Chapter 146 To Forge Alliances Externally, Internal Security Must Come First

Night falls.

In the woodshed in the backyard, the oil lamp was dim.

Wang Xuesen squatted on the ground, rummaging through the cigarette butts he had left behind.

Damn it.

When the cigarette runs out, the craving hits again, and I feel a panic that makes my heart tremble.

Soon, he picked up a piece, took a deep breath as if he had found a treasure, and it tasted wonderful.

I let the smoke linger in my mouth for a while before finally spitting it out.

Zhan Shen looked at his demeanor and couldn't help but curl his lip:

"You're supposed to be the second young master of the Wang family, can't you have some manners?"

Wang Xuesen took another puff of his cigarette and cursed in annoyance, "Damn it, I should have brought two more packs of cigarettes. Having a lighter but no smoke is like being in prison; it's suffocating."

As he spoke, he exhaled a plume of smoke with a satisfied look: "I must say, cigarette butts actually smell pretty good."

"boring."

Zhan Shen didn't want to look at him anymore, so he got up and walked to the window.

Several kerosene lamps were lit in the courtyard outside the window.

Several burly men were chopping meat to feed a black-backed wolfhound.

Zhan Shen's face turned ashen, and he shrank back: "These beasts are feeding human flesh to dogs. If Zhang doesn't die, Shanghai will never have peace."

"It's a pity that that scoundrel Lin Huaibu took my gun."

"Otherwise, I'll just rush in and shoot him in the head twice."

"Alright, save your energy. You're a bodyguard now, not a KMT assassin," Wang Xuesen said lazily, lying on the woodpile with his eyes closed.

Zhan Shen rolled his eyes at him: "We might end up like this too."

"There's no future in following you."

"I've thought of a hundred ways to die, but I've never imagined being chopped up and fed to the dogs."

Wang Xuesen, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, said slowly, "What's the rush? We haven't fed him yet."

Zhan Shen scoffed and said nothing more.

"Are you sure you don't want to pick up a couple? Otherwise, there won't be any left later," Wang Xuesen asked.

Zhan Sen glanced at him, then quickly squatted down with the oil lamp and started searching.

pat!

Order a smoke.

Oh my god, it smells so good!

"Master Zhan, where's your manners?" Wang Xuesen glanced at him sideways.

Zhan Shen scoffed twice, then retorted defiantly, "So you're allowed to be uncouth, but I can't? This is called sharing the burden and picking up cigarette butts together."

Loading!

Wang Xuesen smiled and didn't bother to pay him any attention.

A moment later, the bolt was pried open from the outside.

With a creak.

Lin Huaibu walked in, bending over, his burly Shandong man almost hitting the door frame.

"Gentlemen, Mr. Zhang invites you in."

Wang Xuesen stubbed out his cigarette, stood up, and dusted off the firewood. "Thank you, Brother Lin. Lead the way."

Upon reaching the entrance to the hall, Lin Huaibu coldly stopped Zhan Shen, saying, "Master Zhang only wants to see Mr. Wang."

Zhan Shen glanced at Wang Xuesen.

Wang Xuesen straightened his collar and said calmly, "It's alright, you wait for me outside."

Zhan Shen nodded: "Be careful. If anything happens, just shout. At worst, we'll die together and keep each other company on the road to the underworld."

Wang Xuesen smiled and stepped into the hall.

The hall was brightly lit.

Zhang Xiaolin lay on a tiger-skin rattan chair, a brass pipe dangling from his mouth, with A Si and two White Russian bodyguards beside him.

"Master Zhang."

Following the rules of the martial arts world, Wang Xuesen clasped his hands in a salute.

Zhang Xiaolin remained silent.

He squinted, looked Wang Xuesen up and down, and then spoke in a high-pitched voice:

"It was you who killed my adopted son, Xiaobai."

Wang Xuesen smiled faintly:

"To put it bluntly, I have never considered Bai Junqi as an opponent."

"If he weren't your godson, I would feel insulted to even look at him."

"Why would I kill someone like that?"

"And they insisted on using a fountain pen with my name on it."

He shook his head, quite moved, and said, "Mr. Zhang, I think someone is deliberately insulting your intelligence."

Zhang Xiaolin sneered and took a puff of his pipe:

None of what you're saying matters.

