The Red Era: Living in Seclusion in a Siheyuan as a Boss

Chapter 724 Meng La Kang, the Boss!

"Brother Gui, how about I ask you to visit Boss Kang first?" Zhang Jincheng said with a smile.

“Of course,” A-Gui readily agreed, then thought for a moment and said, “What should I say when I see Boss Kang?”

"Just tell the truth. First, tell him how we met and what happened to you afterwards. It would be best to tell Boss Kang that I came here specifically to visit him."

"Okay, I understand what you mean. I'll go to his residence to visit him first thing tomorrow morning," A-Gui nodded.

After listening to their conversation, Zhuang Yan sat to the side and said with some concern, "Boss, what if this Boss Kang refuses to call us?"

Zhang Jin shook his head and said with certainty, "Although I have never met this Boss Kang, based on his experience, he is a very intelligent and visionary person."

Once Brother Gui explained things to him, I think he'd be able to guess who we are, so I'm confident he won't refuse to see us.

The next morning, after breakfast, A-Gui got ready and set off, driven by Wang Tao to Kang Laoda's residence.

Watching the two leave, Zhuang Yan said to Zhang Jincheng with some concern, "This Boss Kang has never dealt with us before. Could he be suspicious of us?"

“Suspicion is certain, but he’ll call us soon,” Zhang Jin said with an unquestionable tone.

"Why do you say that?" Zhuang Yan asked curiously.

"Because we are both soldiers, I can understand how he feels right now."

Defeat is a great pain for any soldier, and what he wants most is to prove himself again with victory.

But with his current strength, it's impossible for him to turn things around. Our appearance brings him hope and a glimmer of hope, so of course he wants to see us.

“I understand. With A-Gui’s groundwork laid, we will save a lot of trouble.”

"That's right, people are most likely to trust their own people."

However, I suspect that while President Kang will agree to contact us, we need to demonstrate this through concrete actions to dispel his doubts.

Along the way, A-Gui pondered repeatedly how to bring it up, wanting to explain things clearly without seeming too abrupt.

Kang Laoda's temporary residence was not in Mengla Town, but on the river outside the town, less than a mile from the border. It would only take a few minutes to reach the Xia Kingdom from here.

Kang Laoda had his reasons for setting up his residence here. Not only him, but other officers of the Minmeng Army also preferred to settle their families in places close to the Xia Kingdom's border so that they could quickly evacuate there in case of trouble.

This is a simple and elegant courtyard house, with two tall pine trees at the entrance, which make it look particularly solemn.

There were two guards at the gate. A-Gui went up and knocked to greet them.

One of the guards was an acquaintance of Ah Gui. He went in to announce his arrival and soon a man who looked like a butler came out to greet him.

He greeted them respectfully and explained his purpose.

The butler nodded slightly and said, "Please wait a moment, I will go in and inform the master."

A moment later, the steward returned, smiling, and said, "Master invites you into the mansion for a chat."

Ah Gui followed the butler through the courtyard and into a spacious study.

Kang Laoda was sitting at the table enjoying tea when he saw Agui enter and got up to greet him.

He was around fifty years old, with a calm face, bright and piercing eyes, and an imposing aura that commanded respect without anger.

"Brother Gui, it's you! I heard you're working with Boss Mi now?" Boss Kang said with a smile, his voice deep and powerful.

Ah Gui quickly raised his hand in salute: "Boss, I'm sorry, the team was scattered back then."

The brothers, having lost contact with you for a time, were forced to seek refuge with Michael for a living.

"Oh, really? I knew it! You, Agui, have been loyal to me for over ten years, how could you abandon me so easily?"

"The boss really understands me, Ah Gui!"

"So, what brings you here this time?"

"Boss Kang, I'm here on a mission?"

"Oh? Sit down and let's talk." Boss Kang looked puzzled and invited A-Gui to sit down and explain slowly.

After the two sat down, A-Gui, following Zhang Jincheng's instructions, recounted the whole story in detail.

As he listened, Kang nodded thoughtfully, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes from time to time.

After Ah Gui finished speaking, Boss Kang pondered for a moment and slowly said, "Although I have never met Boss Zhang, I have heard of him before."

