Chapter 158: Newcomer
Gu Yansheng watched the street below come alive, first hearing gunfire and Number 76 personnel rushing over, then Police Station people, and after that, Japanese Ronin who didn’t know where they came from.
Thick smoke billowed, but the people who came were completely helpless looking at the burning granary, only able to stand on the street and watch dryly.
Let it burn, Shanghai is so big, one granary, and you have to pick the one on my turf to burn?
Really polluting the environment.
Gu Yansheng closed the window to prevent dust from drifting in, it was just one granary burned, nothing big, and soon after, Police Station Chief Ma Quan personally came to report what happened.
“Have you caught the culprit?”
“Not yet, we’re urgently searching.”
“Then why aren’t you going to find them quickly?! What are you doing here? Can I help you arrest people?”
“Yes, yes, yes! We’re already looking, I’m afraid they might sneak in and accidentally hurt you, so I specially brought people to protect you.”
Fine, he speaks quite nicely, so Gu Yansheng stopped scolding him.
Chen Mo is in charge of the Iron Blood Assassination Group, his personal qualities are definitely no problem, the incident was sudden, this was the first attack on a granary, no one was prepared, Gu Yansheng wasn’t worried about him.
He opened the window and looked again, Number 76 only had two or three kittens come, even Wu Sibao didn’t come, Gu Yansheng thought for a moment and drove to Agent Headquarters.
“Where is Director Li?”
“He went out.”
“What about Director Ding?”
“Went out together.”
“What about Captain Wu?”
“He went out too.”
“How come no one is here!”
Gu Yansheng had just looked at the street and didn’t see these people, and for just a warehouse matter, why would so many people need to go out.
“Where did they go?”
“Yo, Director Gu is here.” Ye Jiqing walked over smiling from the corridor.
“Sister-in-law is here, I thought Agent Headquarters was on holiday, how come no one is around, I just heard gunfire from the Police Station and came to ask what happened.”
“They went to Gendarmerie Headquarters, come to my place for a cup of tea.” Ye Jiqing took Gu Yansheng to the Finance Department office and brewed a cup of coffee for him.
“So, is there progress on the Southern Anhui matter?” Gu Yansheng asked directly.
“Not that matter.” Ye Jiqing smiled, “Bigger than the Southern Anhui matter.”
“What matter?”
“Director Dai’s Loyal and Righteous National Salvation Army has defected over.”
“The one loyal to Chongqing?”
“Yes, Loyal and Righteous National Salvation Army Deputy Commander, Kuomintang Major General He Xingjian, brought over his entire force of more than ten thousand men, and now they’re at Gendarmerie Headquarters.”
Gu Yansheng was quite surprised, “More than ten thousand men, and a Major General, why? Could it be like Director Ding, reported for corruption? No, wasn’t he originally Director Dai’s man? Central Statistics Bureau?”
Ye Jiqing smiled slightly: “Not corruption, but you’re pretty close, internal strife!
You know the history of the Loyal and Righteous National Salvation Army’s establishment, right?
Battle of Songhu, Dai Yunong is ambitious, wanted to control the army, so he personally in Shanghai, relying on Du Yuesheng’s Green Gang forces, and some students pulled in from out of town, formed the Loyal and Righteous National Salvation Army.
This He Xingjian was the leader of that Green Gang group at the time.
After the Battle of Songhu, Nanjing people withdrew to Chongqing, and Director Dai left the Loyal and Righteous National Salvation Army behind, always wandering and ambushing along the Jiangsu and Zhejiang, Nanjing, Shanghai line.
Let me tell you, this shows Dai Yunong’s selfish intentions, if the army was recalled, wouldn’t his forces be incorporated into Third War Zone command?
Fighting guerrilla outside is just not wanting to give up command.”
Ye Jiqing confided secrets to the God of Wealth wholeheartedly.
Gu Yansheng listened and nodded.
Ye Jiqing continued: “But this planted the seeds of disaster, originally the main force of this group was Shanghai street thugs, when they were recruited to defend home and country, they were full of hot blood, they agreed and really dared to risk heads and spill hot blood fighting the Japanese.
But now time drags on, the war goes worse, no hope in the big picture, and long-term exposure to wind and sleep outdoors, wouldn’t these Green Gang people get fed up? Dissatisfied, start complaining?
