Chapter 65: Reaction
“I heard that behind Fu Xiao’an is Commander Matsui?”
“This matter definitely has no relationship with Your Excellency Commander Matsui; it is Fu Xiao’an acting without authorization.”
Hase Jinagawa immediately cleared Commander Matsui in one second, saying gravely: “I will inquire about this matter with him, and report to Commander Matsui to implement punishment on him.”
I thought you would rush up and shoot him dead directly. Gu Yansheng sneered disinterestedly: “Mr. Hase, he won’t admit it. For this matter, we fundamentally can’t obtain any evidence to prove that it was his sold plan.”
And as long as there is no evidence, do you think Commander Matsui will admit that the people he sent have a problem?”
“I will investigate this matter.” Hase Jinagawa bowed repeatedly to Gu Yansheng: “Mr. Gu, this time it’s not your problem. Wasting your good plan, very sorry.
I hope you can think about it: given the current situation, how to salvage it next.”
“Let me think.” Gu Yansheng sighed in contemplation.
Hase Jinagawa bowed, “I will definitely give you an explanation for this matter. Take my leave first, farewell.”
“Take care.”
Gu Yansheng saw off the guest dispiritedly.
As soon as the person left, he became energetic.
If there are still people scrambling to take the blame, then even if the final effect of this matter isn’t that perfect, it won’t be his problem.
If Hase Jinagawa is angry, then go make Fu Xiao’an angry. It has no relationship with him.
Hurry up and release prisoners.
“Xiao Lou, notify the court to speed up the approval process. Today, at least get me a release list of 200 people out.”
“Yes.”
Gu Yansheng quickly walked to the table and picked up the phone to call Ma Sihai.
“Section Chief Ma, arrange personnel to wait at the court. When the court issues the release list, as soon as one comes out, figure out a way to notify their family members to go to the prison gate to welcome them. Make sure to create a big momentum at the prison gate. I want all of Shanghai’s newspapers reporting this matter tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
Gu Yansheng hung up the phone and continued calling the prison.
“Warden, Gu Yansheng here. Later the court’s documents will come to release prisoners. Release one and you intimidate one. Make them not talk nonsense about things inside, especially not say bad things about Japanese to reporters. Warn them to be careful of being caught again. Understand?
Also, about you letting them go out to work, if they talk nonsense outside, be careful the Japanese won’t let you off.”
“Got it! Guaranteed to complete!”
Slip of the tongue would harm the later releases, so Gu Yansheng didn’t want any accidents in releasing prisoners.
Continue to the next call, to the Construction Bureau Director. “Director, Gu Yansheng here. Is Lu Bowen with you? No need to find him. Just help me pass a message. Tell him the prison side is releasing prisoners. Timing-wise, it should be in the evening. Have him bring some people; they can go to the prison gate to recruit workers.
Mm-hmm, tell him to be busy in the evening first. Tomorrow noon I’ll find him to eat. Have him wait for me downstairs at City Government. Mm, good, thanks. Let’s gather when free.”
Continue to the next, Gu Yansheng called the car dealership manager, Ji Weiding.
“Manager Ji, Gu Yansheng here. Yes, the time for your help has arrived. Tonight, the prison gate will start releasing prisoners. Yes, help by standing platform. Casually collect a few first to show intent. Not many people today; other enterprises are also helping collect. Your main force in the next few days. Mm, good. I’ll quickly transfer the car money to you. Thanks.”
Continue to the next, Hujiang University’s Professor Tian.
But Gu Yansheng didn’t have his phone number.
“Xiao Lou, help me look up the phone number of Hujiang University’s academic affairs office.”
After a short rest, Gu Yansheng got the phone number.
Called the academic affairs office. “I’m looking for Professor Tian of the chemistry department. Good, I’ll wait for Professor Tian. Professor Tian, it’s Gu Yansheng. How’s the matter I entrusted to you? Done? I knew Professor Tian’s ability is outstanding. Can it be out this afternoon?
The prison will probably start releasing prisoners tonight around five or six. I need your teachers and students, wearing nurse uniforms, doctor uniforms, at the prison gate, to give them body checks and issue some treatment opinions. Yes, just that simple.
