Spy Wars: Red Shopkeeper

Chapter 237 Death Time
The trip to Nanjing went very smoothly, so we can spend a few more days there and accompany Minister Zhou to meet with the officials who have already settled in Nanjing.

Logically speaking, Liang Hongzhi should have shown up and exchanged a few words with him.

Whether it was because he was arrogant because of his status as chairman or because he looked down on the Wang faction, he was sulking and never came out, not even sending someone to offer his condolences.

However, the Central China Expeditionary Army Headquarters sent Japanese officials to invite them to meet and talk at the headquarters.

The Japanese wanted to hear Minister Zhou's plans for how the Wang Jingwei regime would govern the Central China region after its establishment.

It's just drinking and bragging.

After they finished playing, Gu Yansheng and his party returned to Shanghai.

After returning to Shanghai, the group went to Wang's mansion to meet Wang, the traitor.

After reporting on the situation in Nanjing, it was time for Gu Yansheng to take his vacation.

At present, the Wang Jingwei faction in Shanghai has two main tasks: negotiations and hospitality.

Negotiations with the Japanese were not Gu Yansheng's responsibility; that was Gao Zhongwu and Mei Siping's.

He was in charge of entertaining the six people, but he was only the general manager. The specifics were left to Wang Jingwei's faction. In fact, the people who came to seek refuge were all old acquaintances of Wang Jingwei's faction in Chongqing, and Gu Yansheng didn't know them at all.

Arrange for someone from Wang's faction to come to his western Shanghai as an assistant to coordinate accommodation matters.

No matter what official position you held in Chongqing before, it's not shameful to come to western Shanghai and serve as a subordinate to the future Minister Gu.

A considerable number of people have been coming to Shanghai recently. Those who went out to recruit people from the Japanese-occupied areas have started to make a move, and representatives have been coming to Shanghai one after another.

These representatives can be described as die-hards. The meeting is scheduled for August, but it's only July now. Coming here so early can only mean they're visiting people to build connections and hoping to secure a bigger position in the new government.

As a result, gunfights in Shanghai became more frequent.

With so many traitors coming to Shanghai to join the rebels, and even openly usurping power to hold the Sixth National Congress, President Chiang Kai-shek in Chongqing must have been very annoyed and gave Dai a good scolding.

The Military Intelligence Bureau in Shanghai is clearly being hunted down by Li Shiqun. They should have disappeared and gone into hiding to avoid trouble, but instead, they are continuing their assassinations despite Li Shiqun's attempts to capture them.

The old risks have not been eliminated, and new risks are increasing. It is certain that the Shanghai region will suffer heavy losses.

With the Military Intelligence Bureau under its control and the concessions in the hands of No. 76, its power was overwhelming!

On this day, Chen Mo called, wanting to meet Gu Yansheng.

We arranged to meet in the foreign concession.

Chen Mo said directly, "A secret telegram from Chongqing: Let's go meet someone together."

"Who?"

"Wang Tianmu, the district head of Shanghai."

"Wang Tianmu?" Gu Yansheng frowned instinctively. "Why would we want to see him? With the way the Shanghai region is operating now, it's only a matter of time before Wang Tianmu is found. If we see him, will we even survive?"

Chen Mo didn't know the reason either, and shook his head, saying, "That's what the telegram said, telling me to call you. Are we not going?"

"go."

Despite the complaints, not carrying them out would mean certain death. Gu Yansheng said in a deep voice, "Since Boss Dai says so, there must be a plan. Let's go and hear what he has to say."

If things really aren't going well, then don't blame Gu Yansheng for being ruthless.

Wang Tianmu's name has been exposed, but his appearance has not, so he can live openly in the concession.

After the temporary rendezvous signal was verified by both parties, Gu Yansheng and Chen Mo met Wang Tianmu at a private residence in the concession.

He was in his forties, but had a rather dashing appearance.