After all, they’re thugs used to enjoying in Shanghai, how can they stand the hardship of trekking in the wild?
If really incorporated into Third War Zone, given a fixed defense area, regular grain supplies, that would be okay, guarding a county town.
But now running around outside every day, supplies not delivered on time, sometimes going hungry, resentment builds up.
More importantly, Dai Yunong also sent his cronies from Chongqing to the Loyal and Righteous National Salvation Army to take command, openly seizing power!”
Ye Jiqing tapped the table, raised her eyebrows with a look, and smiled: “Do you think He Xingjian can tolerate it?”
Gu Yansheng ummed and nodded, “They went too far, no one could stand it, but no, those Southern Anhui people could stand it, they can stay in snowy fields in the dead of winter.”
Ye Jiqing chuckled lightly, “That’s different, the Eighth Route people’s are still about faith, disciplined, but what do Green Gang people care about? Fast revenge and enmity, you can make them fight desperately, but long-term suffering no.”
“Well said, sister-in-law, your vision is much better than this Director Dai.” Gu Yansheng praised.
“It’s not my good vision, it’s this Director Dai wanting military power too much, let me tell you, this time Loyal and Righteous National Salvation Army rebels, he’ll have a hard time with President Jiang.” Ye Jiqing raised a finger, tone firm, “Major General defects to enemy, first since the war started.”
Gu Yansheng sneered, “Director Ding must be very happy about this.”
Ding Mocun has been hoping Boss Dai gets unlucky.
Ye Jiqing haha laughed, “Exactly, Director Ding and Shiqun have had plenty of conflicts lately, but on this matter, these days seeing Shiqun he even has a smile.”
“Oh yo, so Director Li gets the credit.” Gu Yansheng’s eyes lit up in great praise, “Respect indeed, looks like Director Li will rise rapidly soon.”
“No way, how can he claim this credit, he’s not Military Statistics Bureau, clues brought by Hanoi people, arranged by Kageza.”
“Oh~”
No wonder, where did Li Shiqun get clues knowing so much Loyal and Righteous National Salvation Army inside info.
“When is he coming back? How’s my house in Nanjing?”
“217 sets, almost done, Liu San sent a telegram saying they’ve bought almost all, can’t buy more, they bought too many houses in Nanjing, people there have smelled it and started not letting them buy.”
“Who? Such guts! Our buying houses their ass? Japanese?”
“Don’t know, probably officialdom people, anyway almost bought up, I’ll have Liu San them come back, leave some scraps for others, that money isn’t much anyway.”
Ye Jiqing laughed as she spoke, “Still Mr. Gu your method is good, this time futures made quite a bit, do you think we can sell now?”
“Sell, as long as there’s profit, bag it safe, now Japanese Greater East Asia Ministry is here, maybe some policy comes out.”
“Listen to you, I said don’t listen to Sibao.” Ye Jiqing immediately picked up the phone and called out, “Tell Sibao to sell all stocks in hand quickly, tell him it’s Mr. Gu who said it.”
“He didn’t go to Gendarmerie Headquarters?”
“Why would he go, now stays at stock exchange all day doesn’t come out, no matter how late he sleeps at night, every opening he goes to stock exchange, that’s set in stone.”
Gu Yansheng sneered, the dignified Agent Headquarters Captain Wu, how he trades stocks every day.
Knock knock knock, a female agent came in.
“Director Ye, Director Gu, Police Station people at the door looking for you, say received call from Hongkou, asking you to go to the restaurant where Minister Zhou is staying to eat together.”
“Okay, got it.”
Saw Minister Zhou just yesterday, today calling again, Gu Yansheng got up to say goodbye, “Then I’ll go.”
“Okay.”
Gu Yansheng drove to the restaurant in Hongkou where Minister Zhou was staying, the attendant at the door directly took him to the private room.
Entering, quite a few people, Li Shiqun, Ding Mocun, and a stranger, if not wrong, that was He Xingjian.
“Minister.”
“Hey, Yansheng, come come, just waiting for you.”
Minister Zhou beckoned, smiling: “You know the other two, let me introduce, Loyal and Righteous National Salvation Army Deputy Commander General He Xingjian, he heard Mr. Wang’s peaceful national salvation remarks, voluntarily broke from Jiang faction forces, defected over, now appointed Peaceful National Salvation Army Lieutenant General Commander.”
