Chapter 668: Puppet Government to be Established

The world's undercurrents were surging, treacherous and unpredictable. The terror that was happening could not see hope, while the terror that had not happened was brewing; that was the delusion belonging to the ambitious.

Perhaps some people knew in advance, but the vast majority of people were unclear. Even those who knew, some were only excited, because the more chaotic it was, the more benefits they had.

The Shanghai Bund was still the same. Poor people, because of a stable job, earned money to support their families, and because their children learned a little more knowledge, they chattered about it to them at dinner time; they drank a little wine and had brief happiness. The next day, because of the changing prices and the rampant Japanese on the street, they worried; they couldn't feel the prosperity of the Shanghai Bund.

And those who could feel the prosperity of the Shanghai Bund mostly could also see the danger hidden behind the prosperity. Although they didn't worry about their livelihood, they were anxious about business and the future, and were terrified of not being able to control their own fate, but they all had smiling faces.

In mid-August, the location where the previous Japanese consulate held a cocktail party was once again crowded with celebrities. This time the theme was a meeting between Wang Zhaoming and colleagues from all walks of life in Shanghai, organized by the Japanese.

However, although it was called a meeting, Wang Zhaoming didn't stay here for long. He only gave a speech when the cocktail party started, raised a glass to drink with everyone, and then left with Doihara Kenji.

This was out of fear, because the people invited to the cocktail party were a mixed bag. Although they were called celebrities, the composition was clearly hard to grasp. With so many people, if people from the two parties were mixed in, or if someone was simply working for the two parties, then having a "limit one-for-one" on the spot wasn't impossible. And among so many people, it was certain there were people from the two parties, it was just unclear who exactly they were.

For example, Wang Yan; his composition was very hard to determine. He was the Inspector General of the French Concession Central Police Station, a gangster of the Green Gang, and also the most prominent big capitalist now, with more employees every day and holding a large amount of resources. He openly did business with the two parties, and everyone thought he wasn't a person of the two parties, but everyone remained suspicious. Those with low energy and low presence were naturally even harder to distinguish.

Before in Hanoi, he was almost killed, and in Shanghai, he encountered a desperate assassination by the Military Statistics Bureau's Shanghai station; it was normal for Wang Zhaoming to carefully act like a turtle.

Doihara Kenji—this was not an unfamiliar name; after the war, this Class-A war criminal was sentenced to hanging. But now he was living quite well and had great energy. He held a post in the military, was an Army Lieutenant General, and because he was planning the puppet regime—that is, planning Wang the Traitor's treason—he served on the "Special Committee on China" and also established the Doihara Agency in Shanghai, specifically responsible for this matter; Yingzuo Zhenzhao worked under him.

Wang Yan knew him; they had eaten together before, introduced by Iwai Eiichi. As an Army Lieutenant General, even without Iwai Eiichi's introduction, as he became more deeply bound with the Japanese, he would have known him sooner or later. There was nothing else; he was a big fat pig, and everyone wanted to eat a few bites of his meat...

Although Wang Zhaoming left, the people under him were there. For example, Zhou Fuhai; since Wang Zhaoming's escape, the contact problem with the Japanese was mostly handled by him. In addition, there were Mei Sipin, Gao Zongwu, and others, all following Wang Zhaoming, believing that China's War of Resistance was bound to perish.

This Gao Zongwu was a bit different; he served as a senior diplomat for the Wang puppet government. Later, together with Tao Xisheng, he took a copy of the secret treaty between Wang Zhaoming and Japan and fled, publishing the letter in the Ta Kung Pao, jointly exposing the details of Wang Zhaoming's treason and the Japanese ambition to dismember China, which shocked the whole country and was called the Gao-Tao Incident.

Although it was still at the draft stage and hadn't been specifically signed and executed, the content of the document already made people despair. This made some surrenderists within the Chongqing government who wanted to follow Wang Zhaoming give up their original ideas and resolve to resist to the end.

