Chapter 135: 134, Aircraft Property Certificate Speculation, Conspiracy Hidden Behind
Andrea Strong received a satisfactory reply from Fang Wen.
He would return along the flight path that Fang Wen had flown, eventually landing in Wuhan.
Fang Wen discussed with him the experience of compass positioning according to the map and arranged the landing and takeoff schedule for the transfer airport.
As for the British Army base, it had already been confirmed by telegram, so upon arriving in Kolkata, he could directly take off with the Shrike Hao.
To go there, he would take a ship; since full-scale war had not yet broken out, there was no blockade on passenger ships along the coastline.
With such meticulous arrangements, Andrea Strong believed the mission could be successfully completed and accepted directly.
He took the ship ticket given by Fang Wen, along with 300 US Dollars in travel expenses, and set off immediately.
Watching Andrea Strong board the shuttle bus back to Shanghai, Fang Wen entered the tung oil for airplanes transaction venue.
Inside the transaction venue, some tung oil merchants anxiously gathered around Neil, wanting to sign the transaction contract immediately.
Others sat or stood in small groups, chatting idly.
Anyway, it would all be done today; whether early or late didn’t matter. It was also nice to exchange feelings among colleagues.
Among them was Fang Wen’s fourth sister’s husband Wu Ziyue.
Fang Wen walked over with a smile on his face.
“Brother-in-law, you’ve come too.”
Wu Ziyue had never told outsiders that he was the brother-in-law of the Taishan Airlines boss; Fang Wen’s remark made the surrounding tung oil merchants surprised.
This gave him a little enjoyment. He clasped his fists and said goodbye to his colleagues: “My brother-in-law is here; we’ll chat next time.”
The tung oil merchants all replied.
“Boss Wu, go ahead with your business; next time I’ll treat you to tea.”
“Go on, Boss Wu. We’re not far apart; there will be plenty of time later. You rarely bring your wife and child back, so spend more time with your family.”
After a brief exchange, Wu Ziyue came over.
“Fang Wen, I brought your sister back to visit family and, by the way, to sign this year’s tung oil for airplanes contract.”
“Where are my sister and the others?” Fang Wen asked.
“In the city. Your nephew hasn’t been to Shanghai before, so his mom specially took him to the playground.”
“I can’t go to the city. How about this, brother-in-law: I’ll take the documents over and sign them now, so you can return to the city to accompany my sister. Also, when you go back, tell my sister about Sixth sister.”
“What’s up with Sixth sister?” Wu Ziyue asked puzzled.
Fang Wen explained it once, took the contract to Neil, handled it directly, and by the way, also got the aircraft property certificate arranged for Wu Ziyue.
After seeing off his brother-in-law, the other tung oil merchants gathered around.
One of them spoke on behalf of everyone about the matter everyone was concerned about.
“General Manager Fang, I heard that after this year’s tung oil for airplanes transaction, because Taishan Airlines has no expansion plans for the time being, the tung oil for airplanes project will be suspended first. Is that true?”
Suspending the tung oil for airplanes had multiple reasons, one of which was that Taishan Airlines’ domestic flight routes were saturated.
There were other reasons too, such as the Boeing 247 being just a transitional passenger aircraft model; there would be better ones later, and the more 247s bought now, the greater the loss later.
Of course, these couldn’t be told to outsiders. Fang Wen smiled and replied: “We’re not suspending permanently, but temporarily. It’s like when a person eats; there’s always a time when they’re full and need to rest and catch their breath, right?”
The tung oil merchants laughed in agreement. Indeed, in less than 2 years, Taishan Airlines had built such a large operation. Everyone was a businessman and knew how to proceed after rapid business expansion.
Therefore, no one at the transaction venue asked about the tung oil for airplanes anymore.
And precisely because it was confirmed that the tung oil for airplanes project would be suspended, a new change appeared at the transaction venue.
Surprisingly, someone started buying others’ transaction contracts.
Their purpose in buying the contracts was for the aircraft property certificate.
Nowadays, the aircraft property certificate was not only a status symbol of owning aircraft property but also provided fixed rent every month, its value itself exceeding the original price of the tung oil transaction.
And now, with the tung oil for airplanes suspended, the unclaimed property certificates were worth even more.
Some tung oil merchants were buying for friends.
Some were for themselves.
They acquired contracts at prices 20 to 30 percent above the transaction value, then on-site transferred the property rights with that contract, and filled in the new owner’s name on the received aircraft property certificate.
Due to the operations of a group of tung oil merchants, the value in the aircraft property certificate became apparent.
Soon after, someone came to Taishan Airlines with an aircraft property certificate to inquire if it could be renamed or transferred.
Fang Wen thought that as long as the owner agreed, it was just a matter of changing the company’s lease contract.
So he agreed to this request.
But he didn’t expect that after opening up the permission to rename aircraft property certificates, a series of changes would occur.
Merchants who learned that aircraft property certificates could be freely renamed came up with a peculiar idea.
In these times, everything could be bought and sold on Shanghai.
Stocks and bonds had already appeared.