Minister Zhou also introduced Gu Yansheng’s identity to He Xingjian.
In terms of status, honestly Gu Yansheng’s status wasn’t as solid as the other’s general position.
Even Ding Mocun this Major General, not as high as his Lieutenant General position.
But, couldn’t resist Minister Zhou’s enthusiasm, after all thug background, reached this position, still has eyesight.
Very polite.
Exchanged pleasantries, just go through the motions.
“Everyone sit, eat while talking.”
Minister Zhou was very happy today, drank some wine and said: “With Xingjian coming, my Shanghai matters are mostly done, finally can go back report progress to Mr. Wang.
Gentlemen, in this chaotic world, peaceful nation building, to have peace need military force to maintain this peace.
Today I gathered you few, because for future nation’s military department, you few are my top choices.
Directors Ding and Li’s Agent Headquarters, responsible for national agent affairs, organization building, starting from Shanghai, establish bases nationwide, not just our turf, Chongqing turf, Yan’an turf all establish, even spread abroad, like future embassies consulates dispatched.
Director Gu’s Judicial Administration Department, responsible for drafting building national judicial system, take over merge regional courts, prisons, truly national judiciary under Nanjing central government control.
Commander He, your Peaceful National Salvation Army will be future our nation’s central main force army, German, Japanese, American weapons, pick as you like.
Director Gu knows, I already raised a large batch of supplies for our army, now you came to Shanghai, all military supplies before nation building, temporarily by our Finance Department Deputy Minister, Director Gu provide.
Yansheng, work hard a bit, after I return to Hanoi, discuss specifics with Mr. Wang, will send people to take over.
Gu Yansheng smiled and nodded, “Okay, Commander He tell me whatever you need.”
“Then entrust to Director Gu, no, Finance Department Deputy Minister Gu.”
“Hahahahahaha.”
Everyone joked and laughed, after laughing, Minister Zhou to Ding and Li two: “Before just Shanghai, so Japanese might arrange you two jointly at Agent Headquarters, but later managing nationwide, mere one Agent Headquarters definitely not enough to show you two’s ability.
So then, I have to arrange new positions for you two, hope you two don’t refuse, capable do more.”
Ding and Li two what can they say, raise glasses drink.
Minister Zhou accompanied a sip, looked around: “
Then I’ll establish a Special Agents Committee, you few are this committee’s committee members, director I’ll personally serve, our people just these few, no need add newcomers, even Hanoi people come same, at most add a secretary for liaison.
Not that I don’t want to bring Hanoi people, human hearts complex, while you all entrenched Shanghai periphery, far from Chongqing officialdom, instead minds more pure.
Military power, financial power, judicial power, police power, gendarme power, gentlemen, sincere cooperation, nation can be strong, do you agree?”
Minister Zhou finished and raised glass, meaning all in the wine.
Bestow titles promise wishes, main not here yet, they should take sides.
Few people looked at each other, smiled slightly: “Willing to serve Minister Zhou.”
“Serve the nation.”
A banquet, talked happily.
Banquet ended.
Everyone drank quite high, at this happy time, Ding Mocun proposed.
“Anyway time still early, simply hold a welcome dance party for Commander He, earlier with Minister Zhou here, didn’t dare drink freely.”
“Hahahaha.”
Li Shiqun didn’t dampen fun, “Then I suggest a place, French Concession Xianlesi Dance Hall under Liao Shan, though not as good as Paramount, but top three in Greater Shanghai, mainly safety.”
“Safety, safety most important.”
Gu Yansheng generally doesn’t join such dance hall gatherings, but today if leave, too unsociable, Minister Zhou said sincere cooperation, first time must give face.
He Xingjian even less opinion, guest follows host.
“This mountain wild villager today can enter city enjoy blessings ha.”
“Hahahaha.”
Li Shiqun called back, had Wu Sibao bring people for guard, everyone go to French Concession Xianlesi Dance Hall have fun.
Got a private room on second floor.
Ding Mocun first teased Gu Yansheng, “Brother Gu, when did you get a minister position from Minister Zhou, hid it too well.”
