He was bluffing. I smiled and said slowly, "Oh...actually, I just wanted to make friends with you. By the way, I just reached an agreement with General Chatchai. I'm afraid that starting next week, you won't be able to get any more goods from the Golden Triangle."
"What?!" Wang Shanhu's face immediately changed, as if he had been slashed!
"Don't believe me?" I shook my head: "You see, I never lie when I'm threatening someone."
Wang Shanhu's expression quickly darkened, his eyes darting around as he rapidly calculated something.
"This is a war." I said in a deep voice, looking into his eyes slowly. "And I wasn't the one who started it. Just over a month ago, we were fellow disciples with the same title. Who caused this situation?"
Looking into Wang Jiujin's eyes, I continued to probe: "Besides, what will this war bring? If we win, will you be the one to benefit? Or Luo Kaishan? Neither! It'll be Lei Hu! If I die and you win, then the biggest beneficiary will be Lei Hu. You'll get nothing. What if you lose? As I just said, I've already taken care of General Chatchai. And Old Sorin from Canada has clearly shown his support for me. Now, unless I die... you're destined to lose. But if you lose, whose losses will be borne? Your entire Big Circle! Do you think that's fair?"
Is it fair?
Of course it's unfair! Anyone can understand why. Lei Hu started the war; if he wins, he benefits alone. If he loses, the entire industry has to bear the losses!
Moreover, what's left of the Big Circle drug trade after losing the Golden Triangle?!
Wang Jiujin's eyes began to change; he was still hesitating. His gaze shifted between cunning and cruel; I knew he was also contemplating murder, but I didn't care.
"You know about the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, right?" I chuckled. "In the later stages of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, during the internal strife, several factions fought each other to the death. At that time, one of them, Shi Dakai, was the smartest. He didn't participate in the infighting; instead, he led his own troops away. Staying out of it and avoiding trouble—that was a good strategy, yes, a good one!" I looked into Wang Jiujin's eyes and smiled. "But do you know how Shi Dakai died? He left the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, took his troops far away, and in the end, his entire army was wiped out at the Dadu River in Sichuan!"
“I’m not Shi Dakai,” Wang Jiujin said with a gloomy face.
“Yes, you’re not,” I laughed. “But what else can you do? Go back? Lei Hu will devour you, and Luo Kaishan might not want to either! Stay in Shanghai? That’s fine. When the Big Circle loses the North American market, it also loses the support of the Golden Triangle. How long can you, Wang Shanhu, hold out?”
silence……
After a suffocating silence, a cruel glint finally flashed in Wang Jiujin's eyes. He sneered, "Not bad! You're good with words. But I hate people like you who are too good with words! What you said is all true, but as long as I kill you here, all the trouble will be over! After I kill you, no matter what deal you make with Chatchai, Chatchai won't keep his word to a dead man!"
He took two steps back and then looked at me.
“That’s right.” I said without changing my expression, “But… if you kill me, Lei Hu will still benefit. What benefit will you get?”
"..." Wang Jiujin was speechless.
"Look, I don't have a single one of my men here to see you. Your men are just a few dozen meters behind you; if they rush over, a few shots and they'll kill me. But... after I die, Lei Hu will definitely thank you. And, but what I'm thinking is, after he's dealt with Luo Kaishan, will he let you go because of your gratitude? As for me... I'm a boss, after all, with quite a few friends and allies, and I have a few businesses under my belt. After I die, someone will surely avenge me. At that time, will Lei Hu help you? You're not a fool... killing me will benefit Lei Hu, and what will you gain? A bunch of enemies? Hahahaha..."
"Fuck you!" Wang Jiujin flashed a hint of ferocity: "I hate people like you who just talk big! I'll take you down today!"
After saying that, he was about to raise his hand to summon his men.
I remained expressionless, then gently tossed the cigarette pack about seven or eight steps away from me: "Have you thought this through?"
Then, I raised my left hand...
Bang!!
A gunshot ripped through the air, causing the snow on the nearby trees to fall! Wang Jiujin stared at the cigarette box on the ground, shattered by the single shot!
He suddenly turned around and looked around, while his men in the distance behind him were also startled by the gunshots and rushed over with their weapons.
"Stop! All of you stop right there!!" Wang Jiujin, as expected of someone who had been on the battlefield, instantly recognized the situation!
