Spy Wars: Red Shopkeeper

Chapter 160 Inevitable Kill
"Then you'll have to figure it out yourself." Li Shiqun drank his wine. "How can you collect an extra 100,000 silver dollars in taxes without opening up tax revenue sources in the concessions?"

Gu Yansheng looked troubled, but said casually, "Actually, there are still options. There are many underground casinos in western Shanghai. If I crack down on them and consolidate them, or investigate the casinos and dance halls that are currently open, then I might be able to come up with 100,000 silver dollars a month. In fact, I think 100,000 is a bit too little."

As soon as he finished speaking, Liao Shan's expression changed, and he said urgently, "Director Gu, this is not appropriate. This area in western Shanghai supports many people. If you do this, it will incite a popular uprising."

Gu Yansheng asked him curiously, "Is it that serious?"

Liao Shan received a share of Huang Jinrong's profits in Shanghai. To put it more bluntly, Huang Jinrong is now living in seclusion, and Liao Shan is one of his key figures supporting him. Gu Yansheng is trying to force Liao Shan to make a scene.

"Of course I will." Liao Shan came up with some random reasons, but in the end he felt that he might not be able to convince Gu Yansheng, so he went to Li Shiqun.

"Director Li, you know the western part of Shanghai best. Say a few words."

Li Shiqun also had to speak up for this matter, as the Special Agent Headquarters also had a share, and a significant portion at that, 30% of the profits.

"Director Gu, this matter really needs to be reconsidered."

Li Shiqun walked over, patted Gu Yansheng on the shoulder, and pulled him outside to talk: "Hubei West is Huang Jinrong's territory. I've gotten involved in some of his business, but it's just a helpless move because the Special Agent Headquarters' expenses are too high. Just consider it a favor to me, and we'll think of other solutions for Hubei West."

I'll talk to them about this and get them to give you 10% of their monthly profits.

But I still have to complain, "Only 10%?"

Li Shiqun patted Gu Yansheng on the shoulder, "Don't think it's too little. There are many people who need to make a living. The Japanese behind me will take a share of this business, the Special Agent Headquarters will take a share, the Municipal Council will take a share, the Shanghai West Police Station will take a share, the British troops at the docks will take a share, and even the Japanese at Wusongkou will be bribed."

And then there's Liao Shan, Huang Jinrong, and even those people working under them need to make a profit, right? Do you think any link in the chain wouldn't get paid?

Gu Yansheng smiled and said, "No wonder Huang Jinrong can live so comfortably even though he doesn't work for the Japanese. He has people taking care of him in every way."

"Let's help each other out." Li Shiqun smiled. "When you're out in the world, don't you always have to rely on friends?"

"Okay, I'll give you face and think of another way."

With this statement, Gu Yansheng had already achieved his goal of stirring up this matter: in the future, when doing business, no one should criticize anyone else.

"Thank you very much."

"How much is 10% profit?"

"Depending on the market, I'd say at least 20,000 to 30,000."

"Row."

Back in the private room, we chatted about miscellaneous matters, the war, and romantic things. Eventually, the conversation turned to the burning of the Huxi granary that day.

Li Shiqun has been busy all day and only just found out about this: "The Japanese granary was burned down, and there were gunshots?"

“Yes.” Gu Yansheng recounted what he had seen and heard.

With only one piece of evidence, we can only conclude that this is the work of the Military Intelligence Bureau. However, Li Shiqun is finding it difficult to determine the purpose of targeting the Japanese grain depot. Is it a personal grudge against Mitsui, or is he trying to do something else?

We discussed the matter briefly and then moved on to enjoying ourselves!

Liao Shan summoned a group of dancers over. Gu Yansheng did indeed have an acquaintance at Xianlesi, the top courtesan Bai Mei.

Bai Mei was also somewhat surprised to see Gu Yansheng, but Gu Yansheng had only asked Bai Mei to spread the false news that the Japanese army wanted to forcibly conscript people before, so even if she let it slip, Gu Yansheng didn't care.

However, this woman was very good at reading people's expressions. She didn't say anything she wasn't sure she could say, but only said that she had seen Director Gu's face in the newspaper and had admired him for a long time. She then sat down next to him.

Since Gu Yansheng is the youngest in the room, sitting here is definitely a better experience than sitting next to the others.

As a result, Gu Yansheng was teased by several people.

The following day, almost all the major Chinese newspapers in the concession published the Military Intelligence Bureau's claim to the burning of the Mitsui grain warehouse the previous day, and threatened Japanese companies for their malicious hoarding of grain and speculation.

If they don't release the grain, they'll burn the granaries!
Any grain shop that sells overpriced grain, whether run by Japanese or Chinese, will be sent to its doom by the Iron-Blooded Assassination Squad!

Keep selling if you're not afraid of dying!
After making those bold remarks, the citizens on the streets this morning were visibly pleased, reading their newspapers and cheering loudly.

Suddenly, the grain shops that were still selling high-priced grain were deserted, and the people who were queuing up to grab grain were pulled away by their neighbors.

According to Xiaoli, the rather attractive owner of the rouge shop, who pulled away Aunt Milo, the woman who was buying cosmetics.

"Why buy such expensive rice now? Just wait and see. When the Iron-Blooded Assassination Squad arrives, these Japanese will be afraid of dying, and the price of rice will definitely come down."

Even if the Japanese aren't afraid, they're not in a hurry for a day or two. Here, I still have some rice; lend me half a liter to eat for now."

