Spy Wars: Red Shopkeeper

Chapter 151 Pier
This is true. Any tax revenue that can be collected, even if it's not reflected in the books, ends up in the tax collectors' pockets.

Gu Yansheng thought for a moment and said, "The Japanese have only given us three months to work on these factories. We might not have enough time. Well then, you're in charge of taxation, so you must be an expert in internal affairs."

If you have no objections, let's divide the work. I'll handle the task of finding people outside. I'll go to the concession to pull some strings and see if I can persuade someone to set up a factory here or something.

Could you help me sort out which factories in western Shanghai are unclaimed and can be used with minor repairs? Let's make a list and divide the work.

"That's what I've been waiting for."

Wang Rusong looked delighted. Everyone in the municipal government knew that Director Gu had strong connections in the concession. If the Green Gang were willing to provide some support and set up some businesses there, the tax revenue of 100,000 silver dollars would be solved.

After finishing his sentence, Wang Rusong offered a suggestion: "Brother Gu, aren't you also the director of the Narcotics Control Bureau? I think you should talk to those opium dealers and ask them to open some kind of shop in western Shanghai. This 100,000 silver dollars is only a little over 30,000 a month. If there are 30 people, each person can contribute 1000, and that will solve the problem."

Gu Yansheng smiled and said, "Okay, I'll figure something out. You make the call first, get the rice, and ask for more."

"I'll call right now." Wang Rusong went to make the call.

"I'm leaving it to you now, I'll be going now."

Gu Yansheng went out. Actually, this matter was not complicated. There were two things: first, to ensure the minimum income; and second, to develop his own business.

When you arrive at a place, you should first pay your respects to the local authorities and find out who the host is.

He dialed Gu Zhuxuan's number and said, "Hello, this is Gu Yansheng. I have a question for you. Do you know whose territory this piece of land in western Shanghai is?"

He snorted on the phone, "How could I not know? Huang Jinrong, what, Director Gu, are you interested in western Shanghai?"

It's true that a gentleman takes revenge even after ten years. I promised Gu Zhuxuan before that I would help him deal with Huang Jinrong if I had the chance. However, Gu Yansheng said that he would only help if he had the time. If he didn't have the time, there was nothing he could do. There was no need to cause trouble for nothing.

But now that we've run into each other, there's bound to be some kind of story.

If used properly, Gu Zhuxuan will be a capable assistant.

"I am indeed interested in western Shanghai. Would you like to chat sometime?"

"where?"

I arranged to meet him at a nearby teahouse.

The person arrived in fifteen minutes.

"It came so quickly."

Gu Yansheng stood up to greet him, "Thank you for making this trip."

"Since Director Gu invited me, of course I had to come, especially since it's related to Huang Jinrong." Gu Zhuxuan smiled and said, "Why is Director Gu suddenly interested in western Shanghai? Just tell me what you want to achieve, and I'll help you with whatever you need."

"Sit down and talk."

Gu Yansheng invited him to sit down and have some tea, and said frankly, "I have something that involves western Shanghai. Tell me first, how much do you know about western Shanghai? I mean smuggling, or related industries."

"That's all," Gu Zhuxuan said calmly. "Don't even mention western Shanghai, all the gangs in Shanghai are the same, nothing new. It's just that the regions are different, and everyone's ways of making money are slightly different."

The smuggling industry in western Shanghai is divided into three types, each with its own distinct route.

The first method involves transporting goods from western Shanghai to the concessions. There's a price difference between the east and west sides, which is common knowledge throughout Shanghai. This involves frequent back-and-forth transportation between the two sides.

The second route leads downstream from western Shanghai, using the Huangpu River and land transport to reach Jinshanwei. From Jinshanwei, one can sail to Ningbo and Zhoushan, which were under Kuomintang control. What they lacked is self-evident.

The third route is the Suzhou Creek wharf. There are two wharves on the Suzhou Creek in western Shanghai: Caojiadu Wharf and Sanguantang Wharf. Caojiadu Wharf is the largest and the most prosperous in the vicinity.

Casinos, opium dens, dance halls, food, drinks, and entertainment—anything that Shanghai has, you can find there.

With many ships coming and going, all kinds of business can be boosted.

However, there's a story behind this dock.

Geographically, it belonged to western Shanghai, but actual control was in the hands of the Shanghai Municipal Council. The Council sent police officers there to inspect the transportation of goods and check for smuggling. Of course, the main purpose was to get a larger share; the British were useless.

Through this dock, large quantities of goods could be smuggled out of western Shanghai. The Suzhou Creek is a network of waterways; as long as you could obtain a shipping document from a Japanese company, you could go wherever you wanted.

"Do the Japanese know about this?" Gu Yansheng asked curiously.

Gu Zhuxuan smiled and said, "That depends on the Japanese. Just because the Japanese below know doesn't mean the Japanese above know. Just because the Japanese on patrol know doesn't mean the Japanese in the military police headquarters know."

Wusongkou is divided into the Navy and the Army. How could they know about all this cargo going out?

Every dock has Japanese spies, or spies from the 76th Division. But don't forget, whose territory is western Shanghai?

Huang Jinrong.

"No. 76 is located in western Shanghai, only about a ten-minute drive from Caojiadu Wharf. Why then is western Shanghai still a notorious hotspot for smuggling?"

“Wu Sibao.” Gu Yansheng raised an eyebrow.

“Alright, Director Gu understands very well.” Gu Zhuxuan laughed loudly: “Wu Sibao is a member of the Green Gang. Although he is of a different generation from Huang Jinrong, Wu Sibao’s master is Ji Yunqing, who has a very close relationship with Huang Jinrong.”

Moreover, this area of ​​western Shanghai is close to the foreign concessions, and the head of the Chinese police force in the French Concession was kind and protective of the people here, wasn't he?

Gu Yansheng took a sip of tea. "Interesting."

Shanghai's underground network of connections is so intricate that you can find acquaintances anywhere.

Gu Zhuxuan laughed and said, "According to the market price I know, in the smuggling business in western Shanghai, the Municipal Council takes 20%, the dockworkers are treated to a few hundred dollars for food and drinks, the No. 76 takes 30%, and they still have a 50% profit. That's more than double the normal price for non-smuggling."

Gu Yansheng understood the situation.

After thinking for a moment, he said, "I'm planning to open a smuggling route in western Shanghai. Are you interested in joining me?"

"I'm so interested! From where to where?"

"We'll go wherever the money is. You say there are three paths, then we'll open up three paths."

Gu Zhuxuan slammed her hand on the table. "I'll get some men in right away. First, call a hundred brothers and have them explore this whole area."

Gu Yansheng nodded, then remembered something: "I remember you run a rickshaw company, can you bring one in?"

A rickshaw company can make a lot of money, and more importantly, it provides employment.

“Okay, I’ll go back and find someone to think about this. It’s Huang Jinrong’s territory, so it’s not convenient for me to show up at first. I’ll send a junior staff member over to you, Director Gu, to take charge and coordinate things.”

"can."

Having Gu Zhuxuan as an assistant is not bad.

After talking with him, Gu Yansheng went to a hotel in the French Concession, booked a room, and left the door ajar when he went out.

He then went downstairs and used a public phone to call Shen Linshen, asking him to come upstairs and find him.

After wandering around for a while, Shen Linshen arrived.

"Why did you arrange to meet here today?"

"I need to talk to you about something." Gu Yansheng explained the work the Japanese had assigned them to in various areas.

"I'm planning to open a smuggling route in western Shanghai to solve the gun problem. Also, what other factories do you think we could open?"

Shen Linshen thought for a moment and said, "An underground arms factory?"

(End of this chapter)