Qi Lingshan maintained a low profile for a long time, as he was an undercover agent. Once his identity was exposed, he would be like a lamb in a wolf's den. Therefore, Qi Lingshan never revealed himself and never sought the limelight.
However, Qi Lingshan's sharp mind and intelligence could not be hidden indefinitely.
The "Pao Ge" (袍哥) Qi Lingshan followed had poor capabilities but was in charge of managing the gang's provisions. They were constantly struggling, and Qi Lingshan, unable to bear it any longer, helped them with a few reports. This proved to be a revelation. They discovered he was a talented high school student, a top scholar, and immediately regarded him as a valuable asset.
Consequently, Qi Lingshan quickly became the gang's strategist. With a gang composed mostly of elementary school graduates, their capabilities were naturally limited. They dared not commit excessive evil deeds, as pushing their subordinates too far could lead to retaliation.
The gang did not dare to open casinos, as such lucrative ventures required significant power. Without it, their establishments would surely be smashed. Especially in Sichuan Province, where the "Pao Ge" culture was deeply ingrained and was now experiencing a resurgence, survival depended on breaking through forcefully.
Ultimately, the group chose a suitable industry: intermediation.
Intermediation, in essence, had been deeply rooted in society since ancient times. "Ya Hang" (牙行), or brokers, were similar to intermediaries, arranging housing, hiring servants, and sometimes even dealing in human trafficking. As long as an item was permitted for sale, these brokers would facilitate transactions, earning referral fees.
The gang Qi Lingshan belonged to chose a particularly advantageous niche: profiting from the price difference between intermediaries. When someone needed laborers, the gang would immediately accept the task, whether it was a mission issued by the City Lord's mansion or temporary work required by factories. They would secure these positions.
However, the gang did not perform the work directly. Instead, they took a twenty percent commission and subcontracted the tasks. In this way, they earned substantial commissions without doing any of the actual work.
This type of business required minimal capital. As long as one had the ability to secure contracts, they could operate as a subcontracting intermediary. Such a capital-free business could flourish exceptionally well.
One day, Qi Lingshan was reading a book in his room, but this was merely a facade. He was secretly sending messages to the outside world. The gang's mobile phones were subject to constant inspection, but to maintain contact with the City Lord's mansion, he had a hidden mobile phone.
Qi Lingshan stood out among the group of ruffians, not for any other reason than his exceptional uprightness.
These ruffians, having preyed on others, began to indulge. In this chaotic era, there were too many women without money or power, starving and emaciated. As long as food was provided, they could be taken home. Thus, these men began to take wives.
Qi Lingshan, however, did not smoke or drink and kept his distance from women. When he had free time, he stayed in his room reading. This habit set him apart, demonstrating a detachment from base desires. Naturally, he was referred to as "Strategist" by his subordinates, and they consulted him on all matters.
If Qi Lingshan had wished, he could have wholeheartedly served the gang. Houses and women would have been readily available. In Jiangyang, more than half the houses were vacant, even with multiple families living in a single building. If he wasn't particular about appearance, he could have quickly found women willing to be with him.
However, after much deliberation, Qi Lingshan could not succumb to such decadence.
Qi Lingshan knew that ordinary people were ultimately unable to resist disasters. Just like during the zombie outbreak, ordinary people could only huddle in their homes, waiting for the disaster to end. But without rescue, they would perish at the hands of the zombies.
Qi Lingshan also understood that as long as he could complete his missions, he would receive rewards. With evolution potions, he was certain to become an evolved person and enter the City Lord's mansion, promising a bright future. He only needed to endure the current difficulties to soar to great heights.
As Qi Lingshan was cautiously sending his message, there was a "bang, bang, bang" at the door.
Qi Lingshan quickly hid his phone in his shoe. The shoes were tall boots, and once the phone was tucked inside, no one would discover it.
Qi Lingshan opened the door to find a low-level thug who said, "Strategist, hurry up, the boss wants to see you."
Upon hearing this, Qi Lingshan frowned. He wondered why the boss would want to see him at this time. He glanced at the sky outside the window; it was dusk, just after dinner. Could it be that he was being summoned for a foot massage? That would be quite awkward!
Qi Lingshan quickly walked to the main hall. A statue of Guan Gong was placed prominently at the front of the hall. A man in his thirties was offering incense, which was referred to as the "Hall of Loyalty." In reality, it was all modeled after the practices described in "Water Margin."
"Boss, is there something you need?" Qi Lingshan asked as he approached.
"The Strategist is here! I'm currently at a loss about what to do. Please give me some advice," Qiao Xianwen said, pulling Qi Lingshan to sit down. He looked deeply troubled, having just received news about his sister.
Qi Lingshan was very puzzled. Why was the boss so dejected at this moment? There had been no recent troubles. On the contrary, people were being hired to cultivate land in the mountains, and the gang, acting as intermediaries, had earned a considerable amount of food coupons. Why the worry?
"Strategist, I recently heard some secret news from the City Lord's mansion. After much thought, I couldn't make a decision, so I came to you for advice," Qiao Xianwen sighed. He had been in a state of panic since receiving the news, unsure of how to proceed.
Qi Lingshan quickly asked, "Boss, what is the news?"
Qiao Xianwen did not answer immediately. Instead, he gestured towards the thugs in the hall. The thugs promptly left, closing the door behind them.
There were originally five or six people in the hall, but with the thugs gone, the hall suddenly felt deserted. The incense smoke still curled from the censer before the statue of Guan Erye, but only Qiao Xianwen and Qi Lingshan remained in the room.
