Chapter 1068: Chapter 19: Can We Talk Somewhere Else?
Without the support of CCTV’s dedicated camera operators, standing in front of a warship makes one feel particularly insignificant.
The Ming Country’s modern navy follows the line of the British Royal Navy; it’s not an exaggeration to call it master-disciple inheritance.
Currently docked at Tianmen’s home port are two battleships, four cruisers, twelve destroyers, twenty-five transport ships, and torpedo boats. All the warships line up in a row, blocking out the sky and sun, their ends out of sight.
And this is only a third of the North Navy’s power, with the rest dispersed among military ports in Liaodong, Yokosuka, Jianghu World, and other locations.
The bad news is that eighty percent are not domestically produced, with the remaining twenty percent being from Fusang.
The good news is they didn’t cost much; when the British closed their country, they sold off close-to-expiry warships as a package, and the navy scored a big bargain.
This transaction was completed under the mediation of the Four Seas Commerce Guild.
The relationship between the navy and the Four Seas Commerce Guild is quite complicated. Even someone like Nie Xiaoyun, a nurse, can explain some of it, but she is similarly unaware of higher-level affairs.
After taking a tour around the harbor and looking at various warships—honestly, these things attract men far more than women do.
The hesitations that Wang Yunxiao originally had in his heart have now completely vanished.
A real man should board a ship.
Hesitating one more second is a betrayal to one’s own heart.
However, Wang Yunxiao also noticed that the type of floating battleship he had seen before was not present in the naval port.
It must have been hidden away.
After arranging to have barbecued food together with Nie Xiaoyun in the evening, Wang Yunxiao returned to the office.
More intelligence about the Four Seas Commerce Guild and the Yang Family had already been delivered; the navy’s work efficiency remains as high as ever.
“So, the Yang Family’s real base is in Xiangjiang, not in Cypher?”
Originally, he thought that the Four Seas Commerce Guild had merged with the Yang Family, but the actual situation is more complex than Wang Yunxiao anticipated.
The direct lineage of the Yang Family, who went into exile overseas decades ago, is primarily engaged in finance, securities, and transportation trade industries.
These are all lucrative businesses and are also the main areas of operation for the Four Seas Commerce Guild.
But in reality, the Yang Family members have a relatively low status within the Four Seas Commerce Guild and do not even have much presence.
This is akin to a point guard who averages over 20 points per game sitting on the bench watching the water cooler during official games.
Is this right?
Anyway, Wang Yunxiao feels something is off.
“Is there any problem with the intelligence?”
“The intelligence was specially pulled from the Secretary Bureau, it may not be very precise, but it should be reliable.”
“Then I really don’t understand, what is he up to?”
It’s not that there aren’t people like this; there definitely are, but they are the kind who get publicly ridiculed at the start, the ‘thirty years east, thirty years west, do not bully the youth for being poor’ children of fortune, the protagonists of the realm.
Wang Yunxiao pondered for a while, then picked up Yang Jian’s personal profile to start his research.
It’s undeniable that this is someone detached from lowly interests, a cold and efficient killing machine.
As the Red Lantern Incense Master of the Old Dragon Hall in the Four Seas Commerce Guild, he has made a name for himself with his ruthless and emotionless tactics over the years.
Almost no one can escape condemnation at his hands.
It sounds like there’s not much difference from Yang Qiming.
The Yang Family members… or rather, the elite figures of the Yang Family, seem to all have this style.
“We’ve also found Yang Youxuan, do you want to meet her now?”
“Alright.”
The Yang Family has several branches in Tianmen, and their connections aren’t close. At least Wang Yunxiao knows that Yang Youxuan and Yang Tianyu aren’t from the same family line, and they aren’t familiar with each other either.
In noble families, this is a very normal thing. Especially when the main family has been exterminated and there’s a living King Yan close by sharpening his knife. Wang Yunxiao can well-understand the survival predicament of the Yang Family members.
Understanding doesn’t equal sympathy.
Your ancestors made the mistakes; you reap what you sow.
Yang Youxuan, wearing handcuffs, was locked in the interrogation room, her face pale as paper.
She was very clear on what would happen if she were caught by the navy.
Almost no Yang Family member has walked out of the Navy Compound alive.
There is no reasoning to be done.
No matter if she was the Lamp Holding Rakshasa of the Red Lantern Society, or the head of the Light Industry Committee, these identities meant nothing in the eyes of that Marshal.
She certainly didn’t want to die, but no one could speak on her behalf either.
Despite trying to maintain composure on the surface, her calves were trembling slightly.
Upon hearing footsteps behind her, she became rigid.
“Don’t be nervous, it’s me.”
Wang Yunxiao walked up to her, poured her a cup of hot water, and pushed it over.
Yang Youxuan exhaled a breath of relief, her complexion slightly easing as she forced a smile, “Section Chief Wang, I haven’t seen you for a few days. How come you’re over here with the navy? I don’t think I’ve wronged you in any way, have I?”
“Indeed you haven’t, so there’s no need to be nervous.”
“Can we talk somewhere else, you know this place is where people die…”
“I know.”
Yang Youxuan shivered: “You can’t bully someone like this.”
“And someone has already died.”
Yang Youxuan trembled more violently.
“Don’t you know about the Yang Family being wiped out?”
“Which Yang Family?”
“The Yang Family of the Extensive Knowledge Society.”
Yang Youxuan almost cried out: “I’m not familiar with their family.”
“Your father and Yang Mocheng are paternal cousins.”
“Don’t talk nonsense!”
“You know what my job is, I wouldn’t spout rubbish without basis.”
“I really don’t know, my father is just an ordinary teacher…”
“That’s okay. Now you know, and it’s not too late.”
“I don’t want to know this!”
Wang Yunxiao pushed a photo of Yang Jian in front of Yang Youxuan: “I’ll briefly explain the current situation to you. Whether you want to cooperate with my work, that’s up to you.”
After listening to Wang Yunxiao’s explanation, Yang Youxuan held the cup of hot water silently for a long time.
“Have you made up your mind?”
“I have, but can we go outside and talk?”
“I think you haven’t made up your mind yet.”
Wang Yunxiao said sternly, “You need to understand the situation; now we are facing a very dangerous criminal. Here I can guarantee your safety, but once you leave this door… do you dare to bet that he’s not targeting your family?”
Yang Youxuan silently drank her water.
After forcing herself to calm down, she finally spoke: “Section Chief Wang, what do you want to ask?”
“I have many questions, but let’s start with the simplest one. Namely, what is this person’s criminal motive? I’m very curious, does your Yang Family have any unique family rules or laws? He came to Tianmen for only three days, why did he act against his own family?”
More importantly, the provocation against the navy.
This is the part that Wang Yunxiao couldn’t understand; are you Uchiha Itachi?
“I don’t understand either, but… I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he did such a thing.”
Yang Youxuan whispered, “Section Chief Wang, if you want to ask if the Yang Family has any special family rules or laws, there indeed are some. I think you should have read Romance of the Three Kingdoms, you’ve heard the story of the Zhuge Family, right?”