Chapter 216: Venue
Wang Ni was in high spirits.
“Admit the legitimacy of Manchukuo.
The Japanese Army can station troops long-term in war zones until the war ends.
In terms of developing economic resources, resources helpful to the war effort will be given priority purchase and development rights to the Japanese side.
Ports, aviation, railways—these areas are also related to the war, so Japanese must be allowed to station troops for supervision.
Also, anti-Communism—this must be combated.
These are the general contents, there won’t be any major changes.
The negotiations have progressed to now, Imai Takeo has reported to their military department who knows how many times, their former Prime Minister Konoe is also involved.
Now Konoe has stepped down, but Konoe stepped down voluntarily at his own request, his influence on the cabinet won’t be any less.
Moreover, Konoe is the head of the Japanese noble five regent houses, and has a very good relationship with the Emperor.
In short, going to Japan this time, coming back will be the new nation.
Although we made some concessions in the agreement, the scope isn’t large, we endure humiliation and bear heavy responsibilities, striving to establish a new China, we must tell Old Jiang, tell the national people, the people of the whole world, our path of peaceful nation building is the people’s path, the path of rebirth from the flames!”
“Good!” The subordinates applauded.
“Cheers!”
“Cheers!”
“Eat.”
“Hey, the food here is pretty good.”
“Of course, this is the renowned Hua Mao Hotel, one of the top two in all of Shanghai, how could the food be bad?”
A bunch of people can’t eat good things in Hanoi, can’t eat good things at sea, can’t eat good things in Hongkou, when they come to West Shanghai they don’t even dare go out, afraid of being targeted by the Shanghai Military Statistics Bureau.
Seeing today’s top-notch Chinese meal, their appetites opened up, and they ate heartily.
“Then you have to thank Yansheng, this is all him bustling about to arrange.”
Minister Zhou took the opportunity to joke, “Shanghai’s local tyrant, you all have to cozy up to him well, later if you have any matters in Shanghai, you’ll inevitably have to go to Yansheng, with his help, you’ll accomplish twice as much with half the effort.”
“This, Director Gu, we have to drink a cup.”
As soon as he said this, the others turned their guns, all wanting to drink a cup with Gu Yansheng.
Among the people here today, the Shanghai ones are just three, one Gu Yansheng, one Ding Mocun, one Chu Minyi.
Considering their respective identities and positions, even letting outsiders into such an internal meeting, what that implies, everyone present could understand a thing or two.
Except Li Shengwu who couldn’t be happy, everyone else drank a cup with Gu Yansheng.
Gu Yansheng was busy for a while, sat down when free and joked complaining to Minister Zhou, “Minister, this looks like you want to get me drunk, how to handle things next?”
Minister Zhou laughed ha ha, “Mocun is still familiar with some people, you don’t know any at all, today everyone get to know each other, connect feelings, it’ll be convenient for doing things later, this is for your good, yet you bite the hand that feeds you, Mocun, isn’t that right?”
Ding Mocun became a sycophant, smiling in agreement, “Exactly, Yansheng even bites the hand, I think he just hasn’t drunk enough, come, Yansheng, I toast you a cup too.”
Gu Yansheng gave him a white eye, helplessly accompanied him, what nonsense is this.
Minister Zhou said to Ding Mocun: “Shanghai’s situation is severe, you have to keep a close eye on this aspect, you are the director of the special agent headquarters, absolutely no more mishaps, safety issues are of utmost importance.”
Ding Mocun nodded, put away his smile and reported: “The special agent headquarters is intensifying the search for the Shanghai Military Statistics Bureau, regarding safety issues, I also discussed with the action elites from the ministry, now preparing to adopt a more meticulous plan, definitely do a good job of security work.”
“Mm.” Minister Zhou responded.
Not calling Li Shiqun today was a warning.
The previous protection operation was under Li Shiqun’s responsibility, people died, Li Shiqun absolutely can’t shirk blame.
“For the next period, your special agent headquarters’ mission is to focus on protecting presentation venues, we people should all hold presentation meetings, locations vary, possibly schools, concessions, the situation will be quite complex, absolutely no more chances for the Military Statistics Bureau to assassinate.”
“This isn’t appropriate, right?” Ding Mocun was shocked upon hearing, “Minister, these venues are too complex.
