Chapter 524: The Breath of Conspiracy

"Listen...'

'Otherwise, we'll kill you and go far away.'

'We don't give a shit. You're dead, you're dead.'

Zhang Yong spoke with all his heart.

Tao Wenrui was completely hit in the vitals.

Yes, the people in front of him were bandits! They roamed around committing crimes.

The next moment, they'll be gone.

If you don't cooperate, and they finish you off with a single stab, so what if they're Japanese? How far can you chase after bandits?

No matter how strong the Imperial Japanese Army is, they can't do anything about a few unknown robbers.

Once someone runs away, you can't chase after them.

But if he dies, he really dies. Nothing will be left.

'You only need 100,000...'

'No. The first installment.'

'You...'

Tao Wenrui was again at a loss for words.

One hundred thousand for the first instalment? How many instalments will there be?

Are you trying to create an endless pit?

'Don't worry. I won't make you poor,' Zhang Yong said persuasively. 'I only want what I deserve.'

'Why should you...' Tao Wenrui was unconvinced.

'Because I'm Chinese,' Zhang Yong replied. 'You're Japanese. You came to our Chinese land to plunder wealth. Isn't it only right that I take it back?'

'I...' Tao Wenrui looked at the heavy hammer. He sulked and shut up.

Fine, you win.

Be a good boy and call again to ask someone to bring the money.

This time, don't dare play any tricks. And don't dare make a big deal of it. Find someone you can trust.

Soon, a cloth bag was delivered.

The cloth bag was flimsy. It wasn't heavy either. It seemed to contain clothes.

When it was opened, it was full of banknotes. There were bundles and loose notes. He had been in such a hurry that his trusted men had not been able to do a good job.

Zhang Yong opened the cloth pocket. He frowned. He was unhappy. They were again banknotes from the Baoshang Bank.

He was depressed. Were there no others?

'No US dollars or British pounds?'

'No.'

'Why not?'

'These are not allowed in circulation in North China.'

'What about banknotes from other banks?'

'No, except for the Chengjin Bank and the Taizheng Bank, no other banks will do.'

'The Americans and the British don't protest?'

'It's useless for them to protest. Whoever accepts their banknotes in the market will be targeted, isolated and eventually driven out.'

'I see.'

Zhang Yong understood. This was an economic battle.

The Japanese wanted to monopolise the economic system of North China and the market, and of course they wanted to drive the British and Americans out.

To say that the Japanese were ambitious was an understatement.

Not only did they want to annex China, they also wanted to nibble away at the markets of Britain and the United States.

It was truly crazy.

The seeds of the Pacific War had actually been sown long ago.

'How many workers does your flour mill have?'

'More than 500.'

'That many?'

'We can produce dozens of tons of flour every month. We supply half of the flour on the Beiping market.'

'And the other half?'

'Nan Sheng and Bei Sheng. They are larger than me. Their monthly output exceeds 100 tons.'

'Nan Sheng and Bei Sheng, are they Japanese too?'

'Yes. Both of them.'

'In other words, you have a monopoly on flour production in Beiping?'

'That's right.'

'What if someone else wants to set up a flour mill?'

'They'll be stopped. People will be beaten up. Equipment will be destroyed. We'll send someone to beat them half to death and throw them out.'

'Even if it's Dongjiaominxiang?'

'More or less. Even if they're foreigners, they'll still be beaten up. They won't know it's us who did it.'

'Shit...'

Zhang Yong couldn't help swearing.

The Japanese invaders were playing this very slick! They were blaming the Chinese for everything.

They were all fake Chinese. However, the foreigners didn't know about this! They couldn't tell who was Japanese and who was Chinese. They could only blame the Chinese.

This reminded Zhang Yong of the recent train robbery. The robbers were mixed with Japanese people.

The Japanese got all the benefits. The Chinese had to bear the consequences and pay the price. And the Chinese were the ones being blamed.

Damn it. I'm so annoyed.

'Pang!'

'Pang!'

He took out the special shoe insole and gave the other person a hard slap in the face.

I'll teach you to be so cunning!

I'll teach you to pretend to be Chinese!

'Pang!'

'Pang!'

He gave the other person a left and right slap. His face was bloody and swollen.

It's nothing. I'm just letting off some steam.

'You can go now,'

Zhang Yong waved his hand impatiently.

For the time being, he can't kill the other person. If he does, he won't be able to take all of his assets.

The Japanese invaders plundered the wealth of our Chinese people, and we must get it all back. Not a penny less. As it turned out, this was also a very good way to deal with Japanese spies.

No matter what kind of espionage, it requires funding. Without funding, it is difficult to get anywhere.

First, cut off the funding sources of the Japanese spies. For the remaining Japanese spies, even if they are not caught, they will be powerless.

'What?'

Tao Wenrui couldn't believe it.

He was completely flabbergasted.

The other party was just going to let him go?

And deliberately beat him up before leaving?

'I will contact you again if I need you,' Zhang Yong added angrily.

Tao Wenrui suddenly became agitated again.

Is this not over?

Beat me up, rob me of my money, and still haunt me?

'If you don't want me to find you, you can do that. You can recommend a few other people,' Zhang Yong added.

'You...' Tao Wenrui paused.

He was going to refuse. How could he set others up?

But if he didn't recommend someone else, the other party would go after him.

He couldn't stand that either! Of course he would share the burden.

