20 years of the Republic of China

Chapter 650 Root Cause
After a while, a hand reached out of the military tent and gently lifted the door curtain. Then a middle-aged "officer" walked out slowly, stood in front of the tent, and looked around.

Everyone felt a little embarrassed and stopped talking. The camp suddenly fell silent.

Zhao Guoyan was slightly surprised.

After meeting Lao Mang, I realized that the rumors in the martial arts world were half true and half false. After all, they were just hearsay and should not be believed.

The man looked to be in his forties. He was not short, but he had low shoulders and his body only looked slender because of his neck. Although his military uniform was a bit worn, it was neatly dressed. His belt was tied firmly and his hair was neat and tidy, which showed his usual demeanor.

In the eyes of Sun Xiangyang and others, Lao Mang is a complete fool, with little ability and a lot of trouble. It seems that he does nothing but make jokes online all day long.

But looking back now, those comments do seem a bit biased.

Although Lao Mang lacks the spirit of a bandit, he is actually quite shrewd and capable. He is just not suitable for the green forest, but rather more like a businessman.

He walked out of the military tent and looked around. Seeing his brothers smoking with droopy faces and no intention of fighting at all, he knew that he was defeated and sighed deeply, as if he had accepted his fate and was unwilling to do any more futile work.

Even so, he did not show any dejected or frightened look. Instead, he fixed his eyes on Zhao Guoyan, held down his pistol with one hand, and walked over.

"Are you looking for me?"

"I find you!"

Lao Mang stopped and looked him up and down, then suddenly smiled and said, "Brother, you don't look like... you're not a soldier either?"

"Why? I can't find you if you're not a soldier?" Zhao Guoyan drooped his eyelids and stared at the pistol in the other's hand.

Lao Mang smiled and nodded, then paced back and forth in front of Zhao Guoyan for a few steps, and said lazily: "It's not that we can't find someone, but when we look for someone, we have to show the outline first, right?"

Seeing that he was still calm, Zhao Guoyan couldn't help but look up to him, and then announced loudly: "Fengtian, Jiang family."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone except Erma and others was in an uproar.

In the three provinces of Kanto, all the secret agents who were active online had more or less heard of the name of Fengtian's "Ghost Knocking on the Door", and they were also very clear about whose lackeys the Jiang family was actually serving.

There was a sudden commotion in the camp.

Everyone couldn't help but whisper and talk among themselves. Although it was impossible to hear what they were saying, they all shook their heads helplessly in the end.

The corner of Lao Mang's mouth twitched, and he seemed to be uneasy, but then he forced a smile and said, "So it's the Jiang family. I've heard of it. The largest insurance company in the three northeastern provinces - Zongheng Insurance, is the Jiang family's business!" As he spoke, he suddenly raised his thumb and said, "Boss Jiang is young and promising, amazing. I admire you!"

Everyone grimaced when they heard this.

The words were kind, but there was a hint of sarcasm in Lao Mang's tone.

Zhao Guoyan frowned, not knowing where the other party got the confidence from. He just felt unhappy, so he sneered and asked: "I'm afraid you have heard of more than just the Jiang family? To be honest... Is there a misunderstanding between us?"

"Is there any?"

"No?"

"I don't think so."

"You robbed the goods guaranteed by the Jiang family!"

Zhao Guoyan didn't have the energy to continue playing guessing games, so he just came out with the words, frankly and directly.

Unexpectedly, Lao Mang sneered and said fearlessly: "Brother, that's not a misunderstanding, I just want to rob your Jiang family's goods!"

Zhao Guoyan was stunned for a moment, as if he had never expected the other party to be so frank and straightforward, so that he was suddenly a little hesitant, not knowing how to respond.

This is the first time since Jiang Lianheng opened his business that someone has dared to challenge the Jiang family in person.

It seems that the various rumors about Lao Mang online, although ridiculous, are not groundless.

At this time, everyone in the camp had no intention of starting a war. Among them were a few Hu bandits who had participated in the robbery that day, so they hurried to Zhao Guoyan and persuaded him to make peace.

"Brother, don't get angry! What happened that day, although it can't be said to be a misunderstanding, but we also have our own difficulties. There is not enough food, and we have no choice but to rob. We will rob whatever we can find. We definitely have no intention of targeting the Jiang family. Please apologize to Boss Jiang on our behalf. Boss Jiang is very generous and will definitely not make things difficult for us!"

"Yes, yes, yes, they are the most beautiful flowers in the world, Heng, Ge and Lan are one family!"

"That's right, we are all one family online, but we must not ruin the harmony of the underworld because of those loopholes!"

Zhao Guoyan glanced at everyone, thought about it, and finally did not make things difficult for them.

When encircling an army, there must be a gap. You cannot force the enemy into a dead end, otherwise it will only lead to a fight.

However, Lao Mang's arrogant face did not give in, and he continued:

"I did it. Now that the 'Anti-Fengtian Army' has failed, I, Lao Mang, am willing to admit defeat. But if you want me to go against my conscience and say that this is a misunderstanding - I can't do it!" He pondered for a moment, and suddenly laughed, "After all, isn't it still the case that the first bird to stick its head out gets shot? Humph, I admit it!"

"The one who sticks out gets shot at," Zhao Guoyan asked, "What do you mean by that?" "It means literally, I'm not complaining about the world, but your Jiang family's hand - isn't it too far?"

