Chapter 184: Step In
Wu Sibao got right to work.
Forging an appointment letter from Chairman Chiang was simple; among the Green Gang’s Jianghu contacts, there were plenty of forgery experts.
As for making someone look like he’s from Chongqing, that was even simpler. There were infiltration types in prison, turncoat types in the urban area, and Ye Jiqing came from Nanjing—she knew exactly what Nanjing high officials looked like.
After some scheming, a secret envoy of President Jiang was produced.
This person’s identity had to be Ye Jiqing’s superior, which fit the pattern of Ye Jiqing’s negotiation failing, forcing the superior to step in personally.
They settled on an identity: Central Statistics Bureau Shanghai District Chief.
The mission was to receive a secret order from Chairman Chiang in Chongqing, manipulate the stock market, raise military expenses from the occupied areas, and support the resistance against Japan.
Using the ploy of national justice to wrap it up, everything was ready; they just awaited success. Wu Sibao sent his man off.
The next day, Wu Sibao and Ye Jiqing came to find Gu Yansheng.
“It failed.”
“How did it fail again?” Gu Yansheng received him in the tea house, quite puzzled. “Didn’t get to meet?”
“We did meet. Your method worked; my man said he was from President Jiang, and he was indeed invited in and served good tea.
But when my man mentioned buying stocks, he saw through it, his attitude changed drastically, and he chased the man out.”
Wu Sibao frowned too, rubbing his hair hard. “Damn it, this guy’s immune to both soft and hard tactics; he doesn’t even give face to Chongqing.”
Ye Jiqing said, “Mr. Gu, in the end, it might not be that he’s not giving face to Chongqing. Maybe it’s because Sibao appeared before, and he doesn’t believe Sibao is from Chongqing. Businessmen are shrewd; now that he only talks stocks, he’s assuming we’re making a move.”
“Did you mention opening a transportation route for him?” Gu Yansheng asked.
Ye Jiqing nodded. “I did, but he said he doesn’t need it; his current business is enough.”
Gu Yansheng made a sound. “Sounds like a very cautious businessman who doesn’t want to take sides, just wants to make money.”
Wu Sibao scratched the back of his head and guessed, “Do you think he suspects we’re tricking him? Finding excuses to set him up and arrest him?”
As Wu Sibao spoke, his eyes lit up with certainty, looking at the two. “Deliberately getting him involved with the Military Statistics Bureau, so he doesn’t dare.”
Gu Yansheng and Ye Jiqing exchanged a glance; not to mention, Wu Sibao might actually be right this time.
“Forget it, I’ll handle this. You two go back and wait for news.”
Gu Yansheng had to do it himself; these two were hopeless for this matter.
Ye Jiqing immediately smiled; wasn’t that exactly what she wanted Gu Yansheng to say?
“Then I’ll leave it to Mr. Gu.”
Wu Sibao also said, “Director Gu, waiting for your good news.”
“Stop grinning like an idiot. Where’s the money? How much have you raised?”
“More or less, the two of us can scrape together about four or five hundred thousand US dollars, at most seventy thousand.” This was already the maximum, with Ye Jiqing diverting agent headquarters funding.
Far richer than Ding Mocun.
But compared to Yong’an Department Store’s assets, still far short.
Yong’an Department Store’s market value was over twenty million silver dollars, which in US dollars was six or seven million.
“Bring the money to me first.” Gu Yansheng wasn’t polite.
“Okay.” Ye Jiqing unconditionally trusted the God of Wealth.
Once they left, Gu Yansheng had to go find his partner. Partnering with this tax bureau chief was comfortable; others were still worrying about taxation tasks in their territories, but Wang Rusong lived carefree every day.
They said Gu Yansheng handled external affairs, Wang Rusong internal, but what internal affairs were there in West Shanghai? Brothels, opium dens, gambling dens; besides those, untouchable foreign capital enterprises and some half-dead factories.
Wang Rusong was quite contented.
He called the neighboring police station’s Ma Quan; Ma Quan said Wang Rusong was on patrol, probably enjoying himself somewhere, and told him to find the man right away.
After an hour, Wang Rusong hurried back. He wouldn’t dare offend Gu Yansheng—that was the real boss who handled the taxation task single-handedly!
“Brother Gu, looking for me?”
“If I don’t see you soon, I’m afraid you’ll die happily under some woman’s skirt.” Gu Yansheng joked.
Wang Rusong laughed heartily. “No such thing; I keep myself clean. What does Brother Gu need me to do? I guarantee it’ll be done perfectly.”
Gu Yansheng didn’t even bother mentioning his smell of rouge and powder, face still flushed; keeping clean, who knew how much flower wine he’d drunk.
“Indeed, I need your help. How many companies does Yong’an Department Store have in Chinese Territory?”
Yong’an Department Store was a big, famous company. Wang Rusong thought for a moment. “Yong’an Department Store is mainly in the International Settlement; not many in Chinese Territory. A few factories in Yangpu doing textile, the rest I remember none, or maybe companies too small.”
“That few?” Gu Yansheng was a bit surprised. Wu Sibao had said Yong’an Department Store had restaurants and hotels in Shanghai, paid taxes to the concession, and to the Japanese too; he thought they had plenty of business in Chinese Territory, but only a few factories.
“Few? That’s plenty.” Wang Rusong didn’t think it few at all. He blinked and smiled. “Brother Gu, your sights are high. A few factories cost hundreds of thousands of silver dollars to start; ordinary people don’t have that financial strength. If one of those factories moved to our West Shanghai, our taxation task would be easily met, and the economy would boom.”
