Chapter 165: Robbing Medicine
Mr. Wu said: “Regarding your suggestion about the Loyal and Righteous National Salvation Army, after discussing with the New Fourth Army Headquarters, we think it can proceed in several steps simultaneously.
We can both plant our own staff inside, cultivate from the bottom, and also instigate some puppet army backbones to provide us with information sources. You can also design at the high level for them to intensify internal strife, weakening their combat power.
There’s no need to take only one road; all roads can be taken.
In this regard, I’ll send someone else to handle it. Once a candidate is selected and cooperation is needed, I’ll notify you then.”
Gu Yansheng nodded, “Okay.”
“There’s one more thing to inform you about: I’ve already sent someone to retrieve Chen Mo’s organizational relationship.
He Xingjian was previously a disciple of Green Gang’s Du Yuesheng, and Chen Mo was too. A large portion of the Loyal and Righteous National Salvation Army’s personnel are Green Gang people. Green Gang people value generational rank and righteousness, so Chen Mo is likely to leverage Du Yuesheng’s prestige to connect with people inside.
This is also one path I’ve considered.
Additionally, regarding the smuggling channel you proposed, Chen Mo can contribute greatly to this matter leveraging their own identity.
For Chen Mo, since the organizational relationship was just retrieved, it’s necessary to have a period of observation.
You can help them, but don’t let them know your identity; you two are on separate lines.”
“Understood.”
Retrieving Chen Mo was truly good news for Gu Yansheng.
They then chatted about some other matters; all aspects could be discussed.
For example, in the conversation, they clarified and established the Shanghai intelligence structure centered on Gu Yansheng.
After chatting a bit more, it was time for farewell.
“Comrade Yansheng.” Mr. Wu shook hands with Gu Yansheng, “The struggle situation has undergone new changes. You must remember your identity and position yourself at the strategic level.”
Tactics and strategy are different.
“I understand.” Gu Yansheng nodded.
“Good, take care.”
“Take care.”
Hands clasped tightly; at this precious moment, Gu Yansheng had to mention, “Since you’re here, do you want to take some money back?”
Mr. Wu raised an eyebrow and smiled, “Looks like you’ve made quite a bit of money?”
“Not bad.” Gu Yansheng smiled faintly, “We have a few hundred thousand US dollars.”
“Tsk.” Mr. Wu exclaimed in admiration, “I really envy Old Chen now; he makes so much money. When I return to Yan’an, he’ll have to come brag to me again.”
Shen Linshen deeply agreed; he earned money faster than he spent it.
“Not this time. After meeting you, I still need to go to Zhejiang to meet with the Zhejiang branch team. It’s inconvenient to carry a large suitcase of money around.
When I return from Zhejiang, I still need to go to Hong Kong. Hong Kong and Guangdong are also under the Southern Bureau’s jurisdiction. Then, I’ll set up a safe house in Hong Kong. If we need to meet next time, we can consider meeting in Hong Kong, and we can discuss money matters then.”
“Sure, I’ll find a way to make my trip to Hong Kong reasonable.”
After meeting the leader, Gu Yansheng was in a good mood.
It’s no wonder that since ancient times, there’s a tradition of superiors consoling subordinates. Just having such an important figure willing to venture into danger can greatly boost the morale of local soldiers; the New Fourth Army’s combat power there will surely improve.
If you aren’t afraid to die, neither am I. Interpreting it from this angle alone can make the soldiers’ combat power ferocious.
Gu Yansheng also received the latest instructions here. In the Twelve-Character Guideline, developing northward, the organization clearly values Northern Jiangsu’s granaries.
Japanese have few people; under China’s strategic depth that’s an open card, quick victory is impossible. If logistics are seized again, fighting will be especially difficult.
Lu Bowen seized the initiative. The stations he set up will be very useful for transporting grain later. After returning, Gu Yansheng conveyed the organization’s latest instructions to He Yun, and it would be fine to relay them to her when Lu Bowen returns.
While the outside world in Shanghai was fighting to the death, with the Military Statistics Bureau Shanghai District and No. 76 killing everywhere, Gu Yansheng was nestled in the tea house drinking tea.
Japanese enterprises’ granaries suffered the heaviest damage. Initially, they didn’t want to lose face; if the Military Statistics Bureau shouted a couple times, they’d release grain—what about their face?
Li Shiqun even wanted to use this opportunity to lure out Military Statistics Bureau people.
But as the battle expanded and the Military Statistics Bureau Shanghai District joined the fight, Li Shiqun’s forces couldn’t attend to them.
He Xingjian needed protection, granaries needed ambushes, even Japanese grain stores on every street and alley needed staff stationed—how could there be enough manpower for all of Shanghai fighting?
No. 76 could only handle the most urgent matters and had to pull staff from Japanese enterprises’ granaries.
Once pulled away, the Iron Blood Assassination Group members could take the stage to continue burning down granaries.
Japanese enterprises couldn’t hold out.
Forget face; money was more important.
In response, Japanese enterprises even published a special newspaper notice stating that, understanding the difficulty Shanghai citizens faced buying grain, they urgently transferred some military grain from outside to sell at flat prices to citizens; it was absolutely not inventory grain.
With food to eat, who cares what kind of grain it is.
Once Japanese enterprises released grain, the grain hoarded by Sha Shun and Zhang Xiaolin had to be released too, greatly alleviating Shanghai’s grain crisis.
Zhang Xiaolin knew the Japanese released grain and cursed at Gu Yansheng, “Damn it, these spineless bastards cost Father so much money.”
“As long as there’s profit, it’s fine; it’s not like no money was made.”
Gu Yansheng couldn’t urge Zhang Xiaolin to release grain at the time, as that wouldn’t fit the greedy persona, but with Japanese releasing grain, they had no choice but to release too.
Ding ling ling, ding ling ling.
“Hello.”
Liu Xiaolou’s voice came from the telephone, “Director Gu, Qi Wuzhou from Kyushu Pharmacy called, wanting to meet you. Should I give him your address?”
“Have him come over.”
“Okay.”
Looks like there’s news on the medicine matter. Good, sure enough, money provides motivation.
Gu Yansheng waited nearly an hour, and Qi Wuzhou arrived.
“Hello, Director Gu.” Qi Wuzhou bowed.
“Is it good news?” Gu Yansheng asked while drinking tea.
Qi Wuzhou beamed, stepping closer: “Great news! Director Gu, we overcame all difficulties and didn’t fail our mission. Eight tons, eight tons of quinine—we snatched it back!”
“Snatched?” Gu Yansheng raised an eyebrow, “Impressive, Boss Qi. Tell me how you did it?”
Qi Wuzhou chuckled sheepishly, “This is thanks to your guidance; my wooden head finally got it. I bribed a few local small fries, didn’t tell them we were planning to rob the goods, just that we were there to buy medicine for smuggling.
After making contact, I paid a deposit of 20,000 silver dollars, requiring face-to-face transaction for the rest.
They thought we outsiders couldn’t run off, so they were at ease. Plus, due to the international situation, neither China nor Japan could buy quinine; local factories had stockpiled massive quinine inventory and wanted to sell it all to us.
Though not ten tons, there were eight tons. They offered to produce two more tons, but I thought production would take too long, so I agreed on the surface but bought their eight tons first.
Dozens of people escorting, plus local police or whatever, I brought 600 tough guys from Shanghai, surrounded them all. Once the goods were loaded onto the ship and we sailed out, we even fought a fight with the local coast guard!”
“Where’s the goods?”
“Arriving in port tonight.”
