20 years of the Republic of China

Chapter 491: You will rise with this, and you will fall with this

The Marshal’s Mansion in the south of the city, the big brothel.

The afterglow of the setting sun gently caresses the blue brick relief, creating mottled light and shadows, looking majestic and magnificent. What a magnificent Romanesque building! From a distance, it looks like a watchtower fortress.

This is Marshal Zhang’s private residence and also the official residence of the three northeastern provinces.

From the Xinhai Revolution to the present day, Zhang Laugeda has turned the Baishan and Heishui regions into a "family empire" in just ten years.

After receiving the summons, Jiang Lianheng did not dare to delay and immediately rushed to the Marshal's Mansion.

Led by the guards, Jiang Lianheng passed through the rockery gate of "Heavenly Reason and Human Heart" and walked into the Marshal's mansion, went up to the second floor, and waited for a while on the bench in the corridor.

Soon, a series of fast footsteps were heard coming from the reception room at the far end.

Jiang Lianheng looked sideways and couldn't help but feel a little surprised.

However, the people who walked out of the reception room were not high-ranking military and political officials of the provincial government, but seven or eight wealthy businessmen wearing long gowns and mandarin jackets.

At a glance, it seemed that they were all the shopkeepers of various money shops and bill shops in the city.

The two parties knew each other. As soon as they met, they stopped and bowed, and greeted each other hurriedly with a smile.

"Hey, Boss Jiang, you're here too. Are you doing well lately?"

"Oh, Shopkeeper Wang, Shopkeeper Ma, Shopkeeper Xu." Jiang Lianheng stood up and clasped his fists. "Are you guys here too?"

"Yes, yes, the Marshal asked us to come over to tell him something. Boss Jiang, you go ahead and do your work. We'll get together again when we have time."

Several shop owners grinned, not being happy but rather a little embarrassed. They did not dare to talk much in the corridor of the Marshal's Mansion. They exchanged a few simple words and then left in a hurry.

At this time, the secretary general in the reception room also came out and said politely, "Boss Jiang, please come in. The Marshal is waiting for you in the room."

Jiang Lianheng nodded, and then, led by the Secretary-General, quickly walked into the reception room.

The afterglow of the setting sun streamed in through the window and spread all over the ground.

Marshal Zhang was sitting at his desk, his arms resting on the armrests, his eyes closed, and he seemed to be dozing off.

"Marshal?" Jiang Lianheng called softly.

"Ok?"

Old Zhang raised his eyelids in response, his tired look disappeared, and was replaced by a confident look and a smile.

"Oh, Xiao Jiang is here, sit down."

Jiang Lianheng let out an "ah", sat down obediently, and waited for instructions.

Marshal Zhang said calmly, "Xiao Jiang, I sent someone to check the news you sent last night. It is true. It happened just in time for the construction of the arsenal. You are a good guy. I was right about you!"

"Thank you for the compliment, Marshal. This is just my job."

Jiang Lianheng smiled and didn't take the compliment too seriously.

There were countless Fengtian Army spies, each with their own leader, and they were not uncommon even in Beijing, Tianjin and other places.

The news of the auction of Krupp factory equipment would have reached the Marshal's Mansion even if the Jiang family had not been involved, sooner or later.

Marshal Zhang certainly would not call Jiang Lianheng to his residence for a meeting just because of a verbal compliment. What he is going to say next is probably the key point.

"Xiao Jiang, I have two tasks for you to do recently. You have to think carefully about them."

"Okay, Marshal, please speak."

Marshal Zhang said bluntly: "Our Fengtian Army is going to fight a war soon. You are so smart, you must have noticed something, right?"

Businessmen are well-informed, not to mention the leaders of underworld gangs.

Jiang Lianheng said frankly: "In reply to the Marshal's words, I have indeed heard a little bit about it."

"Fuck you!" Marshal Zhang suddenly cursed, "Wu Xiucai and Cao Baoding, those two bastards, are against me everywhere. Jin Yunpeng, that little jerk, is biased and doesn't treat me as a human being at all. I will replace him sooner or later!"

The struggle for power in the capital was all happening behind the scenes. Jiang Lianheng didn't quite understand and just listened quietly to Lao Zhang's complaints.

"According to what they say, cooperating with the devils is called treason, and being a dog for Britain and the United States is called patriotism. What a bullshit! I will wipe them out sooner or later!"

I understand what you said. In the final analysis, whoever has the bigger fist gets the last word.

After cursing for a few times, Marshal Zhang calmed down a little, and his tone gradually became more relaxed, and he said:
"But if you want to fight a war, it's not just about the battlefield!"

Jiang Lianheng nodded and said, "Marshal, if you have any errands, just tell me."

"Two things." Marshal Zhang leaned back in his chair and said slowly, "The first thing is to raise money."

War is the most expensive business in the world.

