Spy Wars: Red Shopkeeper

Chapter 115 Praise
Fu Xiaoan was busy raising money, and the other directors were busy avoiding suspicion. Now everyone had a tacit understanding, and the central idea was that they must not be conscripted by the Japanese.

The last incident of interrogation at gunpoint in the office showed that in the eyes of the Japanese, they were no different from ordinary people outside. The Japanese would kill them if they were unhappy and would not give them any respect.

In this case, don’t blame everyone for not working hard.

The entire municipal government has entered a state of disarray. Don't ask, the answer is they are busy. Isn't it hard to find an excuse for being busy?
If you really can't find it, just hit yourself on the head with a brick and say that you were hit by a citizen while inspecting, then go to the hospital. What can the Japanese do?
The city government was paralyzed and the Japanese were powerless to do anything about the current situation.

Foreign businessmen exerted pressure through various channels and contacted reporters to protest frequently in front of the Hongkou Consulate.

The Japanese did not dare to show up for interviews at all. When forced into a corner, the military police simply cleared the way for them to leave, but they still did not say a word.

However, the economy of SH City showed a different picture.

No one accepted military notes at all. The Japanese Chamber of Commerce took the lead and was the most decisive in not accepting them. Anyone who dared to pay with military notes would be kicked out.

If the Japanese don’t accept military notes, then who else would dare to accept them?

All chambers of commerce collectively refused to accept military bills, and transactions were exchanged for ocean currency, gold, and US dollars.

However, in this incident, many companies received a large number of military notes. They thought that the SH urban area would definitely need military notes in the future, so they did not exchange them all in the previously open exchanges, or even did not exchange them at all.

Now the military notes have in fact become worthless pieces of paper, resulting in heavy losses.

They had to live frugally and struggle to keep the business running.

Among ordinary people, there are always some who trust Japan too much or are too poor, and have exchanged all their cash for military notes. Now these people are having a hard time living.

Some people took to the streets to protest, demanding that Japan resolve the military bill issue.

Some people barter to temporarily solve their survival problems.

Some people took odd jobs, so that they could at least earn some French currency from the rich.

The sluggish trading, the shrinking assets of ordinary people, the attack on the concession by the secret service headquarters, and Japan's attitude towards military notes, all these events were reflected in the stock market.

It's a continuous decline.

The stock, which had been falling continuously, suddenly plummeted and entered a plunge mode at a certain moment, as if it had taken a laxative after Wing On Department Store fell ten points.

Sassoon's revenge was late but it came, and the first target of his revenge was Shanghai's economy.

He destroyed whatever the Japanese valued.

As soon as he heard that Fu Xiaoan was raising money, combined with the stock market, he knew that Fu Xiaoan was about to reach his bottom line, so he would hit him again, directly knock Fu Xiaoan out, and by the way, bring down the entire economy of SH City!

Sassoon dumped the stock at any cost, causing Fu Xiaoan's position to go bankrupt. Fu Xiaoan didn't even have a chance to save the situation, as his stocks were forcibly liquidated and sold by the exchange.

When Fu Xiaoan threw out his chips, few people in Shanghai could afford them.

This is where the plunge after the decline began.

Sassoon's attack sent Fu Xiaoan to the hospital that same day.

The Japanese completely stopped their actions and stopped even causing trouble for the city government.

At the city government, Gu Yansheng was reading a newspaper.

Recent news in newspapers has been saying that Shanghai's economy is not doing well, or criticizing the Japanese for their incompetence.

But today there is a new one.

Vice Chairman Wang from Chongqing officially committed treason in Hanoi, Vietnam.

"Hello, Secretary-General." Liu Xiaolou's deliberately loud reminder sounded outside the door.

"Iwasa was called back to Japan to report on his work, and he probably won't be coming back."

Ling Xianwen walked into Gu Yansheng's office, sat down on the sofa, crossed his legs and said, "Mr. Hase called me and told us to do our best to maintain the situation in Shanghai and wait for the results of the negotiations in Japan before making any decisions.

He also told me that the Japanese cabinet was very dissatisfied with the military's recent work in Shanghai, and the next person sent would not be as domineering and unreasonable as Iwasa.

Our lives should be better.”

Now in the municipal government, Ling Xianwen is the most senior.

"That's a good thing."

Gu Yansheng smiled and sat down, complaining, "Iwasa's style is indeed problematic. Sending soldiers into the meeting room and pointing guns at senior government officials is not something a superior would do!

He has no dignity at all. He has caused people to lose their morale."

"Yeah, they're hiding, claiming to be sick. Either they should just get out of the way and let us handle it ourselves, or they should send someone who knows a thing or two. This Iwasa is just a troop leader, and asking him to oversee Shanghai's economy is like, 'He knows nothing.'"

Ling Xianwen thought of Yan Zuo and was also very angry, and accused him, "Look at the person he used, Su Xiwen.

