In this way, a new gang was born on the Bund Pier. Their first target was the former gang leader. The gang leader was usually a bully who controlled the loading and unloading business on the dock. He wanted the hard-earned money of the coolies.
Cut off half of the plate and don't want to pay? Okay, then don't even think about getting a foothold on the dock. Which leader doesn't have a few ruthless thugs under his command. Ding Li and the other coolies have a ruthless leader, but now
He couldn't be cruel anymore, because an ax just flew past his head, and the sharp blade tilted one ear slightly to the side, and the guy he was eating was gone.
Since he can be a leader, he is not an ordinary person. After half an hour, the one-eared leader summoned hundreds of helpers and came fiercely with iron rods in their hands in an attempt to nip the infant Ax Gang in the bud.
, although there are a few martial arts practitioners among the coolies, most of them just rely on their brute strength. They can't help but panic when they see more people from the other side coming to kill them. At this time, the reinforcements sent by Xu Wenqiang's brother arrived in time. Fifty Japanese soldiers arrived in time.
Shengchang's carefully trained swordsmen were not something ordinary gangsters could match. In less than a moment, they beat the shit out of a hundred gangsters, and they knelt down and begged for mercy. After this battle, the Ax Gang gained a foothold on the dock.
The establishment of the Ax Gang was only the first step for Liu Ziguang to intervene in Shanghai. The next step was to investigate the shady story of the Shipping Department. As the police said well, without investigation, there is no right to speak, so Liu Ziguang personally went to the Shipping Department disguised as an export businessman.
The Yamen went to investigate.
The front of the Shibosi Yamen is very large and impressive. There is a sign under the flagpole at the door with a line of large characters: It is prohibited to set up stalls within 30 feet to the left and right of the Yamen. Several city patrol officers in green clothes were wandering nearby carrying sticks.
, the door of the Shipping Department was closed, and it was three o'clock in the morning and the office had not opened yet. This was very similar to the behavior of the big yamen in the capital. Liu Ziguang dressed up as an ordinary businessman and queued up among the businessmen waiting for customs declaration at the door of the Shipping Department.
.
The Yamen was always closed, and the merchants were thirsty and complaining. Liu Ziguang chatted with the person in front of him for a few words and learned that this person was a local small and medium-sized export agent in Shanghai, specializing in representing various goods from the mainland.
We are engaged in export customs clearance, so the Shipping Office usually opens early, but in recent days, it almost has to wait until the afternoon to open its doors. I heard that Liu Ziguang was new here, and the man talked a lot about the Shipping Office.
, he seems to be a very expressive guy.
"Why is that so?" Liu Ziguang took out a cigar and gave it to the man, asking with an air of humbly asking for advice.
"It's not because the imperial envoy is coming. Every time the imperial court sends people to inspect, the Shipping Department has to sort out the account books. Think about it, they have been greedy so much, so the account books must be more beautiful. I heard that this time
The imperial envoy is a difficult character. I think all the bosses in the shipping department must be afraid, that’s why they haven’t opened the door until now." The man introduced the so-called inside story with a cigar in his mouth in an airy manner.
"Wouldn't that delay the tax collection? With so many ships coming and going from the port, and so many people queuing here, how much money will be lost by closing the door?" Liu Ziguang asked.
"We Xiaoxiaomi people don't look down on us at all. Big businesses like Fuyuanhao pay on an annual basis. There is no need to queue here. They won't charge a penny less. We are all cooking anyway."
If a cooked duck can't fly away, how can it be sent to the shipping company in Quanzhou, Guangzhou, thousands of miles away? Not to mention whether there is a ship there to pick up the goods, even the travel expenses are expensive."
"Brother is really well-informed. I admire you. Come on, have another cigar." Liu Ziguang took out another cigar and offered it to him. The man hadn't finished smoking the previous one, so he took it carelessly and put it on his ear.
The posture continued to spread common sense to this newcomer in the industry.
"The yamen of the Shipping Department is not big or small. Although Lord Tiju is a fifth-rank official, the money earned by the national official every year is no less than that of a second-rank minister of household affairs. Think about it, the number of ships entering and leaving Shanghai Port every year
, the goods amount to tens of millions, no matter entering or exiting, the shipping company must issue a public certificate. Landing without a public certificate is smuggling. If you are caught by a smuggler, you will be fined and bankrupted. If you are unlucky, you will be jailed. For example,
Now I have a ship of porcelain to be exported. I have to write down the quantity, price, destination and other information to the Municipal Shipping Department for filing, pay the tax and receive the official certificate. This step cannot be skipped. Those who are queuing up here today are all
Came to do this."
