20 years of the Republic of China

Chapter 841 Roots Rotten and Branches Withered
The next day, Jiang Lianheng got up very late.

The officers really didn't consider themselves outsiders; they stayed up all night drunk, behaving recklessly, their loud snores echoing throughout the room.

No one dared to disturb them, so they had no choice but to call out the North Wind.

Knowing that there were many things to do at home and it was not advisable to keep guests for long, Zhao Zhengbei washed up and prepared to wake Lin Zhidong and the others up.

Just as he reached the door, Dongfeng came looking for him again, saying that his elder brother and sister-in-law wanted him to come over to discuss something. When asked what it was, Dongfeng couldn't give a clear answer.

Zhao Zhengbei didn't ask any further questions and turned to go to the main room on the second floor.

Unexpectedly, once the door was closed, half an hour passed. As for what the three of them talked about inside, let's leave that aside for now.

Around nine o'clock, the officers got up one after another, each drank two bowls of hot porridge to calm themselves down. They were all quite embarrassed, feeling that they had gone a bit too far last night and had lost control after drinking, inevitably making quite a fool of themselves. So they asked Beifeng to invite Jiang Lianheng and prepared to get up and say goodbye.

Jiang Lianheng often dealt with military personnel, so he was not surprised and simply asked the officers how they slept last night.

Everyone agreed, and amidst laughter and conversation, they all left the mansion one after another.

Soldiers are away from home, wandering from place to place. It's not easy to have the opportunity to return to the provincial capital. And now that the war has ended and the New Year is approaching, everyone has their own things to do. Those who live nearby should hurry back to visit, while those who live far away should go to the telegraph office to let their parents know they are safe.

On one side, there was a feigned attempt to persuade them to stay; on the other, there was a genuine desire to leave. After much polite refusal and a long period of courtesies, the two sides finally parted ways.

Jiang Lianheng instructed Beifeng to see them off, and drove his own car to take Lin Zhidong and the others back one by one.

……

After the officer left, Jiang Lianheng showed no intention of leaving the house. Instead, he returned to the living room and called Nanfeng over to inquire about the situation.

Last night, Wang Zhengnan met with several friends from the Chamber of Commerce to inquire about the rental information of Japanese businesses. The information they received was exactly the same as what Meng Duo had said.

It is certain that there are indeed seventeen shops on Bagua Street and Xue Street that are ready to be transferred to Japanese expatriates.

But behind these seventeen shops, there are actually only twelve owners.

Moreover, everyone had different reasons for transferring their shares.

Some people were deliberately trying to curry favor with the Japanese; others were struggling with their businesses and wanted to sell, and since the asking price was reasonable, they simply transferred the shops to Japanese expatriates; still others were forced into this situation, unable to bear the constant harassment, so they decided to end the suffering quickly and have some peace and quiet.

Of course, these are just rumors.

Only they themselves probably know the truth.

Wang Zhengnan handed over the list and deliberately emphasized, "Brother, I can't be sure about the other people's situations, but you should know Feng Chong. He's Feng Baoquan's son. If we go by the old lady's side, you and she are like cousins!"

"What's his family situation?" Jiang Lianheng asked.

“Old Feng’s business has always been good. This shop on Xue Street is a branch of his, so there’s really no reason for him to transfer it.” Wang Zhengnan sighed. “However, even the best business can’t withstand the constant disruptions caused by the maintenance committee. He has no choice. Even if he doesn’t want to transfer it, the business can’t continue. I remember Feng Baoquan mentioned this to us last time he came!”

Jiang Lianheng remembered and nodded, saying, "That's true, but I can't handle too much right now, so I can only ask them to bear with it for now."

“But… Brother, the Feng family has paid insurance premiums and they’re related to you. If we just take the money and don’t do anything, it might damage our reputation in the long run!”

"Then let's go talk to them. As long as we deal with Qin Huaimeng, Lao Dou and his gang won't amount to anything."

"Should we ask them to postpone the deal?"

"Correct!"

Jiang Lianheng returned the list to Nanfeng and then instructed, "Here's what we'll do: you and Xifeng go out later and find these business owners. Tell them it's my idea to ask them to postpone the transaction as much as possible. If any of them are having trouble with their business, they can come to the Jiang family to borrow money, and I won't charge them interest."

"What if they don't agree?" Wang Zhengnan asked.

Jiang Lianheng's eyelids twitched. After a moment of silence, he said with a stern face, "Give a copy of this list to Dongfeng."

Wang Zhengnan pursed his lips, seemingly wanting to say something but then hesitating, before nodding in agreement.

Gang warfare brings disaster to merchants and civilians.

At this critical juncture, these twelve bosses had to choose sides. Trying to please both sides would only result in offending both.

Jiang Lianheng had no choice but to try his best to delay the deal.

Otherwise, once the deal is completed and Qin Huaimeng has rendered meritorious service, he will inevitably receive greater support from Takeda Shin. The longer the time drags on, the more difficult it will be for the Qin family to resolve the situation.

