Chapter 219: Representative
Back in West Shanghai, the guard downstairs reported that a man named Lu Bowen had just come looking for him.
Missing person returned.
Gu Yansheng felt quite pleased and made a telephone call to He Yun’s office.
“Miss He, I heard Mr. Lu is back?”
“Yes, tonight we want to invite Director Gu to have dinner together. Would you honor us with your presence?”
“Good, see you tonight then.”
That evening, in a private room at a riverside restaurant.
Gu Yansheng gave Lu Bowen a hug, “You were gone for quite a while. I thought you’d been kidnapped by bandits and taken up the mountain to be the bandit chief’s wife.”
Without the telegram, in these times, one wouldn’t even know if a person had disappeared.
“Hahahaha.” Lu Bowen laughed heartily, “With Director Gu watching over me, who would dare kidnap me? They’d be asking for death.”
“You two sit down, we’ll talk while eating.” He Yun had already ordered the dishes and greeted them with a smile.
“Good, let’s talk while eating.” Gu Yansheng sat down and poured Lu Bowen a glass of wine, “When did you arrive?”
“Just today at noon.”
“I heard from He Yun that you traveled all over Southern Anhui?”
Lu Bowen downed the wine in one gulp, “Yes, not just Southern Anhui. I also went to check out Jiujiang. It’s an important transportation hub that I hadn’t visited before, so I went to scout it out. That way, when transporting goods in the future, I’ll know what to expect. If I weren’t worried about missing the wheat acquisition time, I would’ve gone to see Nanchang too.”
Gu Yansheng asked with concern, “You should avoid going to places that are too far. If something happens, we might not be able to take care of it. Did you encounter any dangers on the road?”
“Yes.” Lu Bowen recounted the incidents on the road.
These days with war and chaos, besides soldiers, there are also bandits. There were plenty of troubles on the road.
“If I hadn’t brought dozens of tough guys from my factory, armed with weapons, just relying on your name as Director Gu wouldn’t be enough. Even so, I still paid quite a bit in road tolls.”
Gu Yansheng smiled dismissively, “If smuggling goods weren’t so profitable, anyone could do business if the roads were this smooth.”
Lu Bowen gave a mysterious smile and lowered his voice, “Do you know what I heard along the way?”
“What?”
“The route I took leaving Shanghai was basically the same as coming back. Do you know what the biggest change was?
I found many more of our guerrilla troops!
Locals say that many Japanese checkpoints are repeatedly taken out, and the Japanese can’t do anything about it. Now lots of villagers have joined the New Fourth Army. They’re like living maps, knowing every little path. They make the Japanese dizzy circling around. They’re developing very well now.”
“Of course, with so many guns, Type 38 Arisaka rifles against Type 38 Arisaka rifles, it would be strange if they didn’t grow.”
Gu Yansheng smiled, “How was the grain scouting in Southern Anhui?”
“No problem at all. Otherwise, how could I have time to tour Jiangxi.” When it came to doing business, Lu Bowen was very knowledgeable. The city stations from Anhui to Shanghai and Jiangsu had all been fully set up.
Relationships established, just waiting for the wheat to ripen and be harvested.
The only issue is, as long as Director Gu holds onto his position and doesn’t lose his official rank.
In these times, doing business without official protection won’t work.
“Are you going out again recently?” Gu Yansheng asked.
“No more going out.” Lu Bowen said while drinking, “Now all the outside stations are set up. Goods are received normally, locals handle operations, no problems. I won’t show my face. If any place has an issue, I’ll coordinate from the middle.
Next, the main energy should focus on production. After production, there’s sales. A pile of things, no energy to go out.”
“Staying put is good. As the boss, you don’t need to handle everything personally.” Gu Yansheng patted Lu Bowen’s shoulder and said, “Rest well for a couple days. Later, I’ll find two more factories for you to run.”
Lu Bowen’s smile faded, “Do I have to hear this bad news on the first day back?
You two planned this, right?
I ran non-stop for months, my legs are almost lame, and you can’t let me rest a couple days, enjoy a few comfortable days before telling me?”
“What did He Yun say?” Gu Yansheng looked at He Yun.
He Yun giggled without speaking.
Lu Bowen spoke up, “He Yun just told me it’s great that I’m back, so she can dump the West Shanghai factories on me to manage. She wants to go study the advanced experience of the listed company Yong’an Department Store.
Wait, more than a dozen factories. If I spend one hour managing each per day, that’s it for the day. Then there’s procurement, sales. You two think I’m a beast of burden?”
Seeing Lu Bowen like this.
He Yun had something to say, “When you were away, I managed them the same way. It was troublesome at first, but now it’s smoothed out. It’s actually fine. You’ll adapt quickly.”
Gu Yansheng also had something to say, “A full two days off, not bad. If you think it’s not enough, I’ll decide to let He Yun give you one more day to manage. He Yun, okay?”
Gu Yansheng and He Yun smiled at each other.
“Okay, no problem.”
Lu Bowen sighed, “You two…”
Two days later.
Gu Yansheng received a telephone call from Minister Zhou, asking him to come over.
The French Concession wasn’t far from him.
Zhou Mansion.
Gu Yansheng drove there. As expected of a high-level Chongqing Government official, he had such a luxurious villa in the French Concession from early years.
Close to the police station, plus the secret agents observed around, guards at the gate. Security here was very tight.
“Minister.” Gu Yansheng entered the room.
“Ah, Yansheng is here. Tired? If not, walk with me.”
