Chapter 38: Depth of water

It was a pleasure chatting with Secretary Wang.

Everyone knew exactly what was going on. Secretary Wang introduced the name of the auction house.

However, Secretary Wang refused Zhang Yong's request to help with the auction. Zhang Yong had to do it himself.

'Okay, no problem!'

'I'll contact Boss Chen right away.'

Zhang Yong readily agreed.

Director Tang is still very careful in what he does!

If he doesn't handle it himself, no one can find fault with him. He sits back and relaxes.

Back in his office.

First he makes a call to the auction house and asks for Chen the shopkeeper.

He heard it was introduced by Wang the secretary, so Chen naturally knows what's going on.

He immediately sends someone to the office to take everything away.

Zhang Yong doesn't ask for a price.

That's not his concern. Others will naturally take care of it properly.

He received a report that the people from the Intelligence Department had finally taken Lin Xiaoyan away. A bit of a pity. Now that she was gone, he could no longer continue to lash out at her. Otherwise, he would go and beat her up every day.

'Ding-dong!'

'Ding-dong!'

Suddenly, the phone rang. He picked it up.

The voice on the other end was a bit unfamiliar. But it seemed like he had heard it somewhere before. He couldn't remember.

'Is this Captain Zhang Yong?'

'This is Zhang Yong. Who is this?'

'I'm Zhu Yuan, from the International Settlement Police Department. We met at the Tien-Tzu Pier. Do you remember?'

'Oh, it's you, Zhu. Yes, I remember.'

Zhang Yong responded politely, but inwardly he was puzzled. What did Zhu Yuan want with him?

In theory, the Li Xing Society's secret service cannot directly interfere in matters within the concession. After all, that is foreign territory. Publicly interfering could easily provoke protests from the foreigners. Chiang Kai-shek would never agree to that.

And outside the concession, the constabulary would not care. They are willing but unable. They are lucky to be able to manage the concession.

'Zhang, are you free tomorrow? Do me the honour of having dinner?'

'Brother Zhu, just say what you want. If I can help, I will. Just reimburse me the costs.'

'Brother Zhang, you're a real man of action. I'll get straight to the point, then.'

'Go ahead. I'm listening.'

'Yesterday, a shipment arrived in the concession. The owner is someone important. I want to ask you to help me identify the origin.'

'What kind of goods?'

'Foreign soil. From India. It's very pure.'

'How much was there?'

'A few thousand catties. I'm not sure exactly. It was delivered by cargo ship. It was flying the Japanese flag.'

'The Japanese...'

Zhang Yong nodded thoughtfully.

The fox had finally shown its tail. The opium had finally been seen.

Zhang Yong had put the previous robbery at the Ministry of Finance behind him because Kong Zhiliang had said there was no need to pursue it. There must have been robbers who got away. Only half of the opium had been recovered.

Unexpectedly, the remaining half of the opium had resurfaced so quickly. It had only been a few days!

It seemed that the Japanese were in a hurry.

They were eager to sell the goods. They wanted to get their hands on the cash.

They were a bit greedy.

They wanted to swallow the entire batch.

However, he had not yet been completely overwhelmed by greed.

This was foreign opium looted by the Japanese, and the previous owner was the Kong family of the Ministry of Finance, so they were not to be trifled with.

He still had to consult Li Boqi. He would first listen to his opinion.

So he gave a perfunctory reply and agreed with Zhu Yuan that he would go over there as soon as he had time. Then he hung up.

He turned to find Li Boqi.

Li Boqi is a walking encyclopedia, so if you don't understand something, just ask him.

'You again...'

'Team leader, I really have something to ask you.'

'Speak.'

'Zhu Yuan from the French Concession Police Station called...'

Zhang Yong gave a brief account.

After Li Boqi had heard it, he waved his hand.

'Don't pay any attention to him. He's using you as a pawn. The guy's up to no good.'

'Why?'

'How could he not know what this shipment is? Is he even a cop anymore? He knows exactly what it is. He knows it's Japanese goods. The Americans, British and French above him all want a piece of the Japanese pie. But they don't want to get their hands dirty. They don't want to tangle with the Japanese directly. So they're using you as a front.'

