Anti-Japanese War Espionage: I Have an Omniscient Perspective

"No need for formalities. Today, in front of the elders of the Du Clan, I, Wan Heilin, will speak frankly. I'm giving you this territory so you can take good care of it. You know that on Beile Street, our Du Clan and the Tongfu Society have had many disputes and even fought. They have more people and are secretly colluding with the Japanese, so we've always been suppressed by them. If it weren't for Boss Huang keeping an eye on things, those places wouldn't be where they are today. I've discussed this with some of the elders in the clan, and since your Zhongyi Gang has guts, then Beile Street is yours to take over. How much territory you can carve out depends entirely on yourselves, and I, Wan Heilin, will never go back on my word."

Boss Wan's words also reflected the true thoughts of the Du family members. Since Boss Du was not in Shanghai, they really couldn't compete with Zhang Xiaolin's Tongfu Society, so they simply launched the Zhongyi Gang, a new force, to oppose the Tongfu Society.

This matter was known not only within their organization, but even Chen Shan guessed it yesterday.

Huang Dazhu, however, didn't care at all. On the contrary, he felt that gaining Beile Street was a great benefit, and immediately bowed deeply in respect.

"Master, rest assured! Your disciple Huang Dazhu will definitely keep a close watch on Beile Street! If anyone dares to cause trouble on Beile Street, I, Huang Dazhu, will be the first to object!"

Wan Heilin nodded in satisfaction: "Good! With you saying that, I'm relieved. To let the entire French Concession and the whole of Beile Street know that the Zhongyi Gang is now a member of the Du family, we will hold an apprenticeship banquet at Hongyun Restaurant on Beile Street this noon!"

Around noon, the Hongyunlou Restaurant was bustling with activity.

The entire restaurant was booked out, with red lanterns hanging at the entrance. The people coming and going were all wealthy and influential figures in the French Concession.

The heads of all branches of the Du family, the elders of the Green Gang in the concession, and the owners and managers of major businesses and shops on Beile Street were all present.

Everyone brought gifts and red envelopes.

Firstly, it was to give Wan Heilin face, and secondly, it was to formally acknowledge the status of the Loyalty Gang on Beile Street.

Lin Rui, as the manager of Lianhua Film Studio and Huang Dazhu's savior, was also among those invited. Although the Shanghai station required the Infiltrator Team 3 to enter a period of silence, it would be inappropriate not to attend such an occasion.

He went out alone to Hongyun Restaurant. Standing at the door to greet him were several of Zhongyi Gang's men. They all recognized Lin Rui and greeted him with smiles.

"Manager Chen, please come in."

Lin Rui smiled and went upstairs.

There were many guests upstairs, and he often walked around the street these days, getting to know many people and greeting them from time to time.

He was then pulled to a table by several theater owners and managers.

The theater owners and managers were talking about it.

"Huang Dazhu has risen to the top in one step this time, becoming Boss Wan's personal disciple. From now on, Beile Street will belong to the Loyalty Gang."

"Have you heard? The opium den of the Tongfu Society was smashed by the Zhongyi Gang. They did it to avenge their sect."

Listening to their conversation, Lin Rui understood the current situation of the Loyalty Gang. Just as he had thought, after Huang Dazhu pledged his allegiance, the Du family took over their previous act of robbing the opium den, making it the Du family's responsibility.

The future conflict between the Loyal Gang and the Tongfu Society on Beile Street will become a conflict between the Du Men and the Tongfu Society.

His plan was partly successful. As long as the Loyalty Gang could gain a foothold on Belle Street, he would have a gang force working for him.

Inside the restaurant, the noise was deafening.

Wan Heilin sat in the main seat, with Huang Dazhu standing beside him, dressed in new clothes, looking energetic and respectful yet neither servile nor arrogant.

He respectfully greeted each elder and senior who arrived, displaying impeccable manners and without a trace of rudeness, which earned him nods of approval from everyone present.

Wan Heilin was increasingly satisfied with Huang Dazhu's proper behavior.

After the banquet began, Wan Heilin picked up his wine glass and stood up.

The entire room fell silent instantly, and everyone turned to look at him.

Wan Heilin's gaze swept across the entire room, his voice steady and resonant throughout the hall:

"Today, I, Wan Heilin, accept Huang Dazhu as a disciple of the Du Clan. From this day forward, the Loyalty and Righteousness Gang will be under the jurisdiction of the Du Clan. The area around Beile Street will be managed by Huang Dazhu and the Loyalty and Righteousness Gang."

He paused, then emphasized:

"Huang Dazhu and his brothers all came from the battlefield, shed blood for their country, and have backbone and a sense of responsibility. They have their own way of doing things, and I trust them, so I let them be."

"I'm putting this out there: from now on, Belle Street will be managed by the Zhongyi Gang. If you're going to give me this face, please take care of Huang Dazhu and don't let his gang come to your door begging for your fees."

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire hall fell silent, then erupted in thunderous applause and cheers.

The owners and managers present expressed their support with applause.

Huang Dazhu picked up his wine glass, stepped forward, bowed deeply to Wan Heilin, and then cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to everyone present.

"Thank you for your guidance, Master! Thank you for your high regard, seniors and bosses! I, Huang Dazhu, hereby declare that the Zhongyi Gang will do what we say to ensure local peace and tranquility, and we will keep our word."

After saying that, he tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.

The audience cheered.

Lin Rui also picked up his wine glass and raised it towards Huang Dazhu.

Upon seeing this, Huang Dazhu immediately nodded to Lin Rui.

After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,

The atmosphere inside Hongyunlou was extremely lively.

The elders of the Du family praised Huang Dazhu highly, and business owners from all walks of life came forward to chat with him and make his acquaintance.

Those who used to keep their distance from the Loyal and Righteous Gang are now taking the initiative to befriend them.

............

With the backing of the Du family's prestigious reputation, the Loyal and Righteous Gang gained a foothold on Belle Street overnight.

To manage the entire Belle Street area, we'll definitely need to expand our workforce.

Huang Dazhu had his own ideas about this. He didn't recruit thugs and hooligans, but instead targeted veterans who had fled from the battlefield and ended up in refugee areas.

These men were experienced in battle, knew discipline, and were skilled. In just a few days, they gathered more than thirty capable men, each one sharp and efficient.

The new brothers changed into matching short-sleeved shirts and patrolled the streets.

The Chung Yee Gang set a rule: they would only charge a five-dollar fee in the middle of each month, without taking more or extorting money. If any merchants were caught stealing, robbing, or causing trouble, they would take action to apprehend them and hand them over to the police station or handle the matter themselves.

The once chaotic Baylor Street has seen a visibly improved level of security.

But Huang Dazhu also knew how to keep his distance.

He refused to collect fees from foreign-owned shops and comprador-run businesses in the French Concession; he also turned a blind eye to the opium dens and gambling dens under the Tongfu Society, and temporarily avoided touching them.

The two sides maintained a strange balance.

The Tongfu Society did not send anyone to disrupt the event, nor did it issue any harsh words of provocation, as if it tacitly acknowledged the existence of the Zhongyi Gang on Beile Street.

For several days, all was calm and peaceful.

Lin Rui felt more and more uneasy.

Zhang Xiaolin's Tongfu Society is known for its ruthlessness and fierce fighting for every inch of territory. With the Japanese backing them up, there's no reason for them to so easily bow down to a fledgling gang. There must be something fishy going on.

"What exactly are they doing?" Lin Rui frowned to himself.