Chapter 605: Picking up money in a sack
It's almost New Year's...
It's almost New Year's...
Suddenly, I have no heart to work at all.
Fuck working!
Just thinking about the task makes me irritated.
It's fucking New Year's, and I'm still busy working.
Whoever wants to work, do it!
The only task now is to get money!
Get money!
Get money!
Get money for the New Year!
We need to give out red envelopes and benefits for the New Year!
Everyone must have some!
We must give out money. And what about flour, rice, peanut oil...
We need money for all that!
Where will the money come from?
Spy on the Japanese!
Squeeze money out of the Japanese spies!
Ahhh, I'll go spy on the Japanese right away! I'll try to squeeze a few hundred thousand dollars out of them. We'll have a fat New Year.
We've already caught one Jiang Guohu, but we need to catch a few more!
One Jiang Guohu is not enough. If this guy refuses to confess even if he's dying, then we're screwed. There won't be any money for the New Year.
'Bafeng!'
'Coming!'
'The New Year is almost here. Are you going back to Jinling?'
'No, I'm not!'
'Don't you miss home?'
'What's there to think about? I don't want to spend the New Year at home. There are too many old people in my family, and as the youngest, I'd have to kowtow for days on end. And I'd get lectured every day. One lecture after another. It's so depressing. I don't want to go back. Are you going back?'
'No. I was just asking. If you don't want to go back, we'll spend the New Year in Hangzhou.'
'Good. I'd love to!'
'Your men...'
'Just give them a bonus. It doesn't matter if they go back or not.'
'That's good. I'll find a way to get the holiday bonus.'
'I've been waiting to hear you say that. I'll leave it to you then.'
Gu Bafeng's face lit up.
Zhang Yong's ability to get money is second to none.
As long as Zhang Yong agrees to get the holiday bonus, everyone will be rich this New Year. Everyone will get at least 50 silver dollars.
As long as you have money, where is not New Year?
In Jinling, you are restricted everywhere. You can't let go. You simply don't dare to have fun.
Hangzhou is far away, and the big bosses are all away. They are like local emperors. They can do whatever they want. Even if they want to fly, no one will care.
'Okay,' Zhang Yong is not modest.
He is very resourceful when it comes to getting money for spying on the Japanese.
If you count everyone who will be spending the New Year in Hangzhou, there are about 200 to 300 people.
Let's say 500 people. Each person gets one dollar. That's 50 dollars. All together, that's 25,000 dollars.
It's a small price to pay.
Just arrest a few Japanese spies and we'll have the money.
Right now, Jiang Guohu has already been arrested. And Ding Furong. Who else?
'Captain Zhang!'
'Director Gu!'
Kong Younian suddenly called out meaningfully.
Zhang Yong glanced back at him. Without saying a word,
he told him to leave them alone.
They were discussing the holiday bonus.
If you Kongs don't have anything important to discuss, don't bother us for now. No matter how important it is, you have to wait until after the New Year.
But soon his eyes brightened again.
But Kong Younian quietly took out two envelopes. One was thick, the other thin.
'Thank you for your hard work.'
'This is a small token of our appreciation.'
'Please accept it.'
Kong Younian handed the thick envelope to Zhang Yong and the thin one to Gu Bafeng.
Zhang Yong was not polite. He deserved it.
Kong Fansong had said before that there would definitely be some kind of benefit. How could Zhang Yong refuse?
Accepting the Kong family's money is like a fair trade. From now on, neither side owes the other anything. You do a job for money. No more, no less. Otherwise, the Kong family will still owe you a favour. No one wants to owe favours. If you can solve a problem with money, why bother with favours?
'Thank you!'
Gu Bafeng also accepted with a smile.
They were both experts in their field. They understood the unspoken rules.
This matter must be kept secret.
The money in the envelope is also a hush money.
It is absolutely necessary to keep this a secret. The British Consulate must not find out.
Zhang Yong opened the envelope and looked inside. Not bad. A thick stack. All in US dollars. All in $10 bills.
A conservative estimate would be around 500 US dollars.
Not much. This is a token of appreciation. The main payment will definitely not be made until after the job is done.
Kong Fansong is a man of his word, so he will definitely not default on the payment.
So what should I do? I've already accepted the money. Work overtime during the New Year?
I'm torn...
Suddenly, a thought occurred to him.
A small red dot appeared at the edge of the map. Next to it were a large number of small white dots.
