Chapter 86: Go For It! Think You Can Take My Place?
Since ancient times, finance moves hearts, and Ono Shiota was exactly like that at this moment.
He had been completely seduced by the great future fabricated by Cao Weida.
What was needed most right now was to strike while the iron is hot and thoroughly draw out the other’s desire!
He smiled confidently, “Ono-kun, I know the pros and cons involved, and I also know that if the goal isn’t achieved, those big shots absolutely won’t let me off.”
“This concerns my life and fortune, so how could I dare to make promises without certainty?”
“China is vast and rich in resources, with all kinds of supplies in short supply. Two hundred thousand US dollars a year is just the beginning for one or two years. Once the channels mature in the future, another ten or twenty thousand more is entirely possible!”
He was purely painting a pie in the sky. In another year or two, the little devils would surrender—what transaction would there be then?
But the little devils didn’t know that. Although they knew the goal of invading China had basically become a luxury, the homeland was still holding onto illusions, urgently conscripting and training soldiers, wanting to make one last desperate struggle. The timing for that couldn’t be estimated.
And so, Ono Shiota listened with his heart pounding, his breathing involuntarily quickening.
He believed Cao Weida’s words and was thoroughly moved!
Marx’s classic quote: With 50% profit, it takes risks; with 100% profit, it dares to trample all human laws; with 300% profit, it dares commit any crime, even risking the gallows.
This is the most direct exposition of human nature!
In the face of huge interests, without lofty and firm faith, without saint-like realm, one absolutely cannot resist such great temptation!
“Good! I trust you!” Ono Shiota couldn’t help but stand up, pacing back and forth excitedly several times, finally making up his mind,
“I’ll start handling Goto Kenji’s matter right away, then figure out a way to promote our people into position!”
“For the Special Higher Police section chief, I’ll find a way to deal with him! The remaining military and other higher-ups, Fujita-kun and they will handle!”
“But I hope your promise can be fulfilled sooner. If those people don’t see the money, they’ll go crazy!”
Cao Weida immediately stood up and guaranteed, “Please rest assured, I will definitely let all the officers see results in the shortest time. However, to see results quickly, cooperation between the Communist Party and the Kuomintang is inevitable—this problem.”
Ono Shiota waved his hand domineeringly, “Go ahead boldly, but don’t be too blatant!”
As long as big piles of cash can be made, the Emperor is nothing—what’s more, negotiating with the two parties.
Besides, do you really think the little devil higher-ups haven’t communicated with the Kuomintang higher-ups?
Those luxury items, opium, tungsten sand, and other high-profit goods rampant on the mainland and repeatedly banned—do you think they appear out of thin air?
Do you think all that grain, cloth, timber continuously shipped out from Haikou comes from nowhere?
Do you think the 1942《 Lend-Lease Agreement》, under which America provided China with military supplies worth 3.5 billion US dollars, ended up continuously delivered to the little devils’ hands, creating the ‘biggest scandal of World War II’ for no reason?
With all this, how could Ono Shiota fear cooperation with the two parties?
Besides, Japan’s defeat is basically set in stone. The most important thing now is to make money, then quickly transfer it back to the homeland before defeat, and live as a rich man—wouldn’t that be great?
“Then I’m relieved. Ono-kun, rest assured, I’ll go scout shops right away.” Cao Weida stood up to leave, then paused, as if remembering something, and whispered to Ono Shiota: “We need to quickly complete the supplies acquisition with the borrowed money, then… blablabla, blablabla.”
Ono Shiota’s eyes lit up, and he laughed heartily, slapping Cao Weida’s shoulder: “Cao Sang, your method is too wicked, but I like it!”
“Alright, we’ll do as you say!”
“Ono-kun, since we’ve decided to promote our own people, what about those people arrested by Sang Liuji…”
“Have them pay a hardship fee, and this matter is settled.”
Big money must be made, but small money can’t be abandoned either.
These are all the capital for him to live lavishly after returning home!
Who could ever complain about having too much money.
“Got it. With your word, I know what to do.”
Watching the departing figure, Ono Shiota couldn’t help but secretly rejoice inwardly, “Good thing I didn’t treat him as a one-time glove to use and discard back then, or else this sky-high fortune would have passed me by!”
Walking to the desk, he picked up the telephone and dialed: “Moshi moshi, this is Major Ono. Connect me to Major Fujita at Gendarmerie Headquarters.”
“Moshi moshi, Fujita-kun, this is Ono Shiota. Are you at Gendarmerie Headquarters? Good, I’ll come find you right away. Matsui-kun is there too? Call him along, I have something to discuss with you both.”
After hanging up, he dialed again: “Moshi moshi, this is Major Ono. Connect me to the consulate chief’s office.”
“Moshi moshi, Colonel Taniida, this is Outer Fifth District Police Station Consultant Ono Shiota. Tonight at Tai Feng Lou, I’ve prepared a modest banquet and humbly request Colonel Taniida to grace us with your presence. Hai, hai, thank you Colonel Taniida. Alright, see you tonight. Your humble subordinate awaits Colonel Taniida’s arrival!”
