20 years of the Republic of China

Chapter 506: Stranger Alliance

"Don't worry about the money, Master Jiu."

Jiang Lianheng stroked the tabletop gently, his tone relaxed and casual.

"No matter how corrupt the official at the government office is, he can't ask for a sky-high price. I have the cash and you have the axe. Are you still afraid that this deal won't be concluded?"

At this moment, the sunlight outside the window shone in obliquely, and the light spot shook slightly on the lens of Wang Laojiu's glasses.

He moved his lips twice, looking a little hesitant. After pondering for a moment, he suddenly asked, "Can Mr. Jiang really be so generous?"

"Do as you say. We are all people who pee while standing. There is no need to ask such nonsense." Jiang Lianheng seemed a little dissatisfied. "Could it be that I went through so much trouble to find Master Jiu just to pretend to be a rich man in front of you? Is this necessary?"

Wang Laojiu nodded, but his eyes moved back and forth between the cups and plates, and it was obvious that his doubts were not dispelled.

After a long pause, he raised his eyelids and asked, "Since you are so rich, you can easily buy off the relationship of the 'three tycoons', why do you have to help me?"

"Hey, I didn't say I was helping you for nothing." Jiang Lianheng said with a smile, "I've paid so much money, if I don't make a few requests, will you feel at ease?"

"That's right. If you have any ideas, tell me."

Wang Laojiu moved his chair closer to the tea table.

Jiang Lianheng took two sips of tea to moisten his throat, then stated all his demands.

First of all, after obtaining the operating rights of the wharf, Wang Laojiu had to ensure the safety of the goods shipped from Fengtian to Shanghai.

Secondly, the Jiang family did not ask for dividends. They only asked Wang Laojiu to reserve a position at the dock for the Jiang family. The position did not have to be high, and it did not even have to be powerless, but it had to ensure that they were not excluded.

Finally, if Wang Laojiu’s power grows in the future and involves warehouses, steamships, car dealerships, factories and other businesses, he must also leave a place for the Jiang family.

"My request is very simple. It depends on whether Master Jiu can accept it."

After saying that, Jiang Lianheng left the decision of whether to cooperate to the other party.

Wang Laojiu listened carefully, looked out the window and remained silent for a moment, then suddenly sighed, "Mr. Jiang, you don't look like a businessman, but more like a 'gossip' who buys and sells information everywhere."

"It doesn't matter what you think. I only care whether you are willing to cooperate with me."

Jiang Lianheng knew that if he wanted to use Wang Laojiu's power to plant spies in Shanghai, it would be impossible to completely hide his true intentions, so he simply made it clear and only hid Marshal Zhang behind the scenes.

"Master Jiu, the world is so chaotic now, information is everything! Whoever is well-informed can make a fortune; whoever is well-informed can survive!"

Wang Laojiu did not deny this, and even did not care.

In fact, there are countless "busybodies" in the foreign concessions. This business itself is a business, and everyone is used to it.

Seeing that Wang Laojiu had not replied yet, Jiang Lianheng could not help but feel anxious, and hurriedly asked tentatively: "Does Master Jiu have any concerns?"

"No worries." Wang Laojiu snorted coldly, "For this kind of thing, it doesn't matter whether I'm here or not. If you want to get information, you can find it out anyway. It's just that you have a place to stay to make things easier. It's just that I personally don't want to get involved."

"That's no problem. Master Jiu, just give me a place to stay. You don't need to worry about other things." Jiang Lianheng secretly breathed a sigh of relief. "So... have we reached a cooperation?"

Unexpectedly, Wang Laojiu shook his head and said, "I accept the conditions, but you still haven't answered my question."

"Any other questions?" Liu Yansheng and Wen Tingge were both a little confused.

Wang Laojiu reiterated: "You can take this money and go find the 'three tycoons' and get the job done. Why do you have to come to me?"

This time, Jiang Lianheng's answer was straightforward.

"Master Jiu, to tell you the truth, I just don't like the 'three tycoons', especially Zhang Xiaolin!"

After these words were spoken, Wang Laojiu's originally tense face finally showed a hint of smile.

"Hahaha, that's right, brother, this is what I've been waiting for you to say!"

Wang Laojiu's expression suddenly became extremely excited. He waved his hand and said, "If you had said so at the beginning, there would be no need for all this nonsense. I would have agreed to you a long time ago!"

Jiang Lianheng and others were stunned.

It turns out that Wang Laojiu was hesitating for a long time just now. He was not weighing the pros and cons at all, but was testing whether both parties were of the same mind.

This is a person whose emotions outweigh his rationality.

