Chapter 243: Tailing
“How exactly to operate this, do you two have any ideas?” Minister Zhou asked.
Ding Mocun was quite proactive, “I think to sabotage this matter, the key point lies in the negotiator.”
Minister Zhou, “Be specific.”
Ding Mocun hummed, “You see, right now we don’t know if Chongqing will negotiate with the Japanese, let’s assume Chongqing will, then Chongqing has to send someone out to negotiate, right?
We definitely can’t participate in the negotiation process, but if we can find this person, the one sent by Chongqing, and make him disappear somehow”
“Kill him?” Minister Zhou understood.
Crude, something that could be left unsaid, Ding Mocun nodded, “The negotiator can’t make decisions on his own, he definitely has to contact Chongqing after the peace talks, no matter how the talks go, if the person is gone, what will Chongqing think?”
“The method is fine.” Minister Zhou pressed, “Then how to find this negotiator?”
Ding Mocun hissed, “It’s best to learn this from the Japanese’s mouths, otherwise we’ll have to commit some taboos. You said earlier Itagaki is the person in charge of this, so he will definitely contact the negotiator Japan is sending out. We track Itagaki, and based on the people he contacts, judge who this person is.”
Minister Zhou leaned back, frowning, “Tracking Itagaki, if discovered, will be very troublesome.”
Ding Mocun smiled, “Trouble not to that extent, if Itagaki discovers and asks, there will definitely be questions, but if we prepare a plan in advance, for example, we receive a secret report that Chongqing elements are going to assassinate Itagaki, so it’s not tracking, but covert protection and investigation.
As for why not report it, it’s because this was heard by our intelligence officer from a smoking opium rotten gambler, this kind of human scum full of lies, unreliable, we just for caution’s sake, do protective tracking.
This is for the Japanese’s sake, completely for work.”
Minister Zhou’s eyes lit up, looking at Gu Yansheng, “Yansheng, what do you think?”
Being discovered had nothing to do with Gu Yansheng anyway, of course no problem, even if Itagaki was killed, Gu Yansheng wouldn’t mind.
“I think it’s fine, even I think we can add two more people, Imai Takeo and Kagesa Sadaki.”
“I understand what you mean.” Minister Zhou interjected: “They are in charge of negotiating with us, Itagaki has to suspend negotiations with us, must reach agreement with them, during this suspension, they will switch to handling Chongqing matters?”
“The key is they are familiar with Chongqing, Itagaki opens his mouth and wants to negotiate, who does he negotiate with? He needs someone of high caliber who can contact Old Jiang in Chongqing, this middleman still has to be found through Kagesa and them.”
Minister Zhou nodded, looking at Ding Mocun, “What do you think?”
Ding Mocun thought for a bit, tsked, “Kagesa might not be trackable, he’s different from Imai Takeo and Itagaki, those two are civil officials, vigilance average, our people unlikely to be discovered, but Kagesa is in charge of special service organs, possibly undergone Japanese special service training, easy to be discovered following him, and hard to explain.”
“Then just these two.” Minister Zhou made the decision, “Originally Kagesa wanting peace talks isn’t very likely anyway, Kagesa is different from the other two, he is single-mindedly in charge of Japan and our peace talks, only if our new government is successfully established does he get merit.
He is now a Colonel, if he pulls this off, very likely to directly promote to Major General on this merit.
But conversely, if it fails, all his efforts these years planning for us to come out and peace talk, all wasted.
This chance for him to promote to General Officer isn’t many, Japan General Officers require enormous merit, tell me, he doesn’t lead troops in battle, without great merit why compete for promotion with Colonels who lead troops.
Tell me, would he be content?
Even if peace talks with Chongqing really succeed, that would be Itagaki’s merit, has nothing to do with him.
So Kagesa can be left out, even on this matter, I can cut off contact, Kagesa absolutely doesn’t want Itagaki and Chongqing to really reach peace talks.”
Minister Zhou smiled, “If Japanese Imperial General Headquarters gives him Major General now, he would be willing.”
Gu Yansheng and Ding Mocun both nodded in agreement.
This is the issue of personal profit versus collective profit, which is more important.
Who doesn’t have a little calculation.
“Alright, then I’ll make the arrangement.” Ding Mocun responded.
Gu Yansheng had to add some eye drops, “On this matter you have to avoid Li Shiqun a bit, his stance is hard to say.”
Ding Mocun sneered, “He’s just short of calling that Haruki his dad, does his stance even need asking?”
Minister Zhou raised an eyebrow, “Haruki Keiichi is Dohihara’s Headquarters’ representative in Shanghai, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then don’t let him know.”
“Yes.”
