Chapter 54: Zhao Ming’s Plan (Seeking Continuation)

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While Song Yingge was speaking with Nine Fingers, Liu Chuanshu returned to the hall entrance.

“Boss, you’re here?” Liu Chuanshu, spotting Song Yingge from afar, hurried over to him.

If one were to pick the most loyal person to Song Yingge in the Zhendong Hall, it would undoubtedly be Liu Chuanshu.

Since being appointed as the hall’s advisor by Song Yingge last time, Liu Chuanshu’s life had undergone a complete transformation.

“How is your aunt’s health?” Song Yingge asked with a smile.

“Thanks to you, Boss, she was discharged from the hospital recently. Now that I can earn some money, she no longer has to do heavy labor and can recuperate at home. Her health has improved a lot,” Liu Chuanshu replied gratefully.

Song Yingge nodded. “You’ve come at the right time. I have something to inform both of you.”

Nine Fingers and Liu Chuanshu straightened up at once. “Please, go ahead.”

“How much do you know about the Shanhe Hall?”

Hearing this question, Nine Fingers glanced at Liu Chuanshu.

“Shanhe Hall was established by the Liu brothers, Liu Shan and Liu He. Their hall is north of the docks, with three gambling dens and one tobacco shop. They have around a hundred men capable of fighting,” Liu Chuanshu replied promptly, clearly well-informed.

“What are the Liu brothers’ hobbies and pastimes?”

Song Yingge was testing their knowledge.

“Liu Shan is unmarried but has a lover who often stays overnight. Besides drinking and gambling, he enjoys going to the dockside teahouse to listen to storytelling. Liu He is married with a son; he fears his wife and returns home every night. Like his brother, he also enjoys listening to storytelling at the teahouse,” Liu Chuanshu spoke smoothly.

“Impressive. How did you gather such detailed information?”

“The Boss has been urging us to recruit more men, indicating dissatisfaction with the current scale of Zhendong Hall. The docks aren’t that big; if Zhendong Hall wants to expand, conflicts with these gangs are inevitable. So, I’m preparing ahead to avoid being caught off guard when the time comes.”

Hearing Liu Chuanshu’s answer, Song Yingge cast a slight sideways glance — this young man was indeed talented.

“Gather the brothers of the hall. Later, I will lead a team to capture the Liu brothers and the core members of Shanhe Hall together. Once Shanhe Hall is leaderless, it will fall apart like scattered sand, allowing you to seize the opportunity and swallow them whole.”

Nine Fingers and Liu Chuanshu exchanged a look, excitement shining in their eyes.

“Remember to keep this confidential. Before the operation, only you two may know of this,” Song Yingge instructed.

“Don’t worry, Boss,” Nine Fingers and Liu Chuanshu said in unison.

Song Yingge then took out five thousand yuan from his pocket and handed it to Nine Fingers. “Tonight will definitely involve bloodshed. Distribute this as compensation to relieve the brothers’ worries.”

“That’s too much,” Nine Fingers waved his hands repeatedly.

“The rest of the money, continue recruiting,” Song Yingge said.

Only then did Nine Fingers accept the money.

Before leaving, Song Yingge patted Liu Chuanshu’s shoulder. “Well done.”

Nine Fingers noticed this.

When Song Yingge walked away, Nine Fingers handed the money to Liu Chuanshu. “From now on, you manage the hall’s funds.”

Liu Chuanshu hesitated.

Nine Fingers smiled. “This hall ultimately belongs to the Boss. As it grows, I might not manage everything. I’ll need you to work harder and take more responsibility.”

Liu Chuanshu was momentarily stunned; he had always thought Nine Fingers was a rough brute, never expecting such subtlety.

Back in Caodu Alley, Song Yingge sought out Zhou Weiqiang to borrow manpower.

The fourth team was already busy monitoring Gu Ying and Liu Guoquan; manpower was insufficient.

Zhou Weiqiang had no hesitation and readily agreed to the request.

He had no reason to refuse such a ready-made opportunity to earn merit.

After acquiring the men, Song Yingge immediately dispatched them to the Xiaguan docks to closely watch Liu Shan, Liu He, and the core members of Shanhe Hall.

Around six o’clock, the first and second teams, over fifty men in total, took two trucks along Zhongshan Road straight to the docks.

Hiding behind a second-floor window, Gu Ying observed everything.

Once Song Yingge and his group left Caodu Alley, Gu Ying went downstairs, mounted her bicycle, and headed to the Fuchang Restaurant at Xinjiekou to make a phone call.

Zhang Ke, responsible for surveillance, dared not enter the restaurant to avoid attracting Gu Ying’s attention.

“Why go so far just to make a phone call?”

Though he couldn’t hear the call’s content, Zhang Ke sensed something suspicious.

In a teahouse near Yijiangmen, Zhao Ming received Gu Ying’s call.

