The British Consulate in Shanghai is located on the banks of Suzhou Creek.

That is, on the right side of the river is Hongkou, and on the left side of the river, next to the river is the consulate.

Zhou Qinghe was not familiar with the people in the British consulate.

The only time I met was when the consulate sent an invitation to his clinic to go to a university in the UK, and that's it.

One of the plans of the Japanese was to obtain the law enforcement power of Hongkou from the British and Americans.

Everyone is not familiar with it, and it sounds very difficult to get them to withdraw from Hongkou and get the right to enforce the law.

Especially opposite itself is the empire on which the sun never sets, notoriously arrogant.

But Zhou Qinghe knew in his heart that it was just a paper tiger.

Not to mention that it is just to have the law enforcement power of Hongkou, it is still aimed at Japanese ronins and Chinese, even if a British businessman is killed on the street, the British dare to go to war?

If he really dared to declare war on Japan, Zhou Qinghe thanked him.

Parking at the entrance of the embassy and consulate, Zhou Qinghe directly asked to see Fraser, the consul in Shanghai.

At first, Fraser was very happy to hear that Zhou Qinghe was visiting, but when he welcomed Zhou Qinghe in, he heard that Zhou Qinghe had come to Xingshi to ask for guilt for the assassination of Hongkou.

The attitude changed immediately.

"Captain Fujita, we in the British will never instruct anyone to assassinate a Japanese soldier, your accusation is very serious, this is slander."

"But the task that we Hirata Shaozo has carried out in the past two days is related to the British Chamber of Commerce.

She had a conflict with the British merchant, and Hongkou saw this matter with so many eyes, and then she died the next day, I don't know what Mr. Consul had to say about it? ”

Fraser was a little weak in the face of Zhou Qinghe's strong attitude, and he also felt that the British businessman was looking for someone to do it, but he would definitely not admit it.

"I don't need to give any explanation! This has nothing to do with us!

Captain Fujita, are you questioning me?

Your gendarmerie headquarters is carrying out such a dismissal operation, which is an infringement of the rights of our British compatriots in Shanghai, an infringement of our nationals, and a serious provocation to our country, and we are bound to lodge a protest against the Japanese side. ”

Fraser was already angry, with an angry face.

Zhou Qinghe had an indifferent face, "Mr. Consul, we only met in private today, and we don't need such official words at all, how about listening to my statement first?" ”

"Then you can say it." Fraser sat down, his face unshaken.

Zhou Qinghe said:

"My intention today is also very simple, the British Chamber of Commerce in Hongkou has withdrawn, and the law enforcement power in Hongkou will be handed over to our Japanese side to manage."

"It can't be!" Fraser directly refuted: "The law enforcement power of the public concession belongs to us in the joint hands of Britain and the United States, and you Japan are not among them. ”

"But among the foreigners in the public concession, we Japanese are the most numerous, there are 50,000 foreigners in the entire public concession, and we Japanese account for 30,000, while you British have less than 10,000.

Mr. Consul, if you think about this ratio, if the Japanese really make trouble, will the patrol house be able to hold up?

At that time, everyone will not look good on the face. ”

"You're threatening me?"

Fraser's face was ugly: "I can recruit Chinese, recruit Indians, I can expand the patrol quota of the patrol room, and even rebuild the prison." ”

"Why bother?" Zhou Qinghe smiled indifferently: "Mr. Consul, in fact, the land in Hongkou only accounts for one-eighth of the public concession, and it is a good thing for everyone to hand over that piece of land to the Japanese."

It was there that my father, Commander Fujita, was killed, and now Hirata Shaosa is being killed there, Mr. Consul, every time our people die, it is actually caused by the incompetence of the patrol house. ”

"Your conflict with the Chinese, this is your own problem, there is no need to accuse us of the incompetence of the patrol house."

"Death is our own problem, but isn't it the incompetence of the patrol house that we can't catch the murderer?"

