Chapter 24 Chapter 22 Died in Chile
In the office of the Adam Hotel, Nobuyuki Doi dictated to Masako Saeki, a shorthand writer, the great work "The Great Man- Masaki Teranishi" commissioned by Constitutional Party member Ukichi Nishikori.
Two months ago, while listening to Saeki Masako talk about "A Midsummer Night's Dream" written by Takuro Uura in this office, Nishikori's secretary Shotaro Hataka called and wanted to write a biography of someone in the name of Nishikori Ukichi.On the appointed day, after meeting with Secretary Hataka, Doi knew that "someone" was Masaki Teranishi.
Nishikori Ukichi is very discerning.He traveled to several sects before, and later became a leading cadre of Sixi sect, a talented person.In the previous cabinet, he was the Minister of State and Chief of the Land Agency, and he was also sent by Masayoshi Teranishi.When Shotaro Hataka called, Doi thought that the kind of veteran congressman also wanted to use the name of "book publication" to hold a rally to collect funds.It was only later that I learned that I was going to write the biography of Teranishi Masaki, and since then I have a deeper understanding of Nishikori's "talent".
Probably this is a suggestion from Nishikori Ukichi to Teranishi Masaki.Nishikori is a natural eloquent talent, and with his eloquent arguments, he persuaded Teranishi to publish this book.Nishikori shamelessly added the title of the book "The Great Man- Masaki Teranishi" to that biography.After he planned this "book", he flattered Sixi even more. Although Sixi felt the overt flattery of this talented man, he didn't feel uncomfortable.Party leaders can't stand the flattery of their subordinates.
Leading figures in the political and financial circles will come to the commemorative meeting for the publication of "The Great Man-Masaki Terasai".Due to sentimentality, major members of Katsura Shigenobu, Itakura’s Retirement faction, and the centrist faction will also attend the meeting.The biggest advantage of holding this kind of meeting is that the buyers of the meeting tickets are very wide, not only people from the financial circles who are closely related to the Sixi School, but also people from the financial circles related to the Gui School and Itakura School will also come to participate in order to build relationships. of.The price of the party ticket will also be expensive, and it can get 200 million yuan overnight!
Nishikori Ukichi's plans are not limited to these. When the "abdication" is approaching, the publication of "The Great Man-Terashiki Masaki" is on the one hand to create public opinion for the new prime minister to come to power, and on the other hand, it is also to prepare for himself to enter the next cabinet.
In order to write "Great Man-Masaki Terasai" as a ghostwriter, Doi obtained the material of Daibi from the secretary of Nishikori Councilor Hataka Shotaro.Generally, when writing a biography, the author needs to collect a lot of objective materials, which takes a lot of effort, but this time writing "Sixi Biography" is not necessary.Not only does the objective evaluation of history not need here, but this kind of objective authenticity becomes an obstacle, as long as we just blindly praise and praise it.You don't need to spend time collecting information about Teraishi, Secretary Hataka will send a large number of brilliant hymns.
Teranishi Masaki was known as a child prodigy when he was young. He was a scholar in Yigao and Dongda, and he was the most capable official in the same period when he was a bureaucrat in the Ministry of Finance.After taking office as director, he was appreciated by the prime minister at the time, and entered the upper echelon of politics as the prime minister's think tank.As a result, congressmen who "admired his personality, knowledge and talents" gathered under his command, thus forming the Sisi faction, which accounted for a quarter of the members of the Constitutional Party.Teranishi himself served as an important cabinet member for three times in the previous cabinets, and served as the deputy prime minister in one of them.
The "conversations" of childhood friends, classmates from First High School and Tokyo University, and colleagues who entered the Ministry of Finance together, the seniors and juniors in the political circles who commented on Teraishi's talents and political achievements are the "materials" of the biography, which will be combined into "Great Men" ——Teranishi Masaki" is a great work.