Like the concession, although our people can enter in plainclothes hidden in the crowd, but the concession isn’t our turf, we can’t pre-screen the identities of people coming to the meeting from the concession, can’t even do body searches.
For example schools, identities might be screenable and verifiable, but if the Military Statistics Bureau gets students to act as gunmen, or the gunmen are students themselves, we fundamentally can’t judge before they assassinate, once they open fire during the presentation, the consequences are unimaginable.
You must think thrice, I think it’s absolutely not feasible.”
Minister Zhou frowned, “I just mentioned two locations, and you rejected both, the concession is the consular station of myriad nations, China’s window to the world, are we going to not connect with the world just because we’re afraid of the Military Statistics Bureau?
Also schools, student groups are the easiest to stir patriotic fervor, with their joining, the new government can complete blood renewal, won’t decay.
How can we not go to any of them?
By your logic, where else can we go for presentations? Your special agent headquarters?”
“Yansheng, advise a couple sentences.” Ding Mocun had a headache.
He desperately gave eye signals, demanding safety in such places, even the king of heaven and old father couldn’t do it.
He didn’t dare bet his own future on it.
Gu Yansheng sneered at Ding Mocun, “Weren’t you just stuffing me with wine? Then I’m drunk from drinking too much.”
Ding Mocun begged for mercy, “Brother was wrong, talking serious business now, this is a safety issue, no joking.”
“Good, then I’ll advise a couple sentences.” Gu Yansheng advised Minister Zhou: “Minister, you and Mr. Wang should minimize public presentations outside, no advance notice, do surprise attacks, like directly present tomorrow, catch the Military Statistics Bureau off guard, and just for that one day, cover both places completely.
Second, future presentations choose enclosed spaces, like banquet halls, like the city government’s meeting halls, participants only summon reporters from major newspaper companies.
One, identities fixed, Director Ding’s side easy to screen, two, reporters can undergo routine body searches, they have experience, checked many times, won’t cause disputes.
The important thing is still propaganda and selling newspapers, get on good terms with these reporters, as long as the news spreads widely enough then, all positive comments, the effect is the same.
You used to manage the propaganda department, I won’t overstep.
For such external propaganda later, let others go, you and Mr. Wang privately meet key figures, a bit troublesome but safe.
A gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall, honestly, if I were the Military Statistics Bureau, seeing you and Mr. Wang come out, I’d be excited too, would find every way, right?
Director Ding’s considerations make sense.
Director Ding, how’s this advice?” Gu Yansheng gave an eye signal.
Ding Mocun chuckled hey hey, “Thanks, come drink a cup.”
“I one cup, you three cups.”
“So much?”
“Drink or not?”
“Drink drink drink.”
Minister Zhou was originally frowning weighing it, seeing this sneered out loud, “I haven’t even said yes yet, and you’re already celebrating victory, your scheme on me succeeded, huh?”
“Hahaha, Minister, together, listening to me and Yansheng is right, Shanghai’s situation is indeed complex.” Ding Mocun earnestly persuaded again.
Minister Zhou was indeed worried about his own safety, after weighing the situation could only sigh, “Others presenting is fine, but the effect definitely won’t be as good as me and Mr. Wang presenting directly, sigh, doing things is really hard, come, cheers.”
After downing a cup of wine, Minister Zhou asked, “For propaganda locations facing the concession, where do you think is suitable?”
This location was actually quite hard to choose, Ding Mocun frowned, “Definitely not on the main street, for public venues in the concession have to greet the Municipal Council, would they let us use?”
The concession’s current stance is definitely siding with Chongqing, nominally recognizing the Chongqing Government, asking for venues very likely won’t allow holding it.
Minister Zhou also knew this situation, “What about hotels, like at Hua Mao Hotel, open a banquet hall?”
“This depends on whether the British are willing to help.” After Ding Mocun spoke, he shook his head slightly, “Other hotels might be a bit easier to talk about, Hua Mao Hotel has difficulty, Sha Shun’s relationship with the Japanese is particularly bad, Li Shiqun even killed Sha Shun’s son.”
“Such a thing happened?” Minister Zhou raised his brow in surprise.
