Chapter 384: You Really Don't Treat Money as Money

Hong Zhiyou was very clear that avoidance could not solve any problems.

As long as the deal remained unfinished, the likes of Ikeda Sugiue and his cohorts would bite on and never let go, just like mad dogs.

That was correct.

These people simply could not see the situation clearly.

The American military was the true master of the Ghost Island at the moment.

The father and son of the Jiang family could still struggle against Truman, even going so far as to issue diplomatic condemnations and reject some harsh conditions.

But when it came to the Japs, the Americans were the type to kill without bothering to bury.

Killing them was just like slaughtering pigs or dogs; they didn't even need a reason.

One could only say that Ikeda Sugiue and Sakata Toshio really considered themselves human.

If they wanted to jump, Hong Zhiyou did not mind carrying them away.

"Then proceed according to plan."

"See you later."

Randall got into the jeep.

After turning into an alley, he boarded a large truck, inside which many precision instruments were flashing.

"Tom, what is the situation?" Randall asked.

"According to the hotel wiretaps and the information provided by the lobby waiter."

"Just as you and Mr. Hong were attending the banquet, Sakata Toshio's subordinate, Matsumoto Ichiro, led several men to check into the hotel."

"Their people have secretly scouted the location and are staying in the rooms to the left and right of Mr. Hong; two of them are armed with guns, and the rest have short blades and daggers."

"Judging from the phone calls they reported to Sakata Toshio."

"The nearby patrol police have already been cleared away by Ikeda Sugiue."

"Considering the impact, they will make their move after Mr. Hong enters his room."

A sergeant with acne on his face reported.

"Very good."

"Continue to act according to the plan," Randall said.

"Yes, General," the sergeant saluted and said.

Randall was not considered a confidant of MacArthur.

To be precise, there were many generals in the Allied Command's Pacific Theater who opposed MacArthur.

Randall belonged to the moderate faction.

He was only loyal to money and the President of the United States.

This was also one of the reasons why, later on, when Truman gave the order, MacArthur ended his rule of the Ghost Island in disgrace and repeatedly hit walls in the political arena, faring far worse than his former subordinate Eisenhower.

Besides managing the military industry on the Ghost Island, Randall was also the head of the Central Intelligence Agency for the Asia-Pacific region.

To a certain extent, he held significant real power, not even lower in status than the current number two or number three figures.

It was just that Randall only recognized money.

Money that could be obtained, and was secure.

He would avoid anything unrelated to his interests whenever possible.

Therefore, he appeared less aggressive than other officers.

And Hong Zhiyou was undoubtedly his "money bag."

Anyone who wanted to make a move on Hong Zhiyou was cutting off his financial path, and Randall did not mind sending these idiots to meet God.

The hotel.

Hong Zhiyou and Wan An arrived at the lobby under the escort of several soldiers in military uniforms.

A Yamaguchi-gumi assassin who was mopping the lobby floor coldly raised his eyebrows and took a look.

He witnessed Hong Zhiyou and his party go up the stairs.

They reached the second floor.

American soldiers were guarding the hallway.

The assassin pushed his cleaning cart and walked quickly to the first-floor lounge.

Matsumoto Ichiro tossed the magazine in his hand onto the sofa and asked while puffing on a cigarette, "Watanabe-kun, how is the situation?"

"Boss, Hong Zhiyou is back," Watanabe Akira replied.

"Are you sure?" Matsumoto Ichiro's eyes sharpened as he stood up.

"Sure!"

"However, there are American soldiers following him."

"I tried to go to the second floor but was driven back by the Americans, but I heard the sound of a door opening; they should have entered their rooms."

Watanabe Akira replied.

"Damn it, the Americans just love to meddle in other people's business."

"But these guys are easy to deal with."

"No rush, you go have a late-night snack first; wait until they turn off the lights and fall asleep later before making a move."

Matsumoto Ichiro said.

"Understood," Watanabe Akira said.

Matsumoto Ichiro walked to the side, picked up the phone, and dialed a series of numbers:

"Hello, it's me."

"They have returned to their rooms, and there are Americans, so it's impossible to fire wildly in the lobby."

"Rest assured."

"Your subordinate will definitely take his life."

"Yes, Watanabe Akira will take full responsibility; this is the moment for him to prove himself, and he will cherish it."

"Good, goodbye."

Matsumoto Ichiro hung up the phone respectfully.

Eleven o'clock at night.

