Chapter 43: The Land Family Betrays the Country
"Forts are meant to intimidate. Several times, bandits considered targeting the Land Family, but they were scared away by the forts. However, if a fight breaks out, some will climb the forts and shoot outward."
Zhou Lin said, "If you tell the truth, I can spare your life. If I find out you're lying, I'll kill you."
The servant swore, "I will tell the truth."
"How did you enter through the back door?"
"I would knock three times—two long, one short. The guard at the back door took our bribes and let us out every day."
Zhou Lin nodded, punched the servant unconscious, and gagged him.
"No killing him means not killing! Anyway, he's tied up, can't escape, and can't shout."
After coming out, Zhou Lin took the two with him to a distance behind the back door.
"Send one person to inform Captain Qiao. Leave seven people to block the front door. If anyone escapes from the front door, shoot them on the spot. Everyone else, come to the back door."
Soon, Qiao Shaowen arrived with nineteen people at the back door.
Zhou Lin explained the plan to them.
"Wait, I'll knock on the door. Once it opens, I'll go in. Kill the one guarding the back door, and then rush in."
After dividing the tasks, Zhou Lin went outside the back door.
He knocked three times—two long, one short.
Someone inside said, "Are you shooting guns? It's done so quickly."
As the door opened, a head popped out.
Zhou Lin immediately grabbed the head, pulled it in, twisted the neck, and the person died.
At this moment, the system's voice rang out.
"You killed one servant, no reward."
Zhou Lin was puzzled, wondering why there was no reward.
"The person you killed has no skills, and even if they did, they're much worse than yours. So, there's nothing to extract."
Zhou Lin didn't think much and headed towards the yard.
Qiao Shaowen and his men, following the plan, rushed in from the back door.
Zhou Lin joined them and reached the second-row houses.
Three people inside were shooting outwards, blocking the team.
Zhou Lin immediately climbed through a window from behind the second row.
He saw a man in his forties holding a shotgun shooting outside.
No need to say, it was Land Zhiyong.
Zhou Lin climbed through the window, caught Land Zhiyong's attention, and he turned the gun towards Zhou Lin.
Zhou Lin raised his hand, aimed, and fired three shots.
The shots hit Land Zhiyong's left and right chest and forehead.
Land Zhiyong died on the spot.
"You killed a criminal. Reward: Basic Pistol Shooting, Basic Throwing, Basic Driving. Choose!"
Zhou Lin: "I choose Basic Driving."
"Congratulations, host. Driving skill upgraded to Basic level. Can drive cars, armored vehicles, and tanks."
After killing Land Zhiyong, Zhou Lin broke the window bars and entered the house.
With Land Zhiyong dead, the Land family's power weakened.
Zhou Lin headed towards a room on the left.
In the distance, he saw a Japanese man with a goatee, likely Yamada Takeichi.
Yamada saw Zhou Lin and immediately fired.
Zhou Lin dodged the shot and retaliated, killing Yamada.
The system's voice sounded again.
"You killed a Japanese spy. Reward: Basic Makeup, Basic Photography, Fluent Japanese. Choose!"
Zhou Lin thought and said, "I choose Basic Photography."
Fluent Japanese was unnecessary, and Makeup was not needed for now.
This Japanese spy's specialty was photography, useful for discreetly capturing various scenes. And he had taken photos unknown to others.
This skill would be beneficial for Zhou Lin.
In the remaining house, only one person resisted, probably not for long.
Zhou Lin began his great endeavor—looting.
The Japanese man had valuable items: 5,000 French francs and 1,000 Japanese yen. It seemed the Japanese intelligence agency spared no expense to support his work.
Now, these items belonged to Zhou Lin.
After looting the Japanese spy, Zhou Lin went to search Land Zhiyong.
No money on Land Zhiyong, as he was in pajamas. After the gunshots, he jumped out of bed and started shooting out the window.
Checking Land Zhiyong's room, he was alone.
It seemed their marital relationship wasn't good; they slept in separate rooms.
Zhou Lin immediately searched the room.
In a cabinet, he found seven small yellow croakers wrapped in red silk and placed in a leather bag.
Land Zhiyong probably intended to exchange the croakers for something.
Besides the croakers, the bag contained over 1,000 French francs.
All these were gains for Zhou Lin.
He said, "System, exchange the croakers for points."
"Exchange completed. Earned 226 points."
Zhou Lin said, "Initiate a time rewind for Land Zhiyong."
"Time rewind initiated."
Thirty-nine hours ago, Yamada Takeichi arrived at the Land family.
"Mr. Land, we meet again."
The two exchanged greetings in Japanese style.
Land Zhiyong entertained Yamada Takeichi.
In a small restaurant, they drank.
"Mr. Land, the Empire needs your help."
"What do you want me to do?"
"The Empire needs intelligence from Jinshanwei."
"You want to land from Jinshanwei?"
"Yes! Mr. Land, we were classmates and friends. I'll be honest with you. The current Shanghai battle has reached a stalemate. Only by landing from Jinshanwei can the Empire's forces surround and eliminate the Chinese forces."
Land Zhiyong said, "The Empire's generals have a good plan. Jinshanwei is the best place to land."
"So, is Mr. Land willing to help the Empire?"
Land Zhiyong took a drag of his cigarette. "What can I get?"
Yamada Takeichi took out ten small yellow croakers and pushed them towards Land Zhiyong.
Land Zhiyong didn't even look at the croakers. "Our Land family doesn't lack these things."
Yamada Takeichi then presented a letter of appointment. "If you help the Empire and we successfully land, once we occupy Shanghai, you will be appointed as the county governor of Jinshan."
That was what Land Zhiyong wanted.
He didn't lack money, and to make the Land family prosper, he needed to shine in the political arena. That way, the Land family would become the largest.