Chapter 351: Young Master Kong

Two days later.

Central Bank building.

Hong Zhiyou walked in carrying a lunch box, laid the dishes out one by one, took a pair of serving chopsticks to stir them briefly, then took half of each portion and began to eat with rice.

After finishing the meal, he scooped up some soup to drink, and only then said respectfully, "Director, you may dine."

Jianfeng had already been watching with lowered brows.

The dishes were the Huainan style he loved.

This kid understood his tastes.

The food tasting was also very professional.

People die for wealth; if he made big moves, there would be those who would take risks and use various methods to assassinate him.

Poisoning was the thing to guard against most.

If the other party wanted to tamper with the food, they could do it in half of the dishes, or leave special marks, or tamper with individual ingredients.

Hong Zhiyou used serving chopsticks to stir everything, which eliminated this hidden danger to the greatest extent; his skills as an agent were undoubtedly top-notch, and it also reflected his loyalty.

After all, the people closest to you are often the ones who can put on the best act.

To dare to taste food so meticulously—his loyalty was commendable.

"Zhiyou, having 'beaten the tigers' seven times, what is the reaction and public opinion outside?" Jianfeng felt the burden on his shoulders and the pressure on his heart ease significantly, so he sat down and asked.

"The reaction is very good."

"Many wealthy merchants have already contacted me privately, wanting to sell at flat prices, or even lower than market prices."

"At the same time, in order to cooperate with your instructions, Mr. Song Ziliang has transported ten thousand tons of flat-priced grain from the Jinshan Foreign Trade Company to stabilize market prices."

"Now, rice shops, department stores, and major retail outlets are rationing rice and grain to citizens."

"The bank is also doing its utmost to control the issuance of Gold Yuan Coupons, has raised the ratio of Gold Yuan Coupons to gold and silver, and the stock market is also taking action."

"While beating the tigers, we are also maintaining stability."

"With the Gold Yuan Coupons operating healthily, great things can be expected, and the economy can be stabilized."

"I hear that in the alleys outside, nursery rhymes have already spread, and the common people are calling you 'Blue Sky' Jiang."

Hong Zhiyou flattered him unobtrusively.

He supported Jianfeng's financial "beating of the tigers."

Although the operation was destined to fail and the Jiang dynasty's sinking ship was about to go under, the common people were innocent.

If he could bleed the Kong and Song families and those comprador capitalists, allowing the people to eat a few more mouthfuls of rice, why not do it?

Jianfeng truly wanted to get things done.

He would risk his life to accompany this gentleman; with Jianfeng's rather "human" nature, there would surely be no shortage of conveniences in the future.

"That's excellent."

"If we stabilize the Gold Yuan Coupons and the common people have food to eat, the morale of the troops at the front will be stable, and victory will be just around the corner."

"By then, the people of Shanghu will also support our army with food and drink."

Jianfeng laughed, lost in his whimsical thoughts.

"However, the grain provided by the Song family likely won't last long."

"Most of the rice, flour, grain, and oil are still controlled by Kong Lingkan's Yangtze Company and people like Wang Chunzhe and Du Yuesheng."

"If we don't take them down, those who are still watching from the sidelines won't bleed."

Hong Zhiyou said bluntly.

"Strike, we must strike."

"Before I came, I gave a military pledge to the Generalissimo: no matter who is involved, if they dare to hoard goods and place the nation and its people in fire and water, I will spare no cost to deal with them."

"Start with Du Yuesheng and Wang Chunzhe."

"Especially Du Yuesheng; you have a personal friendship with him, and this man also performed acts to save the nation during the War of Resistance, so he should be a man who understands right from wrong."

"You do some good ideological work with him and see if he can hand over the goods in a reasonable way to cooperate with and promote my work."

"If he can cooperate with us, the Kong family side might loosen up and be easier to handle."

Jianfeng said with his hands behind his back.

Hong Zhiyou understood.

Jianfeng was wary of the Kong family; many things could not be solved just by killing.

