1982 Started from Hong Kong

Chapter 426 I Treated You to Dinner
'Shock! The Watergate scandal is happening in Hong Kong!'

'This newspaper has completed its self-examination and will resume publication today. We plan to fire 70% of Wei Jianbang's team.'

'The second part of "The Three-Body Problem" will continue to meet readers in the middle of this month in a serialized form.'

'Jiuyi Entertainment plans to film Mr. Jin Liangyong's work "Swordsman" and is currently negotiating copyright issues...'

Front page, second page, third page, fourth page...

The "Jiuyi Daily" has reorganized its layout, removed political content, and added entertainment news and hot gossip, as well as illustrations of big-breasted girls. It has returned to the public eye with a sincere attitude of turning over a new leaf and making a new start.

No one cares.

Everyone's attention was drawn to the headline "Hong Kong version of Watergate".

Public opinion was in an uproar.

The early morning text version of the report was published on the front page of newspapers.

There are more than a dozen lines of dialogue in the whole article, but only three or two sentences contain key information.

Szeto XX: Hong Kong society is too stable now. We should give citizens some incentives to push them to immigrate to safer countries...

Lai XX: HKTA planted a bomb in Hong Kong, and it will be difficult to explain to the British...

Situ XX: We are also helping the foreigners to promote immigration! Anyway, XXXX will handle this matter. You just need to add fuel to the fire in the "Forbidden Fruit Daily" and the British foreigners will run away immediately. Our real backer in the future is still America...

Some citizens immediately looked up the "Forbidden Fruit Daily" which had not yet ceased publication last year, and indeed found a short commentary about the bombing on it.

Forbidden Fruit Daily, July 1987, 7:

"Twenty years ago, riots broke out in Hong Kong, and homemade bombs were placed everywhere to resist the British riots. But today, twenty years later, the bombs are reappearing, and the situation is exactly the same. Who are they?"

It matches the content mentioned in the text conversation exactly!
Last year, the Hong Kong government just launched the so-called BNO passport, which was issued to elites from all walks of life, with a total of more than 16,000 passports.

Holders of this passport can obtain consular protection overseas and can travel to some British overseas territories visa-free, but the duration is only six months and a new application is required after it expires.

This is equivalent to introducing talent but only giving a second-class citizen a half-year contract.

Therefore, the number of applicants is very small.

As a result, three consecutive bombings in July created panic, and more than 16,000 passports were quickly claimed.

Whether it's English or American,

Most citizens only recognize the word "guilao" and curse at each other!
Then doubts arose again.

There is also a third person in the text version of the conversation between the two people, who is suspected to be an American, but his name is blurred with XXXX. Who is this bastard?

……

The newspapers were distributed early in the morning, and public opinion had not yet fermented.

At ten o'clock in the morning, Szeto Ming-chu was still doing his election show in Kwun Tong. He took his wife to the streets of Kwun Tong, waved to the citizens along the street, talked at length in front of the camera about his ideals and ambitions after being elected, shook hands with every supporter, and demonstrated his determination and sincerity.

"The nomination of me by the electoral college this time reflects the support and expectations of hundreds of councillors from all over Hong Kong. I will definitely hold on to this crucial seat and continue to serve the people of Hong Kong. As long as we unite to canvass for votes and urge for votes, we will definitely win..."

Snapped!
Suddenly an egg hit me.

A slapping sound exploded on Situ Mingzhu's face, interrupting his passionate speech.

'Who arranged this scene?'

The first thought flashed through Situ Mingzhu's mind, and he ignored the egg liquid flowing down his chin, still with a polite smile on his face.

Looking in the direction where the eggs were thrown, Situ Mingzhu saw several unfamiliar and indignant faces in the crowd, and couldn't help but secretly praise: "Good acting! This will definitely be regarded as a supporter of Du Yixian, rude and disrespectful!"

“I hope Principal Du Ye’s supporters can calm down.”

Situ Mingzhu wiped his face, still smiling generously: "After all, we are all for the future of Hong Kong..."

"For your mother! You stupid butcher pig, you planned the series of bombings last July, and now you dare to come out and pretend to be kind and righteous!"

"That's right! The September 1st Daily has already exposed your actions. Are you going to run for a seat in parliament? You're just waiting for the target!"

"Everyone, don't be deceived by this idiot. If you read the front page of the first issue of September 1st Daily this morning, you will know the truth..."

The endless insults made Situ Mingzhu's heart beat fast.

He can no longer maintain his gentle and generous image.

Bombing? I almost forgot about it myself. How come the September 1st Daily reported it?
"I'll get in the car first, and you help me finish the job."

Seeing that the citizens around him were becoming increasingly angry, Situ Mingzhu felt a little uneasy. He told the campaign team around him to stop the crowd, and he turned around and walked towards the car, holding his wife's hand.

But before he could get to the car,
Several policemen in military uniforms have pushed through the crowd and come to the front.

The leader was a big boss from O-Jiang.

