wine bottle, drinking wildly.

Drinking like this was very Soviet.

With the leader chugging, Hong Zhiyou could only risk his life to accompany the gentleman; he opened a bottle and started chugging as well.

"Do you know what our Generalissimo said? 'Not fighting corruption leads to the fall of the country; fighting corruption leads to the fall of the Party.' He actually asked me to apologize to Kong Lingkan, haha!"

Jiang Jianfeng laughed loudly, his face full of tears.

"He also ordered the dissolution of the Management Committee, and the grain brokerage rights were not given to my uncle, but continued to be operated by Kong Lingkan's Yangtze Company.

"Moreover, he also threw Long Tao into prison.

"Zhiyou, the hundred days of effort you and I put in have gone down the drain, and we have instead become the laughingstock of the Kong family.

"Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety have been hard to balance!

"One cannot be fully loyal while being fully filial, and one cannot be fully filial while being fully loyal.

"I can only put filial piety first.

"I lost!"

Jiang Jianfeng, while laughing bitterly, had his entire spirit completely dissipated.

"Director, the Generalissimo is also in a difficult position; that he could stay in Beiping for three days was already him doing his best to help you clean up the mess.

"Now that the Kong family has suffered heavy losses, letting him continue to supervise the grain can be considered a middle-of-the-road approach, with each side having wins and losses.

"Since ancient times, it has been hard for honest officials to judge family affairs; the Generalissimo is truly in a difficult spot.

"Director, it's good to look at things more openly."

Hong Zhiyou comforted him.

"I have already arranged a plane for you; return to Jinhai immediately.

"This place is too chaotic; I'm afraid Father will be influenced by Madam to act against you; the faster you leave, the better."

Jiang Jianfeng rubbed his brow and cheered himself up.

"Thank you, Director; then Boss Du and Captain Long..." Hong Zhiyou said with concern.

"Rest assured, I will do my best to protect them.

"Zhiyou, having worked with you for so long, to be honest, I'm really a bit reluctant to let you go.

"I originally wanted to transfer you to Nanjing.

"But there are many matters regarding grain transfer in Jinhai that still rely on you.

"Then let it be so, my comrade.

"Take care!"

Jiang Jianfeng said goodbye with deep affection.

"Director, take care."

Hong Zhiyou bowed respectfully, tidied up some miscellaneous items, went to the prison to take one last look at Long Tao, gave his family a significant amount of money, and only then rushed to the airport.

Just as he got off the car, he saw Kong Lingkan wearing sunglasses, leading a team of people waiting.

(End of chapter)