If you want to be a good person, find Huadi

"People say I started the corruption system in Hong Kong's police force, that I established a whole system of black money, that I affected Hong Kong's prosperity and development, that I'm Hong Kong's sinner. Anan, do you think I'm a sinner?" Lei Luo said with a look of grief and indignation. Liu Yi knew the history of that period, but only what the Hong Kong government, or rather the colonial government of the United States, wanted future generations to see. Now it seems that what happened back then was not what the outside world had said.

"How could that be? If it weren't for you, Luo Ge, Hong Kong would have been even worse. The Americans are the worst. They're the ones who started everything, and in the end, we Chinese are the ones who took the blame." As someone who experienced that period, Guo Yingnan was the one with the most say. "Yes, Anan is right. The Americans are the worst. Huadi, you must remember that the Americans are the worst. You can't trust them. When you join the police force in the future, you must never believe what those Americans say." Lei Luo emphasized to Huadi. "Yes, I remember that," Liu Yi replied solemnly. Lei Luo then recounted some of the events of that year, and Guo Yingnan supplemented them, allowing Liu Yi to truly understand that turbulent period of history.

Did Lei Luo embezzle money? Yes, he did. But he had nothing to hide about it and openly admitted it. However, judging a person isn't just about what he did; we also need to consider the social environment he was in at the time.

Hong Kong's status as a colony of the Eagle Kingdom at that time was evident. The class of passports held by Hong Kong residents traveling abroad indicated that they were considered third-class citizens. One might assume that the Eagle Kingdom wouldn't care much about Hong Kong, a territory that had been part of China since ancient times. However, this wasn't the case. The Eagle Kingdom actually valued Hong Kong, primarily due to its geographical location and the political influence it brought. Consequently, Hong Kong was plunged into extreme chaos and disorder during that period.

Almost everyone associated with the government was corrupt, and industries connected to the British were monopolized without exception. The Chinese were merely tools used by the British to extract money. Against this backdrop, how should we view Lei Luo?

Leilo was undoubtedly a hero of his time. His emergence broke the long-held rule of the British government, which set the rules and controlled everything. He skillfully controlled the development of the underworld in his own unique way, preventing it from descending into anarchy. Although his methods were not entirely legal, at least at that time, serious crime was far less common than in the 1980s and 1990s.

However, we can't place the sole blame for the drug problem and the four major families associated with it on Lai Luo. In reality, the existence of drugs is closely linked to the involvement of the British, who are key players in this dark industry chain. Lai Luo simply took a share of this profit-making pie.

Furthermore, the anti-drug campaign was a necessary measure after the international community gained a deeper understanding of the harms of drugs. If America and the United States weren't facing serious drug problems themselves, they might not have implemented drug control at all. After all, the drug trade is incredibly profitable, and historically, it was opium that successfully opened the door to China. Therefore, orderly control is always better than disorderly chaos.

The background behind the establishment of the ICAC is complex. It wasn't simply a desire by the Eagle Government to clean up its system. In fact, deeper political considerations lay behind it. At the time, the Eagle Government perceived that Hong Kong was slipping away from its control and needed to take measures to strengthen its management of the region. Furthermore, the international environment at the time also necessitated the creation of the ICAC. With Hong Kong's rise as a major international financial and trade center, local forces had grown over decades, achieving significant influence in various sectors. Had the Eagle Government not taken effective measures to control these forces, it is highly likely that Hong Kong would have slipped completely out of Eagle Government control before the negotiations in the 1980s.

It's worth noting that the ICAC's initial goal wasn't to combat corruption indiscriminately, but rather to target the Chinese community. Officials from Hong Kong were often sent back to their home countries for trial, often resulting in little more than a token punishment. This continued until after Hong Kong's return to China, when the ICAC truly achieved its original purpose: to resolutely combat corruption and uphold social justice.

In that era, only Lei Luo protected the interests of the Chinese. Although only for a portion of them, it also successfully led to the birth of Hong Kong's new four great families. Their contribution to Hong Kong was far greater than that of the old four families. The old four families were essentially the spokespersons for the British, or, to put it bluntly, dogs. If the master speaks, can a dog not obey? Can a dog compete with its master for interests? These families would also be the targets of Liu Yi's long-term struggle after he successfully ascended to power.

During that period, corruption plagued Hong Kong society, not just the police. However, the Hong Kong government chose to prioritize anti-corruption efforts within the police force, rather than targeting other sectors like healthcare, transportation, and customs. This was driven by complex political and power dynamics.

Why did Lei Luo become such a target? The reason is simple: he was seen as the most disobedient. His presence threatened the vested interests of certain factions, and so they targeted him. After Lei Luo left Hong Kong, a series of publicity campaigns began. He was portrayed as the central figure in Hong Kong's anti-corruption campaign, a symbol of the empire of money, and the target of widespread condemnation. This publicity campaign was intended to divert public attention from broader issues and was also a means of mobilizing power.

After hearing these words, Liu Yi's understanding of Lei Luo deepened. Of course, Liu Yi didn't think Lei Luo was a good person or a hero. He still thought of him as a tyrant. This tyrant did a good job at the time. While making money, he also sought benefits for the Chinese. This was enough, because whether in Hong Kong then, now, or in the future, there are still a considerable number of people who are wholeheartedly working for the British, betraying their ancestors, their own people, and their compatriots. Lei Luo is trustworthy. At least Lei Luo did not do anything to harm his friends.