Matsumoto Ichiro glanced at his watch, extinguished his cigarette butt, and called Watanabe Akira and another subordinate into the room:

"The time is almost here."

"Department Head Ikeda has already cleared the police away."

"Watanabe-kun, Koizumi-kun, the moment of glory for you has arrived."

"Take them out, and you will be big shots in the Yamaguchi-gumi!"

"Hai!" The two bowed solemnly.

"I will go lure the American soldiers away now; this is the spare key to the room, rush in, kill them, and run!"

"Do you remember?"

Matsumoto Ichiro instructed.

"Yes!" The two drew their guns, checked them carefully, pulled the bolts, and tucked them into their waistbands.

Matsumoto Ichiro straightened his clothes and walked out quickly.

He arrived at the second floor.

"What are you doing? Get lost," the soldier guarding the door pointed the submachine gun hanging diagonally across his neck at Matsumoto Ichiro.

"Officer."

"I am from the hotel!"

"Look, it's so late, you officers must be hungry; the kitchen has prepared delicious food and red wine for you."

"Why don't you officers have a late-night snack first?"

"Rest assured, I will keep watch for you."

"I will never let anyone go up to the second floor to disturb your distinguished guests."

Matsumoto Ichiro gestured while speaking in broken English.

The few American soldiers actually understood.

They discussed it for a few moments, gave Matsumoto Ichiro an OK gesture, and the group left the hallway under Matsumoto Ichiro's fawning and attentive guidance.

Matsumoto Ichiro gave a look to the front desk.

Watanabe Akira and his party of five took the opportunity to quickly go up to the second floor.

Click!

Watanabe Akira gently turned the door handle, walked quickly and efficiently, and rushed into the bedroom.

Seeing the white quilt on the bed bulging, he assumed it was the two people fast asleep.

The two of them pulled the triggers of their silenced pistols continuously at the bed, sending cotton batting flying everywhere.

A magazine of bullets was emptied.

The other three held sharp blades and frantically stabbed the bed several more times.

When the knives easily pierced through the thin quilt, the assassins suddenly felt something was wrong and violently ripped the quilt open.

Yet, they saw that there was no one on the bed.

Only a few pillows were hidden under the quilt.

"Mr. Watanabe, Hong Zhiyou is not here; we've been played," Mr. Koizumi shouted.

"Move fast!"

Watanabe Akira shouted.

The group had just rushed down to the lobby on the ground floor.

They saw dozens of American soldiers, fully armed and loaded, jumping off several military vehicles and charging in unison toward the hotel entrance.

"We're surrounded outside.

"Go find Matsumoto."

Watanabe Akira took off running toward the inside.

Several American soldiers who had been eating in the restaurant stood up simultaneously; the leading officer bit his finger at Watanabe, making a mocking clicking sound:

"For God's sake, would you mind putting down your weapons?"

"Don't shoot.

"Don't shoot."

Watanabe Akira threw away his gun and obediently raised his hands.

"There's one more in this building; go grab them," the officer ordered.

Soon, several American soldiers dragged Matsumoto Ichiro down.

"Mr. Hong, the people have been caught."

The officer walked to the front desk and made a phone call.

Shortly after, Hong Zhiyou, wearing a white wide-sleeved bathrobe, came downstairs with a cigar in his mouth.

"Clap! Clap!"

He clapped his hands and walked over with a smile: "Well done, Colonel Mylon."

"A glass of whiskey!"

Hong Zhiyou gestured to the waitress nearby who was trembling with fear.

The pretty waitress immediately poured the drink.

Hong Zhiyou took it, sipped it, and snapped his fingers.

Wan An pulled a thick stack of American banknotes from his pocket, counted out ten hundred-dollar bills, and handed them to Mylon.

"Mr. Hong, we have discipline; if General Randall finds out, he will punish us," Mylon hurriedly waved his hand to refuse.

"Colonel, take it.

"If the General punishes you, just say it was my idea; he will agree."

Hong Zhiyou smiled.

"Alright then," Mylon said.

Just as he looked apologetically at the soldiers nearby, Hong Zhiyou spoke again: "Every brother who came today, everyone gets some!"

Wan An's face twitched; he looked at Hong Zhiyou but didn't dare to speak out.

This was American currency.

A thousand per person—how could he finish handing it out without spending twenty or thirty thousand?

"Hand it out!

"Those who come are friends; I am a person who loves making friends the most."

