Spy Wars: Red Shopkeeper

Chapter 41: Taking sides
The next day, Hasegawa brought people to the law firm impatiently, fearing that he would go back on his word.

After receiving a notification from the beautiful front desk lady Susan, Gu Yansheng walked to the door to pick someone up.

Excluding the bodyguards following closely behind, there are two other people, besides Hase, there is another man who is about 30 years old, most likely around. I have never seen him and do not know him. He looks quite elegant and should be the actual inviter that Hase mentioned.

Gu Yansheng just smiled.

"Before Mr. Hase comes, you can give me a call so I can borrow some tea leaves. Right now, I only have coffee, so don't be picky."

Hasegawa smiled nonchalantly, "The coffee is good, Mr. Gu, let me introduce you to Ling Xianwen, the government's secretary general."

"Oh? It's Secretary-General Ling." Gu Yansheng stood in awe.

At the age of 30, he has achieved the powerful position of Secretary-General of the municipal government. This means that he either has a strong backing or is very capable and has a strong backing.

"Mr. Gu, I've heard of your great name for a long time." Ling Xianwen smiled gently.

"Please come in."

Gu Yansheng led the two into the room, "Wen Yan, please help me make some coffee."

"Oh, here I come." Wen Yan was busy running around.

"Please take a seat, both of you."

After Ling Xianwen sat down, he saw that there were outsiders present, so he started chatting directly, "I saw at the door just now that Mr. Gu seemed surprised by my arrival?"

Gu Yansheng nodded without any concealment, "I originally thought that the person who wanted me would be from the judicial department, or a department that has something to do with the law. I really didn't expect it to be someone like Secretary Ling.

Moreover, Secretary Ling is so young. When I first saw him, I thought he was someone close to Mr. Hase. I was shortsighted.

Ling Xianwen and Chang Gu looked at each other and burst into laughter.

“It’s actually quite right what you said.

The government is a large organization with numerous personnel and chaotic factions. As someone who wants to get things done, you need to have someone to lean on to make things easier. Mr. Gu, do you think I'm right?"

For such a straightforward faction, it was obvious that he wanted Gu Yansheng to express his position as well. Saying this before the conversation was related to the subsequent conditions.

If we are willing to stand together, the conditions will surely be better.

Gu Yansheng gave an expression that said, "I understand," and nodded slightly. "There are many good horses, but there are few good horse trainers. Mr. Chang Gu and Mr. Ling are willing to take me in, so I will naturally be the one who enters their family. Even if I say I am not, others have to believe me, right?"

"Ha ha ha ha."

After Gu Yansheng said this, the two of them smiled even more beautifully.

Ling Xianwen said to Chang Gu, "Mr. Chang Gu, I told you that based on Attorney Gu's outstanding performance in court, he must be a smart man."

Hasegawa was indeed satisfied, nodded, and said directly, "The Shanghai Reform Government temporarily established after the war is now seen as foolish and incompetent.

Not only did they fail to play the role they should have in maintaining peace and stability in Shanghai, they were also helpless in preventing other countries from transporting banned materials into the country.

This government was fired en masse.

The new government is already being formed. Secretary-General Ling will inform you of the details later."

Gu Yansheng nodded to show that he understood.

Hasegawa continued, "The city government will have thirty departments in its re-planning this time. Since you have no political experience, in order to avoid criticism from some people, I will assign you the position of Deputy Director of the Judicial Department, which is in charge of judicial affairs.

Although the Judicial Department sounds like a department-level unit, its functions are on par with the other 29 functional departments of the municipal government.

Oh, this treatment is not light. Gu Yansheng originally thought that it would be good enough to be given a powerful section chief, but he didn't expect Chang Gu to be so generous.

“Although you are not the chief officer, you don’t have to worry. Once you have achieved something, I will make you the official.

Because the director of the Judicial Department who is about to be appointed does not have any special abilities, he is just older and more familiar with Shanghai's legal affairs. He is the helpless choice after no one else could be chosen.

Are you satisfied with this position, Mr. Gu?"

What else could he say? Gu Yansheng nodded sincerely, "It's all up to Mr. Chang Gu to arrange."

Although he experienced some twists and turns after coming to Shanghai, it was not without benefits. Obviously, he could save a lot of time compared to starting from the bottom.

