Chapter 120: Scale Up And Strengthen, Recreate The Glory
Chen Yang was slightly stunned. Lin Xueli did not know about him serving as deputy director of the Nanjing Special Affairs Committee, but a transportation section chief could easily bring out a prisoner held in the Special Affairs Office prison.
This matter clearly exceeded his authority.
What kind of place is that? It’s the special affairs department, not the transportation department. What authority do you, a transportation section chief, have to do that?
Even when Chen Yang came to visit Lin Xueli, he used his good relationship with the Japanese to cover it up.
But Lin Xueli was not like Lin Xueyi, that single-minded reckless man; he was not so easy to fool.
Plus, Chen Yang killed the Action Team captain Liu Chang in the office; this was not something an ordinary person could do.
Chen Yang did not answer directly but smiled faintly and said, “Elder Brother, what do you think?”
Lin Xueli glanced at Chen Yang and said slowly, “You are a man with deep waters; I can’t see through you.”
“Same to you.” Chen Yang smiled slightly: “Elder Brother, you’re the same.”
Lin Xueli’s expression remained calm, but his palms involuntarily sweated. He stood up and said, “I’m too lazy to talk to you. Don’t forget to handle my matter first this afternoon.”
“I’ve bet half my fortune on this shipment. If something goes wrong, your sister-in-law, your niece, and I will all sleep on the streets together.”
“By the way, if you really have a method, keep an eye on those special agents from Nanjing.”
“I heard while I was in prison that this group is ruthless and has caused many families to be destroyed.”
“I’m leaving.”
“Elder Brother, let me see you out.” Chen Yang quickly stood up.
“No, I wouldn’t dare let you see me out. Arin can do it. You hurry and get to work.” Lin Xueli instructed and turned to leave the office.
The corner of Chen Yang’s mouth curved up slightly. This elder brother indeed had some issues.
In fact, ever since he returned to serve as special assistant of the Osaka Chamber of Commerce and handled the inventory materials, he felt that this elder brother’s behavior was somewhat off.
Cautious, too cautious.
It was normal for a businessman to be cautious, but he had to pull Chen Yang to the window and say there were ears at home, that they needed to avoid others’ eyes and ears when talking business.
This reaction had aroused Chen Yang’s suspicion at the time. Initially, Chen Yang suspected it was because of Lin Zonghan; the Japanese might have planted someone in his home.
But his later behavior did not seem like that.
Moreover, it was normal for an eldest son to fall out with the family over money and move out with his wife and children.
But he did not take much money when he left home, which was not normal.
If it was really about money, he should have made a huge fuss, at least demanding half of Lin Zonghan’s fortune before stopping.
But Lin Xueli only made a fuss without taking money, which gave the impression of fussing for the sake of fussing.
Therefore, his purpose was not money, but deliberately finding a reason to sever ties with the family.
What gave Chen Yang a headache now was this elder brother’s factional affiliation.
Exactly which faction was he serving?
Red, blue, Military Statistics Bureau, Central Bureau of Investigation and Statistics, or Communist Party?
Forget it. Chen Yang shook his head. Whatever Elder Brother wanted to do was his choice, as long as nothing went wrong.
He stood up, walked to the window, looked at the scenery outside, and murmured, “About time. It’s time to move forward.”
Shanghai, No. 625 Daxi Road, Nanjing Special Affairs Committee Shanghai Office.
“When did Officer Chen arrive?” Zuo Mingquan moved his plump body, taking two steps at a time toward the office.
While walking, he asked Zhang Zixian beside him what Chen Yang had come to explain.
But Zhang Zixian knew nothing, only saying that after Chen Yang entered the Special Affairs Office, he retrieved recent action reports to review.
They were subordinates with no right to question their superior’s decisions, so they could only hurry to find Zuo Mingquan.
Upon hearing this, Zuo Mingquan quickened his pace and went up to the second floor office.
Standing at the office door, Zuo Mingquan seemed to remember something, stopped abruptly, first buttoned his clothes, straightened his attire, then took a deep breath, put on a smiling face, and only then knocked on the office door.
“Knock knock knock.”
“Come in.” A gloomy voice sounded from inside.
Zuo Mingquan turned the door handle and walked in with a smiling face.
“Officer Chen, why are you here?”
Chen Yang held an action report, covering his face with it, and a thick stack of action reports piled on the desk.
Zuo Mingquan muttered inwardly, not knowing what wind had blown this officer to suddenly retrieve action reports to review.
“Heh, Director Zuo, you really do a lot of good deeds.” Chen Yang put down the report and sneered: “The Shanghai Special Affairs Office has been established for just over a month.”
“Director Zuo has already led more than fifty arrests targeting the Communist Party and Military Statistics Bureau agents, averaging 1.3 times per day.”
“A total of 173 suspects have been captured.”
“More than sixty prisoners have been executed.”
“By this rate, the Communist Party in Shanghai should have been almost all caught by Director Zuo.”
“I calculated carefully; among the prisoners you killed are wharf laborers, Shanghai tailors, repairmen, newspaper reporters.”
“And even a fucking 14-year-old newsboy.”
