Chapter 345: Heading to Ghost Island

"If you have any other requirements, you can mention them; as long as I can take care of them, I can satisfy you," Jiang Jianfeng saw that he didn't reject it and asked with a smile.

"Director."

"Your subordinate is bold... can I take a photo with the Generalissimo?"

"In this way, even in a foreign land, with the great power of the leader to protect me, my heart can be like diamond and iron, and my will will not change."

Hong Zhiyou requested straightly.

"Oh?" Jiang Jianfeng was surprised and gratified.

"Is this your only request?" he asked.

"Yes!" Hong Zhiyou nodded.

"Good, I can apply for you, but it's hard to say whether Father will have time to see you," Jiang Jianfeng laughed.

"Thank you, Director," Hong Zhiyou was overjoyed.

Jiang Jianfeng walked to the desk and picked up the phone: "Director Yu, please connect me to the Generalissimo."

"Father, it's me."

"Hong Zhiyou has a presumptuous request before leaving; he wants to see you and take a photo. I don't know if it's convenient for you."

"Good, I understand!"

Hanging up the phone, Jiang Jianfeng laughed:

"Zhiyou, Father agreed, but not now; it will be on the day you return triumphantly from buying grain, and he will personally hold a banquet to celebrate your merit."

"You must work hard!"

"Yes, Zhiyou will definitely not disgrace the mission," Hong Zhiyou bowed and said.

"When you get to the Japanese side, Wan An will contact the local Confidentiality Bureau liaison station. Our intelligence agency will collect as much intelligence as possible about that side to ensure your safety," Jiang Jianfeng said.

"Director."

"Can I refuse?"

"I don't want to contact the people from the Confidentiality Bureau."

"You know that Mao Renfeng has a grudge against me and Station Chief Wu."

"I don't expect him to help me on my trip to the Ghost Island; it's good enough if he doesn't secretly send people to assassinate me," Hong Zhiyou said very bluntly.

"That is indeed a problem," Jiang Jianfeng was silent for a moment and nodded.

It's not just the relationship with Wu Jingzhong.

He is also fighting fiercely with Mao Renfeng now. Hong Zhiyou is his general and has just made a great contribution; Mao Renfeng is afraid he wants to get rid of him as soon as possible.

On Taiwan, Mao Renfeng doesn't dare to take action.

But once he goes to the Ghost Island, the situation is hard to say.

"Fine."

"Be careful when you go out!" Jiang Jianfeng thought for a while; it seemed he really didn't have any safety plan he could take out.

"Thank you, Director," Hong Zhiyou bowed and left.

"Wan An."

After Hong Zhiyou left, Jiang Jianfeng called the attendant in.

"Director, you called me."

"I decided to send you to follow Hong Zhiyou to the Japanese side to take a look."

"After you go, you must ensure his safety."

"Additionally, observe and record more, but do not intervene or interfere in his actions on the Ghost Island."

"Regardless of whether you can buy grain or not, you must bring him back alive."

"Do you remember?"

Jiang Jianfeng instructed.

"Your subordinate understands; if Hong Zhiyou has an accident, unless Wan An is already dead!" Wan An said straightly.

Confidentiality Bureau Northern Bay Station.

After Wang Kun was executed, Ma Jun succeeded as the action team captain.

The Northern Bay Station was officially integrated.

Of course, Wu Jingzhong was just acting as if he was doing things; in reality, there were still many of Mao Renfeng's ears and eyes in the station, and he couldn't possibly play with his life like he did in the puppet Manchukuo again.

"Zecheng, Zhiyou hasn't returned yet?" After simply finishing his work, he sat on the sofa and started eating fruit.

"He should be soon," Yu Zecheng looked at the time.

"I remember you also won a Cloud Banner Medal before, right?" Wu Jingzhong asked.

"Third-Class Cloud Banner," Yu Zecheng said.

"Third-Class Cloud Banner Medal, that's the highest level for field officers, one level higher than Sun Liren; Bureau Chief Dai is really willing to give it," Wu Jingzhong laughed.

"Commended by the Generalissimo, personally awarded by Bureau Chief Dai."

