Chapter 352: Acting, Old Du is a Professional

"What is your opinion on this, Secretary Hong?" After finishing the plan, Du Yuesheng asked.

"The head's plan is actually quite similar to what I have been considering."

"However... it is a bit late," Hong Zhiyou said with a regretful smile.

"What do you mean?" Du Yuesheng frowned.

"I gave you and your son a chance last time, but you didn't seize it."

"I said you could consider it."

"But there must be a discount."

"So... this batch of supplies can only be purchased at a fifty percent discount."

Hong Zhiyou said.

"Fifty percent?"

"Secretary Hong, business isn't done this way. We acquired and stockpiled these at market price; with one stroke of your pen, brother, I lose tens of thousands of US dollars."

"Isn't that a bit too ruthless?"

Du Yuesheng said coldly.

"Head Du, there is no need to look at me like that. If I were someone easily frightened, I wouldn't have made it to where I am today."

"I said last time that my rule for making friends is nine-to-one."

"It's just a pity that you don't seem to have truly considered me a friend."

"Then we can only talk business as business."

"As for this batch of your supplies, either it gets confiscated."

"Or you sell it to me at fifty percent off. See for yourself."

"Besides, I actually don't like Shanghai."

"To leave sooner, I hope for a quick resolution. Fifty percent is for today; if you drag it out, the next time we talk, it will be twenty percent."

"Before this cigarette is finished, I want to hear your answer."

Hong Zhiyou stubbed out his cigarette, lit a new one, lifted his chin, and watched Du Yuesheng with a smile as he began to smoke slowly.

Business is just like this.

When in a position of absolute advantage, being overbearing is a tactic.

Du Yuesheng looked at the young man before him and seemed to see his former self.

He had humanity, loyalty, and principles.

At the same time, he had methods and courage.

He was ruthless and sharp enough.

"Don't count on secretly shipping the grain out to sell at a high price in Jiangnan."

"Or going through Tang Enbo's connections."

"Tang Enbo just suffered a defeat in Ludong and let his 'foster son' Shi Jue ride on his head and dump a load on him; he is more panicked than you are right now."

"When Zhang Lingfu died, the Generalissimo beat Tang Enbo until his head was broken and bleeding."

"This time, if Jianfeng doesn't investigate whether he participated in hoarding and speculation, he should be burning incense in gratitude. If he dares to stir up trouble again, the Generalissimo could beat his brains out."

"I will say it again: Jianfeng's surname is Jiang."

"No matter how arrogant Kong Lingkan is, his surname is only Kong!"

Hong Zhiyou held the cigarette between his fingers, leaned forward, stared at him intently, and said every word clearly.

"So, Head Du had better put away those little schemes!"

He sat back and took a deep drag.

This drag made Du Yuesheng's heart hang in the air.

On the surface, he was as calm as a stone statue, but inwardly, he cried out that things were going poorly.

He did indeed have a trump card.

It was Tang Enbo.

Relying on their personal friendship and the entanglement of interests, he could absolutely transport the grain out of Shanghai.

With grain shortages everywhere right now, there was no worry about selling it.

He hadn't expected Hong Zhiyou to hit the nail on the head and break his strategy.

Du Yuesheng knew he had met his match.

Moreover, he had no more moves to play.

Kong Lingkan could resist, but that would mean nothing more than losing wealth.

If he resisted, his family would be destroyed and his life lost.

Dai Li was already dead; without this sworn brother, he had lost his chance to speak in the upper echelons of the Nationalist Government.

Given the Generalissimo's current state of being thwarted everywhere and being furious.

To collide head-on at this time would only lead to death.

*Sigh.

He had lost.

Du Yuesheng began to smile, the murderous intent in his eyes turning into an olive branch of softness.

"Fifty percent, I agree."

"I will cooperate with Jianfeng to perform this play well, until the end."

"Also, from now on, I hope we are friends."

"True friends."

He stood up and extended his hand.

"You're lucky, there's still a tiny bit left."

Hong Zhiyou crushed the cigarette butt and exhaled a long puff of smoke.

Then, he reached out and shook Du Yuesheng's hand firmly.

"Since we are friends, I will give you another benefit."

Hong Zhiyou took a colorful folded advertisement from his pocket and handed it to Du Yuesheng.

"For others, it's a fixed price."

