Chapter 114: Sending
Long queues formed at the exchange points set up by the Economic Department in various locations.
Citizens were already prepared; if they couldn’t exchange today, they would queue overnight.
The Japanese gave only two days, so everyone holding counterfeit military scrip had to complete the exchange within two days.
According to estimates by Economic Department staff, not many people could complete the exchange, because they had to strictly verify the authenticity of every piece of military scrip, which would waste a lot of time.
Even if they didn’t stall ordinary people, even if they put all their staff on it, there definitely wouldn’t be enough time.
So this policy was essentially prepared for capable foreign enterprises; ordinary people couldn’t exchange much.
But where there are policies from above, there are countermeasures from below; wherever profit can be made, someone will always build bridges.
Black market merchants got to work, Green Gang disciples joined in droves; worried about not getting your turn in the queue?
Find us.
No matter if you have one yuan in counterfeit military scrip or one hundred thousand yuan in counterfeit military scrip, no matter if you can tell if the money in your hand is real or fake, we’ll exchange it for you, we’ll calculate it for you.
We’ll charge you a service fee, you won’t even have to queue, and you can go home and sleep today.
Large amounts of money were gathered through Green Gang personnel and dumped in boxes in front of Economic Department staff.
Thud, one box.
“Calculate it all as counterfeit military scrip!”
“All as counterfeit military scrip? That’s half value; aren’t you afraid of losing money if there are real military scrip inside?”
“Isn’t this lightening your workload?” The Green Gang man smiled. “It’s all counterfeit military scrip; we’ve already sorted it for you.”
“You guys are something else.”
The staff were shocked by this line of thinking, but you had to admit, since the parties involved were fine with calculating it all as counterfeit military scrip, their work would indeed be much easier.
They just had to count it.
Box after box of counterfeit military scrip was carried into the warehouse, and box after box of foreign currency inventory prepared by the Japanese was exchanged out; on the first day, the foreign currency inventory was depleted again.
The news was reported to Hase Jinagawa, and his face immediately darkened.
“How could they exchange it this fast?”
The original two-day inventory was carefully calculated; based on those staff’s work efficiency, it was absolutely impossible to exchange it all, more than enough, and there should even be leftovers as reserves for the following days.
“Because many people acted as middlemen.”
The reporter explained how black market merchants teamed up with foreign enterprises, one collecting and one exchanging.
“These bastards!” Hase Jinagawa listened, his chest heaving.
But since the military scrip exchange was announced as two days, they had to hold out for two days, or the military scrip’s credit would be ruined, and all previous efforts wasted.
As for the money spent recovering real military scrip, it would come back sooner or later, because supplies circulation in the urban area required military scrip, and that would remain the case.
“I’ll call Gendarmerie Headquarters and immediately transfer funds to you; keep exchanging for them!”
This wave of funds was the Japanese’s initial psychological expectation, also an admissible loss limit.
Gu Yansheng left enough time for citizens, letting them first take money from Japanese pockets, avoiding the Japanese denying it when he made his move.
Once this first wave of fund exchange was done, the second wave would break through the Japanese psychological defense line.
But the Japanese did want to maintain military scrip credit now; sunk cost effect—if they gave up now, their decision yesterday would seem stupid, and the money wasted.
The losses weren’t big enough yet; otherwise, the sunk cost effect would make them want to cut their losses.
Time was about right; Gu Yansheng told Liu San he could start.
The Bund clock tower rang the noon 12 o’clock chime.
The daily sound didn’t attract much attention.
But children were different; they were a bit curious about the clock tower that made such melodious sounds.
On the square in front of the clock tower, a little girl looked up and saw a magical scene, her eyes lighting up as she called, “Mom, it’s snowing.”
The woman beside her also looked up at the towering sky, only to see countless paper pieces pouring down like a blizzard, flying from the clock tower’s spire, swirling in the air with the wind currents.
The paper pieces slowly grew larger, some falling down, landing in the little girl’s hand.
One piece of military scrip.
Tens of thousands of pieces of military scrip fluttered in the air.
Others on the square also watched this magical scene in the sky; more and more paper pieces fell to the ground, and they finally saw clearly.
“It’s military scrip!”
“Military scrip!”
People on the square immediately started picking up the money.
Military scrip was very light; tens of thousands of pieces—some fell to the ground, some still danced in the air, blown afar, some already on the ground, and a slightly heavy step would blow them up again.