"Councilman Szeto, we now suspect that you are involved in three bomb conspiracy cases last July. Please come back with us to assist in the investigation. You have the right to remain silent..."

The routine set of 'Miranda warnings' ended.

The big sir directly pulled out the shiny handcuffs and waved them in front of Situ Mingzhu, and said jokingly with a smile: "Please, Councillor Situ."

Situ Mingzhu's face turned pale. He still had some illusions at this moment and was afraid of affecting his image. He asked in a low voice: "Hey, can you not lock the door?"

The big sir snorted coldly: "No!"

Click!

Situ Mingzhu's hands were handcuffed.

Seeing him being pushed into a PTU by several men in military uniforms, several senior police officers accompanying him all smiled as if they had gotten revenge.

Fuck you!

Recently, the newspapers have been righteously condemning our police officers as useless.

Situ Mingzhu, are you still alive this time?
…………

At noon, more than 400 electoral college members from various constituencies received news one after another.

"Is this true? Is Situ Mingzhu involved in last year's bombing?"

"I don't know. Right now, only the anonymous conversation in the September 1st Daily has revealed it."

"So there is no actual evidence?"

"But Situ Mingzhu has been arrested by the police. Anyway, I dare not vote for him again..."

Everyone in the electoral college is feeling insecure. Except for a few individuals who have come out to condemn, most people are still secretly observing subsequent developments.

There is no actual evidence. What if it turns out to be a reversal in the end?
At the same time, the sales of "September 1st Daily" continued to rise.

Four hundred thousand newspapers,

Before the newspaper seller closed his stall in the afternoon, all the newspapers had been sold out by citizens of Hong Kong.

On the stock panel of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange,
Originally, because the entertainment group had been suspended for more than a week, 997's stock price fell slightly, but the decline was stopped instantly.

But stockholders are also waiting.
If the September 1st Daily spreads false news, it will undoubtedly be embroiled in a scandal and the entire group will be affected.

Everyone was caught in a long wait, eagerly hoping to get first-hand information.

Half an hour before closing,
Someone saw police officers from Organized Crime and Triad Bureau walking into the September 1st Daily News Company.

In a short while, the police took the new editor-in-chief, Pan Yongqiang, away from the building to assist in the investigation.

Some investors who could not bear the pressure began to sell their stocks, praying in their hearts that it was false news.

So in the last ten minutes before the market closed,

The stock code of Hong Kong Stock Exchange 997 shows a strange curve graph:
Rise, fall, rise, fall, rise…

That night,

During TVB's prime time, the news channel interrupted the broadcast with an urgent message.

'Half an hour ago, our station received an anonymous tape, which we believe is related to the explosion mentioned on the front page of the September 1st Daily News this morning. TVB will not make any judgment on this incident and will only play the tape received and ask the audience to identify it by themselves...' Along with the clear voices of Situ Mingzhu and Lai Chi-ying coming out from the TV station, it corresponds one by one to the text dialogue of the September 1st Daily News.

Although Mark Simon's name was still muted when referring to Americans.

But that night, the stockholders who were expecting a sharp drop in 997 stocks vomited blood and wanted to rush into the police station to kill Situ Mingzhu immediately...

…………

"What the fuck are you doing!"

Mark Simon from the CIA shouted at Zhai Yuan on the phone: "Do you know what you are doing? Situ Mingzhu and his team are the ones we focus on supporting and caring for... And! Where did you get the tape? Why didn't you send it out without my consent!"

Mark Simon, who has always been gentle, honest and kind, finally couldn't hold back anymore. His anger through the receiver made Zhai Yuan's eardrums buzz.

"Take it, Simon. I have processed your name. Don't worry, you will not be implicated in this matter."

Zhai Yuan sat in the car, scratched his ears and smiled, "Situ Mingzhu and I have some personal grudges. Can we stop here? We can continue to cooperate in the future."

After a pause, Zhai Yuan asked again: "Where are you now?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, and then Mark Simon's voice sounded again: "I have arrived in Taiwan this afternoon. This matter is not so easy to end. You must give me an explanation..."

"How can I explain to you that you are in Treasure Island?"

Zhai Yuan interrupted with a smile, "I also received a lot of anonymous tapes this time, which contain a lot of conversations between you and Li Zhiying, so I just wanted to discuss with you how to deal with it... Since you have gone to Taiwan, we will talk about it next time we meet."

As the car passed Qingyi North Bridge, Zhai Yuan's profile flickered under the light of the street lamp.

Mark Simon was silent for a longer time this time, and then he said, "If there are really other tapes, I will arrange for someone to go to the company to pick them up tomorrow morning. We will talk about the rest next time we meet. That's it!"

"Pick! How dare you hang up on me?"

Hearing the beeping sound in the receiver, Zhai Yuan rolled his eyes.

He turned his head to look at the paparazzi leader sitting next to him and asked with a smile: "Sir Ye, are you sure he is hiding in the Tsing Yi Shipyard?"