Wang Tianmu saw Gu Yansheng's obvious surprise and smiled in astonishment before inviting him inside. "Boss Dai told me that there's a high-ranking official in the municipal government who works for us. I never expected it to be the famous Director Gu."

Although Gu Yansheng was a low-key person, his name appeared many times for those who paid attention to information about the municipal government and the Wang Jingwei regime.

Wang Tianmu really has the nerve to say, "I've heard so much about you, and I've thought about assassinating you countless times."

Gu Yansheng was very polite, smiling gently, "I've heard a lot about you. Ding Mocun told me a lot about you, saying that you are one of Boss Dai's four henchmen. He speaks highly of you."

"Hahahaha." He was especially pleased with the praise from the enemy.

"They say it's inside."

Gu Yansheng followed Wang Tianmu into the house, which was very clean.

Wang Tianmu went straight to the point, "The situation is tense, so let's skip the small talk and convey Chongqing's message first."

At present, Wang Jingwei's faction is committing treasonous acts in Shanghai. The Shanghai region must punish them. However, because Shanghai is behind enemy lines, the headquarters of the 76th Division, and is heavily guarded by the Military Police Headquarters, our actions are very inconvenient, we have suffered considerable losses, and we have not seen any significant results.

So after discussing it with Boss Dai, we came up with two plans.

One plan was to win over Li Shiqun and gain control of No. 76.

This plan was implemented by Yu Xiangqin, but Li Shiqun remained obstinate, and the operation ended in failure.

We have now decided to implement the second plan.

Wang Tianmu glanced at the two men, and after their eyes met, he said, "I will infiltrate 76, take over the reins, and replace Li Shiqun."

Chen Mo could not hide his shock. "You infiltrated No. 76? Why would the Japanese believe you? No. 76 is for recruiting defectors, but that requires merit. If a district head like you goes there, you'll have to explain the entire Shanghai district, right?"

Are you going to sell the entire Shanghai region?

Wang Tianmu did not shy away from this point. “There are many things you don’t know about the Shanghai region. I can only tell you that the Shanghai region is already rotten. On the one hand, the personnel are rotten, and on the other hand, it is riddled with holes in the struggle with Li Shiqun. It’s only a matter of time before it gets implicated. As for reliable personnel, I will transfer them away in advance. They will not be arrested.”

"But this is still..." Chen Mo was dumbfounded. They're really selling it in the Shanghai area?
"Isn't that too harsh? There are hundreds of people in the Shanghai district. They are all pillars of the Party and the country, risking their lives in Shanghai. Are they just going to hand them over to the 76th Division like that? They might die."

"When in war do people not die? How many of us have died just fighting the 76th Division? Is death the point? The point is whether we can win this war! Chen Mo, you need to understand, what are we risking our lives for in Shanghai, behind enemy lines? It's not to survive, it's not to save these few hundred people!"

You led a ruthless assassination squad, willing to trade dozens of your men for one person's life. Did you back down? Did you ever back down?
Put away your worthless womanly compassion; we are soldiers, and we demand victory!

Chen Mo was so scolded that he became mute.

Wang Tianmu looked at Gu Yansheng, "Director Gu, do you have a problem?"

Gu Yansheng thought for a moment and said, "I have no problem. What do you need me to do?"

"The most important person for this plan to succeed is you."

Wang Tianmu said earnestly, "When I came up with this plan with Boss Dai, we needed someone who could speak to the Japanese or the No. 76 police station."

The Shanghai region can perish, but it cannot be without gains.

Once I enter Agent 76, it's hard to say what the outcome will be.

Li Shiqun would have doubts, the Japanese would have doubts, and Wang Jingwei's traitors would have doubts.

You must do everything you can to protect me and secure a prime position in the new government, preferably one connected to 76, someone who can oversee espionage operations.

"If I don't die, this operation is a victory for us."

"Then I understand." Gu Yansheng nodded. "I will cooperate, I will do everything I can to cooperate."

"Okay." Wang Tianmu said seriously, "The operation must succeed. Operation code name: Death Mission!"

(End of this chapter)