His courage and strategic acumen are truly remarkable. Go back and tell him that I wish to see him now, and I await his arrival at my residence.”

Ah Gui was overjoyed upon hearing this and quickly stood up to express his gratitude: "Thank you for your kindness, Brother Kang. I will go back and tell Brother Zhang right away."

After leaving the Kang residence, A-Gui walked briskly, the weight that had been hanging over his heart finally lifted.

He couldn't wait to have Wang Tao drive back to the hotel so he could tell Zhang Jincheng and Zhuang Yan the good news.

“Boss Kang is very happy to see you. He didn’t expect me to come looking for him. Many of the old brothers who escaped from the old city have disappeared without a trace. I told him why I came here, and Boss Kang wants to see you right away.”

Zhang Jin smiled slightly, a confident glint in his eyes: "As expected, Boss Kang is indeed a wise man."

“Okay, let’s go see Boss Kang together.” Zhang Jin said, inviting the three of them to go see Boss Kang together.

The group drove to Kangfu, with the scenery changing along the way outside the car window.

Zhang Jincheng gazed at the undulating mountains in the distance, secretly calculating his next conversation strategy.

Zhuang Yan appeared somewhat nervous, frequently adjusting his collar.

The car stopped in front of the Kang residence, where the butler was already waiting.

Upon seeing Zhang Jincheng and the others alight from the car, the butler bowed respectfully and said, "Mr. Zhang, the master has been waiting for you in the study for quite some time. Please follow me."

As you walk through the quiet courtyard, a faint fragrance of flowers wafts through the air.

Zhang Jin noted that the layout of the courtyard reflected the rigorous style of a soldier.

This made him even more respectful of Boss Kang, whom he was about to meet.

The butler gently knocked on the door of the study: "Master, Mr. Zhang and the others have arrived."

"Hahaha... I'm sorry for the neglect, I'm sorry for the neglect..." With the laughter, a robust man, about fifty years old, came out.

Zhang Jincheng sized up Kang Laoda and saw that the man was full of energy and had a shrewd look in his eyes.

Kang Laoda was also sizing up Zhang Jincheng, secretly praising him as a great general.

Zhang Jincheng and Kang Laoda were both immediately impressed. They secretly admired each other's extraordinary demeanor and immediately felt a sense of mutual respect. Although there was a significant age difference between them, it did not prevent them from becoming close friends despite the age gap.

The way people meet is a strange thing. The first impression can determine the future relationship. People who feel a connection upon first meeting are likely to become friends, while those who don't are unlikely to maintain the relationship.

In fact, this is the subconscious at work.

As Kang Laoda and Zhang Jincheng sized each other up, A Gui hurriedly stepped forward to introduce them.

Kang Laoda stretched out his hand, revealing a kind smile, and said, "The younger generation is truly formidable; who knows if those who come after us will be no less capable than we are now?"

A classic quote from the Analects made Zhang Jincheng realize the wisdom of Elder Kang. He stepped forward and solemnly saluted: "Senior Kang, you flatter me. I apologize for my presumptuous visit."

"We have long admired Boss Kang's reputation, and it is a great honor for us juniors to meet him today." Zhang Jin then introduced Zhuang Yan and Wang Tao to Boss Kang.

“Good, you are all promising young talents. When A-Gui mentioned you to us, I had already heard about some things that happened in the northern region.”

"I just didn't expect it to be done by you young people, it's truly admirable..." Boss Kang looked at the three young men in front of him and praised them highly. Zhuang Yan and Wang Tao didn't speak, but stepped forward and saluted in unison.

Kang Laoda waved his hand, gesturing for everyone to sit down: "No need for formalities. Agui has already told me about your situation. To be honest, I admire your courage." He personally poured tea for everyone, and the aroma of tea filled the room.

"You flatter me, senior. Actually, we didn't do anything significant..."

"Hehehe, we destroyed Boss Lang's missile base and wiped out Migo's 'Factory No. 4'. The entire 'Jin San Region' was shaken. Isn't that a big deal?" Boss Kang said, then suddenly clapped his hands. "I was just too happy. Quickly, have some tea. That's just how I am. When friends come over, I forget everything when I'm happy."

Kang Laoda's generosity also infected Zhang Jincheng and the others.

