money player

Kochi Prefecture.

After Yamashita Tomoyuki was executed, his wife, Nagayama Hisako, went into seclusion in his hometown of Osugi Village.

The debt should be settled with the death of the person. Yamashita Tomoyuki is already dead, so it's not good to make things difficult for an old woman. However, Yamashita Tomoyuki once harbored a great secret, and it is because of this secret that Nagayama Hisako cannot enjoy her old age in peace.

Half an hour ago, she was murdered, and now her body has been transported to the forest behind the village, lying on a raging fire. Beside her are several other corpses, belonging to her brother-in-law, Yamashita Tomomori, and his family.

In another part of Kochi Prefecture, her uncle Yamashita Tomoyoshi's family were put into oil drums, filled with cement, and were waiting for the cement to dry before being sent into the sea to plant lotus flowers.

The Zhao pig family at the foot of Daguzi Mountain and the Jiushou pig family at the foot of Xiaoguzi Mountain also face the same fate.

The sins committed by Yamashita Tomoyuki alone must be repaid by his entire family.

From the Thai border to the jungle leading to Mawlamyine in Myanmar, the Wood Rat Squad is clearing the battlefield. They just took down a cavalry without firing a single shot, using only booby traps.

Squad leader Field Mouse searched through a short corpse and found a hand-drawn map. After confirming that it was what he was looking for, he took out a lighter and lit the map.

As the map turned to ashes, his bulging temples deflated.

Ever since entering the jungle, he had sensed danger, as if a ferocious beast had its eyes on him and was about to pounce and deliver a fatal blow. Now, that feeling had vanished.

200 meters away, in the canopy of a tree, a person silently puts away a sniper rifle and leaves; 800 meters away, in a low-lying area, at a mortar position, several people calmly put away their mortars, cover up the traces of the position, and disappear three minutes later.

Billiard room.

Two new people arrived, stood in front of the pool table and watched the excitement for a while, then started talking to each other.

"When the Nationalist army retreated to Taiwan, it left behind a mysterious organization called the Plum Blossom Society on the mainland. The members of the Plum Blossom Society were all reclusive masters, each over a hundred years old. They were responsible for guarding more than a hundred treasure sites that were buried before the retreat."

As the speaker spoke, he deliberately glanced around mysteriously, as if worried that someone was eavesdropping. Then he lowered his voice slightly, "These old guys think the Nationalist army can't possibly fight their way back, so they're pooling their money to dig for treasure. As long as you pay a little, you can get a share when the treasure is unearthed..."

Upon hearing this, Sin Yiu-man lost interest in listening further.

The story isn't very clever; it can only fool ordinary people. It's far less impressive than Chen Shada's claim that "the four major families have over 200 billion US dollars in assets." Without some basic political and economic knowledge, you simply can't calculate that number even if the common people of Qiuye Haitang used a fine-toothed comb to piece it together. With over a hundred treasure locations, hiding two small yellow croakers in each place is still achievable. Any more than that is highly unlikely.

He was rather interested in the scammers who organized the scheme, and wanted to understand why they were clinging to old, unoriginal ideas instead of coming up with anything new.

If a new gimmick comes along, he's willing to be a fool and invest a few hundred or a thousand to see how the story unfolds. Recently, he's noticed that storytelling has become sluggish, no longer as precise as milliseconds, which he suspects is due to a decrease in unused data in the database, requiring the addition of new entries.

He noted down the Plum Blossom Association and filed it under the Treasure Scam category. He shifted his gaze from the conman and prepared to return it to Yang Jingyi, but before he could return to his original position, his eyes met Yang Jingyi's.

"I want to drink."

Her eyes were pleading, and her lips were pouting in a coquettish way.

Sin Yiu-man gave him a helpless look, took a soy milk cup from the table, went to the tea station, picked up the aluminum kettle, poured some water, and walked out while rinsing the cup, pouring the water into the drainage ditch next to the bicycle shed.

Just as he was about to turn back, a bicycle sped into the parking shed. On the bicycle was the high school student who had been betting on the game in front of him. His face was full of fighting spirit, which made him turn his head. It seemed that he had misjudged the situation. This fish was fatter than he had imagined. The process of raising fish for this fish had an extra step that was more difficult than that for ordinary fish.

When the stakes are low, it's easy to win. When anglers raise the stakes, the battle becomes more intense, but they can still win by a narrow margin, and their confidence is built up.

Glancing at the high school student's back, he guessed that perhaps the fisherman's purpose was not money. He had never heard of any rich second-generation heirs in Taipei who spent money like water, neither in business nor politics. However, there were rumors that Chiang Ching-kuo's eldest son, Chiang Hsiao-wen, liked to go clubbing and could often be seen gathering with a few friends.

