Chapter 96: Handing Over Power
Excluding Liao Shan and Sha Shun, just Fu Xiao’an alone knows he has 100,000 US Dollars in hand.
And at Wu Sibao’s place, at the latest when the cotton yarn is sold off, he will also know that Gu Yansheng has a large sum of money in hand.
Such a wealthy person surprisingly doesn’t even have a single self-owned house in Shanghai and has to live in the city government apartment. Over time, this situation really doesn’t make sense.
So Gu Yansheng needs to spend some money. He must have a house that matches his status—not for spending money, but mainly to have one.
The top choice is naturally a house in the French Concession. The environment there is a bit better, and finding the French Consul might even get a discount.
However, this idea was quickly abandoned. The existence of the Iron Blood Anti-Traitor Group must be considered.
Gu Yansheng thought about it and went to find Ling Xianwen.
“Secretary-General, busy?” Gu Yansheng knocked on the open door.
“Yansheng.” Ling Xianwen looked up upon hearing this and said, “Sit. What do you need from me?”
“Came to ask you something.” Gu Yansheng walked over and sat down. Seeing Ling Xianwen’s face, he frowned, “This face hasn’t gone down yet?”
Ling Xianwen’s expression darkened upon hearing this: “Relying on the Gendarmerie Headquarters for support, he came to my place to show off. I’ll kill him sooner or later.”
Sigh, that’s right. Don’t mention the pot that’s not boiling. That’s exactly the effect wanted.
“After all, he’s a Vice Mayor. Resorting to hitting people when he can’t win an argument—his temperament is indeed lacking.” Gu Yansheng sarcastically chimed in.
Ling Xianwen sneered, “Just a land ruffian. Without the Japanese backing him, what is he? He doesn’t even dare to show his face—a total waste. Never mind him. What’s up with you?”
Gu Yansheng nodded, “I’ve run into a problem. I don’t have a house in Shanghai—either renting or living in the city government’s apartment. I just want to buy a house to settle down. Initially, I thought of buying in the concession, but then I realized that with our status, buying in the concession isn’t safe either. I’m not familiar with other places in Shanghai, so I came to ask you if there’s any suitable place?”
“Hongkou.”
Ling Xianwen blurted out, “From here to Hongkou, it’s close first of all—convenient for commuting. If there’s really something, going to the Japanese for a meeting is on the way. Plus, right next to Hongkou, there’s a Japanese barracks. Buying there is absolutely safe—it’s like the Japanese are guarding your home. Fu Xiao’an’s villa is right there.”
“How to buy? I heard houses in Hongkou restrict Chinese from buying and selling.”
“That’s for ordinary people. We can buy freely.” Ling Xianwen thought for a moment and smiled: “I think you don’t need to spend money on this. Do you know how Fu Xiao’an’s villa came about?”
“How did it come about?”
“The Japanese gave it. The Gendarmerie Headquarters has plenty of houses in hand, all belonging to army assets.”
Ling Xianwen smiled: “Aren’t you helping the Gendarmerie Headquarters handle that drugs matter right now?
I think you should approach the Gendarmerie Headquarters. Say that handling this has made you hated and easy to be ambushed, so you’re thinking of moving to Hongkou. Let them give you a set? It can save a lot of money.”
Gu Yansheng had an uncertain expression and laughed, “Is it appropriate for me to say that? Wouldn’t that be like going door-to-door begging for things? If they don’t give it, how embarrassing.”
“What’s there to be embarrassed about? You’re doing work for them—asking for a place to live is fine. This is also for the work.” Ling Xianwen paused and said: “You’ll definitely have to go to the Gendarmerie Headquarters to report anyway. Take the chance to mention it to General Iwasa casually. Isn’t that just one word from him?”
Turns out this money doesn’t even need to be spent. Buying a house turns into zero-yuan purchase. Since it can be gotten for free, Gu Yansheng has no reason to refuse.
Anyway, having a house makes not buying one very reasonable.
