Spy Wars: Red Shopkeeper

Chapter 254 Northward Journey
All you ever think about is eating.

“Okay, I’ll make the arrangements.” Gu Yansheng readily agreed.

Minister Zhou said, “Mr. Wang, why don’t we both go to North China? I don’t have as much influence as you do. If Wang Kemin acts like a head of state, and only I go to talk to him, he might feel that you are belittling him and treating him like a minister, which would be counterproductive.”

Wang Ni paused, realizing that this made sense. "Alright, let's go together then."

"Yansheng, will you come with us?" Minister Zhou said casually, then laughed, "I'd rather not, otherwise Mr. Wang will say I'm using you as a secretary again."

At this moment, Wang Ni became pragmatic again, "Fo Hai, you're wrong. Negotiating with Wang Kemin is a big deal. If we can help, we should naturally bring him along. At this time, we can only ask Yan Sheng to work harder. Once we're done, we should let him rest more. Yan Sheng, thank you for your hard work."

Gu Yansheng laughed and said, "I'll go if I'm needed. It doesn't matter what kind of person I'm used to."

Minister Zhou smiled, "Alright, alright, we'll follow Mr. Wang's instructions. Yansheng, tell Ding Mochun to arrange for some people to come with us, and make sure the security is done well."

"Okay, I'll arrange it."

If this new government isn't established soon, Gu Yansheng will practically become the interim secretary-general.

With the new government's renewed enthusiasm fueling their efforts, the meal was naturally enjoyed to the fullest, and both host and guests had a pleasant time.

After the meal, Gu Yansheng needed to go find Hasegawa.

We drove to the consulate.

Gu Yansheng first reported on the negotiations in Hong Kong, then on the recent mindset of the Wang faction and Itagaki's opinions after they went to Nanjing.

They attend to every detail, emphasizing absolute loyalty to the consulate.

"Mr. Hasegawa, Mr. Wang is going to see Wang Kemin. I'm not familiar with Beiping. Could you please contact the consulate there to arrange accommodation?"

It was such a small matter, how could Hasegawa Jinchuan, who valued Gu Yansheng so much, refuse? Besides, promoting the establishment of the Wang government was also related to his important promotion.

"No problem, I'll contact Beiping and arrange everything for you."

"Then I'll leave it to you. There's one more thing I'd like to ask. I've heard that Wang Kemin has the support of the North China Army. Do you know what their attitude is towards the establishment of a new government?"

Hasegawa quickly grasped the key point: "Are you worried that the North China Army won't support the merger?"

"Yes."

Hasegawa thought for a moment and said, "I'm not so clear about the situation in North China either. Here's what I'll do: I'll send you a telegram. After you get to Beiping, have a good talk with the local consul. He'll definitely know more and be clearer about it."

"Thank you so much, Mr. Hasegawa," Gu Yansheng said with a smile.

The general at the consulate was well-received; he already had resources in Beiping.

Gu Yansheng went to No. 76 to find Ding Mocun.

He plopped down on the sofa as soon as he walked in.

"Director Ding, I've got this good news for you. You're in charge of security when you go on a business trip to Beiping with Mr. Wang. Is that alright?"

"Of course, no problem." Ding Mochun's smile widened to the point of creasing when he heard he was going on a business trip with Mr. Wang. He walked over and sat down, asking, "When are you leaving?"

"Do you have any people from your 76th Division in Beiping?"

“There are people. Last time, Wang Tianmu revealed the Tianjin station, and some people were arrested in Beiping as well. No. 76 sent people over to handle the aftermath, and the station has already been opened there.”

Gu Yansheng nodded upon hearing this, "Let's tentatively set off in two days. Send a telegram to the people there to contact Wang Kemin and tell them we're coming. Give them two days to prepare, that should be enough time."

"Okay, I'll make the arrangements."

Two days later, with everything prepared, the group flew to Beiping.

After the plane landed and I stepped out of the cabin, I realized that the temperature in Beijing felt more comfortable at this time of year than in Shanghai. The crisp autumn air was just right.

