Chapter 139: Use People Without Doubt, Doubt People Without Using? Bullshit!
“Don’t worry, have you forgotten? We also have friendship with Tada Naoyoshi. He won’t offend us just for a dog.”
He had basically figured out the relationship between Tada Naoyoshi and Ono Shiota and the others. With a clear idea in his mind, he naturally wasn’t panicking.
On top of that, he had been helping Tada Naoyoshi with smuggling all along. Compared to the small-scale dealings at the beginning, Tada Naoyoshi, who had tasted the benefits, now had gradually growing courage.
There was a poem that went something like this?
Rushing about all day just to stave off hunger, once fed, one starts to crave clothes.
Having acquired silk robes to wear on the body, one looks up and complains the house is too low.
High towers and grand mansions are built, yet a beautiful wife is lacking by the bed.
A beautiful wife and beautiful concubines are all taken, yet one worries about having no horse to ride out.
This poem vividly illustrates that human desires can never be fully satisfied.
At the same time, desires are also lured out bit by bit.
Gambling money follows the same reason: starting with small sums bit by bit, then finding it boring and gambling bigger and bigger.
Smuggling follows the same logic. At first, earning just a little money was exciting beyond measure, but as time passed, especially seeing others raking it in, while one’s own earnings were mere trifles, one’s heart naturally felt unbalanced.
Sure enough, with nothing much going on, after Cao Weida told Little Ear and had just walked not far from the police station entrance, a sedan pulled up beside him.
“Cao Sang.”
“Oh, Tada-kun, where are you headed?”
“Haha, the weather’s nice today. I want to have a good meal. That’s why I thought of you, Cao Sang. Want to invite you for a drink. Won’t it disturb you?”
“Hey, what are you saying? I wouldn’t dare. If you invite me, that’s my great honor. If there’s any disturbance, it’s me disturbing you!”
“Hahaha~~ Cao Sang, you still speak so pleasantly. Get in the car.”
“Then thank you.” Cao Weida smiled cheerfully, opened the door, and got in the car.
The two arrived at the Beiping Hotel, got a private room, and ordered dishes. Cao Weida proactively poured wine for him and apologized:
“Tada-kun, what a coincidence. Even if you didn’t come to me, I would have come to you. Today, I must sincerely self-criticize to you.”
“Oh? Cao Sang, you’re too polite. What happened?” Tada Naoyoshi remained composed.
“Hey, it’s a case of family feud, like big water flooding the Dragon King Temple. Yesterday, I caught a few bad elements suspected of resisting, and sealed a few shops. Today, after interrogating them, I found out one was Lin Yuanjiang’s subordinate. It was a little misunderstanding.”
“Oh, that’s how it is. No relationship. It’s fine once it’s cleared up.” Tada Naoyoshi still smiled cheerfully, seemingly unconcerned.
Cao Weida secretly observed for a bit, couldn’t help muttering in his heart. He didn’t know if the other was truly unconcerned or pretending not to be. This old fox, despite no backing, was definitely much more shrewd than Ono Shiota and the others.
Thinking about it, it made sense. Don’t think being a fall guy is that easy. Without the ability, one couldn’t climb so high, and certainly couldn’t remain safe and sound for so many years.
“Yes, yes, it’s fine once cleared up. But after all, it was my mistake. I must admit fault. I’ll penalize myself with three cups first.”
Gulp gulp gulp, three cups down, Cao Weida couldn’t help burping twice. The liquor of these times wasn’t as strong as in later generations, but still had some kick.
At the start of drinking, Cao Weida couldn’t very well pour it into the space, or it would be too fake.
Only after Cao Weida finished his three cups did Tada Naoyoshi pretend to be angry insincerely: “Look at you, being too distant. Do we need this between us? It’s in the past. It was also their own carelessness that made you suspicious.”
Anyway, what needed to be caught was caught, what needed to be done was done. Besides, although Lin Yuanjiang had thrown in with him, Lin Yuanjiang’s people had no relationship with him. Being extorted was just being extorted; it hadn’t damaged his interests.
His eyes rolled, and he changed the subject: “Cao Sang, I heard you’re doing business dealing in supplies?”
He emphasized the “you all” heavily, and one could tell right away his real intention wasn’t the wine.
This matter actually couldn’t be hidden from people, especially after the operation grew bigger, it was even harder to conceal.
The Ruixin General Store was right there in plain sight. Anyone could see it, and during loading and unloading, as long as someone watched, anyone with intent could get a rough idea.
There was nothing to hide about this, but it couldn’t be stated too bluntly either. Cao Weida nodded: “Indeed. Isn’t it that the brothers’ days are getting harder? So we thought of a business that could support the family.”
“That’s good, that’s good.” Tada Naoyoshi felt a bit frustrated inside. What I’m waiting for isn’t that line from you. Why don’t you say more? If you don’t, how can I smoothly follow up?
The two chatted idly, one sentence here and there, but still not getting to the point. Tada Naoyoshi finally gave up helplessly.
