Chapter 762: The Warlords

Inside the Qilin Gate is a world.

Outside the Qilin Gate is another world. Inside is what is commonly known as the forbidden palace.

There are no military police stationed here. Only some young men in Zhongshan suits. They are unarmed. But they are obviously quite capable fighters.

They can also be called the Da Nei masters. They are all guards directly under the Chamber of Attendants. They are only responsible for the close protection of important figures.

Generally speaking, they rarely leave the Presidential Palace.

Unless they are following the chairman on a trip. Or the wife on a trip.

Apart from the chairman and his wife, no one else should be qualified.

Zhang Yong suddenly opened his eyes. A map prompt appeared. There was a dense group of white dots quickly coming out of the inside of Qilin Gate.

He opened his eyes and sure enough, he saw a group of guards dressed in dark Zhongshan suits appear in front of him. He subconsciously ducked to the side and observed them in secret. I wonder what they're going to do? Is it a change of guard? Or has the chairman just returned from outside?

I'm curious...

But I dare not look any longer.

Lest someone nearby be observing him in secret. Then there was another complication.

Something caught his attention.

A girl came out of the Kylin Gate.

She was also wearing a dark grey Mao suit, a women's one, a little more slim-fitting.

White dots. Not yellow dots.

She came outside the Kylin Gate, glanced at Zhang Yong, and asked, 'You are Zhang Yong, right? Director Lin told you to come in.'

'Yes,' Zhang Yong hurriedly straightened his body. He braced himself.

'Follow me!'

'Thank you!'

'Don't run around.'

'Understood.'

Zhang Yong followed the girl dutifully.

At the same time, he secretly observed the map. He discovered that the roads inside Qilin Gate were still winding and winding.

Strictly speaking, it was actually an eye-catching method. It was separated by various shadow walls or bamboo forests. It artificially created the appearance of a very complicated environment. It made people confused. No one dared to act rashly. Assassins and the like would not dare to mix in easily. If they came in, they might not be able to get out.

However, for Zhang Yong, who has a map and is monitored, all these obstacles do not exist. Looking down from a height, he realises that he is just going around in circles. After walking for ten minutes, he has only walked two or three hundred metres in a straight line. Two-thirds of the way there was deliberately a detour.

Some of the screen walls can actually be climbed over.

Some of the bamboo forests can also be traversed.

If you can take shortcuts, you can shorten the journey by at least 50%.

However, if there is no map to monitor and you are unfamiliar with the terrain, you can only run around. In the end, you may run into all kinds of dead ends.

Well, inside the Kylin Gate, there are still some dead ends. Or dead ends.

If an assassin runs inside, he is definitely dead.

Suddenly...

A large number of dense white dots appear at the edge of the map.

After these white dots enter the Presidential Palace, they are getting closer and closer to Zhang Yong.

Huh?

Who is it? What a big show.

Stay calm.

and observes silently.

Soon, a large group of people appear in another corridor, 50 metres away.

He looks over quietly. Holy cow. The one in the middle looks like the president.

Looking again...

Yes, it really is him.

Awesome. It's only 50 metres away!

Get out the Thompson, chug-chug-chug, and change history immediately! Change the world!

He feels a little hot-blooded.

He really wants to change history.

But soon, this feeling dissipates.

Forget it. History has not changed its course, and he still knows a little about it, so he can profit from it.

If he suddenly makes a sudden move and changes history, then the course of history he knows will change. It will be much more difficult for him to profit from it again.

As expected, ordinary people are insignificant in the face of history.

'Please wait a moment.'

'Yes.'

Someone in front of them has blocked the road, and they are told to wait. It is obvious that the VIPs have priority.

The VIPs have the advantage over me...

Ten minutes later, the VIPs had passed by. They could continue walking.

The girl led Zhang Yong into a small meeting room. There was only one rectangular table inside. It was made of solid wood. Very heavy. Very sturdy. It would be impossible to lift the table. There were five chairs on each side. They were also made of solid wood. Again, very heavy. It would probably be impossible to lift them up and smash them into the opposite wall. There was another table at the head of the table in the north. It should be for the leader.

'Please sit. Wait a moment.'

'Thank you!'

Zhang Yong sat down.

He picked the chair furthest away from the main seat.

Heh heh. When he was at university, he always sat at the back of the classroom.

The teacher knew it too. The students at the back all had their own things to do. It was already good enough to be able to come to class. It was normal to be playing with your phone, reading a novel, or sleeping. There were even young couples feeding each other. As long as they didn't disturb the top students in the front, it was fine.

'Please have some tea.'

'Thank you!'

Zhang Yong stood up.

He wanted to give the other person a handful of cash. But he resisted.

This was the Presidential Palace! Money should not be shown. If others thought he was rich, that would be bad.