There weren’t many people on the square at first, but as the news spread and crowds gathered, more people joined the money-picking frenzy, rapidly spreading from the clock tower to surrounding streets.
Surrounding streets were also brought some military scrip by the wind.
Coincidentally, the clock tower wasn’t the only place this happened.
Various landmarks in Shanghai—Great World gate tower, Yong’an Department Store rooftop, Sihang Warehouse chimney—all had tens of thousands of military scrip falling like snow the moment the 12 o’clock chime rang.
“Money’s falling from the sky!” Extremely excited shouts rang out.
“Military scrip!”
“Quick, call your mom to come pick it up too!”
“Hurry, the Japanese side can still exchange it!”
Idle people throughout the concession were mobilized.
Passersby forgot what they were doing; piles on the ground were there for the taking.
How much could one earn from a day’s work? Here, picking casually yielded a month’s salary.
Tens of thousands of pieces!
Even if each was one yuan, that’s tens of thousands.
Not to mention some had already picked up high denominations.
“Haha, a five-yuan one!”
“Five yuan’s nothing; I have a ten-yuan one here!”
Rickshaw pullers stopped pulling, Green Gang disciples stopped shouting, shop bosses stopped business, all rushed to pick money; even concession constables watched enviously and joined the money-picking crowd.
The scene was noisy but harmonious; everyone beaming, full of energy.
Tens of thousands of pieces, impossible to pick them all; even if two people argued over one piece of military scrip, they’d soon stop, because fighting was worse than finding the next one.
This was just the beginning; the first wave at four locations used only two hundred thousand pieces, while Military Statistics Bureau had two million!
First wave in the concession, later waves across Shanghai districts.
Beep, a horn shout suddenly came from the Sihang Warehouse direction.
“Shanghai compatriots! This is Military Statistics Bureau Action Group!
The Japanese invaders are pushing military scrip in Shanghai, intending to fool Chinese common people with this waste paper, take silver dollars and US dollars from your hands, then buy grain and weapons from us to attack Chinese armies—their wolfish ambitions are obvious!
But this stupid trick—whoever the idiot Japanese came up with it, I thank them for providing us with action funding worth over ten million yuan.
Thought we’d taught the Japanese army a lesson, they wouldn’t force compatriots to use military scrip again, but they’re unrepentant and still pushing it.
Since the Japanese army is so generous, our Military Statistics Bureau Action Group decides to celebrate universally.
Please, all Shanghai citizens, get military scrip for free; as much as you want, we’ll provide.
Everyone, pick fast and exchange fast; once exchanged, go buy more meat and veggies from Japanese chambers of commerce to replenish nutrition—they want our rice and flour, you eat it back from them.
Compatriots who didn’t pick up money, don’t worry; the big giveaway in the urban area starts immediately, citywide, we’ll meet again soon.”
The sound here finished playing, and identical voices played at various locations in the urban area.
Accompanying the voices, boxes exploded from high buildings, sending military scrip flying everywhere.
People erupted in thunderous cheers.
“Grab the money! Banknotes falling from the sky!”
“Military scrip!”
“Pick it up quick!”
The scene playing out in the concession was now unfolding across the urban area.
Countless people poured into the streets, back to back, heads down, squatting to pick money from the ground.
This scene was quickly discovered by the Japanese.
“Don’t pick it up!” Patrolling Japanese gendarmes threatened the crowd with guns.
Several nearby ordinary people were brutally smashed in the back with rifle butts by Japanese gendarmes.
This enraged the people on the streets.
Money all over the ground, and they won’t let us pick it?
“Beat him! Beat him and the money’s all ours!”
Money everywhere from all directions—how could a few Japanese soldiers control it?
Chaotic fights and money-grabbing scenes turned disorderly; news immediately reported upward.
“Seal all exchange points immediately!”
Gendarmerie Headquarters.
Iwasa Taro, furious upon receiving the news, smashed the telephone with a slap.
Such a sincere exchange event was exploited by Military Statistics Bureau.
However, this order made the situation completely spiral out of control.
Economic Department called all exchange points, demanding immediate halt to exchanges.
Staff who received the order immediately complied, telling the queued crowd no more exchanges.
This enraged the queue.
Queued so long, and now no exchange? What about the military scrip in their hands?
“The Japanese are reneging!”
“Military scrip is going to be worthless! Streets full of military scrip; don’t exchange today and it’s gone.”
