20 years of the Republic of China

Chapter 718: Chinese-Western Confrontation
The fire burned for more than three hours until dawn, when the wind died down and plumes of white smoke rose from Gaoli Street, and the fire was finally put out.

However, it was more like burning out than extinguishing it.

After the fire brigade arrived at the scene, they ignored the pleadings of overseas Chinese on the peninsula and urgently demolished the shacks around Qingqiu Community. They then used sand and mud to pave the road and lined up to pour water to control the spread of the fire.

The fire burned through the streets surrounding Qingqiu Village. When there was nothing left to burn, the area collapsed, only lingering on in the black scorched earth until it gradually died out.

In addition to the folk water association, Chinese and foreign patrol police also arrived at the scene. During the rescue and firefighting process, although there was a consensus on cooperation, disagreements were inevitable.

Among them, the most important dispute is about the ownership of the Xita land.

Because of this, both sides attached great importance to the disaster and immediately reported it to the Fengtian Municipal Government and the Nantie Local Office.

Soon, news of the disaster spread throughout the provincial capital and beyond.

The fire happened so suddenly that rumors spread and many unfounded conspiracy theories were spawned.

There are also great differences in people's attitudes towards the disaster: some people applaud, while others feel sympathy.

The people firmly believe that no matter which attitude they hold, it is their own true opinion, but they have completely forgotten that their discussions had actually appeared in the newspapers a few days ago. However, this does not prevent them from discussing and giving advice on state affairs.

The news reached the Fengtian Public Office, and Wang Tiekan personally handled the matter.

Subordinates report: A total of 27 overseas Chinese households were affected in Gaoli Street, and all the employees of Qingqiushe were burned to death. The Dongyang Police Department requested to intervene in the investigation!

Wang Tiekan was frowning for a moment.

The case was too big and involved too many people. It was difficult for him, the "chief civil servant" in charge of finance, to make a decision on his own, so he hurriedly set off to the Marshal's Mansion to report the situation.

…………

It was just getting light outside. Marshal Zhang had just finished his breakfast and was now sitting by the window in his office, holding a few sheets of beige striped paper in his hand. He curled his lips and looked quite solemn.

Not long after, an adjutant knocked on the door and reported that Wang Tiekan had arrived.

Marshal Zhang waved his hand and said impatiently: "What else are you reporting? Just let him in!"

Wang Tiekan was Lao Zhang's "important minister" and "close minister". He could meet with him in person to report on any matter, no matter how big or small. He walked into the house and gave a brief introduction to the disaster situation on Xita Gaoli Street in a few words.

Marshal Zhang had heard about the fire a long time ago, but he didn't seem to care much. He just raised his eyebrows, put away the beige striped paper, and asked in confusion: "The fire on Gaoli Street has been put out, what else do you want? Do you want the provincial government to pay for building houses for those Koreans to settle down?"

"That's not the case," Wang Tiekan said. "It's just that the Japanese suspect that this was a premeditated arson, so they want to take full control of the investigation and hope that we can cooperate as much as possible."

"Bullshit! When did Xita become the Japanese's territory? Do they need to meddle in other people's business?" Marshal Zhang cursed and said, "Tell them that I said - no cooperation!"

Wang Tiekan frowned and sighed, but said: "Commander-in-Chief, I think the Japanese are planning to take advantage of this issue. I'm afraid they won't give up this time. Besides, the ownership of the Nantie area is indeed controversial..."

"Then let's argue about it!" Marshal Zhang leaned back in his chair. "Since there is a dispute, it means it is not their business. Why should I cooperate with them?"

"But the victims were all Koreans. Strictly speaking, they are also Japanese nationals. If we want to investigate this case, it would be unrealistic to completely exclude the Japanese. Moreover, the overseas Chinese on the peninsula are now busy petitioning for a thorough investigation of the case!"

"Damn it, now they know how to act pitiful, those Koreans are not good people either!"

Marshal Zhang cursed and listed the crimes committed by the Koreans.

He was well aware that in recent years, many overseas Chinese from the Peninsula had moved to the three northeastern provinces. Relying on the support of Little Japan, they had privately reclaimed wasteland and cultivated land without the permission of the provincial government. Not only did they forcibly enclose land for themselves, but they also resisted paying taxes. What's worse, some were willing to act as Little Japan's lackeys, using all kinds of means to annex land and raise food prices, causing far-reaching harm.

The Koreans were so arrogant that they even surpassed the Japanese expatriates.

Marshal Zhang has long been fed up with it.

Although he also cooperated with the Japanese, he always prohibited the people from renting or selling land to foreigners, neither the Japanese nor the Koreans, because once the door to the people was opened, the leasing and selling of land would be out of control. If this continued for a long time, the people of Guandong would have no land to cultivate.

