Chapter 200: Dean
Gu Yansheng approached Hase Jinagawa about this matter.
The Japanese are proficient in this.
Privately, he said, “Mr. Hase, Minister Zhou wants to watch some dancing to relax, just a few of us. Do you have any suitable place to recommend? The key is complete secrecy throughout, don’t let his wife know.”
This is a good thing. It proves that Gu Yansheng’s status in Zhou’s heart is rising. Crucially, this kind of small favor can be done effortlessly. Hase Jinagawa nodded immediately.
“I’ll arrange it. When the time is right, give me a signal, and I’ll take you out under the pretext of inviting Minister Zhou to the consulate to discuss matters.”
“Okay.”
Visiting a brothel, and even the Japanese Consul-General in Shanghai has to help coordinate. The pomp is fully provided.
After thanking him, Gu Yansheng went to telephone Luo Junqiang.
He called for a long time with no answer. Who knows which pile of women he’s buried in. Pudong’s sex industry is booming now; this guy is truly self-producing and self-selling.
Gu Yansheng called the Pudong Police Station.
“Hello? Pudong Police Station? This is Gu Yansheng. Tell your chief. Which Gu Yansheng? Gu Yansheng from the City Government!”
Hearing the lazy voice on the phone irritated Gu Yansheng. Surprisingly, they were even playing mahjong.
The person on the other end asked those around him who Gu Yansheng was, and immediately there was the clatter of stools falling over.
Now the voice sounded much more normal.
“Greetings, officer!”
“Tell your chief, I don’t care what method he uses, find Luo Junqiang immediately and tell him to get to the Naval Club in Hongkou at top speed. No waiting after the time.”
Gu Yansheng slammed the phone down.
They don’t even recognize the officer. No future in just coasting along.
Luo Junqiang coming from Pudong would take quite some time on the road, not counting the time for the Police Station to find him.
Once Hase’s side is ready, Gu Yansheng will inform Minister Zhou first and let him decide whether to wait or not.
After drifting at sea for so long, still waiting?
Just half an hour later, Minister Zhou asked Gu Yansheng if Luo Junqiang had arrived.
Isn’t this asking despite knowing the answer?
Of course he hasn’t come.
“Then let’s go ahead first.” Minister Zhou said.
“Okay.”
Gu Yansheng gave Hase a signal. Hase immediately cooperated, sincerely inviting Minister Zhou to visit the consulate.
Then, reluctantly, Minister Zhou accepted the invitation and left.
Gu Yansheng had Hase leave someone here. In case Luo Junqiang shows up, someone still needs to guide the way.
Geisha Dance Hall.
Hase Jinagawa had everything arranged. In the spacious private room, a dance troupe of six Japanese geisha performed for two people. From a service standpoint, it was impeccable.
As for these women’s appearances, they couldn’t be seen clearly. Japanese geisha like to cake their faces with powder—powder white with red lips. That’s the beauty standard in the geisha industry. Gu Yansheng couldn’t appreciate it.
But Minister Zhou watched with great interest. Exotic flavors, after all—variety is the spice of life, how could it get boring? This is called respecting other cultures, a model of Sino-Japanese friendship.
The Japanese accompanied them for a while and then tactfully excused themselves.
Gu Yansheng and Minister Zhou chatted about exotic customs, mostly Minister Zhou talking, expounding on his fond memories of studying in Japan back in the day.
In his words, there was one night when he returned from a geisha hall drunk and passed out on the roadside not far from his dormitory. Vaguely, he remembered a beautiful woman helping him back. But when he woke up, he couldn’t recall who she was. He thought of it often with regret.
Who would have thought Minister Zhou had such a corpse-picking experience so early on. Gu Yansheng was greatly impressed.
While chatting freely, the sliding door opened, and Luo Junqiang arrived.
“Oh, you have the face to show up, Dean Luo?” Minister Zhou put down his wine glass mockingly.
What dean? Luo Junqiang chuckled, not understanding what he meant, and walked in blankly. “Minister, I didn’t know you were here. As soon as I got the call, I rushed over, driving to the shore and getting a speedboat. I didn’t delay a single minute.”
“Enough, late and now making excuses. Sit down quickly.” Minister Zhou was watching the hot dance part, his eyes unwilling to leave for a minute.
“Yes, yes.” Luo Junqiang nodded at Gu Yansheng, sat down, glanced at the women on stage. Exotic, sure, but he was immune now—he’d seen plenty lately.
He was more concerned about Minister Zhou’s earlier words.
So he asked, “Minister, you just called me Dean Luo. What dean?”
The Wang Government is being established, and the organization has several yuan, like the Supervisory Yuan, Executive Yuan, and so on.
Luo Junqiang’s heart beat faster. Could there be a change in personnel appointments?
Minister Zhou turned his gaze to him and said, “Brothel dean! Haven’t you opened a bunch of brothels in Pudong? If not brothel dean, then what?”
Luo Junqiang’s smile vanished instantly. Instinct told him Gu Yansheng had badmouthed him. Urgently, he said, “Minister, this was at the Japanese’s demand for me to boost the economy.”
