Chapter 157: Burning The Warehouse
“That would be perfect then. It wouldn’t be in vain for me to come to their door as the bad guy and extort them.”
Gu Yansheng smiled self-mockingly and said, “I come to their door to sell bonds. Not everyone is willing to hand over money, but I think once they hand over the money, people will always feel unwilling. They wouldn’t just throw away such a large sum of money and run off to Chongqing, right?
If they really all run off like that, then we’ve gotten the money anyway.
Now I can give them some good news.”
“You’ve worked hard.” Minister Zhou comforted him, “We will definitely negotiate for the support funds from the Japanese side, but in the early stage of the government’s establishment, there will definitely be many places needing to spend money. Your matter of issuing bonds is very important. This funding can help the government smoothly pass through the early stage. Once taxation comes up, it will be thoroughly resolved.”
“Mm, there’s another problem. Those businessmen asked me specifically when the bank can open. First, right now they’re just registering, after all, they haven’t seen the bonds yet. Second, starting a factory to operation requires a preparation process.
If the Central Bank takes too long, they won’t consider this in the near term.”
Minister Zhou raised an eyebrow, looked at Gu Yansheng and said, “This matter can be flexible. Lend to them first, just like the bonds. We issue bonds to them with interest; they borrow our money and give us interest. Once the funds are circulating, there will always be a spread in between.
If we wait until the Central Bank opens to make loans and start factories, the time might drag on too long, and we’d lose taxation for nothing.
If they start now, by the time they can profit, we should be able to collect this tax around then.”
“So how exactly to operate this?”
“You go contact Luo Junqiang. Sign agreements with them in the name of the Central Bank. Forget it, it’s too troublesome for him to go back and forth to Pudong. This guy’s luck is also bad. With so many places, why did he go to that godforsaken place in Pudong.”
Minister Zhou shook his head, sighed and said, “Yansheng, work hard on this matter yourself. As long as they have the intention to open a factory, let them do it. For interest, charge a little less, 5% per month.
If someone has really good qualifications, give them a bit of a discount depending on the situation, as long as it’s not lower than our bond monthly interest.”
Gu Yansheng frowned slightly, “Minister, it’s not that I’m shirking, mainly I’m not professional in finance.”
“No problem.” Minister Zhou smiled lightly, “Let the municipal bank people handle the specifics, leave the reviews to them. For small amounts, you don’t need to worry. For large amounts, just check and review them, right?
You have the Inspection Department in hand. A little investigation into whether these people’s mortgaged assets are real— isn’t that easy?”
“Understood. I will definitely guard the review gate well.” Gu Yansheng nodded, then smiled frankly, “Then I can get the moon first since I’m close to the building.
I’ve been investigating in West Shanghai recently. The Japanese want us to boost the economy. I’ve visited quite a few enterprises. They have this loan demand, but they’re afraid of the unstable situation. If there are loans, first, their financial pressure is small, and second, they’re in the same boat with us. I can also just complete the Japanese’s mission.”
Minister Zhou laughed heartily, “The Japanese are pressing too hard. Thirty percent in three months—with Shanghai’s current situation, if I were a businessman, I wouldn’t want to open!
Actually, the Japanese know they have a problem too. Otherwise, why would they support our Peaceful Nation Building? China still depends on us.”
“Minister Zhou speaks profoundly.”
Minister Zhou smiled, “There’s one point you need to pay attention to here. Since the Central Bank isn’t established yet, don’t go through the municipal bank for the loan receipts and contracts, to avoid entanglements with the Japanese.
I think you can set up a money shop. Aren’t the bond funds we’ve collected with you? Lend to them first in a private capacity. When the Central Bank is really established, we’ll talk then. You get my meaning, right?”
It’s just using the country’s money to lay one’s own eggs.
Gu Yansheng nodded, “I know what to do.”
“Good.” Minister Zhou smiled even more cheerfully, “In a couple of days, I need to go back to Hanoi once. Shanghai matters are left to you all. If there are problems, wait until I return.”
Gu Yansheng frowned, “Running back and forth isn’t too troublesome? Actually, Mr. Wang can come directly to Shanghai. For safety issues, the Japanese should be very concerned. If it’s about no place to stay, I can figure it out. Shanghai or Nanjing both work.”
“You’re wrong about that.” Minister Zhou sneered, “The so-called king doesn’t see king; king only sees king. If Mr. Wang comes, who negotiates with whom?
Right now, we’re the ones sending people to negotiate with the Japanese. I don’t even negotiate with Kageza. I only come to Shanghai to handle matters; the specific negotiations are still handled by Gao Zhongwu and Mei Siping.
Kageza is just a Colonel. If I or Mr. Wang negotiate with him, then who negotiates with the Japanese Cabinet? Wouldn’t that be lowering our status?
So Mr. Wang can’t come to Shanghai at this stage. Before the negotiations are fully settled, I shouldn’t stay long in Shanghai either.”
Now he’s putting on airs.
Originally just came to ask for a loan, who knew he also got financial power. Then Gu Yansheng wasn’t in a hurry to pay tribute to Minister Zhou.
There’s a long way to go.
Go out and make a trip to the municipal bank, stroll around, say a few words to the bank president, show one’s presence, and the matter is settled.
Gu Yansheng returned to West Shanghai, found He Yun, and had her prepare factory documents.
“So fast?” He Yun was shocked, gaining a new understanding of Gu Yansheng’s current abilities.
“It’s just this little thing. Things that seem difficult to the people below are decided with a few words from the people above. Make the price a bit higher. Like your flour mill, although it cost 150,000 to buy, that’s because of asset depreciation under Japanese management. It must be valued at 300,000, otherwise I won’t approve.”
He Yun laughed convulsively, “One factory, you want 150,000 more. How many years of interest are you squeezing out?”
Anyway, this extra money is definitely enough to pay back until the puppet government falls.
“Setting up the money shop is simpler. When you go out, help me rent an office on Jisiweier Road. Just hang a sign casually.”
Anyway, Gu Yansheng isn’t planning to make loans to others right now, so just make do for now.
As for how to value the assets high, He Yun is an accountant; this is her old profession.
With the funding matter settled, West Shanghai’s long-term taxation problem is solved.
As for the short term, Gu Yansheng has to extort the local underworld a bit.
Huang Jinrong.
Heard that Huang Jinrong has been claiming illness and not going out for a while to avoid the Japanese coming to his door.
His smuggling matter is hard to hide from Huang Jinrong. The wharf there should all be Huang Jinrong’s informants.
Before doing his own smuggling, he needs to remove the destabilizing factors here.
Need to find time to give him a knock, to avoid trouble for himself.
In the afternoon, Gu Yansheng was drinking tea in the tea house next to the police station.
Didn’t want to stay in the police station, now simply booked the second floor, directly working in the tea house.
While drinking tea, there was a burst of gunfire outside, followed by a boom of an explosion. Walking to the window, looking toward the street behind, a factory warehouse-like place was emitting rolling thick smoke.
“Fire! Fire!”
Mitsui’s granary!
Gu Yansheng had been strolling around nearby these past few days and recognized the actual use of that warehouse at a glance.
What audacity!
Behind Jisiweier Road, burning the granary in broad daylight!