Minister Zhou gestured for Gu Yansheng to stroll with him in the front hall garden.
“News from Imai Takeo has come back. The Japanese Cabinet is preparing to receive us. The departure itinerary is in these couple days.”
“Good news. Looks like the final confirmation time is near.”
“Mm, for now the schedule is tentatively one month, mainly because there are many things to discuss.
Now the talk of Peaceful Nation Building is fermenting. When we go there, people may come to Shanghai one after another. Others will receive them, but they don’t have official positions after all. If any problems arise, we’ll still need you to step in and arrange the reception properly.”
“Sure, no problem. If you need anything then, have them call the telephone at my West Shanghai office.”
“Mm, I’ll tell them. One more thing, these people coming to Shanghai, housing is an issue.
A big family coming over, can’t rent houses or stay in hotels forever. That would be too expensive.
I discussed with Mr. Wang. How about we purchase a batch of housing in advance to settle them? Divide into a few levels, buy a batch for each. What do you think?”
This was actually more of a notification, mainly because the money was still in Gu Yansheng’s hands.
But Gu Yansheng disagreed.
“Why spend money like that?” Gu Yansheng said dismissively, “Minister, many people may go to Nanjing then. Houses in Shanghai are so expensive. Buying now would be a loss, right?
Better to buy directly in Nanjing. Houses there are much cheaper.
And Nanjing houses will be useful later too.
After they come to Shanghai, play for a couple days, then go straight to Nanjing to get familiar. When you return, meet in Nanjing. Wouldn’t that be good?”
“Ah, that’s a good idea.” Minister Zhou was impressed, “Is Nanjing housing that much cheaper than Shanghai?”
“One set there equals ten here.”
“Tsk, such a big gap?” Minister Zhou hadn’t been to Nanjing in a long time. His impression was that it wasn’t cheap.
“Yes, and crucially, houses bought in Shanghai might be ordinary, but in Nanjing you can buy villas, mansions. Won’t it feel different to those just arriving?”
Minister Zhou nodded and smiled, “Makes sense. Good, buy in Nanjing then.”
Gu Yansheng took the opportunity to ask, “Minister, what was the final handling of that bank matter we talked about last time? Did the Japanese say anything about the military scrip Huaxing Bond issue?”
Minister Zhou hummed, “The Japanese said to cancel the negotiation plan with Chongqing. Huaxing Bank is involved in Japanese enterprises compensating the Military Department, so it should continue operations. But on the day our new government is established, Huaxing Bank will automatically shut down or stop issuing Huaxing Bonds.”
Gu Yansheng nodded, “No wonder I heard reports that Huaxing Bank is still pushing it.”
“No issue.” Minister Zhou waved it off, “The Japanese have failed twice with military scrip themselves. Even if given another chance to try, ordinary people won’t buy it.
No need to pay attention to the military scrip matter.
Next, there’s another important matter to handle.”
“You say.” Gu Yansheng listened respectfully.
“It’s the Party Congress matter.” Minister Zhou stopped and looked at Gu Yansheng, “Our agreement with the Japanese is set, but these are private matters. Formal documents need official-to-official signing of a formal agreement to have convincing power.
This legal system step needs to be completed in advance.
Now we need to find people to go to various Japanese Occupied Areas, even Nationalist controlled areas. Every city must be visited to find some party members, preferably veteran party members with rank, to attend the Party Congress.
The fifth session was held in Republic Year 24. None since the war. This year we’ll hold the sixth session, under the name of the National Sixth Party Congress, to complete the legal system procedure.
Transportation is inconvenient now, finding people takes time. Starting from Shanghai to find them and bring them back, one or two months gone. Can’t delay, must start now.”
“I haven’t done this work before.” Gu Yansheng smiled embarrassedly, “No experience. How to implement it?”
“There’s a leader.”
Minister Zhou patted Gu Yansheng’s shoulder easily, “This morning, Chen Gongbo arrived in Shanghai from Hong Kong. He has experience in this. He’ll be in overall charge. You handle coordinating the subsequent customs clearance and such for these people coming to Shanghai. After all, Japanese inspections at checkpoints are strict. Don’t let problems arise.
Also, help Chen Gongbo select people, see who to send to outlying areas to find people. He’s familiar with this matter, you’re familiar with Shanghai. You two join forces to get this done.”
“Chen Gongbo.” Gu Yansheng murmured, “That Executive Committee Member from Chongqing?”
“Yes.” Minister Zhou smiled, “We’re old friends with him. Mr. Wang intends to give him the President of the Legislative Yuan position. Perfect for handling congresses, signing agreements. You’re judiciary, he’s legislation. Just the right business intersection.”
Not a small figure. This is from Chongqing’s highest level, highest power executive organ.
But judiciary and legislation are separate, with Judicial Yuan and Legislative Yuan, so Gu Yansheng only has legal relations with him, not under his management.
“Good, then I’ll pay a visit to Dean Chen later.”
Gu Yansheng went out and looked for Shen Linshen.
“How come so soon?” Shen Linshen was puzzled, “Has Wang Ni finished talking with the Japanese?”
“No, people haven’t even gone yet. How could it be so fast? Even flying wouldn’t make it.”
Gu Yansheng smiled, “I’m here to give you something. Ask the organization if they’re interested in sending people to represent the Kuomintang at the Wang Puppet Regime’s Sixth National Party Congress, to get seventeen or eighteen committee members in place.”