Zhou Qinghe's attitude suddenly became strong: "I didn't mention my father's death, it doesn't mean that I don't mind, the commander of our gendarmerie headquarters was shot dead in your territory, and the patrol room can't even catch a murderer, Mr. Consul, isn't there any problem with you?" ”

Fraser was stunned by Zhou Qinghe's quick rebuttal.

"We are indeed sorry that Commander Fujita was killed, but."

"No, but."

Zhou Qinghe continued: "The patrol house is in your hands, and it is your responsibility for our people to die, but if Hongkou's law enforcement power is in the hands of our Japanese and our people are killed, then it has nothing to do with you."

Actually, Mr. Consul, if you think about it, this is really good for you, and if you still can't figure it out, you just think about the battle that happened in the concession a while ago.

The conflict between us and the Chinese agents has not stopped, and the smoke of gunfire has spread throughout the concession, and gunfire has been heard everywhere.

The Japanese are afraid, the Americans are afraid, and the British are afraid.

The concession is no longer safe, and the disaster it brings is that it affects the trade stability and investment confidence of the entire concession.

And what's even more frightening is that there is a good chance that something like this will happen a second or third time.

And if you put Hongkou in our hands, then all the Japanese will be in Hongkou, and the Chinese agents, even those who want to assassinate us, will be confined to Hongkou.

Britain seems to have lost a little of Hongkou's rights and interests, but in fact, it has gained long-term tranquility and stability in all places except Hongkou.

As the country with the largest amount of investment in the concessions, I think the businessmen also want income, not war, right?

I can guarantee that as long as Hongkou is in the hands of our Japan, and the concession is in the rest of the country, we Japan will absolutely maintain the dominance of Britain. ”

When Zhou Qinghe's words fell, Frazier's eyes lit up slightly, and he moved a little.

The previous words didn't move him, but the last paragraph made a lot of sense.

The current situation is the contradiction between China and Japan, like the large-scale assassination of the entire concession a few days ago, which actually has a great impact on the concession.

It was not only a loss of business, but also a blow to the prestige of the British in law enforcement in the concession.

If, as Zhou Qinghe said, all the fighting could be confined to Hongkou, then the incident would be due to the Japanese themselves' poor discipline, and it had nothing to do with them.

In Zhou Qinghe's words, it is the Japanese themselves who are incompetent.

Fraser raised his head to look at Zhou Qinghe and said, "I can think about this matter, I need to discuss the specific details with the commercial counselor again, after all, he is in charge of this matter."

As for the exit mechanism of the Chamber of Commerce, I need to get a part of the compensation, and this part of the compensation must be reasonable. ”

"Of course." Zhou Qinghe gave him a smile.

"I also have one more request, this matter can only be signed in secret, and the nominal law enforcement power in Hongkou still belongs to us British."

"Yes."

Death has to be faced, that doesn't matter.

Then there is a simple acquaintance, talking about things, friendship is friendship, everyone made an appointment for tea next time.

After negotiating with them, Zhou Qinghe went to the next house non-stop.

Zhou Qinghe proposed to meet with the American consul, but he still asked if Hirata Shaozo was instructed by their people?

The U.S. consul seems to have made a draft a long time ago, saying that it is not the future, and he happily opened the price code.

"Mr. Fujita, I understand the urgent need for accommodation for overseas Chinese in Japan, and I am willing to help.

However, the Japanese side should compensate for the losses of our American expatriates, so each chamber of commerce needs to compensate an additional 20,000 yen or the equivalent of US dollars for relocation expenses in addition to the land given to the chamber of commerce outside Hongkou, and our chamber of commerce will withdraw from Hongkou. ”

The Americans were pleasantly surprised by Zhou Qinghe.

In any case, this Hongkou is also one of the territories controlled by the Americans, so it has cedered the right to enforce the law so quickly, what news has it received?

Briton? Chinese?

