Spy wars start with lurking Secretary Hong

Chapter 543 Shocking News

The next day.

A black Ford sedan came to a smooth stop in front of the Sakura Club.

The car door opened, and Hong Zhiyou got out of the car.

He is always decisive and efficient in his work.

The opium den was built without warning.

The club's owner, Yamamoto Kazuki, jogged out to greet them, his face beaming with a respectful smile, followed by several of his men.

These men were all dressed as ronin, with samurai swords hanging at their waists, their steps steady, and their eyes sharp.

Yamamoto Kazuki was slightly overweight, with a ruddy complexion, and looked very amiable.

"Mr. Hong, what brings you here?"

He bowed deeply, adopting an extremely humble posture, "The girls here haven't gotten up yet..."

Hong Zhi didn't speak, but simply made a gesture.

Peng Hu, who was following behind, immediately stepped forward and tacitly took off the black cashmere coat draped over his shoulders.

Hong Zhiyou walked straight into the clubhouse lobby, sat down on the large leather sofa in the center, and casually crossed his legs.

His gaze fell on Yamamoto Kazuki's smiling face.

"I'm here to find you."

Yamamoto Kazuki's heart skipped a beat. "Section Chief Hong, is it... that the girls didn't serve you well enough last night?"

Hong Zhi smiled.

"No, the girls are fine."

His fingertips tapped lightly on the armrest of the sofa, making a dull sound.

"That's why I've come to love this place."

Yamamoto Kazuki felt a sense of relief and quickly replied, "It is my honor, and their good fortune as well."

Hong Zhiyou's smile deepened.

"I have a habit."

"If you see something you like, you must get it."

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze fixed on Yamamoto.

"I've acquired the Sakura Club."

"Make a price."

Yamamoto Kazuki's smile froze instantly: "No...no, Section Chief Hong, this is too sudden."

Hong Zhi leaned back into the sofa and changed to a more comfortable position.

"Not urgent.

"I'll give you a day to think about it."

"I will come again at this time tomorrow. I hope you can give me a satisfactory answer then."

Yamamoto Kazuki quickly waved his hand:
"Section Chief Hong, I'm easily frightened, please don't joke with me like that."

“My little shop is a losing business, I can’t make much money, it’s not worth my time.”

Hong Zhi glanced at him indifferently:
"When I acquire something, I only care about my mood."

"Now, I've got my eye on it."

Yamamoto Kazuki's smile vanished completely. He straightened up, his voice turning colder:

"Chief Hong, my little shop opened the year Manchukuo was established."

"You're just going to take back all the hard work you've put in over the years? That's putting me in a really difficult position."

The moment he finished speaking, the ronin warriors behind him all took a step forward in unison.

"Keng!"

With a synchronized sound, eight hands simultaneously placed themselves on the hilts of the swords at their waists.

A chilling atmosphere instantly filled the entire hall.

Those eyes were fierce, filled with undisguised murderous intent.

Hong Zhiyou, however, seemed not to notice, and suddenly flicked his wrist:
A Browning pistol appeared in his hand as if by magic.

He didn't even aim.

He pointed directly at one of the ronin, whose eyes were glaring like copper bells, and pulled the trigger.

"Snapped!"

The crisp sound of a gunshot tore through the stagnant air.

A bloody hole appeared between the eyebrows of the ronin. His fierce expression froze, and with a muffled groan, he fell straight backward to the ground.

Warm blood stained the floor beneath him.

No one expected that Hong Zhiyou would kill someone without a word.

There was deathly silence in the hall.

Hong Zhiyou's gaze slowly swept across the faces of the remaining ronin one by one.

Wherever their eyes fell, those guys seemed to have been choked by a demon, their breath caught in their throats, and the murderous aura that had been rising vanished without a trace.

Their eyes instantly became clear and timid.

Yamamoto Kazuki's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard.
"Section Chief Hong, you...you've gone too far!"
"This is Manchukuo, a place controlled by our Great Japanese Empire!"

Upon hearing this, the frightened ronin seemed to have found their backbone again, and a fierce glint rekindled in their eyes, ready to make their move.

Hong Zhi smiled.

He casually placed the pistol on the coffee table in front of him, making a soft "clang" sound.

"Yamamoto-kun, many people have said similar things to me in the past."

“You’re an old-timer in Harbin, so I probably don’t need to teach you the proper etiquette.”

He turned his head to look at Peng Hu.

"Peng Hu, call the police department later."

"Didn't a batch of goods go missing from the military police warehouse a while ago? I suspect these guys are the thieves."

He lightly tapped the few remaining ronin with his finger.

"Anyone who just touched the hilt of a knife, take them all to the police station...for interrogation!"

Peng Hu stepped forward, picked up the coat from the sofa, and bowed in response.

"Yes, Master Hong."

Yamamoto Kazuki is numb.

The word "torture" struck him like a death warrant.

The faces of the ronin present instantly turned even more ashen than those of the dead.

These damned Chinese are masters of these schemes and tricks. Once they're in the police station's interrogation room, how can anyone possibly be alright?
People go in there, but they come out as a pile of rotten flesh.

