Chapter 289: Killing
“Did you find someone to post it?” Minister Zhou came to ask about this matter.
“It wasn’t me.” Gu Yansheng shook his head, “This is going to Hong Kong tomorrow. Even if I wanted to post it, I wouldn’t choose now, as it would make tomorrow’s face look too bad?”
“Then who was it?” Minister Zhou was completely confused.
But no matter who it was, it looked quite festive, especially the common people cursing in the streets, which was very amusing. He decided to go listen to the play later, and maybe even hear others’ abuse.
“There are quite a few possibilities.” Gu Yansheng felt this matter was hard to say. As for the people involved, the organization might be behind it, Britain and America might be, the Soviet Union might be, and even the Japanese themselves might be.
Don’t think the Japanese are all of one mind. If the war really comes to peace, the soldiers on the China battlefield will be transferred to the Southeast Asia battlefield. That hellish place can’t compare to China—full of mosquitoes, one slip-up and you get malaria, the food sucks, and there’s no entertainment.
And more importantly, once peace talks happen, the interests of the local army faction that has operated in China for so many years will inevitably be damaged.
For example, the Japanese Army in North China definitely doesn’t want to leave North China.
This touches too many people’s cakes.
Minister Zhou was truly in a good mood and laughed, “No matter who it is, but if this public opinion trend continues, we won’t need to do our work anymore. Even Old Jiang can’t stand this public opinion.”
The good thing about this matter is that it’s a mix of true and false. The North China garrison is fake, but ceding the Northeast is indeed a fact. If Old Jiang still wants to sell the Northeast, he has to consider whether the Northeastern Army generals in the military will agree, and whether the soldiers who fought in the Northeast will agree.
“Let’s go, watch the play.”
The next day, flying to Hong Kong.
Imai Takeo was quite confident, feeling that Old Jiang wouldn’t be affected by this matter.
Imai Takeo even thought that this news might have been released by Chongqing itself, with the purpose of using this unfavorable public opinion to continue pressing for a lower price.
“Peace talks are a road China must take. How could a bit of public opinion affect decisions at this level?”
But when he met Zhang Yousan, the situation was far from as good as he had thought.
Zhang Yousan was also straightforward, “The meeting originally scheduled for a few days later needs to be postponed. The current public opinion is very unfavorable to the National Government, people’s hearts are unsettled, and President Jiang needs to comprehensively assess before deciding.”
Imai Takeo was so anxious he got angry, “What’s a bit of public opinion? Since when has your President Jiang cared about what ordinary people think? The Huaiyuankou dike breach left millions homeless, and you still did it. Saying this isn’t fooling us? Director Zhang, do you really think we must have peace talks? If the Empire gets angry, you can’t bear the consequences!”
Zhang Yousan was calm, “It’s not that we don’t want to talk. We’re all prepared, but now this mess has happened. What can we do? The person who leaked this news talked about ceding the Northeast and North China garrison. If we meet now, wouldn’t that confirm it?
You have to give us a chance to clarify and let things cool down, right?
Imai, you must have studied President Jiang’s personality. You should know he won’t show up at a time like this.”
Glory-seekers are not fit for great tasks. Imai Takeo sneered inwardly, but Old Jiang’s personality was indeed like that, so he could only temporarily suppress his temper, “This can’t drag on forever. Director Zhang, I remind you, the situation changes quickly, and conditions aren’t set in stone.”
“I know, but I have no choice.”
“We must set a time. If it passes, I’ll consider you have no intention of peace talks. The blockade will become stricter, and when your supplies are cut off, begging us won’t help.”
Zhang Yousan thought for a moment and said, “Give it a little time, half a month. We’ll resolve this within half a month.”
This was the only way. Imai Takeo could only continue waiting.
Returning to Shanghai.
Gu Yansheng, as usual, had to pass by the tailor shop every day. Seeing the notice, he went in to pick up clothes.
“The superior has approved our plan. Assassinate the traitor Zhang Xiaolin, executed by Chen Mo.”
“Good, I understand.”
The next day, tea house.
Gu Yansheng was drinking tea in the tea house when Chen Mo came to report work.
“Boss Dai’s order: given that the great traitor Zhang Xiaolin is too arrogant, decide to sanction him, executed by me.”
The reason was well found, pulling Boss Dai out to take the blame.
Gu Yansheng was slightly surprised, “Zhang Xiaolin’s control over my Green Gang is beneficial. Why must he be killed?”
Chen Mo said steadily, “Zhang Xiaolin should have worked for Chongqing anyway, or at worst hidden away like Huang Jinrong. But from the start of the resistance war, he became a traitor, strutting around, showing off, and criticizing Chongqing a lot. Now he’s living so comfortably.
You know, recently the news of Chongqing’s peace talks has been spreading wildly. I estimate it’s to kill the chicken to scare the monkey, to show our stance on the surface.