"By the way, Tang Enbo has replied; he has already dispatched a brigade from the Fifty-Seventh Army, fully equipped and ready to depart, and they will be able to enter the city to garrison by tonight," Hong Zhiyou said.

"This Tang Enbo."

"He acts only when there is profit to be made; once people were killed and grain was released, his troops arrived."

"Too cunning."

Jianfeng frowned, dissatisfied.

"Their arrival is a good thing regardless."

"Director, the food is getting cold; let me take it to be heated for you."

Hong Zhiyou said, showing great perceptiveness.

"No need, this is much better than the dry, hard bread from the Soviet Union."

"Go on with your work."

Jianfeng waved his hand.

Just as Hong Zhiyou was about to leave, Long Tao walked in: "Director, Bureau Chief Xuan is here."

"Just as you said."

"Once the guillotine is raised and heads roll, it's more effective than any order or miracle cure; I don't have to worry about having no one to use," Jianfeng said, pointing at Hong Zhiyou with a smile.

"It is all due to the Director's proper planning," Hong Zhiyou dared not take any credit.

Soon, Xuan Tiewu walked in, his face full of smiles: "Director."

"Is Bureau Chief Xuan's illness better?" Jianfeng asked with a smile.

"Mostly better, no major issues now."

"Several hundred elite police officers from the police bureau have all assembled and are ready for orders at any time; wherever you point, Director, we will strike, and we will go through fire and water without hesitation."

Xuan Tiewu straightened his body and saluted Jianfeng.

"Good, with Bureau Chief Xuan assisting me, why worry about the people's livelihood in Shanghu not flourishing?"

"Captain Long, from now on, I appoint you as the Shanghu Police Assistant, concurrently in charge of mobilizing the Economic Brigade and police resources to ensure that the investigation and recovery of stolen goods are implemented effectively," Jianfeng ordered sternly.

"Yes," Long Tao replied loudly.

……

The Kong family's back garden.

Kong Lingkan was sipping red wine, no longer possessing his usual arrogant air, and looked gloomily at Wang Lie:

"It seems Jianfeng is going to play for real."

"Zhang Yequ is my man."

"He is coming directly for me."

"What's even more hateful is that Song Ziliang is actually bleeding me and undermining me; I truly cannot swallow this."

"Heh, the streets and alleys are all praising Jianfeng now; I think he wants to use this opportunity to climb to the top," Wang Lie said.

"Climb to the top?"

"He doesn't have the Song family's blood in his bones; he hasn't a chance in hell of climbing to the top."

"Where is Weiping?" Kong Lingkan asked.

"Still holed up at home; I don't think he can come out."

"This guy has a lot of grain under his control, and we also have a lot stored in the Green Gang's wharf warehouses."

"If Du Weiping turns against us, it will be fatal for us."

Wang Lie frowned.

"We must guard against that."

"I heard Hong Zhiyou visited Du Yuesheng."

"If Du Yuesheng loses his mind, he might really turn the tables on us."

"We cannot sit and wait for death; we must take the initiative."

Kong Lingkan slammed his wine glass onto the table and said chillingly.

"How do we strike?" Wang Lie asked.

"Jianfeng kills my people, so I dare to kill his."

"Doesn't Hong Zhiyou love to put on an act?"

"Let's start with him."

Kong Lingkan said coldly.

"Who should we find?" Wang Lie said.

"Stupid."

"Post a bounty; whoever can kill Hong Zhiyou, I... we will reward them with one thousand taels of gold," Kong Lingkan changed his words just as they reached his lips.

Bastard... Wang Lie cursed inwardly, but his face remained smiling:

"Your move is indeed high."

"There are countless desperate scoundrels in Shanghai; this way, thousands of people will want to take Hong Zhiyou's head."

"Unless he stays in the Central Bank building and never comes out."

"The moment he dares to show his head, he dies."

The words had barely left his lips.

Bang.

The red wine bottle on the table suddenly exploded.

Before Kong Lingkan could understand what was happening, another shot hit the stone table.

"There's an assassin!"

Kong Lingkan and Wang Lie were so frightened they scrambled behind the table and shouted.

