Chapter 172: Assassination
“What identity can’t you investigate?”
Gu Yansheng sneered, glancing at him mockingly, “Fu Xiao’an’s nickname is Indestructible, he’s famously slippery. From the Qing Dynasty to now, through so many power shuffles, others have been turned upside down, but not him. He’s definitely connected to people on all sides.
But just the Nanjing Headquarters item alone, you can’t get past it.
Investigating too many things means a pile of trouble.
I think if you really want to investigate this, you still have to start from the Japanese side.
Find out who sold the gun, track down that individual, follow the clues. If it really leads to Fu Xiao’an, then you’ll have backing with the Japanese. That’s the key point.
Otherwise, investigating him now, you don’t even have a thread to pull.”
Li Shiqun frowned slightly and thought about it, then put it aside for now, looking at Gu Yansheng with a smile, “This is really strange. I remember you and Fu Xiao’an don’t get along. If I want to investigate him, shouldn’t you be egging me on? Why are you speaking up for him?”
Investigating Japanese soldiers would be so much fun. As long as you, Li Shiqun, dare to investigate, you’ll definitely uncover Japanese soldiers selling guns in the end. Gu Yansheng is waiting to watch the fun.
Gu Yansheng let out a hiss, “I’m just talking facts for your own good. If you investigate him, he’ll definitely fight back. The Nanjing Gendarmerie Headquarters might even target you. You have no evidence, no solid footing.
But investigating Japanese is different. The Shanghai Gendarmerie Headquarters authorized you to do it, it’s justified, no risk for you. Isn’t the choice obvious?”
“That simple?” Li Shiqun smiled.
Gu Yansheng nodded, “That simple. Of course, if you say whether I have any ties to Fu Xiao’an, I do.”
Li Shiqun laughed even louder, “I knew it wasn’t that simple. Can you tell me what’s going on?”
“Nothing that can’t be said, doing some business.” Gu Yansheng leaned in, “This year I’m planning a big move in cotton yarn. I have my eye on Fu Xiao’an’s cotton mill and want to take it over. It needs some time to plan and operate.
I really don’t want anything to happen to him now. If something does happen to him and he’s arrested, that factory will definitely fall into Japanese hands, and all my effort will be wasted.”
Li Shiqun raised an eyebrow. Gu Yansheng is scheming for Fu Xiao’an’s cotton mill—ruthless move.
But he didn’t understand, “Aren’t cotton mills not doing well? Making money now?”
Gu Yansheng sneered, “Others can’t make money, doesn’t mean I can’t.”
Li Shiqun smiled. That’s true. Gu Yansheng’s ability to make money is undeniable. That’s why he’s the man his wife talks about the most now.
Ding ling ling, ding ling ling.
“Hello.” Li Shiqun picked up the phone, listened, and his expression turned serious, “Okay, I’ll come right away.”
Li Shiqun hung up the phone and said to Gu Yansheng as he walked, “Military Statistics Bureau people made a move. He Xingjian was attacked at the Xianlesi Dance Hall entrance.”
Gu Yansheng’s expression also turned serious, “How is he?”
“Should be fine.”
Gu Yansheng breathed a sigh of relief, “That’s good. Military Statistics Bureau people are too bold. I remember He Xingjian always has his own people protecting him. They still dared to strike?”
“What does protection matter? Which killed official didn’t have guards?”
Li Shiqun and Gu Yansheng talked as they got in the car, bringing a group of helpers to the French Concession.
At the Xianlesi Dance Hall entrance, several bodies lay here and in the opposite passageway. Guns and bullets were scattered on the ground, blood everywhere.
The area was already surrounded by French Concession constables. Since it was a dance hall entrance, a lively spot, there were quite a few onlookers.
Li Shiqun instinctively disliked crowded places. He didn’t even get out of the car, telling his approaching helper through the window, “Clear the area.”
“Yes.”
The helpers roughly started clearing the onlookers. Many grumbled discontentedly that this was the French Concession, even foreigners and reporters protesting.