After all, these close ministers of the Son of Heaven had many ways to rip people off. If they set their sights on him, that would be bad. Zhang Yong was not even an amateur at extortion.

He could get things done.

He could work hard.

But robbing me of my money is absolutely out of the question!

Even if it's the President, if they want to rob me of my money, it's absolutely out of the question. Unless they give something in exchange.

The young girl has left. Zhang Yong sits alone.

I wonder if there are any cameras here? I don't think so. I really want to lie back and put my legs up on the table.

That would be very indecent. Very rude. But it would really be comfortable!

Unfortunately, I don't dare.

What kind of place is this? The Presidential Palace!

I thought it was your home! I would dare to put my legs on the table surface here too. What if the president sees me...

It's so quiet.

There are no white spots nearby either.

The biggest feature of the presidential palace is that it is very quiet.

There are no outsiders in the open garden and lawns outside, except for the occasional guard patrolling by.

The people who work here definitely won't run around.

Maybe it's because the place is so open that the breeze is blowing, so it's not very hot.

Alas, summer is coming again. Field workers are going to suffer again.

Whether it's scorching heat or bitter cold, it's all very deadly. Especially when crouching. Mosquito bites. It's better to be dead.

Alas, so boring...

Zhang Yong decided to lie down and rest, then put his feet up on the conference table.

If anyone came near, he would put them down again.

Sure enough, it was so comfortable...

The chairman of the committee probably wasn't as comfortable as he was.

Is his life like that of a Buddhist monk? Drinking only plain water. Pure self-abuse. Not even drinking the delicious cola!

"The sky in the liberated zone is a clear sky...'

'On that sunny day in the ninth month...'

'Your head is like the earth, with mountains, rivers and water...'

Boring. Hum.

No one can hear anyway. Unrestrained.

It's also exciting.

What an exciting thing to do, singing "The sky in the liberated zone is a clear sky" in Chiang Kai-shek's presidential palace.

Finally...

The map indicates that there are three white dots approaching.

Could they be Director Lin?

Zhang Yong immediately withdrew his feet, sat up straight, patted the table, and blew on it again. He made sure there were no traces.

Sure enough, the three white dots arrived outside the meeting room. However, only two people came in. The other person stayed outside. For some reason.

The one leading the way was a middle-aged man. He was wearing a grey Zhongshan suit. A pen was stuck in the top pocket. He was wearing reading glasses. He looked like the template for an old cadre.

The other one is a bit younger. He is also wearing a Zhongshan suit. He is wearing gold-rimmed glasses. He is relatively thin.

'Hello, sir!'

Zhang Yong immediately stood up when he saw someone come in. Attention. Salute.

The Secret Service is considered a semi-military system. When you meet a superior, it is correct to stand at attention and salute.

Of course, if you are a pushover, simply standing at attention is fine.

If you are even more of a pushover, you can ignore all the rules. Your actions are the rules.

'Zhang Yong, right? Sit closer,' says a middle-aged man.

'Yes,' says Zhang Yong and moves one place forward.

He was last one before. Now he's second last.

Middle-aged man: ...

points to the first seat on the left and says, 'Sit here!'

Zhang Yong: ...

Holy shit! No way! He's going for broke!

This is right next to the podium! A real VVIP seat. He sat there in primary school. But then he got scared.

'Sir, I...'

'Sit here.'

'Yes.'

Zhang Yong dared not disobey. He had no choice but to pluck up the courage to go up there. He obediently sat in the first seat on the left-hand side.

The middle-aged man sat down in the main seat. The other one sat in the first seat on the right-hand side. He was facing Zhang Yong head-on. His expression seemed a little sinister.

Zhang Yong reluctantly smiled at the other person. To show goodwill. However, the other person did not respond.

'Shit, is this person angry with me?'

Zhang Yong thought angrily.

He didn't seem to have offended anyone in the Presidential Palace.

Oh, that's not right. He offended President Wang. He offended the Wang family. Could the other person be from Wang Jingwei's side?

The Executive Yuan is also in the Presidential Palace.

In that case, there is no need to pretend to be cordial. Just ignore him.

Yes, that's right, just ignore him.

Since you're sure the other person is your enemy, there's nothing to talk about.

Smile? Not a chance!

I don't even like looking at you!

If I get the chance, I'll knock you out with a single blow and drag you away once you're out the door.

But on the surface, I'll act serious and harmless.

'Zhang Yong...'

'Here!'

Zhang Yong reflexively stands up. He answers loudly.

The middle-aged man...

...is about to speak, but stops. But he is very satisfied.

He raises his hand and presses it in the air, indicating that Zhang Yong should sit down.

'Thank you, sir.'

Zhang Yong sits down.

He straightens his back and keeps his eyes straight ahead.

