Chapter 370 A series of bad news
Chapter 370 A series of bad news
Hong Zhiyou stood on the balcony wearing his coat and watching the military vehicles going away.
He is very clear.
There are no real friends in business.
There are only benefits.
MacArthur wanted to have the best of both worlds, so he sent Randall to comfort him before the official announcement of the dispatch of troops.
And once this becomes a foregone conclusion.
These people are very likely to choose to cooperate with Kong Lingkan, who is more popular and naturally pro-American.
Making money doesn't matter who you make it with.
However, once the news breaks out in North America tomorrow morning, these people will probably be stunned.
Including the arrogant father and son of the Chiang family.
Thinking of this, a sneer appeared on Hong Zhiyou Baijun's face, and he raised his head and drank the red wine in the glass in one gulp.
“Making money?
"hehe!"
Hong Zhiyou couldn't wait to see the American soldiers suffering from diarrhea after eating low-quality canned food, and their seemingly bulky cotton-padded clothes were simply unable to protect against the severe cold.
Even their cigarettes were low-quality goods that took two puffs each and left a bitter taste in the mouth.
Just think about the beautiful pictures.
……
The next morning.
Hong Zhiyou changed into a gorgeous handmade suit, put on gold-rimmed glasses, and drove straight to Yangmingshan Hotel in Wanbei City.
“What about Wales?
"Didn't he say before that he would personally announce the appointment?"
Hong Chi asked Anderson.
“Hong, Wales went to inspect the Strait early in the morning.
"I heard that at the hotel's reception today, Chen Cheng will also announce a new appointment regarding Kong Lingkan.
"Commander, what you mean is that it doesn't have to be on the same day. We can present it on another day."
Anderson looked at him guiltily.
"Then will you accompany me?" Hong Zhiyou said.
"I, I just like watching the show." Anderson shrugged uncomfortably and smiled.
“You like watching plays, so I’ll perform for you.
"I must make this appointment today.
"Chen Cheng lacks some appearance, and the throne is not important enough. How about letting MacArthur present it to me?" Hong Zhiyou looked at him with a smile.
"Okay, okay."
Anderson felt that there seemed to be... murderous intent in the eyes of this old classmate.
……
Yangmingshan Hotel.
on the street.
Under the arrangement of the Executive Yuan and Kong Lingkan, a large number of newspaper reporters had already been waiting in the lobby.
At the same time, most people waved newspapers and shouted "Counterattack the Mainland".
"A newspaper, please."
Anderson took out five dollars and handed it to a newsboy.
The newsboy was overjoyed and bowed several times.
“It’s been announced!
“Agree to send troops.
"Hong, I think it's better for you not to go."
Anderson drove all the way, wiped the sweat from the sun, and handed the newspaper to Hong Zhiyou.
Hong Zhi had a look.
The front-page headline reads "Kong Lingkan, the special envoy of the National Government, went to Tokyo and successfully facilitated..."
Under the big headline, a photo of Kong Lingkan was placed very large.
Even overshadowed the photo of Truman.
The content below clearly stated that Truman had agreed to send troops, and the time, North American time, and location of the meeting where the resolution was made were all written in detail.
"It's settled!" said Anderson.
"It's all fake news." Hong Zhiyou threw it aside.
Anderson curled his lips.
He agreed with General Welsh.
Under the multiple oppressions from the father and son of the Chiang family in Taiwan, this old classmate's spirit and emotions are no longer as stable as before.
On the contrary, he was like a gentleman who was struggling to survive but had to pretend to be decent.
Hong Zhiyou didn't explain either.
The car arrived at the hotel.
The guard on duty at the door raised his hand to stop the car: "Excuse me, is this the Chief Hong Zhiyou who was scheduled to meet you earlier?"
"Yes." Hong Zhi nodded.
"Sorry, the front door has been closed and outsiders are not allowed to enter. Please enter through the back door." The guard said solemnly.
"It's too much."
Anderson felt like he was being pinned to the ground and humiliated, and he was about to lose his temper.
“The front can be back, and the back can be front.
"Just go through the back door."
Hong Zhi gave the order calmly.
……
In the lobby.
The service room was busy moving among the crowd, carrying trays and fine wine.
Kong Lingkan is the protagonist today.
With his slicked-back hair and Mao suit, he looks like an important official.
He has been waiting for this day for a long time.
Ever since Hong Zhiyou bled Jianfeng in Shanghai and turned him into a political fraudster, he had to move to North America.
But Kong Lingkan knew very well how his father started his business.
That is to control important positions in the national government.
Having money does not necessarily mean having power.
But having power usually makes you richer.
