Chapter 401: A Floating Ghost

Sharing the booty.

This was Zhang Yong's favourite thing to do.

Others might have qualms. He was fearless. He even deliberately acted as if no one was around.

Everyone has their flaws.

People with flaws are easier for leaders to control.

He was greedy.

Greedy for money. And lustful. These were all flaws.

His superiors had a firm grasp on these flaws, and could rest assured.

A flawed person is a real person.

Otherwise, the leader can't control you, and you'll definitely have to watch out for yourself.

Zhang Yong doesn't know anything else. But he knows this.

Getting scolded by the leader from time to time is actually sometimes a good thing.

You can never do anything wrong. You're always smarter than the leader. How can that be? How can the leader stay in power?

'Yen...'

'Yen...'

'Yen...'

Yang Zhi counted listlessly.

Among the seized valuables, there were a lot of Japanese yen. Zhang Yong didn't like it.

The Japanese yen were only accepted by the Japanese themselves. Oh, the puppet state of Manchukuo also accepted them. No one else did. You couldn't spend them once you got them.

'The Bank of Insurance...'

'The Bank of Insurance...'

'The Bank of Insurance...'

Over there, Luo Yiming was also counting with a depressed expression.

Most of the banknotes were from the Bank of Insurance. None of them could be taken back and used.

Why?

Because these banknotes can only be used in North China.

The so-called Baoshang Bank is actually backed by the Japanese. In order to strengthen their rule over North China, the Japanese deliberately set this up.

Baoshang Bank notes can only be exchanged for Japanese yen. They can only be used in the Pingjin area.

Once you leave the Pingjin area, no one will accept them.

Therefore, no matter how many banknotes are seized this time, they are useless. They cannot be taken back to the south of the Yangtze River.

They can only be used by the people at Tianjin Station.

It's a waste of money for Chen Gongshu.

It was a million silver banknotes!

My heart aches...

But there was nothing I could do.

He couldn't possibly exchange them all for silver dollars.

The Japanese would never have allowed you to exchange all those banknotes for silver dollars.

If you did, your identity would be revealed immediately.

What a tragedy. It was all for nothing.

There were no US or British dollars either. There were no other foreign currencies.

Because the Japanese wanted to monopolise the area around Tianjin, the traitors certainly didn't dare use US or British dollars.

Even those who previously owned US dollars or British pounds had to exchange them for Japanese yen as soon as possible. This was how the Japanese forced a currency peg.

In the end, the only thing they could take with them were some gold bars.

Gold bars are hard currency.

However, there weren't many. There were only two or three hundred.

If they were taken out separately, they might seem like a lot. But there were three major traitors!

Each traitor was stronger than Wu Yuanfu and Tian Qingyuan. If there were no restrictions, everyone would be able to take away at least several hundred thousand silver dollars.

What a loss...

What a loss...

Zhang Yong felt indignant.

He never expected the Japanese to do this.

He had no choice but to give all the goods that he could not take away to Chen Gongshu.

He also exchanged several thousand silver dollars through underground channels.

This was the limit.

There was really nothing more that could be done to exchange for more.

The few thousand silver dollars exchanged were all used to hand out rewards. Zhang Yong was never stingy.

Since so many people had participated in the battle, they had no merit but also no hard work. No discussion. Everyone was rewarded with at least ten silver dollars as a start.

For outstanding performance, twenty, thirty, fifty! Everyone gets a share!

They all worked with their lives on the line. Dancing on the tip of the knife. How could it be exciting without a little excitement?

To be honest, no one knows when they will be sacrificed.

After handing out the rewards, Chen Gongshu invited Zhang Yong to his office.

Zhang Yong entered Chen Gongshu's office. He found his office really unimpressive.

There were no books, no antiques, no weapons.

There was nothing.

It was truly bare. There was nothing to be attached to.

Even if the Japanese came and confiscated it, there would be no regrets. Because there was nothing left in it.

'Zhang Ben Zheng?'

'Maritime Trading Company?'

'Has many transport ships?'

Zhang Yong looked at the target's information. He felt like there was nothing he could do.

Maritime transport. On the sea. He couldn't reach it.

On land, within a 300-metre radius, he might be able to see something.

But on the sea, within a 300-metre radius, there was nothing. Just the sea. The map wouldn't show fish, shrimp, crabs, or anything else.

Even if it did, he couldn't catch them.

'Yes! That's him!' Chen Gongshu's face was grim.

He had received the relevant task for a long time. But he never had the opportunity to complete it.

