Chapter 235: Root Cause
Speaking of now, Wang Faction Personnel have only negotiated down one thing from the government’s supreme council resolution: not accepting the Japanese’s advisor system. For all other departments’ actions, they all have to accept the Japanese’s advisors.
Minister Zhou frowned, muttered and sighed: “The Japanese Military Department has always been strong. I heard about it before, but after seeing it this time, I found they are even more unyielding than imagined. Regarding the advisor system, you know, they don’t give even a little space, saying it must be executed.
The supreme council’s decision not to accept advisors could be negotiated down, and that’s still because we never loosened our stance. The cabinet needs us, so they stepped in, leading to this one step of concession.
Wanting to do something is too difficult.”
Is this difficult? This is greed. If they really came back the next day, Gu Yansheng felt it wouldn’t be like this. In the end, since he was willing to stay, it gave the Japanese the feeling that it was acceptable, so of course the Japanese acted strong.
As for the cabinet helping, it’s nothing more than one playing the black face and one the white face.
Negotiated really badly!
Gu Yansheng was silent for a moment, suddenly thought of a point, turned his head and asked: “Did you discuss things in the house arranged by the Japanese?”
Minister Zhou, leaning on the chair back, suddenly sat straight up, feeling goosebumps all over his body, turned to Gu Yansheng and said gravely: “You mean eavesdropping?”
Seeing his expression, Gu Yansheng knew this group hadn’t paid attention to eavesdropping again. He had reminded them last time; they really don’t learn.
He nodded; no need for more words.
Minister Zhou annoyedly slapped his thigh, extremely annoyed. At that time, the Japanese did a surprise attack. A bunch of people, since the driver was sent by the Japanese, didn’t say anything along the way. When they got back to the room, everyone’s emotions burst out, saying what should be said and what shouldn’t.
If the Japanese had eavesdropping that day, really everything would have been leaked.
Would there be no eavesdropping? Definitely there was!
No wonder. No wonder the Military Department never loosened.
So the crux is here!
Regretful, should have found a reason to bring Gu Yansheng; suffered a big loss.
“Damn these little Japanese.” Minister Zhou couldn’t help cursing.
But soon, he became happy, after all, the agreement hasn’t been signed yet.
Although the Japanese knew their cards, times change, many things as long as not at signing time, aren’t unchangeable.
“Yansheng, good reminder, but don’t tell anyone about this matter. You just pretend not to know.”
“Mm, I will.”
Minister Zhou thought about the next negotiation strategy in his mind, casually asked: “How’s Shanghai these past few days? Anyone come?”
“Then I’ll report to you.”
Gu Yansheng talked about recent matters. The people who came, Gu Yansheng wasn’t familiar with, only knew names and their previous positions in Chongqing, just mention casually for briefing.
Just need to mention Agent Headquarters and concession matters.
And the most important complaint: Liang Hongzhi of the Nanjing Reform Government is dissatisfied with Mr. Wang.
If as before, Agent Headquarters infringing on the concession, even killing British Constable, Minister Zhou would definitely interfere and severely punish Ding Mocun; this completely damages Wang Government and his foreign relations.
But now, Minister Zhou isn’t interested in this matter. If the Japanese want to operate the market, let them bear the infamy themselves. Anyway, the new government hasn’t been established yet, and Agent Headquarters isn’t a government department under their real control.
“Cancel the concession’s propaganda recently. You go warn Ding Mocun, don’t let Mr. Wang and his killing be linked.
You can still negotiate with the concession, talk about propaganda, but must make clear to them that Agent Headquarters is managed by the Japanese, has nothing to do with us. If they are willing to give us propaganda, fine; if not, we never force it, understand?”
Gu Yansheng hummed, “Understood, I’ll also tell Fu Xiao’an.”
“Mm, about Liang Hongzhi’s matter, besides these words, was there anything else?” Minister Zhou cared more about this.
Gu Yansheng brought the newspaper, directly took it out for him to see. “All market-collected statements I brought. Also, I’ve asked Ding Mocun’s people in Nanjing to collect more information; no feedback yet. We really aren’t familiar with Nanjing.
But I thought of one thing: the establishment of Huaxing Bank was handled by the Nanjing Reform Government’s Director of Commerce and Industry. Liang Hongzhi couldn’t not know about this.
