Chapter 125: House
“People change, you know. Back then, he might have truly been young and full of righteousness, but later he feared the Japanese and changed his mind, choosing to defect to the enemy. Such examples aren’t rare.”
Gu Yansheng smiled and said: “He meets a lot of Japanese in that position, and he himself studied in Japan, so he thinks Japan is strong and unbeatable, which is why he promotes his theory of peace.”
“Don’t get angry over him. People like him who kneel down completely are a minority. On this land of ours, there are many more with unyielding spines who would rather die than kneel.”
“Hopefully on our side.”
“Well said!” Shen Linshen sat down: “I’ll immediately pass this thing to the organization through special channels. Do you have any messages to relay?”
There really was.
Gu Yansheng had to remind him: “When you tell the organization, make sure to explain that I got this from the Military Statistics Bureau side. They’ve already started shipping to Chongqing, so if the organization wants to use it, they must be careful to avoid risks to me.”
Shen Linshen nodded: “I’ll make sure to emphasize that.”
“Also.” Gu Yansheng thought for a moment and said: “The organization asked me to verify Chen Mo’s identity. During this operation, I think there’s something that can give us a clue.”
Gu Yansheng recounted the matter with the waiter.
“This Chen Mo, when the waiter was targeted and might give away his two subordinates, didn’t choose the simplest option of silencing him. I think his character isn’t bad and he’s not that ruthless. Otherwise, killing the waiter to silence him when leaving Hongkou would have been the easiest way to protect his team members.
On resisting Japan, he shows no hesitation. In the Hongkou operation, he was willing to risk life and death. For a person like this, I think if the organization sends someone to contact him, even if he’s changed his mind and doesn’t want to return to our side, he won’t choose to inform or kill.
So I think the organization can consider sending someone to make some contact and test him out. After all, the sooner we bring him back, the better.
Additionally, there’s one more thing.”
Gu Yansheng recounted the matter of requiring Chen Mo and Boss Dai to report and establish smuggling routes.
“The Japanese want me to push for the unification of the drugs network. I think this is an opportunity to exploit. In my judgment, Director Dai in Chongqing definitely won’t pass up such a good chance.
First, he can sell drugs himself and make money. Second, it really can transport contraband, making it convenient for his people to operate.
My plan is to push the Japanese and the Military Statistics Bureau to set up this smuggling route, and the organization can build another layer on top.
If the organization can send people to establish our own channels at each node, this would create a nationwide transportation network that’s interconnected, linking the Japanese Occupied Area and Nationalist controlled area, ultimately reaching our controlled areas.
Gangs handle transportation, the Gendarmerie handles the Japanese Occupied Area, the Military Statistics Bureau handles the Nationalist controlled area, and finally at the connection between the Nationalist controlled area and our controlled area, we pick up the goods they’ve transported for us.
There won’t be any obstacles throughout. The Military Statistics Bureau and Gendarmerie are all powerful departments helping to clear the way.
What the organization needs to do is infiltrate their transport teams or simply establish small gangs that get absorbed by the big gangs coming from Shanghai.
No need to reach high levels—just be runners or transporters.
And if we can pull Chen Mo over, this will go even smoother.
Then we won’t even need Chen Mo to show his face. Send someone to be his public confidant in charge of this, and all channels starting from Shanghai will be virtually unobstructed the whole way.
It won’t be mules and horses carrying things anymore. Starting from Shanghai, Japanese military trains, cargo ships on the Yangtze River, and military large trucks in the Nationalist controlled area can all transport goods for us, and no one will dare to check.
Shen Linshen immediately understood the value: “I’ll report this right away.”
After tying up loose ends, Gu Yansheng returned to the Judicial Department.
During this time, the Judicial Department’s cases mainly involved various disputes caused by the economic chaos, and his cases were mostly related to money.
Those that should be advanced should be advanced. Since the Japanese have money, first make them spend it real in Shanghai.
Gu Yansheng thought to pick up the phone and call Ling Xianwen to ask how much money had been collected.
After thinking, he decided to go directly to his office.
“Secretary-General, sorry to bother you.”
“Yansheng, sit.”
Gu Yansheng didn’t stand on ceremony and sat on the sofa, enjoying the pour tea service from Ling Xianwen’s secretary.
He said to him: “The matter brought up at the banquet that night—getting them to put out some money first to improve our lives. I told those businessmen to pool the money, and it should arrive in the next couple of days, around four or five hundred thousand.”
Mentioning it over dinner with Zhang Xiaolin and the others was just a matter of paying now or later—small potatoes.
“Great.” Ling Xianwen was delighted. As Secretary-General, he was like the big steward, and he loved matters like issuing welfare to the lower levels the most.
“Dinner is the real deal. Everyone will sing your praises. I’ll notify them later and make sure to point out it was Director Gu from the Anti-Drug General Bureau who made it happen.”
“No, no, absolutely not. Secretary-General, I won’t take the credit. Just say you negotiated it.”
Gu Yansheng casually did him a favor: “Secretary-General, you’re the pillar of the City Government. Fu Xiao’an taking the spotlight is just for outsiders. Everyone in the office knows you’ve been carrying the heaviest load lately.
