Spy Wars: Red Shopkeeper

Chapter 45 Getting to the bottom of things
"Xiaolou, please pour me a cup of coffee."

"Ok."

Gu Yansheng didn't rush to answer his subordinates' questions, but was thinking about the whole thing.

If you want to keep your position, you must do something practical to help the Japanese. That is, banned items must be checked, but the channels cannot be blocked so tightly, otherwise banned items will not be able to enter at all, or only a small amount can enter, which will only lead to price increases, and in the end it will be the anti-Japanese people who pay the bill.

Having both adds an extra layer of difficulty.

Glancing over these subordinates, he found that most of them were decent. At least they could speak, literally, they could open their mouths and speak. Compared to searching through files in the office and figuring things out on his own, it was far less convenient and thorough than their direct explanation.

This is also the purpose of Gu Yansheng convening this meeting, to find out the basics.

After thinking for a while, Gu Yansheng said, "I'll handle this matter as appropriate. Let's put it aside for now. I just arrived. You can report the situation of each department. Chief Du, you go first?"

"Okay." Du Yue nodded. "The Judicial Department is primarily responsible for the implementation of justice, that is, the trial of criminals and the supervision of the implementation of penalties. These two aspects are not being implemented smoothly at the moment, mainly because our position is rather awkward.

Everyone present here is our own people. Let me say something behind closed doors. We are now under the control of the Japanese, and it is not up to us to decide whether a person is guilty or not.

Putting aside the Japanese, the British, the Americans, and all foreigners, right now, anyone who dares to commit a crime at this moment, even if he is Chinese, do you dare to say that there is no one standing behind him?

It wasn't long since the war ended, and honest people wouldn't commit crimes. Those who committed crimes were either desperadoes or people with connections.

It's hard for the police to arrest people, and it's hard for us to sentence them. Sometimes the police can't handle it and just push it off and throw people into court. What should we do? We know they've committed a crime, but we still have to let them go if they shouldn't be sentenced.

So, the work is difficult, Deputy Director Gu, that's about it, I'm telling you the truth."

Gu Yansheng nodded without commenting, and looked at the next person: "Ma Sihai, Section Chief of the Prison Management Department?"

"Oh." Ma Sihai immediately smiled and nodded.

Different from Du Yue who looks smart and gentle with glasses, Ma Sihai is obviously a person who enjoys eating a lot, and his appetite is quite big.

Ma Sihai smiled, then said seriously: "Our prison work is simple. We just need to keep an eye on the prisoners. The daily work is nothing special. We will send people to patrol the prison regularly to check if there are any jailbreaks and check the facilities.

However, there are also difficulties in the work, mainly the problems of prisoners' diet and medical care.

Because the war had just ended and the city government was not well-off, there was a slight shortfall in food expenses for the prisoners.

Some people have illnesses themselves or were injured while working in prison. Our medical conditions are not very good, and the prison has asked us several times to provide them with doctors.

But you also know that doctors are expensive, and their consultation fees and medicines are very expensive. I have difficulties for the time being, and these two are probably the reasons."

Gu Yansheng hummed, thought for a moment, and then asked, "How many prisons are there in Shanghai? I mean all of them, including the concessions."

"In short, Huade Road Prison is in Tilanqiao and is under the jurisdiction of the Municipal Council.

In the French Concession, the Masnan Road Prison was under the jurisdiction of the Municipal Council.

The Hongkou Military Police has its own prison, which basically houses the people arrested by their military police.

Then there are the police station’s detention centers, one in Zhabei and one in Nanshi.

There are two main prisons under our jurisdiction. One is in the city, in Caohejing, which is close to us. Most of the prisoners are now detained there. The other is in the suburbs, in Longhua Town, Jiangsu No. 2 Prison, which is also under our jurisdiction.

"How many prisoners are there in total?"

"Four or five thousand? Right, Lao Liao?" Ma Sihai asked the head of the General Affairs Department opposite him.

"Yes, about 4,300 to 4,400 people."

"So many?" Gu Yansheng was a little surprised. "The prison should have been cleared out after the fighting, right? It's only been a short time, where did all these prisoners come from?"

Ma Sihai curled his lips and laughed: "Of course they are the people the Japanese ordered to be arrested, Deputy Director Gu, you don't know that the military police prison in Hongkou can't hold many people, only a few hundred at most.

When the Japanese first occupied Shanghai, those Japanese soldiers disliked everyone. Anyone who looked at them even twice would be arrested. So they arrested many people, but they didn't want to release them. But they were also afraid of causing international public opinion if they killed too many, so they let the police find any crime to lock them up.

I guess at the time they just wanted to lock those people up for a few days as punishment, but they just forgot about it.

Well, the police station’s detention center was full, and they didn’t dare to release them. It just so happened that the prison was empty at that time, so all those people were sent to prison.”

"We provide financial support for them?" Gu Yansheng asked.

Ma Sihai smiled and said, "The bulk of the money comes from the city government, and a little bit from the police station. Of course, we have to bear some of the cost as well. But what can we do? We can't just kill them all, right? Then how can we stay in Shanghai? They'll dig up our ancestral graves."

“How many people are there like this?”

"About half."

More than 2,000 people are being held captive like this. That's really acceptable.

Xiaolou came back with some coffee.

Gu Yansheng took a sip and continued, "As far as I know, there's a Li Shiqun over on Daxi Road. Does he have a prison there?"

