Chapter 343: Hong Zhiyou Makes His Move

Leaving the restaurant.

Hong Zhiyou was driving, and Cuiping sat in the passenger seat, saying:

"Junior Brother, you must leave finding that guy to me.

"If I don't find someone to spar with, this martial arts skill of mine will go to waste."

"Better not. Last time Ke Chengwu let you have a go, Old Yu nearly choked me to death," Hong Zhiyou laughed.

"Him? I don't believe it.

"I really can't beat Ke Chengwu, but not everyone is a Martial Champion's junior brother. It's settled."

Cuiping clenched her fist, her eyes filled with a chilling murderous intent.

"We'll see when the time comes. Your mission is to protect Old Yu well," Hong Zhiyou said.

"Senior Sister, have you taken a fancy to Old Yu?" Upon reaching the gate, he stopped the car and asked.

"Pah, who would fancy him? He's a blockhead.

"His heart only has Zuo Lan."

Cuiping turned her head away, drawing out her tone in helplessness.

"Whether Zuo Lan is still around is another matter.

"The pavilion closest to the water enjoys the moonlight first.

"A man chasing a woman is separated by a mountain; a woman chasing a man is separated by a layer of gauze. Old Yu has been with you for so long; it would be fake to say there are no feelings.

"What you need to do is turn revolutionary friendship into destiny.

"It doesn't necessarily have to be the man who takes the initiative.

"Look at those women in the club; who isn't taking the initiative? There isn't much time left before liberation.

"Don't regret it if you miss your chance."

Hong Zhiyou smiled as he offered her advice.

"Pah.

"I'm not like those cheap sluts. If you want to take the initiative, go do it yourself.

"Who cares about him."

Cuiping felt a stir in her heart, but she glared at him with feigned annoyance and pulled the car door open to leave.

"Women, such pretenders!"

Hong Zhiyou shook his head with a smile and drove away.

Office of the Inspection Group, Garrison Headquarters.

The sky was growing dark.

The ceiling fan spun frantically, dispersing the summer heat.

Lu Qiaoshan sat on the sofa, legs crossed, sipping coffee unhurriedly.

"Inspector Lu, the current commotion isn't enough.

"Relying on these methods alone, I'm afraid we can't take down Wu Jingzhong and Chen Zhangjie."

Huang Yunxian held the coffee but didn't take a sip.

He truly couldn't get used to this bitter stuff. Last time he drank a large, strong cup, he suffered heart palpitations and insomnia; it nearly killed him.

"That's why... we need to add fuel to the fire."

Lu Qiaoshan set down his coffee cup and gave a grim, cold laugh.

"How do we add it?" Huang Yunxian asked.

"Simple.

"Pass on my order: circle a group of students and, on the grounds of their participation in the smashing and looting at the Liuwei Road grain market, forbid schools, major shops, and households from providing them with any food.

"As for this list, it can be big or small; just fill it in as you please.

"If the students have nothing to eat, they will have no choice but to keep looting.

"The more they loot, the more chaotic it gets, and we will have a legitimate reason to open fire.

"If killing ten doesn't work, then kill a hundred, a thousand.

"Until we kill them to the point where they never dare to cause trouble in the Jinhai territory again, and until Chen Zhangjie and Wu Jingzhong are so scared they throw away their official caps and run.

"I'll say it again: I don't believe they aren't afraid of death!"

Lu Qiaoshan said in a hard tone.

"Old Lu, it's not good to kill too many people," Huang Yunxian frowned.

"You're afraid of killing because it affects your promotion and wealth; I'm not.

"As the saying goes, if I don't go to hell, who will?

"Otherwise, why do you think the Chairman sent me to Jinhai?"

Lu Qiaoshan curled his lip and laughed with disdain.

Ever since his father suffered back then, he had buried the seeds of hatred in his heart.

Now that his own days were numbered,

if he could kill a pair, he would never kill just one.

If he could kill many, kill indiscriminately, or kill by mistake, he would never kill fewer or not kill at all.

