Chapter 239: Arrested
The next day, Minister Zhou came to find Gu Yansheng.
“We’ve talked it over pretty much.”
Not only have we talked it over pretty much with the Japanese, but we’ve also talked it over pretty much with Mr. Wang about the various positions.
In the end, he still agreed to let Chu Minyi take the position of Minister of the Navy first. There was no choice; when Chen Biqun said she wanted to grab military power and financial power all at once, he had to make some concessions.
Chen Biqun said this in front of Mr. Wang, which absolutely meant she had discussed it with Mr. Wang in bed. He couldn’t ignore what Mr. Wang thought. At the time, Mr. Wang didn’t speak, which made his meaning very clear. He had to give face.
Let things advance first, and deal with Chu Minyi’s problem later. It’s impossible to give the navy to this useless person.
“The Japanese made concessions?” Gu Yansheng asked.
“They did.” Minister Zhou smiled, let out a breath, took a sip of tea, and said, “Now the Japanese Army and the Soviet Army are fighting in the Mongolia area. According to information from spies of the concession countries, it’s not going smoothly. The Japanese have suffered significant losses.
The Japanese are continuously sending more troops to Mongolia right now, but wanting to transfer troops from the China battlefield involves the question of what to do about the Chongqing Government. They need us to quickly establish the new government to counter the Chongqing Government.
Our insistence on not conceding during this time has indeed yielded some benefits. You’re a meritorious official on this point. There was definitely eavesdropping before, but now the eavesdropping is gone. The Japanese can’t gauge our intentions.”
Gu Yansheng knew about the Nomonhan Incident. Recently, the concession’s newspapers and the Soviet Army’s broadcasts had reported on it extensively. The Kwantung Army didn’t know what had gotten into it; while mired in the China battlefield, it went to war with the Soviet Army again.
What might have originally been just friction between the two armies has now escalated into a major battle, with hundreds of thousands of people engaged in meat-grinder-style combat there. Of course, the meat in the grinder is the Japanese.
It was said that the Japanese sent out over a hundred airplanes and tanks, but they still couldn’t escape being ground into mincemeat.
“That’s great.”
“Now the basic issues are resolved. We’ll also take the good and stop there, not planning to keep tangling with the Japanese. First, establish the new regime, and then we’ll plot step by step later.
By the way, your Minister of Judicial Administration has been confirmed. The list was submitted to the Japanese last night. They need to review these people for any stance issues—routine inspection, mainly targeting those who will defect later. You’re definitely fine; it has nothing to do with you.”
Minister Zhou smiled. He had come mainly to tell Gu Yansheng this good news today.
“Thank you, Minister, for your favor.” Gu Yansheng raised his tea cup. “Tea in place of wine, a toast to the Minister.”
Minister Zhou laughed heartily, also raised his cup and took a sip of tea. “How many representatives have arrived?”
“Over sixty so far,” Gu Yansheng reported. “After all, the agreed time is the end of August; there’s still time. The later it gets, the more concentrated the arrivals will be. And with Shanghai being unstable now, them arriving a bit late actually saves us worry.”
Minister Zhou nodded and pondered, “Shanghai’s situation is indeed too tense. Agent Headquarters needs to quickly suppress the chaos in Shanghai. Otherwise, how can the representatives feel at ease? This isn’t good for establishing the new government either. Come on, accompany me to Agent Headquarters to take a look.”
“Okay.”
Gu Yansheng and Minister Zhou went out and drove to No. 76.
Li Shiqun and Ding Mocun learned Minister Zhou was coming and immediately came down to welcome him.
“Minister Zhou.”
“Minister Zhou.”
“Mm, let’s talk in the room.” Minister Zhou waved his hand and strode into the director’s office, starting a small meeting.
First, throw out some bait.
“These past two days, I’ve been discussing personnel appointments for the new government with Mr. Wang. For the positions of director and deputy director at your Agent Headquarters, I’ll definitely help you secure them. I won’t let others interfere.
Additionally, I propose having you, Shiqun, concurrently serve as Minister of Police Administration, managing the national police, and you, Mocun, concurrently serve as Minister of Social Affairs, overseeing national party affairs.”
Once the bait was thrown out, the two couldn’t help but be moved. These were all positions of power.
The Minister of Police Administration was actually a bit more powerful than the Minister of Social Affairs, after all, there were many police officers, with lots of contact with society and plenty of oil and water.
But party affairs wasn’t bad either—equivalent to Chongqing’s CC clique, which was Ding Mocun’s old line of work.
“But after all, you’re old hands from Shanghai. Mr. Wang has some opinions, feeling that considering others for these positions isn’t impossible. You know, quite a few people have come over. You’ve already got the Agent Headquarters position; wanting more would draw a lot of opinions.
Especially… Normally I shouldn’t say this, but you’re both my people, so it’s fine to tell you. Mainly, it’s Madame Wang; she has different opinions.