But 76 people didn’t care. After negotiating with the police station, their attitude was very tough, threatening regret if not cleared.
76 people attacked in the French Concession, and some died—this was clearly Military Statistics Bureau vs. 76 conflict. The arriving French Police didn’t want to get involved, thought about it, and grudgingly helped 76 clear the area.
Onlookers were all kept away. 76 people stationed one every few meters, forming a circle to block off. Only then did Li Shiqun call Gu Yansheng to get out of the car.
Gu Yansheng checked the dead on the ground. No Chen Mo.
Before the action, he wasn’t notified because he was out and missed the phone, or because these were Military Statistics Bureau Shanghai District people—Gu Yansheng couldn’t judge yet.
“Director.” The lookout posted here came forward.
Li Shiqun nodded, about to speak, when He Xingjian also walked out from the dance hall.
“Commander He, are you okay?” Li Shiqun asked, sizing him up.
“I’m fine, just lost a few helpers. Luck was really average.” The four bodies lying at the Xianlesi Dance Hall entrance were all He Xingjian’s people.
“Director Gu, you’re here too?” He Xingjian greeted Gu Yansheng.
“Yeah, was talking with Director Li. Heard something happened here—how could I not come see?” Gu Yansheng frowned, “This scene looks really dangerous. You count yourself lucky.”
He Xingjian smiled, “As expected. This was trapping them in a jar, right, Director Li?”
Li Shiqun nodded, asking, “What was the situation at the time?”
He Xingjian said, “Per your plan, I come out around this time every day to bait. At the time, my helper notified me that the setup around the dance hall was ready, personnel in place. So I left home for the dance hall.
The car pulled up to the dance hall entrance, right here.”
He Xingjian pointed to a car five meters away, “When it reached here, helpers got out first, then me. Just as I got out and walked a couple steps, to right where I’m standing now, eight gunmen rushed out from both sides of the road.
Eight pistols, and two cars drove up, with two Czech light machine guns on them, firing at me from the cars.
Bullets were all taken by helpers. Originally just pistols—if not headshots, not so many would die, since they had steel plates in their clothes.
Who knew they’d bring machine guns. Look, the steel plates inside the clothes were penetrated. Japanese bulletproof vests aren’t that great.”
He Xingjian squatted down, flipped his helper’s clothes, revealing the Japanese bulletproof vest inside. Sure enough.
“This stuff just looks good, doesn’t stop machine gun bullets at all.”
“No way around it. As long as you’re fine.” Helpers are for taking risks, especially close guards.
“Hey, I don’t get it. From what you’re saying, you knew Military Statistics Bureau would come assassinate, so you dug a pit for them to jump into?” Gu Yansheng interjected.
He Xingjian smiled, “Of course we anticipated it. How could I not know Boss Dai’s character? Now that I’m in Shanghai, he definitely wants me executed.
Brother Shiqun and I discussed it. Rather than living in daily fear, not knowing when they’d strike, better to strike first, lure them out, and catch them all. I’m the bait.”
Gu Yansheng nodded as if suddenly enlightened, “Commander He, impressive. You take on such dangerous things. That courage is extraordinary. I wouldn’t dare be the bait—too risky.”
“Hahaha.” He Xingjian laughed heartily, “This bit of guns and ammo doesn’t even count as lowest-intensity war. I survived the battlefield; this is nothing. Small scene.
Besides, it really wasn’t that dangerous.
Did you notice how chaotic Shanghai’s been lately? Assassinations, explosions, all sorts of mess. Seems inexplicable, right? Why is Military Statistics Bureau suddenly so active?
Actually just one goal: disrupt all of Shanghai, draw 76 people away from me.
Military Statistics Bureau could guess I have 76 people around, so they deliberately cause destruction for that reason.
So Brother Shiqun and I turned the tables, pretending only my own few people were left, all 76 people gone.
In reality, they quietly blended into the surrounding crowds. Roads and inside the dance hall—all ours. They came, trapped in a jar.”
“Brilliant.” Gu Yansheng nodded thoughtfully, “Still dangerous though. Do this less.”
