Chapter 148: Drawing Lots
800,000, 800,000, just need 800,000 silver dollars, and everyone can have a Type 38 Arisaka rifle.
Don’t worry about whether this gun is good or not, don’t worry about whether this gun can be transported out easily, at least get the gun in hand first, then consider the problems later.
Gu Yansheng returned to the Judicial Department and began flipping through the little notebook of bond purchases.
800,000 silver dollars, he has the money, but this money doesn’t necessarily have to come out of his own pocket.
Isn’t there a ready-made one?
The current Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Nanjing Reform Government, Chen Lu, voluntarily purchased bonds for 1 million, paid in legal tender, and the legal tender price has dropped a bit recently, which is nearly 250,000 when converted to silver dollars.
This is to secure his own position, but even if Gu Yansheng doesn’t kill him, this person can’t possibly get a ministerial position in the new government.
Minister Zhou wants to promote him, but even that requires fighting with the Wang Faction direct lineage, such a person who has no connection to the Wang Faction can’t even get a deputy minister position.
Kill him, pocket 150,000 to balance the accounts.
Gu Yansheng looked down and saw another person.
Chen Ningchao, owner of a cotton mill in the concession, voluntarily purchased bonds for 800,000, also paid in legal tender.
Logically speaking, no matter how SH City or the Nanjing new government messes around, he is a concession businessman, and such regime changes fundamentally don’t affect him.
At most, the cotton yarn sales in the SH urban area are a bit blocked, that’s the extent of the impact, worst case don’t sell in Shanghai, export overseas, now many concession factories are doing that.
For example, the Rong brothers, the largest cotton mill owners in Shanghai.
They also have several factories in the SH urban area, and those factories are now under the control of Japanese enterprises, euphemistically called joint operation.
They simply don’t want them, maintain production if they can, forget it if they can’t, anyway now all funds are invested in concession factories, all produced cotton yarn is sold overseas, still making a fortune.
A guy like Chen Ningchao is a die-hard traitor, licking his face to support the new government, his head is worth 100,000 silver dollars.
Gu Yansheng rummaged through and circled more than a dozen people, making up 1.5 million silver dollars.
When he has time, hand it over to Chen Mo, pick and kill, the Iron Blood Assassination Group kills traitors anyway, it doesn’t matter who they kill.
Killing them can also find a sales channel for the Imperial Japanese Army’s Type 38 Arisaka rifles, which can be considered fulfilling their last wishes.
“Secretary-General Ling.” Liu Xiaolou’s call sounded from outside.
Ling Xianwen walked in: “Yansheng, let’s go, let’s go, Mr. Hase’s side has already let us pass.”
“What time is it?” Gu Yansheng looked at his watch, it was only four o’clock, “Don’t Japanese hold banquets late?”
“A bit scared.” Ling Xianwen pursed his lips: “The previous two banquets didn’t end well, it was still pitch black when things went wrong, not easy to catch Military Statistics Bureau, I guess the Japanese are holding it early to guard against the Military Statistics Bureau making trouble again, end it early.”
Damn, thinking the same. Gu Yansheng smiled and walked out, took clothes from the coat rack, “No way? The previous two times the Gendarmerie Commander came, that was at least with great fanfare, this time Vice Admiral Tsuda is coming, how many people know? The Military Statistics Bureau aren’t immortals.”
“Hard to say, who knows if the Military Statistics Bureau has spies among the Japanese, come on, come on, anyway we do whatever they say.”
Drove to Hongkou, on the road Gu Yansheng was still discussing with Ling Xianwen what impact this new chief official would have on Shanghai’s economy.
Passing the boundary between Zhabei and Hongkou, a glance showed that there were really two more Japanese Army at the checkpoint than usual, and the searches were stricter.
The two exchanged a look, pursed their lips, and said nothing.
The visitor is a Vice Admiral of the Navy, and the location this time is the Naval Club.
One look, impressive.
“The Navy is rich.” After getting out of the car, Ling Xianwen leaned in and said: “I heard there’s a saying in the Japanese Navy, the Army’s food, put it in our Navy, even dogs wouldn’t eat it.”
“That exaggerated?” Gu Yansheng chuckled.
“Go in and see, welcoming their Vice Admiral, today’s food should be good.”
“Makes sense, but do you dare eat more?”
Ling Xianwen paused, burst out swearing, “Damn it!”
Gu Yansheng laughed heartily, and they entered together.
Entering the door was a magnificent hall, decorated like a hotel, behind the front desk was a whole row of wine cabinets on display, with famous wines from all over the world, highlighting luxury and love of drinking.