But Qian Zhou Qinghe will definitely not give it, he only wants 20,000, and the Americans dare to ask for 20,000?

"20,000 yen, Mr. Consul's appetite is great."

"I have come here with great sincerity to solve the public security problem in Hongkou, and the US side will hand over Hongkou to the Japanese side, and the struggle between us and China will all take place in Hongkou, which is beneficial to the US side.

The Japanese Chamber of Commerce has a good location in many places outside Hongkou, and the United States does not lose money in the replacement. ”

Zhou Qinghe's voice changed: "The relocation fee of 500 US dollars is enough." ”

"Then we won't move, just under such conditions, it is difficult for me to convince the presidents of the chamber of commerce below that the relocation will affect their business."

The U.S. consul was calm.

Zhou Qinghe was more calm.

"You can not move, anyway, the Chinese have agreed, the British have also agreed, when the time comes, a large number of Japanese will enter Hongkou, and the military police headquarters will issue an order to the Japanese, everyone is not allowed to buy things from the American Chamber of Commerce, and the loss will be the American businessmen themselves."

I think Mr. Consul will face a problem at that time, that is, the American businessman will blame you for not giving them the right to choose earlier? I don't know how Mr. Consul will deal with it when the time comes? ”

The American leader was expressionless, but then laughed: "I didn't expect that Mr. Fujita not only has excellent medical skills, but also has a very good performance in the field of diplomacy. ”

Zhou Qinghe shook his head and said seriously: "I like to be reasonable with facts, there have been assassinations of middle and high-level personnel in Hongkou, and the impact of this incident is too bad.

And for American businessmen, in fact, in terms of the situation, this is also a win-win situation, and the security of the concession requires our joint efforts, Mr. Consul, what do you think? ”

"I regret the departure of Commander Yukina Fujita, well, I'll give you an answer to this matter as soon as possible, but I have one condition attached."

"What?"

The U.S. consul smiled: "I used to send an invitation letter to Mr. Fujita at our university in the United States, hoping that you would give a lecture at our medical school, but Mr. Fujita has not replied.

I hope that Mr. Fujita can give me an accurate answer this time, can you accept my invitation?

Otherwise, my friends in the United States would have been urging me, and I would have had a headache.

I'll help Mr. Fujita solve a problem, and Mr. Fujita will help me solve a problem, so it's not too much to ask for between friends, right? ”

Zhou Qinghe smiled lightly: "It's not impossible to go to the United States to give lectures, but you also know that I am a soldier, and my time is not so free." ”

This is obviously not a problem for people at the consular level: "As long as Mr. Fujita agrees, I can ask the embassy to send an official invitation to Japan, and I believe that your upper echelons will definitely agree." ”

"You can send an invitation, but it's a little later, and I'm really not available lately." Zhou Qinghe shrugged helplessly: "It's too busy." ”

"Okay, then we'll talk about it then."

"Okay, get back to me as soon as possible."

At the entrance of the consulate, the American consul and his assistant sent Zhou Qinghe to the car, and watching the car go, the American consul smiled a little incomprehensibly.

The assistant on the side couldn't understand it, in fact, he felt that the Japanese were a little too strong, and his own consul was a little too weak in the whole thing.

The law enforcement authority was given, and the relocation fee of $20,000 was not even negotiated, which damaged the face of the Americans.

However, of course, he did not express his dissatisfaction, but asked curiously what the meaning was.

The American consul said with a smile: "The Japanese are becoming more and more rampant, and those who have been brainwashed by militarism are simply a bunch of fools, who dare to be so vicious to us."

I received news from home.

At present, the upper echelons of Nanjing are looking for us to mediate the war, of course, it is impossible for us to mediate the war now, you can see the appearance of the Japanese, we promised, they will not be willing.

Sooner or later, there will be a war between China and Japan, this is a sure thing.

But without our help, how could the Chinese have beaten the Japanese?

