Chapter 189: Attack Turns to Defense

In the Tianhong Port conference room, after Xu Hu hung up the phone, Baocheng immediately asked: "What's going on, who called you?"

Xu Hu put down his phone and placed both hands on the conference table, pausing before replying: "It was Dong Zheng calling me, saying Old Gu's death was suspicious and Wei Xiangzuo would return tonight to confront me face to face."

Everyone was shocked. Baocheng suddenly stood up cursing: "What fucking confrontation! It's obvious - Dong Zheng is going to support Old Wei. He's coming tonight to deal with you."

Li Hongze looked at the two with tightly furrowed brows, unconsciously connecting this to Xue Ping'an's earlier departure and feeling a bad premonition rising in his heart.

"No need to think about anything else, there will definitely be fighting," Baocheng said directly. "Going after Yu Jinrong now seems unnecessary, because they must be prepared. If we're going to strike, we might as well wait for Old Wei in the Zha'nan dock area, let him come in. Take him out and Yu Jinrong will quiet down too."

After receiving Dong Zheng's call, Xu Hu actually felt less anxious. Because when Wei Xiangzuo hadn't shown his face before, he hadn't known what game Yu Jinrong was playing, so he had been uncertain and had no accurate guesses about what would happen.

But now with Dong Zheng coming in, Xu Hu could instead see clearly the other side's purpose. He stood at the conference table and paused before saying: "Baocheng is right - Wei Xiangzuo is coming back to rebel, but I think his cards aren't enough - one Dong Zheng can't affect the outcome much."

"What do you want to do?" Li Hongze asked.

"Mr. Li, come out for a moment, I have something to tell you," Xu Hu called out and walked toward the door.

Lu Feng watched the two leave while holding his cigarette and muttered: "What kind of meeting is this? At every critical moment, they go out to talk privately - why have us sit here then? To solve riddles?!"

Li Xing glanced at Lu Feng and cursed irritably: "Would it kill you to say less?!"

......

Outside the door.

Xu Hu looked at Li Hongze and said very directly: "Old Li, Yu Jinrong's intention is very clear - he wants to support Wei Xiangzuo to rise, using his power to plant his flag in Zha'nan. So tonight, he's placed all his heavy bets on Old Wei."

"Yes," Li Hongze agreed with Xu Hu's assessment.

"You, me, Longkou - the power of our three sides is constant. Old Wei at most can pull in Dong Zheng to help - I think his cards aren't enough," Xu Hu said again. "If we take down Old Wei in Zha'nan, Yu Jinrong will definitely be finished too. Because whoever loses tonight will have to pay the price with the officials - isn't that the logic?"

Li Hongze thought for a while before looking up at Xu Hu and asking: "What if besides Dong Zheng, another district's people from your Dock Workers Association jumps out to support Wei Xiangzuo?"

"Won't happen," Xu Hu shook his head.

"Where does your confidence come from?" Li Hongze asked without any courtesy.

Xu Hu originally didn't want to reveal everything, but now he understood in his heart that if he couldn't give Li Hongze an irrefusable reason, the other might withdraw.

Li Hongze wasn't Xu Hu's father, much less his master - their cooperation was purely for profit, so once Li Hongze felt things might collapse, he would definitely pull out.

Xu Hu stared at Li Hongze and lowered his voice saying: "Because the General Association will definitely support me. Let me tell you - though Dong Zheng has come, he might not dare to move, do you believe it?"

"Why?" Li Hongze asked in surprise.

"Me fighting with Wei Xiangzuo is an internal conflict - the General Association's upper levels might not care to manage it. But Yu Jinrong so obviously supporting Old Wei changes the nature," Xu Hu said concisely. "...Once Old Wei rises and the politically-backed Yu family enters Zha'nan accordingly, this will definitely infringe on the overall interests of the Dock Workers Association - this is something those above absolutely won't want to see."

Li Hongze instantly understood his meaning: "But I'm cooperating with you too, I'm also an outsider!"

"That's different - your cooperation with me is to make money in Zha'nan, but the Yu family wants to plant their flag - these are two different natures," Xu Hu softly revealed his final card. "Why do the council of elders members support me? Because those above have already talked with me - the dragon head's people have tacitly approved me taking over Zha'nan, so people from other districts definitely won't dare move, and Dong Zheng might not dare move either."

Listening to Xu Hu's words, Li Hongze felt somewhat hesitant.

Xu Hu wouldn't let Li Hongze hesitate further at this point, so he directly took out his phone: "Otherwise, shall I call the Dock Workers Association vice chairman in front of you?"

Li Hongze waved his hand saying: "No need, I'll help you."

"Call your people into the port right away," Xu Hu immediately replied.

"No, I'll go back to mobilize people," Li Hongze was a very cautious person - though he would support Xu Hu, he didn't want to stay in the port anymore.

Hearing this, Xu Hu grabbed Li Hongze's wrist and stared at him saying: "Old Li, Xue Ping'an has already left - you can't leave at this time too, otherwise...!"

Li Hongze instantly understood Xu Hu's meaning. After brief consideration, he nodded and replied: "Fine, I won't leave. I'll have Li Xing and Lu Feng go back, and have Du Shengming bring people over."

Hearing this, Xu Hu felt quite moved: "Old Li, as long as I, Xu Hu, secure Zha'nan, I'll fulfill what I promised you immediately!"

Li Hongze nodded: "Let's go back."

Two minutes later, the two walked back into the conference room as Xu Hu said to Baocheng: "Bring people over from Longkou."

Baocheng was different from Li Hongze - the latter was Changqing Company's authoritative leader, while he was just a hall master temporarily acting as gang leader. He desperately needed Xu Hu's support, so he could only reply obediently: "Good, I'll call people."

Li Hongze looked at Lu Feng and Li Xing: "You two go back, mobilize people into the port."

Lu Feng blinked: "Alright, I'll go now."

"What about me?" Li Xing asked.

"Get your team's people over," Li Hongze said softly. "Show yourself if problems arise."

Li Xing nodded: "Understood."

After everyone communicated briefly, Li Xing and Lu Feng left one after another, while Li Hongze made a call in front of everyone to Du Shengming, one of Changqing Company's top lieutenants: "Gather people, come to the port."

"Understood, Big Brother," the other replied.

Li Hongze hung up the phone and stood with his hands in his sleeves looking at everyone, speaking for Xu Hu: "Tonight everyone contribute what strength they can, help Director Xu together, play with the other side."

Inside the room, those supporting Xu Hu felt reassured seeing Li Hongze's reaction and showed smiles.

......

Fifteen minutes later.

In the Yu family villa, Su Tianyu held his phone asking: "Are you sure Changqing mobilized people to the port? Good, I understand."

After hanging up, Su Tianyu immediately said to Yu Mingyuan: "Brother Yuan, call Wang Daolin, ask him to take a stroll on the streets - just have him closely watch Li Xing."

"Good," Yu Mingyuan nodded.