Chapter 83: Telegram
The banquet ended.
They weren’t close before coming, but after this incident, Gu Yansheng and Ding Mocun’s relationship has become much more familiar.
The two chatted beside the car.
Ding Mocun apologized first: “Speaking of this matter, I let you down, brother. I originally thought Sato wanted to meet to talk stocks with you. I really didn’t expect there would also be the medicine matter.”
Gu Yansheng waved his hand. “The Medicine Control Order has already been issued. The Japanese have been planning this for more than one day. Even if you didn’t find me, I estimate we’d be called over in a few days anyway. It’s unavoidable with our positions, Director Ding needn’t take it to heart.”
“That’s true, but this matter is ultimately my fault. One of these days, brother will host a banquet to make amends to you. By the way, it wasn’t convenient to ask inside—what does Brother Gu think about this matter?”
This capital punishment business has takers, but the money-losing business, no one wants to touch. To make the black market merchants comply, Ding Mocun knew just thinking about it that it wouldn’t be that easy.
“What’s the rush? Doesn’t delivery have a year? Take it slow. Whether there’s a plan or not, we have to agree. What, do we really have to offend Mitsui’s people and let the Military Department pressure us? Then don’t even think about a single cent of hardship fee.”
“That’s true. Right now, we still have some initiative in our hands.”
As Ding Mocun spoke, he was a bit distracted. Agreeing to this matter was not just for the money; there was another reason. If he refused, the Japanese might go to Li Shiqun instead. With Mitsui’s backing, wouldn’t Li Shiqun gain wings? He’d really be crapped on from above at Agent Headquarters.
He had to agree.
And do this matter beautifully.
Gu Yansheng thought and said: “Let me think about this matter first. My Judicial Department also has a pile of things. Once I have some free time, I’ll sit down and think carefully. By the way, does your Agent Headquarters have any materials on this? If so, send them over. Didn’t you catch a bunch of Military Statistics Bureau agents? They should be black market regulars.”
Ding Mocun thought and nodded. “I’ll check on this when I get back. If there’s news, I’ll notify you.”
“How’s the Shanghai Military Statistics Bureau pursuit going now?” Gu Yansheng took the chance to ask about the Military Statistics Bureau’s current situation.
In this conversational setting, Ding Mocun had no guard up. “A few leaders are still on the run, but we’ve confirmed they’re in the concession, even locked down the Shanghai District Chief’s position. But Gendarmerie Headquarters won’t let us carry guns and cause disputes with concession people, so we surprisingly still can’t catch them.”
“Secret arrest.” Gu Yansheng tilted his head—that was perfectly obvious.
Ding Mocun shook his head. “Can’t do a secret arrest. That district chief has at least six bodyguards daily. Without guns, who arrests who?”
Now the guy’s openly living in the concession, even comes out for strolls when nothing’s up. If in a couple days he puts out a press release or speaks, he’ll practically become the spiritual pillar of the fugitive Military Statistics Bureau. Isn’t that just telling everyone outright he’s fine?
“Tch, let’s go.”
Gu Yansheng mocked as he headed home.
Medicine black market—this had medicine plus smuggling channels, and the boss very thoughtfully gave a one-year, two-ton grace period. Gu Yansheng really couldn’t find a reason not to take this mission.
The next morning in the office, Gu Yansheng first called Lu Bowen.
The best timing was about to pass. Once they finished the press conference, cotton yarn prices would surge.
“How’s the goods collection?”
“Rushed day and night, all collected and warehoused by this morning.” Lu Bowen took a sip of water, his expression excited from not sleeping for a long time, put down the cup and said:
“Cotton yarn prices started rising yesterday afternoon. Rumors leaked that the Japanese Army might not confiscate, so some merchants held back wanting to wait more. Good thing you reminded timely—I finished the bulk during the day, only the small part at night, bargaining and hauling, so busy all night.
Didn’t rise much—about 3000 US dollars worth, bought at 40 to 45.”
“Hard work. Haven’t slept in a while?” Gu Yansheng asked with concern.
“No problem.” Lu Bowen grinned brightly: “Just completing this mission means our fighters’ winter clothes are set. Me not sleeping a couple days is nothing. Let me tell you, you absolutely can’t imagine how much cotton yarn inventory we have now.”
“How much?”
“Over 7800 bales—by weight, over 1400 tons! Haha, too much! The warehouse is piled layer on layer full of cotton yarn, warm.” Lu Bowen looked satisfied.
Gu Yansheng was also pleased and said: “How much belongs to us?”
