Chapter 67: Hoarding
“Is this about sharing a portion with him?”
Fu Xiao’an gave him a sidelong glance: “The deposit for twenty percent of the goods—if the Japanese get a whim one day and personally inspect, with a whole ship full of opium and weapons, do you think the share of money you’re giving him will make him let it pass?”
“Can you afford the loss?”
Sha Shun simply sat down, dissatisfied: “No need to mock me. You have a share too. You’re the mayor—if you don’t come up with a solution, what’s the point of telling me?”
Fu Xiao’an calmly said: “There’s only one method, and that’s to make the new policy fail.
Let him be replaced voluntarily, replace him with my person, who steps in to save the day, completes a few seizures—that way the Japanese will feel their goal is achieved, and they’ll hand over full power to me. Then the new policy will gradually turn into what we want, secretly cross the river—this is the long-term strategy.
At that time, even if it’s still the deposit for twenty percent of the goods, won’t it be whatever amount I say? Why give him money? What if tomorrow he comes up with a new policy on real estate—would you have to give him a share too?”
“Ideas, not nonsense, ok?” Sha Shun said.
“What’s so difficult about this? I’ll give you an idea.” On the sofa, a British person was lounging with his legs crossed, toying with a red wine glass.
He was called Kaiseke, from the Concession Public Works Bureau, mainly dealing in cotton yarn, flour, medicine, real estate.
“Didn’t he set a three-day deadline? Oh, it should be said there are two days left—once two days pass, ships that haven’t paid won’t be able to enter Wusongkou.
Since the Japanese want to do it this way, we’ll follow his approach.
Send telegrams to all ships—regardless of whether they have contraband, none enter Wusongkou; just let them drift outside.
Go outside the city to intercept all merchant convoys—all merchant convoys stop completely outside Shanghai City and don’t come in.
Supplies from outside can’t come in, all of Shanghai’s supplies are just consumables—they’ll be one day less each day.
In these two days, we’ll sweep up large quantities of scarce items on the market—salt, sugar, grain, cotton yarn, medicine, red wine, steak—all cleared out, all prices increased.
Double the price increase.
Guess who all of Shanghai’s people who can’t get these things will vent their anger at?
As long as we band together, what public opinion can’t we turn around? I think you’re just thinking too small.
This time, we can even make a fortune.”
It was a good idea—at least Sha Shun and Aili Jiali Dao Li’s eyes lit up; they exchanged a glance and could see the smiles at each other’s lips.
Hoarding and price gouging—most interesting.
But Fu Xiao’an disagreed.
“No, you’ll be comfortable doing this, but I’m the mayor—how do I explain to the Japanese?”
Kaiseke indifferently said: “Then we have no way. Who made you insist on being this mayor? Otherwise, joining us could make a fortune.”
Fu Xiao’an coldly snorted—idiot. He could think of such a lousy idea, but the cost was too high; Japanese trust was also important.
Sha Shun persuaded: “Mayor Fu, actually I think it’s not impossible. Aren’t you just afraid of Japanese punishment?
Then let’s set a deadline—half a month. Within half a month, Shanghai goods are in short supply.
At that time, you might face Japanese questioning, but you can push the cause of the problem onto us and promise to resolve it quickly.
I believe the Japanese can understand that solving things takes time.
After half a month, peace returns, all trade resumes—you’ve solved everything, the Japanese see your ability, and they’ll rely on you even more, right?
But the Japanese won’t know our timeline is half a month—every day will be torment for them. Public opinion will crush them, forcing them to compromise with us, and your goal of replacement will be achieved.
Plus, you yourself can make a fortune.
All benefits.
This is the only way to solve this matter.”
Fu Xiao’an pondered for a moment, weighing pros and cons, eyes narrowing slightly: “Good, let’s do it this way!”
Gu Yansheng very smoothly released people for two days; by today, he’d released six or seven hundred people. Every released person had a story to tell, public opinion was maintained well—everything was thriving.
During this time, Liang Youwei from Shen Bao called, saying Gu Zhuxuan’s wife agreed to pay money—as long as Gu Zhuxuan ate and slept well in prison, she was willing to pay an extra two small yellow croakers per month.
“If willing to release him, his wife said it could be increased to 30 large yellow croakers.”
“We’ll talk later.”
Releasing Gu Zhuxuan—Gu Yansheng wasn’t that short of money yet.
He made a phone call to have Gu Zhuxuan transferred from Jiangsu Second Prison to a prison in the Shanghai urban area, arranged a single room—this matter was settled.
As for seeing him, no rush—not yet time to use people.
Continue his own prisoner release plan.
Meanwhile, as goods on the market were quietly being swept up, he had no servant buying vegetables and didn’t need to worry about eating, so he was completely unaware.
Even if he occasionally heard section staff complain about something like vegetable prices rising again, this was very common in Shanghai and wouldn’t attract any attention.
It was Lu Bowen who came to him that he found out.
Office.
“Came to borrow money.”
As soon as Lu Bowen saw Gu Yansheng, he stated his purpose: “I have absolutely no money left. The Construction Bureau settlement isn’t that fast, and I can’t press them—it’d seem petty—so I’m asking you for some support.”
“How much.” Gu Yansheng was very generous.
“Uh, whatever you’re comfortable with—I estimate at least 1000 silver dollars first.”
“Not a small amount. What costs so much?” Gu Yansheng said as he pulled his wallet from his pocket. He had mostly US dollars in his wallet, but counting them, he really didn’t have enough for 1000 silver dollars’ worth.
That would be 250.
“Just 120 US dollars. You’d better come with me to the bank—giving you US dollars is a waste anyway.”