But even so, Wang Yan had no interest in getting close to them. Because it was already hard enough for him to be "three-no-leaning," and now there was the Wang Zhaoming regime supported by Japan, such a party with a certain degree of autonomy and half a force, which would make him even more miserable. Although that wasn't a problem for him, it would always take more energy. If he had that energy, wouldn't it be more comfortable and happy to go find a dance girl?

However, when a person reaches a certain status and position, there are some things he can't hide even if he wants to.

Zhou Fuhai, together with Iwai Eiichi, brought the accompanying personnel from both sides to a corner and found Wang Yan, who was eating and drinking with Wang Manchun.

Zhou Fuhai was forty-two years old this year, wearing black-rimmed round glasses, combing his hair back, revealing a large forehead; his appearance was standard, his height of over 1.7 meters wasn't very strong, and his figure was a bit thin.

Standing together with Iwai Eiichi, such a short and stocky little Japanese, he looked quite funny. If a photo were taken and looked back upon decades later, it would even give people some thoughts.

Zhou Fuhai was Chinese, Iwai Eiichi was Japanese; Zhou was tall, Iwai was short; Zhou was thin, Iwai was strong; Zhou was slightly leaning, while Iwai, this little Japanese, stood straight, as if he were the tall one. From the Han and Tang dynasties to the present, these two people could show 80% of China and Japan.

"Wang Sang, I knew you were hiding here eating and drinking again. How is it? Is today's food and wine to your taste?" Iwai Eiichi affectionately stepped forward, patted Wang Yan's arm, and asked with a laugh.

Wang Yan also followed with a smile: "Naturally, it's not bad. How could the chef at the consulate be bad? Otherwise, what would Wang Mou be eating here?"

Starting with nonsense—Iwai Eiichi learned this very well. Or rather, it wasn't just Chinese people who liked to ramble; there were so-called human feelings and worldly wisdom everywhere, and people were originally very proficient in it.

He pointed at Zhou Fuhai with a smile: "Wang Sang, this is Mr. Zhou Fuhai, the right-hand man of Mr. Wang. Zhou Sang, this is Wang Yan; you shouldn't be unfamiliar with him, right?"

Zhou Fuhai smiled: "Mr. Wang is the Chinese person with the loudest name in this vast Shanghai Bund. Your great name was already deafening to my ears when I was in Chongqing. Seeing you today, you are indeed a man of talent."

"Mr. Zhou praises me too much. Wang Mou is just a small Inspector General of the French Concession, at most considered to have some money. In front of a big figure like you, it's not worth mentioning any great name. Come, Mr. Iwai, Mr. Zhou, and everyone, I toast you all."

Wang Yan's attitude toward Zhou Fuhai was equal; he wasn't very respectful, nor was he in a lower position.

Although Zhou Fuhai was very impressive, having served as the Deputy Director of the Bald One's Attendant Office, and also held high positions such as Deputy Minister and Acting Minister of the Nationalist Party's Central Propaganda Department, but now, Zhou Fuhai wasn't enough to look at. Although Zhou Fuhai still had status now, Wang Yan didn't need to have a low posture; what could Zhou Fuhai do to him?

Really speaking, they were more of symbolic significance; they had some real power, but some of it was just real power to harm the Chinese people in the Japanese-occupied areas. In other aspects, they didn't have the deep roots of Wang Mou.

However, one couldn't look down on Zhou Fuhai; the traitor ranking list, he ranked third, which wasn't for nothing. When the Wang puppet government was established later, if he should send money, he had to send it. It was just that Wang Yan didn't need to act like a grandson in front of Zhou Fuhai.