'Don't be nervous.'

'Yes.'

'I'm Lin Wei. You can just call me Director Lin.'

'Director Lin!'

'I've asked you here today because I have a secret mission for you. After careful consideration, we've decided that you are the most suitable person for the job.'

'May I ask what the mission is, sir?'

'You seized the blueprint. You deserve the most credit. However, so far, we have still not found the mastermind behind this. The others have indeed been a bit slack. Now, I have decided to let you take over the investigation. Concentrate all human, material and financial resources to find the mastermind.'

'Yes,'

Zhang Yong replied calmly.

He was very self-aware. He knew that this was the Presidential Palace.

The person he was talking to was the (executive) deputy director of the Presidential Office. He simply did not have the power to say no.

Let's just say yes for now.

If we can handle it, we'll do it. If not, we'll just let it go.

It's best if we get a bad evaluation anyway. Then we can remove the danger from Jindong.

The last thing I want is for someone else to find the culprit before we do and then catch us in the act. That would be bad. Sometimes too much luck isn't a good thing.

'What do you think about this?'

'The Japanese did it...'

'What evidence do you have?'

The man with the gold-rimmed glasses across from him interrupted Zhang Yong.

Zhang Yong's eyebrows rose.

Sure enough, this guy is definitely a pro-Japanese, publicly speaking for the Japanese.

Damn, don't let me run into you outside the Presidential Palace. Otherwise, I'll definitely bury you alive. Dog traitor. I haven't buried anyone alive yet. I'll try burying a few dog traitors alive sometime. Or hanging them from street lamps for public display...

'Who is this?' Zhang Yong's expressionless face.

He didn't even call the officer sir.

What a piece of shit!

Dog traitor!

You want me to call you sir?

I've already given you face by not saying, 'Who is this pig?'

'Oh, this is Liu Xifan, Secretary Liu.'

'What kind of rice is this? Rotten porridge?'

'What did you say?'

Liu Xifan immediately flew into a rage.

This person was just a minor character, and yet he dared to mock him to his face?

Zhang Yong shrugged. He didn't bother to answer.

This was all obvious as day! Need I say more?

'Don't talk nonsense. Secretary Liu is the secretary of the Executive Yuan.'

'Yes.'

Zhang Yong bowed his head, indicating that he had been taught a lesson.

Director Lin spoke, and he listened. But the others, heh. If they want to listen, let them. If they don't want to listen, they don't have to.

Liu Xifan was even more angry.

Today, he did represent the Executive Yuan. Because the Executive Yuan was also inside the Presidential Palace. President Wang might also be in danger.

'Why didn't someone from Guangdong and Guangxi do it?'

'What evidence do you have?'

'You!'

Liu Xifan was suddenly at a loss for words.

He suddenly felt that these words were very familiar. It seemed that he had just said them himself.

It's the other way around!

It's the other way around!

The other party had actually returned what he had just said, word for word!

How arrogant!

How rampant!

'If you're talking about evidence, then let's find some!' Zhang Yong looked at the other party askance, deliberately provoking him.

Damn it, you're just a secretary, what do I fear you for?

If you were a woman, young and pretty, I would be a little intimidated. I'd be afraid that you have people above you and behind you. But you're a man!

I'll pick on the weak. You're the one I'm picking on.

If it were anyone else, I wouldn't be able to beat them. But I can beat you. Haha!

If you don't believe me, let's go outside and fight one-on-one!

Yes, I'm picking on you!

'This is for you,' Director Lin handed Zhang Yong an envelope.

Zhang Yong's heart leapt with joy.

An envelope?

US dollars?

Yes! Yes! I love it!

'That's it,' Director Lin stood up, 'I hope to hear good news soon.'

'I'm willing to serve the Party and the country!' Zhang Yong's voice rose an octave.

If he had known there would be a reward, he would have worked harder long ago.

The map prompts that the person outside has quietly left. He didn't wait for them to come out.

He walked out of the meeting room.

He said goodbye.

He was alone. He looked around. There was no one else.

He opened the envelope with a sense of satisfaction.

But then he was dumbfounded.

Inside the envelope were not US dollars or banknotes.

Instead, there were some special coupons.

Yes, they looked like coupons. They were similar to the coupons of later generations.

But they were all in traditional Chinese characters. He couldn't recognise them all at once. There seemed to be a lot of very rare characters. This was really killing him.

Who on earth designed these coupons? Damn it. So many rare characters.

If you don't want to give a discount, just say so.

Why make it so complicated?

It's not convenient to think about it carefully here. Otherwise, people will see.

Soon after, a white dot arrives. It's the same girl who just brought him in, now she's here to take him out.

There's no conversation along the way.

They obediently return to the outside of the Kylin Gate.

Then they walk out of the Presidential Palace.

