Chapter 262: Hard Protection
Agent Headquarters.
Gu Yansheng knocked on Wu Sibao’s office door, “Sibao.”
“Hey hey.” Wu Sibao darted out, “Great Minister Gu, what’s up?”
“Follow me.”
Gu Yansheng took him to Ye Jiqing’s office.
“Division Chief Ye.”
“Mr. Gu, welcome welcome, please sit.” Ye Jiqing’s eyes lit up the moment she saw the suitcase in Gu Yansheng’s hand, beaming with smiles, “What would you like to drink? Coffee?”
“Sure.” Gu Yansheng sat on the sofa, placed the suitcase on the coffee table in front, crossed his legs and said, “One cup of coffee isn’t enough, I’m here to mooch a meal, dinner on you or not?”
“On me, how could it not be? I’m wishing you’d come eat, you should come every day.”
Ye Jiqing thought the coffee was taking too long, so she came over first to sit and chat idly, couldn’t just dive into talking about money.
“Recently I’ve been playing mahjong with those official wives who came, and when we talked about the talented young men on the Shanghai Bund, among the single ones you’re the most distinguished, several families want to introduce women to you.
Some have daughters, some nieces, and also Misses from major Shanghai families, hey, are you interested in meeting any? Just say yes, their families would definitely be satisfied with you.”
Women chattered on about this family gossip, and at the mahjong table they wouldn’t let go of any bit of news, Gu Yansheng this golden bachelor, you couldn’t find a second one on the Shanghai Bund even with a lantern.
According to the intelligence Ye Jiqing got, even Minister Zhou himself back in the day rose thanks to his wife’s family, if not for having a Shanghai Chamber of Commerce Secretary-General as father-in-law, how could he have met Chongqing high officials right after graduation, become Political Department Director in four years after graduation, with Major General rank.
But even with Major General rank, it doesn’t have as much power as Gu Yansheng’s current Minister position, this is a true dragon among men, plenty on the Shanghai Bund want to latch onto him.
Gu Yansheng laughed it off, “I like smart women, if a woman could be as clever as Division Chief Ye, then I’d consider it.”
Ye Jiqing chuckled lightly, what a sweet mouth.
“Consider what?” The door wasn’t closed, Li Shiqun walked in, “I see you come to my wife’s place more often than mine, if I didn’t have informants, I wouldn’t even know you came.”
“Haha.” Gu Yansheng was very relaxed, leaning on the sofa he said, “Division Chief Ye said she’d introduce someone to me, I said only if she picks her could I consider meeting, ones introduced by ordinary people, who knows what their intentions are, where do I have the time?”
“You should find a woman to marry, marry early, have a child early, have a son to keep my son company, but I know, people like you have too high standards, hard to find.”
Li Shiqun has a son named Li Jiansheng.
Li Shiqun sat down next to Ye Jiqing, accusing her, “You play mahjong then play mahjong, don’t randomly introduce to Yansheng, you know what people are after? This isn’t ordinary families, be cautious.”
Li Shiqun didn’t like his own woman getting involved in this, low chance of success, if it works great, but if not, if something goes wrong, it hurts feelings, totally unnecessary.
Ye Jiqing wasn’t happy, “How wouldn’t I know? I just mentioned to Yansheng there’s this thing, I’m just chatting idly I didn’t say anything else, where do you get such a big opinion?”
“Okay okay okay, you’re all right, I have business with Yansheng, you done talking?” Li Shiqun didn’t argue with a woman.
“Haven’t even started, what business?” Ye Jiqing still wasn’t happy.
Gu Yansheng smiled, “You go first, we’re not in a hurry.”
Li Shiqun hummed, “Last time I told you about Fu Xiao’an, his son was at that Sino-French Bank, the one where Du Yuesheng is the behind-the-scenes boss, remember?”
“Mm, what’s up?”
“I spent some time, planted someone inside, recently he found out, two months ago, Fu Xiao’an loaned a sum from the Sino-French Bank, total amount 15 million silver dollars, just now, he paid back 18 million.”
“So much?” Ye Jiqing widened her eyes curiously, “What did he loan so much money for?”
“Cotton yarn.” Li Shiqun replied casually: “Weren’t you all recently messing with this business together?”
Ye Jiqing suddenly understood, then said: “You think he paid back too much, something’s off?”