The cheapest and quickest way to make money is to use the Chiang Kai-shek dynasty to madly suck the blood and sweat of the people.
Kong Lingkan had no idea how many good things he had said to his wife in private, but he was always blocked by Jianfeng.
Now, he has finally returned to Wanbei with his own strength and has become a more prominent figure than his father.
Not easy.
"Mr. Kong, Hong Zhiyou has arrived. He went to the back door as you instructed." An attendant reported in a low voice.
"Okay, I understand." Kong Lingkan said.
“Ling Kan, you did a good job this time.
"The Chairman and Jianfeng have important matters to attend to and are unable to attend your inauguration meeting, so I, the Premier, will make the announcement on your behalf.
"Or, let's start now."
Chen Cheng walked over and said with a mature smile.
He has always looked down on this person, but now he has to help the chairman carry Kong Lingkan's sedan chair, so he can only pretend to be friendly.
"Not urgent.
"Didn't Hong Zhi have some kind of appointment meeting with the Americans?
"Wait for him, I like the hustle and bustle."
Kong Lingkan said.
soon.
Hong Zhiyou and Anderson came over from behind.
Many people inside, such as Long Tao, knew Hong Zhiyou, but none of them dared to say hello.
Hong Zhiyou didn't think much about it.
Now the news spread in every street and alley that he was expelled from Jianfeng, and the friendship that was once widely circulated among MacArthur was also replaced by Kong Lingkan.
Whether these people were considering their own interests or were afraid of Jianfeng and Kong Lingkan, it was normal that they did not dare to contact him after considering the situation.
"Inspector Hong." A few coughs were heard from the crowd.
It’s Wang Puchen.
"Stationmaster Wang, you shouldn't greet me at this time." Hong Zhiyou was quite surprised.
This is a rare and smart person. I never expected that he would dare to greet me at this moment.
“Everyone knows that helping someone when they need it is far better than adding icing on the cake.
"You have to flatter someone while he's hot.
“Besides, I have been looked down upon since I came to Wandao. It was you and Brother Wu who helped me. Now I am the stationmaster of Wanbei Station.
“Whether it’s to please you or to thank you.
"I have to say hello."
Wang Puchen smiled.
"Stationmaster Wang, are you so optimistic about me?" Hong Zhiyou asked.
"certainly.
“They, including the chairman and Jianfeng, don’t understand you, but I do.
"I watched how you made Ma Hansan, the smartest man in the world, obediently hand over all his women and property to you.
“You never do anything you’re not sure of.
“You are a truly wise man.
"I will never believe you if you say you didn't have any hidden agenda and came here to humiliate yourself."
Wang Puchen bit the cigarette and smiled with half-closed eyes.
He is worthy of being a man who can live to be 104 years old!
"Thank you." Hong Zhiyou smiled slightly and said nothing more.
"Isn't this Hong Zhiyou, the youngest leader in the party and the country, who has been promoted three levels in a row?" Kong Lingkan walked over with a glass of wine.
Everyone turned their eyes over.
Chen Cheng was about to come over when Zhou Zhirou stopped him:
"Ci Xiu, one leads the U.S. military, and the other is a popular figure that the chairman and his wife want to support.
"What are you interfering with?"
"President Chen, Minister Zhou, there are a lot of people here today." Hong Zhiyou looked at everyone and ignored Kong Lingkan as usual.
"The chairman and the director are not here?" he asked again.
"Today is just a briefing. The specific appointment will have to wait until the Central Standing Committee meeting is finalized and the Executive Yuan officially issues the appointment documents. Naturally, there is no need for them to be present." Chen Cheng replied.
“That is to say, verbal announcements but not necessarily implementation?
"Master Kong may not be able to become an official."
Hong Zhiyou has sharp words.
"It's possible, but it's unlikely," Chen Cheng said.
"Then there is still one." Hong Zhiyou smiled as if he was deliberately being nitpicking, but he still didn't look at Kong Lingkan.
"Hong Zhiyou, please stop talking about these nonsense.
"Didn't you get fired by Jianfeng and couldn't make it in the Wandao Island, so you used some connections to get a job as a consultant in the US military?
“There was also a special inauguration ceremony.
“Just him?
“A mere major!
"Don't you feel embarrassed?"
Kong Lingkan was as arrogant as ever. He patted the medal on Anderson's shoulder and sneered.
Anderson wasn't fast, but he didn't dodge.
It's very simple. This guy might replace Hong Zhiyou and become a guest of MacArthur and Wales in the future. There is no need to offend him.
This gave Kong Lingkan more confidence, "Don't you just know how to spend money?
“I can, too.
