Chapter 18: Buy It All
As everyone knows, general transportation rights are all held in the hands of the government’s Transportation Department.
The Nanjing Restoration Government is no exception; transportation is usually managed by the Transportation Department, including postal services, freight, shipping, and so on.
However, this Economic Department is still somewhat different from other departments.
This department is responsible for logistics materials supply.
Under the Economic Department, there is a separate administrative agency.
Temporary Tongji Office.
This department shoulders the function of transferring materials and can theoretically transport various materials procured by the Economic Department and supplied to the military on its own.
Iwai Koichi was unclear why Chen Yang got excited as soon as transportation was mentioned.
He only assumed that Chen Yang valued the position of Director of the Economic Department.
After all, this position is a true position of real power, and it also oversees links such as logistics materials fundraising, allocation, transportation, and so on.
It can be said that every step is dripping with oil and water; countless people within the Nanjing Restoration Government want to get their hands on this position.
Iwai Koichi saw through this point and thus went against the crowd to arrange for Chen Yang to take this position.
Although the homeland has already passed the policy of rule by Chinese proposed by the Shanghai consulate.
However, these tangible interests cannot really be swallowed by these people.
“By the way, you should also keep this invitation letter safe.” Iwai Koichi took a sip of coffee and said: “This is the invitation letter for the New Government members’ reception to be held on the nineteenth of this month in the VIP Hall on the second floor of the Shanghai Racecourse.”
“At that time, in addition to New Government internal officials, the advisor team selected by the consulate will also attend.”
“I will introduce you to the person in charge of the advisor team, Lieutenant Colonel Sonoda Yoshikuma.”
“In the future, if you encounter any difficulties in the New Government, you can communicate with him.”
“You were sent by the academy; officialdom is not like school, it doesn’t value ability, but seniority and backing.”
“With Sonoda backing you, I believe no one up and down the New Government will dare to target you.”
Chen Yang smilingly agreed on the surface, but he knew very well in his heart that this was forcing him to stand on the Japanese side.
They say the Japanese are backing him, but he still has to be the one sticking his neck out.
Iwai Koichi put down his coffee and stood up: “Alright, I should be going back too.”
Chen Yang hurriedly stood up: “Senior Iwai, let me see you off.”
Iwai Koichi patted Chen Yang’s shoulder: “No need to see me off, do a good job, don’t let Teacher down.”
At this point, he seemed to remember something else, leaned close to Chen Yang and said: “Find time to write more letters to Teacher.”
“New message from the homeland side: they have recently passed the proposal to reorganize the Ministry of Foreign Affairs structure.”
“Former South Manchuria Railway Director Your Excellency Matsuoka will serve as Foreign Minister, and Teacher has also received an invitation to serve as Deputy Minister.”
“You are his most valued student; if there’s anything you don’t understand, communicate more with him, he can give you the most candid advice.”
“I’ll take my leave first, no need to see me off.”
There’s such a thing…
As soon as Iwai Koichi left, Chen Yang immediately had driver Uncle Qi call back Lin Yongren who had gone out to procure goods.
The message brought by Iwai Koichi was no less than sending charcoal in the snowy weather.
Chen Yang wanted to deploy a perfect sales network, and transportation was the most critical part.
Just as he had planned, the faster the speed, the faster the money-making.
Without a suitable transportation line, this speed can only be controlled by others.
But if he himself has the ability to control the transportation line, it’s different; he can completely use AI to calculate the most efficient operating route.
With the transportation problem solved effortlessly, the other problems seem much simpler.
Second floor study room; after seeing off Iwai Koichi, Chen Yang immediately wrote a letter to Fujiwara Tomoo.
The letter mentioned the Osaka Chamber of Commerce materials cleanup situation and his own upcoming appointment as Director of the Economic Department.
Chen Yang also didn’t know why Fujiwara Tomoo, who had always shown little interest in politics, suddenly changed his usual demeanor and was willing to accept the invitation to join the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
However, having spent a few years with Fujiwara Tomoo, he was also clear about the Fujiwara family’s influence in Kyoto.
Regarding his decision to serve as Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chen Yang could only say it was reasonable and unexpected.
Originally, he thought Fujiwara Tomoo would only care about academic research and have little interest in other affairs.
In fact, he was also waiting for an opportunity.
Knock knock knock, a knock on the door sounded; Chen Yang put the envelope in the drawer and said: “Come in.”
Lin Yongren walked into the study room sweating profusely: “Young Master, you wanted to see me?”
Chen Yang smiled: “A Ren, where are those shops of yours? Let’s go take a look together.”
“Young Master, you have a target, that’s great.” Lin Yongren said happily: “The shops are to the south, good location, not far from the International Settlement.”
“Next to it there are a hospital and a school; the tenants’ lease just expired recently and was not renewed.”
Chen Yang asked gently: “Lease expired and not renewed? Why? A Ren, are you planning to take it back for yourself?”
“Not really; actually, if someone was willing to continue renting, I wouldn’t want the hassle.” Lin Yongren sighed: “Young Master, you just got back and might not know much.”
“Originally, the merchants in the French Concession were all managed by the Chinese Director, but after the war broke out last year, two Chinese Directors ran away.”
“The remaining Boss Zhang has always been helping the Japanese; under his oppression, the large and small merchants in the French Concession have a hard time.”
Chen Yang frowned: “You mean that Boss Zhang has people collecting protection fees?”
Lin Yongren nodded: “Yeah, and the fees aren’t low; small merchants have to pay five silver dollars, some big merchants even twenty or thirty silver dollars. Our rent is only eighty silver dollars a year; if you add sixty silver dollars in protection fees, it’s pushing people to desperation…”
“If you don’t pay, he arranges for Green Gang people to smash the shop.”
“This Boss Zhang is not as righteous as Boss Du; his means are utterly unscrupulous.”
“Many merchants can’t continue and can only end their leases and leave.”
Chen Yang secretly sighed; no wonder this Boss Zhang was later taken out by the Military Statistics Bureau for treason—turns out he really was no good.
“Let’s go take a look.”
French Concession, south of HP district.
This place is close to the International Settlement, with considerable foot traffic.
Chen Yang looked at the three row shops in front of him and nodded slightly.
The location was indeed as good as A Ren said, which also proved that Eldest Sister Lin Jing was really good to Lin Yongren.
She was even willing to give him three shops as a wedding gift.
Under Lin Yongren’s guidance, Chen Yang walked around; the three shops totaled over a hundred square meters. In a place like Shanghai, rent for one shopfront is eighty to a hundred silver dollars.
Holding these three shops, even if doing nothing, there could be two or three hundred silver dollars in income a year.
“Young Master, what do you think? These three shops are the cleanest in this area; the tenants I picked were all doing handicrafts. I generally don’t rent to those doing food, just afraid they’d damage the shops.”
Chen Yang nodded slightly: “The shops are not bad, but three is really too few.”
“A Ren, how much would it cost to buy all six shops in this row?”
“Ah”