He didn't even move an inch; instead, his body was stiff, and he stared intently at me: "Sniper?"
"That's right, a sniper."
The riverside park is not large, and there are several upscale restaurants and a few buildings just outside the park, separated by a narrow road less than five meters wide.
The location I chose was very open, with no trees nearby to hide in, which is why Wang Jiujin felt safe coming here. While this terrain isn't ideal for ambushes, it's the perfect open space for a sniper to operate!
"You've got guts!" Wang Jiujin gritted his teeth. "Aren't you afraid I'll take you down with me? Even if you have a sniper, with so many of us, a hail of bullets could kill you, you wheelchair-bound guy!"
“I believe that.” I remained relaxed. “But, would it do you any good to die together? Dude… You’re living a good life, you have money, you have women, why would you want to die with someone like me who has no grudge against you? What’s the benefit? Please, dude, in this world, everything has to be about the benefit!”
"Sit down." I smiled faintly, then reached out and placed my hand on Wang Jiujin's shoulder, helping him slowly sit down in the chair. "Have your men step back a bit. If so many people with guns surround us, it might scare someone if they see us."
This time, Wang Jiujin didn't hesitate. He immediately shouted a few words, and his men retreated, putting away their guns.
Just then, from outside the park, a crackling sound came from afar; it was a group of teenagers setting off firecrackers.
The clattering sounds startled Wang Jiujin and the others again. After they realized that it was firecrackers instead of gunshots, Wang Jiujin finally breathed a sigh of relief and gave me a deep look: "Good tricks."
"Thank you for the compliment." I smiled faintly.
I wouldn't be foolish enough to fire a sniper rifle in broad daylight in a public place. After all, a sudden gunshot could easily alert someone and cause trouble.
So, immediately after the gunshot, some pre-arranged people started setting off firecrackers! But frankly, this method only works in China. Because in China, let alone ordinary people, even most police officers haven't heard a real gunshot! Everyone knows that police in most parts of China are not armed! They are only armed in emergency situations when carrying out major and dangerous missions. Many police officers, such as beat officers or patrol officers, haven't even fired a shot in years.
"One last question... Wang Shanhu, are you interested in becoming the boss of the Big Circle?"
Part Three: The Pinnacle, Chapter 111: Rebellion is Imperative
"..." I suddenly threw out this question without warning, which made Wang Jiujin's body tremble. He stared at me with a complicated expression and his eyes were full of surprise.
“One month… As long as you agree, you’ll be the boss of the Big Circle in a month. Chachai will resume his support for you, and the Canadian market will reopen to you!” I smiled, looked at Wang Jiujin’s face, and shook my head: “Such an important issue, you can go back and think about it carefully, you don’t need to answer me now.”
Wang Jiujin's face turned pale and then red, and his body began to tremble. I, however, raised my wrist and glanced at my watch.
"Chen Yang...you're not making fun of me, are you?!" Wang Jiujin stared at me, his eyes almost red: "What makes you think you can talk so big..."
"Teasing you?" I smiled slightly. "Do you think I'd be interested in going all this way to meet you here and then telling you jokes? Wang Shanhu... As for why I have such a big mouth, I'm not afraid to tell you, it's because I have the Canadian Hells Angels backing me! And because Chatchai from Thailand agreed to my conditions!"
I know when to be weak and when to be strong!
Wang Jiujin in front of me is clearly wavering. Only by giving him some strong medicine now can we make a final decision.
"I control the market, and I've cut off the supply... What makes Daquan think they can fight me? Just a few hundred paratroopers? What a joke! This isn't a war! Besides, with your limited forces, every one you lose is one less! This is a war of attrition. Can Daquan afford to fight like that?"
Wang Jiujin isn't stupid. Although he might be a bit short-sighted, he's managed to stay in the big circle for so many years and reach this position. He can't possibly misunderstand what I'm saying.
"Fine, even if I believe you... but what are you after?" Wang Jiujin's face looked like that of a gambler who had lost all his money, and his breathing became rapid involuntarily: "You want to make me a puppet? Damn it, I, Wang Shanhu, may not be a hero, but I will not be a puppet being manipulated."
"What would I be after?" I frowned, my face gradually revealing disdain, then I smiled, a smile laced with mockery and sarcasm. Seeing this smile, Wang Shanhu's face grew even more guilty.
