1932: Playing with the Japanese Communist Party with a doll

(So, don't assume that just because some historical records claim the Nationalist army "did not commit any crime," they were completely innocent. A certain foreign army entered Zhejiang, and their standard for committing no crime was "doing everything except killing people." Even with this, they were considered "royal troops," and the local gentry were grateful!)

After the Red Army's actions in Zhangzhou were reported to Chen Jiageng, who was in Xiamen at the time struggling with the construction and operation of Xiamen University and Jimei University Village, he became interested.

So, taking advantage of the opportunity of the trial of foreigners, he took the initiative to send an inquiry to the CCP, hoping to attend the meeting. Naturally, he received a warm invitation and quickly came to Nanchang with a ship full of supplies.

Similar to what happened in history, after brief contact over the past few days, this wealthy man has developed a strong favorable impression of the Chinese Communist Party, and the balance in his heart has gradually begun to shift.

He was extremely satisfied with this meal.

If the CCP offered him lavish gifts, he would think they were just that. "Hahahaha... Mr. Chen, there's no need to be so polite. We will always remember your help to the Chinese Communist Party..."

After a few polite words, Wu Hao talked about the issue of supplies:

"Mr. Chen, we've calculated the total value of the supplies you brought. Do you want to pay in pounds or..."

Before Tan Kah Kee could say anything, the young man next to him exclaimed, "You have British pounds?"

I go!

These country bumpkins actually have British pounds! Where did they steal them from?

"Shut up! Do you have any manners at all?"

Tan Kah Kee reprimanded his fifth son, Chen Guoqing, who had come with him to see the world, and quickly apologized:

"Mr. Zhou, I apologize for my son's misconduct..."

"It's okay, it's okay. The outside world has many misunderstandings about the Communist Party of China, and this is understandable."

Wu Hao waved his hand to show that he didn't care and asked again:

"So, you can use US dollars, British pounds, Japanese yen, or even the dollar."

"Mr. Zhou, I told you when I came here that these supplies are worthless. I donated them to the CCP as a gift, not as a business opportunity."

"We in the Communist Party of China have always advocated not taking a single needle or thread from the people. Aren't you one of the people?"

Wu Hao said seriously:

"Don't be polite, Mr. Chen, please don't let us violate the principles."

Principles are principles.

If the CCP still gives up despite the current extreme difficulties, the worst that can happen is that they can accept the supplies and return them hundreds or thousands of times in the future;

But to be honest, for the current CCP, the supplies brought by Chen Jiageng are indeed not valuable, so they can no longer easily accept donations.

The debt of favor is the hardest to owe...

"Mr. Zhou, to be honest, these supplies I brought are actually the overstocked goods in our warehouse. They are really not worth much."

"Even so, it won't work. I know your company is in trouble right now, and it's not easy to squeeze out this money. We can't take advantage of you."

After much deliberation, Tan Kah Kee was shocked to see that Wu Hao was really going to give the money and was not just being polite. He had no choice but to agree:

"Okay, then whatever is convenient for you."

"Well, then let's just use British pounds. You're being oppressed by the British in Southeast Asia, so you probably need this more."

After hearing this, Tan Kah Kee finally couldn't help but ask:

"Mr. Zhou, how did you know that we are in such a difficult situation and are being suppressed by the British?"

It's more than just difficulties? It's more than just suppression.

In fact, in the second half of 1932, under the impact of the Great Depression and the suppression of British financial groups, Tan Kah Kee's company was on the verge of bankruptcy.

He came to Nanchang because, on the one hand, he was indeed interested in the Chinese Communist Party and wanted to understand this force that had occupied half of southern China and had forced Chairman Chiang Kai-shek into a state of embarrassment;

On the other hand, he had also vaguely heard about the collusion between Guangdong King Chen Jitang and the Chinese Communist Party, and wanted to take a gamble to see if he could have the opportunity to cooperate with the Chinese Communist Party, expand the market, and save his own company.

He is a businessman after all!

"Mr. Chen, we're in the midst of a global depression, and no capitalist country is immune. They're having a hard time. Who are they going to turn to for help if they want to recoup their losses?"