"I forgot to tell you that the agreement you signed in Tokyo has been invalidated. From now on, only I can sign on behalf of the government.
"In other words, you are no longer valuable."
"Oh, can I understand that it was you, Mr. Kong, who overturned my agreement and wanted to take over this job?" Hong Zhiyou blinked and explained for him. "Of course.
“Professional matters should be left to professionals.
“After I take over, I will bring more value to the Bay Island.”
Kong Lingkan answered confidently.
"Excuse me, do the Chairman, Jianfeng, and Dean Chen know about this?" Hong Zhiyou looked at Chen Cheng.
Chen Cheng's face changed slightly, realizing that something big was going to go wrong.
“I haven’t reported yet.
"No hurry. Once I become the director of the Economic Committee, I will announce the new agreement as soon as possible. Commander MacArthur personally promised that it will be a 'delicious' agreement."
Kong Lingkan said in a loud voice.
"Are you surprised now?"
He put his hands in his pockets and tried his best to appear distinguished amid the snaps of reporters.
"Kind of."
“But I have agreed to this matter, and they should have informed you this morning.
"Don't worry, there will be good news later."
Hong Zhiyou nodded in agreement and cooperated.
Randall talked about this last night.
The food and loans were all squeezed out of the Japanese by MacArthur through accounting.
Now that war is imminent, all resources and money must be prioritized on the battlefield on the peninsula.
MacArthur had no more food left, and was afraid that Truman would make a fuss about this matter, so he took advantage of the fact that Hong Zhiyou was excluded by the father and son of the Chiang family and Kong Lingkan was willing to be in the spotlight to stop the matter.
For Hong Zhiyou, this "assist" was undoubtedly very powerful.
But there are idiots like Kong Lingkan who come forward to claim it.
Hey!
Hong Zhiyou really didn't know what to say.
"My good news is your bad news." Kong Lingkan smiled arrogantly, turned around and shouted to Chen Cheng as if he was instructing his followers and servants:
"President Chen.
"let's start."
"Okay." Chen Cheng suppressed his worries and nodded.
As an old politician, he felt something was wrong when he saw Hong Zhi acting like this.
His intuition told him that something might happen today.
"Everyone, I believe everyone has read today's newspaper.
"At this time of great national strategy and great opportunity for counterattack, I, in compliance with the order of the Chairman and the Executive Committee, hereby announce the appointment of Mr. Kong Lingkan as the Director of the Economic Committee.
"He also serves as the director of the Wartime Materials Preparation Committee."
Chen Cheng announced amid applause.
……
Basheng Garden.
Jianfeng sat at his desk, threw down his pen in frustration, leaned back in his chair and let out a breath.
"Wan'an, has Hong Zhi gone?" he asked.
“I went.
"Kong Lingkan blocked the front door. I heard that he entered the hall from the back door." Wan An nodded.
“He actually went?
"It shouldn't be."
Jianfeng stood up and frowned in confusion.
“It doesn’t quite fit.
"Hong Zhi will not suffer any loss with this person. In Tokyo, Sakata Hisao is a senior cabinet official, and he has the support of the local Yamaguchi-gumi leader Kazuo Tagang.
"We just had a few drinks and it was all resolved.
"If you say he would humiliate himself, I don't believe it."
Wan'an was also puzzled.
"Director, is there a possibility that he is playing the sympathy card? He knows that you have always been dissatisfied with Kong Lingkan, so he wants to deliberately sell it low so that you can stand up for him and use it as a ladder to return to your side and continue to serve you?" Wan An pondered again.
“Well, that’s the only possibility.
“Now his connections are gone, and he can’t even leave the island except to seek refuge with me.
"Wan'an, you continue to be watched to death.
“When the time is right, I can give him a hand.
"After all, he is the man who followed me to fight tigers in Shanghai. As long as he is willing to lower his head, I can still use him."
Jianfeng smiled with some pride.
"Yes." Wan An was just about to call An Zi to inform him.
the phone is ringing.
Jianfeng was caught:
“Father, it’s me.
"what?
"How is that possible? I, I'll come right over."
"Wan'an, you, you go to Yangmingshan Hotel in person. No matter what, stabilize Hong Zhiyou at all costs and don't let him leave.
"Then, wait for the next instructions from me and the chairman."
His face changed drastically and he picked up his clothes and left.
Fearing that Wan'an didn't hear clearly, Jianfeng turned around and gave another instruction:
"Remember, you must, must keep him, don't let the US military take him away."
Seeing him lose his composure like this, Wan'an knew that something serious must have happened, so he quickly called a team of Bashengyuan special guards to rush to the hotel.
……
Jianfeng got out of the car and walked towards the president's office with weak legs.
