Spy Wars: Red Shopkeeper

Chapter 86 Attack
“The second question is about drugs.

Everyone should know that drug smuggling is rampant in Shanghai. Drugs are brought in from outside, brought to Shanghai, and then sold all over China.

This is a huge benefit.

Currently, public opinion around the world is saying that drugs spread and smuggling was rampant during our administration of Shanghai, but this problem has actually always existed.

During the period when the Chongqing government was in charge of Shanghai, it nominally implemented drug prohibition, but the actual situation, as I think everyone should know, was that drugs were the source of their military funds.

Now we have not gained this benefit, but we are the one who bears the blame, which is unreasonable.

I need you to address this issue, both by improving the public opinion we are under and by figuring out how to get the drug profits back into our own hands.”

After the meeting, a bunch of people came out, looking like eggplants hit by frost. No one was in the mood to watch Japanese women dance, so they all came out to get some fresh air.

"There is no good banquet. I finally understand. What the ancients said was true." This is the Director of the Finance Bureau.

"Who says it isn't? It's a complete Hongmen Banquet." This is the tax bureau director's complaint.

"Are you trying to kill yourself? Don't you see where you are?" Fu Xiaoan glared at the two of them and gestured to the Japanese military police with long spears not far behind him.

The two men shrank back, but the Finance Bureau director still managed to speak defiantly, "From what I've observed, the Japanese soldier with the rifle doesn't speak Chinese, and if he does, he can only understand a few words. I don't think he's ever heard the phrase 'no good banquet' since his mother was born."

"Hey, Mayor Fu, you are backed by the Nanjing Command Headquarters, didn't you know about this matter in advance?" The tax bureau director asked in confusion.

"How would I know? I just found out." Fu Xiaoan said with a look of dismay, "The Japanese are treating us like pigs. Do you think I'm his father, and he tells me everything?"

A few people laughed, they couldn't help laughing. It seemed that Fu Xiaoan was quite angry.

"Tell me, what should we do about this?" Ling Xianwen asked with a frown.

"Hey, Director Gu, you're smart, do you have any ideas?" The director of the tax bureau raised his head and asked.

"Why ask him? He's the cleanest here, he doesn't own any property. He went to the bank today, and all his money will be deposited in the concession tomorrow. How can you get rid of the little business you have?"

Ling Xianwen stopped Gu Yansheng from giving any advice.

Why should their people come up with ideas first? That doesn't make sense.

Gu Yansheng shook his head and said nothing, but he really didn't think so. Once the Japanese implemented this system, all materials entering and leaving the SH city area would be strictly checked to see whether taxes had been paid.

The cotton yarn in Lu Bowen's hands must be shipped out of Shanghai quickly, otherwise it will easily be trapped in the pot and unable to get out.

"Ah, Director Gu is still comfortable." The tax bureau director sighed and laughed, and did not ask any more questions. He said with a sigh, "If this matter gets out, is there any possibility that foreign investors will disagree?"

"Of course they won't agree. Is that even worth considering?" Fu Xiaoan squinted at him. "But what good will it do if they disagree? The Japanese will definitely force their way through. If they don't accept it, they won't be allowed in. What do you think their opposition will do?"

"Trouble"

Several people discussed it over and over again but couldn't come up with a good plan.

At this moment, gunshots were suddenly heard in the conference hall not far away.

Clap clap clap!

"what happened?"

"Why are there gunshots inside?"

Several people turned around suddenly, and before they could react whether to go in and take a look, they heard a loud explosion inside, like a grenade!

Bang, bang, bang! Intensive gunfire rang out. It was the Japanese military police who had just rushed in.

Then there was another loud bang, and the grenade exploded again.

Then after another gunshot, there was no more gunfire or grenade explosions except screams.

"Military Control Commission? Is that the Military Control Commission?" Ling Xianwen stared at Gu Yansheng with wide eyes, his hair standing on end as he recalled the terrifying memories.

How did Gu Yansheng know? "Why don't you hide first?"

This statement was echoed by everyone. They came to be traitors, not to die. They were powerless and killing the Military Control Commission had nothing to do with them. Several people immediately squatted down and hid in the shadow of the door, trying to be blocked by the nearby car bodies.

Those who had guns also took out their pistols, always on guard against accidents.

"Damn, this is amazing! The Japanese are actually letting the Military Control Commission sneak into their own club?"

"Didn't they raid Li Shiqun's spy headquarters? Why is there still the Military Control Commission?"

"Don't you know it's not finished yet?"

"Actually, after these few days, even if the sweep is complete, the Military Control Commission should be almost here by now."

As he was speaking, the Finance Bureau director cried out and slowly fell down.

"What's wrong? What's wrong with you?"

Everyone looked at the man on the ground in the light from the shops outside and thought he had been shot.

While he was still asking the question, Fu Xiaoan suddenly fell sideways and fell on Gu Yansheng.

"Mayor? Mayor?" Gu Yansheng nudged him. "Mayor."