But I want to remind one point: don’t let the students comment too much on this matter, especially not talk to reporters. People not fully released, don’t give the Japanese eye drops. Professor Tian understands this reason, right? Good, very thankful.”
Continue to the next, Shen Bao’s Editor Liang.
“Editor Liang, you should know about today’s meeting. Some people stirred trouble; I’m speeding up the prisoner release. This evening at the prison gate will start releasing prisoners. Go help me do a few more interviews; the image must be positive.
I’ve arranged some enterprises to go to the prison gate to recruit workers, also arranged doctors to check their bodies. These measures caring for citizens are one of the Judicial Department’s reform measures. You must help me propagandize more.
Good, thanks.”
Snap, Gu Yansheng put down the phone. All calls done, all saved cards thrown out at once. Tomorrow Shanghai’s newspaper content—whether more propaganda for new regulations or more prisoner release content—let’s see who has the stronger wrist.
Gu Yansheng believed ordinary citizens definitely care more about releases, and when buying newspapers, they’ll only buy those with higher proportion of release news.
Stories of the Judicial Department, stories of being imprisoned, stories of recruiting workers, stories of school students providing treatment.
Choose sales, or choose regulations; that’s up to the concession newspapers themselves.
Rare leisure time, Gu Yansheng had a cup of coffee, leisurely passing the afternoon.
Except for a few follow-up calls, nothing else happened.
Approaching evening, drove to the prison gate.
The scene at the prison gate was spectacular. The release troop of 200 people hadn’t even started releasing, and the gate already had over a thousand surrounding it.
Cars, cameras, a bunch of prisoners’ family members—some crying, some smiling in eager anticipation.
Watching the excitement is most people’s nature; passersby were idly chatting and watching the spectacle.
Sunset glow, Gu Yansheng didn’t get out of the car, just leaned in the car quietly watching this scene.
The next day, all of Shanghai’s newspapers went into a frenzy.
Led by Shen Bao, Chinese newspapers almost filled the entire paper with reports on the Judicial Department releasing prisoners. No other reason—simply too much material to talk about.
Behind one prisoner is a family’s heartrending story, plus their excited mood reuniting with family after release, outlook for the future. A slight interview, compressed and compressed, still felt the newspaper couldn’t carry enough content.
But these simple stories were already enough to give ordinary Shanghai citizens a sense of substitution, a sense of identification, a urgent sense of handing over real gold and silver.
Shen Bao’s sales were already first; now they were even better.
Gu Yansheng’s image in Shanghai citizens’ minds rose steadily.
Never mind if they understand the new regulations or not—just the prisoner release point alone, simple emotions let them know this is an official who gets real things done!
With Liang Youwei helping to fake it, full text guidance, though not obviously expressed, actually large sections praising Gu Yansheng and his Judicial Department new policy.
In comparison, foreign newspapers similarly placed prominently at newsstands had much more twisted content today.
Capital’s power is still strong; foreign merchants’ newspapers’ front page still chose to report the Judicial Department modifying laws, clearly explaining the bad consequences if Shanghai City Government takes back trial authority over foreign merchants.
They definitely wouldn’t dare write openly about smuggling contraband, but writing that once Shanghai City Government arbitrarily detains, causing certain supplies to possibly increase in price, trying to stir some panic and rejection—that was still possible.
But first, now it’s punching at air; nothing like the previous Swire and Shanghai City Government lawsuit dispute has even happened yet—no anchor point at all.
Second, yesterday’s material was indeed too much. Front page gives face to merchants; other sections still must strive for sales, must report the Judicial Department’s prisoner release event extensively.
And once describing this event, inevitably it involves two other things.
One is to give an editor-in-chief level evaluation of Shanghai City Government’s prisoner release measures this time.
Two is to give an editor-in-chief level evaluation of Judicial Department Deputy Division Chief Gu Yansheng’s character.
How to write this?
Front page says Judicial Department is outrageous, daring to seize their trial authority.
Then in the sub-page praise Judicial Department releasing prisoners well, Gu Yansheng upright.
