Chapter 650: The Second Punch and Driving the Tiger to Swallow the Wolf

For the federal rulers at this stage, using gangs to restrict gangs is one of the simplest and most effective methods, the key is that it is very easy to use.

It is a pity that Charlie and Bandi made the internal stability of Jincheng a mess and threw a very passive situation to them.

If the police force was still in their hands, they could easily clean up Lanse, whether it was investigating his criminal business or directly looking for his trouble, it could make Lanse disappear quickly in Jincheng.

Or the five major families had not had any problems, then no matter which family it was, they could easily clean up Lanse.

These people are really damn waste!

But whether it is Mr. Hoff or Mr. Charles, they didn't realize a problem.

Why did the internal "stability" of Jincheng last for so many years, but suddenly collapsed in these few years?

Is the system not perfect enough?

No, this set of city system rules has been implemented for twenty or thirty years, and it has always been very stable and efficient. This is not its problem.

Is it that the people who execute it have no ability?

Also not, whether it is Charlie, Hunter, or the heads of the five major families, they are the best choices for their positions in this era.

There is no problem with the rules and system, and there is no problem with the candidates, so what exactly is it that makes everything move towards destruction?

No one noticed this, they won't think, nor will they look for it. After all, for these old men, those are just one by one, countless "small things".

Until these small things pile up into big things, they want to find the root of the problem and then make up for it, but it is already too late.

Actually, the problem lies in the era itself.

If Lanse had a good job, the boss wouldn't deduct his wages.

If Ethan wouldn't face huge blackmail because of some small problems.

If...

Lanse, plus too many ifs, finally pushed everything down.

People can't see the ants on the side of the first fallen block, they can only see the fallen block and the Empire State Building that was finally pushed down!

The one who proposed this idea was Mr. Hoff, and the one who contacted Joshua was also him, and here, only he and Joshua know each other.

Others might also know, but they won't take the initiative to take on this matter, because the reputation of the Saint Bell Party is really too bad.

Since the processing method has been discussed, everyone's emotions have also relaxed a bit. At this time, the housekeeper suddenly said that someone came to visit.

Mr. Charles asked the housekeeper to bring the person over. The unlucky businessman held his hat in his hand, his shoulders slightly forward, looking as if he was curling up his body.

Although he also lives in the Bay Area, living in the Bay Area does not mean he is the core of the Bay Area interest.

Just like not everyone living in New Jin City is a senator, there may also be homeless people.

"What's the matter?", Mr. Charles glanced at this unlucky businessman. He had seen this guy several times, but he couldn't remember his name.

But he didn't think about remembering this person's name, whether it was the past or the present.

He doesn't need to remember the name of such a small character, just like a person won't care what a ditch on the way to and from work is called.

For them, it is collectively called "dog".

The unlucky businessman nodded, "The customs said that my goods have some warning risks and need to be inspected before they can leave the customs."

Mr. Charles, as well as other gentlemen in the room, looked at him with a condescending look. That look made him feel strong inferiority and discomfort.

The voice he spoke also became smaller. Originally, one hand grabbed his hat, now it is two hands.

The hat covering his chest can provide him with some sense of security. He didn't even know it himself, but he did it instinctively.

Mr. Charles frowned slightly, "Is there any problem with this?"

He himself also does import and export trade, and he also knows that exported goods must first pass customs inspection, and then can be loaded onto ships and leave the port after being released.

This is to avoid some possible criminal acts. At the same time, because of the tension in the international situation recently, the federal government has begun to impose trade sanctions on member countries of the Dantela Military Alliance.

A large number of materials that can produce military equipment have completely stopped being exported and sold to these member countries, so the inspection will be stricter.

The unlucky businessman swallowed a mouthful of saliva, "But my goods are just some cold-proof cotton clothes and some things for heating. They detained my things and said it would take at least two weeks before it was my turn to inspect."

Mr. Charles was a bit impatient, "Then where is the problem?"

He didn't wait for the unlucky businessman to speak, and reminded him again, "You'd better grasp the key points of things, gentlemen."

"Our time is very precious, I hope you can understand this point!"

He increased his tone, "Say the key point!"

The unlucky businessman nodded repeatedly, and he didn't dare to continue to express implicitly, directly saying his thoughts, "Customs might be making things difficult for us factory operators. If this batch of goods can't go out, I might face huge compensation." "If it really doesn't work, I... can only ask Mayor Williams for help."

Mr. Charles finally understood what he wanted to express, and at the same time, the frowning brows were almost twisted together, because he found that this was indeed a problem.

Compensation... Federal capitalists have already played it quite clearly.

The compensation favorable to oneself must be written high, and the compensation unfavorable to oneself is best not to have.

But international trade is also a game between capitalists and capitalists. The other party will definitely also require huge compensation.

If this is really something made by Mayor Williams, he has to admit that this punch was hit very heavily!

