Spy Wars: Red Shopkeeper

Chapter 165: Grabbing Medicine
Mr. Wu said, "Regarding your suggestion about the Loyal and Patriotic Army, after discussing it with the New Fourth Army headquarters, we felt that several steps could be carried out simultaneously."

We can either plant our own people in and train them from the bottom up, or we can turn some key members of the puppet army to defect and provide us with sources of information. You can also manipulate them at the higher levels to intensify their internal strife and weaken their combat effectiveness.

There's no need to take only one path; all paths are viable.

I'll assign someone else to handle this. Once a candidate is chosen and their cooperation is needed, I'll notify you then.

Gu Yansheng nodded, "Okay."

"There's one more thing I need to tell you. I've already sent someone to retrieve Chen Mo's organizational affiliation."

He Xingjian was a disciple of Du Yuesheng of the Green Gang, as was Chen Mo. A large part of the Loyal and Patriotic Army was composed of members of the Green Gang. Members of the Green Gang valued seniority and loyalty. It was very likely that Chen Mo could use Du Yuesheng's reputation to establish connections with people within the gang.

This is also a path I've been considering.

Another point is the smuggling channel you suggested. Chen Mo, with his status, can play a significant role in this matter.

As for Chen Mo, since his organizational affiliation has just been restored, it is necessary to conduct a period of observation.

You can help him, but you can't let him know your identity; you two are on separate paths.

"clear."

The fact that Chen Mo could be brought back was truly good news for Gu Yansheng.

We then talked about other things, all sorts of topics.

For example, during the chat, it was clearly stated that a Shanghai intelligence framework centered on Gu Yansheng would be established.

Let's chat a little longer, then it's time to say goodbye.

"Comrade Yansheng." Mr. Wu shook hands with Gu Yansheng. "The situation of the struggle has changed. You must remember your identity and also put yourself at the strategic level."

Tactics and strategy are different.

"I understand," Gu Yansheng nodded.

"Okay, take care."

"Take care of yourself."

With their hands clasped tightly, at this precious moment, Gu Yansheng couldn't help but ask, "Since you're already here, why don't you take some money back with you?"

Mr. Wu raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Looks like you've made quite a bit of money?"

"It's alright." Gu Yansheng smiled slightly. "We still have several hundred thousand US dollars."

"Tsk." Mr. Wu exclaimed in amazement, "I really envy Old Chen now. He's so good at making money. When I get back to Yan'an, he'll definitely come and brag to me again."

Shen Lin deeply agreed, as he earned money faster than he spent it.

"Let's skip this one. After I finish meeting with you, I still have to go to Zhejiang to meet with the Zhejiang branch. It's inconvenient to carry a big suitcase of money back and forth."

After I return from Zhejiang, I will also be going to Hong Kong. Hong Kong and Guangdong are also under the jurisdiction of the Southern Bureau. I will set up a safe house in Hong Kong. If we need to meet again, we can consider meeting there and discuss money then.

"Okay, I'll find an opportunity to legitimize my trip to Hong Kong."

After meeting with the leader, Gu Yansheng was in a good mood.

It's true that there's a long-standing tradition of superiors visiting and comforting their subordinates. Just the fact that such a prominent figure was willing to venture into dangerous territory would greatly boost the morale of the local soldiers, and the New Fourth Army's combat effectiveness would definitely be enhanced.

If you're not afraid to die, then I'm not afraid to die either. Just from this perspective, the soldiers' fighting spirit can become incredibly high.

Gu Yansheng also received the latest instructions: the twelve-character policy called for development to the north, indicating that the organization had clearly set its sights on the granaries of northern Jiangsu.

With fewer people, Japan cannot achieve a quick victory against China given its strategic depth. Furthermore, if its logistics are seized, the war will become extremely difficult.

