Chapter 87: Reply
The Japanese didn’t come, but Ding Mocun and Li Shiqun did.
Ding Mocun widened his eyes in some surprise, quickly took two steps forward, and sized him up: “You attended the banquet tonight too? Are you okay?”
“Not bad, luckily didn’t die.” Gu Yansheng gave a wry smile and shook his head.
Li Shiqun looked on without speaking. When did Ding Mocun get to know Gu Yansheng?
“Secretary-General Ling, Director Gu.” Li Shiqun stepped forward and said: “The Japanese side won’t be coming over for the time being. They sent us to report the situation. Are you two okay?”
“We’re fine. How’s the venue?” Ling Xianwen asked directly.
Li Shiqun shook his head: “So far, 7 are dead, 26 are still being rescued. The scene is a mess, and the venue floor has several craters from the explosion.”
Ding Mocun curled his lip: “Something happened, and Shiqun and I were immediately called over. There was searching and questioning, and we got a good scolding. Sigh, what a disgrace.”
“Why scold you? It’s obvious they have a problem in their own ranks.” Gu Yansheng spoke up for them.
“What exactly happened at the scene?” Ling Xianwen asked curiously.
“Shiqun, you tell them.”
“Mm, there was only one assassin, and it’s confirmed to be a Chongqing Agent.
Before the banquet started, the Gendarmerie did do a security check, but the Japanese like to use Chinese people. Their own expatriates are lazy, not as diligent as Chinese people, and unwilling to do some dirty and tiring work.
So the Expatriate Club routinely has Chinese providing cleaned vegetables and cleaning services.
This assassin had been working at the Expatriate Club for a long time, so he came and went freely without arousing any suspicion. No one knows if the gun and grenade were brought in that day or hidden there earlier. That’s unclear now.
Today, he probably felt the occasion was right, with many people and high officials gathered, or maybe he received some order and had to kill someone, so he abandoned hiding his identity and acted.
Judging from the scene, he was probably spotted immediately before acting. I guess he was seen by the Japanese when he drew his gun.
So he first shot and killed a Japanese waiter closest to him, then without time to think, threw a grenade toward the crowded area, causing the first explosion.
When the Gendarmes rushed in, he still had one grenade he didn’t have time to throw, and was killed by the Gendarmes and officers present. The second grenade didn’t come loose, exploded, and killed him.”
“Then what poison did we get?” Gu Yansheng asked.
“The Japanese are still testing the poison.” Li Shiqun thought for a moment and said: “But based on my experience and your symptoms, it should be arsenic.”
“Arsenic?!” Ling Xianwen’s voice rose at the word.
Gu Yansheng also sat up straight, his expression solemn.
Li Shiqun gave a reassuring faint smile: “You two don’t need to worry first. Arsenic’s advantages are that it’s colorless, odorless, and easy to procure. Mixed into alcoholic beverages, you drank it without knowing.
But the disadvantages are obvious too—it’s easy to not use enough quantity, just like your symptoms: some severe, some mild. The less you drink, the milder the symptoms; if you don’t drink, nothing happens.”
“Will there be any issues?”
“No, arsenic poisoning starts with no symptoms, and there won’t be any later. A small dose gives reactions like yours—vomiting and abdominal pain, not fatal. Rest for a while and you’ll be fine.”
This was a relief.
Ling Xianwen relaxed, turned to Gu Yansheng with a helpless smile and shake of the head: “What kind of mess have we gotten into? Stuff from storybooks, and we actually tasted it.”
With that, he turned to vent at the two.
“I say, you two directors, can’t you clean up the Military Statistics Bureau thoroughly? Last time you caught a batch of Military Statistics Bureau people. Wasn’t this guy on the Military Statistics Bureau list? He couldn’t have been in the Concession all the time, right?”
Ding Mocun sighed: “Secretary-General, agent matters aren’t that simple. We got the big list, but these latent personnel aren’t necessarily picked directly from Shanghai District personnel and sent out. For example, this guy came from Chongqing, graduated from some school. Besides his handler, maybe no one in Shanghai District even knows?”
“Explaining to me is useless. Will the Japanese buy it?”
This shut the two up.
“Headache.”
“Don’t have a headache. We two patients aren’t having headaches yet. If you’re fine, you can go. Don’t disturb our rest and recovery.”
“Alright, we’ll go first. You two rest well.”
“Wait.” Gu Yansheng stopped him and asked: “How are General Iwasa and Mr. Hase? Injured?”
Li Shiqun shook his head: “Commander Iwasa took a bullet. The assassin shot at him. Injury unknown; the Japanese are doing surgery and wouldn’t let us in. Consul Hase isn’t badly hurt—his arm was grazed by shrapnel from the explosion, should be fine after bandaging.”
“Then we should still go see them?” Gu Yansheng turned to Ling Xianwen.
Ling Xianwen nodded and said solemnly: “We should go see.”
With that, he simply threw off the covers. “Let’s go now.”
Army Hospital.
Hase Jinagawa smiled when he saw the two, showing his arm: “I’m fine. No need for you to come specially. You’re patients too, and my injury isn’t as bad as yours.”
It was true. Big shots like Hase Jinagawa and Iwasa Taro arrived last, so they basically didn’t eat or drink, just busied issuing tasks to them.
