9. The materials obtained are delivered to designated military supply factories at prices stipulated by the army, and the proceeds are used for activities to destroy legal currency, but there is no restriction when otherwise ordered.
10. The "Shan Agency" should keep abreast of the activities of the "Shan Work" and report the use of funds and equipment to the Staff Headquarters at the end of each month.
11. The "Shan Agency" can reserve 20% of the printed legal currency as activity funds for free use.
2-14
Gong Binsheng was really surprised after reading this document!
The "manufacturing of strategic equipment" mentioned in this document refers to the imitation of legal currency! Its main purpose can be summarized in one sentence, which is "forgery of legal currency to destroy the Chinese economy!"
He then looked at the date of Tojo Hideki's instructions, which was December 8, Showa 13. In his mind, he calculated that it should be December 8, 1938!
He said softly: "Sir, the Japanese have already started implementing this plan!"
Boss Dai nodded and said softly: "During the 'Songhu Battle', we discovered that many Japanese dead soldiers had some expired Chinese currency in their pockets! These currencies were simply useless! The Japanese army was trying to use these expired currencies.
Deceiving the common people! We didn’t pay much attention at the time, thinking it was nothing big and the Chinese could see it! But in fact, the Japanese have had this intention for a long time! Now they want to forge legal currency!”
Gong Binsheng was extremely shrewd. He observed Dai's expression and guessed that there might be other situations.
He asked in a low voice: "Sir, what else is there?"
Boss Dai said: "Not long ago, the legal currency printing plates we commissioned from the American Banknote Company were kidnapped by Japanese agents as soon as they were delivered to Hong Kong! Now they want to forge legal currency, which is even easier!"
Gong Binsheng said nothing, wondering in his mind what tasks he might undertake in this matter.
Boss Dai seemed to understand his thoughts and said: "I have already reported this matter to the Chairman. The Chairman asked us to take effective measures as soon as possible! Do you understand, it is an effective measure!"
Gong Binsheng said: "Sir, please make it clear and I will do my best to implement it!"
Boss Dai paused and said: "One measure is to prevent their counterfeit currency from flowing into the Kuomintang-controlled areas! The Military Command has issued a warning to local governors, ordering them to strictly prevent the flow of counterfeit currency! In Chongqing, this is your responsibility! All land and water ports
, must be strictly inspected to prevent the inflow of counterfeit currency!”
"Sir, I will definitely order strict inspections at all ports!"
"The second measure is to counter fake with fake! I have contacted the Central Bank and they are willing to assist us. Your duty is to find a suitable place as soon as possible and make preparations for this! It's clear!"
Gong Binsheng stood up hurriedly, "Yes, sir, I understand! I'll get started immediately!"
2-15
Gong Binsheng sat in the car on his way back, feeling the cold wind blowing in from the car window and thinking carefully.
He understood very well that Boss Dai's tasks were always very simple, and even made those who accepted the order think that it didn't matter whether it could be completed or to what extent it could be completed. But whoever really thinks so will definitely die!
The task given by Boss Dai today was also very simple, but at the end he asked: "It's clear!" The tone was quite stern! Therefore, this task is by no means as simple as finding a venue! He must go all out!
Thinking of this, he asked the driver to return to the headquarters. The first person he looked for was Deng Baoguang, director of the Economic Research Office of the headquarters.
In the military circles, Deng Baoguang is also a strange person. He is from Huang'an, Hubei Province, and he is forty years old this year.
He once studied Japanese economics at Chuo University in Japan. After returning to China, he married a beautiful American girl. He always wore neat suits, his hair was slicked up in a 37-part parting, and he wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses on his pretty face.
He just looks like a polite and open-minded person from Shanghai.
But he is the leading economist within the military system, and it can even be said that he is the only economist.
2-16
Deng Baoguang's office is like an elegant study room of a scholar, with huge bookcases standing on the walls on both sides. No one would have thought that for a military lieutenant colonel, the bookcases would be filled with thread-bound books.
"Boss Dai told me about this." He said simply with a delicate and elegant smile on his face.
"So look, how should we proceed?" Gong Binsheng asked humbly.
Deng Baoguang opened the drawer, took out a page of paper, held it with two fingers, shook it gently, and placed it in front of Gong Binsheng.
Gong Binsheng glanced at it and couldn't help laughing. Listed on the paper were the institutions they should look for, including the Currency Department of the Ministry of Finance of the National Government, the Currency Issuance Office of the Central Bank, and the Mint of the Ministry of Finance.
Next, there are people and things that are specifically needed: plate engravers, banknote printers, special ink, special paper, and currency samples. The last item is a spacious, hidden, and conveniently located factory building.
This last point was also specially explained by Boss Dai.
Gong Binsheng didn't expect that Deng Baoguang could imagine so completely!
2-17
In the next two days, Gong Binsheng and Deng Baoguang acted together. The first thing they did was to look for the institutions listed on the paper and inquire about the situation of money printing.
Every night, Gong Binsheng reports his work progress to Boss Dai.