Lu Bowen had seized the initiative; the stations he set up would prove invaluable for transporting grain later. Upon returning, Gu Yansheng relayed the organization's latest instructions to He Yun, telling her to pass them on to Lu Bowen upon his return. While fighting raged outside Shanghai, with the Military Intelligence Bureau and the 76th Division battling it out everywhere, Gu Yansheng remained secluded in a teahouse, drinking tea.

The Japanese companies' grain warehouses suffered the most damage. At first, they didn't want to lose face. If the Kuomintang (KMT) made a call, they would release the grain. Where would they put their face then?
Li Shiqun even wanted to use this opportunity to lure out members of the Military Intelligence Bureau.

However, as the battle escalated and the Military Intelligence Bureau's Shanghai branch joined the fight, Li Shiqun's forces could no longer attend to them.

He Xingjian needed to protect the granaries, and he also needed to ambush them. He even had to station people to stake out the Japanese grain shops on the streets and alleys. Where would they find so many people if the whole of Shanghai were to fight?

No. 76 could only handle urgent matters, and had to redeploy the manpower of the Japanese company's grain depot.

With this relocation, the Iron-Blooded Assassination Squad can then take over and continue burning down the granaries.

Japanese companies couldn't hold on any longer.

Forget about saving face, money is more important.

In response, the Japanese company published a statement explaining that they understood the difficulties faced by Shanghai residents in purchasing food, so they urgently transferred some military rations from other areas to sell to the residents at a fair price, and that it was by no means any stockpiled grain.

When you have food to eat, who cares what kind of grain it is?

Once the Japanese companies released their grain, Sassoon and Zhang Xiaolin had no choice but to release the grain they had hoarded as well, which greatly alleviated Shanghai's food crisis.

Zhang Xiaolin, upon learning that the Japanese had distributed grain, cursed at Gu Yansheng, "Damn it, these spineless cowards, they made me lose so much money!"

"As long as there's some profit to be made, it's not like we're not making any money at all."

Gu Yansheng couldn't urge Zhang Xiaolin to release the grain at that time, as that wouldn't fit his greedy character. However, since the Japanese were releasing the grain, they had no choice but to release it.

Ding-ling-ling. Ding-ling-ling.

"Hey."

Liu Xiaolou's voice came through the phone, "Director, Qi Wuzhou from Jiuzhou Pharmacy called and wants to see you. Should I give him your address?"

"Let him come over."

"Ok."

Looks like there's news about the medicine. Great, money really does give you motivation.

Gu Yansheng waited for almost an hour before Qi Wuzhou arrived.

"Hello, Director Gu." Qi Wuzhou bowed deeply.

"Is it good news?" Gu Yansheng asked, sipping his tea.

Qi Wuzhou smiled broadly and took two steps closer, saying, "Great news! Director Gu, we overcame all difficulties and finally succeeded in our mission. We've retrieved eight tons of quinine!"

"Robbed?" Gu Yansheng raised an eyebrow. "Wow, Boss Qi, impressive. Tell me how you robbed it?"

Qi Wuzhou chuckled sheepishly, "It wasn't because of your advice that my blockhead finally saw the light. I bribed a few local scoundrels and didn't tell them we were planning to rob the goods. I just told them we were there to buy medicine to smuggle."

After connecting with them, they paid a deposit of 20,000 yuan, and requested that the remaining amount be paid in person.

They felt very reassured because they thought we outsiders couldn't run away anyway. Moreover, due to the influence of the international situation, neither China nor Japan could buy quinine, and local manufacturers had stockpiled a large amount of quinine inventory, eager to sell it all to us.

Although it wasn't ten tons, it was eight tons. They offered to produce two more tons, but I thought that would take a long time to produce, so I agreed on the surface but actually bought their eight tons first.

With dozens of men escorting them, plus local police or something, I recruited 600 tough guys from Shanghai, surrounded them all, and after all the cargo was loaded onto the ship and sailed away, we even had a fight with the local coast guard!

"Where's the goods?"

"Arriving in port tonight."

(End of this chapter)