Chapter 180: Talking Back
“Yes! I took the money!”
Fu Xiao’an stood up, pointed at the Director of Finance, and shouted loudly, “He is just that division chief’s superior, Officer Tsuda, so you suspect he took money.
I stood up to speak a fair word for him, and Officer Tsuda, you also said I took money.
Then I am still the mayor designated by General Matsui, so do you suspect Commander Matsui also took my money?”
“Are you using Commander Matsui to pressure me?” Tsuda Shizue’s gaze was cold.
Fu Xiao’an said angrily, “I am not trying to pressure anyone, I hope Your Excellency Tsuda understands that they are City Government officials, I am the mayor of the special SH city government, arresting City Government people, you should at least notify me, right?
Suspecting he took money, you should at least let the Judicial Department Police Station send people to investigate, right?
I did not say he definitely did not take money, but you cannot create a trust crisis like this, today the division chief is arrested, arrested and then killed, tomorrow the director is arrested, arrested and then beaten, now you suspect him again, if he does not admit it, drag him to the Hongkou prison and lock him up again, how can this City Government work?
You suspect him of taking money now, so starting tomorrow, do we still need to contact him? If we contact him, does that mean we also have profit dealings with him?
Then can this work still be done?
I am acting responsibly for the City Government, for the economy, not wanting to disappoint you and General Matsui’s expectations, but in this situation now, how can I do things?
If I do not stand up to speak for him, who will speak for him?”
“Mayor Fu’s words are accusing my Judicial Department of not doing anything.” Gu Yansheng stood up, “Officer Tsuda, the Judicial Department supervises the judiciary of all of Shanghai, this is what Consul Hase told me before I took office.
Actually, I do not quite understand either, why a division chief is arrested and I, the person in charge of the Judicial Department, do not even know.
Even according to your regional divisions, the Judicial Department itself is split, but even so, I am the mayor of West Shanghai, the Judicial Department division chief of West Shanghai, Agent Headquarters is in West Shanghai, right? How come when he arrests people, he does not need to notify me?
Only now that the person is dead and the wife comes to the City Government to make a scene do I find out.
All the City Government staff are watching, a division chief beaten to death alive, how bad is the impact?
I now hope you and Gendarmerie Headquarters unify your opinions.
Exactly, can my Judicial Department supervise Agent Headquarters?
Exactly, is Mayor Fu greater, or is the Director of the Special Agent Headquarters greater?
If the Judicial Department cannot supervise Agent Headquarters, I have no opinion, my work will be easier.
I just hope you can make it clear, to what extent they can manage, Chongqing elements are theirs to arrest, are corruption offenders also theirs to arrest? Are petty thieves also theirs to arrest?
Is it down to peddlers and coolies, up to Secretary-General and mayor, they can arrest whoever they want, no reason needed, Judicial Department does not need to know.
If it is like this, just tell me, I have no opinion, will absolutely execute according to instructions.”
Tsuda Shizue did not expect Fu Xiao’an to have a helper, he quietly watched while Gu Yansheng spoke, Gu Yansheng is not one to fear trouble, his gaze very clear, staring straight while speaking.
After speaking, he sat down.
The issues contained in Gu Yansheng’s words are a bit big, this involves how much power to give to Agent Headquarters, and also Gendarmerie Headquarters issues, Tsuda Shizue needs to think before giving a reply.
But this matter is not over.
Ling Xianwen spoke again, “If it is really like this, I think the City Government should reorganize, let the two directors of Agent Headquarters serve as mayor and vice mayor, because since ancient times, it has always been the greater official who can arrest the lesser official.
Agent Headquarters can even arrest us, they should be the greatest officials in all of Shanghai, I and Mayor Fu step down to let wiser ones take over, lest when talking trade with concession merchants, we still say we have decision-making power, thinking about it is laughable.
Ah, no, I am just a Secretary-General, I do not even deserve to give position to the two directors of Agent Headquarters, sorry, you continue.”
No chance for Tsuda Shizue to speak.
Lu Ying spoke, “I know a bit about this matter, I am Police Station Director, there has always only been telephone calls from Agent Headquarters telling us to handle matters, never me telling them to handle matters.
Their telephone cannot ask reasons, cannot ask for rationale, then I this director is definitely inferior to Agent Headquarters.
But for City Government matters, I can also inquire about it, so calculating it, their status is indeed higher than the mayor.
Better like this, save some trouble, remove me this director, assign all several thousand police to Agent Headquarters’ action team, let them directly command, can also save some telephone fees for the Empire of Japan.”
After Lu Ying finished speaking, others spoke one after another, none missing.
Even Luo Junqiang said a few words, “I have not been in Shanghai long, but so-called power, I feel is similar wherever you go, mainly it emphasizes a balance, even Chongqing is divided into Central Statistics Bureau and Military Statistics Bureau, and there is Supervisory Yuan, judicial system.
Each department has its own superiors above, if really arresting high officials, it definitely needs weighing by the people above.
Now this portion of special privileges is held in one department’s hands, I feel that in the long run, this is a very dangerous thing.”
Tsuda Shizue glanced at everyone, “Looks like you have quite a lot of resentment, all have opinions.”
Fu Xiao’an said gravely, “It is not resentment, but doing things must have method, rules and system are there, whoever should manage manages, corruption being removed, the matter itself has no problem, but the ones to arrest should be Police Station, the ones to try should be Judicial Department, Police Station and Judicial Department mutually supervise, only then can facts be ascertained, preventing wrongful convictions, how could it be Agent Headquarters?