“Then I’ll try it when the time comes.” Gu Yansheng smiled: “Thanks to the Secretary-General for the plan. You’re the one with rich experience.”
Ling Xianwen sneered and waved his hand. Thinking of something, he pulled open the drawer, “Hey, just right—let me show you something. It just arrived today.”
Ling Xianwen took out an envelope and poured out several Japanese Yen banknotes from it.
“Military scrip. Take a look.”
“This is military scrip?”
Gu Yansheng picked up a one-yen denomination and looked at it, “Isn’t this just Japanese Yen? Just writing four words and done?”
Japanese Yen are issued by the Bank of Japan. Nominally not called banknotes, but Bank of Japan exchange coupons—meaning you can take this to the bank to exchange for gold worth one yen. It’s considered gold standard.
The one in Gu Yansheng’s hand now is also an exchange coupon, identical to the usual Japanese Yen. The only two differences: someone stamped a red seal with the four words ‘military hand ticket’ on this Japanese Yen paper, and manually crossed out the words ‘Bank of Japan exchange coupon’ with a red pen.
“Aren’t the Japanese lazy enough?” Ling Xianwen sneered, leaning back in his chair and said: “This money was specially printed by the Bank of Japan for use in Shanghai. I heard it’s because time was tight, so they didn’t even have time to make a new master plate. They directly used their own money, just made a new military scrip seal, stamped it, and called it done. Simply fooling around.”
“It really is quite fooled. When do the Japanese plan to officially implement it over there?” Gu Yansheng asked.
“Soon, probably.”
Ling Xianwen frowned in thought, paused, and said: “With such strong opposition on the market now, and the Japanese having Su Xiwen step in to increase the number of enterprises to ten, I think this matter will inevitably erupt soon. Either the enterprises choose to accept, or the Japanese send troops to intervene and forcibly implement it by killing a batch of people.
Anyway, it can’t be dragged on. Look, the money has already arrived. The Japanese must be anxious. What’s there to withhold?”
As Ling Xianwen spoke, he saw Gu Yansheng rubbing the banknote there.
Gu Yansheng smiled and showed the money: “I’m trying to see if I can rub off this red stamp. Later I’ll deposit it in the Bank of Japan—this is much more valuable than Legal Tender.”
“Huh? Hahahaha.” Ling Xianwen immediately burst out laughing: “You think beautifully. Their technology is from Japan’s proper central bank. You think you can rub it off?”
Saying that, he tried it himself. Words are words, but trying it out—what’s the harm.
After the two joked around, Gu Yansheng took his leave.
Back at the office, he slacked off. None of the matters in his hands now are urgent. Whatever needs to be done requires waiting for the wind to come—let it slowly ferment.
The next day, concession media newspapers continued to bombard Japan’s unlawful actions in Shanghai, from military scrip to drugs, full of points to angrily denounce.
At noon, Gu Yansheng received a telephone call.
“Director Gu, please come to the Gendarmerie Headquarters. Commander Iwasa wants to hear your personal work report.”
“Okay.”
Gu Yansheng hung up the phone. The Japanese were even more impatient than imagined. He originally thought they could hold out for a few more days at least.
Probably Consul Hase is under a lot of pressure, which has been passed to the Gendarmerie Headquarters.
At two o’clock, Gu Yansheng arrived at the headquarters and was directly taken to Iwasa Taro’s office.
In the room besides Iwasa Taro, there was one other person, dressed in a suit with an oiled hairstyle, looking like a Chinese person.
Gu Yansheng didn’t recognize him, and Iwasa Taro didn’t introduce him.
“General Iwasa.”
“Director Gu, I called you here today to inquire about your work progress.” Iwasa Taro didn’t even let Gu Yansheng sit and said directly: “Recently, public opinion on the market has been full of accusations against our Empire of Japan. The consulate told me that Director Gu’s implementation of this work is not going smoothly and feels very difficult? Is that the case?”
