Chapter 472

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Protagonist:

Chen Yi

9 AM.

Gao Qiu gazed at the small queue at the bank entrance, sinking into contemplation.

Since last month, whether buying bonds or exchanging for gold, very few people queued up early anymore. Connecting this to Chen Yi's words, he strongly suspected these people's motives.

In truth, as a banker, one would never equate gold and banknotes. The credibility of precious metals and the credibility of the state are like comparing nature's credibility to humanity's — the latter is a high-risk entity no matter what. And avoiding risk is practically a banker's instinct.

"If I had a few hundred tons of gold, I'd go overseas and open a bank..." Gao Qiu laughed at himself in the next instant. With the Chen family's power, even if they tore off all pretenses and tried to seize the pie, they'd have to leave him a few tens of billions in profit — there's still some measure of fellowship. If I went overseas, I might be torn to shreds leaving not a scrap of meat.

The bank doors opened, and the queuing people surged into the hall like wave crests in a tsunami.

Gao Qiu recalled the rumors he'd heard last month at a gathering of financial circles. He had even warned Chen Yi, saying "There are some bad signs from above," but didn't know if the Chen family had a countermeasure.

"Hope they do." Gao Qiu sat back in his executive chair.

The phone rang "ding-ding-ding."

"This is Old Pei."

"Pei Xingzhang, please speak." Gao Qiu immediately straightened up properly.

"Gold Source International's deposit — I've received it, but need to confirm who deposited it." Old Pei's voice was a bit hoarse, sounding like he'd just gotten up.

Gao Qiu relaxed and smiled: "It's Mr. Chen's deposit."

"Understood." Pei Xingzhang fell silent. 50 billion in deposits was a performance-determining sum for a branch below, but for the head office it was just that. However, this money coming from Chen Yi indicated the Chen family's stance.

From the information he knew, the young generation of the Cao, Wang, and Liu families tied together couldn't match Chen Yi of the Chen family in prospects. Now the heads of the three families hadn't spoken — most likely they wanted to see if they could fish in troubled waters. After all, it was a huge pie; by comparison, the benefits to him and the bank were mere cold leftovers.

Pei Xingzhang sighed inwardly, thinking: I'm not wading into this muddy water. 50 billion isn't a small sum either.

Having decided, his tone grew warmer. He laughed: "President Gao, you can tell Mr. Chen that our bank and I personally thank him for his trust. We will certainly operate with integrity and propriety."

Gao Qiu understood and smiled: "Good, I understand."

"Then, goodbye."

"Goodbye." Gao Qiu hung up the phone and suddenly laughed aloud.

Pei Xingzhang was the latest bank president to notify him. With this, all Four Major Banks stayed out. The remaining commercial banks always have limited capital — no need to worry too much.

It seems Old Master Chen Zhongguo's deterrent power is far stronger than imagined.

The secretary knocked and entered carrying a thick stack of files, happening to catch Gao Qiu's smile.

A middle-aged man's charm is like Flaming Mountain — it always scorches the surrounding little flowers and grasses, yet has no effect on deep-rooted old trees.

The female secretary turned her flushed little face away without changing expression: "President, these are the reports from each branch. Also, Manager Yuan asked me to tell you that everyone who came this morning is here to exchange for gold."

"Only exchanging for gold?"

"Yes. And the quantity is not small."

Only exchanging for gold was clearly abnormal. However, considering it from a bank-run angle, gold is a traditional precious metal, and Chen Yi owns less of it than platinum, and its price is lower than platinum — clearly a good breakthrough point.

Gao Qiu thought briefly and said: "Pay attention to verifying authenticity. Report inventory every hour."

The secretary answered "Yes" and quietly left the office.

At 11 o'clock, the vault reported "Exchanged 2.7 tons of gold." Gao Qiu immediately dialed Chen Yi's number and said: "It's started."

"Cao Yuan keeps his word. Good, I know." Chen Yi put down his phone, yet his mood was exceptionally high.

Jiangning had been operated as a home base for a long time. A mere Cao Yuan was perfect material for practice.

He quickly summoned Liu Xinyu and Da Yang, who had just returned to Jiangning. Since Chen Heng took up permanent residence at West River Water Fortress and controlled the military, Chen Yi's personal strategic depth had greatly expanded. Some members with high enough loyalty began moving back and forth more frequently.

Now, the West Continent's secret was contained within a small circle. Chen Yi believed that with his family's and his own power, it was sufficient to maintain this secret. By the time it expands uncontrollably, who knows what realm his personal strength will have reached.

The top floor of the Central Storage Area had been converted into a temporary staff room, hung with maps of Jiangning and the Southeast Region, plus various logistics operation charts.

After marking the latest intelligence, Chen Yi asked: "Da Yang, found Cao Yuan yet?"

"He's staying in a small Zhao in Jinquan County." Da Yang contacted Zhu Guangliang, his former superior in the Security Department, and got the intel in one day. He introduced it flatly: "Cao Yuan's maternal clan has some connection to a high county official in Jinquan. The small Zhao is now at provincial-cadre reception standard, with Armed Police standing guard — very safe."