Minister Zhou looked at Gu Yansheng, “We’ve done the precaution things, do you think there’s anything else that can be done?”
“Yes.” Gu Yansheng thought briefly and said: “Itagaki wants peace talks, but Itagaki himself was kicked out of the center, I’m actually thinking, this peace talk with Chongqing, exactly is it the Military Department’s intention, or Itagaki’s own intention.”
“You hit the nail on the head.” Minister Zhou raised his finger, suddenly enlightened, he had been led into a thinking blind spot by Itagaki.
He stood up and paced a few steps, turned to look at the two, confidently said: “Itagaki was driven out of the center by Japan’s Emperor, he definitely wants to go back, regain the Emperor’s trust, he wants to earn merit on this matter.
But the Military Department’s others may not agree!
At least the succeeding Minister of the Army won’t want Itagaki back.
Out of public interest, they won’t refuse the chance for peace talks with Chongqing, so Itagaki came to Nanjing, in charge of this.
But definitely won’t let Itagaki make us all unhappy, otherwise we throw down the pick and stop, Chongqing talks also fail, they get the worst of both sides.
Right?”
“Right.” Gu Yansheng nodded.
“Very likely.” Ding Mocun also nodded affirmatively.
“Ha, interesting ha.” Minister Zhou smiled on his face, “So if we drag our feet, show unhappiness, Japanese Imperial General Headquarters side will worry we leave, once they worry, they will pressure Itagaki, even not adopt his opinion?”
“That’s it.” Gu Yansheng responded.
“What methods to drag our feet.” Minister Zhou grinned mischievously.
“Economy.” Gu Yansheng had thought of it when proposing the idea, “In Japanese Occupied Area, what Japanese most hope to see is stability, no sabotage, economy developing very well.
The previous two military scrip incidents have already proven, what Japanese value most is the economy of Japanese Occupied Area, economy in chaos, starts with a Gendarmerie Commander taken to Japan for military court.
They Military Department plans to get supplies from inside, sustain war with war, if this goal not achieved, they get anxious.
So, as long as Shanghai’s economy has problems again, Military Department definitely can’t tolerate.
Now under Gendarmerie Headquarters management, tried, doesn’t work.
Sent economic experts, tried, also doesn’t work.
Greater East Asia Ministry, already Military Department compromise result, if Greater East Asia Ministry’s hands economy fails again, then have to find person responsible.
Greater East Asia Ministry is managed by Cabinet, Vice Admiral in charge, Cabinet definitely won’t admit problems, Navy won’t take the blame, who to blame?
Still not blame new government why not advance, Using Chinese to Control Chinese strategy, why not implemented?
At that time we slightly stir on newspaper, find a few economists to say this rhetoric, hand knife to Greater East Asia Ministry, then I think below, it’s Greater East Asia Ministry’s Vice Admiral and Army cursing each other.”
“Economy!” Minister Zhou sneered: “Japanese really fear this, they completely won’t do economy, I think usable, specific method have a plan?”
“No specific yet, economy to develop, nothing more than stable living environment, stable business finance, then conversely is destabilize, I think can start from this aspect.” Gu Yansheng gave a small hint.
The method has to let Minister Zhou think himself, the biggest blame he has to take himself.
Don’t make it seem like he Gu Yansheng wants to wreck Shanghai’s economy, he is not that kind of person.
Gu Yansheng accompanied the two thinking for a while, discussed for a while.
Discussion result is, things really not that optimistic.
Two paths, one is Chongqing elements sabotage, make Shanghai big chaos, this is ongoing, but Li Shiqun’s crackdown on them is also fierce, want big chaos in Shanghai from this level no much progress space.
Remaining is pure economic collapse.
Now Shanghai under Greater East Asia Ministry rule, partitioned governance, to wreck all of Shanghai economy, not let Japanese discover it’s their deliberate sabotage, really not that easy.
Thought for a while and broke up, first do this, can first watch Japanese make moves, then slowly think.
Not two days later, Japanese Imperial General Headquarters’ strategic planning landed.
To strengthen unified command of North China, Central China, South China theaters, form China Expeditionary Army, with Nishio Shozo as Commander-in-Chief, Itagaki Seishiro as Chief of Staff, headquarters set in Nanjing.
Order Eleventh Army Commander Okamura Yasuji, assemble hundreds of thousands army attack Changsha.
Ordinary people just looking at newspaper two pieces of information, Japanese Imperial General Headquarters reorganize army, Okamura Yasuji attack Changsha, looks like just a power shift.
But Gu Yansheng this insider sees, intent inside very obvious, Itagaki using battle to promote peace.
