Chapter 143: Collecting The Money
Coming out of the consulate, Gu Yansheng did not return to the office first, but went to the concession to seek foreign aid.
Causing disruption is too simple, and it’s what the Japanese themselves requested; it’s impossible to mess it up even if you wanted to.
On the way, he made a telephone call to Zhang Xiaolin, asking him to go to Sassoon House to find Sha Shun.
Gu Yansheng arrived shortly after.
Ever since Sha Shun’s son died, Sha Shun has been hit hard; not to mention emotionally, on the business side, Li Shiqun has not let him off, first, Sha Shun’s own industry withdrew from Shanghai, with revenue sharply reduced, second, the concession has been unstable lately, and Li Shiqun’s people don’t mind playing dirty tricks on Sha Shun again.
Anyway, since they’ve already torn faces, why let you be comfortable?
“Why did Director Gu come to find us today?”
Sha Shun’s condition looked okay; after all, so many days had passed, and he should have come out of it.
Gu Yansheng took a sip of tea and said: “Of course it’s about making money. I want to engage in hoarding and price gouging in Shanghai.”
Sha Shun was stunned in surprise, then sneered: “That term reminds me of some bad memories. The last hoarding and price gouging cost me quite a bit of money, Director Gu.”
“That’s because you didn’t choose the right partner.” Gu Yansheng smiled.
Sha Shun sneered, “I’m very interested in this, but hoarding and price gouging requires timing. Does the current situation meet the conditions?”
Sha Shun’s son was killed, and Kobayashi recalled all foreign enterprises but not Sha Shun; with such an enemy, of course he was interested.
Gu Yansheng nodded: “I can help you create the timing. This time, we’ll only target staple grains.”
“How exactly?”
“I will forced requisition all stored grain on the market. Once the news gets out, it will inevitably cause panic, and all grain merchants will dump their goods. You acquire them at low prices and stockpile. When Shanghai has a grain shortage, grain prices will skyrocket. You can sell slowly, and I’ll give you time to offload.”
“What if the Japanese interfere?”
“That’s where Boss Zhang’s cooperation is needed.” Gu Yansheng looked at Zhang Xiaolin, “Don’t store the acquired grain in the urban area; it’s easy for the gendarmes to confiscate it. Boss Zhang’s people should have channels to smuggle this batch of supplies into the concession area. As long as it’s not in the urban area, why fear the gendarmes?
You can sell in the concession, or wait until things calm down and transport it back to sell.”
Learn from past mistakes; last time there was too much hoarding and price gouging supplies, all left in Chinese territory and confiscated by people sent by Gu Yansheng.
Now they’ve learned; single-type grain smuggled into the concession isn’t difficult, just row boats along the Suzhou River to get in.
Even Green Gang disciples can each carry a bag on their back and swagger into the concession.
Zhang Xiaolin understood and nodded: “No problem on my end. In one day, I’ll gather the boats.”
“Then tomorrow, you acquire the grain.”
Back at the city government, Gu Yansheng went to find Fu Xiao’an.
Gu Yansheng was a rare guest, but since he had just helped him, Fu Xiao’an had to put on a smile and invite Gu Yansheng for tea.
“Is Director Gu here for official or personal business?”
“Both official and personal.”
Gu Yansheng took a sip of tea; hmm, Fu Xiao’an’s tea was indeed high quality.
Putting down the tea cup, Gu Yansheng said: “There’s follow-up on the cotton yarn matter. I’m here to ask how much cotton yarn Mayor Fu still has on hand.”
Fu Xiao’an didn’t answer immediately, unsure of Gu Yansheng’s intent, thought for a moment, and smiled: “Director Gu, are you eyeing my cotton yarn and want to forced requisition it? Sorry, you’re too late; I’ve already sold all my cotton yarn.”
“Really all sold?” Gu Yansheng with a serious expression.
Fu Xiao’an nodded matter-of-factly: “Basically all sold, just a few dozen packs of spot goods left. If Director Gu really wants to forced requisition, no need to trouble yourself; consider it my support for your work, I’ll have it delivered to you.”
“What a pity.” Gu Yansheng patted the sofa regretfully: “I was originally worried your cotton yarn would have slow sales, so I was going to introduce buyers to you, since the market is sluggish. Who knew you’d sold it all? Never mind, no forced requisition, I’m off.”
“Wait, hold on.” Fu Xiao’an stopped Gu Yansheng who was standing up, “What does Director Gu mean by introducing buyers?”
“Not sold out?”
“Can always produce more.”
The two smiled and continued sitting to talk.
Gu Yansheng said seriously: “I told you, there’s follow-up on the cotton yarn. If you have a lot, I’ll help you sell it. Up to twenty thousand packs, negotiable. Let’s be frank, I have conditions too: ten thousand US dollars introduction fee, not too expensive, right?”
Fu Xiao’an frowned slightly at Gu Yansheng, pondering if he really had buyers or was tricking him to reveal inventory for forced requisition.
Had to guard against it.
But if the cotton yarn wasn’t sold soon, the weather would turn hot.
“Director Gu, you’re not tricking me, are you? I’m old now, body weak, can’t handle the hassle.”
“Mayor Fu, only you trick me. Search your conscience: when have I ever actively tricked you? Besides, you look vigorous and strong, not weak at all.”
Fu Xiao’an’s face didn’t even blush, “What price?”
