Chapter 105: Contact
In the evening, Gu Yansheng waited for information at home.
The phone didn’t ring; no news was good news.
Ding ling ling, ding ling ling.
Gu Yansheng put down the book, picked up the phone, “Hello.”
Ding Mocun’s voice came through the phone, laughing as he asked: “Director Gu, there was quite a stir this afternoon. I heard you confiscated a bunch of businessmen’s warehouses. How about it? Are those businessmen willing to comply?”
What a pointless call. Gu Yansheng calmly said: “It’s about ripe. We’ll have to see the specific effects. Getting them to comply is one thing, but I’m also thinking this could make us some money. Otherwise, with just Mitsui’s share, I feel it’s still a bit short.”
“Don’t worry about this. If there’s news, I’ll definitely notify you.”
“I’m not worried. I’m just checking if there’s anywhere I can help. If you need anything, just say the word. My people here are idle anyway, ready to be at your service, Director Gu.”
“Heh, no need to catch Military Statistics Bureau agents? I saw in the newspaper that the Shanghai District Chief of the Military Statistics Bureau is in the International Settlement. How’s that going?”
“Li Shiqun is handling that. I’m not involved. It’s not that interesting. It’s been so long; even if we catch the District Chief, how much use would it be?”
“That’s true. Alright, I’m still busy here. Talk later.”
Gu Yansheng hung up the phone and continued reading.
The night passed quietly; quiet was good.
The next day, Gu Yansheng called in Lu Bowen.
Lu Bowen said: “I watched them load the ship and leave. The passes worked very well. The Gendarmerie at Wusongkou Wharf just glanced, saw the passes, and let them through directly without even boarding the ship to inspect.”
Gu Yansheng smiled: “That’s a Colonel. What did you think, some small fry? In Japan, questioning a superior’s decision is a very serious mistake. Otherwise, how dare he price them at 3000 silver dollars each? Just this one trip sold for 45,000. If he sells more aggressively, he could make a million US dollars in a year.”
“Tsk tsk, making money is really fast.”
A million US dollars, pure profit, and just in one year—this astronomical figure was something Lu Bowen didn’t even dare to imagine.
“Much more worthwhile than being a soldier.” Gu Yansheng sighed too.
A Colonel who could hold such a lucrative position must have big shots backing him on Mainland Japan. That was also why Gu Yansheng felt the money was well spent. Even if something went wrong in the end, the investigation wouldn’t go beyond the Colonel.
“How much medicine was sent out?”
“A lot, too much to count. In terms of weight, including Chinese medicine, it’s probably nearly four tons.”
“Not bad, wasn’t for nothing.” Gu Yansheng nodded: “How much quinine is left?”
Gu Yansheng had emphasized this, and Lu Bowen had paid close attention. “As you said, no more than one-third, so I kept about 15 kilograms. For malaria, one person needs about 20 grams, so this is enough for 750 people.”
“Have someone pack it in a suitcase and send it over to me. I still need to plug a mouth on the Japanese side.”
Due to the emergency, with such a big stir yesterday, it was impossible to hide from the Japanese.
Gu Yansheng picked up the phone and called Sato Kenji at Mitsui.
As soon as it connected, he laughed: “Mr. Sato, I’ve already started implementing the plan. Those businessmen seem cooperative for now. How much quinine we can procure specifically will depend on the follow-up effects. But when I pressured them yesterday, I confiscated a batch of medicine—about a dozen kilograms of quinine. Do you need it urgently over there? Want me to send it now?”
“That’s great.”
Sato Kenji said: “I admire Mr. Gu’s efficiency. Here’s what we’ll do: auction this batch of quinine immediately in the name of the Judicial Department. I’ll have someone buy it.”
“Okay, then I’ll send the stuff over to you first. The auction is just a formality anyway. With the quinine in the warehouse, I’m worried about accidents.”
“Fine.”
“One more thing: those businessmen are afraid I’ll deliberately trick them. They’re worried that after they procure goods, I’ll confiscate them when they return, leaving them with nothing. So they hope to get Mitsui Company’s transport permit in advance to feel secure. Mr. Sato, you’ll need to help with this. They don’t trust me, the confiscator.”
“That’s easy. When you send the medicine over, I’ll have someone issue a certificate to your people.”
“Good. I’ll send someone with the medicine shortly. Goodbye.”
Gu Yansheng hung up the phone, raised an eyebrow, and said to Lu Bowen: “The certificate is approved. Congratulations, Boss Lu. You now have an additional medicine company.”
Lu Bowen stared: “Wasn’t it for those businessmen? How did it become mine? I haven’t even fully sorted out the transportation line for my flour mill.”