Since it is a "biography", of course it has to write about the family of Teranishi Masaki.Secretary Hataka sent anecdotes about Teranishi and his wife Fumiko before and after their marriage, the situation of Mrs. Fumiko's natal family, and the comments of her friends on her as materials.These are all flattering materials painted in the color of "good wife and mother".It is said that Sixi Zhengyi can have what he is today, and it is inseparable from the help of Mrs. Wenzi, a virtuous housemate.Madam has a very elegant upbringing and is very approachable. People who have met her have left a good impression.Politicians' wives, their personalities often influence the growth of politicians themselves.The assistance of Mrs. Wenzi, who is chaste and bright, is an important factor for Masaki Terasei's success today.The wife is loyal and considerate to her husband. For example, during the election campaign, she represented her busy husband in the electoral district and contacted local people. Her elegant personality is very attractive to voters.No matter what kind of campaign planners can compare to Mrs. Wenzi's natural comfort to people's hearts.When the term of the members of the House of Representatives is about to end, or when the atmosphere of dissolving the parliament is strong, Mrs. Wenzi will go to the electoral district in time.For more than a month before the election, I lived in the election countermeasures headquarters, sat in a truck with people who assisted in election activities, and lobbied everywhere.Traveling day and night, forgetting to eat and sleep, and hardly lying down to sleep, no one who knows Mrs. Wenzi does not praise her.Masayoshi Teranishi's consecutive highest number of votes is related to his reputation in his hometown, but it is also inseparable from the credit of his wife who is working hard behind the scenes.Masayoshi Teranishi also understands this very well, so he is very grateful to his wife, and the relationship between husband and wife is very harmonious and happy.
These are the parts about Mrs. Fumiko in the information provided by Nishikori Ukichi's secretary Shotaro Hataka.Of course, these were collected by Secretary Hataka according to the instructions of Nishikori Ukichi.Because of these promotions, Nishikori Ukichi will gain greater trust from Mrs. Fumiko.Obtaining the favor of Mrs. Wenzi is a shortcut to being reused by the lord. This is the experience of ancient and modern Chinese and foreign history.
As a "biographer," there is nothing more labor-intensive than combining the information they provide.
——As long as you eliminate ideological conflicts and focus on doing "business" wholeheartedly.When Doi accepted the job, he read the book "The Duke: A Friends in the Mountain Prefecture" written by Tokutomi Sufeng.He thought, as long as he erased his conscience and changed it to a modern style of writing with reference to this biography.
In the past, when ghostwriting for a member of parliament, as long as he stands in his position, he can write whatever he wants, but if he wants to write a biography like "The Great Man-Teranishi Masaki", the situation does not matter.Doi first sorted out a large amount of "material" provided by Secretary Hataka, took notes, and then conceived and organized it into a document.Therefore, the dictation is constantly stopped, and it is necessary to read the materials again, think again, and reconceive.Just as Doi stopped dictating, the phone on the desk rang.Saeki Masako took it and said:
"A call from Mr. Saito, Director of the Secretary's Office of the President of 'Oriental Development'." Masako handed the phone to Doi.
"Is it Mr. Doi?" The other party's voice was still very young, but it was a heavy tone.
"An hour ago, a telegram was sent from Santiago to the head office, saying that the vice president of 'Chile Oriental Development', Waipu, passed away due to a traffic accident."
The words "passed away" did not seem to elicit an immediate response in Doi's feelings.After explaining it twice in a row, Doi felt a sudden blow, as if his brain was paralyzed for a moment.
"Because Mr. Doi and Mr. Uaipu have a close relationship, I made a special trip to inform you about this... Hey, hey! Did you hear that?"
"Ah, I'm sorry." Doi returned to normal. "When did Mr. Waipu die?"
"It is said that on the outskirts of Santiago on September 15th, Mr. Waipu's car was hit. Mr. Waipu was seriously injured and passed away after being sent to the hospital." The director of the secretary said.
"Don't you know more details?"
"Because the telegram is too simple, this is all we know now. A detailed report may be sent soon, and we are waiting for it. If there is a detailed report, we will notify you."
"Is Mr. Waipu's family planning to go to Chile?"
"The madam has been notified. Presumably the madam is leaving for San Diego tomorrow. Goodbye, then!"
"thank you very much!"
Putting down the microphone, Doi's chest surged violently. "During the two years in Chile, I don't know what kind of unexpected events will happen." The voice left by Pu Saurang before he took office rang in his ears.Not two years later, this ominous prophecy was fulfilled.Doi said to Masako Saeki who was standing still by the phone:
"The author of A Midsummer Night's Dream has died in Chile!"
Saeki Masako had already heard from Doi that the author of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" was Takuro Gaiura.
"Ah, Mr. Waipu..." Her face turned blue all of a sudden. "It's unbelievable that he passed away so suddenly!"
