Spy Wars: Red Shopkeeper

Chapter 273 Opening

News of peace talks arrived a few days before the new government was formed, which excited the Japanese.

When Takeo Imai learned of this, he called Gu Yansheng that very night.

“Mr. Gu, Chongqing is likely stimulated by the sense of urgency that the new government is about to be established. I have already arranged the flight, and we will fly to Hong Kong first thing tomorrow morning.”

"Ok."

The next day, on the plane.

Takeo Imai was very excited to talk to Gu Yansheng because it was a pivotal moment. The establishment of the Wang Jingwei regime was something Chongqing did not want to see, and choosing this time was quite meaningful.

Gu Yansheng seized the opportunity to ask, "How is the joint suppression of the Communists in North China that Chongqing proposed last time progressing?"

He has been keeping an eye on the news from North China recently.

The attack on the Eighth Route Army headquarters in Chongqing was real, and it was led by the troops of Shi Yousan, a general of the Northwest Army.

Chiang Kai-shek was very cunning. He secretly ordered Shi Yousan to fight the Eighth Route Army. There was absolutely no official order issued. This was because the patriotic anti-Japanese news that Gu Yansheng saw was all about cursing Shi Yousan, not Chiang Kai-shek.

Chiang Kai-shek's choice of Shi Yousan, this traitor, was a brilliant move.

Shi Yousan was notorious for his traitorous behavior. He betrayed the Northwest Army three times under the command of Feng Yuxiang. After betraying Feng Yuxiang, he joined Chiang Kai-shek, then betrayed Chiang Kai-shek again, then joined Zhang Xueliang, and then betrayed Zhang Xueliang once more.

Calling him a traitor who served three masters is an underestimation of his resume.

When such a notorious general took action against the Eighth Route Army, no one really thought it was Chiang Kai-shek who ordered it.

What's even more ingenious is that when the Eighth Route Army launched a counterattack, Shi Yousan turned around and defected to the Japanese. In this way, he could legitimately join forces with the Japanese and puppet troops to attack the Eighth Route Army, increase combat effectiveness through coordinated operations, and avoid the huge scandal of the National Army and the Japanese army joining forces to suppress the Communists.

At this point, the conflict between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party had absolutely nothing to do with Chiang Kai-shek; it was entirely the work of the traitor Shi Yousan who defected to the Japanese.

A remarkably skillful trading technique.

Of course, the result was that Shi Yousan was beaten so badly he cried for his parents.

The 129th Division's fighting strength was no joke. Although the newspapers in the Japanese-occupied areas did not publicize how brave the Communist army was, Gu Yansheng did not know the specific results of the battles.

The fact that there was no propaganda about how brave the Japanese and puppet troops were is itself an answer.

Upon hearing this, Takeo Imai's expression immediately turned grim. "The results can only be described as mediocre. Chongqing sent Shi Yousan's army, but this man's military strategy was so poor that it caused heavy losses to the North China army, with casualties estimated at around 10,000."

The cooperation they had worked so hard to negotiate was ruined by a few incompetent people. Takeo Imai really felt bad thinking about it; it was such a good opportunity to suppress the Communists.

"How could this happen?" Gu Yansheng could only secretly rejoice, while feigning regret and verbally attacking Imai, poking at his heart a few more times.

After arriving in Hong Kong, we waited all day before Song Ziliang's car finally arrived.

Imai Takeo was somewhat surprised to see that only Song Ziliang got out of the car.

"Mr. Song, are you here alone today?" It seems the person in charge of the negotiations is not here.

"I'm the only one here, so what? Can't I negotiate?" Song Ziliang still acted like a spoiled brat.

“No, it’s just that,” Takeo Imai said with a forced smile, “what about the people from the last negotiation? They seem to know more about things within the party.”

"Perhaps they suffered a defeat and are too embarrassed to come? Haha, just kidding. We don't need them to come today. I'm here to deliver a message. I heard you're all going to support the opening of the Wang Jingwei regime?"

"That is indeed the case, as per our agreement with the Wang faction."

Song Ziliang smiled faintly: "That's why I urgently called you here to explain the situation. Chongqing sent me a telegram asking me to remind you that they are holding a meeting to discuss the terms between the two sides."

In addition, President Chiang himself has a very strong desire for peace and has been working hard to bring together people from various factions. He has already come up with some plans, but some people have not yet agreed. Given time, these problems can be resolved.

But all of this is based on the premise that there is no Wang Jingwei regime.

Once you establish a Wang Jingwei regime, there will be no more negotiations between us.

Mr. Imai, please think carefully before you act.

"You called me here just to tell me this?" Takeo Imai was utterly disappointed. "I came all the way from Nanjing, not to hear Mr. Song tell me how hard you've worked. Either give me the terms or a solution. Delaying won't solve anything."

Is there any other good news?

Song Ziliang smiled faintly, "Isn't it good news that I'm willing to come to you?"

