20 years of the Republic of China

Chapter 578 Behind the Scenes Game
After arriving at the police station, Huang Mapi immediately went to the office of the Chief of Police to meet with Salli to report.

When the Frenchman saw him come in, he naturally scolded him harshly, but even after scolding and getting angry, the Frenchman still had to rely on this veteran Chinese detective who had been in the industry for more than 20 years.

Salli asked the police station to solve the case as soon as possible and gave clear relevant "indicators".

"So many murders happened in the French Concession last night. Don't think you can get away with it by relying on a few small players." Salli said bluntly, "I want big fish. Only big fish can calm down the negative public opinion."

"Yes, yes, yes." Huang Ma Pi nodded repeatedly, "Please rest assured, Director, I will do my best to follow your instructions."

"Especially the corpse hiding case in the suburban warehouse!" Salli emphasized, "Among the dead there, there are people from our law enforcement department. We must focus on investigating. Now we have clues. That warehouse is the warehouse of Fengtian merchants. I also heard a lot of news just now. It seems that there is a man called... called..."

He cast an inquiring look at the translator, and then continued, "There is a man named Jiang Lianheng. He seems to be related to these cases?"

After hearing this, Huang Ma Pi was stunned for a moment. His mind suddenly turned to the accents of the kidnappers, and he already had a general idea in his mind.

However, he did not follow Mr. Yang's line of thought, but instead asked: "Mr. Director, where did you hear this news...?"

If you want people not to know, unless you do it yourself.

Jiang Lianheng has been hanging around in Shanghai for nearly two months. Now that he has caused such a big commotion, it is impossible that the people online have not noticed it.

Since Sarri was the head of the French police station, he certainly had his own intelligence channels, but he couldn't help but frowned, glanced at Huang Mapi, and asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"

"Uh... nothing much, it's just that the information from my informants is a little different from what the director said."

"What's the difference?"

"I received the news last night. I heard that the Yue Gang would come to the French Concession to cause trouble. Now that so many cases have occurred, if we have to talk about suspicion, the Yue Gang should be the most suspected."

"Yue Gang? What Yue Gang?"

Salli is not very familiar with the gang forces outside his jurisdiction.

The translator quickly gave a brief introduction.

After hearing this, Sarli's face was uncertain. He thought for a while, then suddenly told the translator to close the office door. Then he called Huang Mapi to his side and said in a low voice:
"Huang, you are an old detective, you should understand what I mean, right? There were no white casualties in the murders last night, it was just that the gangs were fighting each other. The Cantonese gang you just mentioned is in the British Concession, we can't go over to arrest them, and if we want to negotiate with the British, I don't know how much time we will waste. And I just want to solve the case as soon as possible. I don't need the truth--"

As he spoke, he suddenly leaned back in his chair and touched the jute skin with his hand.

"What I need is a story, a story that punishes evil and promotes good, and one that the French Concession residents will enjoy."

As long as there is a story that can make sense, the so-called witnesses and material evidence can be easily found, right?
Jiang Lianheng's inference was correct. There was no fool in the world. It was just that the world was dark and some people voluntarily pretended to be stupid.

Foreigners are no exception.

Sarri said earnestly, "Huang, now all the newspapers in Shanghai are keeping an eye on the French police station. The Governor and the Municipal Council are pressing me hard. I know who you are and that you have colluded with gang members. I don't care what method you use, but you must hand over a few gang leaders to the French police station!"

"I understand. I understand." Huang Mapi nodded in agreement.

Sarri continued, "The Green Gang has the largest industry, and most of it is in the French Concession. It is related to the tax revenue of the French Concession, so it is best not to touch them. The Yue Gang is in the International Settlement. We cannot enforce the law across the border, and it is difficult to touch them. Now it seems that the most suitable candidates are this Jiang guy, and the recently emerging... oh, the Axe Gang."

If it were in the past, since the French had said so much, Huang Ma Pi would definitely accept the job immediately.

But today was different. Huang Mapi suddenly had his own ideas in front of Salli.

"Director, it's best not to move the Axe Gang. Their subordinates are all laborers. They just called for a break a while ago. If we provoke them now, I'm afraid it will not only fail to calm public opinion, but will cause more trouble."

"Then let's arrest the guy named Jiang."

"Well...I'm afraid that's not appropriate."

"Huh?" Sarri squinted his eyes and asked sternly, "Huang, are you deliberately shielding them?"