This Zhang Benzheng has been following the Japanese since he was a child. He is the most loyal lackey of the Japanese. There is no one like him. Other traitors might have started halfway. But he followed the footsteps of the Japanese invaders closely.

He used merchant ships to help the Japanese invaders transport supplies. Very actively.

The Japanese also intended to increase their support for him and use him to cover up the traces of their invasion.

Apart from the Japanese army and arms, basically all the other supplies the Japanese invaders needed were transported by Zhang Benzheng's shipping company. This made him very arrogant.

'He now has more than 100 ships. The largest ones have a carrying capacity of more than 3,000 tons.'

'He has 1,600 sailors. Among them, 100 key personnel are Japanese.'

'His fleet sets sail from Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, transporting large quantities of supplies to Tianjin. At the same time, it transports back a large amount of ore, cotton, grain, and conscripted young men from Tianjin.'

'His fleet can go as far as the South Seas. It transports rubber and other supplies back from the South Seas.'

Chen Gongshu gave a brief introduction.

Zhang Yong could care less. He was not interested in any of this.

Capturing able-bodied men was a consistent Japanese crime. They took prisoners of war and young and able-bodied men to work as labourers.

If they refused, they would be killed on the spot. It was very cruel.

A few years before the start of the full-scale war of resistance, the Japanese captured a large number of prisoners of war and young labourers.

Basically, prisoners of war who fell into the hands of the Japanese were either killed or taken away to work as labourers. Then they died without a trace.

Including the 800 soldiers defending the Sihang Warehouse, some were sent to faraway islands in the South Pacific to build fortifications. They all died a violent death.

'He amassed a huge fortune...' Chen Gongshu angrily changed the subject.

Zhang Yong immediately straightened up.

A huge fortune?

I'm interested in that.

No. I'm interested in severely punishing traitors and traitors to the country.

The money they amassed was the people's hard-earned wealth, and it must be handed over to the national treasury...

Chen Gongshu: ...

This bastard!

Can you be serious? Can you have some sense?

You're not doing this for the money. You're doing it for the country!

If everyone was like you, would this country still be salvageable? I really want to find a chance to punch this guy.

Raise your awareness...

'Why are you quiet?' Zhang Yong sat up straight.

He saw contempt in Chen Gongshu's eyes. Obviously, he despised him for being greedy.

It doesn't matter. I'm used to it.

You Chen Gongshu are no better. We're the same.

The Director is the same.

Any antique in the Director's office is worth thousands or tens of thousands of silver dollars.

After I arrived in Tianjin, I arrested three major traitors in a row, and only then did I manage to scrape together a little bit. It seems that I couldn't even take away 500,000 silver dollars. It's a big loss.

Because there are so many people with their ears to the ground, and so many people handling the money,

It is hard to say whether there will be even 10,000 silver dollars left in the end. It depends on the will of the higher-ups.

Therefore, it is very important to make extra money now.

'This Zhang Benzheng likes the lead actress of the Butterfly Pavilion, called Yuanchun...'

'I am going to take action outside the Butterfly Pavilion.'

'Kill him with lightning speed.'

'What do you think?'

Chen Gongshu finally asked.

In fact, he didn't have to ask. But...

Zhang Yong's abilities are so unique that he feels it is better to ask.

'Can't we capture him alive?'

'It's difficult. Besides, it would be very troublesome.'

'Why?'

'This Zhang Bengzheng is a key Japanese target. There are too many Japanese around him. We can't capture him alive.'

'Can I go into the Butterfly Mansion in disguise?'

'You?'

Chen Gongshu frowned.

This suggestion is very bad. He doesn't approve.

Because Zhang Yong's mobility is really poor. He is no match for the enemy at all.

If they fight, he will be the first to die.

'Are you sure?'

'No.'

'Then what do you say?'

'There's one missing from mahjong, and we happen to be missing one.'

'No, the Butterfly Mansion...'

Chen Gongshu shook his head.

He couldn't let anything happen to Zhang Yong.

This guy is a treasure of the Fuxing Society. Very precious.

In the Fuxing Society, there are plenty of people with strong mobility. But there are very few people like this.

Just as he was about to speak, someone hurriedly came to report.

'What is it?'

'Stationmaster, there's been another haunting at the haunted house.'

'Oh?'

Chen Gongshu's face fell.

Zhang Yong: ? ? ?

What is it? Haunted house? Did he hear it wrong?

What era is this? Still believing in ghosts? Oh, the previous red-clad female ghost caused a huge stir.

Pretend you didn't hear it.

I wonder what it is. It shouldn't concern me.

It is strange. Chen Gongshu is perfectly fine, so why go to a haunted house? Is he the station manager with nothing better to do?