He realized that if he didn’t speak up today, Cao Weida could keep dodging forever.
Fine, you won’t say it? Then I’ll say it!
“Cao Sang, actually, I also have some channels to get supplies. It was just inconvenient before. Can you help transport some?”
Heh, I think it’s not that it was inconvenient before, but that you didn’t dare before.
Cao Weida rolled his eyes inwardly, showing a troubled expression on his face: “Tada-kun, it’s not that I don’t want to help, it’s just… forget it. You tell me first. If the scale is small, I’ll handle it privately for you.”
“This…” Tada Naoyoshi was clearly not satisfied with his response and furrowed his brows:
“What if I say there’s quite a lot of these supplies, more than you can handle alone?”
Cao Weida couldn’t help laughing. So, you’re planning to have me help for free forever?
All the risks borne by Ono Shiota and the others and himself, while you quietly make a fortune?
Where in the world is there such a good deal? Treating me, Cao Weida, like a sucker?
The smile on his face faded a bit, showing a shallow smile: “Tada-kun, you must know, I’m just the front shopkeeper, only responsible for showing my face. I don’t have a say in the specifics.”
“…” Tada Naoyoshi didn’t speak, staring straight at him.
Cao Weida met his gaze fearlessly. Not to mention his own confidence, with the backing of a group of Beiping Japanese officers including Ono Shiota, it was enough for him not to fear anyone in Beiping.
After a moment, Tada Naoyoshi withdrew his gaze, laughing: “I indeed didn’t misjudge you, Cao Sang. You are indeed a trustworthy partner.”
“Tada-kun overpraises me. I don’t deserve it. I just did what was within my duty.”
Heh, what nonsense about not misjudging. Before, because you had conflicts with Ono Shiota, you sowed discord between him and Ono Shiota in every word. Don’t think others don’t know.
Although Cao Weida had never truly been aligned with Ono Shiota anyway, it meant something different when said by others.
If Ono Shiota was a little fox, the one opposite was an old fox!
At odds in appearance but not in spirit with Ono Shiota—could he be truly united with this old Japanese devil?
Nonsense!
“Alright then, use people without doubt, doubt people without using—that I very much agree with this view from your China. So I’ll tell you about it. See if there’s any way…”
What nonsense about using without doubting or doubting without using. It was just greed taking over, a helpless move with no other options. Really thinking this old man is that easy to fool.
As Tada Naoyoshi explained, Cao Weida got a rough idea of the key points.
Ono Shiota belonged to Japan’s aristocratic force, medium level though it was, still representing their stance.
Both channels and relationships were much closer.
But to ensure confidentiality, exclusivity, and competitiveness, their circle wouldn’t be too large.
Whereas Tada Naoyoshi had allied with a group of officers from humble origins to form a network.
They lacked the connections of Ono Shiota and those aristocrats, but their distribution was quite widespread, nearly covering the entire occupied area.
Ono Shiota and the others could procure a batch of supplies. Although Tada Naoyoshi and his group didn’t have as much power in their area as Ono Shiota’s, they held various military and political positions and naturally had some channels and connections.
Little by little, grains of sand into a tower—they had amassed a large batch of supplies, part of which would be dispersed from Beiping, Tianjin, and other places.
Previously, out of fear of exposure, it was all small-scale, not daring big moves. Now with Cao Weida’s channel, they naturally felt itchy.
Of course, he dared to say it so frankly because Tada Naoyoshi hadn’t revealed any specific channels, just the general idea.
Cao Weida was already doing shady dealings for Ono Shiota and the others; he surely wouldn’t dare play tricks.
Otherwise, everyone would be doomed together, and Cao Weida would be the first to fall!
Besides, though these poor-origin ones individually lacked great power, united they formed a considerable force.
Cao Weida naturally wouldn’t foolishly think of reporting or such. His first reaction was how much benefit he could gain from this!
He stroked his chin and said: “Tada-kun, we’re old acquaintances. Speak plainly.”
“Wanting to transport out through my channels without Ono-kun and them finding out is absolutely impossible. Small amounts are fine, no one cares. But once it reaches a certain quantity, it’s impossible not to attract attention, unless…”
“Unless what?” Tada Naoyoshi asked eagerly.
He naturally didn’t want Ono Shiota and the others to know. Now everyone was fine, but if it caught higher-ups’ attention one day, who knew if Ono Shiota would use him as a scapegoat?
As an old fox, he naturally didn’t want to risk himself. Preserving oneself wisely was the best policy.
“Unless we set up a base outside the city.” Cao Weida’s eyes shone wisely: “As long as we choose one of Changping, Shahe, or Nankou to build bunker fortifications and a supplies distribution point—actually constructing large storage inside.
I’ll discuss the specifics with Ono-kun and them. Of course, you’ll need to mobilize relationships to cooperate, breaking up all supplies and running them from multiple points simultaneously. This not only avoids risk more efficiently but also disperses your supplies into various storage sites without being obvious.”
He added inwardly: This way, the Communist Party could receive the supplies more conveniently and efficiently, and more safely too.