Speaking of which, Zhou Fuhai was also a formidable one. In his early years, he was Red Party, and even a representative of the First Congress, and was elected as the Vice Chairman of the Red Party, and even acted as Secretary. Later, he gradually broke away from the Red Party and joined the Nationalist Party. Now, he was following, or rather inciting, Wang Zhaoming to defect to the Japanese. A few years later, he turned around to contact the Nationalist Party and expressed loyalty to Dai Yunong, setting up a secret radio station to provide intelligence on the Wang puppet government to the Military Statistics Bureau.

He was a typical fence-sitter. At first, he joined the Red Party, felt the Red Party wasn't good and hard to develop and grow, so he joined the Nationalist Party. He reached a high position in the Nationalist Party, and then encountered the Japanese invasion of China, so he felt the Nationalist Party wasn't good and defected to the Japanese. After defecting to the Japanese, he felt the Japanese weren't as powerful as he imagined, so he turned back to defect to the Nationalist Party; he never saw the wind direction correctly once.

Regardless of whether he was in the Red Party or the Nationalist Party, his position wouldn't be low, and his achievements wouldn't be bad. If he were Red Party, then the party history would have another kind of development. Why would he need to go express loyalty to Dai Yunong in the end? If he had stayed in the Nationalist Party, if he didn't rely on the Bald One's favoritism, Dai Yunong really wouldn't have a higher position than him. If he had engaged in politics properly, he would have had a bright future.

But that was a later story; after all, Zhou Fuhai didn't know that much.

But he was a fence-sitting villain without a country and without a nation; this was beyond doubt.

The fence-sitting villain drank a glass of wine and looked at Wang Yan with a smile: "At present, the new Nationalist government is about to be established. Mr. Wang, as a pillar of the Shanghai Bund, we must contact and get closer to each other more in the future."

Wang Yan nodded repeatedly: "This is natural. The Nationalist government is established; Wang Mou is working for the French, but for future business, I must have Mr. Zhou take care of me more. Today's occasion is inconvenient; how about this, Mr. Zhou, when you are free in a few days, Wang Mou will host, and then we will talk slowly and in detail. If possible, I also hope you can help introduce Mr. Wang, so we can develop more cooperation."

"That is of course. The stability and longevity of the Nationalist government depend on the support of pillars like you."

Iwai Eiichi laughed and said: "You work together, only then can the new government be better, only then can... Alright, you can talk about these things later; Wang Sang, you continue to enjoy the food and wine, we are going to see others."

Wang Yan shook hands with Zhou Fuhai and watched them walk away with a smile. Just as he was about to turn back to continue eating and drinking, he saw two people remaining there.

Wang Yan knew these two people; one was named Ding Mocun, the other was Li Shiqun. Now the Wang puppet government hadn't been established yet. After it was established, Ding Mocun would be the Director of the Special Service Headquarters of the Special Service Committee of the Central Executive Committee of the Nationalist Party of the Wang puppet government, while Li Shiqun would serve as Deputy Director. This Special Service Headquarters was the famous and evil No. 76. However, Ding Mocun was a part-timer; he would also serve as Minister of Social Affairs, and Li Shiqun was the actual person in power at No. 76.

Ding Mocun was pulled over by Li Shiqun to defect to the Japanese; the two of them had had dealings before. Li Shiqun, on the other hand, had long since defected to the Japanese.

Wang Yan was polite to Zhou Fuhai, but he didn't have much interest in these two, but smiling at everyone was never wrong. He still acted very politely and asked with a smile: "Do you two have business with Wang Mou?"

Ding Mocun had high status, so he spoke first: "The new government is about to be established, and the affairs of the Special Service Committee have already been decided; Miss Wang will serve as the Director of the Intelligence Division. I heard from Nantian Yoko of the Special High Police that you revealed some intelligence about the French to them, and also provided convenience for the Special High Police's actions within your jurisdiction, so I want to rashly request Mr. Wang, in this regard, please take care of our work in the future. After all, really speaking, we are one family."

Li Shiqun followed up: "Yes, Mr. Wang, our work most needs your support. Of course, we will also help with your business. According to our preliminary plan, goods entering and leaving Shanghai in the future will need a certificate issued by the Special Service Committee to pass. On this point, we will absolutely not make things difficult for the industries under your name."

