Chapter 279: Boss
Landing in Hong Kong, Gu Yansheng checked into the hotel.
The top priority now is to prepare for the meeting with Boss Dai.
So far, there has been no contact location; even until departure, no telegram came from Chongqing.
When Boss Dai first requested a meeting in Hong Kong, he thought Boss Dai was quite bold, not afraid of any tricks he might play, and trusted him greatly.
Now it seems his own pattern is still a bit lacking.
So he can only passively wait for information.
Since Boss Dai came to Hong Kong, finding out his residence is easy.
Military Statistics Bureau also has a Hong Kong Station here; they should have a basic grasp of the whereabouts of these negotiation personnel.
Normally it would be fine, but not knowing at this point would be clear dereliction of duty if Boss Dai asks.
He showed up a bit, staying in the hotel; in the afternoon he went downstairs to the hotel’s own tea restaurant for afternoon tea, and in the evening to the wine lounge to listen to British people holding a music concert.
With a glance, two tables away he saw a familiar face, Chen Mo; he had also come to Hong Kong.
“Mr. Gu.” Chen Mo raised his wine glass in surprise and came forward, “I didn’t expect to run into you in Hong Kong.”
“Boss Chen, why did you come to Hong Kong?” Gu Yansheng eyed him up and down.
Chen Mo smiled and gestured at the seat; Gu Yansheng nodded and let him sit.
“Isn’t this about expanding business? Our premium tobacco leaves are top-grade among the British upper class; this time I’m delivering a batch of goods to Hong Kong.”
Gu Yansheng waved for the guards to move farther away; though they were his family guards, he still had to put on the show.
Leaning in, he said, “Did Boss Dai send you?”
Chen Mo laughed, “Reporting work, not just mine, but also Wang Tianmu’s. His position is sensitive and he can’t get away, so I had to come. Plus, I’m here to pick you up, Mr. Gu. Give me some face—later, come with me to check out some brothels?”
Boss Dai’s arrangement was really good: having Iron Blood Assassination Group people show the way. They were acquaintances not worth exposing Gu Yansheng’s identity, and now he even had his own bodyguards and guards.
The only surprise was that his Iron Blood Assassination Group leader had also turned into Red Party; otherwise, no issues.
“Crude. Call it appreciating flowers and moon-viewing from now on.” Gu Yansheng rolled his eyes with a smile and asked, “How is Wang Tianmu now?”
“Hard to say in one word.” Chen Mo had never wanted Wang Tianmu to join No. 76 in the first place; he shook his head now, “He got a department head position through merit, but consider what that department does—catching Military Statistics Bureau. Either catch them for merit, or no merit. What future does that position have?
He still wants to take out Li Shiqun and become director himself. Li Shiqun is so cunning—does he have a chance?”
That was true; Li Shiqun even found the legitimate director Ding Mocun tricky, and Wang Tianmu, as Li Shiqun’s subordinate, wanting to rise above his superior was indeed too difficult.
One could only say ideals are beautiful, reality is harsh.
Wang Tianmu didn’t seem to have much use for now.
But Wang Tianmu’s lack of prominence only made Gu Yansheng’s position all the more invaluable.
After chatting idly for a bit, Gu Yansheng followed Chen Mo to check out the brothels.
Chen Mo was very familiar with Hong Kong, directing the driver to turn east and west; in the car, he enthusiastically introduced to Gu Yansheng all sorts of women and tricks at Hong Kong’s pleasure spots, rattling off the signature moves of big foreign horses from various countries.
He looked just like a seasoned old pimp.
It was stirring, of course—mainly to pass on the juicy info to outsiders; the driver was probably getting all hot and bothered listening.
Gu Yansheng glanced at the driver’s expression and nearly burst out laughing.
The car stopped in front of an apartment building, with cigarette sign neon lights prominently displayed.
Chen Mo generously said to let the guards have some fun too; anyway, he had his own guards, and protecting Mr. Gu’s safety was no problem!
Up the stairs, walking along the hallway, garishly dressed women were at every door; as they moved, perfume wafted.
At one door, Chen Mo’s eyes lit up at a woman and he started promoting her to Gu Yansheng.
How could Gu Yansheng not get it? He went right in.
No kidding, this woman was really something.
“Boss, please come in.” The woman moved gracefully, smiling like a flower as she invited Gu Yansheng inside, then closed the door.
The room wasn’t big, visible at a glance; Gu Yansheng walked into the bedroom, and the woman knocked on the wardrobe there. The wardrobe door opened, revealing a hidden door leading straight to the next room.
She gestured invitingly to Gu Yansheng; he went in, and a middle-aged man was already standing in the center of the room.
“Who are you?” Gu Yansheng asked cautiously, waiting for the other to identify himself first.
“Dai Li.”