“Prices are expensive now. These people eating, drinking, shitting, and pissing all cost money, and let me tell you.”
Lu Bowen lowered his voice a bit: “I passed by Zhongye Public Office today—the futures price for cotton yarn has gone crazy. I asked those stock traders, and they said now one pack of cotton yarn is already 101 silver dollars—the cheapest kind.”
“How much?” Gu Yansheng was shocked. “A few days ago you told me 70 per pack—how is it 101 in just a few days?”
He knew cotton yarn prices rose with cold weather, but not like this.
Lu Bowen tsked and sighed: “Terrifying, right? I’m worried sick. I rushed and bought two packs yesterday, stored them in the warehouse—so now I’m broke, pockets cleaner than my face.”
“This rise is indeed too fast.”
Gu Yansheng frowned. Originally a hundred packs were seven thousand silver dollars; now ten thousand wouldn’t be enough. If buying, three thousand silver dollars would just vanish into thin air; if not buying, it might vanish even more, because he’d have to buy eventually.
“I don’t know what’s going on—not just cotton yarn rising; these two days everything’s rising in price. Vegetable prices have nearly doubled.” Lu Bowen casually complained, inquiring: “Is Shanghai going to war? Otherwise why this rise?”
“Shanghai fighting a damn war.” Gu Yansheng sneered, then frowned slightly, incredulously asking: “Wait, you mean everything’s rising in price? Not just cotton yarn?”
Seasonal items rising was one thing, but Shanghai had no conflict—Gu Yansheng was absolutely sure of that. There couldn’t be a trigger for all items to rise.
“Yeah, everything’s rising.”
“Everything’s rising—Xiao Lou, come in.”
“Division Chief.”
“Xiao Lou, do you feel prices have risen these two days?”
“They have, risen very fast.”
“What things are rising in price?”
“I feel everything’s rising in price. Even riding a rickshaw, I heard rickshaw pullers complaining that prices are high lately—they might raise fares by one or two cents.”
“I remember you live in Zhabei?”
“Yes.”
“Wen Yan.”
“Mr.”
“You live in the concession—tell me, have prices in the concession risen these two days?”
“They have. I heard my wife say when buying vegetables that vegetable prices in the concession are very expensive these two days—some things are even out of stock. She even asked me to inquire if it’s going to war.”
“Good, I understand. You all go out.”
He added a comforting sentence: “Shanghai won’t go to war—don’t worry.”
“Yes.” Wen Yan and Liu Xiaolou withdrew.
“What’s really going on?” Lu Bowen asked softly.
“Hoarding and price gouging.”
Shanghai had no conflict—combined with recent events, who was behind it was self-evident.
Gu Yansheng picked up the phone on the table, initially wanting to call Hase Jinagawa, but after thinking, he put it down first.
If foreign merchants were hoarding and price gouging, did Fu Xiao’an know?
Fu Xiao’an was mayor—whether involved or not, as long as foreign merchants did hoarding and price gouging, Shanghai prices unstable, the Japanese would definitely come to him.
“Foreign merchants’ doing, has nothing to do with you. Today is the final deadline for cargo ships to pay—playing a hand of hoarding and price gouging to force us to concede.
You go back first—these two days don’t buy cotton yarn. Watch and wait—if there’s news, I’ll notify you. No bank trip—giving you 100 first; if not enough, we’ll talk later.”
“Good, I’ll go first.”
Gu Yansheng leaned back—this matter Fu Xiao’an couldn’t have no reaction. First see Fu Xiao’an’s reaction, then decide what to do.
But preparations still needed doing.
Gu Yansheng called the Personnel Section, asked about progress recruiting for the Inspection Department.
For a section like Inspection, Personnel Section’s original stance was: recruit casually, plenty would come—a shout and people from other sections would want in.
But Gu Yansheng didn’t want that; he explicitly required posting a public announcement to recruit.
“Division Chief, many people came for investment materials—interviews can start anytime.”
“Good, I understand.”
Gu Yansheng hung up, called Wen Yan.
“Wen Yan, the section’s newly established Inspection Department—this section chief position, you take it.”
“Ah? Me?” Wen Yan’s expression was like a shrimp soldier or crab general being told to kill Tang Seng and his disciples.
That incredulous joy—truly rare in life.
Gu Yansheng walked out from behind the table, leaned against it looking at him: “You know I don’t trust many in the section—you’re one I brought in from outside. Since there’s a chance to promote you, I’ll definitely give you the opportunity.
The Inspection Department is very important—I put in no small effort to get it.
You’re an old lawyer—the issues Inspection will face, you can figure out the tricks just by thinking. Get familiar and you’ll handle it—do you have confidence?”
Wen Yan had followed Gu Yansheng precisely waiting for an opportunity.
He immediately stood at attention: “Division Chief, I will definitely do well!”
“Good.” Gu Yansheng returned behind the table, picked up the phone to call Personnel Section: “Later Wen Yan will come over—he’s the Chief of the Inspection Section. Let him select people.”
After hanging up, Gu Yansheng looked at Wen Yan: “Resumes are at Personnel Section—go get them yourself. Many want into Inspection to skim oil—judge carefully, check backgrounds thoroughly. Don’t take anyone with complicated backgrounds—I want my own people.
My requirement: within three days, at least recruit 20 tough and daring people first, form two troops. Next there might be tough battles soon—I’m short on staff. Prioritize a few with military background who know guns.”
“Yes!”
“Have General Affairs arrange an office for you—go.”
“Yes!” Wen Yan bowed and left.
Military force—Gu Yansheng definitely had to keep it in his own hands.
Dare to hoard and price gouge, then be prepared to be raided.
Better if the hoarded goods don’t include cotton yarn—eyes all turning green hoping.