He slammed the table, ignoring the countless eyes and ears in the teahouse, and said loudly: "Brother, I have long been fed up with those bullshit 'three tycoons'. They are bullying and domineering. They are nothing. In this foreign land of Shanghai, everything cannot be decided by the three of them!"

Jiang Lianheng looked around and asked in a low voice: "So, Master Jiu is willing to join us?"

"What's the use of Uncle Nine or Uncle Eight? We are all brothers!" Wang Laojiu snorted coldly, "Isn't it just Zhang Xiaolin? As long as you are willing to help pay, I will bring people to smash his dock tomorrow."

Now that Jiang Lianheng has finished his official business, it is time to settle his personal grudges with the "three tycoons".

"Don't worry, Brother Jiu. I need to first ask how many docks Zhang Xiaolin has and which dock has the best business, so that we can target it more effectively."

Wang Laojiu said, "Brother, the 'three tycoons' no longer rely on the docks for their livelihood. They are engaged in the local product business. The business of each dock has long been divided among their disciples. They are only responsible for dividing the profits and taking the profits when the time comes."

"Hit the snake at its most vulnerable part. What I want is not his business, but his face. Brother Jiu, do you understand what I mean?" Jiang Lianheng asked.

Wang Laojiu thought for a moment and then suggested, "I know that there are three docks doing good business near Dongjiadu. The manager there is Lou Jingyuan, the nephew of Zhang Xiaolin's wife and a student of Du Yong. If we want to kill the prestige of the 'three tycoons', it's best to start there. It just so happens that the guy has some grievances with our hometown association. What do you think, brother Jiang?"

"Since you have a target, it's better to take some time to go and take a look first."

"Then don't wait any longer. Why not today? Come with me now, brothers?"

Jiang Lianheng and the other two looked at each other, then stood up and said with a smile: "Then I'll trouble Brother Nine to lead the way!"

After saying that, the group hurriedly walked down the stairs and left the Chunfengdeyi Building in the old city.

Walking onto the street, you can see pedestrians coming and going in the alleys, creating a lively atmosphere.

Wang Laojiu sent away the people from the hometown association and took only two trusted brothers with him, and hurried towards the west bank of the river.

He is not tall, but he is very agile, dodging left and right and running very fast.

Jiang Lianheng followed behind and felt that this man was too impulsive and inevitably a little worried, so he took the opportunity to bring up the past as if nothing had happened.

"Brother Jiu, I heard from people online that you used to be a member of the alliance?"

"Oh, that's true, but that's all old news." Wang Laojiu didn't shy away from his past experiences, but sighed, "After the Qing dynasty fell, the alliance changed a lot, some died, some dispersed, and it's no longer the same as before." "That's right, the emperor is gone, and we don't know who to fight, so we can only fight each other."

While chatting, everyone walked quickly into a shady alley. Many white sheets and quilt covers were hung above their heads.

"So now you don't want to go to the South Country and have some trouble with Sun Dapao and the others?" Jiang Lianheng asked casually.

"No, I think differently now." Wang Laojiu turned his head curiously, "Why, Brother Jiang is also interested in revolution?"

"Haha, I can't say I have any interest in it. It's just that I read about those people quarreling in the newspaper every day. It's hard to pretend not to hear them!"

"Brother, if you are interested, you can learn about 'Kropotkin'."

"What kind of gold?"

Wang Laojiu simply repeated it, not wanting to talk more, and only said: "You will know if you go and see it. In short, it means to overthrow all powers and everyone helps each other. That's about it."

Jiang Lianheng felt that it was a fantasy just by listening to it, and of course he didn't want to ask any more questions.

In his opinion, people who always talk big and often mention the words "save the nation from extinction" are a little crazy, and he tends to keep his distance from them.

However, after listening to Wang Laojiu's brief summary of "Kropotkin", Jiang Lianheng roughly understood why the other party insisted on standing up for his poor fellow villager.

…………

After walking for a few cigarettes, everyone finally arrived at the west bank of the Huangpu River.

There was a strong wind today, especially on the river bank. Even the ships docked at the pier were swaying violently from side to side and up and down.

However, the afternoon sun was still exceptionally bright, except for a dark cloud in the far northwest sky, which was now quietly approaching with the wind, heralding the coming of an autumn rainstorm.

Jiang Lianheng and others looked at the dock on the shore from afar, where nearly two hundred stevedores were working hard.

Wang Laojiu raised his hand and pointed to a pier on the left, then he pointed to the right and explained with his head tilted: "Brother, this is Lou Jingyuan's territory, what do you think?"