These two were also famous executioners, but their attitude toward Wang Yan was one more polite than the other. Wang Yan had too many identities, layer upon layer; they didn't have the guts to find trouble for Wang Yan. Not to mention anything else, just the relationship with the Japanese was not something they could compare to; that was real business. Besides, Wang Yan himself was a Green Gang leader and had close ties with the two parties; they couldn't manipulate Wang Yan.

This kind of thing was naturally nothing impossible for Wang Yan. But actually, even if he really told No. 76 any intelligence, it would be in vain, because they were executing actions under the supervision of the Iwai Mansion and the Special High Police, and the Gendarmerie even sent a detachment of soldiers to be stationed at No. 76. If there were any major actions, they had to ask the Japanese for instructions first. They had autonomy, but it was the autonomy to work with the Japanese to strike at the Red Party's personnel behind enemy lines; anything else was wishful thinking.

Wang Yan nodded with a smile: "Easy to say, all easy to say. If there is anything in the future, I will tell Manchun; isn't she the Intelligence Section Chief? It's exactly her duty. As for actions, don't worry, as long as you don't make too much of a stir, don't disturb the foreigners, and don't kill or injure the civilians in my jurisdiction without reason—if you accidentally injure them, as long as the compensation is in place, I know nothing."

"That would be the best; then that's it, Mr. Wang, we won't disturb you anymore."

"Wait a few days, when your affairs are settled, Wang Mou will host a banquet and invite you to eat; you must honor me with your presence then."

"Then it's a deal; we await your news."

The Ding Mocun and Li Shiqun duo shook hands with Wang Yan separately, turned, and left, following Zhou Fuhai's group to meet other celebrities from all walks of life in the Shanghai Bund.

Wang Manchun, in a white evening dress, walked over and asked: "What did they say to you?"

There was no respect in her words because she wasn't afraid of these two. She was a person planted by Nantian Yoko at No. 76; although nominally she belonged to Li Shiqun's leadership, and actually she also belonged to Li Shiqun's leadership, she could also not listen. It was just that there was no need. Working under someone, one had to give face; she wasn't stupid, she was just saying this to Wang Yan behind their backs.

"What else could it be? Nothing more than asking me to let them know if there is any intelligence in the future, and helping to cover up actions in my jurisdiction." Wang Yan had the waiter pour him wine, took a sip, and shook his head with a wry smile: "I really don't understand; I am a person who doesn't participate in the core of the Municipal Council, what key intelligence could I know? The Special High Police asks, Iwai Eiichi asks, and now these people working for the Japanese also ask."

"Just between the two of us, pretending to be stupid with me is meaningless. It's not that you don't know, it's just that you don't say. Don't know who it was, who captured the Japanese hidden spies and revealed the French intelligence like spilling beans."

"Look, it's rare to be confused; you have to expose me. Actually, doing business with the Japanese is quite good; I don't participate in anything, otherwise, how could I have become this Inspector General? The French aren't vegetarians. A person who eats inside and out can't hold anyone's rice bowl. Just like Zhou Fuhai, Red Party background, later defected to the Nationalist Party, and now defected to the Japanese. Such a two-faced person, looking at his face, doesn't look like he has a long life."

"How? Learned physiognomy from Master Zhao? Ding Mocun, Li Shiqun, which one of them isn't Red Party background? Which one isn't Nationalist Party? Which one hasn't defected to the Japanese? Do you see them having long lives?"

"They are all short-lived."

Wang Manchun frowned: "Are you talking about them, or about the Japanese?"

"Naturally, I'm talking about them; I can't see the Japanese clearly. Before, they said they sold opium to the Kwantung Army to raise military funds, but for so long, I haven't heard how the Kwantung Army is doing; I can't understand..." Wang Yan shook his head and changed the subject: "Come, Section Chief Wang, you've been promoted and I haven't congratulated you yet; let's have a drink."

