Chapter 286: 285 Securing Chess Pieces, Yoshida’s Activity Funds, Fang Family Estate Farce And Collective Relocation
Activating Yoshida this chess piece gained the first piece of useful military intelligence, which is a good start.
Fang Wen, knowing that a full-scale war would break out this year, understood the importance of this chess piece embedded in the Japanese Army internal.
To have Yoshida continue providing useful intelligence in the future, it wasn’t just about threats, but also temptation with benefits.
It was time to pay him the next sum of activity funds, so that he would have more funds to socialize and build good connections.
Therefore, he needed to think of a way that wouldn’t arouse suspicion and could increase his income.
Subsequently, through secret telegram contact with Yoshida, Fang Wen came up with a good method.
The inspiration for this method came from Yoshida’s hometown Kochi Prefecture.
Kochi Prefecture is located on Shikoku Island in southwestern Japan, anciently called Tosa, a poor and backward place.
It produces fish catches, yuzu, wood, all primary agricultural products with low value.
The Yoshida family is a local landlord, with a large area of farmland and mountain land, but not considered wealthy.
But after all, it’s a large area of land, so if at this time, someone goes there to buy land at a high price, it’s not a big deal.
This plan was soon put into action.
At Taishan Airlines Headquarters in Wuhan, Fang Wen met with Wu Yingzong, who was specially called back.
“I called you here this time because you know Japanese the best. I want you to disguise yourself and go to Japan to carry out a mission. To ensure secrecy of movements, only you alone. Are you willing?”
“Willing. General Manager, what is it I need to do?” Wu Yingzong’s hatred for the Japanese stemmed from relatives who died on the Bohai Sea, so he was very willing to do anything against the Japanese.
Fang Wen nodded and explained the situation.
“Do you remember Yoshida? He’s the chess piece I arranged in the Japanese Military Department, but just making him work without any sweet benefits probably won’t last long. I want you to go there and deliver some activity funds to him. Of course, not secretly; suddenly having a large sum of money would arouse suspicion. You need to use economic means to give it to him through other ways. His family has a lot of land in Kochi Prefecture on Shikoku Island. What you need to do is disguise as an investor businessman, go there, and buy land at a high price.”
Hearing Fang Wen’s words, Wu Yingzong was a bit troubled: “I’m afraid I can’t do this alone.”
“No problem, I called all five of your masters. They have connections and experience.”
Fang Wen smiled, got up to open the door, and brought in the Five Senior Brothers of Toumen from outside.
“Your five masters have all agreed, they will help you get this done.”
The five masters’ disciple was already tied to Fang Wen, and they themselves relied on the treasure theft fund set up by Fang Wen for retirement each year. Plus, these past few years had been too idle, almost driving them stir-crazy, so when Fang Wen called them this time, they immediately flew over by airplane.
Now it was settled, master and disciple together, starting to plan how to do this well.
“General Manager, rest assured on this matter, we’ve already figured out how to do it.”
“Shanghai has many Japanese trading companies, large and small. The large ones have deep connections back home, but the small ones are mostly here speculating and trying their luck.”
“We usually wander around Shanghai every day and have learned some situations. It’s not hard to scheme for a Japanese trading company from inside, then go to Japan under that company’s name, and the identity problem is solved.”
“As for if someone investigates later, they will only find that the boss of that trading company drowned accidentally in the Huangpu River.”
“This way, Wu Yingzong operating under that trading company’s name, from start to finish, won’t have to worry about exposure.”
“The only issue is his Japanese language; if he doesn’t slip up there, there won’t be any problem.”
These guys used the low-class trick of replacing the cage and bird, scheming for a company and changing the owner; even officials couldn’t investigate it.
But this time using it on a Japanese trading company, which is the enemy anyway, there’s nothing to say.
Wu Yingzong was delighted: “Five masters, I’ve been studying Japanese these past two years precisely to deal with the Japanese devils in the future; communication won’t be an issue.”
This settled it, so Fang Wen gave the first sum of activity funds, ten thousand US dollars, including the expenses for Wu Yingzong to go to Japan, all handed to him.
Under his masters’ planning, Wu Yingzong transformed into the manager of Fujimoto Trading Company.
Impersonating him, disguised as Fujimoto’s appearance, he boarded the ship from Shanghai to Osaka.
Then, he transferred to a ship to Kochi Prefecture on Shikoku Island, where the Yoshida family warmly received him.
Welcomed to the family residence, Wu Yingzong, under Fujimoto’s name, negotiated with Yoshida’s father.
“I’m very interested in your family’s land.”
“I heard Yoshida say you want to buy land to plant yuzu trees; that’s a long-term investment, needing 3-5 years to bear fruit. This investment probably isn’t cost-effective.” Yoshida’s father replied caringly.
Yoshida’s father was single-minded about political development, completely uninterested in family business, not even knowing business negotiation skills, no wonder the family he managed was getting worse.
He even proactively advised Wu Yingzong because he was a friend introduced by his son.
