Anti-Japanese War Espionage: I Have an Omniscient Perspective

Huang Dazhu's eyes lit up, then dimmed again:

"Of course I want to. But the food in Shanghai has already been divided up. The only ways to make money are prostitution, gambling, and drugs. I won't force women into prostitution, and I won't touch opium dens. That leaves gambling dens, but the gambling dens on Belle Street have already been divided up in half by the Tongfu Association and the Dumen. If I get involved, I'll offend both of them at the same time."

Clearly, Huang Dazhu had also seen through the current situation. The Zhongyi Gang was nothing more than a pawn of the Du family. The reason they could collect protection money on Beile Street was because the Zhongyi Gang could share the pressure of the Tongfu Association.

However, Dumen would definitely be unwilling to get involved in more lucrative gangster businesses, and there might even be conflicts due to disputes over interests.

Lin Rui looked at him and said calmly:

"Don't get involved in prostitution, gambling, or drugs. In this chaotic world, there's a business that's more profitable and more reliable than anything else."

"What kind of business?"

"arms."

Huang Dazhu's expression changed drastically, and he subconsciously lowered his voice:

"Boss, what... what did you say? Arms? That's not something a small gang like ours can handle! It's something only foreign firms, big shots, the Japanese, and the top brass of the Green Gang can afford."

"I didn't ask you to go it alone. I've already arranged everything." Lin Rui's words struck Huang Dazhu's heart like a hammer. "I've made contact with Davis, the head of ExxonMobil's arms business. He has a batch of genuine American guns that he doesn't dare to sell openly. He needs a reliable local buyer to help him sell them."

Huang Dazhu held his breath and listened carefully.

"The model is simple: you pay for the goods upfront, take the gun from him, and then take it to the buyer to trade. The buyer pays, and you take the difference." Lin Rui paused. "To put it bluntly, you are middlemen, only responsible for reselling, delivering, and collecting money. You don't stockpile goods. Of course, if you grow bigger in the future, you can find your own buyers."

Huang Dazhu was stunned for a long time before he realized what was happening.

Just... a resale?

Arms trading? How can it be done like this?

His eyes widened instantly, his chest heaving as he suppressed his elation: "Boss, are you serious? It's just... just helping with the resale? Then... then I can do it! I absolutely can!"

Lin Rui's expression darkened, and his tone became serious:

"Don't get too excited yet. This business may bring in a lot of money, but the chances of survival are slim. You must promise me three things."

"Master, you speak."

"First, absolute secrecy is essential. No one except you and your trusted confidants can know who the supplier is or where the goods come from. Second, scout out the location beforehand to avoid the police, the Japanese, and the Tongfu Society. Third, have a backup plan. You should tell Davis the location for each transaction, and he will then inform the client. However, it must not be the same place, and the location should be in a complex terrain so that you can escape immediately if something goes wrong."

Huang Dazhu knew this was a business that could cost him his life, and his boss was right. He nodded vigorously, "Boss, I will do as you say."

Lin Rui was still somewhat uneasy about this, and gave further instructions: "This matter can only be known by you and two or three of your most trusted and reliable people. The other brothers in the Loyalty Gang must not reveal it to anyone. Those outside who want to join must not be allowed to get involved. In this kind of business, the less people know, the safer you are; the more people know, the faster you'll die."

Huang Dazhu nodded heavily, "I told Zhao Lin and Da Niu that I trust them and that I will not reveal this to anyone else."

After giving instructions to Huang Dazhu, Lin Rui glanced at the darkening sky outside the window and immediately stood up: "I have to get back to the film studio before curfew. Do as I say and don't mess things up."

"Don't worry, boss!" Huang Dazhu lowered his voice, "I won't let a single word slip out, even if my mouth is rotten to the bone."

Immediately afterwards, Lin Rui was escorted out of the gang by Huang Dazhu and hurried towards Lianhua Film Studio.

When he arrived at the iron gate of the film studio, Zhao Erzhu, the gatekeeper, immediately came to greet him. After glancing around to make sure no one was watching, he lowered his voice and asked:

"Team leader, aren't we supposed to be lying in wait? You've been going out at night these past few days. What if Old Zhou spots you?"

"Old Zhou" is the pseudonym of the traitor Fang Dongcheng within the third infiltrative group.

Lin Rui knew that his frequent nighttime outings would indeed arouse suspicion among his team members.

However, he did not want to tell his team members what he had done in the past two days. Whether it was the safe house, the arms deal, or his plan to secretly assassinate Fang Dongcheng, it all needed to be kept secret.

After a moment's thought, he made up an excuse:

"These past few days I've been thinking, we can't just sit around starving with such a big film studio. Even Young Master Li knows to come and borrow props and cameras, we have so many good things in our hands, why can't we make some money ourselves? That way we can give everyone more subsidies."

Zhao Erzhu's eyes lit up instantly, and she immediately forgot her worries: "Manager, what can we do? Rent out costumes? Or help people shoot videos?"

"It's not completely settled yet. I'll let everyone know once it's finalized," Lin Rui said vaguely, heading straight upstairs and leaving the curious Zhao Erzhu downstairs.

On the other side, the Loyal and Righteous Gang.

As soon as Lin Rui left, Huang Dazhu immediately sent away all his men who were drinking and making noise in the courtyard, and only quietly summoned two people, Zhao Lin and Da Niu.

These two were veterans from the founding of the Loyalty Gang. Compared to the other five, he trusted these two more. Except for secrets about his boss, he would discuss everything with them. They were his most trusted confidants.

As soon as the two entered the house, they saw that Huang Dazhu had locked the door from the inside, and immediately realized that something important had happened.

"Brother Zhu, what happened?" Zhao Lin asked.

Huang Dazhu stared at the two men and said, slowly and deliberately, "I called you here because there's a big deal coming up. If we can do it well, we can live the good life of Boss Wan."

Zhao Lin and Da Niu exchanged a glance and held their breath.

"But let me make this clear first," Huang Dazhu said in a very low voice, "this matter is between heaven, earth, you, and me, and no fourth person can know. If a single word is leaked out, not only will you lose your head, but you'll also implicate everyone else. You all need to understand this."

The two men straightened up and nodded in unison, "Brother Zhu, we understand!"

Huang Dazhu didn't immediately reveal that it was an arms deal, but said in a deep voice, "I still need to meet with some people about this. I'll tell you the situation then."

-

The next afternoon.

Lin Rui and Huang Dazhu disguised themselves and met at the entrance of the Hetong Department Store. Then they went together to the Russian-owned bar on the western section of Xiafei Road.

It was still early, and there were no customers in the bar, only the bartenders cleaning up.

The two ordered drinks and found a booth at the back. Not long after, Davis pushed open the door and came in. He glanced around and walked straight over, sitting down naturally opposite him.

Without any further pleasantries, the three of them got straight to the point.

Lin Rui stepped aside and introduced, "Mr. Davis, this is Huang. His gang is in charge of the Baylor Street area, and he will be your contact person from now on."