The call was made by my father himself.
The plan to send troops has failed.
As soon as he entered the door, he saw his father in a black gown standing by the window, looking into the distance, as motionless as a sculpture.
"Father, what is going on?" Jianfeng asked in a deep voice.
“Truman just called me.
"He decided to adopt Secretary of State Acheson's advice and rejected my proposal to send troops to the Peninsula to participate in the war, and just officially announced it to the mainstream media around the world at a White House press conference.
"Jianfeng, our plan to counterattack and attack the mainland from both the north and the south has failed.
"Let Sun Liren pull the 52nd Army back.
"Huang Wei, Hu Lian and their corps from Chenji who crossed the sea have also retreated."
The chairman turned his head, looking much more mature in an instant.
“A great opportunity given by God was missed in vain!
"oops!"
Jianfeng sighed angrily.
He quickly pointed the finger at Kong Lingkan: "Father, didn't Kong Lingkan swear that this could be accomplished?
“Now we have thrown out one million dollars.
“They took all the MacArthur money.
“Is this the result?
"I seriously suspect that Kong Lingkan and MacArthur embezzled the money. He did not spend the money on the White House politicians at all. Otherwise, why would Acheson change his mind at the last minute?"
Jianfeng said angrily.
“Don’t doubt it, it’s confirmed.
“I just called my old friend Kirk.
"Kong Lingkan never gave Acheson any money, so it's no surprise that the Secretary of State was furious and sang a different tune.
“My son is a Zhongshan wolf.
“The Kong family is not up to the task.
"Madam, you misunderstood me!"
The chairman sighed sadly, feeling that it was of no avail.
"Chairman, Director, the Allied Command is calling. The commander wants to see you." Yu Jishi walked in.
"Turn around." The chairman quickly returned to his desk.
After a while, he said:
"Commander, it's me.
"Well, please tell me directly, Mr. Translator.
"it is good.
"I see."
With just one simple sentence, he hung up the phone and slumped down in his chair, trembling all over.
"Father, what...what happened again?" Jianfeng asked.
"This... this evil obstacle!
"MacArthur said that Kong Lingkan, in the name of the National Government, demanded that the low-price grain purchase and loan assistance contracts previously signed by Hong Zhiyou be abolished and re-signed.
"MacArthur... agreed."
The chairman closed his eyes, too angry to speak.
"What!
"Kong Lingkan is such an idiot, he is simply a traitor to the country!
"At this time of war, MacArthur had no time to hide from the agreement, but he took the initiative to cancel it.
“Isn’t this exactly what people want?
"Father, we can't recognize him."
Jianfeng was struck by lightning, and after cursing loudly, he came to his senses and spoke quickly.
“It’s too late.
"Kong Lingkan was specially appointed by the National Government to handle all matters concerning the Tokyo negotiations.
“Don’t say he has such an important identity.
“Even if he didn’t, MacArthur would have forced it on him.
"This is their usual tactic. We can't win the fight."
The chairman shook his head and sighed.
"Less than one-third of the $1.08 million loan has been allocated, which means that because of that idiot Kong Lingkan, we have lost to million dollars in loan aid.
“Millions of tons of low-priced food are also lost every year.
"Father, Kong Lingkan is a hundred or a thousand times more vicious than Wang Jingwei and Hu Hannian. He wants to take away our last breath, this half of our life."
Jianfeng gritted his teeth and cursed angrily.
"Why.
"It's my fault. I misused a mediocre person."
The chairman leaned back in his chair, pinched his brows, and forced himself to ask:
"Where is Hong Zhiyou?"
Jianfeng's red eyes suddenly lit up:
"He, he went to Yangmingshan Hotel."
“Where did he go?
“Strange.
"Weird."
The chairman frowned, also a little confused.
"Father, it's obvious that Hong Zhiyou is trying to take advantage of the situation.
"I'll give him a chance. Let him fly to Tokyo immediately to meet MacArthur and make sure to keep the aid agreement." Jianfeng instantly regained his confidence.
"Ok.
“When a country is in trouble, it needs a good general.
"Now it seems that Hong Zhi is reliable and trustworthy, while the so-called 'family members' are harboring evil intentions.
"If he wants to come back, you should stop being petty and be magnanimous to him!"
The chairman's expression softened a little and he gave instructions.
“Don’t worry, father.
"As long as he can deal with MacArthur, I will definitely treat him like a sibling." Jianfeng immediately stated.
"correct.
"Arrest Kong Lingkan immediately!
"If he wants to destroy our kingdom, we can kill his Kong family!"
The chairman gave the order coldly.
……
(End of this chapter)