Ling Xianwen saw it and leaned his head over again: “Do you know what else they say in the Japanese Navy?”
“What?”
“To get promoted, look at three things, either have a good dad, or a good father-in-law, or be able to drink, look, their officialdom culture.”
Gu Yansheng asked curiously: “The first two are easy to understand, to what extent does drinking have to be to get promoted?”
“Of course, drink the entire ship’s crew under the table.”
Ling Xianwen raised an eyebrow, “Navy, often on ships, not on land, not many ways to play, no drinking on the ship, no fun at all, can drive people crazy.
But alcohol can also relieve homesickness, others are down, no worry, you’re not down, means you have the most worries, the one with the most worries doesn’t go crazy on the ship, proves you’re mentally strong, of course you get promoted.”
Gu Yansheng smiled, wondering where Ling Xianwen heard this nonsense.
“Navy ashore, the women in their geisha hall are in for it.”
“Hey, what are you talking about? Which geisha hall?” The Director of Finance had just come in and heard a keyword.
“Go go go, promising.” Ling Xianwen rolled his eyes, said to Gu Yansheng: “Opportunities to come here are rare, the Navy usually plays by themselves, take a good look, broaden your horizons.”
It was broadening horizons, the two strolled casually, the gap in food between the Navy and the Japanese Army was evident from the pastries.
Exquisite pastries comparable to banquets by big concession merchants, expensive chocolates outside placed here like candies.
High-end sushi from izakayas, here like free, filled a circle, take and eat freely, and many varieties.
Seaweed, cereal, pork ribs, beef.
“Looks appetizing.” Ling Xianwen said.
“Dare to eat?” Gu Yansheng blocked back with one sentence.
Ling Xianwen sighed, “Forget it, I’ll hold back.”
Not that they can’t afford to eat outside, key is when mealtime comes, seeing too much good food makes you hungry.
Chatting on the sofa with everyone, all felt regretful, didn’t dare eat.
But the Navy here has bottled cola, everyone could have a bottle, a group of grown men sitting here drinking cola.
Chatted for a while, the main person arrived.
A group came together, several Japanese in Navy uniforms accompanying a middle-aged man in a suit, Mr. Hase Jinagawa was also among them.
When they reached them, Mr. Hase Jinagawa introduced.
“Mr. Tsuda, these are the high officials of the SH City Government.”
“Your achievements working in the SH City Government are really not great.” After Tsuda Shizue criticized, she showed a warm smile: “But under the Army’s leadership, you can’t be blamed for this performance, please sit.”
Everyone neither smiled nor not, just forced a smile and sat down.
Tsuda Shizue’s Chinese was very fluent, “Sixteen years ago I first came to China, serving as naval military attaché in China, that was Taisho 12, China was still in the warlord melee period then, I’ve understood China since then, studied China, and deeply fell in love with Chinese culture.
China’s history is very long, always experiencing wars, dynasties frequently changing, but one thing doesn’t change, no matter what dynasty, every generation produces a few brilliant talents, especially in war, proving the land produces heroes.
So when the Cabinet appointed me as the Central China Region person in charge of the Greater East Asia Ministry, I thought, what way should I use to make the Central China Region’s economy grow rapidly.
Eight words, appoint on merit, laissez-faire governance.
Starting tomorrow, City Government high officials will be grouped, according to Nanshi, Zhabei, West Shanghai, Wusongkou, Pudong, and the concession, six regions for responsibility division.
Whoever has good economic results gets rewards, Director promoted to Vice Mayor, Vice Mayor to Mayor, the Mayor I will recommend to the future new government for high official minister, even dean.
Those who do poorly, dismissed on the spot.
Three months as deadline, assessment every three months, last place directly dismissed, the Empire doesn’t need waste.”
The group who were just listening to promotion rewards immediately restrained their smiles, some faces already slightly dark, economy lifting or not isn’t something they can decide just by saying they’ll try hard.
Fu Xiao’an frowned, his face the ugliest.
He is a Mayor negotiated with the Nanjing Headquarters, why compete with others?
Talking about ministers and high officials, he doesn’t even want them, just a high official, better than Shanghai?
“General Tsuda, how exactly is this grouping done?” Fu Xiao’an asked: “Shanghai has six regions, actually seven, because the concession has two, in terms of benefits, definitely the concession is best, but our forces aren’t in the concession.
In terms of territory, Nanshi is smallest, how to set the evaluation standards, can’t be by total taxation, right?”
“Exactly by total taxation, your region’s total taxation.” Tsuda Shizue said: “The fiscal revenue and expenditure of these regions, especially taxation, have clear data.