The high school student's father probably had some power, which made him a target for the people at the billiards hall.

Who would have thought that such a small billiards room could harbor such a vast and complex world?

Back indoors, he poured a glass of water and handed it to Yang Jingyi. Yang Jingyi smiled brightly, took the glass, and sipped it. "Do you want to get a call?"

"You guys play, I'll just watch the game."

Yang Jingyi gestured towards the high school student with her chin, "Look at him?"

"Ah."

"I don't care about you."

"If you don't want me to take care of you, then thank goodness."

Yang Jingyi pouted her lips, turned around and continued playing ball.

Sin Yiu-man sat down on a bench next to the tea station and recalled the lyrics of "Rain and Tears," a song that could appear in the present era and had the potential to become a phenomenal hit.

He went through the lyrics once and remembered them all, so there was no need to fill in the blanks. His thoughts drifted to the YMCA.

He has a lot of classic songs, each with the potential to generate over a million dollars in value. It would be a shame to just throw them away. The YMCA needs an elite who is proficient in song distribution and post-production to oversee its music business.

I instinctively reached into my suit jacket pocket, but as soon as I raised my hand, I realized I wasn't wearing a suit and didn't have my notebook with me. I put my hand down, looked around, and noticed that the scorekeeper had changed. She had long, unstyled hair that reached her chest, and she was wearing a Type 46 military uniform shirt and blue air force trousers, which had been altered, with the cuffs and waist gathered.

With the professional eye of a clothing tycoon, designer, and pattern maker, he took a few more glances at the trousers and expressed his approval of the craftsmanship of the person who altered them, noting that the stitching had a Shanghai-style feel.

The scorekeeper noticed his gaze and glared at him fiercely. "What are you looking at?"

"Look at the pants, they've been altered quite well."

"You have good taste." The scorekeeper snorted, sat down next to Xian Yaowen, and pointed at Yang Jingyi, "Your little girlfriend?"

"No, she is my eldest daughter, and I'm having an affair with her mother."

The scorekeeper rolled her eyes at Xian Yaowen, "You've got some nerve, huh? Just because you're a fake foreigner, you dare to say anything."

"You're quite bold, sitting next to me like that. Aren't you afraid of being taken advantage of?"

"Damn it!" the scorekeeper scoffed. "This is my territory. I'll give you the guts. Got a cigarette? I'll give you one."

"I don't smoke."

"Damn." The scorekeeper took out a pack of Kornan brand cigarettes from her pocket, shook out one, and offered it to Sin Yiu-man. After being refused, she withdrew her hand, lit one for herself, exhaled the smoke, and said, "You really don't smoke?"

"I used to smoke, but I don't anymore."

"Why don't you smoke?" The scorekeeper tossed her hair. "You don't look like you can't afford cigarettes."

"Nourishing the body".

"Damn, how old are you?"

Not wanting to continue the topic of smoking, Xian Yaowen instead asked, "What's your name?"

Everyone calls me Peach.

Sin Yiu-man stared at the scorekeeper's face. "Your nicknames are probably Big Eyes, Black Beauty, and Bamboo Pole, but it's unlikely to be Peach."

The scorekeeper has very large eyes, which is a fitting description. She has a darker complexion but more defined features, making her a suitable "black beauty." She is tall and slender, like a bamboo pole.

"Don't I look like a peach?" the scorekeeper said defiantly.

“No, not.” Xian Yaowen shook his head. “A peach needs to be beautiful, with soft skin and a sweet appearance. You only match half of it.”

"Damn." The scorekeeper exhaled smoke. "Alright, alright, my name is Big Eyes."

"Big Eyes is a good name. My name is Fake Foreigner."

"Damn, you really know how to take advantage of a situation." The scorekeeper took another drag of her cigarette. "I've never seen you here before. Is this your first time here?"

"you are right."

"You don't seem like the type to come to a place like this. Are you here to pick up girls?"

"Besides you, where else are there any Misses here? How about I woo you?" Xian Yaowen chuckled.

"Damn, come and soak me."

"It's soaking now."

"Damn it!"

"what's your name?"

"Big Eyes, you already know that."

"real name."

"Damn, you go first."

"Xin Yaowen".

"Ni Shujun".

"Should we stay in Kongnan or Songshan?"

"Kongnan Village, where do you live?"

“Qidong Street, Xingmachi Official Residence Complex”

"Damn, you live there? At the Bank of Taiwan?"

“Hong Kongers, come and do business.”

"A Hong Konger?" Ni Shujun subconsciously moved a little further away.