So now I suspect that Huaxing Bank promoting the renamed military scrip, was it Liang Hongzhi wanting to show off in front of the Japanese?
Later, Mr. Wang negotiated with Imai Takeo and suppressed the Huaxing Bank matter, so Liang Hongzhi is very dissatisfied, holding back at our timing to open the sixth conference, making wild remarks in the newspaper to attack and revenge Mr. Wang’s reputation?
He is now the chairman of the Nanjing Reform Government, in charge of the Central China Region, not a small title.
If really merging with Mr. Wang, his position would be lost, and since he held this position, I think Mr. Wang probably won’t reuse him heavily; he should be very nervous.”
Minister Zhou thought for a while and said: “Merging is the general trend; he can’t block it. But the Japanese want us to merge Central China and North China; these two destabilizing factors indeed need handling.
But no rush.
If the Japanese stick to original conditions, we can expend some effort to merge. But now they demand so much, we don’t need to put in such big effort.
Do you know why the Japanese want us to handle the merger of Central China and North China?”
Gu Yansheng: “New government unification, convenient for management.”
Minister Zhou sneered: “You’re not wrong, but that’s not all. On just this point you said, let me ask you, can the Japanese order the direct dissolution of Central China and North China’s Reform Government?”
“They can. After strict dissolution, let Mr. Wang step forward to re-establish; actually much more convenient than merging.” Gu Yansheng nodded, giving the boss the chance to shine: “Then why don’t the Japanese do that? And I remember it’s written in the agreement?”
Minister Zhou raised his eyebrow and smiled: “Exactly, in the agreement. The Japanese also know dissolving the government is easy; the reason they don’t do it themselves is only one: profit entanglements.
North China Provisional Government has North China’s Japanese Army above it; Nanjing Reform Government has Central China Dispatch Army; Manchuria even more so, Kwantung Army.
Japanese Military Department also has factions everywhere.
The cabinet and General Headquarters want a unified government in the Japanese Occupied Area, but the Military Department’s people don’t want to fight with the upper levels of Central China and North China Japanese Army factions, so they want to borrow our hands to clean out these two provisional regimes.
Just to integrate profits, bring all profits under General Headquarters.
Gu Yansheng suddenly realized: “So there’s this layer of intent? Minister has keen insight; I really didn’t think it also involves Japanese Army’s faction internal strife.”
Seeing Gu Yansheng’s expression, Minister Zhou smiled satisfiedly: “Every clause specially written in like this, I can say behind them is a series of the Japanese Army’s own internal strife.
Originally, being used as thugs to clean out two governments isn’t impossible.
But now it seems, if they want to use us as puppets, we don’t need to be so enthusiastic, right?
Puppet, isn’t it move when poked, not move at all if not poked? Haha.”
“Yes.” Gu Yansheng nodded and sneered: “Let the Japanese solve it themselves.”
“Has the house in Nanjing been bought?” Minister Zhou asked.
“Bought.” Just a transfer matter; the house Gu Yansheng cooperated with Li Shiqun on, isn’t it just left hand to right hand? How could it not be bought.
“I had people buy a few houses on Yihe Road. When you arrive, let sister-in-law pick one.”
Minister Zhou smiled: “I had a house on Yihe Road before; don’t know if it’s still occupied now. If possible, I’d still want to buy back the previous house, but temporarily doesn’t matter. Since there’s a house, in a couple days accompany me there.
Some preparatory work still needs doing.
Liang Hongzhi becoming this chairman relies on nothing but two things: one is relations with Central China Expeditionary Force Headquarters, the other is the Pacification Army in his subordinate general Ren Yuandao’s hands.
Expeditionary Force Headquarters matter, let the Japanese Military Department solve it.
We go to Nanjing, take away the Pacification Army in his hands, leave him isolated.
Prepare one million; we’ll give it to Ren Yuandao.”
The car arrived at Hua Mao Hotel to eat.
Originally this banquet, Wang Ni should force a smile, pretend very happy, to the personnel staying in Shanghai, talk about the smooth Japanese negotiations.
Stabilize morale, rally spirits; the inner bitterness can only be swallowed himself.
Who knew after Gu Yansheng and Minister Zhou arrived, Minister Zhou whispered to Wang Ni about Gu Yansheng’s points.
Wang Ni’s eyes lit up; he really became happy, even drank two more cups of wine.