“Let us exchange or not? If not, we’ll take it ourselves!”
Green Gang had exchanged so much money; they wouldn’t take this loss, turning to robbery mode against the staff at the posts.
Nearby guarding police and gendarmes tried to maintain order, but against such a frenzied crowd, it was futile.
Some grabbing, some fighting, some running—streets total chaos!
“Chaos, total chaos; money scattered all over Shanghai, money everywhere on the ground, everyone picking money—even city government has people slipping out to pick—what is this?”
Ling Xianwen came to Gu Yansheng’s office sighing; two days ago, knowing Japanese would continue, he was happy, Economic Department pressure gone.
Yesterday, learning money was exhausted, heart rose again; Japanese willing to support more, heart settled.
Today, Military Statistics Bureau released counterfeit notes, Japanese shut exchange gates early—heart now dead.
No need to bustle; fighting for this director position meaningless—Economic Department about to cease existing.
“What are those Chongqing people thinking? So much money, just exchange more quietly; exchange a few million comfortably, but they make a big show, giving money to ordinary people, ending up with no profit themselves and trouble for us.”
Ling Xianwen took the coffee cup from Gu Yansheng, complaining nonstop, sipped and disdainfully set it down: “Won’t drink; days bitter enough, this bitter stuff, unlucky thing.”
Gu Yansheng chuckled: “Bitter? I’ll add sugar; blame my coffee why? Chongqing wants to destroy military scrip; short-term profit vs. Shanghai always making money for Japanese—they’ve weighed which is heavier.
That gold and US dollars earned, all hits Chongqing; military scrip different from real money—no credit backing, Japanese can print freely; Chongqing’s scared.”
“I know the reason; I’m just worried—Shanghai’s economy might have big problems next.”
Ling Xianwen muttered, “Have to say, Chongqing’s move ruthless—forcing Japanese not to open exchanges; what about all these foreign enterprises? What will Shanghai trading rely on next?”
“Secretary-General, don’t think about it now; better hide.” Gu Yansheng set down his cup, earnest: “Japanese must be furious now; Su Xiwen fled, you’re the top deputy director—if they come and like that day force us at gunpoint to think of ideas, what then?”
“Makes sense.”
Ling Xianwen stood solemnly. “But if Japanese can’t find me, what do I say?”
Gu Yansheng grabbed his coat, pushed him: “Outside so chaotic; tell secretary you’re inspecting situation; if asked, say that—I went with you.
Let’s go to concession for dinner, back tonight; let Fu Xiao’an hold the fort first.”
“Fine, French food?”
“Sure, let’s go.”
“Everyone has excuses! All hiding! Need them for effort, all stupid as pigs; hiding, all quick as anything—smart on this!”
Mayor’s Office; Fu Xiao’an finished call, exploded in rage.
Ling Xianwen inspecting, Gu Yansheng inspecting.
Police station’s Lu Ying said commanding police to maintain order, can’t get away.
Finance Bureau Chief said exchange point money robbed, handling it.
Tax Bureau Chief said coming over, but angry foreign merchant smashed his head outside, now in hospital bandaging and rescuing.
Japanese called him to solve situation; he called meeting, no one came—key directors all busy, him taking the scolding.
Social Affairs Bureau and Education Bureau directors free, but useless on this.
Bang, assistant Wu Maiding pushed door in; Fu Xiao’an glared, scolded: “Don’t you knock?”
Wu Maiding looked grim: “Mayor, Yong’an Department Store dropped ten points! Causing all commodity futures to plummet; our funds can’t hold.”
Fu Xiao’an’s face changed instantly. “It’s a seller, full of goods; military scrip valid or not, what relation? Shanghai people still eat? Why drop?”
Wu Maiding frowned: “First counterfeit military scrip drop included Yong’an Department Store; Japanese think Chongqing people entered Yong’an Department Store rooftop, possible inside collusion, even Military Statistics Bureau people there, so called Agent Headquarters to investigate; agents now at Yong’an Department Store, sealed the entrance! Many saw it.”
“It’s in the concession!”
“Japanese gone mad, don’t care! Agent Headquarters used concession allowing Military Statistics Bureau counterfeit drop as excuse, forced entry; Public Works Bureau negotiating, but dare not evict forcefully, fear trouble.”
“These cowards!”
Fu Xiao’an punched the table, face as grim as could be, thought briefly: “I’ll raise funds; you watch here—if Japanese call asking, say I went inspecting.”