"The important thing is... Bai Junqi is my godson."

Wang Xuesen nodded and said sincerely, "That's right."

"Master Zhang is the overlord of Shanghai. Let alone your godson, even if one of your dogs dies, the earth will shake."

Zhang Xiaolin sat up straight in the rattan chair.

He scrutinized the young man before him. He had a fair complexion, was neither arrogant nor humble, and despite being locked in the woodshed for most of the day, he showed no signs of being disheveled.

"Young man, you have a very pleasant way of speaking."

"But that doesn't change the fact that you killed my godson."

Wang Xuesen shook his head: "I didn't kill him."

Zhang Xiaolin took the pipe out of his mouth, pointed it at him, and said coldly, "I said you killed him, so you killed him."

"Master Zhang, it seems we need to have a proper talk," Wang Xuesen said calmly, completely unfazed by his intimidating presence.

Zhang Xiaolin stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly turned his head to glance at A Si.

Ah Si understood, bowed, and left, closing the door behind him.

Only Zhang Xiaolin, two White Russian bodyguards, and Wang Xuesen remained in the hall.

"Don't worry, those two foreigners don't understand Chinese."

"If you have something to say, say it while you still have the chance."

Zhang Xiaolin said coldly.

This is exactly what Wang Xuesen was waiting for.

The other side sent Ah Si away, leaving only two White Russians who couldn't understand Chinese.

I still want to talk.

"Master Zhang just said that I killed Bai Junqi." Wang Xuesen's smile faded, and his tone turned serious.

"That's what the person who secretly wanted to harm Master Zhang was thinking too."

Zhang Xiaolin leaned forward slightly.

"Plot against me?"

He stood up, took a couple of steps with his hands behind his back, and smiled thoughtfully. "Interesting. Your name is Wang Xue... what was it again?"

"Wang Xuesen".

Zhang Xiaolin grunted in acknowledgment, walked up to him with his hands behind his back, and said arrogantly:

"I hope you can give me a reason not to kill you."

Everyone knows I have a bad temper.

"I hope you will cherish this opportunity. Otherwise..."

He tilted his head and gestured with his chin toward the backyard.

"The dogs in my backyard are lacking meat lately."

"As you've seen, they only eat human flesh."

"You're a smart man, you should know that even if I chop you up, Li Shiqun wouldn't dare utter a single word."

Wang Xuesen's heart tightened.

He knew this volatile man was no child's play.

They said they'd feed the dog, and then they did.

Zhang Xiaolin killed more people in his life than he ate any meals.

Whether we live or die depends on what we say next.

He took a slight breath, steadied himself, and said:

"To Master Zhang, I am indeed just a nobody, after all, you are a local tyrant whom even the Imperial Army has to show respect to."

"But if you kill me, I'm afraid your fate will be even worse than mine."

Zhang Xiaolin frowned.

Wang Xuesen didn't give him a chance to get angry, and continued:

"Killing me would have drawbacks."

"Work with me, and you'll win."

Zhang Xiaolin stared at him and sneered, "The Wang family is good at talking. Your grandfather was Mr. Sun's advocate back then."

"I'd like to see how much of Wang Shizhong's knowledge you've inherited."

Wang Xuesen stopped beating around the bush and said directly, "Let's start with the drawbacks."

"Killing me would play right into the hands of a treacherous person trying to sow discord."

"Kill me, and your alliance with Director Li will be in vain."

"Without Director Li's support, Mr. Zhang's wish to rely on the Mei Agency and Kageyama Tadaaki's power is now just a pipe dream."

"Wang Ruikai has deep connections with the Zhejiang provincial garrison. Without the support of the Mei Agency's intelligence system, how can you possibly fight him?"

Zhang Xiaolin's face darkened, and he coldly snorted, "Stop spouting nonsense."

"Even without the support of Kageyama Yoshiaki, I am still capable of obtaining a high-ranking position in Zhejiang Province."

Wang Xuesen did not refute, but only sarcastically remarked, "Perhaps."

Zhang Xiaolin's face tightened, his eyes flashing with a fierce light:

"Kid, you think you can look down on me?"

Wang Xuesen did not avoid his gaze: "That's right, I do look down on you."

Before I came here, I thought you were a great and powerful figure.

