Spy Wars: Red Shopkeeper

Chapter 141 Apology
Luo Junqiang immediately launched an attack, slamming his fist on the table and saying, "I only found out when the Japanese called that I had ordered several departments to collect cotton yarn. You've even collected Japanese-owned factories. When I said a few words to you, you were extremely rude. Is it because my words as the deputy mayor are ineffective, or do you simply not respect Mr. Wang and Mr. Zhou? Are you deliberately trying to embarrass me?"

These words startled the bureau chiefs who weren't involved. What interesting thing had happened? It seemed they had missed a big show.

"Ahem." Fu Xiao'an coughed and frowned. "Vice Mayor Luo, this is a meeting. We're all colleagues, not your subordinates. You should be more polite. Let's get down to business. What's wrong?"

Luo Junqiang shouted, "We asked them to collect some cotton yarn, but they ended up collecting it from a Japanese factory! They sealed it off, and then accused them of tax evasion and robbery! The Japanese were calling me so many times I almost went deaf!"

Several bureau chiefs who were watching the opera glared at each other, finding the situation amusing, and silently drank their tea and watched the performance.

After listening, Fu Xiao'an nodded and said calmly, "I know about the cotton yarn requisition. Requisitioning it from Japanese-owned factories is indeed a bit troublesome. Vice Mayor Luo, are you sure you didn't explain this clearly?"

"Didn't I make myself clear?" Luo Junqiang stared in astonishment. "Does this even need to be said? When did it become our place to forcibly seize Japanese factories?"

“So they really didn’t say that.” Fu Xiao’an nodded. “Then we can’t blame the people who were carrying out the orders. They were just following orders, what’s the problem?”

Luo Junqiang realized that the whole group of people wanted to frame him.

He slammed his fist on the table and roared, "The people below don't understand, and neither do the bureau chiefs and section chiefs who come up with these ideas? They're seizing land from the Japanese factories; I think they're just trying to embarrass me!"

"Vice Mayor Luo, you'd better watch your words," Lu Ying said coldly. "I'm being scolded for helping you, what's the meaning of that?"

Gu Yansheng sneered and shook his head: "Like a dog biting Lü Dongbin."

Luo Junqiang's eyes widened, and he slammed his hand on the table, standing up: "You're calling me a dog?"

Gu Yansheng lowered his head, not wanting to pay attention to him.

Luo Junqiang was attacked from both sides, and his chest heaved with anger.

He tapped his finger on the table and said through gritted teeth, "These are supplies needed by the new government's army. You are not cooperating and are even deliberately causing trouble. I will definitely report this to Mr. Zhou, Mr. Wang, and the Military Police Headquarters. You don't have to explain to me, then explain to the Japanese."

“No need to trouble yourself. Lieutenant Colonel Kobayashi just called me, and I’ve already asked him to come over,” Gu Yansheng said.

Luo Junqiang was unfamiliar with Kobayashi and suspected that he was Gu Yansheng's backer and would be detrimental to him after his arrival. He frowned and said, "The lieutenant colonel can't handle this matter. Colonel Kagesa must come and take charge."

After saying that, he first called Minister Zhou, and then called Yingzuo, inviting both of his backers to come together.

After a silent wait, Nobuo Kobayashi arrived first.

"Mr. Kobayashi." Several people stood up and greeted Kobayashi.

Xiao Lin glanced at everyone, then walked with a stiff face to the seat of honor that Fu Xiao'an had given up.

He picked up the meeting minutes from the secretary's hand, glanced at them, and then slammed them onto the table with a bang.

"Who gave you permission to forcibly requisition cotton yarn? Who gave you permission to collect cotton yarn from Japanese-owned enterprises!"

Everyone turned to look at Luo Junqiang.

Luo Junqiang immediately explained, "It's not that I want to collect it, Mr. Kobayashi. I only asked them to collect cotton yarn, I didn't say that I wanted to collect it from Japanese companies."

Kobayashi Nobuo then turned his gaze to Luo Junqiang.

"Is that the cotton yarn you ordered to be requisitioned?"

Kobayashi Nobuo found the person in question, his eyes filled with hostility. He slammed his hand on the table and glared at them, saying, "Do you know how much damage your forced conscription plan has caused to Shanghai's economy?"

"I did levy taxes, but I didn't say I was levying taxes on Japanese companies." Luo Junqiang knew this person was Gu Yansheng's backer, but he still had to explain to the Japanese. After speaking, he looked at the people who had attended the meeting yesterday and threw the person out without hesitation.

“Yesterday I had a meeting with Director Lu, Section Chief Gu and a section chief from the Finance Bureau’s Industry and Commerce Department. Their suggestion was to do it this way. I had no idea they were going to levy taxes on cotton yarn from Japanese-owned companies.”

Ignoring all this, Kobayashi Nobuo asked with a piercing gaze, "I'm asking you, who gave you permission to forcibly requisition cotton yarn?"