'The owner of Yingfeng Food Factory...'

'What else?'

'The owner of Shuntian Pawnshop.'

'I already know that. You don't need to introduce him.'

'You...'

'I've had my eye on Shuntian Pawnshop for a long time.'

'Then...'

Tao Wenrui actually felt secretly relieved.

He felt so unlucky. Why didn't you take action against Shuntian Pawnshop earlier? Why come after me?

'You know the owner of Shuntian Pawnshop?'

'No.'

'He's also Japanese. How can you not know him?'

'I, we...'

'Where are you from? Sapporo? Shizuoka? Hiroshima? Nagasaki?'

'Osaka...'

'Oh, you're from Osaka?'

'You...'

Tao Wenrui felt very strange.

What's so strange about the fact that I'm from Osaka? What's that look on your face?

What's so special about the fact that I'm from Osaka?

'I heard that you people from Osaka are willing to get into any business?'

'No...'

'I heard that you even sell your own cannons?'

'Who said that?'

'Haha. Just kidding. You can go.'

'Er...'

Tao Wenrui felt that the other person was strange.

Since the other person let him go, he dared not be careless. He backed up carefully.

Zhang Yong waved his hand. You can go on your own. But you can't drive. I'm requisitioning this car. In the future, it will be my 'Qiu Tianlai' car.

'By the way, come back!' Zhang Yong suddenly remembered something else.

Tao Wenrui's face suddenly turned pale.

He thought that the other person was deliberately playing a game of cat and mouse.

clearly trying to exonerate himself.

He had no choice but to come back cautiously. His heart was in his throat. He was afraid that he would be killed the next moment.

These guys are really ruthless. They even dared to kill someone who had just left the Matsui mansion. What else are they afraid of doing?

'Don't be nervous, let me ask you something.'

'Go ahead...'

'Amongst you people, who drives the most luxurious car?'

'What?'

'Amongst people like you, does anyone drive a Cadillac, a Steppenwolf or something like that?'

'Yes...'

'Oh, who?'

'There's a Cadillac at Shunfeng Pawnshop...'

'I already know that. What else?'

'Well, I know that Wang Kemin has three Cadillacs, and Luo Xingwang also has two...'

'No Studebakers?'

'What?'

Tao Wenrui says he doesn't remember the name.

Zhang Yong: ...

Forget it. This guy probably really doesn't know.

Steepunk is not a very famous brand at the moment. He has only seen a few cars down south. They are quite rare.

It wasn't until the arrival of Claire Chennault and the formation of the Aviation Volunteer Corps that Steepunk became known, as his car was a Steepunk and he drove it around in public all the time.

Later, many high-ranking celebrities and wealthy people, in order to please the Americans, bought a lot of Steepunk cars, but the total number kept to a minimum. There was nothing they could do, as the price was too high.

Why is the stationmaster so happy? Because he knows that this car is very valuable.

It cost a full 200,000 US dollars!

Even in 1948, this was a huge sum of money.

'You can go!'

Zhang Yong waved his hand. He let Tao Wenrui go.

Then he disposed of the last Japanese spy he had captured. He was ready to travel light.

Now he had money. He also had two cars. But that was not enough. He still had to keep working hard.

The whole team takes a break.

Everyone gets eight hours of sleep, except for the ones on duty.

They set off again the next afternoon.

They go out into the streets.

They go to the pawnshop in Shuntian.

Ma Yu should have left by now, so they can get started.

Suddenly, they slow down.

They see many students hurrying to and fro.

There also seem to be more police officers on the streets.

Something big is about to happen!

What's today's date? It's the seventh.

There are only two days left until the famous September 18th Movement.

I wonder

Will it really break out on that day?

I don't think I can influence the course of history.

I arrive at the Shuntian pawnshop.

I discover by accident that the door is closed.

However, the system map clearly shows that there are people inside.

There are more than one.

There are three red dots inside. Five small white dots.

They have no weapon symbols. But somewhere inside the pawnshop, there is a display showing weapons.

I ponder silently.

There has been a change.

When he arrived earlier, there were no weapons in the pawnshop.

Zhang Yong is convinced of this. If there had been weapons, the map would have definitely reminded him. Since there has been a change, it means that the weapons were added only in the past two days.

So, what are the Japanese invaders hiding weapons in the pawnshop for?

Pressing hands. Indicating silence.

Let's observe for a while.

Soon after, a small white dot moves.

He goes to the place where the weapons are hidden. Then he moves away. The map shows that he is carrying weapons.

It seems that this guy has a gun. A moment later, he quietly exits the pawnshop through the back door.

Zhang Yong immediately orders his men to surround and go up. It turns out to be a student-looking person. Head down. Wearing a cap. But there are signs of weapons on his body.

A student?

With a gun?

What is the purpose of this?

Zhang Yong senses something extraordinary.

This is the scent of conspiracy...

The 129 Movement organised by the Red Party was non-violent and no guns were fired.

It was a peaceful demonstration. Not a violent conflict.

Once the nature of the conflict changes, it will turn into a bloody conflict of terrifying proportions.

'Arrest!'

Zhang Yong gave the order decisively.

Cao Mengqi immediately led his men into action. They surrounded the target from both sides.

That small white dot was obviously not a Japanese spy. Who he really was would have to wait until he was captured.

Ambush.

Arrest.

A struggle ensued.

A revolver fell out of the target's arms.