“Take it slow, no rush.” Gu Yansheng explained the agreement with the businessmen. “There will be plenty of medicine to transport in the future. Give some to the organization, sell some to the Nationalist controlled area to recycle funds, and with the rest, open two big pharmacies in Shanghai to maintain them. Selling medicine is straightforward. I’ve secured the supply for you. Hire two doctors to mind the stores, and you won’t have much to do.”
Lu Bowen listened with twitching lips: “No wonder you wanted Mitsui’s transport qualifications. I’m impressed. Fine, I’ll find time to open them.”
Opening pharmacies wasn’t much effort, but selling off all this medicine would be a big project. It had to be done slowly, planned carefully.
Fortunately, there was at least a month, so it could be done slowly.
Ding ling ling, ding ling ling.
“Hello.” Gu Yansheng picked up the phone on the desk.
“Director Gu, this is the gate guard duty room. There’s a guy named Liu San, says he’s from Captain Wu of Agent Headquarters, here to deliver some local specialties to you. He wants you to come down.”
“Liu San?” Gu Yansheng thought for a moment—yes, there was such a person, but what local specialties was he delivering?
“Let him come up.” Gu Yansheng hung up after saying that.
“Then you go back first. It’ll take a few days for news from the ship. There’s a radio on board; I’ll tell you if there’s progress.”
“Okay, then I’ll go to the warehouse and send the stuff over to you.”
“Mm.”
Ding ling ling, ding ling ling.
“Hello.”
“Director Gu, gate guard duty room. This Liu San says the item is still best if you come down to see it yourself. He says it’s a bit dirty and embarrassing to bring up.”
What item, so mysterious—it even piqued Gu Yansheng’s curiosity. He thought and said: “Got it. Have him wait.”
Putting down the phone, Gu Yansheng stood up: “Let’s go down together.”
“Do many people give you gifts now?” Lu Bowen asked curiously.
Gu Yansheng shook his head: “First, ordinary people can’t see me. Second, giving gifts to the Deputy Division Chief of Judicial Department—what are they trying to do? Ordinary people don’t have the guts.”
So far, Gu Yansheng had only accepted gifts from a few subordinates, the Mayor’s gift, and Liu Xiaolou’s—a piece of chocolate.
Downstairs, they saw Liu San waving in the courtyard parking lot: “Director Gu, over here.”
Gu Yansheng told Lu Bowen to leave and walked over, asking curiously: “Liu San, did you come on your own, or did Wu Sibao send you?”
If it was Wu Sibao sending a gift, Gu Yansheng thought it normal. But Liu San sending one meant he had something to ask.
“Director Gu, take a look in the car.” Liu San smiled, opened the passenger door, then ran to the driver’s seat and got in.
“What’s so mysterious.” Gu Yansheng got in and glanced at the back—no one sitting there.
As soon as his butt hit the seat, click—a hard object pressed against the back of his head.
Liu San grinned and said: “Sorry, Director Gu. Too many people in the office, so I had to invite you down this way for a talk.”
Gu Yansheng was very surprised. First, he could confirm Liu San didn’t represent No. 76, as Liu San wasn’t worthy. Second, it definitely wasn’t about the cargo shipment, as they’d only just left—not enough time for trouble.
Moreover, to move against him wasn’t something ordinary people could do.
So Liu San’s identity was intriguing: either coveting his money—wealth not revealed—Liu San had seen it and got bold, so robbery.
Or, Military Statistics Bureau or Central Statistics Bureau.
“Talk about what?”
“Change of place. You don’t mind, right?” Liu San started the car and drove off.
Gu Yansheng didn’t resist, sitting quietly in the car. Since they hadn’t killed him right away, there was room for negotiation.
But their chosen spot was the riverside—a great place to bury a body.
Liu San smiled: “We’re here, Director Gu. As a traitor, what are your thoughts right now upon seeing the Iron Blood Assassination Group?”
“No interest in answering that. If you have business, get to it.” Robbery ruled out.
“No wonder you made Deputy Division Chief of Judicial Department. Not scared in this situation—you’ve got skills.” The man in the back finally spoke. He put away the gun, smiling: “Director Gu, allow me to introduce myself: Iron Blood Assassination Group, Chen Mo.”
“Chen Mo?” Gu Yansheng had heard the name from Zhang Xiaolin’s mouth—Du Yuesheng’s disciple, one of the opium dealers. Not sure if it was the same person.
“I’ve only heard of the Iron Blood Assassination Group killing, not chatting people up. What does Mr. Chen want with me? Speak directly.”
“Haha, we’ll talk outside.”
Gu Yansheng got out with Chen Mo.
Chen Mo said: “Still that question. As a traitor, Mr. Gu, what are your thoughts upon seeing the Iron Blood Assassination Group?”
Gu Yansheng sneered: “What’s a traitor? Working for the New Government makes one a traitor?”
