roccoschili Chapter 100 The Hong Kong Government's Suppression and Zeng Tai's Response
Chapter 100 The Hong Kong Government's Suppression and Zeng Tai's Response
Chapter 100 The Hong Kong Government's Suppression and Zeng Tai's Response
Hong Kong, Central, Spring Garden.
Before the Governor's Residence was fully completed, this place and Johnston House, which is not far away, were used as the Governor's residences.
Inside Spring Garden, the fourth Governor of Hong Kong, Sir John Pauline, did not look too pleased. He sat on the sofa in the living room, holding a cup of black tea, but did not drink a drop.
Standing in front of him was Police Chief Charles Mehley, who looked obsequious and had a fawning expression.
"Mr. Charles, could you please tell me what's going on?"
"You said you didn't have enough manpower to wipe out the gangs, so I shamelessly went to the Navy and got you two companies of Marines. Add to that a hundred Hong Kong Volunteer Army soldiers, and you have over four hundred men—half a regiment!"
He stood up, walked over to Merry, and demanded, "But what about now? Those damned gangsters have infiltrated Central—do you know how many gentlemen and ladies have come to complain since yesterday? The CEO of Jardine Matheson, the tycoon of HSBC, the director of Hongkong Land—they've all asked me if I could guarantee their safety!"
"If you don't want to do it anymore, I'd like to stay in the governorship for a few more years!"
Merry was drenched in cold sweat from the scolding, his back soaked through. He stammered, "Governor, this is not my fault."
"They had guns and grenades; those Sikhs were no match for them."
Even if the militia and marines were deployed, those gangsters would always manage to escape using the complex environment before being surrounded.
""
Merry explained over and over again, conveying the same message: it wasn't that our side wasn't trying hard enough, but that the enemy was too strong!
"Half a regiment isn't enough? What else do you want? Should I contact the Governor-General of India and have him send a few thousand soldiers to help you capture them?"
Bao Ning was no longer willing to listen to Mei Li's explanations. He waved his hand and slowly said, "I'll give you another half month. No matter what method you use, I want to hear the news that this group of Chinese gangsters has been wiped out!"
Merry gritted his teeth and said, "In that case, Governor, I need to request two more companies of army soldiers to assist me!"
""
Bao Ning was silent for a moment, then finally nodded: "Okay!"
"But Charles, remember this: this is your last chance. If you don't perform well again, prepare to resign and go home!"
Charles Merry left Spring Garden with heavy steps, and at the same time, another person came out.
"Governor, if Mr. Merely fails, are you really going to ask the Governor-General of India for help?"
The speaker was William Thomas Macher, the Chief Secretary for Administration, a thin man in his thirties wearing gold-rimmed glasses.
"Of course, we can't just stand by and watch those Chinese gangsters disrupt the order on Hong Kong Island."
Bao Ning glanced at him and chuckled, "Besides, a whole regiment of Indian soldiers was originally going to come."
Upon hearing this, Ma Che's face lit up with excitement: "You mean—"
Bao Ning nodded and said, "That's right. The newly appointed Prime Minister Palmerston has issued an order to transfer troops from colonies such as India and Singapore to prepare for future attacks."
"This is wonderful!"
Ma Che laughed, "The Qing people have consistently refused to revise the treaty, and the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, Ye Mingchen, hasn't even seen our men. Once our soldiers storm their cities again, they'll have no choice but to revise the treaty!"
The thought of Qing Dynasty officials filled Ma Che with rage.
They simply wanted to revise the Treaty of Nanjing, to force the Qing Dynasty to agree to open its entire territory to trade and legalize the opium trade.
Abolishing the poll tax and allowing ministers to reside in Beijing are not unreasonable demands.
Who would have thought that Qing officials would choose to be cowards, refusing to accept, contact, or negotiate, and for a whole year, there has been no progress whatsoever!
He paused, then suddenly said with concern, "But Governor-General, our country is currently engaged in a fierce battle with the Russians in Crimea. Isn't it a bit hasty to declare war on the Qing Dynasty at this time?"
Bao Ning said, "So right now we're only increasing the number of troops on a small scale, making preliminary preparations. Once the Crimean War is over, the elite forces in the country can be dispatched to the Far East on a large scale to reignite the war against Qing."
"This time, they will pay a far heavier price than in the more than ten years of war!"
Meanwhile, Charles Merry was already in the carriage, his mind racing.