"The Military Police Command agreed to this; it was for the uniforms of the pacification army after the establishment of the new government."

"Who from the Military Police Headquarters?"

"Shadow Zuo. Colonel."

Nobuo Kobayashi took a deep breath, sat down, and looked at Fu Xiao'an. "Mayor Fu, I'm in charge of Shanghai's economy now. Why didn't you report on the serious impact of the forced requisition of cotton yarn?"

Fu Xiao'an bowed slightly: "Mr. Kobayashi, at the banquet at Director Gu's house, Colonel Kagesa told us to cooperate with the people assigned by Mr. Zhou to complete the mission. I thought you knew about this, since you were there at the time."

"I was there, but I didn't know they were planning to forcibly conscript people!"

With a snap, the door opened, and Kageyama Yoshiaki walked in, followed closely by Minister Zhou.

Kobayashi found the person in charge and said in Japanese, "Shanghai's economy simply cannot withstand such a large-scale forced requisition. I have the final say on economic matters. Why are you interfering? Do you know how serious the consequences will be?"

Kagesa Yoshiaki frowned slightly: "Kobayashi-kun, the military's mission for you is to implement military scrip in Shanghai and revive the economy, but they have never said that the Shanghai municipal government's affairs are under your jurisdiction. This has always been the mission of our China Special Service Committee."

"But your decision to forcibly requisition land will affect Shanghai's economic recovery!"

"First of all, I didn't say I wanted to forcibly requisition them. I negotiated with them and gave them the authority to find military supplies, which they would complete at the municipal government. But the method wasn't necessarily forcible requisition; it's just that they chose forcible requisition."

Secondly, even if they really had to forcibly conscript troops, there was no other way. The establishment of the Wang Jingwei regime was imminent, and they had to find a source of military supplies for the army. Either the people of Shanghai would provide the supplies, or we would. Do you think the military would provide the supplies for 50 people? What would be the point of having them then?
So don't say I'm sabotaging your mission. Your goal in completing the mission and boosting Shanghai's economy is to meet the military's needs. If you don't want to conscript, fine, you solve the military needs of 50 people, and I'll immediately make them give up the conscription.

Can you? If not, please sit to the side.

Kobayashi glared at him angrily: "Kagesa, you're too short-sighted. The consequences of economic destruction will far exceed the value of the cotton yarn needed by 50 people! This will affect my final mission."

Kagesa didn't want to say anything more. Kobayashi didn't offer him the seat of honor, but he didn't mind standing on the side and talking.

This time it was in Chinese: "I understand the general situation. Why is the cotton yarn from Japanese companies being levied? Whose idea was it?"

The people present remained silent.

Luo Junqiang launched into complaint mode, "Mr. Yingzuo, Mr. Zhou, I called the Director of the Finance Bureau, the Director of the Police Bureau, and the Director of the Judicial Department to discuss this matter yesterday. The plan was given to me by the three of them, and the execution was carried out by the people they sent. I really didn't know it would infringe on Japanese companies."

"It's like a dog biting Lü Dongbin," Gu Yansheng sneered.

"You're still cursing!" Luo Junqiang pointed at him, never expecting that Gu Yansheng would still dare to curse him even now.

Snapped!
Gu Yansheng stood up, slammed the document in front of him onto the table with a bang, and glared at him with a frown.

One should have a basic sense of shame!

The police station issued the personnel, the judicial department issued the seal—who are we doing this for? We help you out, and we're the ones taking the blame. Are you saying I'm wrong to accuse you of biting the hand that feeds you?
Do you know how much cotton yarn you need? 20,000 bales for 500,000 people!

You have no idea, huh? Have you looked at the materials? I have!
Shanghai had an annual production of 260,000 bales a year before the war, but 30% of that came from foreign concessions! 70% came from Chinese-controlled areas!

Now that there's a war, production capacity is only 70% of what it used to be. Of that 70%, 50% is Japanese, 20% is American, and only 30% is Chinese.

Of that 30%, another 40% must be forcibly sold to Japanese companies. Do you know how much is left?
20,000 packs!

Gu Yansheng tapped the table. "The 20,000 packages you want are not the monthly production capacity of the Shanghai factory, but the annual output of all Chinese-owned enterprises in Shanghai! It's the output that supplies the entire city of Shanghai and even the whole of China. Go ahead and collect them, go ahead and buy them. Do you think you can get them?"

All factories in Shanghai pay for their own raw materials and then provide manpower to produce for you for a year, is that right?

Don't even mention that they might not be willing; even if they were, you'd have to wait until next year for them to produce that many!

If you don't take from Japanese companies, are you getting enough?

Why did I have my men bring it over first? Only when the items reach the city government warehouse will you have any chance of keeping them.

Of course you can't stay, and you're not qualified to negotiate, but could Minister Zhou or Mr. Wang negotiate? The establishment of the new government is imminent, so is it possible that you could leave it behind and take it away?

