Spy Wars: Red Shopkeeper

Chapter 98 Confrontation
When I woke up, the world changed.

The first thing Sheng Wenyi did when he took office was to have the police department and the gendarmerie close down 36 smoking dens in Zhabei Nanshi overnight.

They arrested people and seized goods, and immediately held a city government press conference, announcing that they would burn the five tons of seized opium in public to show their determination to fight drugs.

Burning opium was indeed a rare thing in Shanghai. When the reporter asked when the burning would start, Sheng Wenyi said that it would be better to do it today than to wait for another day.

Then he took the reporters to a warehouse in the suburbs, took out opium and took pictures for the reporters. After a big fire was set, thick smoke rose from the opium mountain. The scene was really spectacular. The reporters felt that if they smelled the smoke too much, they would feel dizzy and light-headed, just like what was recorded in the book, just like smoking opium.

Quite excited.

Sheng Wenyi stood in front of the burning opium mountain, raised his fist, and shouted, "On behalf of the Narcotics Control Bureau, I declare! I swear to fight drugs in Shanghai to the end!"

Reporters took photos one after another. This bold declaration immediately made the Narcotics Control Bureau famous.

At least in the next day's newspaper, some people actually thought that the city government was going to ban drugs.

It's very quick to build up a reputation this way. Sheng Wenyi is happy, but some people must be uncomfortable.

Zhang Xiaolin called Gu Yansheng to vent his anger.

"Director Gu, is Sheng Wenyi's brain out of control? He didn't even bother to talk to me and just went ahead and arrested someone. He even dared to arrest my people. After arresting them, he called me to show off and asked me to come to his house to listen to his farts. Is he smoking too much opium?"

Zhang Xiaolin was referring to the burning smoke. Sheng Wenyi was standing closest to the smoke and inhaled the most, so it definitely had an impact.

But Gu Yansheng thought about it and actually thought of something: "Don't tell me, your guess is quite accurate. I saw him at the Military Police Headquarters yesterday and I did smell the scent of Fushou Cream. This Sheng Wenyi is indeed smoking opium."

Nowadays, the price of longevity cream varies according to its quality. For example, the longevity cream that attracts the upper class must be scented. It smells like perfume when you smoke it. Different longevity creams have different scents. Scent has become a symbol of status.

Of course, Zhang Xiaolin also had this smell, because Zhang Xiaolin also smoked opium. Gu Yansheng had smelled it before. These were all old smokers who had been pickled with it.

"What exactly did he tell you on the phone?" Gu Yansheng asked the main point.

Zhang Xiaolin snorted coldly, "Humph, he wants me to go to the city government at 2 pm to listen to his lecture. Judging from his tone, he's not the only one looking for me."

"After the beating, you want to give me a sweet date?" Gu Yansheng guessed Sheng Wenyi's intentions and chuckled, "Then go and listen. I've already answered the phone, so don't keep them waiting in vain."

Gu Yansheng is not afraid of betrayal.

He wanted to keep the profits gained by the Japanese as low as possible and provide these people with relatively good conditions, but Sheng Wenyi would never do that because everyone had different goals.

"Don't go!"

Zhang Xiaolin's rage remained undiminished. "I, Zhang Xiaolin, have been in Shanghai for so long, and I've never had the despicable habit of turning the other cheek after being hit on the left! He orders me around, and what does he think he is? He's just a jerk. If I piss him off, I'll chop him up and throw him into the Huangpu River to feed the fish."

Gu Yansheng smiled and said, "Then send a younger one. Someone has to go. Just consider it a favor. I want to know how he plans to continue if you don't give him the opportunity to lose his temper."

In the afternoon, Sheng Wenyi held a meeting.

There were quite a few people sitting around the conference table. Gangs of all sizes in Shanghai had sent people. Some small gangs were afraid of Sheng Wenyi, so the gang leader in charge came himself, or at least the second-in-command would be present.

But the largest and best ones only sent a leader to listen.

Not to mention Zhang Xiaolin, even Sassoon himself would not attend such an occasion, and it would be impossible for him to admit to drug trafficking.

Sheng Wenyi was not happy to see this scene.

But it does not affect his next plan.

Still smiling, he said, "Since we're all here, let me tell you why I invited you all here. The Narcotics Control Bureau has been established to combat smuggling. From now on, the sale of smuggled opium will be prohibited in the urban areas of SH, whether it's Zhabei or Nanshi.

