Spy Wars: Red Shopkeeper

Chapter 67 Stocking up
"Is it a question of giving him a share?"

Fu Xiaoan glanced at him and said, "A 20% deposit for the goods. If the Japanese get the urge one day to personally inspect a ship full of opium and ammunition, do you think they would dare to let you pass if you give them a share of the money?

Can you afford the loss?"

Sassoon simply sat down and said dissatisfiedly: "Don't squeeze me. You are also involved. You are the mayor. If you don't want to come up with a solution, what's the point of blaming me?"

Fu Xiaoan said calmly: "There is only one way, and that is to make the new policy fail.

Let him take the initiative to be replaced by my people, to save the situation in times of crisis and complete several detentions. Only in this way will the Japanese feel that their goal has been achieved and they will hand over power completely to me. Only then will the new policy slowly become what we want. This is the long-term strategy.

Even if it's still a 20% deposit, won't it be whatever I say? Is it worth it to give him money? If he issues a new real estate policy tomorrow, won't you have to give him another one?

"Idea, no nonsense, ok?" Sassoon said.

"That's not that difficult. I'll give you an idea." On the sofa, an Englishman was playing with a red wine glass with his legs crossed.

His name was Keswick, and he worked for the Concession Municipal Council, mainly dealing in cotton yarn, flour, medicine, and real estate.

"Didn't he give a three-day deadline? Oh, it should be two days. After those two days, any ship that hasn't paid won't be able to enter Wusongkou.

Since the Japanese want to do this, then we will do the same.

A telegram was sent to all ships, telling them that no matter whether they carried prohibited items or not, they were not allowed to enter Wusongkou and should just float outside.

Go outside the city to intercept all caravans. All caravans will stop outside Shanghai and not come in.

Since supplies from outside cannot be brought in, all the supplies in Shanghai are consumables, and they will be less every day.

During these two days, we cleared out a large amount of scarce items on the market, including salt, sugar, grain, cotton yarn, medicine, red wine, and steak. We sold them all out and raised their prices.

Doubled.

Guess who the people in Shanghai who can’t eat these things will vent their anger on?

As long as we all work together, what public opinion can't be reversed? I think you're just thinking too little.

This time, we might even make a killing.”

It was a good idea. At least Sassoon and Eli Kadoorie's eyes lit up. When they looked at each other, they could see smiles on each other's lips.

The most interesting thing is to stock up on goods at a high price.

But Fu Xiaoan disagreed.

"No, you guys are doing this for your own good, but I'm the mayor. How am I going to explain this to the Japanese?"

Keswick said indifferently, "Then we have no choice. Who told you to be the mayor? Otherwise, wouldn't you make a lot of money by joining us?"

Fu Xiaoan snorted coldly, "Idiot!" It's not that he couldn't think of such a bad idea, but the cost was too high, and the trust of the Japanese was also very important.

Sassoon consoled him, "Mayor Fu, I don't think it's impossible to do it. Aren't you afraid of the Japanese punishment?

Then let’s set a deadline of half a month. There will be a shortage of goods in Shanghai within half a month.

You may be held accountable by the Japanese at this time, but you can blame the cause of the problem on us and promise to resolve it as soon as possible.

I believe the Japanese also understand that it takes time to resolve things.

Half a month later, the world is at peace, all trade is restored, and you have solved all the problems. The Japanese have seen your abilities and will only rely on you more, right?

But the Japanese don't know that we only have half a month. Every day is torture for them. Public opinion will crush them and force them to compromise with us, and your purpose of replacing people can be achieved.

And you can make a lot of money yourself.

They are all benefits.

That’s the only way to resolve this.”

Fu Xiaoan pondered for a moment, weighing the pros and cons, and narrowed his eyes slightly, "Okay, let's do it!"

Gu Yansheng released people very smoothly for two days. As of today, he has released six or seven hundred people. Every person released has a story to tell. Public opinion is well maintained and everything is thriving.

During this period, Liang Youwei, who had applied for a prison term, called and said that Gu Zhuxuan's wife agreed to pay him money. As long as Gu Zhuxuan could eat well and sleep well in prison, she was willing to pay him an extra two small yellow croakers per month.

"If you're willing to let them go, his wife said we can add up to 30 large yellow croakers."

"talk later."

Let Gu Zhuxuan go, Gu Yansheng is not that short of money.

I made a phone call and had Gu Zhuxuan transferred from Jiangsu No. 2 Prison to a prison in downtown SH and given a separate room, and the matter was settled.

As for meeting him, there is no rush, as it is not the time to use him yet.

Continue with your plan to release people.

As for the goods on the market being quietly sold out, he had no idea because he had no servants to buy groceries and didn't need to worry about food.

Even if you occasionally hear people in the department complain about something, such as vegetable prices going up again, this situation is very common in Shanghai and will not attract any attention at all.

It was only when Lu Bowen came to find him that he found out.

office.

"I came to borrow money."

As soon as Lu Bowen saw Gu Yansheng, he explained his purpose: "I'm completely broke. The Construction Bureau isn't paying me very quickly, and I can't rush them without seeming petty. So, I'm asking for your support."

"How much do you want?" Gu Yan said in a very generous voice.

"Well, it depends on your convenience. I guess it will cost 1000 yuan first."

"That's a lot. What costs so much?" Gu Yansheng said as he took out his wallet from his pocket. There were a lot of US dollars in his wallet, but after counting them, it was not enough to pay 1000 yuan.

That's 250.

"It's only $120. You should go to the bank with me. It would be a waste to give you dollars."

"Prices are high now. These people have to spend money on food, drink, and toilet. And I tell you."

