dognovel Chapter 15 Even rats would starve to death here! [Please continue reading]
Chapter 15 Even rats would starve to death here! [Please continue reading]
As an important port city in northern China, Tianjin is dotted with docks.
There are wharves at the mouth of the Haihe River, with Tanggu as the main one; wharves on the main stream of the Haihe River occupied by various concessions in the past; and inland river wharves, with Dahongqiao Wharf as the main one.
Beidaguan Wharf is a typical inland river wharf.
In 1665, the fourth year of the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, the Tianjin Customs House was moved from Hexiwu to the South Canal outside the North Gate. Due to its large scale and location in the north of the city, it was popularly known as the "Northern Customs House".
As a former checkpoint for grain transport and tax revenue, this place was able to support the entire region solely through tax revenue.
Unfortunately, with the invasion of the Eight-Nation Alliance in 1900, tax collection at Beidaguan was abolished, and the area declined as a result.
Today, this place has become an ordinary canal wharf, where grain, general merchandise, and civilian boats gather, a mixed bag of goods and artifacts.
"The tiger-head candied hawthorns here are the most authentic. I've tried many places, and theirs is the most like Young Master Ding's craftsmanship! Would you like another one?"
In the bustling dock area, Han Tieshan took a string of candied hawthorns from a vendor and handed it to his teammate next to him.
The term "tangdui'er" refers to candied hawthorn berries, a unique name used in the Tianjin-Haikou area.
The young master Ding mentioned by Han Tieshan was originally named Ding Boyu. He came from the "Da Guan Ding" family, a prominent customs family in the late Qing Dynasty, and inherited the position of customs officer at the age of 16.
When he was young, his family had an endless supply of money. Jin Hai was the first to ride a bicycle and paid for the installation of kerosene streetlights in Jin Hai. These deeds made him a celebrity in Jin Hai!
After the Eight-Nation Alliance invasion, the Ding family was looted, and the abolition of customs led to unemployment. Ding Boyu was so destitute that he could only make a living by making and selling sugar candy.
Because he spent a lot of money to hire Wang Laowu, a chef from the imperial kitchen, to make sugar dumplings at his home when he was young, he took the opportunity to learn the craft from Wang.
Unexpectedly, he actually managed to revive his business by doing this "unconventional" thing.
His sugar-coated hawthorns not only sold extremely well, but he also became the pioneer of the "Tianjin-Hai sugar-coated hawthorn industry".
Nowadays, in the Beidaguan area, every vendor selling candied hawthorns claims to have learned the craft from Master Ding!
"Captain, no, no, that's enough!"
Surprisingly, the teammate standing next to Han Tieshan was Chen Beifa.
Chen Beifa in military uniform looked quite different from when he wore civilian clothes; he exuded a sense of righteousness.
"Enough? Take it!"
Han Tieshan glared at Chen Beifa and shoved another cigarette into his hand.
Chen Beifa looked at the two candy piles in his hand, and he almost cried.
He doesn't like sweets, wouldn't this make him sick of sweets?
Han Tieshan was clearly unaware of this; he even thought he was being very righteous by doing so!
Of course, Han Tieshan had no intention of paying after taking the candy; he simply turned around and left with Chen Beifa.
The vendor watched the two leave, still wearing a fawning smile, not daring to show the slightest dissatisfaction.
"Captain, isn't this a bit inappropriate?"
"What's inappropriate? Xiao Chen, it's normal that you don't know much about us soldiers since you're new here."
These vendors only survive because of us; otherwise, the protection money from those gangs alone would be enough to keep them afloat!
Hearing Han Tieshan's words, Chen Beifa couldn't help but feel a little uneasy:
The money they collect is probably no less than the protection fees paid by those gangs, right?
As they talked, the two walked to a warehouse at the Beidaguan Wharf.
This warehouse is a military supply depot, guarded by the logistics company of the 20th Military Police Regiment. Passersby would quicken their pace and walk around it when they saw the heavily armed soldiers at the entrance.
However, when Han Tieshan led Chen Beifa in, the soldiers at the door not only did not stop him, but even saluted him.
"Hey, Lao Han, it's been a while since you've come. What brings you here today?"
As Han Tieshan entered the warehouse, a middle-aged military officer approached him and joked with him.
"I was busy with something the other day, but this is a business we're doing together, so I definitely had to come and check it out!"
Han Tieshan naturally sensed the other party's sarcastic tone and retorted irritably, but still took out a pack of Daqianmen cigarettes from his pocket and handed one to the other party.
Because he had been preoccupied with hiding Ma Kui for some time, he hadn't had time to come over for a visit.
Not long ago, that jinx Ma Kui finally left.
Although he didn't know where the other person had gone, he felt relieved that the other person had left, and he felt much more relaxed.
Although he didn't believe Ma Kui was a criminal, he was still quite in danger of being wanted by the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics.
"Buying or selling?"
Chen Beifa, standing to the side, couldn't help but think to himself upon hearing those two words: it was somewhat ironic for such words to come from the mouth of a soldier.
"Tch, do you think I'd be short of you? What's this?"
"Our new team member is named Chen Beifa. I'll show him around and let him get acquainted with the team!"
Then, Han Tieshan turned to the young man and said, "Xiao Chen, this is Director Huang from the Logistics Company's Quartermaster Department. Greet him!"
"Hello, Director Huang!"
Chen Beifa saluted Director Huang.
Platoon Leader Huang nodded casually, then looked at Han Tieshan, his eyes seeming to say:
"Can they be trusted?"
"He's Boss Wang's nephew, we're all on the same side!"
Han Tieshan smiled at the other party.
That's right, this is the favor that Hong Zhong asked Boss Wang to do!
That is to have Boss Wang arrange for Chen Beifa to be placed next to Han Tieshan.
Capturing Han Tieshan would be a very simple matter; with a single order from Hong Zhong, the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics could arrest him.
But what happens after they're caught?
The point of this whole thing isn't arresting people, it's squeezing money out of them!
You can't squeeze much profit out of Han Tieshan alone.
Furthermore, the military police and the secret service are not part of the same system and do not get along. Even if there is a charge of leaking information, Hong Zhong should not expand the scope of the case and arrest a large number of people.
If things really escalate, even Wu Jingzhong might not be able to protect himself.
That's the military! I don't want to be shot eight times in the back and forced to commit suicide one day!
Therefore, Hong Zhong needed to know which members of their military police force were wealthy, which had connections with Han Tieshan, and which could be arrested, so as to carry out precise arrests and... extortion.
These are things that outsiders don't know.
The secret agents of the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics were unaware of this, as was Boss Wang, the receiver of stolen goods. Therefore, someone needed to infiltrate their ranks.
With Boss Wang's guarantee, Chen Beifa successfully gained Han Tieshan's trust and joined the military police, becoming one of his personal guards.
Upon hearing that it was Boss Wang's nephew, Director Huang's expression softened considerably, but he still said:
"I'll only do business with you. I'd better avoid dealing with Boss Wang!"
"Okay, you're a cautious person!"
Han Tieshan gave Director Huang a thumbs-up, then said to Chen Beifa:
"Xiao Chen, wait here for a moment. Director Huang and I will go inside and have a talk!"
"yes!"
Chen Beifa immediately stood at attention and responded.
After saying this, Han Tieshan put his arm around Director Huang and walked into the warehouse, while Chen Beifa stood at the warehouse door.
However, in the instant the door opened, Chen Beifa peeked at the warehouse and couldn't help but gasp.
Who would have thought that such a large military supply depot would be completely empty!
It looks like even rats would starve to death here!