Chapter 139: The Banquet of the Jiang Bang

In the study of Shui Xie Hua Du, Chu Tian told Haizi and Guangzi the news that Zhangsun Jincheng had returned to Shanghai. Both of them were equally shocked. Haizi shook his head vigorously and said, "How is that possible? If Leader Zhangsun returns to Shanghai, he will definitely notify us. How could he come back without making a sound?"

Although Guangzi was impulsive, an intuition made him blurt out, "There's more to this than meets the eye."

Chu Tian nodded and smiled slightly, with an interested expression on his face. "If I'm not mistaken, those elders and the hall masters of each hall received our invitation to the dinner. They were uneasy in their hearts and were afraid that this would be a Hongmen Banquet (a trap). But they didn't dare not to come. After all, during the battle at Shui Xie Hua Du, they didn't come to support us. If they didn't come to the banquet this time, they were afraid that others would say they had a guilty conscience. In desperation, they could only bring out Leader Zhangsun as a backer again, a backer that can definitely suppress Haizi."

Haizi and Guangzi let out a long sigh of relief. So that's what it was.

Unexpectedly, Chu Tian changed the subject and continued, "What's more serious is that the strength of the Axe Gang has been weakened by half. So this time, the elders may take this opportunity to make trouble and act like the villains who sue first. Using the excuse that the Jiang Bang has provoked various other gangs, they will force Haizi to hand over the territory and even the manpower of his loyal subordinates. In this way, they can expand the power of each hall again, weaken Haizi's strength, and make Haizi a real nominal leader. Or even directly, with the acquiescence of the former leader Zhangsun, they will force you to step down on the spot."

Haizi and Guangzi took a deep breath. Thinking carefully, there was indeed such a possibility. But Haizi still didn't want to believe that the former leader Zhangsun would treat him like this. He said, "The former leader Zhangsun is a wise man. He shouldn't do such a thing, right?" Although Haizi said this, his tone didn't sound very confident.

Chu Tian sighed. Based on his understanding of human nature, things were not that simple. He said lightly, "Haizi, think about it yourself. No matter how wise the former leader Zhangsun is, what can he know while being abroad? All he hears are the complaints of those elders. Over time, the former leader Zhangsun's trust in you is probably gradually fading away in the whispers of those so-called brothers. Moreover, the former leader Zhangsun is probably more willing to believe those brothers who have gone through life and death with him. If you were in his place, and you handed over the position of the leader of the Jiang Bang to someone else, and Guangzi and I often told you how arrogant and overbearing that person was and how bad he was, would you believe our words?"

Haizi lowered his head and thought for a while. Then he sighed and said honestly, "I would."

Guangzi was an impatient person. Since he already knew that such a possibility existed, he started thinking about countermeasures and hurriedly said, "Third brother, then what should we do?"

Chu Tian touched his nose and smiled slightly, revealing a handsome and charming smile. "Seize the initiative by making the first move!"

The banquet of the Jiang Bang was set in the large living room of Shui Xie Hua Du. Tian Yangsheng left with a few steamed buns and two large slices of beef near the villa early in the morning. Chu Tian asked Haizi to set eleven seats and place eleven pots of wine. Not long after these were prepared, more than a dozen cars swarmed in. Chu Tian smiled slightly. They were indeed all in agreement. Otherwise, how could they all appear together?

Fang Datong got out of the car first, followed by Lin Xiongjun and a man in his fifties. Guangzi introduced beside him, "You should already know Lin Xiongjun, the hall master of the Longtang Hall. The one beside him is his father, Master Lin. The one in the middle is Zhao Fengxiang, the hall master of the Hutang Hall, and beside him is naturally Master Zhao. The one behind is Han Zhenjian, the hall master of the Baotang Hall, and beside him is naturally Master Han. Eh, why don't we see the former leader Zhangsun?"

Chu Tian smiled slightly and said in a low voice, "The important person will naturally appear at the crucial moment." Chu Tian's eyes were fixed on an ordinary Buick Regal car in the middle. Only two people got out of it. He immediately guessed that the former leader Zhangsun should be in that car.

