Chapter 82: Procurement
But this 8 million US dollar shortfall, even if all these merchants’ annual profits were poured into it, who knows if it would be enough!
Although the actual loss definitely isn’t that much, this 8 million is just the amount of reduced earnings after not calculating hidden costs, but reduced earnings are still a loss, and with 8 million in profits being drained, who knows how many people will withdraw from the medicine black market, leading to market contraction, making it even more impossible to complete the mission.
A banquet with no good intentions, wanting to earn a favor from Mitsui, Director Ding’s instinct told him it was impossible.
“Then I’m afraid the difficulty is very high.”
Sato Kenji saw Director Ding’s expression and knew he had no way, so he looked toward Gu Yansheng.
He smiled and asked, “Director Gu, with your ability, you wouldn’t have no way, right?”
Gu Yansheng frowned in deep thought, concentrated and pondered carefully, racked his brains, then slowly shook his head: “I’m afraid I have to disappoint President Sato, I really haven’t thought of a way for now.”
Ten tons of quinine, open your mouth and expect me to find it for you, why?
Sato Kenji sighed regretfully: “Both of you have this attitude, it seems this matter really is very difficult, of course I know it’s difficult, otherwise I wouldn’t come to you two. How about this.”
Sato Kenji paused, then looked at the two with eyes full of expectation: “Five tons, you two work together to get me five tons of goods, how about it?”
“Five tons? Tsk.” Director Ding was somewhat amused and helpless, “President Sato, you think too highly of Shanghai’s black market merchants, with their level, I think being able to bring in five hundred kilograms a year is already a lot, and the price of quinine isn’t something ordinary people can afford.”
“So, that’s why I came to you two, to have you two control the black market and make those merchants bring in the goods I want.”
Sato Kenji said calmly: “You two shouldn’t think this is my private matter.
In fact, General Headquarters has already taken the lead to issue the Central China Medicine Control Order through the Medicine Control Order, requiring control of all medicine business in the occupied areas, it’s just that this document hasn’t been publicly issued yet.
If you two help me accomplish this, whether it’s me personally or General Headquarters, there will surely be generous rewards.”
Benefits that can’t be obtained don’t interest Director Ding, he shook his head slightly to express regret: “It’s not that we don’t want to help, it’s really too difficult to do, Director Gu, what do you think?”
Gu Yansheng also shook his head: “The difficulty is too high.”
“Is it really that hard?”
Sato Kenji’s face showed displeasure: “Although Shanghai doesn’t have that much quinine now, one of you controls the Judicial Department, one controls Agent Headquarters, can’t Shanghai’s underground market achieve control?
Saying it’s impossible without even trying, are you two unable to do it, or unwilling to help?
Last time, each of you at least gets one ton of quinine, otherwise I can only think that you two are not sincere in serving the Empire of Japan!”
The sudden change of face made Director Ding’s expression darken too, who could have predicted before coming that this meal would be so hard to swallow.
Holding back his anger, he protested, “President Sato, it’s not that we don’t want to help, but this request is really too demanding, we can control Shanghai’s underground merchants, but they can’t keep doing loss-making business, right?
Killing is just a nod of the head, keep forcing money out, then they can also choose not to do it, switch to another line of work, that should be fine, right?
How do we manage that?
Caught red-handed and confiscate the warehouse on the spot, no problem, but once that’s over and people quit, do we still arrest them? It’s not justified and doesn’t make sense.
Forcing people to smuggle, won’t they just run away? We can’t possibly go smuggling with them, right? Once out of Shanghai and abroad, who knows who would be forcing whom.
Isn’t that the reason?
In these times, who does cross-border smuggling? None are pushovers.”
Sato Kenji said with a taut face: “If it were easy, wouldn’t I do it myself? I came to you two precisely to help me solve the problem? I hope you two realize, this is an order from the Military Department, if you can’t do it, you still have to find a way to do it!”
Smack.
The small wine glass pinched in Gu Yansheng’s hand was placed on the table, the sound wasn’t loud, but clearly exceeded its usual steady placement volume.
Gu Yansheng didn’t hide his dissatisfaction, pulled a long face and met Sato Kenji’s gaze: “President Sato, Director Ding and I are City Government officials, not your family’s servants.
If you want to command, please issue it through the City Government’s formal documents, you can go to Gendarmerie Headquarters, the Shanghai consulate, or even have the Military Department send a document directly to my desk.