The elite security team of the Kong family immediately surrounded them.

They saw several bearded foreigners get out of a jeep opposite them; their builds were exceptionally burly, and they looked fierce and menacing.

The leader was over one meter ninety tall, with golden hair hanging to his shoulders, wearing a camouflage vest, his muscles so large they were about to burst through his clothes.

As he walked over, he gestured at Kong Lingkan as if firing a gun.

Swish, swish!

The security team took up positions, loaded their guns, and stood ready.

"Don't be nervous, my name is Raul, captain of the Third Detachment of the French Foreign Legion, we are here to assassinate you," the big man pointed at Kong Lingkan and said in English.

The French Foreign Legion, a mercenary organization!

Damn it, and he was telling him not to be nervous; Kong Lingkan hid behind a guard and shouted in a foreign language:

"This is the Kong family, I advise you not to seek your own death."

"Don't be nervous, my friend."

"I won't shoot."

"Someone gave me an order: as long as Hong Zhiyou dies, we will execute you."

"So, from now on, we will follow you twenty-four hours a day to ensure Hong's safety."

Raul said in a booming voice.

"What is all this?" Wang Lie looked at Kong Lingkan, his brain almost muddled.

Protect Hong Zhiyou.

Why the hell are you following Young Master Kong?

So it's a one-for-one trade.

"You can call the police, but you know, we are from a victorious nation, we have an embassy, and I have my American military friends."

"Even if we go to the police station, you'd have to let us go within the time it takes to smoke a cigarette."

"From this moment on, as elegant, devout Catholics, let God bless us together."

"Kong, my friend."

"You will get along well with Mr. Hong."

"OK?"

Raul rested his gun on his shoulder and shrugged as he asked.

At the same time, the other tough men behind him also raised their guns and aimed at Kong Lingkan.

"Damn it."

Kong Lingkan spat out a curse in annoyance.

"What do we do?"

"Should we still issue the bounty?" Wang Lie asked.

"Was your brain kicked by a donkey?"

"If Hong Zhiyou dies, they will take my life in exchange; do you want me dead?" Kong Lingkan glared at him and cursed in a low voice.

"Aren't they just a few foreign devils?"

"We can just have the security and guards wipe them out and sink them into the Huangpu River; who would know?" Wang Lie said.

"That's why I say you have no brain."

"These are members of a mercenary group; if you kill them, you will be hunted down relentlessly."

"And they are foreigners."

"The National Government is currently supporting one hundred thousand stationed American troops; do you know how high the cost of supplying them is? It's equivalent to supporting fifty million National Army soldiers."

"In other words, one foreign devil is worth at least five hundred heads."

"Moreover, they came through American military channels; there's no telling if there's an American financier behind them."

"If you wipe out this detachment, it's equivalent to killing thousands of people."

"Once France and North America investigate, it will be a serious international diplomatic incident; I might not even have a place to stay in the National Government or North America."

Kong Lingkan was skilled at calculation, and the pros and cons were crystal clear.

"Then we're just going to let it go?" Wang Lie was somewhat unwilling.

"Nonsense."

"Not only can we not kill Hong Zhiyou, but we must also notify the Chamber of Commerce and all the riffraff outside that no one is allowed to touch Hong Zhiyou."

"Whoever dares to touch Hong Zhiyou, I will wipe out their entire family."

Kong Lingkan ordered hatefully.

"Alright." Wang Lie nodded uninterestingly.

"Mr. Raul, I am willing to accept reconciliation; I swear to God that Hong Zhiyou will not be in any danger in Shanghai," Kong Lingkan stepped forward and skillfully made the sign of the cross on his chest.

"Very good."

"However, words are not proof; from now on, we will protect you twenty-four hours a day until Mr. Hong leaves Shanghai," Raul was very satisfied with his attitude.

Protect your grandfather... Kong Lingkan's eyes rolled, and he asked with a smile:

"Can you tell me how much money Hong Zhiyou gave you? I'll pay double, no, triple, five times."

"I have plenty of money."

"Easy to talk about."

"I love American dollars."