With two companies of army soldiers, plus the existing Marines and volunteers, he can now mobilize more than 600 men.
The problem now isn't the number of people, but rather that the gangsters know the terrain too well. When the police and soldiers rush in, they slip through alleys, climb over walls, and escape through back doors. Once the pursuers disperse, they reappear.
If they keep fighting like this, even if they had another 600 men, they wouldn't be able to capture many.
He leaned against the carriage, closed his eyes and pondered. Gradually, an idea formed in his mind.
Police headquarters.
Mei Li summoned five senior police officers, walked to the map of Hong Kong Island hanging on the wall, and began to draw circles on the map.
"Starting tomorrow, all entrances and exits of streets in Sheung Wan, Sai Wan, and Wan Chai on the island will be blocked off and checkpoints will be set up. The neighborhood chiefs will cooperate in identifying the suspects, and we will search street by street, alley by alley, and house by house!"
"Each of you will be responsible for a section. The army will send two companies to support you tomorrow, so don't worry about manpower."
"Anyone suspected of being a gangster on the street can be arrested on the spot. If they resist, they should be executed immediately!"
A senior inspector hesitated for a moment, then raised his hand and asked, "Sir, what if those gangsters hide in ordinary residents' houses?"
Those who conceal others are equally guilty.
Merry said coldly, "Tell them that harboring gangsters is going against the British government. They can decide for themselves what the consequences of going against the British government will be."
He paused, then continued, "Furthermore, a reward will be offered. One shilling will be given for providing clues about the Xinghan Hall's stronghold. Five shillings will be given for providing information on the whereabouts of the Xinghan Hall's leader. Twenty shillings will be given for capturing the leader and bringing him to us!"
"Did you all understand?"
"Yes, sir!"
The five men stood at attention and saluted in unison.
the next day.
The Chinese who woke up early in the morning were surprised to find that checkpoints had suddenly been set up at the entrances and exits of the street, leaving only a narrow passage. Several British and Indian men with guns stood on both sides, their expressions serious.
Some people tried to go out, but were beaten back with sticks, and some even raised their guns, forcing people to retreat.
After a difficult communication, the neighborhood head, who could speak a little English, finally understood what they meant.
"Uncle Chen, what do these foreigners mean? I have to go to work today, and I'm going to be late!"
"Yes, Uncle Chen, my whole family depends on my meager wages to make a living. Why won't they let us go out?"
Chen, the neighborhood chief, was dizzy from the barrage of questions from those around him, and quickly raised his hand to press down: "Shut up, listen to me first!"
""
Once the surroundings quieted down, he cleared his throat and said, "The British are here to arrest that gang called Xinghantang. They're demanding we provide clues, or they'll keep the blockade going."
"If the lockdown continues, what will we eat and drink?" someone exclaimed.
"Yeah, doesn't that mean we've lost our work too? The dockworkers said that if we miss a day of work, they'll deduct three days' wages!"
Chen Fangzhang spread his hands helplessly and said, "How would I know what to do? That's what they said, they won't leave until they catch those Xinghantang gang members."
Among the crowd, a man frowned, then mentally connected with his companions.
San Francisco, Chinatown.
Zeng Tai leaned back in his recliner, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest, his brows slightly furrowed.
"Seal off the streets and send people to search."
Su Song looked at Zeng Tai and slowly said, "My lord, the Xinghan Hall has caused too much trouble in Hong Kong. The British have been provoked."
.
Guilliman said, "Generally speaking, this is already a precursor to martial law. If it gets out of control, the Governor will directly declare martial law in Hong Kong and put it under military control."
"Bao Ning has lived in Indian territory and suppressed Indian riots; he has a lot of blood on his hands. By then, in order to completely wipe out the Hing Han Church, it is estimated that one-third or even half of the tens of thousands of Chinese on Hong Kong Island will die."
Su Song chimed in, "Once we get to that point, all the initial investments we made on the island to transport piglets will be wasted."
Zeng Tai clicked his tongue. He really hadn't expected that simply staging a gang takeover in Sheung Wan and Sai Wan, areas with large Chinese populations, would touch a nerve with those British people.
"Are there any remedial measures?"
"have."
Guilliman nodded and said, "In the end, the British just don't want an uncontrolled Chinese organization to grow too big on the island, so let's just let them think that it doesn't exist."
"Most of the assassins on the island went underground, and they used different names when operating in Hong Kong, such as Hung Hing, Tung Sing, etc."