Ye Yiqian grabbed his trouser leg nervously. "Half a month ago, I followed Mr. Zhai's instructions and installed a GPS locator on his car. The radio signal triangulation positioning is relatively low, but it is probably in this area of the shipyard."

"Well done." Zhai Yuan patted Ye Yijian on the shoulder as if to encourage him, and then asked, "But have I ever asked you to install a locator?"

Ye Yijian was stunned for a moment, then quickly shook his head: "Absolutely not!"

"Then why are we here at the shipyard tonight?"

“…Look at the scenery.”

"Wrong again, let's sleep at home tonight~"

…………

Danganshan, Tsing Yi Shipyard.

In the wee hours,

The freight terminal, which covers an area of more than 30,000 square feet, is filled with containers. The shipyard is mostly made of temporary sheds and warehouses built with iron sheets. The outlines of several large cranes that are no longer working are looming in the night, and the humid air is filled with the smell of engine oil and sea.

"Is that the one?"

The temporary van drove around the shipyard. Zhai Yuan pointed at a black Mercedes parked in the corner and asked the paparazzi captain.

Ye Yiqian saw Mark Simon's car clearly and nodded repeatedly: "No mistake!"

"You're just a CIA agent who didn't even know he was being followed by a dog."

Zhai Yuan sneered and smiled at Ye Yijian: "Wait in the car."

After saying that, he opened the car door and walked down.

Ye Yiqian watched him leading four bodyguards out of the car. Their loose clothes were bulging, and he couldn't help swallowing.

……

"Go find Zhai Yuan tomorrow. If he refuses to hand over the tapes, apply for a search warrant and take all the audio and video products from his company!"

In a maintenance warehouse at the shipyard, various mechanical parts, cables and paint cans are piled under the low roof.

Mark Simon's fat body looked a bit funny sitting on a small stool.

"I'm afraid it's a little difficult, Mr. Simon."

Opposite Mark Simon sat two young men in suits. One of them said with embarrassment, "Now our political department is not as easy to work as it was a few years ago. The pressure from the mainland is very high, and there is a risk of disbanding at any time..."

"Stop talking nonsense. I don't care what method you use, you must find the batch of tapes he mentioned!"

Mark Simon looked grim and said ruthlessly, "If you can't find him, kill him for me!"

The two agents from the Political Department looked at each other and hesitated in silence.

Nowadays, it is almost impossible to capture a well-known person like Zhai Yuan and bring him to the White House in Mount Davis for interrogation.

And getting rid of such a wealthy Hong Kong businessman for a blank check from Mark Simon is not worth it.

"I'll go out and see if the boat has arrived."

An agent from the Political Department stood up and walked out of the warehouse: "Anyway, get you out of Hong Kong first, Mr. Simon. We can talk about other things later."

"Okay!" Mark Simon responded unwillingly.

This infiltration mission was a complete failure. No one expected Zhai Yuan to betray them so suddenly and even get a hold of Li Zhiying's recording from his lifetime.

I can only leave Hong Kong as soon as possible. If my name is exposed, even the American Protection Amulet will not be able to protect me.

What the hell, I cursed in my heart.

Mark Simon watched the agent open the warehouse door. The next second, the expressions on the faces of the three people in the warehouse froze.

"You're in Treasure Island again?"

Zhai Yuan's voice came in with a smile: "Before I released the news last night, I contacted the Chief Secretary. All employees of the September 1st Daily are not allowed to leave the country and must cooperate with the investigation unconditionally. Are you going to grow wings and fly to Taiwan?"

As Zhai Yuan was speaking, Da La La strode into the warehouse, followed closely by Wei Xing and his four companions.

The nearest agent from the Political Department had a gloomy expression and immediately reached for his gun from his waist: "Don't move, Political Department..."

Bang!
He was answered with a shotgun blast.

Before the agent unbuckled his gun, Satellite had already quickly pulled out his gun.

Pull the trigger and blow him away!

The agent who fell to the ground still had an expression of disbelief on his face, and there were bloody holes on his chest.

"Mr. Zhai, this matter has nothing to do with me."

Seeing his companion die instantly, the other agent raised his hands without hesitation.

Zhai Yuan walked straight towards Mark Simon and said to Wei Xing without turning his head, "Be quick."

Bang!
The second gunshot rang out as he gave the order.

Mark Simon opened his eyes wide and looked at the second agent lying at his feet. He didn't even bother to wipe the blood off his face. His face was full of fear and panic.

"Don't, don't shoot." He waved his hands at Weixing, then looked at Zhai Yuan and forced an ugly smile: "Mr. Zhai, we can talk about anything, we can compromise on anything, just raise any request. Have you forgotten? I even treated you to a meal..."

Zhai Yuan quietly walked behind Mark Simon and bent down to pick up half of the steel pipe from the ground.

"Don't look back, dear."

He tapped the fat foreigner on the shoulder with a steel pipe.

"Why do you foreigners force me to be a traitor?"

Zhai Yuan muttered, then swung the steel pipe and smashed it hard on the back of the man's head: "You fucking trapped me!"

(End of this chapter)