Chapter 128: Arguing
The three men arrived at Gendarmerie Headquarters.
To meet Kobayashi Nobuo.
Fu Xiao’an was very proactive, explaining Wan Molin’s identity and his status in the Green Gang, then getting straight to the point.
“Mr. Kobayashi, at this critical time for Shanghai Economic Recovery, Agent Headquarters is disrupting the overall peace by arresting Wan Molin. How much turmoil will this cause? If everyone acts like him, arresting whoever they want and even rushing into the Concession to arrest people, does Shanghai’s economy still matter?
Next, you are going to promote new military scrip. Do you think that in this situation, these foreign enterprises that have just exchanged old military scrip for Japanese Yen and US Dollars will still be willing to exchange foreign currency for military scrip?
Will the Public Works Bureau and Municipal Council join forces to resist military scrip in protest?
Even if they don’t resist, how to deal with these troublemaking Green Gang Disciples? Are you going to impose martial law with gendarmes again and have another crackdown period?”
Kobayashi Nobuo listened expressionlessly to Fu Xiao’an’s words, pushed his glasses: “I know what you mean. Please wait a moment.”
After speaking, Kobayashi Nobuo went to the Gendarmerie Headquarters commander’s office.
“Your Excellency, Wan Molin must be released immediately.” Kobayashi Nobuo relayed Fu Xiao’an’s statements.
Miura Jiro frowned and thought for a moment: “What you say does make sense. Shanghai’s economy is something we must consider, but arresting anti-Japanese elements is also part of our work. Kagesa Sadaki insists, and I can’t just stop him from arresting, can I?”
“Your Excellency, now is not the time to think about how to explain. It’s about time. We can’t waste a single minute. Shanghai’s economy must recover immediately. This is the Empire’s demand for us!”
“You talk to him yourself. He’s at the Gendarmerie.” Miura Jiro picked up the phone and said a few words. Soon after, Kagesa Sadaki came upstairs.
Kobayashi Nobuo still demanded the release of the prisoner, presenting many reasons.
But Kagesa disagreed.
The two argued. Kobayashi was somewhat angry. The stupidity and shortsightedness of soldiers were evident in Kagesa.
Kagesa grew annoyed listening, especially with Kobayashi’s disrespectful attitude, always carrying the superiority of a scholar.
“Kobayashi, I know the economy is important, but the Hongkou explosion incident needs an explanation. If we just release the man like this, it’s hard for us to explain to the outside world. You do your work, I’ll do mine. You had better not interfere in agent affairs! You’re overstepping your authority! Mind your position!”
“Who cares about your petty power? Your work is affecting the overall situation in Shanghai!”
Kobayashi Nobuo shouted loudly: “Does Shanghai’s profit lie in a few agents? In bloodwashing the streets? If killing agents works, you could kill everyone in all of Shanghai, and there would naturally be no agents left! Your work would be done too!
But does it work?
What we want is the economy, money, a steady stream of military expenses!
Why does General Headquarters have to shell out tens of millions more to buy Shanghai’s economy? Isn’t it because Lieutenant General Iwasa’s reckless actions disrupted Shanghai’s economy?
What you’re doing now, what’s the difference from Lieutenant General Iwasa?”
“Kobayashi, watch your tone. Are you accusing me?” Kagesa’s eyes widened.
Kobayashi Nobuo snorted coldly, “I’m not accusing anyone. I’m just telling you what’s right and what’s wrong.
Do you know why General Headquarters wants to promote military scrip? Why allow all enterprises to exchange freely? What’s the difference from Japanese Yen? Do you know? You don’t.
Let me tell you, people have inertia. People will get used to it.
Military scrip circulating in Shanghai will initially face opposition from users. That’s normal because they think military scrip lacks credit, so they don’t want to use it. The recent chaos in Shanghai and Lieutenant General Iwasa’s experience some days ago prove this point.
But as long as we persist in using it, military scrip will spread in Shanghai, in Nanjing, in Guangzhou, to all occupied areas, even to Nationalist controlled areas. It’s just a matter of time, and the spread will accelerate as more users adopt it.
Once this step is achieved, do you know what this is called?
This is called economic colonization!
The issuance right of military scrip is in our hands. We can print as much as we want. Maintain fair exchange for a while, and the situation will return to the point I just mentioned: people will get used to it.
When they get used to it, that’s when we stop the exchange. By then, all enterprises and all people will be using military scrip, and when we buy things? We just print military scrip, let hundreds of millions of Chinese work for us. Without expending extra effort, we can harvest all their revenue.
What we need to do is one thing: print military scrip!
Take the money earned by Chinese working for us! We can buy all of China’s minerals! Weapons! Industry! Agriculture!