Zhang Jin said he originally thought that Kang Laoda, who had been living in seclusion here after his defeat, would be depressed. But he was very surprised to see him today. Kang Laoda was not only in high spirits but also optimistic and open-minded, which showed his tenacious fighting spirit.

When they arrived, Zhang Jin said they had looked around Kang Laoda's house and saw that there were many flowers and plants in the yard, which showed his optimistic attitude towards life.

Ren Jie's composure in such a dependent living environment demonstrates his strong mental fortitude.

A calligraphy work on the wall caught Zhang Jincheng's eye. It contained a poem by Marshal Chen: "Heavy snow presses down on the green pine, yet the green pine stands tall and straight. To know the pine's nobility, wait until the snow melts."

Looking at the signature, it was written by Kang Laoda himself three years ago, clearly when he was defeated in the old city and expressed his gratitude.

The powerful calligraphy perfectly captures the essence of the poem, while also revealing Kang Laoda's indomitable spirit.

Thinking of this, Zhang Jin suddenly felt even more confident about cooperating with Boss Kang.

As the group drank tea, the orderly brought over several plates of fruit.

Kang Laoda smiled and said to everyone, "I don't have much to offer you, please have some fruit. After a lifetime of military service, to have fallen to this state is truly shameful!"

Zhang Jin pointed to the calligraphy on the wall and said, "Victory and defeat are common occurrences in war. From this calligraphy of Chen Lao's poem written by Master Kang, we can see your indomitable fighting spirit. You are a role model for us!"

"Mr. Zhang, you're too kind. It was just a quick scribble, please forgive the poor quality," said Boss Kang modestly.

After exchanging a few polite words, the conversation gradually shifted to the main topic.

Kang Laoda looked at Zhang Jincheng and said, "Mr. Zhang, you must have come all the way from the north to see me. You must have something to discuss with me, right?"

Zhang Jin took a bite of fruit and said, "To be honest, we came here this time hoping to work with our seniors to plan important matters."

A glint of light flashed in Kang's eyes: "Oh? I'd like to hear more."

Zhang Jincheng put down his teacup and said solemnly, "The situation in the Jinsan region is currently turbulent, with 'Brother Lang' and his gang of 'Michael' running rampant. This is the time for heroes like us to put our skills to use."

Our predecessors had deep roots here. If they wish to retake the old city, we brothers are willing to lend our full support.

The atmosphere in the study suddenly became heavy, and even the birdsong outside the window seemed to fade away.

Zhuang Yan held his breath, nervously observing the changes in Kang Laoda's expression.

After pondering for a moment, Kang Laoda suddenly laughed loudly, "Good! Indeed, heroes emerge from among the young, with extraordinary courage!"

However, if I may be frank, given my current situation, I cannot offer you any benefit. Why, Mr. Zhang, are you willing to help me?

"You're right. Helping you won't bring us any benefit, but it will bring benefits to our motherland."

Furthermore, we respect Boss Kang's character, so we are willing to do everything in our power to help you retake the old city.

"Excuse me for being frank, but I still don't understand what Mr. Zhang means. Please tell me directly." Boss Kang seemed confused by Zhang Jincheng's words.

"The National League for Democracy (NLD) in the Kim San region has been split for four or five years. Boss Kang was one of the main leaders of the NLD at the time, and you were the first to lead troops to break away from the NLD. Others followed suit."

At that time, many people in the National League for Democracy considered you a traitor, and you must have been under immense pressure.

Upon hearing this, Boss Kang nodded repeatedly. He didn't know what the young man in front of him meant by saying these words, but they were all true.

Seeing that Kang Laoda was engrossed in his words, Zhang Jin continued, "Back when the National League Army was first established, it also believed in... You also fought a long struggle for it, and we also gave you selfless help. I see the equipment on your guards, it must have been aid from that time, right?"

Listening to Zhang Jincheng's words, Boss Kang just nodded silently, while pondering the meaning of his words.

"However, in the 1970s, your National League Army began to run a 'flour' business in order to raise funds."

You even set up a special department to buy up raw materials on a large scale, process them, and sell them to those "big flour dealers" to make huge profits.

This is also the main reason why we stopped providing aid to your National League for Democracy (NLD) forces.

