20 years of the Republic of China

Chapter 490: Being a Secret Agent
Of course there is an opportunity. Marshal Zhang is preparing his troops and is about to lead them into the pass. There will definitely be a battle between the Zhi and Feng families.

When the cannon is fired, there is a fortune in gold - this is the opportunity.

Since the special appointment letter of the military police battalion commander has been issued, it cannot be easily changed in a short period of time. If he wants to make a comeback, he can only wait for the opportunity.

Zhang Xiaokun understood this truth, but he was anxious and discouraged, so he couldn't help but sigh.

"Hey, brother, I'm just chatting casually, please don't take it too seriously." Zhang Xiaokun said while playing with his wine glass, "Look at what kind of world it is now. You've never been out of Fengtian, so you don't know that I've traveled a lot in the past few years, and I've seen a lot of the world!"

"Of course." Jiang Lianheng asked, "Brother Zhang, do you have any opinions? Do you want to give me some advice?"

Zhang Xiaokun nodded and said, "I used to hang out in the South a lot. Nowadays, the gangsters are different from before. They used to fight against the government, but now they are the government. If you have time, go to the South and see that there are many gang leaders who are governors and chiefs of the patrol police. Let's not talk about the big gangs like the Green Gang, the Hongmen, and the Gelaohui. Just look at the local tyrants. Many of them have become officials--"

Jiang Lianheng smiled without saying anything, but he already understood the other party's hidden meaning.

As expected, Zhang Xiaokun showed a confused expression as he spoke, and asked: "Brother, I can see now that you have influence in Fengtian, and it is not small! Why don't you think about getting a position in the provincial government? If you work in the Military Governor's Office, do I need to ask others for help with such a small matter?"

After that, he immediately added with a smile: "Of course, everyone has their own aspirations. I don't have any other intentions. It's very kind of you to still remember me. I'm just a little curious, so I just asked casually!"

Zhang Xiaokun is right.

After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, almost all local gang leaders held titles in the government, and they did so openly and without reservation, and even seemed a bit proud of it.

A patrol chief from the Green Gang was brought in from this side; a business investment director from the Hongmen was brought in from that side; sitting at the gate of the yamen was a member of the Gelaohui; the brigade commander who led the troops to fight was a bandit on the hill two months ago.

The boss needs the support of officials, and officials need the boss to help maintain law and order.

The quality of officials in various places dropped to the bottom almost at the same time. Even if there were no warlords fighting, there was no way to change this sign of the end of the world.

Jiang Lianheng understood Zhang Xiaokun's confusion, but he couldn't say it clearly. He couldn't confess for no reason that he was one of the leaders of the Feng Zhang spy team, right?
What he couldn't confess was that as a spy for Zhang Fei, he had the obligation to secretly investigate the senior generals who came to join Marshal Zhang.

Of course, this meeting was not for interrogation, but it was definitely not just for friendship.

Fengtian is now in the process of transition between the old and the new. Marshal Zhang is using new people, and the old friends have gradually retreated to the second line. The Jiang family's network of relationships has also been negatively affected as a result.

Although the non-commissioned officers and the Lu Da faction also love money, they have a high opinion of themselves and look down on the gangsters from the bottom of their hearts. When dealing with these people, one can only talk about interests, not friendship, so the relationship is certainly not reliable enough.

It happened that Zhang Xiaokun came to join Feng Zhang, and Jiang Lianheng wanted to take this opportunity to help his big brother, so that when he needed power in the future, there would be no one in the court and it would be difficult to get things done.

But Jiang Lianheng had no idea whether the great poet Zhang could make a comeback. After thinking it over, he could only make a few excuses.

"Brother Zhang, I am a casual person in Fengtian City. I just want to survive in the chaotic world and I don't seek fame and fortune among the princes. I don't understand things like leading troops to fight. It's good enough for me to have food and drink like now."

Hearing this, Zhang Xiaokun did not doubt it. Instead, he recalled the past many years ago. Then he suddenly laughed and said, "That's right, brother. You are a man with your own ideas. When I asked you to go with me to build the railway, you refused to go!"

"Shame on you, shame on you." Jiang Lianheng waved his hands hurriedly. "Brother Zhang has great ambitions. People like me who live on a small piece of land are really useless! When I have a chance to go out and see the world, I will still think of signing up for your number!"

Zhang Xiaokun said, "No, my dear brother, if you ever go to the South, especially to the foreign lands, you'd better not mention me, so as not to bring yourself into trouble."

"Ok?"