After the Army’s mistaken command, Shanghai’s taxation has dropped to the bottom, so this data will only rise, not decrease.
And my assessment point is your growth data.
Nanshi backs the French Concession, though small, its location is good.
Zhabei is the city center, high population flow, prosperous business.
West Shanghai is the factory district, relatively good industrial foundation, high output value.
Wusongkou is the wharf, economic growth points obvious.
Pudong is the foreign trade district, goods distribution center is there, large territory.
The concession goes without saying, though territory not in our hands, stable guest flow, strong consumption capacity.
For these regions, within certain limits, funds and policy, the Greater East Asia Ministry can provide, but premise is not to lose money, and to see results.
I know some will think to raise taxation a bit, fool through, no problem, as long as you think it’s sustainable, premise no riots, high taxation, residents no money will strike and riot, once such riots due to high taxation occur, consequences serious.
Incompetence can be understood as mediocrity, but intentional riots like that is deception.
Additionally, the Greater East Asia Ministry will form a review panel to spot-check everyone’s work results, I hope you develop the economy sincerely, not use petty tricks to muddle through.
Right, last point, first three months, if all taxation increases over 30%, all pass, this requirement shouldn’t be high, current base is already very low.
Any more questions? Questions now.”
“Then how are the regions chosen?”
“Can sign up voluntarily, choosing voluntarily proves you optimistic here, taxation plus ten points.”
The questioner shut up immediately.
“How to calculate concession revenue?”
“By trade volume, current trade volume to the concession, provided taxation plus 30% counts as pass.”
The questioner also stopped, also difficult, but if crack down on smuggling, maybe pull back a bit, simplest method, if really boost bilateral trade, 30% on current base not impossible.
“No problem then draw lots, whichever you draw, life’s most lacking is opportunity, tomorrow you’re each region’s Mayor, show what abilities you have in your region, don’t say official position small, others not giving opportunity.
Opportunity I give you, opportunity to be local overlord to everyone, all matters in the region you can decide unilaterally.
Paper, pen.”
Tsuda Shizue reached out, immediately someone brought paper and pen.
Tsuda Shizue personally wrote the six regions on paper, tore them, folded, put in a suitcase.
“Twelve people, exactly two per region, lowest ranking official draws first, Mayor last, fair?”
Everyone looked, by ranking, theoretically Gu Yansheng.
“Then I’ll go first.”
Gu Yansheng reached into the suitcase, drew a note, looked straightforwardly, passed it over.
Tsuda Shizue looked, smiled slightly: “West Shanghai, Director Gu’s luck seems good, that’s the industrial district.”
The places you say aren’t good in your mouth. Everyone described as if paradise, those who don’t know would think concession worst.
Others looked at Gu Yansheng with both sympathy and some relief, West Shanghai, called industrial district yes, but pre-war.
War hit the industrial district worst, those factories best cover to hide, took most bullets and cannonballs.
Now West Shanghai is the most chaotic place in all of Shanghai, those factories turned into either brothels or casinos, further west directly to the river bandits’ lair.
Remaining places drawn one by one, Fu Xiao’an lucky, drew concession, Ling Xianwen luckier, drew Nanshi, all good places.
Gu Yansheng’s partner also came out, Tax Bureau Chief Wang Rusong’s face fell, showed the note to Gu Yansheng: “West Shanghai.”
To say who knows best where the environment is worst, Tax Bureau Chief ranks first.
West Shanghai’s industries now simple, casinos, brothels, opium dens, Japanese enterprises, plus a few broken industries that collect no tax.
Three months plus 30% taxation, Japanese enterprises won’t pay more, open dozens more brothels? Even with prostitutes, customers can’t keep up.
SH urban area annual 80 million silver dollars taxation, West Shanghai only 5%.
Gu Yansheng patted his shoulder, fellow sufferers.
All drawn, Tsuda Shizue happily said:
“Welcome Mayors, need any policy or funds support, contact Greater East Asia Ministry anytime, specialist will assess and reply, requirements not too high, as long as not abused.
I look forward to your results, goodbye.”
“Hey, Your Excellency Tsuda, what about our original work?”
“Yeah, our original work is still a pile.”
“Didn’t I say clearly enough?”
Tsuda Shizue stopped, turned back with a smile: “You are each region’s chief official, two per group, all region affairs decided by you two, finance taxation judiciary, even police stations, now divided by region.
Each region’s police station you are the Chief, do whatever you want, however you want, if someone doesn’t obey you can dismiss or appoint freely, I only look at final result, understand?”
Finished and left.