And most importantly, the current situation is too difficult. Supplies are blockaded. Boss Dai’s meaning is that Shanghai is the only window to obtain supplies. He wants us to find a way: kill Zhang Xiaolin and take his place to supplement funding for the war of resistance.”
Good excuse!
Gu Yansheng finally understood and nodded, “I see. Zhang Xiaolin does control quite a few resources. But what does ‘take his place’ mean? Who takes it?”
“I take it.”
“Tsk, not bad.”
The funeral was already pre-booked. Gu Yansheng was nostalgic, so he planned to see Zhang Xiaolin’s last moment.
Zhang residence.
Zhang Xiaolin came down from upstairs after smoking opium, still carrying the strange fragrance of opium, dressed like a wealthy landlord, plump and rich.
“Hahahaha, Minister Gu, forgive me for not welcoming you properly. I’m getting old, slept too soundly. Please don’t take offense.”
Gu Yansheng smiled, put down the tea cup, and said, “No need for that between us. How are you? Body still good?”
“Hahaha.” Zhang Xiaolin patted his chest, “No problem. What is it? Something for me to handle?”
“No, just seeing you smoke opium, cut back a bit. It’s not a good thing.”
“To me, that’s a good thing. Ever since I had it, my spirits have gotten better and better.”
You can’t reason with an addict. Gu Yansheng got to the point, “I’m here because I’m short on cash, need some urgently. Borrow some money from you.”
“How much?”
“2 million US dollars.”
“That’s a lot.”
Zhang Xiaolin frowned, “This amount is a bit tricky. Let me think of a way. Give me one day, I’ll deliver it to you.”
Zhang Xiaolin had no reason to refuse Gu Yansheng’s first request and nodded directly.
Anyway, the foreplay of difficulty was done; only Zhang Xiaolin himself knew how hard it really was.
But Gu Yansheng was already very satisfied with this result, “Thanks, this solves my urgent problem. I’ll repay you as soon as possible.”
“Haha, what thanks between us? Without your help, Minister Gu, my business wouldn’t be so smooth. Stay for lunch. I want to talk to you about the recent expansion.”
“Going well?”
“Not bad, haha.”
Then rub another meal. The send-off process usually involves a banquet anyway, though it’s rare to have it in advance.
Host and guest enjoyed themselves fully.
The next day.
The two million US dollars was delivered intact to Gu Yansheng’s tea house.
No wonder they say no windfall, no wealth. This makes money way faster than real industry.
Gu Yansheng called He Yun and had her take the money to deposit it.
He Yun was stunned seeing the money, “Where did so much money come from?”
“A fated person gave it.”
“How come I haven’t met such a fated person who delivers money?”
“You have. Aren’t I one? It’s all yours.”
He Yun smiled, took the money, and left.
Gu Yansheng notified Chen Mo that the action could begin. As for the process, he didn’t care and didn’t need to worry about everything. Killing one Zhang Xiaolin was all. Gu Yansheng had seen Zhang Xiaolin’s guards plenty, knew them well. Based on the traitor’s need to preserve his life, Gu Yansheng had even discussed Zhang Xiaolin’s entire guard system with him and knew it like the back of his hand.
Anyway, he’d told him all he knew. If they couldn’t kill him, the Iron Blood Assassination Group was a waste.
Chen Mo acted decisively and didn’t keep Gu Yansheng waiting long.
Five days later, the news that Green Gang Boss Zhang Xiaolin was assassinated at home made headlines in the newspaper, causing a huge uproar!
Zhang Xiaolin is dead!
And died at home!
Who didn’t know Zhang Xiaolin’s guards were tight? Yet the Military Statistics Bureau still got in and killed him. Too terrifying!
Even more terrifying, after the assassination, the Military Statistics Bureau arrogantly left a manifesto in Zhang Xiaolin’s home.
“Good is rewarded with good, evil with evil. It’s not that it doesn’t come, the time hasn’t arrived! When the time comes, everything is settled!”
Dead man plus manifesto—big and small traitors all trembled in fear.
Shanghai people celebrated universally. Zhang Xiaolin that old scoundrel had been arrogant too long, his evil deeds too numerous to record. His death was cause for street fireworks.
The newspaper company’s editor annotated this sentence: ‘It’s not that it doesn’t come, the time hasn’t arrived.’ This comes from a Yuan Dynasty playwright, collected in the Ming Dynasty Expanded Virtuous Texts.
The editor highlighted that this is an enlightenment reader.
Truth even Ming Dynasty children understood—how come you don’t get it?
The newspaper’s mockery was full throttle.
With Zhang Xiaolin dead, the problem was quite serious. The Shanghai Gendarmerie Headquarters had to care about this. Mainly, Zhang Xiaolin had been supplying them, and now he’s dead—who to ask for money? That’s a problem.
