Chapter 178: Cheng Gang Offers a Plan

In a single-story house in the Xinaluo region, Su Tianyu sat in a corner position, quietly watching the newly arrived man talk with Wei Xiangzuo.

"...I don't care about rumors," Wei Xiangzuo lit a cigarette and looked at the man with furrowed brows asking: "What's important is, do you believe I killed Old Gu?"

"Ah, if I believed it, I wouldn't be here today," the man sighed. "But outside they're spreading detailed stories, saying you colluded with outsiders to kill your own master for power. Especially that Cheng Gang - he used to follow by your side, his words have a big influence on the people below in the dock gang. Old Wei, sometimes rumors really can kill people."

Wei Xiangzuo paused before replying: "Old Tong, as long as I don't die, rumors will always just be rumors. I called you here today to ask - if I go back, can you help me?"

The man paused slightly before picking up the cigarette pack on the table and asking: "What do you want me to help with?"

"I need some support from the Marine Police side at critical moments," Wei Xiangzuo didn't beat around the bush or probe with words, but replied very directly.

The man lit a cigarette and took a deep drag: "I can't guarantee other teams, but if you want to go back, I'll help you."

Their conversation was very concise. Su Tianyu, sitting to the side, heard clearly and hadn't expected the man to agree so readily.

After pausing briefly, Wei Xiangzuo reached into his pocket and took out a bank card, pushing it across the table even before the other had helped him: "There's a hundred in here - take fifty yourself, use the other fifty to work on relationships in the Marine Police. If anyone's willing to support me and the money's not enough, I'll add more."

The man picked up the bank card and took a deep drag on his cigarette before replying: "I won't take my share - this money, I'll use it to work on relationships with those above."

"No, one matter is one matter - take what should be yours, don't be polite with me," Wei Xiangzuo waved his hand. "After all, you still have a group of brothers to support."

"Hehe," the man grinned. "Old Wei, I owe you a favor and never knew how to repay it. Don't try to persuade me - for this matter, whether it succeeds or not, I won't take a penny from you."

Wei Xiangzuo paused but didn't argue: "Fine!"

Su Tianyu found the two men's expressions very strange - he couldn't quite understand why these people involved in both legal and illegal matters seemed so sentimental. He felt it wasn't quite real.

After discussing the help, the man began telling Wei Xiangzuo about the current situation in Zha'nan: "Your subordinates Wentao, Xu Jun, Old Gan... they've all been arrested by Team Two people, currently detained in the Marine Police facility..."

Wei Xiangzuo listened quietly with tightly furrowed brows.

......

At Tianhong Port.

Gu Baishun spent nearly a day meeting many of Wei Xiangzuo's lieutenants, but the discussions didn't go smoothly. These people all said they no longer supported Old Wei, but when asked to hand over territory and businesses, no one was willing.

After returning to Xu Hu's place, Gu Baishun sat on the sofa and said softly: "Brother Hu, I tried my best, but... these people are still very resistant in their hearts."

"Damn it, still haven't beaten them hard enough! Kill a few more and throw them in the fucking sea - let's see if anyone still dares oppose!" Xu Hu's brother who had gone with Gu Baishun said with a fierce look.

Gu Baishun sat stiffly to the side without interjecting.

"Though Old Wei's remaining people have scattered, they're still quite numerous," Xu Hu said after careful consideration. "If we really push them to desperation and they band together to cause big trouble, those above can't withstand it. The Police Bureau has already clearly stated their position - if there are more mass incidents, they'll still deal with the General Association, deal with me."

Everyone fell silent hearing this.

Just then, Cheng Gang, who had been standing to the side, suddenly said: "Brother Hu, if we're going to do it, we can't show mercy."

Xu Hu looked up at him and asked politely: "Gang, do you have any thoughts?"

"Now these people are unwilling to hand over shops for two main concerns," Cheng Gang had been with Wei Xiangzuo for a long time and understood their situation well, so he offered another poisonous plan. "First, these people don't really trust you - they're afraid that after handing over shops, they'll finally be cleared from the port and lose their livelihood. Second, they still have hope in Wei Xiangzuo, always feeling Big Brother can return and speak for everyone, so though they say they'll cooperate, they actually have calculations in their hearts, and may even still be in private contact with Old Wei."

Hearing this, Xu Hu nodded in agreement.

"We only need to do one thing now to scatter these people," Cheng Gang said softly. "Be a bit ruthless, kill the chicken to scare the monkey, make them completely lose hope in Wei Xiangzuo."

"How?" Xu Hu asked.

"I want to go to the Marine Police once, see those arrested people," Cheng Gang said directly.

Xu Hu stared at him for three seconds before slowly nodding: "Fine, I'll have someone arrange for you to meet them. How long do you need?"

"Three days at most," Cheng Gang replied decisively.

"It's settled then," Xu Hu agreed.

Actually, Cheng Gang's heart was now full of anxiety and fear, because he knew too well what kind of person Wei Xiangzuo was. If they didn't completely finish this person now, then he as a traitor would definitely have no peaceful days in the future.

After discussing with Xu Hu, Cheng Gang left by car, heading toward the Marine Police's prisoner detention unit.

......

In Xinaluo, Old Tong talked with Wei Xiangzuo in the room for over two hours before leaving with the money.

Su Tianyu held a water cup and sat beside Wei Xiangzuo, asking softly: "Giving a hundred thousand before the matter's done - is this reliable?"

Wei Xiangzuo looked up at Su Tianyu: "I make friends without any purpose, and don't necessarily need any profit entanglement. Old Tong was previously in civilian departments, couldn't touch sea business at all, but we always got along well. When I was on the run, his son got sick and needed money for surgery - I gave him seventy thousand twice. I hadn't expected he could enter the Marine Police power department, and he hadn't expected I could end up in this situation - do you understand my meaning?"

Su Tianyu slowly nodded: "Did you have seventy thousand then?"

"No, gathered it to help him."

"...Hehe," Su Tianyu grinned. "Then how did you know this person was worth befriending, worth gathering money to help? What if he's another Cheng Gang?"

Wei Xiangzuo looked at Su Tianyu and said incisively: "You're very clever, but your cleverness sometimes limits you. In making friends, if you first think about worth or not, then it's already not worth it. Xu Hu considers benefits when things happen, but today if roles were reversed, would you and Yu Mingyuan still help him with five million?"

The usually glib Su Tianyu was speechless hearing this - he truly felt Wei Xiangzuo's difference.

"...If I were someone with only money in my eyes, then from the moment Xu Hu took position as gang leader, I would have had no survival space in Zha'nan," Wei Xiangzuo slowly stood up and directly walked toward the door.

Su Tianyu looked at his back and muttered softly: "Real, or fake? Damn it, if it's fake it's pretty impressive... not easy to fake for so long."

Outside, Wei Xiangzuo stood in front of the house looking at the night, his mood very complex. Today he had learned from Old Tong that Xu Hu was desperately purging his forces in Zha'nan, while he hid like a turtle's grandson - he felt he had let down those people who called him hall master, called him big brother.

Wei Xiangzuo had an impulse hard to suppress in his heart as his eyes looked toward Dragon City.

In the room, Su Tianyu was also thinking about how to help Wei Xiangzuo out of his predicament. After long consideration, he picked up his phone and sent a text message: "Did you investigate what I asked you to investigate?"