Xu Jixin curled the corners of his mouth.

Xu Zhuohua finally understood what these two people were up to; they were after Miyata Takejiro's arms.

They had already planned out the price and were just waiting for Miyata Takejiro to jump in on their own.

Seeing Miyata Takejiro at a loss after being blackmailed by the two, Xu Zhuohua couldn't help but chuckle.

Cheng Muyun is a cold-faced wolf, Xu Jixin is a smiling tiger, and with Liang Shaozun, a silent snake, even someone like Miyata Takejiro would have to lose a layer of skin before he could leave.

Oh, right, there's another cunning fox, Chen Hede, who hasn't appeared yet.

Upon hearing that his weapons were to be confiscated, Miyata Takejiro panicked and exclaimed, "No! Weapons cannot be confiscated. I will prepare the shipping costs immediately!"

Xu Jixin slammed his hand on the chair and said loudly, "Good! Mr. Miyata is indeed generous! As long as the money is in place, we'll start shipping immediately, don't you agree, Young Marshal Cheng?"

He deliberately dragged out the sound when he said "Young Marshal Cheng".

Xu Zhuohua looked at Cheng Muyun with a puzzled expression.

Cheng Muyun smiled. Xu Zhuohua, standing behind him, could see it clearly. He licked his back teeth.

He's a very easy person to read. His current behavior shows that he's determined to win, and even has a playful side to it.

Sure enough, Cheng Muyun spoke up, "Alright, the purpose of opening the Eastbound-Southbound route is to make money anyway. As long as the Second Young Master agrees, I have no objection, but..."

Cheng Muyun deliberately dragged out his words, looked at Miyata Takejiro, and said slowly, "But this batch of weapons entered Xinhai City without being reported to that person. It is estimated that even if it arrives in Xinhai City, it will still not be able to enter. When the matter is questioned, I don't know if the Second Young Master can handle it."

Xu Jixin slapped his forehead, "Oh dear, I forgot about that. There's still Chen Hede guarding Xinhai City."

Miyata, who was a hundred times more familiar with the subject, asked, "What do you mean? What does this have to do with Chen Hede?"

Xu Jixin pretended to be embarrassed and said, "Mr. Miyata doesn't know, but the arms industry is being investigated very strictly now, especially since Chen Hede has recently taken charge of this area. In order to make money from this, the Xu family has to give him a lot of money."

Cheng Muyun said, "No matter what kind of weapons they are, as long as they are near Xinhai City, they must be reported to Chen Hede in advance, otherwise he will seize all the goods. Mr. Miyata doesn't want to get involved with Chen Hede, does he?"

Miyata Takejiro is now in a precarious position. Cheng Muyun's words were very clear: if Miyata Takejiro doesn't keep 40% of the weapons, Chen Hede will confiscate everything.

Currently, only the Xu family in the entire eastern region can handle the business of transporting arms. If this batch of goods is not delivered soon, it may delay the important matters of those high-ranking officials in Xinhai City.

Despite his reluctance, Miyata agreed.

"Okay, I agree. Leave 40% of the weapons."

Cheng Muyun clapped his hands and said, "Mr. Miyata is really generous."

Miyata Takejiro glared at him. He remembered this grudge; he and Cheng Muyun were now sworn enemies.

Cheng Muyun was not afraid of Miyata Takejiro at all. The Japanese dared not stand out in Xinhai City, but they had been infiltrating among the lower-level merchants. The Xu family was watching them and found that they were actively learning about Chinese culture and seemed to have put a lot of effort into integrating into the local community.

The French and British, at most, simply carved out a piece of land in New Sea City and introduced their own culture and systems, without intending to assimilate or accept the locals.

These Japanese people are different. They seem to really enjoy interacting with people from the lower classes and are keen to put aside their foreign status and integrate themselves, as if they don't see this place as a colony, but rather as a place where they are dedicated to transforming their own land.

Xu Zhuohua once told Cheng Muyun that the purpose of these foreigners was to invade. He saw contempt in the French and British, but he saw deep greed in these Japanese.

He speculated that if someone were to invade, the aloof French and British wouldn't make a move; instead, it would be these shameless Japanese who would strike first.

Xu Jixin pretended to offer some kind words of advice.

"Oh dear, Mr. Miyata, you're really in a difficult position. How about this, Manager Chen is familiar with the procedures and contracts, so let him take over the inventory."

Cheng Muyun said, "Zhang Qi, you go and follow him. Remember to give Mr. Miyata some face and don't just pick the good ones to keep."

The meaning couldn't be clearer: he didn't want anything except the good stuff, and Zhang Qi nodded in agreement.

Xu Jixin looked at Miyata Takejiro, whose face was not good, and said, "Mr. Miyata, if there is nothing else this afternoon, Manager Chen will go and take inventory and make a list. We can start shipping tomorrow, and it will definitely arrive in Shinkai City within ten days."

Although Miyata Takejiro's face was ashen, he had no choice but to agree in order to ship the goods as soon as possible.

After Miyata Takejiro and his men left dejectedly, everyone in the room exchanged knowing smiles.

Xu Jixin slapped the table happily, "This is truly gratifying, it taught Miyata a lesson."

Cheng Muyun took Xu Zhuohua's hand and gently rubbed it without saying a word.

Xu Zhuohua could still tell that he was very happy.

Chen Hede walked out of the inner hall. "Isn't this all thanks to me? I sent people to patrol the area near Tiger Wolf Mountain. That kid Gongtian was afraid of being discovered, so he couldn't wait to come to my door."

Xu Jixin praised, "Young Marshal Cheng's idea was brilliant, and his methods were superb. He directly treated Miyata like a fool, hahaha! It's truly gratifying! A full 40%! That's a huge loss!"

Chen Hede walked over to the two of them, his gaze inadvertently drifting over their clasped hands, and sat down opposite Cheng Muyun.

"Shao Zun should spend more time with Miyata in the future, otherwise things wouldn't have gone so smoothly this time."

Xu Zhuohua sat down next to Cheng Muyun, looked up in confusion, and the group exchanged a few more words.

Only then did she understand the whole story.

Liang Shaozun continued to act under his original identity, Liang Shaozun, and his reputation as a womanizer was very convenient to use, so Miyata Takejiro always trusted Liang Shaozun.

Even before Cheng Wenyun's seventh day memorial service, Miyata had inquired with him about the transportation of munitions along the southern route eastward.

Liang Shaozun, being cunning, tricked Miyata Takejiro into saving on shipping costs, taking a risk in the process.

Human greed knows no bounds, and that's how he fell into their trap.

Cheng Muyun and Xu Jixin ostensibly inspected the integration route, but in reality, they were blocking Miyata Takejiro's path and preventing him from progressing.

"Please enter the jar, and you will be caught like a turtle inside."

Miyata Takejiro is still too green to try and outsmart the Chinese.

Xu Zhuohua sighed inwardly, thinking that Cheng Muyun and Chen Hede together were terrifying enough.

There's also Liang Shaozun, and then Xu Jixin.

These four people, working together, are absolutely invincible.

Xu Zhuohua had no choice but to admire him, and admire him wholeheartedly.

But she had a question in her mind: what did they want these weapons for?

Do we have to arm ourselves and establish a regime?