“The Japanese told you to open brothels?” Minister Zhou set down his wine glass and scolded, “Why is it that Yansheng thinks of industry, but you think of brothels?”
Luo Junqiang said awkwardly, “I had no choice. The Japanese demanded we improve the economy, or they’d remove us. Pudong has no industrial base anyway, and I’m not familiar with Shanghai, nor do I have Director Gu’s connections to attract factories.”
“No connections for factories, so you go for brothels?” Minister Zhou raised his voice. “Whatever the Japanese tell you to do, you do it? Are you working for the Japanese or for us?”
Even if you don’t do it, even if you’re last in economic rankings and the Japanese are unhappy, so what?
Don’t say you’re my man—the Japanese won’t dismiss you. Even if they did, so what? No place for you in the new government afterward?
“I…” Luo Junqiang hadn’t thought of that. He said, “I just wanted to get things done, to show some results. And the economy did improve under me, quite substantially. I just haven’t dared submit the figures, afraid of causing you trouble.”
“Results? You’re embarrassing us!” Minister Zhou slammed the table. “Do you know what identity you represent? You’re my spokesman in Shanghai!
From the Attendant Room as secretary, my confidant. You come to Shanghai and open brothels on a grand scale in Pudong. If word spreads, you think more people will praise you?
The more thriving, the more ridiculed!
Boosting the economy? What did I send you to the City Government for?”
Minister Zhou pointed at the table, angry at his incompetence. “I clearly told you, making you vice mayor is key for the Economic Department—economy! Money! Bank money, not prostitute money!
Shanghai is the international financial center. In all of East Asia, how much funds flow here?
Banks in the concessions are everywhere, cargo ships on the Huangpu River never stop.
What are a government’s three most important things?
Military power, financial power, personnel power!
Can you command the army, or do you have the ability to handle personnel from merging governments?
I gave you the best financial power position. Just get ahead, control personnel and administration at the municipal bank, grasp those funds in your hands. Using the City Government’s name, connect the circulation chain with concession banks. That’s grasping the future Central Bank’s fund lifeline and concession connections all in your hands!
Who won’t look up to you then?
Not to mention Finance Minister or Deputy Minister, at least a Central Bank governor position is guaranteed, right?
And you? What are you doing? Opening brothels?
Is Minister not enough for your appetite? Want to add a Geisha Yuan to the government structure, five yuan to six, so you can snag a dean title?”
Stop scolding, stop scolding. Luo Junqiang hung his head in admission of wrong. “Minister, I was wrong. The Japanese blinded me. I shouldn’t have meddled with Pudong’s economy.
I thought when you told me the new government was forming and to stay in the City Government, so I wanted to do more to boost the economy and befriend Shanghai’s various factions.”
“That’s not wrong, but the situation has changed.” Minister Zhou’s voice softened a bit. “Shanghai is a city Central China absolutely cannot abandon. We’ve just arrived to prepare the new government. Someone must enter the government, seize control, or future orders won’t pass through.
Among that, the former vice mayor Su Xiwen fled, leaving the Economic Department. And the Japanese military scrip suffered a devastating blow. It’s a great entry point via economy. So at that time, I’ll send you to collect army supplies while preparing the SH municipal bank.
One hand money, one hand army—prepare both. Gain either one, and it’s not in vain. You’ll stand firm in Shanghai, your words will carry weight.
Nanjing’s orders will flow smoothly.
But then the situation changed—Yansheng joined.
He’s willing to work for the new government. With his Shanghai foundation and connections, isn’t your position no longer limited to just vice mayor?
Isn’t there room for further advancement?
A deputy minister, even minister—do you think I’d hold you back? Who doesn’t know you’re my man? Until the final step, who knows the result?”
Luo Junqiang muttered with head down, “I really didn’t think that far. I’m dumb. I see myself as your dog. You tell me to do something, I do it. You tell me to bite someone, I bite. I just execute orders, didn’t overthink.”
These words nearly made Gu Yansheng spit out his alcoholic beverages. Such a shocking speech, such a shameless statement, said right in front of him without regard for face. No wonder he rises in ranks.
Minister Zhou frowned at him, truly angry. Ability-wise, he’s really average.
But for confidants and subordinates, ability is never first. Loyalty is.
Luo Junqiang has no issue there, that’s why he tells him all this.
“Enough, what’s past is past. Starting over now isn’t too late. With Yansheng here, we’ll always be a step ahead of Chen Biqun’s side. Come, drink.”
Minister Zhou raised his glass to clink with his, as consolation. After a sip, he exhaled and asked, “Do you have the current situation on the Economic Department and municipal bank? How is it?”
Luo Junqiang finished his drink and replied, “Compared to before, these two departments haven’t changed much. The Economic Department is basically half-defunct due to the failure of Japanese military scrip.
The municipal bank has no issue with basic fund operations since legal tender circulates on the market. But citizens’ trust is low, so deposits don’t rise, no loans issued. Of course, it relates to Shanghai’s economy—residents have little money, so business volume is small.”
