Chapter 653: Suffering Losses, Being Fooled, and the Third Punch Starting to Accumulate Power

For the federal rulers at the current 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.

On the compensation favorable to oneself, it 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)

Richie is also forty-seven or forty-eight years old, about the same age as Joshua, and looks as honest as a farmer on a farm.

But what he does has nothing to do with being a farmer.

Joshua chose him because David is his man, and David helped them discover this "business opportunity," so as a reward, Joshua is also willing to give Richie and David a chance to let them bathe in the gospel and glory of the Lord!

A look of excitement appeared on Richie's face, "I will bring back his head and offer it before you!"

Joshua nodded, "Go and prepare; you will be setting off very soon."

Richie has more than a dozen wives.

The doctrine of the Holy Bell Party stipulates that men can have more wives, so most Holy Bell Party members have at least two or more wives.

Because of religious freedom and respect, this behavior of theirs is not considered illegal.

In the Federation, there are also religions that specifically provide polygamy or polyandry for rich people; as long as you believe in them and go register, you can avoid the law and marry multiple wives or marry multiple husbands at the same time.

Rich people always have ways to achieve the content that ordinary people can only realize in their dreams; otherwise, what is the point of having so much money?

Actually, Joshua's guess was not wrong. After Mr. Hoff hung up the phone and communicated simply with Mr. Charles, he had already made a decision.

Compared to the fact that he might have a closer relationship with the Holy Bell Party, to the point that his status within the Social Party is not guaranteed, it is the Lanse family and Lanse himself who are a greater threat to them!

Having lost the status of a regional opinion leader, he is still a wealthy man and can still live in the Bay Area, enjoying everything that only two percent of people can enjoy.

But if he does nothing, then what he might lose is not just his status as an opinion leader, but also his wealth and everything he possesses.

When both choices involve stabbing oneself, the choice on the left is to stab oneself with a dagger, and the choice on the right is to stab oneself with a long sword; then how to choose doesn't seem to be that difficult.

Soon Mr. Hoff contacted Joshua again and agreed on some subsequent matters. That same night, Mr. Hoff's motorcade passed through more than half of the city and left New Jincheng.

If anyone noticed, they would realize this point: Mr. Hoff had left.

Lanse actually heard this news too, but he didn't care whether Mr. Hoff wanted to leave or not. He was currently organizing and sorting out the "ledger" found in the Red Heels Club, which recorded various solicitation messages of Bay Area dignitaries, as well as a portion of criminal evidence.

Actually, once they reach their level, they won't completely fall from the pyramid just because they have solicited a call girl.

But their days definitely won't be too good; otherwise, the Bay Area wouldn't be in such a hurry to silence the relevant insiders multiple times.

This intelligence will make them lose their reputation on the surface, for example, resigning due to blame, or resigning from their positions, and so on.

These response measures are essentially to fool the bottom-level masses. Just like Mr. Charles, if a large amount of scandal were exposed, he would resign due to blame and resign from his position as president of the group company, but he would only retreat from the front stage to behind the scenes.

No one would demand that because of the scandal, he must take out his shares in the company and give them to others.

Even if they really demanded to buy back the shares in his hands, he would receive a large amount of compensation.

So these things are just for ordinary people to see, letting ordinary people—those at the bottom of society—have a perception: even if the masters make mistakes, they will be severely punished; this society is fair and just.

However, this is also what Lanse needs. As long as they lose some of their public identities, it will be much easier to deal with them.

For example, dealing with Mr. Hoff; he is currently a regional opinion leader, a proper politician, and a member of the Social Party.

The cost of killing him is too high; this would arouse the vigilance and hostility of the entire Liklai State Social Party Committee.

Just like the Federal Government and Congress prohibit filing investigations against incumbent leadership, they also want a sense of security!

Mayor Williams telling Lanse not to make it look too ugly is essentially hoping that Lanse won't be too impulsive.

But what if he loses this identity as an opinion leader?

He is no longer a glamorous politician; public opinion has turned him into a pile of dog shit, and some people who would have protected him even hope that he will die.

At that time, he will be finished, and the turmoil and subsequent shocks caused will be much smaller.

Even the Social Party, in order not to let public opinion continue to ferment, will take the initiative to suppress this case.

Lanse has a large amount of such materials in his hands. Since both sides have already started a war surrounding "interests" and "ruling power," then he doesn't need to hide or tuck them away anymore.

After he organized these materials and put them away by category, he made a phone call to President Vaughn.

"How did the thing I asked you to do last time go?" Lanse still privately gives the Dock Workers Union a sum of money every month, and will also give President Vaughn and some core management some bribes.

For the current Lanse, this money is only a very small part, but it can maintain the entire Dock Workers Union for him.

When he communicates with President Vaughn, he is more like a friend with a slightly higher status, but not by much; he doesn't use honorifics, just communicates very normally.

President Vaughn gave a positive response, "I have a list; do you need it now?"

Lanse considered it for a moment, "Come over; come to my office. It just so happens that we still have some things that need to be discussed."

Ten minutes later, President Vaughn arrived here by car and handed over the list in the office.

Lanse just looked through it roughly; hundreds of shareholders made his head ache.

But this is also very normal; it is said that the shareholders of the several major banks in the Federation number in the tens of thousands!

Lanse returned the list, "Too many; it makes my head dizzy. You just tell me directly!"

"Are there any who have a good relationship with you and can be won over?"

"Soon we will take action against a portion of these people; we need some assistance, some strength, and at the same time, we need to distinguish between enemy and friend relationships."

President Vaughn frowned; he took out a pen and wrote and drew on the list for a while, "These relationships are not bad with me; I can talk to them. As for the others..."

He shook his head. Although they also rely heavily on the Workers Union, the one who mainly interfaces with the Workers Union is the manager of the dock management company, not these shareholders.

Lanse glanced at the names circled; the shares they added up to were less than ten percent, but it was better than nothing.

"Contact them and invite them to be guests, preferably tonight. Just say there are very important things to discuss with them."

"If they aren't there, ask them to find an agent to come."

"Use your name first, don't use mine, so as not to scare them..."

(End of chapter)