And with Zhang Xiaolin’s death, the Green Gang would inevitably fight over power and territory, with a period of chaos unavoidable.
Minister Zhou even came to find Gu Yansheng.
“Zhang Xiaolin is dead. What do you think?”
“His death is a bit troublesome. He had high status in the Green Gang, so he could control the people below. With him dead, the Anti-Narcotics Bureau’s business has uncertainty. And Green Gang chaos will affect Shanghai’s public order.
My current idea is to wait for the Green Gang to be chaotic for a while, let them select their leader, then contact and subdue him to ensure the government’s interests aren’t lost.”
Minister Zhou nodded upon hearing this and pondered, “What if the new guy doesn’t listen?”
“What do you think?”
“We can’t control who we push to power, but if not up to expectations, have No. 76 take action and kill him.”
“Good.”
The Green Gang side still needed to be chaotic for a while.
Gu Yansheng communicated with Chen Mo. Since Minister Zhou had this idea, change the way of taking power: let qualified people in the Green Gang compete, kill them off, then support Chen Mo this ‘easy to control’ figure to the top. That would satisfy Minister Zhou.
The process could be bumpy, as long as the result met expectations.
Soon, the time for the next meeting arrived.
Gu Yansheng and Imai Takeo flew to Hong Kong.
Recently, Chongqing issued a clarification statement, vehemently denouncing such baseless speculation, completely denying the matters of North China garrison and Northeast cession.
On the surface, under no circumstances would the National Government accept any form of territorial cession negotiations.
This is pure slander!
Meeting place.
Imai Takeo asked with a tense face, “You should give me good news today. My patience is almost exhausted.”
Zhang Yousan smiled and exhaled deeply, “Mission accomplished. The National Government agrees to continue negotiations.”
Imai Takeo was immediately delighted upon hearing this, “Very good. Looks like you’ve chosen the right path.”
“But one point, I must explain in advance: under no circumstances is there territorial cession. If this is violated.” Zhang Yousan shook his head, “Then the result is beyond my control.”
“We’ll help you keep the secret, but you too: Manchuria is ours. Don’t try to touch it.”
“Fine.”
“Is President Jiang’s schedule set? When is he free?”
“17 days later, same location.”
“Why so long? Can’t it be sooner?”
“President Jiang’s schedule was set long ago. This is the soonest we can fit it in.”
Time set, both sides confirmed the final content, then went back to report and prepare.
Looks like peace talks are really happening. Gu Yansheng returned to Shanghai and told Minister Zhou about it.
Now what Minister Zhou had to choose was whether to wait for peace talks to end and join the United Government, or directly sabotage the peace talks and continue as his second-in-command.
Wang Ni interestingly agreed, but Minister Zhou didn’t want to. But if there were really good conditions, it wasn’t impossible.
However, with the Japanese and Old Jiang’s peace negotiations first, and arrangements for Wang Faction personnel later—unless Mr. Wang went directly to Changsha— it could only be this order.
But this order meant that once the Japanese and Old Jiang succeeded in peace talks and signed, Mr. Wang would have little right to speak if he raised conditions later.
The Japanese might very well abandon their interests for a southward strategy.
Whether to act or not—it was agonizing at the critical moment.
He was agonizing first. Gu Yansheng had Gu Shuping immediately send this news to the organization.
The organization replied with three words: ‘Noted.’
With the matter done, there shouldn’t be need to go to Hong Kong for negotiations anymore. Gu Yansheng focused on Shanghai affairs.
And because negotiations were proceeding, the newspapers these days inexplicably started floating trial balloons.
Chongqing media and Japanese media simultaneously propagandized the importance of peace. Some countered the recent fake news and public criticism of the Chongqing Government.
Peace talks are for China’s peace, absolutely not defeatism.
If not peace talks now, what can be done?
All of China cut off from water and grain, not even one medicine can come in from outside, no airplanes, no artillery, not even materials to produce bullets. Should soldiers go up with fire pokers to fight the Japanese?
Do you really want national ruin and extinction before you’re satisfied?
Isn’t it good to leave a spark?
Now if there’s a chance for peace without territorial cession, everyone on equal principles declares the war over, stop fighting, go home to wife and hot kang— isn’t that a beautiful thing?
Gu Yansheng found it familiar; this rhetoric was almost up to Wang Ni’s level.
Both sides’ sustained public opinion output gradually eroded the will to war.
Once people find a comfortable spot, they can convince themselves to lie there.
Really can’t win, so many dead—why keep holding on?
Now it’s not surrender, just peaceful withdrawal, coexist peacefully with Japanese— what’s wrong?
War always has deaths. Forget it, move forward isn’t that fine?
While Shanghai was in heated debate.
Battle report from North China came.
The Eighth Route Army launched a large-scale counterattack, with unprecedented numbers participating!