That was true.
Gu Yansheng suddenly thought of something: tomorrow, merge the factories in Lu Bowen’s hands, make a brand, and maybe go public to make a fortune?
“Alright, that’s it. Thanks for the trouble of coming over.” Gu Yansheng dismissed him.
“That’s all?” Wang Rusong’s eyes widened; he’d pulled up his pants from flower wine for just two sentences? Hadn’t even helped.
Thinking Gu Yansheng worked so hard while he played, he felt a bit embarrassed.
“Brother Gu, whatever you need help with, just say; don’t hold back.”
“Really nothing.” Mainly, Yong’an Department Store had too few companies in Chinese Territory. Gu Yansheng had planned to shut them all down, but now it seemed the impact wouldn’t be great; needed a new approach.
Looking at Wang Rusong, he thought, since he’s here, squeeze some money: “If there’s something, there is a bit. I’m planning some business; interested in investing?”
“Interested.” Wang Rusong scooted closer. “What business? How much money?”
“Related to Yong’an; money, the more the better.” Gu Yansheng smiled lightly. “Director Wang, I have to say upfront: if the money’s too little, it won’t work. Can’t say specifics yet; only those who invest get to know. Hint: quite a few people are already involved, even 76 is in.”
Even 76 was involved?
With Gu Yansheng and 76, how could it not make money?
Though mysterious, it didn’t dampen Wang Rusong’s interest. He lowered his voice: “I definitely trust Brother Gu’s ability; just, how much can this make specifically? Otherwise, I really have no bottom line.”
Gu Yansheng sipped tea. “Long-term business, stable profits.”
That was like saying nothing. Wang Rusong thought, then slapped the table decisively: “Good, I trust Brother Gu. I’ll invest twenty thousand—silver dollars!”
Go home and drink milk.
Gu Yansheng looked at him quite speechless. “Director Wang, your table-slapping momentum earlier was two million.”
Wang Rusong’s old face reddened. “Too little?”
“Sigh.” Gu Yansheng sighed. “If you’re short on cash, forget it.”
“Just say how much.” Wang Rusong felt bad too; couldn’t just say two hundred thousand, like he was greedy.
Gu Yansheng held up five fingers.
Wang Rusong raised a brow. “Fifty thousand?”
“Five hundred thousand.”
“That much?”
Wang Rusong’s heart shook hard; that made the decision tough. Five hundred thousand, knowing nothing, if it lost…
Wang Rusong looked troubled.
Gu Yansheng wasn’t rushing. “No hurry, there’s time. Director Wang, think it over slowly. I can wait two days; anyway, I’m still negotiating with others. But if the money’s enough and you haven’t decided, no choice—limited shares.”
That made one anxious. Wang Rusong hesitated. “Alright, I’ll think. Brother Gu, don’t mind; such a large sum, even if I can afford it, I need to borrow and raise it.”
Anyway, couldn’t admit greed.
Gu Yansheng nodded accommodatingly, smiling. “No rush; you go back first. I still need to go out and find someone.”
“Alright, I’ll go.” Wang Rusong left very conflicted; even the driver asking if he wanted more flower wine didn’t interest him.
“Shiqi, come with me.” Gu Yansheng went downstairs and called his secretary Ma Shiqi.
Ma Shiqi stood up immediately to follow. “Division Chief, where to?”
“To Yong’an Department Store; we’ll go browse the department store too.”
Yong’an Department Store had two buildings in the concession: a six-story old building and a twenty-two-story new one built just a few years ago. In today’s concession, securing two plots and such tall department stores showed undeniable strength.
Gu Yansheng rarely shopped department stores; identity issues aside, even without fear of recognition by citizens or reporters, safety concerns alone ruled it out—after all, the Military Statistics Bureau Shanghai District wouldn’t recognize him.
Ma Shiqi was very familiar here and introduced to Gu Yansheng, “Yong’an Department Store mainly sells high-end goods: imported watches and jewelry from various countries, upstairs restaurant, hotel, amusement park, ballroom—everything. Whatever’s high-end in Shanghai, you can find it here.”
A comprehensive complex. Gu Yansheng nodded with a smile. “Interesting; solve everything without leaving the department store. Great concept; no wonder they get rich.”
After a simple tour, lots of foreigners, plenty of Shanghai’s rich Mrs. and Misses.
Gu Yansheng went to the upstairs restaurant and got a private room, saying to Ma Shiqi, “Invite their boss for tea; any difficulty?”
Ma Shiqi smiled lightly. “Shouldn’t be hard; I’ll go now.”
In the concession, some could ignore 76’s face, but not the gang’s.
Ma Shiqi returned in ten minutes with the manager, who smiled and said the boss was home but notified and on his way.
Twenty minutes later, Yong’an Department Store’s current boss Guo Linshuang walked in smiling. “Director Gu should’ve notified me before coming; I wasn’t here, making you wait so long. My apologies, really.”
A man in his thirties, suit impeccably tailored.
Gu Yansheng stood to shake his hand. “Uninvited guest, that’s all. Fortunately, Mr. Guo, you didn’t shut me out like some others.”
Guo Linshuang’s smile faded slightly; he guessed Gu Yansheng’s purpose.
Gu Yansheng turned his head. “You two wait outside; I’ll chat a few words with Mr. Guo.”
