1928: The Rise of Giants

Once Yu Qiaqing fell, Ye Luo naturally became the real leader of Shanghai's business community.

These wavering businessmen immediately understood that the purpose of holding this meeting was to ask them to pay "protection fees". In name, it was to share the military aid expenses for Ye's investment, but in reality it was to force them to take sides.

The businessmen of the Jiangsu and Zhejiang consortium headed by Yu Qiaqing have shown through practical actions that they are determined to follow in Wang's footsteps and will no longer stand on the side of the principal.

In this way, when the Battle of Shanghai ends, someone will have to be liquidated.

When the principal came to his senses, the first group to be attacked was the Shanghai business community!

In order to understand the problem, the businessmen who were invited to attend the meeting donated generously, saying that saving the country and resisting Japan was the duty of all Chinese people. They had made money over the years and should help the country in times of national crisis.

Ye Luo was very satisfied with the more than 5700 million oceans he had plundered from these people.

Nearly 2 businessmen, big and small, donated nearly yuan per person, which immediately gave the principal's th Route Army a big relief.

After this wave of donations, the principal won’t have to worry about military expenses for at least a month.

On the day the money was received, the principal personally called from the Party General Office to express his gratitude: "A Luo, this incident was resolved so quickly, thanks to your assistance."

"You are too kind, Mr. Party Leader. The bulk of the military aid comes from those patriotic businessmen in Shanghai, and I just contributed a small portion." Ye Luo replied modestly, "I hope the Party Leader will not forget what he promised me before."

"Of course I won't forget you." The principal smiled happily. "When you have time, ask your sister to come to Shanghai Beach to treat you to a meal. She always misses you in Xikou after not seeing you for a while."

"How can that be? If you come over, I will do my best to be a good host." Ye Luo said politely, but he was thinking in his heart, I asked you for resources and property, but you sent your wife here. Do you also want me to help you give birth to a son?
"In short, the Japanese invaders will definitely not gain any benefit from this war. When the war subsides, I will consider reorganizing the southern economy and business community. Just wait and see." The principal added.

Ye Luo nodded in satisfaction after hearing this, and said with a smile: "I hope the party leader can give more green lights to Ye's investment at that time."

"Of course. Your Ye's investment is a national treasure. You may not dare to say anything about the North, but you can do whatever you want with the South. Don't worry." After the principal finished his nice words, he hung up the phone, citing his busy military affairs.

Deng Wenyi, who was waiting nearby, immediately reported to him the battle report and situation in the north.

"Since the fall of the North, the relationship between Zhang Hanqing and Ye Luo seems to have become a little subtle." Deng Wenyi whispered, "After the fall of Jinzhou, Zhang Hanqing has not seen him again. The two have not even exchanged phone calls or letters once, as if they don't know each other anymore."

Everyone knows that Ye Luo was the one who was most opposed to Zhang Hanqing's leaving the country and not dispatching elite troops back to defend Fengtian.

I heard that before the Mukden Incident, he went to see Zhang Hanqing on purpose, but still failed to persuade him.

What Deng Wenyi meant was that Ye Luo might have broken up with Zhang Hanqing because of this matter.

The principal’s biggest concern before was that Ye Luo would bring Ye’s Investment to stand on Zhang Hanqing’s side.

After all, the two great warlords, Jiang in the south and Zhang in the north, are bound to fight in the future. Whoever Ye Luo, the God of Wealth, supports will have at least a 10% better chance of winning.

"Even if they really break up, Ye Luo cannot be used for the time being." The principal pondered for a moment and shook his head. "There is no place for him in the Kuomintang now. Would he be willing to be ranked below Ziwen and Kong Xiangxi? But if he is promoted to be on par with these two, will Ziwen and the others agree?"

The four major families of Kong, Song, Jiang and Chen are connected by blood, and the ties cannot be severed just like that.

Moreover, judging from Ye Luo's words, deeds and behavior, the principal always suspected that he was secretly connected with the underground organization.

Although there were many such high-ranking members of the National Party, to enter his most direct faction, they absolutely could not have the slightest connection with the underground organization. Even the eldest sister of the Song family who had connections with the underground organization was excluded by them, not to mention Ye Luo, an outsider.

"What the Party Chairman said is absolutely right. I was not thoughtful enough." Deng Wenyi nodded in agreement, and then asked, "It is said that the performance of the Tax Police Corps in this battle was very outstanding. Have you considered incorporating it into the National Army?"

"I originally thought that the Tax Police Corps was a joke by A Luo and Zi Wen, but I didn't expect it to have such a big effect. How could such a powerful corps fall into the hands of others?"

The principal pondered for a moment and said calmly,

"Since he is determined not to engage in politics or the military, an army of tens of thousands of people cannot be left to him to manage for a long time."

What the principal meant was that he wanted to incorporate the Tax Police Corps.

Historically, after the Battle of Shanghai, the principal transferred Wen Yingxing from the Tax Police Corps under the pretext of reorganizing military affairs and arranged for his confidant Huang Jie to serve as the second commander.

In addition, he also placed a large number of his officers into the General Tax Police Corps, and through a series of behind-the-scenes operations, he took over the General Tax Police Corps from Song Ziwen.

Song Ziwen, who had no real power but only financial resources, was helpless and could only watch the iron lion he had carefully built become a tool of the principal.

But now that the Tax Police Corps is Ye Luo’s property, he will not let the principal take it away easily.

"I understand. I'll arrange the reorganization right away." Deng Wenyi felt a little sorry for Ye Luo. In fact, he felt that Ye Luo should take advantage of the victory at this time, establish himself as the king of his own mountain, and simply go to the north to conquer a piece of land and become a rich and powerful warlord.

Why should I continue to be exploited by the principal?
On the other side, the principal's wife, who had just returned from a play, was taking off her coat. She ignored Deng Wenyi's presence and walked directly into the party's general office. She sat down with her plump thighs raised and asked leisurely, "How is the war in Shanghai going?"

"Thanks to A Luo's aid of more than 8000 million oceans, the logistics problem has finally been stabilized." The principal gave Deng Wenyi a wink, and the latter left tactfully.

"I told you that asking him for help wouldn't be wrong, but you still didn't believe me. In the end, the one who helped you wasn't my brother or your brother-in-law, but me, your adopted brother who has no kinship with our family."

The principal's wife rolled her eyes at him, feeling smug.

Ever since the failed attempt to use military funds for buying airplanes for stock speculation, she has become much more obedient and her say in the Song family is not as strong as before.

This made her, who was obsessed with power, very uncomfortable. This time she finally found an opportunity to show off her power. She was planning to slowly take over some of the power of the Song family and the Kuomintang.

Don't think that just because she is a woman and does not hold an important position, she cannot influence the Kuomintang.

In fact, the identity of the principal's wife and the first lady is very useful, and she has cultivated many direct descendants for herself.

The principal laughed dryly and said, "Yes, yes, you are right about this. I just called A'Luo. Lingjun's birthday is coming soon. You should take some time to go to Shanghai and get in touch with his wife."

"Okay, Ye's Clothing is going to release a new style of cheongsam, how about I be a model?" The principal's wife's closet is full of cheongsams, many of which she has never worn, but she just likes to collect these clothes and jewelry.

The principal wanted her to stay away from him so that he could have a more comfortable private life. He immediately nodded and said, "After the war ends, you should stay at the Ye family for a while. Don't let the Ye family think that we will stop maintaining relations after we get the money."

"I understand." The principal's wife chuckled. (End of this chapter)