Chapter 19: The Plot Against the Red Faction
“Outrageous!”
Inside the Hongsheng Alliance’s headquarters, He Wenchang slammed the teacup beside him onto the floor, shattering it into pieces in anger.
He wasn’t furious that Yang Sheng had killed Di Wei; rather, he was furious that Yang Sheng dared to kill Di Wei.
The difference of a single word made an immense difference in meaning.
As the head of the Hongsheng Alliance, He Wenchang’s desire for control was extreme.
Whether it was the scheming Huang Wen or the ambitious Di Wei, they were all under his manipulation through power and strategy.
Di Wei could die; even Huang Wen and Yu Lao Qiang could die.
But only if he allowed it—only then could they die. It must not be as sudden and unexpected as this.
This filled He Wenchang with an unsettling feeling of losing control.
“Boss, Uncle Wen and Uncle Qiang are here, and Yang Sheng is waiting outside,” a subordinate reported cautiously.
He Wenchang frowned. “Did you catch Yang Sheng yourselves?”
The subordinate hurriedly shook his head. “No, he came on his own.”
Earlier, upon hearing the news of Di Wei’s death, He Wenchang had ordered those guarding the headquarters to search for Yang Sheng, fearing he might escape.
But few dared actually to hunt Yang Sheng.
He was the man who had killed three fierce fighters from the Red Flower Gang. Trying to arrest him was practically a death wish.
He Wenchang frowned and snorted lightly. “Bring him in.”
Moments later, Huang Wen and Yu Lao Qiang entered first, with Yang Sheng striding confidently behind them.
He Wenchang frowned slightly.
Yang Sheng’s face showed no trace of worry or fear, nor the previously feigned cautious demeanor.
He looked nothing like someone who had just killed the leader of their own alliance.
“Yang Sheng! You dared to defy the hierarchy and slaughter our brothers in the alliance, and now you still have the nerve to come back? You’re truly audacious!”
Yang Sheng’s voice was calm and deep. “Boss, Di Wei was a Red Flower enforcer and a big shot in the headquarters. Even if I had gone mad, I had no reason to kill him. There’s more to this story. If, after hearing me out, you still insist on punishing me, I, Yang Sheng, will not resist!”
He Wenchang’s face darkened. “Speak, let’s see what lies you can spin! The alliance has its rules, and brothers killing brothers is the gravest taboo. This matter must be accounted for.”
Yang Sheng took a deep breath. “I killed Di Wei because the One-Eyed Leopard from the Helian gang wanted to recruit Di Wei over. Di Wei was long dissatisfied with you, Boss, saying you should have stepped down long ago, yet you still monopolize the top spot, giving him no chance to rise. The One-Eyed Leopard promised him he would become Helian’s main enforcer in three years. Of course, Di Wei was tempted. He even called me over, hoping I would join Helian too. Helian just lost a Red Flower enforcer named Feng Le, so gaining two more of that rank is a net gain for them. But when I first arrived in Hong Kong and was struggling to survive, it was Hongsheng who gave me a chance. I would have starved on the streets otherwise. The four words I value most are ‘grateful and repay.’ So I rejected Di Wei outright. But Di Wei threatened to have Helian’s men accuse me of colluding with Helian, which would mean punishment under alliance rules, and then he would defect himself.”
In a moment of rage, I fought with Di Wei and accidentally killed him.
Boss, if you don’t believe me, you can ask the men who dined with me tonight at the restaurant—they can vouch that Di Wei sent for me.
And the men under Di Wei can confirm that the One-Eyed Leopard secretly met him tonight!”
Yang Sheng’s words, though a mixture of truth and falsehood, had no obvious holes to an outsider.
Indeed, the One-Eyed Leopard did visit Di Wei, and Di Wei did summon Yang Sheng.
Most importantly, He Wenchang found himself hesitating after hearing this. It did sound like something Di Wei would do.
After all, he had suppressed Di Wei for so many years, and Di Wei must have harbored resentment.
Now with Helian’s One-Eyed Leopard approaching and promising a top enforcer’s spot, replacing He Wenchang with Di Wei would certainly be tempting.
Transfers between alliances had traditionally been a serious matter.
Only irreconcilable conflicts or extreme pressure would cause a member to switch sides.
But nowadays, with profit as the driving force, such transfers were no longer a big deal if the benefits were sufficient.
So if Yang Sheng’s story was true, Di Wei deserved to die.
Yang Sheng killing him actually did Hongsheng a favor.
However, He Wenchang was naturally suspicious, distrustful of Di Wei, and even more suspicious of Yang Sheng.
Yang Sheng continued in a low voice, “Boss, although outsiders call Hongsheng a declining alliance, we still need a Red Flower enforcer to uphold our image.
I want to be that enforcer, and I’m far better than Di Wei, who didn’t even dare to compete in the Dragon City contest.
Though Di Wei had ulterior motives, I did violate alliance rules by killing him without permission. I accept responsibility.