I think you are the one who is not doing your job...

'Go!'

'Yes!'

Chen Gongshu dismissed his subordinate.

His face was full of mixed emotions. He looked at Zhang Yong several times, but refrained from saying anything.

Zhang Yong: ?

If you have something to say, just say it!

Are you trying to tease me on purpose? Fine. Go ahead and tease.

He deliberately held back his words.

Finally, Chen Gongshu could no longer hold back, and whispered, 'There may be treasure in the haunted house.'

'What haunted house?' Zhang Yong tried hard to remain calm.

Treasure and all that, I don't like it.

But the leaping eyes clearly betrayed him.

Most of the money and wealth they had previously plundered could not be taken back. Very little had gone into private pockets.

If there really was any treasure...

Without a second thought, they would have gobbled it up.

'It was a wealthy family in the past. The mansion was huge. It covered thousands of acres. During the chaos, the family was destroyed. But it is said that a lot of treasure was left behind.'

'What about the haunted mansion?'

'It seems that someone is trying to cause trouble inside. However, this person is very clever, and we have never been able to catch him.'

'If we catch the person, will we find the treasure?'

'At least we can find out what's going on. What if there is treasure?'

'Then take a few dozen people and some weapons. Submachine guns and grenades. A little physical exorcism first.'

'If there are too many people there, the ghost-impersonator won't show up.'

'So how many people should we take?'

'No more than ten.'

'The ghost-impersonator is so cocky? One against ten?'

'There may be more than one ghost-impersonator. There may be several. They must have some kind of agenda.'

'Then you go! I'll wait here for you.'

'You go too!'

'What am I going to do? I can't tell where the ghosts are.'

'It's people! Not ghosts!'

'Well...'

Zhang Yong pondered for a moment.

Fine. I'll go. As long as it's people.

As long as the other side is people, the map will show it. Then I can target my efforts.

Pack up. Set off quietly.

Chen Gongshu brought five subordinates. Zhang Yong brought Zhong Yang and Yang Zhi.

They were all heavily armed.

They were all very alert. And experienced.

Soon they arrive at a deserted meadow. It is full of weeds. They are almost as tall as a person.

No wonder someone would want to play tricks here. The topography of the land really does make people think the strangest things. The first condition for a haunting is low visibility. A maze.

If you can see the end at a glance, how can it be haunted?

Approach silently.

A small white dot appears on the map.

It's a person.

There really is someone inside the deserted ruins.

But there is only one.

Moving quietly.

Gradually approaching the small white dot.

200 metres...

150 metres...

The dot seems to sense something and starts moving.

Shortly afterwards, in the other direction, another small dot appears. Oh. There's a partner.

Two of them. Pretending to be ghosts. This is getting interesting.

Keep moving.

The ground is uneven. It's a mess.

Some of the soil is very loose, and it creaks when you step on it. It gives you the creeps.

In this situation, forget about ghosts. Even if there were no ghosts, I think your heart would be pounding. Who would want to come here if it weren't absolutely necessary?

'I'm really crazy...'

Zhang Yong also secretly regretted it.

He actually followed Chen Gongshu to do such a boring thing.

If there is no treasure, he really needs to get a physical exorcism. The grenades are ready.

'Any discoveries?'

'Two people.'

'Are you sure they are people?'

'Yes, they are. One is at 3 o'clock. The other is at 7 o'clock. The former is 120 metres away. The latter is 180 metres away.'

'Good!'

Chen Gongshu immediately perked up.

As long as he can determine the position of the target, he can initiate an attack.

Who knows who will be scared by whom then!

'Let's catch the one at three o'clock first.'

'Good!'

Zhang Yong then took charge of leading the way.

The group crept closer to the target. The target was also moving irregularly.

The distance was getting shorter and shorter.

80 metres...

50 metres...

Suddenly, Zhang Yong saw the target.

It was a white figure. It really looked a lot like a ghost from a movie.

Its movements were very strange. When it moved, it jumped about. It looked like a zombie from a Hong Kong movie.

It was obvious that it was faking it.

How could anyone believe such poor acting?

Suddenly...

another small white dot appeared.

Huh?

A third apparition?

There are three of them?

Good!

The physical exorcism begins!

Raise the gun.

Get ready to give the other person a burst.

Physical exorcism is what he does best. And it's also the most effective.

At a distance of 50 metres, with a Thompson submachine gun, one burst will guarantee that the fake ghost becomes a real ghost.

'Don't worry!'

'Wait!'

However, the muzzle was pressed down by Chen Gongshu.