"I dare not," Huang Ma Pi explained hurriedly, "I feel that a small figure like Jiang Lianheng is not a well-known person in the French Concession, let alone a gang leader. If we arrest him, it will be easy for those unruly people to fool him. I am afraid that those pen-wielding people, who obviously have only a superficial understanding of the matter, prefer to make irresponsible comments and think that we are just looking for someone to take the blame. It is better to take the opportunity to arrest other gang leaders first and suppress the matter first, and then we will slowly investigate."

"Hiss—he's really not a big fish. So who do you think you can choose?"

"Chao Gang, Wan Youyuan."

Upon hearing this, Salli waved his hand without even thinking.

"No, no, Wan's local product business is an important source of tax revenue for the French Concession. We can't touch him."

"Sir Director, Wan Youyuan is just the leader of the Chao Gang. Whether he is there or not, the Chao Gang's local product business will not be interrupted. Moreover, since the International Anti-Opium Conference, the French Concession has been condemned by public opinion. We can take this opportunity to arrest him, which can restore the reputation of the French police station. What do ordinary people like to see? They like to see local vendors arrested, rich people bankrupt, and big warlords fall. Taking out Wan Youyuan will be something they like to see."

Huang Ma Pi's words were sincere and heartfelt, and it didn't sound like he was forced to do so.

The same is true.

Although he did follow Jiang Lianheng's request, this move also had corresponding benefits for him personally.

The Chao Gang and the Yue Gang are too close to Zhang Xiaolin. If Zhang Xiaolin unites the three gangs, his power will surely increase. Naturally, the old man Huang Ma Pi should step in to give them a warning, remove Wan Youyuan, and then support other people from the Chao Gang. This will only benefit the Huang family.

After hearing this, Salli nodded unconsciously. He also felt that taking action against Wan Youyuan would be most beneficial to the reputation of the French police station.

"But the key is the witnesses, the physical evidence, and whether this story can make sense..."

Huang Ma Pi smiled and said, "Don't worry, Director General. I already have an idea of ​​the details of this 'case'. You don't have to worry about the physical evidence. As for the witness... Please inform the American Concession Police Station that there is a key witness in the hospital over there."

"That's not a problem. The key is, after you capture Wan Youyuan, are you confident that you can appease the members of the Chao Gang?" Salley was a little worried. "I don't want to see those low-class Chinese people start taking advantage of the opportunity to be xenophobic again."

"of course."

Huang Ma Pi's answer was concise and to the point.

So, Salli asked a few simple questions about the specific plan, and then ordered Huang Mapi to investigate the case as soon as possible.

…………

After sending away the Chinese "super detective", not long after, another distinguished guest came to the office of the Chief of Police of the Judicial Police Department. The police secretary knocked on the door and walked in and said, "Sir, someone from the church wants to see you."

"Who? Someone from the church?"

Salli was very surprised.

The church group is a somewhat confusing force.

If they have real power, their words have no real effect; but if they do not have real power, they still maintain a vague influence in all aspects.

Even out of courtesy, Salli did not dare to be negligent and immediately ordered his secretary to invite the guest into the house for a meeting.

The man who came was a missionary, in his thirties, tall and thin, wearing glasses and a black shirt, and looked gentle and refined.

He had been a missionary in the Far East for many years and, like many foreigners, gave himself a Chinese surname, Rao.

The two of them were acquaintances, but were far from knowing each other well, so after meeting, they were still a little reserved and reserved with each other, unable to let go.

After a few simple greetings and pleasantries, Salli, who had official business to attend to, simply asked the other party directly about his purpose of visit.

Missionary Rao did not mince words and immediately stated, "Mr. Salli, I am here on behalf of the Foreign Mission Society. I heard that a Fengtian businessman named Jiang has recently come to the French Concession?"

Sarli frowned, but asked, "Is there such a person? Is he... one of your followers?"

Missionary Rao nodded and said, "Mr. Jiang is an honorary member of our Foreign Mission Society. He has made many outstanding contributions to the church in the South Manchuria Diocese in Fengtian. Not long ago, Bishop Su Peilisi of the South Manchuria Vicariate entrusted us with the hope that Mr. Jiang would receive a certain degree of care and preferential treatment in Shanghai. Mr. Salli, do you believe in God?"

How great is the influence of foreign missions?

Sarli pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "Yes, I have always been God's most loyal servant."

"That's great!"