Huh?
Who's coming?
It seems like someone of status?
Soon after, the other person appeared in sight. It was an unfamiliar man.
He had quite an air about him. At first glance, he didn't seem like someone to mess with. But it didn't seem like he was someone in a high position either. It was more like he had made his way in the world. He had a certain wild quality about him.
'Who's coming?' Zhang Yong asked, pretending to be unaware.
'Wang Jichang,' replied Gu Bafeng.
'What does he do?'
'He owns this wharf. It belongs to the Wang family.'
'That's impressive...'
'He's the younger brother of President Wang.'
'Which President Wang?'
'Wang Zhaoming.'
'Who?'
Zhang Yong was at a loss for a moment.
Who's Wang Zhaoming? Is he famous? Vaguely, he felt that the name was a bit familiar...
'It's Wang Jingwei. President Wang.'
'Ah...'
Zhang Yong was stunned.
Shit. So it was him!
No wonder...
Wang Jingwei was the President of the Executive Yuan. His name was Zhao Ming. That's why he was also called Wang Zhao Ming.
Wow!
This Wang Jichang is actually the younger brother of Wang Jingwei?
But he's Japanese!
Something's not right...
Could it be that Wang Jingwei was also disguised as a Japanese?
Oh no!
Zhang Yong was shocked by his own terrible thought.
It shouldn't be...
That's too scary...
If Wang Jingwei really was Japanese...
Shake his head.
Shoo away this terrible thought.
It can't be.
But he must have had a lot of pro-Japanese elements around him.
Apart from Wang Jichang, there may have been more Japanese spies. Otherwise, this top traitor wouldn't have been able to run so smoothly in the future.
You must know that he was the second-in-command of the Kuomintang party and was very influential in the party headquarters.
Wang Jichang is Japanese...
This wharf belongs to him.
Xu Sheng's Wanfeng Freight Company ships to and from Wang Jichang's wharf...
Well, the Japanese invaders have completed the loop.
They not only control shipping, but also the wharf.
In the event of a future outbreak of war, they can easily land troops.
What foresight!
"Does Wang Jichang have money?'
'Don't you dare!'
Gu Bafeng was taken aback.
He thought Zhang Yong was going to take advantage of Wang Jichang.
He was shocked.
This Wang Zhaoming is no ordinary person.
Offending Wang Zhaoming will have very serious consequences. Zhang Yong is taking a huge risk by doing this.
'I was just asking.'
'You scared me.'
'Does Wang Jichang have money?'
'He controls several major docks in Hangzhou. Do you think he has money?'
'Oh...'
Zhang Yong nodded thoughtfully.
If that's the case, he can rest assured. As long as the target is rich, it's fine.
The worst thing is that you can't squeeze any oil out of a stone.
Then it would have been a waste of time.
He quietly marked Wang Jichang.
Now there seemed to be no limit to the number of marks on his map.
In addition to using numbers, he could also use names directly. As long as the other party appeared again, he would know.
Wang Jichang was very important. He must deal with him alone if he got the chance.
But for now, this guy was surrounded by a lot of people. He also didn't have sufficient evidence. He could only leave it for now.
He returned home.
He took his agents back to the Huaqiao Hotel.
Tell Yang Lichu to go back to bed. The others arrange a watch. Take the time to rest.
Zhang Yong still takes Lao Bai and goes to find Jiang Guohu's trouble.
It's New Year's Eve. It's time to kill a pig and sell it for money. Jiang Guohu is the pig to be killed.
The map shows that Jiang Guohu is still alive.
Go to the well. Look down. Huh? Jiang Guohu seems to be gasping for breath?
So pull the rope and pull him out of the well.
Jiang Guohu finally slowly woke up.
He opened his eyes dazedly, thinking he had arrived in the underworld. But then he saw Zhang Yong again. He suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
Oh no!
This isn't the underworld!
Zhang Yong is here!
He can't be in the underworld!
Oh no...
The other guy has come back.
Lao Bai brought a bowl of warm water and made Jiang Guohu drink it, so that he wouldn't really die.
Sure enough, after a bowl of warm water, Jiang Guohu barely regained a little bit of energy.
'Boss Jiang...'
'Don't even think about it...'
'I saw Wang Jichang. What is your relationship with him?'
'Wang Jichang...'
'Yes.'
'We have a partnership. What did you say?'
'He is also Japanese.'
'Ah...'