Although Lao Zhang came from a humble background, he still had some foresight. When he thought of this, he couldn't help but talk about it.

"It's time to make them behave themselves after this fire, so they don't have to cause me trouble! Besides, it's not surprising that a big opium den caught fire. The Japanese just said they suspected someone of setting the fire, so I have to cooperate with the investigation. How can that make sense?"

"Well..." Wang Tiekan replied in a low voice, "Commander-in-chief, in fact, it's not just the Japanese side that suspects it. I've also heard some rumors just now."

"What rumors?"

"Many people suspect that this fire is likely related to Jiang Lianheng of Zongheng Insurance Company."

"Xiao Jiang?" Marshal Zhang frowned, and then asked, "Do you have any evidence?"

Wang Tiekan shook his head and said, "We are currently actively negotiating with the Japanese side. The investigation of the case has not yet begun, but this fire is indeed a bit strange."

"What's wrong?"

"According to the overseas Chinese in the peninsula, they had received warnings long before the fire broke out and evacuated in advance. The situation was very timely. Many eyewitnesses claimed that the fire started in Qingqiushe, but the fire burned from the outside in, not from the inside out. The dead were all shop assistants in Qingqiushe. The target was very clear."

"that's it?"

"That's all for now."

"That's bullshit evidence!" Marshal Zhang snorted and cursed, "Maybe the Koreans are fighting among themselves!"

"I hope so!" Wang Tiekan did not refute. He also did not want this matter to be related to the Chinese, as that would only give the Japanese a chance to make trouble.

Unexpectedly, as we were talking, we heard hurried footsteps outside the door.

After knocking on the door, the adjutant reported loudly: "Marshal, the Japanese representative is here to see you!"

"Fuck it, it's a blessing, not a curse. If it's a curse, you can't avoid it!" Marshal Zhang slowly stood up and waved his hand with annoyance, "Tell them to wait in the reception room. I'll go to the bathroom first and come right over!"

…………In the reception room, there were three Japanese representatives, belonging to three institutions: one represented the consulate, one represented the police department, and one represented the South Railway local office.

The three men were wearing suits, all with stern faces and no smiles, looking as if they were ready to call someone to task.

After a while, a burst of laughter was heard coming from the corridor.

Turning to look at the door, he saw Marshal Zhang walking in with a rosy face and a smile. He asked, "You guys are here quite early. Have you eaten yet?"

Then, he started to introduce what he had for breakfast, how to fry dough sticks, how to pickle duck eggs, why corn porridge is more filling than millet porridge, and he talked about this and that. When he looked at the time, more than ten minutes had passed. He said at the end:
"How about you guys finish your meal before leaving?"

The three of them looked at each other and thought, we haven't even discussed the serious business yet, why should I leave if I'm just listening to your nonsense?

Lao Zhang looked innocent and said blankly, "Oh, you have something else to do? Then you have to hurry up, I have a meeting later, five minutes, no more!"

Upon hearing this, the consulate representative quickly replied, "Commander-in-Chief Zhang, we are here to take over the investigation of the West Tower arson case. We hope you can cooperate with us!"

"Sita? I don't think that place is under your jurisdiction?"

"No, that can't be said. The majority of people in the Xita area are expatriates from the Peninsula. We have the responsibility, obligation, and right to protect their personal safety. Therefore, this arson case should be investigated by us."

"Well, if that's the case, then let me ask you, who are the main residents of the South Railway Concession? Are they Chinese? Then can I send people to enforce the law over there?"

The consulate representative was choked and thought for a while before saying, "Commander-in-Chief Zhang, that's different. The West Tower is a disputed area."

"Then let's continue arguing!" Marshal Zhang put on a tough attitude, "Come on, Tiekan, you're here too, let's argue together!"

Upon hearing this, the representative of the police department immediately said in an embarrassing tone: "Commander-in-Chief Zhang, this is a major case involving the personal safety of overseas Chinese on the peninsula and more than 20 lives. Please be more serious!"

"Why am I not serious?" Marshal Zhang said sternly, "Let alone 20 lives, even if it's 200 lives, don't we have to resolve the controversial issues first before we can start investigating the case?"

"By the time the dispute is resolved, the evidence will probably have been destroyed!"

"That can't be helped. If you are really anxious, we can investigate the case and give you a satisfactory explanation when the time comes."

"You guys?" The police representative shook his head repeatedly. "This case doesn't need to be that complicated. We already have enough clues and have identified the suspect. As long as Commander-in-Chief Zhang can hand him over—"

"I can't hand it over!" Marshal Zhang refused flatly, "There is no such rule. If you ask me to hand it over, I will. What do you think of me?"