But two days later, he vaguely realized that Boss Dai actually had other ideas about this matter! To put it nicely, he wanted to walk on two legs. To put it more directly, he wanted to secretly build the military's own coinage.
factory!
As soon as Gong Binsheng figured this out, he quietly made preparations.
The first thing to prepare for this is the last item on Deng Baoguang's paper. He needs to find a place that is spacious, hidden, convenient for transportation, and more convenient for confidentiality!
Gong Binsheng searched for many days but could not find such a suitable place.
2-18
One day, when Gong Binsheng went to the Military Commission, he happened to meet Zhai Zhenchuan in the corridor.
He suddenly realized that Zhai Zhenchuan might know where there is a suitable venue! He is a business owner!
So, he smiled and asked: "Brother Zhai, let me ask you, if I want to set up a factory, where would be more suitable?"
He noticed that Zhai Zhenchuan seemed to hesitate for a moment, and immediately realized that he might indeed have a suitable place! Their manufacturing department dealt most with large and small enterprises!
He said: "Brother Zhai, I hope you can give me some advice. I have an important task!"
Zhai Zhenchuan asked doubtfully: "What on earth do you want to do? There must be a purpose! I can also provide reference opinions!"
After Gong Binsheng hesitated for a moment, he pulled him to a quiet place and briefly introduced to him that Japan was manufacturing counterfeit French currency. Our military commander's idea was to match fakes with fakes and create fake military notes or other currencies in occupied areas!
Zhai Zhenchuan didn't expect that the military commander would be so brave, and he was very impressed, "I do have a place, it's pretty good!"
Gong Binsheng smiled and asked: "So, why did you hesitate just now?"
Zhai Zhenchuan burst into laughter, "Speaking of which, as you know, the funds I raised are not only used for the resettlement of enterprises relocating to Chongqing, but there is still a little left over. I want to use this fund to set up another factory to specialize in the production of machinery and equipment.
I am going to ask Mr. Xianying’s wife, Ms. Jin Shuizhu, to help me handle this matter. But Ms. Jin does not agree to build a factory in Chongqing. She thinks it is too remote. Her opinion is that if you really want to build a factory, go to Changsha.
Build it! There is land there, there are workers, and it is located in a prosperous area in the south of the Yangtze River. Only by building a factory can we develop. I am considering her suggestion now!"
Gong Binsheng was not interested in Zhai Zhenchuan's plan to set up a factory. What interested him was the location he mentioned.
He asked: "Where will you set up the factory?"
Zhai Zhenchuan said: "There was a silk reeling factory in Ciqikou of Geleshan. It closed down, but the workshop is still there!"
Gong Binsheng asked: "Is the venue big enough?"
Zhai Zhenchuan said: "There are several workshops and several rows of bungalows. Do you think they are big enough?"
At this moment, Gong Binsheng laughed and asked softly: "Can I use it?"
Zhai Zhenchuan shrugged, "Mrs. Jin is not optimistic about this place, so I have to consider going to Changsha to choose a new address."
2-19
Ciqikou Town is located at the foot of Geleshan Mountain, with the Jialing River to the northeast.
The town is very old, scattered in a mountainous area with dense trees and rolling hills, and the area is very vast.
It is said to be big because more than ten years ago, there were dozens of large and small silk reeling factories and silk mills here. The silk produced here was once exported to Europe and even won the gold medal of the International Exhibition. Tens of thousands of silk reeling plants were reeled here every day.
Silk workers work here.
But when the war broke out, the trade routes were interrupted, and these silk reeling factories suddenly lost their vitality. Most of them closed down, and the remaining few could only survive and survive.
At this time, Gong Binsheng, Zhai Zhenchuan and Deng Baoguang were standing at the foot of a hill called Yangjiashan on the east side of Ciqikou Town, looking at the large black and dilapidated silk reeling factory at the foot of the mountain.
Gong Binsheng nodded and said: "Brother Zhai, it is indeed big enough! Let's go in and have a look."
2-20
Zhai Zhenchuan led them down the mountain. They passed through the collapsed wall and easily entered the shabby factory.
After entering the factory, they felt that the factory was larger than the one they saw on the mountain, but it was also more shabby!
The factory was covered with weeds and garbage, and the shiny sewage reached the walls. Sparrows flew out of the glassless windows, making a loud chirping sound.
The situation in the workshop was even worse. Several remaining reeling machines were lying on the ground, and all the parts that could be removed were stolen and sold by nearby villagers. The walls were dark, and some roofs were leaky, and the sky outside could be seen.
Gong Binsheng looked at it carefully, with a sly smile on his face, looking at Zhai Zhenchuan and Deng Baoguang.
Zhai Zhenchuan didn't care and just shrugged at him.
Gong Binsheng said: "What a great place! You two, this is it!"
Upon hearing his words, Deng Baoguang opened his wallet, took out several stacks of banknotes, placed them one by one on the dark machine table, and looked back at them.
When Gong Binsheng and Zhai Zhenchuan gathered around to watch, he began to introduce them one by one: "This is the banknote issued by Yin Rugeng's Jidong government. However, it was only issued in 1937, and the Mongolian Bank was supported by the Japanese.