Chapter 122: Saving Someone
The car drove back to City Government, and the entrance was already blocked by reporters who came for interviews.
Hongkou explosion, all City Government high-level officials missing and unfindable, some reporters were already discussing if these high-level officials were all wiped out in yesterday’s high-level meeting.
Seeing them return, they felt quite regretful.
However, the explosion needed interviewing too, so they immediately blocked the convoy.
This time City Government got back real gold and silver policies, all positive news, enough for City Government to be assertive, so Fu Xiao’an got out of the car in high spirits to welcome the reporters into City Government’s propaganda hall, where he would answer questions on Shanghai’s future economic strategy.
At the same time, it was to announce his recovery from injury and clarify the rumors of bankruptcy circulating outside.
Ling Xianwen, who had worked hard for so long, felt a bit jealous, pulling Gu Yansheng and saying, “Pretend to be sick when there’s something, come out to steal the spotlight when there’s nothing, all the good stuff goes to him.”
Gu Yansheng smiled and comforted, “This time he really injured his muscles and bones, lost all his coffin money, I still have a bunch of cases from foreign enterprises suing his companies under his name for breach of contract, he really has no money left, Secretary-General, don’t look at how glamorous he is, his heart is aching.”
Ling Xianwen laughed upon hearing this, after all, for a businessman, making him suffer wealth loss was the most heartbreaking thing.
“Then push it forward as soon as possible, Shanghai’s economy needs to recover, evaluations from big and small merchants are very important, we can’t deliberately ignore it just because lawsuits involve the mayor, wouldn’t that be favoritism and perversion of justice?”
“Well said, I will definitely urge the people below to push it forward quickly.”
“Let’s go.” Ling Xianwen patted Gu Yansheng’s back and walked away smiling.
Gu Yansheng went upstairs, and as soon as he reached the office, Liu Xiaolou immediately widened his eyes to ask, “Director Gu, are you okay? There was a big explosion in Hongkou?”
“Was it clear from Zhabei last night?”
“Clear, the sight of flames rushing to the sky, thick smoke rolling, the sky was lit up, particularly spectacular.”
“Spectacular? Be careful or the Japanese will catch you and take you to the Gendarmerie, they lost several hundred overseas Chinese.”
Liu Xiaolou shrank his head in fright and gave an embarrassed grin.
Gu Yansheng sneered, thought for a moment, and said, “In the name of Anti-Drug General Bureau, summon all the big and small merchants on the list to City Government for a meeting. Forget it, don’t pick City Government, too many reporters at the door, find a hotel in the concession, say I’m treating them to lunch.”
Liu San temporarily couldn’t return from Hongkou, his contact with Chen Mo was cut off, finding out about last night’s situation was a bit difficult.
But methods are always more than difficulties, the Japanese gave him a reason to contact, very thoughtful.
Liu Xiaolou acknowledged, Gu Yansheng remembered something, “Don’t call Sha Shun, City Government has issues with him recently.”
“Got it.”
Since the money was in place, in the morning, Gu Yansheng held a meeting with his subordinates and assigned the next tasks.
At noon, Gu Yansheng headed to the concession.
International Hotel.
When he arrived, everyone was already waiting.
“Director Gu.”
“Mr. Gu, good.”
“Sit.”
Gu Yansheng smiled and went in, glanced around, Chen Mo was there too, perfect.
He called the meeting, no force dared to send underlings to fool around, all the principals came.
Zhang Xiaolin definitely came himself.
“Director Gu, calling us here, did something change with Anti-Drug General Bureau matters?”
“Sort of.” Gu Yansheng gestured for him to sit, and sat down on the sofa himself.
“The Japanese held a meeting for us, meaning everyone needs to pay more money, one or two percent, no rush, hear me out.
Pay more money, but there are benefits too, before you sold in Shanghai, maybe nationwide, but with the war starting, your channels must have been affected.
Now according to the Japanese, from now on nationwide drugs, Shanghai calls the shots.
You handle procurement and sales, we handle taxation, Japanese provide protection, sell drugs to all occupied areas.
You pay more, but income increases too, high volume low margin, but definitely not Sheng Wenyi’s approach, I won’t force you to procure from me, won’t set prices for you, you sell more, we collect more, one prospers all prosper, one suffers all suffer.”
Zhang Xiaolin understood, he was the leader of these people.
“Director Gu’s meaning, the Japanese hope we expand out, unify the national drug market, is that it?”
Gu Yansheng smiled, “The Japanese hope you expand out, unify the global market, as long as you can do it, they don’t mind.”
“Hahahaha.” Zhang Xiaolin smiled, thought, and said, “Expanding outward, Green Gang has done it before, even before the Battle of Songhu, Green Gang did that, but Director Gu you know, outside the door people may not give face.
In Shanghai, we stand firm and speak loud, outside Shanghai, like the robe brotherhood in Sichuan Chongqing, Hongmen in Guangdong Fujian, Axe Gang in Anhui, Anqing Society in North China, forces are complex, people need to eat too.