If you agree, I will wipe out all Helian’s operations tonight, kill the One-Eyed Leopard, and give the alliance justice!
Taking down an entire alliance’s merit should be enough to earn me a proper Red Flower enforcer position, right?”
He Wenchang’s brow twitched.
Yang Sheng was brazen! Not only had he killed Di Wei, but he also wanted to replace him!
Still, if he could really crush Helian, earning the Red Flower enforcer rank would be more than justified.
While there were no explicit rules for the Red Flower enforcer position in the alliances, besides fighting ability, one’s achievements were crucial.
Generally, controlling a whole street was enough to meet the standard.
For example, Nguyen Phong, a Vietnamese, earned his double Red Flower enforcer spot by conquering three streets through sheer strength.
Not even someone as wealthy as Luo Rong would have succeeded without approval from the elders of the Yinglian Society.
If Yang Sheng could wipe out the entire Helian gang, any alliance would gladly grant him double Red Flower enforcer status.
Yet He Wenchang hesitated.
Di Wei was ambitious, but he understood him and could keep him in check.
Yang Sheng, however, remained an enigma.
Losing Di Wei and gaining Yang Sheng felt like driving out wolves at the front door only to let tigers in through the back.
At this moment, Huang Wen coughed softly and whispered behind He Wenchang, “Boss, Yang Sheng is different from Di Wei. Di Wei was with Hongsheng for many years, but how long has Yang Sheng been here? You and I are getting old; it’s time to nurture the next generation.”
Though Huang Wen spoke indirectly, He Wenchang understood perfectly.
No matter how ambitious Yang Sheng was, his biggest difference from Di Wei was that Di Wei had deep roots in Hongsheng after over a decade.
Even Di Wei’s close subordinates only recognized him, not He Wenchang as the boss.
Thus, suppressing Di Wei for ten years had become increasingly difficult.
Yang Sheng, on the other hand, had only been with Hongsheng a few months.
Apart from his fighting ability, he had no foundation within the alliance.
Even if He Wenchang couldn’t suppress him for ten years, a few years would suffice—by then, He Wenchang planned to retire to England and enjoy life.
Promoting Yang Sheng didn’t conflict much with his interests.
Yu Lao Qiang chimed in from the side, “Boss, no matter the alliance, strength is the final word.
Hongsheng needs a fighter like Yang Sheng to uphold its image.
If we don’t let him rise, do you expect this old bone to pick up the knife again?
If Yang Sheng can wipe out Helian, I’ll be the first to support his promotion!”
Huang Wen’s persuasion was subtle, but Yu Lao Qiang was more direct.
Having accepted money from Yang Sheng, he spared no effort in speaking well of him.
He Wenchang remained wary of both Di Wei and Yang Sheng but had little defense against Huang Wen and Yu Lao Qiang.
Not because he trusted them, but because their interests aligned with his.
The three elders of Hongsheng were not just talk; they were the highest-ranking figures in the alliance, and their interests were naturally unified.
Hearing Huang Wen and Yu Lao Qiang’s words, He Wenchang felt a slight stirring in his heart.
After a moment of silence, he said gravely, “You have full command of everyone in the headquarters today.
If you can wipe out Helian, I will grant you the double Red Flower enforcer rank.
Helian’s territory and men will all be yours!”
A smile appeared on Yang Sheng’s face. “Boss, rest assured, from tonight on, the name Helian will vanish from all of Hong Kong.”
Seeing Yang Sheng’s smile, He Wenchang felt a sudden chill.
The sharpness and ferocity hidden behind that smile unnerved him.
But when he looked up again, Yang Sheng was already striding out of the headquarters.
Outside, many of Hongsheng’s men had gathered.
They had actually been summoned urgently in the middle of the night to search for Yang Sheng.
Now, seeing him walk out safely, the implications were clear.
“The One-Eyed Leopard of Helian conspired with Di Wei to seize the alliance’s top spot.
I have already cleansed the house.
But for a lowlife like the One-Eyed Leopard, who started from nothing, to scheme against Hongsheng—
Even if we are a declining alliance, we are not so weak as to be trampled on by just anyone!
Brothers of Hongsheng, follow me to crush Helian and kill that bastard One-Eyed Leopard!”
Yang Sheng led the charge, followed by the elite fighters from the main hall who dined with him tonight, including the foreigner Wen.
They marched fiercely toward Helian’s headquarters.
Other Hongsheng men hesitated for a moment but then roared and followed.
The quality of Hongsheng’s men wasn’t impressive.
Only a few elites inside the headquarters were truly capable fighters; the rest were just lowlifes causing trouble.
Over the years, Hongsheng’s territory had been shrinking, never expanding.
Some members who had been with Hongsheng for three or four years had never even experienced a turf war.
But people are naturally herd animals.
A lion leading a flock of sheep—sheep or not, they will still bite.
Yang Sheng’s victories had stirred their emotions and earned their trust instinctively.
Watching this scene from inside the headquarters, He Wenchang felt a sudden unease.
Could he really keep Yang Sheng under control until his retirement?