“It’s not that paying back too much is the problem, but why could he borrow this 15 million?”
Li Shiqun looked at Gu Yansheng, “You remember, back then Fu Xiao’an’s son had a scandal reported, we handled it personally.
After that his son was fired from the bank, Fu Xiao’an shouldn’t have the ability to borrow from the Sino-French Bank anymore, last time the Sino-French Bank loaned to him was to rescue Du Yuesheng’s steward, Wan Molin.”
Gu Yansheng got it, “You mean Fu Xiao’an is still in contact with Chongqing?”
Li Shiqun shook his head, “Contact isn’t accurate enough, last time, it could be seen as a one-time deal between Chongqing and Fu Xiao’an, one saves the man, one loans a sum.
Otherwise Fu Xiao’an absolutely wouldn’t reach the point of bankruptcy.
From this situation, we infer that Fu Xiao’an is not Chongqing’s man.
But now this situation doesn’t add up, the Sino-French Bank gave Fu Xiao’an another 15 million, so I have to ask, why?”
Ye Jiqing analyzed: “3 million interest in two months, obviously too high, so Fu Xiao’an is helping Chongqing make money?
Maybe they were just a one-time thing back then, but after one time, Fu Xiao’an tasted the sweetness, this time for stock market manipulation, needs cash, so turned to Chongqing again.
Use certain revenue and future cooperation to exchange for Chongqing’s funds.
And Chongqing, based on wanting to get something from Fu Xiao’an, gave him 15 million?”
Li Shiqun nodded as he listened, “What you said basically matches my analysis, but there’s another possibility, after last time, Fu Xiao’an already became Chongqing’s man, 15 million amount isn’t small, if not Chongqing’s man, why would Chongqing trust him, gamble so big?”
“That makes sense too.” Ye Jiqing nodded in agreement.
Li Shiqun looked at Gu Yansheng, “Do you know if Fu Xiao’an recently besides the cotton yarn matter needing money, any other places needing large funds?”
“I don’t know that, besides cotton yarn business I don’t usually deal with him, you know, I used to not get along with him.” Gu Yansheng sneered.
Thought and said: “But recently besides cotton yarn needing money, other places probably don’t need such large funds, 15 million, what business needs that much money?”
Li Shiqun nodded, pondered, “If it’s just cotton yarn matter, then using Chongqing’s money to make money for himself and Chongqing, there must be a deal inside, otherwise I can’t think of other explanations.”
People in this line are somewhat paranoid, have to get to the bottom of things, if Gu Yansheng were in Li Shiqun’s position, having just gotten the merit of breaking the Military Statistics Bureau Shanghai District, no performance pressure from the Japanese side, as a traitor, why bother fixating on Fu Xiao’an.
Key is Fu Xiao’an isn’t ordinary.
“Actually if you say this must be related to Chongqing, I don’t think so, there’s another explanation, Fu Xiao’an faced bankruptcy risk back then, normal couldn’t loan out, but later didn’t he get through it?
Had assets on hand, made money these days, wants to do something big in the stock market, needs funds so borrows from Sino-French Bank, that’s normal business dealing, Sino-French Bank has no reason not to do it, just charge higher interest.
3 million, two months time, if I were the bank manager, no reason not to do it.”
Gu Yansheng defended Fu Xiao’an again.
Li Shiqun thought and shook his head, “You’re thinking too simply, normal business dealings can indeed happen, but the problem is the behind-the-scenes boss of Sino-French Bank is Du Yuesheng, 15 million loan, does a manager have authority? Wouldn’t it need to go to the bank’s board of directors?
Du Yuesheng though not in Shanghai, the board definitely has his people, even the manager himself is Du Yuesheng’s man.
Then Fu Xiao’an comes to loan, wouldn’t Du Yuesheng think of using him to do something?
If it were me, Fu Xiao’an comes to loan, hold him up, propose conditions, help me do something, then I’ll loan to you.”
“Possible.” Gu Yansheng nodded.
Li Shiqun grew suspicious, this kind of suspicion couldn’t be dispelled, after so long, had to dig out Fu Xiao’an’s identity.
“So what do you want to do?”
“It’s just hard to handle.”
