Chapter 43: Targeting
“Mayor.”
“Mayor Fu.”
The crowd’s shouts had already revealed the visitor’s identity: SH city’s new mayor, Fu Xiao’an.
“Here’s what happened: Secretary-General Ling was assassinated on the way here.” Someone explained the situation.
“How could this kind of thing happen again?”
Fu Xiao’an frowned as he passed by Gu Yansheng, walking over to Ling Xianwen with concern to inquire about the situation.
Ling Xianwen didn’t lose his temper with Fu Xiao’an again. He explained his own situation and, by the way, introduced Gu Yansheng, who was in the same car.
“This is the Deputy Division Chief of Judicial Department recommended by Mr. Hase. If he hadn’t pulled me today, I might have been killed in the car!”
One sentence clearly described Gu Yansheng’s background. Playing possum to eat the tiger isn’t popular here. Letting people know your background means no one will trip you up for no reason.
“Oh, so it’s Deputy Division Chief Gu. Truly young and promising.”
Those present could be considered to know Gu Yansheng now. Most people here don’t care about the romantic affairs of the concession court, so the vast majority were hearing this name for the first time.
“Director Lu, hurry up and investigate!”
“Yes!”
“Alright, let’s start the meeting. Secretary-General Ling, have a seat, sit down first.
Lately, assassinations against us by Chongqing agents have become more frequent; their attitude is truly arrogant!
What’s the reason for this?
Isn’t it because the previous government’s incompetence and weakness?”
Fu Xiao’an slammed the table hard, showing no face to the previous mayor Su Xiwen sitting beside him. Su Xiwen’s face turned frighteningly dark.
“So with the new government’s establishment, the primary task is to perfect the city government’s departments, ensuring everything in all of Shanghai operates under our control.
This way, if any link has a problem, we can quickly learn the situation and respond rapidly.
Secretary-General Ling just accused the police station of not doing a good job catching spies. I think the police’s fundamental role is still maintaining public order, assisting in catching spies. Making them the main force for catching spies is indeed too much to ask and unrealistic.
Some of you have little contact with the police, or your family background is already prominent, so the police you interact with may naturally have high quality.
But I’ve done business; with so many shops under me, I’ve been extorted by the police plenty of times. Having them gather some intelligence is fine, but expecting them to catch spies is really overestimating them.
But you don’t need to worry too much. On this matter, during a meeting at gendarmerie headquarters, the Japanese gave me a heads-up: there will be crackdown actions soon, and they’ll expand the scale of talent in this area. Be patient; there will definitely be results.
However, Director Lu, although your police station isn’t the main force, maintaining public order is a major responsibility. You must supervise your subordinates to do a good job cooperating! Change the habits of street ruffians; for those whose habits are hard to change, fire a batch to set an example.”
“Yes, understood.” Lu Ying responded. “I’ll increase the investigation efforts, having each district do a comprehensive investigation of all residents in their jurisdiction again.”
“Once isn’t enough; make it routine. Every certain period, investigate all residents, and for suspicious personnel, follow the principle of better to catch the wrong one than let one go—crack down hard on a batch.”
“Yes.”
“Deputy Division Chief Gu.” Fu Xiao’an turned his gaze to Gu Yansheng.
“Here.” Although Gu Yansheng hadn’t expected his matter to come up at the first meeting, he reacted quickly.
Fu Xiao’an’s expression was serious. “Since Mr. Hase recommended you to take over the judicial department, I believe you have the absolute ability to handle Shanghai’s judicial issues. The police station handles arrests, so the judicial department must do a good job with trials and detention.
Shanghai’s problem is one word: chaos, chaos continuing from after the war to now!
For Shanghai’s chaotic situation, we must crack down hard. You need to quickly produce a plan, enforce law and discipline strictly.
For those arrested by the police station, speed up trials, be strict and severe to set an example!”
“Yes.”
“Another issue the Japanese side is concerned about: foreign chambers of commerce transporting prohibited supplies, trying to use the concession court’s case law to escape trial. This matter is extremely important.
Although Chongqing agents can sneak into Shanghai, where do their guns come from? Their radios? Their medicine?
Isn’t it these foreign chambers of commerce exploiting legal loopholes to bring them in?
If this problem isn’t solved, Shanghai will never have peace.
Since you’re taking over the judicial department, you must resolve this situation. I’ll give you three days; I want to see a completely feasible plan. Any problem?”
