Chapter 160: Must Kill
“Then you’ll have to figure it out yourself.” Director Li drank alcohol, “Collect an extra one hundred thousand silver dollars in taxes, without touching the concession’s tax sources, how is that supposed to be accomplished?”
Director Gu’s expression showed difficulty, and he pretended to casually say, “Actually, there are still options. West Shanghai has many underground casinos. If I crack down on them all, integrate them, or investigate the current above-ground casinos and ballrooms, then one hundred thousand silver dollars per month might not be impossible to come up with. I even think one hundred thousand might be a bit low.”
As soon as the words were spoken, Liao Shan’s face changed, and he urgently said: “Director Gu, this is not appropriate. This area in West Shanghai supports many people. If you do that, it will incite a popular uprising.”
Director Gu curiously asked him: “Is it that serious?”
Huang Jinrong’s interest in West Shanghai includes a share for Liao Shan, or to put it more clearly, now that Huang Jinrong has withdrawn from the scene, one of the generals holding up the facade is Liao Shan. Director Gu wants to force Liao Shan to jump in frustration.
“Of course it will.” Liao Shan came up with some haphazard reasons, but in the end felt he might not convince Director Gu, so he turned to Director Li.
“Director Li, you know West Shanghai best. Say a few words.”
Director Li also needed to chime in on this matter. Agent Headquarters has a stake in it too, and a considerable proportion, thirty percent of the dividends.
“Director Gu, this matter really needs careful thought.”
Director Li walked over, patted Director Gu’s shoulder, and pulled him outside to talk: “West Shanghai is Huang Jinrong’s territory. I’ve gotten involved in some of the business too. It’s all out of desperation because Agent Headquarters’ expenses are too high. Just consider it as doing me a favor. Think of another way for West Shanghai.
I’ll handle this matter. I’ll have them give you one percent of the dividends every month.”
But he still had to express disdain: “Just one percent?”
Director Li patted Director Gu’s shoulder, “Don’t think it’s too little. There are many people to feed. The Japanese behind my business take a share, Agent Headquarters takes a share, Public Works Bureau takes a share, Shanghai West Police Station takes a share, the British army at the wharf takes a share, and even the Japanese at Wusongkou need to be greased.
Plus Liao Shan, Huang Jinrong, even the people working under them need to earn something, right? Which link do you think can be skipped without paying?”
Director Gu smiled after hearing this, “No wonder Huang Jinrong doesn’t work for the Japanese and still lives so comfortably. It turns out all sides are taking care of him.”
“Mutual help.” Director Li smiled: “When out and about, don’t we all rely on friends?”
“Fine, giving you face. I’ll think of another way.”
With these words, the purpose of Director Gu bringing up this matter had actually been achieved. In the future, when doing business, no one can say anything about anyone else.
“Thanks.”
“How much is one percent profit?”
“Depends on the market trend, at least twenty to thirty thousand as a base.”
“Fine.”
Back in the private room, they chatted about miscellaneous matters, war affairs, romantic topics, and only after chatting for a while did they bring up the matter of the West Shanghai granary being burned today.
Director Li had no free time from daytime until now, and only now learned about this: “The Japanese granary was burned, and there was gunfire?”
“Yeah.” Director Gu recounted what he had seen and heard.
Single testimony doesn’t stand. For now, it can only be judged that it was the Military Statistics Bureau people making trouble, but what is the purpose of targeting the Japanese granary? Is it personal grudge with Mitsui, or something else? Director Li also found it hard to judge for the moment.
After briefly discussing the matter, they moved on, back to romantic topics!
Liao Shan called over a group of dancers. Director Gu actually had an acquaintance at Xianle Si, the top dancer Bai Mei.
Bai Mei was a bit surprised to see Director Gu, but last time Director Gu had only asked Bai Mei to spread false news about the Japanese army’s forced requisition. Even if she let it slip, Director Gu didn’t mind.
However, this woman was very good at reading people. She didn’t say anything she shouldn’t, only that she had seen Director Gu’s face in the newspaper and admired him for a long time, then smoothly sat down beside him.
Who made Director Gu the youngest in the room? Sitting with him definitely felt better than sitting with the others.
This caused Director Gu to be teased by several people.
The next day, several major Chinese newspapers in the concession almost all published the Military Statistics Bureau’s claim of responsibility for the burning of Mitsui’s granary yesterday, and issued threats against Japanese enterprises’ malicious hoarding of grain and hoarding and price gouging.
If you don’t release the grain, we’ll burn the warehouses!
All grain stores selling high-priced grain, whether operated by Japanese or Chinese, the Iron Blood Assassination Group will surely send you on your way!
If you’re not afraid of death, keep selling!
As soon as the bold words came out, the citizens on the streets this morning were clearly delighted, holding newspapers, reading aloud and cheering loudly.
Suddenly, the grain stores that continued selling high-priced grain had no customers. People who had been queuing to grab grain were all pulled away by neighbors.
According to the attractive rouge shop owner Little Li who pulled away the rice-buying old lady.
“Why buy such expensive rice now? Just wait, it’s fine. The Iron Blood Assassination Group is here, these Japanese will be afraid of death too. The rice price will definitely come down.
Even if the Japanese aren’t afraid, they’re not in a hurry for this day or two. Look, I still have rice here. I’ll lend you half a liter to eat first.”