Whether you buy it, borrow it, or even have to return it in the end, it's just a matter of paying for gas.

But if it's still in the Mitsui-Mitsubishi warehouse, will you be able to take it when you want to later?

"You know nothing and you don't even try to learn! If you'd just glanced at the information, you would have known that this operation definitely included Japanese companies!"

After Gu Yansheng finished speaking, he sat down and leaned back in his chair, looking very angry.

Luo Junqiang was extremely embarrassed by the scolding. "That doesn't mean you can take money from Japanese companies! And even if you had a plan, you should have told me beforehand!"

"What did I tell you? Did I tell you that this plan involved Japanese companies?" Gu Yansheng sat up, looking very angry, and said loudly, "This is your business. I'll help you with it. There are so many people in the municipal government helping you. That's more than enough."

If you've even looked at it, you should know that it includes Japanese companies. So no matter what the consequences are, you should bear the consequences yourself. You took the goods, so you have to take the blame yourself. Do you really need someone to teach you this kind of tacit understanding?

I help you and I get scolded? Is there any justice in this world?
Fine, I'll take the scolding today, Mr. Kagesa. I admit that I designed this plan myself, and it has nothing to do with anyone else in the city government. I'll have someone return the items, and I'll cover all the shipping costs myself. I won't spend a single penny of the city government's money. I'll personally apologize to all the Japanese companies, including Mitsui and Mitsubishi. I have nothing more to say.

But I request that you not contact me about this matter again; I am not capable of handling it.

Gu Yansheng leaned back, his face long and he didn't say a word.

Luo Junqiang was completely speechless.

The room fell silent.

Kagesa didn't know what to say for a moment.

Minister Zhou wanted to say something, but he didn't; his gaze remained fixed on Gu Yansheng.

But someone always has to break the silence.

It has to be Kagesa, since he's the highest-ranking officer, that's the conclusion we have to reach.

But it's hard to say whether the plan is good or bad. If it's bad, Minister Zhou is right there, and the cotton yarn issue can't be resolved.

Even saying that Gu Yansheng did something wrong is unacceptable. Was he wrong? Yes, he was wrong, but he was genuinely trying to resolve the issue, and it was something unrelated to his interests. In fact, the judicial department even bore the brunt of the criticism.

After thinking for a moment, he said, "I heard the data that Director Gu mentioned earlier, and it seems to be far from our target. Besides Director Gu's method, do you have any other solutions?"

Even if it didn't exist to begin with, it's impossible for anyone to expose Gu Yansheng now.

They either remained silent or shook their heads slightly, their expressions troubled.

"I understand the situation. I'll discuss this with Minister Zhou. You can continue your meeting. Minister Zhou, please."

"please."

The group left.

The atmosphere was a bit more relaxed, but with Luo Junqiang still around, the atmosphere was always a little awkward.

"Let's adjourn the meeting then and wait for them to make a decision."

After he finished speaking, no one moved much. Luo Junqiang, with a long face, walked away on his own.

The atmosphere brightened up as soon as he left.

"Director Gu, thank you." Lu Ying was the first to express her gratitude.

Today, Gu Yansheng really helped them take the blame for this whole thing.

Although things don't necessarily have to be done as ruthlessly as Gu Yansheng is doing now, everyone has participated in making things difficult for Luo Junqiang.

Gu Yansheng scoffed, "What's there to thank? I did give him a way out. If he had the ability to deal with the Japanese, he could have gotten this batch of cotton yarn. We would all have made a small contribution, which would also be a way of giving Minister Zhou and the others face, since we'll still be begging for food in Nanjing in the future."

If he can't handle it, he should just get lost; it's his own problem.

I never expected him to be such a bad person; helping him shouldn't make us take responsibility.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Director Gu has made great contributions. If we were to forcibly requisition all of Shanghai's cotton yarn for a year, Shanghai's textile industry would be completely ruined."

Fu Xiao'an still had to express his gratitude.

He was under the most pressure, because he was the biggest cotton yarn merchant. So the people in the Finance Bureau set a trap for Luo Junqiang, whether he could understand the information they gave him or not.

In any case, the final plan would either offend Japanese companies and force them to seize the property, or it would incite a popular uprising, allowing Lieutenant Colonel Kobayashi to deal with him. Either way, he would not end up in a good situation.

The only question is whether Lu Ying and Gu Yansheng will help him carry it out.

Lu Ying was alright, but Gu Yansheng and he didn't get along so well.

But this time, Gu Yansheng actually helped him, so he still has to thank him.

After a while, Minister Zhou returned alone.

He smiled and said, "Thank you all for your hard work."

"It should."

"Director Gu, could you please come out for a moment?"

Gu Yansheng was called out, and Minister Zhou said with a smile, "I apologize on his behalf. He did something wrong, and I hope Director Gu will forgive him. Let's have dinner together tonight as an apology."

(End of this chapter)