Chapter 350: Killing Frenzy

Six o'clock in the afternoon.

The setting sun sank low, casting blood-colored light through the window onto the bed.

Zhou Gendi nestled in Hong Zhiyou's arms, her face still flushed with the lingering afterglow of bliss.

"Enough?" Hong Zhiyou pinched her ear and smiled gently.

"Not enough."

"A hundred times, a thousand times more wouldn't be enough," Zhou Gendi cooed.

"Screw you!"

"Do you really think I'm made of iron?"

Hong Zhiyou slapped her shapely buttocks and cursed with a grin.

"I don't care. I can barely get an appointment with you once a year, so I just haven't had enough," Zhou Gendi pouted.

"Next time, next time!"

Hong Zhiyou couldn't be bothered to pay her any mind.

He briskly stepped into the bathroom to wash off the scent of the woman, changed his clothes, and prepared to leave.

"Zhiyou, I want to go back to Jinmen."

Zhou Gendi suddenly hugged him from behind.

"Back to Jinmen..." Hong Zhiyou didn't know how to answer for a moment; this was not part of his plan.

"My mother passed away last winter."

"Zhiyou, I... I have no family left but you. Will you take me with you?"

She held him tightly, pleading in a low voice.

Hong Zhiyou turned around, and seeing her face covered in tears, he couldn't help but hold her gently:

"Alright, we'll go back to Jinmen."

"Really?" Zhou Gendi was overjoyed.

"Really. I promise you, I will take you back," Hong Zhiyou nodded.

"Mm."

"I'll wait for you," Zhou Gendi said, breaking into a smile through her tears.

"By the way, I've offended quite a few people coming here with Jiang Jianfeng this time."

"You should move to a hotel for now; it'll be safer with Wang Cuiping there."

Hong Zhiyou patted her head and instructed.

"I understand," Zhou Gendi nodded obediently.

Hong Zhiyou returned to the office building.

Jiang Jianfeng, dressed in a Zhongshan suit, was eating.

A simple meal of three dishes and one soup.

"Director, having dinner so early?" Feeling guilty for his absence, Hong Zhiyou hurried to brew some tea.

"It's lunch."

"I've been so busy I only just remembered. Take a look at these materials," Jiang Jianfeng said, pointing his chopsticks at a thick stack of documents on the table.

"There are too many."

"If we were to arrest everyone here, more than half of the merchants in Shanghu would end up inside," Hong Zhiyou said, frowning as he flipped through them.

"Indeed."

"The roots in Shanghu have already rotted. No merchant is without greed, no merchant is without hoarding."

"What do you think?"

Jiang Jianfeng asked while eating.

"My opinion: strike the tigers, startle the flies."

"As long as we take down the ringleaders, the flies underneath will naturally be forced to cough up their gains."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"Mm, that aligns perfectly with my thoughts."

"That is also what I intend to tell them tonight," Jiang Jianfeng smiled.

"Has Tang Enbo replied?"

He asked after taking a sip of soup.

"He has. He is still in Zhedong, currently racing toward Quzhou," Hong Zhiyou said.

"Good. Send another telegram to Tang Enbo. Make it urgent; this concerns the national situation, we cannot afford any delay," Jiang Jianfeng nodded.

"Yes."

Hong Zhiyou took the order and left.

Eight o'clock in the evening.

Outside the Central Bank building, luxury cars were as thick as rain.

High-ranking officials, key figures, and wealthy merchants were chatting happily.

This group of cunning individuals certainly hadn't come to offer their necks for the slaughter.

They came to see what cards Jiang Jianfeng was playing and how Young Master Kong would make his move.

"Young Master Kong."

"How should we handle this?" Wang Lie rubbed the thick gold chain around his neck and asked in a low voice.

"What is the attitude of those fellows in the Chamber of Commerce?" Kong Lingkan asked.

"They follow your lead."

"Those bastards—if you don't say a word, they wouldn't dare sell even a fingernail's worth of flour," Wang Lie laughed.

"What about Du Weiping?" Kong Lingkan asked.

"I heard he twisted his leg while going downstairs. Old Du sent Ye Zhuoshan to attend the meeting instead," Wang Lie said.

