Chapter 192: Suzhou River And Huangpu River
Yamaki’s gaze was firmly locked on Chen Yang’s expression.
At this moment, a professional scrutinizing gaze of a veteran logistics officer appeared on his smiling face.
It seemed he wanted to analyze the other party’s truest thoughts from Chen Yang’s subtle expressions.
Chen Yang picked up his wine cup and took a sip.
Before he could speak, a knock on the door sounded, and several female waiters came in carrying countless delicacies, politely bowing to the two and saying they were intruding.
Then, the several female waiters placed the delicacies in front of the two one after another.
After finishing everything, they slightly bowed again and then withdrew.
Chen Yang raised his wine cup and said, “Colonel Yamaki, I’ve carefully thought about the current transportation deadlock. The Army side… alas, they are really too overbearing, gripping resource priority too tightly, completely disregarding the actual difficulties of friendly forces.”
“If this continues, it will probably be unfavorable to the Empire’s overall strategy.”
Colonel Yamaki narrowed his eyes, picked up a slice of tuna belly, and while chewing, vaguely replied, “Who says otherwise? But is there any method? They are the ‘Army stubborn mules’, single-minded, only knowing to demand and demand.”
Chen Yang leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice even more: “Colonel, rules are dead, people are alive. Since the coordination mechanism above has failed, shouldn’t we people doing things below think of some methods for ourselves, for our respective departments, and leave some leeway?”
Yamaki’s chewing slowed down, he put down his chopsticks, picked up a towel to wipe his mouth, and the sharp glint in his narrowed eyes converged a bit: “Mr. Chen, what do you mean by that? ‘Think of some methods’? ‘Leave leeway’? This doesn’t sound like something an Empire official should say.”
Chen Yang met his gaze candidly and said, “Colonel, what I mean is how to utilize resources more ‘efficiently’ within the existing framework to solve our mutual practical problems.”
“For example… I heard that the Navy Fleet and transport fleet have recently been squeezed by the Army on fuel quotas, making it very tight? Even affecting the transportation progress of certain… ‘special large cargo’?”
Colonel Yamaki’s expression changed slightly, and he didn’t deny it immediately. Fuel was indeed one of the Navy’s biggest weaknesses currently, greatly restricting its action ability.
Chen Yang keenly noticed the change in Yamaki’s expression, took a sip of wine, and slowly said, “To be honest with you, Colonel, our Army Transportation Section, when coordinating land transportation along Shanghai-Hangzhou, Shanghai-Nanjing, and even the Yangtze River line, occasionally… really just occasionally, discovers some unplanned ‘redundant’ transport capacity, or some… less conspicuous civilian transportation channels.”
“If these channels are used properly, they might bypass some tedious approvals and competition, solving urgent needs for friends in need.”
“Your Excellency Yamaki, if, I mean if, I want to cooperate with you?”
Yamaki frowned: “Mr. Chen, you handle transportation, I handle logistics, we’re not on the same line.”
“Besides, we Navy have nothing to cooperate with you on.”
Chen Yang put down his wine cup and said flatly, “Of course there is.”
Yamaki didn’t pay attention, just smiled, and continued to pick up a piece of sashimi, chewing it unhurriedly.
Chen Yang said seriously: “Your Excellency Yamaki, I never joke with people, let alone with someone like you. If I can get you what you want most, do you think we can cooperate?”
His words were subtle, but the meaning was crystal clear: he controlled a channel that could bypass Army control and secretly transport scarce materials.
“You mean…” Colonel Yamaki’s heartbeat clearly quickened, and even the hand holding the wine cup began trembling.
Oil! That was the Navy’s blood! If there really was a relatively safe secret transportation line to obtain extra fuel… his eyes flickered, but the old fox’s caution prevented him from biting immediately.
“Mr. Chen, your idea is very… bold.” Yamaki said slowly, his fingers rubbing the rim of the wine cup, “But the risk in this… you should know better than me. From top to bottom, this thing has countless eyes on it.”
“Moreover, are these ‘civilian channels’ you mentioned reliable? Fuel is not ordinary goods.”
Chen Yang knew the other party was tempted; now he needed to dispel doubts and demonstrate strength: “Risk always coexists with revenue, as for the channels…”
He revealed a profound smile, “Since I dare to speak, I naturally have some confidence. Initially, we can try on a small scale, like first solving a batch of fuel urgently needed for the Navy wharf’s loading and unloading machinery? After seeing results, we can discuss deeper cooperation.”
He proposed a seemingly insignificant but truly urgently needed specific demand from the Navy as a test, lowering the other’s psychological threshold.
Colonel Yamaki fell silent, clearly weighing intensely in his heart. Joining such a secret network, if exposed, smuggling materials was a serious crime, and getting caught meant losing one’s head.
But the temptation of oil was too great, and the Navy had long been at a disadvantage in the infighting with the Army, which made him extremely unwilling.