Wang Tiekan also argued with reason, and then said: "Your clues are just your words. Without the public trust judgment, it is difficult for us to follow your instructions. Otherwise, if you ask us to hand over this person today and that person tomorrow, what sovereignty will we have in the long run?"

Although Wang Tiekan often disliked what the Jiang family did, one thing is one thing. How could they easily give in on the issue of sovereignty?
Although Feng Zhang and Dongyang cooperated, they did not become puppets at the mercy of others.

Unexpectedly, these words immediately angered the police representative, who immediately slammed the table and asked, "Is Commander-in-Chief Zhang intentionally shielding the criminal?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Marshal Zhang also got angry and cursed on the spot, "Fuck you, how high-ranking an official are you? How dare you slam the table and glare at me? Your foreign minister didn't have this attitude when he met me. Who the hell do you think you are? How dare you question me?"

In the past two years, Lao Zhang has become more and more powerful and eager to get rid of Xiao Dongyang's constraints. When the two sides negotiate, his attitude becomes increasingly tough.

What's more, he was born in the wild and had a protective mentality of "not being reasonable with others". Now that he was exposed in front of others, he was naturally furious and embarrassed.

Upon seeing this, the consulate representative quickly whispered to comfort him: "Commander-in-Chief Zhang, we are not questioning you, but want to resolve the issue through negotiation."

"No more talk!"

Marshal Zhang stood up angrily, waved his hand, and said, "You are too low-ranking. I have nothing to say to you. If you want to continue negotiations, ask your consul general to come see me! I just said that I have a meeting and I will not accompany you any more!"

After all, walk away.

The three little Japanese were filled with anger, but they were helpless - they were defeated in their first confrontation.

However, that afternoon, Yoshida Shigeru, the Japanese Consul General in Fengtian, rushed to the Marshal's Mansion upon hearing the news and demanded an immediate face-to-face negotiation and talks.

Also in the reception room of the Marshal's Mansion, Marshal Zhang was as majestic and tough in the morning as he was low-key and flattering at this moment - the two faces were switched freely, and even bystanders felt a little embarrassed, but Old Zhang was like nothing had happened, still chatting and laughing, and facing it calmly.

"Mr. Yoshida, this is the finest West Lake Longjing tea. It would be a waste if I, a rough man, drank it. You have to taste it for me."

Marshal Zhang poured a cup of tea for Yoshida Shigeru, sat down with a smile, offered him cigarettes and lit them, but he did not mention the arson case on Gaoli Street in Xita. He even asked him with a smug face what brought him here.

But Yoshida Shigeru was a famous diplomat, accustomed to big occasions, and had seen countless people. He had already figured out what was going on in Old Zhang's mind, so he waved his hand and said straight to the point:

"Commander-in-Chief Zhang, let's get straight to the point. The West Tower fire killed more than 20 Koreans. Although they were Koreans, they were also citizens of our empire. Now the Colonization Company needs an explanation, and the consulate also needs an explanation. Otherwise, this matter will not be so easy to get over."

"Mr. Yoshida, this is a natural disaster, a man-made disaster, fire and water are merciless, it's all burned, what else can you say?"

Marshal Zhang was being careless again.

In fact, it doesn’t matter whether the case is investigated or not. He just doesn’t want Xiao Dongyang to take advantage of the situation, occupy the land of Xita, and refuse to leave, and eventually turn the so-called "dispute" into an established "fact."

Yoshida Shigeru heard this, glanced at the door, and sighed softly: "Commander-in-Chief Zhang, there is no one else here, I think we should be honest with each other. To be honest, I don't care about those Koreans, and I don't intend to use this matter to blackmail anything, but this is a major arson case after all. Even if it's just a superficial effort, you have to let us participate in the investigation."

Marshal Zhang laughed and said, "Hey, brother Yoshida, you have to take care of my face!"

Yoshida Shigeru frowned, but said, "Commander-in-Chief Zhang, I have to remind you that we are the ones who helped you maintain your reputation."

"That's right. After all, you Japanese are good friends!"

Zhang Dashuai said nonchalantly, "Unlike those Maos, they are so cruel and ruthless. Not only are they sneaking around in the South, they are also trying to seduce me. I think they are crazy. Don't come to me. I won't pay any attention to them if they do. After all, we are all yellow people. We have to fight against those foreign devils. Don't you agree, brother Yoshida?"

Yoshida Shigeru was so smart that he nodded immediately and blurted out, "Of course, the friendship between us and Commander-in-Chief Zhang will always be the most important."

(End of this chapter)