Missionary Rao suddenly put on a compassionate look and continued, "I heard from Bishop Su Peiris that Mr. Jiang may sometimes do something out of line, but considering his support for our church, some things can be forgiven by God. What do you think?"

Salli felt a bit dazed - could it be that they were selling indulgences again?
"In short, if Mr. Jiang encounters any problems in Shanghai, we implore Mr. Salleh to consult with the Foreign Mission Society before making a decision." Missionary Rao sighed, "After all, he is just a lost lamb, and he still has a chance to repent and forgive his sins..."

…………

On the other hand, while the police were investigating the suburban warehouse corpse case, the Great World assassination case, the Shilipu Wharf fight, and the gunfight near Zhang Mansion, the Songhu Patrol Office was also focusing on investigating the Xintaichang shooting case, the Guanghe Building murder case, and the previous Zhabei assassination case.

No one is stupid.

Anyone with a little detective experience could tell at a glance that these cases must be related.

Like the French police station, the Songhu Patrol Office quickly identified the two suspects, Jiang Lianheng and Wang Laojiu, through various informants in the underworld.

However, while searching everywhere, the Songhu Police Department was more interested in Jiang Lianheng's identity.

Commander Xu had heard a lot of half-true and half-false rumors, but he did not get angry immediately. Instead, he suddenly summoned his senior patrol officers and secretly speculated about the conspiracy beyond the case.

In the small conference room, Chief Xu held a cigar in his hand and muttered to himself in a Zhili accent, "This Jiang kid is amazing. He is from Fengtian, but he came all the way to Shanghai and dared to challenge the Green Gang directly?"

"Brother, you think too highly of that guy, don't you?" A detective said with a hint of disdain, "If you ask me, the protagonist of this case is still Wang Laojiu from the Axe Gang. He has a lot of people. If Jiang, the commander alone, didn't have Wang Laojiu to back him up, what would he use to bully the Green Gang?"

Several other investigators said:

"That's not right. This isn't the first time Wang Laojiu has come to Shanghai. He has never committed an assassination before."

"Everything always has a first time. I'm afraid if I fail once, there will be a second and third time..."

"Then it must be related to this Jiang guy, otherwise why would he suddenly carry out assassinations for no reason?"

"By the way, who exactly is this Jiang? I heard from Kou Sanniang from the Jiangbei Gang that he seemed to be involved in the robbery last month."

"No matter who he is, if he can get rid of Huang Ma Pi and the other three, that would be even better. Then we can take the opportunity to support another group of 'three tycoons'!"

Most of the officers of the Songhu Patrol Office were from the Zhili clique. Although they nominally maintained public order in Songhu, Shanghai was actually the territory of the Anhui clique.

Unfortunately, the backer behind the Green Gang's "three big bosses" was none other than He Fenglin, the brother-in-law of General Lu of the Anhui clique and the Protector of Shanghai and Songhu.

Therefore, most of the profits of Sanjin Company actually flowed into Wanlu's pocket. When Chief Xu of the Songhu Patrol Office saw this, he was naturally jealous and always wanted to take the opportunity to support his own white gloves in the foreign concessions.

Originally, when he heard that there was a gangster who dared to come to Shanghai to challenge the Green Gang, he did have high hopes for this person.

But when he heard that Jiang Lianheng was from Fengtian, doubts immediately arose in his mind.

"Anyone who is involved in a gang must have someone to back him up." Commander Xu frowned and said, "This guy named Jiang, a native of Fengtian, dared to come all the way to Shanghai to cause trouble. His backer must be someone powerful. He might be a spy sent by the bandit Zhang Yuting."

Hearing this, everyone looked at each other.

"Commander Xu... This is unlikely, right?"

"I think he's just a gangster. How can he be with Lao Zhang? Besides, he's caused such a big fuss. How can he still be a spy?"

"How is it impossible?"

Commander Xu laughed coldly, "How stalemate has Wu Xiucai and Zhang Tuban become now? The Fengtian clique and the Anhui clique have been colluding recently, in order to let the surname Lu contain Jiangzuo if there is a war in the future. It is normal for him to send spies to Shanghai to investigate our movements."

Everyone exclaimed.

"Commander Xu, if this is true, this can't be considered a simple criminal case, right?"

"Who cares if he is a spy or not!" Commander Xu ordered, "In short, search this guy out first. I have already discussed with those foreigners and we can cooperate in investigating the case. If Jiang is really a spy, we can't easily touch him. We can only lock him up first!"

(End of this chapter)