"When Tianjin was about to be... when it fell, Cuiping sold it on the black market; it wasn't much, just about 200 silver dollars," Yu Zecheng said lightly.

"Yes."

"Who still cares about this broken copper and iron now?"

"Look at those who were flourishing on the mainland; no matter how high their official rank or how many medals they had, once they arrived in Taiwan, they were like stray dogs, living a difficult life," Wu Jingzhong sighed pragmatically.

"Now they want to use this trick to trick Zhiyou into selling his life; it's really..."

Before Yu Zecheng finished speaking, Hong Zhiyou, dressed in military uniform, walked in and laughed lightly:

"Who did you sell it to for 200 silver dollars?"

"Mine isn't worth as much as yours; help me flip it for 100 silver dollars too."

He threw the medal on the table.

Wash hands, eat melon!

"100 New Taiwan Dollars is no problem," Yu Zecheng teased.

"Deal!" Hong Zhiyou agreed readily.

"Zhiyou, are you really going to the Japanese side? Is the manpower confirmed?" Yu Zecheng asked.

"I have to go; the old man brought it up. Even if I don't agree, they'll point guns at me, and I'll have to go," Hong Zhiyou said.

"Manpower, just one Wan An."

He took a bite of watermelon and shrugged.

"This is to monitor you," Wu Jingzhong said.

"It doesn't matter; I'm going to do things."

"Teacher, Luo Youzhang's wife will come to you to plead for mercy later; I have already hinted to them, it's best if it's antiques."

"These locals have quite a few good things in their hands," Hong Zhiyou said.

If this were in Jinhai, Wu Jingzhong would have had his eyes shining, but at this moment, he was uninterested:

"It's useless to have them; I can't take them away, and it's easy to leave evidence."

"It's precisely because we want to leave evidence."

"Why did Jiang Jianfeng let Wan An follow me? Isn't it because he's afraid we'll run?"

"If we don't settle our hearts, they won't let us go; on the contrary, the monitoring will be even stricter."

"So, you should take what you should take, and Old Yu, you should go solicit business as you should."

"You have to be like you were in Jinhai, wanting to fish, daring to fish."

"Only in this way will they put their hearts in their stomachs!" Hong Zhiyou said.

Wu Jingzhong's brows sank.

How could he not know the principle of Wang Jian asking for gold and silver.

He originally thought he would leave soon.

Now, judging from Hong Zhiyou's tone, it seems impossible to leave the island in a short time.

Just as he was speaking.

The phone rang, and Hong Zhiyou answered:

"Yes."

"Good!"

After hanging up the phone, he laughed:

"Teacher, Luo Youzhang's wife from the Dazhu Gang wants to meet you at the Bolero Western Restaurant."

"Take her to the reception room first," Wu Jingzhong instructed.

"Zecheng, you go talk."

"If there are antiques, there must be an appraisal certificate from a well-known local antique shop," he pointed to Yu Zecheng and instructed professionally.

"Understood."

Yu Zecheng took the order and left.

Half an hour later, Yu Zecheng walked back carrying a box:

"Teacher, I got the things; please inspect them."

Wu Jingzhong's eyes instantly lit up, the "bloodline" in his bones awakened, and he took it and skillfully opened the lock.

Inside were ten gold bars.

A pair of beautiful, exquisite Chenghua rooster cups.

He took out the appraisal certificate from the local Wanbaozhai to check it, and then walked to the window to carefully observe the rooster cups.

The cup wall was as thin as a cicada's wing, small and exquisite, and felt extremely light in his hand.

Having played with antiques for a long time, he could see if it was real or fake at a glance.

It should be an authentic Chenghua piece.

This is good stuff.

He got another good dowry for little Jin Feng.

"Oh my."

"Just this little hobby, and it's been figured out by people."

Wu Jingzhong clicked his tongue a few times, put away the treasure, slapped his thigh, and laughed loudly:

"I'll call Jiang Jianfeng now."

He picked up the phone and dialed Jiang Jianfeng's number:

"Hello, Director, it's me, Jingzhong."

"It's like this."