"You wait a moment, I'll make a phone call.", Mr. Charles went to another room, but the atmosphere in this room did not ease because of this.

The unlucky businessman stood on the edge of the wall. Every gentleman here needs him to look up to. He even had to be careful to slow down his breathing, for fear of causing the displeasure of these gentlemen.

After waiting for seven or eight minutes, Mr. Charles came back from another room. He glanced at the unlucky businessman, "It seems that this problem does exist. Leave your contact information, and I will contact you later."

The unlucky businessman wanted to say something, but finally just nodded and agreed.

He left his personal contact information and left immediately.

(Content omitted)

After he left, Mr. Charles said, "They detained several batches of containers waiting to leave the port. These customs declaration companies are all companies in the old industrial zone."

In order to better serve the commerce of Jincheng, the previous mayor specially took out the work related to companies in the Social Service Bureau and established a special Commercial Service Bureau, which is the government department where Patricia works.

This government department masters the information of all registered enterprises in Jincheng, which naturally includes the information of those factories in the old industrial zone.

So if customs wants to block these containers for customs declaration, there is absolutely no problem from a technical level. One catch is one accurate.

After the door closed again, someone couldn't help but ask, "Is what he said true?"

Mr. Charles nodded, "It's very likely to be true."

The federal customs belongs to the Federal Ministry of Commerce, but at the same time, the US Department of State also has a certain management power. On the surface, it is a department vertically managed by the federal government, but it also needs the cooperation of local governments, so local governments also have a certain influence here.

In other words, Mayor Williams does have the possibility to influence the customs' decision.

"Does anyone know the local customs director?", Mr. Charles looked at the others, his eyes mainly on several people with political faces, such as Mr. Hoff.

But it is a pity that these people, including Mr. Hoff, remained silent. They had no room for too much contact with customs.

After all, the appointment of internal members of customs is not appointed by local governments, but by the General Administration of Customs and the Ministry of Commerce. Even if Mr. Hoff and these people have local Socialist Party or Liberal Party political faces, it is very difficult to interfere with these appointments.

There is no interest entanglement between the two sides, nor is there any interest exchange, and they don't do import and export business, so there is no friendship.

Seeing that these people remained silent, Mr. Charles closed his eyes.

"I'll make an appointment to talk to him later and see if I can find a way to solve this problem."

"If it can be solved, then this is the best result."

"But if it can't be solved...", he shook his head, "Then gentlemen, we have to consider the subsequent response!"

By then, more factory operators will break away from them and bow their heads to Mayor Williams.

Once fewer and fewer people here oppose City Hall's atrocities, and fewer and fewer people remain, their confrontation will become meaningless!

City Hall has a hard policy regulation down, stipulating that chimneys in the old industrial zone are not allowed to smoke, large industrial machines are not allowed to be used, and more than a certain number of decibels of noise are not allowed to be produced.

They have plenty of ways to make these factories unable to open, and at the same time, the land they take away is enough to support the development of a district. Their persistence becomes dispensable.

"This is a special time. I hope each of us can make some small contributions for our common interests!"

He paused as he said this, "Okay, that's it for today. I still have to make an appointment with the director later, so..."

He glanced at Mr. Hoff, "You contact Joshua as soon as possible and finalize this matter."

"It's best within a week, I want to see the news of Lanse's assassination appear in the newspaper."

Then he looked at several other people, and explained their work and tasks. This gathering ended here.

He stood by the window and lit a cigarette, watching those people leave his house and walk out of the main gate.

I don't know why, he always has a not-so-good premonition.

Just like a crazy gambler in a casino, they have already opened so many big ones, won't they open small this time?

Definitely not!

This time it's still big!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 652 =====

Finding a fault isn't simple?

The crates are non-compliant, the declaration is unqualified, and the materials are unqualified.

Not a single mistake, not a single one, take a look at the content!

You could also call it "under suspicion"; anyway, as long as it's under suspicion, it isn't allowed to pass, it must be investigated, it must be inspected, and there are plenty of ways to drag it out.

It's not like there haven't been cases where cargo is held at customs for a year or two; sometimes when things are held for too long, the cargo owner just abandons them!

The unlucky merchant's eyes widened even further, "I can't wait that long, and the buyer can't wait that long either!"

The official maintained that same business-as-usual demeanor, "What does that have to do with me?"

He didn't give the merchant a chance to continue the conversation, "Alright, I have work to do. Get out, and close the door on your way."

The merchant still wanted to argue something, but after the official raised his tone and said "Get out" again, he had no choice but to leave the office.

Standing at the office door, facing the manager's expectant gaze, he cursed, "Fuck."

"They are making things difficult for us, deliberately not letting our goods pass!" He kicked the wall by the corridor, hands on his hips, fuming.

