Chapter 15: The Turncoat
There is a saying in the underworld: “Single Ear unites all of Hong Kong and Kowloon,” referring to the four main factions known as the “Big Four”: Lian, Tong, Quan, and Dong.
Lian: Lian Gong Le (Deng Guangrong)
Tong: Tong Le Tang
Quan: Quan Yi Guo
Dong: Dong Fu He
These four factions abide by a cooperation principle: “Fight together, but don’t share the spoils.” When engaging in conflicts with other gangs, they all join the battle, but they do not share the profits or “break bread” together.
In short, “In hardship, share the burden; in fortune, enjoy it alone.”
Their combined strength is second only to the major triads like Sun Kee, Number, Shui Fang, and Sheng He.
They are considered top-tier, on the verge of greatness.
The “Tong” faction isn’t just Tong Le Tang; at its peak, it had over 30 sub-groups. Many have since vanished or declined, and after consolidation, Tong Le Tang is the largest, with others like Tong Qun Ying and Tong Xin He beneath it.
Similarly, the “Lian” faction includes Lian Gong Le, Lian Fei Ying, Lian Shun Tang, Lian Ying She, Lian Hong Ying, Lian Tu Ying, Lian Le Tang, Lian Qun She, and Lian Yi She.
The “Dong Lian She,” where Mang Hua belongs, is a branch of the “Dong” faction. However, it has taken off recently and is no longer part of the Big Four.
Yet, the strongman Old Dong, head of Dong Lian She, is allied with Deng Guangrong of Lian Gong Le in the “Twelve Friends of Power” alliance, illustrating the intricate relationships among these gangs.
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“Damn you! Do you think no one’s here from Sheng Yi?”
After a harsh threat, Guan Zai Sen hung up immediately. “Ah Yao, how’s the preparation going?”
“No problem.”
“I know you’re short on manpower, Ah Tong,” Guan Zai Sen called out.
“Yao Ge, the boss has 18 men ready. Uncle Bo’s men, Niu Tou, and Uncle Rong’s man, Ah Hao—we’ll each bring five good fighters from our halls to join you,” Pig Nose Tong said in a low voice.
“Thanks, Tong Ge,” Wang Yao Tang clasped his fists. “Do you need me to prepare any weapons?”
“No need. What time shall we meet?”
“How about 11 o’clock, right here?”
“Okay.”
“All right, see you tonight, boss. I’m off to get ready,” Wang Yao Tang stood up.
“Go ahead,” Guan Zai Sen smiled.
---
Once Wang Yao Tang left, Guan Zai Sen’s expression darkened. He turned to Pig Nose Tong. “Did you arrange the men as planned?”
“At the police station, Taoist Ming Hui will identify Wang Yao Tang and his brothers. We’ll have both witness testimony and physical evidence. They’ll definitely be sent to the labor camp for years,” Pig Nose Tong nodded.
“Won’t he say anything reckless after coming out?”
“He’s a dead man walking. He won’t hold out at the station. Once out, I’ll personally oversee the enforcement of family rules. He won’t get a chance to speak.”
“Good,” Guan Zai Sen nodded.
“Ah Yao is clever, knows how to find resources—good at everything, but he’s just too good,” Guan Zai Sen sighed. If another seven or eight years pass and he reaches his forties, thinking about retirement, he would definitely hand over the reins to Wang Yao Tang and even send him off with blessings. But he’s not ready to retire yet.
“Honestly, I wish he had rejected me yesterday.”
“Even if he wanted to switch sides, I wouldn’t have stopped him.”
Young talent born at the wrong time, Guan Zai Sen lamented. “Ah Tong, you’ve followed me all these years. The boss has never treated you unfairly. This time, the job is right at your fingertips. Don’t let me down—I’m counting on you to look after me in my old age.”
“Don’t worry, boss,” Pig Nose Tong nodded firmly.
Finally, the chance has come!
---
On the other side, Big Head Sheng hung up, cursing. Guan Zai Sen showed no intention of negotiating.
“Damn it, if you want a fight, I’m game!”
“Damn, who the hell do you think you are, trying to step on me to rise?”
“Prepare your men tonight. When they come, kill them all!”
“Boss, should we invite people from Tong Le Tang?” a subordinate asked.
“You idiot! Are you out of your mind? Sheng Yi is nothing. Guan Zai Sen can take care of them alone. Just quit this nonsense. Disband the sub-groups!” Big Head Sheng shouted, pointing at his subordinate’s nose.
Clearly, Guan Zai Sen’s move to claim Rong Duo was picking on the weak, and who was the weak target was obvious.
Even if they won this fight, Tong Xin He would become the laughingstock of the “Tong” faction.
Other big shots in the gangs would inevitably mock them.
Thinking this, Big Head Sheng grabbed a teapot and smashed it on the ground.
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At 10 p.m., Rainbow Village, Wang Yao Tang’s home.
“Ah Jie, Ah Ji, here’s the secret weapon I prepared for you two.” Wang Yao Tang placed a plastic bag on the floor, making a rustling sound.
“Another secret weapon!” Ah Jie was curious—the previous shin guards had boosted his combat ability significantly.
Ah Ji squatted down and opened the bag. “Iron chains?”
“This one’s even better,” Wang Yao Tang said with a smile, picking up the chains. “Do you know the difference between an armored soldier and an unarmored one? It’s like one against ten!”
Ah Ji frowned, looking at the chains. He had similar ones at home—used for hanging clothes on the balcony or organizing items in the room—space-saving, but what did this have to do with armor?
“1.2-millimeter stainless steel chains, 5.56 millimeters wide,” Wang Yao Tang rattled the chains. “A simple chainmail. Saying it’s impervious to knives and spears might be an exaggeration, but with these, you can totally ignore slash attacks. Even stabs won’t hurt unless the blade hits the gap between two chains.”
“Ah, time’s tight, or I’d custom-make a batch of iron rings for full chainmail. If you don’t get hit by Guan Er Ye’s Green Dragon Crescent Blade, you could sweep the streets alone!”
Wang Yao Tang helped Ah Ji take off his shirt, then hung one end of the chain around his neck, secured with a keychain ring, and started wrapping it around his torso under his arms, assisted by Guan Jia Hui. Each layer was fastened with seven or eight small keychain rings interlinked.
They wrapped down to the lower abdomen, using over twelve meters. This stainless steel chain was relatively light—16 kilograms per 100 meters—so wearing four pounds wouldn’t affect movement.
“I’m ready! This is going to take us to the next level!” Ah Jie’s eyes gleamed.
“There’s more,” Wang Yao Tang continued. “Cut 15-centimeter long chains, threaded together by Ah Hui and my little sister with keychain rings, about ten centimeters wide, worn over the shoulders and back of the neck.” He secured these on Ah Ji as well.
A makeshift chainmail was formed.
In the dead of night, wearing a loose T-shirt, it’s invisible from the outside—just a chain hanging around a young man’s neck.
Ah Ji was excited, testing it out. “Ah Jie, try a slash!”
Before Wang Yao Tang could stop him, Ah Jie grabbed a cleaver and swung hard.
“Clang!”
“Holy shit!” Wang Yao Tang exclaimed.
“Ah!!” Guan Jia Hui gasped.
Ah Jie hadn’t held back at all. Ah Ji staggered forward, but when Wang Yao Tang rushed over, Ah Ji twisted and was fine. Upon closer look, the chainmail showed only a faint scratch.
The brothers exchanged glances and burst out laughing!
Tonight, they would storm Baole Alley!