Chapter 154: Buying A Gun
Return to the Police Station.
The car had just barely stopped when Wang Rusong came out to inquire with concern.
“Brother Gu, hard work. How’s it going? Any progress?”
“Of course there’s progress. Convinced businessmen to come here for investment and open factories. The preliminary agreement is settled, just waiting for people to arrive.”
“Great.” Wang Rusong clapped his palms, quite emotional. “Brother Gu, you have wide connections. You went out just half a day and pulled in investment for us. Meritorious official, great meritorious official. Quick quick, come inside, take a rest.
Specifically what factories, how much taxation can we hope for?”
“Cotton Mill, Flour Mill, Repair Shop.”
“So many?!”
“Don’t know about taxation, but I estimate there shouldn’t be any problem.”
“Definitely enough!”
In these times, daring to invest in Shanghai, and Shanghai that just went through forced requisition, how could it be negotiated without super strong connections? Those businessmen who can take out tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of silver dollars, which one is a fool? Wang Rusong had to serve the meritorious official well.
As long as these factories can produce, no matter if the factories make money or not, that position is definitely secured.
“Brother Gu, want me to give you a shoulder massage or something? Tired? If you dislike my technique, I’ll get the best master in all of Shanghai for you, guaranteed to make you so comfortable your bones fall apart, ecstasy.”
Gu Yansheng gave him a sideways glance and smiled. “Is that necessary? I just moved my mouth.”
“It is necessary, very necessary. I inquired with a few people nearby, they’re all worried to death.”
“Then call two over for a massage.” Corrupt elements have to spend some money, but it seems he doesn’t even need to pay. Pretty hard to spend money.
“Alright, good ones, masters from Yangzhou.” Wang Rusong immediately instructed the secretary he’d already brought over, telling him to go receive people directly, drive faster.
Gu Yansheng and he arrived at the office. He asked, “How’s the grain matter?”
“Called on the telephone, gave 600 tons, all transported before tomorrow.”
“Only 600 tons? West Shanghai has hundreds of thousands of people, enough for a few days? Director Wang, I’m busting my ass outside pulling favors, have you put in any effort?”
“Brother, this 600 tons, I begged grandpas and grandmas to get it. Not easy to pluck a hair from the Japanese.”
Wang Rusong sat on the sofa complaining, “I called the Greater East Asia Ministry, they said he could help us contact Japanese enterprises, help us press the price, but those Japanese enterprises need to survive too, can’t give it to us for free.
You say now all of Shanghai is short on rice, the price those Japanese enterprises are opening, I don’t even want to say it, but the Greater East Asia Ministry did help us. At 20 silver dollars per 60 kilograms of rice, credit to us 600 tons of rice, money after we sell it.”
Gu Yansheng frowned as he listened. “Too little, how long can 600 tons of rice last? What if no rice causes chaos?”
“They told us to figure it out ourselves, 600 tons of rice is buffer time for us.” Wang Rusong pointed outside. “I asked other places about this, all went to ask, all about the same. Like Secretary-General Ling’s Nanshi, smaller place, even less grain, only 400 tons.
Ours was originally 500 tons, I pleaded hard to get an extra 100 tons. That’s because I’ve dealt a lot with Japanese enterprises before, have some connections, that’s why they gave it to me.”
“How many people in West Shanghai?”
“I asked Ma Quan, said around 800,000.”
“800,000?” Gu Yansheng calculated mentally, 600,000 kilograms, 800,000 people. “Can’t even divide one kilogram per person? Finished in two or three days?”
“Yeah, just three days. I’m worrying now how to sell this rice?” Wang Rusong slapped the sofa armrest. “At current market trends, as soon as rice comes out, it’ll be robbed. With so little rice, if someone buys a bit more, people behind will starve to death.
So I came up with an idea. Simply sell by household, three kilograms per household, that’s 200,000 households. Let household heads buy, purchase with registration info from Good Citizen Certificate. This is already the fairest way we can take care of everyone.”
“Method is fine, but after three days?”
“So I’m worried too.” Wang Rusong sighed. “Even the cleverest housewife can’t cook without rice. Now I know how that phrase is written. Let those people buy Japanese high-priced rice, honestly, I estimate their money won’t last a few days either.”
Gu Yansheng pondered this. Originally thought the Greater East Asia Ministry would urge Japanese businessmen to open granaries and release grain. After all, getting through the crisis now is quite important. But now it seems this Navy Vice Admiral can’t handle those Japanese enterprises either. Too hard to force them to spit out meat already in their mouths.
“I’ll go out.” Gu Yansheng stood up.
“Where to?”
“Find rice. If not find rice now, what after rice is eaten up?”
“Too hard work. Not getting massage? At least finish massage before leaving.”
Makes sense. Gu Yansheng waited. Massage masters came, left after massage.
Afterwards, Gu Yansheng went to the Concession to find Chen Mo.
“There’s something that might need your help.”
“What matter?”
Gu Yansheng explained the rice matter.
“You usually do assassination, right? Common people cheer, but get no real benefit.
I think this is a very good opportunity. Now Japanese won’t sell rice at fair price to common people, so you help them. Don’t want to sell, then don’t. Simply burn it down.”
“Burn granary?” Chen Mo raised an eyebrow, thought and said: “Difficulty not big. Enterprise granaries basically guarded by some ronin, killing them easy as pie. But burning granary, common people still don’t eat it, why would others thank us?”
