Chapter 9: No Strangers Without a Fight

Zhang Chong detected that Long Chongjiu's tone was noticeably less assertive than before, realizing there was room for negotiation. He felt a surge of joy in his heart and maintained a smile on his face as he continued, "Captain, you speak wisely. Today's matter is my fault. Please turn a blind eye and give me a small favor. We are all Chinese, so let us consider this a chance to make friends. In the future, should you have any requests, Zhang Chong will not hesitate to comply, even at the cost of my life"

"Master Pu, please take a seat here. Aunt, quickly serve tea to our guest. Why are you in a daze?" Zhang Chong first invited Long Chongjiu to sit down before instructing the dazed inn's front hall matron beside him.

Long Chongjiu could not help but be taken aback. Has he already made contact with Shen Xingshan's people so soon? This is not acceptable; the timing is not yet ripe.

Under the rapid turn of his thoughts, he feigned a look of realization, glanced at Zhang Chong, and then said: "Oh? Then you should be even more cautious, shouldn't you? With your rampant behavior, if the higher-ups find out, it would be difficult for Inspector Shen to explain, wouldn't it? Aren't you putting him in a tough spot?"

Zhang Chong's face turned pale in an instant, revealing a look of horror, and a trace of fear involuntarily arose in his heart. He hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Inspector, please calm down. We are cooperating, we are cooperating; isn't it just about going to the police station? Why are you so furious?"

"You, stop wasting my time. Lead your people ahead. You must know the entrance to the Central Capturing Agency, right? Whoever dares to run, don't blame me for being merciless with my gun, hmph." Long Chongjiu's cold gaze swept over the seven or eight thugs, causing them to feel a chill of fear.

However, today luck was not on his side, as he happened to encounter Long Chongjiu, who was particularly unyielding, which could be considered his misfortune

All eyes were instantly focused on Long Chongjiu, who had just stepped through the door

The people present were once again taken aback; today they truly encountered a formidable force. How could such power exist on hetushucom.com?

"What is there to discuss in the capture room? This is not the place to solve problems," Long Chongjiu said, glancing at the man in the suit.

These individuals are indeed bullies who prey on the weak and fear the strong. Long Chongjiu's thunderous methods have truly subdued them, which is why they still do not dare to make any moves at this moment

On the surface, his attire is no different from that of a thug, dressed in a black silk short outfit, with rolled-up sleeves and an open front. However, the significant difference lies in his robust and evenly distributed chest and abdominal muscles compared to the potbellies of the thugs across from him. The former exudes a vigorous and masculine aura, while the latter clearly represents a mere facade, being nothing more than a bag of wine and food, superficial and hollow.

Logically, Long Chongjiu, a newly appointed agent, should not have the qualification to carry a firearm. However, with the considerable influence of Yu Qiaqing, coupled with the guarantee from Lu Lian Kui, he was able to collect this gun from the Armory of the Public Works Bureau early this morning

In the vicinity of Fuzhou Road, there is hardly anyone among the personnel of the Central Police Station who does not know Zhang Chong, especially with Shen Xingshan backing him up

Little did he know, Long Chongjiu grabbed the hem of his clothes and coldly snorted, "Did you not hear what I just said? Huh? When did I allow you to leave on your own? You worthless scum." Before he finished speaking, he twisted his wrist and threw the thin man out.

Zhang Chong had been mingling in the concession for quite some time. Initially, when he heard the tone of the other party, his anger flared up. However, upon seeing the Colt at Long Chongjiu's waist, he couldn't help but feel a jolt in his heart. When did this kid emerge? How come he was unaware of it?

Long Chongjiu is exceptionally astute; how could he not understand what Zhang Chong is thinking? He secretly chuckles to himself, yet maintains an expression as calm as a still pond, saying: "It is indeed necessary to see a doctor and get medicine from https://mhetushu.com.com. Just a short distance away is the Sino-British Pharmacy. I will wait; bring the three of them back to me in half an hour."

At this moment, several thugs who had walked to the door also came to a halt, as they noticed the change in the situation. The thin man stood up at this moment, but he was still being supported by two thugs. His complexion was a mix of pale and green, and beads of sweat were trickling down his forehead; it was clear that he had taken quite a fall.

"What Zhang Chong and Li Chong? I see you are too arrogant, actually daring to shamelessly claim what the law and discipline are here? In broad daylight, gathering a crowd to cause trouble, damn it, come with me to the station." Long Chongjiu showed him no mercy, speaking with ten times the arrogance.

Zhang Chong felt a surge of anger towards Long Chongjiu, thinking, "Damn it, where did this blind fool come from? Does he want to die?" However, before he could ascertain the other party's background, he did not dare to act aggressively, as the other person's status was different; the concession police were not someone a thug could provoke.

A trace of disdain flashed in the eyes of the woman in the qipao, as if she had anticipated this situation. The subtle change in her expression did not escape the keen gaze of Long Chongjiu, while the two men still held a glimmer of hope towards him, thus they anxiously looked at Long Chongjiu.

It can be said that this gun represents identity at this time. Those in the concession police who do not hold the rank of detective or above are generally not equipped with it, unless there is a special operation, in which case the armory will collectively issue weapons to respond to the situation.

He leaned down and whispered a few words into the ear of the thin man beside him. The thin man nodded and began to retreat, intending to bypass Long Chongjiu.

