Chapter 344

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Protagonist:

Chen Yi

Every move Mitsubishi Group makes in Jiangning makes Chen Yi sensitive.

After Yan Deputy Director's call ended, Zhu Guangliang also called to explain the situation.

His information was more accurate: the vessel most severely damaged by the fire was a Panamax bulk carrier of 75,000 deadweight tons — a highly cost-effective cargo ship named for its ability to pass through the Panama Canal's 32-meter-wide locks. Jiangnan Shipyard's quote was only 35 million US dollars, over 1 million cheaper than Korean and Japanese quotes.

The other three were all "small" 1,100-container ships priced around 22 million US dollars each; losses were minor and all were insured.

Chen Yi hung up the phone, thoroughly baffled. He knew Mitsubishi Group had designs on Jiangnan Shipyard, but just with one fire?

Even if the entire loss reached 100 million US dollars, for a shipyard with assets of tens of billions, it hardly counts as crippling. Getting their hands on it would be even harder.

Out of vigilance, Chen Yi straightened his attire slightly and drove the Raptor to the wharf himself; he wanted to see the shipyard's condition with his own eyes.

No need to ask directions — just head toward where black smoke billowed in the sky. Before long he hit a roadblock.

"Can't drive further ahead." A police officer stood by the road. This matter isn't small; mainly the city high officials want it blown up, so everyone has to cooperate. Work usually done by Joint Defense now has to be done by police.

"I'm looking for someone. Uh, who's in charge inside?" Chen Yi wore yesterday's suit; a wave of his hand carried considerable presence.

The young officer replied per standard procedure: "We're from Chang Island Police Station. If you have questions about traffic control, you can call..."

Chen Yi waited patiently for him to finish, then asked: "Is Kong Qian inside?"

"Kong Qian?" Those stationed at the checkpoint are often police station rookies, but the veteran cops inside have sharp ears — hearing the name, one darted out, looked Chen Yi up and down, and said with a smile: "Looking for Captain Kong? You'd better call and ask."

Fire is Fire Department business; by rights Kong Qian is Public Security Corps and has no direct connection. But at a time like this, even Deng Ge has become a clay bodhisattva — which little ghost down below would dare slack off?

"Could you help me make a call, tell him Chen Yi has arrived?" Since the two previous blunders, Chen Yi had thoroughly reformed, deciding to adopt a posture even more humble than humble to be absolutely sure. So although he could directly call Yan Deputy Director or even Deng Ge, he didn't want to seek out high-ranking figures.

Just treat myself as an aggrieved government agency staffer. Chen Yi always comforted himself this way.

Of the government staffers he'd seen, eight or nine out of ten were aggrieved — who wouldn't feel aggrieved meeting the Deputy Mayor's eldest nephew? As for labels like "the nation's leader's grandson," those are used to make Deputy Mayor-level officials feel aggrieved.

"Please wait a moment." The veteran cop's movements and replies were straight out of the evening news — forced out by countless reporters. He had no intention of currying favor with Chen Yi, nor of offending him; truly neither servile nor overbearing.

Government truly is a fine place to temper one's faith.

Chen Yi smiled inwardly, waiting for the veteran cop to report up step by step.

The walkie-talkie communication stopped at the Police Station Chief level; the other side said something like "do not obstruct," and the veteran cop assented compliantly, dropping the barrier — his bearing from just now instantly vanished completely.

Chen Yi nodded and returned to the car.

The fire started at the dry dock; a large ship was burned nearly through and still being sprayed with seawater — the thick black smoke came from there. The remaining four damaged ships also lay listing, delaying things considerably.

The Raptor's large body was like a business card, attracting Yan Deputy Director from the wharf. Unlike Deng Ge's worried look, his expression and movements were brisk as a monkey.

"Mr. Chen." Yan Deputy Director gripped Chen Yi's hand tightly. Though there was a trend of sidelining the Bureau Chief, Yan Deputy Director was still quite properly the Bureau Chief. Among those who could help, he pinned the most hope on Chen Yi — Chen Zhongguo was too distant, Chen Congyu too estranged, yet he got along well with this young man.

"What scale of consequences?" Chen Yi didn't waste time, asking directly.

"The shipyard will have to pay a lot. As for the rest, Mitsubishi Company's Iwasaki Masayoshi has appeared pressing the government to pressure the shipyard side to accelerate progress and eliminate hidden dangers..." Yan Deputy Director paused here, thought a moment, then continued: "According to Jiangnan Shipyard people, if a fire this big wasn't man-made, the insurance company would increase their premium."

"What impact would that have?"

"Several million more US dollars."

"Is Jiangnan Shipyard in danger of bankruptcy?"

"No."

Chen Yi finally felt relieved. He still wanted to leverage this kind of large heavy-industry enterprise. Wherever you are, building heavy industry consumes enormous energy and requires enduring extremely low returns. If Jiangnan Shipyard were bought by the Japanese, unless it were bought back, rebuilding would be nearly impossible.

"However..."

"What?" Chen Yi's just-settled heart rose again.

Yan Deputy Director said uncertainly: "The fire affected nearby vessel berthing. Secretary Sun instructed that priority must be given to meeting the needs of cargo ships coming to Jiangning Port. That... the port side seems to hope to add container lifting equipment at Jiangbei Port, temporarily leased for half a year to a year."

