Chapter 101: Change
“I’ve only been away for a few days, and Shanghai’s economy has such a big problem. Vice Mayor Su, you have to take responsibility!”
Fu Xiao’an spoke loudly while walking, immediately pinning the blame on Su Xiwen’s head.
With such a vigorous voice, he didn’t look like a patient forced out by the helpless situation at all; he was even more energetic than everyone else present.
Su Xiwen was scolded without a single word of rebuttal. He didn’t know the background that Fu Xiao’an and Sheng Wenyi had known each other early on. Just from the situation, it was indeed his problem; the economy had worsened, which was a fact.
Fu Xiao’an sat in his main seat, coldly scanning everyone, then tapped the table while raising his head: “You can’t even handle the military scrip matter properly. The establishment of the Economic Department is like a joke, with no effect at all. Foreign merchants and domestic businessmen have no confidence in Shanghai’s economy, which reflects on the stock market, where stockholders are crying their hearts out.
As for Shanghai’s environment, there’s no need to mention it. On my way from the hospital, I saw at least three waves of people looting and robbing. I circled in front of the Japanese Consulate, full of reporters blocking the consulate’s gate; even the Japanese don’t dare to go out.
Protests here, demonstrations there—is this the scene after the new government was rebuilt? Those who don’t know would think it’s still the Reform Government era!”
The previous government under Su Xiwen’s administration was once again dragged out and whipped.
“Vice Mayor Su, you are the Director. Now, what stage has the promotion of military scrip reached?”
Called out by name, Su Xiwen slightly lowered his head and said in a low voice: “Currently, the promotion of military scrip has had some success. Over a hundred enterprises have agreed to use military scrip. Once military scrip is officially issued, these enterprises and their linked enterprises, plus salary payments to subordinate employees, will surely drive a batch of people to start using military scrip.”
“Surely? Start? Is this the answer sheet you’ve handed in after being Economic Department Director for so many days?” Fu Xiao’an didn’t give Su Xiwen any face at all, scolding mercilessly.
“The Gendarmerie Headquarters demands one month, all enterprises using it within one month. At your pace, at this speed, can the mission be completed?”
Fu Xiao’an scanned everyone and said: “From today, strategy changes. Finance Bureau.”
“Yes.”
“Contact the Gendarmerie Headquarters, first get a batch of military scrip, prepare to release it into the market for use. Amount: 50 million first.”
“Got it.”
“Police Station.”
“Here.”
“Contact the Gendarmerie, deploy extra police to every vegetable market, every street’s grocery store, cigarette shop, every wharf’s worker assembly point, all places where ordinary residents frequently appear daily. Must arrange police to be in place, urge them: buying vegetables must use military scrip, and only military scrip!
For citizens, no need to care, but for vendors, if they dare not use military scrip, first time threaten, second time arrest directly!”
“Yes.”
“Tax Bureau.”
“Here.”
“Visit Shanghai’s enterprises one by one, from large to small, strictly audit taxes. Those who exchange for military scrip on the spot can leave immediately. Make a few examples to let others know the benefits of exchanging for military scrip.”
“Understood.”
“Finance Bureau.”
“Here.”
“Go to all the aforementioned places, set up stations one by one, exchange on the spot for people. Anyone bringing silver dollars or legal tender to exchange, exchange at market price on the spot, no difficulties, no deductions, ensure smooth advancement.”
“Yes.”
“Use your brains. Pushing military scrip like you, begging enterprises like grandparents, how long will it take?
Ordinary people need to buy vegetables, right? Buy cigarettes? Take rides? Grasp these few points, once military scrip is in their hands, are you still worried it won’t circulate?
Will he take the military scrip from buying vegetables home and throw it away as toilet paper? Won’t he still spend it?
Is it difficult?
All crying their hearts out thinking it’s hard to do. Is it hard?”