Qi Lingshan subtly glanced at the sides of the hall. Although he grew up abroad, he had read "Romance of the Three Kingdoms." It was possible that fifty swordsmen and executioners were hidden in the side chambers, ready to rush out and attack at the sound of a dropped cup.
At this moment, Qiao Xianwen poured a cup of tea and handed it to Qi Lingshan, saying, "Strategist, please have some tea. We can discuss this slowly."
Qi Lingshan accepted the teacup, now on high alert. He thought to himself, "I must not drop this."
Qiao Xianwen sat down and said helplessly, "I heard from the City Lord's mansion that some influential figures have arrived from Yuzhou, and a crackdown is likely. Previously, all the gangs in Yuzhou were wiped out, many people died, and those who survived were imprisoned and interrogated. I heard there's a 'little demoness' in the prison."
"What little demoness?" Qi Lingshan asked cautiously.
Qiao Xianwen explained, "Strategist, you don't know. There's a little demoness in Yuzhou who can discern whether someone is lying. This is incredibly troublesome. They are constantly interrogating people in prison. If you don't speak, they beat you to death. If you say the wrong thing, they beat you again. Many people have been beaten to death. It's one thing for these peers to die, but people from Yuzhou are coming here, clearly intending to target us next."
Qi Lingshan suddenly understood. He hadn't realized there was such a person in Yuzhou. Perhaps she was a legendary esper, capable of discerning lies. That was truly remarkable.
Qiao Xianwen said helplessly, "Strategist, faced with this situation, I truly don't know what to do. What can be done?"
Like Liu Bang, Qiao Xianwen sought counsel when uncertain. Despite his junior high school education, he quoted a classical phrase.
Qi Lingshan frowned and thought, "Why haven't I heard about a crackdown in Jiangyang? Logically, if there were a crackdown, intelligence personnel like us would definitely be involved. Could this be false news?"
Therefore, Qi Lingshan quickly asked, "Boss, is this news reliable? Could you have misheard? Besides, how could you possibly get information from the City Lord's mansion so easily?"
Seeing that they were alone, Qiao Xianwen could only tell the truth. He whispered to Qi Lingshan, "This news is absolutely accurate. To tell you the truth, I have a sister who is the wife of Jiangyang City Lord Li Xiang. She sent word that Li Xiang is leading people to the city wall today to welcome the people from Yuzhou. My sister, being observant, noticed that Li Xiang hasn't even eaten dinner. This indicates how important the people arriving from Yuzhou are."
Qiao Xianwen had never revealed the existence of his sister to anyone. He felt it was shameful. His profession was looked down upon by others. Although it appeared glamorous, any disturbance from above could bring about their ruin.
Therefore, Qiao Xianwen was exceptionally timid and constantly sought information from the City Lord's mansion. Unfortunately, people like him rarely obtained such information.
This situation continued until his sister married Li Xiang. Qiao Xianwen's sister claimed to be an orphan, with no living relatives. Li Xiang did not suspect anything; wasn't it safer to marry a woman with no family ties?
Thus, Li Xiang made every effort to prevent any leaks, but the information was ultimately passed on by his wife. Qiao Xianwen learned a great deal of important information from his sister, and this time was no exception.
Upon hearing this, Qi Lingshan's brow furrowed. He knew that if this news had indeed been exposed, wouldn't the operation in Yuzhou fail? But if he could change this situation, wouldn't he be able to earn merit?
Qi Lingshan was tired of his undercover life, associating with people who had no future. He felt himself gradually degenerating.
Seeing Qi Lingshan silent for a long time, Qiao Xianwen couldn't help but ask, "Strategist, say something."
Qi Lingshan snapped back to attention and said calmly, "If people from Yuzhou have indeed arrived secretly, then there must be a premeditated plan. But what does the boss intend to do?"
Qiao Xianwen said helplessly, "My plan is to disperse and regroup. Everyone should cease all activities for now. Once I have a clearer understanding of the situation, we will reassemble. I will also notify other gangs to lie low. If other gangs are taken down, we cannot possibly exist alone."
Qi Lingshan was now certain of the news's authenticity. He took a deep breath and told himself, "Success or failure hinges on this moment. If I don't want to live a muddled life forever, now is the time to prove myself."
After spending over a month in prison, Qi Lingshan finally came to his senses. This world was not as beautiful as he had imagined. Talk of human rights and freedom was mere wishful thinking, brainwashing people with sweet words. Believing such things would lead to being brainwashed.
Therefore, to gain more, to become superior, one must demonstrate value far exceeding that of ordinary people, such as by earning merit!
Qi Lingshan stood up and walked to the desk, offering a stick of incense to Guan Erye. He then turned to Qiao Xianwen, who was sitting on the sofa, and said, "Boss, I forgot to tell you, I'm actually an undercover agent. I can report everything you've said to my superiors, the people at the City Lord's mansion, at any time!"
"What?" Upon hearing this, Qiao Xianwen's eyes widened. He had never imagined that this high school student, who had been with the gang for nearly half a year, was actually an undercover agent. How was this possible? How could someone so young be an undercover agent?
But upon closer reflection, Qi Lingshan was indeed likely an undercover agent. He was indifferent to money and women, and spent his days locked in his room reading. What was the purpose of such a person staying in his gang? Was it for free labor?
Qiao Xianwen subtly reached behind him and gripped a homemade pistol tucked into his waistband.