Chapter 33: Wu Jingzhong made the final decision

Long Er was disarmed and brought in, covered in blood.

"A wild rogue of the underworld, ignorant of the immensity of heaven and earth."

"What intelligence could you possibly have that concerns my very life and death?"

Wu Jingzhong took two sips of green tea, his eyes filled with murderous intent as he spoke.

He was very angry tonight.

He even wanted to kill.

He wanted to kill both Long Er and Hong Zhiyou!

As a veteran intelligence officer, he was accustomed to laying out plans and manipulating from behind the scenes, not being led by the nose by others.

Hong Zhiyou had crossed the line.

Unless there was an absolute reason.

Otherwise, Wu Jingzhong would never use this man again.

A fool without a bottom line does not live long.

"Long Er, don't you have important intelligence?"

"Take it out and hand it to the Station Chief."

Hong Zhiyou said calmly from the side.

He was gambling with his life tonight.

Gambling with his own, and with Wu Jingzhong's as well.

If he won, the Cao Gang would be uprooted, eliminating a major threat.

If he lost.

He would completely lose Wu Jingzhong's trust, Long Er would be handed over to the Cao Gang, and he would die on the street.

However, Hong Zhiyou had absolute confidence in winning this round.

The continuous layouts made previously.

Whether it was Ma Kui or Lu Qiaoshan's "confession," everything was to ignite this bomb that was Wu Jingzhong.

Now the timing was ripe.

Long Er took a small tape recorder out of his pocket:

"Station Chief Wu, this is the wiretap recording the Americans asked me to install at Fourth Master Zhang's house."

"Listen to it."

After speaking, he pressed the play button:

"Fourth Master, you really hold Wu Jingzhong in too high regard."

"You pointed your gun at the wrong person."

"Right now, the Red Ticket is very active in Jinhai; if the one surnamed Wu disappears, we can just say the Red Ticket did it, what could the one surnamed Dai do?"

"Division Chief Lu, do you know why..."

"Because Wu Jingzhong fears me, he is just putting on an act."

"He thinks I will give him face?"

"Heh, no, I will only make him recognize reality and spit out everything he has swallowed."

Slap!

The recording cut off.

The voices of Yang Wenquan, Fourth Master Zhang, and the others were like slaps to the face, striking Wu Jingzhong hard.

This high-ranking official of the Military Statistics Bureau had a face like frost, and murderous intent surged in his eyes.

The recording was real.

He had never met Fourth Master Zhang and his son.

But Yang Wenquan's unique duck-like voice and Lu Qiaoshan's voice could not be wrong.

"Presumptuous!"

"Arrogant!"

"What incredible audacity!"

Wu Jingzhong stood up abruptly, grabbed his teacup, and smashed it hard on the ground.

He had been avoiding the Cao Gang everywhere, acting on the principle that seeking wealth requires harmony.

He never expected that his good intentions would be treated as a soft persimmon by this bunch of human scum.

Even worse, Yang Wenquan was smuggling arms.

The Jinhai Station was a thorn in their side.

Yang Wenquan and Fourth Master Zhang had to get rid of him.

This was a game of chess that would not end until death; from the moment he stepped into Jinhai, it was destined that there could only be one winner.

Was it that he had underestimated the wolfish hearts of these people?

Or was he just too merciful?

"Why did you only report this today!"

"You let Long Er come to me openly, isn't it because you want me to openly break with the Cao Gang?"

"Secretary Hong, what are you plotting?"

"I think you are the one with the audacity of a dog!"

Wu Jingzhong pointed at Hong Zhiyou and scolded him fiercely.

"Station Chief."

"You are a Bodhisattva, but I am not."

"I am just a petty man chasing profit and rank, and the only one I can rely on is you."

"But you have been slow to manifest your divinity."

Hong Zhiyou replied with a bitter smile.

Immediately, he pointed at Long Er:

"He, I, and the Americans have all placed our hopes in you."

"This matter was a layout by Colonel Philson."

"I am just a chess piece, I had no choice at all."

"But that is not important."

"What is important is that the operator of this chess game can only be you, and you are the only one who can simultaneously suppress the political, military, and police forces."

"If you move, the sky will clear and the earth will be bright."

"If you don't move, the Cao Gang, Yang Wenquan, and the Americans are all time bombs; no matter who explodes in the end, you will surely suffer the consequences."

Having said this, Hong Zhiyou bowed ninety degrees:

"A wise teacher is like a mountain; even if the student has ten thousand thoughts, in the end, I only wish for your longevity."

Wu Jingzhong looked up at the ceiling, pondered for a long time, and then let out a cold laugh:

"Longevity?"

"Yes, who doesn't seek to live?"

"You want to live, and so do I."

Suddenly, his expression turned stern, and he gave a formal order:

"Someone come in!"

"Detain Lu Qiaoshan and his wife on the spot, keep them under twenty-four-hour surveillance, and do not allow any contact with the outside world."

"Anyone who dares to leak a word will be shot on the spot."

"Yes!" Xiao Guohua accepted the order.

"Tell me, my Mr. Zhuge Liang, what is your next plan?" Wu Jingzhong sat back down and asked coldly.

"Colonel Philson's intention is to have you ask Commander Chen Zhangjie to come forward and seal off the Tanggu area where the Salt Gang is located under the guise of a city defense exercise."

"At the same time, have Commander Chen stabilize Mou Tingfang and Yang Wenquan."

"Three days later at eight in the evening."

"The Marine Corps will clear the docks, and Long Er will cooperate with the Americans to execute the Zhang father and son."

Hong Zhiyou said truthfully.