To kill to his heart's content and drag more people to the grave with him—that would make his death worth it.

"Fine, then I will carry out Inspector Lu's order," Huang Yunxian said.

"Good.

"Just put the count of how many are killed on my head."

Lu Qiaoshan didn't care at all about his little schemes and took the whole burden upon himself.

Lu Qiaoshan's blockade strategy was effective.

Following Lu Qiaoshan's order, due to the closure of the grain market, not only the student groups but also the survival of the common people in Jinhai became increasingly strained.

Led by City Councilor Xu Zhao and Student Union leader Guo Youliang, many commoners and workers joined in, and the scale of the protest marches grew ever larger.

The students screamed themselves hoarse denouncing the incompetence of the Jiang government, and anti-Jiang sentiment throughout Jinhai City ran high.

At the same time, friction between students and the military police further intensified.

9: 0 PM on August 11th.

"Inspector Lu.

"The protest march organized by Xu Zhao and Guo Youliang is currently gathering at the railway station square. If we let these people continue to incite trouble, Jinhai City might fall into civil unrest."

Huang Yunxian walked in and reported.

"What is Commander Chen's opinion?" Lu Qiaoshan asked with a smile.

"Heh, him?

"It's true the Garrison Brigade is his.

"But I also have a group of men under me, and there is the Chairman's instruction that the movement must be quelled, with you, the specially appointed inspector, sitting in command.

"Besides constantly calling Fu Zuoyi and staring blankly, what else can he do?

"This is an overt plot, an unsolvable one."

Huang Yunxian sneered.

"Chen Zhangjie's mess is the bleeding masses.

"But the heads of Guo Youliang and Xu Zhao must be pinned on Wu Jingzhong.

"These two have great influence, especially Xu Zhao, who is a city councilor and has dealings with many key figures in the Nationalist Government.

"If they die, it would be a miracle if Wu Jingzhong could still sit securely in his position."

Lu Qiaoshan smiled, took a sip of coffee, and continued:

"By the way, tell your men to remember this person; she must die."

Huang Yunxian took the photo.

It was a delicate-looking female student.

"I know her, Hong Xiaohui. Like Guo Youliang, she's been jumping around quite a bit lately," Huang Yunxian said.

"Correct, take her out," Lu Qiaoshan nodded.

He no longer cared whether he had a falling out with Hong Zhiyou.

Hong Zhiyou had acquired the Cherry brand and washed him of eighty thousand US dollars for nothing, cutting off his own path to wealth.

It was just as well to use the soldiers' hands to let the one surnamed Hong taste the pain of a piercing heart.

"No problem, I will arrange it," Huang Yunxian said, putting away the photo.

"But for this errand, we need to find someone reliable to handle it."

Lu Qiaoshan smiled and casually picked up the telephone:

"Old Peng, come over here for a moment."

Soon, Peng Chengtao walked in.

"Old Peng, the students are going to cause trouble at the railway station tonight. Staff Officer Huang has mobilized a team, and you will have full authority to handle the situation on-site," Lu Qiaoshan ordered.

"Director Lu, Commander Chen has me assigned to watch the construction site defense line; I can't spare myself from that."

Peng Chengtao was not stupid.

That son of a bitch Lu Qiao is always setting up his own people.

During the last crackdown, I was lucky enough to be cautious and let that unlucky bastard Lu Yu take the fall.

This time it's even more dangerous; whoever does it is a dead man.

"No worries.

"I've already had a word with Officer Chen, so the matter at the train station is left to you."

Lu Qiao said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Brother Shan, I've had a headache these past two days. Why don't you let Staff Officer Huang or his men go? I even have an appointment with a doctor tonight," Peng Chengtao said.

"Old Peng.

"I have things to do tonight, and it's not a life-threatening illness; seeing the doctor a bit earlier or later is the same.

"I'm counting on you, brother. I'll head out first."

Huang Yun patted his shoulder, gave a dry laugh, and left.

"Staff Officer Huang, I..." Peng Chengtao raised his hand, then helplessly let it drop.