“Hahahaha.”
Gu Yansheng’s office.
Hase Jinagawa left with a grim face yesterday; today he came smiling specifically to visit.
“Brilliant, too brilliant. Mr. Gu, I didn’t expect your arrangement to be so exquisite.” Hase Jinagawa brought the newspaper and praised the content on it.
“Through Judicial Department Deputy Division Chief Gu Yansheng’s liaison, concession school medical students strongly support Judicial Department new policy, go to prison gate to help prisoners check bodies, help them return to society.
Hahaha, concession’s students have stood on our side.
And this one: through Shanghai consulate taking lead, Judicial Department and Construction Bureau establish Released Prisoners Return to Society Work Committee, solve work problems for released prisoners, help them become part of pushing Shanghai economic recovery, jointly build Sino-Japanese friendly big family—this is a model for erecting Sino-Japanese amity!
Good, written really well.”
Seeing his own name of course felt good; eyes almost falling into the newspaper—Gu Yansheng smilingly brewed a cup of coffee for Hase Jinagawa: “Mr. Hase, paid attention to today’s concession wind direction?”
“Of course I paid attention; that’s also why I came.” Hase Jinagawa put down the newspaper, laughing heartily:
“According to the intelligence I collected, concession citizens’ reaction to our new policy is better than expected. Mr. Gu, this counterattack is very effective. To think of such a strategy in a short time shows Mr. Gu’s wisdom.”
In the past, whenever involving ship law enforcement power problems, concession media would report such matters extensively, but today under Gu Yansheng’s arranged bombardment, the law enforcement power problem surprisingly few people cared about.
“Short time? Not short.”
Gu Yansheng also sat leaning on the sofa, sipping coffee and said: “The methods were prepared long ago; just disrupted rhythm by Mayor Fu.
According to my original plan, throw out news bit by bit; then with Europeans and Americans’ superiority, they would certainly stand on moral high ground, praising our new policy.
Whether releasing prisoners, medical care, or providing work opportunities, these are all irreproachable good things.
That would be enough to put them on the high platform.
Then I would throw out this time’s law enforcement power content, making them unable to dismount the tiger, reputation already formed, not easy to change tune.
Now disrupted, so I simply release all at once, directly weakening their front page influence, letting all of Shanghai’s attention be on the good things.
They caught me off guard; I also catch them off guard. Very fair.”
“Indeed fair.” Hase Jinagawa relaxed, thinking Gu Yansheng’s operation was a bit like firepower coverage in war, saturation strike.
“Looks like this is the matter Mr. Gu let me experience myself back then. Good thing it wasn’t written in the plan; otherwise, just medical students going to concession might have been blocked by them.
Mr. Gu, you had defenses against Fu Xiao’an back then, right? Otherwise why not write it in the plan?”
Gu Yansheng smiled lightly: “I wasn’t specifically guarding against Mayor Fu; mainly the people I entrusted I wasn’t familiar with, couldn’t be sure they definitely willing to help. For that French consulate case, among the arrested was a school professor. I made the best use of talent; used every possible method.
It’s just Fu Xiao’an really didn’t expect; that wasn’t my full plan.”
“I see.” Hase Jinagawa nodded: “Then what does Mr. Gu think of the concession’s next reaction?”
“No need to look; at this point, there’s nothing left to see. Whether to detain ships or not, the power is ours. Mr. Hase focuses on public opinion; concession’s habitual method is also to use public opinion after incident to suppress us, force us to release ships.
But now public opinion already stands on our side.
Yesterday at the meeting I said, since announced then implement. Three days buffer time; three days later implement new policy. According to new policy regulations, cargo ships must pay 20% goods deposit to pass Wusongkou.
I control the prisoner release speed, maintain this new policy heat for a while longer. Within three days if they don’t pay, force into Wusongkou and we detain the ship.”
“Good!” At this point, with public opinion backing, Hase Jinagawa wasn’t afraid anymore. If really missed this opportunity, he couldn’t suppress Gendarmerie Headquarters either; result would only be worse than now.
“I support you. This time must be tough with them. As long as no money paid, detain all ships!”