Jiang Lianheng had just said it casually, but seeing the other party's reaction, he asked curiously, "Getting into trouble? Brother Zhang, if I go out, it's just business. You fight on the battlefield, how come you have a grudge against the foreign land?"

"Didn't I just say that I patrolled in Zhabei before, and—"

At this point, Zhang Xiaokun smacked his lips twice, suddenly looking a little embarrassed, and hesitantly said for a long time: "The main reason is that later, I got a job in the foreign land. I'm not afraid, but you are a businessman, so try not to mention me, lest someone trip you up."

"Brother Zhang, what exactly did you do?"

"Hiss—I, I killed a Green Gang leader back then."

Jiang Lianheng smiled and said, "Well, he is just a leader of the Green Gang. What's the big deal? He must have offended Brother Zhang. Just kill him. It's no big deal!"

"Brother, I'm not afraid of the Green Gang or the Red Gang. The key is that this matter was handled with a guilty conscience." Zhang Xiaokun raised his glass hastily, "Forget it, forget it. Let's not talk about that. Let's drink!"

Seeing this, Jiang Lianheng stopped asking questions and the two of them drank a few more glasses of wine.

Just as we were about to clear the banquet and go to another place to play a few more cards, there was a sudden knock on the door.

Jiang Lianheng responded, but saw Kang Zheng walked in quickly, leaned down, and whispered: "Boss, Chuanghu wants to see you."

"I'm busy now. Can't you see I'm drinking with Brother Zhang?" Jiang Lianheng deliberately shouted loudly.

Kang Zheng was a little embarrassed and continued to whisper: "Boss, Chuanghu said it was news from Harbin. Fan Sibai sent a letter to me."

Jiang Lianheng cursed: "It's useless to say anything else, let's drink now!"

Zhang Xiaokun was not a fool. Seeing this, he quickly came over to persuade him: "Brother, if you have anything to do, just do it. Anyway, I'm in Fengtian recently. Let's get together when we are free. Don't delay the important things."

"Oh, Brother Zhang, look at my brothers. They really give me a lot of worry. How about this, Kang Zheng, you and Yan Sheng go upstairs with Brother Zhang to play a few rounds of cards, and let the other four go back and clean up while they have time."

"Eh? No, girl, don't take it away!"

Jiang Lianheng turned around and said with a smile: "Brother Zhang, it's not me who wants to take you away, it's you who wants to take you away!"

Zhang Xiaokun was stunned for a moment, then his eyes curved and he pursed his lips: "Brother, this... eating and taking at the same time, isn't that inappropriate?"

Jiang Lianheng waved his hand nonchalantly: "Brother Zhang, you live alone in Fengtian, it's inevitable that you're lonely; the four of them are in a foreign country, it's inevitable that they're lonely; you speak so well in Maozi, isn't it your duty to take care of international refugees? If you despise their identities, then send them back."

"I don't mind, I don't mind!" Zhang Xiaokun said hurriedly, "Hahaha, my dear brother, you have good intentions too, how could I mind?"

"Okay, in that case, Brother Zhang, you drink first, I'll take my leave now."

Jiang Lianheng bowed and said goodbye, then turned and left the private room.

Nowadays, White Russian girls are no longer valuable. The purchase price of these four foreign girls tied together is only 200 dollars. Of course, if they were redeemed in a brothel, they would be sold for 2,000 dollars. But in this day and age, there is no better deal than sending two prostitutes to an officer as concubines to establish a relationship with him.

…………

After leaving "Pine Wind and Bamboo Melody", Jiang Lianheng met his beloved general Chuanghu at the gate.

Now, in addition to being busy with literature, this kid mainly has two tasks in the Jiang family:

First, he was responsible for contacting Lin Qi and Fan Sibai in Harbin, taking over the latest film sources, contacting intelligence transactions, and finding time to find someone to draw posters for the Jiang family's cinema.

Secondly, he was responsible for recruiting and selecting actresses for Jiang Lianheng and organizing domestic films.

Both jobs were important and in line with his interests.

I just received a batch of Western films from Harbin today, so I hurried over here.

"Boss, there is news about Lin Qi in Harbin."

"Get in the car and talk."

The two got into the car one after another, and Jiang Lianheng asked, "What's the matter?"

"Marshal Zhang will definitely like to hear this." Chuang Hu said with a smile, "Fansbai just got the news two days ago that a batch of equipment from the German factory is going to be dismantled and auctioned secretly in Shiliyangchang."

"Factory?" Jiang Lianheng was a little surprised. "Is this considered intelligence? What kind of equipment?"

Chuanghu looked around mysteriously, then lowered his voice and said, "Krupp's equipment."