"Old Peng.

"I don't trust anyone else to handle this. We are both Officer Zheng's men, and I can only trust you.

"Go on.

"When you get back, I'll report it to the Military Affairs Bureau and get you a commendation."

Lu Qiao smiled.

With his physical condition, a commendation or not didn't matter anymore, and there was no need to find a scapegoat.

He chose Peng Chengtao because he was still harboring a grudge.

Damn it, this guy uses his name whenever there's trouble but doesn't want to take the slightest bit of blame; where in the world is there such a good deal?

Lu Qiao didn't believe he couldn't handle Peng Chengtao or take down this slippery old fish.

Peng Chengtao's face was gloomy, and he muttered under his breath, cursing every one of Lu Qiao's ancestors down to the eighteenth generation.

"Heh, wanting me to be the scapegoat? Not a chance."

Peng Chengtao returned to his office, closed the door, and dialed Hong Zhiyou's number directly:

"Hello, Secretary Hong.

"It's me.

"Lu Qiao intends to kill Xu Zhao, Guo Youliang, and your sister tonight. You should come up with a plan on your end.

"I can stall for half an hour at most.

"Good."

Glancing at his watch, Peng Chengtao hung up the phone heavily.

Lu Qiao had his clever schemes.

He had his own way to counter them.

Last time, with the Qian Siming affair, it was he who pointed Lu Qiao toward the next street, giving the Red Ticket a chance to take advantage.

It wasn't even expensive.

He only collected two gold bars from Hong Zhiyou.

Heh.

In Jinhai, who isn't a friend of Hong Zhiyou?

Nine-thirty in the evening.

Peng Chengtao finally dawdled as he drove his jeep out.

When he reached the intersection.

His gaze sharpened, he gritted his teeth, slammed his foot down on the accelerator, and crashed straight into an empty shop on the side.

Being a scapegoat was out of the question.

Go for broke!

Bang!

Amidst the massive impact.

Peng Chengtao's head slammed hard against the steering wheel, and everything went black as he passed out.

Jinhai Train Station.

Guo Peng, a trusted subordinate of Huang Yun, checked his watch and frowned as he looked at the messenger approaching quickly:

"Has Officer Peng arrived?"

"Just received word.

"Officer Peng was in a car accident on his way here; he is unconscious and has been sent to the hospital," the messenger said.

"Immediately ask for instructions from Huang... no, from Inspector Lu," Guo Peng thought for a moment and said.

"Yes." The messenger took the order.

Soon, he walked back:

"Inspector Lu's telephone instruction is: open fire."

"Good." Guo Peng nodded.

He glanced at the assassins disguised as students and was just about to wave his hand to give the order when a convoy of cars rumbled over.

The surrounding soldiers saw the North American Stars and Stripes hanging from the cars and hurriedly gave way.

Screech!

The lead jeep came to a steady stop.

The arrival of the American military made the previously noisy square much quieter.

Even Xu Zhao stopped his impassioned chanting.

Anderson jumped down with a cigar in his mouth and walked straight toward Guo Peng: "Who is in charge here?"

"Officer, I am in charge," Guo Peng said respectfully.

With the front lines tightening and constant defeats, the current American military was like a godsend to the Generalissimo, and they were definitely not people he could afford to provoke.

"OK, I'm taking these people." Anderson pointed to Xu Zhao, Guo Youliang, and the other student flag-bearers.

"Officer, this... I'm afraid I have to ask my superiors for instructions," Guo Peng said, feeling troubled.

"Instructions?

"They colluded with people to steal things from the naval warehouse; is that reason enough?"

Anderson blew a cloud of smoke into his face and sneered.

"Enough, enough.

"Release them!"

Guo Peng suppressed his annoyance and apologized with a smile.

"Take them away."

Anderson waved his hand, and American soldiers immediately stepped forward to seize Xu Zhao and the others.

"You, what are you doing?

"On what grounds are you arresting us?"

Xu Zhao and the others were still protesting loudly.

