Anti-Japanese War Espionage: I Have an Omniscient Perspective

Once they were out of sight, Lin Rui whispered, "Dazhu, here's what happened. Tonight, Miss Manli from the Jincheng Theater will be targeted for revenge. The person who's going to take revenge on her is called Young Master Li, the son of a wealthy businessman. Because Manli rejected him, he threatened to harm her tonight. I want you to take your men and keep watch outside the Jincheng Theater tonight. If you see anyone trying to harm Manli, immediately come to her rescue. Remember, after you rescue her, talk to Manli and let her know who saved her, so she'll remember this life-saving grace."

Huang Dazhu was taken aback for a moment, then asked in confusion, "Who is Manli? Why would our Zhongyi Gang need to rescue this woman?"

Lin Rui explained, "Saving Miss Manli will benefit your Loyalty Gang. Miss Manli is someone close to Wan Heilin, and if you can save her, she will definitely be grateful to you. At that time, you can take the opportunity to suggest that you introduce Wan Heilin through her and offer him your allegiance. Currently, the conflict between Wan Heilin and Zhang Xiaolin has intensified, and he urgently needs manpower. Your Loyalty Gang is capable of fighting and handling trouble, which is exactly what he needs. As long as you can get in touch with Du Men, your Loyalty Gang can truly gain a foothold in the French Concession."

Hearing this, Huang Dazhu seemed to understand but not quite.

He was illiterate, and his knowledge of strategy was limited to stories about the Three Kingdoms and the Sui and Tang Dynasties told by storytellers in his town.

Hearing Lin Rui say this today, and considering that the last operation at the opium den was entirely thanks to Lin Rui's planning, he felt a surge of admiration: "Boss, you're so smart, if you were in the army, you could definitely be a staff officer, no, even more capable than a staff officer, what was called a military advisor in ancient times."

Lin Rui laughed. "That's nothing, far from being a strategist. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Huang Dazhu nodded emphatically, his tone firm: "Don't worry, I understand! Tonight I'll take my brothers to guard outside the Jincheng Theater. We'll protect Miss Manli and won't delay your important business!"

"Very good." Lin Rui nodded in satisfaction, then carefully instructed, "Remember, be very careful and find a hidden spot to lie in wait beforehand, so you don't get discovered. After rescuing Miss Manli, don't linger too long. Just briefly introduce yourself, saying you're from the Loyalty Gang and happened to be there when they intervened. Don't mention wanting to be introduced to Wan Heilin through her for now."

"I've got it!" Huang Dazhu nodded again, keeping Lin Rui's instructions firmly in mind, not daring to overlook anything.

Lin Rui glanced at him, making sure he understood, and said, "By the way, this is something only you should know. Don't tell your men. Just find an excuse to take them to keep watch near the Jincheng Theater. I have other things to do, so I'll be leaving now."

"Okay, Manager Chen, I'll see you off!" Huang Dazhu said hurriedly, accompanying Lin Rui out of the alley until Lin Rui's figure disappeared on the street before turning back to the warehouse.

Back at the warehouse, Huang Dazhu immediately gathered his men, "Brothers, let's go out for dinner tonight. I know a small restaurant that's good with oil and fat, let's treat ourselves to something yummy."

Upon hearing this, the brothers all showed excited expressions. Although they had been divided up the money, none of them wanted to spend it recklessly. Of course, they were willing to have the leader take them out for a good meal.

Everyone got up and followed Huang Dazhu toward the Jincheng Theater.

By this time, it was getting dark, and the curfew would begin in three hours, so there were far fewer pedestrians on the road.

Huang Dazhu led his brothers to the outside of the Jincheng Theater, where they sat down at a small restaurant in an alley across from the theater and ordered a few dishes.

In order to get a better view of the situation on the other side, Huang Dazhu asked to sit on the seats set up in the alley.

Time passed slowly, the last performance at the theater ended, and the audience members left one after another, chatting and laughing as they went.

As the audience left, the number of people at the theater entrance gradually decreased, and the theater staff came out to clean up.

Just then, Manli, dressed in a cheongsam and accompanied by two maids, walked out of the back door of the theater.

There was a rickshaw she had chartered outside, and she was about to get in and go home.

Just as she was about to get into the carriage, a dozen or so thugs dressed in black suddenly rushed out, each one looking fierce and menacing, and pounced on Manli and her maids.

"Do it!" the lead thug shouted, his tone menacing. "Tie this woman up!"

The two maids trembled with fear and hurriedly stepped in front of Manli, but were pushed aside by the thugs and fell to the ground, crying out.

Manli turned pale and trembled with fear. She turned to run into the theater, but two thugs blocked her way and grabbed her arms tightly.

"Let me go! Who are you? Let me go!" Manli struggled desperately, her voice trembling, her eyes filled with fear and despair. She knew that these people must have been sent by Young Master Li.

"Let you go? We'll release you when we get to our boss!" the leader of the thugs sneered.