Safety is relative. Chen Yi curled his lip: "Jinquan County is in the East Rise Region?"

"It's the closest county to Jiangning. They chose well. Jinquan County mainly provides supporting industry for processing plants in Jiangning and nearby areas — producing things like screws, packing boxes. Factories are concentrated in their county's development zone. The old city area doesn't have much population flow. The area around the small Zhao is secluded; strangers are easily spotted." Da Yang spoke, giving Zhu Guangliang credit: "If the Security Department's power in the Southeast weren't stable enough, they'd have long recruited informants everywhere. It wouldn't have been this easy to find Cao Yuan so fast."

Chen Yi "hmm"ed and asked: "Any Liu or Wang family people?"

"No one discovered with status equivalent to Cao Yuan." The implication: Liu and Wang family representatives might appear, but not their direct descendants.

The Cao family leading and a Cao family representative are two different concepts. Chen Yi nodded: "Continue surveillance on Cao Yuan. Try to get his connections to the Liu and Wang families. I want all kinds of intelligence."

"Understood." Da Yang slapped his chest hard. After the West Continent's tempering, he was like a veteran warrior — his stress resistance alone had jumped several tiers.

Chen Yi couldn't personally tail and eavesdrop, so after issuing orders he turned to Liu Xinyu: "How about your side?"

"Yin Senchen is tailing the largest batch of gold — about 100 kilograms." Liu Xinyu pointed at the map: "The Light Curtain's range is roughly 200 kilometers. Reaching Jinquan County is a bit of a stretch. I've mobilized several high-level students from the Martial Arts Hall to participate."

Liu Xinyu's organizational ability was the best among the group. This benefited from her talent and the "Human Development Research Society's" careful cultivation. The latter likely paid no small tuition to nurture such a young member.

Her ability showed very well on the West Continent. Leading pure native members in exploration operations around West River Water Fortress yielded remarkable results — continuously discovering a large rare earth mine and several smaller mines of various types. Even at the Light Curtain's expanding boundary regions, Liu Xinyu established a command post, remotely directing native soldiers in small squads to prospect. This meant that the moment the Light Curtain expanded, they obtained mine-point intelligence within a 200-kilometer radius. This was difficult for the newly promoted officials of West River Water Fortress to achieve. Even with pure-student Inspection Teams, they'd find it very hard to lead uniformly, let alone native soldiers with weaker cohesion.

Chen Yi allocated two Divine Art Knights and 15 Combat Skill Level Knights to Liu Xinyu, specifically tasked with tracking and locating Cao Yuan's vault. 200 tons of gold — that much money must have a secure place for handling. Chen Yi put his money in the bank. Cao Yuan might have had such a plan before — for instance, the Four Major Banks' head offices in Jiangning would be a very good choice.

However, now that all Four Major Banks have refused his proposal, his gold storage location becomes very difficult. In the entire Jiangning area, aside from the Four Major Banks and Jiangning Bank, few other banks dare take on this hot potato. Cao Yuan might not be willing to keep it in Jiangning either.

Escorting it back to the capital by train or plane, or storing it somewhere in Jinquan County — both are feasible but risky options.

Chen Yi wanted to find out the location and method.

"I'll make him try to steal a chicken only to lose the rice used to lure it."

Ordinary people exchanging or not exchanging gold — that's all normal circulation under the gold standard. But Cao Zheng's behavior is an attack by any means necessary. The feedback he receives will also be an attack.

Liu Xinyu bit her fingernail, elbow propped on her ample chest, looking exceptionally alluring.

Thinking that she was participating in the disposition of 200 tons of gold, she felt an unusual surge of excitement.

At 4 PM, the bank's cutoff for gold redemption, 8 tons of gold had already changed hands, yet the gold bonds sold amounted to only about 5 tons.

Gao Qiu gave his judgment: "Cao Yuan hasn't received a large investment yet; he should still be looking."

Liu Xinyu paid no mind to these matters; she was driving a 7-seat Volvo MPV, parked at the interchange of the highway and the Ring City Highway, staring intently at a container truck ahead.

"At least six armed guards, a professionally modified 30-centimeter steel container, two police cars and two motorcycle police — a forced assault would be very difficult." Liu Xinyu voiced her assessment, then added: "They probably won't drive all the way back to Xijing, right?"

Yin Senyong sat to the side, but said: "By 'forced assault' you mean, snatch it? Konjac is a bit ambiguous."

"The meaning of forced robbery."

"What's so hard about that."

"You can snatch it?"

"Of course." Yin Senyong was absolutely certain.

"There are two to three tons of gold there. Like this: once we find their storage location, we might let you make a move."

Yin Senyong blinked, asking: "Robbery?"

"Of course."

"Won't do it."

This time it was Liu Xinyu's turn to be confused; her beautiful brows furrowed: "Why? Two to three tons of gold isn't worth you making a move."

Yin Senyong said devoutly: "My faith does not allow me to commit robbery."

Liu Xinyu's steering wheel jerked, nearly crashing into the taxi beside her.

……(Unfinished. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian. com) to cast Recommendation Tickets and Monthly Tickets; your support is my greatest motivation.)