“Hello, Director Dai.” Gu Yansheng immediately broke into a smile.
“Haha.” Boss Dai extended his hand to shake, “I’ve heard of you for a long time, Minister Gu of the Judicial Administration Department, the youngest real-power minister in the Wang Puppet Regime. Finally meeting the real you today.”
“I’m ashamed.” Gu Yansheng said modestly, “Carrying the traitor label, causing trouble for the Party and State.”
“Haha, what are you saying? Deep behind enemy lines, you’re a meritorious official, a great one—hard work.”
Boss Dai shook his arm vigorously, showing no superior’s airs.
Gu Yansheng was different from ordinary subordinates; they hadn’t been superior-subordinate before, and using that military training routine—bowing and kowtowing to officers—Gu Yansheng wouldn’t do at all.
A lawyer—what would he know?
“Serving the nation is our duty; no talk of hard work.”
“Good.” Boss Dai patted Gu Yansheng’s hand warmly, “Come, sit and talk. It’s very safe here. This woman is my woman; she came to Hong Kong with me, and I’ll take her when leaving Hong Kong. No outsiders will know about today’s talk—you can relax.”
Boss Dai was decent; he knew what infiltrators worried about most and dispelled the concerns first.
Gu Yansheng nodded with a smile, “I’m definitely at ease with your arrangements. With your ability, if you set this up, it must be a fortress.”
Boss Dai laughed, “Thinking so highly of my ability? You know me well?”
“It’s not me thinking highly; it’s the information passed from Japanese and Wang Faction people.”
Gu Yansheng buttered him up a bit, “I’ve heard No. 76 people say they fear Military Statistics Bureau revenge most; that sense of dread they reveal shows Military Statistics Bureau is an iron army.
And the leader who forged such an iron army must be a true genius.
By comparison, Central Statistics Bureau people’s fear of Xu Enzeng is much less; one high, one low—the difference is clear.”
“Why?” Boss Dai asked with interest.
“Because No. 76’s chief villains are definitely Li Shiqun and Ding Mocun; both from Central Statistics Bureau origins. When they first defected, Central Statistics Bureau issued kill orders, but to this day, both are alive and well. If the top villains aren’t dead, why would the underlings fear?
That says a lot.
By contrast, Loyal and Righteous National Salvation Army’s He Xingjian kills as promised—that deterrence and action are decisive.”
Boss Dai loved hearing anything bad about Central Statistics Bureau.
“That matter is thanks to your merit; He Xingjian’s defection was unexpected even for me.”
“The situation is unstable, loyalties vary; some defection is inevitable—that’s not your fault.
I’ve heard from Wang Faction people that you’re Whampoa Military Academy Sixth Class; by seniority, you can’t match earlier classes’ graduates.
Yet among so many, you stood out, growing Military Statistics Bureau bigger, making enemies tremble, earning President Jiang’s utmost trust—that’s what many can’t do.
Don’t blame yourself, or the Japanese will be delighted.
I heard Japan’s intelligence departments now have a bounty on you—fifty thousand silver dollars for your head.”
“Really?” Boss Dai was surprised then laughed heartily, “Let them come—see who cuts whose head!”
“They probably don’t have the mood now; intelligence cares about your safety, headquarters about peace talks. Itagaki Seishiro wants to use this merit to return to the center; Military Statistics Bureau wants to find a southward opportunity via ceasefire.”
Gu Yansheng transitioned topics smoothly; Boss Dai’s expression turned serious, “This southward opportunity you mentioned—what exactly did you hear?”
“I heard it from Ministry of Foreign Affairs people: Japanese Army and Navy have long differed on war north or south, and only after Nomonhan defeat and Soviet-German alliance did Army give up that idea.”
Gu Yansheng shared his analysis of Japanese Army possibly heading south.
Boss Dai might know or not, but it didn’t matter; if Boss Dai knew, it was his knowledge, but whether Gu Yansheng said it was Gu Yansheng’s issue.
From Boss Dai’s expression, he clearly knew, frowning in thought; cross-verifying from channels makes intel more accurate—even intelligence heads don’t rely on one source.
But whether Japanese dare go south—no one can be sure before they do.
Because going south means facing a problem: those islands are Britain, America, France territories; Japan would directly clash with Britain and America.
Japanese peace talks with Chongqing—even if successful and hands freed, would they dare fight Britain and America?
Dare they?
Many don’t believe it.
If you ask Shanghai’s Japanese, they’d probably doubt it themselves.
“Is the Japanese real purpose for peace talks really just preparing to head south?” Boss Dai asked.
Gu Yansheng paused, “The Japanese I’ve contacted all say so; whether they told us traitors the truth, I can’t be sure.”
Boss Dai chuckled lightly at Gu Yansheng’s self-mocking traitor remark and poured him tea.