Doi couldn't believe the news even more.
"How could Saurang Waipu die in a traffic accident? He planned to stay in Chile for two years when he took office. The news came so suddenly!"
Waiputo Doi became the bank's private rental safe agent after he had decided to go to Chile.Doi felt that it was too sudden for Waipu to resign as Masayoshi Teranishi's personal secretary, and it was also too hasty for He Jiuhong to immediately appoint him as the vice president of "Chile Oriental Development".However, Doi always felt that there might be some special reason for Waipu to go to Chile in such a hurry.What is going on inside the company is unknown to outsiders.
Maybe Waipu had a bad "premonition" long before he arrived in Chile.Doi recalled what Gaiura said in Asakusa's "Kiriya House":
"The position of vice president does not have much to do. I proposed to Mr. Kazuhiro Mr. Kazuhiro to stay in Chile for two years. I am tired of being Teranishi's secretary and want to spend a leisurely life in Chile to relieve fatigue. I am really tired. , of course there is also a reason for age!"
"...living in a foreign country with an unaccustomed climate and soil may damage your health. As a vice president, you can't stay in Santiago all the time, and you may live in the mining area of Iquique adjacent to the desert for a long time. It's not just a problem of illness, Chile It is a well-known earthquake hole. There have been many major earthquake disasters in the past, and there have been many victims. I mean this unexpected event..."
This is what he said in the taxi in Marunouchi after leaving Mukojima Bank.However, the "unexpected event" mentioned by Waipu did not include a traffic accident!
"Are you free to handle the paperwork in the bank's rental safe?" This is what Gaiura said in private in front of the escalator when he suddenly turned around in front of the escalator and took Doi aside.At that time, Doi specifically asked whether he would do it after receiving the instruction to open the safe. At that time, Gaipu thought about it and replied: "I was thinking about the situation where I couldn't issue this instruction, because I got sick there or encountered some kind of accident..." At this time , the phrase "some kind of accident" appeared for the first time.
Did Waipu have a premonition in his heart that he would die in this car accident since then?Well, that premonition came true prematurely.
Doi received three letters from Waipa from Santiago, Chile, all of which were written on picture postcards.
Thank you for coming to Narita to see you off.It has been the third day since I stayed in the hotel, and it is spring now.Because it is the capital, there are many people on the bustling streets.In the south where the population density of one square kilometer is only one or two people, it was unimaginable to see such a bustling crowd.Fruit stores are flooded with cherries, apples, melons, apricots, lemons, papayas, walnuts and other fruits, and Spanish is heard throughout the year.To spend two years in a country that stretches like a narrow belt from south to north, I must learn Spanish from now on.well, bye!
The photo on the postcard is a view of the pier in the harbor.Second letter:
It's been three weeks.Lived in a hotel, bought an American car "Bendiac".Soon we will go to the northern copper mine in the "World's No. 1 Desert".A week ago, I drove to the Caloyan volcano in the eastern Andes. The slope of the volcano is covered by araucaria.The church in the village is built of clay with beams made of cactus.goodbye!
The photo on the postcard is the mountain village scenery of the canyon.
Final letter:
I took a car to the grasslands in central Chile.It is also sold on the top of the Andes. There are yellow flowers blooming on the grassland, like peach blossoms. It is called "Jespino", which seems to be a kind of locust tree.Have been staying in San Diego, haven't gone to the copper mines up north.How are you, take care!
The photo on the postcard is of a lagoon.
From the letters of these three picture postcards, it is not clear that he has any "hunch".
Doi met Gaiura's wife for the first time at Narita Airport, so after receiving the notice of Gaiura's death, it was inconvenient to rush to Gaiura's house or make a direct phone call, so he had to wait for the detailed notice from the secretary.
At eleven o'clock the next morning, Doi received a second call from the chief secretary in the hotel office:
"The vice president of Waipu was driving the car he bought there to the outskirts of San Diego, and a traffic accident happened."
Hearing "the car I bought there", Doi remembered the "Bendiac" that Gaipu mentioned in his postcard.
"Don't know the details yet?"
"The car crashed into a tree on the side of the street, the engine was completely damaged, and the vice president died immediately."
"..."
"According to the police's investigation, the speed of the car was 100 kilometers at that time. The road was very wide, all of which were asphalt roads, and it was a straight runway. The current preliminary judgment is that he fell asleep while driving."