“Of course.”
“Then saving 2000 people held by the Japanese Army—does that make me a traitor?”
“Your motive was to please the Japanese, so yes, a traitor.”
“How do you know my motive wasn’t to save those 2000 people, and only then please the Japanese? Am I still a traitor?”
Chen Mo laughed heartily, “Hahahaha, Director Gu, as expected of a lawyer—eloquent. Fine, I can’t outtalk you. Dropping that question.”
Gu Yansheng nodded in approval: “So get to the point.”
Chen Mo said seriously: “So, do you want to be a traitor or a real Chinese?”
Gu Yansheng raised an eyebrow: “Recruiting me?”
Chen Mo nodded: “But first, we need to confirm your Chinese identity. That’s crucial.”
Gu Yansheng thought and said: “For that question, I need to kill someone first to answer you.”
“Why?” Chen Mo was puzzled.
Gu Yansheng said bluntly: “Because I can’t confirm your identity. You say you’re Iron Blood Assassination Group, so you are?
Couldn’t you be someone sent to trap me? If I say yes, and you report me to Gendarmerie Headquarters, wouldn’t I be defenseless?
Or even if you’re from Gendarmerie Headquarters—my relationship with them isn’t good. If the Japanese want to test my loyalty before some big plan, what then?”
“Hahahaha.” Chen Mo sneered: “That’s an answer I didn’t expect. A lawyer’s thinking is different. Tell me, who do you want to kill?”
“Fu Xiao’an.”
“Hard to kill.” Chen Mo shook his head: “His security is tight, protected by Japanese Gendarmes, lives in Hongkou next to Japanese Army barracks. If I could kill him, I would have.”
“That doesn’t sound like the bold claims the Iron Blood Assassination Group made in the newspapers.”
“Killing requires timing. We’re an assassination group, not Shanghai District’s suicide squad. We don’t trade lives.”
“Fine, change to another.” Gu Yansheng pointed at Liu San: “His superior, Wu Sibao.”
Chen Mo pondered: “Him, I can kill.” Schemes already forming in his mind.
Liu San panicked: “Team Leader, we can’t kill Wu Sibao. If you do, I lose my backing at Agent Headquarters. All my efforts wasted.”
Chen Mo ignored him, raised an eyebrow at Gu Yansheng: “Hear that? Kill him, and Liu San loses his backing—a big loss. So what if you renege later?
Or you’re just stalling to get me to let you go, then you tip off Wu Sibao, and Liu San dies?
Might as well kill you now, clean and done. At least my brother stays safe.”
Gu Yansheng smiled: “Aren’t you Iron Blood Assassination Group? If I break the deal, you should have confidence to kill me. Even if I escape today, I believe I’ll die by your hand. Since you’re recruiting me, show some sincerity?
Am I, a Deputy Division Chief of Judicial Department, not worth it?
Likewise, if you kill Wu Sibao, I’ll show my sincerity—guarantee you see I’m no traitor.”
Chen Mo stared at Gu Yansheng, clearly weighing it.
Liu San saw Chen Mo’s expression and knew it was bad, eyes wide: “Team Leader, this really isn’t right. If Wu Sibao dies, a new Captain comes, and I’m not qualified.
Wu Sibao knows Li Shiqun, gets firsthand info. What he knows, I know. New Captain, I can’t get it. I’m Wu Sibao’s confidant; others won’t use me.”
“How do you make him believe?” Chen Mo looked at Liu San, then at Gu Yansheng, eyes firm: “As you say. We’ll kill Wu Sibao. But you’d better keep your word, or I’ll come visiting.”
“No need to kill. I believe you’re Iron Blood Assassination Group now.” Gu Yansheng smiled: “No need for such trouble either. Killing two Japanese soldiers will do.”
Chen Mo suddenly understood, laughed: “You’ve been testing: first if we’re Agent Headquarters, so kill Wu Sibao; now if we’re Gendarmerie Headquarters, so kill soldiers; and City Government’s Fu Xiao’an. Director Gu, your mind is meticulous.”
Chen Mo smiled, eyes showing appreciation. Once such a person joined, it’d be like adding wings to a tiger. In occupied territory, caution was never wrong.
Gu Yansheng didn’t deny it.
Two people jumping out of nowhere—who knew their identity? He didn’t think he risked exposing his Underground Party identity, but maybe the Japanese had a big plan, testing his loyalty with Agent Headquarters beforehand. Possible?
Only blood could prove it, and key figures’ blood.
“Everyone’s busy. No need to waste time. Things that can be settled today don’t need to wait overnight. Killing Japanese soldiers is fastest—they’re all over the streets. You kill to prove, I kill to prove. Everyone saves trouble. Kill or not?”
“Kill!”
