money player

Xian Yaowen entered Jin Hai's office. Jack Perry was not there. Lu Yansu, who came to Taiwan secretly and borrowed the place to work, was there.

In front of the window of the office on the third floor, the two leaned against the window and looked at the Bank of Taiwan across the street.

"Ms. Matsuda's people dumped a body and set a fire at Fukumitsu Trading. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is investigating and the company will not be able to operate normally for a while."

"continue."

"Ms. Matsuda said that this year the league's import license for bananas is 1.5 tons, with a flexibility of 0.2 tons, and a foreign exchange budget of 400 million US dollars."

“What was the price last year?”

“15 cents to 30 cents per kilogram.”

“How do you calculate transportation losses?”

“CIF.”

"What was the loss rate of bananas shipped from Taiwan last year?"

"27.43%."

"We are exporting 1.5 tons, but we want to receive 2 tons?"

Lu Yansu nodded, "That's about right. We need to leave some margin just in case."

“Have you been to Kaohsiung?”

"went."

"What is the estimated total banana production in Taiwan this year?"

"About 2.7 tons, with a fluctuation of no more than tons."

"Has the Alliance been there?"

"When I went there, the alliance would not recognize the exporter, but only the export approval document from the government."

Last September, Taiwan and Japan signed a trade agreement, under which the two sides opened up trade in commodities such as sugar, salt, and rice. Japan imported agricultural products from Taiwan, and Taiwan imported industrial products from Japan.

Because the political legitimacy of both sides is questionable, it is difficult to conduct bilateral trade based on government-to-government basis, and it can only be carried out in the form of private trade, that is, export traders to import traders.

Theoretically, one side sells and the other side buys, it is free trade, and the amount to buy is determined by the import traders themselves. But in reality, trade is settled in US dollars, and the dollars on both sides come from "US aid." The United States half lends and half gives dollars to Taiwan and Japan in the hope that both sides will develop in the direction it needs and that the dollars should be used where they are needed most.

For example, the cars currently on sale in Taiwan include:
The three American cars, Willys Jeeps, Ford F-series trucks, and Chevrolet 3100 trucks, were strategic materials left over from World War II. There were relatively many of these three American cars, but the absolute number was not large.

The Toyota SB truck and the Nissan 180 truck are two Japanese vehicles imported in small quantities.

The West German Volkswagen Beetle and the British Austin A40 are two extremely rare European cars. Not only are they expensive, but they are also difficult to buy.

To put it bluntly, the United States hopes that Taiwan will tighten its belt and not pursue enjoyment (so as not to waste the dollars of our taxpayers), and just drive a second-hand jeep to help digest the inventory, so that the dollars can also flow back.

I want to buy a luxury car, but the government agencies can't do that. This channel can't be opened. The CIA knows exactly what the Kong and Song families did in the past few years. If the US State Department hadn't studied it, there would be no one in Taiwan who could replace Chiang's chosen son. He would have been replaced long ago. It would also be a good idea to arrest the Kong and Song families and punish them severely to get back the hard-earned money of the American people.

It is possible to buy it privately. You need to submit an application report to the Materials Bureau, prove commercial use, do the right things, and pay a high price difference. It takes one month to apply, one month to go through the process, one month to place the order, and then you can pick up the car after another three months. If nothing unexpected happens, you can drive your beloved car in half a year.

In Taiwan today, it is very easy for businessmen to prove their strength by using cars. If they travel in an Austin A40, everyone will look at them with admiration. After all, US$6500 is just the price of the bare car. If you want to get the purchase qualification, you will need extra money and connections.

A single example can tell the whole story. Through the vehicles, we can fully imagine that Taiwan’s supply of other materials is not much more abundant. The US aid to Taiwan is based on geopolitical considerations.

Just look at the world map and you will understand that this is to set up a buffer zone at the doorstep of the Soviet camp, which not only provides ready-made equipment but also helps to enhance the war potential. In the event of an accidental firing in the future, the battle will begin at the enemy's doorstep, and the homeland, as the rear area, must maintain peace.

In Europe, industrial recovery came first, followed by armament. When life got better in European countries, they began to care about the jars and cans at home. No matter how difficult it was to stop the flood of Soviet tanks, they had to do so. Otherwise, they would lose their homes and wives, and the first word their children would say would be "Ura".

When the Soviet Union was stuck in the quagmire of Europe, the United States could calmly resist the Soviet Union and aid Europe. It would be best to win in one battle, but it didn't matter if it was defeated repeatedly. It just had to grind it down slowly. Even if Europe became a mess, it would not hurt the United States at all.

The islands on the Asian side were armed first and then industrialized. As long as the island chain strategy is formed, there is no need to worry no matter how powerful the Soviet army is. The three island chains can definitely prevent the Soviet tank torrent from setting foot on the US mainland.

Out of strategic needs, the United States sincerely hopes that the industrial system of Taiwan and Japan will be established/restored as soon as possible, and has given the green light to industrial imports and exports, but has strictly controlled the import of "enjoyment". Bananas are not essential for human survival. If it were not for the fact that the Japanese diet lacks the intake of several vitamins and requires relatively cheap bananas to supplement them, the Allied Headquarters might not approve the import of bananas.

Taiwan's banana production is not even ranked high in the world, not to mention Ecuador, Honduras, Costa Rica, which are far away from the East Asia. Although bananas are abundant and cheap, the transportation losses are too great. Even the Philippines has better overall conditions than Taiwan, and it involves the interests of American capital. Logically, bananas should be imported from the Philippines, but in order to support Taiwan, Taiwan is decided to be the importer.

