Siheyuan, Shazhu: I have both parents in this life

Chapter 434 The bigger the storm, the more expensive the fish (Seeking monthly votes at the end of the month)
While He Yuxin was dealing with 541, He Yuzhu wasn't idle; he was having a heart-pounding, super exciting time.

Not long after He Yuzhu returned from Chengdu, he received a phone call via satellite phone.

These days, only one person calls this number: Bai Yifeng.

The call was short, but the content was anything but simple.

"Boss, a secret deal involving hundreds of F-16 fighter jets is nearing completion. The first batch of seventy jets is planned to be dismantled and transported to the other side of the strait via a specific shipping route."

Is the information accurate?

"Boss, we've been operating in North America for so many years, we're confident about this!"

"Okay, Lao Bai, the route, ship number, and time need to be as precise as possible."

"Boss, I wanted to get your opinion. If we're going to do it, we have plenty of people willing to risk their lives."

"Cough cough cough, why risk your life? You only have one life." He Yuzhu coughed repeatedly, angered by Bai Yifeng's words.

"There will always be times when you're short of money," Bai Yifeng said helplessly.

"What, you guys are planning to become pirates?"

"I plan to sink the ship."

"What a waste. Tell me the specific details. I'll let you know if I need it."

"Oh, boss, please write this down." Bai Yifeng said, reciting a string of information.

"I understand. You don't need to worry about what happens next for now. Also, clean up the mess."

"Understood. Boss, please be careful." Bai Yifeng had no choice but to add another sentence.

"Yes, I want to live to be a hundred years old," He Yuzhu said with a smile.

"Then I'll work hard and try to work with you until that time," Bai Yifeng said with a smile.

After hanging up the phone, He Yuzhu took out a nautical chart and began marking it. Xiaoman came over a few times to see that he was very focused, so she didn't disturb him.

A few days later, He Yuzhu left Beijing with Fan Hu and a few others under the pretext of an inspection.

They went to a small country in Southeast Asia under the guise of purchasing jade.

After several transfers, they arrived at a remote, small airport capable of handling medium-sized transport aircraft.

After paying everyone off, He Yuzhu opened the hangar door, and Fan Hu and the others were immediately startled to see a brand-new C-130 parked in the hangar.

He Yuzhu boarded the plane, warmed up the engine, and then checked the instruments, finding no problems. After landing, he immediately put on a flight suit—a very old-fashioned one, the kind Fan Hu and the others could tell at a glance was from North America decades ago.

"Tiger, after I fly away, you guys go to the jade market as planned, and keep communications open," He Yuzhu instructed Fan Hu.
"Boss, if you really intend to fly yourself, why don't you let us practice? We should be able to do it."

"Come on, you all stumbled around when you were learning to fly helicopters. I have an urgent matter to attend to this time."

"Why don't you take us with you? We can help."

"No need, just stay here and listen to my instructions."

"The landlady would kill us if she knew."

“If she finds out, I’ll kill you all first.” He Yuzhu glared at him.

Fan Hu's lips moved, but in the end he only replied in a muffled voice, "Understood, boss. Please be careful."

Fan Hu chickened out. He knew all too well how formidable his boss was. When the boss was younger, he didn't dare to act recklessly. But now that He Yuzhu was older, he still practiced boxing and had asked them to spar with him. They thought they could beat him, but He Yuzhu said they weren't practicing properly. As a result, they were badly beaten, and that was even though they hadn't held back.

He Yuzhu nodded, said nothing more, and strode towards the plane.

The hatch slowly closed behind him, isolating him from the outside world.

Night provides the best cover; the airport is sparsely lit, with only the runway guide lights stretching into the distance in the darkness.

As Fan Hu watched the C-130 transport plane, which looked particularly large in the night, slowly begin to turn its propellers, then accelerate down the runway, lift up, and finally merge into the dark night sky, the roar of the engine gradually fading away, a sense of powerlessness welled up in his heart. His teammates felt the same way, feeling utterly useless. Their boss must be doing something dangerous, and they couldn't help at all.

Inside the cabin, He Yuzhu was checking the instruments.

This old-model C-130 is brand new and has undergone special modifications. It wasn't modified by him; it was modified when it was captured by the Monkey Kingdom. Its range far exceeds that of ordinary models.