Your Excellency Tsuda, let me say an inappropriate thing, today Agent Headquarters thinks this person is corrupt, beats him to death, once the person is dead there is no proof against proof, how much money did he take in corruption do you know? What Agent Headquarters says is certainly true?”
Tsuda Shizue’s brows slightly furrowed.
Lu Ying added, “Let me add two sentences, I have worked in the police department for so many years, handled many cases, I deeply know one reason,
If one department can handle a case from beginning to end, this will bring a problem, I say it is true, it is true, I say it is false, it is false.
Your Excellency Tsuda, today Agent Headquarters can arrest a division chief, make him admit corruption guilt, tomorrow he can make everyone admit, all of us here are Chongqing agents.
Want evidence give evidence, want confession have confession, do you believe it?”
Tsuda Shizue’s purpose for the meeting today was to reprimand, did not expect the one being reprimanded today became him.
Initially a bit angry, but the content these people said, though with emotions in it, the words themselves are not without reason.
Tsuda Shizue looked at Fu Xiao’an with deep meaning, began to tap, “Mayor Fu, your organizational ability is very strong, the mayor position is well-deserved.”
Fu Xiao’an said expressionlessly, “Hope Your Excellency Tsuda understands my good intentions, everything I do is to develop Shanghai’s economy, essentially serving the Empire of Japan.”
“Hope Shanghai’s economy under your leadership can smoothly complete the Empire’s taxation task.”
“We have been working hard.”
After Fu Xiao’an finished, Tsuda Shizue withdrew his gaze, swept toward everyone, “I know your opinions, this matter I will handle, continue completing your taxation task, do not disappoint me.”
After speaking, he left.
Everyone stood up to see him off, after seeing off relaxed with a sigh of relief, everyone sat down, atmosphere relaxed, with some smiles, after all just completed a united stand against the enemy.
The Director of Finance had a face of relief, cupped hands in gratitude, “Thank you everyone for speaking righteously.”
Earlier when Tsuda Shizue pulled out the gun, he really felt killing intent.
After he thanked, the Social Affairs Bureau director also cupped hands in thanks, after all they are grasshoppers on the same boat.
Fu Xiao’an said, “All colleagues, this kind of thing definitely need to help out, helping you is helping ourselves, be more careful in the future.”
Director of Finance nodded, “Will be careful, just now this task how to complete is really hard, everyone knows Shanghai’s current situation, just Wusongkou that place, besides ships transportation can use some brain, what else is there elsewhere? How to complete this thirty percent task?”
“Everyone finds their own way.” Ling Xianwen spoke.
Life helped you preserve, still want help you complete task, where so much good things.
“Agent Headquarters is under Gendarmerie Headquarters management, now Shanghai’s economy Gendarmerie Headquarters is not responsible, they have no reason to contract their own power, Tsuda Shizue goes to say, whether can persuade is another matter.
Now the urgent matter is still this matter, only when this matter dust settles, power returns to Judicial Department, can we act freely.
Everyone still need to think of ways, make Gendarmerie Headquarters lower this head.”
This is indeed a deadly matter, everyone racked their brains, must get this power back, only giving power to Gu Yansheng, they have chance to go to prison.
Words though harsh, but this is fact, better than no life, at Director Gu’s place, they can always negotiate somehow.
Only at Gendarmerie Headquarters top figures, they hard to say anything.
Social Affairs Bureau director asked, “Mayor Fu, can you talk to Nanjing, let Nanjing Headquarters intervene in this matter?”
Fu Xiao’an rolled his eyes, “You still think I offended not enough people? Originally public matter, I call Nanjing people to pressure Shanghai becomes private grudge, then Gendarmerie Headquarters side later still negotiate or not? Days not livable?”
Social Affairs Bureau director smiled wryly.
“Alright, first wait for Tsuda’s reply to come down before saying, all go, tighten up on taxation matters, cannot complete task, Tsuda side will not protect us.”
“Then leaving first.”
One by one directors left, Gu Yansheng also stood up and left.
How this matter develops is fine, whether Tsuda Shizue can persuade Gendarmerie Headquarters, actually does not matter.
Cannot persuade, City Government personnel slack off, Shanghai economy rots, can persuade, his power increases, fish more money.
He not worried about his personal safety, he, Ling Xianwen, and Fu Xiao’an actually have essential difference from others.
Fu Xiao’an is Nanjing’s person, Shanghai Gendarmerie Headquarters even if dislike him, not look monk face look Buddha face, without Nanjing orders, Shanghai will not move Fu Xiao’an.
And he and Ling Xianwen are Consulate people, according to Hase Jinagawa’s plan, later he to enter Wang Puppet Regime core, Consulate in Wang Puppet Regime just this one lone seedling, Hase Jinagawa will not let others move him.
In terms of current importance possibly even more important than Ling Xianwen.
If he enters Wang Puppet Regime, Ling Xianwen becomes the lone seedling in Shanghai high level, Hase Jinagawa also will not let people move Ling Xianwen.
So, what was said at the meeting earlier about Agent Headquarters arresting mayor various threat theories, actually all nonsense, just scare Tsuda Shizue a bit.
The only possible thing is arrest small bite out big, but as long as big not go in, result of the fight who wins who loses still unknown.
Li Shiqun dares arrest a director, but actually eyed Fu Xiao’an for so long not dare act, actually Li Shiqun knows clearly in heart.
Besides, he raised pigs at Agent Headquarters side for so long, not raised for nothing, pigs also need to eat.
