Chapter 350
The north of Longhua Town is Longhua Road, XH District in later generations.
The Songhu Garrison Headquarters is located here. As the seat of the highest military headquarters in Shanghai during the Kuomintang period, the military commanded here includes the Central Army and the local armed forces.
Among them were the 32nd Army, the 37th Division, the 5th Division, the 78th Division of the 19th Route Army and the Shanghai Defense Group.
It is mainly responsible for the security tasks in the Songhu area. In addition to urban Shanghai, its security area extends to Chuansha and Zhoupu in the east, Dachang and Zhenru in the west, Caohang and Chenjiahang in the south, and Baoshan and Yanghang in the north.
At this time, a Stipec car, the most fashionable car at the moment, was parked on the road in front of the gate. Bai Xiuzhu glanced at the headquarters gate through the window and told Zheng Jirong beside her:
"Uncle, he has a very old-fashioned character. You must not talk nonsense after you enter, and..."
"Okay, okay."
Zheng Jirong looked disapproving. If Bai Chongxi was really old-fashioned, he would have wiped out the Ax Gang long ago. How could he use this as an excuse to extort military expenses from Chen Chen.
He opened the car door, raised his hand to pick up Bai Xiuzhu from the passenger seat, and took out the two large suitcases of banknotes he had prepared from the trunk.
Zheng Jinjin raised his arms, smiled at Bai Xiuzhu and said, "Let's go, Miss Bai."
Bai Xiuzhu couldn't help but roll her eyes at him when she heard this, but she still put her hand into his arm like a ghost.
"stop!"
When the soldier on guard in front of the door saw the two of them, he asked seriously: "What are you doing here?"
"Brother, please give me an announcement." Zheng Jirong put down his suitcase and said with a smile, "The Ax Gang has come to hand it over as requested."
"I am Bai Xiuzhu"
Before he finished speaking, Bai Xiuzhu interrupted impatiently: "Your commander is my uncle. Just go in and tell him I'm here."
Hearing this, the soldier looked up and down at Bai Xiuzhu in shock, nodded, and ran back to the post, apparently calling someone at the headquarters.
Outside, Zheng Jirong asked strangely: "You just said that your uncle has an old-fashioned character. Aren't you afraid that he will be unhappy if you reveal your identity so blatantly to the headquarters?"
"I only said that he was old-fashioned to you, but I didn't say that he was old-fashioned to me. Besides, it's natural for my niece to find her uncle, so there's nothing to be unhappy about."
Seeing the girl's nonchalant look, Zheng Jirong smiled helplessly. When he was about to say something, the soldier had already walked out of the guard box.
He saluted the two of them and said, "Miss Bai, please come in. The commander is waiting for you inside."
After a while, under the guidance of a non-commissioned officer, Zheng Jirong and others passed through the Munitions Department, the Military Law Department, the Interrogation Department, the Adjutant's Department and other agencies, and arrived in front of the small building of the General Affairs Office.
At the main entrance are the words "World Datong" written in the north and "The World is Common" written in the south, plus the piece of "Blue Sky and White Sun Flag" erected next to the door.
Zheng Jirong always felt a little uncomfortable.
After walking through a long corridor, in front of an office door, the leading noncommissioned officer knocked on the door twice and shouted respectfully: "Commander, Miss Bai is here."
"come in."
A deep and powerful voice came from inside the house. Hearing this, the sergeant opened the door and led Zheng Jirong and the two inside.
The entire office looks extremely simple, reflecting the rigor and pragmatism of the military. A large desk occupies the center position, with books and documents neatly placed on it. In addition, there is only a simple wooden wardrobe and a Group of welcoming sofas.
Zheng Jirong then turned his attention to the man behind the desk who was looking at Bai Xiuzhu with a smile. He was about forty years old, with an extremely elegant appearance and deep and bright eyes.
It is hard to imagine that such a man with an elegant temperament would be one of the warlord leaders in the south, and would also be the Minister of Defense of the National Government in the future.
"Xiuzhu, has something happened?"
Bai Chongxi glanced at Bai Xiuzhu holding Zheng Jirong's arm, and asked his niece with a smile.
"It's okay." Bai Xiuzhu immediately let go of Zheng Jirong, walked to Bai Chongxi and said with a smile, "I just miss you, uncle."
She then said with some embarrassment: "Then I will introduce someone to uncle by the way."
"oh?"
Bai Chongxi looked at Zheng Jirong, and then teased Bai Xiuzhu: "Isn't this my niece-in-law?"
"he"
Bai Xiuzhu was about to deny it, but after thinking of Zheng Jirong's ambition and dream, she immediately changed her words and said, "Oh, uncle, don't ask these questions. Anyway, I am here just to introduce you to each other."
