Spy Wars: Red Shopkeeper

Chapter 159 Guard
On this matter, Li Shiqun and Ding Mocun shared the same hatred: "That's right, will our special agent headquarters also have to take orders from you, Minister Gu, then?"

Gu Yansheng glanced at them and sneered, "It's still just a rumor. That's what they say, but Mr. Wang has his own people on his side."

They were a group from Guangdong, including one named Li Shengwu, who had a doctorate in law and had studied in Japan. Even Minister Zhou wasn't sure if the matter would succeed.

If this matter doesn't work out, at most a bureau chief will be sent to deal with it; there are a whole bunch of people above me who will take care of it.

On the contrary, who can compete with you for the position of the Special Agents Headquarters? Do you even think you can compete for it?

And judging from what Minister Zhou just said, "military, police, and gendarmerie—who's the police? Who's the gendarmerie? It's just the two of you."

Li Shiqun was pleased to hear this, but waved his hand and sneered: "If Minister Zhou thinks it's okay, then I think it's fine. I also know a bit about the Wang faction. In terms of ability, they are far inferior to Minister Zhou. Minister Zhou is the deputy director of President Chiang's personal staff."

"If he weren't capable, how could he have reached this position? President Jiang is such a difficult person to please; just ask Director Ding, and Minister Zhou is certainly very familiar with him."

Ding Mocun was indeed familiar with the situation; both he and Minister Zhou were veterans of the CC Clique.

Hearing this, he said, "Minister Zhou has great ambitions. Listen to what he just said: military power, financial power, legal power, police power, constitutional power. If you take these away from a country, what is left?"
Conversely, if we already have these, what else is there to take?

"Hahahahahaha."

"So, Brother Gu, he will definitely fight for your legal rights."

Gu Yansheng had nothing to say, he just smiled and drank.

“It sounds like I’m the most useless one, someone who can be replaced easily,” He Xingjian chimed in.

Ding Mocun laughed and said, "Commander He, forget it, it's too convoluted. Brother He, your army is different from others. They are all disciples of the Green Gang. Who do you think could replace you? If it were so easy to replace someone, how did you manage to bring more than 10,000 people here?"

And from what Minister Zhou said, all the military supplies are ready, just waiting for you, Brother Gu, isn't that right?"

"Yes." Gu Yansheng nodded. "Just tell me what you need. If you want grain, I'll give you grain; if you want clothing, I'll give you clothing. But if you want women, don't come to me. I really don't have any."

"Hahahaha." The three of them burst into laughter.

Gu Yansheng said, "Brother He, you really don't need to worry. Minister Zhou told me that there is still a pacification army in Nanjing, which is being prepared to be transformed from the army under the current Nanjing Reformed Government."

If they were capable, Minister Zhou wouldn't have needed to specifically seek you out. It's simply, as Minister Zhou said, that some people are too complicated, especially the people in Nanjing these days, right?

He Xingjian nodded. "I know these people. They are Ren Yuandao's troops. Ren Yuandao is the commander of Liang Hongzhi's pacification army. Liang Hongzhi and Mr. Wang probably don't get along very well, right?"

“They definitely won’t get along,” Ding Mocun interjected. “The Japanese demanded that Mr. Wang’s people integrate the North China Reform Government and the Central China Reform Government. Liang Hongzhi is now in charge of Nanjing. You think that once Mr. Wang arrives, Liang Hongzhi will become the second-in-command? In reality, he won’t even get the second-in-command position. How can he be happy about that?”
"He used Ren Yuandao's name, but can Minister Zhou of the Army really believe him?"

This put He Xingjian's mind at ease, making him feel much more comfortable.

"Come on, come on, drink."

"I have to have a drink with you today. With you here, that scoundrel Dai Yunong will definitely be furious. I really want to see his face when President Jiang scolds him. I'll be laughing in my dreams tonight."

"Ha ha ha ha."

He Xingjian took a sip of wine and asked with a smile, "Director Li, I heard you mention at the dinner table that you and Minister Zhou used to be involved with the Red Party?"

“That’s ancient history.” Li Shiqun laughed and swirled his wine glass. “He was a delegate to the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China. In terms of qualifications, few people in the Red Party could compare to him. I’m just a nobody. I only worked in the Special Branch for a few years.”

"Director Li's experience is indeed extensive." Gu Yansheng asked curiously, "So how did you get into the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics?"

"It's a long story," Li Shiqun said, taking a sip of his drink with a nostalgic expression. "Back then, I was Zhou's bodyguard in the Special Branch."

The Third Division, also known as the infamous Red Team or the Dog-Beating Team, had its leader arrested in Wuhan. Do you know how he was arrested? He actually went to the market to perform, and the performance he was performing was something as rare as magic.

