Spy Wars: Red Shopkeeper

Chapter 193 Arrival in Shanghai
Ding-ling-ling. Ding-ling-ling.

"Hey."

"Director Gu, this is Fu Xiao'an. Tsuda has informed us to go to the municipal government. There will be a meeting at the municipal government in two hours."

"Okay, I'll be there on time."

Xingya Institute convened a meeting, and Gu Yansheng drove to the municipal government.

After arriving, I chatted with Ling Xianwen for a while.

Ling Xianwen was very grateful for Gu Yansheng's great help; He Yun's factory would benefit from the tax revenue generated there.

After chatting for a while, Wang Rusong arrived and smiled at Gu Yansheng, "Director Gu didn't even wait for me."

"How would I know which woman's bed you're in? The police station hasn't seen you, how am I supposed to find you?" Gu Yansheng leaned back in his chair, rolling his eyes and teasing.

"Hahahaha." The others in the conference room laughed.

"Stop talking, stop talking." Wang Rusong sat down, his face flushed. "What do the Japanese want with us?"

"I don't know." Gu Yansheng asked Fu Xiao'an, but Fu Xiao'an didn't know either.

After waiting a while, the people from Pudong arrived, and Tsuda Shizue followed closely behind.

"Everyone, I have an announcement to make. Due to some other reasons, we need to compile a list of your work results for this period of time in advance. Please complete the accounts for your respective areas as soon as possible and submit them to the Xingya Institute for review within seven days."

"Seven days? How could this be so sudden?" Someone's expression changed.

There was still about half a month left before the three-month deadline. Normally, after three months, there would be at least another month to do the statistical work.

There are only seven days in total. If the data is insufficient, how can they falsify it?

Tsuda Shizue did not explain the reason, "It must be handed in in seven days. Meeting adjourned."

He left after saying that, leaving a group of people who had come from afar bewildered.

"Mayor Fu, what's going on here?" The Finance Bureau Chief was the most worried. "My subordinate was arrested in Wusongkou, which caused Wusongkou's growth point to disappear. The subsequent data will look terrible. I'm trying to come up with a solution, but even the best solution takes time to implement. Suddenly I have to deliver results. Isn't that going to kill me?"

“Yes, Mayor Fu,” someone chimed in.

Fu Xiao'an frowned and said, "You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask? Tsuda didn't tell me the reason either."
But this matter is not hard to guess. There are only two reasons. Last time, we asked Tsuda to negotiate with the Military Police Command and ask the Military Police Command to take charge of the Special Agent Headquarters. There has been no news for so many days. It is possible that Tsuda and the Military Police Command could not reach an agreement and could only let the data speak for itself and let the Japanese Cabinet put pressure on the Military Police Command.

He manages things well; once the Shanghai economic data is presented, won't the cabinet listen to him?

This analysis drew nods of agreement from everyone.

"So, you're saying we still have to submit good data?"

This is to save everyone's lives.

"I think the data has to be good."

Everyone nodded in agreement, except for the two bureau chiefs from Wusongkou, who looked miserable. "How good can these figures be? You can open factories and increase tax revenue in the city, but can Wusongkou open factories and increase tax revenue? If we increase it any further, all these people will have to leave."

"Find your own way." The crowd wasn't there to listen to their complaints, especially the people from Pudong, where casinos and brothels were thriving.

"Mayor, you've given two reasons. What other reasons are there?"

"And another thing," Fu Xiao'an paused, glancing around, "the people from Hanoi are arriving. You don't know that yet, do you?"

"When?" several bureau chiefs exclaimed, genuinely unaware of this news. "Soon, within the next few days, judging by the timeline." Fu Xiao'an looked at Ling Xianwen and Gu Yansheng, finally turning to Gu Yansheng and asking with a smile, "Director Gu, do you know?"

Everyone turned to look at Gu Yansheng, and whoever was closer to the Japanese was the one who represented status.

Gu Yansheng nodded. "You should know about the assassination attempt. The people from Hanoi are indeed arriving soon."

The expressions on everyone's faces were varied.

"Mayor Fu, please continue," Gu Yansheng prompted.

“Alright,” Fu Xiao’an said. “According to my guess, the negotiations between Hanoi and the Japanese are still ongoing. This trip to Shanghai was actually forced by the assassination attempt by the Military Intelligence Bureau. What are they negotiating? It’s nothing more than each side revealing their bargaining chips.”

The Japanese now advocate using Chinese to control Chinese. They want people in Hanoi, but on the surface, they have to tell the people in Hanoi how little they need them.

The people of Hanoi knew that the Japanese needed them, so the fact that they hadn't agreed after so long must mean they were holding out for a higher price.

Tsuda is now collecting our tax data. I suspect it's to tell the people in Hanoi that we're managing things quite well and thriving, which would allow them to pressure Hanoi into lowering their demands.

"Impressive, Mayor Fu. No wonder you have extensive business experience," the Finance Bureau Chief flattered. "You can see the negotiation from a business perspective, and I think that's exactly why. You hit the nail on the head."

"You see, the negotiations are handled by Kagesa. Tsuda gives our data to Kagesa, and Kagesa can then issue orders to the Special Agent Headquarters. Doesn't that complete a transaction?"

"Then let's pay it. We all need to save our lives, right?" someone suggested. "Let's do everything we can to increase the tax revenue so that Lieutenant General Tsuda can have a smooth negotiation with Kagesa and take back the power."

"That's all it can do."

The other bureau chiefs nodded.

Gu Yansheng had no objections.

Only Luo Junqiang listened with a sullen face.

Gu Yansheng noticed his expression, found it strange, and then laughed.

Luo Junqiang runs a brothel in Pudong. His data in Pudong should be very good. He can definitely achieve a 30% growth rate. In those muddy places like Pudong, if you're into this kind of thing, a 50% growth rate is possible.

However, according to Fu Xiao'an's analysis, this matter is not a good thing for the negotiations in Hanoi. What should Luo Junqiang do, since he represents Minister Zhou?
Having already handed over the task to the Japanese, and with Minister Zhou arriving later, Luo Junqiang now has no one to consult with on this matter.

If he doesn't deliver on his promise, the Japanese might be furious and punish him severely. But if he does deliver, and the news reaches Minister Zhou's ears, what will he think of Luo Junqiang's actions? That he's abandoned Hanoi and surrendered to his Japanese masters?

Fu Xiao'an's analysis may not be correct, but things have become more difficult.

After the meeting, Gu Yansheng planned to leave with Wang Rusong and return to western Shanghai.

Luo Junqiang suddenly spoke up: "Director Gu, wait a minute, I have something to ask you."

"What is it?" Gu Yansheng asked, bewildered.

Luo Junqiang smiled and asked after everyone left, "Director Gu, what do you plan to do about this? Fu Xiao'an's words could be a trap. If we don't handle it well, it could cause trouble for Minister Zhou."

"How could this cause trouble?" Gu Yansheng asked, puzzled.

Luo Junqiang frowned at Gu Yansheng, "Didn't you understand what Fu Xiao'an meant just now? Are you planning to hand it over? You're helping the Japanese, not Minister Zhou, is that what you're thinking?"

Gu Yansheng shook his head. "How could that be? I'm just stating the facts. I will definitely hand it in, but you may have misunderstood. The data I submitted this time is definitely not enough to cover 30% of the tax revenue. Therefore, my data will not have any negative impact on Minister Zhou's negotiations, and may even be helpful."

"You're not enough?" Luo Junqiang's eyes widened. "How could you possibly not be enough?"

(End of this chapter)