"Now he seems more like a brute."

Zhang Xiaolin flew into a rage: "You rude brat!"

He abruptly pulled out his pipe and slammed the shaft onto the mahogany coffee table: "You're asking for it!"

Swish!

Two Belarusian bodyguards simultaneously drew their guns and pointed them at Wang Xuesen's head.

Wang Xuesen remained calm.

He stared at Zhang Xiaolin for a few seconds, then threw his head back and burst into laughter.

Zhang Xiaolin's face contorted, and he asked through gritted teeth:

"You bastard!"

"What are you laughing at? Do you really think I wouldn't dare kill you?"

Wang Xuesen stopped laughing, his gaze sharp as a knife:

"Those who achieve great things must gather the power and support from all directions."

"The dignified leader of the Green Gang, yet he only knows how to unleash the rage of a common man."

He stepped forward and continued, "Don't you realize how important 76 and the Mei Agency are to you?"

"Otherwise, why would you privately gift Director Li his property?"

"If you wanted to kill me, why did you wait until now?"

"Now, you're begging No. 76 and Director Li to do things for you."

"It's not that we're begging you."

"My presence here today is your last chance."

Zhang Xiaolin was almost furious at his arrogant tone.

Wang Xuesen looked him in the eye without taking a single step back:

"If you think my life is more important than a high-ranking official position in Zhejiang Province, then kill me and feed me to the dogs."

"I, Wang, must have been blind and misjudged you, mistaking you for a hero or a powerful figure."

After saying that, he took a step back and spread his hands.

"bring it on."

"Kill me now!"

After saying that, he straightened his back, closed his eyes, and raised his head.

Zhang Xiaolin gripped the pipe tightly.

What an arrogant kid.

He speaks harshly and venomously, hitting the nail on the head without showing any mercy.

To kill or not to kill?

Zhang Xiaolin remained silent for a moment, then waved to the two Belarusian bodyguards.

The bodyguard withdrew his gun and stepped aside.

Zhang Xiaolin raised his hand and smiled:

"sit."

"Thank you." Wang Xuesen opened his eyes and sat down casually as if nothing had happened.

Zhang Xiaolin looked him over, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

Originally, I wanted to take this kid down and show him what I was made of, so that I could get a better deal at the negotiating table.

Who would have thought that this kid would start by drawing his sword?

A single outburst of anger effectively blocked all other avenues of negotiation.

Well, that's bad. We haven't even started negotiating yet, and we've already lost the upper hand to this kid.

Zhang Xiaolin tapped his pipe in his palm, suppressing his anger, and said, "You don't seem to be afraid of death?"

"No one escapes death, but the worst thing is dying in a muddle." He laughed dismissively.

Zhang Xiaolin was provoked and bared his teeth angrily, saying, "You brat, you have insulted me time and time again."

"You better explain yourself clearly today."

"What do you mean someone is trying to harm me?"

"What do you mean by dying in a really mess?"

"Otherwise, I'd rather forgo this bullshit cooperation and use you to feed my dogs."

Wang Xuesen remained unmoved and said without changing his expression:

"It seems that Master Zhang has become deaf to the Green Gang's eyes and ears."

Zhang Xiaolin's pupils contracted.

Before he could react, Wang Xuesen fired off a question: "Think about it, why would someone want to kill Bai Junqi at this crucial juncture?"

Zhang Xiaolin stopped pretending and said in a deep voice, "You're disrupting my alliance with Li Shiqun."

"This is merely a superficial appearance," Wang Xuesen said firmly.

"If you disrupt your negotiations with Director Li, you will be unable to expand further and will be trapped in Shanghai."

"As I get older..."

His gaze swept across Zhang Xiaolin's face, and he snorted coldly:

"You're finding it increasingly difficult to keep up."

"Industries, connections, status, and prestige will be gradually eroded away by others."

Zhang Xiaolin's cheeks twitched slightly.

Wang Xuesen captured it.

He knew in his heart that he had stabbed the right spot.

Zhang Xiaolin's body had long been riddled with lesions from syphilis.

This was an open secret in Shanghai, but no one dared to say it to their face.

Wang Xuesen dared.

Because he knew that the more truthful the words, the more damaging they were.