Fang Datong suddenly saw Chu Tian, and his expression changed dramatically. He took out his machete with a "whoosh" sound. His action made the people from each hall, who were already on high alert, nervous. They thought that Haizi and Guangzi had really set up a Hongmen Banquet and that Fang Datong had discovered it. So they all took out their machetes from their bodies. The loyal brothers of Haizi and Guangzi didn't know what was going on. Seeing everyone's nervousness, they thought that the enemy was coming, so they also took out their weapons. The situation was at a standstill for a moment.

Haizi and Guangzi were stunned for a moment. What was Fang Datong up to?

Lin Xiongjun supported Master Lin and came over. Seeing that everyone had taken out their weapons, he loudly asked, "Fang Datong, what's going on?"

Fang Datong was full of anger. Holding the machete in his hand, he pointed at Chu Tian and shouted, "Hall master, the kid who injured us that night is right there. Our brothers have been looking for him all over the world, and he was actually taken in by the leader."

Lin Xiongjun also saw Chu Tian and was slightly taken aback. But as a hall master, he obviously didn't have Fang Datong's impulsiveness. He shouted, "Fang Datong, put away your weapon. We'll talk about it at the dinner table. The leader will definitely give us an explanation." Lin Xiongjun's voice was very loud, obviously so that Haizi and the others could hear it and explain Chu Tian's presence during the meal.

Master Lin already knew from Fang Datong that Chu Tian was the one who injured his son. But this wasn't the time to break face yet. So he turned his head and shouted, "Brothers of each hall, it's just a misunderstanding. Put away your weapons." Then he glanced at Chu Tian a few times and thought to himself that this person who injured his son must not be allowed to live tonight.

Master Lin's words naturally carried authority, and everyone put away their weapons. Haizi, Guangzi, and the others quickly greeted them and said with small talk, "Master Lin, how is your health? We haven't seen you for a long time. Please come in, please come in."

Master Lin nodded. With an air of having rendered great service, he walked into the house arrogantly under the greeting of Haizi and the others. The leaders of the other halls also followed in.

After a while, the hall was filled with more than twenty people. Of course, only the hall masters, their elders, Haizi, Guangzi, and Chu Tian could take their seats. After everyone sat down, there were still two seats left. The people from each hall felt a bit strange about this, but they were too lazy to ask about such a small matter. They were all preoccupied with thinking about how to deal with the situation and make trouble tonight.

After the dishes were served and they had a glass of wine, Haizi patted Chu Tian and said loudly to the hall masters and elders, "Dear hall masters and uncles, I held this banquet tonight with no other intention. It's just that we haven't seen each other for a long time, and I wanted to get together. By the way, I'd like to introduce you to my sworn brother, Chu Tian. Although he is young, he挫败了斧头帮的疯狂进攻,是将帮的大功臣."

The people from each hall were obviously not used to the sudden appearance of Chu Tian. Naturally, they all looked at Master Lin to see his reaction before making any plans. Lin Xiongjun and Master Lin looked at each other and nodded slightly. Master Lin coughed, raised his eyebrows, and said in an unfriendly tone, "We haven't seen each other for a long time. It turns out that the leader has another good brother and helper. It's really a great blessing for the Jiang Bang." Then, changing the subject, he said coldly, "But why did the leader's good brother, the great hero of the Jiang Bang, injure people like the hall master of the Longtang Hall in the bar of Tian Shang Ren Jian?"

Lin Xiongjun and Fang Datong both looked coldly at Haizi and Chu Tian. The people from the other halls already knew that Lin Xiongjun had been taught a lesson in the bar. They didn't expect that it was by a young lad like Chu Tian. They all felt a bit amused, but thinking that the three halls were in the same boat, they should advance and retreat together and be united against the outside. So they also glared at Chu Tian as if he had beaten them too.

Haizi was suddenly stunned when he heard such a difficult question and didn't know how to answer it.