Now that there’s benefits, you distribute them, and the people below will appreciate you even more.
What use is that kind of reputation to me? Right?”
Ling Xianwen smiled: “You really don’t want it?”
“No.”
“If you really don’t want it, can I issue it in the name of the Secretariat?”
“Sure.” Gu Yansheng didn’t dwell on the topic: “I came to ask how much money the Finance Bureau has collected, so I can decide how many cases to approve and how.”
“Approve as you see fit.” Ling Xianwen turned serious on this: “The Japanese are dead set on building credit and propping up Shanghai’s economy this time. The Finance Bureau went with Lieutenant Colonel Kobayashi to collect the money. Do you know how much the first payment was? Twenty million Japanese Yen right off the bat.”
“That’s a lot.”
“Yeah, more than enough to cover compensations. And Lieutenant Colonel Kobayashi said if it’s not enough, they can add more. In a few days when the military scrip arrives in Shanghai and the new scrip is issued, it can be exchanged anytime, and the economy will be fully connected.”
“Got it, then I know what to do.” Gu Yansheng took a sip of tea and stood up: “I won’t disturb you then.”
“Don’t be in such a rush. What’s the hurry?” Ling Xianwen pretended to scold: “You come to my place, sit for not even two minutes, and leave? All business, no personal matters?”
“Personal matters?” Gu Yansheng thought and asked: “Dinner?”
“What dinner? Sit, sit.” Ling Xianwen gestured with his hand: “Since you’ve talked to those people, did you also discuss increasing the payments?”
“Yes.” Gu Yansheng sat back down: “Add ten percent for the small gangs first. They lack the will and power to get out of Shanghai, so I didn’t add much. They’re barely scraping by, not much meat on those bones.
The big ones are basically all twenty percent.”
“Twenty percent? Adding up, that’s sixty percent total?” Ling Xianwen’s eyes lit up: “Not a small sum.”
“Not small. They all hate my guts.” Gu Yansheng sneered: “They only have hope for their outside territories. Otherwise, they’d slit my throat in a minute.”
Ling Xianwen slapped the armrest: “Hasn’t the opportunity come?”
“What opportunity?”
“Housing. With the job done, according to Commander Miura Jiro, whatever you want, you get. Now you’ve demanded more money and offended the gangs, putting your life in danger. Asking the Japanese for protection and a villa—is that too much? I think it’s very reasonable.”
Ling Xianwen winked meaningfully.
Gu Yansheng was stunned for a moment, then chuckled: “Secretary-General, will the Japanese agree?”
“Just one house, and only people like us can use it. If not to us, who? Those from Chongqing, even if they come, will go to Nanjing for sure, not stay in Shanghai.”
“True.”
As they spoke, Ling Xianwen stood up grandly: “Let’s go. This time I’ll personally take you to ask. I don’t believe we can’t get one house.”
Acting swiftly, Ling Xianwen took Gu Yansheng by car straight to the Gendarmerie Headquarters.
Meeting Miura Jiro, Ling Xianwen did all the talking, giving various reasons why Director Gu Yansheng was an invaluable talent to the City Government.
Not only impeccable in execution ability, but also highly praised by foreign circles for his professional skills.
Now he’s off to a great start for the City Government’s work, facing dual threats from the Iron Blood Assassination Group and gang members.
Would the Gendarmerie Headquarters bear to let such a person lack even a comfortable living environment?
His points were logical and clear. Miura Jiro was much more reasonable than Iwasa and approved it directly without hassle.
“Director Gu can work with peace of mind. Your time shouldn’t be wasted on basic issues like residence.”
Miura Jiro picked up the phone and called the quartermaster, asking him to come up personally and handle Gu Yansheng’s housing issue.
“See? Not hard, right?” Ling Xianwen raised an eyebrow and smiled after leaving: “Only Iwasa has that weird temper. Swap for any other superior—would they not give a house to talent like you? Who else would live in his houses? Save them for the Military Statistics Bureau?”
Gu Yansheng smiled: “It’s mainly thanks to the Secretary-General. Dragging me here directly, acting decisively. Otherwise, I wouldn’t know when to ask.”
“Save the sweet talk—it won’t fill my stomach. Just treat me to dinner later.”
“Pick anywhere!”
“Haha, first go pick the house.”
The Japanese quartermaster didn’t bother accompanying them and sent an ordinary staff member with keys and a map to show them houses.
This area’s edge bordered the barracks. Normally, nearby houses were for officers in the barracks.
But in reality, Japanese officers preferred Hongkou’s central area, where eating and living were integrated, with izakayas and geisha halls galore, better suited for their nightlife relaxation.
So the dozen or so villas nearby were left for City Government people as safe havens.
“That one is Fu Xiao’an’s, this one is mine. That set used to be Su Xiwen’s, now it’s probably empty. Not many from the City Government can live in the core villa cluster like this.”
Ling Xianwen introduced while driving: “Before, Iwasa might have held them back as rewards—whoever did good work for him got a villa here. Even those directors weren’t qualified. You’re the first at your level to enter here.”
Getting out of the car, Ling Xianwen waved grandly at the villa cluster: “Pick any of the rest. Whichever you like.”