Lu Bowen toned down his smile. “I calculated—the average price is 27. Per your instructions, Number 76’s proportion is four million US dollars, so their quantity should be around 5800 bales, not reaching 5900. So what belongs to Director Gu is over 1900 bales.
Pulling it all away to the organization doesn’t feel right. If there’s buying, there must be selling, so I think we need to control this quantity. Specifically, what do you think is appropriate?”
Gu Yansheng scoffed. “Helping them make money without hardship fee? What 27—it’s 35. Recalculate. At this price, once sold, I’ll still ask them for a labor fee.”
“Okay.” Lu Bowen smiled, picked up paper and pen from the desk, calculated finely and said: “If by 35, then our hoarded amount should be just over 6000 bales, theirs around under 4600.”
“That’s about right. Doesn’t that leave an extra 1800 bales balance? 1000 bales to the organization—enough for 100,000 people. The remaining 800 is me corrupting their share. What can they do if they find out? Anyway, saying 27, they’ll think deep down I took extra—no difference.”
Lu Bowen gave a thumbs up: “Director Gu, brilliant move.”
Gu Yansheng chuckled: “Have He Yun make an account book—good enough to pass, doesn’t need to be too accurate. Also, arrange the warehouse by quantity—which are ours, which theirs, which for home base. Numbers must match.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll handle this when I get back. One more thing.”
Lu Bowen leaned in and whispered: “This time we completed the mission over half a month ahead of the organization’s schedule. Leaving the goods in Shanghai, I’m afraid of long nights breeding dreams. Plus, the sooner it gets to the troops, the sooner they can wear clothes. Some units are freezing in the mountains. So I plan to activate the radio, report to the organization to pick it up early. What do you think?”
Gu Yansheng thought seriously, assessed the risk, and finally nodded: “Okay. Risk of reporting now isn’t big. Our radio’s in the concession—Number 76 temporarily can’t enter with guns. No life danger, as long as the radio isn’t located. What does He Yun say?”
He Yun doubles as radio operator.
“No problem from her. She practices blind typing when idle—skills aren’t rusty.”
“Okay, set a time. I’ll come guard for you. If something happens, I’m there—no fear.”
“How about exactly 8 p.m. tonight?”
“Fine.”
“One issue—we both have to go out. Your assistant?” Lu Bowen glanced at the door—that was eyes, both benefit and inconvenience.
Gu Yansheng nodded he understood. “I’ll handle it. You do your thing.”
“Then no problem. I’ll head out, sleep some, recharge for tonight. Gone.” Lu Bowen smiled.
Nine-thirty, Liu Xiaolou shouted outside: “Mayor Fu.”
Since Gu Yansheng took office, this was Fu Xiao’an’s first time entering the Judicial Department.
No matter how fiercely they fought before or will after, today was all happy.
“Yansheng, busy?”
“Mayor.” Gu Yansheng put down the file he’d just picked up to pretend upon hearing the shout, after a few seconds of playacting, and walked out briskly: “Is it time?”
“Still a bit. Haven’t visited the Judicial Department since taking office. Today perfect to look around, and chat with you about something.”
Gu Yansheng nodded, waved Liu Xiaolou out. “Have a seat.”
“No sitting, just a few words.” Fu Xiao’an stood with hands behind back, paused and smiled: “Later at the press conference, trouble you to say a few morale-boosting words—for Shanghai’s economic development.”
Gu Yansheng acknowledged: “I know how to say it.”
“Good. One more thing—these two days, two friends of mine wanted to buy some cotton yarn, but unexpectedly someone beat them to it in the market.” Fu Xiao’an smiled faintly: “I hear this person knows Director Gu.”
No point hiding such things—who doesn’t know who. Gu Yansheng nodded generously and admitted: “Yes, acquainted. Does the mayor have instructions?”
“Not instructions, just lately—could you trouble your friend not to dump? I persuaded the concession merchants, took some effort, made promises. They have stakes in the futures market. Your friend’s holding quite a bit now—dumping all at once could spark panic.”
Gu Yansheng got it—foreign merchants wanted to cut futures market losses.
“I can talk to him about this, but he has partners in this business. You know merchants value money—gotta give a timeline?”
“Foreign merchants plan to pull cotton yarn futures price above 100. Have your friend sell then—definite profit. I can promise too—if somehow doesn’t sell, my friends will take at 100 bottom line. How’s that?”
“Then I think he’ll definitely have no problem.”
“Hahaha, good. Let’s go—tour around, then to the meeting.”
