Chapter 625: Influence

The next day, Wang Yan was still in his original routine. He got up at six o'clock and ran laps in the tree-lined path in his own courtyard wearing practice clothes. This was a proper big manor, and one lap was eight or nine hundred meters, which was very imposing.

After he ran more than ten laps and walked toward the lawn, Qi Si ran over with a stack of newspapers. He had ordered them here, and all the major newspapers were there, and someone would send them over early every day. If he was at home, he would take these newspapers and go out for breakfast. If he was not at home and stayed out overnight, Qi Si would buy a pile from the newspaper boys selling along the street early in the morning.

Qi Si raised the newspaper in his hand, and the joy on his face could not be hidden: "Brother Yan, big event, big event. Last night, Japanese strongholds in several places around Shanghai were attacked by the Loyal and Righteous National Salvation Army and the Red Party's guerrillas. The railway was blown up, and the port at Wusongkou was also blown up. In addition, the prison in the north of the city was also broken into, and more than two thousand prisoners were all released. The Japanese are catching people everywhere. When I took the newspaper, I saw people sneaking around outside, looking for people everywhere. They were Japanese special agents at a glance. Killed well, it's really satisfying, happy, happy..."

"I said why there seemed to be gunshots and artillery sounds last night."

Wang Yan muttered, took the newspaper and looked at it twice. The whole page was about what happened last night, but the casualty numbers were different. Anyway, it was fabricated. According to the density of the gunshots and artillery sounds and the crazy reaction of the Japanese, they made up numbers, slightly exaggerated but with reservations, ranging from hundreds to thousands.

In the early stage of the war, the casualty ratio between China and Japan was very huge, whether it was military equipment or the individual military literacy of the soldiers, the Chinese army was not as good. Generally speaking, if you want the Japanese army to suffer casualties of one thousand or eight hundred, that is already a large-scale battle with tens of thousands of troops invested by both sides. The war time must continue for three or four days with high intensity, fierce fighting, and Chinese fighters resisting to the death, to achieve such results.

Even so, to say that thousands of enemies were killed was also too exaggerated and contrary to the facts.

However, last night's action belonged to a sudden sneak attack, having a plan against no plan. It was not a big problem for the Japanese army to suffer casualties of one thousand or eight hundred. Not counting others, just the action at the prison, a squadron of the Japanese army stationed there, two hundred people, not a single one survived. In addition, when Wang Yan blocked the Japanese reinforcements, in half an hour, he killed and blew up, although he didn't count, seventy or eighty people, which was nearly three hundred people. And the actions in the surrounding areas, the firefight was very fierce at the beginning, and then gradually stopped. Combined with today's newspaper, it can be seen that most of the actions were successful in achieving results.

"What are you laughing at? I know you don't like the Japanese, because you were beaten up when you were begging in the Japanese Concession, and you were almost killed by them. Besides, this is also national hatred and family enmity, national righteousness, I can understand, and I am also happy to see those little Japanese who are showing off suffer. But you have to know, we are going to lose money, lose a lot, a lot of money."

Wang Yan slapped Qi Si on the back of the head angrily: "You don't think about it, they blew up the port, how can the goods transported by the French come ashore? They blew up the railway, how can our goods piled up in the North Station warehouse be transported out in large quantities? Rely on donkey carts? More than two thousand prisoners who escaped from the prison were all released. There must be many important figures. The Japanese must be checking strictly at the checkpoints. We have so many people escorting goods, and the coming and going is so frequent. Can the Japanese let us pass easily? You tell me, how much trouble did you cause me?"

"Damn it, not to mention losing money, you think about so many prisoners escaping from prison, where will they hide? Silly boy, are you really using your brain? Is there any need to think? It must be the International Settlement and the French Concession. You said it yourself, there are Japanese special agents looking for people outside our house. I can't manage the International Settlement, but the French Concession must be in chaos. The Japanese are all lunatics. They don't care about so much. They dare to shoot when they catch people on the street. If it gets on the newspaper, how much public opinion pressure will there be? Won't the French scold me like a grandson? I still don't dare to catch the Japanese, and I'm still acting like a grandson on their side."

