Chapter 41: Taking Office On Horseback
Lin Xueyi hesitated and said, “This seems a bit against the rules, doesn’t it?”
Chen Yang sneered, “What rules? Your rules or Boss Du’s rules.”
“Second Brother, giving thirty percent to the French Concession Municipal Council is because we need their support. If we don’t give it, those French people will definitely find an excuse to take back the wharf.”
“Giving ten percent to your master Boss Cao is to get him to vouch for us.”
“You give thirty percent to Boss Du, and does he still have to issue you a certificate of honest and reliable young gentleman?”
“There’s an ancient famous saying: a new emperor brings new ministers. Now you’re in the upper hand. Do you still need to grovel to others?”
Lin Xueyi sighed and asked softly again, “Should we send a gift to Boss Zhang for the Xinkaihe Wharf? Although Xie Yuankui made the first move, it’s still Boss Zhang’s territory. Shouldn’t we give him an explanation?”
“Give him an explanation? Have you lost your mind?” Chen Yang shook his head somewhat helplessly. “Second Brother, you’re out in the mix, who do you need to explain to?”
“If Zhang Xiaolin really dared to move against you, would it have waited until now? If you’re still planning to give him an explanation, that’s just delivering yourself to him to take advantage.”
“Second Brother, that old way of mixing in the underworld is outdated.”
“You now have guns in hand, and two wharves, and there will be more wharves coming next. Don’t think of yourself as a leg-running little hooligan.”
“To be Elder Brother, you need the demeanor of an Elder Brother. Mixing it up relies on backing and strength. Do you think not offending anyone will let you live peacefully?”
“That will only make people think you’re easy to bully. Then why be Elder Brother at all?”
“I’ll give you nine words: build high walls, accumulate grain widely, slowly claim hegemony.”
“Think these words through first before saying anything.”
Although Lin Xueyi hadn’t read much, he still knew this nine-character true mantra of Zhu Sheng’s remonstrance.
In the end, it was just telling him not to be too ostentatious and to accumulate strength.
Lin Xueyi nodded and said, “I’ve got it. Then I’ll head back first.”
As soon as the words fell, Lin Xueyi seemed to remember something else. “Right, Chen Yang, there’s something I want to ask you.”
“The day before yesterday, a group of former soldiers came to Xinkaihe Wharf. I heard their leader say their troops seemed to have been scattered by the Japanese, and they fled to Shanghai.”
“I want to take these people in. Do you think it’s okay?”
Chen Yang smiled faintly. “Second Brother, I won’t interfere in your gang’s affairs. Whatever decision you make, you don’t need to report it to me.”
“I just want you to know clearly what things you should do and what you shouldn’t.”
“Alright, head back early.”
What should be done, what shouldn’t.
Lin Xueyi was a bit confused, but he could figure out one thing.
Whatever Chen Yang told him to do was what should be done; what he wasn’t told to do was what shouldn’t.
It sounded like he was a puppet.
But a puppet this glamorous, probably many people would scramble to be.
“Then I won’t disturb you. I’ll head back to the wharf first…”
The next day, Shanghai, Penglai Road, Shanghai Special City Hall.
After Shanghai was captured by the Japanese, most City Hall members were appointed by the Japanese.
The current Shanghai mayors are two: one is Qian Dajun, the other appointed by the Japanese is Wu Xiaoquan.
Although both are mayors, their powers differ greatly. Qian Dajun was previously appointed by the Principal, and after Shanghai fell, his mayor position had long been in name only.
But to placate all sectors, the Japanese still let him serve as mayor, while secretly arranging Wu Xiaoquan to preside over all City Hall work.
Besides the mayor, there are three deputy mayors in charge of various levels of work.
The Economic Department where Chen Yang is belongs to the Ministry of Finance, directly under the Nanjing Restoration Government. To be precise, City Hall officials really can’t control him.
At the City Hall entrance, driver Uncle Qi dropped Chen Yang off and didn’t forget to remind him: call him after work, and he’ll come pick him up.
Chen Yang nodded, got out of the car, and looked up at the huge building ahead.
He tightened the Zhongshan suit on him. In this era, civil servants mostly wore Zhongshan suits or suits.
With this outfit standing at the City Hall entrance, there was almost no sense of incongruity.
Before he could enter, a graceful figure from inside City Hall came running lightly all the way to Chen Yang.
“Hello, are you the new Director Chen of the Economic Department?”
Chen Yang looked at her in surprise.
She wasn’t very tall, looking like a typical Jiangnan woman, slender figure, gaze like water.
Her features couldn’t be called beautiful, only described as delicate.
Seeing Chen Yang sizing her up, the person said very respectfully, “Director Chen, sorry, I forgot to introduce myself.”
“I’m the secretary assigned to you by Lieutenant Colonel Sonoda. My name is Li Ningyu, responsible for assisting you with daily work.”
“I’ve been waiting for you at the entrance for a long time.”
“Right, this is your work schedule for today. You have two meetings this morning.”
“One is a meet-and-greet with department colleagues at ten o’clock. There will be officials from Gendarmerie Headquarters Logistics coming to discuss the material warehouse issue with you.”
“No arrangements for the afternoon for now, but I suggest you first familiarize yourself with the processes between the various departments.”
“Now I’ll take you to your office first.”
This girl spoke at an extremely fast pace, and handled things with a bit of thunderous efficiency. Cooperating with someone like this should save a lot of trouble.
Chen Yang reached out his hand. “Secretary Li, I’m new here, please take good care of me, Secretary Li.”
Li Ningyu was startled. She had never seen an officer as polite to a secretary as Chen Yang.
She shyly shook hands with Chen Yang, then quickly led the way ahead, bringing him to a building with a red outer wall behind and to the left of City Hall.
This building originally belonged to the Industry Department. The Economic Department under Chen Yang includes four sections: fundraising materials, mobilizing materials, and coordinating transportation.
Li Ningyu introduced the functions of these four sections to him as they walked.
The two didn’t stop on the first floor but went straight up to the second floor.
Originally, the Economic Department had one director and one deputy director, but now only Chen Yang as director is presiding over the overall situation.
From what Li Ningyu said, the deputy director would be promoted from one of the four section heads to assist Chen Yang with daily work.
Entering the office, Li Ningyu stepped forward first, took the briefcase from Chen Yang’s hand, and placed it aside.
Then she poured Chen Yang boiling water. After finishing everything, she stood respectfully in front of the desk, waiting for Chen Yang’s instructions.
Chen Yang raised his wrist and asked, “Secretary Li, you said two meetings this morning. What time does the first one start?”
Li Ningyu opened the notebook she carried and said, “Director Chen, the first is the meet-and-greet with the various section heads. The meeting starts at eight forty, expected duration one hour.”
Just as Li Ningyu finished speaking, a rapid knocking sounded.
A figure in a Zhongshan suit rushed in hurriedly. “Officer, Secretary Li, something happened.”