'That's complicated...'

'Don't worry about him! Sooner or later, this shipment will have to leave the concession.'

'Why?'

'No one in the concession can consume several thousand kilograms of foreign soil. And the Japanese can't sell it in small quantities. Eventually, they'll have to find a buyer from the outside. In the end, I think the Green Gang will take it over. It just depends on which branch of the Green Gang.'

'Huang Jinrong? Du Yuesheng?'

'I think it'll be Zhang Xiaolin. He's the closest to the Japanese.'

'Oh. I see.'

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'What do you understand? Stay out of this. It's too deep. You'll drown. Focus on catching the Japanese spy.'

'Understood.'

Zhang Yong humbly accepted the advice.

Li Boqi suddenly reached out and knocked on the table again.

'However, it's not a bad idea for you to go to the concession and have dinner with him to get to know him.'

'Why?'

'Cooperation for mutual benefit! In the future, there are some things we need to do inside the concession. And there are some things they need to do outside. If we go through the formalities, it will be too late. Private cooperation is the most efficient.'

'But it seems I can't help...'

'Just say you'll help. As for whether you can help, we'll talk about it later. This matter is hopeless, so there may be other things!'

'Yes.'

'Bring a few more people. Wei Yong must come along. Just in case.'

'Understood!'

Zhang Yong nodded. He took his leave.

He went to find Wei Yong first. He had him booked. The eight top fighters had to be brought along.

Nothing happened overnight.

When they woke up in the morning, they felt a bit of a serious atmosphere. Everyone was in a hurry.

Cao Mengqi hadn't returned all night either.

He happened to see Zhong Yang.

'What happened?'

'The district chief is here.'

'What district chief?'

'The district chief of our Songhu District.'

'Oh...'

So that was what was going on.

So the Songhu District had been set up so quickly?

Money really does buy motivation!

I wonder which one of the district chiefs it is?

Since he's from outside,

it can't be Director Tang. Director Tang and Boss Dai don't come from the same faction. I guess the new district chief must be one of Boss Dai's men.

'What's the district chief's name?'

'Last name Zheng.'

'Oh...'

Zhang Yong nodded thoughtfully.

So it's Zheng Jiemin!

That's interesting.

This District Chief Zheng is from another faction. He is not Boss Dai's right-hand man.

However, District Chief Zheng and Director Tang are not from the same faction either.

The three giants of the early period of the Military Commission. Three powers in balance. Alliances and rivalries. The struggle is very complicated.

Fortunately, none of this has anything to do with him. He is only responsible for catching Japanese spies.

District Chief Zheng hurriedly came to Songhu, probably hoping to make some money.

I hope so.

After washing up, he slowly came to see Meng Chaowei. Today, he could finally question Meng Chaowei.

'Who are you?' Meng Chaowei didn't know Zhang Yong. They had met once before.

'Baoding Middle School. Lin Xiaoyan,' Zhang Yong asked casually.

'It's Ling Xiaoyan,' Meng Chaowei corrected.

'Oh, what's her relationship to you?'

'Not much. Just someone I know. You haven't found out?'

'What is your relationship?'

'She is the mother of a student. I have met her a few times.'

'There should be a closer relationship.'

'Don't slander!'

'Mo Fei, is she also Japanese?'

'Ridiculous! How could she be Japanese? How could we have someone like her!'

'What you said seems to be a bit of a personal attack!'

'Of course it is! Fat as a pig, and she thinks she's so good-looking. She thinks I'm interested in her. She even winked at me! Yuck! I feel like throwing up! And she invited me to her place! Ugh...'

As she spoke, Meng Chaowei suddenly vomited.

Zhang Yong: ...

Oops. You don't have to overreact.

If you hadn't been flirting with her, that fat woman wouldn't have looked at you!

Hey, Dabao Wan has really messed up this time.

This was clearly Meng Chaowei's sarcastic comment, but she took it as important information.

'Captain!'

'Dabao Wan has something important to tell you again.'

Suddenly, Zhong Yang hurriedly came.