“Expected arrival at Yijiangmen in twenty minutes: two trucks and one car.”

Zhao Ming said, “This time I’ll communicate with you directly by telegraph. During the subsequent investigation, you’re bound to be exposed. After completing the final task, you can retreat.”

Gu Ying hung up without a word.

Back in the teahouse’s private room, Zhao Ming looked at the five men before him and said, “It turns out the Liu brothers of Jiangshan Hall were exposed, which is why I’m being watched. The intelligence agency is rushing over to capture them.”

“Vulture, your foresight is uncanny,” the men praised him.

“From Caodu Alley to Xiaguan docks, Yijiangmen is the only route. If we set an ambush here, we can catch them off guard.”

Zhao Ming remained humble despite the praise.

Who would have thought he was unknowingly targeted by the intelligence agency, causing the rescue team to be exposed the moment they arrived in Jinling?

If dragged out further, they wouldn’t be able to protect themselves, much less complete the mission.

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Given the situation, they had to take a bold risk to have any chance of success.

“The bigger the commotion at the Yijiangmen ambush, the better. This will divert the intelligence agency’s attention here. That way, our decoy mission succeeds. The rest is up to the other five men.”

Even if the rescue succeeded, the ambush team would most likely be wiped out.

But for the mission, such sacrifice was worthwhile.

On the other side, after finishing the call, Gu Ying returned to the communications department.

She had switched to the night shift this afternoon specifically to complete this final task.

Back at her post, Gu Ying put on headphones, pretending to receive telegraphs. Soon, she wrote down an urgent message.

“Urgent telegram from Shanghai station: Several Japanese agents arrived in Jinling days ago, planning to rescue Yamashita Rizi.”

Holding the note, Gu Ying went to Dai Li’s office. “Director, urgent telegram from Shanghai.”

Dai Li, a workaholic, had not yet rested. Reading the note, he frowned slightly.

Yamashita Rizi was held in a secret prison on Yangpi Lane, lightly guarded. If the Japanese were desperate, a forced prison break could succeed.

But considering Gu Ying’s Japanese spy identity, Dai Li grew suspicious.

“Let’s go to the communications department.”

Gu Ying hadn’t expected this request and felt uneasy.

Originally, Zhao Ming expected Dai Li, after reading the telegram, to order Yamashita Rizi’s transfer. During the transfer, they would have a chance to rescue her.

Though a good plan, Zhao Ming had missed one point: Gu Ying was exposed first, not the Liu brothers.

Arriving at the telegraph office, Dai Li ordered a reply to Shanghai station: “No such person named Rizi as reported; verify information.”

Gu Ying’s heart sank. She only hoped the reply from Shanghai would be delayed—preferably until tomorrow.

But contrary to her hopes, within minutes the Shanghai station replied: “No such telegram sent from Shanghai; please verify.”

Dai Li understood immediately that Gu Ying had set a decoy.

Gu Ying collapsed in fear.

Dai Li snorted coldly and ordered her taken to the interrogation room.

Meanwhile, sitting in the car, Song Yingge felt a deep unease.

As the vehicle neared Yijiangmen, an overwhelming sense of danger enveloped him.

The last time he felt this was when Dai Li was attacked.

“Stop the car!” Song Yingge shouted without hesitation.

His car was at the front, followed by two trucks.

They still had over a hundred meters to Yijiangmen.

Suddenly, the convoy stopped, ruining Zhao Ming’s plan.

He had planned a pincer attack once the vehicles entered Yijiangmen.

Inside the narrow city gate, with no cover, a surprise attack would inflict heavy casualties on the intelligence agency.

But now, the sudden halt disrupted this.

As Zhao Ming hesitated, Song Yingge ordered everyone out.

Ten men walked past Yijiangmen first, then repeated the process.

Hidden Zhao Ming could only order a retreat.

Attacking now would be suicide.

On the retreat, Zhao Ming was resentful.

He couldn’t understand why Song Yingge seemed divinely guided to stop before Yijiangmen.

Now, all he could do was hope the other plan succeeded.

Beyond Yijiangmen, Song Yingge’s sense of danger vanished.

He ordered a thorough search but found nothing.

After a delay, he ordered everyone back into the vehicles to continue toward Xiaguan docks.

Near the Jiangshan Hall entrance, Sun Xi and others greeted them.

“Team leader, the Liu brothers are at the teahouse listening to storytelling, completely unguarded. They can be taken at any time,” Sun Xi reported.

“What about the other core members?”

“Ten others: five at the gambling dens, two at the tobacco shop, and three at home.”

Song Yingge ordered, “Divide into four teams. The two action team leaders each lead one, Sun Xi leads one, and I take the last. It’s 7:10 now. At 7:30, all four teams strike simultaneously.”

“Yes, sir.”

Song Yingge led his team outside the teahouse at the docks.

After instructing the others to secure the perimeter, he entered.

