Spy Wars: Red Shopkeeper

Chapter 207 The Wall
"The idea of ​​building the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere was their own cabinet's idea, and the strategy of using Chinese to control Chinese was also their own idea. The Japanese are also facing many problems at home. Without our help, do they still want to take over the whole of East Asia and drive out the British and Americans? What a pipe dream!"

Minister Zhou stood up to reassure them, "Don't worry, I don't think this matter is that simple. To say that the Japanese don't want to talk, I don't think that's entirely true."

Japan's army, navy, and air force are currently bogged down in the Chinese theater, their resources are blocked, and their domestic situation is also not good.

Only by seeking peace and quickly ending the war can we withdraw our military forces from the Chinese battlefield.

So I think they really want to talk, and that's the general trend.

"Then why are you trying to pull some tricks on us?" Wang stared in bewilderment.

“That may not have been his intention.” Minister Zhou shook his head and said with his hands behind his back, “Judging from the actions, both things were handled by Takeo Imai. In terms of the order of events, the negotiations came first, and the bank followed.”

Can we then assume that Takeo Imai intended to negotiate from the beginning, which would align with our assessment of the overall situation?

However, during this period, or recently, something else happened that caused Takeo Imai to change his strategy.

"What could happen?"

"Kin'e stepping down?"

Fumimaro Konoe was the Japanese prime minister when Wang Jingwei defected. Wang's telegram in Hanoi was a response to Konoe's statement on the situation in East Asia.

After exchanging glances, Konoe turned around and led the Japanese cabinet in a mass resignation, which meant stepping down.

Minister Wang and Minister Zhou exchanged glances and slowly sat down. "If you put it that way, then it is indeed possible. The current Prime Minister of Japan is Hiranuma."

"Kiichiro Hiranuma."

"Yes, so that means there are differing opinions within the Japanese cabinet, leading to a change in Takeo Imai's strategy?"

Minister Zhou nodded. "It's a guess, a very likely guess, but we don't know what he's planning to do yet."

"Would they not want to negotiate?" Wang asked uncertainly.

"Probably not, that's the trend." Minister Zhou shook his head.

“I have some guesses about this,” Gu Yansheng said.

The two people looked over.

Wang asked expectantly, "Go ahead."

Gu Yansheng nodded. "Currently, we can only analyze the Japanese's purpose from this matter. My perspective is different from yours. Putting aside the negotiations, this is simply about the Japanese opening a bank and issuing new military scrip. It's just that they failed the first two times they used the name 'military scrip'."

Now they've changed the name to "Huaxing Coupons," which has a strong Chinese style. They're using Chinese people's names to create a sense of familiarity and increase public acceptance, right?

The two men nodded.

Gu Yansheng continued, "Then this matter is interesting. Why would a bank located in Shanghai choose the Nanjing Reformed Government instead of the Shanghai Municipal Government? It would be troublesome to manage, and the interpersonal relationships wouldn't be good. Wouldn't this be redundant for the Japanese?"

"Because the municipal government failed twice?" Wang replied subconsciously.

Gu Yansheng shook his head. "To be precise, it was the Shanghai Military Police Command that failed, not the municipal government. Mr. Wang, do you remember what we just said? The cause of this incident was that Luo Junqiang's men heard it from the Xingya Institute."

It was the Asia Development Institute (ADI) that mediated the conflict between Japanese companies and the military, which led to this money. And the ADI is located in Shanghai.

If it were really about opening a bank, the Shanghai Military Police Command wouldn't do it. As a participant in this, why didn't the Asia Development Institute open one itself? If the Military Police Command couldn't do it, there was the Navy Command. Surely they could do it?

For the vice admiral at the Asia Development Institute, these were practically family.

Wang asked, "So what do you mean?"

It means your reaction is slow. "What I mean is, the person in charge of this matter is not Takeo Imai, but someone from the Central China Expeditionary Army Headquarters stationed in Nanjing who got involved."

The reason it's not the Shanghai municipal government is because everyone is in a different region, and that's internal strife.

That's why this task was assigned to people in Nanjing; only they could exert enough influence to suppress the Asia Development Institute and get the military to pay for it.