None of that matters. He's not worried about refueling at all; he can refuel anytime he's on the plane.

The important thing is that this behemoth does not have a modern navigation system that can be tracked. It relies on the most traditional terrain matching and astronomical navigation, plus the route in He Yuzhu's mind. In theory, He Yuzhu can actually go to any corner of the earth.

He set the course, and the plane flew smoothly above the clouds.

Flying is a long and tedious process.

Since He Yuzhu was piloting alone, he had to concentrate more, as he needed to adjust the course and avoid potential radar detection zones.

He Yuzhu arrived at a certain area before the cargo ship. After circling the area once in his C-130, he moved away from the area.

As night fell, two enormous, slowly moving objects appeared on the distant horizon.

He adjusted his course, lowered his altitude, and confirmed his target—two 50,000-ton bulk carriers maintaining a formation.

“These are them.” He Yuzhu saw the lights and blurry markings on the ship through his binoculars.

He pulled up the control stick, and the plane climbed back up, disappearing into the deeper night.

He Yuzhu was ready in the open sea near the cargo ship's route.

He checked his parachute and personal equipment, set the plane to autopilot, and flew towards an uninhabited area.

Then, he took a deep breath, pushed open the cabin door, and a strong airflow instantly rushed into the cabin.

Without hesitation, he leaped into the cold night sky.

As he jumped out, the massive C-130 transport plane vanished into thin air, reclaimed by him.

The feeling of weightlessness during freefall was brief and familiar. He calmly controlled his posture and pulled the parachute cords at the predetermined altitude.

The parachute opened smoothly, carrying him silently down to the dark sea.

The instant he touched the sea surface, he quickly unpacked his parachute and stored it in his storage compartment along with the parachute.

The icy seawater invigorated him.

He released the miniature underwater propulsion device from his spatial storage, grabbed it, and like a black swordfish, silently swooped down toward the nearest cargo ship.

Approaching the ship's side, he used suction cups and ropes to climb up as nimbly as a gecko, his movements so light that he made no sound.

He Yuzhu climbed onto the railing of the first cargo ship and disappeared into the shadows.

The deck was quiet, with only the regular sound of the waves and the low rumble of the engines in the distance.

Two sentries dressed in crew uniforms but carrying M16 rifles strolled near the stern of the ship, their posture relaxed, clearly not believing there was any threat in this international waterway.

He slid down the gangway like a ghost and into the cabin passageway.

A strong smell of engine oil and metal wafted over me.

With his knowledge of the internal structure of a typical cargo ship, He Yuzhu made his way toward the core area of ​​the cargo hold.

The first lone crew member was dealt with almost silently.

He used a Type 81 bayonet, a gift from Xiong Jie and his group, and this time it was bloody enough to draw blood.

The military dagger was precisely thrust into the opponent's cervical spine from behind, then the limp body was supported, gently laid down, and stored away.

The entire process was completed in two seconds.

The passageway was dimly lit, and he used the shadows of pipes and equipment to move forward.

Standing before the heavy iron door leading to the main cargo hold, he heard conversations coming from inside—in English, with an American accent.

"How much longer do I have to stay in this tin can? I really miss burritos and Texas beer."

"Be patient, buddy. Once the cargo is unloaded and you get your bonus, it'll be enough for you to drink for a year."

He Yuzhu silently pushed open a crack in the door. The space inside was enormous, divided by temporary reinforced supports, and the outline of a huge object covered by canvas was vaguely visible—He Yuzhu knew it was a disassembled fighter jet part.

Five crew members were playing cards around a makeshift table, with their weapons casually leaning against the wall.

He took a deep breath and drew his Type 67 silenced pistol, which was equipped with a silencer.

He slipped inside and pulled the trigger.

"Puff puff!"

He fired three shots in quick succession, accurately hitting three crew members who had their backs to him in the back of the chest.

The other two, startled, reached for their guns, but He Yuzhu pounced like a cheetah. His left hand slashed a short knife across one man's throat, while his right hand pressed a pistol against the last man's forehead, pulling the trigger again amidst his terrified gaze.

"puff."