"To be honest... I have no interest in scheming against the Big Circle. In my opinion, the Big Circle is outdated. The era of robbing the world with just a few guns is over! Organizations like the Big Circle are better suited as pure thug mercenaries. They have no future in business development. What would I want? Your drug business? What a joke! I've cut off your supply lines! I can replace you in the North American market anytime I want! What else is there for me to covet in the Big Circle? Would I even consider your few hundred paratroopers? Sure, paratroopers are elite, but..." Anywhere can cause chaos. But… do I need more men? My men can sink dozens of paratroopers to the bottom of the sea! That shows I don't care about these things! I gradually sharpened my gaze, adding a touch of aggression: “This is a war. And it was that old bastard Lei Hu who started it! Originally, Da Quan and I were on separate paths. We kept to ourselves. But someone had to covet my little bit of wealth, constantly plotting against me. And then he stabbed me in the back! What do I want? Let me tell you, Wang Jiujin, what I want is Lei Hu's life!”
My blunt words made Wang Jiujin's expression change, but they also reassured him.
Is the large circle scary?
It's scary, but at the same time, it's not scary.
If a comparison must be made, the Big Circle organization is like a nuclear bomb! It possesses immense destructive power, but it cannot be used normally. It cannot be used as a conventional weapon.
It is the sharpest knife, but it cannot become a well-established and powerful organization.
The terrifying thing about the Big Circle is that if you anger it and it goes all out, hundreds of highly skilled veterans, trained in real combat, could form a destructive force comparable to special forces! If they're determined to take you down with them, they absolutely have the capability to wreak havoc on any gang in the world, crippling them completely!
However, the large circle isn't necessarily a threat. It lacks a large-scale and well-established organization, and it lacks a robust self-sustaining mechanism. It's like a country without conventional weapons or a regular army, yet possessing nuclear weapons.
This is the Big Circle, a gang with top-notch fighting capabilities, but whose overall strength is almost negligible.
My undisguised disdain annoyed Wang Jiujin, but also made him somewhat helpless.
I glanced at him, then slowly turned my wheelchair and pointed to the distance behind me.
The Huangpu River was still flowing slowly. In this kind of weather, there weren't many boats on the river, and the chilly air made it seem as if a thin layer of mist was floating on the water...
"See this river?" I said coldly. "Wang Shanhu, times have changed. Twenty years ago, the Big Circle gang, with just a few AK47s and a group of veterans whose skills far surpassed those of ordinary gang members, could run rampant in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. They robbed over a dozen gold shops in Hong Kong in one go, leaving the police in disarray. They could also rely on a group of veterans with skills almost comparable to professional soldiers to smuggle themselves into North America, making those blue-eyed foreign gangs surrender and suffocating the Vietnamese... They were so glorious back then. But what about the Big Circle gang now? Hmph... painstakingly built up..." "You're a pathetic drug 'distribution' business! In other words, you're still stuck in the awkward position of 'middlemen' in the business world! Even in legitimate businesses, with the changing world, the space for middlemen to survive is shrinking. Even an idiot knows that to grow and expand, you must industrialize! Become a real business! But what about you? You don't even have a single piece of real territory that truly belongs to you! It's true, the big circle's parachuted-in soldiers are very capable! Extremely capable! One of your parachuted-in soldiers can take down at least a dozen of them! But if they lose a dozen, they can immediately replace them with dozens more! What about you?"
I pointed at the river: "This is the trend! In my opinion, the Big Circle is a bunch of old-fashioned people who stick to the old rules but refuse to follow the trend of the times. To put it nicely, you are going against the heavens and trying to go against the current! To put it bluntly, you are strangling yourselves step by step."
Wang Shanhu's expression grew increasingly grim. He seemed to want to refute me, but he couldn't utter a single word. Because the person sitting in front of him, having only taken over the Canadian branch of Daquan for two short years, had already transformed it into a new organization that even the Asian headquarters envied.
“Go back and think about it.” I waved my hand, then gave Wang Jiujin a deep look. “You can consider it, but I won’t give you much time. You’re not the only one on my list of candidates… If you refuse, I’ll go find Luo Kaishan! If you don’t have the guts, then Luo Kaishan might be interested in my proposal.”