In recent years, Wang Tiekan has been in charge of Fengtian's finances. The provincial government has turned losses into profits, and the year-end surplus has increased continuously, which has also inflated Marshal Zhang's ambition to advance into the Central Plains.

However, fiscal revenue and expenditure have their own limits. If one wants to start a war, the little savings over the years are obviously not enough. So the provincial government decided to issue public bonds and raise funds on a large scale, which required the active participation of wealthy businessmen.

"I am not fighting this battle for my Zhang family, I am also fighting for the people outside the Great Wall!"

Marshal Zhang spoke in a high-sounding manner, and his tone contained a sense of earnest advice.

"These days, when there is no one in the court, the local areas are suppressed. If Wu Xiucai and Cao Baoding are in power, can Fengtian still develop? Therefore, this battle must be fought, and the people must understand the good intentions of the provincial government!"

Hearing this, Jiang Lianheng immediately recalled the shopkeepers of the money shops and immediately volunteered.

"Don't worry, Marshal. The Jiang family will definitely take the lead in purchasing provincial government bonds!"

Brother is on the right track and is popular among people.

Marshal Zhang immediately laughed and whispered to comfort him, "Xiao Jiang, if you work for me, I will definitely not treat you unfairly. I have just talked to the money houses in the city, and they are all very supportive, but this is not enough, we still have to accumulate a little to make a lot. You have to take the lead and set an example, and talk to the merchants and citizens about reason. Public debt is a good thing, and everyone will get rich by doing so."

Having said this, Jiang Lianheng certainly understood what to do.

There are some things that the government should not intervene in, and they need to find someone to speak on their behalf.

"Marshal, I will propose to the Chamber of Commerce tomorrow that all businesses gather together for a meeting and explain the truth to everyone. I believe that merchants will definitely actively respond to the call of the provincial government."

"Well, Xiao Jiang, you have to work hard to convey the provincial government's intentions. I don't have the energy to meet with them one by one. If you have any difficulties, feel free to go to the government office. I have already communicated with them."

"Okay, thank you for your trust, Marshal." Jiang Lianheng smiled and asked, "Marshal, you just mentioned two tasks, so what is the second one--"

"I plan to arrange for you to go to Jiangzuo, the foreign land."

As soon as Marshal Zhang finished speaking, Jiang Lianheng was stunned - what he said happened, how could it be such a coincidence!

Jiang Lianheng didn't want to go to Jiangzuo at all, or rather, he didn't want to go to Jiangzuo on the Marshal's behalf.

But since he had come to this point, he hurriedly asked: "Marshal, do you want me to participate in the equipment auction? This... Marshal, I'm just an ordinary person and I don't understand those machines at all. What if I mess up--" Before he could finish his words, Marshal Zhang immediately waved his hand.

"Oh, I have already sent someone to take charge of the task of acquiring overseas factory equipment."

"Then why am I going to Jiangzuo this time..." Jiang Lianheng was a little confused.

Marshal Zhang said with a smile: "Xiao Jiang, I think you are quite capable and you are a gangster. I plan to allocate 100,000 yuan of activity funds to you. Go and try to see if you can set up an intelligence point there."

You really think highly of me—this was the first thought that flashed through Jiang Lianheng’s mind.

However, he could actually understand Marshal Zhang's intention.

As everyone knows, there are two major spy capitals in the Far East: one in Harbin and the other in Shanghai.

Of course there is no need to say much about Harbin. It was Feng Zhang's territory and hundreds of spies had already been stationed there.

Shanghai is different. It is the last base for the remaining Anhui forces. It is not only the first port in the country, but also a bridgehead between the Zhili and Anhui factions. In addition, Chinese and foreigners live together, and it is a mixed crowd. It is a place where it is difficult to distinguish between right and wrong.

It is extremely difficult for outsiders, especially those from the north, to gain a foothold in Shanghai.

What's more, where can we find people to prepare spies and spy on the situation?
Jiang Lianheng was a little embarrassed, but he couldn't refuse.

It is true that he is the boss of the Fengtian underworld, but in the eyes of the Marshal, he is still just a lackey who works for him.

Not to mention the Jiang family, even the leaders of the Qing and Hong gangs had to run around and expand when Sun Dapao rebelled.

After thinking it over, Jiang Lianheng had no choice but to ask in a deep voice: "The Marshal asked me to go to Jiangzuo. What news do you want to find out?"

Marshal Zhang said, "We want to build an arsenal in Fengtian. There are many foreigners in Jiangzuo. Go and see if you can recruit some talents. As long as they are willing to come to Fengtian, the money issue can be discussed."

"Oh, so that's how it is!" Jiang Lianheng secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Unexpectedly, Marshal Zhang continued, "There are also arms smugglers. Not only should we contact them, but it would be best if we could also get a handle on the arms deals of several other companies."

Jiang Lianheng couldn't help but frown.