Cao Weida, leaving Ono Shiota’s office, ran straight into Sang Liuji, who was holding down Zhao the Shopkeeper and several other people.
Sang Liuji strode forward with a stride that recognized no kin, looking at Cao Weida with a mocking face: “Yo, Sergeant Cao, just finished snitching to Ono Taijun?”
“How about it? Do you still need me to hand these people over to Master Duo?”
In his view, this arrest operation was ordered by the Special Higher Police, and Ono Taijun hadn’t shown any opposition, which indirectly proved support for the matter, right?
Arresting some ordinary people—what’s that? Would the Taijuns care about such a trifle?
Reporting this matter upward, Ono Taijun wouldn’t only disagree but would be dissatisfied with his attitude, right?
He couldn’t help but gloat inwardly.
“This old man is the captain. This old man tells you to do something, you do it—where’s all this nonsense from!” Cao Weida looked at him coldly. For a dead man doomed to take the blame, he really couldn’t be bothered to waste words with him. His cold gaze turned to the patrolmen behind,
“Are this old man’s words useless? Do I need to kneel down and beg you?!”
Huh?
The patrolmen were at a loss, exchanging glances to no avail, then looked toward the sullen-faced Sang Liuji, not knowing what to do.
They inwardly lamented their plight. When immortals fight, mortals suffer. With their two immediate superiors at odds, these subordinates were in a dilemma.
Clearly noticing his subordinate’s gazes, Sang Liuji’s face darkened further, then suddenly turned from overcast to clear, chuckling:
“What are you standing around for? Didn’t you hear Sergeant Cao? Hand these people over to Master Duo.”
Then, brushing past Cao Weida, he arrogantly strode toward Ono Shiota’s office.
Hmph, enjoy your smugness now. See how this old man reports on you!
When this old man replaces you, it’ll be your turn to feed the fish in Shashahai!
But no sooner had he entered than the younger brothers outside heard several “baga”s, “bagayalu”s, and crisp, pleasing slaps from inside.
Soon, the office door opened, and Sang Liuji walked out in a daze, the five-finger marks on his face strikingly prominent.
“This…” The younger brothers exchanged glances, each seeing incredulity in the other’s eyes.
Didn’t Sang the boss say he had cozied up to Ono Shiota, and that he could replace Sergeant Cao soon? But now this situation—how does it look like that at all?
Looks like from now on, we should cozy up more to Sergeant Cao. Sang Liuji this soldier wants to take his place—probably not gonna happen.
“What are you looking at! Get back to work!!” Sang Liuji roared, utterly frustrated at losing face in front of his younger brothers.
The patrolmen hurried off with heads down. Even if Sang Liuji hadn’t won Ono Taijun’s favor, making trouble for them would be effortless.
Sang Liuji breathed heavily, covering his face as he returned to the office, slamming his police cap on the desk, sitting sullenly on the stool, gnashing his teeth and muttering to himself:
“Damn Cao Weida, just you wait! Once I complete what Ono Taijun assigned and gain his trust, I’ll be the first to kill you!”
Clearly, he didn’t dare blame Ono Shiota, so he could only vent all his anger on Cao Weida.
At this moment, his nemesis Cao Weida was instructing Duomen and his patrolmen about the people they brought back:
“Just lock these people up in a clean house. Don’t put them with the criminals. Treat them well with good food and drink—no harassing them.”
The police station had a holding cell, and not everyone inside was wronged—though there weren’t many who weren’t.
Speaking of which, in these times, the police don’t do their jobs, right or not.
Some police indeed don’t act properly, being arrogant and bullying the good, but the vast majority aren’t like that—most just muddle along.
Another portion of police do fulfill their duties, but with the environment like this, they’re powerless.
For example, a Japanese ronin committing murder in broad daylight—by law, he should be arrested, but in reality, do they dare?
Even if arrested, he’d be released by someone anyway, leaving them with a mess. Losing their uniform is the least; if the other side gets unhappy, the whole family suffers.
Same for those gangsters or hired thugs from wealthy families.
So, they can only arrest lone wolves with no connections.
Cao Weida had previously participated in capturing a flying thief—that guy’s lightness skill was no joke, moving freely through alley entrances like walking on flat ground.
After prior deployment, they mobilized over fifty men to chase and block him, and even shot his calf in advance before finally capturing him.
As for that flying thief now… long executed.
No choice—who told him to imitate Swallows Li San, going crazy for fame and stealing from big families. Once caught, how could they spare him?
To keep these people from being bullied, better to hold them separately. Anyway, they’ll be released soon.
He figured someone would come looking for them soon enough.
Speak of the devil and he shall appear.
“Cao Ye, someone pulled strings to see you, wants to mediate the misunderstanding between Zhao the Shopkeeper and the police station.”
