Chapter 233: Likewise
Major Newspaper Companies received the information and dispatched reporters one after another, urgently taking photos and conducting investigations in the shortest time, then rushing back to the newspaper company to hand over the information they obtained to the editor.
While they were investigating, the editor was casually making up news. Anyway, content related to No. 76 was just those few things, so they just used whatever was available first.
They replaced the scheduled front-page news and hurriedly sent it to the printing factory for printing.
The printing machinery kept running nonstop in the midnight factory, with newspapers fresh from the press carrying the scent of new ink.
Transport trucks waiting by the factory, loaded with neatly stacked newspapers, set off for various corners of Shanghai as the sky began to lighten.
A day in Shanghai began anew.
Newsboys waved newspapers and shouted loudly to sell them.
“Selling newspapers! Selling newspapers! Breaking news! No. 76 assaulted a Municipal Council director last night and injured a Police Station British constable!”
“Japan’s invasion of the Concession is a foregone conclusion. No. 76 executioners have already disregarded Concession regulations!”
“Selling newspapers! Selling newspapers!”
Tea House.
Gu Yansheng looked at the report in the newspaper, which not only described the facts but also included the newspaper editor’s sharp condemnation of such behavior.
Other newspapers criticized it, while British newspapers outright cursed.
Gu Yansheng finished reading the newspaper, set it aside, picked up the coffee cup, and drank coffee.
Director Ding really didn’t hold back when he made his move.
This matter’s benefits outweigh the drawbacks.
No. 76 invading the Concession wasn’t a matter of one or two days; previously, the Municipal Council maintained public order on the surface but turned a blind eye privately.
Now they’ve angered the British, so No. 76 will in fact become even more reckless, but at the same time, the British will cause some trouble for No. 76 to save face.
Right now, with the Military Statistics Bureau being hunted, many will choose to flee into the Concession for refuge. This gives them an extra day to react, and with the Municipal Council’s help, more will survive.
It benefits the overall war situation somewhat.
Ring ring, ring ring.
“Hello.” Gu Yansheng picked up the phone.
Fu Xiao’an’s voice, filled with anger, came through the phone, “Have you seen the newspaper?”
“The Concession assault? Yes.”
“Don’t you think Agent Headquarters is just messing around! With them doing this, how are we supposed to negotiate with the Concession?”
Fu Xiao’an was seething with anger. These past few days, he’d been making phone calls and pulling strings to get the Concession to drop their propaganda slogans, putting in all that effort just to curry favor with the Wang Faction, and now it was all ruined.
Who in the Concession would still agree to help them now?
“If talks can’t happen, then they won’t. Mayor Fu, no need to get angry early in the morning, heh heh.” Gu Yansheng chuckled.
Fu Xiao’an asked suspiciously and puzzled, “You knew about this?”
“How would I know? I just saw it in the newspaper. I’m angry too, but then I thought about it, and this might not actually be a bad thing.”
“How can this not be a bad thing? Do you know how many phone calls I got cursing me out this morning! It’s not just the propaganda slogans anymore. I had even pulled in some investment for Chinese Territory, but now the British have backed out!”
“Stay calm.” Gu Yansheng said calmly: “You need to think of it this way. We’ve exhausted ourselves flattering the Concession, and you know how much effect that’s had.
The Concession is now siding with Chongqing. Even if we wear out our legs running around and say everything good and bad, at most they’ll loosen up a bit for us, like secretly holding a lecture or posting a few slogans in obscure corners, acting like thieves.
They won’t agree, and we can’t afford to break off relations.
But now it’s different. Agent Headquarters has played the bad guy for us.
Who will play the good guy?
Everyone in all of Shanghai knows that Agent Headquarters isn’t under our City Government; it’s under Gendarmerie Headquarters. Their actions have nothing to do with us.
But if Agent Headquarters pushes the Municipal Council people too far, Mayor Fu, we might not even need to beg the Municipal Council anymore.”