As more people saw him, someone recognized him, and he was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics (CBIS) in no time.

After being arrested, he immediately betrayed the party and revealed all the information. Fortunately, he was arrested in Wuhan. Xu Enzeng's confidential secretary was a member of the Communist Party. A telegram was sent from Wuhan, and the people in Shanghai were evacuated immediately.

If the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics (CBIS) wanted to find them again, they would have to rely on other clues, one of which was my name, which he had given them. He knew that I was Zhou's bodyguard and wanted to find Zhou, who had already escaped, by finding me.

I have to admire Zhou's high level of vigilance. He thought of this when the incident happened. He arranged for us to escape separately, so that even if we were caught, we could minimize the losses.

I hid in Jiangsu at that time, thinking I was safe by changing my name. Who knew that the crackdown was so widespread, I still couldn't escape it and was taken to the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics (Zhongtong).

You know, I was tortured back then, and I endured it. When I couldn't take it anymore, I used false information to fool Xu Enzeng, thinking that he would release me to find someone so I could escape.

But that traitor wouldn't let me go. He's the head of the Third Section, and he knows too much information. He can find out even the slightest bit of falsehood in my testimony.

Xu Enzeng almost had me executed because of this.

There was no other way; I had to survive, right? So I had no choice but to work for Xu Enzeng.

But to be honest, I haven't done anything to wrong the Red Party. What I know, the traitors already know. What I confessed was worthless, and besides, I delayed for a while. Even if I really knew something, according to organizational discipline, these people would have already fled.

"That's more than enough," Gu Yansheng nodded.

"Come on, let's have a drink." Ding Mocun raised his glass.

If it comes to the mental journey of becoming a traitor and collaborator, everyone in this room could tell a long story, and at this moment, there is a sense of mutual sympathy.

Hasn't this friend achieved his/her goal?
"Oh, you have some distinguished guests here, without even telling me beforehand."

Liao Shan received the news, knocked on the door with a smile, and came in. Seeing that there was no woman in the room, he immediately became angry with his subordinates, "What's going on? Why didn't you arrange for someone to serve you properly? Is this how you treat your distinguished guest while I'm not here?"

“We’re here to talk business, we’re not going to do this on purpose.” Li Shiqun stepped forward to greet him, then strode out the door and shouted at Wu Sibao, who was peering down the stairs watching the women dance: “I told you to watch the door, and this is how you watch? You think dancing is so good?”
"So it's Boss Liao who's here. What if it's an assassin?"

Wu Sibao felt wronged after being scolded. "Brother, look, there are men guarding all around. I was the only one who let Boss Liao in. Do you see anyone else around here?"

Li Shiqun glanced at it and confirmed it was true. He rolled his eyes and went inside, smiling at Liao Shan: "President Liao, we still need to be careful when we're out and about. I didn't mean anything by it, so please don't take offense."

"I understand." They readily agreed, as they were all respectable people from Shanghai. They introduced themselves to each other.

Gu Yansheng happened to be looking for Liao Shan for something, so since they had run into each other, he decided to talk to him.

"Boss Liao, the Japanese want me to manage the western part of Shanghai and are demanding a significant increase in taxes. You know business is tough, and those factories really aren't making much money anymore. Do you have any ideas on how to help me raise some money to get by?"

Liao Shan frowned and asked, "What is the exact number?"

"Ten thousand silver dollars a month, I guess." Gu Yansheng immediately raised the price by two times.

“Quite a few.” Liao Shan thought for a moment and shook his head. “There probably isn’t a good way. By now, all the casinos in western Shanghai should have already paid their fees.”

Li Shiqun had an idea. "Hey, Brother Gu, this is perfect. The Japanese have given me a mission: to expand my influence in the concessions and infiltrate them. I think it would be better to do this."

You're transferring taxes to the concessions. Aren't there areas in both concessions that were built beyond the original boundaries when roads were constructed?
In areas where there are no contracts with the Chinese government, we'll first force the concessions to relinquish their law enforcement and tax collection powers. I'll enforce the law, and you collect taxes.

This is not a good idea.

Gu Yansheng frowned and said, "I'm afraid this won't work. You're threatening the livelihood of the concession. If things get out of hand, it's hard to say whether the Japanese will protect us or not."

"Is arresting a spy in the foreign concession the same as seizing someone else's tax authority in the foreign concession?"

Li Shiqun smiled and said, "This is the simplest way. It's 100,000 silver dollars. If you get in, it's 300,000 silver dollars."

Only a fool would play along with you.

Gu Yansheng shook his head decisively, "No, you're from the Special Agent Headquarters, you can do whatever you want, you can just deny it. I'm from the Municipal Government, I don't follow the law, I come to collect taxes, that changes the nature of the matter."

(End of this chapter)