Inside, he saw Ye You and Gu Qiang sipping tea by the main door.

The Liu brothers sat at a table a little further away, cracking sunflower seeds and listening to the storytelling, utterly unguarded.

Song Yingge sat down. Ye You and Gu Qiang quietly greeted, “Team leader.”

“Any abnormalities?” Song Yingge grabbed a handful of seeds and glanced sideways at the stage, watching the Liu brothers with his peripheral vision.

“Team leader, capturing such small-time thugs in a grand manner is overkill,” Ye You said, feeling it was a waste of effort.

“Shut your foul mouth. Even a lion uses full strength to catch a rabbit, understand?” Song Yingge scolded.

Reluctantly, Ye You fell silent.

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As they listened to the storytelling, time passed swiftly.

Song Yingge checked his watch and made a gesture outside.

About ten members of the operation team entered in batches.

Without showing emotion, they sealed off all possible escape routes for the Liu brothers.

Song Yingge stood up and swaggered behind the Liu brothers.

Liu Shan seemed to sense something and turned his head to look at Song Yingge. “Something up?”

“I’d like to invite you both for tea.”

“Polite. Where are you from, brother?”

Song Yingge smiled, raised both hands simultaneously, and with two quick chops knocked the Liu brothers unconscious amid their confusion.

Ye You and Gu Qiang pulled out handcuffs and shackled the Liu brothers.

“I always heard that missions with the team leader are the least fulfilling. I didn’t believe it until now,” Ye You sighed.

Drinking tea, listening to storytelling, then arresting the criminals—what achievement was there in that?

Gu Qiang nodded. “Same here.”

“Those who live in comfort don’t appreciate it,” Song Yingge retorted.

The other three teams’ missions went mostly smoothly, though there was some resistance at the gambling dens and tobacco shop.

However, once the operation team showed the “Truth” badge, the troublemakers quieted down.

After the intelligence agency escorted the Liu brothers and ten core members of Shanhe Hall away, a group wielding axes appeared on the streets, heading straight for Shanhe Hall’s entrance.

Back at the intelligence agency, when Song Yingge reported to Dai Li’s office, he learned they had narrowly avoided a Japanese decoy tactic.

The Japanese spies had infiltrated Jinling to rescue Yamashita Rizi.

It seemed her identity was even more significant than he had imagined.

“This Zhou Shun is getting unruly. Perhaps it’s time to teach him a lesson,” Song Yingge mused, stroking his chin.

Originally, Yamashita Rizi was kept to restrain Zhou Shun.

If she were gone, Zhou Shun wouldn’t obey him anymore.

Under moonlight, Song Yingge arrived at Yangpi Lane.

Yamashita Rizi had not suffered much in the Yangpi Lane prison.

Thanks to Song Yingge’s special care, apart from lacking freedom, she lived comfortably.

But now, he realized he had been too lenient.

When he arrived, Yamashita Rizi was already asleep.

“Miss Yamashita,” Song Yingge called out and opened the cell door.

Startled awake, she quickly got off the bed, knelt, lowered her head, and said, “Team Leader Song.”

Recently, Song Yingge had often practiced Japanese with her, and their relationship had grown somewhat familiar.

Yamashita Rizi no longer feared him as she once did.

“Miss Yamashita, are you hiding something from me?” Song Yingge squatted, grabbed her chin, and gently lifted her face.

“Team Leader Song, could you be more specific?” Yamashita Rizi dared not meet his eyes.

“For example, your family background.” Song Yingge applied a bit more pressure.

Yamashita Rizi groaned in pain. “My uncle is the military attaché at the Japanese consulate in Shanghai, in charge of army intelligence.”

Song Yingge released her.

That explained everything.

“Your uncle and brother care for you greatly. Did you know they sent people to rescue you?”

Yamashita Rizi bowed her head. “I never considered escaping.”

“Whether you thought about it doesn’t matter. I need to warn them. For that, I need to borrow something from you.”

Song Yingge’s words made her tremble uncontrollably.

“Don’t worry, it’ll be quick.” Song Yingge took her left hand and admired it.

“Your hands are truly beautiful; I almost can’t bear it.”

He drew a dagger and severed her left pinky finger sharply.

“But I must show them the price of angering me, so you’ll have to endure.”

Accompanied by her scream, blood dripped to the ground.

Song Yingge placed the pinky into a prepared iron box. “You won’t blame me, will you?”

“N-no, I won’t,” she whimpered like a wounded kitten.

“That’s good.”

Song Yingge patted her head and left the cell.

When he initially sent Zhou Shun to infiltrate the Japanese intelligence agency, he never imagined Zhou had such an identity.

Now, with Yamashita Rizi’s uncle sending rescuers, it meant Zhou Shun had fully sided with the Japanese.

Still, sparing Yamashita Rizi’s life might prove unexpectedly useful someday.