Chapter 174: Reward
Coming out of No. 76, Gu Yansheng returned to the Tea House and called Chen Mo.
The first call didn’t go through, so Gu Yansheng simply went to the Concession to eat, and after an hour called again; this time it connected.
“Hello, Boss Chen, this is Gu Yansheng.”
“Oh, Director Gu, hello, hello.”
“How’s the matter of transporting the goods to Anhui going? Why the delay—when will it be done?”
“There has already been progress. Brothers in Wuhu sent me a telegram saying they’ve nearly cleared out the local forces. Director Gu, please be patient; this matter can be accomplished.”
“Oh? Haha, I said Boss Chen handles things properly. Any troubles encountered in the process?”
“There are definitely troubles, after all it’s the Drug Business, but they’re all minor troubles, small matters. The remaining few are just making a futile last stand in a small area; in a few days, they can all be cleared out.”
“Good, then come report the specifics to me tomorrow.”
“Okay, goodbye, Director Gu.”
“Mm.”
Gu Yansheng hung up the phone. As long as Chen Mo was fine, everything else could be managed. From his tone, he hadn’t encountered any major troubles, though minor ones existed—most likely, Chen Mo had learned about the trap Li Shiqun had planted in the Hospital; it was just information asymmetry, not a real problem.
Concession.
Wu Sibao led the action team, splitting into several groups to simultaneously launch arrest operations in the Concession, targeting Chinese-funded banks from the former National Government administration period, as well as Newspaper companies that had published anti-Japanese reports.
At this time point, not long after He Xingjian’s death, almost all Newspaper companies were collecting information related to He Xingjian, preparing tomorrow’s front-page headline.
No. 76 personnel suddenly entered, smashing things in the Newspaper companies, setting fires, and making arrests, instantly throwing the Newspaper companies into chaos.
As for the Chinese-funded bank, it was already after hours; employees were either clearing accounts and books inside the bank or had gone to the bank-provided dormitories to eat and rest.
No. 76 people split into two waves, simultaneously attacking the bank and the dormitories; violent incidents occurred frequently.
The next day, Shanghai’s newspapers’ front-page headlines published the event of He Xingjian the traitor being executed on the street by the Military Statistics Bureau Shanghai District.
The scene of his death was photographed by numerous reporters; the photo of his headshot and instant death was clearly published.
The Iron Blood Assassination Group, representing the Military Statistics Bureau Shanghai District, publicly issued a statement, once again shocking everyone: dare to be a traitor, and this is the outcome!
For a time, the Concession cheered enthusiastically.
As for the No. 76 people who had burst into the Concession yesterday to make arrests, foreign newspapers undoubtedly cursed vehemently, condemning this behavior that destroyed Concession peace.
The consequence was that No. 76 people attacked again, arresting all newspaper media news agency commentators who had cheered He Xingjian’s death; since the published articles bore their names, it was easy to track them down.
As for the foreign newspapers’ fierce scolding, they simply ignored it— a few curses that didn’t hurt or itch, no flesh lost.
This savage behavior of defying the wind directly enraged the major Newspaper companies, and moreover some Newspaper company personnel were mistakenly arrested, giving rise to a sense of sorrow at the fate of fellow rabbits upon the fox’s death; for a time, protest troops began marching in protest again.
Several major Newspaper companies also exerted pressure on the Concession’s Municipal Council, demanding they negotiate with the City Government to release the arrested personnel.
The Tea House and No. 76 were on the same street; Gu Yansheng could frequently see No. 76 vehicles coming and going on the street.
Before long, Chen Mo arrived, so they went out for a stroll together.
Gu Yansheng smiled, “Not bad, that shot killing He Xingjian yesterday was very accurate.”
“I fired it.” Chen Mo smiled, a bit smug, “How about it, my marksmanship is decent, right?”
“You fired it?” Gu Yansheng was quite surprised; he had guessed the final finishing shot might have been from the Iron Blood Assassination Group, but hadn’t expected it to be Chen Mo himself.
“Didn’t expect you to be such a sharpshooter.”
“Without a couple of tricks up my sleeve, how could I hold this position.” Chen Mo laughed heartily.
“Yesterday when I first called you, it didn’t connect—were you targeted by No. 76 people?”
“No, I chose the clock tower far enough away; by the time they arrived, I was long gone.” Chen Mo recounted yesterday’s events, “I should have notified you before the action, but it happened suddenly. Director Dai kept urging on the He Xingjian matter—not just me, I reckon he urged the Shanghai District too.
The ones who acted at the Ballroom entrance yesterday were Shanghai District people.