He Xingjian smiled, “Actually, if just pistols, no real danger. We specially got a batch of bulletproof steel plates, all wearing them. Them bringing Czech light machine guns for assassination was unexpected.”
“Military Statistics Bureau using machine guns for assassination is rare. I guess because you’re Director Dai’s favorite, special treatment.” Li Shiqun offered comfort.
What comfort—this poked at the lungs. But He Xingjian just laughed heartily, unrestrained. Daring to betray meant expecting today’s assassination.
Li Shiqun looked at the three bodies opposite. No need to say, all Military Statistics Bureau people.
“Five more got away?”
He Xingjian grunted yes, “They ran. At the time, I decisively rushed into the dance hall. Your ambush inside heard gunfire and came out. Military Statistics Bureau saw no chance, those two cars picked them up and fled.”
“Bit of a pity. Set up for so many days, no live captures.” Li Shiqun sighed, eyes glancing to see a Military Statistics Bureau chest on the ground twitch.
He rushed over, felt the neck, turned and barked, “How did you check? Still breathing. Send to hospital now!”
“Yes.”
Helpers bustled, loaded the person into a car and rushed to the concession hospital.
“Not bad, one actually survived.” He Xingjian was in good spirits, laughing, “Director Li, hope this one knows a lot.”
“Who knows. People die fast, but with so many onlookers nearby and reporters, even without Military Statistics Bureau, word will spread. See if they come rescue. Him not fully dead means those five escapees will be on edge.”
Li Shiqun spoke casually. He Xingjian’s smile nearly faltered. Who’d think Li Shiqun casually dug a pit right under his nose.
“Fair enough, still some hope. Brother Shiqun, no wonder you do this job—mind too sharp. Right, Brother Gu?”
“Yes.” Gu Yansheng’s expression shifted with Li Shiqun’s words, stunned like He Xingjian, finally sighing in admiration, “Truly brilliant. Anyone seeing would think it’s a live one. Director Li, clever ploy.”
Li Shiqun smiled faintly, “Don’t get hopes too high. We’ve caught Military Statistics Bureau lately. From confessions, their Shanghai District organizational structure was redesigned. Action Group and intelligence group completely separate, action personnel never meet Shanghai District command.
Before every action, they prepare for death. Contacts all cut off. Tracking them is laborious.”
“Little by little adds up. Clues gather bit by bit, we’ll find them eventually.”
“Hey, this clothes stops machine guns but not pistols?” Gu Yansheng was really interested in the bulletproof vest, squatting to look.
“Can stop pistols, but not practical.” He Xingjian explained, “Useless on open battlefield—rifle bullets penetrate completely, cannonballs needless to say, garbage against them.
Some use in urban street fighting, but too taxing on stamina, dead heavy, so no one wants to wear it.
For our situation, okay occasionally. After all, in a car. If walking an hour, exhausted like a dead dog.”
He Xingjian was speaking.
Bang—a long-range bullet hit He Xingjian’s head.
Words cut off. That stiff expression, light in his eyes slowly faded, dimmed. Body fell backward. Gu Yansheng felt it sudden.
So sudden!
Wonder if He Xingjian felt sudden.
“Ah!”
He Xingjian’s death triggered screams from nearby onlookers. Scene instantly chaotic.
“Sniper! Get down!”
Li Shiqun’s face changed, shouting at Gu Yansheng.
Did Gu Yansheng need telling? As a traitor, he’s professional. Experienced in assassinations. He immediately crouched low, trotting to find tall cover.
Bang—another shot, still targeting He Xingjian’s body, this time chest. Slight miss as body fell, but still hit.
Ignoring Gu Yansheng and Li Shiqun to kill, insisting on finishing the shot to ensure He Xingjian dead—shows how much Military Statistics Bureau hates him!
No, how much Boss Dai hates He Xingjian!
Anyone but him could live. Not He Xingjian.
Li Shiqun turned to trace bullet direction, eyes locking on a suspicious target—a distant clock tower.
He pointed, “There! Quick, go grab them!”