The rice shop people were dumbfounded. Soon the news spread, and the Chinese working for Japanese enterprises started to get scared.
Meanwhile, today’s Japanese newspapers and Shen Bao also published another piece of news.
The Chongqing Government’s main force, the Loyal and Righteous National Salvation Army, deeply moved by Mr. Wang’s Save the Nation Through Peace thought, with over fifty thousand members of the entire Loyal and Righteous National Salvation Army, has defected to Mr. Wang. The army is now stationed around Shanghai and Suzhou, and Commander He Xingjian has entered Shanghai and been received by Minister Zhou.
The Japanese didn’t even think of hiding He Xingjian’s defection.
This could greatly damage the anti-Japanese morale across China and also create a demonstration effect, to tell commanders of Chinese armies nationwide how good the treatment is for defecting with their troops. Once in Shanghai, He Xingjian lives so luxuriously.
The exaggerated numbers speak for themselves.
The following content was some remarks by Minister Zhou on this.
Signed by Editor-in-Chief Liang Youwei.
Anyone could tell at a glance that the Japanese forced Shen Bao to publish this. Director Gu had read a lot of Shen Bao, and this definitely wasn’t Liang Youwei’s article—no critical edge at all.
The common people were full of curses.
President Jiang in Chongqing would probably be spitting mad upon seeing it.
As for Boss Dai, it’s possible President Jiang might slap him.
In the afternoon, Chen Mo came to find Director Gu on the matter of drugs.
As soon as Director Gu saw him, he knew his intention and went with him for a walk by the Suzhou River to look at the wharf for smuggling.
“Chongqing has a message?”
Chen Mo nodded, “I saw the newspaper this morning and sent a telegram to Chongqing. Director Dai instructed to kill He Xingjian at all costs!”
“As expected. A major general commander defecting with his entire formation has too bad an impact, especially since it’s Director Dai’s troops. How do you plan to do it?”
“I need your help to get He Xingjian’s whereabouts, best if with the address of his residence. Once I have the address, I can scout his action patterns myself. Can you find a way to meet him?”
“I’ve already met the man, but if you want to act now, I think the timing isn’t right.”
Director Gu walked forward with a calm expression, “This is currently the time when He Xingjian and the Japanese are most vigilant. Yesterday I met He Xingjian together with people from Agent Headquarters, which means this person has entered Director Li’s sights.
Director Li is extremely vigilant. Yesterday when we went to Xianle Si to drink, even with Wu Sibao guarding outside and no gunfire, Director Li still felt uneasy.
Now with He Xingjian’s defection, I can guess what Boss Dai’s reaction will be, and so can the Japanese and Director Li. If you act now, there will absolutely be a dragnet waiting for you.
Director Li has been longing for traces of the Military Statistics Bureau’s new Shanghai District for a long time.
And this doesn’t even count He Xingjian’s own guards.”
“I know it’s difficult.” Chen Mo frowned, “But Director Dai issued a kill order at all costs to eliminate the traitor, and to quickly produce a body to deter the traitors’ hearts. The matter must be done.”
“I understand your feelings. The matter must be done, traitors must be eliminated, but for killing, shouldn’t we plan it carefully?
The kill order is first to kill for sure, not to go to certain death. The best way for this is to wait, wait until these few days pass and everyone thinks it’s fine, then you strike. Director Li’s men won’t guard He Xingjian forever.”
Some words Director Gu, as a staff officer, couldn’t say, especially inciting Chen Mo not to follow orders. If Boss Dai found out, neither would have a good end. Boss Dai is surely furious now, but he didn’t want Chen Mo to go to his death either. Assassination now is definitely not the best timing.
Chen Mo wasn’t hot-headed, or he couldn’t lead the Iron Blood Assassination Group. He nodded upon hearing this, “I know. I won’t throw away my life in vain. I’ll investigate thoroughly and act only when I have a sure chance. I’m just short on He Xingjian’s whereabouts. Where is he now?”
“Yuyuan Road.” It had been mentioned at yesterday’s wine party. Director Gu let out a long breath and said, “You should know that place. The road is hard to navigate.
Director Li’s house is there, some high-level people from No. 76 are there too, and there’s a Japanese gendarmerie unit stationed nearby.
Concession Police Station in front, No. 76 General Headquarters behind. That place is now a pocket. Whoever goes in gets trapped.
If I were Director Li, for these few days, any stranger appearing in that alley—let alone entering—if they linger at the alley entrance for even one extra minute, it’s assumed they have a problem. You can’t even do reconnaissance.”
Chen Mo thought it made sense. Yuyuan Road’s road conditions are particularly complex, standard Shanghai alleys, all villa areas, messy little lanes twisting and turning. Unfamiliar people get lost inside. Crucially, there are especially many traitors living there.
Many traitors mean many house servants, and all are traitors’ house servants.
“Then wait for him to come out. I don’t believe he’ll hide inside and never come out.”
“He’ll definitely come out. If he had that much patience, he wouldn’t have defected. He’s just a libertine.”
Director Gu described He Xingjian’s performance last night, “This man is fond of women. After being cooped up in the wild for so long, he’ll definitely seek out women frequently for pleasure in the near term. Opportunities are there, but you need patience to find the patterns, like if he has any particularly favored women. If there’s a pattern, he’s easy to kill.”
