Chapter 237: Dead Spy
The trip to Nanjing went very smoothly, so next they could play for a few days and accompany Minister Zhou to meet the officials who had already settled in Nanjing.
By reason, Liang Hongzhi should at least show his face and meet to chat a few words.
It was unknown whether he was relying on his status as Chairman or just looked down on Wang Faction personnel, but he sulked there and never came out from beginning to end, not even sending an individual to offer consolation.
Instead, the Central China Expeditionary Force Headquarters sent Japanese to invite them to the headquarters for a meeting and talk.
The Japanese wanted to hear Minister Zhou’s thoughts on how the Wang regime government would govern the Central China Region after its establishment.
It was just drinking and bragging.
After bragging, Gu Yansheng and his group returned to Shanghai.
After returning to Shanghai, the group went to Wang Mansion to see Wang Ni.
They reported on the Nanjing matters, and next it was time for Gu Yansheng’s vacation.
Currently, the Wang Faction personnel in Shanghai had two matters: first, negotiation; second, reception.
Negotiations with the Japanese were not under Gu Yansheng’s purview; that was Gao Zhongwu and Mei Siping’s affair.
Reception of the Six Major personnel was under his management, but he was just the overall supervisor; the specifics could be handled by the Wang Faction personnel themselves. Those who came to join were all former Chongqing associates of the Wang Faction, whom Gu Yansheng did not know anyway.
Arrange for a Wang Faction personnel to serve as his assistant in West Shanghai to coordinate accommodation matters.
No matter what official position they held in Chongqing before, now coming to West Shanghai to work under the future Minister Gu was not disgraceful.
Recently, quite a few people had come to Shanghai; those pulling people out from the Japanese Occupied Area were starting to stir, and representatives were arriving in Shanghai one after another.
These representatives could be called diehards; the meeting was in August, and it was only July now, so coming so early to pay homage could only be to visit people, build relationships, and seek a higher position in the New Government.
Thus, gunfights in Shanghai became even more frequent.
With so many traitors coming to Shanghai to join the traitor, openly holding the Six Major while usurping nests, President Jiang in Chongqing was undoubtedly extremely annoyed and harshly scolded Boss Dai.
Now the Shanghai Military Statistics Bureau was clearly being hunted by Li Shiqun; they should have erased their traces and hidden to avoid the limelight, but instead, the Military Statistics Bureau was continuing assassinations right under Li Shiqun’s arrests.
The old risks had not been fully eliminated, new risks were increasing, and it was certain that the Shanghai District would suffer heavy losses.
No. 76 gripped the Military Statistics Bureau with hands and feet in the Concession; for a time, their momentum was overwhelming!
On this day, Chen Mo called, wanting to meet Gu Yansheng.
They arranged to meet in the Concession.
Chen Mo said directly: “Chongqing secret telegram instructs us to go see someone together.”
“Who?”
“Shanghai District Chief, Wang Tianmu.”
“Wang Tianmu?” Gu Yansheng instinctively frowned. “Why meet him? With the Shanghai District’s current tactics, it’s only a matter of time before Wang Tianmu is found; if we meet him, will we still live?”
Chen Mo also did not know the reason and shook their head: “The telegram says so, instructing me to bring you; are we not going?”
“Go.”
Complaints were complaints, but not executing meant death was not far off. Gu Yansheng said gravely: “Since Boss Dai said so, there should be an arrangement; we’ll go and hear what is said.”
If things really felt off, then do not blame Gu Yansheng for being ruthless.
Wang Tianmu now had only his name exposed, not his appearance, so he lived openly in the Concession.
After verifying the temporary contact signal, Gu Yansheng and Chen Mo met Wang Tianmu at a residential building in the Concession.
Over forty years old, with a rather heroic appearance.
Wang Tianmu was clearly surprised to see Gu Yansheng, surprised enough to laugh, then invited Gu Yansheng inside.
“Boss Dai told me there is a high-level in the City Government who is one of ours; I truly did not expect it to be the renowned Director Gu, you.”
Although Gu Yansheng kept a low profile, for those like them who followed City Government information and Wang Ni information, the name Gu Yansheng appeared multiple times.
Wang Tianmu could truly say he had long heard of his great name, and had thought of assassinating him not a few times.
Gu Yansheng was very polite, smiling mildly: “Your great name is also resounding to me; Ding Mocun spoke well of you to me, saying you are one of the four great diamonds under Boss Dai, and he holds you in high regard.”
“Hahahaha.” Praise from an enemy was particularly gratifying.
“Let’s talk inside.”
Gu Yansheng followed Wang Tianmu inside; the house was arranged very cleanly.
Wang Tianmu got straight to the point: “The situation is tense, so no idle talk first; I will convey Chongqing’s meaning.
Currently, Wang Faction personnel in Shanghai are engaging in major treasonous activities; the Shanghai District must sanction this, but since Shanghai is behind enemy lines, No. 76’s headquarters location, and under the Gendarmerie Headquarters’ tight guard, our actions are much inconvenienced, with real losses and no major results seen.
So after discussing with Boss Dai, I proposed two plans.
One is to turn Li Shiqun and gain control of No. 76.
This plan was implemented by Yu Xiangqin, but Li Shiqun was obstinately unyielding, and the action ended in failure.
Now, we decide to implement the second plan.”
Wang Tianmu glanced at the two, then said after eye contact: “I will infiltrate No. 76, operate from within, and replace Li Shiqun.”
Chen Mo could not hide their shock: “You infiltrate No. 76? Why would the Japanese trust you? No. 76 accepts turncoats, but they require merits; as a District Chief going over, would you not have to explain the entire Shanghai District?
Are you going to sell off the entire Shanghai District?”
Wang Tianmu did not avoid this: “There are many Shanghai District matters you do not know; I can only tell you the Shanghai District is already rotten—on one hand, personnel are rotten; on the other, in the fight with Li Shiqun, it is riddled with holes, and being implicated is only a matter of time. As for reliable personnel, I will transfer them out beforehand; they will not be arrested.”
“But this still is…” Chen Mo was dumbfounded; truly selling the Shanghai District?
“Is it not too ruthless? The Shanghai District has several hundred people; they are all pillars of the Party and State, living and dying in Shanghai, just handing them to No. 76 like this? They might die.”
“In war, when do people not die? Just fighting No. 76, how many have we lost? Are deaths the focus? Whether we can win this war is the focus! Chen Mo, you must understand: we in Shanghai, behind enemy lines, live and die for what? Not to survive, not to keep these several hundred alive!
You leading the Iron Blood Assassination Group, trading your dozens for one life—have you chickened out? Have you ever chickened out?
Put away your worthless womanly mercy; we are soldiers, we want victory!”
Chen Mo was scolded speechless.
Wang Tianmu looked at Gu Yansheng: “Director Gu, do you have any questions?”
Gu Yansheng thought and said: “I have no questions; what do you need me to do?”
“Whether this plan succeeds depends most on you.”
Wang Tianmu said seriously: “When I drafted this plan with Boss Dai, it required someone who has a say with the Japanese or in No. 76.
The Shanghai District can perish, but not without gains.
Once I enter No. 76, the result is hard to say.
Li Shiqun will suspect, the Japanese will suspect, Wang Ni’s people will suspect.
You must exhaust every means to protect me, secure an excellent position for me in the future New Government, best related to No. 76, one that controls special agent operations.
If I do not die, this action is our victory.”
“Then I understand.” Gu Yansheng nodded. “I will cooperate; I will exhaust every means to cooperate.”
“Good.” Wang Tianmu said seriously: “The action must succeed; operation codename, Dead Spy!”