Why couldn’t aircraft property certificates be bought and sold?
There were plenty of speculative businessmen with ideas and the guts to act.
Immediately, someone started selling and buying at the transaction venue.
This move drew merchants and speculators who had discovered the value of aircraft property certificates to join in.
Some even applied for a trading counter at the Shanghai Securities Exchange specifically for buying and selling aircraft property certificates.
When this news reached the airport, Fang Wen was receiving two guests.
Taishan Airlines General Manager’s office.
Fang Wen warmly hosted the two.
His wife Kuang Mingzhu was also accompanying them.
Mr. Lin and Mr. Liang, the couple from Shanghai, each carried a box.
They opened the two boxes.
“This is the original manuscript, this is the translated manuscript. We’ve checked; it’s information on manufacturing two types of powerful munitions. We hope General Manager Fang makes good use of it.”
Fang Wen solemnly guaranteed: “I will ensure this weapon information is used where it should be, and it will never be stained with the blood of countrymen.”
Receiving Fang Wen’s guarantee, the two smiled happily.
Mr. Lin took out a booklet: “General Manager Fang, regarding the Asia-Europe trip you mentioned that day, I’ve organized it into three parts: ‘Crossing China,’ ‘South Asia Journey,’ and ‘Mediterranean Sea Observations,’ to be published in three installments in the newspaper. Please check if the content is accurate.”
Fang Wen took the booklet, read it once, and nodded: “Mr. Lin, your literary talent is excellent; it has a free and easy style, much better than if I wrote it myself.”
“Let me see.” Kuang Mingzhu took the booklet from her husband’s hand and admired the Republic of China literary woman’s writing style.
Then, Fang Wen took out a generous remuneration as translation expenses and invited the two to visit his home.
Kuang Mingzhu loved literature and greatly admired Mr. Lin, so she specially cooked a few dishes she considered her specialties to entertain them.
With the dishes served and wine poured, the four chatted and laughed freely.
At this time, Qiu Ju came in: “Young master, someone from the company is looking for you, saying there’s something to report.”
Fang Wen stood up: “Sorry, I’ll step out for a moment.”
He went outside and saw it was the ticketing company manager.
He couldn’t help asking.
“What’s the matter with the ticketing company?”
“General Manager, it’s not the ticketing company; it’s in SH city—someone is speculating with our aircraft property certificates.”
“Speculating with aircraft property certificates?” Fang Wen was surprised.
“Yes, they’ve opened a counter at the Shanghai Securities Exchange specifically for buying and selling them. The trading parties pay commission to the counter, and the counter staff announce yesterday’s transaction prices daily. In just a few days, many people are buying and selling property certificates; no one knows if those aircraft property certificates are real or fake.”
“Got it; you can go back. I’ll handle it.”
Fang Wen sent the ticketing company manager back and turned to return to the room.
After sitting down at the table, Kuang Mingzhu asked: “What was it?”
“Someone has their eyes on aircraft property certificates.” Fang Wen repeated what the ticketing manager had said.
Kuang Mingzhu analyzed: “Aircraft property certificates have nothing to do with us; they’re the owners’ things. If they want to buy and sell them, we can’t interfere. But we’re afraid of fakes; those who bought fake aircraft property certificates might come to our Taishan Airlines to make trouble.”
Fang Wen nodded; that was exactly what he was worried about—suddenly getting such a trouble.
Mr. Liang said: “I’ve been to the Shanghai Securities Exchange. A few years ago, the National Government specifically legislated for it, saying that exchanges for trading valuable securities or the same kind of items are limited to one per area. Meaning it’s the exclusive exchange here, but its reputation is bad.”
“How is its reputation bad?” Fang Wen asked.
“They issued their own company’s stocks, traded them, colluded with outsiders to pull up the market price for huge profits, artificially inflating stocks with a face value of 25 silver dollars to over 400, resulting in other speculators turning against them, all selling off, ultimately unable to receive goods and causing a shareholder run.”
Wasn’t this just manipulating and pumping up stock prices until it collapsed? These tactics were already being played in these times.
Issuing their own stocks, manipulating them themselves, opening their own exchange, taking all the benefits.
Fang Wen sighed.
“A financial market without order is full of scams.”
Mr. Liang nodded in agreement: “That’s not all; they lost credit, and the exchange couldn’t repay shareholders—it should have gone bankrupt. But later they mortgaged all assets to the Japanese, and now the Japanese are secretly controlling this exchange.”
Hearing this from Mr. Liang, Fang Wen immediately became alert.
Could the Japanese be trying to deal with Taishan Airlines through business tactics?
Thinking about it, it was possible. After wasting three months on Liu Shijie with no result, how could the Japanese be content? Using this method to ruin Taishan Airlines’ reputation was likely one of their new tactics.
Fang Wen sneered inwardly; he wasn’t afraid of the Japanese in air combat, nor in finance.
Did the Japanese want to use a large number of fake aircraft property certificates to smear Taishan Airlines? Just wait.
After seeing off Mr. Liang and Mr. Lin, Fang Wen discussed with Kuang Mingzhu.
