Chapter 386: Vietnamese Gang Annihilated
Translator: Tim Editor: GlobeGlotter
In San Francisco, the Vietnamese gang, while not the oldest, was a powerful and established organization. When the Chinese gang was at its peak, the Vietnamese gang barely survived. After the Chinese gang's annihilation, the Vietnamese and Mountain gangs rapidly expanded, seizing significant territory. Today, the Vietnamese gang is the second largest.
Zhu Hongsheng, ambitious but incompetent, led his declining Hong Martial Gang. They were no match for the Vietnamese gang, and the Tang Gang, with its limited resources, fared even worse.
The Vietnamese gang's leader, Jin Zhaonan, was a former high-ranking Vietnamese military officer. Insubordination and the murder of his superior's lover made him a fugitive, leading him to America and the founding of the Vietnamese gang.
Jin Zhaonan was no match for Ye Mo. He’d heard of Ye Mo's attack on the Hong Martial Gang's base and the Grey Alliance's massacre. Knowing the Grey Alliance's annihilation, Jin Zhaonan guessed Ye Mo's next target: his gang, motivated by the bracelet stolen from them and the pursuit of Sister Yan.
Though Jin Zhaonan believed the Vietnamese gang could defeat any Chinatown rival, he didn't underestimate the Grey Alliance's destruction. News of Ye Mo's actions alarmed him; he expected a swift attack on their headquarters.
“Er Xi, what do you think?” Jin Zhaonan wanted to retreat but was loath to abandon his empire. He suspected Ye Mo’s success against the Grey Alliance stemmed partly from Jason’s underestimation. With sufficient preparation and heavy firepower, Jin Zhaonan believed Ye Mo could be defeated.
Li Erxi, or Er Xi, had accompanied Jin Zhaonan from Vietnam and was instrumental in building the gang, his most trusted aide.
Li Erxi pondered, “We don’t know Ye Mo well, but his easy dispatch of Johnson's men shows considerable strength. Whether Jason's underestimation played a role, we must proceed cautiously. However, as you said, if we surround and overwhelm him with gunfire, how could he survive?”
“Er Xi, you suggest fighting?” Jin Zhaonan, agreeing but hesitant, sought Li Erxi's counsel.
Li Erxi nodded gravely. “Two options: immediate flight from San Francisco, avoiding Ye Mo entirely; or, a deadly ambush. Concentrated fire should kill him, regardless of his strength, unless he can fly.”
Jin Zhaonan, clenching his fists, declared, “Let's do it! I refuse to believe he can fly. We've built this for decades. Er Xi, gather the brothers!”
…
Meanwhile, at the Tang Gang headquarters, Ye Mo sat with Peng Yueji, Shi Kaigen, and Tong Zhu.
“Brother Ye, should we attack Jin Zhaonan now?” Shi Kaigen asked.
Ye Mo shook his head. “If we were leaving immediately, yes. But you’ll be staying, so a direct assault is unwise. Yueji, your thoughts?”
Peng Yueji bowed. “Brother Ye, a nighttime attack. Tonight, the Mountain and Hong Martial gangs clash. A nighttime assault on the Vietnamese gang minimizes intervention. After the two gangs clash, eliminating the Vietnamese gang allows the Tang Gang to rapidly expand.”
Ye Mo nodded, impressed by Peng Yueji's strategic thinking. While easily defeating the Mountain Gang, eliminating the Hong Martial Gang strategically benefited the Tang Gang's growth, given their shared origins.
“Agreed. Tonight, I attack the Vietnamese gang. After the Mountain and Hong Martial gangs clash, Yueji, you seize their territory, including the Grey Alliance's.”
This expansion meant little to Ye Mo, but Peng Yueji and the others were ecstatic, envisioning the Tang Gang as San Francisco's dominant force.
…
The Vietnamese gang's headquarters was at a pier. Ye Mo knew they were aware of the Grey Alliance's destruction. Upon arrival, his spirit sense detected an ambush, including rocket launchers. Even Ye Mo doubted his chances against such concentrated firepower. Unlike Jason's gamesmanship, the Vietnamese were aiming for outright assassination.
“He’s here, 250 meters away,” Jin Zhaonan and Li Erxi observed on a monitor.
“He’s leaving. Should we attack?” Li Erxi noticed Ye Mo retreating.
Jin Zhaonan’s face hardened. “No; at most, we’d injure him, not kill him. We shouldn’t frighten him. Wait.”
Ye Mo hadn’t gone far; he knew he was under surveillance. He turned invisible, then swiftly eliminated the ambush.
Minutes later, he reappeared.
“He’s back, in range!” Li Erxi exclaimed.
Jin Zhaonan was exhilarated, believing Ye Mo's death would end any threat.
“Open fire!” Jin Zhaonan ordered, raising his gun.
But there were no gunshots or explosions. As Jin Zhaonan prepared to fire, his gun vanished. A sneering Ye Mo stood before them.
“You are Ye Mo…” Li Erxi’s heart sank. They’d underestimated him.
Ye Mo bent a rifle, contorting the barrel. He discarded it, kicking Li Erxi away.
“I am Ye Mo,” Ye Mo declared, sitting down.
Jin Zhaonan saw blood flowing from where his men hid. He pointed at Ye Mo, terrified. “Ye Mo, what have you done? How dare you…”
Ye Mo looked at Jin Zhaonan as if he were an idiot. “I went too far? I shouldn't have killed them and presented my head instead?”
Li Erxi stopped Jin Zhaonan. Unlike Jason, these were Jin Zhaonan’s brothers, precious to him. Their deaths enraged him.
Jin Zhaonan, however, was speechless with fury. Ye Mo could kill them instantly.
“Ye Mo, we underestimated you. You’ve killed our brothers; what do you want? What are your terms?” Li Erxi said calmly.
Jin Zhaonan, regaining composure, assessed his situation. He regretted ignoring Li Erxi’s earlier suggestion: abandoning everything and escaping San Francisco. Someone capable of annihilating the Grey Alliance couldn't be so easily defeated.