"Mr. Hong! Wait a minute!"

Yamamoto Kazuki took two quick steps and opened his arms to block Hong Ji-yoo's path.

"Mr. Hong, we were rash just now. It was my fault for not disciplining them properly!"

"On their behalf, I offer you my sincerest apologies!"

Hong Zhiyou stopped and looked past him at the group of ronin.

"Rash?"
"Is this how you Japanese apologize?"

Yamamoto Kazuki suddenly turned around and glared angrily at the group of ronin.

"Baka! What are you standing there for!"
"Apologize to Mr. Hong immediately!"

The ronin snapped out of their daze, their previous arrogance vanished, and they quickly bowed their heads, their heads almost touching their chests.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Hong!"

Their voices were respectful, with an undisguised tremor.

Yamamoto Kazuki turned around, looking distressed, and said:

"Mr. Hong, about the club matter, I...I really..."

Hong Zhiyou extended his index finger and lightly tapped Yamamoto Kazushiro's chest.

Whether it's difficult or not is your business.

"My people will come to acquire it tomorrow at 2 PM."

"The only thing you need to do now is go back and think carefully about how to make your offer."

"Besides, I don't like haggling, so you'd better think this through."

After saying that, Peng Hu draped a coat over him.

With a cigarette dangling from his lips, Hong Zhiyou strode away amidst the horrified stares of the Japanese.

Having experienced dealing with the Japanese in his previous life, he knew very well that when it came to dealing with these Japanese and traitors, he should never indulge them when he had the ability.

Deep down, the Japanese only worship the strong.

The more you treat them like slaves and humiliate them, the more they will worship you like a god.

On the contrary, if you think too highly of them, these guys will immediately become arrogant and bark like a pack of mad dogs.

After Hong Zhiyou left.

The entire lobby of the Sakura Club was so quiet you could hear everyone's heartbeat.

Several ronin samurai who had survived by sheer luck surrounded Yamamoto Kazuki, their faces a mixture of fear, humiliation, and anger.

"Yamamoto-kun, when have we ever suffered such a loss!"

One of the ronin lowered his voice, his teeth grinding together.

"He even killed one of our men in public! He must be killed!"

"That's right, those dog-like Chinese, what right do they have to ride on our heads and shit and piss on us!"

The other echoed, but there was a slight tremor in his voice that he himself was unaware of.

"Yamamoto-kun, we're not without protection. Let's report him to the higher-ups!"

"I refuse to believe that in Harbin, a mere Chinese man can act with impunity!"

Yamamoto Kazuki listened to the ravings of these idiots, staring blankly at the corpse.

In front of Hong Zhiyou, they all cowered like grandsons, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Now that he's gone, he's started acting like a hero again.

He suddenly gave a self-deprecating, cold laugh:
“Everyone.

"Even Saburo Shibuya and Lieutenant General Shirokura perished in Harbin. What are my connections worth then?"

He slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the faces that were still filled with resentment.

"I heard that Hong Zhiyou got the South Manchuria Railway Company to provide the Kwantung Army with a large amount of military funds and weapons with just one phone call."

"Can't you see it?"

Yamamoto Kazuki let out a long sigh, almost in despair.

"Commander Yoshijiro Umezu dealt with the death of Lieutenant General Shirokura with just a few words."

"Even the Commander has compromised with Hong Zhi."

"He won't even consider buying my shop today."

"He came over and demanded it openly, and there was nothing I could do about it."

"Good luck to you all."

As soon as the words were spoken, the few ronin who had just been clamoring for revenge looked at each other in dismay, their hearts sinking completely.

……

The next day, two o'clock in the afternoon.

Police Department, office.

Hong Zhiyou and Zhou Yizheng were sitting facing each other, playing Gomoku.

Ren Changchun pushed open the door and walked in. When he saw Zhou Yi there, he paused slightly, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes.

Hong Zhi didn't even look up, but picked up a piece and placed it steadily.

"Captain Zhou is no outsider, so just speak."

Ren Changchun then stepped forward to report:
"Young Master Hong, this morning, the military police arrested all of Yamamoto Kazuki's ronin."

"Just recently, Yamamoto Kazuki sold the Sakura Club to Blackie for 50,000 Conde coins."

He took a brown paper bag from his pocket and presented it with both hands:

"These are the land deeds and transfer documents delivered by Master Hei. Please take a look."

Hong Zhi waved his hand, his gaze still fixed on the chessboard.

"Put it aside for now."

Ren Changchun understood, placed the document bag on the coffee table next to him, and bowed to refill the teacups for Hong Zhiyou and Zhou Yi.

A slight smile appeared on Zhou Yi's face:
"Just as you said, Yamamoto Kazuki won't last a day."

Hong Zhi glanced at the situation on the chessboard, smiled dismissively, and turned to instruct Ren Changchun:

"Changchun, please don't come to the hall for the time being."

"Go and keep an eye on the club's construction with Lao Hei."