Hong Zhiyou, cigar in mouth, puffed out smoke and said heroically.

"I'll do it."

Finding Wan An too sluggish, he grabbed the bills himself, counted out ten, and stuffed them directly into the olive-green shirt pocket of another American soldier.

"Thank you!" The American soldier was overjoyed and saluted respectfully.

"Hard work.

"Hard work.

"..."

Soon, Hong Zhiyou made sure everyone got a share, including the guards outside and the startled waitresses nearby.

Thirty thousand dollars were spent just like that.

"Attention."

Mylon shouted the command.

Twenty-some soldiers stood in a row.

"Salute Mr. Hong." Mylon turned around, snapped to attention, and saluted.

Swish!

The American soldiers saluted in unison.

"Take this back to General Randall and have him distribute it to the brothers in charge of intelligence," Hong Zhiyou had Wan An fetch another ten thousand in cash and handed it to Mylon.

"Mr. Hong, you will always be a friend of America.

"We will take them back to report our mission.

"May God bless you, good night!"

Mylon saluted again, and after a brief handshake, he took Matsumoto Ichiro and the others away.

"Hmm.

"Time to sleep."

Hong Zhiyou finished his drink in one gulp and turned to head upstairs.

"Hong Zhiyou, forty thousand dollars in one night—this is the budget given by the Director; you just wasted it like this, I... I am going to report this."

Back in the room, Wan An shouted.

"Suit yourself.

"Old Wan, if you aren't going to sleep, keep watch; I'm going to sleep."

Hong Zhiyou extinguished his cigar, lay on the bed, and closed his eyes.

The more Wan An thought about it, the angrier he got; he picked up the phone several times but eventually put it down.

Jiang Jianfeng had repeatedly warned him not to interfere with how Hong Zhiyou handled matters.

"Hong Zhiyou, let me tell you, I am only doing this for the..."

Wan An wanted to say a few more words, but he heard snoring suddenly erupt.

Hong Zhiyou had actually fallen asleep.

"This..." Wan An was speechless.

What a heartless guy!

The next day.

Hong Zhiyou and Wan An arrived at the military camp.

Xie Ruo was already waiting.

"I heard there was an assassination attempt at the hotel last night? Are... are you alright?" Xie Ruo looked him up and down.

"I'm fine.

"When will that Yamaguchi-gumi leader, Tian Gangyixiong, arrive?" Hong Zhiyou handed him a cigarette and led him toward the interrogation room.

"I have already... already invited him.

"This guy has blood on his hands and is very cautious; he hasn't cracked yet, so I can't guarantee he will come," Xie Ruo said.

"Is there anyone in this world that you, Old Xie, can't handle?" Hong Zhiyou raised an eyebrow and asked with a smile.

"Don't mention it.

"These guys are ruthless; I... I'm even afraid of dying at their hands," Xie Ruo said.

"No rush.

"Come and act as my translator first."

As they spoke, the two of them walked into the interrogation room under the guidance of a soldier.

Inside, Matsumoto Ichiro and the others were covered in blood, tied to a sink, with oil paper covering their faces; the person in charge of the interrogation turned on the faucet to perform waterboarding.

"Mr. Hong, the General has gone to the Commander's residence for a meeting.

"I am in charge here; please feel free to give your orders."

Colonel Mylon walked over with his hands behind his back.

"Trouble you, Colonel, to bring this person out," Hong Zhiyou pointed to Matsumoto Ichiro.

"No problem," Mylon waved his hand.

Someone immediately grabbed Matsumoto Ichiro.

Huff! Huff!

Nearly suffocated, Matsumoto Ichiro gasped for air with a deathly pale face; the interrogator nearby slapped the back of his head: "GO, GO."

Arriving at the room.

Hong Zhiyou snapped his fingers.

"What for?" Wan An pretended not to understand.

Hong Zhiyou frowned, annoyed that he didn't catch on.

Wan An painfully took out a stack of U. . banknotes and placed them on the table.

On the other side lay a gleaming samurai sword.

"I know it was Sakata Toshio who sent you to assassinate me.

"I don't like nonsense.

"Either you commit seppuku right now.

"Or you take the money and obediently listen to Laozi."

Hong Zhiyou said.

Xie Ruolin, who was sitting to the side, stammered out the translation.

"You're dreaming, I will never betray Bushido..."

Before Ichiro Matsumoto could finish speaking, Hong Zhiyou stood up abruptly, grabbed the samurai sword, and swung it.