"Your son, Zhang Fayao, has no interest in helping with the inheritance. To this day, he doesn't own a single decent business and is simply squandering your savings."

"Once you're gone, all the assets will inevitably fall into the hands of those with ulterior motives."

"At that time, your beautiful concubines will become other men's bed goddesses."

"Your son is like a stray dog ​​on the street."

"They might not even be able to save their lives."

He raised his hand and pointed to the luxurious furnishings in the hall.

"And everything here. It will all belong to someone else."

Zhang Xiaolin's face had turned completely black, but he forced a smile and said, "Kid, you're trying to sow discord."

"None of my men dare to betray me."

Wang Xuesen did not back down, his voice calm to the point of being cruel: "You can continue to deceive yourself."

"But Bai Junqi's death has proven that some people can't hold back any longer."

"You don't really think that just because you lie here every day playing with women and listening to opera, your men will obediently serve you as your dogs for life, do you?"

"In the past, your fearsome reputation might have been enough to keep them in check."

"But now?"

Wang Xuesen shrugged: "Please, the rules have changed."

"Whoever has money is the master."

"All this talk of brotherhood and loyalty is fake."

"Many people don't even recognize their ancestors anymore, so isn't it only natural for them to turn on you and bite you back?"

"At that time, your so-called filial sons and grandsons will devour you and your father until there are no bones left."

As he spoke, he took out the folded intelligence documents from his pocket and threw them onto the coffee table.

"Please open your eyes wide and look carefully."

"Who exactly wants me dead?"

"And who is it that wants you dead?"

Zhang Xiaolin was very cautious, fearing it might be poisonous, and did not touch it with his hands.

He waved his hand, and the White Russian bodyguard next to him immediately spread out.

Zhang Xiaolin began to read through the pages, his expression growing increasingly grim:

"You mean Yu Yefeng... is in contact with Ding Zijun privately?"

Wang Xuesen said, "That's right. The reason Bai Junqi couldn't be helped was not only because he was a good-for-nothing, but also largely because you were unwilling to inject funds to support him."

"But Ding Zijun is different."

"He has the resources of Dingmo Village and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Yu Yefeng controls the core industries of the Green Gang and manages the accounts."

Wang Xuesen looked at him and continued to question him:

"Let me ask you this: do you know how much money Yu Yefeng has been spending behind your back?"

"For example, were you aware of the drug sales at Renji Hospital?"

Under a barrage of questions, Zhang Xiaolin's facial muscles tightened even more.

He really didn't know.

Wang Xuesen, observing this, continued, "That channel originally belonged to me, but now he's taken it over."

"That's not important."

"The important thing is that although he calls you godfather now, he probably has much more money in his pocket than you do."

"Don't you think this is terrible?"

Zhang Xiaolin became irritated, kicked a chair away, and paced anxiously in the hall.

"You mean, Yu Yefeng is deliberately trying to prevent me from joining forces with Li Shiqun in order to support the Ding brothers?" He turned his head and asked coldly.

Wang Xuesen nodded: "That's for sure."

"If the Green Gang were to join forces with Li Shiqun, they would be unable to establish their own intelligence agency."

"That's why Yu Yefeng resorted to any means to sabotage our two families' alliance."

He paused, then emphasized his words.

"And I'm certain that if you disagree with their proposal, they're very likely to take the risk."

"They might even try to harm you."

Zhang Xiaolin flew into a rage, slamming his hand on the coffee table: "How dare Yu Lao Er!"

"Master Zhang, you've climbed up the ladder by risking your life. Don't you know whether your men dare to do this or not?" Wang Xuesen continued to fan the flames.

"In the past, Zhu Yuanzhang killed all his meritorious officials, but Zhao Kuangyin still managed to release his military power over a cup of wine."

"Only you, Master Zhang, have never been disloyal to your subordinates."

"In the martial arts world today, who doesn't know Master Yu?"

"Whenever Yu Yefeng goes out, he has a procession of dozens of people, including Japanese ronin who are specially hired as bodyguards."

"Watching a play often involves booking out the entire theater."

"In order to pursue the popular actress Xin Yanqiu, he not only spent a fortune, but also openly beat up his rival Mo Laosan in the French Concession in the street."

"His reputation is earth-shattering."

