Everything was ready, but at the critical moment a problem arose.
No matter how he was persuaded, Bailifu refused to sign.
This change was something that even Meng Shaoyuan did not expect.
And at this moment, Dai Li called.
The British Consulate in Hankou has learned about Bailey's disappearance.
It was also a coincidence that during the secret arrest of Bailifu, there happened to be a British man who knew him at Nanhu Airport. Before he had time to say hello, he saw Bailifu being stuffed into the car with his own eyes.
The British man immediately informed the British consulate of the news.
The British Consul General in Hankou, Wei Demo, made a direct call to Chen Cheng, Chairman of the Hubei Provincial Government. Chen Cheng, who was well aware of the matter, promised to investigate the matter. .
But in reality, he was also stalling for time.
"Two days at most, that's Chen Cheng's limit." Dai Li's words on the phone were very stern: "Chen Cheng has sent Wuhan garrison commander Guo Chan to handle the matter. Guo Chan is on his way to my place. Chen Cheng has two days." , I only give you one day!"
"Understood."
Meng Shaoyuan hung up the phone and returned to the interrogation room.
No matter how Wang Nanxing coerced and lured him, Bailifu insisted that he admitted to being a spy, but he would not agree to sign the confession.
"Make a price." Meng Shaoyuan suddenly said.
"What?" Bailey didn't understand what he meant.
"Make a price." Meng Shaoyuan said expressionlessly: "Everyone has a price. If you help the Japanese, the highest you get is 220 pounds and 550 Chinese yuan a month. If you don't complete the task, you won't have any money. That's it. My gardeners all get higher salaries than you, but you are an Englishman after all, so if you get such a small salary, aren’t you an embarrassment to the British gentlemen?”
Bailifu was very angry, but he couldn't get angry.
"I will also give you money." Meng Shaoyuan was too lazy to talk nonsense with him: "Help me do something, and I will give you five thousand pounds at a time. The conditions are, first, to sign the confession. Second, do as I say."
God!
Five thousand pounds, this is an unimaginably huge amount of money!
Bailifu hesitated. A person who can be bribed with money can certainly be bribed with a larger sum of money: "You, what do you want me to do?"
"Convene a press conference and say that when you were in Shanghai, you were kidnapped by the Japanese secret service and tortured. You were forced to agree to act as a spy for the Japanese and steal Chinese intelligence."
"No, no!" Bailey knew too well the seriousness of this situation. It would cause serious diplomatic disputes between Britain and Japan, which was beyond his control.
"I will help you deal with the aftermath and provide you with support and protection." Meng Shaoyuan said coldly: "Make a decision immediately."
"No, this is too terrible, I refuse."
"Four thousand pounds."
"Sir, you have no idea how serious the consequences of this are."
"Three thousand pounds!"
"Sir, you can't force me like this."
"Two thousand pounds."
"No! The five thousand pounds you promised me!" Bulliver cried out.
"Here, you have to listen to me and do what I tell you." Meng Shaoyuan sneered: "If you don't do it, someone else will do it. I can tell you frankly that the British Consulate in Hankou already knows that you are missing. But so what? No one can prove that we did it. You will disappear mysteriously, and the consulate will lodge a serious protest, but they have no evidence. We can try our best to delay it. For a little person like you, it will take half a year and a few months. No one will care about your life or death anymore."
Bailiver wiped his sweat.
He knew the young man was there for real. Even if Consul Wei Demo had a good relationship with him, he would never fall out with the Nationalist Government for him.
What's more, the evidence that he is a spy is conclusive.
"You, will you really give me five thousand pounds?" Bailifu asked cautiously.
"I will definitely do what I promised you." Meng Shaoyuan took out his checkbook: "I will advance you two thousand pounds first. After you do what I say, I will give you the rest."
Bailifu took a long breath: "Where's my confession? Bring it over and I'll sign it. Then you can teach me what I should do."
Bulliver surrendered.
He signed his confession and received a check for two thousand pounds.
Subsequently, the British businessman Bailifu held a press conference in Hankou.
At the press conference, he complained bitterly about how the Japanese abused and coerced him.
Even the British Consul General in Hankou, Widmer, was not aware of this.
Wei Demo immediately summoned Bailifu urgently and secretly, but Bailifu insisted that everything he said was true. No matter how much Wei Demo tried to persuade him, he refused to change his tune.
The British were kidnapped. Even though Widmer did not want to believe it was true, he still protested to the Japanese side as usual.
The governments of China, Japan, and the United Kingdom engaged in a long wrangling over the "Baliver Spy Case." In the end, Bailey was not convicted of espionage, but was simply deported.
However, no one realized at this time that the "Baliver Spy Case" was not the end, but only the beginning.
This little person who passed by in history will instigate a war between Britain and Japan in the future involving tens of thousands of soldiers and hundreds of thousands of civilians.
Known historically as the "Battle of the Five Thousand Pounds."
Even Meng Shaoyuan did not expect it at the time. He paid 5,000 pounds just to quickly close the case according to Dai Li's request, and money is undoubtedly the most powerful weapon.
