Chapter eight hundred and forty-eight countermeasures
The reason why Chen Mingxiang expends his energy on selling salt is not just for money. Of course, he will not give up what he should earn, because even if he doesn't earn it, it will fall into the hands of the Japanese and traitors.
There are also those salt merchants who are struggling to make a fortune for the country.
The salt tax can be said to be a crucial input for the puppet Ministry of Finance, and it is also the focus of contention between Wang's puppet government and the Japanese. The salt he transports from the Changlu Salt Fields in North China to central China does not need to pay tax.
From production to transportation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Military Police are covering everything. This is killing three birds with one stone.
First, it is convenient for ordinary people to eat salt. The ration of at least one pound of coarse salt per person per month can be met. Moreover, the price of salt is increasing slowly, which provides real benefits.
Secondly, 6,000 tons of salt rushed into central China, which effectively weakened the sales of salt in the local Lianghuai Salt Farm. The salt tax was cut, and the financial revenue of the Wang Puppet Government plummeted.
Third, through the sale of salt, Chen Mingxiang had more capital to bribe senior officials of the Wang puppet government in exchange for supplies for the Kuomintang-controlled areas, and he also gained huge wealth from it.
"Those of us have only been in the industry for a short time, and the number of salt shops we have opened is much less than that of the old salt merchants. If we make too much noise, I am afraid it will arouse their suspicions. Huazhong Salt Company is the future of the Ministry of Finance
It is an extremely important financial source. When the time comes, the Ministry of Finance will put pressure on you." said a salt merchant named Liu in eastern Zhejiang.
After entering this industry, I realized how powerful the old salt merchants were. Even the Wang Puppet Government had to win over them. No matter how powerful Chen Mingxiang was, if the old salt merchants persuaded the Minister of Finance Zhou Fahai, he would not be able to handle it. These are those
The confidence of the old salt merchant.
"I still need you to teach me how to do things? I just said that the business should cover the respective areas, but I didn't say that we must open salt shops in the local area. I don't know how to turn around?"
"Rent a yard and find a few solid people, how can you sell salt? As long as you can survive for a few months, why are you worried that those people won't come and beg you to negotiate? I don't know how I deal with those coal merchants in the Shanghai market?
"Chen Mingxiang said lightly.
This is a misunderstanding in thinking. I always think that opening a shop is more formal, but special times require special methods. Who said that selling salt must require a shop? Just transport the salt to the place and open it with a scale!
This group of salt merchants were dumbfounded at first, and then unanimously agreed. No wonder he became a smuggling leader in Shanghai at a young age. He is very quick in thinking, does not stick to formalities, and only seeks to achieve his goals. He wants to do it.
Well, can gold and silver look good?
Chen Mingxiang fought a beautiful battle with the coal merchants in the monopoly industry in Shanghai. The most powerful trump card was to use coal to replace briquettes, eliminating the interference of production capacity and forcing those coal merchants to
Surrender, it is said that the Lianmei Company in Shanghai has begun to consolidate.
"Chunfeng has done a great job in Shanghai. Whether he is a webmaster or a student, I am very satisfied and contented. He is worthy of being a strategic agent of our Military Command Bureau."
"In the past two days, I have met with the ambassadors of the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Netherlands respectively. In the name of the Military Command Bureau's work for Chunfeng, I handed over the reports of the overseas Chinese. The ambassadors of the three countries are very grateful to the Military Command Bureau and ask us to continue to take care of Shanghai.
expatriates, and will praise the old man."
"You have all read the secret report written by Chunfeng. He believes that as the Japanese government adjusts its strategy against the Wang puppet government, Li Shiqun has not only lost power, but has also become a stumbling block. However, what he has done is not extraordinary enough and needs to be done.
Layout, I want to hear what you two think." Dai Li said.
Chen Mingxiang sent Zhou Guojun to arrive at the mountain city on a freighter. Pan Qiwu sent someone to pick him up at a secret location and also received the three suitcases he carried.
Dai Li then met with Zhou Guojun in person, asked about some of the current situation of the station directly under him, and gave him a few words of encouragement. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the army and appointed as the intelligence section chief of the station directly under him.
Of course, Chen Mingxiang informed Pan Qiwu in advance by secret message that the items delivered to the mountain city were of high value and there must be no mistakes.
Although Boss Dai also attaches great importance to money, half a million US dollars is not a small amount to him. But more importantly, the reports from the British, American and Dutch expatriates sent by Chen Mingxiang are his trump card for building relations with the British and American parties.
, its value is immeasurable.
Mao Renfeng and Pan Qiwu looked at each other. Boss Dai actually used three words to express his mood. This is rare. It is not easy to be praised by the boss, not to mention that he is very beautiful, very satisfied, and very contented. This sentence
Words carry a lot of weight!
"Chunfeng has had a lot of contact with Li Shiqun, and he is fighting on the front line, so he is the most familiar with the situation. I think that since he dares to raise it, he has a basis for judgment. Since he lurked in the Shanghai stock market to perform his mission, the accuracy of the intelligence has been
There is no doubt about it." Mao Renfeng said with a smile.
"A very important point in Chunfeng's plan is to connect Li Shiqun with the underground party, because this is the most taboo thing for the Japanese, and it makes it clear that this old enemy is currently in a bad situation. The Japanese have adjusted their strategy, and Wang Puppet
The government’s voice has greatly increased, but Li Shiqun has withheld Jiangsu Province’s finances and used it to cultivate secret service organizations and security forces, which is already a taboo.”
"The more insecure Li Shiqun becomes, the less measured he will be in doing things. But raising an army requires a lot of money as support, and he does not have a money printing machine. For this reason, he must rely on the resources of Su Province to exchange urgently needed funds. This
There is a fatal flaw.”
"Chunfeng is preparing to start a salt trading house in Chang'an. He has contacted the underground party and thanked the other party for their cooperation in salt. He can provide a loan to help the underground party base in Jiangsu Province tide over the difficulties. The money will be used for salt.
I think the underground party will not refuse to repay it."
"As long as Li Shiqun sells grain to the underground party, he will touch the bottom line of the Japanese. In addition, Chunfeng also needs to purchase grain in large quantities. The Japanese army's grain purchase in Jiangsu Province will inevitably create obstacles, which will lead to insufficient military grain supply.
There is no doubt about the murderous intention." Pan Qiwu said.
He is Chen Mingxiang's teacher and a very powerful veteran agent. After his analysis, Dai Li and Mao Renfeng also felt that this plan was feasible.
Chen Mingxiang placed the launch in July and August, which happened to be the rice and corn harvest season in Jiangsu Province and also a critical time for the Japanese army to collect grain. If the task could not be completed, the Japanese army's logistics support would have big problems.
The strategy of the Japanese military is to feed war with war. The hundreds of thousands of troops in central China all rely on local rice to meet their military needs, but Jiangsu Province is currently the most important grain-producing area.