All the Directors nodded upon hearing this. Don’t say it, although Fu Xiao’an’s temper was a bit big, he really had business experience. This method sounded feasible at first listen, and it essentially liberated them all, no need for such great pressure.
“All go do your jobs. Director Gu, stay a moment.”
The Directors dispersed, leaving only Fu Xiao’an and Gu Yansheng in the meeting room.
Fu Xiao’an stared at Gu Yansheng, silent for a while before speaking: “Director Gu really has good tactics. Just because I bought a bit late from you, you nearly made me lose my family fortune.”
Gu Yansheng leaned back in his chair and sneered, “Losing family fortune is exaggerating, right? In the end, this matter was caused by you yourself. Doing business is doing business. If you don’t follow business rules, then someone will use non-business methods to take revenge on you. I’ve already reminded you: this deal isn’t just mine, there are others behind me.”
“Li Shiqun, right?” Fu Xiao’an withdrew troops from Agent Headquarters, and Li Shiqun didn’t explain, so he guessed one or two.
Gu Yansheng nodded: “I can’t control him. His money takes the biggest share. Running from Nanjing to Shanghai, risking defection and family law punishment. Mayor Fu should know how heavily such a person values money.”
Fu Xiao’an said with a taut face: “I’ll give you the money later. Give me the goods, don’t cause more trouble.”
“I never offend people first. This matter wasn’t started by me.”
“Will you or won’t you? Give me a straightforward answer.”
Since he could get the money, Gu Yansheng was very generous: “No problem, but the price has to be 120. The extra is compensation.”
“Cotton yarn isn’t even worth 60 now, and you want 120?!” Fu Xiao’an flared up in anger upon hearing this.
Gu Yansheng shook his head: “I have no choice. Li Shiqun demands this price.”
Fu Xiao’an glared, but thinking it over, he endured it. Big picture first, he exhaled deeply: “Fine! 120 it is!”
An hour later, the money was delivered to Gu Yansheng’s office.
“Saying no money, but isn’t this plenty of money?”
Gu Yansheng looked at the gold and US dollars in the suitcase; these banknotes worth 720,000 silver dollars were truly dazzling.
He called Li Shiqun: “Money received. Director Li, do you want to consider helping others wipe their ass?”
Li Shiqun laughed upon hearing: “Help his son? How to wipe this ass? I don’t even know if there’s embezzlement of bank cash. At most, stuff some money to the newspaper company to make him say good things.”
“If it’s spending money, then forget it, too wasteful. Probably our mayor will solve it himself. I’ll send the money to you soon.”
Send directly to Li Shiqun; keeping it by his side, he couldn’t afford to lose it.
Arrived at Agent Headquarters.
Ye Jiqing was already waiting eagerly.
“Director Gu, have tea.”
“No hurry for tea.”
Gu Yansheng lifted the suitcase onto the table and opened it in front of them.
This suitcase of real gold and silver instantly attracted all their gazes.
“Haha, good stuff.” Wu Sibao grabbed a yellow croaker and squeezed it hard. Finally got the return money from Gu Yansheng, not easy, quite emotional.
Although desire was in Ye Jiqing’s eyes, she could still hold back, chiding: “Sibao, what’s the rush? Director Gu, count this money, how much is ours.”
Gu Yansheng chuckled generously, very magnanimous: “What’s there to count so carefully? I didn’t even count that precisely with Fu Xiao’an. It was said to be 6,000 bales, actually maybe a few dozen more; just treat it as a gift to him.
Yours here calculate at eighty percent. Captain Wu, you distribute it, leave twenty percent for me.”
“I love this job.” Wu Sibao immediately started counting money.
“I love gold. Keep the gold for me.”
“All for you, all for you. Money is money, whatever kind.”
“Sibao, count out thirty percent for Director Gu. We can’t forget the well-digger when drinking water.” Ye Jiqing smiled at Gu Yansheng.
Gu Yansheng didn’t refuse, smiled and said: “Sister-in-law is too polite. Anyway, we’ll do business long-term. Next time there’s a good opportunity, I’ll bring you along.”