Wang Xuesen looked into Zhang Xiaolin's eyes and said, word by word, "If this continues, I'm afraid the Green Gang will only know of Second Brother Yu, and no one will know the name Master Zhang."

"Some things are just unpredictable."

The veins on Zhang Xiaolin's forehead bulged, and his temples throbbed violently.

Headache.

irritable.

He wanted to kill someone.

He stormed up to Wang Xuesen, his finger almost poking his nose: "You damned scoundrel! I'm going to kill you!"

"Ah Feng is my brother, my in-law, and my adopted son!"

"Why should I listen to an outsider like you!"

"I'm going to kill you!"

Wang Xuesen stood still, motionless.

He waited until Zhang Xiaolin had finished catching his breath before speaking slowly and deliberately:

"You'll find out exactly what kind of person he is just by testing him."

Zhang Xiaolin glared at him, his chest heaving violently: "How do we try?"

"It's very simple."

"If you ask him whether he wants to join forces with Director Li, he will definitely object."

"If you ask him again if he wants to find a new candidate and offer to support him with a large sum of money, he will definitely still object."

Zhang Xiaolin frowned: "Didn't he want to establish an intelligence agency? I'm offering to fund a newcomer's rise to power, why is he refusing?"

"Good question."

Wang Xuesen walked a few steps with his hands behind his back: "If he has no ulterior motives, of course he will agree."

"But now he's probably thinking about doing this himself and the Ding brothers, not you."

"Because in his eyes, whether the Green Gang belongs to you or not is no longer important."

"But it has to be his."

"He held the account books in his hands, controlled a large amount of high-quality resources and trusted confidants, and even the Fan brothers followed his lead."

"The reason he hasn't turned against me yet is..."

"I just feel that you hide in the Zhang Mansion every day, and are nothing more than a puppet and a mascot, and I don't bother to make a big fuss about it."

"If you don't believe me, you're welcome to try it."

One sentence silenced Zhang Xiaolin.

With assassinations by the Military Intelligence Bureau rampant lately, he has mostly kept to himself and rarely goes to various venues.

However, from the attitude of his disciples and their visits, one could vaguely sense some unfamiliarity and strangeness.

After a moment, he said in a harsh tone:

"I will verify what you've said."

"If I find out that Yu Lao Er hasn't betrayed me, I will cut you into a thousand pieces."

Wang Xuesen nodded calmly: "I'll wait."

He stood up and straightened his collar: "Before I leave, shouldn't you give me something in return?"

"Whether or not to cooperate."

Zhang Xiaolin coldly replied, "To forge alliances with external forces, we must first secure our internal stability."

"If Yu Lao Er really had ambitions, wouldn't he immediately betray us if I joined forces with you right now?"

"Once I have verified his facts, I will join forces with Li Shiqun."

"Go back and tell him to wait patiently."

Wang Xuesen bowed slightly: "Master Zhang's insight is profound."

The seeds of doubt have been sown.

Regardless of Yu Yefeng's intentions, given Zhang Xiaolin's suspicious nature, this matter is far from over.

He has no interest in the alliance.

The important thing is to get rid of Yu Yefeng and regain control of the pharmaceutical and American goods channels.

Of course, the internal strife within the Green Gang also had its benefits for Wang Tianmu.

He didn't linger and turned to walk towards the door.

"etc."

Zhang Xiaolin suddenly called out to him, choking on his phlegm, and asked:

"Your name is Wang... something like that?"

Wang Xuesen stopped in his tracks: "What did you say?"

Zhang Xiaolin repeated impatiently, "I asked you, what's your name again, Wang Xue...?"

Wang Xuesen was stunned for a moment.

Nima!

With late-stage syphilis, this guy's brain has been damaged. No wonder Yu Yefeng dared to jump out and cause trouble at this time.

He suppressed the slight unease and smiled, "Mr. Zhang, my name is Wang Xuesen."

As he spoke, he took a business card out of his jacket pocket and placed it on the coffee table: "This is my business card. Please let me know if there are any developments."

Goodbye.

He turned and took another step.

"stop!"

Zhang Xiaolin shouted again.

Damn, is this idiot going to have a manic episode? Wang Xuesen's back tensed instantly.

Zhang Xiaolin is truly capable of killing when he gets enraged.