"Tell Lao Hei that the project needs to be fast, but it absolutely cannot be done carelessly. This is our real money pit."

Ren Changchun bowed in response.

"Yes, Master Hong."

After saying that, he quietly slipped out.

The office returned to silence.

Hong Zhi picked up his teacup, blew on it to cool it, and suddenly asked, "Is there any news from General Yang?"

Zhou Yi shook his head solemnly:
Still no news.

"The messenger sent from Xinjing should have already entered the mountains by now."

"The only thing that can be confirmed is that the messenger did not fall into the hands of the Japanese or the Nationalist soldiers."

Hong Zhi nodded, his fingers unconsciously stroking a cold chess piece.

"Now, the southeastern part of Manchuria is surrounded by traitors like Cheng Bin."

“These people are smarter than monkeys. They know the way up the mountain like the back of their hand. It’s really difficult for outsiders to get up there.”

He paused and asked again.

“Wait a little longer.

"By the way, are your carrier pigeons not working well?"

Zhou Yi looked at him calmly.

"It's no use."

"General Yang and his men moved too quickly, unlike the Fourth Brigade of Laotuo Mountain, which stayed in one place most of the time."

"Even if the carrier pigeons go up the mountain, they may not be able to find them."

Hong Zhi sighed softly and put the chess piece back on the board.

"I wish the general good luck."

……

Time flies.

February 23, 1940.

The sky, which had been clear for a long time, was suddenly filled with dark, heavy clouds again, exuding an indescribable sense of oppression.

In the afternoon, fine snowflakes began to fall again.

As night fell, the snow intensified.

Hong Zhi had dinner at his uncle's house and chatted with Yun Ying for a while. He didn't return home until 10 p.m., braving the wind and snow.

I had just taken off my coat and was getting ready to go to sleep.

The telephone in the living room suddenly rang shrilly.

He walked over and answered the phone.

Lu Ming's voice came through the receiver, tinged with a forced, dry laugh.

"Section Chief Hong, do you understand?"

Hong Zhi frowned slightly. "What?"

Lu Ming paused for a moment on the other end, then gave a dry laugh:
"It's nothing, it's nothing. There will be a big surprise in the hall tomorrow, just wait and see."

The call was hung up.

Hearing the busy tone on the receiver, Hong Zhi's ominous premonition grew stronger.

He turned to look at the calendar on the wall.

February 23rd.

It is an inauspicious day to do anything.

The guardian deity is the White Tiger.

Boom!Boom!
A dull knocking sound suddenly rang out in the quiet night.

Hong Zhi's heart skipped a beat. He walked to the door and peered through the peephole.

There was a person standing outside the door.

It was Zhou Yi.

He opened the door.

A gust of cold wind, carrying icy snowflakes, suddenly rushed in.

Zhou Yi stood in the wind and snow, his face as pale as paper, as if all his energy had been drained away, exuding a fragile chill.

Hong Zhi looked at him without saying a word, letting the biting cold wind whip his face.

Although he remained silent, he already knew the answer in his heart.

Both of them had expressions of frustration, loss, and sorrow in their eyes.

Zhou Yi walked in, and Hong Zhi closed the door behind him, shutting out the wind and snow outside.

He poured Zhou Yi a cup of boiling water.

Zhou Yi held the teacup, letting the heat burn his palms, and after a long while, he slowly said in an almost murmured voice:
"Just received the news."

"At around 5 p.m. this afternoon, General Yang was surrounded by traitors, but he refused to surrender and died a heroic death."

Hong Zhiyou suddenly reached out and covered his eyebrows and eyes.

He gasped for breath in the cold air, a tearing pain shooting through his chest.

That heroic figure who roamed freely across the land has finally come to an end.

This is war.

It was incredibly cruel, and incredibly real.

Faced with the overwhelming tide of history, Hong Zhiyou has never felt so insignificant as he does now.

He knew it would end like this.

But there's nothing that can be changed, nothing that can be done.

He hadn't even had a chance to meet General Yang yet.

Zhou Yi slowly sat up straight, looking directly at Hong Zhiyou, two flames burning in his blood-red eyes.

“Zhiyou, perhaps we… can do something.”

“Cheng Bin, Zhang Xiufeng…these traitors should, and must, pay the price.”

Hong Zhi lowered his hand, his voice hoarse: "What are your plans?"

Zhou Yi shook his head, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes:
"I have no idea.

"The Manchurian Workers' Committee is in a state of chaos right now. General Yang's death is a huge blow to our whole organization, and many people are feeling uneasy."

"The enemy will definitely take this opportunity to strengthen their defenses, and may even use this opportunity to make a big fuss."

He raised his head and stared intently at Hong Zhiyou.

"I hope you can help me."

Hong Zhi was silent for a moment, then nodded heavily.

"it is good.

“You make a list, and I’ll take care of them.”

"However, this requires a certain opportunity and time."

"But I assure you, I will personally send them to hell."

Zhou Yi suddenly stood up and solemnly saluted Hong Zhiyou.

Then, he turned around, opened the door, and disappeared into the swirling snow outside.

……

(End of this chapter)