Chapter 329 - 254: The Crucial Battle, Calculated Moves

Chapter 329: Chapter 254: The Crucial Battle, Calculated Moves

At Huangpu Beach, a banquet was in progress inside a towering bank building.

Although the power structure of the Huangpu Guard was now vastly different, the people attending the banquet had changed little.

It was still led by Wei Tiantong, the Shopkeeper of Huitong Bank, with Hua Ziqi, Director of the Dongzhen Company, seated at his side. The tycoon of the clothing and fabric industry, Chengchun Mountain, was also present.

The only difference was that the former grain and oil tycoon, Lu Shengjiang, was gone, replaced by a young up-and-comer, a woman named Miyamoto Sha.

As her name suggested, she undoubtedly had intricate ties to the Great East Sea Country.

And that was precisely the case.

Miyamoto Sha’s father was from the Huangpu Guard, while her mother was from the East Sea, making her of mixed heritage.

This was hardly surprising. The grain and oil industry, after all, was the lifeblood of the nation. Since the Great East Sea Country harbored grand ambitions to bring the entire Great Yan under its control, it would naturally not allow others to meddle in this sector.

So, although Miyamoto Sha was only about thirty years old, her status at this banquet was remarkably high.

After all, she had the backing of the Great East Sea Country.

An array of exquisite delicacies covered the entire table. A single one of these dishes could have sustained a family of three for a very long time, yet those seated at the table didn’t spare them a single glance.

For the true focus of this banquet lay elsewhere.

"What time is it?"

Despite the exquisitely crafted Folangji grandfather clock in the room, Wei Tiantong was still in the habit of asking his men for the precise time.

"It is the Hour of Xu, my lord," a subordinate waiting at his side replied respectfully.

’The Hour of Xu, is it...’ Wei Tiantong mused, falling silent.

At his side, however, Hua Ziqi’s eyes darted about. He then raised his cup with a wide grin and addressed Miyamoto Sha, who was seated opposite him.

"Lord Miyamoto, allow me to offer you a toast."

As he spoke, his gaze roved over Miyamoto Sha’s figure—voluptuous, yet possessing a mature charm.

Miyamoto Sha was keenly aware of his stare and sneered inwardly. On the surface, however, she feigned ignorance and raised her cup with a smile.

"Thank you, Director Hua."

With that, she drained her cup in a single motion. She drank so quickly that a few drops of wine trickled onto her bosom.

The breathtaking sight made Hua Ziqi stare, transfixed. A fire ignited within him as he, too, drained his cup.

Just then, the faint roar of firearms echoed from outside.

The room immediately fell silent. Wei Tiantong’s expression turned grave. "So, it’s finally begun."

Beside him, a distraught Chengchun Mountain echoed, "It’s begun!"

As the one who stood to be most affected, he had been riddled with anxiety since the banquet began.

After all, many of his businesses were adjacent to Flower Square, and they were bound to be affected by the battle.

Miyamoto Sha, however, simply smiled without a word.

If anyone at the banquet felt completely assured, it was her.

As someone who had witnessed the power of firearms firsthand, she found it hard to imagine anyone surviving an assault from such weapons.

Not even a Martial Artist.

So, upon hearing the gunfire, she actually relaxed, leaning back in her chair and giving Wei Tiantong a faint smile.

"Shopkeeper Wei, I think you should seriously reconsider my previous proposal. The rise of my Great East Sea Country is an unstoppable tide, so it is not too late to pledge your allegiance."

Wei Tiantong remained silent, looking at Miyamoto Sha, whose face was all smiles but whose demeanor was steeped in arrogance.

He was a businessman, first and foremost. Having run Huitong Bank for so many years, he’d weathered every storm imaginable. He knew exactly what Miyamoto Sha was after.

She was merely using the current situation to force them to her side.

The problem was, he had no real idea how this battle would end.

He had plenty of confidence in Wu Liangchen’s strength, which had been proven through countless past incidents.

But the enemy this time was not to be underestimated. The giant ships floating on the sea, the thundering firearms—these were all formidable weapons the likes of which Wei Tiantong had never seen before.

Thus, for a moment, he found it difficult to place his bet.

Reason told him Flower Square’s chances of victory were less than one in ten thousand, yet a gut feeling warned him not to act rashly.

Ever since becoming famous, Wu Liangchen had shattered the world’s expectations time and time again.

Wei Tiantong himself had been proven spectacularly wrong in the past, losing a thousand silver coins to Zhu Wan’Er as a result.

The money was a trivial matter. What was crucial was that this battle could very well determine the survival of Huitong Bank itself. He couldn’t afford to be anything but cautious.

As if sensing his hesitation, Miyamoto Sha’s expression grew cold, and a harsh glint flashed in her eyes.

Her mission had been to consolidate the commercial landscape of the Huangpu Guard as quickly as possible and bring it under the control of the Great East Sea Country.

To do that, Wei Tiantong was the first problem that needed to be solved.

And despite her preparations, Wei Tiantong’s stubbornness far exceeded her expectations.

’Men are all fools,’ she thought. ’Even the great Wei Tiantong is no exception.’

’To make him submit, I’ll have to use iron-clad facts.’

At this thought, Miyamoto Sha suddenly turned and barked a string of commands in the East Sea tongue to a female attendant behind her.

The attendant bowed in acknowledgment.

"Hai!"

Then, she turned and left.