Gu Yansheng bowed his head in thanks and added, “From what I know now, Japan’s domestic economy is very bad—for example, rice; ordinary Japanese are now banned from eating rice.”
“Why?”
“Because Japan is rice-short to begin with; grain forcibly requisitioned from Central China Region supplements the army, not enough for their home front.
They imported a bit, barely enough.
Now war drags on, industrial raw materials need massive imports; Japan’s forex reserves dropping fast, funding for rice purchases tight.
Now for war prep, industrial machinery at max capacity needs massive coal, sourced from Korea—hand-dug by Koreans.
Pre-war, Korea as Japanese colony, no conflict: eat wild veggies, bran, still dug coal.
But post-war start, that wasn’t enough—no strength; only scraps, Koreans dig too slow, can’t supply Japan domestically—hurting Japanese own factories.
So Japanese cut their own citizens’ rice, shipping massive amounts to Korea for Koreans to eat.”
It sounded like a joke: Japanese citizens no rice, Koreans eat rice, haha.
Boss Dai asked curiously, “Where’d you hear this? Ministry of Foreign Affairs?”
“Actually not.” Gu Yansheng shook his head with a smile, “Don’t I still handle some anti-drug matters? Gang people mentioned it chatting.
Korean opium dealers skipping domestic coal mining, coming to Shanghai to sell opium—they brought the news.”
Boss Dai chuckled, sipped tea, and said, “Japanese are done for; as long as war continues, they’re doomed!”
“Definitely.” Gu Yansheng nodded firmly, then recalled, “On the way here, reporting to Traitor Zhou, I heard something: Japanese plan to force talks via fighting; if no negotiation, they intend to attack Fifth War Zone.”
“Li Zongren’s turf.” Boss Dai nodded thoughtfully, “Matches some Japanese Army movement intel; this is real.
Good, I’ll pass to headquarters. What are Wang Faction people doing now?”
This intel was simple; Gu Yansheng could rattle off plenty casually, picking key figures, brushing off lesser ones in a sentence; if Boss Dai interested, ask and answer more.
“Negotiations are negotiations; though our conditions always hoped Japanese would kill Wang Ni themselves, to this day it’s clear they won’t. In future, inside Wang Puppet Regime, we need more effort from you.”
“I will.”
“Need your help with something.”
“Tell me.”
Boss Dai paused, “I’ve always sought ways to deal with Wang Ni, turn Japanese plans to bubbles, but his guards are tightly arranged—no chance to strike.
Recently, I had someone contact Fu Xiao’an to set up a gathering, invite Wang Ni to dinner, or arrange one—he doesn’t need to show, just an occasion where Wang Ni appears, letting my people act.
He agreed.
But afterward, he reported my people to Wang Ni, getting them all arrested.”
“Ah?” Gu Yansheng was surprised, “I didn’t know about this.”
“By then you were already in Nanjing; I planned to finish it before Wang Puppet Regime’s capital move back.”
“What exactly is Fu Xiao’an’s identity?” Gu Yansheng asked.
“A businessman playing both sides.” Boss Dai said grimly, “Playing both sides I can tolerate; spend some money, he’d do things for Party and State. But taking money and betraying my people—that’s intolerable!”
That was indeed too much; Fu Xiao’an’s actions were utterly unscrupulous.
Gu Yansheng thought, nearly laughing: Fu Xiao’an famed for being slick all sides, eternal survivor—now facing death’s choice.
Either betray Military Statistics Bureau to help Wang Ni, or set trap to kill Wang Ni; under Japanese investigation, abandon all Shanghai industries.
Survivor tips, can’t come back.
This choice, Gu Yansheng saw no suspense in what Fu Xiao’an would do.
Thinking this, Gu Yansheng puzzled: what lousy ideas does Boss Dai come up with sometimes—sending heads to gamble odds?
What kind of person is Fu Xiao’an—how could he abandon his entire fortune to be his assassin?
“Too much—taking money, what’s that about?”
“Wanted a loan, fifteen million.”
“Indeed too much!”
Daring to take Party and State’s money—courting death.
Gu Yansheng said seriously, “What do you need me to do?”
Boss Dai, “The arrested are still held at No. 76; per Chen Mo’s info from Wang Tianmu, no betrayal, but can’t be rescued.
A major general can’t just die in vain.
He’s not even our Military Statistics Bureau major general—borrowed from war zone headquarters.
For Fu Xiao’an, I definitely will punish.
Both punishing a traitor and accounting to the war zone’s many officers and soldiers!
Current problem: Fu Xiao’an’s guards are all Japanese Gendarmes plus his own bodyguards—too many.
Military Statistics Bureau Shanghai Station reports no strike opportunity yet.
To approach Fu Xiao’an, must be high-level; I know you have some relation with him—see if you can find a strike opportunity.
You don’t need to do the deed, just the opportunity.