“Whether it’s the Japanese behind it or not, we have to deal with the aircraft property certificate matter.”
“How?”
“Since they want to use fakes to impersonate reals for transactions and then cause trouble, we’ll go along with it and make a batch of fakes to sell to them.”
Kuang Mingzhu smiled: “Mister, you’re so naughty. Let’s go arrange it now.”
Starting the next day, the aircraft property certificate trading counter at the Shanghai Securities Exchange suddenly boomed with business.
People kept coming with aircraft property certificates to trade.
These property certificates looked very real, and the counter staff couldn’t distinguish true from fake.
One or two was fine, but suddenly ten or so aircraft property certificates for trading appeared—the quantity was too large.
The counter staff politely refused: “We’re closing for today; come back tomorrow.”
The Taishan Airlines disguised traders picked up their aircraft property certificates.
Zhao Shanhu, who had lost his kidney stones, had the loudest voice: “Yesterday you closed at five; why so early today?”
Their loud voices drew other traders to onlookers.
Seeing more people.
The counter staff hurriedly explained: “We’re just intermediaries taking commission. If you want to sell but no one buys, how can we trade?”
“That’s strange. The past two days I didn’t dare sell; I just observed at your counter. There were plenty of traders daily, buyers and sellers, and no lack of buyers ever happened.” Zhao Shanhu said loudly.
He was telling the truth; everyone had seen the buzz around aircraft property certificates these past two days, and today’s incident was indeed suspicious.
Seeing it was about right, Zhao Shanhu feigned sudden realization: “Oh, I get it. You’re putting on a show for everyone, probably planning to scam a haul and run when the time is ripe.”
“No, we’re not scamming anyone.” The counter staff hurriedly explained.
“If not scamming, then take our aircraft property certificates.” Zhao Shanhu said smugly.
One property certificate was worth several hundred silver dollars—not a small sum.
The onlookers said nothing, waiting to see the outcome.
If they didn’t buy, these guys would definitely come make trouble every day, and the counter would be labeled as scammers.
Buy them? The oddity was obvious to any sharp eye.
After a stalemate, several buyers suddenly entered from outside.
They bought the certificates from Zhao Shanhu and the others.
Ending this farce.
The exchange’s seasoned players saw through it.
“Those at the counter speak Japanese.”
“The troublemakers look familiar; aren’t they Taishan Airlines security guards?”
“So the Japanese wanted to target Taishan Airlines, but they turned the tables.”
“Then why still buy those certificates?”
“These guys are stubborn; they planted fake certificates to frame them, but wouldn’t expose themselves until the last step.”
“Got it; Taishan Airlines just went along with the Japanese plan to rip them off.”
“Yeah, those certificates are definitely fake—worth two or three thousand silver dollars. Just don’t know how the Japanese plan to deal with Taishan Airlines.”
“I get it—oh no, I have to tell Taishan Airlines people, or there’ll be big trouble later.”
With that, that trader hurriedly ran out.
Zhao Shanhu and the others returned with silver dollars, excitedly describing what happened at the exchange; everyone listened happily.
Kuang Mingzhu smilingly gave each one hundred silver dollars as performance fee.
At this time, a car sped over.
The person parked and trotted over.
“I’m looking for Fang Wen; who is Fang Wen?”
Fang Wen walked over: “That’s me.”
The man, panting: “General Manager Fang, be careful of the Japanese pulling the rug out from under you.”
“What pulling the rug out from under?” Fang Wen asked puzzled.
“The Japanese are really buying up aircraft property certificates; they want to take overall aircraft property rights and control your company.”
The man revealed the Japanese plan.
Fang Wen was surprised; the Japanese had actually come up with such a plan.
This plan seemed foolproof, able to restrict Taishan Airlines’ development by stopping the lease of aircraft to Taishan Airlines.
But the Japanese were still thinking too simply.
Never mind how hard it was to gather overall aircraft property rights with this dispersed ownership lease method.
Even if gathered and the lease stopped, it wouldn’t matter much to Taishan Airlines.
The Japanese simply didn’t know what Taishan Airlines’ most important assets were: the pilots, Fang Wen himself, and those diligent employees.
Even without all the aircraft, the assets owned by Taishan Airlines and Fang Wen could easily start anew.
It would just mean buying a few more aircraft, even accelerating Taishan Airlines’ aviation asset renewal.
He was considering whether to take this opportunity to trick the Japanese once.
Let all those aircraft property certificate owners sell to the Japanese.
Cooperate with the Japanese to put on a show, making them think he had been heavily damaged.
Then high-profilely buy a few high-performance passenger aircraft to slap the Japanese hard in the face.
As for which passenger aircraft to swap for, Fang Wen had an idea.
In this era, besides the Boeing 247, there was another comparable airplane.
If the Japanese really wanted to play some pulling the rug out from under plan, he would go along, and by the way, acquire from Europe that passenger aircraft with a range of 2000 kilometers that could carry 22 passengers, while completing the development of the Asia-Europe route.