So I also need to come up with something solid to prove your abilities.”
After throwing out the bait, Minister Zhou threw out the problem.
“I’ve heard the situation in Shanghai recently is very serious. The representatives’ personal safety isn’t guaranteed. What plan does your Agent Headquarters have?”
By reason, Ding Mocun, as director, should report.
But Li Shiqun spoke first: “Minister Zhou, I already have a complete plan in place. Give me a little time, and I can wipe out the entire Military Statistics Bureau Shanghai District.”
“Oh?” Minister Zhou was interested. “Tell me about it.”
Li Shiqun bowed his head and reported: “Recently, the Military Statistics Bureau has been carrying out assassinations in West Shanghai, mainly targeting the conference representatives. I’ve set many traps, and some Military Statistics Bureau people have already stepped into them. Just yesterday, I’ve tracked the whereabouts of Wang Tianmu, the Shanghai District Chief of the Military Statistics Bureau, and his adjutant.
It might not even take one or two days; I can find Wang Tianmu, and then the entire Shanghai District will be uprooted.”
“Is the information reliable?” Minister Zhou was moved; he hadn’t expected such a big gain.
Li Shiqun nodded. “Absolutely true. Wang Tianmu’s adjutant is directing the assassination operations in West Shanghai. I had people set up ten photography points near the representatives’ residences, taking photos of everyone passing by around the clock. The developed photos have been verified by us, and one of them is Wang Tianmu’s adjutant.”
Minister Zhou’s eyes flashed. “Good, quickly produce concrete results. I’m waiting for your good news.”
“Yes!” Li Shiqun bowed his head.
“And you?” Minister Zhou looked at Ding Mocun.
Ding Mocun felt a bit numb. When did Li Shiqun get this kind of merit? Compared to that, he, as director, had nothing to show.
“Minister, I’ve been handling concession matters recently. The British side has been suppressed by me. The Municipal Council now takes a laissez-faire attitude toward our actions. To save their lives, a British Director has already taken a ship out of Shanghai.”
“This is a double-edged sword.” Minister Zhou tapped the table with his fingers. This approach wasn’t actually good, but if the Japanese wanted to play daddy, there was no need to worry so much.
“Alright, then it’s time for some propaganda. One handles the Military Statistics Bureau, the other the concession—both good. Keep up the good work, each in your own way.”
“Yes.”
Knock knock knock, someone knocked on the door.
“Come back later!” Ding Mocun called out.
“Director, is Deputy Director Li there? Urgent matter.” A subordinate called from outside the door.
Minister Zhou raised his head. “Go ahead.”
“Yes.”
Li Shiqun went out, opened the door, listened to his subordinate’s report, and soon came back to say, “Minister, Wang Tianmu has been found. I need to go arrange the operation.”
“Good, go get busy.” Minister Zhou, upon hearing this, didn’t stay. He stood up and said, “Yansheng, then we’ll head back and not disturb their work.”
“Sure.” Gu Yansheng patted Li Shiqun’s shoulder with a laugh. “Director Li, big merit this time. Afterward, you have to treat me to a meal, or I’ll be jealous.”
Li Shiqun smiled. “Definitely treating. Minister Gu, we share the joy.”
“Hahaha, let’s go.”
Once Gu Yansheng and Minister Zhou left, Li Shiqun began arranging the arrest.
Gu Yansheng didn’t get involved in this matter. In terms of results, Wang Tianmu had verified his identity for No. 76 once.
He had advance knowledge of the information but didn’t leak it. Wang Tianmu was successfully captured. This was cleaner and more effective than any other evidence to prove his identity.
Gu Yansheng watched people from No. 76 coming and going from a tea house.
The next day, he went to Agent Headquarters to inquire about the news.
“Director Li, did you catch him?”
Li Shiqun laughed heartily. “How could we not catch him? He has a hideout in West Shanghai. When his adjutant left and he went out alone, we pinned him down without anyone knowing.”
“Has he confessed?” Gu Yansheng asked eagerly.
“Not yet.” Li Shiqun shook his head. “Wang Tianmu is a veteran agent; it’s not easy to pry open his mouth. But don’t worry. Once this guy enters our No. 76, he has no way out. He will confess.”
“You need to act fast. What if the Military Statistics Bureau finds out he’s caught and they run?”
“No big deal.” Li Shiqun smiled. “With one Wang Tianmu in hand, the Shanghai District can’t run. As for those small fry, it really doesn’t matter.
Let me tell you, I don’t even plan to torture Wang Tianmu.
I’ll treat him well with good food and drink for three days, then have the newspaper company take a few photos of Wang Tianmu at No. 76 and publish them, then release Wang Tianmu.”
“Release him?”
“Yes, just release him.” Li Shiqun smiled. “A Shanghai District Chief enters No. 76 and comes out unscathed.
Who would believe he didn’t defect?
Even Boss Dai won’t let him go.”