If he could really obtain stable extra fuel supply through this line, his status within the Navy would greatly rise…
Everyone knew that although colonel and general differed by only one rank, they were worlds apart.
Yamaki from Navy preparatory school all the way to fleet captain, then transferred to the Logistics Department.
Without military merit, his colonel position was the end, but if he could get oil, make the Navy’s ships move.
This merit.
After a long time, he raised his head, staring tightly at Chen Yang: “Mr. Chen, I need a more specific plan. How to operate? How to ensure safety? How to distribute profits?”
Chen Yang breathed a slight sigh of relief in his heart, knowing the bait had been taken; now was the bargaining stage. He calmly took out a thin, unmarked envelope from his suit’s inner pocket and gently pushed it in front of Yamaki.
“Colonel, this contains a preliminary concept and several absolutely reliable contact points; please review it first. We can hammer out the details slowly.”
“As for safety, rest assured; this line has been operated for years and has its own way of survival. Profits… easy to discuss, mainly to make this friend of yours, solve everyone’s practical difficulties.”
Colonel Yamaki picked up the envelope, didn’t open it immediately, but weighed it, then gave Chen Yang a deep look: “Mr. Chen, you’re a smart man, and very bold. I hope… your channels match your courage.”
“Absolutely won’t disappoint you, Colonel.” Chen Yang smiled confidently and raised his wine cup, “For more efficient transportation, for the Empire’s common cause, and for the… friendship between us.”
Colonel Yamaki pondered for a moment, finally raised his wine cup, and clinked it lightly with Chen Yang’s.
“For… solving difficulties.” He said meaningfully, not fully repeating Chen Yang’s toast, but the clinking itself signified tacit approval and the start of cooperation.
Chen Yang sensibly drank the wine in his cup, then smiled and said, “Your Excellency Yamaki, there are a few distinguished guests coming today; do you want to meet them?”
“Mr. Chen, our cooperation has just begun; no rush.” Contrary to Chen Yang’s expectation, Yamaki seemed to have long anticipated what kind of people Chen Yang would introduce him to and rejected the proposal outright.
“Does Your Excellency Yamaki still have some concerns?” Chen Yang chuckled lightly: “No problem; if you haven’t made up your mind, we can wait a bit longer.”
Yamaki said amiably: “Not concerns, but not wanting to be too ostentatious.”
“You know, my relationship with them is like the Suzhou River and the Huangpu River.”
“One clear, one turbid; if there’s no necessity, it’s best we don’t meet.”
Pausing, Yamaki took a sip of sake, put down his wine cup, and slowly said: “Mr. Chen, do you know? I had long guessed what you wanted today, but why did I still come?”
Chen Yang was stunned for a moment, then said respectfully: “Please enlighten me, Your Excellency Yamaki.”
“Because you are Chinese,” Yamaki said slowly: “If you were Japanese, I would have to judge your stance, whether leaning toward them or us.”
“But you are Chinese, so your stance can stay in the middle, and we can cooperate.”
“So, clear is clear, turbid is turbid; never mix them.”
“It’s best if everyone has their own bottom line, so everyone can save face.”
Indeed, all old foxes; this Navy Logistics Department head was no ordinary person, instantly seeing the matter clearly.
Being able to bypass Army control meant he had already smoothed over relations on the Army side.
At this point, Chen Yang wanting to introduce distinguished guests to him, no need to guess, it must be those Army Department high-levels.
“Your Excellency Yamaki is right.” Chen Yang raised his wine cup for a sip, then suddenly said: “I heard Mr. Saito say that Your Excellency Yamaki has been in China from Yokohama for several years now. You must miss the look of your hometown.”
“Just right, I have a girl who just came from Yokohama; how about letting her chat with you about your hometown?”
Yamaki didn’t refuse; after all, everyone understood what that meant.
Chen Yang gently pressed the bell on the table, ding ding ding, a knock came from outside, the door slowly opened, and a girl in a student uniform timidly walked to Yamaki.
Innocent smile, ear-length short hair, she looked only seventeen or eighteen, but looking closely, she seemed twenty-something; her movements could be specially trained, but the worldly savvy in her eyes couldn’t be hidden.
And upon seeing the girl, Yamaki’s hand shook harder than when he heard about the oil, as if he had Parkinson’s.
Not sure if it was an illusion, Chen Yang even saw tears welling up in the eyes of this forty- or fifty-year-old man.
“This is Miss Kyoko; Your Excellency Yamaki, let her chat with you.”
“Kyoko, you’re also called Kyoko?” Yamaki’s tone trembled slightly.
“Yes, I’m Chiyama Kyoko.” The girl’s smile was innocent and brilliant, even with a hint of playfulness.
“Miss Kyoko, this is left to you; have a good chat with Your Excellency Yamaki.” Chen Yang smiled and instructed, then stood and bowed.
Staying here as a light bulb now would be too tactless.
Yamaki had no mind to care about him either; his gaze was firmly attracted by Chiyama Kyoko.
As if the whole world consisted only of this girl.
