Chapter 428: This is called a declaration of loyalty

"How's your business?'

'So-so. Just getting by...'

'Bring me the books.'

'I...'

'Snap!'

A slap.

Tell the truth. Don't lie. Don't exaggerate.

Forgot?

Geng Mingjun looked sad and had no choice but to explain honestly.

His company, Junsheng Coal Trading, handled hundreds of thousands of tons of coal every year. It was considered relatively large in Tianjin.

After all, it was secretly supported by the Japanese. Its main sales target was also Japan.

Its trading method was very simple: it bought raw coal produced in various regions of North China at low prices and resold it in Japan.

Its annual profit was neither large nor small. It was at least 500,000 taels.

Sometimes, when domestic demand was strong, the annual profit could exceed 800,000 taels. But it was difficult to break through one million.

It wasn't that there was a lack of coal. It was that there weren't enough transport ships.

All raw coal needed to be loaded onto ships before it could be transported.

In 1935, before modern tools were available, it was already quite impressive to be able to transport hundreds of thousands of tons of raw coal into Japan.

The Japanese invaders were an island nation, and were highly dependent on ships.

Bulk resources such as coal and iron ore required a very large number of ships. The quantity was far from enough.

Basically, Geng Mingjun's task was to get ships.

As long as there were ships, there would be profits. Nothing else mattered. So there were no competitors at all.

Without the support of the Japanese, the business could not have been carried out at all.

'Where did all the profits go?'

'They were handed over...'

'You didn't keep any for yourself?'

'What?'

Geng Mingjun was stunned.

Keep it for himself? How dare he?

If the people above knew, they would definitely get rid of him.

The Matsui residence was so active in Beiping because it had a steady stream of financial support behind it.

Without this money, it could do nothing.

Threats alone would be useless.

Threats and inducements must go hand in hand. It was commonly known as the carrot and the stick.

'How do you settle accounts?'

'What?'

'I said, how do you settle accounts?'

'The Matsui residence collects the money. I don't have it here. I only have some loose change.'

'Oh?'

Zhang Yong was suddenly greatly disappointed.

The one who collected the money was Matsui Yosif? That's not funny.

There's no way I can intercept it!

As long as the Matsui residence's capital chain cannot be severed, it will continue to be active.

What should I do?

Not deliver the goods?

That won't work either. As soon as the Matsui residence finds out, they will send someone to hurry them up.

Zhang Yong's plan was to secretly control this Junsheng Coal Trading Company and use it as his cover. Use the skin of the Japanese spy to hide the existence of those veterans.

A coal trading company of that size must need a lot of labour.

Recruit a new workforce of more than 50 people. What's the problem? As long as this Geng Mingjun doesn't tell anyone, who will pay attention?

Therefore, we must control this Geng Mingjun.

When the full-scale war breaks out in the future and the Pingjin area falls, this Geng Mingjun will be even more of a talisman.

'Follow us!'

'What?'

'Follow us!'

'Where are we going...'

'Pang!'

He got slapped.

Geng Mingjun suddenly understood. He couldn't ask.

He obediently got into the car.

No one else dared to speak. They watched Zhang Yong take Geng Mingjun away.

Soon after the convoy drove out of the coal yard, Zhang Yong increased the speed.

He spotted another red dot. It seemed to be by the roadside.

He observed the target silently from a distance. He discovered that the target was at the entrance to the Security Command Department.

Huh? It turned out to be another shoe shiner.

It seems that the Japanese invaders are also interested in this Security Command Department! Arrange someone to keep an eye on it.

He gave a sign to Ouyang Sheng and the others.

Ouyang Sheng immediately led his men in a siege. They arrested the shoe shiner.

At first, they thought it would be a simple arrest. Ouyang Sheng and the others actually approached very stealthily. There shouldn't be any flaws.

However, the Japanese spy's reaction was extraordinarily quick.

He quickly grabbed something in his hand, threw it at Ouyang Sheng, and then ran towards the Security Command Headquarters.

Zhang Yong: ?

Run inside?

What's going on?

There are guards at the entrance to the Security Command Department!

Stop the guards!

However...

The situation is very strange.

The guards are actually very slow to react.

Seeing someone rushing in, two guards stepped forward to intercept. But they were knocked away.

The bootblack followed, and disappeared from Zhang Yong's view.

Good guy, you can really run! You react really quickly too. It seems there are also informants inside the Security Command Department?

It seems that the Security Command Headquarters has already been infiltrated like a sieve?

Haha. No rush. Let him run.

The map monitors the location of the Japanese spy at all times. With a radius of 350 metres, where can he go?

Direct the driver to drive in circles along the Security Command Headquarters.