The body fell to the ground.

Only the sound of playing cards falling remained in the cargo hold.

He quickly checked the other corners and confirmed that there were no more survivors. He then repeated the process to clear the remaining cabins on the ship.

When encountering a group of two or more people, he would use the narrow passageways to engage in close-quarters combat, ensuring that no gunshots were made.

The battle was brutal and efficient; the cold touch of metal and the brief struggles were his only sensations. Nearly an hour later, the entire ship fell into dead silence.

He stood in the bridge, looking at the dot on the radar screen that represented another cargo ship.

The two ships maintained a distance of about one nautical mile.

The brief radio silence here may have alerted the other side.

Sure enough, a call came through the communicator: "Conch One, this is Conch Two, please respond. Over."

He Yuzhu did not respond and set the boat to autopilot.

He went back into the water, deployed his miniature submersible propulsion system, and headed towards the second cargo ship.

The second ship was clearly more on high alert.

Patrol posts have been added to the deck, and beams of searchlights sweep across the sea from time to time.

He Yuzhu quietly boarded the ship from the shadowed side. He had just dealt with a lone sentry when he was spotted by the people in the watchtower on the high ground.

"Enemy attack! Port deck!" The piercing alarm shattered the night sky.

In an instant, gunshots rang out.

Bullets rained down on his spot, sending sparks flying as they hit the steel plate.

He Yuzhu rolled on the spot and hid behind a set of shipping containers.

He put away the silenced pistol and switched to the M4 from his storage space.

The battle can no longer be concealed; only a direct assault will suffice.

He used the cargo pile as cover and moved quickly, firing in short bursts.

The precise marksmanship proved its power, and several crew members who tried to flank the enemy were hit and fell to the ground.

The opposing side was clearly well-trained, with coordinated firepower that suppressed him, making it difficult for him to show himself.

Although the battle was fierce, no one on the other side dared to use high-powered weapons because the items on the ship were too valuable, worth billions of dollars, and no one could afford to pay for them.

When He Yuzhu emptied a magazine, someone on the other side shouted, "Hurry up, he's reloading!"

"Rat-a-tat-tat, rat-a-tat-tat!" The gunfire intensified.

"Bang, bang, bang!" What greeted them was a rhythmic burst of fire. He Yuzhu had countless M4s with magazines already loaded in his space, so how could he possibly change magazines manually?

Using the cargo box as cover, He Yuzhu quickly changed firing positions.

Bullets followed his footsteps, clanging against the metal deck.

The opposing soldiers were also well-trained, with coordinated firepower, advancing under alternating cover, attempting to suppress him in a small area.

“He’s all alone! Surround him!” someone shouted in English.

Meanwhile, in the cockpit, the captain was urgently shouting over the radio: "Repeat, we are under attack by unidentified armed men! Requesting backup! Requesting emergency backup! Coordinates!"

"Please identify yourself."

"We are cargo ship ***, identification number ***!"

"Please wait a moment, we will contact you again after confirming!"

"FUCK, this ship is full of F-16s, are you sure you want me to wait?"

The person on the other end was clearly stunned, then the voice came again: "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure you don't let me know who you are. I'm the captain of a ship from a certain naval unit. I need to speak with your superior."

"Sir, I'll go and call the captain right away."

Although they managed to get the people over there, a series of confirmations were still needed. The captain here was in despair because the gunshots were very close to the cockpit, and he even heard gunshots that couldn't possibly have happened.

“Boom boom boom boom—!”

Indeed, at this moment, He Yuzhu was holding a heavy M134 "Mini Cannon" rotary machine gun and firing it.

"Buzz—" As the motor started, the six gun barrels began to rotate, emitting a chilling hiss.

This firepower, originally assigned to helicopters, was now being used by him for deck cleaning.

The barrage of bullets swept out like a metallic storm, instantly covering all the passageways of the containers on the deck.

7.62mm bullets rained down at a rate of thousands per minute, tearing apart the figures trying to rush in, along with the bulkheads and equipment they were using as cover.

The deafening noise completely drowned out the previous rifle fire, and the entire deck seemed to tremble.

The screams were drowned out by the roar, and any target exposed to the firepower was instantly eliminated.

