Chapter 109: Receiving Information
Matsui Isao and Nohara Takeo exchanged glances. Nohara Takeo said, “Mr. Chen, you also know what we mean by non-commercial supplies.”
“These supplies were originally intended for the Security Regiments in Hangcheng and Nanjing.”
“We are taking a significant risk by intervening.”
“If possible, I hope you can dispose of them as soon as possible.”
Chen Yang smiled and said, “That is not a problem. The problem is, how do you wish to cooperate?”
Nohara Takeo said, “There are two methods. First, we sell them to you at 80% of the market price for a one-time deal, but we will not be involved in their transportation or sale.”
“If any issues arise, Mr. Chen, you will be solely responsible.”
“The second method is for us to use our connections to transport the goods to Shanghai. However, this involves considerable risk, and we will require sufficient funds for bribes.”
“But the advantage is that it will be sufficiently safe. As for the price, we will need to add 30% for transportation fees.”
“Hmph, these two devils are more ruthless than I am,” Chen Yang muttered to himself. “I only charge 10% handling fee for transportation on behalf of others.”
These two are asking for 30% upfront. Is this considered market disruption?
“Your calculations are quite good,” Chen Yang said with a smile. “May I see how much of this shipment there is first?”
Nohara Takeo nodded to Matsui Isao, who quickly handed Chen Yang the pre-prepared materials list.
The so-called non-commercial supplies are military supplies such as medicine, weapons, fuel, and radios from the military.
This shipment includes sixty boxes of medicine, rifles, light machine guns, grenade launchers, and some battlefield medical first aid kits.
All these items together do not take up much transportation space; even using trucks, it would only take two or three trips.
However, the price is indeed good. For these sixty boxes of medicine alone, they are asking for 300,000 silver dollars.
The average price is 5,000 per box. If it’s sulfanilamide tablets, that’s too expensive, but if it’s injection solution, it’s too cheap.
Chen Yang has also sold sulfanilamide injection solution. This medicine varies by region. Previously, he sold German Bayer products, which were of excellent quality and price.
But if it’s Japanese-made, it’s much cheaper, around $1.5 to $2 per vial. A box only contains 120 small boxes, with 12 vials per small box. The total for the medicine is around $2,500, or about 8,000 to 9,000 silver dollars. Neither the quantity nor the quality can compare to German imports.
If it’s tablets, it’s much cheaper. The wholesale price for a Japanese-made sulfonamide anti-inflammatory tablet is about 0.7 to 1 silver dollar, and a box of medicine would be around 1,000 silver dollars at most.
Matsui Isao could see Chen Yang’s confusion and quickly explained, “The medicine is half injection solution and half tablets. The market price is about 320,000 silver dollars, and now it’s only 300,000 silver dollars.”
“The total value of the weapons is approximately 180,000, and there are some battlefield medical first aid kits at $2.5 each. There are six in total, which translates to 20,000 silver dollars.”
“Therefore, the total value of this shipment is 500,000 silver dollars.”
“If Mr. Chen transports it himself, we will only charge 400,000 silver dollars. If we transport it to Shanghai for you, it will be 650,000 silver dollars.”
Chen Yang silently calculated in his mind. The price was not far off from their quotation.
“Minister Matsui, Minister Nohara, your quotation is very reasonable. I am very interested,” Chen Yang said slowly. “I will transport the goods myself. How do you plan to receive the payment?”
Matsui Isao said gently, “Minister Suzuhara mentioned that Mr. Chen can help us convert the money into legitimate income. Is that true?”
“Of course, we always provide after-sales service,” Chen Yang said with a smile. “As long as the transaction is completed, I guarantee you will receive the money.”
Nohara Takeo and Matsui Isao raised their glasses simultaneously and said, “No problem, Mr. Chen. I wish us happy cooperation.”
“Cheers.”
…………
Shanghai, Pearl Park.
In June, the air in Zhabei was filled with a sticky, muggy heat.
The canopies of the plane trees in Pearl Park spread out a dense shade, and cicadas chirped tirelessly among the branches, their sounds almost drowning out the distant calls of peddlers.
As evening approached, the heat slightly receded, and more people came to the park to cool off.
Elderly people fanning themselves, children chasing and playing, and young couples walking hand in hand in twos and threes, talking in low voices, added a touch of brief human warmth to this corner amidst the turbulent times.
Zhao Peng was wearing a green long gown and dark gray trousers of the same material, with a pair of half-worn cloth shoes on his feet.
After entering the park, he held a rolled-up copy of The Great Gazette in his hand, but his gaze, through his lenses, calmly scanned his surroundings.
At noon, he received a message left for him by his superior, codenamed Chauffeur, instructing him to go to Pearl Park in Zhabei District at 6 PM to receive intelligence.
After receiving the message, Zhao Peng was not overjoyed but fell into thought.
He had been in the organization for some time and was initially full of confidence in the revolution. However, as he spent more time in Shanghai, the city’s temptations gradually began to affect his heart.
Coupled with the successive failures in the Battle of Shanghai, Nanjing, and Xuzhou, he felt he could no longer see hope.
Therefore, after careful consideration, he chose to betray the revolution and align himself with the Japanese.
However, he did not have many chips to betray. To show his sincerity, he first betrayed his good friend, Fang Guohua.
After gaining the trust of the Japanese, he betrayed Shānmāo.
The Japanese were very pleased with his performance. However, as his bargaining chips dwindled, Zhao Peng began to grow anxious.
The only person he could still contact was his superior, the team leader of the Shanghai Intelligence Group, codenamed Chauffeur.
His meeting with Matsui Koji a few days ago was to discuss this matter. He had vowed that if the Japanese could capture Chauffeur, they would surely uncover the Red Party Underground Transportation Station hidden in the International Settlement.
Matsui Koji had also given him substantial benefits and promised him that if he could capture Chauffeur, he would be allowed to join the Special Higher Police Affairs.
However, Chauffeur was much more cautious than a novice like Shānmāo.
Unless absolutely necessary, he rarely met with Zhao Peng. This time was no different. Chauffeur only left him a message to receive intelligence; he did not mention any meeting.
The golden rays of the setting sun slanted through the pillars of the corridor, casting long shadows on the ground.
The sounds of people in the park, the chirping of cicadas, and the distant shrieks of children mixed together.
Zhao Peng, after confirming the safety of his surroundings, decisively moved towards the dead letter box’s location, in front of a statue in a corner of the park.
He pretended to stroke the statue with his hand, but in reality, he was locating the dead letter box.
After feeling around the lower part of the sculpture, Zhao Peng quickly found a raised spot. With a press, a pre-prepared note fell into his palm.
Zhao Peng glanced left and right, confirmed no one was paying attention, palmed the note, and quickly walked under a park lamppost.
Under the lamppost’s light, Zhao Peng opened the note, and a look of surprise immediately appeared in his eyes.
“Tomorrow night at seven, assist Qing Hu and the New Army Special Commissioner in completing the medicine transaction and escort them to Jiangnan Wharf to depart Shanghai by boat.”