"Ye Zhuoshan?"

"Heh, what twisted leg? The Du family is clearly chickening out."

"Never mind. I'll deal with Jiang Jianfeng first, then I'll handle old Du later."

Kong Lingkan saw through the situation at a glance and sneered with disdain.

"Let's go."

"Let's see what insights our 'Soviet' friend has."

He snapped his fingers and walked into the conference hall.

Jiang Jianfeng was talking with those key officials.

Wearing gold-rimmed glasses, his hair slicked back, and dressed in a sharp suit, Kong Lingkan walked in. The previously noisy hall suddenly fell silent, and everyone instinctively cleared a path.

"Young Master Kong."

Coming to their senses, everyone greeted him one after another.

Jiang Jianfeng was instantly left out in the cold.

"Vice Mayor Wang."

"Chairman Zhou."

"..."

Kong Lingkan wore a smile, waving his hand from time to time to acknowledge the greetings.

Soon, he arrived in front of Jiang Jianfeng:

"Cousin, I trust you've been well. You didn't even come to visit the house when you arrived in Shanghu, staying in this hot, dilapidated building instead. People might think my Kong family couldn't even find space for you, Cousin."

"It's quite nice here. At least it's clean," Jiang Jianfeng said.

"Mm."

"I almost forgot Cousin is a 'Tovarishch.' Shanghu is a place with many people, many ships, and many cars; naturally, it can't be clean. It's only normal that you aren't used to it."

Kong Lingkan looked at him and smiled.

Just as they were speaking, a waiter walked over with a tray of drinks.

Kong Lingkan took a glass first.

Jiang Jianfeng was just about to reach for one.

Kong Lingkan's finger lightly hooked the edge of the tray; the waiter didn't have time to steady it, and the glasses on top crashed to the floor, shattering.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." The waiter was terrified, apologizing in a panic.

The onlookers were also stunned.

No one expected Kong Lingkan to start locking horns with Jiang Jianfeng the moment he arrived.

The sparks between the two men made it hard for the crowd to breathe.

For a moment, the conference hall was eerily, terrifyingly quiet.

Jiang Jianfeng's expression darkened. He stared fixedly at Kong Lingkan, a smile playing on the corner of his lips:

"What is the meaning of this, Lingkan?"

"You dog!"

"You can't even hold a wine tray steady!"

Kong Lingkan curled his lip in a cold sneer and backhanded the waiter across the face.

The waiter suppressed his instinct to react, closed his eyes, and dared not dodge.

"Young Master Kong."

A hand reached in from the side and firmly gripped his wrist.

It was a handsome, fair-skinned young man looking at him with a smile: "Who among us hasn't made a mistake?"

"Hong Zhiyou?" Kong Lingkan narrowed his eyes, his pupils filled with biting coldness.

"Indeed."

Hong Zhiyou smiled with the ease of a spring breeze and turned to instruct the ashen-faced waiter:

"With Comrade Jiang Jianfeng here, there is no need to fear even if the sky falls."

"Go and change the wine at once."

"Yes, yes." The waiter quickly brought new drinks.

Hong Zhiyou steadily held up a glass and handed it to Jiang Jianfeng: "Director, please."

Jiang Jianfeng took it with an air of composure, took a sip, and said to the waiter:

"To err is human; as long as one can correct it, that is enough."

As he spoke, he turned to look at Kong Lingkan, "Don't you agree, Lingkan?"

"That depends on how it's corrected."

"If it's easy to correct, then correct it."

"If it's not, then don't."

Kong Lingkan decisively cut off any retreat, determined to see this through to the end.

"Good!"

Jiang Jianfeng gave a cold smile, set down his glass, and turned to walk toward the stage.

"Ladies and gentlemen, our government is currently in a time of crisis. I, Jiang, have been entrusted by the Chairman..."

Jiang Jianfeng began his address on stage.

When he finished, everyone looked at Kong Lingkan.

Seeing that the young master made no move, several people who had wanted to applaud ultimately pulled their hands back.

"Clap, clap!"

Hong Zhiyou stood up and applauded vigorously; he looked toward Long Tao at his side.