However, I also know that you all need to survive, so I will also give you a way out. Here is the document, you can take a look."

Sheng Wenyi waved his hand and his men began to distribute documents.

"This document explains the future drug landscape in detail. You can still sell any drug, but you have to buy everything you need from me. All categories are clearly priced. There's a price list on it for you to check out.

But I have to make one thing clear: today we are willing to sign the contract at this price. After today, one day later, the price of each item will increase by 50 cents. Please don't say I didn't say it beforehand, and don't argue later."

Among the people attending the meeting, the most anxious one was the small gang. He immediately picked up the document and took a look. When he saw the price on it, his expression changed.

"Is Fu Shou Gao charging 10 yuan per ounce from you? But Fu Shou Gao only sells for 12 yuan on the black market, and the store management fee is 100 yuan a month?"

I originally thought that Sheng Wenyi's words about leaving a way out meant there was room for negotiation, but who knew that this way out was worse than death.

The cost of purchasing the goods themselves would definitely not exceed two yuan.

"Director Sheng, this business is impossible to do. We have to make a profit of two dollars, but we still have to feed our people and feed our horses. We also have costs to run the store, such as transportation and storage. We can't even make a profit of two dollars."

"correct."

Several small gang members were shouting there.

Sheng Wenyi smiled and said, "There are gains and losses. If you come from my side, you will earn less, but it is safer. The Narcotics Control Bureau will issue you a license, and you can sell opium openly without having to hide. No police will come to bother you. Isn't it unreasonable to pay me some protection money?"

"But we won't make any money on two dollars! This isn't a matter of making less money, it's a matter of not making any money at all. We'll definitely lose money."

"Then you won't raise the price?" Sheng Wenyi glanced at him and said, "If you think there's no money to be made, you raise the price. Did I stop you?"

"If the price goes up, customers won't be able to afford it. If there are fewer people, the cost will be even higher."

"What does it have to do with me?" Sheng Wenyi's face turned cold. "I've given you the method. How much you earn is up to you. If you think it's too little, you can quit. Who the hell are you talking nonsense to me? I'm just asking you to sign or not!"

The bullying went too far. The people in the small gangs dared to be angry but not to speak out. They just kept their heads down and kept silent, because there were still the big guys around.

Seeing that they didn't speak, Sheng Wenyi looked at a few wealthy families.

He smiled and said, "What about you guys? Don't you want to sign either? I know these people are trying to make a living in downtown SH and don't have many options. Your territories all have concessions, so you all have options. So if you don't want to sign, it's okay. Just withdraw your people from the city and I'll buy the shops. I guarantee you won't lose money when you leave."

Sassoon's men were the most direct. "Excuse me, I need to go back and discuss this matter. Goodbye." Someone took the lead, and Zhang Xiaolin's men also stood up, sneering, "With such a big appetite, Director Sheng isn't afraid of getting a stomachache."

Two people stood up, and then everyone stood up and left.

Sheng Wenyi did not stop them, but simply said: "It's fine if you want to go back and ask for instructions, but the time is only one day. If I don't receive a reply before the city government closes tomorrow, and your store is still open in the city, don't blame me for using courtesy first and force later.

I hope everyone will remember what happened yesterday. I wasn't kidding you, I was serious."

"Sheng Wenyi has turned the drug business into a small profit but quick turnover business. He makes the big profits, but we make the small profits."

Sassoon Building, three people in the room, Gu Yansheng, Sassoon, and Zhang Xiaolin.

After receiving his subordinate's report, Sassoon laughed out loud. "He wants to take ten out of the twelve-dollar bill of opium. The whole of downtown SH will have to buy from him. If he doesn't agree by sunset tomorrow, he'll arrest everyone and shut down the shop."

The person most affected by this incident was Zhang Xiaolin, because his main territory was the entire SH urban area.

"That little bastard has quite a big appetite." Zhang Xiaolin just said this, without being that angry.

Because the main purpose of everyone gathering here today is not about drugs, but about the underground economy.

Sassoon and Zhang Xiaolin already knew each other. The underground money lending business required gang participation. When Sassoon and Gu Yansheng said that a large number of people would be needed and the cost would be high, they were referring to using Zhang Xiaolin's people.

Now all the staff are here.

Zhang Xiaolin's people provided channels for SH citizens who needed to exchange military notes in the market and collected them.

Once the military notes were transferred to Sassoon, they became real money.

Gu Yansheng provides legal protection and the final judgment power lies with him.