Hase Jinagawa added, “The Military Statistics Bureau assassin probably feared the arsenic taking effect, someone showing symptoms and giving it away, so had to force the action and directly shoot at us.”
“Lucky too.”
After some sighs, Ling Xianwen got to the main purpose of the visit.
“Mr. Hase, forget the assassin. Agent Headquarters has him. You rest well, and by the way, give us some guidance. On this matter the Commander mentioned, how should Director Gu and I handle it?”
Hase Jinagawa said seriously: “Economic substitution to remove Chongqing influence is an order from General Headquarters War Guidance Section. Gendarmerie Headquarters must execute it, but I know it will displease some Concession businessmen.
From our angle, the work must be done, public opinion controlled, and the scene not too ugly. So for foreign merchants from powerful countries, you can promise smooth import-export exchange. Once the big ones are appeased, small businessmen won’t be a problem.
But this must be secretive. If too many know we’re treating them differently, it’ll backfire on public opinion. When you contact them, tell them not to spread it, or even this condition won’t exist.”
Gu Yansheng and Ling Xianwen nodded. The measures were inevitable, but as Ministry of Foreign Affairs faction, there were some benefits.
Once the door was open, it meant setting up a White List, and who got on that White List was up to them.
Gu Yansheng only lay there one night, then very dutifully went to work the next day, so Ling Xianwen couldn’t slack off either.
But now there really was no way to slack off. Fu Xiao’an and the others were still lying there rolling their eyes. The Japanese tasks had to continue, and enterprises handled quickly. Early discharge was good.
After arriving, Gu Yansheng first asked Liu Xiaolou about the Judicial Department gathering last night. In this era, information flow was poor. These guys were just playing and didn’t even know about such a big incident in Hongkou, and they had a great time.
He called Lu Bowen, who immediately said he’d come meet and talk.
“Smooth?” Gu Yansheng poured him a cup of water.
“Smooth. Got the organization’s reply. The content was a bit beyond me and He Yun’s expectations. By the way, did you go yesterday? I looked carefully and didn’t see you.”
“Didn’t go. The Japanese suddenly held a banquet in the afternoon. I called to notify you, but no one picked up. I guessed you were at Zhongye Public Office selling futures then. Planned to find a reason to leave early and join you, but got poisoned and went to the hospital, so no need. In that situation, the Japanese had no time for Concession radio.”
“What? You were poisoned?” Lu Bowen was stunned, eyes wide scanning him.
“Fine now.” Gu Yansheng smiled: “A bit of arsenic. Japanese officers poisoned to death—seven of them. Military Statistics Bureau did it.”
“No, arsenic, not candy. You say it so lightly. Checked thoroughly? Are Japanese hospitals reliable? Want to go to French Concession hospital for another check?” Lu Bowen forgot the Military Statistics Bureau, highly tense.
“Really fine. Those with issues are still in the hospital. If I can work, I’m fine.”
Lu Bowen frowned, carefully looked at Gu Yansheng’s face, and after a while sighed: “Being a traitor is really tough for you. Risk factor too high—have to guard against Japanese and Military Statistics Bureau.”
“Business. What did the organization say?”
“The organization says: Don’t eat outside food if you can avoid it, especially with Japanese or 76 people related. Push gatherings if possible; if not, eat less.”
“That’s what the organization said?” Gu Yansheng asked with a smile.
Lu Bowen straightened his face. “I’m Team Leader. Can’t I represent the organization at this moment?”
“Fine fine, you’re the big official, you’re right.” Gu Yansheng nodded repeatedly, smiled: “Please continue, Team Leader.”
Lu Bowen sighed, leaned forward seriously: “Tomorrow 3 PM, DDS Coffee Shop on Xingfei Road. Need to make contact. Organization specifies you go.”
“Me?” Gu Yansheng was a bit surprised.
Lu Bowen nodded: “Yes, you. Don’t know why the organization chose you, but since it’s an order, I think we should execute.”
Gu Yansheng nodded. This information was a bit unexpected.
Per the original arrangement, they only handled goods or money, then met at a rendezvous to hand off, without meeting faces.
Even if meeting, it should be Lu Bowen.
Thought about it but no conclusion. Organization arranged it for a reason; he’d know when he went.
“Alright, got it. What’s the password?”
“Tomorrow at the Coffee Shop, the contact will have three days’ Shen Bao on the table, hat on top. Shen Bao shows page three, bottom right corner torn off, missing the last seven words of the report at the end.
You ask to borrow the newspaper. He’ll say it’s expired, go buy a new one. You give the prepared seven words. He’ll say the newspaper is yours, I’ve got to go, then leave. Contact complete.
After, you find time to go out. He’ll wait outside. You two set a place to talk.
I brought the newspaper on the way. Here, this page. Memorize it then.”
“Understood.” Gu Yansheng noted and nodded.
“Be safe, observe surroundings. If danger, withdraw.”
“Don’t worry, I will.”
“Then I’m off. Arsenic—heed my words. Fixed location meals with those two groups, must be careful.”
“Got it.”
“Arsenic. If He Yun knows, she’ll worry to death.”
“Then don’t let her know.”
“Seven dead, such a big deal—can it be hidden? Even with Hongkou locked tight, tomorrow’s newspapers will report it.”
