Chapter 236: Recruitment
It’s also only Gu Yansheng who can take on this traitor role; otherwise, with the conditions put forward by the Japanese, Gu Yansheng would have to pack up and run away.
I don’t know how Traitor Wang manages his mood; he can actually still be happy.
He’s simply out of his mind.
After eating, Gu Yansheng went to see Shen Linshen and told him the latest developments.
“Traitor Wang can even accept these conditions?” Shen Linshen frowned, simply unable to believe it. Selling out the country should have some limits.
Not being the Vice President in Chongqing properly—although suppressed by Old Jiang, it’s still Vice President, with reputation and status intact.
But now he insists on being a pure dog for the Japanese?
These conditions really leave no face at all.
Besides making money, I really can’t think of a second benefit.
The money he makes might not even be as much as Gu Yansheng’s.
This price is too high.
“What does he want?” Shen Linshen really still couldn’t figure it out even today.
Previously, he thought Traitor Wang might truly believe in Peaceful Nation Building, believe in the Japanese propaganda, and insist on coming to the Japanese Occupied Area to be this President.
But now with these conditions, Peaceful Nation Building no longer exists; it’s purely a puppet. Why can’t Traitor Wang just choose to give up?
“He actually just wants to be President; no matter what, it’s for power.”
Gu Yansheng explained: “His seniority is even deeper than Old Jiang’s, but Old Jiang has a strong desire for control. As Vice President in Chongqing, he basically has no one he can command, and he’s unwilling to accept that.
Coming out of Chongqing, he could still say he disagrees politically with Old Jiang, but this time going to Japan to negotiate with the Japanese, and not retreating even with these conditions, choosing to continue—it really says a lot.”
“I think he’s seriously ill, lost his head.” Shen Linshen shook his head. “He’s better off staying in Chongqing, fighting Old Jiang for power and position.”
Gu Yansheng chuckled lightly. “That’s why they say a politician’s greatest enemy is age. Traitor Wang is 57 this year, but Old Jiang is only 53. How can he wait? If he were 47 this year, he might not have left Chongqing.”
“Sigh.” Shen Linshen sighed. “Let’s not talk about him. I’ll pass the intelligence out as soon as possible. The Organization has set up an intelligence station in Hong Kong. Do you have time to go to Hong Kong? Mr. Wu’s meaning is, if you have time, set a time, and he’ll adjust his schedule to see if you can meet and talk.”
“No time recently. I still need to make a trip to Nanjing. Let’s talk when I have time.” With so many things in Shanghai, Gu Yansheng couldn’t take leave now to go play in Hong Kong; no excuse, he’d have to wait a while.
Shen Linshen nodded upon hearing this. “Alright, then I’ll handle it. You got these agreement contents from Traitor Zhou; the channel can’t be made public. I think the Organization needs a way that can be made public to strike at Traitor Wang’s morale. You can keep an eye out for that kind of content.”
Gu Yansheng nodded thoughtfully. “I understand. I’ll keep an eye out and notify you if there’s news.”
The next afternoon, Gu Yansheng and Minister Zhou headed to Nanjing to host a banquet for Ren Yuandao, with Ding Mocun also coming along. He brought people for security and could inspect the current 76 branch in Nanjing.
To avoid arousing Liang Hongzhi’s vigilance, nominally this trip was to visit those defectors who had just settled their families in Nanjing.
Privately, Ding Mocun’s people in Nanjing had already contacted Ren Yuandao and set the meeting time.
Coming out of the train station, 76 personnel came to pick them up, and the car went straight to Yihe Road.
“It’s been a long time since I came. Nanjing’s streets now look much more desolate.” The Mercedes-Benz sped along the road, and Minister Zhou sighed in the car.
“Nanjing’s economy is no good. Post-war reconstruction can be said to be completely neglected. Look at Shanghai with its concession—as an international metropolis, business is prosperous, and money-making opportunities are definitely much more than in Nanjing. Citizens’ lives are just like that.
Nanjing is even worse. The Japanese don’t care, but Liang Hongzhi holds a position without doing any work, doesn’t know to develop the economy—this desolation is definitely his main responsibility.”
Gu Yansheng was adept at badmouthing people behind their backs, and attacking Liang Hongzhi was something everyone enjoyed.
“When the time comes, we’ll develop it!” Minister Zhou said ambitiously.
The car arrived at Yihe Road, and Minister Zhou asked, “How much money does it cost to buy a house here?”
“Not much. The average price of houses on Yihe Road is about 1200 silver dollars per set. I prepared twenty sets.”
“So cheap?” Minister Zhou was surprised. “Houses on Yihe Road are only worth this much now?”
“Now it’s more than that. This is the price from the end of last year; that’s when I bought them.” Gu Yansheng smiled. “If you want to buy now, it’ll probably double, and there won’t be such good houses to choose from.”
“You bought houses here last year?” Minister Zhou keenly grasped the key point.
Gu Yansheng nodded. “When I was a lawyer, I had some savings and thought of investing in some property to make money to support the family. Just then I heard about Mr. Wang’s Peaceful Nation Building declaration in Hanoi, and Mr. Wang sending people to Shanghai, so I thought once Mr. Wang’s government was established, wouldn’t Nanjing house prices rise?
So I pooled money with friends to buy a batch of mansions on Yihe Road.”