Xian Yaowen chuckled, "It seems your father holds a high-ranking official position, given how vigilant he is."

When the Nationalist army retreated to Taiwan, only major generals were allowed to bring their families. Higher-ranking officers were required to bring their families, and they could not refuse. However, some important technical positions could be given more leeway.

The Air Force controls the aircraft, which means they can secretly pick up people, and the pay is not low. It is easier for them to scrape together the money for a few boat tickets than other branches of the military. Judging a person's rank from the presence of family members in Taiwan may not be accurate, but family members are highly vigilant against espionage, so their rank is usually not low.

Besides, Ni Shujun is in her early twenties, while her father is at least forty. It's unlikely that someone her age would still be a front-line pilot.

"How did you know? Are you a spy sent from the other side?"

It seems that "fuck" is not Ni Shujun's catchphrase, but rather something she deliberately added to imitate the speaking style in order to fit into a certain group. She would forget to add it when she was concerned.

"Yes, yes, I'm going to use my good looks to win you over and drag your dad down with me." Xian Yaowen said irritably, glancing at the snooker table. The fake-smiling player made a beautiful back snooker, while the high school student was scratching his head in frustration.

"You're not a spy?" Ni Shujun stared at Xian Yaowen's face with suspicion.

Sin Yiu-man mentally planned his escape route, comparing his own thinking with that of snooker legends like Rocket and Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Without turning his head, he said, "Do you think that fake foreigners get extra points for being spies? We've only just met, and you were the one who initiated the conversation. Don't overthink it."

"Who knows, you might be using your good looks to seduce me. If it weren't for your good looks, why would I talk to you?"

Sin Yiu-man turned and chuckled, "Trying to pick up Mr.?"

"Damn, can't I soak?"

"Yes, I'll treat you to dinner tomorrow."

"Where to eat?"

"It's up to you."

"Would you dare to invite Lafayette?"

"You're really not being polite."

"Damn it, just tell me if you're inviting me or not."

"Please, meet me at the entrance of Lafayette at 6:30 tomorrow night."

"Don't fire blanks at me."

"It's not that bad, I can still afford to treat you to a meal."

……

When the Sino-Japanese War broke out, the Japanese military headquarters was worried that the Allied powers, such as Britain and the United States, might send strategic aid to China through Burma. So they sent Keiji Suzuki to Burma to be in charge of sabotage operations. However, when Suzuki arrived in Burma, he did not do a good job in his actual work, but he discovered something more meaningful - supporting Burmese independence.

At that time, the coalition of various parties, led by the "I Burmese Association," was about to break with the British and Burmese authorities. The coalition was also rife with internal contradictions. Some people were inclined to seek Soviet assistance, some hoped to form an alliance with China, some tried to cooperate with the enemy of the enemy—Britain, a belligerent nation, and some had a favorable impression of Japan.

The more Suzuki Keiji learned about Burma, the more he realized that the independent ideals of the Burmese resistance fighters had many similarities to his own deeply ingrained "Pan-Asianism."

He became increasingly convinced that funding Burmese independence was a necessary strategy for realizing the "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere." And he would be the liberator of this unfortunate country, which had suffered greatly from the oppression and humiliation of white supremacy.

To establish this image, Keiji Suzuki specially wore a Burmese-style white robe, rode a white horse, and dressed up as the White-Robed King, the savior of Burmese legend.

In September 1940, Suzuki heard that Aung San and another fugitive, Lan Yang, had fled to Xiamen. He immediately ordered his men to search for them and took it upon himself to tell the Burmese independence faction that the Oriental Association would provide military assistance for Burma's independence.

At the time, Aung San Suu Kyi, who was in Xiamen, was in a predicament. His original plan was to contact the Chinese side, whether it was the Kuomintang or the Communist Party. However, what he ended up meeting was Major Kanda of the Japanese military police in a dilapidated little restaurant.

In November 1940, Aung San and Lan Yang arrived in Tokyo and were personally received by Keiji Suzuki.

This was Aung San's first time seeing the world outside of Myanmar. To him, the East seemed like another planet. He saw a powerful Asian nation with rapid industrial and military development, which excited him greatly.

The prevailing nationalist ideology in Japan convinced him that individuals could and should sacrifice themselves for national independence.

Aung San also experienced many discomforts in Japan. The fervent, belligerent atmosphere across the country worried him, and he harbored deep doubts about the media's collective subjugation by the war machine. He felt extremely awkward when Suzuki Keiji arranged for prostitutes to entertain him, and could only politely decline.

At the same time, he also strongly suspected that Japan's motives were simply to use Myanmar as a usable pawn on its Asian chessboard.

