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Inside the vault of the Shanghai Fuxing Bank headquarters, Suning personally supervised the packaging of the first batch of "Fuxing coupons".

These light green banknotes utilize anti-counterfeiting technology he brought from outer space...

Watermarks, metallic threads, and color-changing inks were a game-changer for China in this era.

"Fu Tang, this bill is even more beautiful than a US dollar!" Old Wu exclaimed, holding a ten-yuan note up to the light. "The dragon pattern in the watermark looks almost alive!"

Suning smiled and said, "Notify all branches that starting today, we will launch the 'Deposit Silver Dollars for Gold Certificates' service. There will be no handling fee for the exchange, and the gold certificates can be used in all Fuxing Group businesses."

"What if those foreign banks..."

"They couldn't be happier," Su Ning sneered. "They're just worried about silver flowing out of the country. We're helping them lock up depositors' funds."

As expected, the release of the revival coupons immediately caused a sensation.

Merchants found that carrying lightweight gold certificates was much safer than carrying bulky silver dollars, and the Revival Bank had a proven track record of honor, promising to pay out at any time.

Within three months, Shanghai alone absorbed more than 20 million taels of silver reserves.

One night, Old Wu rushed into Su Ning's study: "Fu Tang, something's happened! Counterfeit gold certificates have been discovered in the French Concession!"

Su Ning calmly put down his teacup: "How accurate can it be?"

"Less than 30%!" Old Wu handed over the counterfeit bill. "The paper is rough, the watermark is blurry, and even the security thread is drawn on!"

"Notify the police station and say..." A cold glint flashed in Su Ning's eyes, "We are willing to offer a reward of 100,000 silver dollars for the capture of the counterfeiter."

"Okay! I'll go and make the arrangements right away."

Three days later, Du Yuesheng, a bigwig in the Green Gang, personally escorted three Japanese men to his door.

It turns out this was a conspiracy secretly orchestrated by the Yokohama Specie Bank to undermine the credibility of the Revival Bonds.

"Mr. He, I have brought the man to you." Du Yuesheng cupped his hands and said, "The reward is waived. I only ask that you take good care of the Fuxing Bank when it expands its operations in the French Concession in the future."

Su Ning understood immediately: "Mr. Du, you're too kind. I heard you're interested in the film industry? I happen to have a batch of film equipment from Germany..."

"Haha, thank you very much, Mr. He."

After this incident, the credibility of the Fuxing Currency actually increased rather than decreased, and the saying "I'd rather have the Fuxing Currency than the Yuan Shikai Dollar" even began to circulate among the people.

In his diary, Sato, the president of the Shanghai branch of the Yokohama Specie Bank, wrote angrily: "The gold certificate technology of the Chinese He family is so advanced that even the imperial technicians cannot crack it!"

"How could this be? We can even counterfeit US dollars."

"The Fuxing Bank must have mastered more advanced paper money technology. Our Great Japanese Empire must find a way to get our hands on it."

"Hi!"

At the Chaotianmen Wharf in Chongqing, Suning stood in front of the newly completed "Huaxi Industrial Company" building, drinking and chatting with a group of Sichuan military generals and gang leaders.

"Commander He, no, now we should call him President He!" Commander Liu of the Sichuan Army raised his glass and shouted, "Once your steel plant starts operating, we Sichuan lads will no longer have to hunt with our broken guns!"

Everyone laughed.

Zhao Kuian, the leader of the Gelaohui (a secret society), stroked his mustache and said, "Brother He, you said this factory is 30% Gelaohui, 30% Sichuan Army, and 40% you own? I've lived most of my life and I've never seen business done like this before!"

Suning smiled and said, "Sharing happiness is worse than enjoying it alone. Sichuan is a land of outstanding people and abundant resources. I'm just taking advantage of your esteemed location to make my fortune."

After a few rounds of drinks, Su Ning quietly led Commander Liu to a secret room: "Brother Liu, I heard that your unit has been suppressing bandits recently?"

"Don't even mention it!" Commander Liu sighed. "Those gang of thugs know the terrain well; we'd be at a disadvantage if we chased them in."

Su Ning pushed open the hidden door to the secret room, revealing fifty brand-new Czech-made light machine guns inside: "A small token of my appreciation. Also..."

He lowered his voice, "My arsenal in Chengdu will be able to replicate these guns next month and supply them to your army at cost price."

Commander Liu's eyes widened in surprise: "Brother He, what are you doing...?"

"The rise and fall of a nation is the responsibility of every citizen." Su Ning said solemnly, "The Japanese in the three northeastern provinces are becoming increasingly restless."

That night, when Commander Liu left drunk, he patted his chest and assured him, "Brother He, don't worry! In Sichuan, anyone who dares to touch your property is going against my Sichuan Army!"

"Then thank you very much, Commander Liu."

On the special train back, Lao Wu asked in bewilderment, "Fu Tang, we've invested so much money in Sichuan and given up so much profit. Was it worth it?"