If we are not satisfied with Chairman Chiang's current conditions, we must drag it out and wait for him to relent.

Now we are dragging Chairman Chiang in Nanjing, and Chairman Chiang is a little anxious to get an affirmative reply from us for a long time, and according to our eyeliner in Nanjing, he seems to be preparing some actions and wants to do something against Japan.

The military department judged that he deliberately made this kind of action for the purpose of showing us.

The posture of wanting to counterattack, as if he dared to do something against the Japanese without our help, was nothing more than trying to scare us into raising our own price and forcing us to mediate.

Then let him pretend, let the Japanese fight back, only when we are beaten and crying for us, we can ask for a better price.

When the time comes, we will be the saviors of the Chinese.

We want an obedient China, not a China that can still bargain with us.

Hongkou is a good thing for the Japanese, and if we are inclined to the Japanese, he will be more inclined to us

Get the people of both sides, and this matter will complete 90% of the task for Zhou Qinghe.

The three largest groups of people in the Public Concession, the gangs, the British, and the Americans, these three groups were settled, and there were only a few people left in the country, and they did not have much quota and did not need their consent.

Japan is so strong now, if you don't move, you will have no business to do when the time comes.

Zhou Qing didn't bother to talk to them, ignored them, and was angry.

After the intention is negotiated, the next detailed rules will be handled by the people under him, replacing such a trivial matter as the Chamber of Commerce, and letting the people in the staff department figure out their own way.

Returning to the gendarmerie headquarters to call people, Zhou Qinghe went to find Shinozuka Shintomi.

"Chief of Staff."

Zhou Qinghe stepped into the office.

"Is there something wrong with me?" Shinozuka looked up from behind his office desk.

Zhou Qinghe explained his intentions: "In the matter of the replacement of the Chamber of Commerce, I need a team that can negotiate, I don't have such a manpower in my gendarmerie, and I also need the chief of staff to help organize it." ”

"I see." Shinozuka Makomi thought for a moment and nodded: "In this way, I will communicate with the consulate and form a negotiation team with the president of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai to assist you in negotiating with the British and Americans." ”

Shinozuka Makomi thought that Zhou Qinghe was forming a team, so it was natural to say: "The leading power is in your hands, try not to conflict with the British and American sides." ”

"Conflict?" Zhou Qinghe asked questioningly, and then shook his head: "No, no, no, Chief of Staff, you misunderstood what I meant, I have already discussed with the British and Americans in terms of intention, you only need to send a negotiation team to directly confirm the replacement with them." ”

"You've already negotiated?!" Shinozuka Matomi's eyes widened in surprise.

His brain shrank for a moment, and he still confirmed in disbelief: "You've only been out for a day, and you've already negotiated with the three parties?" ”

Zhou Qinghe nodded: "It's been negotiated, it's quite smooth, and the British and Americans are very easy to talk." ”

"Huh?" Shinozuka Makomi didn't expect Zhou Qinghe to answer like this.

Are the British Americans so negotiable? It took a long time to soak and pee there, what are these people doing?

It's not right, it should still be Zhou Qinghe's strong communication skills, but now is not the time to sigh about this.

"Are you sure the British and Americans have agreed?"

"Of course."

"Good, very good." Shinozuka had an exaggerated smile on his face.

"I'll go and report this matter to the commander immediately, and immediately organize negotiators, once this matter is completed, it will be a great achievement, Fujita, I will definitely report to the General Staff Headquarters at that time and apply for recognition for you!"

"Thank you, Chief of Staff."

"Fujita, it's your performance that is exceptional."

Shinozuka Matomi looked at Zhou Qinghe's expression with great satisfaction.

After this incident, he can see how strong Fujita Kazukiyo's ability is, this is simply a talent who does things, compared to Akio Tojo

Forget it, a fool like Akio Tojo doesn't deserve to be compared to a talent like Kazukiyo Fujita.

"Fujita, the next thing, you are still there."