Jiang Guohu responded with difficulty.
Because he had been frozen in the well water for too long, his thinking had been frozen.
Even now, his thoughts were moving at a snail's pace.
'It's almost New Year's. I want to ask you for some money for the holiday,' Zhang Yong continued.
'You...' Jiang Guohu managed to spit out one word with difficulty.
There were two more words after that. But he couldn't catch his breath.
It was after leaving the relatively warm well water. Being blown by the cold wind outside, he felt like he was about to die.
He felt the damp clothes on his body quickly freezing hard.
The water in his neck and boots was also freezing.
It was unbearable...
It was piercing...
Zhang Yong didn't say a word. He turned around and went into the living room. He pulled a chair over. He sat inside the back door. He wrapped his overcoat around him tighter.
Sigh, this damn weather. Why is it so cold in Hangzhou? This isn't Tianjin. Fortunately, the cold wind outside couldn't reach him. But it could make Jiang Guohu tremble. He was shaking like a leaf.
Lao Bai went to boil some water. There was no electricity. But there was a kitchen. He used firewood to boil the water.
It was quiet.
Zhang Yong sat there leisurely.
He was waiting inside. Waiting for Jiang Guohu to crack. Waiting for the other party to speak.
Standing in the cold, drenched to the skin, he wanted to see how long he could hold out. He was already half frozen. He would soon become a block of ice.
Sure enough, Jiang Guohu couldn't hold on any longer.
He finally realised that the feeling of dying slowly was unbearable.
If Zhang Yong gave him a quick death, he would of course be fine with that. But to be frozen to death alive like this, he couldn't bear it.
'I, I...'
'Boss Jiang, I just want money. I'm not asking for intelligence. Why bother?'
'I, I...'
Jiang Guohu's mind was at war with itself.
Yes, he had only given money, and no intelligence.
It wasn't considered betrayal...
He had already given the other party 50,000 taels of silver before.
'Wine...'
'Wine...'
he called out, struggling.
At this moment, drinking boiled water was no longer enough.
He needed wine.
He needed strong spirits.
Zhang Yong turned around. He found a wine cabinet. There were indeed some strong spirits inside. There were also local specialties, Shaoxing yellow wine.
Yellow wine was useless. He was given white wine. It was poured into his mouth.
Sure enough, as the spirits went down, Jiang Guohu's body gradually regained a trace of warmth.
'37 Guanghua Road...'
'Good!'
Zhang Yong nodded with a smile.
That's the way to do it!
Use money to buy your life.
If you're dead, what's the point of keeping all that money?
He immediately left Lao Bai here to guard the place. Then he went back to the Huaqiao Hotel to gather his men. Together, they headed to Guanghua Road.
Better to be safe than sorry.
At all times, you should bring enough people with you. Especially if you're going somewhere far away.
This Guanghua Road is a good 3 kilometres from the Huaqiao Hotel. It's quite far. If you don't have a large group, and you get ambushed, you're screwed.
Let's go.
Arrived safely at Guanghua Road.
The buildings here are also relatively old. Some have already been abandoned.
Found the target.
It's a small two-storey building.
Zhang Yong: ???
Strange, the map doesn't respond.
There's no gold symbol on the map. Which means there's no gold.
Disappointed...
Could it all be ocean?
Or silver notes?
'Bang!'
Open the door.
Go in and look carefully. Don't miss a single corner.
No weapon symbol.
No gold symbol.
Then just keep looking.
Careless...
I forgot to ask for the exact location before.
Fortunately, with the help of the map, I finally found a secret room switch under the stairs.
Open the secret room. It's full of sacks.
Huh? Sacks?
Untie one of the sacks. Inside are shiny silver dollars.
Oh. This is the most primitive way to collect money. Using sacks.
One sack...
Two sacks...
A total of five sacks are moved out.
A rough count shows that each sack contains about 2,000 silver dollars. Some have a little more, some a little less. Five sacks packed together contain more than 10,000 silver dollars.
Not bad! It wasn't a waste of time.
However, Jiang Guohu was clearly being squeezed for every last penny.
The silver coins were all loose. There were some with eagles on them, some with Yuan Datou on them, and some without any markings at all.
The purity of the silver was also mixed. Some of it might have been privately minted. The silver used was not pure enough.
Clearly, this should be the least valuable of all the hidden treasures.
What to do?
They could only continue to go back and knock on Jiang Guohu's door.