“A bit below market price, since it’s selling to that side, but they can only pay in military scrip or bonds. You choose one.”
“Bonds? What bonds?” Fu Xiao’an frowned.
Gu Yansheng explained: “Bonds issued externally in the name of the new government, with interest, redeemable in a few years. I guess you won’t want them.”
“Of course not.” Fu Xiao’an nodded, “Alright, how to trade?”
Military scrip was no different from cash to him.
Gu Yansheng said: “Find a few foreign merchants; when trading, have them front it, say it’s their goods. Otherwise, you selling so much to that side would look bad on face.”
“Understood, then it’s settled.”
“How much goods on hand?”
“Twenty thousand packs.”
Gu Yansheng rolled his eyes; top tier, looks like he has quite a bit left.
“What price?”
“70.”
“Isn’t that price a bit high?”
“68.”
“Still sounds a bit high. Is cotton yarn still that expensive now?”
“Expensive?” Fu Xiao’an raised his voice, “What month is it? In previous years, the price now couldn’t be below 110!
66, can’t go lower. Any lower and I’d rather sell slowly. Director Gu, I ask you, acquiring was at 120.”
Why was there resentment creeping in as he spoke?
Helping you out, okay?
“When can you prepare?”
“Anytime, I can give it to you now if you want.”
“That’s too fast; at least pretend to prepare. Get the goods ready, and I’ll come when needed.”
Gu Yansheng left after speaking, and stopped by Office of Luo Junqiang.
Luo Junqiang wasn’t pleased to see him, but having received Minister Zhou’s call, he could only turn hostility into friendship and force a smile.
“Minister Zhou already said we should cooperate sincerely. Shanghai matters in the future will need Director Gu’s help.”
Gu Yansheng didn’t mind his attitude and smiled mildly: “Vice Mayor Luo, yesterday I lost control of my temper momentarily, which was wrong on my part. You have a broad mind like a prime minister’s, don’t take it to heart. Next, it’s best to handle the tasks assigned by Minister Zhou well.”
“No problem.” Since Gu Yansheng spoke softly, Luo Junqiang had a way out and softened his attitude accordingly.
“What tea to drink.”
“Any is fine.” Gu Yansheng sat down and said: “The urgent issue now is funds. I’m handling the cotton yarn, aiming for over twenty thousand packs, but the funding needs to be quick, or I can’t give merchants a handover time.
I checked today; cotton yarn price is around 75 silver dollars. Prepare for twenty thousand packs first: 1.5 million silver dollars, or 4.5 million military scrip.”
“Quite a sum.” Luo Junqiang frowned, “All from the bank? If there’s money, why forced requisition in the first place?”
“To the bank, money is just numbers. Vice Mayor Luo, don’t take it too seriously. In the end, isn’t it the Japanese footing the bill? Just nominally borrowed by the new government, and it’s just preparation; may not spend it all.
One record, and the cotton yarn for the new government’s 500,000 army is all solved.”
Luo Junqiang felt a bit choked hearing this; couldn’t he spend money too? In the end, he’d be the bad guy, and the merit goes to others.
But with Minister Zhou’s instructions, he could only comply.
“Alright, I’ll have someone deliver it to you.”
“Thanks, deliver to my office.”
Gu Yansheng took the money and left, back to the office, and called Wen Yan over.
“Wen Yan, I have a task for you. Handling this well will greatly benefit your future promotions.”
“Mr.’s tasks, I’d do even without benefits.” Wen Yan smiled.
Gu Yansheng hummed, walked out and leaned on the table: “All pro-Japanese merchants, no matter who their backers are, as long as assets over 1000 silver dollars, visit them one by one. Require donations for the new government in Nanjing establishment. Get some data from the industry and commerce section to check their assets. Don’t go overboard, take one tenth of their assets, capped at no more than 200,000 silver dollars.
You can tell them you’ll give IOUs; in a few days when the new government’s bank is established, they’ll issue bonds with monthly interest.”
Wen Yan nodded immediately: “Understood. If any don’t cooperate, I’ll use means to take it directly?”
“Right, no need to be polite. Pro-Japanese merchants not supporting the new government? If word gets out, people might think the Sino-Japanese alliance is fake.”
“What about those not so pro-Japanese?”
“How many in the city aren’t pro-Japanese? They’d be squeezed out long ago.
If any, require donations, threaten a bit, but don’t go overboard. Only a few such holdouts left; push too hard and they leave Shanghai, bad for the economy. Pro-Japanese merchants have nowhere to go; let them give what they will.”
“Got it, then I’ll go now?”
“Yes, go.”
Gu Yansheng sat down; soon, someone from the Economic Department sent by Luo Junqiang delivered the money.
Boxes of military scrip were carried in, and they even brought a sign-in book for Gu Yansheng to sign, saying it was Vice Mayor Luo’s instruction.
Gu Yansheng sneered, didn’t make it hard for them, and wrote that he received 4.5 million military scrip.
Then let them leave.
Military scrip has 100 denomination, so not much weight total, about a few dozen kilograms.
Gu Yansheng still needed to set aside some money.
Reported to Luo Junqiang at 75 silver dollars, negotiated with Fu Xiao’an at 66 silver dollars.
The 9 silver dollars price difference on twenty thousand packs is 180,000 silver dollars, not a small amount.
He wouldn’t take it; tomorrow deliver goods and money all to Minister Zhou, how Minister Zhou handles it is none of his business.