Zhou Qinghe hurriedly interrupted: "Chief of Staff, don't look for me for the next thing, you decide for yourself the negotiation, I really don't bother to care about this kind of thing, I might as well have more surgery when I have that time." ”

Okay, the big head has already been taken care of anyway. Shinozuka Makomi decided to let go of Fujita Kiyokazu, talents, that are all privileges.

"But you still have to talk to them about the specific negotiations, how to negotiate."

In this case, Kazukiyo Fujita must have reached an agreement with the other three parties, and these conditions must be put in place.

"I understand this, after the team is organized, you will notify me as the chief of staff, and I will describe the specific attitude to them in detail."

"Okay, then you go and rest first, it's hard work."

Shinozuka Shintomi excitedly went to the commander to report.

Zhou Qinghe returned to the International Hotel and went to Chiba Yasuda for dinner.

This Yasuda Chiba came to Shanghai for the first time, and in addition to Zhou Qinghe, he knew the staff of their family's branch in Shanghai.

But those things don't make much fun.

So Yasuda Chiba mainly waited for Zhou Qinghe to get off work, so that they could go shopping and fall in love together.

"Off work?" Chiba Yasuda was very happy to see Zhou Qinghe.

"When I go to work, you can walk around the concession by yourself, and you don't have to wait for me in the hotel."

"Fujita-kun isn't here, so it's not interesting for me to go shopping alone."

"Well, what would you like to eat tonight? I'll take you. ”

"Fujita-kun, you can arrange it, I think the places you choose are very delicious."

The look of obedience is really speechless.

Zhou Qinghe didn't choose to take a car when he took her downstairs, but the two of them walked casually.

Yasuda Chiba suddenly said, "Fujita-kun, didn't I say two days ago that I was going to buy you a house?" ”

Zhou Qinghe snorted: "What's the matter, I don't want to buy it again?" ”

"Not really, it's just that I've come up with a better idea in the past two days."

"What's the idea?"

"I was thinking, instead of buying a house for Fujita-kun, let's just buy four houses, four houses connected together, and then bulldoze all the houses above and build a big villa, which will be called Fujita Mansion in the future.

Fujita-kun, what do you think of this idea? ”

Looking at Yasuda Chiba's expectant eyes, Zhou Qinghe opened his mouth and was speechless for a while, you are going to put this palace on hold, what can I say?

Having money is really doing whatever you want.

"Isn't that a bad idea? Or Fujita-kun you don't like it? ”

"A very good idea, I like it very much, it's just" Zhou Qinghe looked at her and teased: "You bought me such a big house, do you want to be the hostess of this house?" You just want to marry me? ”

Yasuda Chiba's face was a little red, but he still said straightforwardly, "I haven't seen such an excellent person as Fujita-kun in China, why don't you get married?" ”

"Chiba-san, your eyesight must be good."

"Why?"

"Because you see people very accurately."

The next day, the conference room of the gendarmerie command.

Shinozuka has contacted all the negotiators in this matter after a night of contact.

And this meeting is an internal briefing.

Akio Tojo was late, and after the night passed, he was still drunk when he entered the door.

"How much alcohol have you drunk? If we have a temporary task, how can you get a task in such a state? How to protect the security of the gendarmerie command? ”

Zhou Qinghe directly reprimanded.

As his subordinate, Akio Tojo appeared so drunk, doesn't this mean that he has no way to manage Zhou Qinghe?

"Anyway, there's nothing wrong with me, what's wrong with me drinking some wine? Captain Fujita, by the way, you took my 50,000 yen, how are you doing? It won't be any progress, will it? ”

"When you asked me about the money yesterday, you told me that it would be done within a week, and it doesn't count if you don't talk, right?"

After Tojo Akio finished speaking, he swept everyone present, sat down with a smile, and just looked at Zhou Qinghe.

Zhou Qinghe sneered, hehe, he will play small actions.