"There are assassins, shut up if you don't want to die." Anderson grabbed Xu Zhao, slapped him, and whispered.

Xu Zhao shut his mouth as expected.

Hong Xiaohui didn't continue to cause trouble either; he knew this foreign devil was his older brother's close friend.

He had no reason to make up an excuse to arrest him.

There was likely something going on behind the scenes.

The confused students began to grow restless again.

Anderson jumped onto the hood of the car and shouted loudly:

"Everyone, I know your demands.

"As citizens of the democratic United States, we stand together this time.

"You want the right to study, to survive, and to speak freely.

"This is also the democracy we have always upheld, and our General Wales has said that he will defend your right to speak at all costs.

"We have already established barracks and food supplies at the pier warehouse, and we have sent a telegram to the National Government demanding that Nankai University and Beiyang University must add classrooms and canteens to settle your living and schooling needs.

"At the same time, we have decided to send troops to protect your right to protest normally to ensure your safety.

"We will also urge the National Government to find the murderers who poisoned the students as soon as possible.

"And punish the relevant soldiers who opened fire on the students as well as the officers who gave the order.

"Long live freedom.

"Long live democracy!"

Anderson stood on the car, shouting slogans with great passion.

"Freedom.

"Democracy!"

Other American soldiers also raised their guns and shouted one after another.

Student groups were easily incited to begin with; once the high-sounding labels of "freedom" and "democracy" were brought out, they were immediately stirred to fervor and echoed the call.

"Fellow students.

"We can defend your right to freedom with our lives, but only on the condition that you are fighting for freedom.

"I hope you will stop attacking food supplies, schools, and shopping malls.

"Being a bandit is shameful.

"That only destroys fairness; because of you, the grain market is closed, and how many people cannot buy food and are forced to starve?

"Your hands, which are meant for freedom, should fight for fairness, not be stained with sin.

"America stands with you. Promise me, either go back to eat your white rice and study hard, or shout for justice like gentlemen, okay?"

Anderson's charisma was highly inflammatory.

For a moment, the students couldn't find any fault with it.

Weren't they rioting because they were starving, people were being killed, and they were protesting the injustice of Jiang?

Anderson had arranged everything for them in one breath, making it all perfectly clear.

The key was that people are like iron and food is like steel.

The students from the Northeast, who had been hungry for days, had their emotions vented; hearing that there was white rice to eat, most of them salivated and instantly lost their spirit.

Those students who truly called out for the country, without the organization of flag-bearers like Xu Zhao and Xiao Hui, were also at a loss.

As some began to withdraw first.

The crowd was chaotic for a while, but soon dispersed.

On the second floor of the station.

Hong Zhiyou cursed loudly: "Those foreign devils are only good at swindling; once they raise the banners of democracy and freedom, it's more powerful than any soul-bewitching technique."

"Indeed, they style themselves as a lighthouse.

"But this is only temporary; true fighters will never be misled by them.

"It's just as well; Jiang has red eyes now, so it's best to avoid the limelight for a while.

"Zhiyou, thanks.

"This move of yours can be called using a four-ounce weight to move a thousand pounds.

"With the students under the protection of the American military, Lu Qiaoshan's plan to kill will only come to nothing."

Yu Zecheng said gratefully.

If the American military hadn't arrived today, he dared not imagine what the square would be like; he feared it would be a river of blood.

"In the final analysis, it is the power of American dollars and gold bars," Hong Zhiyou laughed.

"American dollars also depend on whose hands they are in and how they are used.

"In tonight's deadly crisis, only you could have thought of this brilliant move to turn the tide and reverse the situation in a desperate moment.

"It's just that I've caused you to spend money; I will report this truthfully to the organization."

Yu Zecheng said with lingering fear.

"It wasn't a desperate move.

"It was luring the snake out of its hole.

"I have been waiting for Xu Zhao; without this flag-bearer, I couldn't lure out the organization hidden behind the scenes.

"From the poisoning to the newspapers shifting the blame onto the Secret Service Bureau, I knew this group behind the scenes was targeting the Station Chief and me.