The suited man immediately recognized his savior, quickly regaining his earlier "masculine spirit." He stepped forward a couple of paces and said to Long Chongjiu: "Inspector, we are all lawful citizens of the concession and the library. Today, we were attacked by this group of thugs, and you must stand up for us, right?"

Ah? Oh, I understand now. Master Bu, please have a seat and calm down with a cup of tea. A San was momentarily taken aback, then he reacted.

The few henchmen following him were also perceptive individuals; just from the tone, they could tell they needed to assess the situation. A person carrying a Colt is not someone just anyone can provoke, especially in the International Settlement

The somewhat aging yet still charming matron hurriedly responded, while simultaneously sending the young man to start making arrangements.

How can that be? As subordinates, we naturally must do our utmost to follow the boss's orders. Miss, do not be afraid; with the master of capture here to support you, how could we dare to do anything to you? Besides, it is all just a misunderstanding after all

"Yes, yes, yes, Master Bu, we will not run, we will not run." The group of thugs responded in unison, while lifting the thin man and walking him outside. Taking this opportunity, Zhang Chong stepped forward, approached Long Chongjiu, and bowed slightly, whispering, "I am a fool who does not recognize Mount Tai. I hope you can forgive me for offending the detective. Inspector Shen of the concession is my mentor. What do you think..."

Amidst a chorus of gasps, as everyone was caught off guard, the thin man let out a muffled groan and fell uncontrollably to the ground.

The man who had been beaten on the ground also stood up with the support of the woman in the qipao. Their gazes simultaneously turned towards Long Chongjiu; the man's face displayed a look of relief, while a hint of suspicion flickered in the woman's eyes

As he spoke, he cast a glance at the few thugs. Meanwhile, he thought to himself, Damn it, can I really be outmatched by a rookie? Ha, just a few flower guns have him dizzy. This fair-skinned beauty in the qipao and the - picture - must not be let go today. Hmph, once I deal with this kid, I will come after you, hmph.

"You are a person from the police, aren't you? You seem unfamiliar. I am Zhang Chong, somewhat well-known around the area of Sima Road." Zhang Chong did not want to lose face, so he pretended to be calm and first cupped his hands in greeting to Long Chongjiu.

The scale he maintained was substantial. After leaving the Ning Shao Shipping Company, he single-handedly managed the Sanbei Shipping Company and established another company, Ningxing Shipping. He also acquired the British-owned Hong'an Shipping Company. His influence was so significant that he ranked second in the Chinese shipping industry, with the first being the Shipping Administration established by Li Hongzhang of the Beiyang Navy.

A cry resembling the wailing of ghosts and howling of wolves echoed, as a pile of over a hundred pounds of flesh crashed to the ground, sending dust and dirt flying.

However, his keen eyesight quickly detected the problem; the other party's fierce demeanor only subsided when a few of them caught sight of the weapon at his waist. So that was it

Everyone was left dumbfounded, and many secretly laughed to themselves, thinking this is what it means to use darkness to combat darkness. You, Zhang Chong, are ruthless, but now there are even more ruthless people than you. Let’s see how you handle this. At such a moment, no one dared to speak up; the detention center is not a good place. Who would want to go there

Long Chongjiu had no idea that a single gun had brought him such great power; he thought he had enough presence to intimidate this group of people.

Key figure Yu Qiaqing is not only a prominent figure in the business community in Shanghai, but also a highly influential person in political circles and concessions. He rarely speaks to others to arrange for someone or to get something done; generally, it is others who seek his assistance, rather than him seeking help from others

Long Chongjiu slightly frowned, as the suited man, the beaten man, and the woman in the qipao over there changed color once again. They now realized that this fierce captor had softened, simply because he had heard the name of the renowned figure in the concession, Shen Xingshan

Zhang Chong is an understanding person. The other party has taken the opportunity to align with him and his interests, so he must also show them some respect. He chuckled and turned to the two men and one woman, saying: "Ladies and gentlemen, let us consider today’s incident a misunderstanding. I apologize on my behalf. Hey, Ah San, please take this gentleman to the pharmacy to find a doctor and get some medicine, understood"

The thin man Ah San grinned and nodded slightly, then chuckled at Long Chongjiu before addressing the three individuals: "Gentlemen, please, our Master Zhang has spoken. From now on, we are all friends. It is said that one does not truly know another until they have fought together. Let us become brothers across the four seas."

A storm seemed to dissipate into thin air, but the woman in the qipao was well aware of the tricks employed by the underworld figures in Shanghai. She coldly said to the thin man, Ah San: "We can handle the medical treatment ourselves, no need for you to follow us."

Long Chongjiu had already made plans in his heart. He cast a sidelong glance at Zhang Chong and then shifted his gaze to the two men and one woman, saying lightly: "I cannot disregard Director Shen's face, but since this matter has come to me and so many eyes are watching, you should at least explain a bit, right"

At the open collar, people could see the American-made Colt M1911 pistol that represented his identity. This was new equipment that the International Settlement had only recently provided for the constables, and it was, of course, limited to Western agents and a few Chinese agents. Those red-headed Indians were not yet qualified to be equipped with it, and even the Americans themselves were not sufficiently equipped. It is quite difficult to obtain such items nowadays, and the presence of such equipment in the International Settlement is also due to the influence of the Americans. In contrast, the constables in the French Concession generally used revolvers.

She has been able to stay in Shanghai for a long time; the gangsters and the police have always been like one family. What is going on today? Have they encountered mutual strife?

The steps have been arranged so quickly; this person truly is an old hand, articulating the formalities with great clarity.