"I'll call Jiang Jianfeng right now."

He picked up the phone and dialed Jiang Jianfeng's number:

"Hello, Director, it's me, Jingzhong."

"It's like this."

"Luo Youzhang and Gu Youniu are locked up in the Wanbei prison; I've seen the reports, and they were deceived by Lin Dingli. We've interrogated them here, and they were indeed tricked into handling the transport."

"The market has been rectified now, and the hard-line methods have been seen by the Wanbei gangs and the common people."

"As for public relations, we need a softer touch."

"This Luo Youzhang said they are willing to vigorously promote the Director's new Wanbei economic notice; there are quite a few gangs of all sizes in Wanbei now."

"We do indeed need a promotional ambassador who can speak their language."

"In my opinion, since these two haven't committed any major crimes, we might as well release them."

"Director, what do you think?"

"Very well."

"Thank you, Director!"

"Goodbye!"

Hanging up the phone, Wu Jingzhong said excitedly: "Jiang Jianfeng agreed to release them."

"Zecheng, you two go and pick them up."

"Understood, Teacher." The two accepted the order.

……

"Sure enough, only antiques can awaken Teacher's fighting spirit."

"For a moment there, I felt like I was back at the Jinhai Station."

In the car, Yu Zecheng laughed.

"Indeed."

"If he doesn't move, Jiang Jianfeng's heart won't be at ease," Hong Zhiyou said.

"Zhiyou, when you get to the Ghost Island, please try to inquire about news of Cuiping."

"Her other name is Chen Taohua."

"According to organizational principles, she might have reverted to her original name and been assigned elsewhere."

"It should be possible to find out."

Yu Zecheng said while driving.

"I advise you not to get your hopes up too high."

"There are at least a thousand spies lurking on the mainland now, and they are cracking down hard on enemy agent activities there. Unless I happen to run into people like Liao Sanmin or Manager Qiu, I can't ask."

"If others go to inquire, they might end up being caught and treated as spies themselves."

Hong Zhiyou shook his head.

"Alright." Yu Zecheng pursed his lips, his eyes unable to hide his longing.

They arrived at the prison.

Long Tao had already released the prisoners and was smoking and talking with Luo Youzhang and Gu Youniu.

"Warden Long." Hong Zhiyou greeted him.

"Secretary Hong, Section Chief Yu."

"Comrade Jiang Jianfeng has already given the order; I'll hand them over to you. Sign here." Long Tao handed the clipboard to Yu Zecheng.

Yu Zecheng signed his name quickly: "Thank you for your hard work."

"Old Long, thank you for your trouble."

Hong Zhiyou stepped forward, pulled him aside, and stuffed a wad of bills into his pocket.

"Secretary Hong, you really don't have to."

"What kind of relationship do we have? I can't take advantage of you just because I did a little thing; that would be too petty," Long Tao laughed.

"Enough, don't be so formal with me."

"Wanbei isn't as easy to make money in as Shanghai; even I'm living off my savings, let alone you!"

Hong Zhiyou patted him on the shoulder.

As he spoke, he said to Luo Youzhang:

"Boss Luo, Warden Long is a good man."

"In the future, if anyone from your Wanbei side gets locked up and needs a favor, you can come to him."

Luo Youzhang quickly and understandingly said gratefully: "Of course, of course!"

"In our line of work, we're the ones who end up in here the most; I hope Warden Long will look after us in the future."

"Easy, easy," Long Tao said happily.

His current position was actually a very lucrative one.

But a lucrative position requires connections; without someone to pull strings, and being a newcomer, let alone making money, he might end up falling into a trap.

Since Hong Zhiyou had spoken up, it meant this Fatty Luo was reliable.

Letting him act as an intermediary would give him a way to generate income.

"Gentlemen, I won't disturb you any further."

"Youniu, let's go."

Seeing the gang's car coming to pick them up, Luo Youzhang took Gu Youniu and left.

"Youniu is truly a talent."

"He managed to mix into the core of the Dazhu Gang so quickly."

On the way back, Yu Zecheng laughed.

"Yes."