Their Assassination skills were truly poor; in a panic, they chose this forceful killing approach, failing to kill him and losing a few of their own. Luckily, I had long chosen the clock tower position to help them with a finishing shot; otherwise, the telegram back would have earned them a scolding.
After the action, I sent a telegram to Chongqing, including them in it, helping them cover their asses.”
“Good at handling people.” Gu Yansheng nodded approvingly. After all, they all had to stay in Shanghai; competing for merit was particularly detrimental to unity in covert operations behind enemy lines.
Chen Mo stopped walking, “Chongqing replied: commended the execution of the traitor He, all personnel in the attached team promoted one level; you promoted to Lieutenant Colonel Deputy Team Leader. Additionally, for meritorious enemy-killing, Director Dai specially applied to the President for one Third-Class Yunhui Medal for us as encouragement, to be personally pinned on us after the war. Congratulations.”
“Clearly we rejoice together; thanks to Director Dai’s cultivation.” Gu Yansheng was rather curious, “This matter actually has little to do with me; I just provided a photograph—mainly your merit.”
“How could it have nothing to do with you?” Chen Mo sneered, “In this matter, I one-shot kill, so I rightfully claim major merit, but for primary merit, it’s the photo you provided; next, you also provided the shooting environment. Without you fixing He Xingjian in that spot, where would I find such a good shooting angle?”
“Ah?”
Gu Yansheng smiled in surprise. Yesterday, he had just been interested in the bulletproof vest, so he asked about it there.
Chen Mo explained: “I’m serious; I hadn’t observed the clock tower position just that day. Given He Xingjian’s caution, he doesn’t stay outside much, definitely full of vigilance against Assassination, his mind tightly strung.
Completing a one-shot kill from when he got out of the car to the Ballroom entrance was extremely difficult—just a few meters, with so many subordinates guarding nearby; one failure and no chance.
But yesterday, first, he had just survived an Assassination, and the thing he’d been anxiously hoping for happened, so people tend to relax after such events, mental defenses not so tight.
Second, you were chatting outside, staying in place, providing me excellent conditions to snipe him, so you are the key figure, irreplaceable merit.
Even the Shanghai District got credit; how could you not.”
Fine, a free Yunhui Medal.
After all, with this man dead, Boss Dai was truly delighted.
“Didn’t they send you some money or anything?”
“Didn’t mention it.”
Still stingy.
Gu Yansheng teased, “Even the President knows now—not bad, your name Chen Mo will definitely be mentioned a few more times by the President.”
Chen Mo chuckled; just thinking of that scene made him a bit smug.
Smiling, he asked: “I heard there’s a survivor in Li Shiqun’s hands? Can this person talk?”
Gu Yansheng shook his head, “Fake, a fishing trap. Li Shiqun is very capable in this area; such conspiracies come easily to him.”
“Actually fake.” Chen Mo hadn’t expected this answer, “Good thing you’re here; otherwise, the Shanghai District might have fallen into it.”
Thinking it over, he frowned: “How many people know about this matter?”
“Not many. Li Shiqun told it to me and He Xingjian at the time; those who should know also include the subordinates who took him to the Hospital then—just these few.”
“Then it’s somewhat tricky.” Chen Mo frowned tightly, “The circle of people who know is too small; we seem unable to tell the Shanghai District this information.”
If they told, and Shanghai District didn’t go to rescue
Actually, Shanghai District might not go to rescue anyway.
But if Shanghai District planned to rescue and they didn’t say, it would cause needless loss.
But if they did say, the problem of how the information came about arises; Chen Mo didn’t trust the Shanghai District’s confidentiality ability—with their undisciplined killing style, if a higher-up were caught later, today’s information could easily implicate Gu Yansheng.
Problems either way.
Gu Yansheng knew what he was worried about, “I thought about this problem for you yesterday. If Shanghai District wants to rescue, they need to first investigate the Hospital situation beforehand, which takes time.
So you go rescue first, but not directly to the ward—instead, kidnap his attending Doctor.
Yesterday Agent Headquarters sent this person to the Hospital, so there must be an attending Doctor, plus a few nurses; these are people in the know that the person is already dead.
No. 76 will set up a dragnet in the ward and Hospital interior, but can’t stop these Doctors and nurses from getting off work.
Yesterday was one day, today the second; Shanghai District’s action shouldn’t be that fast. After a Doctor or nurse gets off work, kidnap one, force the information out, then you know, and notify Shanghai District: the person is dead.