Chu Tian smiled slightly, touched his nose, and said, "Master Lin, you're exaggerating. How could I, Chu Tian, beat the brothers of the Jiang Bang? It's just that in the bar, I saw someone bullying men and women and claiming to be a hall master of the Jiang Bang. In my eyes, the men of the Jiang Bang are all upright and heroic. How could they do such a thing? And they even dared to claim to be a hall master of the Jiang Bang. Isn't this ruining the reputation of the Jiang Bang? So I took action to teach those two people a lesson. I think that if you, Master Lin, were there and heard someone bullying men and women in the name of the Jiang Bang, you would have already tied them up and thrown them into the Huangpu River, right? It's just that I never expected that when I saw them today, they were actually from the Longtang Hall of the Jiang Bang. It was really unexpected."

Haizi and Guangzi secretly cheered in their hearts. These words were watertight and enough to deal with Master Lin.

The people from each hall now couldn't help but take Chu Tian more seriously. This young lad remained calm in the face of Master Lin's authority and questioning and was able to answer fluently. He really had some courage. No wonder Haizi and Guangzi had sworn brotherhood with him.

Master Lin was indeed a bit embarrassed, and there was still some anger in his eyes. He didn't expect Chu Tian to be so difficult to deal with. But he didn't want to suffer this loss silently. He played dumb and said, "This is just Brother Chu's one-sided story. How can you prove that the people from the Longtang Hall bullied men and women? As the saying goes, if you want to frame someone, you'll always find a pretext." Master Lin obviously wanted to make it impossible to prove the truth and bypass Chu Tian's direct question.

Chu Tian stretched, took a sip of wine, and said lightly, "Do you really want witnesses and evidence, Master Lin?"

Master Lin thought that Chu Tian couldn't produce any. Even if there were witnesses, he could just deny them all. So he snorted and said, "Of course. Otherwise, you'll slander the innocent reputation of our Longtang Hall."

Master Zhao and Master Han had always been of one mind. At this time, they naturally supported Master Lin. They both snorted, slapped the table, and said in unison, "Of course we need evidence. If you slander the Longtang Hall, you're also slandering the Hutang Hall and the Baotang Hall, which means you're slandering the Jiang Bang. The leader won't allow the existence of those who slander the Jiang Bang, right, Leader?"

Haizi's expression was a bit embarrassed. He was also afraid that Chu Tian couldn't produce any evidence. But seeing that Chu Tian's expression was calm, he felt relieved and said, "Yes. Chu Tian is already a member of the Jiang Bang. If Chu Tian is lying, I will punish him according to the gang's rules and cut off one of his fingers. If it's true that Hall Master Lin and the others bullied men and women, I will also punish them according to the gang's rules and cut off one of their hands. I wonder if this is okay, dear masters?"

Master Lin, Master Zhao, and Master Han looked at each other a few times. Since things had come to this point, they might as well confront each other to the end. Maybe they could use this as an excuse to make trouble for Haizi and Guangzi. So they all nodded at the same time and said, "That's right. It's settled like this." Then, Master Lin looked coldly at Chu Tian and said, "Brother Chu, quickly bring out the evidence and the witnesses. Otherwise, it won't be good for you to have your finger cut off at such a young age."

Fang Datong even showed a triumphant smile. Just thinking about the scene of cutting off Chu Tian's finger made him unable to hold back his joy. Lin Xiongjun also showed a slight smile. Even if Chu Tian found Xiao Nianrou, Lin Xiongjun and the others could just pretend not to know her and say that Chu Tian had arranged it to frame them. In short, Chu Tian had little chance of winning.

Chu Tian put down his wine glass, sighed, and said, "Since it has come to this, I have to produce the evidence. Then let's invite a respected and influential person to be the fair judge. I wonder if you all agree?"

Master Lin snorted slightly and said, "Where can we find a respected and influential person now? There are so many people in the hall now. Are you afraid that we won't keep our word? You're not trying to escape by saying this because you can't produce any evidence or witnesses, are you?"