Everything, all of it, will be ours!
We take these things to fight Chongqing, to fight Yan’an. How can they compete with us then?
We don’t even need to fight. They will collapse on their own. Their people will oppose them because they will only have military scrip in hand!
Is this the achievement you can get by arresting a few agents in Shanghai?
Does it matter if you arrest a few more agents or a few less?”
“You’re too idealistic.” Kagesa leaned back on the sofa.
“Idealistic? This is reality!” Kobayashi Nobuo pushed his glasses: “When I went to the United Kingdom, the British Museum had a quote from the East India Company Chairman: ‘Open frontiers with merchant flags, govern the country with ledgers.’
In 1600, Elizabeth I granted the East India Company royal charter. The East India Company used the operating rights to force the Indian emperor to sign a treaty, gaining taxation power over their three major cities.
With this power alone, in 9 years, the East India Company earned 140 million pounds sterling for Britain from taxation—that was 140 million pounds from hundreds of years ago!
With this 140 million pounds, the East India Company spent not a penny to export massive goods from India to Britain—zero-cost plunder.
This is called economic colonization.
You’ve tried war already. You can’t win in a short time, otherwise why negotiate with Chongqing’s Chairman?
And this Chairman will later be like the Indian emperor in the story!
Printing rights are like the taxation power in the story!
This is the highest-level strategy!
Colonization! Enslavement! An endless money-printing machine!”
“Who told you this?” Kagesa was somewhat curious. Kobayashi’s explanation did help clarify some strategic thinking for him. Some things even he didn’t know so clearly.
Kobayashi Nobuo pushed his glasses and smiled: “I figured it out myself. Not hard. If you spent time on reading instead of catching agents, you might too.”
Hearing such sarcastic words, Kagesa smiled playfully, “One can be confident, but not arrogant. Especially don’t pick up bad habits of subordinates overriding superiors. At least not on me. I said no release, what can you do?”
Kobayashi Nobuo’s face cooled slightly: “I’ve made myself clear. If you persist and affect the overall situation, disrupting the Empire’s plan, I will definitely report you to General Headquarters.”
“Go ahead and report.” Kagesa didn’t care.
“Foolish!”
Kobayashi Nobuo scolded without politeness. Before Kagesa could stand up furiously, he said to Miura Jiro: “Commander Your Excellency, don’t forget Iwasa’s fate!”
“Kagesa, release the prisoner.” Miura Jiro spoke, “My primary task from the Military Department when coming to Shanghai is to stabilize Shanghai’s economy. Don’t make me follow in Iwasa’s footsteps.”
“But this man can lead to a bunch of Military Statistics Bureau behind him.” Kagesa Sadaki frowned.
Miura Jiro nodded: “I trust your judgment, but agent actions must be premised on not disrupting the overall situation. I think Kobayashi has a point: compared to Shanghai’s economic situation and the Empire’s long-term interests, what do a few agents disrupting things amount to?”
Kagesa Sadaki could dismiss Kobayashi, but not Miura. He glanced at Kobayashi with particular displeasure: “Fine, as you wish.”
Ten minutes later, Economic Affairs Section office.
Kobayashi calmly told the group the result.
“The Commander has called Agent Headquarters to release the prisoner immediately.”
“Oh?” The few exchanged glances, quite surprised. They didn’t expect Kobayashi to persuade Kagesa Sadaki, greatly raising their opinion of his abilities.
A barrage of flattery followed.
Kobayashi smiled faintly: “As long as it’s beneficial to economic work, I’ll help. Now that the obstacle is cleared, I hope you will quickly and with full effort promote Shanghai Economic Recovery. Tomorrow, the ships carrying military scrip will arrive in Shanghai, and then new work can begin.
Mayor, handle the external propaganda and communication work well. Secretary-General, coordinate well with each department. Make sure there’s no work lag in your city government internally. The Judicial Department must also urge legislative and law enforcement agencies to fully ensure the promotion of military scrip work.”
“Yes.”
Things progressed much more smoothly than expected. When Gu Yansheng came out, he observed Fu Xiao’an’s expression, seeming unusually happy.
“Mayor Fu, releasing one Wan Molin makes you this happy. If Agent Headquarters finds out, watch out they suspect you’re a Military Statistics Bureau element.”
“Me? Military Statistics Bureau?” Fu Xiao’an was stunned, then laughed heartily: “Suspect if they want. This old man stands upright. I’m happy from a work perspective. Problem solved, fewer conflicts. Director Gu is Director of the Judicial Department, aren’t you happy?”
“Happy.” Gu Yansheng nodded slightly with a smile.
Fu Xiao’an got in his car and left on his own. Ling Xianwen was curious about Gu Yansheng’s earlier words.