"After this job is done, we can talk about cooperation again," Raul was still very professional.

Just as they were speaking, a black Beetle drove over.

The passenger window slowly rolled down.

Hong Zhiyou's handsome face appeared before Kong Lingkan.

"Young Master Kong, thank you for your guarantee; may the Lord bless you."

Hong Zhiyou winked and smiled at him, then stepped on the gas and drove away.

"Hong Zhiyou, I'll go to your ancestors for eighteen generations; sooner or later, I'll go to Xiaoshan in Zhedong and dig up your ancestral grave."

Kong Lingkan, having been thwarted repeatedly, was so angry he broke down and cursed.

What kind of low-down tricks is this guy using, even hiring mercenaries.

Now it's a fine mess.

It's like punching cotton; he has strength but nowhere to use it.

It's truly infuriating.

"Young Master Kong, what do we do now?" Wang Lie said.

"Besides asking what to do, what to do, can't you think of what to do yourself?" Kong Lingkan said irritably.

"I..."

Wang Lie opened his mouth but didn't make a sound.

He actually had a method, but seeing Kong Lingkan in such a rage, it was better not to get yelled at.

Better to wait for another day.

"Don't worry, the sky won't fall."

"The Shanghai Bund is still my Kong family's."

"I'll spare Hong Zhiyou's dog life for now and see what other tricks he can pull; I don't believe that with Jiang Jianfeng's limited ability, he can do anything to me."

"Hmph."

Kong Lingkan flicked his sleeve and returned to the villa.

Hong Zhiyou rested his hand on the car window, letting the wind from the Huangpu River blow on him, his mood feeling slightly relaxed.

The mercenaries were hired for him by Paul.

Raul's detachment was originally in Southeast Asia executing a mission, protecting a wealthy merchant migrating to North America.

However, Paul's uncle knew the top brass of the mercenary group.

He had Raul fly in overnight to enter the country and come to Shanghai, registered as an auxiliary of the American military.

Of course, even without Raul's detachment, he would have asked the American military stationed in Shanghai to protect him.

This was also the source of his confidence in coming to Shanghai.

In the final analysis, the Jiang, Song, Kong, and Chen families had held the Americans in too high regard.

Hong Zhiyou drove to the Green Gang headquarters.

Du Yuesheng was already waiting at the entrance to welcome him.

"You have good methods, brother."

"I just received a call from Young Master Kong, telling me to have my son stop the assassination."

"Young Master Kong even threatened me, saying that if anything happens to you, he will hold my Green Gang accountable and make me restrain my subordinates."

Upon meeting, Du Yuesheng said with a wry smile.

"He certainly knows how to shift the blame."

"Since you, Boss Du, took the initiative to meet me this time, it seems you have figured things out."

Hong Zhiyou did not waste words and got straight to the point.

"Sigh."

"If I am not mistaken, Jiang Jianfeng's next blade will be aimed at my head, right?" Du Yuesheng asked with a smile.

"Of course."

"Many people say you are the underground emperor of Shanghu; what, do you want to use your methods to test me?" Hong Zhiyou raised an eyebrow as he looked at him.

"I wouldn't dare."

"An axe against a bullet is undoubtedly an egg hitting a rock; I, Du, know exactly how much weight I carry."

"Tang Enbo's massive army will be entering the city soon."

"Jiang Jianfeng's determination is far beyond my expectations!"

"It's just that every family has its own troubles, and as the head of the Green Gang, I have countless mouths to feed."

"Furthermore, I cannot afford to offend the Kong family."

"They are the true compradors, holding the throats of nearly three-quarters of the people in Shanghu."

"To put it plainly, I am merely scraping by on their leftovers."

Du Yuesheng said with heartfelt sincerity.

"State your conditions." Hong Zhiyou had no interest in listening to his nonsense and asked directly.

"I am willing to sell my hoarded supplies at a fair price."

"In order not to offend the Kong family, I hope..."

Du Yuesheng glanced around, leaned into Hong Zhiyou's ear, and whispered for quite a while.

(End of chapter)