Coming to us privately without going through official documents, just threats, there must be more than just official business here, right?”
Right, Director Ding was suddenly enlightened, today is for eating, not working, it was an accident to begin with, almost got led into the ditch.
Sato Kenji looked at Gu Yansheng’s expression, watched for a while, then smiled: “Director Gu is indeed quick-witted, you’re right, not going through official documents directly does involve a bit of my private matter.
Originally, I planned to tell you after you achieved results, but since you asked, I can tell you now.
After you collect the quinine, all supplies must enter the Judicial Department or City Government warehouse under the name of sealing up and confiscating foreign merchants’ medicine.
Next, you will hold an auction for the seized supplies, and this batch of supplies will be bought by a company I find to set up, then this company will enter the Military Department’s medical procurement list.
As for the reason for doing this.
Black market medicine, no one can confirm its efficacy and authenticity, and to prevent anti-Japanese armed forces from poisoning the medicine or doing other sabotage, the Military Department has explicitly ordered that all army supplies must not be procured from the black market or individuals.
So I can only operate this way, only then can the quinine provided by the City Government enter the army, understand?
Of course, I admit I’ll make some money along the way, but that’s my business with the Military Department, it has little to do with you.”
This makes sense, the motives were sneaky, turns out it’s to extract military expenses from the Japanese Army.
Just say it out loud, what’s there to be ashamed of.
Gu Yansheng thought for a moment and said: “Since it’s a private matter, then excuse me for not being able to help President Sato with this, official duties are busy, really no time for other things.”
Sato Kenji immediately said, “Mr. Gu, don’t rush to refuse, you’re an official in the new government, not just for that monthly salary of a few dozen bucks, right?
First, I’ll give you corresponding commission on the profits from this batch of medicine, two tons of quinine a year, even one percent return is no small number, enough for you two to live in luxury in Shanghai.
Second, this is what the Military Department needs, as long as you complete this, you’ll gain the Military Department’s recognition, which will undoubtedly greatly help your future careers, giving you an edge at any time.
Third, Mitsui Company will also become your strong backing for future work and life, no pay no gain, dare to fight to win, right?”
Finally, real gold and silver were shown, earlier he actually wanted to get it for free.
“Can you reveal at what price you plan to sell to the procurement department?” Gu Yansheng was really curious about Japan’s procurement kickbacks.
“This shouldn’t be a secret, right? As long as we’re involved, the auction will definitely have a price.”
“I can tell you, at the current quinine price of one gram quinine to one gram gold, I need you to control the merchants to make this price one gram quinine to three grams gold.
Then sell it to the Military Department at flat price under the name of scarce supplies, the Military Department’s procurement funds nominally returned to foreign merchants, everything logical, no disputes, no one will investigate.”
Buy at 20% of price, sell at 300% of price, 1500% profit, Mitsui really doesn’t hold back when extracting military expenses.
Gu Yansheng nodded: “Then if we help President Sato complete this, what should our reward be?”
“Director Gu is very straightforward.”
Sato Kenji smiled and said: “How about this, you two start with a target of two tons, below two tons one percent, two to five tons two percent, above five tons three percent, the more you get the more I give, this price is fair enough, right?”
“Auction price?”
“Of course auction price.”
Two tons quinine, auction price calculated as six tons gold, that’s 6 million US dollars, two percent is 120,000, six thousand each.
“Director Ding, what do you think?” Gu Yansheng asked.
Director Ding was of course tempted, one ton each gets six thousand US dollars, especially since his family assets were mostly confiscated by Old Jiang, and couldn’t bring much when fleeing.
“One ton, I think we can try.”
“Then try?” Gu Yansheng was now interested in this matter too.
“Try.” Director Ding also smiled.
“Right, trying does no harm, hahahaha.” Sato Kenji was in a great mood, raised his wine glass, “Then I’ll leave it to Director Gu and Director Ding.”
Gu Yansheng also raised his wine glass: “We’ll do our best, but if it fails, President Sato please don’t blame us.”
“Of course not, man proposes god disposes, plan with man success with heaven.”
“That’s the reason, the principal may need President Sato to provide first, so we can talk to the merchants.”
“Fine, 400,000 US dollars for two tons of goods, if money runs out ask me for more.”
