Chapter 63: Meeting
Gu Yansheng did not expect this gang of prisoners to weave any good cloth.
By the time they learned how to weave good cloth, winter would be over. Perhaps next year’s quota could be considered from them if it was tight, but there was definitely no chance this year.
However, the existence of this gang had one benefit: it made buying cotton yarn extremely reasonable.
Back to the City Government.
Gu Yansheng entered the office.
Liu Xiaolou followed and reported: “Division Chief, while you were out, two newspaper companies called to consult about releasing prisoners: The Great American Evening News and German Daily News. As per your instructions, I told them you were not in and I had no information to disclose.”
“Good.”
Gu Yansheng took his coat from the rack. “Call the Propaganda Department and tell them to notify the reporter media in the name of the City Government that a press conference will be held at the City Government at ten o’clock tomorrow morning, where the Judicial Department’s reform measures will be announced to the public.”
“Okay.”
“Have them secure front-page space, publish it tomorrow morning, let it ferment, and pressure that gang of troublemakers at Agent Headquarters, so Li Shiqun doesn’t pull any tricks on me again.”
Liu Xiaolou suppressed a laugh and nodded. “Then I’ll go make the call right away.”
“I need to make a call too.”
Gu Yansheng picked up the telephone on the desk and called Mr. Hase. He had forgotten to tell him earlier to warn Li Shiqun to stay quiet these days and not cause him trouble.
Mr. Hase had no objections. This was such an important matter that precautions against accidents were indeed necessary, so he naturally agreed.
An hour later, Liang Youwei brought over today’s proof sheet for the newspaper, along with a list of personnel for the first batch of releases.
“So many?”
Gu Yansheng looked at the list with a full fifty-five names and teased: “Editor Liang, did you take my inside information and sell it for money? Otherwise, why are there so many people looking for you?”
Liang Youwei’s face turned serious as he raised a finger.
“I swear on my life’s writing that I absolutely did not.
There are many people looking for me because Shen Bao has great influence, and there are simply many people imprisoned.
Their family members have nowhere to turn for help. Some have cried until their eyes are nearly blind, waiting desperately for this news like stars and moon. How could they not be anxious? They’re just afraid the news isn’t real.
My newspaper company has received countless calls today. These fifty-five are not even all of them. I didn’t want to trouble you too much; otherwise, with all the back-and-forth, I estimate I could add dozens more.”
“Don’t get agitated. I believe you.” Gu Yansheng smiled. “What I mean is, if you really took money, remember to share some with me, or I’ll be at a loss.”
“Hmph.” Liang Youwei sneered, then said: “It’s not that there weren’t any. Indeed, someone tried to stuff money to me.”
Gu Yansheng looked at him with a puzzled expression. “You sold your life’s writing just like that?”
“Don’t look at me like that.”
Liang Youwei laughed. “I took the oath, but I didn’t violate it. I said someone wanted to stuff money to me, but I didn’t say I took it.
This person’s situation is different from this batch. He was clearly arrested and sentenced to fifteen years. I didn’t dare take the money, and I couldn’t do it anyway. If you want the money, I can introduce him to you.”
Gu Yansheng sneered and continued reading the newspaper. “No thanks. How much is one person worth?”
“He’s actually quite valuable.” Liang Youwei smiled mysteriously and held up two fingers. “At least twenty yellow croakers.”
This piqued Gu Yansheng’s interest, and he asked in surprise: “What person is worth so much?”
“North Jiangsu Tycoon, Gu Zhuxuan, Green Gang Tong Generation boss.”
“Oh~ no wonder.”
Gu Yansheng nodded knowingly. Although he did not know the man, being Tong Generation meant his status in the Green Gang was extremely high, higher than Wu Sibao or Liao Shan.
Moreover, from the introduction, he already had the title of North Jiangsu Tycoon, which was no empty name. In Shanghai’s jianghu, giving oneself random nicknames without matching virtue would get one killed.
“How did he get arrested?”
“The Japanese said he colluded with Military Statistics Bureau and designed a trap to catch him, but his wife says it’s not true—he was framed by people in the gang who informed the Japanese. He’s now imprisoned in Jiangsu Second Prison.”
“Can’t do it. You know what kind of money is worth earning? If the Japanese say he colluded with Military Statistics Bureau, even releasing him would get me labeled as Military Statistics Bureau.”
Gu Yansheng rejected outright.
Liang Youwei smiled. “So I said I didn’t dare mention it at all.”
“However…” Gu Yansheng changed his tone and leaned back. “If his family is willing to spend money, I can make his prison life comfortable: single cell, three meals a day, steak, salad, red wine, hairy crabs from Yangcheng Lake, pastries from Suzhou—anything available in Jiangsu or Shanghai, whatever he wants.”
