The Young Marshal’s expression darkened sharply.
He had the complete letter brought over. That night, the lights in the Young Marshal’s mansion stayed on until dawn, and from time to time, people were discreetly summoned to join the discussions.
“Excellent. So the Japanese truly harbor wolfish ambitions!”
“It’s still too early to draw conclusions. This Su Ning is merely a merchant—hardly trustworthy. Moreover, she has long been entangled with the Japanese and has ties to that government over there. We need to observe further.”
Before the Young Marshal could respond to this remark, someone shot to his feet.
He burst into a loud tirade:
“Observe? Observe what? I think you’ve been fattened up on Japanese favors! That Su Ning, no matter what she is, is still Chinese. What’s wrong with her opposing the Japanese? It’s all for the best. Those not of our race are bound to be of a different mind!”
In just a few words, he had thoroughly cursed the other man.
It looked like a fight was about to break out.
Those nearby rushed to pull them apart, but men who had carried guns since birth were hardly mild-tempered, and they couldn’t be restrained.
The one who had been cursed shouted angrily:
“I have a clear conscience! Everything I do is for the sake of the Northeast. At a time when we’re unstable and need to be cautious, what’s wrong with the Japanese? If they can bring us benefits, we should accept them. On the other hand, can you really claim your outburst isn’t fueled by personal vendettas?”
“I’ll kill you, you son of a bitch!”
“Stung by the truth, are we? Young Marshal, I’ll speak plainly without beating around the bush. I think this Su Ning is a plant sent by that government over there to deliberately sow discord. And as for some people here, they may look loyal on the surface, but heaven knows what schemes they’re really hatching!”
These words struck a vicious blow.
The man who opposed the Japanese was so furious he gasped like a bellows, his finger trembling as he pointed at his opponent. For a moment, he couldn’t even speak.
The others fell silent as well.
Then, the Young Marshal moved.
But contrary to everyone’s expectations, he patted the angry man on the shoulder.
“Young Marshal.”
This man was no longer young—old enough to be the Young Marshal’s uncle or elder. He had weathered many battles, yet now he couldn’t hold back his emotions. He said:
“I hate the Japanese, but I would never be so foolish as to collude with outsiders. The Japanese truly cannot be trusted…”
“And Su Ning can be trusted?”
The other man sneered disdainfully: “Everyone knows she’s a mercenary, cold-blooded creature. Even at best, she’s as bad as the Japanese—six of one, half a dozen of the other.”
Su Ning: … ???
“Enough!”
It was the Young Marshal who finally barked the command. His authority settled the matter, and both men fell silent.
“You two are bickering like common street thugs. Have you no shame? Do I mean nothing to you?” He scolded them sharply for a few moments, then softened his tone: “Besides, I know you both have the Northeast’s best interests at heart. Differences of opinion are normal. If you keep quarreling, we’ll tear ourselves apart from the inside before the enemy even has a chance to sow discord.”
The others chimed in then.
The two men were reluctantly pacified and sat back down.
“Just now, I went too far in what I said,” the first man admitted. “But my view of Su Ning remains unchanged. She’s too deeply entangled with that government over there.”
No one argued.
Even the man who had clashed with him earlier nodded in agreement. That man only hated the Japanese; he wasn’t on Su Ning’s side.
“No,” the Young Marshal said, shaking his head. “I’ve just received some news.”
He recounted the whole story of Su Ning’s rejection of Madame Kung—even repeating the key conversations almost verbatim.
The reason was that the transatlantic phone call had been so unusual and the oil so crucial that it had drawn the attention of many—including the Northeast’s agents stationed there.
Everyone: …
An awkward silence hung for a moment.
“Why did she… refuse that government? Weren’t they as thick as thieves before? Even Madame Kung had invested in the oil.”
“Hmph. Either she’s driving up the price, or she doesn’t want to be overshadowed. As for the past—merchants are often fickle, especially Su Ning.”
“That’s true.”
“Makes sense…”
The group accepted this surprisingly easily. Then the Young Marshal added that Su Ning wasn’t offering her help for free—she had made a demand: oil extraction rights.
To call it “extraction rights” was a bit vague.
In simple terms, it meant that no matter where oil fields were discovered in the Northeast—whether already known or yet to be found—they should belong to Su Ning for development. Any other person or force that stumbled upon them, by sheer luck, would have to hand over the operation to Su Ning.
Of course, she wasn’t a thug.
She would still pay a sum.
“What do you all think of this condition?” the Young Marshal asked.
Everyone exchanged glances.
“We don’t have to put up money or resources—just concede the extraction rights. If oil fields really turn up, we can still get a stake in it… Doesn’t sound bad, but it’s unsettling.”
“Exactly. Just for extraction rights, why risk so much and deliver such critical intelligence to us? It doesn’t add up.”
“I disagree,” another said. “Think about it. The Japanese claim there’s oil in the Northeast, and now Su Ning—who’s made oil a huge success—is also making this demand. That suggests she believes there’s oil here too. Look at the Yumen oil field: forget the money—Su Ning’s status skyrocketed because of it. The confidence she shows in negotiating with that government comes from the leverage oil gave her.”
Hearing this, everyone perked up.
Could there really be oil fields in the Northeast?
The speaker wasn’t finished: “Besides, she’s had conflicts with the Japanese before. Remember how this woman operates? She pays back every slight, and that’s putting it mildly. Even if it’s not for the oil fields, revenge alone could be a strong motive.”
The crowd bristled at this last comment. Someone immediately rebutted:
“I think it’s for the oil fields.”
“Right. Calling her ‘vengeful’ is too harsh. The Japanese are the cunning, treacherous ones—they poked the hornet’s nest for no reason. Maybe Miss Su Ning is actually a good person?”
“I agree.”
“…”
Once the first person started twisting the truth for Su Ning’s sake, others followed. The Young Marshal smiled faintly as he listened to their strained justifications.
Then, someone suddenly interjected coldly:
“If there really are oil fields… wasn’t it Old Wu’s son who pushed the Japanese to come explore the Northeast?”
Everyone froze, uncertain.
Only then did they notice that Old Wu hadn’t shown up this time.
A man who had good relations with the Wu family mumbled softly:
“Don’t be too quick to accuse. Old Wu is one thing, but his son—ambitious, sure—but he wouldn’t actually help the Japanese. He might have accepted their bribes, which hardly needs pointing out.”
Accepting favors to get things done was a known practice, unsavory as it was.
Almost everyone here had done it.
Besides, with Wu Yi having a father as powerful as Old Wu in the Northeast, it seemed unthinkable that he would truly betray them to the Japanese.
But as they thought this, they noticed the Young Marshal’s grim expression. He recalled what Wu Yi had said that day—urging him to increase support for the Japanese oil exploration… and to block Su Ning. At the time, it seemed harmless.
Now, it reeked of suspicion.
Afraid he was overthinking, he shared the details with the others. Their reaction was even more intense.
“Something’s wrong—very wrong!”
“I saw it coming! Old Wu’s son has always been too slick, too hungry for power.”
Amid the chaos,
the Young Marshal raised his hand.
“Everyone, stay calm. It’s still too early to convict him. After all, we haven’t confirmed whether the Japanese really intend to move against us. Let’s investigate slowly first.”
With that, he swept his gaze around the room, his voice heavy and forceful:
“However, to avoid alerting the enemy, everyone should act as if they know nothing about this. Don’t show any signs of suspicion, understood?”
The group exchanged glances.
They nodded.
The one who had close ties with Old Wu’s family sighed inwardly, hoping that Wu Yi had truly only accepted a favor. Otherwise, if he ended up in ruin, Old Wu would be implicated as well.