During the Reform Movement of 1898, the government was a complete idiot. It was not good at managing the economy at all. They even chose Pudong as the location for the government office. Look at that place, it's either muddy or farmland. It takes a whole day to go back and forth to the concession. How can they communicate with the merchants and offices in the concession?
How could Shanghai's economy develop?
This allowed him to get by easily during the period of strict control after the war, but now that he is in charge of a department, he is forced to run away because of his own policies. It's really hilarious to tell others about it.

And there is Sheng Wenyi.

You said you were doing this thing, but the Military Police Headquarters insisted on interfering and sent this young and inexperienced person to be the director. They think they know a lot and that money in Shanghai is so easy to make.

The biggest responsibility for the chaos in Shanghai lies with Sheng Wenyi, otherwise the issue of military notes alone would not have caused such a big reaction from the outside world.

Is it wrinkled now?

One of the two generals was captured in Nanjing, and the other ran away without anyone knowing where he went. Now it was his turn.

I guess according to the Japanese punishment method, the lighter ones will be sent to the reserve and retired, while the more serious ones will be brought to the military court and may be forced to commit suicide by seppuku.

"He's the commander of the Shanghai Military Police Headquarters, what a great position, but he's really asking for trouble."

"You're really eager to make progress." Gu Yansheng smiled and said jokingly, "Don't talk about him. Secretary Ling, when will you become Mayor Ling?"

"Me?" Ling Xianwen glared, pointed at himself and sneered, "Forget it. Fu Xiaoan is sick, not dead. It doesn't matter if he doesn't have the position of deputy mayor. I might as well be the secretary general if I'm deputy mayor. If something really goes wrong, at least there's someone to take the blame. Don't you agree?" "Hahahaha." Gu Yansheng laughed, "Since you don't have to bear such a heavy responsibility, why don't we go out for lunch together? We eat mutton in winter and ginger in summer. I heard that mutton in Songjiang is in season right now."

Ling Xianwen sighed, "I'm not as lucky as you. I have something to do at noon." He moved closer and whispered, "Have you read the newspaper?"

"I read a lot of newspapers. What's the matter?" Gu Yansheng also came over.

Ling Xianwen winked. "What else could it be? Vice Chairman Wang from Chongqing delivered a speech in Hanoi, echoing the Japanese Prime Minister's proposal for several major terms of coexistence with China. He proposed a peaceful settlement of bilateral relations, ceding all economic privileges in Manchuria and North China along the Yangtze River to Japan, and seeking a withdrawal of troops."

Gu Yansheng restrained his expression and nodded seriously: "I've seen this matter. I remember that this person has always been a peace advocate. It's not surprising for him to say this. What's wrong?"

Ling Xianwen smiled and said, "He gave a speech in Hanoi yesterday, and the newspaper was only published in Shanghai today. However, his special envoy will arrive in Shanghai at noon. Mr. Hase asked me to go and pick him up and have dinner with him. Isn't it amazing?"

"No wonder they didn't want to eat with me. What were they doing in Shanghai?"

"They negotiated. When the new government was established, the Japanese were trying their best to find some qualified people to support the government. Didn't they find Fu Xiaoan that way?

Now a vice chairman has come to their doorstep, holding countless secrets of Chongqing. The Japanese will definitely not let him go. He is a hot commodity. And let me tell you, this is not the first time they have talked about it. I have accompanied Mr. Hase there before.

I guess the talks are really almost over this time, otherwise Vice Chairman Wang wouldn't have come to Hanoi to issue such a statement."

Gu Yansheng frowned, "Does that mean we need another father above us?"

Ling Xianwen was stunned for a moment, then laughed out loud: "Your statement is interesting. That's right, for sure. If he comes, his position can't be low. And let me tell you, it's not just one father, it's a group of fathers. A person like him, how could there be few people around him?"

"Too."

Gu Yansheng thought about it and smiled and shook his head: "Anyway, it's not our turn to make the decision on this matter. I'll just guard my own piece of land and I'm too lazy to make any trouble.

It’s just right that there’s nothing to do now and no one cares about me. I’ll think about where to buy a house and get it settled first.

I'm so worried. The food in the cafeteria is so bad. The funding provided by the Japanese is already limited, and the people in the cafeteria are probably greedy. Now the economy is bad, and the food is even worse. The rice the Japanese gave us was actually moldy. It was really shabby.

I'm now forced to sneak out to find something delicious, and even just to eat I have to bring a bunch of people with me, for fear that the Iron Blood Assassination Group will come looking for me."

"I've been thinking about this for you. You and Iwasa didn't have a good relationship before, so you can't bring this up. But I think you still have to stay at the Hongkou Barracks. Safety is always a concern."

Ling Xianwen thought for a moment and said, "Wait a little longer until the new commander arrives, and perhaps this matter will be resolved. You can go buy it yourself. The best villas are those close to the barracks, as they are all ringed by the Military Police Headquarters.