First step pressure Old Jiang, Itagaki’s carrot and stick, played quite skillfully.
September is Autumn Harvest Season, Changsha also known as world’s granary, attack Changsha this time, purpose obvious, grab grain, scare Old Jiang badly.
Kill two birds with one stone.
Then next step should be contact.
Looked at United States newspaper.
Americans on Japanese Army abandon attacking Soviet Army reason have more detailed investigation.
Absolutely not because can’t beat so abandon fighting.
Japanese actually still wanted to continue fighting, even in Mongolia beaten into pig head by Soviet Army, Itagaki ilk Japanese military officers to avoid responsibility, not step down, still dispatching outside Kwantung Army to Mongolia support.
And sudden withdraw abandon fighting just one reason.
Soviet Union and Germany surprisingly signed Non-Aggression Pact in August, this matter Japanese fought until now only know.
This leads to very serious problem, Japan always wanted to pinch Soviet Army with Germany, now strategic intent fundamentally impossible, single fight can’t win, so must withdraw.
And according to United States people intelligence obtained inside Japan, this news detected by Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, passed to Military Department, Japan Army felt sky collapsed.
They thinking meet with Germans, result backstabbed by Germans, even such big agreement signed without notifying them.
To extent so many Empire military men died in Mongolia in vain, and Army long-term strategy all overturned.
This also led to Emperor furious, Army horse deer leader Itagaki, exiled to frontline to atone with merit.
Navy for this even held wine party celebrate, celebrate Army failure, then beaten up by Army coming to door, then also scolded by Emperor.
News logic very tight, Gu Yansheng reading this newspaper one feeling, Americans’ intelligence very strong, this newspaper’s information source surprisingly knows so much.
Gu Yansheng looked at editor’s name.
Ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling.
“Hello.” Gu Yansheng picked up telephone.
Minister Zhou said, “Come to my place.”
“Okay.”
Gu Yansheng went to Zhou Mansion in French Concession.
Minister Zhou upon meeting said, “Itagaki came to Shanghai.”
“What is he here for?”
“To get the list for contacting Chongqing.” Minister Zhou sneered, “He wants to contact Chongqing, can’t go frontline kidnap someone to pass message for him, right?
Mocun told me, he first went to Kagesa for people, but Kagesa obviously didn’t give him, Kagesa even if has people ambushed in Chongqing, those are dark agents probing information, how possible give him for this kind of active exposure use?
See, so just now came to me again, want us help him find people, establish contact channel with Chongqing.”
“Isn’t this a bit excessive?”
Gu Yansheng wanted to laugh, how feels like Wang Faction this group, has kind of original wife madam requested to actively help Japanese find a mistress meaning.
“Not talking peace talks, still make us help find people, brainless, no manners at all.
But also good, if we find people, then not afraid being excluded.
Minister Zhou’s mentality very good, “I told Mr. Wang about this, Mr. Wang’s meaning, let us protest to Japanese to show attitude, no such disgusting way.
I told Imai Takeo, also told Kagesa, request them convey our protest to Cabinet.
If convenient you can also tell Consul Hase Jinagawa, I’m afraid Military Department people wear same pants, suppress not send.
“No problem, I’ll go find Consul Hase later.” Gu Yansheng agreed readily.
Hase Jinagawa also waiting to be ambassador, actually Hase’s interests and Kagesa’s demands on this matter consistent, both for progress.
Progress what’s wrong with that.
“Then help find people?”
“Find ah, he now still Chief of Staff, also represents some Military Department meaning, we can’t delay not do.
I know Chongqing has people in Hong Kong, Gao Zhongwu previously Director of Asian Affairs, Mei Siping also in charge Chongqing propaganda in Hong Kong, they all say Hong Kong has Chongqing people, Hong Kong in United Kingdom hands, we even if come over, those people’s stations probably unchanged.
I plan send them together with Japanese go Hong Kong trip, you work hard, also follow go trip.
On surface finding people, they responsible, but inside matters, still you watch.
They do some work okay, really if something happens, you decide, you bring some people over, convenient act, if no people, I tell Ding Mocun, let him bring some people for you use.”
Chance to go Hong Kong here it comes, Gu Yansheng nodded, “Hard work not hard, just on this matter you think to what extent?”
“See first.” Minister Zhou now himself also can’t say exactly how to handle, looked at Gu Yansheng said, “Negotiation anyway not one or two days solvable, don’t rush kill, mainly see what Japanese and Chongqing talked about, based on terms, you decide accordingly.”
“Good, then I understand.”
“Mm, should depart these two days, pack luggage wait my telephone, hard work.”
“Good, then I go back prepare first.”
Gu Yansheng has to go find Shen Linshen.