What Ye Jiqing wanted was exactly this sentence from Gu Yansheng: “Have tea, have tea.”
In a short while, Gu Yansheng’s share of gold and money was ready: thirty percent total 216,000 silver dollars, rounded up to 220,000.
“Impressive. Cotton yarn futures are below 60 now, yet sold for 120. Hahaha.” Wu Sibao laughed loudly.
“How’s the stock market trend now?” Gu Yansheng asked.
Mentioning this, Wu Sibao’s good mood vanished.
“Don’t mention it, falling so much even mom wouldn’t recognize it. I say, is this Fu Xiao’an capable or not? Can this price still rally? I’m stuck with a huge sum.”
“Then you have to ask him. I don’t know. Is the market trend very bad?”
“Terribly bad, all falling. Once the military scrip thing came out, they say foreign capital is fleeing hard. No one lifting the stock price, can only fall.”
After distributing the money and having a meal, Gu Yansheng didn’t stay long.
He still had 1,800 bales of cotton yarn unprocessed, but no rush. Cotton yarn price warming up is certain; it’s just a matter of how much it rises. But once leaked out, he’d have to distribute money to Ye Jiqing and them, so no need to sell now.
He was more concerned about what Fu Xiao’an planned to do next.
The moves Fu Xiao’an made at the city government meeting could indeed quickly advance the implementation of military scrip, but there was a big problem here.
Order.
The drugs matter was one thing.
The economy itself was another matter.
The current situation in SH urban area was in fact already thrown into chaos by Green Gang people: foreign capital protests, stock prices plummeting, citizens’ daily lives greatly affected.
Shanghai’s current order could already be said to be in jeopardy.
This was the situation Gu Yansheng hoped to see. As long as it’s chaotic enough, to a certain degree, the Japanese would naturally know whose plan was good. He wouldn’t need to do anything; the Japanese would come ask him to step in and regain control.
But Fu Xiao’an shouldn’t.
Fu Xiao’an forcibly pushing military scrip at this time would cause further market panic, leading to market sell-offs, cashing out, and fleeing.
Fu Xiao’an was the stock market maker. Him making this move would cause his own stocks to fall further.
That loss would be real gold and silver. As a businessman, this behavior wasn’t very reasonable.
Even if wanting to break and then rebuild, rally the stock price again, it would need positive news to cooperate.
Gu Yansheng didn’t see any positive news that could be released recently. As long as Green Gang people didn’t stop, SH urban area’s environment wouldn’t improve.
Gu Yansheng couldn’t quite figure out what Fu Xiao’an wanted to do, but up to now, he could still watch the play and wait patiently.
Mayor’s Office.
Fu Xiao’an squinted his eyes leaning in the chair, thought for a long time before asking: “How much loss so far?”
Secretary Wu Maiding reported: “Up to now, paper loss over 13 million.”
Last time was panic from Japanese Army forced requisition making assets zero; this time just after switching to military scrip, pessimistic expectation leading to asset depreciation, so paper loss not as much as last time.
But the mood this time was completely different.
Last time they clearly knew forced requisition was false news, wanting to reverse the market, could reverse in an instant.
But this time the loss might be real loss, because no reversal signal, or rather, whether it reverses or not, the decision-making power not in their hands, but in whether Shanghai’s chaos can stop, whether Shanghai’s economy itself has hope.
“If you don’t listen to me, then no way.”
Fu Xiao’an opened his eyes, stood up, picked up the telephone on the table and called the Gendarmerie Headquarters.
As soon as connected, he said seriously: “Officer Iwasa, Shanghai’s economy is already on the verge of collapse! The reason for all this is Sheng Wenyi’s reckless behavior. His duties must be stopped immediately, otherwise Shanghai’s economy will completely collapse in less than a month!
At that time, don’t talk about extra military expenses from drugs; even Shanghai’s own taxation, the Empire won’t get any!”