“Hiss~ That makes sense.” Fu Xiao’an’s tone softened. “I really hadn’t considered this issue from that angle. If soft tactics don’t work, go hard—that’s not a bad move?”
“Exactly.” Gu Yansheng smiled. “We’re City Government officials. Do we have to keep begging the British like grandsons every day? Can’t we eat standing up?”
Fu Xiao’an hummed in agreement, paused, and said: “But if that’s the case, if the British stubbornly refuse peace talks, then all that enterprise investment funds we’ve pulled in will really be gone.”
“That’s Agent Headquarters’ responsibility, not your fault as Mayor Fu. If the Greater East Asia Ministry asks, let them go find Agent Headquarters.”
At this, Fu Xiao’an had no more objections. “Alright, then we’ll leave it like this. We won’t go to the Concession; we’ll just wait and see.”
“Good, goodbye.”
Gu Yansheng hung up the phone and picked up a non-Shanghai newspaper from beside him.
Many newspapers were gathered here for him every day—from Nanjing, Guangzhou, all the major cities in Japanese Occupied Area, even a few from Chongqing. Timeliness might not be guaranteed, but whatever could reach his hands was already the latest available in Shanghai.
He opened a Nanjing newspaper and saw an interview with officials of the Nanjing Reform Government on the vice page.
The content was about their views on the Wang Faction personnel lecturing on Peaceful Nation Building in Shanghai now.
The current chairman of the Reform Government, Liang Hongzhi, said this: “A few days ago, I received an invitation from Shanghai to attend the Kuomintang’s Sixth Congress in August. The organizer is Mr. Wang, and I’m not going.
First, I don’t have time. Second, Mr. Wang’s Peaceful Nation Building seems to me like old wine in a new bottle—superficially continuing the Kuomintang legal system, but in reality depending on Japan just like my own regime. No matter how Mr. Wang struggles, he’s just repeating the path of dependence I’ve already taken.
Under my rule, Nanjing can’t claim peace and prosperity, but at least it’s not as chaotic as Shanghai. Shanghai has assassinations every day. If Mr. Wang really comes to Nanjing, I’m afraid he’ll bring that danger with him.
So Nanjing—I hope Mr. Wang won’t think about it. This is truly considering the citizens.”
Non-Japanese Occupied Area newspapers criticizing Wang were plentiful, but this was the first in Japanese Occupied Area newspapers to openly oppose Wang. Truly bold.
Gu Yansheng didn’t know much about Liang Hongzhi, but since this man became chairman of the Reform Government right after the Japanese occupied Nanjing, he definitely had background with the Japanese.
The Japanese wanted Wang Ni to integrate the Nanjing Reform Government and North China Provisional Government, but it was full of difficulties. Wang Ni’s influence couldn’t even sway a Liang Hongzhi, and it was publicly rebuffed—far less than imagined.
But the Japanese had to complete their mission. When the Wang Faction personnel returned, there should be a good show.
At the same time.
Protests surged in the Concession against No. 76 personnel illegally entering the Concession, vowing to defend the Concession’s law enforcement power.
Police Station personnel had all leave canceled, all took to the streets fully armed and equipped, patrolling menacingly to see which No. 76 personnel would dare come to the Concession to arrest Military Statistics Bureau members today.
And at the entrance of the Hongkou Japanese Consulate, reporters gathered for interviews demanded an explanation from the Japanese Consulate—was it invading the Concession or declaring war on the British?
And it was right at this moment.
A sedan drove into No. 76.
The car bore the Japanese flag, and the gate guards dutifully opened the gate.
The car entered the courtyard, the door opened, and the person who stepped out shocked everyone at Agent Headquarters.
Li Shiqun had returned.
And he was personally escorted back by Major General Haruki.
Rumors said Director Li was implicated in a Military Statistics Bureau case.
Who could have thought that in just one day, Director Li had returned safely.
Everyone thought of Ding Mocun and the rumors circulating yesterday in the various offices—that Director Ding had reported Director Li.
Now that Director Li had returned safely, Agent Headquarters seemed about to be in turmoil.