Although this place is not as grand as the docks in the concession, there are mostly small steamers and a large number of sand ships on the river. Among the three docks, only one iron bridge can moor steamers, and the rest are long wooden bridges. However, the barges come and go in an endless stream, and it is still very lively.

Jiang Lianheng nodded: "It's OK, it's indeed a good place, but I think the docks here are overstaffed. If you bring thirty or forty people here, I'm afraid you may not be able to take it down."

Wang Laojiu smiled calmly, raised his chin towards the dock, and said, "We, the Anhui Province Association, can't say anything else, but we definitely have enough manpower. Even on these three docks, there are many people who are members of our Association!"

"Is there an insider?"

"Don't worry, it's absolutely reliable."

"That would be easy." Jiang Lianheng turned around and said, "If the timing is right, it's not impossible to take it down."

"It's easy to take it down, but the key is to keep it." Wang Laojiu smiled bitterly with a sad face, "The weapons we brothers have are not enough."

"How much more do you need?" Jiang Lianheng asked directly, "Do you want one with a loud sound or one with a blade?"

Wang Laojiu was delighted when he heard this: "Brother, are you willing to pay for us to buy the equipment?"

Jiang Lianheng didn't dare to make a promise easily, but just said: "I can provide some money, but I don't have many connections in Shanghai. It depends on what you use."

"I don't need much. If you are willing to pay, just help us make a hundred axes."

"Don't you need a gun?"

"It's enough to have a few guns for self-defense. If you want to rob the dock, you still have to fight with knives." Wang Laojiu shook his head firmly.

He used to work as a dock worker in the foreign concessions, so he was naturally familiar with the ways of the world here.

Although the structure of Shanghai is two realms and three administrations, which provides opportunities for gangs to fight each other, there must always be a limit to everything.

Hundreds of people armed with knives, guns, sticks and clubs were fighting and killing each other on the dock. In the final analysis, it was just an armed fight and was not a big deal.

But if a dozen people holding pistols start shooting at each other in an alley, it becomes a street gunfight and its nature changes.

By then, the Chinese and foreign communities, the Old City County Government, the French Concession Municipal Council, and the British and American Concession Municipal Council, even if they were at odds with each other on a daily basis, would most likely unite to pursue and suppress the rebellion.

In order to avoid a lose-lose situation and seize dock business, they have always been accustomed to using knives to speak their mind.

Jiang Lianheng didn't care about this.

Anyway, the Jiang family only needs to pay the money, so even if there is bloodshed on the streets, it is not the Jiang family members who die.

"Brother Jiu thinks it's enough. It's just a hundred axes. It won't cost much." Jiang Lianheng said with a smile, "But since all of you use axes, why not just call yourself the 'Axe Gang'?"

Wang Laojiu frowned, muttered to himself several times, and then shook his head: "I think it would be better to call it a hometown association, or a mutual aid association, or a labor association, which would also be in line with our style."

Jiang Lianheng shook his head and said, "Brother Jiu, I came from outside the Great Wall. There is no 'Green and Red Gang' over there, but there are bandits everywhere. The louder the signal is, the better. Once it comes out of your mouth, it will scare people away; once people hear it, they will remember the name. That's the best way."

Before Wang Laojiu could speak, the two fellow Anhui natives beside him echoed in unison.

"Brother Jiu, I think what Brother Jiang said makes sense!"

"We always call ourselves hometown associations. It doesn't sound very impressive. People who don't know us might think we are doing charity!"

Liu Yansheng and Wen Tingge also walked over slowly, looking at the Dongjiadu Wharf across the way, and advised: "Master Jiu, you often fight and kill at the wharf. If you always use the name of the 'Anhui Province Hometown Association', I'm afraid that in the end, it will harm the reputation of the Anhui Province fellows!"

Everyone talked a lot, but it was this sentence that touched Wang Laojiu.

"That's right, that's right." He muttered to himself, "I'm a gangster myself, I can't tie all my fellow villagers to the boat, and I can't think of any other name, so... let's call it the 'Axe Gang'!"

"Good good!"

Everyone responded with laughter.

Jiang Lianheng walked over, stretched out his hand to Wang Laojiu, and said solemnly:

"Brother Jiu, if you want to establish a firm foothold in the foreign land, you must fight hard and beautifully in your first battle. I will sincerely help you. I wish you a great success in advance."

Wang Laojiu shook hands with Jiang Lianheng, nodded and smiled:
"In that case, why don't you go to our Anhui Provincial Guild Hall to rest first, and then we can discuss countermeasures together to destroy the prestige of the 'Three Tycoons'?"

(End of this chapter)