Su Ning gazed at the undulating mountains outside the window: "Old Wu, remember—loyalty that money can buy isn't true loyalty. But these warlords and secret societies have taken our shares, which means they're tied to our war machine. When the war breaks out…"

He didn't finish speaking, but Old Wu understood.

Suning's vision is always ten years ahead of the average person.

……

In the back garden of the Fenglei Town Garrison Commander's Mansion, Zhao Suying was playing the zither in the pavilion.

Five months pregnant, she had gained even more charm, and sunlight filtered through the wisteria trellis, casting dappled shadows on her moon-white cheongsam.

"Suying, be careful not to catch a cold." Su Ning came over with a cloak and gently draped it over her shoulders.

Zhao Suying smiled sweetly: "Husband, aren't you busy with official duties today?"

"No matter how busy I am, I must spend time with my wife." Su Ning leaned down and pressed her lips against her pregnant belly. "Let me hear if the little one is fussing."

Just as the two were enjoying their time together, Old Wu hurried over with a strange expression: "Fu Tang, we have a guest... You'd better see him yourself."

In the front hall, a woman dressed in a peach-colored theatrical costume was eating grapes with her legs crossed.

Upon seeing Su Ning enter, she not only didn't get up, but instead gave him a flirtatious wink: "Young Master He, don't you recognize me?"

Those familiar eyes sent a shiver down Su Ning's spine...

Two years ago at Liu Erquan's wedding banquet, there was that audacious actress, Cai Ling, who flirted with him!

"It's you?!"

Cai Ling giggled and twirled around, the hem of her costume fluttering: "How come Young Master still remembers? I heard you've become successful now, so I've come to seek refuge with you."

She suddenly leaned closer, the scent of rouge wafting over you. "You promised to take me as your concubine!"

Old Wu awkwardly explained, "Fu Tang, when I was in Xi'an trying to find out which opera troupes Miss Zhao liked, I happened to run into Miss Cai Ling. As soon as she heard it was you who was looking for me, she insisted on coming along..."

Suning was lost in memories.

He had indeed given this actress a perfunctory reply back then, but he never expected her to remember it to this day.

Looking at Cai Ling's bright smile, and thinking of the gentle Zhao Suying in the backyard, he suddenly felt that it wouldn't be bad to have a few more vibrant colors in this chaotic world.

“Stay,” he finally decided, “but follow the rules, especially don’t offend the lady.”

Cailing cheered and, in front of everyone, gave Su Ning a quick kiss on the cheek: "I know! I promise I'll treat Madam like my own sister!"

That night, Su Ning cautiously brought up the matter in Zhao Suying's room.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Suying simply stroked the pipa gently: "My husband is a man destined for great things; having multiple wives and concubines is commonplace. But..."

She hesitated.

"Just what?"

“This girl, Cai Ling, has too lively eyes; she doesn’t seem like a docile person. Husband, you need to… be more careful.”

Su Ning's heart skipped a beat.

Zhao Suying may seem detached from worldly affairs, but her observation skills are remarkably sharp.

He solemnly promised, "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Half a month after Cailing entered the mansion, one rainy night, she quietly slipped into a side room in the backyard.

In the darkness, a man's voice whispered, "Did you get the stuff?"

"It's not that easy!" Cai Ling said irritably. "He Futang doesn't trust me much, so it's very difficult to get into his study."

"The organization urgently needs the He family's industrial layout map!" the man said sternly. "I'll give you another week, otherwise..." "Understood!" Cai Ling interrupted him. "Tell Director Dai that I'll find a way."

Unbeknownst to her, a dark figure quietly retreated from the rooftop—it was the sentry Su Ning had arranged to monitor her.

Meanwhile, in a secluded courtyard in Xi'an, Hu Qiankuan was reporting to Dai Li's confidant: "I have confirmed that He Futang's factories in Sichuan and Chongqing are secretly producing weapons! By next year at the latest, his troops will be fully armed!"

"Continue to monitor," the man in black said coldly.

"Yes!"

The rain is getting heavier.

Inside the Fenglei Town headquarters, Su Ning is reviewing the latest military report.

Old Wu rushed in: "Fu Tang, I just received a secret telegram from Shenyang—the Japanese Kwantung Army is being frequently mobilized!"

Suning suddenly stood up and walked to the window.

In the rain, the pale moonlight of 1931 shone on the new recruits training hard on the parade ground.

"It's coming..." he muttered to himself. "Send the order down to all arsenals to operate on three shifts and speed up production. Also, notify all branches of the Fuxing Bank to secretly purchase medicines and gasoline."

"Fu-tang, you mean..."

"By September at the latest." Su Ning turned around, his eyes gleaming with prophetic certainty. "There will be a major change in the Northeast! We must also have the ability to protect ourselves."

……

Late January 1932.

Nanjing, the General Headquarters.

Chiang Kai-shek stood with his hands behind his back in front of the military map, his gaze fixed on the direction of Shanghai.

The Battle of Shanghai was intensifying. The Japanese Third Fleet bombarded the Wusongkou, and the Ninth Division of the Army launched a strong attack on Zhabei, causing the National Revolutionary Army to suffer repeated defeats.