"This kid is very smart, especially with languages; he started learning Minnan dialect when he was in Xikou, and now he speaks with a full local accent; no one suspects he's from the mainland at all," Hong Zhiyou said with a look of approval.

"His acting is also good."

"The Li Ya of the past, the Fatty Luo of today—they've all been played for fools."

Yu Zecheng said.

"Just wait, this kid will eventually become a big shot around here," Hong Zhiyou said.

……

Bashengyuan.

Wan An walked quickly into the office to report:

"Director, Hong Zhiyou and the others have taken the prisoners away."

"This Luo Youzhang is a famous black-market dealer; letting him go is like releasing a tiger back into the mountains."

"No matter, letting one Luo Youzhang go in exchange for gaining a Wu Jingzhong—isn't that quite good?" Jiang Jianfeng laughed.

"Subordinate doesn't... doesn't understand."

"I heard that Luo Youzhang's wife bribed Wu Jingzhong; Director, you are the one who hates corruption the most," Wan An said, very puzzled.

"After experiencing so much, I've come to see some things differently."

"Greed is human nature."

"This cannot be eradicated; it can never be killed off completely."

"It depends on who is being greedy."

"The Kongs and the Songs—no!"

"But Wu Jingzhong, I can accept."

"Since Wu Jingzhong arrived on the island, he has been slacking off and just passing the time, waiting to retire."

"Now that he has taken the initiative to be greedy, it shows he has recognized reality and has started to seek wealth while holding his position."

"This is a good signal."

Jiang Jianfeng smiled, took a sip of tea, and continued:

"I know my old classmate and old brother well."

"He may be greedy, but he actually gets things done."

"Let him be greedy. If Hong Zhiyou manages to negotiate this deal and lowers the price by even ten percent, the money saved for the Nationalist government will be enough for Wu Jingzhong to be greedy ten, a hundred, a thousand times over."

"He is greedy, but the Nationalist government doesn't lose out."

"Besides, if he is greedy, he will leave behind evidence."

"If there ever comes a day when we need to deal with him, it will be easier."

"Subordinate understands," Wan An said.

"Wan An, your brain isn't suited for politics, so this time when you go to the Japanese side, you must be cautious in your words and actions."

"Learn from and consult with Hong Zhiyou more."

"Being humble will ultimately be to your benefit."

Jiang Jianfeng exhorted earnestly.

"Yes," Wan An accepted the order.

……

The next morning at eight o'clock.

Hong Zhiyou and Wan An boarded the plane to Ghost Island.

Eleven o'clock.

The two checked into the Tokyo Hotel.

"Secretary Hong, I've checked; the Ghost Island's Minister of Economy is named Ikeda Sugiue."

"Since September, this person has borrowed nearly one billion US dollars in loans from North America, and by relying on this huge sum to ensure people's livelihoods, he has forcibly suppressed Tokyo's skyrocketing prices."

"Two-thirds of their grain is purchased at low prices from North America."

Wan An said in a deep voice after checking the room.

"You mean you're afraid they will interfere?" Hong Zhiyou asked with a faint smile.

"Yes!"

"This is their territory; if they play any tricks, we will be in big trouble," Wan An nodded.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it!"

"Let's wait and see."

Hong Zhiyou said.

The Japanese now, having experienced the trauma of defeat, are seeing their economy improve under strong support from North America.

But in the final analysis, their lifeline is in the hands of the Americans.

For Hong Zhiyou, it's not a big problem.

"I have already notified the North American embassy here on Ghost Island."

"There is a cocktail party tonight."

"Ikeda Sugiue will also be there; we'll know once we meet him."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"By the way, I have to go out at noon; there's a restaurant downstairs," he instructed.

"Alright, stay safe," Wan An nodded and left the room.

Hong Zhiyou took a shower and changed into clean clothes.

He went downstairs.

A black Studebaker sedan was already waiting.

"Damn, I... I finally get to see you."

Xie Ruolin, chewing on a cigar, winked and smiled brightly at Hong Zhiyou.

That's right.

Old Xie was one of Hong Zhiyou's trump cards.

……

(End of chapter)