The manager followed by his side, and after hesitating for a moment, said, "Could it have something to do with us not signing the relocation agreement?"

This was the only thing he could think of.

Yesterday's power outage and today's refusal to allow clearance were clearly telling people that they had offended someone, stirred up trouble, and now the retribution had arrived.

The merchant turned his head abruptly to look at his manager, his eyes somewhat wounded and fierce.

He actually knew the manager was right, or at least there was a high probability he was right, but having reached this point, it was already very difficult for him to turn back.

Now that the relocation subsidy policy no longer existed, if he wanted to move to the new industrial zone, he would have to apply for land use himself and pay a large sum for land use fees, as well as construction costs for the factory.

Moving the factory here also required money; previously, the City Hall had supported the relocation.

Not only was there not a single cent of benefit, but he had also lost a large amount of money and time!

The manager felt somewhat uncomfortable under his gaze, slowly moved his eyes away, and lowered his head.

Only then did the merchant start walking forward again, "Go to the Bay Area, go find Mr. Charles, go find those big shots, and get them to help!"

This was the only way he currently believed could work.

Coincidentally, at this moment, Mr. Charles and other core members of the Bay Area were also discussing some possible situations that might arise next.

"I had someone check those pieces of equipment; they were destroyed by explosives at close range."

"That guy Williams couldn't have done this, so it must have been Lanse."

Hearing the name Lanse, some people clearly became silent, but others were not so afraid.

For example, Mr. Hoff.

As a regional opinion leader, Mr. Hoff still had influence in the political scene of Liklai State; he was clearly a politician.

Politicians are protected by rules, and before anyone breaks the rules, it is unlikely that anything will happen to him.

And even if the confrontation here fails, he can still move to another place to live.

Creek City has been developing well recently; he could go live in Creek City.

Or he could go directly to Manton; he has many friends there, and Lanse doesn't have much influence there.

"Is there any way to get rid of Lanse?" Mr. Hoff stated his thoughts directly.

"That guy Lanse is tied together with Williams, and with Williams's current control over the city, plus Lanse having mastered the police force, we don't have a single bargaining chip for a counterattack in our hands."

Speaking of this, someone couldn't help but curse, "Damn Charlie, that guy is just like a piece of trash, throwing away our most important weapon!"

If Charlie hadn't lost the police force, they wouldn't be as passive as they are now.

Facing a gang leader like Lanse who is clearly full of problems, there is actually no good way to deal with him!

Others also cursed Charlie a few times, and some cursed Hunter; anyway, in their eyes, both of them were trash who caused them to lose the initiative.

Mr. Charles frowned, "It's very hard to find a gunman in New Jincheng to do this; they don't have the guts to go against Lanse."

When he spoke, he was looking at Mr. Hoff; since the other party brought up this possibility, it meant Mr. Hoff might have a way.

A regional opinion leader represents a group of socially active individuals with a certain reputation in a region; in other words, he represents the upper-middle class of a region.

In the Federation, what class can be called the upper-middle class?

The workers on the docks?

The workers in the factories?

The fishermen who rely on fishing for a living by the sea?

Those police officers in the city police station?

No, in the eyes of politicians, most of these people are worthless because many of them might not even have a vote.

According to the Federal Amendment, one must have a legitimate job and own a house with independent property rights to have a vote.

Those who truly meet this standard are the great landlord class and the urban middle class; they are the backbone.

Mr. Hoff had more contact with farm owners; if he wanted to gain more influence and possess value in the political arena, he had to do better.

He had also been in contact with those extreme conservative radical farm owners in the west of Liklai State, including recently.

So he knew that Lanse was not without enemies.

Not only did he have enemies, but this enemy was also "coming on aggressively"!

Seeing that everyone else's gaze was focused on him, Mr. Hoff revealed a smile, "Do you know about the Holy Bell Party?"

This name is indeed notorious; they have done quite a few bad things, and the nature of them is very vile.

However, for these gentlemen dressed in formal attire like gentlemen, their bad reputation was not that frightening.

Mr. Charles nodded, "I know them; what was their leader's name again?"

He thought for a while, "Joshua?"

Mr. Hoff was somewhat surprised, "I didn't expect you to actually know him!"

"Yes, that's him."

"They have some thoughts about Lanse."

"Letting them deal with Lanse is a good idea. We won't touch the profit distribution at the casino; let it stay as it is. We can even use this channel to have more contact with those above."

"They only want the liquor market in New Jincheng."

Mr. Charles began to think, and the others were also thinking.

Soon someone nodded, "I think it's possible."

"The Holy Bell Party has a big reputation; since they aren't afraid of Lanse, then let them give it a try."

"If they succeed, for us, that is a gratifying thing."

"If they fail, it's nothing more than two gangs fighting each other."

More and more people supported it, and finally, Mr. Charles also nodded, "It can indeed be tried..."

(End of chapter)