dhibooks Chapter 225 Coastal Defense Bonds
Chapter 225 Coastal Defense Bonds
Shanghai, the headquarters of the Southeast Central Bank.
In front of the marble counter, the sound of abacuses clattering was more frequent than raindrops.
The newspapers were spread out on the long table.
The headlines on the front page were all blacker than the last.
The Zhen Dong avoids the trap of the decisive battle.
The call signs of Xiamen's underground radio station "Youth Tide" have been exposed.
"Japanese Fleet Heads North, Merchant Shipping Routes in Danger"
Several representatives from the Jiangsu and Zhejiang Chambers of Commerce sat around the table.
Some people's faces were red, from the heat generated by the Zhen Dong ship's first battle.
Some people turned pale, frightened by the news of the Taiwan Strait Fleet heading north.
Merchants are not afraid of war itself, but they are afraid that cargo ships will not be able to enter the port, that insurance companies will raise prices unexpectedly, and that the price of rice will double overnight.
What I fear even more is a sudden tightening of credit; money that can be transferred out today might become "no cash available" at the counter tomorrow.
The conference room on the second floor of the Southeast Central Bank.
Mo Huixin sat at the head of the long table, with three stacks of account books spread out beside her.
The first stack is the initial accounts of the aftermath of the Xiamen concession.
The second stack is the naval special account of Jiangnan Shipyard.
The third stack consists of photocopies of telegrams from various countries requesting that merchant ships give way to each other.
Today she wore a light-colored cheongsam with a plain-colored thin shawl draped over it.
His expression was very calm.
It was as still as if every silver dollar in an account book had its own place.
Lu Huaide, the representative of the Jiangsu and Zhejiang banking group, spoke first.
"President Mo, with the Taiwan Strait fleet pressing in, if trade routes are cut off, the subscription of government bonds may have to be postponed."
Mo Huixin glanced at him.
"What is Mr. Lu worried about?"
Lu Huaide gave a wry smile.
"You're worrying too much."
He counted on his fingers.
"Cargo ship insurance premiums are soaring, rice prices in Xiamen are in disarray, customs revenue is cut off, and the Japanese are using warships to block shipping lanes. If it really comes to that, wouldn't the coastal defense bonds be nothing more than a worthless piece of paper?"
A murmur rippled through the meeting room.
Some people nodded.
Some people didn't dare to nod, but their eyes said it all.
Mo Huixin was not in a hurry.
She pushed the first ledger to the center of the table.
"Two thousand three hundred and twenty-seven overseas Chinese were registered in the Xiamen International Settlement last night."
"Forty-one shops have reopened."
"The dock and warehouse have resumed 60% of their loading and unloading operations."
"Rice prices are capped at yesterday's book value."
She recommended a second book.
"Twenty-seven boxes of rifle ammunition and six boxes of explosives were seized, sealed with three layers of seals."
"The Fujian Provincial Government, Customs, Xiamen Chamber of Commerce, and British and American observers all signed to witness this."
The third ledger is opened.
"After the Japanese fleet sailed north across the Taiwan Strait, seven merchant ships from various countries received explicit warnings from Chen Jiajun's forces, including two British merchant ships that inquired about safe routes."
She lightly touched the paper with her fingertips.
"Gentlemen, this is not because the trade routes have been cut off."
"Now that we've covered the trade routes, we know who to ask."
Lu Huaide was taken aback.
The conference room fell silent for a moment.
Mo Huixin's voice was not loud, but every word she uttered was precise.
"The Japanese used warships to scare merchant ships."
"Chen's army, however, is stabilizing the merchant ships."
"What you are buying today is not a government bond."
"It's a future where cargo ships entering the Minjiang River estuary and passing through the waters off Xiamen won't have to pay tolls to Japanese warships."
Someone swallowed hard.
That wasn't a very passionate statement.
But it reeks of money.
Businessmen fear empty talk the most.
They also understand the underlying reasons behind that statement best.
If the southeastern coastal defense can truly be stabilized, ships can sail, goods can enter, insurance prices will not rise arbitrarily, and rice prices will not soar erratically.
Then government bonds are not donations.
It's about buying peace of mind.
This is also the rule for buying future routes.
The bank secretary next to them handed out a red-covered instruction manual to everyone.
The cover reads:
Southeast Central Bank's first tranche of coastal defense construction bonds.
