Shadow Spy

Chapter 309 The first day of exchange opening

On Wednesday, May 5, the Shanghai Concession was bustling with activity. Early in the morning, there were long queues in front of various banks, all citizens and businessmen who came to exchange legal currency.

Although there are many people, there are militia defense teams at the entrance of each bank to maintain order, and inside the banks, police officers from the Economic Investigation Division of the Anti-Smuggling Department and bank security guards are in charge, so all exchange outlets are busy but not chaotic.

However, on this morning, there were constant disputes at the roadblocks connecting the concession to the outside. Many people were blocked from the roadblocks and were not allowed to enter. Some of them had bad tempers, making a lot of noise and questioning the police on duty. Why didn't the officials let them enter the concession?
The U.S. soldier responsible for force support tasks on the side remained calm, but he held the M1 Garand rifle and Thompson submachine gun in his hands, staring at the entrance of Luka. Although he did not speak, he was extremely threatening. Strong, so that those noisy people only dare to make noise outside Luka, but they do not dare to take a step beyond the boundaries.

The police officers responsible for road card inspections have all received formal training, and the number of female police officers has even been increased recently. The inspections are very standard and fast.

There are three inspection channels set up at the roadblock. One is specifically for citizens holding the concession resident certificates, and they will be released after a simple inspection. The other two channels are for outsiders, divided into men and women. All people who want to enter the concession must Detailed inspections and even body searches will be carried out, and special personnel will be asked to record the purpose of entering the concession. Especially those carrying large amounts of legal currency cash will be given special attention.

Those who were noisy outside the road card were those who carried large amounts of cash and could not explain the purpose of entering the concession, so they were directly refused entry.But their noise was useless. The police officers ignored them at all, while the American soldiers on duty stared at them fiercely. It didn't take long for them to retreat in fear.
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A minor problem also occurred within the concession. Except for Japanese banks, all other foreign banks and commercial banks affiliated with the Chinese Bankers Association participated in the legal currency exchange operation in accordance with the requirements of the Financial Management Committee of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Even German banks are no exception.

Neither the Ministry of Industry nor the citizens are surprised by the performance of Japanese banks. Now, except for those Japanese enterprises and Japanese expatriates, basically no one goes to them to handle business. Of course, they will not go to exchange legal currency this time. Financial Management I ignored them this time!

Many people even think that based on Chief Panson's dislike of the Japanese, it may not take long for these Japanese banks to be driven out of the rental industry.

In addition to these banks, there is a special banking institution that clearly rejected the request of the Financial Supervisory Commission and stated that it would never participate in the legal currency exchange business. This made many citizens who went in to handle business very dissatisfied, and even caused some serious anger. dispute.

This banking institution is the Shanghai Office of the Silian General Office. It has nearly ten business outlets in the concession and is specifically responsible for the government’s legal currency-related business. In addition to ordinary deposit and loan business, it is also responsible for the Ministry of Finance. It is an important window financial institution for the Chongqing government to the outside world through business communication with foreign banks in Shanghai, Shanghai and Hong Kong Island.

The official name of the Silian General Office is the "Joint General Office of the Central Bank, Bank of China, Bank of Communications, and Farmers Bank of China". It is responsible for handling various special business related to the government's financial and economic policies during wartime.After the outbreak of the German-Polish War, realizing that a world-wide war was about to break out, the National Government was specially established on October 10 last year in order to unify the financial affairs of the Government.

The Fourth Alliance General Office has the highest level. Chairman Chiang Kai-shek serves as the chairman of the board of directors, taking charge of all affairs. Kong Xiangxi, Song Ziwen, and Qian Yongming serve as executive directors, and the executive president, finance minister, economic minister and leaders of the four industries serve as executive directors. Directors have authority over the four elements.This time the concession authorities actually want to ban the circulation of legal tender. It would be strange if the Shanghai Office of the Fourth General Office cooperates!

The Financial Supervisory Commission had previously formally notified it to participate in the legal currency exchange, but the General Office of the Fourth Alliance did not give a clear reply. According to convention, if it does not refuse, it means it agrees.

Of course, the Financial Supervisory Commission does not expect it to really cooperate, but it must be acceptable to save face!But I didn't expect that it would now have disputes with citizens. The branches of the Fourth Alliance Headquarters would dispatch security personnel to drive away and beat citizens. This is no small matter!
The Financial Supervisory Commission is an official organization formally established by the Ministry of Industry and Industry. Although the person in charge is a female, Hampuri, she is not a character who does not fight back when bullied!

At 09:30 in the morning, the penalty letters from the Financial Supervisory Commission were issued. One copy was delivered to the Fourth Alliance Headquarters by the staff, and the other was delivered to the police station.

After receiving the penalty letter from the Financial Supervisory Commission, the General Office of the Fourth Alliance had not yet figured out how to respond. The Anti-Smuggling Division of the Police Station and the brigade police officers from the Public Security Division came to the door and directly sealed all ten business outlets in the concession under them. , the staff were expelled, the vault was locked, and all the security personnel who beat people were arrested!The speed of action is beyond people's expectation.

During this process, the onlookers cheered one after another, and the police officers all sent the injured citizens to nearby hospitals for examination, identification of injuries, pocket records, and evidence collection...

Many reporters responsible for legal reporting also recorded this process and immediately published it in the midday supplement and evening newspaper to promote the impartiality of the concession officials.
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After coming up with the idea, Li Junhao no longer interfered with the financial management committee's affairs. He couldn't worry about everything by himself. Others had to work hard too!Therefore, he only heard about the Financial Supervisory Commission’s order to seal down the Fourth Alliance Headquarters in the restaurant during lunch, and he praised it, “Not bad!”Hanprey, his former boss, was still very courageous, and that was how he should be.

Of course, he also knew that if this happened, things would get serious. Over in Chongqing, the government would definitely appeal to the embassy again. I hope Ambassador Jensen can withstand it!
However, it doesn't matter even if it can't stand it. The embassy can at most give orders to the Consulate General in Shanghai, but there can be no punishment. Moreover, this is the decision of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce Bureau of the Concession. In the end, whether to let the General Office of the Fourth Alliance go. , it is still up to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce Bureau to decide, and there is a lot of room for maneuver here.

In other words, this matter will ultimately depend on Shanghai's intentions, so how the Fourth Alliance Headquarters handles this matter will be decided based on the development of subsequent events.

Although Li Junhao is not sure whether the Consul General and Commercial Counselor Han Puli can withstand it, he still has him, and no one will despise the authority of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce Bureau!

(End of this chapter)