The M134's continuous barrage disrupted the enemy's tactical coordination. Those who were lucky enough to survive were terrified by the sudden and completely unequal firepower, and they all sought out sturdy cover to take refuge, daring not to show their faces again.

Taking advantage of the brief opening created by the suppressive fire, He Yuzhu advanced like a ghost, his M134 constantly turning as he cleared out the remaining points of resistance.

The battle quickly shifted from a stalemate to a one-sided cleanup.

About ten minutes later, the gunfire stopped.

The second cargo ship also fell into silence, with only the smell of gunpowder and blood filling the air.

He Yuzhu quickly inspected the key areas to ensure that no one escaped.

He didn't dare delay and immediately went to the driver's seat. Although he encountered resistance, it was no big deal.

After confirming that there were no living people on the ship, He Yuzhu turned off all equipment on board, including communication equipment and navigation systems.

He then went to the ship's side, lowered a lifeboat, took out a set of deep-sea diving equipment from his storage space, put it on with great effort, took a deep breath of the air filled with gunpowder smoke and the smell of the sea, and then lowered the rappelling line onto the lifeboat.

He touched the massive ship beside him, laden with fighter jet parts and corpses. The ship vanished, waves surged, and He Yuzhu was plunged directly into the whirlpool.

Not knowing how deep they were swept away, but with darkness all around, He Yuzhu took out an underwater spotlight to determine the direction of the sea surface, and then released the underwater propulsion device to slowly rise to the surface.

Upon reaching the surface, the previous action was repeated: the cargo ship disappeared again, and He Yuzhu was swept into the deep sea. After resurfacing, He Yuzhu used a compass to determine the direction, released a sampan from his spatial storage, and used the propulsion system to head towards the deep sea.

A few days later, a brief news report about the mysterious disappearance of two large cargo ships in an international shipping lane in the Pacific Ocean, interspersed among numerous international current events, did not attract much attention from the general public. However, within certain circles, it caused a huge uproar.

The atmosphere was heavy inside the office of a major power's intelligence agency.

"Is it confirmed?" a man with high-ranking military insignia asked in a deep voice, tapping his fingers on the table where information about the missing cargo ship and its loading list were spread out.

"Preliminary confirmation indicates that the last effective communication between 'Seashell No. 1' and 'Seashell No. 2' was approximately two hours before their disappearance, reporting an attack by unidentified armed personnel boarding the vessel. The signal was subsequently lost. We have reviewed all possible military and reconnaissance satellite data in the area, and found no obvious signs of firefights, explosions, or large-scale oil spills in or around the coordinates they last reported. They simply vanished... simply evaporated into thin air." The subordinate in charge of intelligence analysis spoke with disbelief.

"Vanished into thin air? Two 50,000-ton cargo ships? Carrying goods worth billions?" The general's voice suddenly rose. "Those were seventy F-16s! Not seventy bicycles! Tell me, who did it? That big country to the north? They have the capability and the motive, but our monitoring systems didn't detect any of their naval forces in the relevant waters during that period!"

"Currently, there is no conclusive evidence pointing to any known force. The attackers were shockingly clean, leaving almost no traceable physical evidence. Not even a single floating plank was found at the scene, which is illogical."

"It doesn't make sense," the general repeated, his face ashen. "Continue the investigation! Use all available resources! I don't believe in perfect crimes, especially at sea! We must find out what happened and where those planes went!"

As for He Yuzhu, after several twists and turns, first by small boat, then by seaplane, and then by fishing boat, he finally arrived at the nearest country.

The first thing he did after landing was to tell Fan Hu and the others to go back to China and wait for him in a certain city. He himself took one of his many passports and boarded an international flight.

Two days later, in the He family study in Beijing.

He Yuzhu seemed completely oblivious to the turmoil outside, leisurely sipping his tea while listening to Xiaoman chatter about which plot of land He Ningxue had recently set her sights on. The satellite phone rang, and He Yuzhu told Xiaoman and the others to leave first before answering the call.

"Boss, the weather outside is quite rough." Bai Yifeng's voice was tense.

"Yeah, I've heard some rumors," He Yuzhu said calmly. "Your area hasn't been affected much, has it?"

