Chapter 191: Robbed
Gu Yansheng couldn’t figure this person out.
When Yan Dongqing was the Chief of the Inspection Section at customs, he only let goods that had greeted No. 76 pass, and inspections of other goods were very strict.
In terms of faith, Yan Dongqing was previously a Squad Leader in the Central Statistics Bureau, faith could exist for him, so it was also reasonable that he didn’t embezzle or take advantage at work.
But after being arrested by No. 76, defecting, and becoming a No. 76 person, then faith should no longer exist, even if it did, with his body in the Cao camp but heart in the Han camp, he should still embezzle a bit, take advantage a bit, and go with the flow.
So what was the point of working so diligently for the Japanese?
Letting No. 76’s goods pass while strictly inspecting other departments’ goods, inspecting smuggling, aiming for promotion in No. 76?
Gu Yansheng couldn’t figure this person out; he seemed like a fake defector but true latent Central Statistics Bureau agent, afraid of being discovered embezzling and then being shot by the Japanese, not wanting to leave any handles for others to attack him?
Isn’t there a joke that someone was too honest at Old Jiang’s place and then suspected of being a Red Party member?
No wonder others suspect; Gu Yansheng also suspects this Yan Dongqing.
The difference between Gu Yansheng and Old Jiang’s people is that Gu Yansheng doesn’t care whether Yan Dongqing is really Central Statistics Bureau or not.
Yan Dongqing is now Deputy Section Chief of the Legal Section, stationed in the Economic Department.
At that time, Gu Yansheng arranged him this way: first, to have a place to put this person so Ding Mocun wouldn’t send him to arrest agents; second, it was still the military scrip period then, and he needed an opportunity to abolish military scrip, and this person’s diligence might be of some use.
Later, military scrip was abolished through other channels, and Gu Yansheng stopped caring about this person.
Gu Yansheng pressed the button on the table and called Liu Xiaolou in.
“Xiao Lou, how has Yan Dongqing been lately?”
Liu Xiaolou thought for a moment and said, “Deputy Section Chief Yan doesn’t come to the division often; he’s now stationed in the Economic Department. He only shows up when their Legal Section has meetings or collects money.
I heard from the sisters in the Economic Department that Deputy Section Chief Yan works diligently. The Economic Department is now preparing for Central Bank matters, and he’s researching legal provisions on bank finance, offering quite a few opinions on the Economic Department’s work.”
“Quite studious.” Gu Yansheng smiled upon hearing this. “How are his relationships with others?”
“Pretty good. He doesn’t put on airs, and quite a few people like chatting with him.”
Gu Yansheng was a bit surprised by this. “Why? Do you know the reason?”
“I know. Because he’s from the Central Statistics Bureau, he knows quite a bit about high-level news from Chongqing. Everyone likes inquiring about these things; many matters are truly unknown outside, like listening to stories, so he gets along well with others.”
Gu Yansheng nodded and sneered. Don’t say it, it really is like that. The stories a Squad Leader like Yan Dongqing knows may not be high-end and aren’t worth much inside No. 76, but in the Economic Department, he’s truly a hot cake.
“Director Gu, do you need me to call him over?”
“No need, just asking. The Economic Department isn’t of much use right now; let him settle in more. Alright, that’s all.”
Gu Yansheng thought about where he could arrange this person.
No matter how he thought, forget it; there was nowhere else to put him. Just keep him in the Economic Department to gather black materials.
Didn’t Luo Junqiang go to the Economic Department? After a long time, he might even dig up some dirt on Luo Junqiang.
This Yan Dongqing might come in handy someday.
He went through the section’s matters; what remained was the Anti-Drug General Bureau business.
Gu Yansheng also serves as Director of the Anti-Drug General Bureau, but this position has no points worth caring about; all matters are handled in secret. The important ones are those few people in Shanghai’s underworld who control the channels.
As long as they make money, they won’t cause trouble.
One share for the Japanese Army, one share for him; the Anti-Drug General Bureau now only has some accountants doing the books, and the open accounts have no issues because Gu Yansheng doesn’t even touch them.
His share is privately given monthly by the gangs, delivered directly to him by leaders like Zhang Xiaolin and Sha Shun; Gu Yansheng doesn’t take a single cent from the Anti-Drug General Bureau’s ledgers.
The money belongs to whoever it should; collect the money monthly and remit payments on time. As for who skims during handling, if problems arise and are discovered, just take the blame for those under you.
After handling the section’s matters, Gu Yansheng still had to go through his business affairs.
He Yun’s legitimate business didn’t need attention.
The Green Gang going out to seize territory, making the Japanese and local gangs fight internally, smashing their rice bowls; locals either get eliminated or defect to resist Japan, city by city—this couldn’t be rushed.
