Chapter 263: Firing guns on Avenue Joffre?

Okay, now you can be nice to Tang Shengbao.

This guy can attract the firepower of the Japanese invaders. Help him attract the Japanese invaders.

Killing Japanese invaders is his forte.

If you can hide in the shadows and be a sneaky bastard, that's even better.

Baby, you've worked hard...

'Whose house is next door?' Zhang Yong asked Yang Zhi, "Go and find out.'

'No need. The house next door is ours," Tang Shengbao replied.

'Yours?' Zhang Yong's mind twitched.

'Yes. Ours,' Tang Shengbao explained, 'but no one has lived there for a long time.'

'Why?'

'Because we have a lot of houses. There are five on Avenue Joffre alone. There are three more on Avenue Marceau. And there are also some on Avenue Foch and Avenue Pétain. Where would we even fit in?'

Zhang Yong: ...

My, my, the boss is the boss.

Buying a house in the concession was easier than buying cabbages. Listen to this: There are five on Avenue Joffre alone.

The area around Avenue Joffre is prime real estate. It's the most prosperous part of the entire concession. The whole of Shanghai is nothing compared to Avenue Joffre. It's practically a status symbol.

'Then give me one to store things in.'

'Store what?'

'Weapons and ammunition.'

'Sure. You're my big brother, you can have whatever you want.'

'Good. It's settled then.'

Zhang Yong was in a happy mood.

He saved Tang Shengbao, so he didn't want any money.

He wouldn't dare take the money offered by the big shots. But borrowing a house to store some weapons and ammunition should be fine.

If they check, hey, this is the Tang family's house. It's normal to have weapons and ammunition inside.

As the Tang family, even the British concession's Ministry of Public Works would have to give them some face.

'Brother Shaolong, which house do you want?'

'Where is the most hidden?'

'Mashan South Road.'

'That's fine. Just find one on Masinan Road. I only need a room. The basement would be best.'

'All our houses have basements.'

'Even the one next door?'

'Yes.'

'What's in the basement?'

'Weapons and ammunition.'

'What?'

Zhang Yong was taken aback. He thought he had heard wrong.

What did you say, you big dummy? There are weapons and ammunition in the basement?

That's nonsense! If there were, wouldn't those people know?

"I'll tell you a secret...'

'What?'

'There's a secret compartment in the basement.'

'Really?'

'Really. I'll show you.'

'Great!'

Zhang Yong felt unbelievable.

If there really were weapons and ammunition, he would be overjoyed.

He wouldn't have to buy them.

It would break his heart to spend money on weapons and ammunition.

Even if the price was very fair, he wouldn't be willing to pay. Robbing...no, confiscating would be faster.

'This way!'

Tang Shengbao led Zhang Yong into the basement next door.

The basement had already been opened. The contents had been rummaged through. But it didn't seem like anything had been found.

Zhang Yong carefully compared the system map. He found a hidden space.

It was very small, less than a metre wide. It was about two metres long and a little over a metre high? At first he thought it was a cabinet. But he didn't know where to open it.

'Pry open here,'

Tang Shengbao pointed to an empty wall.

This wall was very conspicuous. You could see it as soon as you entered the door. There was nothing on it.

'Pry?'

'Yes. Use a knife to carefully pry it open.'

'Pry where?'

'Let me think. It should be the fifth row from the left, and the seventh row from the bottom.'

'Er...'

Zhang Yong counted the tiles one by one.

Finally, he found the target tile. Using a knife, he carefully pryed open the gap.

Sure enough, the tile could be pryed open. After loosening it, he took away the entire tile.

There was a small depression behind it.

Is there a switch hidden inside the depression?

He turns his head and looks at Tang Shengbao.

Tang Shengbao says, 'Be careful. Three light taps, followed by three heavy taps. If you tap the wrong button...'

'It will explode?' Zhang Yong's face immediately turns pale.

'Of course not,' Tang Shengbao shakes his head, "but it will be out of order for a while. Maybe half a month. It won't be able to be turned on again for half a month.'

'So advanced?" Zhang Yong finds this incredible.

Isn't this like the lock screen on a modern phone? If you enter the wrong password, it will be locked for a period of time.

If you keep pressing the buttons, the period of time will get longer and longer. If you're unlucky, the phone will become completely unusable.

Shit...

I'm shocked...

'Someone else made it. I don't know the details.'

'I'll try it.'

Zhang Yong took a deep breath. He operated the device carefully.

Luckily, he didn't make a mistake.

The wall silently cracked open from the left, revealing a hidden space.

It was exactly as shown on the system map. But there were dozens of long guns. And pistols. And ammunition. It was packed to the brim. It almost fell out.

'So many?'

Zhang Yong was stunned.

My god! Enough to equip half a company!

'What's that?' Tang Shengbao shrugged, "I've seen the most, there were hundreds of guns.'

'No..." Zhang Yong wanted to say something but stopped.

Then he shook his head again.

The Tang family were all military leaders of the Xiang Army. It was not surprising to have weapons and ammunition.

Hiding a little weapon and ammunition in various places is not only for self-defence, but also for a comeback in case of trouble.

A hundred-legged insect doesn't die even after it's dead.

A sly rabbit has three burrows, so one should always be prepared.

'Yang Zhi!'

'Here!'

'Take a careful inventory.'

'Yes!'

Yang Zhi came up. He counted the weapons carefully.

Zhang Yong looked around. He thought to himself: The way this secret compartment is opened is also amazing.

It's actually placed in the most conspicuous location.