Wu Hao pointed out the nature of Western countries and the sorrow of the Chinese people and even China as a whole in a light tone:

"Without a doubt, it's the Chinese in Southeast Asia, because you are the richest, most threatened by the British navy, and without a strong motherland to protect you, it's easiest to rob you."

Tan Kah Kee was shocked.

Before he came into contact with the CCP, he thought it was a local warlord force "hiding in the mountains and ruling like a king";

After coming into contact with them, he felt that this was an emerging force with vigor, ideals, morality and hope.

It was only at this moment that he truly realized how far and how big the world the CCP had seen.

After a long while, Tan Kah Kee sighed deeply:

"Yes! The Chinese in Southeast Asia have been abandoned since ancient times. Even if they had a motherland, no one would care if they were killed..."

How did the Qing Dynasty treat the Chinese in Southeast Asia?

"Those who do not cherish a civilized nation, who betray their ancestors and their rulers, and who journey to a distant land, are disloyal and unfilial, and have lost all conscience. Their life is meaningless, and their death is worthless."

Under the guidance of this ideology, the Qing court watched as the Chinese in Southeast Asia were massacred again and again (even those who escaped back were killed), and eventually a large number of Chinese were completely absorbed and assimilated by the locals.

Although the CCP already had a preliminary conception regarding Southeast Asia, Wu Hao was reluctant to make too many promises so early, so he changed the subject:

"By the way, Mr. Chen, there's something I need to tell you in advance." "What?"

"In all areas controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, we will soon be enacting some laws that may have an impact on your company's operations."

"Huh? What is that?"

Tan Kah Kee was puzzled, and the others at the table also pricked up their ears.

Most of them were businessmen from Nanchang or Jiangxi. After discovering that the Communist Party of China was not as the Kuomintang propaganda said, that it took pleasure in killing the rich, they also came here to try to seek business opportunities.

"Company Law, Income Tax Law, Labor Law, Labor Contract Law... there are so many."

Wu Hao waved his hand, and someone quickly brought over the legal text he was talking about: "Please take a look at it. You can offer any suggestions or comments."

Everyone read it individually, and soon someone reckless couldn't help but jump up and say, "You're driving us merchants to our doom!" What kind of law is this?

Let’s not talk about how many regulations there are, how detailed they are, and how complicated they are. Let’s not talk about how high the tax rates are. Why are they so biased towards the poor?

Yes, what caused the biggest backlash among the businessmen present was not the Income Tax Act that stipulated a tax rate as high as 45% or the Company Act that stipulated "unlimited liability", because those were things that came later;

What really makes bosses jump up and down is the Labor Law and the Labor Contract Law, which will immediately affect revenue, costs and profits once they are promulgated and implemented!

Look!

Almost all the clauses above are favorable to employees. From beginning to end, it reveals a "bias" and does not care about the feelings of the company and the boss at all!

What does it mean that "employees must sign a legal labor contract under the witness of the Labor Administration Bureau/Institute upon joining the company"?

What about "not using 'trial period' or 'apprenticeship period' as an excuse to withhold wages from employees"?

What about "companies must establish formal trade unions registered with the Labor Administration Bureau, and employees have the right to strike"?

What "employees have the right to refuse unreasonable or illegal demands from company shareholders or managers"?

What about "employees' daily working hours shall not exceed 8 hours, and overtime pay shall be paid at 1.5/2/3 times the normal wage"?

And so on, and so on and so forth.

According to this law, the bosses present here would probably have to give most of their profits to their employees, and some might even have to pay them out of pocket!

Who would be the boss if this happened?!

Wu Hao gave the boss who had initially protested a sharp look and said, "This is a law promulgated and implemented by the Chinese Communist Party within the area under our control. It will not be implemented nationwide, let alone globally."

This is a very euphemistic way of saying it, but it actually translates to:

This is my territory, so you have to listen to me. If you don't want to listen, just go to Chiang Kai-shek or other warlords' territory. When I take over that territory one day, you still have to listen to me.jpgo

The boss, who was so angry, hit a snag. His face immediately became stiff and he sat back awkwardly.

Only then did he realize who he was facing, how inappropriate his words were, and how dangerous his behavior was.