At the security office, they take out their weapons. Sign their names. To indicate that they have left the Presidential Palace.

'Team leader!'

'Team leader!'

Lu Keming, Lin Nansheng, and the others come up to him.

Zhang Yong nodded, indicating that the matter was over. They could go home.

He inwardly grumbled.

After all this time, they'd only managed to get a few coupons?

Stingy...

Back at the headquarters on Goose Lane,

he discovered that Gu Bafeng and Li Shiqun had already left.

Fortunately, those two were gone. But Li Boqi was actually in his office.

He rushed over to see Li Boqi like a shot.

He didn't even knock, barging in directly.

Li Boqi looked up at him, and his face immediately turned dark.

Zhang Yong stood there for a moment, then sheepishly backed out, stood at attention, and shouted, 'Report!'

Li Boqi didn't respond.

Zhang Yong: ...

Ahhh, so angry, he actually left me at the door.

But there's nothing I can do, someone else got promoted again! They've all returned to the headquarters to take charge.

Really. The arrangements made by the department head are too deliberate.

Couldn't you just leave someone at headquarters to take charge? Why did you have to transfer everyone from headquarters and then transfer Li Boqi all the way back here?

Hmph, not letting me in? I don't even want to go in!

He deliberately took out the envelope and pulled out the coupon inside, playing with it in his hands on purpose.

Li Boqi saw this and his expression changed. 'Come in,'

'Yes.' Zhang Yong immediately walked quickly as fast as he could, and placed the envelope and the coupon on the table. "What is it that Director Lin gave me?'

'It's worthless," Li Boqi said coldly.

'I knew it,' Zhang Yong angrily reached out and picked up the coupon, ready to tear it up.

What's the point of something worthless?

It's annoying to look at.

'This is the land deed! You idiot!' Li Boqi suddenly yelled.

'A land deed?' Zhang Yong looked at it curiously.

He couldn't see anything!

It was completely different from the land deed he remembered.

Trying to trick me?

'You know nothing! Who would write 'land deed' in such big letters? Isn't that giving people a handle?' Li Boqi continued to scold, 'This is the commonly understood unspoken rule. There are so many rare characters on it to prevent people from forging it. Take this coupon to the civil affairs bureau, and someone there will naturally deal with it for you. Let you choose a plot of land.'

'Select a plot of land? For what?' Zhang Yong didn't understand.

'For what? What do you think? Dig a hole and bury yourself in it!'

'I really don't understand...'

'A homestead!'

'Oh...'

Zhang Yong finally understood.

So that's what it was about! Director Lin just didn't get it.

These days, no one even develops real estate! There are no real estate developers! People build their own houses.

Of course, you can also buy someone else's house. Buy the land along with it.

Right now, land in the centre of Jinling is still quite expensive. But land in the outskirts should be very cheap.

'And the one above...'

'50% off. That's half the price.'

'You want money?'

'No money! It's free! Are you satisfied?'

'No. Team leader, I think, why don't we build a house collectively in the Special Services Department and sell it publicly...'

'Are you bored?'

'No. Team leader, this is really a good way to get rich! Let's get some land, build some houses, and sell them...'

'Get out!'

'Oh...'

Zhang Yong had to leave dejectedly. He was full of resentment.

Really. Such an old fuddy-duddy! He wouldn't accept such a brand new way to make money.

It would be easy to make 2 trillion yuan!

With that kind of money, you could even have your own singing and dancing troupe! All the girls would be beautiful. They could really sing and dance...

The enjoyment...

You couldn't find 2 trillion even if you arrested 10,000 Japanese spies!

Old-fashioned!

Obsessed with ancient ways!

Serves you right for not making any money...

'Come back!'

Suddenly, Li Boqi called again.

Zhang Yong immediately obediently turned back. Standing straight with all seriousness.

'What did Director Lin tell you?'

'Just to find the mastermind as soon as possible. But there's no deadline.'

'Was anyone else there?'

'There was someone called Rotten Porridge. He's a secretary from the Executive Yuan. I had a row with him.'

'Well, that's a good name for it.'

'Name for what?'

'You had a row with someone from the Executive Yuan, which is like submitting a name for it to the Committee! Good, you're getting the hang of it.'

'No, I...'

Zhang Yong really wanted to say, I wasn't thinking about names for it at all!

Really.

Who knows...

Oh no, I'm in trouble.

Submit a declaration of allegiance to the Chairman?

The Chairman's trust +1?

One step closer to Gongdelin?

Ugh...

Speechless.

Is that really a declaration of allegiance for such a trivial matter?

Sigh...

'By the way, there's something else you need to handle personally.'

'What is it?'

'Go find Akiyama Shigetoshi and bring Yan Guangkun back.'

'Huh?'