As for letting Bolliver accuse the Japanese of kidnapping him, the original intention was just to let Bolliver do more and cause friction and disputes between Britain and Japan.
But just such an inadvertent approach quietly changed the trajectory of history again.
He cannot change the big historical process, but he has caused many historical trajectories to deviate.
Although it was somewhat painful to come up with five thousand pounds at once, Meng Shaoyuan was still a little proud of being able to complete the task in the shortest time, most perfectly and quickly.
When I saw Dai Li, I thought he would praise me. Unexpectedly, as soon as I walked into the office, Dai Li scolded me for saying that my nose was not my nose and my eyebrows were not my eyebrows:
"Meng Shaoyuan, what are you doing!"
Um? What are you doing?
Nothing happened?
I did it according to your instructions, Mr. Dai.
There was also a man sitting in the office, dressed in military uniform and wearing the glittering title of Army Lieutenant General.
"This is General Guo Chan, the commander of the Wuhan garrison!"
"Hello, sir!" Meng Shaoyuan shouted quickly.
This is a legendary figure.
He served as a lieutenant general, guarded Wuhan and Yichang, and participated in the defense of Shipai Fortress and the Battle of Western Hubei. After the defense of Yichang, he suffered the consequences for others and was deprived of his military rank. He was also sentenced to five years in prison. Chen Cheng fought to get him out of prison. A dignified lieutenant general earns a major's salary and cannot wear military rank. However, during a battle to defend western Hubei, not only was the official reinstated, but he was also awarded the second-class Baoding Medal!
The 113th recipient of the Medal of the Blue Sky and White Sun!
He is also a famous anti-Japanese general.
"Are you Meng Shaoyuan?"
Guo Chan asked coldly.
"Yes, sir!"
"Let me ask you!" Guo Chan said in a bad tone: "I asked you to cooperate with the arrest of Bailifu. If you did not discuss with our Wuhan Police Headquarters Inspection Division and took action alone, I will not hold you accountable for this matter. You arrested Bailifu. , it was a meritorious service to have him confess everything as soon as possible. But why did you instigate him to testify about being kidnapped by the Japanese? And held a press conference? Who did you consult with? "
"Sir, no!"
Meng Shaoyuan is so aggrieved. Damn it, the first level of officialdom is overwhelming, let alone a lieutenant general: "It was Bailifu himself who requested the press conference. After being inspired by me, he burst into tears. He changed his mind and decided to help China and the Japanese fight to the bitter end. I also tried to persuade him not to do this, but it was of no use."
"Commander Guo, did you see that?" Dai Li pointed at Meng Shaoyuan: "I told you before, this man is a scoundrel, and he has many ways to deny and sophistry!"
"Meng Shaoyuan!" Guo Chan said coldly: "This was originally just an ordinary espionage case, but now it has turned into a diplomatic dispute between three countries. The Chairman directly called Chief Chen, and Chief Chen asked me again What's going on? Tell me, how should I answer? Tell me, what crime do you deserve!"
"I'm guilty. If you say I'm guilty, I'm guilty." Meng Shaoyuan looked like he was breaking a jar: "Tell me, should I be shot or buried alive?"
"What?" Guo Chan was startled.
Dai Li was a little dumbfounded: "Commander Guo, this man is a well-known scoundrel in our army. I have shot him and buried him alive. He has long been tired. He is so confident that he caught Bailifu and obtained his confession. At most, the merits and demerits can be balanced. When he returns to Shanghai, he can continue to be his local emperor and live happily."
"Okay, Meng Shaoyuan, Director Dai can't do anything to you, I'll punish you!"
Fix me? How to fix me? I'm not under your control, so you can't shoot me, right? Meng Shaoyuan was not particularly afraid.
"Director Dai." Guo Chan's face straightened: "I would like to ask you to borrow Meng Shaoyuan for a few days."
"Borrow it." Dai Li waved his hand.
ah? Meng Shaoyuan was stunned.
Director Dai, Mr. Dai, if you want to borrow it, you don’t ask me if I am willing?
"Well!"
Guo Chan said slowly: "The Japanese army is approaching Wuhan, and renovation works are being stepped up around Wuhan. In view of the serious shortage of labor, Meng Shaoyuan, please help me repair the fortifications."
"Ah?" Meng Shaoyuan suddenly became anxious.
"Ah what?" Guo Chan snorted and said, "I will give out the hoes for free, but I heard that your surnamed Meng guards the city gate and all the food is brought by Xi Yuanxiang. I don't have such good conditions. Cornmeal steamed buns, you’re full!”
"Commander Guo, Chief Guo!" Meng Shaoyuan was really scared this time. Repairing the fortifications might cost his life: "Everything is easy to discuss, everything is easy to discuss!"
"I, the dignified security commander, can't punish you as a little spy?" Guo Chan said calmly: "Don't want to repair the fortifications? There is another option. Recently, several Japanese prisoners and a group of puppet troops were sent to Wuhan. You can help guard them. Let them."