"Why did it fall?"

"Is something wrong?"

"Could it be that the Military Control Commission poisoned someone?" Ling Xianwen said with a change of expression.

"Go to the hospital quickly!"

Several people who were still feeling well immediately supported the two people who fell to the ground. Gu Yansheng, a young man, could not be lazy at this time, so he immediately acted as a coolie to carry people.

"Who brought the driver?" Gu Yansheng asked.

"I."

"I."

They all have bossy style and almost all of them have it.

"Come over here right now. You can't just walk. Who knows if there are any other Military Control Commission members around here?"

"Yeah."

A bunch of people worked hard to get the car over, loaded the people into the car, and drove directly to the Concession Hospital.

When we arrived at the hospital, several more people had attacks of poison. Some had mild stomachaches, while others started vomiting uncontrollably in the car.

It was food poisoning for sure, but I didn't know what the food was.

Gu Yansheng didn't know whether it was because he was young and in good health, or because he drank less, but he didn't feel anything at the moment.

He didn't eat a single bite of the food, but he took a sip of the red wine. It wasn't that he didn't want to drink, but he was the last one to arrive. He took a sip out of courtesy and kept talking about things, so he didn't have time to drink at all.

It's better to induce vomiting and do gastric lavage to be safe. Judging from the appearance of several people, they are just vomiting and they shouldn't die for the time being.

Fortunately, there are basically drivers accompanying them, so there is no shortage of manpower to look after several people, and Gu Yansheng can lie in bed with an IV drip.

"The city government was almost wiped out in one wave! How long has it been? Two assassinations! It's not over yet, right?" Ling Xianwen, who was lying on the hospital bed beside him, didn't feel anything was wrong. He was in good spirits and was cursing loudly.

"We must have been taken along." Gu Yansheng leaned against the bed and said, "This guy was able to sneak into a Japanese club. It doesn't look like he did it on impulse."

"The Japanese are also useless. How can they provide security? Such a big banquet, and the food can be poisoned?" Ling Xianwen was quite resentful.

"I don't know how many Japanese died, but they ate the most. Those lieutenants and non-commissioned officers seemed to have never seen the world before. They liked to eat everything they saw." Ling Xianwen rolled his eyes in disdain.

This is true. Gu Yansheng just saw the Japanese officers laughing and drinking, and having a great time eating, drinking and having fun.

The main thing is that these junior officers are no match for these people. Who among them is not a corrupt official? Who has not seen the world? There are so many delicious foods in Shanghai, and they have seen and eaten them. But they don't even look at the ordinary food used by the Japanese for entertainment.

Ling Xianwen vented his emotions for a few words and then stopped. Lying here was boring, so he asked:
"Hey, Yansheng, do you think we can resist this military bill promoted by the Japanese?"

"There's no benefit in boycotting."

Gu Yansheng whispered, "Secretary-General, where does our power come from? Isn't it still the Japanese? If we openly obstruct what the Japanese want to do, will there be any good end?
With military notes and drugs, it's obvious that the Japanese want money now, so I think this thing must be done, but whether it can be done is not certain.

Just take the drug trade, how much profit is there, and who controls it? The British, Americans, Jews, and so on, who are involved in international smuggling.

What about Shanghai? There are still the Green Gang and various other small gangs, right? It's not that easy to just take things away. There's no shortage of people willing to do the beheading business if the profit is high enough."

"That's true."

Ling Xianwen frowned slightly and nodded. After a moment's thought, he said, "I think Zhang Xiaolin would have rebelled if he'd known about this. A large portion of his profits came from drugs. Without that, why would he have come to join us? To starve to death?"
It would be better to run away to Hong Kong like Du Yuesheng. Du Yuesheng is now the director of the Chongqing Relief Committee and is still living a comfortable life.

Chiang Kai-shek had actually tried to recruit all three of the Green Gang tycoons to go to Chongqing, but Zhang Xiaolin refused to go.

"What about the other one? His name is Huang Jinrong, right?"

"Yes, that old guy, he must be 70 years old, most of his body is buried in the ground, and he would die if he ran away. Now he hides in the French Concession and refuses to come out, fearing that the Japanese will cause trouble for him."

"Oh, you're really old and wise. Secretary General, I think you should consider selling off the businesses you can sell at a lower price these days, and then open two more in the concession. Even if the rent is a little higher, at least you don't have to worry about the money."

Gu Yansheng advised, "If you want to act quickly, you have to act quickly. If this news spreads, how many people will be able to take over your real estate?"

"Yes." Ling Xianwen sighed, "We must make a quick decision. If we delay, we will die."

They chatted idly, but no one paid any attention to them. Not a single Japanese person came, as if they had been forgotten.

"Why didn't the Japanese come to see this? Do you think many people died at the scene?"

"It's really possible. The longer it's delayed, the more serious the situation will become."

As they were talking, the door was pushed open.

"Brother Gu, you are here too."

(End of this chapter)