Lu Bowen lowered his voice. "I passed by the Zhongye Association today. The futures price of cotton yarn has gone crazy. I asked those who traded in the stock market, and they said that the price of a bag of cotton yarn has reached 101 yuan, the cheapest kind."

"How much?" Gu Yansheng was surprised. "A few days ago you told me it was 70 per pack, and it's already 101 in just a few days?"

I know cotton yarn prices go up with cold weather, but it shouldn't be this way. Lu Bowen sighed, "Horrible! I was so worried. I rushed to buy two bags yesterday and put them in the warehouse. So I'm broke. My pockets are cleaner than my face."

“It’s really rising too fast.”

Gu Yansheng frowned. Originally, one hundred bags cost 7,000 yuan, but now even 10,000 yuan was not enough. If he bought it, 3,000 yuan would evaporate in vain. If he didn't buy it, the evaporated amount might be even more because he still had to buy it in the end.

"I don't know what's going on. Not only has the cotton yarn gone up in price, but everything has gone up in price these past two days. Vegetable prices have almost doubled." Lu Bowen casually complained and asked, "Is there going to be a war in Shanghai? Otherwise, why are prices rising so much?"

"What kind of war is this in Shanghai?" Gu Yansheng sneered, then frowned slightly and asked in disbelief, "Wait, are you saying everything is going up in price? Not just cotton yarn?"

It’s okay for seasonal items to increase in price, but there is no war in Shanghai. Gu Yansheng is absolutely sure of this. It’s impossible for all items to increase in price.

“Yes, they are all rising.”

"Everything is rising in the small building, come in."

"Director."

"Xiaolou, do you feel that prices have gone up in the past two days?"

“It’s rising, and it’s rising very quickly.”

“What’s going up in price?”

"I feel like everything is going up in price. Every time I take a rickshaw, I hear the rickshaw drivers complaining that prices are very high recently and they might have to raise prices by a few cents."

"I remember you lived in Zhabei?"

"correct."

"Wen Yan."

"gentlemen."

"You live in the concession. Tell me, have prices there gone up in the past two days?"

"It has gone up. I heard my wife say while she was buying groceries that the prices in the concession have been very high these past few days, and some things are even out of stock. She also asked me to find out if there's going to be a war."

"Okay, I understand, you guys go out."

After saying this, he added a consoling sentence: "There won't be a war in Shanghai, don't worry."

"Yes." Wen Yan and Liu Xiaolou retreated.

"What's going on?" Lu Bowen asked softly.

“Stockpiling goods at a discount price.”

There is no war in Shanghai. Considering recent events, it is obvious who is behind this.

Gu Yansheng picked up the phone on the table and wanted to call Hasegawa Inchuan, but after thinking about it, he put it down.

If foreign businessmen hoard goods at high prices, does Fu Xiaoan know?

Fu Xiaoan was the mayor. Regardless of whether he was involved in this matter or not, as long as foreign businessmen hoarded goods and caused prices in Shanghai to become unstable, the Japanese would definitely look for him.

"This is nothing to do with you, foreign businessmen. Today is the deadline for payment of the cargo ship. They are hoarding goods at a high price and forcing us to admit defeat.

Go back first. Don't buy cotton yarn for the next two days. Wait and see what happens. I'll let you know when there's news. I won't go to the bank. I'll give you 100 first. If you don't have enough, we can talk later."

"Okay, I'll leave first."

Gu Yansheng leaned back. There was no way Fu Xiaoan would not react to this matter. He would wait and see how Fu Xiaoan reacted before deciding what to do.

However, preparation work still needs to be done.

Gu Yansheng called the Human Resources Department and asked about the progress of recruiting for the Audit Department.

Regarding the audit department, the personnel department's original statement was that if they recruited anyone, there would definitely be a lot of people coming. With just a shout, people from other departments in the department would be willing to come.

However, Gu Yansheng didn't want to do that and explicitly asked him to issue a notice to recruit people.

"Director, there are many people who want to invest, and we can start interviews at any time."

"Okay, I see."

Gu Yansheng put down the phone and called Wen Yan.

"Wen Yan, the department has established a new inspection department. You will be the section chief."

"Ah? Me?" Wen Yan's expression seemed to give the impression that he was being asked to kill Tang Monk and his disciples.

That kind of unbelievable surprise is indeed rare in life.

Gu Yansheng walked out from behind the table, leaned on the table and looked at him: "You know I don't trust many people in the department. I brought you in from outside. Since there is a chance to help you, I will definitely give you a chance.

The audit department is very important, and it took me a lot of effort to get here.

You're an experienced lawyer. You can easily figure out the tricks behind the problems you'll encounter during an audit. You'll definitely be able to get the hang of it if you get familiar with it. Do you have the confidence?"

Wasn’t Wen Yan following Gu Yansheng just waiting for an opportunity?

He immediately stood at attention and said, "Director, I will definitely do it well!"

"Okay." After returning to the table, Gu Yansheng picked up the phone and called the Human Resources Department: "Wen Yan will be here later. He will be the head of the Audit Section. Ask him to select someone."

After hanging up the phone, Gu Yansheng looked at Wen Yan and said, "The resume is in the personnel department, go get it yourself. There are many people who want to come into the audit department to make money, so you should be careful and look at their background. I don't want anyone with a complicated background. I want my own people.

My request is that within three days, you recruit at least 20 brave and capable men to form two teams. A tough battle may be brewing soon, and I'm short on manpower. Those with military backgrounds and who can handle guns will be prioritized."

"Yes!"

"Ask the General Affairs Office to arrange an office for you. Go ahead."

"Yes!" Wen Yan bowed and left.

Gu Yansheng must control the force in his own hands.

If you dare to hoard goods and sell them at high prices, you must be prepared to be plundered.

It’s best not to stock up on cotton yarn, as I’m so excited about it.

(End of this chapter)