Chapter 127: Interrogation
Agent Headquarters, Reception Room.
Wan Molin was not seriously injured, and he even had tea to drink at the moment, but he did not touch it.
Li Shiqun smiled across from him and said, “Sorry, Mr. Wan, I invited you here today to help with something, to provide some Military Statistics Bureau names.”
Wan Molin first chuckled lightly, then sneered, then burst into loud laughter, finally composing his expression: “Director Li, are you joking with me? Looking for Military Statistics Bureau here?”
“Is it that funny?” Li Shiqun smiled.
As soon as he spoke, Wan Molin started laughing again, “Isn’t it funny? Who doesn’t know that I, Wan Molin, am just a businessman? Director Li went to the trouble of arresting me from the concession from so far away. If you say you’re shaking me down, that feels normal, but if you say you’re looking for Military Statistics Bureau, shouldn’t I laugh?”
“No beating around the bush with a smart man.” Li Shiqun restrained his smile, “Du Yuesheng is in Chongqing, whether it’s Director Dai or Chiang’s people, they’re all making heavy use of him, Red Cross President. To put it bluntly, just for transporting supplies, he couldn’t possibly not use channels in Shanghai.
He has channels, so Director Dai couldn’t possibly not use them. I’ve said it clearly enough, Mr. Wan. I don’t want to make things too difficult for you. Just give me one or two names, and I can release you.
Wan Molin took a sip of tea, pursed the tea leaves on his lips, then looked at Li Shiqun and spat them on the ground, his expression disdainful.
Li Shiqun took a breath, a smile floating on his lips: “Very good. It seems Mr. Wan prefers to drink the penalty instead of the toast. Come in!”
Someone immediately walked in.
Li Shiqun’s expression changed instantly, and he said coldly to his subordinate: “Interrogation Room, give him a good reception.”
“Yes!”
The subordinate went to grab Wan Molin, but Wan Molin shook off his arm: “I can walk myself.”
Interrogation Room, the interrogation began immediately.
Once here, there was no more favor to speak of. Li Shiqun made one last threat, but Wan Molin still wouldn’t talk, his righteous appearance especially detestable.
“Begin.”
The whip soaked in salt water soon lashed onto Wan Molin’s body.
At the same time, outside.
Protests from the Public Works Bureau and Municipal Council quickly reached the Japanese Consulate.
Hase Jinagawa’s head hurt when he heard it. He knew about Wan Molin, who was Du Yuesheng’s chief steward, and held a not-low position in the Green Gang.
Agent Headquarters people boldly broke into the concession to arrest someone. Even he felt it was somewhat crazy, too offensive. How to explain?
He immediately called Li Shiqun, asking if the arrest could provide a reasonable reason, or else release him, otherwise easing relations with the concession would be even more difficult.
But Li Shiqun refused, “Mr. Hase, I’ve reached this point with no choice. I have intelligence showing they’re connected to Chongqing Military Statistics Bureau. This Hongkou explosion incident is inseparable from them. If you want me to release him, have Mr. Kageza call me. Sorry, I’m interrogating now, I need to hurry, or else the Chongqing elements will get the news and all run away. Goodbye.”
Li Shiqun refused decisively. Hase Jinagawa was there that day and knew the reason Li Shiqun had to proceed. He hung up and directly called Kageza.
Kageza heard about it and said, “I understand what Mr. Hase means. Because we arrested Wan Molin, you think it will affect the concession’s relations with us.
So if I release him, how do I explain the Hongkou major explosion incident at General Headquarters?”
Since the news spread, all parties began to move.
The first to move were Du Yuesheng’s Green Gang people.
A bunch of people organized and went to protest at the City Government entrance, at the consulate entrance, at the Public Works Bureau entrance, at the Municipal Council entrance.
As they protested, reporters’ enthusiasm was ignited, rushing to interview, and taking pleasure in the fact that the major offices didn’t dare show up for interviews, preparing the next day’s news.
And in Chongqing, as soon as the Shanghai telegram arrived, Director Dai reacted.
“Hit first, talk later. Wan Molin must be rescued!”
That night, some drinking water in the HK District was poisoned, but the poison wasn’t severe, just laxatives.
Next was a power outage, this time not caused by an explosion, but by digging through the power lines to the HK District, followed by physically destroying the Japanese repair personnel at the power plant.
Finally, a bunch of Green Gang disciples blocked the connection between the International Settlement and the HK District, stopping all supply transport vehicles, shouting in front of the Japanese Gendarmes.
“Little Japan, listen up. Obediently release Grandfather’s man! If you don’t release him, we can cut off your HK District’s water, electricity, and grain. You won’t get a single vegetable leaf!”
They spoke boldly, and the gendarmes indeed didn’t dare act, after all, a bridge has two ends—one theirs, the other the British Navy Marine Corps.
Previously, this Marine Corps liked to slack off and ignored everything, but today they’d pissed off the Public Works Bureau people. The British Navy Marines watched from the side, demonstratively pulling their gun bolts to show their stance, warning the Japanese Gendarmes not to act impulsively.
Gendarmerie Headquarters.
The new Miura Jiro clearly hadn’t expected Shanghai’s gang elements to be so bold as to cut power to Hongkou.
After experiencing it, he decided to consult Kageza.
Kageza replied: “Don’t mind it. Let them have a power outage tonight to vent their anger. I’ll urge Agent Headquarters to complete the interrogation quickly. As long as we get Wan Molin’s confession admitting he works for Military Statistics Bureau, all issues will be resolved.
At that time, for the Public Works Bureau and Municipal Council, we can have Agent Headquarters apologize. Once they apologize, it’s over. Our arrest is arresting anti-Japanese elements—very reasonable grounds.