"Not for now. Our people have withdrawn cleanly, and we've wiped out all the loose ends. It's just that they're acting like madmen over there, searching for clues everywhere. Several peripheral information providers who have indirect dealings with us have been targeted, but fortunately, they're low-level enough not to implicate us."

"Let them do their thing. Keep things stable on your end, and don't contact them unless absolutely necessary in the near future."

"Understood. Boss, isn't this commotion a bit too big? There are even rumors that the ship encountered another Bermuda Triangle." Bai Yifeng sighed. He didn't know what methods his boss had used, but in his eyes, it was divine intervention. How could a ship disappear in the Pacific Ocean be explained?

"Then let's give them a little push. Bermuda, hehe, that's a good excuse," He Yuzhu laughed.

"it is good."

There are always clever people out there, and Lao Fang and Lao Zhao came looking for each other.

"Zhu Zi, did you do that? You happened to be away those few days," Old Fang said.

"Uncle Fang, you can't wrong me. I went to buy jade. I have the entry and exit records."

"Do you think I believe it?"

What can you do if I don't believe you?

"Hey, Zhuzi, there's too much stuff for you to handle," Old Fang revealed his true intentions.

"Uncle Zhao, are you here for this too?" He Yuzhu didn't answer Lao Fang, but looked at Lao Zhao instead.

"Me? I'm here to tell you how old you are. Can't you just shut up? You have a whole family to support now."

"Oh!"

"What do you mean by that?" Old Fang was clearly dissatisfied with the answer.

"What could I possibly mean? I didn't do it!"

"It really wasn't you! You made me happy for nothing!" Old Fang was clearly a little disappointed.

"What? If that's the case, do you expect Zhuzi to donate for nothing? Why don't you just die already, you old codger? All you do is cheat your own people every day," Old Zhao said irritably.

Although Lao Zhao didn't say it, He Yuzhu knew that Lao Zhao also hoped it was him who did it.

"You're happy now that I've kicked my leg? Well, now you have a new chess partner and you don't need me anymore, right?" Old Fang said angrily.

"Both Lao Yu and Hong Lang have better chess sportsmanship than you," Lao Zhao said.

"Alright, you two, stop acting. Is this really necessary?"

"Yes!" the two old men said in unison.

After finally getting rid of the two old men, Lao Fang and Lao Zhao left, and the room returned to silence.

But He Yuzhu knew that this matter was far from over, and who knows who might come knocking on his door.

His fingers tapped unconsciously on the mahogany tabletop as he considered various possibilities in his mind.

“Directly ‘offering the treasure’ is too risky. It’s tantamount to admitting that the matter is related to us. And how do we explain the source? Through Huagao Technology? Huagao Technology is currently in a sensitive position. If we make a move, it will have far-reaching consequences and could easily attract more in-depth scrutiny.”

He needs a more indirect, more business-savvy channel that allows him to completely distance himself from the situation.

After pondering for a long time, he picked up the satellite phone and connected with Bai Yifeng in North America.

"Old Bai."

"Boss, your orders."

"Look around North America for bankrupt aircraft or arms companies."

"Boss, which batch of goods are you planning to sell?"

"Ok!"

"This is not a good situation; that batch of goods is too hot to handle."

"Only parts will be supplied?"

"It's also difficult; the procedures can't be completed in full."

"Then you can keep an eye out for anyone else in the world who would dare to take this shipment. We only need to keep a few of these."

"Okay, I'll keep an eye out, but..."

"There must be quite a few people asking about this now, so don't let it slip."

"Boss, you want to use this opportunity to mess with those intelligence agencies?" Bai Yifeng immediately understood.

"They're so arrogant, it wouldn't hurt to teach them a lesson."

"Boss, you can't do it anymore. You're getting on in years. You should leave these kinds of things to your subordinates."

"What are you thinking? Do you need me to handle such a small matter?" He Yuzhu said irritably.

"Yes, yes, no need, no need."

"You must request permission before taking any action!" He Yuzhu instructed.

"understand!"

With North America proving impossible, He Yuzhu was extremely worried, when someone unexpectedly came knocking on his door.

This time, the call came from Factory Director Song and Lao Fan, who arrived together.

How did you two end up together?

