Chapter 272: How Do I Watch? I’ll Just Sit And Watch!
Cao Weida was not a worm in his stomach, so he naturally couldn’t guess everything.
However, since Ono Shiota still wanted to do a good deed, then let him do it. For him, for Beiping’s poor people, it was all benefits and no harm. Why not?
“Then what about Fujita-kun and them.”
“I’ve already communicated with them, and they feel the same as I do.” Ono Shiota patted his shoulder, squinting and smiling:
“Cao Sang, this matter will be hard on you.”
“Of course, being able to work for you, Officer Ono, is my honor. How many people beg for it and can’t get it.”
“Hahaha~~ Cao Sang, you’re really something else. By the way, what did you come to see me for?”
“I almost forgot. If you hadn’t reminded me, I wouldn’t have remembered. This brain of mine.” Cao Weida pretended to be annoyed and patted his forehead, then took a small bottle from his pocket and handed it over: “Officer Ono, take a look, what is this.”
“This is… Penicillin?” Ono Shiota’s eyebrows immediately raised. This kind of thing was scarce goods. As a strategic-level contraband medicine, he naturally wasn’t unfamiliar with it. He looked at Cao Weida, puzzled: “Cao Sang, what do you mean?”
“Officer Ono, you should know that one of my men, Little Ear, he used to work the black market. This is what he bought from the black market.”
“Of course, if it was just one or two bottles, I naturally wouldn’t come to you specifically, but the fact is, a large batch of Penicillin has appeared on the black market, no less than fifty vials!”
“Oh? There’s such a thing?” Ono Shiota’s eyelids twitched. A small amount of Penicillin appearing on the black market could be explained—after all, it wasn’t rare for some people to resell precious antibiotic medicine on the black market for profit.
For such things, the little devils generally turned a blind eye. As the saying goes, if water is too clear, there are no fish. The little devils understood this reason too.
Those traitors who defected to the little devils did so originally for promotion and wealth. Otherwise, why defect to the little devils?
However, most were Bailangduoxi and Sulfonamide, while Penicillin was extremely rare.
Because Penicillin was even scarcer, those traitors wanted to keep some for themselves.
But now, fifty vials had suddenly appeared. This was no small number.
“Have you found out where these medicines came from?”
Cao Weida nodded: “Yes, when I learned that so much Penicillin had appeared on the black market, I kept my eyes open and had Little Ear secretly investigate. These medicines all flowed out from Guo Dashuai’s hands.”
“Guo Dashuai?” Little Ear’s eyes darted. “This name sounds familiar, like I’ve heard it somewhere.”
“It’s said he’s a man of Brigade Commander Cui Qi.”
“A man of Brigade Commander Cui?” Ono Shiota thought for a moment: “So, these medicines were most likely given to him by Brigade Commander Cui?”
“But where did Brigade Commander Cui get so much Penicillin?”
All medicines were accounted for. Matsui Koji was the Logistics Department inspector at Gendarmerie Headquarters. If it was medicine coming in or out of Beiping, he couldn’t be unaware.
But Matsui Koji had never told him about a batch of medicine being shipped out. That was strange.
“Could it be that Brigade Commander Cui got them from another channel?”
“No, this matter has nothing to do with Brigade Commander Cui. I’ve sent people to investigate deeply. According to the clues I have, these medicines flowed out from Liu Changjiang’s hands.”
Ono Shiota was puzzled: “How did Liu Changjiang suddenly appear? Who is he?”
“Liu Changjiang is the bandit leader operating in the Changping District outside Beiping City. He’s sworn brothers with Guo Dashuai.” At this point, Cao Weida hesitated, looking as if he had something to say but was holding back.
Seeing this, Ono Shiota said directly: “Cao Sang, speak freely if you have something to say.”
“Then I’ll say it, but don’t take offense.” After hesitating for a moment, Cao Weida gritted his teeth:
“You know, for certain reasons, I’ve had some contact with the Communist Party. I’ve heard some rumors that these medicines seem to belong to the Communist Party.”
“You mean this Guo Dashuai is actually with the Communist Party?”
“Not necessarily. If Guo Dashuai were with the Communist Party, the goods would have been transported to the base area long ago and wouldn’t have flowed into the black market.”
Ono Shiota picked up the small bottle containing Penicillin, interested: “According to you, this bandit called Liu Changjiang seized the Communist Party’s goods?”
“Do they have that kind of ability?”
At that moment, there was a knock on the door. “Report!”
Cao Weida recognized it as Xu Hancheng’s voice.
“Come in.”
After the door opened, sure enough, Xu Hancheng’s figure appeared at the door.
Seeing Cao Weida there too, Xu Hancheng who came in smiled: “Cao’er is here too. Officer Ono, here’s a document that needs your signature.”
“No rush, come here.” Ono Shiota beckoned and handed over the small bottle: “Take a look at what this is.”
“It’s Penicillin.” Xu Hancheng stated it outright, not knowing what Ono Shiota meant, and looked to Cao Weida for help.