Long Tao wore a look of constipated agony, but finally, biting the bullet and not daring to meet the murderous gazes of Kong and Wang, he gritted his teeth, lowered his head, and began to applaud for dear life.

However, it was only the two of them.

"Good!"

In this suffocating atmosphere, Kong Lingkan leaned back comfortably in his chair, gave Jiang Jianfeng a faint smile, and clapped his hands lightly.

Clatter, clatter.

Thunderous applause suddenly erupted from the floor.

"I, Jiang, have come this time not to swat flies, but to strike at the tigers. From the moment this decree is issued today, anyone who dares to hoard livelihood goods again..."

Just as Jiang Jianfeng reached a passionate point, Kong Lingkan stood up and interrupted him:

"Director Jiang, my apologies, I have matters at home and must take my leave."

Having said this, he let out a scoff, turned, and swaggered out.

With him leaving.

Wang Lie and several other die-hard followers also walked out.

Jiang Jianfeng watched these people coldly, making no attempt to stop them.

Hong Zhiyou, meanwhile, unhurriedly took out a notebook and recorded the names of those who left.

Watching Kong Lingkan depart, Jiang Jianfeng remained completely unfazed and waved his hand to continue promoting the management regulations.

Half an hour later.

Amidst the dull applause, Jiang Jianfeng returned to his office.

He sipped his tea, not at all discouraged.

He knew exactly what kind of person his cousin was.

The only thing he hadn't expected was that the waters in Shangcheng were far deeper than he had imagined; not to mention the business world, even the municipal government, the police department, and the garrison headquarters all looked to the Kong family as their leader.

This left him feeling somewhat dazed.

Whose world was this Party-State, after all?

"Director, I have written them down."

Hong Zhiyou opened his notebook, tore off the page with the list, and handed it over.

"You are thoughtful." Jiang Jianfeng glanced at it and placed it on the desk.

"Director, your subordinate feels that if we don't kill a few fierce tigers, we won't be able to suppress the tigers, leopards, and wolves in these mountains," Hong Zhiyou said.

"That makes sense."

"This first punch shall strike these few tigers."

"However, Tang Enbo's people didn't come, and Xuan Tiewu is feigning illness; we don't have enough men on hand, so we must proceed step by step."

"Let's start with him first."

Jiang Jianfeng pondered for a moment and circled two names on the paper.

"Tao Qiming, Zhang Yequ."

"Yes."

"These two carry significant weight; once they are eliminated, we will have people to use."

Hong Zhiyou said with an expression of admiration.

One had to admit, Jiang Jianfeng still had some ability; at least his demeanor and mindset were those of someone capable of great things.

"Call Long Tao in."

Jiang Jianfeng ordered in a clear voice.

Long Tao walked in: "Director."

"Go and mobilize men to inspect the foreign firms, warehouses, and docks in Shangcheng," Jiang Jianfeng instructed.

"This..." Long Tao hesitated.

"What is it? Are there difficulties?" Jiang Jianfeng asked.

"Your subordinate is willing to go and dares to inspect them, but I fear they will not cooperate," Long Tao said truthfully.

It would be better if Xuan Tiewu, or a general from the Military Police Headquarters or the Secret Service Bureau, were leading the inspection.

In a position like his, neither high nor low, many things were difficult to handle.

"Inspect first."

"Seal first."

"Do your best to make those who don't cooperate comply; for those who truly won't, report to Secretary Hong."

Jiang Jianfeng knew this was difficult and did not force him to blindly pledge his life to the cause.

"Yes." Long Tao accepted the order.

After leaving the office, Long Tao pulled Hong Zhiyou to the side:

"Brother, you've killed me today."

"You two can just brush yourselves off and leave later."

"My entire family is here; won't Kong Lingkan and Du Yuesheng kill me? Even Xuan Tiewu is hiding; I'm really no match for them."

"Do you think they will spare you just because you take a side?" Hong Zhiyou smiled.

"From the moment you were assigned here by Mao Renfeng, you were already a discarded pawn."

"Besides following Jiang Jianfeng to the bitter end, do you have any other choice?"

"As the saying goes, wealth is sought in danger."