“What did you mean by that just now?”
“Nothing.” Gu Yansheng smiled, “Just feel our mayor doesn’t get up early without profit. He seemed very enthusiastic about this today.”
Ling Xianwen thought and said: “He’s the Mayor. Being enthusiastic about economic matters isn’t strange. Plus, he has so many stock companies stuck in his hands. If the economy doesn’t recover, he’s anxious too.”
“Makes sense.”
Heading back home, but not yet. Still need to go to Agent Headquarters.
Gu Yansheng drove to Agent Headquarters.
Now it’s familiar. Upon entering, he went straight to find Li Shiqun.
“Director Gu, how come you’re here today?” Li Shiqun smiled in welcome.
“To get people.”
Gu Yansheng didn’t stand on ceremony, sat on the sofa himself, and accused: “Your Agent Headquarters has turned Shanghai upside down. Coming back from Gendarmerie Headquarters, the newly arrived Lieutenant Colonel Kobayashi in charge of the economy gave me an earful. I say, can your Agent Headquarters consider the impact when acting? City Government is in a tough spot too.”
“Director Gu, you think we’re having it easy?” Li Shiqun pointed to his eyes, “Look, didn’t sleep all night. In the end, Gendarmerie Headquarters is unhappy, Kagesa is unhappy, and you’re unhappy.”
Gu Yansheng sneered, “Complaining to me is useless. You brought it on yourselves. Don’t you know what time it is now? No more words. Can the staff for Nanjing be dispatched? Kagesa can’t still be holding onto you, right? If delayed further, the good houses in Nanjing will all be bought up.”
Li Shiqun chuckled self-mockingly, “They won’t let go easily. If not bright in the east, bright in the west. If can’t grab this one, find another. As for staff to Nanjing, fine, prioritize for you first.”
Li Shiqun picked up the phone and called. Soon Wu Sibao came in.
“Director Gu is here too.”
Li Shiqun said: “Sibao, pull back your staff for Nanjing first and give to Director Gu.”
Wu Sibao was happy upon hearing: “Bro, should’ve done this long ago. Nothing can delay our making money, or sister-in-law will nag you again.”
Li Shiqun’s face stiffened: “Can you give me some face?”
Wu Sibao chuckled, “Director Gu isn’t an outsider.”
As he spoke, Ding Mocun also walked in, “Director Gu, when will you come to Agent Headquarters and visit me? Every time you come, you run to Deputy Director Li’s office. What, you dislike my tea?”
Gu Yansheng smiled, “I can tell you don’t care about me. What I like is coffee.”
Ding Mocun’s eyes widened, “I’ll buy a coffee machine tomorrow—no, today. Next time you come, if you don’t go to mine, I’ll send you coffee every day. See if you’re embarrassed not to come. Come, sit at mine.”
“Director Ding, this isn’t good, right? I and Director Gu still have business to discuss. You directly snatch people from me, isn’t that a bit much?” Li Shiqun smiled without sincerity.
Ding Mocun snorted coldly, laughed: “I also have business with Director Gu, official business. What, is yours official too?”
“Sneer, what official business could you have?”
“None of your business.”
“Sigh, fine fine fine.” Gu Yansheng stood up to stop their confrontation, puzzled: “What’s going on, such big tempers? Didn’t sleep all night, don’t vent on me. I’m not a steamed bun to snatch back and forth. What’s the matter?”
“Ask him!” Ding Mocun glared at Li Shiqun and shouted: “I’ve seen shameless, but not like him. The thing was done by two people, but he dumps all the blame on me. Does he have any respect for me!”
Li Shiqun’s expression was stern, without politeness: “The failure of this action is your problem! Same arresting people, my men caught Wan Molin, yours came back empty-handed. If your men hadn’t come empty, we could’ve held our heads up in front of Kagesa no matter what. Would we get scolded? What’s wrong with what I told Kagesa?”
“You were arresting on the road, my men rushed into the bank interior! Can the time spent be the same? Strange if not discovered and blocked? Instead, you, can’t even interrogate one Wan Molin. Let a duck in hand fly away. From top to bottom, a bunch of wastes!”
Ding Mocun scowled and shouted loudly.
This rubbed Wu Sibao wrong, “Hey, Director Ding, how do you talk?”
“Look, the subordinate you trained dares to boss me around. Well trained.”
Li Shiqun raised an eyebrow and sneered without yielding: “Our action team is bold, can fight and kill. Without this guts, how to bring people back from the Concession’s hail of bullets? Unlike Director Ding’s men, a nest of bears, didn’t even drag back a dog.”
“Li Shiqun!” Ding Mocun pointed and glared furiously.
“What?” Li Shiqun shouted back loudly, not giving an inch.