To put it bluntly, they are on their own territory and they want to collect 100% of your tax and take your property, and you have no way to complain!

provocative?

The "Red" in the Red Army is followed by the word "Army"! Do you really think they won't kill people?

Unlike other businessmen, although Tan Kah Kee also paid attention to the Labor (Contract) Law, he was more concerned about the Company Law and the Income Tax Law. After reading for a while, he frowned and said:

"Mr. Zhou, forgive my ignorance, but I've never heard of this 'unlimited liability company'. What does it mean? Also, you're being too biased towards ordinary employees. This is detrimental to the company's operations and business development."

As a well-known overseas Chinese entrepreneur in Southeast Asia who traveled extensively, Tan Kah Kee had certainly heard of the "eight-hour workday," so it was not particularly surprising to him.

Moreover, because he had followed his father to Southeast Asia to work in order to escape the war and the exploitation and oppression of the Qing officials, and had also worked in a rice shop, he knew that he must not deny his employees rest, otherwise it would cause serious trouble.

Moreover, living in the Nanyang environment, one must learn to unite with the compatriots around them and treat them well, otherwise they will be devoured by the natives in a matter of minutes without leaving even a bone;

Therefore, he actually did so originally and agreed with some of the provisions in the Labor (Contract) Law;

Even so, Chen Jiageng still felt that the CCP was too biased towards ordinary employees and was indeed pushing enterprises to death.

"Okay, Mr. Chen, I've taken note of your opinion."

Wu Hao nodded and kindly asked for the others' opinions. After everyone had spoken and recorded their thoughts, he began to explain:

"In areas controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, it's not that we forbid business, nor are we trying to drive people to death. Instead, we have a starting point: we must allow the vast majority of people to become rich together."

"Let's get rich together..."

"Yes, we call it 'common prosperity'."

Wu Hao picked up a copy of the Labor Law and tapped it lightly on the table:

"As we all know, without agriculture there is no stability, without industry there is no prosperity, and without commerce there is no life. Many of you are businessmen who own factories, so naturally you contribute to both prosperity and vitality..."

Everyone nodded. Yes!

Look how important we businessmen and entrepreneurs are!

"But who is actually benefiting from this wealth? Based on current experience, it's the country, the government, the businessmen themselves, and a very small number of others who are enriched. Ordinary workers have a hard time getting rich, and they're often exploited and oppressed."

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere at the scene suddenly became tense.

Through the KMT's propaganda, people were not unaware of the Communist Party's claims of "exploitation and oppression," but they felt very aggrieved.

What? Is it wrong for me to work hard to get rich and do business?

I also provide so many jobs and support so many people!

You keep talking about "exploitation" and "squeezing". Go find a world without exploitation and squeezing!

Chen Jiageng knew that this topic should not be discussed further, so he quickly interjected: "So, you, the Communist Party, want to let them get rich together?"

"Yes, because only when they become rich can you become rich, and only then can the country become rich. This is a very simple truth."

"How...do you say that?"

"Let me give you a simple example... Boss Chen, how much do you spend on food per day?"

"...about...1-3 oceans."

The people around were secretly shocked when they heard this.

The Chinese Communist Party sighed, "What a fucking rich capitalist!" while the businessmen sighed, "Boss Chen is so self-disciplined and thrifty!"

"So, your monthly food expenses won't exceed 100 yuan, right?"

"almost."

"How much do your employees spend on food per day? Give me an average." "Well..."

Tan Kah Kee thought about it carefully and replied cautiously:

"—Usually between 10 and 20 large pieces, about... about one ocean every 10 days!

"Okay, let's assume there are 100,000 Mr. Chens in the world, and they spend 100 dollars on food every month. That's a business of 10 million dollars a month, right?"

"...That's right."

"Let's assume there are 1000 million employees in the world. If these 1000 million employees spend 100 yuan on food every month like Boss Chen, how big a business would that be?"

"This is impossible!"

Tan Kah Kee blurted out.

He considered himself to be one of the rich who lived a relatively simple life, but this amount of money was already beyond the reach of many people in their lifetime!

Everyone lives the same life as him?