Period drama: Old Cao's carefree life

How should I read Chapter 272? I'll read it sitting down!
Cao Wei Da wasn't a mind reader, so naturally he couldn't predict everything.

However, since Ono Oda still wants to do good deeds, then let him do them. For him and for the poor people of Beiping, it would be beneficial in every way, so why not?

"What about Fujita-kun and the others?"

“I’ve already spoken with them, and they agree with me.” Ono Oda patted his shoulder, smiling with narrowed eyes.
"Cao Sang, I'm sorry to trouble you with this."

"It's my pleasure to be able to do things for you, Ono-kun. Many people would beg for this opportunity."

"Hahaha~~ Cao Sang, you're quite the character. By the way, what brings you here?"

"I almost forgot. If you hadn't reminded me, I wouldn't have remembered at all. My brain is failing me." Cao Weida slapped his forehead in feigned annoyance and took out a small bottle from his pocket, handing it over: "Ono-kun, look, what's this?"

"This is penicillin?" Ono Oda raised an eyebrow. This was a rare commodity, and as a strategically important prohibited drug, he was naturally familiar with it. He looked at Cao Weida and asked in confusion, "Cao-san, what does this mean?"

“Ono-kun, you should know that one of my men, Little Ear, used to work in the black market. This is what he bought from the black market.”

"Of course, if it were just one or two bottles, I wouldn't have come to you specifically. But the fact is, a large quantity of penicillin has appeared on the black market, no less than fifty vials!"

"Oh? Is that so?" Ono Oda's eyelids twitched. The presence of a small amount of penicillin on the black market could be explained, since it was not uncommon for some people to resell precious antibiotics on the black market for profit.

The Japanese usually turned a blind eye to these kinds of things. They understood the saying, "If the water is too clear, there will be no fish."

Those traitors who defected to the Japanese were only after getting promoted and making money; otherwise, why would they defect to the Japanese?

However, most of them are Prontosil and sulfonamides, while penicillin is extremely rare.

Because penicillin is even rarer, those traitors themselves wanted to keep some as a backup.

But now there are suddenly fifty more, which is no small number.

"Have you found out where these drugs came from?"

Cao Weida nodded: "I found out. I was already on guard when I learned that there was so much penicillin on the black market. I had Xiao Erduo secretly investigate. These drugs all came from Commander Guo."

"General Guo?" Little Ears' eyes twitched. "That name sounds familiar, like I've heard it somewhere before."

"It is said that he is a man of Cui Qi, the brigade commander of the security brigade."

"Commander Cui's men?" Ono Oda pondered. "So, it's highly likely that these medicines were given to him by Commander Cui?"

"But where did Commander Cui get so much penicillin?"

All medicines are counted. Matsui Koji is the logistics inspector of the Military Police Headquarters. He couldn't possibly be unaware of medicines that come from Beiping.

It's strange that Matsui Koji never told him about a batch of medicine being shipped out.

"Could it be that Commander Cui obtained it through other channels?"

"No, this matter has nothing to do with Brigade Commander Cui. I sent people to investigate thoroughly, and according to the clues I have, these drugs came from Liu Changjiang."

Ono Oda asked in confusion, "How did Liu Changjiang suddenly appear? And who is he?"

"Liu Changjiang is a bandit leader active in the Changping area outside Beiping City, and he is sworn brothers with Commander Guo." At this point, Cao Weida hesitated, looking as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself.

Upon seeing this, Ono Oda said directly, "Cao-san, you might as well speak your mind."

"Well, I'll say it then, please don't take offense." After hesitating for a moment, Cao Weida gritted his teeth and said:
"As you know, for some reason, I have some contact with the Red Party. I have heard some rumors that these drugs seem to be from the Red Party."

"You mean to say that this Commander Guo is actually a member of the Communist Party?"

"Not necessarily. If Commander Guo were a member of the Red Party, the goods would have been transported to the base area long ago and wouldn't have ended up on the black market."

Ono Oda picked up the small bottle containing penicillin and said with interest, "So, you're saying that this bandit named Liu Changjiang confiscated the Red Party's goods?"

"Do they really have that much ability?"

Just then, there was a knock on the door. "Report!"

Cao Wei Da recognized the voice; it was Xu Hancheng's.

"Enter."

As soon as the door opened, Xu Hancheng appeared in the doorway.

Xu Hancheng, who had just entered, saw Cao Weida and smiled, "Cao'er is here too, Commander Ono. There's a document here that needs your signature." "No rush, come here," Ono Oda beckoned and handed over a small bottle, "Take a look at what this is."

“It’s penicillin,” Xu Hancheng blurted out, looking to Cao Weida for help, unsure of Ono Oda’s intentions.

Cao Weida looked at Ono Oda, who nodded to him: "As the police chief, Director Xu naturally has the right to know about this matter. Just tell me."