"Chairman, He Futang's garrison division has proceeded to Shanghai as ordered," Dai Li reported in a low voice. "However..."

"But what?" Chiang Kai-shek asked coldly.

"His troops are well-equipped, so they probably... won't be easily wiped out."

Chiang Kai-shek's lips curled slightly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "It's alright! Let him go and fight the Japanese. Once he's wiped out, someone will naturally take over the industries in Fenglei Town."

"..."

Shanghai, Zhabei frontline.

Su Ning stood in the temporary command post, holding binoculars, observing the Japanese positions.

In the distance, Japanese marines were constructing fortifications, while the Japanese Third Fleet's cruiser "Izumo" was moored on the Huangpu River, its gun barrels menacingly pointed.

"Commander, the Chairman's orders are to hold Zhabei at all costs, not to launch a preemptive attack," the chief of staff said cautiously. "If we attack rashly, the losses will be too great, and the higher-ups might..."

"The higher-ups?" Su Ning sneered. "The higher-ups would love for us all to die here."

He turned abruptly, his gaze sharp as a knife: "Pass on my order—the artillery regiment, move into your designated positions. Target: the Japanese Third Fleet!"

"Yes!"

Late at night, on the banks of the Huangpu River.

The artillery regiment of the garrison division quietly moved into its designated positions.

These German-made 150mm heavy howitzers were originally secretly purchased by Suning from Germany and hidden in the military warehouse in Fenglei Town. Now they have finally come in handy.

"Target locked—Japanese cruiser 'Izumo,' 8,500 meters away." The artillery commander growled, "Load high-explosive shells!"

"Fire!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

In an instant, a towering column of water erupted from the mouth of the Yangtze River! In the first salvo, three shells hit the deck of the "Izumo" directly, shattering the bow turret to pieces!
The Japanese fleet was thrown into chaos instantly.

"Baka! Where did the Chinese army get heavy artillery?!" the captain roared. "Counterattack! Counterattack now!"

However, the garrison's artillery positions were extremely well concealed, making it impossible for the Japanese naval guns to lock onto them.

Meanwhile, Suning's artillery observers had already calculated the parameters, and the second round of shelling followed immediately!

"boom--!"

This time, the shells landed precisely in the Izumo's ammunition depot!
“Rumble——!!!”

Amidst the deafening explosions, the Japanese flagship "Izumo" burst into flames, listing and slowly sinking into the Huangpu River!

Meanwhile, the Japanese positions in Zhabei.

"Report! Chinese artillery fire! Requesting backup!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The artillery regiment of the garrison turned its guns around, and 150mm howitzers rained down on the Japanese 9th Division's positions.

With each shell that landed, the ground trembled as if an earthquake had struck, and the Japanese trenches were reduced to ruins!
"Baka! This is not Chinese firepower at all!" the Japanese regimental commander roared in terror. "This is German heavy artillery! Where did they get this kind of equipment?!"

No one answered him.

Because the next second, a shell hit the command post directly, blowing him to pieces!
At daybreak, the Japanese army was routed.

The garrison division's artillery continued to roar, but what drove the Japanese to despair even more was...

Suning's armored regiment has been deployed!
These German-made Panzer I light tanks were secretly purchased by Suning through German arms dealers. Although they were not advanced, they were a game-changer on the Chinese battlefield in 1932!
"Tanks! The Chinese army has tanks!" a Japanese soldier screamed in terror.

"Rat-a-tat-tat—" Tank machine guns swept through the enemy lines, and Japanese soldiers fell in droves.

Su Ning stood on the command vehicle, holding binoculars, coldly observing the battlefield.

"Commander, the Japanese 9th Division has begun its retreat!" Old Wu exclaimed excitedly.

"A rout?" Su Ning sneered. "Order the cavalry regiment to outflank and encircle them, leave no one alive!"

"Yes!"

Corpses littered the banks of the Huangpu River.

While other Nationalist troops were still struggling to hold on, Su Ning's garrison division had already broken through the Japanese defenses and even pushed back to the riverbank!
"He's gone mad... He Futang's gone mad..." The Nationalist general watching the battle was dumbfounded. "Is he trying to drive the Japanese army into the sea?!"

Nanjing, the General Headquarters.

When Chiang Kai-shek received the battle report, his hands trembled slightly.

"He Futang... sank the 'Izumo'?"

"Yes! Not only that, his troops have already defeated the Japanese 9th Division, annihilating over 5,000 enemy soldiers!"

Chiang Kai-shek remained silent for a long time, then suddenly sneered: "Fine, very well. Since he's so good at fighting... let him keep fighting!"

Shanghai, frontline command post.

"Commander, urgent telegram from Nanjing! The Chairman has ordered us to continue the offensive and recapture Hongkou!"

Su Ning looked at the telegram, a cold smile curling at the corner of his lips.

"Chiang Kai-shek is determined to wear us down..."

Old Wu whispered, "Commander, we..."

"Fight!" Su Ning said decisively. "Since they're here, let the Japanese devils know—China is not a place for them to run wild!"

...(End of chapter)