"The Japanese will definitely find me and let the police under me help them find people. You tell me, should I do it or not? Do you know if those who ran out are important figures of the Nationalist Party and the Red Party? If I help the Japanese catch them, you tell me if the people of both parties will settle accounts with me later? The old master I worshipped wasn't killed by them? Look at me, do I dare to let out another fart? Isn't it also acting like a grandson?"

Patting the newspaper on Qi Si's chest, who was rubbing his head stupidly, Wang Yan waved his hand irritably and walked to the lawn to practice Tai Chi, looking as if he was calming his mood.

Qi Si sat on the chair under the pavilion on the side, holding the newspaper and reading it with relish. Although the big brother said it was very serious, and even a bit irritable, he felt that the problem was not big. Having followed for so long, he knew how big the big brother's family business was. Earning a little less was nothing, anyway, it wasn't him who lost money, and it didn't delay him from receiving his salary, nor did it delay him from continuing to talk to the knowing big sister. He didn't care.

Wang Yan, who was practicing Tai Chi on the side, saw the kid's mind at a glance. He didn't take his words seriously at all. He was an ungrateful wretch. Eating his, drinking his, living in his, spending his, but not worrying about what he worried about. The team was not easy to lead...

Ignoring this silly boy, Wang Yan practiced two sets of boxing and then walked back to the room.

Uncle Wu and Aunt Liang, the old couple, were busy cooking breakfast in the kitchen. Having done it for a period of time, their craftsmanship didn't improve much, but at least they mastered the saltiness well. Wang Yan had eaten it several times, and it was not hard to eat. This old couple was very diligent. After breakfast was ready, Aunt Liang would wipe everywhere upstairs and downstairs, while Uncle Wu would mess with a big broom, sweeping the front yard and then the back yard, sweeping for half a day, occasionally getting a ladder, taking big scissors to trim the branches of the landscaping in the garden.

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Counting three meals a day, there was no idle time. In the evening, they sat on the sofa on the first floor, either listening to the radio or the phonograph, chatting with one sentence or another, and went back to their room to rest after eight o'clock. It was very boring, and also very fulfilling.

It was not that Wang Yan was making things difficult for the old couple, letting them do nothing but eat for free. Both of them were burning their butts.

Hearing Wang Yan return, Uncle Wu walked out and said: "Sir, Miss Wang called earlier, saying she is waiting for you at Fulin Restaurant, where you often go, to have breakfast together."

"See, the Japanese are looking for me." Wang Yan shook his head and smiled bitterly, looking at Qi Si who was holding the newspaper and towel beside him, and waved his hand at Uncle Wu: "Fine, Uncle Wu, go ahead and get busy. My life is bitter. People are loyal to the country and kill the Japanese happily, but when it comes to me, I have to accompany them with a smile and act like a grandson, damn it..."

He went upstairs cursing, washed up, and then went downstairs in his "New Money" outfit, holding a black top hat in his hand. He went out with Qi Si, who had long been dressed up, in a small suit with a small bow tie and a nylon cap, got into the car, and went to that Fulin Restaurant. This was the place where Wang Yan often had breakfast. The master's craftsmanship here was equally superb, the breakfast variety was many, and the taste was great.

Wang Yan ate, and when he was happy, he would occasionally call the chef to ask for the secret. He planned to cook it himself in other worlds or in the real world in the future. This thing was also truly passed down in one sentence, all of which were the craftsmanship that the masters relied on to make a living. How could they reveal it easily? It was just that facing the famous Chief Wang, they had to say it. In addition, it was mainly because such a big figure as Chief Wang, how could he grab the chef's rice bowl.