Thanks to the bright sunlight, I was traveling on a Japanese private plane, so as soon as I got off the plane, the consulate's motorcade was already waiting for me.

"Excuse me, which one of you is Mr. Gu?" a Japanese man asked as he stepped forward.

"That's me." Gu Yansheng extended his hand and shook hands. "Hello, Gu Yansheng. This is Mr. Wang, and this is Minister Zhou."

Kudo Saburo bowed politely and greeted them, "Welcome to Beiping. I am Kudo Saburo, the consul stationed in Beiping. Please come in."

Kudo Saburo stepped aside and gestured for Wang Ni and his group to get into the car.

Minister Zhou inquired, "Mr. Kudo, is Mr. Wang Kemin not here?"

Kudo Saburo smiled meaningfully and said, "Before I left, I sent someone to call Mr. Wang to ask if he would like to pick me up at the airport. However, Mr. Wang said that he was busy with official business. The North China Army asked him to cooperate in the fight against the Communists. The event happened suddenly, and there was an important meeting at the last minute. He really couldn't get away."

No one present was stupid; the meaning was crystal clear.

Although there was some speculation before the trip that Wang Kemin might be rude, no one expected him to be so rude as to not even show up to pick them up at the airport.

Moreover, not a single government official was sent.

A blatant slap in the face!
Wang Ni's face immediately darkened.

He got into the car with a straight face and didn't say a word.

Gu Yansheng told Minister Zhou and got into Kudo Saburo's car.

"Consul Kudo, thank you for your help this time."

“It’s nothing,” Kudo Saburo said with a smile. “Hase-kun praised Mr. Gu highly in the telegram. I know he’s not one to praise people easily, so it’s an honor for me to get to know Mr. Gu.”

"You're so good with words, your mouth is so sweet." Gu Yansheng bowed slightly: "You're too kind. I've troubled you a lot on this trip. You saw what happened just now. Japan is implementing a policy of using Chinese to control Chinese, and has decided to establish a new government with Mr. Wang as the head. However, people like Wang Kemin are outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant."

I don't really understand what he's relying on. And how does the military view someone like him?

Kudo Saburo chuckled lightly, "Actually, if we want to trace this issue back, we have to start from the Marco Polo Bridge Incident. After we conquered North China, in order to maintain local order and implement the strategy of using Chinese to control Chinese, we selected Wu Peifu as the chairman, recommended by General Kenji Doimoto. He was the leader of the Zhili clique and had great prestige."

But Wu Peifu refused.

Later, the North China Army found Wang Kemin, the finance minister during Duan Qirui's time, to be its chairman.

In terms of prestige, Wang Kemin was not a very prestigious person, and the North China Army did not consider him a qualified candidate for chairman.

However, because of his experience as finance minister, he was indeed to the liking of some high-ranking military officials when it came to procuring supplies, so he gradually secured his position.

I believe I have answered Mr. Gu's question clearly.

Gu Yansheng nodded. "It's very clear now."

In other words, what the North China Army valued was Wang Kemin's ability to amass wealth; Wang Kemin was an absolute master at plundering the people's hard-earned money.

"Thank you, Consul Kudo."

"No need to be so polite, I have some news to share with you."

"Please say."

"Due to personnel changes in the country, some high-ranking officers in the military have been replaced. Two days ago, Lieutenant General Tada Shun took office as the new commander of the North China Army."

Tada Shun. Gu Yansheng thought about it and understood what Kudo Saburo meant by reminding him: when a new person takes office, there will definitely be a reshuffling of power.

Chen Bijun was right; the high command of the Japanese army would be replaced, but it wouldn't be easy to exploit this situation. They arrived at the hotel in Dongjiaomin Lane.

"This used to be the embassy district, but after the war, the embassies of various countries were removed, and this place was converted into a hotel. Our military police patrol the area 24 hours a day. If you need anything, you can ask the hotel staff to help you. I have already made arrangements, so you can check in with peace of mind."

The consulate's arrangements were so thoughtful; this was probably the only thing Wang Ni found particularly good during his trip.