Zheng Jirong also stepped forward at the right time and introduced himself: "Hello, Minister Bai, I am Zheng Jirong, the current leader of the Ax Gang."
"Axe Gang?"
When Bai Chongxi heard this, his eyes looked strange and he said, "I remember that the leader of the Ax Gang is not someone named Chen?"
Zheng Jirong smiled and explained: "That Gang Leader Chen passed away a few hours ago."
"Really?" Bai Chongxi looked at him and said calmly: "It's a pity that the Ax Gang still owes me a sum of military expenses to make amends."
After hearing this, Zheng Jirong pointed to the two suitcases at his feet and replied: "Don't worry, Minister Bai, I have brought all the military expenses that the Ax Gang needs to pay."
Looking at the two bulging suitcases, Bai Chongxi raised his eyebrows and smiled. He patted Bai Xiuzhu's arm next to him twice and said, "Xiuzhu, how about I have someone take you to visit the headquarters."
When Bai Xiuzhu heard this, she glanced at Zheng Jirong and saw that he nodded slightly towards her, so she agreed.
After she left the room, the smile on Bai Chongxi's face slowly faded. He slowly lit a cigarette and said calmly: "Tell me, what do you want to do?"
Seeing that he was so direct, Zheng Jirong stopped beating around the bush. He took a few steps forward to the desk and said, "What I want is very simple. I hope Minister Bai can help the Ax Gang regain a foothold in Shanghai."
"Hahaha", Bai Chongxi laughed when he heard this: "It turns out that he is looking for a backer."
He raised his eyes and looked at Zheng Jirong, "Is that why you came into contact with Xiuzhu?"
"no!"
Zheng Jirong immediately shook his head in denial and said: "When I met Miss Bai, I didn't know her family background. If she hadn't taken the initiative to mention it, I would never associate Minister Bai with her."
Hearing his words, Bai Chongxi nodded and said, "I'll just believe you, but I'm curious about one thing. The gangs in Shanghai these days are either high-ranking officials or foreigners. How did you come to the military headquarters? "
"It's a gift to anyone," Zheng Jirong said truthfully: "Rather than giving it to foreign devils and corrupt officials, I would rather spend this money on the soldiers on the battlefield."
"Newspapers have been promoting news about the Northern Expedition a few years ago, but the Northern Expedition has not started yet. I guess that the shortage of military expenditures for the Northern Expedition may be one of the reasons. Although the money I sent is not worth it compared with the military expenditures for the Northern Expedition. Mention, but at least it can be considered as contributing to the unification of ZG, right?"
"What he said was better than what he sang." After hearing this, Bai Chongxi did not agree to his request, but refused directly: "If you donate money and military expenses, I welcome you at any time, but let our military department treat you as a The backer of HiBang”
Snapped!
Bai Chongxi slammed the table and shouted in a deep voice: "Do you think that I, Bai Chongxi, am one of those stupid people?!"
Seeing the furious look on this guy's face, Zheng Jirong didn't panic at all. Instead, he pulled up the chair in front of him and sat across from him.
He did not answer Bai Chongxi's words, but pointed to Shanghai Beach outside the window and said: "Mr. Bai, do you know how many gangs, opium dens and casinos there are in Zhabei District?"
Before he could speak, Zheng Jirong followed up and said: "Including the Ax Gang, there are a total of nine gangs in Zhabei, twenty-four opium dens, and fifty-eight casinos! Among them, the Yaozi Teahouse Fengyuechang is not included. number."
"The combined daily profits of these places will not be less than 50,000 silver dollars. Putting aside the gang's industry, at least one-third of the 50,000 silver dollars will be distributed to high gangs and patrol houses in the form of fees and protection fees. On those people’s hands.”
"That is to say, Zhabei District alone can generate 20,000 silver dollars in fees a day, and places like Nancheng and the Concession will only generate more fees every day."
"Before I came here, I sent someone to do a rough calculation. Now the daily fees in Shanghai are about 200,000 silver dollars!"
"Among them, the concession alone accounts for 150,000!"
Having said this, Zheng Jirong paused, looked at Bai Chongxi and said: "In other words, the entire Shanghai gang, senior officials and foreigners can just sit there and sit there without doing anything when they wake up every day. Two hundred thousand silver dollars.”
"One day is two hundred thousand, ten days, one hundred days."
"Minister Bai," Zheng Jirong lit a cigarette and slowly asked the man opposite, "Don't you really want to come in and share a fortune?"
At this time, Bai Chongxi was completely shocked by Zheng Jirong's words. He knew that these gray industries in Shanghai were very profitable, but he didn't expect them to be so profitable!