Through the window outside the restaurant, one could see Wang Wang Manchun sitting in the corner by the window, eating small wontons listlessly. Taking the stack of newspapers handed by Qi Si, letting him eat at another table, Wang Yan waved at the restaurant owner without any extra nonsense. The owner would naturally have whatever was available, plates piled on bowls, filling the table.

He arrived at the safe place in the corner and sat down, saying with a smile: "Coming to find me early in the morning, so urgent? Is your period not coming again?"

Wang Wang Manchun rolled her eyes and didn't pick up the topic, her red lips opening and closing: "I don't believe you, this stinky man who is as smart as a monkey, don't know why I came to find you so early. The movement last night was so big, and the stack of newspapers in your hand all talk about this matter. Chief Wang, it's already this time, there's no need to pretend to be stupid."

"Look at you, your eyes are all bloodshot, and your dark circles are out. You didn't rest well last night, right?" Wang Yan cared about her hypocritically, and then said with a bitter smile: "If you want me to help you catch people, I definitely won't do it. At most, it's you catching people on the street, and I pretend not to see it. The Nationalist Party and the Red Party are crazy. How many guns do they have together? They attacked Japanese strongholds, blew up railways, and blew up ports. I'm really afraid that my little life won't be saved. You catch people, I let my subordinates go to collect the corpses, and I'll be scolded by the French a few times in return, which is the limit. If I really help you catch people, I'm afraid I won't be able to hold this position as chief for a few days. You should also be able to understand."

"I already told Section Chief Nantian when I came, you definitely don't have that guts. I came to communicate with you, if there is a firefight in your jurisdiction, just suppress it."

"You still feel sorry for people. I didn't waste the effort I put in." Wang Yan raised his eyebrows and said coquettish words, getting a coquettish scolding. He asked: "I saw in the newspaper that the Japanese suffered heavy losses, with thousands of people killed, and the two thousand prisoners locked in the prison all ran away. Can you reveal some inside news to me?"

"Those reporters don't know anything, listening to the wind and rain, only knowing how to fabricate. You also said it, how many guns do the Loyal and Righteous National Salvation Army and the Red Party guerrillas have together? Besides, they split their troops to attack, all of which were small-scale sneak attacks. How could the Japanese army suffer such heavy losses, and even thousands of people? They really dare to say it. Someone will settle accounts with them later."

Wang Wang Manchun complained about the reporters, sighed, and continued: "However, the losses this time were indeed not small. The death toll counted was more than 1,200, and there were even more injured. The main thing was that there was no preparation beforehand, letting them take the lead. And I don't know how they did it, their firepower was very strong, and their weapons and equipment were not bad at all. Oh, by the way, there is also the Comrade Pei Min Min you mentioned, he also appeared yesterday. Two kilometers away from the prison, he used one gun to block five hundred people who went to reinforce for half an hour, and he killed dozens of people, many of whom were commanders. Your caution is correct. His action ability exceeded many people's imagination. After this time, Comrade Pei Min Min's name will definitely be even louder.

This jailbreak was the follow-up to the plan I told you before to lure the snake out of the hole. The people rescued were those on the list at that time, as well as other important members of both parties. These people are really crazy. They discovered the trap, turned around and drew the firewood from under the cauldron, and they succeeded, almost retreating unscathed. Now the pressure on the Special Higher Police Division is very great, because in this operation, the Special Higher Police Division didn't get any intelligence at all. I estimate that Section Chief Nantian is being sprayed with spit by the military now."

Wang Yan looked outside carefully, moved his body back, and gave a brilliant smile to Wang Wang Manchun, who was full of disdain, and asked without feeling embarrassed at all: "Then what about those escaped prisoners? How many have been caught back?"

"You don't know how difficult they are to deal with. It took a lot of effort to catch them, and now they have escaped. It's too difficult to catch them. From the second half of the night until now, only more than a hundred have been caught, and most of them are those gangsters who were detained. They are all trash, they couldn't run away even when given the chance, and they wasted so much of our time, giving the people of both parties more sufficient time to escape and hide."