Chu Tian shook his head and smiled faintly. "Who said there's no respected and influential fair judge? Isn't the former leader Zhangsun and his daughter Zhangsun Zijun right here in Shui Xie Hua Du?" Then Chu Tian said to Haizi, "Brother Hai, please go to the seventh car at the entrance of the villa, that is, the Buick Regal car, and invite the former leader Zhangsun to move his honorable steps to the hall to be a fair judge. Otherwise, he might be bored in the car."

Chu Tian's words not only surprised Haizi and Guangzi but also the hall masters and elders of each hall. The former leader Zhangsun had indeed come and was indeed in the car, which was prepared to suppress Haizi and Guangzi at the crucial moment. But only a few of them knew the whereabouts of the former leader Zhangsun. Even Haizi and Guangzi didn't know. How did Chu Tian know? How could this kid be so mysterious?

Chu Tian then turned his head and said to Han Zhenjian, the hall master of the Baotang Hall, "Hall Master Han, you can turn off your phone. I believe that the former leader Zhangsun doesn't need to listen so hard to the phone to know what's going on here."

Chu Tian's words surprised everyone again. Han Zhenjian, the hall master of the Baotang Hall, embarrassedly hung up the phone. Just now, Chu Tian was wondering how the former leader Zhangsun, who was staying in the car, could know what was happening here. Suddenly, he saw that when he was speaking, Han Zhenjian kept leaning his phone in his direction. So he guessed that Han Zhenjian's phone was transmitting the words on the table to Zhangsun Jincheng.

"Haizi, there's no need to invite me. Young man, you're indeed intelligent and courageous." A loud voice came from the door. An old man with slightly white hair but a strong body, accompanied by a woman in her late twenties, slowly walked into the hall.

Master Lin, Haizi, and the others all stood up. Chu Tian also stood up out of politeness and they all shouted in unison, "Leader Zhangsun."

Chu Tian then understood why Haizi's position as the leader was so embarrassing. It turned out that this former leader Zhangsun was also a person who played with power. Just from the way they addressed him, even though he had stepped down, they still called him "Leader." And it seemed that he wasn't willing to truly withdraw from the underworld. Otherwise, he wouldn't come back and stir things up from time to time to show his presence.

Chu Tian smiled slightly, with a very calm expression. "I already knew that Leader Zhangsun would grace us with his presence, so I specially reserved two seats for Leader Zhangsun and Miss Zijun."

Everyone was secretly surprised again. How did this kid seem to know everything? He even reserved the seats. Zhangsun Jincheng was also very surprised. This kid seemed to be confident and in control of the situation. Could he really be able to predict the future?

After everyone sat down again, Zhangsun Zijun took the lead in speaking. Her eyes were shrewd as she said, "My father wasn't feeling well just now, so he took a short rest in the car and just came in now. I hope you all don't mind."

Master Lin and the people from each hall quickly said, "The leader's health is important." But Chu Tian just smiled noncommittally.

Master Lin saw that the former leader Zhangsun had also shown up. He was afraid that Chu Tian would take this opportunity to escape the charge of "slandering" the Longtang Hall. So he quickly said, "Chu Tian, now that Leader Zhangsun is here, the respected and influential person you wanted is here. You can bring out your evidence or witnesses now. Don't try to escape. The Jiang Bang isn't so easy to deceive."

Zhangsun Jincheng nodded slightly and said with authority, "I've heard what you said. Master Lin is right. Since you, Chu Tian, are brothers with Haizi, you're also a member of the Jiang Bang. Once you join the Jiang Bang, you have to abide by the gang's rules. If there is evidence, cut off Hall Master Lin's hand. If there is no evidence, cut off your finger."

Chu Tian smiled slightly, looked up at Zhangsun Jincheng seriously, and said, "Are you serious, Former Leader Zhangsun?"

Zhangsun Jincheng nodded. Zhangsun Zijun looked at this young lad with a look of disdain on her face and said, "Do you doubt that my father's judgment will be unfair? My father has been in Shanghai for decades and is as respected as Master Ba. He is