Ding Mocun nodded helplessly, “Li Shiqun says he didn’t kill him, but everyone knows he did, threw someone’s son off the Public Works Bureau building top, brain smashed, red and white flowed all over the ground.”
Originally a few people had perked up ears listening to their chit-chat, eating the Hunan famous dish chopped pepper fish head, now looking at the fish head already mashed to bits chopstick by chopstick, silently withdrew their chopsticks.
“Then change to another hotel, any recommendations?” Minister Zhou readily agreed.
“Hotels are all fine, nothing more than booking a banquet hall, mainly we’re political speeches, afraid of the Municipal Council obstructing, we hold a banquet, guests have to be invited, right? Invitations have to be sent, right? In the end rent the venue, send invitations, Municipal Council seals the venue, doesn’t let hold it, then our face is lost, no?”
Minister Zhou gave him a white eye, “I get it, you’re just telling me difficulties, I want solutions, you go aside, Yansheng, you have lots of connections, can you think of a way for this matter.”
Gu Yansheng thought for a bit, “Wait for me a moment, I’ll go see if Sha Shun is in.”
“You want to hold it at Sha Shun’s? Can it work?” Ding Mocun was greatly surprised.
“What’s not workable.” Gu Yansheng stood up pulling his chair, “We’re the new government, not the Japanese’s new government, he has grudge with Japanese, not with Mr. Wang.”
Wang Ni overheard, got excited, “Hey, Yansheng speaks frankly, we and Japan are talking cooperation, but not one body, this must be distinguished, connect well with the concession’s myriad nations, pull them from the Chongqing foothold, to our new government side, suppress Chongqing, Yansheng, strive to give us a good start.”
“Mr. Wang is right, I’ll try my best.”
Minister Zhou raised his cup, “Then we’ll wait for your good news.”
Gu Yansheng smiled, went out to ask the manager, knew Sha Shun was in, called him on the telephone, took the elevator upstairs.
“Know you’re eating, how have you time to come find me? Not asking me for a discount, right?” Sha Shun joked.
Gu Yansheng sneered once, “Wang faction’s people want a banquet hall here, hold a reception, afraid the Municipal Council has opinions, had me come find you to think of a way.”
Sha Shun raised a brow, poured a glass of red wine and handed it to Gu Yansheng, “I heard they went to sea with the Japanese, how’d the talks go?”
“Specific situation how would I know, negotiation contents are confidential, you think a Shanghai local like me knows much?”
Gu Yansheng took the red wine glass and swirled it, “But just now during dinner they revealed a couple sentences, talks should be okay, otherwise wouldn’t hold a reception.”
Sha Shun nodded, thought and said: “You want me to help you block the Municipal Council?”
Gu Yansheng hummed once, “Just wanting a banquet hall is taking care of your business, you should thank me, worth me coming personally? Stars reversed, huh?”
Sha Shun ha ha laughed once, restrained his smile and seriously said: “This matter is a bit troublesome, Chongqing side, Britain and America both care about their attitude.”
“Tch, don’t tell me these, you Sha Shun want to do it and can’t?” Gu Yansheng sneered.
“Whether under coercion pretext, or befriending the new government pretext, the concession’s Municipal Council aren’t immortals not eating mortal food, after Wang regime government established, Municipal Council dealing with China’s business, most trade in Wang regime government territory.
You all have to leave some connections, right?
Just one banquet, you won’t even allow it, you don’t do Chinese Territory business, Municipal Council still has so many people who have to do it, right?
Befriend them, between you and Japanese, have a buffer, otherwise if you conflict with Japanese later, who speaks for you?”
“Reason I understand, but still a bit troublesome.” Sha Shun thought and frowned, “After all involves politics.”
Gu Yansheng smiled faintly, “I might be transferred to Nanjing, then this Ministry of Justice approval slip will be unimpeded in all Japanese occupied areas, want to use it later?”
“You’re rising to deputy minister??” Sha Shun was shocked, he really didn’t expect Gu Yansheng a local to get a deputy minister position.
Gu Yansheng disdained, “Deputy minister? Wouldn’t want it if given, better leisurely days in Shanghai.”
“Minister?!” Sha Shun got a big shock, straight to the top.
Gu Yansheng raised his cup and swirled, “Yes or no, be straightforward, dawdling, not asking you to join the new government, no then I’ll find someone else.”