It seems that he has received the guidance of a master, and with this kind of small trick that can't be put on the stage, it is about the same as letting him make a military order in front of everyone, if this can't be completed, it will be really faceless.

It was Oh who accompanied him to drink yesterday, and that week Kiyowa knew who it was, Nakao Iwasaki.

I just said don't come to provoke him, this is really not a long memory.

"Captain Fujita, you're not going to cheat, are you? took 50,000 yen from me, and the people from the accounting department can testify to this matter, don't tell me, you take the money and are ready to deny it. ”

Akio Tojo pressed again.

There was no need for Zhou Qinghe to answer this, and the staff officer who came to the meeting was quite puzzled, and he looked at Akio Tojo and asked.

"Captain Fujita has already negotiated the preliminary intentions, don't you know about this matter?"

"Such a big thing has already spread throughout the gendarmerie headquarters, what did you do yesterday?"

Akio Tojo was stunned, and turned his head in a daze: "Finished talking?" What does it mean that the talk is over? ”

The staff officer told him speechlessly: "Now the Green Gang, the British and Americans, the Americans, and even the Northern Jiangsu Gang at our door have agreed to the plan to evacuate Hongkou. ”

The staff members shook their heads a little, this son of the Tojo family is really not angry.

Akio Tojo couldn't understand after listening to it, no, it was only a day later, and the conversation was already over?

How is this possible!

Just because they thought of a way to deal with Zhou Qinghe, the two of them drank and thought about it for a day, and then they came up with a plan to force the palace one by one.

As a result, as soon as they came up with a solution, they felt that seven days was already very difficult, and Fujita had already finished talking?

In order to clear up his doubts, Akio Tojo began to listen carefully to the lecture.

The meeting begins.

Zhou Qinghe explained the detailed negotiation content to them in detail, and clearly pointed out that the British and Americans can be stronger, but they should be polite to the Qinggang and especially the Chinese at the door.

"Why?" Akio Tojo did not understand, "We should be more vicious towards the Chinese." ”

Zhou Qinghe asked him with a straight face: "Captain Tojo, there are two people standing in front of you, one is brightly dressed and the other is ragged, and you are holding a loaf of bread in your hand.

Do you think there is a higher probability of someone robbing you?

The British just want to do business, while the Chinese want to eat, these are two different things.

If you don't even understand this, I advise you to transfer to the troops participating in the battle, the situation there is relatively simple, go directly to the battlefield with a gun, you don't need to think about these problems, as long as you can listen to the charge horn. ”

"What do you mean? You scold me for being brainless. ”

With so many people present, Akio Tojo was ridiculed, which was simply unbearable.

Zhou Qinghe glanced at him, took away the file next to him, and then wrote inside.

"Captain Tojo, who did his best in this incident, did not hesitate to invest 100,000 yen to solve some of the problems in the Hongkou Issue, and I, as his boss, would like to express my approval and hereby give credit to him."

Zhou Qinghe read as he wrote, and paused in the signature column at the end.

looked at Akio Tojo and raised his head.

Akio Tojo didn't speak, and his temper was gone.

The look was both nervous and expectant, and then with a straight face, he wanted to show that he didn't care, and snorted softly.

Zhou Qinghe was very generous, signed his name directly, and handed it to Shinozuka Shintomi.

"Chief of Staff, I'm not the right person, Captain Tojo did contribute to this matter, so next, I also hope that he can do his best to promote this matter, and I hereby recount the merits for him, write it in advance, and be prepared."

50,000 yen for a letter of merit, this business is still good.

Shinozuka Makomi took it with great satisfaction, so that he had an explanation for the Tojo family.

Otherwise, Akio Tojo spent money, and he was suppressed so badly here, and this Commander Tojo didn't look good on his face.

"Akio, you have to learn more from Captain Fujita in the future, his ability is beyond doubt, and you can see his character, and it is not aimed at you."

Akio Tojo: "Hi. ”

(End of chapter)