"Why, is it hindering your financial path?"

"It's blocking everyone's financial resources!" Lao Mang suddenly became excited. "The Jiang family is already good enough, what else do you want?"

Zhao Guoyan narrowed his eyes, shook his head slightly, and asked knowingly: "I don't quite understand."

"Liaonan, Fengtian, Habu, Kuanchengzi... As long as there is a land and water port outside the Great Wall, there are branches of your Jiang family! The Jiang family does not touch opium, but nine out of ten local products from the three northeastern provinces must be insured by your Jiang family to be safe. The red envelopes alone are enough for you to live a life of luxury every year!"

"so what?"

"The Jiang family took over the freight insurance. That's your ability. I won't say anything. But aren't you too greedy?"

Zhao Guoyan smiled and asked, "I heard that you seem to be dealing in arms. Is it because of this?"

At this point, Lao Mang no longer hid his true feelings and simply admitted, "Yes, I originally wanted to be a businessman. I also have connections in Vladivostok. The goods I have are better than those of the Jiang family, but no one dares to buy them. If anyone dares to buy them, the Jiang family will go to the government to persuade the government to suppress the bandits. We are all in the underworld. Is there anyone like you who does this?"

"Then what do you think we should do?"

"fair play!"

“Is there fair competition?”

"No, that's why I joined the 'Anti-Feng Army', but I was unlucky and lost the bet. Otherwise, I'm no worse than Jiang Lianheng!"

Zhao Guoyan nodded in a serious tone and said thoughtfully, "Do you think that the Jiang family is what it is today because they have the right backers?"

"What else?" Lao Mang asked with a sneer, "If there is no Zhang Yuting, what is Jiang Lianheng?"

"Good question!" Zhao Guoyan also asked in return, "Have you ever thought about why Marshal Zhang must pamper the Jiang family?"

Lao Mang was stunned and speechless for a moment, not knowing how to answer, and just insisted on his point.

"I don't care. Anyway, your Jiang family has stretched their hands too far. Not only have you taken over the freight insurance business, but you also haven't let go of the 'Foreign Guanyin' business. You are also involved in smuggling arms, street vendors, and movie films... We are all in the underworld, and we all make money together, but you are the one who eats alone all day long, or you just sit there and take the bonus..."

Before he could finish his words, other brothers in the camp came over to persuade him.

"Commander-in-Chief, that's enough, a wise man never suffers a loss in front of him, so stop talking!"

But Lao Mang seemed to have been holding a grudge for a long time. He knew that he was powerless to change the situation, so he just vented his anger and continued to yell, "Hey, kid, let me say this today. Don't think that if everyone in the Jiang family doesn't say anything about what you did, there will be no resentment in their hearts. Things will change over time. When your Jiang family is in trouble, I will be the first one, but I will definitely not be the last..."

Seeing that he was getting more and more outrageous, everyone hurriedly turned to talk to Zhao Guoyan again.

"My brother, our commander-in-chief has been in a bad mood recently, and what he said was just angry words. You must not take it seriously. If you must take it seriously, it has nothing to do with us. I can only describe Boss Jiang in three words - I admire him so much!"

Zhao Guoyan's face turned pale and he remained silent.

In the past ten years in Guandong, Lao Mang is the first person online who dares to speak so harshly against the Jiang family.

A thorn in the eye or a thorn in the flesh must be removed, but now is not the best time to start a shooting fight.

Although most of the bandits in Lao Mang’s camp were mixed, there were also twenty or thirty old members. The premise for these people not wanting to go to war was that they were looking forward to receiving the surrender edict.

If Lao Mang were to be shot now, others might have concerns.

Once they determine that the soldiers are killing the surrendered, they will definitely fight back. Relying on their advantages in numbers and weapons, they will really go crazy and kill each other. Zhao Guoyan and others may not be able to escape unscathed.

Could it be that... this old man is deliberately provoking me in order to rally everyone?

Zhao Guoyan couldn't help but feel suspicious.

At this moment, Yang Lazi came up from behind, gently pulled the corner of his clothes twice, and asked quietly: "Brother Yan, do you want to kill him?"

Zhao Guoyan thought carefully about Jiang Lianheng's instructions - Lao Mang can live - and finally suddenly became enlightened. He waved his hands hastily, trying his best to imitate his boss's flexible attitude, stepped forward reluctantly, cleared his throat, and said:
"Lao Mang, I came here with the soldiers today to make peace, not to quarrel. My boss has also told me before that we should handle official business in an impartial manner and put personal grudges aside for now."

"Business matters?"

Lao Mang broke away from the crowd, shook his hands, and said, "My official business was caused by a personal vendetta. Tell me, how should I handle this official business?"

Zhao Guoyan smiled and said, "In fact, what everyone is fighting for is nothing more than the word 'money'. The Jiang family certainly loves money, but now they care more about face. How about this, you bring all the brothers in the battalion and go down the mountain with us, and the Jiang family can help you arrange the amnesty. In the future, you can be a soldier if you want to, and are you willing to continue smuggling arms——"

Having said this, he looked around at the equipment in everyone's hands, then nodded:
"I have now seen your strength clearly. You do have some connections. Why don't you just cooperate with the Jiang family? Like you said, we can make money together. More friends mean more paths, and more enemies mean more walls. What do you think?"

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2025 is coming soon. Have you all set your goals?

(End of this chapter)