Gu Yansheng thought and said: “Because the profits from drugs in Shanghai involve many forces—like the British, like the Green Gang, like the French. Wanting to take back this portion of profits from their hands, they definitely won’t be willing.”
“Why not use stronger methods? In the Shanghai urban area, they don’t have the right to say no, do they?”
“The method you’re saying is to inspect goods and detain people?” Gu Yansheng asked.
Iwasa Taro nodded, “If there’s resistance, arrest directly. Selling drugs is already illegal under the law. Your Judicial Department handling this shouldn’t have any legal difficulties.”
Gu Yansheng shook his head: “No difficulties legally, but I can’t do it that way. Doing so would inevitably cause an explosion of public opinion.
Drug dealers won’t speak out, but those resisting will. For example, the Green Gang—Shanghai’s Green Gang has hundreds of thousands of disciples. If we arrest them, won’t they resist under other names? Am I supposed to arrest them all?
Even if I could arrest them all, won’t Shanghai’s economy be destabilized because of it?
General Iwasa, pulling one hair moves the whole body. The issues I need to consider aren’t just the drugs point.”
Iwasa Taro was noncommittal and asked: “Then according to Director Gu’s idea, what do you plan to do?”
“Negotiate with them, have them cede part of the profits, retain part of the profits, and peacefully resolve the drugs incident.”
“How much is a part?”
“Each one’s situation is different; specifics still need to be negotiated. But I’ll strive as much as possible.”
Iwasa Taro sneered, “I know Director Gu is Consul Hase’s favorite. Your starting point for doing things always prioritizes quelling public opinion. But as you said, the consequence of doing so is that the Military Department’s profits suffer losses.
Now public opinion attacks have already risen. Since we’ve already suffered losses, does Director Gu still think negotiation is necessary?”
“Of course it must be negotiated. Public opinion has only risen now, not exploded.”
Iwasa Taro finished listening and turned to the person standing there, “Mr. Sheng, what do you think?”
Sheng Wenyi, standing beside, chuckled lightly, glanced at Gu Yansheng, then at Iwasa Taro, and bowed his head: “General Iwasa, I think there’s no need to negotiate at all—just strike directly! In the Shanghai urban area, we have tens of thousands of powerful Japanese soldiers. Why negotiate with a bunch of land ruffians?
If unyielding, beat them—beat until they yield!
Arrest those who should be arrested, kill those who should be killed, kill until they soften.
Even if negotiation is needed, wait until they’ve been beaten into fear and kneel begging to talk to us. Only then can we get the maximum profits!
General, do you think I’m right?”
Iwasa Taro looked back at Gu Yansheng, “Director Gu, what do you think?”
“Who is this?” Gu Yansheng asked.
Iwasa Taro introduced: “The third young master of the Qing Dynasty Post and Communications Minister Sheng Xuanhuai’s family, Mr. Sheng Wenyi.”
“So it’s Young Master Sheng the Third. I’ve heard of your great name for a long time.”
Gu Yansheng gave a courteous slight smile, looked at Iwasa Taro, paused, and said: “It seems General Iwasa already has the best plan in mind. Then no matter how much I say, it probably won’t help.
Since that’s the case, let the person General Iwasa favors handle this matter. I have no objections. I’ll hand over power.”
Iwasa Taro was quite satisfied with Gu Yansheng’s straightforwardness. Those who understand the times are heroes. The man is sensible; he didn’t want to see a debating drama.
“Very good. Director Gu is a reasonable man.” Iwasa Taro nodded, “Then per Director Gu’s proposal, establish the Anti-Smoking General Bureau, with Sheng Wenyi as Director. Director Gu doesn’t need to handle this anymore. Of course, the legal documents still need your Judicial Department to issue.”
Gu Yansheng pursed his lips and nodded: “No problem. Can I go now?”
Iwasa Taro waved his hand, “Be my guest.”
Gu Yansheng bowed his head slightly, glanced at Sheng Wenyi, and smiled: “Congratulations, Director Sheng. Farewell.”