Zhang Xiaolin was so happy to be called in to participate in this business that he was not so angry about the appearance of Sheng Wenyi, the scoundrel.

Compared to drugs, this business is an exclusive one, and the market is much larger than that of drugs.

"Director Gu, what do you think about what's going to happen next? We can't just let him stay sealed forever, right?"

"I still say that value is earned through competition. If you want to have room for negotiation, you have to let the Japanese know that you have this value.

Mr. Sassoon's value lies in his status. He has foreign companies as his amulets, which is actually not bad.

But Mr. Zhang, the expeditionary force recognized your value. Now that people have changed, the military police headquarters doesn't seem to recognize you very much. They think you have too much business in your hands, so you have to let them know that there are many people who rely on you for their livelihood.

With their jobs destroyed and so many people without food to eat, it's not unreasonable to vent their anger and start some vandalism and arson. It would be best if it were foreign companies; once they're hurt, they'll unite and put pressure on them.

For the Japanese, drug profits are important, but tax benefits and image are equally important.”

Zhang Xiaolin understood and nodded thoughtfully: "Okay, leave it to me."

"Not yet." Gu Yansheng said with a smile, "Smashing, smashing, and setting a few fires won't hurt Sheng Wenyi, and neither will the Military Police Headquarters. You need to make him feel pain, and one person's shop must be smashed."

"who?"

"Fu Xiaoan, Fu Xiaoan is originally from the Sheng family. They have known each other from the beginning. He is very likely the person behind Sheng Wenyi. As long as you touch Fu Xiaoan, Fu Xiaoan will be hurt and will naturally go to cause trouble for Sheng Wenyi. He will either retreat or force Sheng Wenyi to retreat. If you destroy his shop, he will be our ally, even if he doesn't want to be one."

Zhang Xiaolin chuckled, "That's an interesting move. Okay, I'll definitely treat him well."

"Don't smash it too quickly. If he closes one of your houses, you only need to smash three of his houses."

Gu Yansheng looked at Sassoon and said, "Mr. Sassoon, there should be quite a few warehouses owned by Fu Xiaoan in the concession. Could you please burn down a few of them?"

"But he is my friend." Sassoon smiled.

Gu Yansheng also smiled: "Aren't we?"

Sassoon smiled and nodded. "It can't be helped. Who made me lose money? Accidental fires are common, and tonight seems like a good time for one."

"Okay, let's do it as planned."

This word will definitely not be signed, and everyone must be united, and no one is allowed to sign.

The next day, after the city government got off work, Sheng Wenyi waited in the office until six o'clock, but no one came.

The smile on his face is gone.

Because his subordinates told him that all the tobacco shops in the city were still open and none of them were closed, as if there had been no meeting yesterday.

"Take my words as fart."

Sheng Wenyi picked up the phone, called Lu Ying, and called the military police to arrest people and close the shop!
To catch a thief, you must first catch the leader. The first person Sheng Wenyi targeted was Zhang Xiaolin, and he wanted to strike down Zhang Xiaolin's arrogance.

Half an hour later, a large number of police appeared on the streets of the city. They rushed into the tobacco shop with sticks in their hands and began to arrest people and rob goods. The gendarmerie stood by with long guns and aimed, shooting directly at anyone who dared to resist.

The people in the opium den were subdued immediately.

Immediately afterwards, the police and the Japanese rushed to the second and third houses next door.

Two streets away, members of the Green Gang, who had received the news that the Japanese had begun to act, rushed in with sticks, targeted the British and American trading companies, and smashed the glass counters, scaring the British inside into screaming.

The Green Gang members kept shouting as they smashed things: "I am the Director of the Narcotics Control Bureau, Sheng Wenyi! I am the Director of the Narcotics Control Bureau, Sheng Wenyi!"

They smashed the door open and snatched away all the stuff, leaving the British man standing there in shock, anger and confusion, recalling, "I am Sheng Wenyi, the director of the Narcotics Control Bureau. Is this sentence considered a curse?"

They were treated okay, only the glass was smashed, but the shops related to Fu Xiaoan suffered a terrible fate. Not only was the glass smashed, paint was splashed inside the house, and even the clerks were beaten black and blue. It was because Fu Xiaoan's men were always arrogant and actually wanted to stop them from burning the shop.

After the fight, they threw it outside, doused the things in the store with gasoline and set them on fire with flammable materials. A cigarette flicked over it and the flames suddenly shot up!

(End of this chapter)