"What?" Jiang Lianheng suspected that he had misheard. "Krupp's equipment? For making cannons? Isn't there an arms embargo? The Germans lost the war, and they still dare to sell equipment?"

The Germans lost so badly that after the peace talks ended, they were forced by the Allied Powers to disarm. As a military-industrial giant, Krupp was naturally the focus of attention, but it might not be so easy to sell its factory equipment.

Chuang Hu said, "No, no, no, they have already dismantled the equipment. The equipment can be used to make gun barrels, so of course it can also be used to make water pipes. Boss, this is obviously taking advantage of a loophole!"

"Oh, it's no longer called military equipment, but production equipment now?"

"Yes, that's what I mean. Lin Qi will ask Fan Sibai if we want this information. If we do, we need at least this amount, and he will tell us the location and time of the auction. If not, he will sell it to someone else."

"Yes, of course." Jiang Lianheng nodded: "Old Zhang is now preparing to set up an arsenal."

"Then I'll call Lin Qi back?"

"Go, the sooner the better, and tell me immediately when the news comes back."

"Okay, I'll be there right away." Chuanghu raised his butt and was about to push open the car door, but suddenly turned back and said, "Boss, you're not going to the foreign concessions this time, are you?"

"What should I do there?" Jiang Lianheng asked back.

"To attend the auction. We got the news from you. Marshal Zhang should send you, right?"

"Nonsense, that's military equipment, I don't understand it, is it my turn to go?"

Chuanghu frowned, seeming a little disappointed: "Boss, you really won't let you go?"

"Just say what you want to say, don't keep wasting time." Jiang Lianheng looked at him suspiciously, "Tsk, you don't want to go over there to play, do you?"

Chuang Hu scratched his head with a silly smile, and said, "Boss, what's the point of having fun? I'm doing this all for you! You know I'm a grateful person. For you, I would go through fire and water without blinking an eye, let alone a trip to the foreign land, right?"

"Bullshit!" Jiang Lianheng cursed, "Before, I asked you to accompany me to Lüda and Harbin, but you were so sullen that you didn't want to move. Now that you heard that it's a foreign land, you're so excited?"

"Boss, that place is full of good and bad people. It will be fine if you bring me along. I have already discovered that our horoscopes are compatible for wealth. As long as I, 'Poplar Under the Bed', take action, our Jiang family will always be successful."

"Stop honking, get out of the car and contact Fan Sibai!"

Jiang Lianheng kicked Chuanghu out of the car door.

Of course he was interested in what the foreign concessions were like, but he didn't want to go there while doing errands for Marshal Zhang. If he had to go, he would go there to have fun and have entertainment, not on official business to avoid unnecessary trouble.

After Chuanghu left, Jiang Lianheng did not go back to drink and have fun with Zhang Xiaokun, but ordered the driver to take him back to the insurance company building in Xiaoxiguan in the city.

I wanted to ask Fangyan to call Jaspersen to ask about the situation, but as soon as he returned to the insurance company, the German guy followed him.

Like the news sent back by Fan Sibai, Yasipsen also heard that there were a large number of military factories in the country that were preparing to dismantle their machinery and equipment for sale. However, he did not know the specific location of the auction and the details of the equipment.

The statements of both parties are almost the same. At least it proves that the news is indeed groundless, and the news is spreading rapidly at the moment. If it is released later, it will no longer be considered intelligence.

So, that night, Jiang Lianheng reached a deal with Fan Sibai - transfer the money, get the secret location of the auction, and the equipment manifest.

Immediately afterwards, the Jiang family conveyed this information to Marshal Zhang as quickly as possible.

Nowadays, when Jiang Lianheng reports news to Lao Zhang, he no longer needs to visit in person. After all, Lao Zhang is busy with government affairs and does not have so much free time to entertain everyone one by one. In most cases, he only needs to make a phone call to the secretariat of the Marshal's Mansion.

He knew that Marshal Zhang would definitely attach great importance to this information.

The Fengtian Arsenal and Fengtian Mint outside the Dadong city gate are being rebuilt and will soon be merged into a large arsenal. Most of the rails and sleepers in the factory have been laid, and all that is missing now are equipment and talent.

However, Jiang Lianheng knew nothing about this and had neither interest nor qualification to participate in it. He presented the intelligence only as part of his duties as a spy.

Unexpectedly, just after the message was passed on, in the evening of the next day, Lao Zhang personally called Jiang Lianheng and asked him to come to the Marshal's Mansion for a detailed discussion.

(End of this chapter)