Five-year term, 1 point, 7% interest.
Ten-year term, 2% interest.
The payment is guaranteed by a portion of the customs revenue from Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai, and Fujian.
The funds were used for purposes such as orders from Jiangnan Shipyard, steel shipments from Ma'anshan, and naval pay accounts.
The Financial Services Department publishes a monthly report.
Lu Huaide turned to the third page, his brow furrowing.
"President Mo, the statement that customs duties are used as a guarantee for payment carries significant weight."
"Therefore, it should be written into the articles of association."
Mo Hui thought to herself, "Casual words are worthless. What's valuable is that they must be verifiable."
She looked up.
"If you are not at ease, you may send your accountant to the bank to supervise the special account for government bonds."
Upon hearing this, several people in the conference room sat up straight.
Send an accountant to supervise?
This is not something a typical warlord would say.
Warlords typically issued bonds using guns.
They assign the task today, and demand payment tomorrow.
As for where the money went, that's a military secret.
On Chen Jiajun's side, they actually had the Chamber of Commerce send an accountant to a special account.
Lu Huaide closed the instruction manual.
"President Mo, is the subscription to these government bonds voluntary?"
Mo Huixin said calmly, "What is forced out is not credibility, but resentment."
She looked out the window.
Downstairs at the counter, several businessmen were discussing something while holding newspapers.
"What Chen's army values is credibility."
"It's not resentment."
Xiamen, Temporary Financial Audit Office.
Li Mingyuan stood in front of a makeshift table.
On the table were warehouse inventory lists, rice shop price lists, overseas Chinese registration books, and military equipment seizure numbers.
The clerks at the Fujian Provincial Government were so busy that their wrists ached.
Qian Shirong stood to the side, a smile plastered on his face, but a bitter look in his eyes.
The position of chamber of commerce president is usually glamorous.
In the hands of Chen Jiajun, they were like beads on an abacus in an accounting office.
Dial it once, and it rings once.
Not even a slight noise is acceptable.
Li Mingyuan looked at the price list.
"Chairman Qian, why is the rice shop on West Street 1.2 cents more in its accounts than yesterday?"
Qian Shirong broke out in a sweat.
"Commander Li, this two cents is the porter's fee."
Li Mingyuan remained silent.
Just looking at him.
Qian Shirong immediately changed his tune.
"Of course, with the chaos just settled, the Chamber of Commerce is willing to subsidize the travel expenses first."
"It's not a matter of whether you want to or not."
Li Mingyuan said, "The accounts will be processed according to how the notice is written."
Qian Shirong nodded quickly.
"Yes, yes. Follow the signs."
The clerk reported in a low voice from the side.
"Vice Governor, the Shanghai Southeast Central Bank called. President Mo is requesting today's dock loading and unloading volume, the implementation status of the rice price cap, the sealing number of the munitions warehouse, and the number of shops that have reopened."
Li Mingyuan's lips twitched.
"Miss Mo also wants to pay a debt?"
The document stated, "The telegram said it was for the purpose of explaining the coastal defense bonds."
Li Mingyuan understood.
He looked at Qian Shirong.
"President Qian, did you hear me?"
Qian Shirong gave a wry smile.
"I heard you."
"The fact that not a single grain of rice in Xiamen has gone up in price today gives us more confidence in Shanghai."
Li Mingyuan handed the price list back.
"This is called exchanging your rules for your own shipping routes."
Qian Shirong lowered his head.
"Commander Li, the Chamber of Commerce will cooperate."
Li Mingyuan added a sentence.
"Cooperation is one thing, but the accounts still need to be paid."
Qian Shirong: "..."
This sentence was so familiar that it gave him a stomachache.
Teahouse outside the City God Temple in Shanghai.
A travel-worn Su Guiying sat by the window on the second floor. Having just returned from Fujian, she appeared somewhat tired, yet remained calm and composed, much like one of those Shanghai socialites who seemed oblivious to the hardships of ordinary people.
There were no newspapers on her table.
There was only a cup of tea, three rice coupons, and a bank voucher.
She wasn't wearing her military intelligence uniform today, but only a dark blue long gown.
She looks like a wealthy lady who came to listen to a story.
But all the waiters in the teahouse knew that after this customer sat down, the wind in the entire building seemed to change direction.
A man in a short jacket sat down opposite her.
"Director Su, the rumors are starting from three places."
"explain……"