Espionage, codenamed Ant, moving expert

The speedboat pulled up next to a warship anchored at sea.

A rope ladder was lowered from the ship, and Chen Zheng climbed up it.

Two other warships were anchored near this one.

The constant smoke billowing from the warship's smokestacks indicates that the ship's boilers are always running and it is ready to set sail at any time.

As Chen Zhenggang stepped onto the warship, a Japanese colonel, accompanied by two lieutenant colonels and three majors, greeted him with a cheerful smile.

Behind the six men was a man wearing a Japanese naval cap and civilian clothes, who shouted to Chen Zheng from a distance in Chinese:

"Boss Chen, this is Colonel Goto, who has come to greet you on the orders of General Tomiyama."

Boss Chen has quite the influence!

Chen Zheng didn't greet Goto at all, but instead asked the person who spoke:

"Who are you? How do you know me?"

The other person took off his military cap, revealing a standard middle-part hairstyle, commonly known as the "traitor's hairstyle."

"My name is Ding Lianghong. I graduated from the Imperial University of Tokyo with a major in finance. I am currently a translator at the Shanghai office of the Japanese Navy."

My family business has a certain influence in Japan. Boss Chen can just call me Liang Hong.

"Oh, it's Xiao Ding. This must be Colonel Goto, right? Please tell him that I get seasick and need to be taken ashore quickly so that General Terauchi won't worry."

Ding Lianghong's lips twitched. This guy surnamed Chen calling him Little Ding was simply outrageous!

A businessman, relying on his work for the Japanese, became incredibly arrogant.

I also work for the Japanese, and it's a very important translation job. I earn over 100 Japanese yen a month!

If I earn some extra money, I can easily make three or five hundred every month!

I don't know what the Japanese were thinking, sending out dozens of speedboats just to find this guy surnamed Chen. What can he possibly do?

They can't even speak Japanese, so I have to translate for them.

Although he was dissatisfied, he still had to continue his work, as Chen Zheng, the translator for Goto, said.

By subtly adding my own opinion and changing the tone, it became like this:

"Xiao Ding, tell those guys in the Navy, especially Goto, that I'm seasick and they need to get me back to shore immediately. Otherwise, you'll see if Terauchi causes trouble for the Navy."

I thought Goto would be angry. The Navy and the Army don't get along. He really doesn't respect Army Lieutenant Generals and Navy Colonels.

To everyone's surprise, Goto wasn't angry at all; instead, he smiled and said:

"General Toyama sent me here on orders from the Navy Ministry. After we finish discussing the matter, I will send Chen Sang back."

As for the temple, ignore them. The army is hopeless; they're not worthy of being compared to the navy.

Ding Lianghong didn't dare to add his own interpretation to Goto's words, and translated them verbatim for Chen Zheng to hear.

He realized that the Navy was likely seeking something from the man surnamed Chen.

In that case, I need to translate carefully from now on and dare not include any personal opinions.

Through the conversation, Chen Zheng learned that the renovation of Shanghai had already attracted great attention in Japan.

In particular, after those large Japanese families and corporations returned to Shanghai, a massive amount of resources began to flow back to Shanghai.

The Navy's plan to build six more battleships was actually rejected!

The reason is that the Ministry of Finance has just allocated two sums of money to Shanghai, and more funds will be allocated later, so the Navy's budget can only be delayed for the time being.

For the first time, the Navy's budget for warship construction was rejected, the reason being that Shanghai was too dominant.

A high-ranking official suggested that if half of the funds allocated to Shanghai were used, it would be enough for the navy to build six more battleships.

How to get it from the army is a problem.

The army idiots would definitely not agree; they'd rather spit out a piece of meat that's already in their mouths than give it up.

Some have suggested that since the Lu Junmalu approach is not viable, why not try to reach out to Chen Zheng, a key figure in the transformation of Shanghai?

A businessman is easy to manipulate.

Tell him to stop constantly pressuring the army for money so that the Navy can then ask higher-ups for help.

This task ultimately fell to Commander Tomiyama, the naval commander stationed in Shanghai.

Tomiyama sent people to look for Chen Zheng, but they didn't even get to see him.

As soon as the naval personnel landed and appeared near the Miki Trading Company, Special Higher Police officers would immediately appear to obstruct them.

The Army Ministry had anticipated that these fools would approach Chen Zheng as soon as it learned that the Navy Ministry's budget had been rejected, and had made arrangements accordingly.

The fighting in Shanghai was fierce last night, and this morning there were rumors that Chen Zheng had gone missing. Fu Shan felt this was an opportunity.

If Chen Zheng is merely missing, he can be found quickly.

The Navy needs to go ahead of the Army, find Chen Zheng, and talk to him.

All we need to do is slow down the pace of the Shanghai renovation project and get the higher-ups to approve the Navy's plan to build six battleships.

If Chen Zheng dies, the Navy will have to change its plans, see who will take over, and then make further arrangements.

Goto didn't hide anything and told the whole story.

In his view, the fact that the Navy Ministry sat down to talk with a Chinese businessman was already giving the other party enough face.

After listening to Ding Lianghong's translation, Chen Zheng immediately stated that he would go back and tell General Terauchi about it.

Goto immediately objected:

"Mr. Chen, the Navy's intention is that this matter should not be known to the Army's idiots."

You can do it secretly, find excuses, give reasons, or even complain.

As long as the renovation of Shanghai is suspended, the Navy will certainly treat you well.

From now on, the merchant ships of the Miki Trading Company will have unimpeded access to Japan.

If necessary, the Navy can provide escort for your merchant ships.

Chen Zheng stroked his chin and said:

"Let me think. The sewer renovation is about to be completed. According to General Terauchi, the next step will be a super huge project."

The required funds are enormous; Japan will need to prepare for several years!

The business plan is all written, and it's about to be implemented. It wouldn't be right to do nothing now!

Hearing that the upcoming project was enormous, Goto couldn't help but ask:

"Mr. Chen, what is this massive project you're referring to? Could you please tell me?"

"That's a valid point of view. General Terauchi's idea is to expand the Japanese concession three times."

Goto, who had been sitting, suddenly stood up:

"What?! Three times? How much will that cost? When will the navy's battleships be ready? No way, absolutely not!"

Chen Zheng said with a bitter face:

"Colonel, if you say no, I don't object."

I initially disagreed as well. My idea was to proceed gradually, making changes little by little, and preferably starting with a minor, unimportant area to test the waters.

For example, the shantytowns between the Japanese and French concessions were inhabited by a group of peasants, who were the easiest to control.

The renovation cost is also low, it won't cost much.

But General Terauchi disagreed, saying that simply renovating the shantytown was too little merit, and when would he be promoted to general?

If the Japanese concession can be expanded threefold within three years, promotion to Army General will certainly not be a problem.

Colonel, you've said it like this: General Terauchi has put it so clearly, how can I say no?

Can I say no?

Goto listened, completely stunned.

Terauchi has only just been promoted to lieutenant general, yet he's already eyeing the rank of general. His ambition is far too great!

Chen Sang did indeed have difficulties, but the Navy Ministry's orders had to be carried out.

Otherwise, not only would he, a colonel, be reprimanded, but even Major General Toyama would be reprimanded.

It will be difficult for him to get promoted again in the future.