But Marshal Zhang hadn't finished his words yet. He suddenly put away his serious expression and smiled softly:

"Besides, Jiangzuo is a treasure land! Xiao Jiang, please help me take a look at the financial sector there this time. Is there anything worth investing in? Pay more attention to it. It's also for your own business!"

Obviously, the first two are the Marshal’s official business, and the last one is the Marshal’s private matter.

But for Jiang Lianheng, the latter is the real important matter.

Marshal Zhang's family background is now too rich.

Not to mention the three provinces outside the Great Wall, even looking at the whole country, Lao Zhang is one of the richest people.

Not long ago, the east of Fengtian City "cleaned up" the mint left over from the Qing Dynasty. The Zhang family plundered a lot of silver embryos alone. Now that they have become extremely wealthy, they want to fight for the world and for money. They have to grab both with both hands and be strong in both.

Marshal Zhang did not plunder the land much, but his means of making money were no worse than those of other warlords. His family's business was almost a monopoly. In the entire Fengtian City, anyone who dared to compete with these two people for profit would probably have his head moved away.

With an activity budget of 100,000 yuan, this should be a good job.

But when he heard that he was going to Jiangzuo, Jiang Lianheng couldn't help but weigh his own capabilities in his mind.

Seeing that he hadn't said anything yet, Marshal Zhang suddenly lowered his voice and asked, "Xiao Jiang, are you having any trouble?"

"No difficulty." Jiang Lianheng almost blurted out.

If you refuse your superiors once, it’s hard to say whether you will get any benefits next time.

However, Jiang Lianheng did not dare to promise anything, but just smiled and said: "I will do my best to follow the Marshal's orders."

Marshal Zhang laughed immediately after hearing this.

"Okay, okay, you're quite a smart kid. I'll leave the job to you. I'm at ease. Is everything going well at home recently?"

"Thanks to the Marshal's care, everything is fine."

"That's fine. Go back and prepare. Before you leave, tell my secretariat and let me know if you have any difficulties. Although Jiangzuo is not the territory of our Fengtian Army, those people from the Anhui faction have to give us some face."

At first glance, these words sound like he is supporting his subordinates.

But if anyone takes this seriously and always asks for help from his superiors, he will definitely not be favored by them.

Jiang Lianheng smiled bitterly twice, then stood up and left.

"Marshal, please take a rest. If there is nothing else, I will go back first."

"Well, don't forget about the provincial government's public debt. We need to let the merchants and citizens do it voluntarily!"

Jiang Lianheng naturally remembered every word of Marshal Zhang's instructions. After simply agreeing to a few words, he stood up, said goodbye, and left the Marshal's Mansion in the south of the city.

…………

After returning to his home in the north of the city, Jiang Lianheng did not even bother to eat, and hurriedly sent people to call Nanfeng, Xifeng, and the four people "Xue Zhao Liu Wen" to come to the house to discuss matters.

Everyone took their seats. Seeing that the boss looked unhappy, they wanted to ask but didn't dare to. They could only sit quietly and wait for instructions.

After a moment's silence, Jiang Lianheng finally spoke and briefly explained the matter of the provincial government's public debt.

Liu Yansheng usually represented the Jiang family in the Chamber of Commerce. Hearing this, he did not seem to be surprised. Instead, he said, "Boss, this matter is not difficult to handle. After all, it is still called 'public debt', not 'fundraising'. It will be easy to discuss it with the shopkeepers of each store."

Xue Yingqing nodded and said, "This matter is not a big deal. We and several other wealthy families are paying to buy government bonds. There is no need to say anything more. Other businesses will naturally follow suit."

Liu Yansheng did not refuse and immediately stated: "Boss, if there are any uncooperative people, I will go and talk to them first. If they can't make it through, then let Lao Zhao and Xifeng handle it."

Everyone nodded, feeling that this matter was not difficult to handle.

Only Hu Xiaoyan frowned, holding on to a glimmer of hope, and asked, "Does it have to be purchased?"

"What are you talking about? Why did Lao Zhang ask me to go there?" Jiang Lianheng said impatiently, "I guess the provincial government's bonds can't be sold, and the government can't force them, so let us use some tricks!"

"That would damage our family's reputation and fill Marshal Zhang's wallet!" Hu Xiaoyan suddenly became worried.

"What else can I do?" Jiang Lianheng asked, "Now that the matter has fallen on my head, can I still push it away?"

"If we push it out, Marshal Zhang will probably be unhappy with us." Wang Zhengnan muttered softly, "It's better to offend the business than the government!"

"That's right." Hu Xiaoyan said, "If the government bonds make money, everyone will be happy, but if they lose money, the shopkeepers will not dare to hate the government, but will hate our family instead."

"How can the public debt be repaid?" Li Zhengxi asked in confusion, "Isn't there a government guarantee? Unless Old Zhang falls... that shouldn't be possible, right?"

Hu Xiaoyan said, "The government debt won't be repaid, but what if Mao panics?"

(End of this chapter)