"If one wants to completely topple the Station Chief, one must make a big scene.

"The best way is to eliminate Xu Zhao and Guo Youliang, but Xu Zhao had never stepped to the front before; they were waiting for an opportunity, and tonight was the best chance, which the other side certainly wouldn't miss.

"Xu Zhao dying at the hands of soldiers wouldn't be convincing; that would only point to Chen Zhangjie.

"Therefore, I guessed they would definitely use knives or the Secret Service Bureau's guns to do the deed.

"These are not hard for Lu Qiaoshan to obtain.

"If I haven't guessed wrong, among the students who were just taken away, there is at least one or two assassins.

"Let's go, to the Marine Corps.

"It's time to uncover their bottom line, otherwise, being too passive is not my habit."

Hong Zhiyou smiled and turned to walk downstairs.

"So you had a layout early on; you are truly wise," Yu Zecheng said.

"By the way.

"You don't need to keep a record of the money for the students' rice and flour.

"Du Jianshi and the municipal government will pay.

"They are more anxious than us right now, and I can even make a small profit from old Du when the time comes."

Hong Zhiyou turned into an alley nearby and pulled open the car door.

"Now I understand.

"Making money doesn't necessarily depend on brains, but having brains definitely makes money."

Yu Zecheng said in a great mood.

"Lu Qiaoshan's biggest trump card is the Generalissimo.

"He thought he could act without fear, but there is always someone higher; once the American military made a move, his trump card became a useless one.

"Given the Generalissimo's personality, besides letting the Central Daily News brag about the American military being a dove of peace, he can only curse."

He continued to say with a bright voice.

Garrison Headquarters.

Lu Qiaoshan and Huang Yunxian were waiting for the "good news" from the train station.

"This kid Peng Chengtao is really going against me.

"He would rather have a car accident and get a concussion than follow my orders.

"Heh.

"So what if he doesn't go? I'll kill them regardless.

"In the end, this blame will still have to be pinned on Guo Peng by him."

Lu Qiaoshan crossed his legs and laughed with a sneer.

"Indeed.

"Once Xu Zhao is dead, Wu Jingzhong's position will be hard to keep, and Jinhai will be a new world again.

"Huh."

As Huang Yunxian spoke, he looked at the time and couldn't help but frown in surprise:

"Old Lu, it's past the time, why haven't the shots been fired yet?"

"Something is indeed not right."

He grabbed the receiver, and just as he was about to call Guo Peng, the sound of heavy, hurried military boots came from the corridor.

Soon, Guo Peng walked in with a gloomy face:

"Staff Officer Huang, Inspector Lu, your subordinate is incompetent..."

As he spoke, he lowered his head.

"What happened?" Huang Yunxian asked.

"I was just about to order the shooting when the Marine Corps arrived, saying that Xu Zhao and the others had instigated the students to steal from the sailors' warehouse, and they took the people away on the spot.

"Not only that, the Americans also raised the banner of democracy and freedom, promised to arrange food and housing for the students, and sent troops to protect their parade.

"Our people had no chance to take action at all."

Guo Peng said truthfully.

"What!

"The Americans have entered the field!"

Lu Qiaoshan felt as if he had been struck by lightning; his face turned pale as paper in an instant, and his eyes wandered left and right in terror and helplessness.

"The American military.

"The American military.

"How did I not calculate this move?

"This move is so ruthless, so poisonous!

"The trump card, the trump card is completely gone."

He muttered to himself incessantly.

The Generalissimo could not possibly conflict with the American military.

Once the Marine Corps entered the field, he, as an inspector, became a mere ornament.

"It must be that Hong Zhiyou made a move.

"The Cao Gang lost a round to him.

"And... lost again.

"Just one move, just one move."

The game that was originally a sure win collapsed in an instant.

The more Lu Qiaoshan thought about it, the more his chest ached.

Pfft!

He could no longer suppress the blood churning in his throat, and he opened his mouth to spray out a mouthful of fresh blood.

……

(End of chapter)