If you buy those ordinary ones nearby, they're too ordinary. There's no need for that. Just make do for a few days and eat out a few times, or find someone you trust to buy groceries for you and bring them over. The Japanese won't let the position of military police commander be vacant for too long. I estimate that it will only be a few days before Japan sends someone to take over."

"I'm afraid it will have a bad impact if we eat well at the city hall." Gu Yansheng smiled, "Okay, let's wait and see. I also want to save some money."

Not long after Ling Xianwen left, Liu San called and asked Gu Yansheng to go down.

When the car drove to the riverside, Gu Yansheng saw Chen Mo.

Chen Mo said: "Everyone who returned from Shanghai has arrived in Chongqing safely. Director Dai has commended us for the complete success of our operation to destroy Japanese military notes.

I especially highly praise your money-giving plan, Silver Fox!
Your plan is the core step of this operation. It completely shattered the Japanese army's dream of using military notes to plunder Shanghai's wealth in the long term. Both in terms of effect and harvest, the results are fruitful and the record is outstanding.

As a token of my respect for you, I've commended you within the Records Bureau and requested a medal of honor. However, since you're in the enemy camp, it's inconvenient to disclose your personal information to the relevant departments. Therefore, I've sealed the records and specifically instructed me to explain this to you."

"Thank you for your trust, Director. I am just doing what I should do. Thank you for your concern, Director Dai."

The praise wasn't much, but the medal was something, a bit unexpected.

Gu Yansheng estimated that this commendation and medal mainly made Mr. Dai from Chongqing earn a lot of money.

This operation brought Boss Dai at least 1500 million French francs in profits, which is about 100 million US dollars when converted into US dollars. It is definitely not a small number and is simply a windfall.

"There's one more thing. I wonder if you've heard about Wang Ni's treason?"

"I saw it in the newspaper. It said he was in Hanoi." Gu Yansheng nodded.

"Boss Dai received news that someone flew from Hanoi to Shanghai. They are supposed to be Wang Ni's subordinates. They came to Shanghai to contact and negotiate with the Japanese. They instructed us to obtain the content of their talks and, depending on the situation, to carry out the elimination mission and severely punish the traitors!
The mission will be carried out by our action team. We hope you can help us understand the situation and provide relevant information."

"The person has indeed arrived in Shanghai." Gu Yansheng told him what he knew. "I think I can get this person's information. I'm not qualified to participate in the talks, otherwise I should have been called to join today."

Chen Mo nodded, "Then you should get the basic information. Once you have it, we will make a plan and see if there is any chance to take action.

This kind of meeting will definitely be documented. Since Wang Ni didn't come, the document must be brought back to Hanoi for him to see. We can then start work at the hotel, find the document, and take photos to record it."

"Okay, I understand. Wait for my news."

Gu Yansheng went back, and in the evening, Shen Linshen from the tailor shop also came to see him.

"Have you heard? Vice Chairman Wang from Chongqing defected to the Japanese, and his trusted subordinates went to Shanghai."

"Are you all so well-informed?" Gu Yansheng laughed in surprise. "I found out about the treason this morning, and around noon I learned that his men had arrived in Shanghai. It's supposed to be a pretty secret matter, yet you all knew about it."

"You guys?" Shen Linshen was very perceptive. "Who are you? Did the Military Control Commission come looking for you?"

Gu Yansheng nodded. "Today, the Military Control Commission asked me to find out the mission of Wang Ni's special envoy to Shanghai, and to determine whether or not to carry out the elimination mission based on his identity."

"That's easier." Shen Linshen smiled. "You're killing two birds with one stone. The organization has instructed us to obtain substantial evidence of Wang's collusion with the Japanese. It would be best if we could get the meeting minutes, but don't force it. Put your own safety first. If you encounter any danger, give up decisively."

"I see." Gu Yansheng nodded and smiled: "Kill two birds with one stone, it's delicious."

"There's one more thing."

Shen Linshen said seriously, "On behalf of the organization, I want to inform you, Comrade Gu Yansheng, that the southern Anhui region has experienced a cold wave that is rare in a century. The temperature there this year is particularly cold. Thanks to your efforts, medicine and cotton yarn were delivered to southern Anhui in time, allowing the New Fourth Army in the southern Anhui base to have clothes to wear and medicine to take in the severe cold.

The New Fourth Army Headquarters specially sent a letter to the headquarters, requesting gratitude to the comrades in Shanghai who delivered medicines and cotton yarn to them, and asking the headquarters to praise them. They also hoped to know their names so that they could express their gratitude in the future.

We cannot tell them their names as this is organizational discipline, but the headquarters also telegraphed the New Fourth Army that the underground party in Shanghai will always help and protect the New Fourth Army and fight alongside the New Fourth Army on the front line of the East China battlefield.

The organization asked me to tell you, to convey to you the New Fourth Army's gratitude to you."

(End of this chapter)