“Mayor Fu, Deputy Division Chief Gu just arrived and isn’t even officially in position yet. Even if you want him to solve it, shouldn’t you give him more time to understand the specific situation?” Ling Xianwen directly spoke up for Gu Yansheng.
“Three days for a problem the previous government couldn’t solve in three months—isn’t that a bit too short?”
Fu Xiao’an said expressionlessly, “Secretary-General, time waits for no one.
Since the person was recommended by Mr. Hase, I believe he has the absolute ability to solve such problems. No need to discuss the time anymore.
Everyone, I emphasize once more.
Gendarmerie headquarters’ requirement for us is that the able rise, the unable step down.
SH citizens’ requirement for us is peace and stability.
Our requirement for ourselves is at least not to be assassinated again!
I don’t care who recommended the person, newcomer or veteran. Since I’m the mayor, the safety of so many people in Shanghai is on me, and I must bear that responsibility.
The judicial department is an important executive department of the city government, relating to the detention and trial of all criminals in Shanghai.
If we can’t establish authority, Shanghai’s chaos can’t be stopped.
If it can’t be stopped, I’ll lose face at gendarmerie headquarters, lose face in front of all of Shanghai’s reporters.
If I lose face, you lose your positions—it’s that simple!
Deputy Division Chief Gu, any problem?”
“None.” Gu Yansheng was very calm.
“Good, next topic: Shanghai’s taxation problem. Tax Bureau Chief, how are you collecting taxes?”
The meeting ended amid Fu Xiao’an’s constant berating of people.
He berated so many that Gu Yansheng almost felt Fu Xiao’an wasn’t targeting just him.
Ling Xianwen gave a look, and Gu Yansheng followed him to his office.
As soon as they entered the office, he asked, “Secretary-General, what kind of thunderous display is this? Why do I feel Mayor Fu has a grudge against me?”
“Fox pretending to be a tiger.”
Ling Xianwen mocked without any politeness, plopping down on the sofa: “This new official’s three fires upon taking office—the first fire is aimed at public order. The Japanese value that, nothing wrong with it.
But this method… taking advantage of my argument with Lu Ying to speak for Lu Ying, smoothly pulling Lu Ying to his side…
I estimate that when Fu Xiao’an came to power, his original plan was to seize both the police station and judicial department in his hands. He even had someone in mind for your position, but we beat him to it.
Listen to what he said: produce a plan in three days, able rise unable down—this is clearly targeting you.
Now your identity is out in the open; you can’t be used by him. And he can’t make it too ugly with Mr. Hase, so he wants you to back down knowing it’s impossible.
Heh, interesting. Good thing I acted fast; this Fu Xiao’an isn’t well-intentioned.
Three days is a lot of pressure. Can you do it?”
Gu Yansheng was very calm: “As long as it’s something related to law, there’s nothing I can’t do.”
“Good!” Ling Xianwen’s eyes lit up, praising: “I knew you were talented; I didn’t misjudge you. Produce a good plan, slap that stinking businessman’s face!
A tiger that shows off its might is a real tiger; this fox is probably just a stinking fox.
Wants to seize both the police station and judicial department—do you think his starting point is really for public order?
A businessman becomes mayor; how many industries does he have citywide? Then holding these two violent departments—one arrests, one judges—all of Shanghai’s business becomes his word?
Who would dare oppose him?”
Gu Yansheng nodded seriously. “With you putting it that way, I understand why he’s targeting me. I wondered; I don’t even know him. Turns out the issue is far away.”
Ling Xianwen chuckled lightly: “Anyway, I don’t like this person. A mayor with impure motives… He has backing, we can’t touch him, but we have supervisory responsibility. Shanghai can’t be messed up like this by them. Handle the legal matters yourself; first get the document out to shut his mouth.
We’ll secure our positions, and nothing will faze us.
But in the future, be extra careful with your work. For those arrested by the police station to be tried, especially businessmen, pay special attention to whether any were wronged. If so, record them secretly first.
If abusing power for graft and perverting justice happens too much and affects the big picture, we can strip this tiger skin off him too.”
“Alright, then I’ll go handle it.”
“Handle what? The office isn’t even prepared for you yet. You think I’ll make you take documents home to handle?”
Ling Xianwen stood up.
“Come on, brother will first arrange an office for you, then pick a good apartment. After finishing up this afternoon, tonight I’ll host a welcome for you and introduce you to a few directors. How can you get things done without knowing your own people?”