But cutting our power would then be very unreasonable.
If the Public Works Bureau and Municipal Council don’t step in to repair our damaged power lines on this basis, we’ll warn them: if they don’t repair, we’ll send troops into the concession to protect our repair engineers.
Rest assured, with their capabilities, they absolutely won’t dare let us send troops in. They will definitely have the police drive away the Green Gang people.”
Agent Headquarters.
Li Shiqun received Kageza’s call urging him to quickly get the confession and went down to the Interrogation Room.
“How’s it going?”
“His shipping company manager has confessed. They did transport some contraband, he only knew it came from Chongqing, but not specifically who—no list. He said it was Wan Molin who ordered it.”
“What about Wan Molin?”
“His mouth is very tight, says nothing. I confronted him with his subordinate’s confession, and he claims he was unaware, that the subordinate is falsely accusing him, saying we’re forcing a confession through torture.”
“A pampered chief steward with a tight mouth?” Li Shiqun puzzledly entered Wan Molin’s Interrogation Room.
Wan Molin’s hands were tied upward, suspended from a rope, his body covered in countless whip wounds, head drooping, clearly exhausted.
“Splash him awake.” With one sentence from Li Shiqun, his subordinate brought a basin of cold water and splashed it on his face.
It was still January; one basin of cold water brought bone-chilling cold.
Wan Molin shuddered and was frozen awake, his teeth chattering uncontrollably.
“Why bother?” Li Shiqun leaned against the table and said calmly: “I told you, just casually name two people, and I’ll let you go. Your subordinates have confessed. Even if you just said they were Military Statistics Bureau, wouldn’t that end it?”
Wan Molin looked at him expressionlessly, still saying nothing.
“Electric chair.” Li Shiqun said.
“Yes.” The subordinate untied Wan Molin, and two people placed him on the electric chair, one on each side.
Joints were fixed one by one to ensure full-body convulsions on electrification.
Li Shiqun said: “Mr. Wan may be seeing this for the first time. I still remind you before use: it will be very painful. Ten thousand ants biting your body wouldn’t be even one-thousandth of this agony.
Even more serious, whip wounds can heal, but electric injuries damage your internals, your brain. Once damaged, it’s irreversible for life.
After this punishment, even if I release you, you might cough blood from time to time—that’s your lungs ruined. You might feel back pain—that’s your liver ruined. Headaches—that’s your brain ruined.
You might become an idiot, a moron. After the punishment, you might not remember your own name, simply spilling everything I want to know. The result is the same for me, but the difference for you is huge.
I really advise you, no need to take the fall for others. Just say two names, I can say publicly it was your neighboring subordinates who confessed. Wouldn’t that end it?
You go back to being your chief steward, comfortable, healthy. Isn’t that the reason? You’ve helped Chongqing enough; at this time, think of yourself.”
His words were very reasonable, very tempting, but Wan Molin sat upright like a mounted warrior, eyes closed, not saying a word.
Li Shiqun waved his hand, and the subordinate went to the electrical switch, pressing it down.
In an instant, Wan Molin’s body went rigid!
The next day, all Shanghai newspapers were reporting Agent Headquarters’ outrageous behavior.
And since Wan Molin still wasn’t released, Green Gang personnel had escalated from protests to smashing and looting; Shanghai was chaotic again.
Judicial Department.
Gu Yansheng had received Boss Dai’s reply call last night.
Urging him to provide aid and rescue Wan Molin.
So he gave Boss Dai the idea to have the Green Gang disrupt Shanghai—the more chaotic, the better.
Rescuing wasn’t impossible, provided Wan Molin hadn’t betrayed yet.
Yesterday wasn’t suitable to intervene; today was about right.
Gu Yansheng went to find Ling Xianwen.
As soon as he entered, he complained: “Secretary-General, what’s going on with Agent Headquarters? Shanghai’s situation was just turning for the better, how did they start stirring things up again?
I was just discussing compensation amounts with the people below for foreign enterprises, and now it’s smashed again, have to compensate again. Got too much money?”
“These people are idiots!” Ling Xianwen cursed without politeness: “Don’t know to restrain themselves at this critical moment! Offend anyone but Wan Molin! Is he easy to offend?
Du Yuesheng’s people—all Shanghai knows Du Yuesheng values righteousness, gives two silver dollars even to roadside beggars. Messing with his chief steward, no wonder the Green Gang is exploding!
I’ve noticed, every time things are about to improve, something crops up. These people are deliberately making it hard for us.”
You said it right; City Government developing the economy naturally opposes military and police organs.
Gu Yansheng sighed, frowning: “So what now? Don’t want to throw out twenty million only to throw another twenty million later. How do we explain to Lieutenant Colonel Kobayashi?”
Ring ring, ring ring.
“Hello.” Ling Xianwen picked up the telephone, ummed a few times, “Good, meet downstairs.”
Hanging up, Ling Xianwen said: “Fu Xiao’an can’t sit still either. Wants us to go together to Gendarmerie Headquarters to find Lieutenant Colonel Kobayashi. The one who cares most about Shanghai’s economy is definitely Kobayashi. If even he doesn’t step in, when Shanghai gets smashed to ruins, don’t blame us. Come with me.”
“Alright, I need to speak my mind on this. Too much trouble.”
Gu Yansheng was a bit surprised; Fu Xiao’an thought the same as him. He came to find Ling Xianwen exactly for this.
To deal with strong authority, only strong authority works. This incident would spark conflict within the Japanese side. In Gendarmerie Headquarters, Kobayashi and Kageza’s interests differ, and the consulate even more so—Hase Jinagawa would worry his hair out. Just make good use of that.
But Fu Xiao’an taking the initiative to step out was rare.