Wu Yingzong was surprised in his heart; it seemed this deal had some difficulty.
“I’ve already done research on the investment; even a five-year cycle is fine. More importantly, this investment is a kind of commercial sponsorship to you and your son. After all, you’ve now entered the House of Peers, though it’s an idle position, but there may be opportunities in the future. And your son has great prospects in the military.”
With words said to this point, Yoshida’s father finally understood; he never thought he’d receive political donations one day.
He did need money; consumption in Tokyo was very high.
As for his son in the navy, he probably needed a lot of money for socializing too.
For this, Yoshida’s father finally cooperated in talking business on land sales with Fujimoto.
In the end, Fujimoto bought a large area of land for ten thousand US dollars, and at the same time handed over the future yuzu tree planting to the Yoshida family.
This ten thousand US dollars was far higher than the land’s own value, but since it involved later planting and management, no one could find fault.
Thus, Yoshida’s first spy income was in hand.
With Yoshida’s matter finished, Wu Yingzong, disguised as Fujimoto, took a ship back to Shanghai.
And during this time, a private jet landed at Shanghai Airport.
Fang Shouxin, temporarily in charge of this matter, got off the airplane and connected with the group of Axe Gang people waiting outside the airport.
Subsequently, this group would take the airplane to Yangon.
Because there were more than thirty people going to Yangon, it couldn’t be done in one trip; the private jet made three round trips to complete it.
After finishing this, Fang Shouxin left Shanghai for Jiaxing.
He returned to Jiaxing, where he had lived and worked for 20 years; after several years away, Jiaxing hadn’t changed, but his own life had greatly changed, and he couldn’t help but feel emotional.
If not for following the Young Master out, he might have stayed in the rice business his whole life, ending up as an employee amid the two brothers’ struggle.
His son Fang Shun probably couldn’t even marry a wife now, let alone make a name for himself.
With mixed feelings, Fang Shouxin walked on the streets of Jiaxing.
He came to the street by the canal, where the rice businesses along the street were very lively.
Now was the season for spring rice planting; households with grain seeds had started sowing, while poor farmers who couldn’t even keep grain after a year would borrow some money and grain from familiar rice businesses to cope with spring plowing.
This kind of grain borrowing was what rice businesses liked most, meaning they would get more grain at low prices during harvest season.
Therefore, the employees and shopkeepers of each rice business enthusiastically received the farmers.
Fang Shouxin watched; with his greatly changed status and position now, his mindset was no longer like back then.
Instead, he felt sad for those borrowing grain farmers; year after year of borrowing and repaying, days getting worse, ultimately ending in a hand-to-mouth destitute life.
If the Young Master took over the rice business, probably all of Jiaxing’s rice businesses would be overturned by him, and perhaps farmers wouldn’t have to live such bitter days.
Thinking of this, Fang Shouxin couldn’t help but smile; the Young Master had great ambitions, doing big things, how could he be limited to a small place like Jiaxing.
He stopped in front of Fang Family Rice Business.
An employee in the rice business saw someone outside and immediately came out to receive.
“This guest, here to buy rice? The shop has last autumn’s rice, top quality.”
“Not buying rice, looking for someone.” Fang Shouxin replied.
Hearing this somewhat familiar voice, the employee froze, incredulously sizing up Fang Shouxin.
His current long gown and elegant attire was completely different from the impression, but the appearance was vaguely familiar.
“Shopkeeper Fang, is that you?” he couldn’t help asking.
“It’s me, bootlicker, go tell everyone that Fang Shouxin is back to see them.”
Hearing his own nickname, the employee immediately understood.
He turned and shouted loudly: “Old Fang is back. Everyone come out quick.”
A large group of employees from Fang Ji Rice Business surged out, surrounding Fang Shouxin with chatter.
Although everyone had heard about Fang Shouxin’s experiences outside, seeing the man himself was different.
Amid their questions, Fang Shouxin answered one by one, as if back to a few years ago working together in the rice business.
With the talk, his experiences outside became clearer.
Not only had he become the shopkeeper of a national large company, even his son had made something of himself.
The employees gradually fell silent, an invisible gulf appearing between them and Fang Shouxin.
Until the rice business’s new shopkeeper came out.
“Old Fang, what are you back for this time?”
“The Young Master sent me back, something to do. Is the Master home?”
“He should be back at this time, come on, I’ll take you.”
Fang Shouxin talked with the new shopkeeper, then went together to Fang Residence.
He entered Fang Residence, greeted all the old acquaintances in the residence one by one, then met Old Master Fang in the inner hall.
After several years without seeing, Old Master Fang and Fang Shouxin still had tacit understanding.
“Fang Wen sent you?”
“Yes, he asked me to come persuade you.”
“To the study room.”
Old Master Fang got up and entered the study room with Fang Shouxin.
In the study room, Old Master Fang dropped his usual family authority and showed a smile.
“Shouxin, I’m happy you’re doing well outside. You know, back then when I handed over power, I had no say in the family, the two sons fought bloody over the family property, really putting you in a tough spot. Fortunately Fang Wen took you out, and I’m relieved.”