After expressing their gratitude, the group went upstairs.

Once upstairs, Wang Ni's temper changed drastically. He stormed into his room and yelled, "What is Wang Kemin up to! I came to see him in person, and he didn't even show up. Does he think he's giving me face?"

"This is utterly outrageous. Even without a superior-subordinate relationship, there should at least be some semblance of official etiquette. They really have no sense of manners whatsoever." After saying this, Minister Zhou asked Gu Yansheng, "Didn't you say you had contacted him? What did he mean?"

Gu Yansheng was still puzzled and looked at Ding Mochun, "Director Ding, didn't you say he replied that he would come to pick me up?"

Ding Mocun felt wronged and aggrieved. "That's what the Beiping Station told me. He must have agreed to come."

"Need I say more? We were tricked. If the Japanese hadn't come to pick us up, we wouldn't even have a car at the airport right now. We'd be standing there like idiots in the wind, and who knows where there would be cameras taking pictures of us looking so pathetic." Wang Ni was furious. He had never been stood up before in all these years.

Even the Japanese always treated him with utmost respect, at least outwardly.

"His temper is even worse than the Japanese Emperor's! Fo Hai, I think we shouldn't stay here any longer; if we stay any longer, we'll become a laughing stock!"

Minister Zhou frowned. The situation was indeed quite troublesome. "I had anticipated that Wang Kemin would not give in easily. I asked you to come along so that I could offer him a higher price and make things easier to discuss. I really didn't expect him to pull this stunt."

In that case, Yansheng, borrow the consulate's radio and send a telegram to Itagaki, telling him about the situation here. Tell him that we have tried our best, but some people are determined not to cooperate and will not even show up. How can we talk?
I refuse to believe that Itagaki can sit still!

Gu Yansheng thought for a moment and said, "Isn't it too embarrassing to directly approach the Japanese?"
I don't think we need to be so polite. Director Ding is here, isn't he?

Director Ding, I've learned that Wang Kemin started his career as Minister of Finance and should have quite a few businesses in Beiping. Now that you've wiped out the Military Intelligence Bureau, the staff at the 76th Beiping Station should have some free time. Why don't we go and take a look at Mr. Wang's businesses, burn down a few of his shops, and see if he's in a hurry?

Mr. Kudo just said that he was making arrangements to suppress the Communists; it must have been the Communists who did it.

Wang Ni's eyes lit up immediately. This was a chance to vent his anger. Pointing at Gu Yansheng, he said to Ding Mocun, "Hey, Minister Gu's idea is great. We don't need to be polite to people like him!"

Ding Mocun was good at this kind of thing, and he smiled humbly, "How about I kidnap his family? Let him panic completely?"

“That’s going too far,” Minister Zhou interjected. “Even the Communists don’t kidnap people’s family members. If you kidnap someone’s family member, how are you going to return them? You can’t just kill them, can you? That would leave no room for maneuver. You might as well just put them in a bag and beat them up.”

"Okay, I'll get on it right away."

Ding Mocun took his leave, and the three of them exchanged a glance and burst into laughter.

Even though I haven't fought it yet, just thinking about it makes me feel vented and it's quite amusing.

"Come on, let's go out for a meal and shopping. Since we're in Beiping now, let's take a look around Beiping today. I'll be your guide."

Wang was very interested; he knew Beiping very well, as it was where he made his name.

"Mr. Wang's heroic act of assassination here is known throughout the world, but I only know the general outline. I don't know the details of the assassination of the Regent. If Mr. Wang is willing, he can tell me about the situation at that time." Gu Yansheng's flattery skills were also superb.

"Heroes don't dwell on past glories, so I'll just briefly recount what happened back then."

While they were talking, Ding Mocun was already making arrangements for the 76th Division's team members.

Wang Kemin's businesses were in Beiping, just as dazzling as Fu Xiao'an's businesses in Shanghai; you could easily find out by asking any local thugs.

That night, under a dark and windy sky, several shops in the city were engulfed in flames!