The fee is two hundred thousand a day, then ten days is two million, and one hundred days is twenty million!
How much military expenditure does he get from the government every year? !
However, although he was extremely shocked inside, his face did not show a trace of emotion. After tapping his fingers on the table, he smiled calmly and said: "I have to say, these words of yours made me very moved. ,only"
He spread his hands and said with a smile: "If I want to share the money, wouldn't it be better if I directly cooperate with Lu Yuesheng and Zhang Wanlin? Nowadays, they are the two most powerful gangs in Shanghai Bund. I will share the money with them. There can be more, right? Why should I look for you?"
"Ha ha ha ha."
Hearing this, Zheng Jirong burst out laughing and said, "It seems that Minister Bai didn't understand what I meant."
"oh?"
Bai Chongxi raised his hand and said, "I would like to hear the details."
Zheng Jirong stood up and walked to the window. After exhaling a puff of smoke, he pointed out with the finger holding the cigarette butt and said: "Shanghai is the largest metropolis in the Far East, a heroic place, and the daily fee for such a treasure is only two dollars." One hundred thousand."
He turned to Bai Chongxi and smiled: "Mr. Bai, don't you think the money is a bit short?"
"."
Bai Chongxi was stunned after hearing this. He looked strange and said, "Is there any way you can collect more money?"
"That's right." Zheng Jirong looked at him and said seriously: "I have a new set of rules. As long as I follow my method, the daily fee will be increased by at least half, that is, from two hundred thousand to three hundred thousand. !”
"What do you want to do?" Bai Zhongxi asked curiously.
Zheng Jirong did not answer him after hearing this. Instead, he returned to his seat without saying a word, shook the cigarette butt in his hand and started puffing away.
Bai Chongxi couldn't help laughing when he saw this, "Hahaha, don't worry, since you were introduced by Xiuzhu personally, I will naturally give her a face. As long as what you say is reasonable, you will be my spokesperson for Bai Chongxi in Shanghai from now on." .”
Hearing these words, Zheng Jirong immediately raised the corner of his mouth, looked at Bai Chongxi and said, "It's actually very simple. If you let me do it, I will establish a new fee distribution rule!"
"Chongli? Will those foreigners and officials agree easily?" Bai Chongxi asked in confusion.
"meeting!"
Zheng Jirong affirmed: "As long as they get more money than before, what can't these money-minded guys not agree to?"
He raised his finger and said: "In order to prevent overcharge and wrong charge, in the future, except for the bill collector, no one else can collect the fees, not even foreigners."
"At the same time, all venues of the same type will be charged a unified fee. All private venues, mobile venues, and relatives' venues will be closed to each other!"
"In addition, I will decide the number of various types of venues to open in each district based on the interest and wealth of the citizens in each district."
"For example, in a wealthy area like Fahua District, 20 casinos and ten nightclubs can be opened, but Hunan District cannot. It can only open ten casinos and five nightclubs at most."
"Why?" Bai Chongxi asked doubtfully,
Zheng Jirong explained with a smile: "The reason is that when the demand is particularly high, it will cause a lot of vicious competition and even violent fights. In this way, not only will no money be made, but the territory will be messed up."
"By the way," at this point, Zheng Jirong asked Bai Chongxi, "Has Minister Bai been to HK District?"
"No, what happened there?"
"It seems that Minister Bai doesn't know yet," Zheng Jirong explained: "Today's Hongkou is full of wandering warblers and station streets. If I could make the decision, I would send people to rush them all to the teahouses in Nancheng and Zhabei as soon as possible. inside."
Bai Chongxi frowned and asked, "What's the point of doing such a thankless job?"
"This has two advantages," Zheng Jirong replied: "First, it will look more pleasing to the eye without so many immoral women standing on the street. This can also be regarded as beautifying the city, right?"
"Secondly, if there are more women in teahouses and kilns, their business will be better, and then we can legitimately charge more fees."
"According to my budget, if we can drive all the street orioles in Shanghai to formal venues, the monthly money collected in these unfashionable venues will increase by at least one-third."
"Of course, the last thing I want to mention is how to divide the money as I mentioned before."
He picked up the pen on the table and wrote four numbers on a piece of paper, 3, 2, 1, 1/2.
"In the future, you must not pay the fees as you please, but you must strictly follow this standard. Thirty percent goes to foreigners and high-ranking officials, 20% goes to the gangs in each district, and one percent goes to the patrol police. As for this half, it belongs to me."
After Bai Chongxi heard this, he raised his eyebrows and asked, "Then this is only 65%. How about 35%?"
"Hahaha," Zheng Jirong said with a smile, "Why should the minister ask questions knowingly? The 35% is naturally the military expenditure of the Northern Expeditionary Army!"
"."