"Listen to my advice, learn my survival essentials. Otherwise, if you sell your life for the Japanese like this, I feel that one day you will be killed by someone."

"Yo, can't bear it?"

Wang Yan shook his head and smiled: "You are so wild, which man can bear it? However, if you are determined to find death, there is no way."

Of course, he couldn't bear it, he just had to show some affection at this moment. In this way, Wang Wang Manchun would be happier, and she would trust him more, and everyone could play better together.

For Wang Wang Manchun, he didn't hold any hope. Born in a traitor family, she also worked in the Special Higher Police Division, torturing and killing unknown numbers of members of both parties. Such a person had no way back.

Clearly, Wang Wang Manchun herself understood, and at the same time had no regrets. This was a woman who had already gone crazy. She said: "Speaking of which, isn't it all for that little bit of thing? One day, you will die in a woman's bed."

"What are you saying? If you didn't like that little bit of thing, we wouldn't be so harmonious. Clearly, you didn't execute the task Nantian Yoko gave you well, did you?"

Wang Wang Manchun gave him a sideways glance and snorted coldly: "Leaving first, enjoy yourself slowly."

After saying that, she got up and left directly, without any hesitation.

Wang Yan watched Wang Wang Manchun walk out with a smile, said a few words to a man on the street, and then got into the car parked on the side. It seemed that there was a clue and she was going to catch someone.

Qi Si sat over with the food, asked curiously: "Brother Yan, what did she come to find you for?"

"Need to ask? Let me not hinder them from catching people in the jurisdiction. Now seeing them act so blatantly in the French Concession, I think all the chiefs have connections with them, and perhaps even the French in the Municipal Council and the police station have cooperation with them. Look, how big the Japanese power is. In my opinion, one day, the International Settlement and the French Concession will be taken by the Japanese."

"If there really is such a day, what should we do?"

"What do you say?"

Qi Si hesitated and said: "Be a grandson to the Japanese?"

"Otherwise, what else can we do? People hold our little lives in their hands. Not being a grandson is death." Wang Yan flipped through the newspaper in his hand casually, without even raising his head: "Eat, eat more, there is a lot to be busy with today."

The two had breakfast and went to the police station. As soon as they arrived, someone came over diligently to open the door for Wang Yan: "Chief, Inspector Mitchell wants you to find him when you arrive."

Wang Yan nodded, took out a cigarette that had just been opened and smoked one from his pocket, and patted it on his chest: "Just opened, take it and smoke."

While speaking, he patted this person on the shoulder again, and Wang Yan strode toward the building. Although the people in the police station could have some extra money more or less, they didn't have much extra money. It was always a pyramid, and the higher up, the more they earned. These people also had to support a whole family, and the prices in Shanghai were also high, so it was very difficult. A pack of cigarettes looked inconspicuous, but it was no problem to buy people's hearts with small favors.

All the way to the upstairs, knocked on the door of the inspector's office, and after getting a response, opened the door and went in. He saw three people sitting on the sofa inside, two Chinese and one Frenchman. These were all chiefs. The Frenchman was a Western police officer specifically managing the Central Police Station, and all his subordinates were foreign devils.

Inspector Steven Mitchell, this French foreign devil, sat on the single sofa on the side, shaking a red wine glass in one hand and spitting smoke with a cigar in the other early in the morning.

Mitchell waved his hand to greet: "Wang, I've been waiting for you, sit down quickly."

"Sorry, Inspector, I came a bit late." Wang Yan sat down, and one of the Chinese chiefs poured half a glass of red wine for him.

Mitchell shook his head and said in Chinese with a strange accent: "You should already be clear about what happened last night. What is your opinion on this?"