Gu Yansheng smiled. “Can’t you learn from the previous Shanghai District Chief, announce to the world.
Find ten or eight newspaper companies, intimidate them in the Iron Blood Assassination Group’s tone. If not sell grain, burn one granary a day! Anyone daring to sell high-priced grain for Japanese regardless of nationality, watch their dog lives!
Then common people see it, won’t they cheer for you? Anyway can’t afford high price, killing vents anger.
But as long as Japanese soften, common people can buy fair price grain?”
Chen Mo smiled. “Alright, understood. I’ll handle this right away.”
Gu Yansheng gave him the names of traitors circled last time, told him to help kill when free. Gun purchase account still needs settling.
Next day, Gu Yansheng met Shen Linshen in the hotel.
Shen Linshen said: “Last night I sent people to contact Sha Shun about buying guns. People sent deliberately said must include delivery. Sha Shun said no problem. Hearing our huge quantity, didn’t mention 20% price increase, agreed very readily.
Just when our people proposed cheap and durable guns, his first choice also Type 38 Arisaka rifle. Just not so many Type 38 Arisaka rifles in stock. New and old together total just three thousand seven or eight hundred.
Other choices plenty. German Mauser 98 rifles, National Government procured 8000 back then, resold from quartermaster, 600 silver dollars each.
Austrian carbine guns, imported by Fengtian Army back then, usable, just a bit old.
Hanyang-made 88-style rifles.
Taiwan Governor-General’s Office-made Thirty Year-style rifles.
Double-barrel shotguns.
“How come all antiques popping up.” Gu Yansheng puzzled. “Zhang Xiaolin said Sha Shun’s weapons business is top tier, no new guns?”
“There are. American Thompson submachine guns, just few and expensive, only 50. British Enfield rifles, brand new, directly ordered from British military factories. He said if not urgent, he can ship from domestic.
Reason he said, rifles wanted by few so low stock. Didn’t expect us to want so many.
People sent back told me, when telling Sha Shun we want large quantity, Sha Shun quite shocked. Said if pistols he can provide plenty, rifles short on quantity. Unless we don’t picky or can wait. These quantities, we’d empty his rifle warehouse.”
Gu Yansheng smiled listening. “So many rifles, indeed sudden. Not expert on guns, you decide what types to buy. What else did he say?”
Shen Linshen said: “Others are payment methods. First time doing business with us, give face, only 30% deposit. Otherwise by trade rules 50%.
This deposit given, if goods checked by Japanese on road, deposit not refunded, no chase remaining payment.
Rest paid in batches. We can send one person, follow them along the way. They’ll bring radio. In Anhui territory, our person needs send one telegram back to Shanghai. Shanghai people give Sha Shun 30% money. Then to Jing County in Southern Anhui, delivery, pay remaining 40%, money and goods clear.
Additionally, every 100,000 silver dollars in trading, he sends one Czech light machine gun.
Bullets 50 per gun, 1000 guns send 50,000 rounds. Other bullets extra.”
“Alright, Sha Shun still cautious.” Gu Yansheng nodded. “For us, just lose money once. No other risks. Feasible, do as he says.”
For them, getting goods most important.
200,000 US dollars, if Sha Shun dares embezzle, don’t blame them merciless.
Shen Linshen nodded too. “Sha Shun lets us send people follow them, means confident in his transport channels.
I thought, for rifles no such large quantity, buy fewer first. Otherwise other rifles too expensive, no need.
Better pistols first to one per person, plenty bullets, more practical.”
If really achieve this, already dream-come-true good thing New Fourth Army fighters dare not think. One gun per person, dream to have.
“Fine, you decide. I just spend money. See if 200,000 US dollars enough.” Gu Yansheng brought the money.
Black Market trading still cash.
“Might indeed a bit short. Sha Shun’s prices, Type 38 Arisaka rifle retail 300 each, still second-hand. Bulk new and old mixed at least 150 each. Now not decided what guns exactly, but rifles I estimate not exceed 5000. Just this price maybe 200,000 US dollars.
Rest match some submachine guns, remainder all pistols. Pistols don’t need all new, second-hand much cheaper, usable fine.
Add some bullets, this way I estimate maybe need 300,000 US dollars.
Additionally Sha Shun said, rifles he can figure out. As long as we want, he’ll get. Can specify model, any model fine, even Japanese. From his tone, he can handle Japanese Army quartermasters.”
“Jewish businessman indeed good hand at business. Finish this deal first. If goods delivered, set dozens or hundreds of submachine guns no problem.”
Not can’t afford money, can’t put all eggs in one basket. Though Sha Shun confident delivering, Gu Yansheng still wait see performance after one batch delivered.
Can solve urgent need, rest easy to talk.
“Money no problem, I’ll handle. 300,000 fine, you take 200,000 first. Anyway batch trading, later I’ll bring more when free. Buy boldly, don’t settle.”
Wealthy and bold. Shen Linshen didn’t know where organization found such fairy partner. Too straightforward. Haven’t been this straightforward since lurking in Shanghai.
Before he was team leader, responsible for whole team, solve all problems. Now someone shoulders many, not so stifled, much more comfortable.
Only repay with work.
“Then I’ll contact him right away to buy guns, have him deliver ASAP.”