Both the Jiang and Qin families have transcended the category of thugs and ruffians; they are true underworld gangs.

If it's just local thugs and gangsters having some disputes, it's actually quite simple—they agree on a location, bring their men, line up, grab their broadswords, and have a good, satisfying fight. The winner takes all, the loser is kicked out. It's simple and straightforward, without any need for so much scheming or infighting.

However, Jiang Lianheng and Qin Huaimeng were different. They were both respectable people who wore long gowns and top hats. They not only wanted to win, but also wanted to win beautifully.

Kill people in the world and escape from the sword.

Hands stained with blood, face spotless – that's the mark of a leader!

……

After lunch, Wang Zhengnan and Li Zhengxi, carrying out the Jiang family's wishes, disguised themselves as the good guys and the bad guys and went out to talk to the twelve bosses one by one.

Not long after, a call came from Fangyan, saying that Yaspusheng had sent word back from southern Liaoning that the firearms were in good condition, and that two Mauser C96 pistols and several Mauser C96 pistols would be delivered within five days at the earliest, but payment was required in advance. If everything was confirmed to be correct, preparations could begin immediately.

Jiang Lianheng agreed without hesitation, and then asked, "Did you tell Manager Xue yesterday about the old lady's funeral?"

Fang Yan retorted, "I've already spoken to Kang Zheng. What, haven't they gone yet?"

"No."

"Should I go and tell them again?"

Jiang Lianheng sighed, pondered for a moment, and said, "No need. I've already said it so many times, there's no point in urging them again."

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Lianheng sat in the living room, lit a cigarette, and then turned to look out the window.

The courtyard gate was open, and Hai Xinnian and others were standing guard outside.

Xu Ruqing's funeral had long passed its most lively phase. The mourning hall was now quiet and desolate, and the old lady lay there, seemingly waiting for her junior sister to come and visit her.

However, Xue Yingqing did not show up during this period.

Apart from that night when Lao Dao and others rushed to Zhao Guoyan's aid in Nancheng, none of the brothers in her gang ever came forward to help again.

After Xu Ruqing's death, Xue Yingqing's relationship with the Jiang family seemed to suddenly become distant.

Jiang Lianheng had a vague sense of unease.

In fact, among the key members of the Jiang family, Xue Yingqing's branch was the most respectable. Songfeng Zhuyun's business was booming, with a constant stream of powerful and wealthy young men coming and going. Lao Daozi acted as the head of the operation, and his abilities were no less than Zhao Guoyan's. Kang Zheng was also adept at managing accounts and handling relationships with business partners.

Admittedly, Xue Yingqing's business developed under the protection of the Jiang family, but it must be acknowledged that Xue Yingqing also invested a considerable amount of money in the Jiang family back then. It was precisely because of her investment that the Jiang family was able to grow rapidly and take over half of the real estate on Bagua Street and Xue Street in one fell swoop. Xue Yingqing had her own team.

Her relationship with the Jiang family was less about currying favor and more about a joint effort.

Moreover, according to seniority, she is Jiang Lianheng's aunt.

For this reason, Jiang Lianheng was always very polite to her and never bossed her around. He almost never asked Lao Dao and the others to do any dirty or tiring work.

However, the situation is different now.

The Jiang family's "Xiangzi" suffered more than half casualties, and Yuan Xinfa and others were killed one after another. Even the outer Kaoshan Gang was severely weakened.

At this juncture, dealing with Qin Huaimeng, the puppet regime, and the Japanese forces behind them all at the same time, the Jiang family's difficulties will only become more severe if Xue Yingqing refuses to lend a hand.

Just then, a figure flashed past outside the courtyard gate.

Jiang Lianheng bowed slightly and looked over. He saw that Zhao Guoyan had returned with his men, so he quickly walked out of the mansion.

The group met in the courtyard.

In recent days, Zhao Guoyan has been running around to various counters, selecting more than a dozen brothers from the "Zaibang" who have practiced martial arts to supplement the Jiang family's manpower shortage.

According to past requirements, these people should have signed a written agreement, found someone to act as guarantor, and gone through layers of investigation before they could become members of the Jiang family, also known as "Xiangzi".

The people inside the sect receive their pay directly from the Jiang family. They might be idle for months, or they might be ordered to go out and kill someone the very next day. Their orders are strictly enforced, and everything depends on the master's whim.

Choosing such brothers should be done with utmost care, but the situation is urgent now, so some rules have to be modified, and some old rules for selection have to be simplified.

As they were talking, a dozen or so people rushed into the Jiang family's residence.

Jiang Lianheng personally greeted them, looking them up and down at the somewhat unfamiliar faces, while Zhao Guoyan followed behind, introducing them one by one.

“Boss, this is Liu Chang. He used to be a fireman at Heshengfang, helping Manager Lü collect debts. He trained in martial arts for two years. Yang Lazi trained him. He’s quite clever.”

