Uncle Shazhu, a simple-minded man in a courtyard house, persuades people with reason.

Late at night, at Zheng Chaoyang's home...

He Ping'an, facing the resentful Zheng Chaoyang, offered a rare, embarrassed consolation: "Just hang in there a little longer. Once Beiping is peacefully liberated, I promise you'll be able to sleep soundly every night!"

"That makes sense, Mr. He is wise!"

After making a joke, Zheng Chaoyang got straight to the point. "Sir, the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics and the General Headquarters reacted strongly to your taking Tian Dan from the prison this afternoon! That prison warden named Jin Hai is quite quick-witted..."

They insisted that the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics (BIS) had used force, kidnapping his family to threaten him into releasing them. The BIS vehemently denied this, while the General Headquarters (the "Suppression Headquarters") remained skeptical, and the two sides were currently engaged in a stalemate.

He Ping'an waved his hand and sneered, "I've already sent the people away from Beiping! As for the rest... let them do whatever they want! How's the investigation I asked you to do going?"

"The Ms. Liu Rusi you mentioned currently resides at No. 96, Dongjiaomin Lane. As for Mr. Tian's murder... the scene was too chaotic at the time, and no one knows exactly what happened. The Bureau of Investigation and Statistics' statement is that Tie Lin murdered Mr. Tian!"

At this point, Zheng Chaoyang mimicked He Ping'an's expression, pursing his lips and clicking his tongue twice:

"But according to the intelligence I've gathered, Tie Lin? Ha...! However, he was at the scene and should have seen the killer's face!"

"Sigh... the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics is really going backwards!" After fighting for five years, He Ping'an couldn't help but feel a little sentimental.

"Master He..."

"It's alright, let's leave it at that. I have my own plans for revenge!" He Ping'an paused, his gaze returning to Zheng Chaoyang. He changed the subject: "Chaoyang, how about making one last windfall before we part ways?"

"Ahem..." The leap was a bit too big; Zheng Chaoyang couldn't quite follow his train of thought. "Get...get rich?"

"Yes, to make a fortune! I heard that Liu Rusi specializes in transferring money to Nanjing for people, earning a cut in the process. Aren't you envious?"

Zheng Chaoyang smiled wryly, "I may be envious, but my son doesn't have the connections..."

He Ping'an looked Zheng Chaoyang up and down in surprise. "You really want to help them transfer assets?"

"Uh... I understand!" Zheng Chaoyang immediately understood. After all, he had been wearing black leather shoes for so many years and had seen plenty of "black-on-black" situations.

He Ping'an smiled and said nothing more... Unlike his previous exploitation of wealthy businessmen! Last time, he genuinely had penicillin and took a legitimate, long-term approach! This time? He wanted the money! And he wanted the people to stay!

In Tianjin, the three bigwigs circulated the telegram sent by He Ping'an among themselves.

The burly tycoon joked, "This He Ping'an is really obsessed with money; he can find a way to make money from anything!"

"Ahem... then let's notify the troops below to assist our God of Wealth and perhaps share in his good fortune!"

"Then let's wish each other prosperity... haha..."

At some point, a rumor suddenly spread in Beiping's high society... The first thing the army did after entering the city was to settle accounts with wealthy households, and to confiscate the property of anyone who had made money through dishonest means. Some wealthy people who had fled from Northeast China even came forward to give their accounts.

Before long, the rumor spread throughout the streets and alleys!

At first, some people tried to refute the rumors, but when the wealthy families who were supposed to have gone south returned to Beiping, no one spoke up. Suddenly, Beiping was filled with unease, and the already tense situation became even more turbulent.

Although the army's stated reason was that war was raging in the south, disrupting transportation, let's not forget, this is Beiping, the ancient capital of six dynasties! What haven't we experienced? Everyone unanimously thought of one word... extortion!

The wealthy merchants of Beiping were increasingly panicked, each trying their own methods to open a passage, but all ended in failure. Zheng Chaoyang's efforts over the past year had not been in vain; with basic information and photos attached, his large army ensured that not a single person could leave Beiping.

The wealthy households, having exhausted all other options, could only anxiously await the army's entry into the city...

There was an interesting side story: some unscrupulous merchants who had been hoarding goods began to drastically lower prices. The answer is simple: their hearts are with the revolution, and they serve the people!

He Ping'an was both amused and exasperated by what he saw... It was an unintentional act, but it brought some comfort to the people. That's good!

No. 96, Dongjiaomin Lane...

Liu Rusi leaned lazily against the sofa, her hair styled in the latest trend of big waves. Her bare skin shimmered white in the sunlight, and her ten red polka dots on her feet were both playful and alluring. Beneath her pink pajamas, there was a glimpse of what lay beneath. Her almond-shaped eyes and fiery red lips exuded charm and allure.

"Miss, in the three days since the day before yesterday, more than ten people have come to ask for their money back. What should we do?"

The wealthy households had taken the enormous risk of entrusting their money to Liu Rusi, hoping that the lone, naked army marching south wouldn't stop them. Now that they couldn't even leave the city, they naturally wouldn't hand over their money to Liu Rusi anymore.

Liu Rusi gently touched her temples with her slender, fair fingers, her red lips slightly parted, "Have you found the source?"

"No, but..." Ping'er shook her head first, then nodded uncertainly. "Zheng Chaoyang, the deputy director of the Fifth Branch Bureau, is starting today to resume selling in-demand contraband!"

Liu Rusi understood immediately... If they could smuggle goods, they could certainly send people out of the city! All those previous rumors and deportations... ha!

A half-smile played on her exquisite and alluring face. "Ping'er, send over an invitation to our all-powerful Deputy Director Zheng for a chat at his residence!"

"yes!"

At Chaoyang Teahouse, He Ping'an fiddled with the perfume-scented invitation in his hand. He scoffed, "Our 'Master Liu' certainly lives up to his reputation, coming knocking on our door so quickly!"

Zheng Chaoyang pointed to the invitation and chuckled lightly:

"Heh... no matter how well-deserved the reputation, won't they still obediently take the bait?"

The invitation tapped lightly on the tea table as He Ping'an accepted the flattery with a clear conscience… Blocking passages and spreading rumors were merely tactical maneuvers. As for those wealthy families, none of them were as comfortable as the mermaid! And a proactive mermaid at that!

He Ping'an had originally planned to charge a few more people to help them move south with their family fortunes, thus establishing a "successful" example. He intended to use this method of snatching food from a tiger's mouth to force Liu Rusi to come to him. Now, things were much easier…

Perhaps the mermaid's confidence stems from the power behind her?

He Ping'an put down the invitation, "You overestimate her!"

In the evening, He Ping'an, dressed in a well-tailored suit, knocked on the door of Liu Rusi's villa, holding an invitation. After this incident, Zheng Chaoyang's identity could no longer be hidden from the true upper echelons. Since that's the case, it's better to be direct and avoid trouble...

In the living room, Liu Rusi swirled the red wine in her glass and chuckled softly. "I never expected the person behind Director Zheng to be so young!"

He Ping'an sized up the cat-like woman before him, a look of amazement flashing in his eyes. In terms of looks alone, she was no less beautiful than Bai Ling or Lou Xiaohui, but in terms of temperament, she was indeed slightly inferior.

A mature and alluring charm, a natural beauty!