"Are you sure of success?" Wu Jingzhong asked.

"Yes, even if the 94th Army is mobilized, the Americans will not stop."

"Stealing military supplies; even if the Generalissimo comes, he will have nothing to say."

"The Zhang father and son must die!" Hong Zhiyou's words were as firm as iron.

"I am very curious, your hatred for the Cao Gang is understandable, but with the Military Mediation currently underway, major newspapers have already entered Jinhai, what are the Americans aiming for by taking this risk?" Wu Jingzhong asked, puzzled.

"Because the Americans want to smuggle the opium left behind by the Japanese."

"The Cao Gang controls the distribution of opium dens."

"Without a thorough reshuffle, the Americans' opium cannot be sold." Hong Zhiyou said.

"All things in the world are nothing more than the word 'profit'."

"Then this is not strange at all."

Wu Jingzhong sighed coldly and nodded.

"Station Chief, let's move." Hong Zhiyou said.

"You have found a good backer."

"The Americans are now the gods of the Jiang, Song, Kong, and Chen families; I can neither refuse nor resist."

"Do it!"

Wu Jingzhong slapped the armrest and made up his mind.

"Thank you, Station Chief." Hong Zhiyou said.

"Someone, take this Mr. Long down to treat his wounds."

Long Er was not lightly injured, his face was as white as paper, and by this time a large pool of blood had seeped onto the floor; only then did Wu Jingzhong speak.

"Thanks."

Long Er replied coldly and was helped away.

"This man is quite a tough guy."

"I don't like seeing blood, let's go to the balcony to talk."

After such a scene, Wu Jingzhong had no desire to sleep.

They arrived at the balcony.

He returned to his gentle demeanor:

"Secretary Hong, Zhang Si and Mu Liancheng are sworn brothers."

"Since the Ming and Qing dynasties, it has been rumored that the Cao Gang family is the wealthiest in the world; after they are wiped out, these assets of the party and state must be redistributed."

"What are the Americans' thoughts?"

Wu Jingzhong rubbed his fingers, hinting to Hong Zhiyou.

"Of course."

"There are seven major shares in total."

"The Americans, Commander Chen, Army Commander Mou, and you will each take one of the four major shares."

"The others, Li Hanyuan, the commander of the Tanggu blockade, Long Er, Zhang Tinge, and others will share one portion, and another portion will be set aside for the veterans of the Salt Gang to stabilize the docks."

"The last portion will be turned over to the national treasury to fulfill the obligation."

Talking about money is good.

Talking about money means he is still a good foster father.

Hong Zhiyou felt a secret relief in his heart and hurriedly replied.

"This way of dividing it is too unreliable."

"Zhang Si must have many treasures; if they fall into the hands of those who don't understand collecting, wouldn't that be a waste of heaven's gifts?" Wu Jingzhong slapped his palm, frowning in displeasure.

"Station Chief, rest assured, the ones moving the goods into the warehouse are all Cao Gang disciples."

"You are Long Er's savior; we are our own people, so those valuable old things will naturally only appear in your share."

Hong Zhiyou smiled, sharing the same thought.

"Hmm! I am still at ease with how you handle things." Wu Jingzhong's mood improved greatly.

"Teacher."

"The student was reckless and caused you to be alarmed; I beg for the teacher's punishment."

Hong Zhiyou stood at attention, bowed solemnly, and apologized.

"Alright, your original intention was good."

"If the Cao Gang is not removed, neither you nor I will be at peace."

"However, let this be the only time."

"It is a good thing for a young person to be smart, but be careful not to be misled by your own cleverness."

Wu Jingzhong patted his shoulder, his smile kind, but his eyes were chillingly sinister.

"The student will keep the teacher's advice in mind." Hong Zhiyou said, lowering his head.

Wu Jingzhong's anger, suspicion, and wariness were all within his expectations.

He was a running dog, a sycophant, but not a stupid dog.

What is worldly wisdom? It is nothing more than glory and wealth.

So-called loyalty is worthless.

In Wu Jingzhong's eyes, whether one can earn money for him is the standard for measuring everything.

The Cao Gang was a fatal threat to Hong Zhiyou.

Life is greater than heaven; for this, he would not hesitate to sacrifice everything, including Wu Jingzhong's pathetic, meager trust.

"Give this to that injured righteous man as a reward for the intelligence."

"Also, he is your person, not mine, understand?"

Wu Jingzhong took out two gold bars and stuffed them into Hong Zhiyou's hand.

"Understand, Long Er has never seen the Station Chief." Hong Zhiyou nodded.

"You haven't been assigned housing yet, have you?" Wu Jingzhong asked suddenly.

"No."

"You said last time that Lu Qiaoshan was squeezing you."

"You are my person, so I must vent this anger for you."

"Division Chief Lu previously served in Yuezhou, a place that was fat, and he hasn't taken less money from Zhang Si since coming to Jinhai, so there must be no shortage of silver in his pockets."

"For such an unfaithful person, you don't need to be merciful."

"Do you understand what I mean?"

Wu Jingzhong leaned to his ear and personally imparted his strategy.

He would eat big fish like Zhang Si and Mu Liancheng.

Wu Jingzhong had no interest in small shrimp like Lu Qiaoshan and was happy to reward them to Hong Zhiyou.

"Understand." Hong Zhiyou said.

"Division Chief Lu's mansion on Guilin Road is not bad; go live there for a few days." Wu Jingzhong waved his hand and smiled cordially.

"Yes, thank you, Teacher, for your guidance."

Hong Zhiyou feigned delight and drove straight toward Lu Qiaoshan's mansion.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 34 =====