Within the Allied Forces, officers with a sense of justice and foresight disagree with this approach, because continuing in this way will inevitably lead to the downfall of the Allied Forces, and you are among the opponents.

When you can no longer control the situation, you have no choice but to break away from the alliance. Therefore, after you go solo, your first announcement is to ban flour in the 'Kim San region'.

Many people may not understand your good intentions, but truth is often held by the minority...

Upon hearing Zhang Jincheng's words, Kang Laoda stood up excitedly. He walked up to Zhang Jincheng, grasped his hand tightly, and shook it vigorously a few times, saying with emotion, "You are the only person who has understood me over the past few years."

I never imagined that all my hard work would end up with me being betrayed and abandoned by everyone.

But Mr. Zhang saw all of this so clearly and thoroughly, thank you! Thank you for your understanding…

“Perhaps it’s because outsiders see things more clearly.” Zhang Jin paused for a moment, pulled Kang Laoda to sit down, and then asked, “Have you ever thought about it, Kang Laoda? Banning ‘flour’ is a great thing that benefits the country and the people, and brings prosperity to Baisheng. Why would it be opposed by so many people? To the point that you had to flee the old city?”

"To be honest, I've been thinking about this issue for the past three years, but I'd really like to hear Mr. Zhang's perspective on it," Kang said sincerely.

Zhang Jin did not refuse, and said frankly: "This 'ban on flour' is a very serious social problem. For the local people, survival is the top priority. If we don't find a way for them to survive, it is impossible to make them give up planting and producing flour."

Moreover, banning flour would also cut off some people's path to wealth, so they would also do their best to oppose it.

The biggest challenge in banning flour in the "Kim Jong-un region" is that flour is consumed by almost everyone, and it is the foundation of their livelihood.

Without solving this problem, it's impossible to achieve a complete ban on flour in the "Golden Three Regions."

"Mr. Zhang is right, that's why I failed."

All I want is to get the local paisleyans back on track, but I haven't found a way to help them survive.

"Over the past few years, while reflecting on my failures, I've also been searching for ways to solve this problem," said Boss Kang with deep feeling, his expression becoming much more somber as he spoke.

It's clear that he wasn't heartbroken over his own failure, but rather distressed by his inability to solve the flour problem in the Kim Jong-il region.

"I wonder if Boss Kang has found a solution to the problem?" Zhang Jin asked.

Kang Laoda shook his head slightly, and said in a heavy tone, "I feel that my strength is too insignificant. To fight against the ingrained habits and snobbery that have been formed over hundreds of years is like an ant trying to shake a tree..."

“It is indeed very difficult to solve social ills by relying on individual efforts, let alone a lifestyle of laziness that has been formed over hundreds of years.” Zhang Jin expressed his agreement with Kang Laoda’s attitude, and then added tactfully, “I think that as long as we are willing to work hard, we may be able to find a solution to any problem.”

Kang Laoda showed a very interested expression: "Oh, in that case, Mr. Zhang must have a good remedy for this stubborn disease. I am all ears to hear your insightful opinion."

Zhang Jin said, but then changed the subject, smiling as he said to Boss Kang, "I'd like to ask you a question, please don't mind."

“It’s alright, Mr. Zhang, please speak freely,” said Boss Kang, waving his hand.

"Do you have any plans to fight your way back to the old city?"

Kang Laoda did not deny it. He said very frankly, "It would be a lie to say that I have no intention of taking back the old city, but I have no plan to fight back."

Zhang Jin looked puzzled. He believed that Boss Kang was not someone who would give up easily. "Why? Does Boss Zhang want to give up on your ideals?"

A hint of melancholy appeared on Kang Laoda's face. He sighed and said, "Alas, I also want to formulate a plan to take back the old city as soon as possible, but at present, our strength is far inferior to that of Lang Laoda."

I only have about three hundred people around me now, and even with those scattered around, there are less than a thousand people, while Boss Lang has five or six thousand soldiers.

Another important reason is that Boss Lang has strong economic power. In recent years, he has been manufacturing and selling flour on a large scale, accumulating countless riches.

I currently only have a few forests and mines, and my sources of funding are very limited. It's difficult enough to support my current population, let alone buy weapons, expand my army, and prepare for war.

(End of this chapter)