Chapter 139: Story
“How much? A forced requisition plan for 500,000 people?”
He Yun stood up in shock.
“Are you telling the truth? The Japanese really want to forcibly requisition military supplies for 500,000 people?”
“About that.” Gu Yansheng said thoughtfully: “But it’s not the Japanese, it’s a vicious dog raised by the Japanese.”
He Yun said nothing, picked up a piece of paper and a pen, and started calculating on the paper.
After calculating, she shook her head: “Impossible, absolutely impossible to achieve.”
She looked up and said: “I don’t know how much inventory all of Shanghai has, but the number of factories in all of Shanghai is clear. Just looking at the factory scale and the comparison data with Shanghai’s daily population consumption, the surplus is definitely not enough to support the consumption of another 500,000 people.
500,000 people, calculated at one jin of rice per day, totals 180,000 tons a year.
I estimate Shanghai couldn’t possibly have even 100,000 tons. How long has Shanghai been resuming production?
Absolutely impossible to have this much stored grain.
If it’s drawn away, Shanghai will directly run out of grain. If it’s drained completely, a large number of people in Shanghai will starve to death.
Even if only half is drawn, it might not be enough.”
“Short by that much?” Gu Yansheng listened thoughtfully.
Shortage of goods isn’t some unexpected statement, but if they want to complete Hase’s plan, it becomes impossible too.
He Yun nodded decisively: “No mistake, math doesn’t lie.”
Since there’s not enough grain, the cotton yarn inventory might not be enough either.
But Gu Yansheng manipulated Lu Bowen to acquire it, buying hard, catching merchants hoarding for winter to sell at high prices, and only gathered seven or eight thousand bales.
Now clothes for 500,000 people, these people want 20,000 bales.
The reason is the same, it should be even more difficult.
In the evening, Gu Yansheng went to attend Vice Mayor Luo Junqiang’s banquet, at a restaurant by the riverside.
Got a private room, exchanged pleasantries, then got to the point.
The first to speak was the Section Chief of Industry and Commerce of the Finance Bureau, brought by the Director of Finance to eat together.
The Section Chief of Industry and Commerce looked at Luo Junqiang and said: “After receiving the order, I went back and checked the data. Due to the strict control period last year, the production data isn’t actually that accurate, so I referenced the production data from the 25th year of the Republic of China as basis, to report to the leaders.”
Luo Junqiang nodded: “Speak.”
“Yes.” The Section Chief of Industry and Commerce bowed his head respectfully and said: “First is cotton yarn.
Shanghai is a major province for cotton yarn production, with 60% of the nation’s cotton yarn produced in Shanghai.
At that time, the annual cotton yarn output was 260,000 standard units.”
“What does standard unit mean?” Luo Junqiang asked.
The section chief bowed his head: “One unit is 181 kilograms, roughly enough for 100 sets of military uniforms.”
With that, Luo Junqiang understood, “Mm, continue.”
The section chief said: “So, to satisfy 500,000 people, that requires 5,000 units of cotton yarn. If calculated as four sets, that’s 20,000 units, plus bedding, that’s 30,000 to 35,000 units of cotton yarn.
In the 25th year of the Republic of China, Shanghai’s annual output could reach 260,000 units. Now after experiencing war, some capacity is definitely lost, but if we only want 20,000 units from the start, that’s just one tenth of the original amount, should be no problem.”
After the section chief finished, he smiled at everyone, then his smile widened on Luo Junqiang’s face: “I wonder if Vice Mayor Luo agrees.”
Gu Yansheng was sipping his drink, upon hearing this, he looked strangely at this section chief, then at the Director of Finance. After experiencing war, some loss—this “some” is an interesting way to put it.
The Director of Finance was originally Fu Xiao’an’s man, and Fu Xiao’an quietly dug a big pit.
“Well-reasoned and evidenced.” Luo Junqiang pointed, praising the Director of Finance: “Your Section Chief of Industry and Commerce has clear logic, states facts and provides basis. I see this kind of talent is exactly the model needed in Nanjing in the future.”
The Director of Finance smiled slightly: “Mayor Luo, he is my right-hand man, I can’t give him to you.”
“Not asking for your man.” Luo Junqiang smiled: “I just think what he said makes sense, one tenth the amount, similar to my estimate. For Shanghai’s merchants, making them hand it over will definitely hurt a bit, but put plainly, it’s just one tenth. If they really refuse, Director Gu, Director Lu, I’ll have to trouble you two to make them see the facts.”
Lu Ying was drinking, seeming to snap back from a daze, “Ah? Oh, of course, Vice Mayor Luo rest assured, I’ve arranged on the police side, tomorrow I’ll definitely draw police forces to assist in the case, whatever you say, we do.”