Chen Mo’s layout in Southern Anhui is complete, just short on staff; this requires the organization to find a pretext to arrange some for him, and he still needs to complete some tests.
Having him help transport medicine to the New Fourth Army would be perfect.
Gu Yansheng called Qi Wuzhou at Kyushu Pharmacy.
“Boss Qi, it’s Gu Yansheng. How are my medicines?”
It had been quite some time.
Qi Wuzhou was confident this time and chuckled lightly over the phone: “Director Gu, you’re truly prescient. I was just about to call you to report; the latest telegram from the ship carrying goods from Germany says it’s about to arrive.”
This was really good news; medicines from Germany had many varieties, including surgical equipment.
Gu Yansheng perked up. “When?”
“As you said, quietly into Shanghai, must be at night, so around 1 a.m. You can arrange the small boat for taking delivery; same old location.”
“Good, got it. See you tonight.”
Gu Yansheng hung up and returned to West Shanghai, instructing Ma Shiqi; it was something done once before, and they’d only do it better this time.
With Ma Shiqi handling things, Gu Yansheng needed to urge Ding Mocun; a ship of goods sent to Wuhan—how many days had it been? It should have arrived.
He drove to Agent Headquarters to find Ding Mocun.
Ding Mocun was talking business with his subordinates and wanted to end the conversation upon seeing Gu Yansheng.
Gu Yansheng waved it off and brewed coffee on his own. “You talk yours; I’ll drink coffee.”
So Ding Mocun quickly instructed his subordinate on the matters. “The manpower sent to Nanchang must be elite troops; since it’s now Japanese territory, we need to quickly scout the local situation.
Actions must not be ostentatious; be covert. Absolutely no hanging out signs.”
“Yes, I’ll head to Nanchang immediately.”
“Good, go.”
The subordinate nodded to Gu Yansheng, greeted him, and left hurriedly.
Gu Yansheng took his coffee cup to the sofa, sat down, and crossed his legs. “So how’s that matter?”
Ding Mocun closed the door and returned with a sigh.
Gu Yansheng’s expression changed; he uncrossed his legs and said seriously, “What happened? Did they really skim our stuff?”
With so many customs declarations, how could there be a problem? Gu Yansheng couldn’t think of anything except CC stealing the goods.
“I don’t know how to put this.” Ding Mocun’s face was also somewhat gloomy.
“Just say it as it is. What’s hard to say? The ship—has it arrived?”
“It has.”
“The money? Paid?”
“No.”
“Damn it, stealing my medicine—does the CC clique have no shame? Logically, it should have arrived two days ago, but you’ve been silent. What’s going on? Afraid to tell me?”
“Don’t curse first.” Ding Mocun raised his hand to calm him. “Brother, this isn’t that simple. CC isn’t refusing payment; the problem isn’t on their side.”
“What do you mean?”
“Didn’t we split the medicine shipment into two segments? First segment at Jiujiang, second at Hankou. Hankou’s goods arrived, and CC took delivery. Jiujiang’s goods also arrived, and CC transported them away.
But CC’s goods from Jiujiang were intercepted en route.”
“Intercepted?” Gu Yansheng was a bit stunned. “Robbed by the Japanese?”
Ding Mocun shook his head. “Ninth War Zone, Xue Yue’s people.”
Gu Yansheng frowned. “Didn’t he say pasting Central Party Department seals would make it foolproof? They’re still Chongqing people; what does it have to do with us? Why not pay us?”
Ding Mocun sighed. “It’s not exactly refusing; if they weren’t going to pay, he wouldn’t mention it. Since he did, it shows they’re still sincere about paying.
The key is, when we sent them out, the medicines were sealed in suitcases; the Central Statistics Bureau people taking over for transport never opened the suitcases.
Now the stuff’s been robbed, so they don’t know how much was in that batch. From their perspective, they can’t just take our word for the quantity.
Their stance now is that this batch was probably robbed by Xue Yue’s people—after all, it’s under his jurisdiction, and they didn’t kill the Central Statistics Bureau transport people, just took the goods.
But Xue Yue denies robbing this batch of medicine; maybe he really doesn’t know, and it was his subordinates who did it.
It’s unclear for the moment.”
“If it’s unclear, investigate clearly. Isn’t CC the Central Party Department? Can’t they figure out something this small?”
“Hard. Without evidence, they won’t admit it; investigating could take forever. They say they can investigate, but what about our business?
Either continue and settle based on the remaining portion from Hankou first, or wait until the whole batch is found.
But you know this world; finding it won’t be easy.”
Ding Mocun frowned, also looking troubled; no one expected this twist.
Gu Yansheng frowned; the medicine being taken by others for resist Japan wasn’t unacceptable—just treat it as charity. The key was whether it was real or fake.
And from a businessman’s standpoint, he definitely had to blow up.