“Then should I go ask?” Liang Youwei probed.
“Go ahead. Lavish or frugal as they choose.” Gu Yansheng smiled.
Although he flatly refused Liang Youwei on the grounds that it was someone the Japanese arrested, judging from the Japanese actions, what Liang Youwei said might be true. This Gu Zhuxuan was indeed framed by people in the gang.
The judgment basis was actually simple: if this man had colluded with Military Statistics Bureau, he should not be in Jiangsu Second Prison but in the Gendarmerie’s prison, locked up until death with no release, or even interrogated and shot.
Gu Yansheng wanted to help with this favor. Money was not important—it was incidental. What mattered was the man’s North Jiangsu Tycoon title and status as a Green Gang Tong Generation figure. If he had loyal underlings still active outside, this person still had value for salvage.
Just make his stay in prison comfortable—it was a flick of the fingers, beneficial without cost.
“So the newspaper is set like this?”
“Yes, anyway, it will basically be exposed tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow then. Farewell.”
“See you tomorrow.”
As the City Government’s notice went out, news of the Judicial Department press conference releasing the reform plan immediately spread through Shanghai’s middle and upper echelons.
Shanghai was in Japanese hands. At this stage, regardless of whether people in the concessions acknowledged the SH City Government, it was a fact that this City Government propagated the Japanese will.
So anyone living in Shanghai had to pay attention, especially the middle and upper classes who cared deeply about such news.
Judicial Department Deputy Division Chief change, Gu Yansheng taking the position, Gu Yansheng’s lawyer background, gossip about Gu Yansheng possibly releasing some prisoners—these pieces of information began to be collected and spread, followed by speculation and discussion about what the Japanese were really up to.
Just the point of releasing prisoners alone did not seem like the Japanese style.
Unlike their information channels, the sources ordinary citizens could access were only newspaper media and street gossip.
As time passed since that morning’s Shen Bao went on sale, more and more passersby learned the news that the Judicial Department was releasing prisoners.
They certainly did not know the exact number of those imprisoned without cause, but over 2,000 imprisoned meant over 2,000 families involved, plus aunts, uncles, neighbors, and acquaintances spreading it.
This news fermented far more intensely than most people imagined.
Paying attention to Li Shiqun catching Military Statistics Bureau was mere spectatorship; paying attention to the Judicial Department meant having family or friends locked in prison.
That night, who knew how many people did not sleep; that night, who knew how many prayed at home, desperately hoping this was real news.
By the next day, almost all newspapers had front-page stories about the Judicial Department upcoming press conference, describing the spreading news. Working Shanghai residents could not afford to not know.
Especially paired with the two photos from Shen Bao taken outside the prison—Gu Yansheng and Mr. Hase inspecting the prison together—this clearly indicated a high likelihood the news was true, and with Mr. Hase there, it showed the prisoner release was approved at the Japanese level.
With no obstacles left, street discussions directly reached their peak.
At nine-thirty a.m., City Government Conference Hall, reporters had filled all seats. All media were present, privately discussing possible topics with familiar reporter friends.
Gu Yansheng was still upstairs drinking coffee, with Mr. Hase drinking together.
Gu Yansheng smiled and said: “Mr. Hase, today is just proof at the level of the prisoner release news, to intensify discussion across all of Shanghai and get newspapers from concession countries to comment on it.
The real wave will come from changes to the regulations, which won’t appear at today’s press conference, so today’s outcome is predetermined.
Given Western countries’ way of handling things, their reporters will surely stand on the moral high ground, smugly praising our prisoner releases as judicial progress.
So you didn’t really need to come today; otherwise, I’m afraid you’ll be hounded by questions later and won’t be able to leave easily.”
Mr. Hase said: “This is the beginning of a major event. I definitely need to help you put on a show. As the newspapers say, my appearance represents a change in Japanese attitude. If I don’t come, others might think it’s fake—what then?”
“Haha, in that case, I can only trouble Mr. Hase to work a bit harder later and answer the reporters’ questions.”
“No problem. I know the basic rhythm and won’t cause you any slip-ups.”
The two chatted until nine fifty-five, finally appearing in the City Government Conference Hall amid others’ eager anticipation.
As soon as Gu Yansheng entered, a bunch of cameras started snapping photos.
Gu Yansheng was not the least bit stage-frightened and strode directly to the podium, tapped the microphone, and brought the whole room to quiet.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. Welcome, everyone. I am the new Deputy Division Chief of the Judicial Department, Gu Yansheng.”