“Good.” Luo Junqiang smiled, looking at Gu Yansheng.
Gu Yansheng didn’t need him to speak, nodded readily: “I’ll find the legal basis, guarantee it’s lawful.”
“Very good!” Luo Junqiang beamed, “If no issues, I hope tomorrow I can hear the first good news from you all, celebrating your success in advance, cheers.”
“Cheers.”
The banquet ended, Luo Junqiang called out: “So happy today, I’ll treat everyone to have fun, the concession ballroom is good, let’s all go, on me.”
“I won’t go, my wife keeps a tight leash at home.” Lu Ying refused immediately.
The Director of Finance refused second: “Mayor Luo, I still need to go back and confirm the list again, this relates to the next actions, can’t make mistakes.”
Gu Yansheng said: “Mayor Luo, you still need to think this over. Lately the Iron Blood Assassination Group has many assassinations in Shanghai, crowds are unsafe. You know many people in Chongqing, right?”
Luo Junqiang’s alcohol was half scared off, “Makes sense, then next time.”
“Goodbye, Mayor Luo.”
After seeing people off first, Gu Yansheng stared at Lu Ying with a smile: “Director Lu, this morning he called me over, that was your suggestion, right?”
Couldn’t dodge, Lu Ying smiled helplessly: “Director Gu, when there’s difficulty, share it. Just help me this once, next time something comes up I’ll step up without hesitation, okay?”
“You sure speak directly.” With such straightforwardness, Gu Yansheng couldn’t say much.
They left.
Luo Junqiang lost interest, went back to the hotel to see Minister Zhou.
“Minister.”
“How does it feel? Sit.”
Luo Junqiang sat on the sofa, took a sip of tea: “Things have started moving. Currently, they seem quite cooperative, not entirely willing, but considering our side, no excessive pushback.”
Minister Zhou hummed: “Shanghai matters are complicated. You need to keep a close eye on military supplies. It’s not just this once we need them, we need them every year. This relates to whether we can take the army into our own hands.
With grain comes army. A nation’s most important are military power and financial power, can’t fall into Chen Biqun’s hands.
Mr. Wang is a man with ambition, but his wife only has wild ambition. We can’t say this outside. You’re my man, that’s why I’m telling you. Need to guard against her.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“One more thing.” Minister Zhou thought and said: “When the new government is established in Nanjing, I plan to keep you in Shanghai first. Shanghai is a fertile land, can’t do without our own people.
But similarly, if it’s just you, the foundation is too shallow, easy for local factions to obstruct, leading to blocked policies.
Among Shanghai’s local bureaucrats, in your view, is there any usable talent?
I’ll take him to Nanjing, detach him from local ties. You inherit his forces in Shanghai. He won’t dare speak much in Nanjing, you two can actually each get what you need.”
Luo Junqiang thought carefully: “As for those deeply rooted in Shanghai, I don’t fancy any. They’re too deep. Even if I want to poach, it’s not easy. Better to open the situation myself.
But as for talent, there is one.
Today chatting with Police Chief Lu Ying, Lu Ying introduced to me that Director of the Judicial Department Gu Yansheng is very capable.
I told Lu Ying then to cooperate with me on requisitioning supplies. He holds the police troop, should step up without question.
But he told me hard sealing isn’t the way. First, easy to stir resentment across Shanghai circles. Second, not legitimate, not dignified enough.
Then he recommended Gu Yansheng to me, saying Director Gu is very capable.”
Minister Zhou of course remembered Gu Yansheng. Just from the banquet, he knew Gu Yansheng was definitely one of the prominent figures in Shanghai, but where his prowess lay was unknown.
He raised an eyebrow involuntarily: “Tell me more.”
Luo Junqiang explained: “According to Lu Ying, this Gu Yansheng’s fame came from his first battle upon taking office.
At that time, the Japanese wanted him to figure out a way to solve the problem of foreign merchants’ cargo ships not under control. He made a move, issued new regulations, causing all concession foreign enterprises to unite against him, and even united all merchants in the urban area to go after him!
They pulled a hoarding and price gouging move, to completely cut off all food sources in the city, forcing him to yield.
Those days, prices in Shanghai skyrocketed, citizens really couldn’t buy grain. All inventory on the market wasn’t sold, all goods swept up. Think about it, that situation, the pressure huge? He a newly appointed division chief, how to solve?
Anyone else would’ve been scared shitless?
Moreover, in that troop, Mayor Fu Xiao’an was also siding with those merchants.
There were people in city government sabotaging him too.”
“Besieged on all sides.”
Minister Zhou got interested, “So how was this resolved?”
