Warlords: Rising from the Northwest Border and Sweeping Across the Powers

Chapter 163 Subsequent Negotiations: Su Zhengyang

In the next few days, the situation between Fuso and the Northern Xinjiang government became increasingly tense. Yang Jiakai was stubborn and believed that all of Su Zhengyang's actions were provocations from Fuso, and that he would never conduct any form of internal accountability against Su Zhengyang.

Fuso continued to exert pressure by using the same old excuse of launching a war, which had threatened the Northern Xinjiang government countless times. However, this time, everyone from Yang Jiakai to Su Zhengyang had a firm attitude, making their invincible tactics completely ineffective.

But in the Fuso Concession in Shanghai, due to Su Zhengyang's military control, countless Fuso expatriates and chambers of commerce could no longer live normally here. Many people even began to seek ways to escape from Shanghai and return to their native Fuso.

If these Fuso chambers of commerce, enterprises, and expatriates all left Hongkou District, the so-called Fuso Concession would exist in name only.

As for Fuso, after days of heated discussions, the conciliatory faction led by Prime Minister Umekawa Hikoo finally gained the upper hand and decided not to launch a war against China for the time being. In Fuso today, a large number of Kwantung troops are tied down by the Far East Army of the British Empire and the 14th Army of Tsarist Russia, so it is not the best time to invade China.

Now that a clear decision has been made, what Fuso needs to do next is to negotiate with the Northern Frontier Government and Su Zhengyang and try to regain some face.

Fuso Cabinet Minister Miura Uchie made a special trip from Fuso to Shanghai, and the negotiation venue for the two sides was set at the Hongkou Dojo in the Fuso Concession. On the Northern Frontier government side, Prime Minister Duan Jinshu led his personal guards south to Shanghai to represent the Northern Frontier government leadership to lead the negotiation process.

Five days later, negotiators from both sides gathered at the Hongkou Dojo under the Black Dragon Society in the former Fuso Concession. The main participants in the negotiations from the Northern Frontier government were Duan Jinshu and Su Zhengyang, while the Fuso side was represented by the new consul Takeno Fangda and Miura Uchie.

In order to show his sincerity in supporting the negotiations, Su Zhengyang had already withdrawn his troops from the Fuso Concession a day ago.

Soldiers from two regiments of the Gangshan Marine Division provided strict and all-round protection for the two Fuso negotiators.

A black sedan, guarded by a large number of armored vehicles in front and behind, stopped in front of the gate of Hongkou Dojo.

Duan Jinshu and Su Zhengyang got off the car one after another. Looking at the devastated Wusong Road with broken walls and burn marks everywhere, and the deserted streets, Duan Jinshu smiled bitterly and shook his head. He said to Su Zhengyang, "I finally understand why Fusang hates you so much. You are simply a bandit. You have ruined the Fusang Concession into this state."

Su Zhengyang smiled and said, "This is originally our Chinese territory. They are the real invaders. We must act quickly, accurately and ruthlessly when attacking the Fuso devils."

Duan Jinshu was speechless for a moment and said no more. The two of them entered the reception room of the Hongkou Dojo. There was a low table on the tatami. Miura Uchie and Takeno Fangda from the Fuso side had already sat at the low table.

"Please take off your shoes before entering."

Sanpu Neijiang's trusted aide blocked the way of Duan Jinshu and Su Zhengyang. Su Zhengyang pushed him away roughly and said coldly: "This is China, not Fuso. I will not respect your so-called Fuso customs."

The two men entered the room with their shoes on, and Miura Uchie showed no intention of getting up to greet them.

Su Zhengyang sat opposite the two of them carelessly and poured himself a cup of tea.

"If you have anything to say, please say it quickly. I don't have much time to waste at the negotiation table."

Sanpu Neijiang, who was over 50 years old and a little bloated and fat, raised his head, glanced at Su Zhengyang and Duan Jinshu, and said in pure Chinese: "Councilor Su is really quick to speak, so let's get straight to the point."

"First of all, the incident in which Hashimoto Masazan instigated the Hongkou Dojo martial artist Kudo Yoshikazu to attempt to assassinate Councillor Su was his personal behavior and has nothing to do with us in Fuso. Now he has been directly executed by Councillor Su, which is the price he paid for his actions. Fuso will not pursue the matter any further."

There was a hint of imperceptible surprise in Su Zhengyang's eyes. This Sanpu Neijiang was not a simple person. Knowing that he had witnesses in his hands, he had no intention of pursuing the matter.

"But Councillor Su directly ordered his combat troops to invade the Fuso Concession, bombarded the Fuso Consulate, and allowed his soldiers to burn, kill, and loot, causing unbearable losses to our Fuso Concession. This is something we in Fuso will never tolerate. According to preliminary statistics, the economic losses caused to the Fuso Concession by Councillor Su this time are as high as 200 million oceans!"

"You must make a financial compensation of 50 million dollars, publicly apologize to the victims of the Fuso Chamber of Commerce, and return the large amount of cash stolen from the vault of Sanhe Bank. These are our Fuso conditions. As long as Councillor Su does these things, this matter will end here and no further investigation will be conducted."

Before Duan Jinshu could say anything, Su Zhengyang sneered disdainfully. He already had the fat meat in his mouth, and he wanted him to spit it out?

This Miura Uchie is really dreaming.

Su Zhengyang responded decisively: "First of all, the reason why your Fuso Concession suffered such a disaster is because your Fuso Consul Mr. Hashimoto's radical behavior angered my soldiers, so I launched a counterattack without hesitation. I, Su Zhengyang, am not responsible for any losses caused by this. You Fuso have brought this upon yourselves."

The new consul Takeno Fangtian was furious and said, "Congressman Su, please be careful with your words. What do you mean by Fuso is to blame for our own mistakes? Lord Miura has already said that the assassination of you was a personal decision of Hashimoto Masazan. It has nothing to do with our Fuso government. We will not pay for it."

Su Zhengyang shrugged indifferently and said, "If that's what you mean, the bombardment of the consulate and the looting of the Fuso Concession were the personal actions of my soldiers. They have nothing to do with me, Su Zhengyang, so there is no need for me to bear your losses."

Su Zhengyang looked at the gloomy Takeno Fangtian with amusement, "You want to mess with me? If I get serious, you're not even worth mentioning."

Su Zhengyang made Takeno Fangtian speechless for a moment. Miura Uchie waved his hand, signaling Takeno Fangtian to shut up, then looked at Su Zhengyang and said, "It seems that there is nothing wrong with what Councillor Su said. Just treat it as the personal behavior of your soldiers. However, for such a huge loss, someone has to stand up and take responsibility. Councillor Su, please hand over the military commander of your Shanghai combat unit to me, Fuso. Councillor Su will not be responsible for these losses himself."

Su Zhengyang slammed the teacup in his hand onto the table without any hesitation, and the exquisite white porcelain teacup shattered into pieces in an instant.

"Let me hand over my soldiers to you. Did you forget to take your medicine when you went out? Is there something wrong with your brain?"