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Wang Manchun rolled her eyes, but still drank the wine with a smile. She was happy; the Intelligence Division had hundreds of people under her, all under her management; she finally had power, how could she not be happy?

But when she was happy, someone had to be a wet blanket.

Wang Yan was eating and muttered: "I heard that your old lover is coming back? Said he's joining the new government to handle the economy?"

"How do you know?"

"I am the big capitalist with the most energy in the Shanghai Bund now; economic matters are the matters of capitalists like me. There are so many people in the Chamber of Commerce, and isn't your uncle still the president? It's hard for me not to know about this kind of thing."

Wang Manchun frowned and said: "No way, Ming Lou has great ability in economics and has done very well abroad these past few years. The previous candidate for the Economic Division was assassinated; after thinking about it, my uncle could only let him come back to preside over the economy."

"You suspect Ming Lou has a problem?"

"Too coincidental..." Wang Manchun was a bit uncertain: "It seems like everything was just to summon him back. Besides, doing my line of work, suspecting everything is what one should do. Whether there's a problem, just investigate and you'll know; I've already had people investigate, and I believe there will be results very soon."

Wang Yan clicked his tongue, shook his head, and smiled: "The matter between the two of us can't be hidden; now you're in a dilemma, right?"

Wang Manchun didn't speak, drinking by herself and ignoring Wang Yan. Although she said she didn't care, Ming Lou was coming back, and she felt quite complicated; after all, there really had been such a period...

At the same time, on a passenger plane from Shanghai to Hong Kong, Wang Tianfeng put down the newspaper in his hand and looked at the sky outside the porthole.

His two-month injury had finally healed, but because of his failure, it led to the loss of the Military Statistics Bureau's Shanghai station, so he was transferred back to the Military Statistics Bureau's special training school in Changde, both to recuperate and to sit on the cold bench for a period of time. The person replacing him was Chen Gongshu, who had just finished sitting on the cold bench...

Naturally, he was unconvinced. In the two months of recuperation, combined with the situation that the Wang puppet government was bound to be established, he conceived a plan, which he called "Dead Spy." Ming Lou's return was his proposal to those above; clearly, Dai Yunong accepted his proposal.

Not thinking about that much anymore, he turned his head to look back. In the aircraft's service compartment, Guo Qiyun nodded at him.

He missed that fatty Tian Biao; that kid did things in a way that always made him feel at ease. Unlike this Guo Qiyun now, who had no brains. Heard he was doing very well in Chongqing now; don't know how much fatter he got. This time returning to Chongqing to report on his work, he had to see if that fatty had been wasted in the gentle village in the rear.

He looked at the blonde foreign little girl in the cabin aisle, bouncing and jumping as she walked over, looking at the young man sitting next to the porthole on the other side, reading a newspaper, in the same row as him.

"What are you looking at?" The foreign little girl walked to the young man's side and asked.

Ming Tai put down the newspaper, looked at the little girl, who was quite cute, folded the newspaper, and revealed a kind smile: "I'll perform a magic trick for you."

"What magic trick?"

Ming Tai didn't answer. He fiddled with the newspaper, swished it, and pulled a red rose out of the folded newspaper.

"Wow, so amazing."

"Here, it's for you."

"Thank you." The foreign little girl took the rose and ran back to her father's side.

Ming Tai looked at the little girl's father, nodded with a smile. When he wanted to turn back and sit straight, he noticed Wang Tianfeng in the same row as him.

Naturally, he didn't know Wang Tianfeng; he just looked at Wang Tianfeng's straight face and dead-fish eyes, instinctively feeling that this guy was not to be trifled with, so he avoided his gaze and ignored him.

Not long after, the aircraft's service personnel pushed a small cart over, asking the guests if they wanted to drink something... ===== CHAPTER 669 =====