Luo Junqiang smiled, “Not selling a twist, you absolutely couldn’t guess. He just used one piece of paper, a forged piece of paper.”
“What paper?”
“A secret telegram from Japanese Imperial General Headquarters to Shanghai Gendarmerie Headquarters, that the Japanese Army would forcibly requisition cotton yarn and grain in Shanghai. Just this one piece of paper, tossed into the concession stock exchange, scared the stock market into crashing that day. Who in all of Shanghai would still hoard? All the goods came dumping out.”
As Luo Junqiang spoke, he noticed Minister Zhou’s expression seemed off.
“Minister, what’s wrong?”
Minister Zhou pondered slightly, “What did you just say? Scared the stock market into crashing that day?”
“Yeah, how could merchants not be afraid?”
Minister Zhou chuckled, “This Lu Ying is no ordinary man. Using your mouth to tell me this: Japanese forced requisition of cotton yarn and grain led to Shanghai Stock Market crash. We’re doing forced requisition now too. Don’t you think Lu Ying telling you this story has another purpose?”
Luo Junqiang’s smile slightly faded, “Minister, you make sense. I was slow to react. Lu Ying is telling me Shanghai’s economy might collapse? Then what to do?”
“Continue.” Minister Zhou said calmly: “Won’t collapse. Isn’t Shanghai’s economy fine now? Just fluctuation, and there’s already a precedent. How much worse can it get? Don’t forget our goal. If we don’t achieve our goal, what does Shanghai’s economy have to do with you or me?”
“Yeah, chicken first, then egg.”
After this little interlude, Minister Zhou smiled: “Continue the story. What happened later? Since there’s a precedent, let’s learn from history.”
“Later?” Luo Junqiang gathered his thoughts: “Later wasn’t it crashing Shanghai Stock Market with one fake secret telegram? But that wasn’t the most brilliant.
The most brilliant was the rumor that before Director Gu made his move, he bought a bunch of futures short positions. One piece of paper not only knocked merchants down but also made a killing off them.
And it didn’t end there. He turned around and teamed up with Fu Xiao’an to pump the stock market, making another killing.
Shanghai’s these merchants were like dogs in his hand, led around by him.”
“The world is full of talents.” Minister Zhou thought, then laughed, “So young, yet understands the stock market too. One piece of paper to move a thousand pounds, indeed skilled.
The candidate for Minister of Justice and Administration is already set, and that’s Guangdong Gang territory. That stingy Chen Gongbo won’t let you insert anyone, not even a deputy minister.
The next day, the troop assembled at the city government entrance.
Police, Judicial Department Inspection Section, Finance Bureau Industry and Commerce Section, Tax Bureau tax inspection, now forming a joint law enforcement team, awaiting orders.
Luo Junqiang, Gu Yansheng, and Lu Ying gathered again.
Luo Junqiang asked: “For the specific actions, do you two have any suggestions?”
Lu Ying smiled: “Mayor Luo, you arrange, I’ll cooperate.”
“What about Director Gu?”
“Me?”
Gu Yansheng smiled and said: “I think this matter needs to be fast. If execution is slow, what if some merchants transfer assets? Ultimately, we want the goods, not to seal their factories.
So I think be straightforward: my Judicial Department goes door-to-door to seal, police stand guard to prevent sabotage, tax issues some proof of their tax evasion, post it on the gate. When they pay, then unseal, force them to pay.”
“Good.” Luo Junqiang’s eyes lit up, “This method is great, fast and effective. Director Gu, do as you say.”
“Good, Wen Yan, you lead the team, seal merchant by merchant per the list, move fast.”
“Yes.”
Gu Yansheng said lowly, “First seal all Japanese-funded enterprises for me, no exceptions, all sealed, each two months’ production capacity.”
Wen Yan’s eyes widened, pupils shocked, but this matter, what Mr. says is definitely right.
“Yes, guaranteed completion.”
“Director Lu, send more men to cooperate, armed.” Gu Yansheng called.
Lu Ying waved his hand, had his men follow Wen Yan, then walked to Gu Yansheng’s side with a smile: “Director Gu, why so proactive?”
Gu Yansheng sneered: “Friend comes from afar, of course I must receive. Shanghai is our turf, the longer it drags, the messier it gets. Quick surgery cuts the chaos, isn’t that better?”
Since Hase Jinagawa had demands, Gu Yansheng had no reason not to satisfy.
Lu Ying frowned slightly in thought, then relaxed, he’s right, the faster the better. Even if chaos, a quick chaos is better than prolonged chaos.
Wen Yan led the team, the first Judicial Department seal slapped onto the gate of Mitsui Yarn Factory, reason: tax evasion.