"For you, Head Du, it's a ninety-eight percent discount."

After saying this, he stood up and walked out gracefully.

"Father!"

Upstairs, Du Weiping had heard everything clearly and came running down with a thud.

"Fifty percent?"

"With one word from him, I lost sixty or seventy thousand US dollars."

"Father, that's US dollars, US dollars!"

"Are you, are you getting old..."

Du Weiping was so angry he was about to go crazy.

"Weiping."

"One cannot fight over temporary gains and losses; what is lost today can be earned back sooner or later."

"But if you lose your life, you have nothing left."

Du Yuesheng looked at his son, speaking earnestly while sighing silently in his heart.

They say dragons beget dragons and phoenixes beget phoenixes, and the children of rats know how to dig holes.

Having spent half a lifetime roaming the world, how did he end up with such a dim-witted fool?

On the contrary, Hong Zhiyou, young as he was, was truly awe-inspiring.

"I, I just can't accept it. When has our Green Gang ever suffered such a big loss?" Du Weiping was still feeling resentful.

"Stupid!"

"Do you think Jianfeng wouldn't dare to kill you?"

"Is your head harder than others'?"

"I tell you, if the heads of Wang Chunzhe and his son were hanging on the flagpole of the Central Bank building at the pier tomorrow, I wouldn't be surprised at all."

"Do you know what Hong Zhiyou said?"

Seeing that he was impervious to reason, Du Yuesheng found it hard to remain calm.

"What did he say?" Du Weiping asked.

"He said Jianfeng had a coffin made."

"He is showing his determination with his life, intending to fight the Kong family to the end."

"What are you?"

"Is your life more precious than the Generalissimo's son's?"

Du Yuesheng pointed at his nose and scolded.

Du Weiping's face turned pale, and he finally understood Jianfeng's determination and courage.

"Father, I, should I go abroad to hide?" This Young Master Du panicked.

"Where would you hide?"

"Since Secretary Hong has set the conditions, he won't let you die."

"From now on, you are not allowed to go anywhere; just stay at home."

Du Yuesheng said coldly.

"By the way, what did Hong Zhiyou give you?" Du Weiping asked curiously.

Only then did Du Yuesheng subconsciously take it out.

"Selling the house?

"One hundred thousand US dollars!"

Time flies like an arrow.

In a blink, it was October.

Following the propaganda, broadcasts, and the pressure brought by Tang Enbo's soldiers tightly guarding the markets and food supplies, more and more merchants privately "surrendered" to Jianfeng, selling their hoarded daily necessities at low prices.

With the market's supply of goods guaranteed, the citizens once again had confidence in the Gold Yuan Coupons.

Commodity trading gradually returned to the right track.

The original state of depression had already shown signs of warming up.

Inside the office.

Jianfeng was on the phone:

"Secretary-General Weng, you and Minister Wang must persuade the Generalissimo; Shanghai cannot continue to print money crazily anymore. The gold and US dollars just collected must be used as ballast to secure the people's food supply.

"Good, thank you for your hard work, Mr. Weng and Minister Wang."

Hanging up the phone, Jianfeng said with some exhaustion: "The Generalissimo wants the Shanghai Central Bank to transfuse blood to the Northeast again. I hope Weng Wenhao and Wang Yunwu can withstand the pressure.

"Zhiyou, the preparations for the equipment on your side must be stepped up to relieve the supply pressure on the front lines."

"It is already being gathered and will certainly be transported to the Jinzhou front by the end of November," Hong Zhiyou said.

"Good.

"I trust you with tasks."

Having worked together for these two months, Jianfeng truly sighed at how rare talent was, occasionally comparing Hong Zhiyou to his own Crouching Dragon, and now he could not be without him for even a moment.

"How is the situation at the grain firms?" Jianfeng asked again.

"We still underestimated the population of Shanghai.

"Relying solely on these, supply and demand cannot keep up with consumption at all.

"The inventory is showing signs of crisis."

Hong Zhiyou answered truthfully.

"Hmm.

"Your 'slicing the sausage' strategy is quite good.

"Economic warfare, especially monetary regulation and value preservation, requires a process of building trust.

"The market has been stable for these two months, and the common people have regained trust in the Gold Yuan Coupons.

"The small slices are finished; now it is time to cut the big blood transfusion.