Takeo Imai almost cursed, suppressing his anger as he said, "There are still seven days left. The new government will definitely be established by the end of the month. If you are interested, you should give me a proposal before then."

"Time is not something I can control."

"But this decision reflects Chongqing's sincerity. There are some things that your President Jiang can do if he wants to!"

"I told you, the president is working on it, but it will take time."

"Seven days, only seven days."

"Then you'll definitely regret it."

The negotiations ended in discord, which was a complete waste of time.

As happy as Takeo Imai was when he came, he was just as depressed when he left.

"It's a complete waste of time! These bureaucrats in Chongqing are simply hopelessly stupid! This President Chiang has too many concerns and completely lacks the decisiveness a leader should have."

We gave Chongqing a chance for peace, but Chongqing didn't know how to cherish it.

Stupid! Useless!

If it weren't for the need to advance south to fight and withdraw soldiers from the Chinese battlefield, the military would never have given them the opportunity for peace talks.

"I think this is a good thing for us," Gu Yansheng offered a small consolation.

"The fighting capacity in Chongqing was weak, which is why they were in a hurry to negotiate. Regarding the Japanese army stationed in North China in the terms, they used to say that they had the ability to suppress the Communists, but the facts proved that they were not capable of dealing with the Communists."

This gave Japan room to negotiate, and they had no reason to insist that the Japanese troops stationed in North China must withdraw within a certain timeframe.

Their eagerness to hold talks before the new government is formed is actually a signal.

So I think what he said is very likely true. President Jiang is probably trying to find a solution, but he's overthinking things.

Sometimes, if you leave him out of the room, he'll be the one who gets anxious.

"What you said makes sense."

From another perspective, that's certainly a valid viewpoint. Takeo Imai breathed a sigh of relief; he understood the reasoning, but Itagaki was pressing him too hard.

Whether the peace talks succeed or fail is also related to their entire strategic plan for moving south.

Have to hurry.

There's no point in worrying.

Gu Yansheng was not in a hurry.

Back in Nanjing, Gu Yansheng told Minister Zhou about the situation in Hong Kong.

Minister Zhou laughed when he heard this. "So Chiang Kai-shek specially sent someone to summon Takeo Imai, just to threaten him and refuse to give up any conditions?"

Gu Yansheng smiled helplessly, "I've been completely fooled, wasting two days of my time."

"Haha." Minister Zhou patted Gu Yansheng on the shoulder. "You'll have to take this extra step. This news is better than any other news for us."

The lack of progress is the best news for the Wang faction. With only a few days left until the agreed-upon opening date of the new government, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the new government is set to open.

Once a new government is established, all kinds of powers can begin to operate.

Let's wait a few more days patiently; we have a ton of things to do anyway.

As time passed, there was still no news from Hong Kong, and Takeo Imai's hopeful heart finally died.

I consulted a fortune teller, and he said the auspicious time has arrived; the new government will be established.

Early in the morning, Gu Yansheng put on the brand-new uniform that had been delivered to him. Today he was going to attend Wang Ni's inaugural speech.

Because Nanjing had experienced war, many buildings had not yet been fully repaired, so the main venue for the inaugural address could only be the auditorium of the Examination Yuan.

It seemed rushed, but there was no other way.

The auditorium was packed, and the atmosphere was rather calm and solemn.

We were notified in advance because we were using the banner of peaceful nation-building and returning the capital to Nanjing, rather than establishing a separate state.

Therefore, considering the compatriots who died in this war and the recovery of Nanjing, everyone should be more solemn and serious in this inaugural address. There are reporters present, and everything should be done in a way that is for the country and the people.

Wang Ni, dressed in a formal suit, took to the stage to give a speech. Although he was old, he was in good spirits. People are in high spirits when they are happy, and he could talk for hours on end.

In addition to officials and reporters, former Prime Minister Nobuyuki Abe, who came all the way from Japan, was also present at the ceremony.

He made a special trip to Nanjing to negotiate the signing of a diplomatic agreement between Japan and the Wang Jingwei regime's Nationalist government.

I heard that Nobuyuki Abe is going to take on the role of acting ambassador, which is tantamount to snatching the position that Jin-kawa Hasegawa has been longing for.

However, this was an internal matter for them, and Gu Yansheng could only express his regret to Hasegawa.

It was actually a good thing for Gu Yansheng that Hasegawa was serving as his consul in Shanghai; it was better than having Iwai, who was in charge of intelligence, promoted to a higher position.

Several hours of speeches on peaceful nation-building brought the conference to a successful conclusion, with the new government officially established and all officials taking office.

The celebratory banquet begins!
After so much planning, so much discussion, and so many things, the new government has finally been established. The Wang faction was filled with emotion, and Minister Zhou came to have a drink with Gu Yansheng.

It's just a glass of wine. There are more than 100 key officials from various regions attending today's meeting, and Minister Zhou has to talk to them all and get to know them.

A night of singing and dancing.

The very next day, all of the more than 100 key officials were wanted by Chongqing authorities.

Gu Yansheng was not spared either.

