Hidden Radiance

Nighttime. The French Concession.

The Ford sedan drove through the empty streets. Its wheels splashed through puddles, sending water spraying half a foot high.

Gu Yunqiu gripped the steering wheel. Lu Minghui sat in the passenger seat, a thermos tucked between his knees, the lid unscrewed, but he hadn't drunk from it.

"Shanghai is quite cold too," Lu Minghui said, looking at the streetlights ahead.

Gu Yunqiu kept her foot steady on the accelerator, and the car did not slow down.

"If Commander Lu likes it, we'll have it every day from now on." Her tone was flat, without any extra emotion.

The streetlights receded one by one. Steam seeped out from the gaps in the lid of the insulated container, dissipating as it hit the cold glass of the car window.

"Wan Molin has been out there for five days, he should have figured it out by now." Lu Minghui put the lid on and placed the thermos next to his feet.

Gu Yunqiu turned the steering wheel. The car turned into a quiet alley.

The car was parked in front of a courtyard outside the former site of the Du Mansion.

Four men dressed in black short-sleeved shirts and jackets stood at the door. Their waists were bulging.

Lu Minghui got out of the car. His left arm was still in a sling across his chest. Gu Yunqiu turned off the engine and followed, half a step behind him.

Four men stepped forward, blocking his path.

"Private residence, no visitors allowed." The leading man sized up Lu Minghui.

Lu Minghui didn't waste any words. He pulled a Browning pistol directly from his trench coat pocket with his right hand, and pressed the barrel against the leader's chin. With a click, the hammer opened wide.

"roll."

The man swallowed hard, his Adam's apple brushing against the cold barrel of the gun. He recognized Lu Minghui's face and the No. 76 uniform.

The four people slowly backed away.

Lu Minghui raised his right foot and kicked open the courtyard gate.

The hall was brightly lit. Wan Molin was discussing matters with six Green Gang leaders around an octagonal table. The door was kicked open, and the six leaders simultaneously drew their guns, pointing them all at the doorway.

Wan Molin sat in a grand chair, holding a purple clay teapot in his hand. He raised his hand, suppressing the gunfire from the crowd.

"Director Lu, why are you so angry? Your injury isn't fully healed yet, is it?" Wan Molin leaned back in his chair.

Lu Minghui walked to the octagonal table, pulled out an empty chair, and sat down. Browning slammed his hand on the table, making a dull thud.

Gu Yunqiu stood to his side and slightly behind, her hands in her leather jacket pockets.

"Mr. Wan, it's been five days. Have you made up your mind?" Lu Minghui asked, looking at him.

"The Green Gang's docks are our ancestral property; we can't hand them over." Wan Molin took a sip of tea from the spout. "Director Lu, please return."

"Ancestral legacy?" Lu Minghui laughed, a short laugh. "Shao Shijun has already set up an incense altar in his backyard on Jessfield Road, preparing to recruit your Green Gang's followers and descendants. Li Shiqun's action team swept through your three businesses in Zhabei last night. Mr. Wan, do you still have the mind to drink tea?"

Wan Molin paused. He placed the purple clay teapot on the table.

"Li Shiqun wanted to swallow up the Green Gang, but he didn't have the teeth to do it."

"He has it." Lu Minghui took out a folded piece of paper, pressed it on the table, and pushed it over. "Not only does he have it, he also knows how to kill you."

Wan Molin glanced at the words on the paper. His wrist, holding the teapot, stiffened for a moment, his knuckles turning white on the handle.

The note read: "No. 342, Avenue Joffre, French Concession, is hiding 36 people of unknown origin. There are 40 rifles and pistols, and 20 jin of explosives."

The hall was deathly silent. The six big bosses put their hands back on their waists.

"You hid them in the French Concession, providing them with good food and drink. Sun Yaozu found out about this." Lu Minghui tapped the table with his finger.

"Sun Yaozu found out, and Li Shiqun knew it too. Li Shiqun took this to Nakajima Shinichi to curry favor. Mr. Wan, guess how many military police will Nakajima send to raze your house?"

Wan Molin stared at Lu Minghui. The composure on his face vanished.

"You want to use this to threaten me?" Wan Molin's voice was cold.