On this issue, Li Shiqun smiled bitterly and sighed, “Fu Xiao’an really hard to deal with, connections too broad, knows Japanese high-level too, but”
Li Shiqun paused, leaned forward with playful eyes, “Central China Dispatch Army Headquarters now reorganized into China Dispatch Army Headquarters, I heard his backer was transferred back to Mainland Japan, current Commander Nishio Shozo, Chief of Staff Itagaki Seishiro.
These are all just transferred from the mainland, not old hands from Central China Headquarters, you think this isn’t an opportunity?”
“You came prepared.” Gu Yansheng smiled, “You want to report him to the top level?”
Li Shiqun didn’t deny, “Can’t let him be blocked by his old backer’s disciples and followers.”
Gu Yansheng thought and said: “I don’t agree with this matter.”
“Why?”
Gu Yansheng defended Fu Xiao’an again, damn it, sooner or later collect protection fee from this old bastard.
No way, who let this target stand there, Li Shiqun just wants to hit this bullseye.
Gu Yansheng didn’t speak, leaned forward and opened the two suitcases in front, turned them toward them.
“One is ten US dollars, your principal, one is twenty US dollars, your profit this time.”
Gu Yansheng looked at the few with sunken eyes, especially Wu Sibao, grinning ear to ear.
Grabbed handfuls, very excited, “I knew as soon as you come something good, haha, double, how long has it been?”
“Two months.” Ye Jiqing chimed in, smiling reservedly, “Mr. Gu, you’re turning stone to gold, your eye for making money is spot on, too spot on.”
“Just double, not much.” Gu Yansheng was modest.
“Seems not much, but I remember cotton yarn futures recently rose several times.” Wu Sibao straight-talking with a missing string in his brain, didn’t realize this was suspecting Gu Yansheng.
But Ye Jiqing reacted fast, glared, “Sibao, whatever Mr. Gu says is what it is.”
Gu Yansheng rolled his eyes, “What are you imagining, would I cheat you out of money?
This matter is a long story, back then I did say three to five times profit to you, but now market trend has issues, so had to end early.”
Gu Yansheng explained the Japanese involvement.
“I’m conservative, money without guarantee I’d rather not earn, Japanese if pull some dirty trick, forced requisition, then we really could lose everything, so I took profit while good.
Here is double, I rounded it up, Fu Xiao’an himself doesn’t even have double.”
“So that’s it.” Ye Jiqing suddenly understood, she thought so, the God of Wealth isn’t that kind of person.
“Sibao, apologize to Mr. Gu, think before you speak from now on!”
Wu Sibao felt wronged, “No need to apologize for this, I didn’t suspect you shorted me money, because I watch the stock market, I just feel it should be more, my mouth was fast said it out, just asking, not suspecting, Great Minister Gu, you get me.”
Gu Yansheng gave him a sneering look, “Market making has costs, don’t we in partnership bear that too? He less than double, we double is good.”
“Got it got it.” Wu Sibao nodded repeatedly, eyes rolled, smiled and asked, “Then next continue short selling ah, follow Japanese make another haul, isn’t that free money?”
Ye Jiqing also puzzled, “Yeah, continue ah.”
Gu Yansheng raised hand shook finger, “Fundamental difference, this time we went long, we operated the market ourselves, 100% win, so we dared bet big.
But now not us operating the market, I don’t want to touch it.”
“Understand.” Ye Jiqing nodded, she liked the God of Wealth’s steadiness, either don’t act, act then sure to make money.
“Japanese forced requisition, isn’t that a sure thing to make money, also 100% win, you’re too cautious.” Wu Sibao complained.
“You still questioning Mr. Gu.” Ye Jiqing mocked.
“Enough, you chat later, business, you just said disagree, related to this money?” Li Shiqun still waiting to hear the rest.
Gu Yansheng hummed, tapped the money box: “One thing say it here, don’t spread it out okay, this deal not only us participated, Minister Zhou also participated, and not small amount.”
Li Shiqun and Ye Jiqing exchanged a look, listened quietly.
Gu Yansheng continued: “If you poke this to headquarters top level, Japanese likely agree to your investigation, regardless if Fu Xiao’an is Chongqing’s man or not, Minister Zhou’s matter will be dragged out, our group making money together will also be dragged out.