"Oh, brother, you've worked hard."

Jiang Lianheng stretched out his hand to a shrewd-looking young man, who grabbed it and shook it vigorously, saying, "Master, please accept my condolences!"

Zhao Guoyan gave him a wink, and Liu Chang quickly let go of his hand and obediently stepped aside.

Then he introduced another brother.

"Boss, this is Zhang Han. He used to work in an ordnance factory. He knew about guns, but he got into a fight and caused trouble in the factory and was fired. He joined the gang three years ago."

Jiang Lianheng nodded, looked the man up and down, and saw that he had dark skin, was quite tall, but had a baby face. He asked him, "Who did you run away with before?"

Zhang Han said respectfully, "If I were to return to my employer, I used to work with Chang Laocai in the warehouse, watching over the goods for the family."

"Thank you for your hard work!" Jiang Lianheng extended his hand as usual.

Seeing this, Zhang Han quickly wiped his hands on his lapel, then bent down to accept the gift, murmuring, "Thank you for your hard work, boss. The brothers are very grateful for your care."

Zhao Guoyan continued walking forward with Jiang Lianheng, and raised his hand to introduce him: "Boss, this is Chen Tuizhi. He used to work at the yamen, but he got into some trouble and retired. Old Niu used to mentor him."

Jiang Lianheng didn't reach out, but frowned and asked, "Who gave you that name?"

Chen Tuizhi looked slightly bewildered, glanced around, and then replied, "My family asked a teacher to give me this name before."

Jiang Lianheng said, "Retreating is not good. You should change your name. Don't call yourself Jinzhi anymore. How about you call yourself Chen Jin from now on?"

Chen Jin was stunned for a moment, then knelt down with a thud and shouted, "Thank you for bestowing this name upon me, Master! I will go through fire and water for you!"

Jiang Lianheng waved his hand, telling him to get up, and then walked towards the others.

After Zhao Guoyan introduced everyone one by one, it was almost dusk, and it was nearly lunchtime.

To be honest, Jiang Lianheng couldn't possibly remember all of these people after being introduced to so many at once; at most, he could only make them familiar faces.

In recent years, the Jiang family has expanded too much, and as the head of the family, he is in a high position and cannot possibly attend to every aspect. Over time, he has become somewhat "only familiar with generals but not with soldiers." This is an inevitable result of a large and powerful family, and no one can escape this fate.

Let alone him, even Zhao Guoyan probably doesn't know these people very well.

As evening approached, Jiang Lianheng didn't hesitate and said loudly in front of all his brothers, "It's almost dinnertime. There are many people at home, so I won't keep you all. Let Guoyan take everyone to a restaurant for a meal. I won't keep you any longer."

No one minded at all. In fact, they were a bit more reserved if the host were present, so they quickly cupped their hands in thanks and said, "Thank you for your hospitality, host!"

Jiang Lianheng waved his hand with a smile, then called Zhao Guoyan to his side and whispered, "Guoyan, a person's true character is revealed when they are drunk. Please keep a close eye on him for me."

Zhao Guoyan nodded and replied, "Don't worry, Master!"

After saying that, he turned around and left the house with a dozen or so "Zaibang" brothers.

Unexpectedly, not long after they stepped out of the courtyard, a black car sped towards them.

Everyone recognized the car; they knew it belonged to Xue Yingqing. So they all stepped aside to make way, and the sound of the tires rolling over the snow caught Jiang Lianheng's attention.

He turned around in the courtyard and happened to see Xue Yingqing's car parked outside the gate.

Shortly after, Lao Dao and Kang Zheng were the first to get out of the car, informed Hai Xinnian, and then strode into the courtyard.

Jiang Lianheng frowned slightly, noticing that the two men's expressions were somewhat different.

Old Dao had a stern face, not because he was dissatisfied, but because he was naturally expressionless.

In contrast, Kang Zheng appeared exceptionally polite, as if he were somewhat ashamed.

Jiang Lianheng stood still, waiting for the two to slowly approach.

At the same time, Jiang Ya, who was upstairs, heard the commotion and called Hua Jie and the others to come out and greet them.

Kang Zheng walked up to Jiang Lianheng and apologized repeatedly, "Master, I'm so sorry. Our manager has been hit hard these past few days and hasn't recovered. He even fell seriously ill. Please forgive us for being late!"

Jiang Lianheng nodded and said, "I understand, it's good that they've come."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Old Dao chimed in, asking in a low voice, "Boss, we'd like to have a word with you."

"Now?"

Lao Dao and Kang Zheng looked at each other, nodded, and said, "Let's talk now. We can't get involved right now. The shopkeeper has a lot to say to the old lady!"

Jiang Lianheng was taken aback upon hearing this.

His earlier premonition seemed to be gradually coming true, so he slightly turned his gaze towards the courtyard gate and saw the car door open, and Xue Yingqing slowly getting out of the car...

(End of this chapter)