As I spoke, I slowly pulled myself away in my wheelchair. After walking about two or three meters, I stopped and glanced at Wang Jiujin, who was still lost in thought. "Hey, let me tell you something... coming to Shanghai to avoid the internal strife was a smart move. But Shanghai... isn't your paradise. The Qinghong Ren branch in Shanghai has been wiped out, and I've already made an agreement with the other branches of Qinghong. If I want, it's best if the Big Circle avoids Shanghai in the future. Mr. Ouyang from the Qinghong Di branch is a friend of mine, and his offer is... according to the old rules from when Shen Shan was alive, he'll take 10% of the Big Circle's business in Shanghai... but the condition is that you're on my side. Otherwise, it's best if the name 'Big Circle' doesn't appear in Shanghai anymore." A murderous glint flashed in my eyes. "The Huangpu River is deep enough to bury many corpses."
Wang Jiujin practically watched me leave. The men he left at a distance didn't dare stop me at all. His gaze followed me almost to the small road outside the park, where Hansen got out of a black sedan, lifted me into the car, and drove away...
I saw Wang Jiujin through the car window; he was still sitting there, looking dazed.
I think he'll probably have a hard time getting a good night's sleep tonight.
"Isn't pushing him like this too aggressive and backfire?" Yang Wei frowned slightly in the car.
I was carrying a miniature listening device, and Yang Wei overheard my conversation with Wang Jiujin.
"No. This guy is cunning and suspicious, but he also has some ambition. He just lacks courage. Although his nickname is Mountain Tiger, his personality is not like a tiger. He is more like a fox that is a little greedy but lacks enough courage, and he is also a bit timid. But at this moment, I have given him the biggest opportunity, and he has no choice but to be tempted."
I gently pulled the listening device out of my coat and tossed it to Yang Wei, laughing, "Besides, we have a backup plan... Have you sorted out the recording of today's conversation?"
Yang smiled and said, "Of course, I just listened to it, and it was very clear."
“That’s it. If Wang Shanhu still doesn’t dare to rebel, I’ll find a way to get the recording into the Big Circle organization! Give it to Lei Hu! Or Luo Kaishan! At that point, this Shanhu won’t be able to resist.”
Part Three: The Pinnacle, Chapter 112: Fellow Disciples? To hell with fellow disciples!
Two days later, Wang Jiujin's entire force withdrew from Shanghai. He had finished dealing with some business in Shanghai over the past two days, and then, with more than a hundred of his trusted subordinates, he left Shanghai overnight and boarded a plane to Nanning.
Before he left, he called me and said three words:
"I did it!"
Then, Zhou Zhou, the buck-toothed lawyer who had been in contact with me, brought me some news.
“Someone wants to see you.” The cunning and greedy lawyer spoke vaguely on the phone: “It’s someone you know well—someone in the big circle.”
I know that Bucktooth Zhou knows a lot of things I don't. He was by Eighth Master's side for so long, and judging from past indications, he seems to have many intricate connections with Big Circle. However, it was a bit unexpected that the people from Big Circle would actually contact me through Bucktooth Zhou's channels this time.
What surprised me even more was...
"Boss, are you going to meet him or not?" On the phone, Zhou with buck teeth sounded somewhat helpless: "But I suggest you should meet him."
"Why?"
“Because if you don’t show up, then this time next year you’ll be coming to sweep my grave.” Buck-toothed Zhou’s voice didn’t sound like a joke: “Because he’s right next to me right now, and he’s pointing a gun at my head.”
I started to frown.
Bucktooth Zhou is currently in Canada. After settling things in Thailand, he used the excuse of being too tired from business trips to insist on taking leave. Then he went straight back to Canada.
"You've been captured?" My expression was grim. I had already carefully instructed my men to be careful, especially now. The paratroopers of the Great Circle aren't just good at gunfights! Assassination is also one of their strengths.
My other friends, like Qiaoqiao and the others, all have considerable backgrounds, and the Big Circle wouldn't dare risk making another powerful enemy by touching them. My friends, including Yandi, also stayed with Qiaoqiao's father.
Now, the Big Circle also knows that the most effective way to oppose me is to eliminate one or two key members of my organization. Like Xiluo!
I had already asked my senior brother to protect Xiluo. But I didn't expect that the other party would go after Bucktooth Zhou.