Now Japanese forcing grain requisition, Shanghai already boiling with public resentment, have you thought, once Japanese forced requisition cotton yarn too, cotton yarn market crashes, stock market crash very likely comes again.
Captain Wu should know, now a large part of stock market buzz is pulled up by cotton yarn related industries.”
Wu Sibao nodded, “That’s right.”
“And once it collapses! Stock market widespread misery, plus grain public resentment boiling, then Shanghai economy even more depressed, don’t Japanese have reason to clean us up?
The list is you handing up yourself!
Then you not only no merit, but get punished, with those Japanese-funded enterprises people’s greed, whether we keep our earned money is another story.
He says we damaged Shanghai’s economy, need compensation, what do you do?”
Ye Jiqing upon hearing got serious face, “Shiqun, this matter can’t be said, with Japanese character, definitely make us spit it out, and most important, if Minister Zhou knows it’s us informing that caused it, we’re done, you still want good days after?”
“I also think can’t say.” Wu Sibao fully agreed, “Father’s money can’t be taken by them, not to mention earned twenty, he might even make us spit twenty more, this money how it came hard to explain.”
Li Shiqun frowned deeply sighed, “This matter I thought too simply, if so, even Fu Xiao’an can’t be investigated.”
Gu Yansheng nodded, “Investigating him originally full of trouble, end up not getting any good.”
“Don’t investigate, drop it.” Wu Sibao not willing to bother, “This time better think how to make more money.”
“You idiot.” Li Shiqun rolled eyes, really not worth the extra words.
“Why curse me?” Wu Sibao still unhappy.
“Enough, go eat, Minister Gu, got time?”
“Of course, I came to mooch meal originally.”
“Haha, let’s go.”
After meal, back to 76.
Li Shiqun called the still sulking Wu Sibao.
“Call you idiot, you’re unhappy, you only know making money, with your pocket change when can you get rich?
I see you got some money in pocket, temper worse and worse, even dare give me face during meal, what, can’t I curse you now?”
“Don’t I want face!” Wu Sibao now with money in pocket temper big, “Open mouth idiot shut mouth idiot, can’t you speak normally or you’ll die.”
“Not satisfied huh? Fine, I ask you, who is richest in all Shanghai?”
“Fu Xiao’an ah, so what?”
“Then why do I go after him? You think just to catch Military Statistics Bureau?
You turn him into Military Statistics Bureau, during arrest, how many of his industries pass through our hands? You still don’t get why I go after Fu Xiao’an?”
Wu Sibao reined in anger, “So you go after Fu Xiao’an for his money?”
Li Shiqun snorted laugh, “You know how much assets he has? Shanghai’s richest!
Hear what Gu Yansheng said just now, just this cash earned over 50 million silver dollars!
If really catch him, this wave to our hands at least 30 million start!
Isn’t this way better than you frying those junk stocks?”
Wu Sibao sucked cold air, this talk really right, though he wouldn’t admit stocks are junk, that’s good stuff, just now capital small.
Thought a bit he lost interest, “Old Gu just said, can’t touch Fu Xiao’an, good you didn’t move, otherwise we’d all be screwed.”
Li Shiqun didn’t want to argue with him, calmly said: “Called you for this matter, since person can’t be publicly tried, then no trial, find some veterans, 24/7 follow him, at right time, we kidnap him, force out the assets, kill him directly.”
Killing Wu Sibao had no qualms, just felt not easy.
“We investigated Fu Xiao’an, he has his own bodyguards around, plus gendarme protection, even tracking hard to follow, killing even no chance.”
Fu Xiao’an around besides his own bodyguards, just gendarmes twelve, when Nanjing backer still there, headquarters specially approved for him.
Now except when working at city government alone, travel with gendarme convoy protection, can’t get close at all, back home, gendarme plus bodyguard guards.
Fundamentally no chance to strike, this when Li Shiqun first interested in Fu Xiao’an, already fully checked.
“You know that huh.”
“Of course I know, let you track is to find opportunity, record all his whereabouts, put in big effort to grind, following him find his weakness is one aspect, from him maybe we find other Military Statistics Bureau clues.
Think, Military Statistics Bureau contacting him, level can be low? Can’t try him, doesn’t stop us fishing ah.
Besides, several tens of millions, not worth our effort?”
“Okay, got it.” Wu Sibao indeed tempted.