"Help!" Manli struggled and screamed.

If someone covers your mouth, you should grab their arms and legs and carry them away.

Seeing this, the theater staff hid inside the theater, and the coachman dared not approach.

Seeing this, Huang Dazhu, who was in the alley across the street, immediately stood up: "Brothers, come with me, let's save someone." The six of them got up without hesitation and ran across the street.

They were all former soldiers, skilled and well-coordinated. Although they had no weapons, they were more than capable of dealing with these street thugs.

"Who are you?!" The leader of the thugs exclaimed in surprise, his face changing drastically upon seeing this.

Huang Dazhu didn't say anything, but rushed forward and punched the leader of the thugs in the face. The leader staggered back a few steps, blood flowing from the corner of his mouth. His eyes were full of anger and resentment. He roared and led his thugs to pounce on Huang Dazhu and the others. The two sides immediately started fighting.

The sounds of fighting and screams mingled together, shattering the tranquility of the night.

Huang Dazhu and his brothers acted swiftly and decisively, displaying the efficiency and ruthlessness of soldiers. Although the thugs outnumbered them, they were no match for them. Before long, they were beaten black and blue by Huang Dazhu and his men, lying on the ground, howling in pain, with no strength left to resist.

The leader of the thugs was kicked in the chest by Huang Dazhu and fell heavily to the ground. Looking at Huang Dazhu, his eyes were filled with fear and resentment, and he said in a trembling voice, "Who...who are you? Why are you meddling in my business?"

Huang Dazhu remembered what Lin Rui had told him to do: to register his name so that Manli would remember this kindness.

He was originally thinking about how to tell Manli that he was from the Loyalty Gang, but now it's all settled.

He stomped his foot, looking down at the thugs, his tone icy: "We're the Loyal and Righteous Gang, and we can't stand cowards like you who bully women. I'm warning you, don't cause trouble for this young lady again, or next time it won't be so simple! Get lost!"

The leader of the thugs, seeing Huang Dazhu's cold eyes, was filled with fear. He dared not say another word, and hurriedly struggled to his feet, leading his thugs to flee the scene in a sorry state.

After chasing the people away, Huang Dazhu immediately turned around, walked up to Manli, and asked in a gentle tone, "Miss, are you alright?"

Looking at Huang Dazhu in front of her, Manli's fear and despair were gradually replaced by gratitude.

She straightened her cheongsam, bowed deeply to Huang Dazhu, and said sincerely, "Thank you so much for saving my life. Without you, I would probably be in grave danger tonight. I will never forget your kindness in saving my life."

"You're too kind, Miss. It's only right to help when you see injustice." Huang Dazhu smiled kindly. "We're all straightforward people. We can't stand seeing women being bullied like this, so we stepped in to help. It's not a matter of saving someone's life."

Looking at Huang Dazhu's honest smile, Manli felt a surge of goodwill towards him.

The man in front of her was of ordinary appearance and spoke in a simple and honest manner, and he had no designs on her whatsoever.

She quickly picked up the purse that was handed to her, took out a piece of paper, wrote something on it, and handed it to Huang Dazhu: "Brave man, my name is Manli, and my contact information is here. If you ever need my help in the future, please feel free to contact me. I will do my best to help you and repay your life-saving grace. By the way, I still don't know your name or what you do?"

Huang Dazhu took the business card and put it away, a hint of shyness on his face. He quickly said, "Miss, my name is Huang Dazhu, and I am the leader of the Loyalty Gang. These are my brothers."

"The Loyalty Gang?" Manli was taken aback. Wan Heilin, whom she followed, was one of the largest gangs in the concession. She had never heard Wan Heilin mention the Loyalty Gang before, so it seemed to be a very small gang.

But the maidservant beside her interjected, "I know the Loyal and Righteous Gang. The day before yesterday, you were distributing food to the refugees in the refugee area of ​​Beile Street, right? Miss, they are all good people."

Huang Dazhu smiled sheepishly, scratched his head, and said embarrassedly, "It's nothing."

At that moment, a group of men in black quickly approached.

Upon seeing Huang Dazhu and his group, they surrounded them.

Seeing this, Manli quickly explained, "Hou San, they are the ones who saved me, don't do anything rash."

Hou San, the leader, clasped his hands in thanks: "Thank you for saving me. May I ask which sect you belong to, brother?"

Huang Dazhu returned the greeting with clasped hands: "The Loyal and Righteous Gang."

"The Loyal and Righteous Gang?" Hou San asked, puzzled. "I've noted it down. Miss is frightened and needs to go back to rest. I'll visit you another day."

After the two sides finished talking, Du Menhou led his men to take Manli away.

Huang Dazhu went home chatting and laughing with his men.

In the darkness in the distance, Lin Rui used his supernatural abilities to observe everything.

Things unfolded exactly as he had planned, and he soon left the place and returned to the film studio.