Nevertheless, he had no reason to doubt Suzuki's sincerity, who genuinely regarded himself as the guardian of these two Burmese patriots and considered himself the second Miyazaki Toten, who had selflessly supported Sun Yat-sen.

However, the Japanese military headquarters had always doubted the abilities of these two young Burmese patriots and was unwilling to provide them with funds for their exile. Therefore, Suzuki Keiji and his subordinate Sugii Mitsuki had to sell their belongings to provide the two exiled patriots with food, lodging, and daily necessities, which of course included the cost of hiring prostitutes.

Despite Suzuki Keiji's efforts over three months, the military headquarters still refused to provide funding, but did not stop him from proceeding according to his plan. Sugii Mansuke accompanied Aung San to sneak back to Burma, where they recruited thirty people to Tokyo and then sent them to Sanya for secret training.

These thirty men, later known as the "Thirty Patriots," were the precursors to the Burmese Independence Army. Among them, besides the deceased Aung San, was the current Commander-in-Chief of the Burmese Armed Forces, Ne Win.

Keiji Suzuki, the second-in-command of the Arisuke Organization.

He was sitting at the Kikimizu Izakaya, next to Sugii Mansuke, with Matsuda Yoshiko to his right, Arowwood Charlotte opposite him, and Watanabe Atsushi, vice chairman of Watanabe Trading Company, to his left.

Yoshiko Matsuda picked up the pig's mouth and took a sip. "Those who went to Myanmar have been intercepted and killed in the Mawlamyine jungle, and the maps have been destroyed."

Keiji Suzuki said, "Tomoyuki Yamashita buried the most treasure in the Philippines, which is also the most difficult to excavate. There are five burial sites in Myanmar, four in the jungle and one in the city, none of which are easy to find."

Back then, the military headquarters ordered the transport of treasure from the Philippines back to the mainland. Only the first merchant ship successfully returned home. The second ship, the Awa Maru, was sunk in the Taiwan Strait. Subsequent merchant ships had to make an emergency stop in Taiwan, where the treasure was buried. All those responsible for the burial were killed, and all the supervisors committed suicide before the Emperor. Only three people knew the burial location.

Yoshiko Matsuda: "The one in Tokyo has already been silenced."

Keiji Suzuki looked at Mitsuyoshi Sugii, who bowed slightly and said, "One died in the Taipei air raid, and the last one is me."

Charlotte said, "Suzuki, no one can guarantee that the other two insiders won't leak the information. We need to act quickly."

Keiji Suzuki nodded slightly. "We do need to hurry. One of the burial sites is in downtown Taipei, on Nanchang Road, and could be discovered at any time."

As he spoke, he looked at Watanabe Atsushi, "Watanabe-kun, have Watanabe Kakeru's men set off yet?"

"We set sail at 4 p.m., first heading to Singapore, then flying to Hong Kong. Chairman Takano's people will make the arrangements for the rest of the journey."

Charlotte: "Matsuda, have you informed Adam?"

"Hay."

"With Adam in Taipei, there won't be any problems." Charlotte raised the pig's mouth. "Gentlemen, cheers to the Matsunaga Foundation."

Northern Myanmar, on the outskirts of Mongsa.

This is the headquarters of Li Mi's remnant army. The leader of the Golden Rat Squad, Dwarf Dormouse, is lying on a small hilltop, observing with binoculars.

Gold Coast Industries intends to expand into Asia, with its primary target being the chaotic northern Myanmar region. It has no interest in the Golden Triangle or Silver Triangle, and is indifferent to the jade mines in Hpakant. It is only keenly interested in the tin, gold, copper, and silver minerals in Kachin State and Wa State.

There is another target that cannot be discussed with others—heavy rare earth elements such as dysprosium and terbium.

As the dwarf dormouse observed, he marked the firepower deployment on the paper. It was still impossible to determine whether this remnant force was friend or foe. If it hindered Gold Coast Industries' Asian plans, then it was an enemy. It was a bit beyond his capabilities to eliminate more than 10,000 people. The best course of action would be to use the forbidden technique—decapitation.

Originally, everyone tacitly tricked the farmer's father and son into going to their deaths. Beheading was a bit too much of a sham. Fortunately, Li Mi hadn't completely escaped the peasant life and was still considered a farmer's son. So beheading wasn't really beheading; it was just a matter of attacking his vitals.

This is the billiards room.

Ni Shujun and Xian Yaowen chatted for a while before getting down to the serious business of scoring. Yang Jingyi and Li Lizhen didn't play for long; their three-hour buyout was over, so they took a break.

After escorting the two men home, Xian Yaowen returned to his own home and saw Wang Youjia sitting in the pavilion. (End of Chapter)