"I'm not here to threaten you, I'm here to save you." Lu Minghui leaned back in his chair, a little blood seeping through the gauze on his left shoulder, but he ignored it. "You hand over the control of the docks to me. I'll issue you thirty-six special passes from the Mei Agency. Your men will be disguised as members of my Confidential Bureau and can walk openly and legitimately in Shanghai."

Wan Molin was stunned.

On the wall behind Wan Molin hung a Guan Gong sword from a theatrical stage, its red silk tassels dangling there, motionless.

"What Nakajima wants is control over the flow of supplies. What Shao Shijun wants is the Green Gang's money bag. You're caught in the middle, and you'll be crushed sooner or later." Lu Minghui spoke rapidly, giving the other party no room to think. "Cooperate with me. The docks are nominally under the Special Higher Police, but in reality, they're still under your control. If Li Shiqun dares to take over your business again, he'll be going against the Mei Agency."

Lu Minghui pointed the gun at the piece of paper on the table.

"If you die, none of them will survive."

Wan Molin placed his thumb on the lid of the Zisha teapot, rubbed it back and forth a couple of times, and then stopped.

"What do you want me to do?"

"Stir up the mess for me." Lu Minghui stood up. "Didn't Shao Shijun want to be a gardener? Let him sleep soundly these past few days. I want your men to smash up his black market businesses. If anything goes wrong, I'll take responsibility."

Wan Merlin looked at Browning on the table, then at the paper marked "Confidential".

half an hour.

Wan Molin picked up the teapot, took a clean white porcelain cup, poured a cup of hot tea, and held it with both hands, pushing it towards Lu Minghui.

The red silk tassel on that Guan Gong sword had, at some point, drooped even lower.

"Director Lu, please have some tea."

Lu Minghui didn't drink. He picked up the Browning and tucked it back into his waistband.

"Tomorrow morning, I want to see the dock roster and dispatch stamp delivered to my desk at number 76."

He turned and walked out.

"Commander Lu," Wan Molin called after him, "What are you planning to do about Lu Xuzhang?"

Lu Minghui didn't stop walking.

"That's my business."

I stepped out of the courtyard. The night wind was cold against my face.

Gu Yunqiu got back into the car and started the engine.

"Are you crazy?" Gu Yunqiu looked at the road ahead. "Giving Mei Agency passes to so many unidentified people? If Nakajima finds out, he'll skin you alive."

"If he doesn't investigate, he won't know." Lu Minghui closed his eyes. "Shao Shijun and Li Shiqun are colluding, and Nakajima is already dissatisfied. I'm using the Green Gang to put pressure on Shao Shijun, and Nakajima will only think I'm doing a good job."

Gu Yunqiu didn't say anything more. The car drove two blocks away.

At the intersection ahead, there's a wonton stall selling late-night snacks. Light bulbs hang from the shelf, casting a warm glow on the steaming pot lids.

Gu Yunqiu stepped on the brakes. The engine stopped.

"Want a bowl of wontons?" she asked, turning her head.

I'm not hungry.

"But I have intelligence."

Lu Minghui opened his eyes.

The two got out of the car and sat down at the stall. Gu Yunqiu ordered two bowls of wontons.

The stall owner brought over a bowl. Gu Yunqiu picked up her chopsticks and inserted them into the soup. A ring of oil floated on the surface of the noodles. She watched the oil disperse before speaking.

"We received the message ten minutes ago." The voice was lowered so that only the two of them could hear, "Li Shiqun has made his move. Lu Xuzhang was entertaining at the Paramount Ballroom tonight when he was taken away directly by the 76th Action Team."

Lu Minghui's hand holding the spoon froze in mid-air.

"Where did you take it?"

"I didn't go back to No. 76. I went to the little villa in the backyard of Jessfield Road." Gu Yunqiu looked at him. "Shao Shijun wants to see him."

Lu Minghui threw the spoon back into the bowl. The porcelain clattered together with a crisp sound.

He stood up.

"Go to Jesfield Road."

"Are you going to snatch them now?" Gu Yunqiu stood up and slammed a banknote on the table.

"We're taking him." Lu Minghui strode to the car, opened the passenger door, and said, "I'll also be a witness."