Swish!

Ichiro Matsumoto's ear fell to the ground in response, and fresh blood sprayed out.

Ah!

He clutched his wound, stomping his feet and screaming in agony.

"Screw your Bushido!

"Choose again!"

Hong Zhiyou threw the blood-stained samurai sword heavily onto the table, pointed at Ichiro Matsumoto, and his temper flared.

Xie Ruolin pointed at Ichiro Matsumoto and translated word for word.

"I, I am willing to cooperate with you." Ichiro Matsumoto shouted, his face covered in blood.

"He says he is willing to cooperate." Xie Ruolin said.

"Very good.

"Have him write down everything clearly about last night's events, the mastermind, the implementation process, and the participants.

"Once finished, sign it and press his thumbprint."

Hong Zhiyou instructed.

Soon, Ichiro Matsumoto took a pen to confess, sign, and press his thumbprint.

Xie Ruolin checked it over and confirmed there were no issues.

"Myron, lock him up first, and later have Tian Gangyixiong come to ransom him." Hong Zhiyou picked up the stack of three thousand U. . dollars, tossed it into Ichiro Matsumoto's lap, and stood up to walk out of the interrogation room.

"Mr. Hong, now that we have the evidence, do you want me to ask General Randall to issue a warrant for Sakata Toshio?" Myron followed closely behind Hong Zhiyou, asking as they walked.

"No need.

"Sakata Toshio is an important figure in the Yamaguchi-gumi and belongs to a local prominent family with deep roots.

"Once we alert the enemy, it will be difficult to catch him again.

"I will handle this matter myself."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"Alright, if you need anything, just let me know. This is my office phone number." Myron took a slip of paper from his pocket and handed it over respectfully.

He had to be respectful.

Such a god of wealth is hard to find; after the events of last night spread, combined with Hong Zhiyou's previous reputation, many officers and soldiers now wanted to work for Hong Zhiyou.

It was just that Hong Zhiyou only dealt with general-rank officers.

If Myron didn't have this bit of rapport, he really wouldn't dare to try to build a connection so easily.

Hong Zhiyou looked at the slip of paper a few times in front of Myron, tore it up, pointed to his head, and repeated the number: "Myron, my friend, let's stay in touch."

"Thank you, see you later." Myron said, overjoyed.

Arriving at the hotel.

"Wan An, prepare another fifty thousand U. . dollars; I am going to see Boss Tian Gangyixiong."

"No, you, you want money again?

"The Director only gave a total of one hundred thousand U. . dollars in operating funds, and you haven't even talked to MacArthur about anything yet, but you've already spent nearly all of it on this bunch of idiots in the Yamaguchi-gumi.

"You really don't treat money as money, do you?"

Wan An looked at the big spender, his urge to report him already uncontrollable.

"Hehe, even Attendant Wan can't stand you anymore." Xie Ruolin said with a smile, clutching his briefcase.

"Old Wan, just do as I say.

"I guarantee your wallet will be bulging soon."

Hong Zhiyou said with a smile, patting him on the shoulder.

"Fine.

"You are the person in charge this time, so you have the final say."

Wan An could do nothing about him and could only honestly go to get the money.

"Old Xie, call Tian Gangyixiong and tell him I want to visit him in person." Hong Zhiyou instructed.

He had two reasons for seeing Tian Gangyixiong: one was to eliminate Sakata Toshio.

Secondly, the Yamaguchi-gumi had previously controlled port subcontracting services; in the long run, as long as this deal was negotiated, this group would be indispensable for the grain transshipment to Ghost Island.

Currently, the Yamaguchi-gumi's port business was banned by the U. . military's Economic and Scientific Section.

However, two years later, once MacArthur was gone, this group would occupy the ports again.

Hong Zhiyou had no intention of expanding his business here, but regarding grain, whether it was being transshipped to Wandao or the mainland, he needed manpower.

Dealing with the Yamaguchi-gumi was far more convenient than dealing with the cabinet.

"Alright, I'll go contact him now."

Xie Ruolin put away his smile and walked to the side to make the call.

Tian Gangyixiong was no small fry.

The Yamaguchi-gumi he led was the largest underground force on Ghost Island and was a household name in Tokyo.

These guys had many rules and were also incredibly fierce.

Anyway, he couldn't handle it or reach an agreement, so it would all depend on Hong Zhiyou.

(End of chapter)