"Is everything ready on Du Yuesheng's side?"

Jianfeng asked.

Stabilizing the people's confidence in the Gold Yuan Coupons required a time process; his idea was to stay in Shanghai for at least seven or eight months, and with the support of Wang Yunwu and Weng Wenhao from above, completely stabilize the people's livelihood.

Then, by leveraging Shanghai's status as an economic locomotive, he would let the credit of the Gold Yuan Coupons spread to other provinces and cities in the country, thereby pulling the National Government's economy back.

Hong Zhiyou could only say that this was an interesting idea.

Jianfeng was just wishfully enjoying himself in it.

Yet he did not know that the development of the world's situation was as swift as a thunderbolt; let alone seven or eight months, the Northeast would completely collapse next month.

"Yes, he is ready to hand it over at any time; he is just waiting for your order."

Coming back to his senses, he said to the confident Jianfeng.

"So far, I have dealt with sixty-four officials and wealthy merchants, but this is far from enough.

"We must be thorough; we must put in great effort.

"Tonight, we will take the knife to Du Weiping!"

Jianfeng stood with one hand behind his back, raising his index finger in high spirits.

"Yes, I will go call Long Tao to arrange it," Hong Zhiyou said, accepting the order.

At night.

Hong Zhiyou and Long Tao led three hundred police officers and two companies sent by Tang Enbo to the Green Gang headquarters.

Having received the news early, over a thousand Green Gang disciples blocked the headquarters.

The two sides stood in a standoff, and for a time, the military and police could not enter.

"Secretary Hong, we are old friends; what is the meaning of this grand display in the middle of the night?" Du Yuesheng walked out and asked with his head held high.

"Chief Du.

"Acting on the written order of Director Jiang, Du Weiping is suspected of hoarding and reselling supplies. I have come to invite him over for questioning; I ask for Chief Du's cooperation," Hong Zhiyou said with a stern face.

"And if I say no?" Du Yuesheng said.

"No?"

Hong Zhiyou took a submachine gun from a soldier nearby and fired a burst at the century-old plaque of the Green Gang.

Clang.

The large plaque crashed to the ground and shattered into pieces.

Ah!

"Madman.

"Kill him!"

The Green Gang disciples were all shocked and furious, veins bulging on their foreheads, their bright axes trembling from being gripped so tightly.

"A bunch of unruly people."

Hong Zhiyou sneered and gave a hand signal.

Rumble!

On both sides of the long street, several tanks drove over.

The soldiers on the tanks manned heavy machine guns.

After adjusting their aim, the barrels were all pointed at the Green Gang members.

"This..."

Facing the steel beasts, the Green Gang disciples grew panicked.

"I will say it one more time: hand over Du Weiping.

"Otherwise, don't blame me for leveling this place!"

Hong Zhiyou said with an extremely arrogant air.

"Fight them.

"That's right, we cannot hand over Weiping; the Green Gang has no cowards afraid of death; fight them."

With those unafraid of death making noise, the crowd became agitated again.

"Alright.

"I appreciate the kindness of all you brothers, but my son broke the law and is guilty just like any commoner; brothers must not shed blood because of this.

"I, Du, will cooperate with Director Jiang and hand over my son."

Du Yuesheng shook his long gown, cupped his fists to bow and thank the crowd, then walked inside with large strides.

Soon.

He walked out, escorting the terrified and disheveled Du Weiping.

"Secretary Hong, I have brought the person to you."

Du Yuesheng looked at him, and the two secretly exchanged a glance.

"Easy enough.

"Withdraw the troops!"

Hong Zhiyou raised his eyebrows slightly to signal him to rest assured, and with a wave of his hand, he withdrew the surrounding troops.

"Whew."

Du Yuesheng secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He had to put on this act.

Firstly, it was out of disappointment with the current situation; the National Army was losing battle after battle, and Shanghai's supplies were tight. Once the Red Army liberated Shanghai, given his status and the 'April 12' incident back then, he would very likely be purged.

He had already conceived the idea of leaving Shanghai and heading to Xiangdao.

But as the head of a gang, he had to have an explanation.

Having his son taken away by Jianfeng tonight served perfectly as an opportunity for the "decline" of the Green Gang.

Being at odds with the Crown Prince and getting beaten down—wasn't it normal to go to Xiangdao to avoid the limelight?

