Spy Wars: Red Shopkeeper

Chapter 82 Procurement
But I don’t know if this $800 million gap is enough even if we add all the annual profits of these businessmen!
Although the actual loss is certainly not that much, the 800 million is just the amount of less profit after not calculating the hidden costs, but less profit is still a loss. With the 800 million in profits being drained, I don't know how many people will withdraw from the medical black market, resulting in the shrinking of the market, and it will be even more impossible to complete the task.

There is no good banquet, and Ding Moqun instinctively felt that it was impossible to win favor with Mitsui.

"That's probably going to be very difficult."

Sato Qingjian saw Ding Moqun's expression and knew that he had no choice, so he looked at Gu Yansheng.

Smiling, he asked, "Director Gu, with your abilities, there's nothing you can do, right?"

Gu Yansheng frowned and thought hard, concentrating on thinking carefully, racking his brains, and then slowly shook his head: "I'm afraid I will disappoint President Sato. I really can't think of a solution for the time being."

Ten tons of quinine, I have to find it for you just by opening my mouth, why?
Sato Qingjian sighed regretfully, "With both of you having this attitude, it seems this matter is indeed very difficult. Of course, I also know it's difficult, otherwise I wouldn't have come to you two. So, let's put it this way."

Sato Qingjian paused and looked at the two with eyes full of expectation: "Five tons, how about you two join forces to help me get five tons of goods?"

"Five tons? Tsk." Ding Mocun was a little annoyed and helpless. "President Sato, you think too highly of Shanghai's black market traders. Given their level, I think 500 kilograms a year is a lot. The price of quinine is not something that ordinary people can afford."

"That's why I found you two and asked you to control the black market and let those merchants import the goods I want."

Sato Qingjian said calmly: "Don't think this is my personal matter.

In fact, the headquarters has taken the lead in passing the Central China Pharmaceutical Control Order, requiring the control of all pharmaceutical businesses in the occupied areas, but this document has not yet been publicly issued.

If you two help me accomplish this, both I and the headquarters will be greatly rewarded."

Ding Mocun wasn't interested in the benefits he couldn't get. He shook his head slightly to express his regret. "It's not that we don't want to help, it's just that it's really difficult to do. Director Gu, what do you think?"

Gu Yansheng also shook his head: "It's too difficult."

"Is it really that difficult?"

Sato Qingjian looked worried: "Although there is not so much quinine in Shanghai now, one of you controls the Judicial Department and the other controls the Special Agent Headquarters. Is it impossible to control the underground market in Shanghai?

You say you can't do it without even trying. Is it that you two can't do it, or do you just not want to help?
This last time, each of you must at least get a ton of quinine, otherwise I will have to think that you two are serving the Empire of Japan with dishonesty!"

Ding Moqun's expression suddenly changed, and his face darkened. Who could have expected that the meal would be so unpalatable?

He held back his anger and cried out, "President Sato, it's not that we don't want to help, but this request is really too much to ask. We can control the underground merchants in Shanghai, but we can't stop them from doing business at a loss, right?

Killing people is not enough, and they keep paying money. So they can choose to quit and change their careers, right?

How do we manage this?
We caught the man red-handed and confiscated the warehouse on the spot. No problem. If we don't do this again, the other party will not be happy, so we will arrest him. Not to mention that it is not justified.

If you force someone to smuggle, won't they just run away? We can't just follow them into smuggling, right? And once we leave Shanghai and go abroad, who knows who's forcing whom.

Is this true?
In this day and age, who among those who are capable of transnational smuggling is a good person? "

Sato Qingjian said with a stern face, "If it's easy, wouldn't I do it myself? Didn't I ask you two to come here to help me solve the problem? I hope you can understand that this is an order from the military, and even if you can't do it, you have to find a way to do it!"

Snapped.

Gu Yansheng slammed the small wine glass in his hand onto the table. The sound was not loud, but it was obviously louder than the volume it usually made when it was placed there steadily.

Gu Yansheng made no secret of his dissatisfaction, and met Sato Qingjian's gaze with a stern face: "President Sato, Director Ding and I are officials of the municipal government, not servants of your family.

If you want to give orders, please issue them through official documents from the municipal government, you can contact the Military Police Headquarters, you can contact the Consulate in Shanghai, or even the military can send a document directly to my desk.

"They're approaching us privately without going through official documents and just threatening us. It's not necessarily all official business, is it?"