"No." Ma Sihai shook his head. "This guy defected from the Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics and is now working for the Military Police Headquarters. He's arrested several people and detained them at the police station. They also interrogated them at the police station. My colleagues told me about this when I went to the police station to do some work."

Gu Yansheng nodded slightly, paused, and said, "The funding issue you just mentioned, that is, if I help you solve the problem of the abnormal detention of these two thousand people, won't your funds be much more ample?"

"That..." Ma Sihai was a little embarrassed. After hesitating for a while, he smiled embarrassedly and said, "That's not how it works. In fact, if these two thousand people were released, the funding problem might be even more serious."

"How to say?"

"Wasn't Shanghai undergoing reconstruction a while ago? For prisoners like them, I usually agree that the prison should find some work for them. They're idle anyway, so with work they have income, and with income they have food to eat. Not only will they have food to eat, but the elderly, the weak, and the disabled will also have food to eat. If they are released, the funding for the elderly, the weak, and the disabled will be even less." "From what you said, do you still plan to lock them up for life?"

"No, no, that's not what I meant." Ma Sihai waved his hands quickly.

"General Affairs Department, how much is the shortfall?" Gu Yansheng simply stopped talking to him.

“I haven’t calculated this number specifically.”

"Calculate it and submit a detailed document to me before noon tomorrow."

The General Affairs Section Chief nodded immediately: "Okay."

Gu Yansheng shouted, "Some money can't be earned. I know it's difficult for you. Let it go in the past, but if we want Shanghai's judicial system to improve in the future, we still have to establish our own rules."

"Yes!" Everyone said in unison.

Ma Sihai looked around and asked, "Deputy Director Gu, are you planning to release them all? I have no problem with that, but what if the Japanese pursue this?"

"I'll take care of this matter." Gu Yansheng tilted his head. "Head of the Legal Affairs Section?"

Qi Hanmin, the head of the Legal Affairs Section, is 45 years old and used to be a law teacher at school. He is thin and looks like an old scholar.

"Deputy Director Gu, the Legal Affairs Section, as its name suggests, is responsible for making laws. However, you are well aware of the current situation in Shanghai. Who exactly owns Shanghai and which laws should be respected are still uncertain.

We can't just let the judges here just read out the laws of the Republic of China. If Chongqing changes the law, it will be a problem whether we can change it."

"Then how do those courts rule on cases now?" Gu Yansheng was curious.

Qi Hanmin smiled helplessly: "The laws of the Republic of China can still be used for the time being. It's our job as the Legal Affairs Department. It seems there's not much we can do."

Gu Yansheng understood, "Now we have several courts."

"Two, one in Pudong and one in Zhabei."

"Just two?" Gu Yansheng raised his eyebrows. This number was a bit small.

Qi Hanmin explained: “Because the situation in Shanghai was different, cases involving foreigners were basically tried in the international courts in the concessions.

The Japanese in the urban area of ​​SH were released from strict control for only a few months. During this period, they basically imprisoned anyone they identified without trial.

So the two courts are a bit crowded, but they are sufficient for the time being and may need to be expanded later.

In fact, we should have another court in the International Settlement, which was the Second Branch of the Jiangsu High Court of the National Government in Shanghai at that time.

This branch is actually very important. According to the agreement between the National Government and foreign countries, this branch can also try foreigners.

Therefore, if we take over this branch, theoretically, all the problems we face will be solved.

Director, and your former deputy director, we have actually been working hard on this matter these days. The Japanese also feel that since Shanghai has been occupied by them, the National Government’s property in Shanghai should belong to them.

They also negotiated, but the Municipal Council believed that the court still belonged to the National Government and refused to give it to us. That is why we have the current conflict and we have no say in the concession.

I guess the Municipal Council wants to achieve this goal, to hand over the goods to us. If we don't want to let them get the goods, won't they be unable to enter?"

"I understand, General Affairs Department." Gu Yansheng took over.

Lao Liao, the head of the General Affairs Section, immediately said, "Our Judicial Department is a supporting department and is not given much attention by the higher-ups, so the funding is relatively small.

At present, it is okay for us to maintain our own offices, but it is a bit difficult to take care of the prisons, courts and so on below.

As for the prisoners, there's even less we can do. Lack of funding is the main problem."

"Secretarial Department?"

"The secretarial department is fine."

"personnel?"

"There's a minor issue with the Personnel Department. The prisons and courts below us want us to staff them with more personnel, which again involves funding issues. That's all. Everything else is fine."

"Ah."

Gu Yansheng looked around and smiled. "From what I've heard, except for the secretarial department, you all just raise your problems if you have any. You treat me like a wishing well and hope I can help you solve your problems, right?"

Several people were smiling awkwardly.

No matter how embarrassed you feel, you still have to reach out.

To test the quality of a new leader, isn't it just about seeing how much he can take out of his pocket?
Gu Yansheng smiled and tapped the table in thought, "Okay, I'll consider your questions. If there's nothing else, let's adjourn the meeting. Chief of General Affairs, bring in the report."

"Yes."

"Then you go first, Director..." Seeing that Gu Yansheng didn't move, they didn't dare to move either.

Gu Yansheng waved his hand: "I'll be alone for a while, Xiaolou can accompany me, you guys go and do your work."

"Well, then, take your time to think about it."

"Well, Xiaolou, come and sit down."

(End of this chapter)