The rice shop owners were stunned. The news quickly spread, and Chinese workers for Japanese companies began to panic. Meanwhile, Japanese newspapers and the Shen Bao newspaper also published another piece of news today.

The main force of the Chongqing government, the Loyal and Patriotic Army, was deeply moved by Mr. Wang's ideas of peace and national salvation. More than 50,000 members of the Loyal and Patriotic Army joined Mr. Wang. The army is now stationed in the Shanghai-Suzhou area, and Commander He Xingjian has entered Shanghai and been received by Minister Zhou.

The Japanese made no attempt to hide the fact that He Xingjian had defected.

This would greatly dampen the morale of the entire Chinese resistance against Japan, and it would also set an example, showing all the commanders of the Chinese army across the country how good the treatment of those who joined them was, and how comfortable He Xingjian's life would be in Shanghai.

The exaggeration of the numbers is evident.

The following section will be Minister Zhou's remarks on this matter.

The author is Liang Youwei, the editor-in-chief.

It's obvious that this newspaper was forced to be published by the Japanese. Gu Yansheng has read many of the newspapers, and this is definitely not Liang Youwei's article; it has no critical content whatsoever.

The public was full of complaints.

Even President Jiang of Chongqing would probably be cursing after seeing this.

As for Boss Dai, it's possible that he was slapped by President Jiang.

In the afternoon, Chen Mo used the drug issue as an excuse to find Gu Yansheng.

Gu Yansheng knew his purpose as soon as he saw him, and took him for a walk along the Suzhou River to check out the docks where smuggling was carried out.

"Is there news from Chongqing?"

Chen Mo nodded. "I sent a telegram to Chongqing as soon as I saw the newspaper this morning. Director Dai instructed that He Xingjian must be executed at all costs!"

"I expected it. The major general commander's entire unit defected, which would have a terrible impact, especially since it was Director Dai's troops. What do you plan to do?"

"I need your help to find He Xingjian's whereabouts, preferably his address. Once I know his address and his routine, I can track him down myself. Can you find a way to meet him?"

“I have already seen the person, but if you want to make a move now, I don’t think the timing is right.”

Gu Yansheng walked forward with a calm expression. "This is the time when He Xingjian and the Japanese are most vigilant. Yesterday, I met He Xingjian with people from the Special Agent Headquarters, which means that this person has come into Li Shiqun's sights."

Li Shiqun is very vigilant. Yesterday, when I went to Xianlesi with them for drinks, even though Wu Sibao was guarding outside and there were no gunshots, Li Shiqun still felt uneasy.

Now that He Xingjian has defected, I can guess how Dai will react. The Japanese, like Li Shiqun, can guess as well. If you make a move now, there will definitely be a net waiting for you.

Li Shiqun had been eagerly awaiting news of the Military Intelligence Bureau's new Shanghai branch for a long time.

And that doesn't even include He Xingjian's own bodyguards.

“I know it’s difficult,” Chen Mo frowned. “But Director Dai has issued a kill order. He’s determined to eliminate the traitors at all costs and to see the bodies quickly to deter them. It’s something that must be done.”

“I understand how you feel. Things must be done, and we must eliminate the traitors, but shouldn’t we also consider the matter of killing someone more carefully?”
A kill order is first and foremost a kill order, not a suicide mission. The best approach is to wait. Wait until these few days have passed and everyone feels safe before making your move. Li Shiqun's men won't hold out against He Xingjian indefinitely.

There are some things Gu Yansheng, as a staff officer, cannot say, especially about instigating Chen Mo to disobey orders. If Boss Dai finds out, he will be in big trouble. Boss Dai is definitely furious right now, but he doesn't want Chen Mo to die. Now is definitely not the best time to assassinate him.

Chen Mo wasn't one to act impulsively, otherwise he wouldn't be able to lead the Iron-Blooded Assassination Squad. Hearing this, he nodded and said, "I know. I won't die in vain. I'll investigate thoroughly before making a move. The only problem is that we're missing He Xingjian's whereabouts. Where is he now?"

“Yuyuan Road.” Gu Yansheng sighed and said, “You should know that place; the road is difficult to travel.” He had mentioned this at yesterday’s party.

Li Shiqun's house was there, as were some of the higher-ups at No. 76, and a Japanese military police unit was stationed nearby.

With the concession police station in front and the 76 headquarters behind, it's now a trap; whoever goes in gets caught.

"If I were Li Shiqun, these past few days, if a stranger appears in that alley, let alone enter it, even lingering at the entrance for a minute longer is considered suspicious. You can't even do any investigation."

Chen Mo thought it made sense. Yuyuan Road was particularly complicated. It was a typical Shanghai hutong, a villa area with messy, winding alleys. People unfamiliar with the area would get lost. The key issue was that there were a lot of traitors living there.

The more traitors there are, the more henchmen there are, and they are all henchmen of traitors.

"Then let's wait for him to come out. I don't believe he'll hide inside and never come out."

"He will definitely come out. If he were that patient, he wouldn't have betrayed us. He's just a womanizer."

Gu Yansheng described He Xingjian's performance last night: "This man is lustful. He's been cooped up in the wild for too long, so he'll definitely be looking for women to enjoy himself with frequently in the near future. There will still be opportunities, but you have to be patient and look for patterns. For example, does he have any women he particularly likes? If there are patterns, it's easier to kill him."

(End of this chapter)