Why does Waipu have to increase the speed to 100 kilometers?I guess there will be no rush!Judging from the three landscape postcards sent, most of them were traveling by car.
"Is there no one else in the car?"
"No, only himself."
"When is madam going to San Diego?"
"Take the JAL flight to Los Angeles today at 20'20."
This flight is the same flight as that of Waipu.Two months ago, the wife bid farewell to her husband who took this flight, and now she is taking the same flight to pick up her husband's ashes.
"When will the ashes be brought back?"
"It hasn't been decided yet. Because the 'Chile Oriental Development' company will hold a farewell ceremony in the local area. I will inform you as soon as I know the date of returning to China."
Putting down the microphone, Doi sat there dumbfounded, and stood up after a long time.
"Going out?" Saeki Masako, who was changing the shorthand symbols into words, came out of the next room and asked him.
"Go for a walk nearby and come back."
Doi couldn't calm down.As he walked out of the foyer, he was met by a House Affairs Bureau car.The fat man with the red face got out of the car first, and then, with white hair shrugging his shoulders and wearing a congressman's badge, a man with the appearance of a chicken also got out of the car. This is the secretary-general of the Constitutional Party.The red-faced man in his fifties turned around to help the chief secretary, who was the head of the constitutional party manager Doi had met.The expressions of both of them are very serious. They don't know who they came to meet at the hotel, but they can feel that they are here to discuss difficult matters.
Doi avoided the eyes of the two, turned sideways along the eaves of the restaurant, and walked towards the ramp of the shrine.
There are not many people in the courtyard of Hie Shrine, only six or seven foreign women who seem to live in the nearby Adam Hotel are looking at the shrine.Few people worship in front of the red-painted main hall.A few foreign youths were sitting on chairs with red cushions in front of the vermilion lacquered corridor, reading English newspapers leisurely.Behind them, there is a column of descriptions, and Doi sits not too far away from them.
Normally, even the news of the death of a small congressman would be published in the newspaper with a photo attached, but this time there was no mention of the death of Gai Pu Zhuolang in a car accident.Gaipu was a core person who participated in the internal decision of the next president of the constitutional party and Prime Minister Masayoshi Teranishi. He was a figure who had influenced the political circle. His death did not attract the attention of the Japanese press!
The death of Saurang Waipu is beyond doubt.Strangely, Gaipu Xingqian's premonition of death was expressed in a few words to Doi, and now it has become his last words!
"...If there is an accident and I can't send you instructions from San Diego, you can open my safe in the Mukoshima branch of Bank A, and you can handle the contents freely. You are already in my place as my agent. Has it been registered with the bank!"
Gaipu's voice seemed to reach Doi, who was holding his head in his hands, through telegrams from far away Santiago.Doi thought that he should wait until Waipa's wife returned home with the ashes to open the safe. It seemed immoral to open it alone beforehand.
——"There are many things I haven't told my wife." Waipu's words rang in Doi's ears again. Waipu may not have told his wife about the rental of personal safe No. 2674 and the contents stored in it!Doi felt that now that he was a third party, if he told her this secret, it would not only go against Waipu's wishes, but would also be a heavy blow to Waipu's wife.Thinking of this, Doi was extremely hesitant.
Doi looked towards the worship hall, and a middle-aged couple was stroking the "couple apes" placed on both sides of the hall with both hands.It is said that the male monkey is the messenger of the mountain king, so if you touch it, you will be safe.
Doi walked towards the "divine lottery" box next to the steps of the hall of worship.He thought, if the "magic lottery" is "auspicious", he will go to Xiangdao, and if it is "unlucky", he will not go!He couldn't help laughing at his behavior.
Nobuyuki Doi put a hundred-yen coin into the red "magic lottery" box with that sincere heart.As soon as it fell, the "magic lottery" came out from below.He opened the seal and saw that it was "Xiaoji", and it said: "It seems to be wishful, but be careful and unlucky, the lucky star suddenly flies, and pedestrians have right and wrong." He only thought of "auspicious" and "bad luck", but did not expect "Xiaoji" .Doi didn't know how to make a decision for a while; "Xiaoji" meant that it was basically going well.
Doi made up his mind to go to Mukoshima.He hard-interpreted "Xiaoji" as "Ji" because his heart had already arrived at Xiangdao.
