Chapter 64: Leak
“Since the end of the Shanghai war, Shanghai’s overall environment has transitioned from a turbulent period to a stable period. Strict management in judicial work was a measure to maintain public order during the turbulent period. Today, I believe the environment has reached a point where it supports lifting this measure.
Therefore, the widely rumored news that the Judicial Department will release prisoners who were punished during the strict management period is correct. This news is true, and it will be the focus of my work for the foreseeable future.”
Wow, this is official confirmation of the news. The reporters below immediately couldn’t hold back; someone raised their hand to ask sharp questions.
“Deputy Division Chief Gu, after the war, how many people did Japan exactly arrest? How many people do you plan to release?”
“SH City Government is undergoing institutional reform, changing from SH City Reform Government to SH City Special Government. The name has changed, the office address has changed, the people have changed, and all the original files of the institutions are in the process of relocation, handover, and organization. The Judicial Department is the same.
As the highest institution overseeing SH City’s judiciary, the Judicial Department’s archive room stores all criminal and civil case files since the end of the war. There are quite a few, and I’ve only just taken office, so the exact numbers are not yet clear.”
“Deputy Division Chief Gu, is it unconditional release or conditional release?”
“The release of this group of prisoners is a judicial process; everything must follow the judicial system.”
“Deputy Division Chief Gu, so exactly when can the first batch of prisoners be released, and when can the full release be completed?”
“SH City Government has decided to establish the SH City Special Court, which will be the highest court in SH City. All release review work will be concluded by this court, so when the first batch of prisoners can be released and when the full release can be completed depends on the Special Court’s work progress.
Because the Special Court’s foundational construction work still requires time, I have also received some requests from various sectors of society hoping for early release of prisoners.
Therefore, the Judicial Department will temporarily have the Special Court’s personnel start transitional work at the original Zhabei Court to meet society’s expectations and release prisoners as soon as possible.
Therefore, the release time for the first batch of prisoners you asked about may be even earlier than you think.
Right now.
At this very moment, the Special Court has officially hung its plaque and begun operations. Possibly today, you will hear news of some prisoners being released.”
Oh, this is a clear fact, beyond the reporters’ expectations.
“Deputy Division Chief Gu, regarding this batch of prisoners detained during your strict management period, there has actually been discussion in society for a long time, and related reports have been written hoping the Judicial Department would release prisoners, but there has been no news for a long time.
Is the Judicial Department’s decision this time due to the promotion and efforts you made behind the scenes?”
Finally, a reporter asked a good question.
Gu Yansheng smiled; he made a mental note of this reporter’s appearance to ask later which unit she was from and invite her more in the future.
“I entered government work to improve Shanghai’s judicial construction, so Shanghai’s judicial reform definitely includes my efforts.”
“I heard you were a lawyer before and must have many exciting cases. Can you tell one of the cases you think is the most exciting?”
“This question is not official business. If needed, please contact the Propaganda Department privately for a separate interview appointment.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Deputy Division Chief Gu, you mentioned judicial reform and establishing the Special Court. Will the Judicial Department revise existing laws in the near future?”
The question came from a British reporter.
Gu Yansheng nodded: “If necessary, of course.”
“So, is there such an item in your revision list?
Establish a pre-trial deposit system: All chambers of commerce conducting maritime trade in Shanghai must pay a deposit of 20% of the cargo ship’s cargo value in advance. It can be rotated if no violations are found; once a violation is discovered, it is fully forfeited.
And the purpose of your modification of this regulation is to try to take back trial authority over foreign merchants’ cargo ships from the concession.
Aren’t you afraid of causing foreign capital disputes? Aren’t you afraid of causing public outrage?
Please answer.”
“What?”
The British reporter’s words immediately caused an uproar in the entire venue; reporters were astonished by the emergence of this new news and discussed it noisily.
Some attending City Government officials were completely unaware of this matter and were now discussing it quietly or listening to the reporters’ discussions.
In the front row high official seats, Hase Jinagawa’s expression visibly darkened, forming a stark contrast with Fu Xiao’an’s composure a few seats away to his right.
The news leaked!
His and Gu Yansheng’s final plan unexpectedly appeared in a British reporter’s mouth!
Once this news spreads, all previous work may be wasted, the Judicial Department’s reform cannot advance, and all plans become a joke.
After a moment of uproar, the scene quickly returned to quiet, with everyone waiting for Gu Yansheng’s response.
Unlike the quick responses to the previous questions, this time there was no immediate reaction. They had reason to believe this question was not part of this press conference but was real.
Gu Yansheng did pause for about two seconds. The event being exposed ahead of time meant all subsequent plans had to change; undoubtedly, someone behind the scenes had set him up to catch him off guard.
Launching a surprise attack in public was meant to see him make a fool of himself and ruin his reputation.
The timing of the move was chosen perfectly.
Gu Yansheng smiled at him: “Your information is very well-informed. Would it be convenient to reveal your source?”
“No.” The British reporter’s response was unsurprising: “I must protect my source. Please answer my question directly.”
Gu Yansheng nodded, scanned the room, lingering a moment longer on Fu Xiao’an’s calm face as if nothing had happened, then quickly looked away.
“Revising laws is of course the Judicial Department’s work, but as I said earlier, I haven’t been in my new government position long. Law revisions are long-term work, all still in progress, so this content was not meant to be announced today.
And certainly not supposed to come from this reporter friend’s mouth.
Before answering this reporter friend’s question, I have a question for this reporter friend: Government unpublished content is confidential; him leaking it to you is illegal. Knowing it’s illegal, do you still want to protect him?”
The British reporter was tough: “Of course I will protect him. Protecting sources is the professional code for reporters; I am a person of integrity.”
“So, the reporter’s professional code supersedes the law; is that what you mean?”
“Of course not, but I am not subject to your new government’s laws.”
“What about your source? Don’t tell me he’s not subject to the new government’s laws either?”
The British reporter shrugged indifferently: “That’s your business; anyway, I won’t reveal this person’s information.”
“See, this is the typical image of a judicial destroyer.”
Gu Yansheng pointed at him and scanned the room: “
This British reporter has given us a vivid lesson titled why Shanghai people need their own independent law enforcement power.
Tolerating others’ violations, protecting violators, and being smug about it—just because his personal interests as a reporter have been satisfied.
He thinks because he’s British, he can stand above Shanghai’s judicial system, above all SH citizens protected by Shanghai’s judicial system.
Arrogant and ignorant.
In your eyes, there is no law at all. You question SH City Government’s law revisions—sorry, I think you don’t qualify to raise this doubt, and I disdain answering you.”
The British reporter’s face looked unpleasant; who knew Gu Yansheng would belittle him on the spot. He said loudly: “Don’t change the subject; you need to answer my question. Even if you don’t answer, you know this is a concern for many reporters here!”
“I said you’re ignorant, and you seem not to understand? Let me put it more clearly.
I remind you, government internal unpublished information is confidential. As a foreigner acquiring this confidential information, you may commit espionage. This is SH urban area; asking me to answer this could land you in prison.
I’m protecting you; got it this time?
The Judicial Department’s press conferences—you no longer qualify to attend. Guards, take him out.”
To the surprise of all reporters present, this press conference actually had a reporter escorted out—and a British one at that.
This new Deputy Division Chief of the Judicial Department is very tough and has a lot of character.
Since they’re here, take a few photos of this reporter being escorted out. Tomorrow’s front-page headline won’t feature him, but photos of him being caught make great subpage material with selling points.
After the person was carried away, the noisy scene quieted again.
Gu Yansheng said: “With no more law-breakers, let’s continue discussing law-abiding matters.
The regulation content mentioned by that British reporter has indeed been approved in the Judicial Department’s internal meeting and will be implemented soon.
First, the Special Court, as the highest court within SH City Government’s jurisdiction, has trial authority over all disputes occurring within the city.
Second, establish the Sino-Japanese Joint Review Committee to review prohibited supplies.
Third, establish the pre-trial deposit system.
”
The press conference ended, and Hase Jinagawa followed Gu Yansheng to the upstairs office.
Although the press conference surprise ended fairly successfully under Gu Yansheng’s strong control, with the news leaked ahead of time, tomorrow’s results after the news spreads are unpredictable.
Entering the office, Hase Jinagawa asked with a tense face: “Mr. Gu, I don’t mean to blame you; your performance was good. But why did the news leak? Who in the Judicial Department handling it has connections to the British? Should we conduct an internal investigation of the Judicial Department?”
“No need. I know who leaked it—Fu Xiao’an.” Gu Yansheng unhesitatingly exposed Fu Xiao’an.
“Him?”
Hase Jinagawa was greatly surprised: “Why does Mr. Gu think it’s him? He’s the mayor of the new government; this is also his problem to solve?”
Gu Yansheng sneered: “Fu Xiao’an may want the Judicial Department and feels my presence interferes with his personnel arrangements. So at the first meeting, even knowing the previous government couldn’t solve this in three months, he still demanded I produce a plan in three days—this was his first suppression.
In three days, I produced the plan; he saw it, approved it. I thought then that although Mayor Fu was dissatisfied the deputy division chief wasn’t his appointee, he was still willing to help advance City Government work.
He approved the plan quickly, disbursed the court construction funding quickly—indeed no trouble for me.
But today’s result can only be called cunning and deep.
He didn’t trouble me; he directly sold me out. He gave my plan to the British—and not just the British, possibly Americans, French, Soviets too.
He calculated well, thinking even if exposed, I couldn’t pin it on him—after all, many in the department handled the plan.
But he didn’t account for one thing: this plan was entirely my own work. Besides my two secretaries seeing it, no one in the department knew. One copy to him, one to you—clean.
“Outrageous!”
Hase Jinagawa was truly furious; his perfect plan was ruined by Fu Xiao’an.