“Thank you Master for the opportunity, Shunzi and I keep it in mind.” Fang Shouxin responded appropriately.
“After all, you’ve seen the wide world, Shouxin, you now have the same demeanor as those compradors in Shanghai.” Old Master Fang sighed.
“Mainly because the Young Master’s undertaking is big, much to learn.”
After pleasantries, Old Master Fang got to the point.
“Fang Wen wrote me a letter, he’s worried the Japanese will attack Shanghai again, wants our whole family to relocate. I’ve been thinking, if we leave, without close friends, what’s the point. Besides, Fang Wen is just speculating; it’s been years, I think the Japanese won’t start war again.”
Old Master Fang’s words represented the views of many in China today.
Everyone thought Japan, a small island nation, occupying the Three Eastern Provinces was already like a snake swallowing an elephant; how could they possibly launch further war.
This was also why Old Master Fang said it in front of Fang Shouxin; the two were peers with twenty years of friendship.
If Fang Wen were here, Old Master Fang wouldn’t say a word.
Fang Shouxin, who came with the mission, recalled what Fang Wen had chatted with him, then expressed that meaning in his own words to persuade Old Master Fang.
“Master, they say drawing lessons from history; China’s thousands of years of history, rises and falls all have patterns. Inevitably a period of decline, then chaos, then foreign enemies invade. It’s all a process. To outsiders, China is a big piece of fat meat; who would give up after just eating the edges.”
Fang Shouxin’s words woke Old Master Fang.
“You mean, the little people of Fusang also want to take over the Central Plains?”
“Isn’t that so. The Great Wall has fallen, Beiping Tianjin the whole North China, little devils can enter and exit anytime; besides the Yellow River, what natural defenses do we have left?”
“If that’s really the case, going anywhere is the same.”
“Not the same; Shanghai’s position is important, Japanese will definitely attack it, Jiaxing is close and will surely be affected by warfare. If you go abroad, the Young Master has a territory in South Asia to guarantee your safety. If you don’t want to go abroad, go to Wuhan first; it’s inland, and Taishan Airlines Headquarters location; if the situation worsens further, you can always fly to safer places.”
The same words from Fang Shouxin’s mouth were more persuasive than from Fang Wen.
Old Master Fang hesitated, but still agreed.
After all, he no longer managed family affairs; going to the Fifth Brother’s side for retirement wasn’t bad.
But the two sons were a bit troublesome.
For this, he called the two sons, to discuss together.
The two had fought over family property for so many years, but this relocation gave them a resolution.
The Eldest Young Master shouted: “I’m not leaving, the rice business needs me to manage; you go.”
The Second Young Master glared angrily: “Dad didn’t say hand the rice business to you, just let you manage temporarily; I have a share too. Either you and Dad go to Wuhan, and I manage the rice business.”
The two started arguing again over this.
Old Master Fang slammed the table, “Bastards, compared to Old Five, you’re far inferior. Fighting over this bit of family property; look at your younger brother, didn’t ask for a penny, forged his own career outside.”
The two brothers this time also laid cards on the table, disregarding father’s authority, retorting.
Eldest Young Master: “They say eldest before youngest, ancient emperors passed to eldest not youngest; this rice business is rightfully mine, no one take it away.”
Second Young Master: “Big Brother and I don’t have Old Five’s abilities, just aiming for this rice business; if not fighting for it, do you expect us to go outside and squander?”
Fang Shouxin standing by saw the seriousness; the root was in dividing that bit of family property and money.
Old Master Fang couldn’t decide; Eldest Young Master wanted the lion’s share, but Second Young Master’s side was strong, emboldening him to fight.
This matter was just about interests.
He recalled Fang Wen’s words: different visions see different skies.
For this situation, he had already brought the solution.
Then, he took out a cash check signed by Fang Wen from the handbag he brought.
“This is the check Third Young Master asked me to bring, redeemable for cash at Shanghai Commercial Savings Bank; he said he bought the rice business, fill in whatever amount you want.”
Instantly, the two brothers stopped arguing.
They asked what the paper was for; upon knowing they could fill in a number and go to Shanghai Commercial Savings Bank to get the corresponding cash, the two looked at the check with greed in their eyes.
Old Master Fang sighed, took the check.
“I’ll decide this; sold to Old Five. The money, Eldest and Second each half; whoever makes trouble gets nothing from me.”
Seeing Old Master Fang firm, the two brothers no longer argued, instead fawningly advising father.
“Dad, write more; Old Five doesn’t lack this money, you have to let us two have some wealth too.”
“Exactly, away from home, no money in hand, how will we live later.”
Under the two sons’ barrage, Old Master Fang was annoyed, filled in a price he thought very high.
Fang Shouxin glanced; even this was much less than the Young Master’s expected.
Subsequently, Fang Family Rice Business was sold at high price to Fang Wen, and the whole family happily started collective relocation.