"Now is Jiang Jianfeng's most difficult time, and it is also his first special mission; a friend in need is a friend indeed, and providing help in the snow is always more meaningful than adding flowers to a brocade."

"Don't forget, his surname is Jiang."

"Who knows, this might be the chance for your ancestral grave to smoke with good fortune, understand?"

"Do you know what I do?"

Hong Zhiyou asked.

"Secretary... businessman," Long Tao said.

"Businessman, exactly right. Look at me, have you learned?" Hong Zhiyou spread his index and middle fingers, hooked them toward his own eyes, and stared at him.

"Alright, alright."

"You've convinced me."

"I'll stake my life on this!"

Staring into his domineering, sharp gaze, Long Tao could only think this way.

"But I only have sixty-some men in internal affairs, and the field agents, once they heard it was to challenge Kong Lingkan, were all too scared to do it."

"I really have no one."

He said bitterly.

"Orders are rigid, but methods are flexible."

"Do not inspect the warehouses tonight."

"Go and secure the ironclad evidence against these two people."

"As the Economic Section Chief of the Garrison Command, Zhang Yequ bears inescapable responsibility for the hoarding and price-gouging scandal in Shanghai."

"Tao Qiming leaked economic secrets, colluded with the Central Bank to over-issue Gold Yuan Coupons, and speculated on the stock market."

"For people like them, there is no need to painstakingly search for evidence."

"Launch a surprise raid, ransack their homes and offices, and you can convict them."

"Arrest them, and I guarantee you will have a steady stream of soldiers and a steady stream of warehouse intelligence."

Hong Zhiyou broke the matter down into pieces, teaching him bit by bit.

"Alright, I will go make the arrests now," Long Tao said.

"Don't be hasty."

"Wait a little longer."

"Strike around one or two o'clock."

"Shatter the darkness with thunder; Captain Long, everything depends on you."

Hong Zhiyou patted his shoulder solemnly.

"Mm-hmm." Long Tao, having been brainwashed, felt his confidence explode and suddenly felt his future was bright.

The Kong family mansion.

"Lingkan, your performance at the meeting today was too excessive."

"He is your cousin, the son of the Chairman."

"His surname is Jiang."

"If you go against him like this, you won't have a good outcome. Has water entered your brain?"

Kong Xiangxi roared, pointing at his absurd and arrogant son.

"Father, did you and Mother rush back from North America just to scold me?" Kong Lingkan said unhappily.

"You still think you're in the right?" Kong Xiangxi said.

"I hoarded supplies for most of the Shanghai Bund, so much money, and he wants me to hand it over with just one word from Jiang Jianfeng?"

"Fine."

"You tell him to give me 400, 00 US dollars, and I can hand it over."

Kong Lingkan spread his hands, unconvinced.

"Besides, he has no Song family blood in him. I respect him by calling him cousin; if I don't respect him, he is nothing!" He sneered.

"You!" Kong Xiangxi was about to die of anger.

"Alright."

"Alright, can you two stop arguing the moment you see each other?"

"It's no big deal."

"It's not like people haven't come to inspect before. Who doesn't know how to shout slogans? In my opinion, Jianfeng is just going through the motions."

"If it really kicks up a fuss, I'll go find my younger sister."

"The Chairman wouldn't take action against his own family, would he?"

Lady Kong advised.

"Sigh, I hope so." Kong Xiangxi's brows were tightly locked, and an ominous premonition surged in his heart.

The Song family.

Yin Zhuoran walked quickly into Song Ziliang's residence.

"Mr. Ziliang, Jianfeng and Kong Lingkan 'fought' at the meeting venue today," Yin Zhuoran said.

"Too good."

"I have waited for this day for a long time."

"Like this, as soon as Jianfeng makes a move, immediately distribute that batch of civil supplies in the South Warehouse that are about to spoil to the market for free, to respond to Jianfeng's call."

"My nephew has been arrogant for so many years; it's time to let them suffer a loss."

Song Ziliang swirled the red wine in his glass and smiled with deep, calculating cunning.

Night.

Long Tao personally led his men to sneak up to Zhang Yequ's villa.