"Is there anything else, Master Zhang?" He was secretly on guard, but his expression remained relaxed.

Zhang Xiaolin walked up to him, looked him up and down, and suddenly chuckled dryly:

"I think you're really something else."

He patted Wang Xuesen on the shoulder:

"I've taken a liking to you."

"I'd like to adopt you as my godson to help me manage the Green Gang. What do you say?"

"Following me is much better than following Li Shiqun."

"The best nightclubs, the best casinos, the best brothels, the best opium dens—I can give them all to you."

"It will give you endless wealth and luxury for the rest of your life."

Bah! You traitorous dog!

Bai Junqi's body was barely cold before he was already in a hurry to find a replacement, wasn't it because he saw the value in Li Shiqun and No. 76 behind him?

Adopting a godson?

The soil on the grave of the last adopted son hasn't even dried yet.

He turned around and bowed to Zhang Xiaolin, saying, "I am deeply grateful for your kindness, Master Zhang."

"However, my surname is Wang, not Bai."

"And it doesn't even bear the surname Lü."

Goodbye.

After saying that, he held his head high, pushed open the door, and walked out.

"rude!"

Behind him came the sound of Zhang Xiaolin slamming his fist on the table in a fit of rage, and a teacup fell to the ground and shattered.

Several Belarusian bodyguards drew their guns in unison, and footsteps surged toward the door.

Wang Xuesen did not turn back.

My back was soaked with cold sweat, but I didn't stumble.

"Let him go."

Zhang Xiaolin's voice came from the hall, carrying a hint of gritted teeth.

Everyone has their own ambitions; there's no need to force them.

Wang Xuesen finally breathed a long sigh of relief.

As I walked out of the hall, Zhan Shen was anxiously waiting at the gatehouse.

He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Wang Xuesen emerge unharmed.

The two walked side by side toward the gate.

No one stopped them.

Wang Xuesen remained silent, his face still composed.

Only after walking out of the large iron gate of Zhang's mansion and turning the street corner did he confirm that no one was following him.

Wang Xuesen grabbed the wall for support, his body convulsing, and he vomited.

Zhan Shen laughed: "I fucking thought you were really not afraid of death."

Then, he casually handed him a cigarette: "Sanpaotai, Lao Lin gave it to me."

"Old Lin, you two got to know each other pretty quickly." Wang Xuesen took a deep breath and spat out a few mouthfuls of white foam, finally dispelling the side effects of his tense nerves.

"I just had a marksmanship contest with him in the backyard, so I guess we're kind of kindred spirits," Zhan Shen said.

"Who won?" Wang Xuesen asked.

Zhan Shen was taken aback: "Heh, this is a secret of us men approaching thirty. Why would a kid in his early twenties like you know so much?"

"So what if you lost? You're still being stubborn," Wang Xuesen muttered.

"Damn, dealing with this lunatic is exhausting."

"There's something really wrong with this guy surnamed Zhang."

"If we can avoid seeing each other in the future, we should. Otherwise, I might go crazy and go berserk at any time."

He cursed, still shaken.

"Just wait, when I get the chance, I'll take him down." Zhan Shen glanced back at the Zhang mansion and sneered.

"Let's go." He stood up and dusted off his trousers.

"Go back and report to Li Shiqun."

Zhan Shen followed him, and after a few steps couldn't help but ask, "Have these two traitors agreed to cooperate?"

"no."

"Then what were you trying to achieve by all that trouble?"

Wang Xuesen exhaled a puff of smoke and chuckled:

"The goal is to make them fight amongst themselves."

"Do you know what my greatest pleasure is?"

"Dogs fighting?" Zhan Shen cleverly observed.

"That's right, you take pleasure in assassinating traitors, but my greatest pleasure is watching traitors fight like dogs, killing each other to the death."

"I watched them build tall buildings and entertain guests."

"Then, I bombed the building, and a lot of people fell to their deaths."

"Ha ha."

Wang Xuesen laughed.

He chuckled a few times, but seeing that Zhan Shen didn't respond at all, his face fell. "Get in the car, go back to the building, go find Old Wang. I'm going to do something big."

"What's the big deal?" Zhan Shen asked.

"Unify the Green Gang and control Shanghai's underground power!"

Wang Xuesen's eyes sharpened, and his words were like knives.

……