The foreign devils here could basically communicate in Chinese. They had all studied it specifically. However, the higher the level, the lower the level, because they wouldn't easily talk directly to the Chinese, and when they talked, there would be interpreters present. As the highest-ranking officer of the Chinese police directly leading the Chinese police in the department with the most Chinese, Mitchell's Chinese was still passable and could communicate.

He knew that Wang Yan could speak French, and speaking Chinese was to take care of the other two chiefs whose cultural level was limited to recognizing characters, reducing communication costs, so that Wang Yan didn't have to translate again. As for the Western police chief on the side, people had a transcendent status and sat there grinding foreign work. Who would care whether he could understand or not? The real work still had to be done by the Chinese police like Wang Yan and others.

"On the way here, I saw many Japanese special agents who didn't hide at all. They were searching for the prisoners who escaped last night. And the Japanese sent someone to contact me, first asking me to provide them with help and hand over the people caught to them. After I sternly refused, they said let me not hinder their search operation. I think you two should also be like this, right?"

Mitchell asked for his opinion, not about the attack on the Japanese by the joint action of both parties, which had nothing to do with their French Concession. What he wanted to ask was the attitude of Wang Yan, this Chinese police chief standing in the front row among all sixteen Chinese police chiefs, toward the Japanese searching for the two thousand escaped prisoners.

Seeing the two chiefs nod, he continued: "I estimate that such a situation happened to all sixteen Chinese police chiefs, and on the other hand, the Municipal Council and the high-level officials of our police station must have known about it in advance and didn't express their attitude. We don't need to protect the people of the Nationalist Party and the Red Party, and they are all people who have been detained for I don't know how long, and have no value. And for me personally, Inspector, you are clear that I cannot afford to offend the Japanese. Clearly, other chiefs also think so.

So I think, as long as the Japanese don't affect the normal life of your compatriots in the French Concession and don't cause too much impact on our order, then we don't need to pay too much attention. If the Japanese go too far and cause us trouble, then catch them if they should be caught, and don't be soft. The Japanese are so blatant in sending a large number of people into the French Concession, maybe they don't have the meaning of further testing the high-level officials of the Municipal Council. After all, those detained personnel of both parties have no value to us, do they have value to the Japanese? Is it worth them making such a big fuss? So when it should be tough, it must be tough! Don't let the Japanese get an inch and want a mile."

Wang Yan thoughtfully explained to this foreign devil the meaning of "getting an inch and wanting a mile"...

Mitchell nodded and said: "Very good, Wang, you are a wise person, and you also consider the interests of France, which is very good, I am very happy. Your idea coincides with my idea. Later, I will go to the Municipal Council for a meeting, and I intend to say so. Before that, you must maintain the stability of the jurisdiction, do as Wang said, don't conflict with the Japanese, and don't let the Japanese be too rampant, you master it yourself."

The French don't care about how the people of the Nationalist Party and the Red Party are. Looking at Mitchell, you know. He said he would go to a meeting later. At this time, it was already almost eight o'clock, and Wang Yan came early. If the French really cared, they wouldn't have held a meeting so late, but would have discussed it last night. Similarly, the phone call last night would definitely have been made to Wang Yan, letting him go to work.

What they were worried about was that the Japanese would use this to further test them. They held their ground in the previous test of withholding goods and gave a counterattack. Now another arrest came, and they had to think of a way to deal with it.

Seeing everyone nod, Charles asked in French: "Wang, how is business? It must be affected, right?"

With this, can it still be good?

"The railway and port were blown up, our goods can't come in, and can't go out, there must be an impact, but I don't know how big the impact is yet. I haven't been there yet."

"You go in a while, this matter must not be relaxed. I'm going to a meeting, and people from the Municipal Council will also ask. You said before that you are very close to the Japanese. This time, you have to think of a way to solve the problem. We will also help you."

"Yes, I will arrange for my subordinates and go there immediately."

Charles nodded, let everyone go to do things, and he also left, going to a meeting with other high-level officials...