"You're back." Saeki Masako greeted him, and then took out the phone call record when he was away.
"Mr. Nishikori's secretary Hataka called: call him back as soon as you get back. 11:30."
This is the manuscript for "The Great Man-Si Xi Zhengyi".
Doi opened the desk drawer with the key.In the drawer was a small leather bag containing the keys to the rental safe and his seal.He carried these in the inside pocket of his suit.
"Go outside and be back in two hours."
"If Secretary Hataka calls again, how should I answer?"
"You said, call him from here around four o'clock."
"understood."
"Anyway, it's a matter of urging the draft. How far has it progressed?" He was talking about the dictation draft.
"There are about 150 sheets of 400-character manuscript paper, and about 50 sheets have not been translated into words."
"Then please translate that part first."
"Understood." Saeki Masako nodded slightly.
Doi went down to the lounge on the first floor.There seems to be a wedding banquet today, and girls in long-sleeved kimonos gathered in the front lobby of the elevator.In front of the door of the front exit, the black car of the House of Representatives Bureau that I had seen before was parked.
Doi looked back.Two men came out of the restaurant, one was the secretary-general of the Constitutional Party, and the other was the fat head of the Constitutional Party with his shoulders up.When Doi went to Hie Shrine, they had just arrived at the hotel, so they stayed for an hour at most.I don't know what was discussed, the director-general had a serious face, and the director-general had a gloomy expression.
Doi got into a taxi. "Go to Mukoshima!"
"Take the highway?"
The driver got an affirmative answer.At this time, the black car in front drove away.From the back window of the car, Doi saw the backs of the chief secretary and the chief manager standing side by side, and the license plate was the special number of members of the House of Representatives.
Entered the Metropolitan Expressway from the Kasumigaseki Interchange, walked for about 30 minutes, passed the Sumida River, and the car began to run along the right side of the river.Ryogoku Bridge, Kuramae Bridge, Stable Bridge, Komagata Bridge, Azuma Bridge, and Kotoma Bridge pass by in a blink of an eye.Two months ago, when I took a taxi with Uaiura back from Mukoshima, I took this road. "You may wonder why Mukojima Bank has a safe in such a remote place? I think it's probably because this is a place that people don't pay attention to!" Doi still remembers what Gaipu did after saying this in the car grimace.
The taxi drove off the Mukoshima overpass and entered the streets of Mukoshima.Doi walked into the Mukoshima branch of Bank A.The vice president came out.
"We have received a letter from Mr. Waipu who has been promoted to the vice president of 'Chile Oriental Development'. Is your husband well?"
The vice president asked with a smile.
"Yes..." Doi hesitated.
"Mr. Waipu is a capable person. Does he work well there?"
"Yes, it's okay."
Fortunately, the newspaper did not publish Waipu's death.
"Mr. Uaiura knew in advance that he was going to Chile to take up the post, so you appointed Mr. Doi as the agent of the safe?"
"That's what it means." Doi replied in the same way.
"Then please come here."
The vice president led Doi to the underground vault, which was the first time Doi had been here.Down the stairs is the office. On the left side of the office is a desk for reception, where the director sits.There are two female staff sitting side by side at the counter on the right, and the door of the safe depository is in the middle.
The director left the table, walked up to Doi accompanied by the vice president, and bowed.Doi stamped the stamp he brought on the "rental safe registration stub" that the female staff took out, and the female staff at the bank compared Doi's stamp on the stub. This is when Doi and Waipu went to the bank to register as an "agent" Covered at the time.In the "User name column", there is the signature and seal of Gaipu Takuro.Doi stared at Uaiura's signature for a long time with nostalgia.The female clerk entered the safe vault.The vice president went upstairs, and the director returned to his seat.
The storage room is only about 56 square meters, and the three sides of the storage room are made of steel plates. There are numbered drawers arranged in a square shape, and the drawers are large and small.Ceiling lights shone coldly on the steel crates that housed the valuables.
The female clerk inserted the key No. 2674 handed over by Doi and the key kept by the bank into the two holes of the drawer, then turned it around, and the 7cm-high drawer was opened.Bank clerks described it as a "safety box."
"Go over there, please."
The female clerk points in the opposite direction.There are three rooms that look like a reception room.Doi carried the drawers into one of the rooms, where there were tables and chairs.When Doi closed the door from the inside, the female staff quietly left.
Notes:
Notes: