Chapter 132: Refugees
As expected of a brute-force method, it’s indeed not great.
“Director Lu, I still need to trouble you to help me check this matter.” Gu Yansheng smiled and discussed.
If there’s food to eat, don’t be picky.
The exhaustive method exists for a reason; trying all possibilities has its merits. If it’s truly not there, then you can give up.
Lu Ying hesitated and said, “I definitely have to help Director Gu, but recently we’re promoting the new military scrip, and the mayor called me to assign more staff to ensure its smooth rollout, so we might be short on staff, and efficiency will be a bit slower.”
Gu Yansheng believed that for such a small matter, Lu Ying wasn’t making excuses; it was truly a staff shortage.
“How about this: I’ll send twenty people from the Inspection Department to join the search, okay?”
“Of course that’s fine. Have them come find me. But Director Gu, I’m a bit curious—what person has you so concerned? A relative of yours?”
“Yes.”
Distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors; a driver’s position is even closer than that.
After hanging up the phone, he picked it up again to call Wen Yan.
“Come to my office.”
Wen Yan arrived quickly: “Mr. Gu, you wanted to see me?”
“Wen Yan.” Gu Yansheng handed over the note and explained the situation.
Wen Yan also had a child and felt it deeply, “I’ll definitely help him find his wife and child!”
Gu Yansheng nodded; he had sought out Wen Yan with exactly this in mind. Matters must be assigned to the right people to achieve twice the result with half the effort.
After discussing business, they chatted idly.
Gu Yansheng leaned back and smiled, saying, “You’ve been Chief of the Inspection Section for some time now. How does it feel?”
Wen Yan paused, pursed his lips, and smiled embarrassedly, “The work is fine, not difficult, but it’s hard to handle. Merchants from various countries always want to treat me to dinner. Even my son at the foreign school in the concession pressures foreign children to take first place.”
“Just dinner?” Gu Yansheng smiled teasingly.
Wen Yan was even more embarrassed, “Actually more than that, but with the customs and Agent Headquarters inspection teams watching nearby, I don’t dare go too far.”
“Just watching, or do they take real action?”
“They take action. Sometimes they re-inspect goods we’ve already checked.”
“Mind your own business—what position dares to re-inspect goods we’ve already checked?”
Gu Yansheng had only asked casually, thinking the watching was just Wen Yan feeling guilty like a thief. He hadn’t expected it to be so concrete.
Put like that, Gu Yansheng was unhappy.
This won’t do; if inspections are too strict, how will smuggled goods enter Shanghai?
He had pushed that policy himself to climb the ranks, and now it was time to clean up the mess.
“What’s the situation? Tell me in detail.”
Seeing Mr. Gu unhappy, Wen Yan cautiously said, “Agent Headquarters has people stationed at customs—a Section Chief surnamed Yan who works very diligently and inspects very thoroughly. Sometimes for their Agent Headquarters goods that have been cleared, he lets them pass; but for others, as long as he’s there, he inspects them all.”
“What’s the reason? Extorting merchants?”
“Doesn’t seem like it; just the kind who takes work very seriously.”
Gu Yansheng picked up the phone and called Ding Mocun.
Once connected, Gu Yansheng said, “Hello, Director Ding, is the Inspection Department at Wusongkou customs yours or Li Shiqun’s?”
“Both, I suppose. What’s up?”
“A Section Chief surnamed Yan—who’s he under?”
“Mine.”
“He’s really yours, huh? Fine. My subordinate told me that for goods they’ve checked, your Section Chief Yan isn’t reassured and has to check them again. Got nothing better to do? Why don’t I invite this Section Chief Yan to my house to check it out too?”
“Something like that happened? I didn’t know.” Ding Mocun immediately explained, “This guy’s a bit too diligent, maybe a bit stubborn. I’ll talk to him later. Sorry about this, brother; I really didn’t know.”
Being stubborn—what kind of traitor is that? Gu Yansheng quietly listened to Ding Mocun, and only after he finished said, “For someone so diligent, give him a diligent position. Don’t waste his life in an unsuitable post; the way he works, he’ll soon be hated.”
As he spoke, Gu Yansheng remembered something—this man couldn’t be left with Ding Mocun, or they’d stop inspecting goods and start inspecting people.
“Hey, Director Ding, why don’t you give this talent to me? I really need his diligence somewhere. Transfer the relationship over; he’ll be under the Judicial Department.”
“Sure, if you want him, he’s yours.” Just one person—who cares who the Section Chief is? Ding Mocun agreed readily.
“Then have him come report to me.”
Putting down the phone, Gu Yansheng said to Wen Yan, “Avoid the Japanese, but treat Agent Headquarters people like a fart and let them go. How can Shanghai’s economy develop if you keep holding up people’s goods?
For cooperative merchants, speed up the clearance; do fewer inspections. If Agent Headquarters has any complaints, have their director call me.”