Who would have thought that inside a bare wall there is actually hidden weapons and ammunition.

Although he knows there is such a hidden space inside, if he can't find the switch, it will take a bit of effort to smash it open.

Maybe he won't even bother to smash it.

Last time at the villa of the Huai authorities, he smashed for a long time with little gain.

Soon, Yang Zhi counted it out.

There were 35 rifles of different models. 1,400 rounds of various bullets.

The pistols were all revolvers. Exactly ten. There were 500 rounds of ammunition.

There were also 30 wooden-handled hand grenades.

They could indeed equip half a company. If there were enough people, they could definitely do a lot in the concession.

'Take out all the revolvers,'

Zhang Yong ordered.

'Leave the rifles for now,'

Zhang Yong ordered. The rifles were too conspicuous as targets and impossible to carry.

Moreover, there were only short-range battles in the concession, and bolt-action rifles were useless.

Everything was ready. The secret room was sealed up again.

An idea came to Zhang Yong. After completing a mission, they would return the weapons and ammunition here. Then they would leave the concession empty-handed.

Suddenly someone reported:

'Captain, there's a policeman outside...'

'How many are there?'

'Just one.'

'Be on your guard.'

'Yes!'

Zhang Yong walked out.

Sure enough, he saw Zhu Yuan. He didn't see anyone else.

He checks the map. There is no obvious increase in the number of small dots in the vicinity. There should be no ambush.

This Zhu Yuan really did come here alone.

He immediately walks out and shouts, 'Zhu Yuan, this way!'

Zhu Yuan is a little taken aback.

Isn't it No. 28? Why is it next door?

'Come in!'

'Okay!'

Zhu Yuan rushes in.

He sees the young boy next to Zhang Yong. He is instantly relieved.

'Are you Tang Shengbao?'

'Who are you?'

'I'm from the concession police. My name is Zhu Yuan.'

'What are you doing here?'

'So it really is you.'

'You know I've been kidnapped?'

'Of course. Your third brother has offered a reward of 300,000 taels for anyone who finds you.'

'Brother Shaolong, I told you I'd pay.'

'This...'

Zhang Yong was speechless.

The Laotang family really is rich!

Third Master Tang is also very wealthy. He offered 300,000 taels at once.

Three hundred thousand, that's a huge sum!

His principles were immediately shattered.

Well, money talks. Since someone else is willing to give it, why wouldn't he dare to accept it?

Anyway, I didn't ask for the money myself.

I really did a good deed...

'You seem very nervous?' Zhang Yong asked Zhu Yuan.

'The Japanese have been very active lately,' Zhu Yuan obviously didn't dare to speak too openly.

'What's going on with Takasugi?'

'Alas, the Japanese are stretching their tentacles ever further. Not only have they secured the position of Assistant Commissioner of Police, they have also placed more than 50 people inside the police stations. Now, every police station has a Japanese spy. The Japanese know everything we do. I'm afraid to take anyone out now. Even if they're not Japanese. Who knows who the Japanese have already bought off.'

'The Japanese want to control the concession?'

'Not exactly control the concession. It's mainly aimed at anti-Japanese elements.'

'The French don't have a problem with this?'

'I don't know. Akagi Takasumi took office immediately anyway.'

'Haha. Birds of a feather flock together.'

Zhang Yong naturally knew exactly what was going on.

Now that the Japanese had not threatened the core interests of Britain and the United States, they naturally would not obstruct them.

On the contrary, they took advantage of the Japanese invasion to make a lot of profits for themselves. For example, the United States exported scrap steel and made a lot of money.

The French also took the opportunity to sell a large amount of weapons to the Yunnan army. They sought various interests from the southwest.

This is a typical case of biting the hand that feeds.

They made money from both sides of the war. The same will happen in the future.

However...

Once their core interests are damaged, they will immediately turn their backs.

For example, if the Japanese want to seek rubber and oil in Southeast Asia, the British and Americans will immediately be on their guard.

In the final analysis, it is all about interests.

There is no use talking about it now. There is no way to change the facts.

As a small person, one can only accept it.

'Then our movements in the concession will be subject to many restrictions in the future?'

'Absolutely.'

'If we fire our guns on Rue Cassini...'

'No, no, no!'

Zhu Yuan was shocked. He hurriedly stopped him repeatedly.

Firing guns on Rue Cassini? That would be really stupid.

Rue Cassini is the longest and busiest street in the French concession. It is also the face of the concession. What would happen if you fired guns there?

'What would happen?'

'You'll be surrounded by the police station. The army may even be deployed.'

'What if we retreat quickly?'

'I'm afraid that's difficult. Once the gunshots start, all the checkpoints will be closed. Especially now that the Japanese are involved, the checkpoints are very strict. It's hard to bring weapons in.'

'But it seems that some people can sell arms in the concession?'

'You mean the Tien-Di-Hui? Now that the Japanese are also targeting them, their lives must be difficult.'

'What if I killed Akagi Takatoshi?'

'The Japanese will replace him with someone else. It's useless. And they will use this as an excuse to send more people into the concession.'

'So there's no solution?'

'Anyway, don't ever use a gun inside the concession. Otherwise, there will be endless trouble.'

'I understand...'

Zhang Yong muttered to himself.

That is, every time he comes, he must not reveal his identity. It doesn't matter if his identity is revealed. Just refuse to admit it.

Then fight. Bring plenty of weapons and ammunition. No matter how many enemies come, kill them all. It would be best if the enemy were Japanese.

Is that how you understand it?

Is that right...