Therefore, although the banana trade is carried out by private capital, the total amount is limited and the bananas must be produced in Taiwan, that is, the benefits of trade must fall on Taiwan.

"Taiwanese bananas are not competitive at all in the international market. This year should be the last crop that the alliance has the final say on. Next year, the Japanese government will make its own decisions and will most likely shift banana imports to the Philippines."

Lu Yansu took a puff of his cigarette and said, "I think the shift in import direction will not happen overnight. It will take several years to slowly transition. In the next few years, Dongyang will still mainly import bananas from Taiwan, supplemented by imports from other regions."

Xian Yaowen nodded, "I agree. Dongyang's top management has their own ideas and Dongyang capital has its own interests. They will not be led by the nose by the United States. Dongyang Industry needs a key condition to rise again, a place to dump its products. The first is to enter several hot markets and get involved in competition, and the second is to explore emerging markets."

Lu Yansu looked at Xian Yaowen's face, "Mainland? Fertilizer?"

"It was not in vain that I went to the mainland." Xian Yaowen smiled faintly, "The mainland lacks a fertilizer production system and raw materials for fertilizer production. It will take a long time to be self-sufficient in fertilizer. The mainland is a piece of delicious fat meat for Toyo Chemical Enterprises."

"Will the United States agree?"

"The United States will only look at the performance of the East on 'big issues' and will not pay too much attention to small details. Moreover, the United States is also happy to see a gap between the Soviet camps, so it's no big deal to do some trade."

Lu Yansu thought for a moment and asked, "You want Zhongfeng Company to facilitate the exchange of fertilizer for bananas?"

"It's not about promoting it. Being too radical will easily lead to criticism from the United States. We can just take advantage of the situation. We don't have to make any money, or even suffer limited losses. The long-term goal is for Zhongfeng to intervene in and participate in the trade of bulk agricultural products in Asia."

Lu Yansu smiled and said, "Why do I feel so dangerous?"

“Every country has to hang on to the guise of democracy and humanitarianism. Agricultural products are directly related to human survival. We can kill as many people as we want on the battlefield, but we cannot watch civilians in hostile countries starve to death in peacetime. We must do something.

Zhongfeng Company is at risk of receiving a large fine, but you are unlikely to go to jail. At most, some countries and regions will put you on the list of unwelcome persons.

Go around when you have time, you may not have the chance to come back to Taiwan for decades."

Lu Yansu's smile became brighter. "How do we deal with that banana queen Chen Xingcun? Should we compete directly for export volume, or do something about transportation?"

"How can you, an outsider, be so confident that you can compete with the local tigers in terms of export volume? Investigate Chen Xingcun's assets and do something about the loss rate. Don't go too far, just enough. Our goal this year is to make a breakthrough."

"Why not just beat her to death?"

"A verdict requires evidence, while defamation only requires suspicion. Zhongfeng Company is bound to bear the blame, so it's better not to be too ruthless, otherwise it will give them room to pretend to be innocent and pitiful."

Lu Yansu nodded to show that he understood.

"The speed of forming the Autumn Harvest Squadron should be accelerated. Before we take action, others will teach us how to behave. Chen Xingcun is a woman who was able to gain a foothold in Shanghai during the isolated island period. We should not underestimate her."

"You don't have to look up to her, do you? Isn't she just a lackey used by the Japanese intelligence agencies to blackmail Chinese businessmen? She took advantage of both sides. For example, she took the blame for donating two airplanes to the Japanese for the Nanyang Brothers Tobacco Company. She made a lot of money from it."

Chen Xingcun was born in Hsinchu in 1909. In the late s, she married Xie Dalin, a graduate of the Taiwan Governor-General's Medical School, and accompanied him to Baihe, Tainan to open the first hospital in the area.

After giving birth to several children at home, she went to Japan alone in 1931 to study at the Tokyo Ginza Western Tailoring School. While studying abroad, Xie Dalin died suddenly. She graduated in 1935 and opened a Western-style clothing store in Taipei.

Around April 1936, Chen Xingcun went to Shanghai. In February 4, Chen Xingcun went to Guangzhou to look for his missing brother, and met the Japanese spy Xiaodao, and later they established the "South China Tobacco Transportation and Marketing Company" in Shanghai.

During this period, Chen Xingcun assisted the Nanyang Brothers Tobacco Company in coordinating with the Oriental Army, which eventually lifted the blockade and reopened the company. Nanyang Brothers Tobacco donated funds to the Oriental Army in the name of Chen Xingcun, and the latter used the funds to purchase a light bomber and a fighter. In consideration of public opinion, Nanyang Brothers Tobacco eventually named them "Xingya No. 1426 (Xingcun)" and "Patriotic No. 2550 (Xingshan)".

In addition, Chen Xingcun once signed a contract with Lieutenant Colonel Fukuyama Yoshio of Yoshino Agency in the name of Nanhua Industrial Company's general manager, agreeing to provide a loan, but it was ultimately not implemented.

In 1945, Chen Xingcun was arrested for treason and was acquitted in 1947. She then returned to Taiwan and began to engage in the banana trade exporting to Asia. In just a few years, she became the Banana Queen and almost monopolized the export of bananas to Asia.

Xian Yaowen shook his head and said, "It's not that easy to move between different forces, especially when the target is the Japanese. With the help of others, it is an indisputable fact that she will become the banana queen. Dealing with banana farmers and buyers is not an easy task.

Don't underestimate her, otherwise, you will suffer a great loss."

Lu Yansu nodded, "A lion will use all its strength to fight a rabbit. I understand." (End of this chapter)