Yes, Ding Moqun was suddenly awakened. He came here to eat today, not to work. It was an accident and he almost got dragged into a ditch.

Sato Qingjian looked at Gu Yansheng's expression for a while, then smiled and said, "Director Gu is indeed very quick-witted. You are right. I did not directly go through the official document because of some personal matters of mine.

It wouldn't be too late to tell you about this after you've achieved great results, but since you asked, I can tell you now.

After you collect quinine, all materials must be sent to the judicial department or the municipal government warehouse in the name of sealing and seizing foreign medicines.

Next, you will hold an auction for the seized supplies, and these supplies will be bought by a company I found someone to set up. This company will then be included in the military's medical department's procurement list. As for the reason for doing this.

No one can be sure of the medicinal properties and authenticity of medicines on the black market. In order to prevent the anti-Japanese armed forces from poisoning the medicines or causing other sabotage, the military has issued a clear order that all military supplies must not be purchased from the black market or individuals.

So this is the only way I can do it, so that the quinine provided by the municipal government can enter the army. Do you understand?
Of course, I admit that I will make a little money along the way, but this is a matter between me and the military, and has little to do with you."

This makes sense. The motive is hidden, and it seems that it is to pay for the Japanese army's military expenses.

Just say it out loud, there's nothing to be ashamed of.

Gu Yansheng thought for a moment and said, "Since this is a personal matter, I'm sorry I can't help President Sato with this. I'm too busy with official duties to take care of other things."

Sato Qingjian immediately said, "Mr. Gu, don't be so hasty to refuse. You are not working in the new government for the sake of a few dozen dollars a month, right?
First, I will give you a corresponding commission from the profits of this batch of drugs. Two tons of quinine a year, even a one-point return is not a small number, enough for the two of you to live a luxurious life in Shanghai.

Second, this is what the military needs. As long as you complete this task, you will gain the recognition of the military. This will undoubtedly be of great help to your future career. You have the potential to be one step ahead at any time.

Thirdly, Mitsui will also be a strong supporter of your future work and life. Only hard work will bring rewards, and only hard work will bring success, right?"

Finally he showed me his real money, but just now he wanted to get it for free.

"Can you tell me what price you plan to sell it to the purchasing department?" Gu Yansheng was really curious about how much kickbacks Japan gets from purchases.

"This shouldn't be a secret, right? As long as we participate, the auction will definitely have a price."

"I can tell you that according to the current price of quinine, one gram of quinine is one gram of gold. I need you to control the merchants and make this price one gram of quinine is three grams of gold.

Then they sell it to the military at a fair price under the pretext of scarce supplies, and the military's purchase fees are nominally returned to the foreign companies. Everything goes smoothly, there will be no disputes, and no one will be held accountable."

Buy at 20% and sell at 300%, making a profit of 1,500%. Mitsui is really ruthless when it comes to spending military funds.

Gu Yansheng nodded: "Then if we help President Sato complete this task, how much will our reward be?"

"Director Gu is very straightforward."

Sato Qingjian smiled and said, "How about this, your starting target is two tons. For less than two tons, I'll give you one point. For between two and five tons, I'll give you two points. For more than five tons, I'll give you three points. The more you get, the more I'll give you. Is this a good price?"

"Auction price?"

"The auction price, of course."

Two tons of quinine, if auctioned at the price of six tons of gold, would be $6 million, or 2.12 million, meaning each person gets $60,000.

"Director Ding, what do you think?" Gu Yansheng asked.

Of course Ding Mocun was tempted. If one person could get one ton, he would earn 60,000 US dollars. Especially since most of his property had been confiscated by Chiang Kai-shek, he couldn't take extra things with him when he fled.

"If it's one ton, I think I can give it a try."

"Then let's give it a try?" Gu Yansheng is now also interested in this matter.

"Try it." Ding Moqun also laughed.

"Yes, there's no harm in trying, hahahaha." Sato Qingjian was in a good mood and raised his glass. "Then I'll leave it to Director Gu and Director Ding."

Gu Yansheng also raised his glass: "We will try our best, but if we fail, President Sato, please don't blame us."

"That's definitely not the case. Man proposes, God disposes."

"That's right. President Sato may need to provide the capital first so that we can negotiate with the businessman."

"Sure, $400,000 for two tons of cargo. Ask me for more if you're short of money."

(End of this chapter)