Minister Zhou listened in stunned amazement and laughed. “When the news just came out, you dared to place such a bet? Weren’t you afraid we couldn’t reach an agreement with the Japanese, and all your houses would be stuck in your hands?”
Gu Yansheng laughed. “I believed Mr. Wang would definitely come, but I wasn’t purely gambling. Yihe Road garden villas were 800 per set, and ordinary two-story xiao lou in Shanghai’s urban area were also 800 per set. Even if I don’t make money, I won’t lose, right?”
“That’s true.” Minister Zhou nodded, still looking at Gu Yansheng with admiration. “Mocun, see that? That’s what vision means. With that kind of foresight and action, if he doesn’t succeed, who will?”
Ding Mocun, sitting in the front passenger seat, laughed. “I’ve long known Brother Gu has sharp eyes, Minister. Being a lawyer, the ability to analyze the direction of an event’s development is no less than a trained agent.
Moreover, agents have mental limitations, but lawyers see too much— all kinds of bizarre cases—so no wonder elite lawyers charge high fees; they really have strong abilities.
You say, with Yansheng’s vision, if he doesn’t be a lawyer or official, just being a businessman would make him a fortune.”
Minister Zhou laughed heartily. “Indeed. So this batch of houses made you quite a bit, right?”
Gu Yansheng shook his head. “Originally it was going to be a big profit, but since Minister Zhou had me arrange housing for these people, I couldn’t make that money, so I simply won’t. I’ll sell them all at original price to the future Finance Department.”
Noble and upright—Gu Yansheng once again moved Minister Zhou. “Willing to part with it?”
“Not willing.”
“Hahaha, to put it that way, it’s still my fault. I shouldn’t have had you handle this; now you can’t even sell at a high price. Wait, no—that time I said buy in Shanghai, wasn’t it you who proposed buying in Nanjing?”
“Two different things. Nanjing is cheap, so buy in Nanjing.”
“Fine.” Minister Zhou patted Gu Yansheng’s shoulder. “If I really negotiate price with you, it wouldn’t be good. I’ll take this batch of houses on behalf of the Finance Department and compensate you elsewhere later.”
“No need to mention that.” Gu Yansheng waved his hand.
“Let’s go see my former house, see who’s living there now, and hopefully buy it back.”
Beside Yihe Road, No. 8 Xiliu Bay—this was Traitor Zhou’s former residence in Nanjing.
The car pulled up to the gate, honked the horn, the gate opened, and the car drove straight in.
Minister Zhou let out an “mm” and looked at Gu Yansheng. “Don’t tell me you’ve already bought it?”
Gu Yansheng nodded. “Of course. Everyone else’s housing is arranged; how could I not arrange Minister Zhou’s? Not just yours—Mr. Wang’s original residence is also bought back, all cleaned up. Director Ding arranged for people to clean it.”
Gu Yansheng didn’t forget to credit Ding Mocun, which comforted the old man. Brother Gu was righteous.
Minister Zhou showed a sentimental smile. When it came to handling affairs, Gu Yansheng was truly impeccable in every way.
After touring the house, they went to the restaurant to eat with Ren Yuandao.
Meeting at a riverside restaurant, just right for some river fresh—the shad this season was at its plumpest.
Ren Yuandao is 49 this year, graduated from Baoding Military Academy, and surrendered to Japan at the first moment after the war of resistance broke out—truly spineless.
Because of that, the Japanese trust people like him and give him military power.
Gu Yansheng sat down and chatted for a bit when the person arrived.
A man wearing round glasses, with a scholarly look, came up the stairs—slightly stocky build, filling out his suit.
Ren Yuandao didn’t look like a military officer, more like a slightly overweight scholar.
“Minister Ren.” Minister Zhou greeted with a smile.
Ren Yuandao’s current official position is Minister of the Pacification Department of the Nanjing Reform Government.
“Minister Zhou, long admired.” Ren Yuandao chuckled and hurried forward, shaking hands heartily with Minister Zhou, as familiar as if they’d known each other for a hundred or eighty years—actually, they’d never met before.
After mutual introductions of Gu Yansheng and Ding Mocun, Ren Yuandao had actually heard of them, so he got familiar even faster than with Minister Zhou.
“Please sit.”
“Please.”
Minister Zhou and Ren Yuandao chatted, first about the past. Ren Yuandao’s seniority is not shallow: in the first year of the Republic, he was commander of the Hankou student army; in the third year, chief of staff of the Shanghai National Revolutionary Army.
Starting from the Revolution, the strangeness was gone.
Then advancing step by step from the situation to the present.
Ren Yuandao, a wallflower who surrenders to whichever Japanese comes, has top-tier ability at pledging allegiance.
Faced with choosing between Liang Hongzhi and Traitor Wang, no need for much hesitation—he must have already decided before coming.
Plus the grain and cotton yarn piled in the SH city government warehouse, plus the new one million brought.
Military expenses and military grain all covered—what’s there to not understand?
After one round of drinks, Ren Yuandao agreed to side with Minister Zhou.
Quietly and without a sound, Liang Hongzhi’s corner was dug out.
“Come, raise your glasses together. Cheers.”
“Cheers.”
“This matter doesn’t need to be exposed for now. Minister Ren, you understand what I mean.”