He climbed inside.

Amidst a burst of dog barking, he fired several shots to break the door lock, followed by a kick to burst inside.

"Who is it?"

Zhang Yequ, startled awake from his sleep, hugged his young wife and screamed in panic.

"By order of Director Jiang."

"Zhang Yequ, you are under arrest."

Long Tao flashed the arrest warrant and said sternly.

"Captain Long, you, did you all make a mistake?" Zhang Yequ shouted.

"Strike."

Long Tao waved his hand, and his subordinates grabbed Zhang Yequ and his wife and gave them a round of punches and kicks.

After the beating, they waited for the young couple to confess everything.

They seized the stolen goods on the spot.

The whole process took less than an hour, and they moved on to the next house, crisp and efficient.

Morning.

Jianfeng walked into the office with high spirits.

Hong Zhiyou was wiping the table.

"Director, good morning," he bowed and asked.

"Zhiyou, let the subordinates handle such trivial matters," Jianfeng smiled.

"I'm used to it."

"Love the work you do; a secretary should do a secretary's job."

Hong Zhiyou smiled.

"Mm."

"That is how it should be. Being capable is certainly important, but loyalty and duty are the foundation of being an official."

"Those who deceive their leaders above and exploit the common people below will never go far."

Jianfeng praised.

Hong Zhiyou felt secretly ashamed, but his expression became even more respectful.

Jianfeng saw it in his eyes and was very satisfied.

A talent who is capable, knows how to get things done, and is also so loyal and upright is truly rare.

No wonder Wu Jingzhong could sit firmly in Jinhai and keep things in perfect order.

The two were just talking.

Long Tao walked in quickly, his eyes bloodshot, and said: "Director, I have arrested the people. They are locked in the detention room on the top floor. Please move to inspect them."

"Good."

"Captain Long has worked hard."

Jianfeng was overjoyed and called Hong Zhiyou to go to the top floor together.

Once upstairs, seven people were locked in three rooms.

Every one of them was a high-ranking official in Shanghai.

There was the vault director of the bank.

The person in charge of the Liquidation Committee.

"Why did you arrest so many?" Hong Zhiyou winked at Long Tao and asked in a low voice.

"Rest assured, I didn't arrest a single wrong person."

"I work in inspections; I know exactly who in this group in Shanghai has issues and who doesn't, and their accounts are crystal clear."

Long Tao replied.

Brother, you were a little too heavy-handed... Hong Zhiyou looked at Jianfeng, who was also thinking in silence.

"Comrade Jianfeng, I am wronged."

"Director, please, look at how I have shed blood for the Party and State..."

Amidst a chorus of pleas, Jianfeng walked downstairs quickly.

"Director, how should we handle this?"

"We've caught a bit too many."

Hong Zhiyou said in a low voice.

"Long Tao's sincerity is commendable.

"You two shall personally review the evidence, quickly finalize the witnesses and proof, and hold a public trial and execution.

"Kill them.

"Kill them all together.

"Those who bring disaster to the country and the people must not be spared; if this crooked and evil trend is not halted, the Party and the State are in danger."

Jiang Jianfeng gave instructions.

"Yes."

Hong Zhiyou said.

That day, he and Long Tao organized the materials, leaving these seven people no time or opportunity to even find connections to plead for mercy.

At noon.

The Inspection Team escorted the few of them to a nearby intersection to set up a stage for a public trial.

The common people below were packed like a sea of humanity.

Hong Zhiyou held a megaphone and first publicized Jiang Jianfeng's determination to fight corruption and hoarding.

After reading the evidence.

Hong Zhiyou waved his hand, and the seven were executed by firing squad on the spot.

At the same time.

High-pitched loudspeakers set up at major shopping malls and street corners, as well as parading vehicles, incessantly broadcast the news of Jiang Jianfeng's determination to rectify the financial and livelihood markets.

Seven key officials were executed.

In an instant, the news that Jiang Jianfeng was going to clean out the financial parasites and was determined to "strike the tigers" spread throughout the entire Shanghai Bund, and the common people all clapped and cheered.

Newspapers flew like snowflakes to all parts of the country.

……

(End of chapter)