"The Wo Luen Shing and the San Lian Gang—creating the appearance of a gang war."
"The remaining people will continue to act in the name of Xinghan Hall, but they must appear to be getting weaker and weaker."
He paused, then said, "In addition, we need a traitor."
Zeng Tai was taken aback: "Traitor?"
Guilliman grinned. "Yes. A traitor who got caught by the police and is now terrified and will tell you everything. He'll tell the British that all the senior members of the Xinghan Hall will be meeting at their hideout tomorrow night."
Zeng Tai's eyes lit up: "Then the British will definitely come out in full force."
"That's right. We'll detonate the explosives once they break in."
Guilliman clenched his fist tightly and said, "And just before the explosives detonated, we teleported everyone away. Leaving behind a dozen or so corpses inside—"
"The British will then believe that Xinghantang has been completely wiped out by them."
"Let's do it this way."
Zeng Tai sat back down in his recliner, closed his eyes, and said, "Have the people in Hong Kong start preparing. Choose a large enough base and plant plenty of explosives. As for that traitor, I'll handle that!"
His consciousness crossed the ocean and landed on the body of the Hong Kong assassin.
sunset.
Charles Merry rubbed his temples as he looked at the report his subordinates had handed in.
Today, more than 40 Chinese suspected of being gangsters were arrested, and 62 Chinese who tried to escape or resisted were executed on the spot.
"No, you've come here to kill me?"
He looked up at his men and laughed angrily: "We've killed more people than we've arrested! Why don't you just kill all the Chinese on the island? That way, the gang will definitely disappear!"
A senior police inspector, with a pained expression, explained, "Sir, the man wasn't killed by our officers, it was those army soldiers."
"They weren't searching today, they were robbing! They went into every house and robbed them. If they didn't give them anything, they beat them up. Several people were killed on the spot. There was even a beast who tried to rape someone. Luckily, our people couldn't stand it and stopped him."
Another senior police officer said, "Sir, if it really doesn't work, send the army back and call in more Marines. These army soldiers are scum. If this continues, the Chinese will riot."
Melly sneered, "The Chinese riots are a matter for later, but if we can't handle this, you and I will all have to go back to China!"
Just then, a young police officer entered, saluted, and reported: "Sir, someone has admitted that he is from Xinghan Hall, and said that he knows a top-secret message and is willing to reveal it in exchange for his life."
The next day, afternoon.
The sky over Hong Kong Island was overcast, as if it were about to rain.
Merry stood on a high ground outside Pool Lane, holding binoculars, looking at the three-story old building at the end of the lane.
The Marines blocked the north side of the alley, the Army went around to the south, the Volunteers were on the east, and the police were on the west. They were everywhere; not even a cat could slip out of the alley.
Chan Ho-nam was sandwiched between two policemen, crouching behind Merry. His head was bowed so low that it was almost buried in his knees.
"Are you sure this is the place?" Merry asked without turning her head.
"Sure."
Chan Ho-nam hurriedly nodded: "Brother Crow said that the police have been pressing too hard lately, so he wants to get everyone together to discuss what to do. We've chosen this place."
"Chief," the officer beside him asked in a low voice, "when will we make our move?"
Merry said, "Now!"
The officer turned around and waved to the messenger behind him.
Police and soldiers from all directions moved simultaneously. Their steps were synchronized, their guns pointed forward, closing in like two pairs of pincers.
Soon, they had completely surrounded the area around the three-story wooden building.
Someone opened a second-floor window, and a dark figure peeked out. Upon seeing the densely packed soldiers below, the figure quickly retreated.
"Listen up, you people inside!"
A soldier holding a tin megaphone shouted in Chinese, "You are surrounded! Lay down your weapons and surrender! Otherwise—"
His answer was a gunshot.
Bullets flew out of the second-floor window, struck the wall next to the soldier, and sent up a spray of gravel.
The officer behind the soldier, struck on the head by rubble, roared in fury, "Fire!"
Gunfire erupted instantly.
Police and soldiers opened fire simultaneously from all directions, bullets raining down on the building. The wooden walls were riddled with holes, and roof tiles crashed down.
At this moment, the people inside the building also began to fight back.
Gunshots rang out from the windows on the second and third floors; though sparse, each shot was accurate.
"Charge in! Charge in!"
Half a company of Marines received orders and began to rush forward desperately until they entered the building.