"What kind of world is this? You have to pay taxes based on people's looks. How did you get this promotion?" Liu Ziguang shook his head. This city shipping department was too bureaucratic. It reminded him of the previous situation when he went to the Ministry of War Yamen to collect debts.
There was a faint hint of anger.
"Little brother, please don't talk nonsense. If others hear you, you will be in trouble. Our Shanghai Shipping Secretary is a handsome and handsome young man. He can become such a big official in his twenties.
Do you think his backstage can be small? It's a big deal if someone hears your bad words about him. He will have to shed his skin even if he doesn't die." Big Brother raised his eyes and taught Liu Ziguang a lesson.
"Then what is the origin of this Tiju?" Liu Ziguang suddenly became curious when he heard that Tiju was only in his twenties.
"There is a famous preserved meat shop in Shanghai. The shopkeeper's surname is Chen. He is good at making preserved sausages and is known as Xiaochang Chen. He has a son and a daughter. The daughter is beautiful and the son is handsome. Later, our Lord Governor gave birth to
The daughter was married as a concubine, and the son became the governor's brother-in-law. Naturally, everything went up, and within a few years he was promoted to the post of Chief Shipping Officer. Do you think he has a big backing?"
While he was talking, the door of the Shipping Department opened, and a group of officers in indigo blue uniforms ran out with water and fire sticks. They separated the merchants who were queuing outside, and then carried out a number of large green sedan chairs.
Liu Ziguang couldn't help but be secretly surprised. He smiled and thought that Shibosi was just a fifth-rank yamen, so how could there be so many green cloth sedans that only third-rank officials could ride on.
A man who looked like a manager shouted to the businessmen queuing up: "We are not open for business today, let's all leave." The crowd in the queuing suddenly became excited, and people shouted dissatisfied: "Why have you been waiting for two days?
It’s not open yet, when will this happen?” A bold person in the team shouted loudly: “Can we open tomorrow?”
"Not even tomorrow. It won't open until the Imperial Envoy leaves. If you want to blame, just blame the Imperial Envoy." The steward said with disdain.
"The imperial envoy hasn't arrived in Shanghai yet! If he stays here and doesn't leave, won't we never be able to get the official certificate? If we don't get the official certificate, we won't be able to unload the goods. Wouldn't we starve to death?"
The crowd got excited and rushed towards the Yamen gate, but were stopped by the guards' fire and water sticks.
There was a short businessman who didn't know where he got the strength. He actually broke through the blockade of the guards, stood in front of a large green baize sedan and knelt down with a plop: "Sir, please take pity on the little one, the little one is the best."
I was doing an import business last time, and I got a shipload of fruits from the Song Dynasty waiting to be unloaded. If I don’t get the official license, the fruits will be ruined! My entire fortune is on this ship of fruits!”
Four guards sprang out from behind the sedan, punching and kicking them. The short businessman had a bloody head, but he became even more energetic. He actually jumped forward and grabbed the sedan bars without letting go, still shouting: "Sir, have mercy on me."
, my whole family’s livelihood depends on this boat of fruits! Please give me a public certificate! I will never dare to evade when I pay my taxes according to regulations.”
The short businessman's words resonated with other businessmen, and a large number of them fell to their knees. Everyone cried and begged: "Sir, if you have mercy on us, please give us a public certificate."
The sedan curtain opened a corner, revealing a handsome face, but this face was a little distorted by the bold actions of the unscrupulous people. He whispered a few words to the steward who ran over to listen to the instructions, and the steward immediately
He shouted to everyone: "Chen Tiju is rushing to the Governor's Mansion for a meeting. If you dare to stop him again, you will be punished as obstructing official business and handed over to the Yamen! Get out of my way!"
The short businessman still didn't let go. It seemed that his mind was a little unclear. He was holding on to the sedan chair and crying uncontrollably. His head was bloody and his face was miserable. The guards tried hard to break his fingers, but they couldn't.
open.
"Come on, cut off his hand." The steward saw Master Tiji lowering the sedan curtain with a livid face. He knew that Master Tiji was angry. If he still couldn't get rid of this unruly man, I'm afraid he would be the unlucky one.
So he gritted his teeth and issued the death order.
The guard drew out his saber and was about to chop it down, when suddenly a sharp shout came out, "Stop!" A sallow-faced man stood out from the ranks of merchants, angrily staring at the sedan that was lifting the master. This man was in disguise.
Liu Ziguang.
The officers woke up after staying for a few seconds, and swung water and fire sticks at them. However, Liu Ziguang grabbed the stick, snatched it away and swept them across. He knocked the officers on their backs and then walked up to the green cloth sedan and asked coldly.