Cao Weida looked at Ono Shiota, who nodded to him: “Bureau Chief Xu, as Police Station Chief, naturally has the right to know about this. Just tell him.”
With Ono Shiota’s words, Cao Weida spilled it all: “The matter is like this…”
After Cao Weida briefly explained the process, Ono Shiota asked Xu Hancheng: “What do you think should be done?”
“…” Xu Hancheng nearly cried out, his eyes full of resentment toward Cao Weida. Little brother, oh little brother, aren’t you putting your big brother in a tough spot?!
Guo Dashuai was Brigade Commander Cui Qi’s man. Isn’t this making me go against Brigade Commander Cui?!
With my small arms and legs, aren’t you harming me?
But having learned of the matter, he had to take a stand, which left him utterly tearless inside.
Ono Shiota had asked, and he couldn’t not answer. His mind raced, and he cautiously said:
“Officer Ono, I know this Guo Dashuai. Eighty percent of Beiping’s wharves are in his hands.”
“He’s always been king and tyrant on the wharves. No one can control him because Brigade Commander Cui is behind him.”
“Not only that, he’s hometown fellows with Wang Kemin. Even the Mayor gives him face.”
“Moreover, this Guo Dashuai is very clever. All the bad things are done by his underlings. He never shows his face.”
“So, if we get it wrong, it will be very troublesome…”
Hearing that this Guo Dashuai was actually connected to Wang Kemin, Ono Shiota’s brows immediately furrowed.
He had originally thought he could go wipe out some bandits and pocket this batch of Penicillin, but now it seemed making some extra cash wouldn’t be easy.
However, easy or not, it had to be done, because this was no longer just about a batch of medicine—it involved the struggle for power in Beiping between the Puppet Government and the Imperial Army!
Wang Kemin, as someone who dared to challenge the big traitor Wang Jingwei, naturally wasn’t just because he defected to the little devils. It was because Wang Kemin’s power was enormous.
Especially in Beiping, his power was very great.
Once, he had tried to unite north and south into one central government led by himself, making him ruler of the country.
But later, Wang Jingwei suddenly surrendered to Japan, shattering his dream of unified government and losing the exclusive favor of his Japanese masters.
Although after the Pseudo Republic of China Government was established, Wang Kemin was gradually marginalized, in his Beiping base, Wang Kemin’s power remained very great. Even Gendarmerie Headquarters Commander Miyamoto Ichiro had to give him some face.
The Japanese side was definitely very dissatisfied with this, but they couldn’t openly suppress him, or else how would the traitors who defected to the little devils see it?
Kill the donkey after unloading the mill?
The current international situation was already very unfavorable to the Japanese side, and many traitors were already wavering. If they arbitrarily suppressed Wang Kemin, wouldn’t it make other traitors panic?
This was unfavorable to Japanese rule over the occupied territory.
However, the Japanese side had never given up on the intention to reclaim management power in Beiping. They had always wanted to find a flaw in Wang Kemin for a ‘just cause,’ but Wang Kemin acted cautiously and never gave an opportunity.
And now, this Guo Dashuai seemed like a good breakthrough?
Whether it worked or not, he had to try to know.
He looked at Cao Weida: “Cao Sang, what do you think.”
What do I think?
I’ll sit and watch!
He grumbled inwardly, but said cautiously: “Officer Ono, your idea is my idea. Whatever you want to do, I’ll do it!”
Xu Hancheng watched with teeth aching. Look at that, look at that!
No wonder he earned Ono Shiota’s trust. With that flattery—cough, loyal attitude, which leader wouldn’t like it!
Ono Shiota chuckled: “Then if I say I want to investigate?”
“Then investigate!” Cao Weida said firmly: “Grab all his underlings, work from the bottom up. I absolutely don’t believe we can’t find his leverage!”
“Yōshi.” Ono Shiota was very satisfied with Cao Weida’s attitude. With a ‘clang,’ he set the small bottle on the table.
“If we really want to deal with him, just evidence of colluding with bandits isn’t enough. We must have proof of colluding with the Communists!”
“As long as we can prove he has dealings with the Communist Party, then let’s see who dares speak for him!”
As soon as these words came out, the other two immediately understood his decision. He was determined to take down this Guo Dashuai!
And go big!
Cao Weida immediately followed up: “That’s easy. We’ll charge him with helping the Communist Party transport medicine!”
“With that, no matter Brigade Commander Cui or President Wang, let’s see who dares speak for him!”
In today’s Beiping, militarily, it was still in the Imperial Army’s hands. As long as there was sufficient reason, even if Wang Kemin’s power was great, he absolutely wouldn’t dare plead for him!
Otherwise, it would be stretching out his neck to hand fatal leverage to the little devils!
Seeing the first flattery had landed, Xu Hancheng quickly followed: “If we can’t handle a wharf bully, where do we put the Police Station’s face?!”
“Don’t worry, Officer Ono. This audacious Guo Dashuai, we’ll definitely deal with him properly!”
Clearly, he still hadn’t realized the seriousness of the problem.