“Yes, understood.” Having backing made all the difference; Wen Yan felt reassured, though a bit puzzled. He smiled and asked, “Mr. Gu, where are you putting him?”
“Don’t worry about that; I won’t put him in your customs Inspection Department.”
Gu Yansheng pondered the man’s new position.
In the afternoon, the man arrived.
“Director Gu, I’m here to report. This is my file.”
In his early thirties, showing no disappointment or other emotions; he appeared quite calm.
Gu Yansheng glanced at the file: Yan Dongqing, formerly with the Central Statistics Bureau, squad leader level.
Central Statistics Bureau—tsk, if he were formerly Military Statistics Bureau, Gu Yansheng would suppress him hard, then have someone contact him; maybe he could go communist.
Such a diligent person would be a great asset once turned.
But for Central Statistics Bureau people, who knows if they have blood on their hands; even the organization might disdain them.
“What did Director Ding tell you?”
“Director Ding said Director Gu heard I work diligently, so he transferred me over. I don’t know how I can help you, Director Gu.”
“Call me Division Chief privately from now on; you’re my man now.”
Gu Yansheng put the file on the table and smiled, saying, “The city government is now promoting military scrip. The Economic Department once had major issues; I’m sure you’ve heard about it.”
“Mm.”
“Our Judicial Department also bears the responsibility of supervising various departments, like the Legal Section of the Police Station or the inspection offices at customs. The Economic Department has never had anyone assigned there; I’ve only held an advisor committee member title. The Japanese now value the economy highly, so I brought you here to monitor the Economic Department’s fund flows for issues, and check if anyone has unclean hands. This is very important work.”
Yan Dongqing nodded to show he understood.
Gu Yansheng stood and walked out from behind the table, continuing, “The Economic Department’s fund flows are surely huge daily, involving many people; the work is tedious, but I can’t assign you many people. The whole thing must be secret, entering under the Legal Section name, performing actual inspection duties.”
Yan Dongqing nodded, “Understood.”
“Good.” Gu Yansheng picked up the phone and called the Personnel Section Chief to come over.
While idle, he told Yan Dongqing, “Don’t be too aggressive. If the Economic Department has issues, it likely involves many city government high-levels. For problems, gather solid evidence, then report to me.”
“Yes.”
The Personnel Section Chief arrived.
Gu Yansheng said to Yan Dongqing, “Agent Headquarters has many positions; this is just a department. You’ll first serve as Deputy Section Chief of the Legal Section. Don’t feel aggrieved; once the Judicial Department is upgraded, all personnel could rise two levels, making you equivalent to Deputy Division Chief.”
Yan Dongqing smiled, “You arrange it, Division Chief; I don’t mind.”
“Good.”
After instructing the Personnel Section Chief, he gave him two names to recruit, then let him go expand territory and dig up dirt.
There are no useless people, only people in the wrong places.
The Personnel Section Chief smiled and inquired, “Division Chief, is our Judicial Department becoming a Judicial Bureau? Will we move out then?”
“Go on, what are you prying about?”
“Come back; I actually do have something for you.”
Gu Yansheng stopped him and said, “In a few days, I’m housewarming and holding a banquet. Help me draft a guest list—city government levels who qualify, plus major Shanghai businessmen. Bring the list to me when done.”
“Sure, I’ll handle it right away.”
This was big; the Personnel Section Chief smiled slyly, “Division Chief, do the section chiefs here have a chance to come to your place and mooch a meal?”
“Come along.”
“Great, thanks Division Chief. They’ll be thrilled; I’ll go do it now.”
“Go ahead.”
Ring ring, ring ring.
“Hello.” Gu Yansheng picked up the phone.
“Listen to the broadcast, Chongqing radio.” Ling Xianwen’s voice came through, and he hung up after the short sentence.
Gu Yansheng went out and turned on the radio; a woman’s high-pitched voice came through.
“.Fellow compatriots nationwide, 400 million Chinese sons and daughters! This is Chongqing Central Broadcasting Station. Today, we tear off Wang Ni Zhaoming’s mask and expose this traitorous scoundrel’s ironclad evidence of selling out the country to the world!
Just a few days ago, Wang Ni Zhaoming’s sellout clique openly signed a 《Japan-Wang secret agreement》 with the Japanese invaders, handing over China’s mountains and rivers!
Ceding the Northeast, selling Mengjiang, allowing the Japanese Army permanent station in North China!
Giving away Hainan, offering the Yangtze River, with railways and ports all falling to the enemy!
Even reducing China to a slave of Greater East Asia, more humiliating than the Twenty-One Demands, worse than Manchu Empress Dowager Cixi!
The hot-blooded youth who assassinated the Regent now grovels to Japanese chieftains as a traitor leader—from revolutionary fighter to national disgrace, Wang Ni demonstrates supreme shamelessness in action!