That's highly likely, and it aligns with the facts," Wang urged. "Go on." "But to say that this was the idea of ​​the Central China Expeditionary Army Headquarters is not necessarily true."

What other purpose could the Central China Expeditionary Army have in opening a bank besides making money?
Takeo Imai's goal was to facilitate the formation of a new government.

Judging from the magnitude and importance of these two events, it is clear that the establishment of the new government is far more important than the money earned by the dispatched army command.

This leads to a conflict between the two.

Now that Takeo Imai is willing to cooperate, even at the risk of failing to negotiate with you, Mr. Wang, it's safe to say that something even more important has happened.

"There's only one thing I can think of that's more important than successfully negotiating with you."

Gu Yansheng didn't continue.

Minister Zhou stared at Gu Yansheng and said in a deep voice, "Conduct peace negotiations with Chiang Kai-shek."

Gu Yansheng nodded, "Yes, that's the only possibility."

Wang angrily snorted, "Talking to us on one hand and talking to Chiang Kai-shek on the other, what do they take us for? The Japanese still can't see the reality! If Chiang Kai-shek were willing to take this step, I would have convinced him long ago. I've been saying this for years!"
Are these Japanese people brain-dead? So naive!

Naïve and foolish!
So stupid it's unbelievable!

Gu Yansheng discovered that this man surnamed Wang had a really bad temper; in comparison, Minister Zhou was much calmer.

"Now is not the time to be angry," Minister Zhou cautioned. "If the Japanese insist on negotiating with Chongqing, it will be very disadvantageous for us. We will become bargaining chips on their table, and our value will continue to decline."

"There's nothing to worry about!" Wang Ni said loudly. "Old Chiang is stubborn and inflexible. He won't be satisfied until he has wiped out the Chinese people and destroyed China!"
As for the Japanese, we really can't let them continue like this, or what will become of them?
This matter must be made clear! The organization should negotiate with the Japanese and make them show their stance!
If they don't take a stance, then we won't talk to them; we'll talk directly to the Japanese cabinet!
"It's either yes or no. If you don't want to talk, we're leaving Shanghai!"

"Let's talk first." Minister Zhou agreed and said, "I think we should schedule a time to talk with Takeo Imai and Yoshiaki Kagesa. No matter how the talks go, we need to talk to the Japanese cabinet next time."

"That's it!"

"Don't send Gao Zhongwu and Mei Siping anymore. I'll go with you personally to talk to them, understand all the matters, and see if there are any mistakes or omissions."

Minister Zhou's words aroused suspicion in Wang Ni: "Do you think they didn't report everything?"

“Not entirely.” Minister Zhou shook his head. “The Japanese suddenly had this idea. Could there be a problem with the negotiations? Just to be on the safe side, we should investigate.”

If the negotiators run into trouble, then things will get really messed up.

"Hmm, that works too." Although Wang Ni was reluctant to show his face because of his status, it wasn't out of the question if it was the last time.

"Let's leave it at that for now. I'll schedule a time as soon as possible." Minister Zhou stood up and said, "Yansheng, thank you. You investigated this matter very promptly. We're in Shanghai and will need your help even more."

Upon hearing this, Wang Ni also nodded at Gu Yansheng. It was clear that Minister Zhou had indeed found a good person when things came to this.

Gu Yansheng smiled faintly and said, "You're too kind. This is what I should do for the sake of building a peaceful nation."

Wang Ni didn't say anything, but patted Gu Yansheng on the shoulder.

"Then we'll head back now," Minister Zhou said. "I'll have to trouble you to send a car. By the way, could you help me investigate this matter and see if you can find out how the Japanese and the people in Chongqing were in contact?"

"That's not easy," Gu Yansheng said frankly.

"Understood, we'll try our best to investigate." Minister Zhou nodded. "Then we'll be going now."

“Okay, by the way,” Gu Yansheng reminded, “After you two go back, it’s best not to discuss related matters in the house.”

"What's wrong?" Wang Ni asked.

"Perhaps they're afraid the walls will hear them?" Minister Zhou scoffed. "Aren't all the people in that room sent by the Japanese?"

Gu Yansheng clicked his tongue. "Minister, I'm not just saying that walls have ears, but that there are definitely no ears inside the walls?"

The two people's expressions changed slightly.

(End of this chapter)