Secondly.

Deliberately challenging Hong Zhiyou was also an act for the Kong family to see.

An arm cannot twist a thigh.

Du Yuesheng was not unwilling to advance and retreat with the Kong family; in reality, he had no other choice.

He could not even protect his own son.

How could he even talk about opposing Jianfeng and making a fortune?

In this way, he had maintained both his reputation and his interests, and the Kong family could not find fault with him.

Du Weiping was arrested.

That same evening, the Green Gang's warehouses were raided.

The next day.

Amidst the noisy cries of newsboys: "Extra, extra! The son of Green Gang leader Du Yuesheng has been arrested; Jianfeng strikes down another fierce tiger..."

A convoy loaded with supplies moved slowly in an endless line.

Citizens set off firecrackers one after another, brushing off their hats to celebrate.

Jianfeng acted with lightning speed; three days later, Du Weiping's verdict was handed down: for hoarding and reselling civilian supplies, he was sentenced to eight months in prison.

For a time, the entire Shanghai Bund was in an uproar.

Wealthy merchants scrambled to hand over their hoarded supplies; prices not only stabilized but even saw a slight decline.

The Gold Yuan Bond stabilized, and the Central Bank took the opportunity to collect gold, silver, and U. . dollars, obtaining as much as 400 million U. . dollars.

Jianfeng's prestige and influence surged instantly.

Morning.

"Director, this is the latest news from the Central Daily News; many party elders have high praise for your 'tiger-beating' campaign, even regarding you as the hope for reform."

Hong Zhiyou took the newspaper and walked into the office.

"One must be humble and cautious."

"Sun Ke just called me, saying he hopes I will purchase the supplies held by Wang Chunzhe."

"Long Tao went to investigate."

"The goods hoarded by Wang Chunzhe and his son far exceed those of Du Weiping."

"The Wang father and son have done a fine job for certain people; how can the spirit of Mr. Sun rest in peace in heaven?"

Jianfeng sighed.

"Did he mention a purchase plan?" Hong Zhiyou asked.

"Double the market price," Jianfeng said.

"So high?"

"If we buy from Wang Chunzhe, Kong Lingkan will definitely demand even more."

"In the end, wouldn't the gold and U. . dollars that the common people exchanged for Gold Yuan Bonds just flow from the national treasury back into the pockets of the Kong family?"

"Wouldn't we become accomplices to the Kong family?"

Hong Zhiyou saw at a glance that the matter was not simple.

"Indeed."

"Sun Ke has made contributions by competing against Li Zongren on behalf of his father, and he is the son of Mr. Sun, which makes this very difficult for me to handle."

"It is quite possible this is a trap instigated by the Kong family."

"If I release the Wang father and son, I will have to release the Kong family."

"Given the current daily consumption of grain reserves, if we don't take down the Kong family, the economic reforms will likely collapse overnight; our hard work will be in vain, and I will have failed the task entrusted to me by the Generalissimo."

Jianfeng walked to the window with his hands behind his back, feeling troubled.

"How about this: I will neither refuse nor agree to Sun Ke."

"You go and talk to the Wang father and son."

"Purchase at market price or a lower price."

"If they are willing to sell at a low price, it will set an example for the Kong family, and everyone will be at ease."

"If they are not willing..."

Jianfeng glanced at him and did not continue.

"This subordinate understands." Hong Zhiyou did not hesitate in the slightest and accepted the order.

Jianfeng was tied down by damned upper-level relationships.

He wanted him to come out and bear the pressure as a lone official.

Let him be a lone official then.

In any case, there were three more months; once Jinmen was liberated, he would go to Xiangdao.

People like Sun Ke would either go abroad.

Or go to the island.

As for the island, ultimately, Jianfeng would still have the final say.

Therefore, as long as he clung to Jianfeng, other social obligations should be severed, as they were of little use.

"Zhiyou!"

"Let us weather these difficult times together... weather them together!"

Seeing him agree so resolutely, Jianfeng could not help but feel a warmth in his heart.

But out of his status as a superior, and because he was not in the habit of making promises, he did not say the words about sharing future fortunes, only patting Hong Zhiyou's shoulder firmly.

"This subordinate will certainly give his all!"

Hong Zhiyou accepted the order solemnly.

(End of chapter)