The Chief Detective Inspector is dead. I'm now the top police officer in Hong Kong!

Chapter 2: Fighting for Pride! (New book release, please support!)

At 1 a.m., the defense line completely collapsed, and thousands of refugees crossed Boundary Street. The foreign superintendent was so angry that he drove home, and the police officers soon received orders to go home and leave work.

After comforting his anxious subordinates, Lin Tiansheng took off his raincoat, took a car back to Tsuen Wan Police Station, washed up in the bathroom, and went back to the officers' quarters to rest.

Apart from young, single officers, most officers do not stay in the dormitory. Lin Tiansheng, who has the rank of sergeant, was able to temporarily occupy a room by himself.

This saved me a lot of noise, and I slept soundly until dawn. The next day, in the morning, just as I was about to start work, there was a knock on the door.

Lin Tiansheng rubbed his sleepy eyes, got out of bed, slipped on his flip-flops and shorts, opened the door, and looked at the three police officers in suits at the door: "Wow, checking up on things so early in the morning, doesn't the Internal Investigation Department have anything to do?"

"Ah Sheng, it's me." Huang Qixian put his hands in his pockets, with his ID pinned to his chest. His hair was neatly slicked back, with graying temples and streaks of white.

"Uncle Xian?" Lin Tiansheng's eyes widened as he leaned forward, a playful expression on his face. "Wearing a suit and tie, I almost didn't recognize you. You work in the Internal Investigation Department, huh?"

Huang Qixian smiled and said, "When I used to drive for Brother Lok, I would still wear a suit and tie and we'd chat for a bit."

"Fine, let me change my clothes. Being undignified is a crime." Lin Tiansheng slammed the door shut, his face full of sarcasm: "It's quite a good fit for Huang Sir to work in the Internal Investigation Department."

A police officer standing next to Inspector Wong questioned him, "What did you say? You're not happy about it? Apologize to Inspector Wong."

Everyone in the investigation department knows that Wong Kai-yin got promoted by exposing his superior, Lui Lok, and became part of the "experienced gang," eventually rising to the rank of senior inspector.

In 1977, after the Governor’s amnesty was issued, the Criminal Investigation Department was abolished, and the former “detectives” and “senior detectives” in various districts were transferred to the positions of “sergeant” and “senior sergeant”.

The Chinese detectives in each district were transferred to the position of "police station sergeant," and a few who gained the favor of the foreigners were promoted to "inspector," receiving a promotion.

However, the Criminal Investigation Department has the authority to draw on other teams to handle cases. Its positions span across police districts, and its power is vertical, making it known for its low rank but high authority.

After the disbandment, the sergeants and inspectors who were transferred to various positions were only responsible for specific districts or departments, and their powers were significantly reduced. At the same time, the foreign police recruited officers from the public by holding special recruitment examinations, and those who joined were directly granted the rank of probationary inspector.

Today, highly educated elite officers and those trained in London have replaced the older generation as the backbone of the police force.

Those remnants of the old era were given the nickname "Experience Gang," implying that they were worthless bastards who had risen to the rank of assistant (inspector) through seniority and experience.

Ignoring Lin Tiansheng's veiled sarcasm, Huang Qixian raised his hand to brace against the doorframe, his smile undiminished: "It's an informal hearing, no need to change clothes. Would you mind if I came in and sat down?"

“Police station dormitory, what’s there to mind? Sit down.” Lin Tiansheng opened the door and turned around to bring over a small stool.

Huang Qixian left the waiter outside, deliberately closed the door, and sat on a small stool, saying, "Ah Sheng, you caused such a big incident last night, why didn't you tell Uncle Deng?"

Lin Tiansheng patted his pocket, pulled out a pack of rotten cigarettes, and threw it into the trash can with a gloomy expression.

"Uncle Deng is the Commissioner of Police and also my father. I report everything to him?"

Huang Qixian took out a box of Marlboro cigarettes, handed one to him, and said with a smile, "You used to only smoke Cuban cigars, how about American cigarettes?"

Lin Tiansheng took the cigarette: "Thanks, I'm only fit to smoke Kent, Marlboro is too high-end. If I smoke Cuban cigars too, Lianji will launch another investigation into 'wealth and income inequality'."

Huang Qixian tossed aside the lighter and nodded slightly: "That's right. Eating, drinking, whoring, gambling, and smoking—it's all about status. Without status, even the Five Poisons Detective has to become a good boy." "Uncle Deng wants to see you."

Lin Tiansheng held the cigarette butt and slowly exhaled: "Meet his mother."

"Uncle Deng is a Justice of the Peace. He can easily shut the foreigner up. Then, he can get the triads to cooperate and put on a big show. You'll definitely stand out."

“The brothers from before are all willing to come out and help you.” Huang Qixian’s eyes were full of hope: “Brother Le’s political legacy is all on you. Remember to make good use of it. Otherwise, Uncle Deng would not have sent people to find you time and time again.”

Without Lin Tiansheng stepping forward to rally support, the old brothers are destined to fall apart. This is not only because Brother Le personally selected him, but also because Brother Le entrusted him with something. Without that "bargaining chip," the old remnants of the party will find it difficult to even survive, let alone regain their former glory.

Lin Tiansheng said, "Uncle Deng is just a mascot, helping Brother Lok preside over the New Territories Rural Council, managing New Territories triads, and acting as a peacemaker. Can he interfere in police affairs?"

"He keeps contacting me, wanting me to be his dog! Sorry, but Brother Lok once said, 'If you're going to be in this business, be the boss!'"

"Are you helping Uncle Deng or me, Brother Xian? Explain yourself."

Huang Qixian sighed, "Sigh, of course I'm helping you. But without Uncle Deng stepping in to balance things out with the British, it'll be difficult for you to climb up now."

Lin Tiansheng said, "Why do I do the same thing for myself instead of helping Uncle Deng? It's because I've been guarding the pond for three years and I've figured it out."

"The old tricks of colluding with local gentry and gangsters to stage a grand show are no longer working. If we want to take back what we've lost, we need to use new methods. Last night, I stirred things up to see who would support me and who would help me."

Huang Qixian asked, "Is there any new method?"

"Only by doing a good job and doing good deeds, and having the support of the citizens, can one gain a foothold." Lin Tiansheng said, "Times have changed, but Deng Bo's group of people haven't changed. The foreigners' group are just pretending."

“We’re serious. We solve major cases, catch ruthless gangsters, and take down triads on the streets. We’re more capable than the English-speaking police officers. Even the ICAC commissioners have to bow down to us.”

Wong Kai-yin works in the Internal Investigation Bureau and is well aware that just two years after the police-ICAC conflict, corruption within the police force has resurfaced and intensified, only now in a more covert and low-key manner.

The result of changing the personnel was that the people collecting the money changed.

The ill-gotten gains ended up in the hands of those elite officers; nothing else changed. The Ducey was not satisfied with the changes in the police force and repeatedly emphasized the importance of police integrity in formal settings.

After careful consideration of Lin Tiansheng's idea, it does seem better, but it requires ability and talent, which is ten or a hundred times more effective than currying favor with local gentry or colluding with gangs.

One is a righteous path, the other a crooked one. An even more important question then arises: Huang Qixian asks, "How do you collect money doing this?"

"If there's no benefit to it, who will do things for you?"

Lin Tiansheng said, "This time I'm back in the underworld, not for fame, money, or women. I want to prove myself, to get back what I've lost! We're a force to be reckoned with!"

"I believe that all the brothers who have 'died' once are like me, holding back a pent-up anger that they want to vent!"

(End of this chapter)