"Jiangbei Port was supposedly to be made a bulk terminal; they applied on that basis, right?"

"Correct."

"Is Jiangnan Wharf... running at full capacity?"

Yan Deputy Director lowered his voice: "70% at most. Recently it'll be a bit tight, but as far as I know, ships waiting at port is perfectly normal."

Years of criminal investigation experience made Yan Deputy Director naturally sharp.

Looks like Mitsubishi has a complete plan.

Jiangnan Wharf was originally a large comprehensive terminal handling both bulk and containers, but with the expansion of Jiangning and its hinterland, the Delta region's economic aggregate surged, and port throughput continuously increased. Precisely against this background, the government hoped to separate bulk and container terminals, hence the tender to build Jiangbei Wharf.

Chen Yi thought: the Mingde Group originally responsible for construction wasn't prepared to complete the wharf; now it seems Mitsubishi, systematically deceived by Zhu Guangliang, indeed changed strategy — yet not merely waiting in isolation. They probably not only want a slice of Jiangning's largest container market, but also seem to want to compete with Jiangnan Wharf.

If Jiangbei Port adds container handling equipment, most importantly passing Municipal Party Committee review, it will possess the same qualifications as Jiangnan Wharf.

As a new wharf, this is already a highly competitive proposal.

And in Chen Yi's view, Mitsubishi Group, so fond of Jiangnan Shipyard, obviously wouldn't be satisfied with mere port business profits.

Chen Yi stared at the dry dock for a long while, then suddenly asked Yan Deputy Director: "Any way to stop it?"

Yan Deputy Director froze, understood, and said: "Secretary Sun personally gave the order, heh."

"How did they persuade Secretary Sun?" In Chen Yi's impression, Sun Maoxin wasn't a very capable official. His bureaucratic habits were strong; at heart a nice guy, yet his identity stirred a desire for power. If not in Jiangning's complex environment, elsewhere he might have been a tough city high official.

Of course, this also illustrates Sun Maoxin's character from another angle: he isn't a consistently principled Party cadre; for such a person, corruption is only normal.

Yan Deputy Director was an officialdom man after all; no matter how bold, he couldn't discuss a city high official on the spacious, empty wharf — especially the highly persuasive term "persuade."

He shut his mouth; those officials waiting dozens of meters away all surged forward.

Those present were lower-ranked officials; rare chance to contact Chen Family direct-line members. Especially Chen Yi — insiders all know this man is already Chen Zhongguo's designated heir.

Just look at the distribution rights of Chen Group and you can see the clue; people like Kong Qian have quite an understanding of Chen Yi's methods.

Deng Ge was also on the wharf; a grand Political and Legal High Official, nervous and uneasy like a youth preparing to confess. In fact, his confession last night failed.

"Mr. Chen! You've come from afar, come from afar, let's have a simple meal together at noon, and incidentally give us..." Deng Ge swallowed the four words "guiding work," and he was already incoherent.

Sun Maoxin's power at the Standing Committee was not strong, so it was relatively difficult to single-handedly expel a Political and Legal High Official. But his extraordinary performance forced Deng Ge to hesitate—did this mean he had completely merged with one side?

The He Family? Or the Chen Family?

Deng Ge was seeking a patron saint for himself.

"No need for a meal; I'm just here to take a look. Director Yan, I still have a few questions." Chen Yi revealed a false smile, humble as a little white cat, carefully hiding the dead mouse his back paws had played to death.

Yan Deputy Director followed Chen Yi without hesitation; anyone present would have made this choice.

The two got into the pickup truck together, and Deng Ge watched them leave, looking as if he had aged several years in an instant.

"Mr. Chen, if there's anything, just give your orders." Yan Deputy Director sat in the passenger seat expressing loyalty. Such behavior a thousand years ago would have been classified as shameless, but now officials who want promotion are all this shameless, so it cannot indicate the true moral level of those who express loyalty.

"I believe allowing container business at Jiangbei Wharf will cause loss of state-owned assets."

Yan Deputy Director said without hesitation: "What about bulk cargo business?"

"Toward the Japanese, we must maintain considerable vigilance." Chen Yi tried not to give direct instructions, to avoid issues of oaths and faith.

"Understood. Regarding specific operational aspects..."

"Mainly for you to consider."

"Then..." Yan Deputy Director was silent for a moment, then replied: "Use barbarians to control barbarians."

Before Chen Yi asked, he directly said: "I know some gang bosses who make a living at the wharf; they have many ways to make money. If we bring them all to Jiangbei Wharf, the Japanese will have no profit at all."

"Oh?"

"If no one manages them, they even skim fees from unloading containers, with prices higher than legitimate income... just fearing Mingde Group will obstruct from the middle."

Foreign companies have some influence on the domestic officialdom, but they can only influence triads indirectly through officialdom.

"Understood." Chen Yi had long been accustomed to not giving direct answers, which instead made Yan Deputy Director feel familiar.

More than ten minutes later, Chen Yi drove the car to the vicinity of Lao Zhai.

Yan Deputy Director looked at his posture, then went home satisfied; for him, having such an indirect backer was enough.

... (Unfinished. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian. com) to cast recommendation votes and monthly tickets; your support is my greatest motivation.)