It is discovered that the Japanese spy quickly jumps out of the Security Command Headquarters. Back on the streets outside.

Look out the window. Report the location of the Japanese spy.

The people outside immediately change their route and continue to surround and block.

He turns his head and looks at Geng Mingjun.

Geng Mingjun: ?

What are you looking at me for?

I don't even know what you're doing.

Arresting someone?

Arresting a shoeshine boy?

What did he do to offend you? Did he not shine your shoes clean enough?

'He's just like you.'

'Who?'

'The shoeshine boy.'

'Why?'

'He's also Japanese. He's disguised as a Chinese. He's hiding among the Chinese. But you're the boss. He's a shoeshine boy.'

'What do you mean?'

'Nothing. I'm just telling you that I'm very good at catching Japanese spies. Once I've found them, they can't escape. In a moment, you will kill him yourself.'

'What?'

'Either you kill him yourself, or he kills you himself. You choose.'

'You're a demon.'

'This is called a name bet. Don't forget. My name is Chen Hu. When you go to tell the King of Hell, shout out my name. Let the King of Hell come and claim my life.'

'You...'

'Oh, I got him!'

Zhang Yong looked out the window.

Sure enough, the shoe shiner had been caught.

Of course he couldn't escape.

Ouyang Sheng and the others were all fast runners. So were Bond and the others.

If so many people went up to surround them and the Japanese spy got away, that would be a joke. I guess Ouyang Sheng and the others would be too ashamed to show their faces.

'Take him away!'

'Back to the coal yard!'

Zhang Yong waved his hand.

The convoy turned a corner. Then it returned.

Once again, they entered Junsheng Coal Trading Company. They went to the back to the coal yard.

It was surrounded by coal that had been piled up into small hills. It was dark. When the wind blew, it felt as if black dust was being blown up. However, the naked eye could not see it.

The group of people went to the middle of the coal yard.

Here, the view from the outside was completely blocked. Outsiders had no idea what was going on inside.

'Go, you interrogate,' Zhang Yong said to Geng Mingjun.

'I...' Geng Mingjun hesitated. He did not move.

'Let him go!' Zhang Yong waved his hand.

The crowd untied the shoemaker's handcuffs and ropes. Then they stood guard.

The shoemaker looked around. He saw that there were people everywhere. There were people standing on the coal pile. He wanted to escape. But that was impossible. No matter which direction he ran, he would be caught.

The only way out was the person in front of him. He was unarmed. And he didn't seem very strong.

Without thinking, the shoemaker pounced.

Geng Mingjun saw that it was not good and turned around and ran. As a result, he was slapped back by Zhang Yong.

Trying to run?

Where are you going to run?

'He'll kill you!' Zhang Yong said coldly.

'Baka!' Geng Mingjun finally realised. This was no joke. The shoemaker really wanted to kill him.

That would be the end.

How could he die at the hands of the other person?

The shoe shiner was Japanese. He was also Japanese! If he was killed, it would be a great injustice.

He turned around hurriedly. He fought back with all his strength.

He was caught off guard and was pushed hard to the ground by the shoe shiner.

However, Geng Mingjun was after all a Japanese spy and had received some training. He used the force to roll backwards and knock the shoe shiner over as well.

Immediately, both men scrambled to their feet and continued to wrestle.

'Baka!' Geng Mingjun shouted angrily.

'Baka!' the shoe-shiner yelled back.

Then, both men froze.

What was going on?

Were they both on the same side? Were they both Japanese?

However, after confirming this information, instead of easing up, the two men fought even harder.

The shoe-shiner was furious.

Hagah! The other party must be the traitor! I must have been identified by the other party.

If there is no traitor to identify, how could my identity be exposed? The other party is not only a traitor. He also tried to kill me and take credit for it. He is trying to claim credit.

Hagah!

I must kill this traitor!

Geng Mingjun was also angry. He didn't want to die. He didn't expect the other party to be so ruthless.

Damn it. You want to kill me? Then I can't let you live either!

The two continued to wrestle with each other.

Soon, both were covered in wounds and bruises.

One had his ear torn off, and the other had his eye gouged out. But the fight only intensified.

In the end, the shoemaker ran out of strength. Geng Mingjun had a death grip on his throat. The shoemaker kicked with all his might, but it was useless. He eventually passed out.

Geng Mingjun still had a death grip on the other man's throat. He wanted to strangle the other man to death.

However, someone pulled him away.

'Clatter...'

'Clatter...'

A basin of cold water was poured over him.

The shoeshine man gradually came round.

He was weak and huddled on the ground. He wanted to get up, but he was unable to do so.

Zhang Yong squatted in front of him. He smiled without smiling.