"We've always had connections, you just didn't know it," Old Fan waved his hand.

"Yes, don't ask about this."

"Alright, alright, then tell me what you're here for."

After exchanging pleasantries, Lao Fan got straight to the point, his tone low: "Zhu Zi, I'm not joking. There's an extremely important shipment that was supposed to end up in the hands of the other side, but now the ship and the cargo have disappeared at sea. I'm sure you've heard about it."

He Yuzhu remained calm as he poured tea for the two men: "I have heard some rumors, they're quite exaggerated. What, do you two leaders think that someone from a humble background like me could know about such earth-shattering events?"

Factory Director Song picked up the conversation, his fingers unconsciously stroking his teacup: "Old He, we've been dealing with each other for quite some time now. Let's be frank, that batch of 'goods' is of vital importance to the country. It absolutely cannot be allowed to remain overseas, much less be used as a fighting force by the other side. Its whereabouts are currently unknown, and the higher-ups are very anxious. We know you have extensive connections and many friends overseas. I'd like to ask if it's possible to use your network to find out what's going on? Or, if some force has indeed intercepted this batch of goods, they'll need to sell it off, to liquidate it, right? Is it possible to buy it back through commercial means?"

Old Fan stared intently into He Yuzhu's eyes and added, "Money isn't a problem; the government can provide it. The key is to get the goods back, and the process must be secure to avoid unnecessary international disputes. It's not good for the government to take direct action on this matter; it could easily give others grounds for criticism."

He Yuzhu pondered for a moment, without answering immediately.

He took a leisurely sip of tea, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.

The study was quiet for a moment, with only the soft clinking of teacups.

After a long while, He Yuzhu slowly put down his teacup and glanced at the two men: "Since you two leaders have put it this way, I'll also make a statement. For both public and private reasons, I can't stand idly by. I do have some overseas connections and channels, and I can try to find out more."

Old Fan and Factory Director Song's eyes lit up at the same time.

“However,” He Yuzhu changed the subject, “you can’t say for sure anything before there’s any evidence. I can only say that I will try my best to find out and make contact through business channels. I can’t guarantee whether it will work out or not. Moreover, the process must be kept absolutely confidential. Even if I get some leads, I can only contact you directly. The fewer people who know, the better.”

"Of course! Of course!" Factory Director Song quickly agreed. "Old He, with you saying that, we're much more at ease! Just let us know if you need any support!"

Old Fan also breathed a heavy sigh of relief and patted He Yuzhu's shoulder hard: "Zhuzi, thank you from your older brothers! Be careful, safety first."

After seeing off the hopeful Factory Director Song and Old Fan, He Yuzhu returned to his study with an enigmatic smile on his face.

He picked up the satellite phone and connected with Bai Yifeng.

"Old Bai, we can start spreading rumors about that batch of 'goods' from before, but not in North America. Be careful how you do it; make it seem like it was leaked unintentionally, and keep the details vague. Say that a mysterious seller is trying to sell a huge quantity of 'high-end aviation parts' through multiple intermediaries, and that the source is some inventory from a bankrupt company's liquidation, or that it flowed out from certain regions during the international turmoil of previous years. The key point is that the seller only wants cash, or an equivalent amount of unregulated precious metals or mineral resources."

On the other end of the phone, Bai Yifeng understood immediately: "Understood, boss. I'll muddy the waters and let a few small fry meet up first, making a good show of it. Once the real interested and capable 'buyer' surfaces, I'll arrange for a 'reliable' intermediary to make contact."

"Yes, keep a good pace. Also, bring back some of our personnel who are currently in North America, to make it seem like we are also actively gathering information."

"Got it, a mix of truth and deception. Boss, what's the final transaction location and method?"

"I'll let you know about that later. Remember, we're just middlemen connecting you with the goods; the goods belong to a 'mystery seller,' and we only earn a small commission for our hard work," He Yuzhu said calmly.

"clear."

"Where will the transaction take place?"

"You choose the most chaotic place, and then..."

"clear."

After hanging up the phone, he began to think about how to resolve the situation at home. He couldn't very well let his own people get involved in this chaotic mess.