We go there as dragons crossing the river, they have backers too, the old saying is even a strong dragon doesn’t pressure local snakes, counting manpower and resources, may not make money.”
With Zhang Xiaolin saying this, people from other gangs nodded in agreement.
Even Green Gang finds it hard, they even more so, first opening channels costs a lot, then paying in Shanghai, no money left to earn.
Guarding Shanghai’s plot of land is pretty comfortable.
“I’ve thought this through for you.”
Gu Yansheng said, “Don’t consider Nationalist controlled area first, eat one bite at a time, first take down all Japanese Occupied Areas, no matter what gangs in Guangdong Fujian, as long as Japanese Occupied Area, you go in and grab territory, if they obstruct, send a telegram back, I’ll have Shanghai Gendarmerie Headquarters contact the local headquarters to step in and solve it for you.”
“But what if it can’t be solved? Does Shanghai really reach Guangdong?” Someone from a small gang was skeptical.
Gu Yansheng laughed, “Isn’t that perfect? If the Japanese can’t solve it themselves, don’t they have no reason to collect extra money from you? Then you stay in Shanghai, keep playing keep dancing.”
“Oh~”
With this, everyone suddenly realized and laughed, cooperating to complete Director Gu’s mission.
Japanese exert effort, they can make money, so pay the money, if Japanese don’t exert effort, if things fail it’s Japanese’ own fault, who to blame if they don’t work? Trouble won’t find them.
“Understood, understood, Director Gu, we’ll listen to you.”
“Director Gu is so thoughtful, one listen and you know this won’t work, found a way out for us, no conflict with Japanese, still complete the mission.”
Gu Yansheng didn’t listen to the flattery anymore.
This matter must be urged forward, in Shanghai Gendarmerie Headquarters’ eyes it’s a good thing to collect more money, in his eyes it’s not unusable.
Everything has two sides, so many drug dealers fighting chaotically, not to mention Shanghai Gendarmerie Headquarters stealing rice bowls, probably won’t have small conflicts with local forces elsewhere.
Muddy waters allow fishing, Japanese want to collect money, must pay a price.
The more chaotic Japanese Occupied Areas, the better.
And if Shanghai Gendarmerie Headquarters really puts in effort to eliminate loose drug dealers in other areas, officials force civilians to rebel, these drug dealers turning into anti-Japanese squads is possible.
“Director Gu, for small gangs like us, can we not participate? Mainly short on staff.”
“Yeah yeah, Director Gu, we small gangs in Shanghai just have a few shops, going outside is really tough.”
“I’ve thought this through for you too.” Gu Yansheng treated all equally, “Japanese demand more money, I won’t collect more, if I can’t complete the mission, you don’t participate, I collect more from you, you suffer too.
So like this, I’ll step in, organize you small gangs, form one or two troops, then everyone here divides territory by force size.
For example, Guangdong for Boss Zhang, Fujian for Boss Li, one city at a time I’ll divide for you, those with more staff take more, less take less.
You small gangs can’t swallow big ones, twist into one rope okay? This way, you conquer outside make money, I collect your tax, isn’t it logical.”
That way they don’t lose much, small gangs have no right to disagree, Director Gu already considered thoroughly for them.
Otherwise forced requisition, what can these small gangs do?
“Listen to Director Gu.”
“Good, eat.”
After eating, Gu Yansheng organized a talk with people from small gangs, this created an opening to pull Chen Mo out alone.
“How’s the action?”
Chen Mo nodded, with a relaxed smile on face, “Got the stuff.”
“Losses?”
“Okay, took some injuries.”
Chen Mo glanced inside, sidestepped to use a blind spot, lifted the hem of clothes, shirt inside had a slight bulge, and blood seeping through where cotton yarn didn’t cover on the shirt.
“Hit a Japanese Army patrol boat while jumping river to escape, too dark they couldn’t find people and blindly shot at the water surface now and then, got bitten by a bullet.”
Gu Yansheng frowned, “Serious?”
“Small thing.” Chen Mo smiled, “Just grazed the skin, not fatal, we entered the river first, saw patrol boat from afar and huddled in water against the wall holding breath, just bad luck got grazed, rifle bullets lose power in water, now don’t dare expose the wound, have to make do like this.”
“Got sulfonamide?”
“Have some, don’t worry, I still have inventory for this stuff.”
Having sulfonamide is better, Gu Yansheng nodded, “One more thing, Japanese and Agent Headquarters people now cleaning Hongkou, anything that could expose your identities? Think carefully, Japanese gave Agent Headquarters three days, these people will exhaust every method.”
“There is one thing.” Chen Mo thought seriously and said, “Not worried about other places, just that waiter, saw our people.
Now Japanese sealed Hongkou, he might still be in Hongkou, logically Japanese won’t check the hotel again, but if they do, will he fail to manage expression and show a slip?”
An ordinary person without training, facing such a big event, even if the explosion itself unrelated to him, but still guilty conscience will tense up.