"Deputy Director Gu, congratulations! You're only half a grade below me, the Secretary General who's wasted nearly a decade. Your starting point is truly enviable." Ling Xianwen complimented Chang Gu's generosity. While it was indeed quite generous, Gu Yansheng smiled indifferently. As someone who had given up some of his profits, it was only natural for him to behave in this way. Pride is a given.

"Mr. Hase is willing to give me a platform, so of course I am happy. I don't really care whether I am a director or not. What I care about is whether this stage is big enough for me to display my talents."

"Looking forward to your performance." Hase said.

Gu Yansheng bowed slightly in greeting.

"Okay, then Secretary Ling will discuss the rest with you, including your salary." Hase stood up.

"I've been so busy lately with the formation of this new government that I can't stop. I've only just taken time out to see you. I'm about to go to the Military Police Headquarters for a meeting. You two can chat."

"Then walk slowly."

"Oh, right."

Hasegawa paused and said with a smile, "I've already warned the person who blackmailed you, and told him to choose whether to accept the penalty or pay compensation. He's not in Shanghai right now. When he returns in two days, you can decide how to deal with him."

"Thank you, Mr. Hase."

After the two of them saw Hase off, they returned to the office and the atmosphere became a little more relaxed.

Ling Xianwen is the secretary general. He has mastered the art of making friends. He crossed his legs, drank coffee, looked around the office and said with a smile.

“The treatment at the city government is indeed not as good as that of people working in the concession. Your office is much better than mine.

The Battle of Shanghai destroyed the entire city of Shanghai, forcing us to work in Pudong. The environment there, wow, is not even one-tenth as good as that in the concession.

Fortunately, the new municipal building in Yangpu has been renovated, so I don’t have to travel back and forth so hard. Well, there are still many vacant rooms in the new building. I will let you choose the office first. You can hang your name on the one you like.

This secretariat doesn't have much power, but I can help you get an office with good feng shui."

Gu Yansheng didn't hesitate to take advantage of this kind of favor from his own people. "Thank you very much, Secretary General."

"It's a small matter. Regarding your treatment, Mr. Hase told me that you will receive a special allowance of 100 yen per month. The amount is definitely not comparable to your income, but Mr. Hase has worked hard, and this is something he saved from the consulate's funds."

The Japanese yen is not as valuable as the US dollar, and it will be even less valuable in the future. However, right now, the purchasing power of the Japanese yen is still good. These 100 yen are enough to support 8 to 10 Japanese soldiers.

Gu Yansheng said, "I'm not a tactless person. Please thank Mr. Chang Gu for me. When will I start work? Have the specific office hours been decided?"

"It's already begun. When will the government shut down? It's only about a month before the reforms are officially announced. During this time, we'll just have to rectify things, non-stop."

Speaking of this, Ling Xianwen got down to business:
"You just saw Mr. Hase's attitude. The Japanese side is very dissatisfied with the results of the previous government. So this time, several major Japanese departments decided to reappoint all personnel, promoting those who are capable and demoting those who are incompetent.

The top candidate has actually been chosen: the new mayor is Fu Xiaoan, the former president of the SH City Chamber of Commerce.

"A businessman?" Gu Yansheng raised his eyebrows with a surprised expression.

Ling Xianwen sneered slightly, his eyes playful, "Not entirely. In terms of his resume, he was a close confidant of Sheng Xuanhuai, the Minister of Posts and Communications of the former Qing Dynasty, and a director of the Commercial Bank.

After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, he transformed himself into a senior adviser to the Northern Expedition Military Government.

Then the National Government was established and he became the president of the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce.

You are still young and may not know how much the Chiang family loves money. It is rumored that while the war was going on, while his subordinates were reporting the battle reports, Chiang was also using a radio to listen to the fluctuations in Shanghai stock prices.

But when Mr. Jiang came to power, no one touched Fu Xiaoan, who was so rich. Isn't it strange?

But the surprise is yet to come.

Now that the Japanese are in power, with his background and experience, he has become the head of the SH city government, our leader.

Can you simply say that a person like this is a businessman?"

“It’s a real tumbler.”

Gu Yansheng's laughter was reserved.

Ling Xianwen quite agrees with this statement.

"However, his connections with the Japanese are clear. Mr. Hase said that the only reason he was able to replace the candidate originally appointed by the Shanghai headquarters and become mayor was because he was designated by the commander of the expeditionary force, Japanese Army General Matsui."

(End of this chapter)