With Ono Oda's words, Cao Wei Da revealed the whole story: "This is what happened."

After Cao Wei Da briefly recounted the process, Ono Oda asked Xu Hancheng, "What do you think should be done?"

Xu Hancheng almost burst into tears, looking at Cao Weida with resentment in his eyes. "Brother, brother, aren't you just making things difficult for me?!"

Commander Guo is one of Brigade Commander Cui Qi's men. Isn't this putting me in direct conflict with Brigade Commander Cui?!

With my skinny arms and legs, aren't you just making things worse for me?
However, having already learned the truth, he still had to make a statement, which left him feeling utterly devastated.

Ono Oda had asked him a question, and he couldn't refuse to answer. His mind raced, and he cautiously replied:
"Commander Ono, I know this General Guo. Eighty percent of the docks in Beiping are under his control."

"He has always been a kingpin at the docks, and no one can control him because he has Brigade Commander Cui behind him."

"Not only that, he and Wang Kemin are from the same hometown, and even the mayor gives him face."

"Moreover, this Commander Guo is very clever. All the bad things are done by his subordinates. He never shows up."

"So, if we get it wrong, it will be very troublesome."

Upon hearing that Commander Guo was actually related to Wang Kemin, Ono Oda's brows immediately furrowed.

I originally thought I could go and wipe out some bandits and then consume this batch of penicillin, but it seems that making some extra money won't be so easy.
However, it was not easy, but it had to be done, because it was no longer just about a batch of medicines; it also involved the struggle for power between the puppet government and the Japanese army in Beiping!
Wang Kemin, as someone who dared to challenge the notorious traitor Wang Jingwei, was certainly not just someone who had defected to the Japanese; rather, it was because Wang Kemin wielded immense power.

Especially in Beiping, his power was immense.

He once attempted to unify the north and south into a single central government, which he would then lead, thus becoming the ruler of the country.

However, Wang Jingwei later suddenly defected to Japan, shattering his dream of unifying the government and causing him to lose the exclusive favor of his Japanese masters.

Although Wang Kemin was gradually marginalized after the establishment of the puppet Republic of China government, he still wielded considerable power in his base of influence in Beiping. Even Miyamoto Ichiro, the commander of the military police headquarters, had to give him some face.

The Japanese side was certainly very dissatisfied with this, but they could not openly suppress the other side, otherwise, what would those traitors who had sided with the Japanese think?
Unload the mill and kill the donkey?
The current international situation is already very unfavorable to Japan, and many traitors are already wavering. If Wang Kemin is further suppressed, wouldn't that make other traitors feel insecure?
This is detrimental to the Japanese rule over the occupied territories.

However, the Japanese side never gave up its intention to take back control of Beiping and always wanted to find a loophole in Wang Kemin's actions to have a "just cause," but Wang Kemin acted cautiously and never gave them the opportunity.

Now, it seems that General Guo is a good breakthrough point?
Whether it works or not, we have to try to find out.

He looked at Cao Weida: "Cao Sang, what do you think?"

What do I think?
I'll sit here and watch!
He silently complained to himself, but cautiously replied, "Ono-kun, your opinion is my opinion. Whatever you want to do, I will do!"

Xu Hancheng felt a pang of toothache as he looked at it. Look at that!
No wonder he gained Ono Oda's trust; with that kind of flattery, cough cough, and loyal attitude, what leader wouldn't like him!

Ono Oda asked with a smile, "What if I say I want to investigate?"

"Then investigate!" Cao Weida said decisively, "Arrest all his subordinates, trace them from the bottom up, I absolutely refuse to believe we won't find any evidence against him!"

"Yoshi." Ono Oda was quite satisfied with Cao Weida's attitude, and slammed the small bottle down on the table.
"If we really want to deal with him, evidence of his collusion with the enemy is not enough; we must find out that he is a communist!"

"As long as it can be proven that he has ties with the Communist Party, let's see who dares to speak up for him!"

Upon hearing this, the other two immediately understood the other's decision: they were determined to mess with this Commander Guo!
Let's go all out!
Cao Weida immediately followed up: "That's easy, we'll arrest him on the charge of helping the Red Party transport medicine!"

"With this clause in place, I'd like to see who dares to speak up for him, whether it's Commander Cui or Chairman Wang!"

In the end, Beiping is still in the hands of the Imperial Army militarily. As long as there is enough reason, no matter how powerful Wang Kemin is, he will never dare to plead for him!

Otherwise, it would be like handing over a fatal weakness to the Japanese devils!

Seeing that the first compliment had been accepted, Xu Hancheng quickly followed up: "If we can't handle a dock bully, where will our police station's reputation stand?!"

"Don't worry, Ono-kun. This Commander Guo is audacious and reckless. We will definitely teach him a lesson!"

Clearly, he had not yet realized the seriousness of the problem.

(End of this chapter)