“You fucking tell me a 14-year-old newsboy is Communist Party.”
“What do you want to do? What the fuck do you really want to do?”
Chen Yang was furious, slamming the report in his hand onto Zuo Mingquan, roaring: “This is taking lives lightly. Are you trying to personally destroy the Nanjing Special Affairs Committee established by Senior Kagesa?”
Zuo Mingquan did not dare dodge and quickly defended: “No, no, no, Officer Chen, listen to me, it was, it was him, he admitted it himself.”
But this voice grew smaller and smaller.
“I don’t want to hear your nonsense now.” Chen Yang took a breath and said slowly: “You’ve done so many bad things; now I’m giving you a chance to do a good deed.”
“Send people to keep an eye on Sanxin Company.”
“Sanxin Company?” Zuo Mingquan hesitated: “Officer Chen, you mean…”
“Mean what?” Chen Yang frowned: “What do you want to say?”
“Nothing, nothing. As per your command, I’ll definitely do it. I’ll go arrange it right away.”
Shanghai, French Concession, Weixiang Lane on the main road.
The building in front called Chief Mansion was the location of Sanxin Company.
That is, No. 82 Xinle Road in Shanghai in later years.
In 1909, after Emperor Xuantong ascended the throne, the Qing Government signed a ban on opium with major consulates in Shanghai, strictly prohibiting the sale of opium in China.
The French also signed this contract, but they could not bear to part with the huge profits from opium.
So, the French Concession authorities and the military came up with a strategy of building bridges in the open while crossing the river secretly.
The French provided opium, handed over to Chinese people for distribution themselves, and they charged one hundred taels of silver per crate as remuneration.
In the twelfth year of the Republic, that is, 1923, Sanxin Company was established.
Two years later, after Sanxin Company defeated Shanghai’s largest opium businessman and Bagudang representative Shen Xing Shan, this company basically monopolized all opium business in Shanghai.
Of course, to cover ears and eyes and avoid public outrage, on the surface this company did not operate opium business, only collected insurance fees; all opium was distributed by Green Gang distributors below.
This practice of hanging a sheep’s head to sell dog meat was just to fool outsiders.
In the sixteenth year of the Republic, the government issued the 《Social Registration Decree》, and Sanxin Company’s person in charge Boss Du took this opportunity to start money laundering.
Wearing a long gown, drinking red wine, opening Zhonghui Bank, associating with upper-class people, and maintaining good relations with the Blue Camp Government.
Even in the April 12 Incident, Boss Du did not hesitate to become a knife for the Blue Camp Government, participating in rounding up Communist Party members active in Shanghai.
After the Japanese launched their invasion of China, Boss Du abandoned most of his assets in Shanghai and fled to Hong Kong Island, leaving Sanxin Company under Zhang Xiaolin’s control.
Chen Yang having Zuo Mingquan send people to watch Sanxin Company was openly preparing to move against Zhang Xiaolin.
Zuo Mingquan still muttered inwardly; previously Zhang Xiaolin had suffered a big loss, but he also knew he held no advantage against these officials.
So, during this time, Zhang Xiaolin had been trying every means to connect with Nanjing.
After spending a large sum, he finally got a return; the Nanjing New Government had decided to let him serve as the first provincial governor of Zhejiang Province.
Of course, this position did not have as much power as imagined.
All military power and tax collection authority were still in Qi Xieyuan’s hands.
After all, Qi Xieyuan was the commissioner of the Zhejiang Province Pacification Headquarters.
However, with this identity, he was now an official; if Zuo Mingquan moved against him now, he had to consider the consequences.
Chen Yang also saw that Zhang Xiaolin abandoning business for politics must have been advised by some expert.
However, Zhang Xiaolin was used to being domineering, and to enter politics openly, one could not be linked to gray industries.
Zhang Xiaolin came from the underworld, completely unable to do this, which led to him buying an official with money but few real officials willing to associate with him.
This man had too many flaws; one misstep could implicate others. Only those who did not care much about their future and just wanted to make a quick buck would get close to him.
Chen Yang’s layout in Shanghai had basically taken shape.
Shanghai’s wharves and transportation were under his free control. To ensure the smooth operation of the materials business, it was now necessary to take the next step.
That is, gradually grasping Shanghai’s movements. Zhang Xiaolin had become an eyesore in his eyes; he had to be dealt with first.
Shanghai, Gelin Gao Road, Zhang Mansion.
A black car slowly drove into Zhang Mansion and parked in front of the Western-style house.
The butler stepped forward a few paces, opened the rear door, and Zhang Xiaolin got out of the car reeking of alcohol.
The butler quickly called servants over to help.
Everyone together helped Zhang Xiaolin into the living room. Zhang Xiaolin seemed in high spirits today, laughing lewdly while groping the new maid.
The little maid did not dare resist, her eyes brimming with tears. The butler brewed a cup of tea, stepped forward, and said, “Master, have some tea first.”
Zhang Xiaolin impatiently pushed it away, but heard footsteps approaching. One of his Eight Vajras subordinates, Song Zushan, hurried in.
“Boss, something’s not right. There seem to be many more people watching outside our venues.”