Just as He Yuzhu was quietly releasing the news through Bai Yifeng that "a batch of high-end aviation parts with a mysterious origin and a huge quantity are looking for buyers" through layers of difficult-to-trace channels, He Yuzhu also began his performance with Lao Fan and Factory Director Song.

A few days later, he took the initiative to meet with Lao Fan and Director Song, again in his quiet study.

"Any progress?" Old Fan asked impatiently as soon as he entered the door, and Director Song also cast an eager glance his way.

He Yuzhu gestured for them to sit down, his brows furrowed slightly, carrying a perfectly measured air of seriousness and uncertainty: "Through a few friends who used to work in international trade, I've managed to get a bit of a rumor. There is indeed a force secretly spreading the word that they're going to sell a batch of 'hard goods,' and the description is somewhat similar to the batch you mentioned."

"Who are they? Where did they trade?" Director Song leaned forward.

"Their origins are extremely mysterious. They've changed contacts several times, making it impossible to trace them. The transaction locations and methods are even more unpredictable. They only emphasize settling in unregulated commodities or minerals, and in cash, in very large quantities." He Yuzhu shook his head, his tone troubled. "I feel like this is a very deep operation, unlike typical arms dealers. They're extremely vigilant; if you ask even slightly more probing questions, they might cut off contact. My people are still trying to make further contact, but progress is slow, and we can't guarantee the authenticity of their claims."

Old Fan and Factory Director Song exchanged a glance, both seeing the gravity and a hint of excitement in each other's eyes. The gravity stemmed from the complexity of the situation, while the excitement came from the fact that at least a clue had been found, and He Yuzhu's description of "mystery," "multi-layered transfers," and "bulk commodity settlement" perfectly matched the way this hot potato was handled.

"Zhu Zi, no matter how difficult it is, we must stick to this line!" Old Fan said in a deep voice. "Whatever resources are needed, we'll do our best to cooperate. Money and supplies are not a problem!"

“I understand.” He Yuzhu nodded. “I will have them continue to make contact, and I will notify you immediately if there is any further news. However, you two should also be prepared that this may be a long process, and it may even turn out to be a false alarm in the end.”

"I understand, I understand! It's good to have a clue, it's good to have a clue!" Director Song said repeatedly.

While He Yuzhu was stabilizing things on the domestic front, the bait he and Bai Yifeng deliberately laid out was already stirring up undercurrents in the international underworld.

A port city in turmoil, divided by warlords.

On the surface, this place is just a microcosm of poverty and chaos.

But on an unseen level, several big fish have already been attracted by that batch of legendary "high-end aviation parts".

Inside a two-story building that masquerades as a trading company but is actually an outpost of a certain country's intelligence agency, the person in charge, "K," is listening to a report from his subordinates.

"The source of the information cannot be confirmed, but it is highly suggestive. Our analysis suggests it could be the missing shipment. The seller is demanding payment in diamonds or rare earth minerals, and the transaction may have taken place in a neutral zone, or perhaps in this chaotic area."

K squinted, tapping his fingers on the table: "Continue contact and confirm the authenticity of the goods. If they are real, acquire them at all costs; this is crucial for understanding our opponent's technological capabilities. But be careful, this could very well be a trap."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, in the basement of a noisy bar.

The leader of the largest local armed group, known as "General," was roaring into a satellite phone: "I don't care where it comes from! I want those planes! With them, I can completely crush those other bastards! Go talk to them! Money is no object; I can trade mining rights for them!"

Deeper in the shadows, the real international arms dealers also smelled the scent of money. They circled like sharks, trying to figure out who the real sellers were and who could supply the "goods" they wanted.

The smokescreen laid out by Bai Yifeng's men worked. Different intermediaries, carrying half-truths and half-false information, contacted different potential buyers. Prices were intentionally inflated, conditions became more stringent, and the mix of true and false information made the already murky waters even more difficult to see through.

A few days later, at "K's" intelligence outpost, his subordinates reported again: "Another middleman has appeared, claiming to have photos of part of the goods list, but he is asking for an extremely high price and requires a 30% deposit as a 'good faith payment'."

How credible are the photos?

"According to the initial analysis by the technical department, there are no obvious signs of forgery in the photos, but it is impossible to determine whether they were taken in real time or from archived data."