As flames soared into the sky, the fire trucks were overwhelmed with work, and the darkness was torn apart by a shimmering, crimson light.

All the businesses that were damaged were Wang Kemin's. The next day, anyone who saw it would know that it was a targeted operation.

Wang Kemin clearly didn't expect that such despicable tactics could be carried out by Wang's faction, and he saw police investigating and searching everywhere all afternoon.

If you're too old to react quickly, then keep smashing!
That afternoon, the team members from Team 76 not only harassed Wang Kemin's relatives, but also vandalized two restaurants owned by Wang Kemin.

Fearing that Wang Kemin wouldn't be able to react, the members of Team 76 finished smashing things and waited for the police to arrive. They let the police chase them all the way to the vicinity of the embassy district, then leisurely left and disappeared into an alley.

Now even a fool would understand!
An hour later, at least two hundred police officers stormed into the embassy district and surrounded the hotel with batons and guns.

Wang Kemin led at least twenty of his men upstairs.

"Open the door!"

Bang, bang, bang, bang—the door to several people's residence was pounded with deafening force.

"Kick it away!" Wang Kemin shouted, his face dark.

Bang bang, the police officers under his command immediately kicked the door.

The door was kicked open in no time, but after checking, there was no one in the room at all.

Just then, Gu Yansheng and Wang Xi's group, along with a bunch of members of the 76th Division, walked out from the stairwell.

His calm smile showed no sign of anger at the door being kicked in.

“Mr. Wang, out of money? You resort to violent theft at a hotel?” Minister Zhou’s words were full of sarcasm. “The consulate booked a room for us, and you dare to smash it. It seems you really don’t respect the Japanese, or at least not the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

Wang Kemin is not young; he is 64 years old this year. His hair is almost completely white, his face is thin, and he wears glasses.

When he saw that the eyes of the men were red, he realized that it was one thing for the shop to be smashed and burned, but the housekeeper and the son had been beaten. He really didn't expect that the Wang faction would resort to such methods.

He strode forward, gritting his teeth, and said, "You bunch of people are truly shameless! Ministers and chairmen, don't you feel ashamed to do such things?"

"What are we doing?" Minister Zhou smiled blankly. "I heard Mr. Wang is arresting Communists. Did you get into a fight with the Communists?"

Smashing is one thing, but evidence cannot be left behind. The fact that the vandals disappeared near the embassy district doesn't prove anything.

Wang Kemin stared coldly at him, "You have the guts to do it but not the guts to admit it, huh? Do you really think this is Shanghai or your Chongqing? Here, I am the king! Aren't you afraid you won't be able to leave Beiping?"

Minister Zhou looked at Ding Mochun, who was standing to the side, and asked, "Director Ding, are we not allowed to get out?"

"Hahahaha." Ding Mocun laughed loudly, "How funny! A bunch of black guys want to have a marksmanship contest? Men, come here!"

Ding Mocun's smile vanished, and the group of No. 76 members behind him raised their guns with tense faces!
While special agents may not be as capable on the battlefield, they have never been afraid of anyone when it comes to this kind of standoff.

Wang Kemin simply said to the people around him, "Call someone."

The person next to him nodded, went into the room to the window, and fired a shot.

Not long after, two military trucks drove into the embassy district. Soldiers carrying rifles jumped off the trucks, rushed into the hotel, and soon appeared in front of Gu Yansheng and his group from the stairwell.

A whole line of long spears, all raised and aimed at them.

"You think you can outnumber me in Beiping?" Wang Kemin wasn't one to back down, so he stepped forward, guns drawn by the No. 76.

He walked up to Wang Ni, stared at him, and said, "Mr. Wang, instead of being your vice president in Chongqing, you insist on coming to the occupied area to meddle in the affairs of the new government. Do you understand what it means to be a traitor?"
How could you be so stupid as to deliver a head right to my face?

Believe it or not, I can shoot you all right now and that will end everything.

The Japanese won't punish me because they still need me, and they can only use me.

The rest was actually quite simple.

(End of this chapter)