The National Government solemnly declares that Wang Ni Zhaoming has been expelled from the party.”
The door opened, and Ling Xianwen walked in, sitting on the sofa to listen with Gu Yansheng to Chongqing’s accusations against Wang Ni.
A verbose, ten-thousand-word tirade full of indignation; after one playthrough, it began repeating.
Ling Xianwen turned off the radio, sighed, furrowed his brows, and said, “It got exposed after all. What a turbulent time.”
The leak of the agreement content was like a bolt from the blue. If Wang Ni’s Hanoi telegram was just responding to the Japanese Prime Minister’s statement with ambiguous signals,
This leak of the agreement details was naked treason, confirming Wang Ni was ceding territory!
And even more excessive than Cixi!
The next day’s newspapers covered it extensively, overshadowing even the Japanese new military scrip issuance.
Instantly, the concessions filled with righteous indignation; pens began writing articles to denounce and curse, while students went on strike and marched in protests.
The cursing got ugly, and Agent Headquarters was the first to suffer.
With this intelligence leak, General Headquarters blamed them; Shanghai’s Japanese Army intelligence department was the first to trouble Agent Headquarters.
Li Shiqun could only rush into the concession again to arrest people.
Arresting students, newspaper company editors, and concession literati writing scathing articles.
At the same time, the Iron Blood Assassination Group reappeared in the jianghu, clashing fiercely with Agent Headquarters people in the concession. Not only that, all Shanghai traitor businessmen and puppet government officials became assassination targets—blood for blood, life for life.
These people shared one trait: traitors, same status as Wang Ni.
But Chen Mo came specifically to tell him that the operation was by the Military Statistics Bureau Shanghai District, just using the Iron Blood Assassination Group name. Boss Dai’s order to the Shanghai District: no fear of casualties, must terrify the traitors; replace however many die.
City government officials suffered greatly; they gained no benefit from Wang Ni’s betrayal, yet three officials died in two days.
Dead is dead, fear is fear, but gifts must still be sent.
City government officials inquired about suitable gifts for Director Gu’s housewarming banquet.
Recently, calls to the Judicial Department increased, all asking about Director Gu’s preferences, pulling strings via connections to get an invitation.
The Personnel Section Chief submitted a list—very tactful, including all with money or power. But for Japanese guests, he didn’t dare decide.
For this, Gu Yansheng consulted Ling Xianwen, who knew many Japanese; let him draft the list.
“Lieutenant Colonel Kobayashi now handles the economy, closely tied to our city government; invite him. Definitely invite Mr. Hase.
In this environment, these merchants will want to know the Japanese Army’s sanctions on Chongqing. Send one to Mr. Kageza too, and to Major General Haruki behind Agent Headquarters.
Also, for Gendarmerie Headquarters, send one to Commander Miura Jiro; he may not come, but the gesture counts.”
Done that way, all Shanghai’s major figures were invited; it was getting crowded.
Gu Yansheng figured the house couldn’t hold them; use the outdoor space too, send the merchants outside—they wouldn’t dare complain.
Had Personnel Department clerks run around, sending out invitations one by one, bringing back replies.
All said they would definitely attend.
In this climate, these businessmen were truly panicked—afraid of not making money, afraid of the Military Statistics Bureau knocking. Such banquets were prime for building relations and probing policy directions.
Office.
Wen Yan walked in.
“Mr. Gu, my people and the Police Station went through all Household Registration Office files; we found the girl, with a birthmark behind her ear, very matching.”
This was a special surprise.
Gu Yansheng hurriedly asked, “Where was she found?”
“At the church. Back then, French priest Robert Jacquinot set up a refugee zone in Nanshi; a Swiss nurse there discovered and adopted her. She was registered in the French Concession Household Registration Office. Now that priest went to Hankou to build a refugee zone, but the nurse stayed to maintain church operations, and the girl was left too, helping at the church as a little nurse delivering water and medicine.”
“Great, great, great.” Gu Yansheng happily stood up: “You even dug this up—well done. How did the French Concession Household Registration Office let you check?”
“Didn’t check; pure luck.” Wen Yan smiled: “We used the brute-force method to compile all registered seven- to twelve-year-olds in all Shanghai post-war, comparing one by one. But a policeman mentioned it to his dad at home, and the old cop dad remembered something.
Post-war, the Japanese required the Police Station to re-register everyone in Shanghai to establish the household registration system, but they skipped some areas: one, refugee camps; two, infectious disease hospitals. Those places had massive deaths; police were too scared to enter.
If a child was there, she could easily have been missed then. And if she later went to the concession and lived there, there’d be no related info in Shanghai urban area.
So I checked everyone who ran refugee camps in Shanghai that year, found this French priest, went to his church, found the Swiss nurse, asked about it. She said she did adopt such a girl back then. I saw the person myself.”