K hesitated for a moment: "It's too risky. Refuse to pay a deposit upfront, but promise a high commission upon successful transaction. Meanwhile, keep an eye on the other companies and see what they're up to."

At almost the same time, the "general" also received a similar message. He was so irritable that he almost agreed to pay the deposit, but was persuaded to stop by his more cautious deputy.

The real chaos began with a clumsy kidnapping.

A local arms dealer, attempting to monopolize the lucrative deal, kidnapped a middleman who claimed to have access to the core seller.

He thought he could get the truth out of him, but little did he know that this middleman was just one of the many baits Bai Yifeng had laid out, and knew only limited things.

This kidnapping has touched a nerve with several other forces.

"K" believed that the opponent wanted to control the information source and immediately sent people to rescue (or rather, seize) it.

The "general" felt that someone was trying to ditch him and monopolize the profits, and flew into a rage, sending his elite troops to the arms dealer's stronghold to demand a "share of the spoils."

The arms dealers' stronghold instantly turned into a small battlefield.

The sounds of rifles and machine guns shattered the tranquility of the night, intermittently punctuated by the flashes of exploding rockets. Different factions clashed in the narrow alleyways, each believing the other possessed crucial information, each eager to eliminate their rival and seize control.

The battle lasted for most of the night until the local government forces (who themselves may have been infiltrated by one side) were forced to intervene, at which point all sides quietly withdrew, suffering casualties.

The kidnapped middleman had already been killed in the chaos by a stray bullet from an unknown party.

The limited and distorted information he possessed vanished completely with his death.

Similar chaos unfolded in different locations and forms over the next few weeks.

Trust has vanished, everyone is suspicious and jealous, and they are fighting and wasting each other for the sake of some vague "goods".

During this period, He Yuzhu would occasionally "report" the "progress" to Lao Fan and Factory Director Song.

"The other party has changed contacts again and raised the price, demanding settlement in gold." He always felt tired and helpless as he processed and transmitted this "real" information fed back from the chaotic battlefield.

Although Lao Fan and Factory Director Song were anxious, they were helpless and could only repeatedly tell He Yuzhu to be careful and stay in touch.

This farce and tragedy, orchestrated by He Yuzhu and executed by Bai Yifeng, exploited human greed and suspicion. After consuming a great deal of energy, money, and even lives from all parties, it gradually subsided.

There are no winners.

Goods are always like a mirage, visible but untouchable.

All the parties involved gained nothing but scars and deeper suspicions.

After the matter was over, He Yuzhu contacted Lao Fan.

"Old Fan, how do you plan to receive the goods?"

"Did you get the goods?" Old Fan asked excitedly.

"Shall we discuss the price first?"

"this."

"What, you're not saying you can't make the decision, are you?"

"No, that's not it. Zhu Zi, you can't be too ruthless. You know we don't have any money."

Do you know how many lives were lost because of this shipment?

"Ah, you guys," Old Fan naturally didn't know that what he was sacrificing were the lives of his opponents.

"Okay, I won't rip you off. You can pay 70% of the original price. Of course, if you can't make that decision, you can ask for instructions."

"Cough cough." Old Fan was choked by the sudden turn of events. He thought He Yuzhu was going to ask for an exorbitant price, but it turned out that the other party had broken his bone.

He Yuzhu didn't exactly quote a random price; it was roughly the cost price. After all, it was free, so even though there was a risk involved, he couldn't be too greedy.

"What's wrong? You think it's too expensive?"

"No, no, I agreed. I'll go and raise the funds right away."

"Don't tell Lao Song yet, I'm afraid that old guy will talk too much."

"I understand, I understand, don't worry, I'll handle this."

"Alright, let me know when the funds are in place."

"Wait, don't hang it up yet, is the cargo safe?"

"It's safe. Once the money is received, the goods can be delivered anytime. Of course, you'll have to handle the border crossing yourself; I can't manage that."

"You don't need to worry about that."

"Okay, hang up."

"toot toot"

Old Fan hung up the phone, his heart still pounding. Those were seventy of the most advanced aircraft! If these planes could be flown directly, the airspace would be practically safe.

(End of this chapter)