No need to release the Doctor or nurse; stage a disappearance. Tomorrow when this person doesn’t show up for work, the Hospital and No. 76 people will get alert. You stash the person in a spot Li Shiqun can find, like their own home, letting Li Shiqun find them himself—the purpose is to tell Li Shiqun they are the source of the leak, completing the closed loop for the whole matter, having nothing to do with me.”
“Brilliant.” Chen Mo thought for a moment and laughed, “Let Li Shiqun get the answer himself—works. I’ll go handle it later. And I think no need to wait till tomorrow; after questioning and calling, I’ll gift a bomb to No. 76 people as notice, also preventing Shanghai District from acting tonight, reducing risk.
No. 76 people have been active, arresting quite a few in the Concession; we’ll reciprocate.
“Mm.” Gu Yansheng raised an eyebrow and nodded, “Fine, a reminder is good too.”
“Then that’s it; I’ll go handle it right away.”
Once Chen Mo left, Gu Yansheng returned to the Tea House to continue his Porcelain research.
To get started in this area really requires a Master to guide entry, but the people around who know seem to all be officials.
Fu Xiao’an should know a bit; Ling Xianwen probably knows a little too.
But Gu Yansheng feared they were half-baked, might lead him astray.
Thinking it over, he still called Ling Xianwen to ask.
“Secretary-General, haha, it’s me. Busy? Want to invite you for tea—sure, I’ll come over.”
Gu Yansheng put the Ru kiln bowl into the box and was about to head out when Wu Sibao arrived.
“Why’d you come? Aren’t you supposed to be very busy now?” Gu Yansheng asked strangely.
“What’s there to be busy with? Nothing’s more important than acting as a banker.” Wu Sibao winked and smiled.
If Gu Yansheng were Li Shiqun, seeing Wu Sibao would make him curse; chasing Military Statistics Bureau agents while his mind was on Stock—this work could be done well?
But Gu Yansheng wasn’t Li Shiqun, so it didn’t matter; slacking off was innocent.
“Tell me, what’s the situation.”
Wu Sibao sat down, unusually serious, “I’ve inquired clearly about Yong’an Department Store’s background. The Boss is surnamed Guo, two brothers: elder brother Guo Quan, younger brother Guo Le. Previously these two operated fruit stalls in Australia, made a sum, knew some people, and went to Hong Kong to do business.
Shanghai’s Yong’an Department Store opened in Republic Year 7; info I checked at the Exchange—back then subscription shares, first batch issued at 2.5 million Hong Kong dollars.”
“Oh, that’s strong capital.” Gu Yansheng raised an eyebrow; 2.5 million Hong Kong dollars, about 800,000 US Dollars, very valuable.
“And now?”
“26 million.”
“That much?” Gu Yansheng frowned, “Why is a Department Store worth so much?”
“They have more than just a Department Store; I investigated to find out—Yong’an Department Store also owns Mansions, Hotels, Amusement Parks, and Banks.”
Mansions, Banks—that explains it. Gu Yansheng nodded, “Then it’s quite troublesome; Yong’an Department Store is much richer than we imagined—26 million, eight or nine million US Dollars.”
Wu Sibao excitedly laughed, “If we swallow it, we’ll get rich—big rich.”
Gu Yansheng rolled his eyes, “You’re not afraid of bursting. Just seeing they have so much money yet live well should tell you it’s not that simple.”
Wu Sibao scoffed, “Afraid of what? As long as people want to mix in Shanghai, dragons must coil for me, tigers must crouch for me! In Shanghai, money lets you live freely, but money alone is worthless!”
This awareness was very clear-headed.
“I have a plan: I’ll go talk to him first, have him sell us some Shares. If willing, I’ll take him to get rich together; if not, heh heh.
He has a Son, and currently the Son is in charge; the Son has a Son too—later I’ll kidnap his grandson, give him a taste, see if he gets obedient.”
Gu Yansheng pondered the matter; Yong’an Department Store surely wasn’t that simple, but with the idea of stirring up chaos in Shanghai, letting Wu Sibao test the waters wasn’t bad.
“You can go talk, negotiate first, but don’t be too extreme in methods; we may cooperate later.”
“Rest assured, I’ll be polite first, then force.” Wu Sibao smiled, “So what do you think, how many Shares should we aim to buy at the start? Enough to meet acting as a banker requirements?”
How would Gu Yansheng know; asking Lu Bowen might yield the answer.
But not knowing could be treated as knowing.
“Half; take half, and the Company is ours to command.”
Wu Sibao nodded, seeing no issue, “Half is market value four or five million US Dollars; how about we offer a 30% discount price?”
Gu Yansheng looked at him with newfound respect—you sure dare to think.
“Then go negotiate.”