Inside the office building, in Minister Zhou's Ministry of Finance.

Gu Yansheng came here specifically to listen to the radio broadcast.

Li Shiqun and Ding Mocun also came to listen.

A female voice broadcast a wanted notice over the radio.

"Wang Zhaoming, a traitor, surrendered to the Japanese invaders and openly betrayed the country! Chen Gongbo, Liang Hongzhi, and others have also joined the traitors and willingly become traitors and lackeys!"

After the female voice's wanted notice was broadcast, there were also public condemnations of this matter by some comrades of our Party, such as one of Gu Yansheng's superiors.

"Severing themselves from the nation, severing themselves from the Chinese people"

“The names of the officials that Chongqing knows are more detailed than the names I know,” Minister Zhou said, pointing at the radio. “The list of officials who attended the banquet yesterday has already been released by Chongqing today. Your No. 76 team has been in Nanjing for quite some time now. This matter needs to be addressed.”

“Yes, we will investigate as soon as possible,” Li Shiqun replied. “This matter is not too secretive; many people know about it, so it will take some time.”

With over 100 people attending the meeting, there were indeed quite a few insiders, including those close to them. However, the fact that such a comprehensive list of attendees could reach Chongqing, thousands of miles away, so quickly raises serious questions.

An essential step must have been that someone sent the list to Chongqing before this broadcast deterrence could take place.

However, Minister Zhou summoned Li Shiqun not only to investigate the leak of the list, but also because "the Chongqing broadcast made it very clear that they want to implement sanctions. The new government has just been established and its foundation is unstable, which is precisely the time when confidence is needed."

You should provide extra protection for the officials of the new government, especially those on the list.

Director Li, you lead the Special Agent Headquarters and also serve as the Deputy Minister of Police. You can also utilize the police force. You must pay utmost attention to the security of all levels of government in Shanghai, lest the news spread and cause widespread panic.

"I will."

"Okay, then you can go back now. Be careful on the road."

These people came to Nanjing for a major conference, and after the conference, they would have to return to Shanghai.

"Mo Cun, when you're handling matters in the Social Affairs Department in Nanjing, please also help arrange things, mainly the safety of our department heads. Once you've finished dealing with those matters, you can return to Shanghai."

"Okay, I'll go make the arrangements."

"Ah."

After seeing the two off, Minister Zhou breathed a sigh of relief and invited Gu Yansheng to sit on the sofa.

With his legs crossed, he chuckled, "Finally, a new chapter begins. I don't have to worry about those preparations anymore. How's the Ministry of Justice? Have you gone to check on them?"

"I saw it. They were all polite on the surface." Gu Yansheng smiled. "As for personnel, I didn't bring many people with me, and I don't want to make any changes. There's no conflict with Liang Hongzhi's people."

Gu Yansheng's superior was Wen Zongyao of the Judicial Yuan.

The Nanjing Reformed Government originally had a Ministry of Justice, whose minister was Wen Zongyao.

It is obvious that most of the people in the Ministry of Justice now are Wen Zongyao's men.

The person Liang Hongzhi would choose from among his many subordinates to bestow upon a precious position as dean must undoubtedly be a staunch supporter of Liang Hongzhi.

Therefore, the Ministry of Justice is essentially Liang Hongzhi's private domain.

Gu Yansheng, who was parachuted in, will need to make some efforts to completely dismantle Liang Hongzhi's power.

However, Gu Yansheng was not in a hurry. The flags on the city walls had changed hands, and Liang Hongzhi wouldn't be able to cause trouble for long.

Minister Zhou left Gu Yansheng with something to say: "This is what I think. The new government has been established, but we still need to work hard to integrate various regions and departments in order to truly take back command to Nanjing."

The most convenient method is three paths. One is to follow the 76th Division, investigate various places, monitor local officials and social celebrities, and find out the chain of interests involved.

One is the police station; they are the key figures in maintaining order, and by controlling them, we can obtain a lot of information.

The other is the power of judgment in your hands. Whether someone is guilty or not, whether to arrest or release them, is entirely up to the judicial officer.

The 76th Division is probably busy looking for the Military Intelligence Bureau right now, and I don't have anyone I can trust at the police station yet. I'll have to rely on you to figure out a way to help with this.

Wang Kemin urged that judicial power in major cities in Central China, such as Nanjing, Suzhou, and Anhui, be seized as soon as possible, and ideally extended to North China.

Once we have control, we can arrest and prosecute people, and then we can take these cities back into our own hands.

Gu Yansheng understood and nodded, saying, "Okay, then I will handle the matters in the ministry as soon as possible, and then start spreading it outwards from Nanjing."

As he was speaking, Gu Yansheng suddenly remembered someone, someone who had once offered him a position at the police station.

"Minister, please make things easier for me. I'll arrange for one or two people to go into the police station and get a usable team together as soon as possible."

"You can decide for yourself."

Minister Zhou couldn't care less if Gu Yansheng wanted to place someone in a small fry like this.

(End of this chapter)