In 1940, the Chongqing National Government's annual revenue was only one-seventh of its annual expenditure.
Smuggling is happening all over the country.
In June, the Chairman summoned Dai Li, the head of military reunification, to re-formulate the reform plan.
After research, it was decided to establish an Anti-Smuggling Agency under the Ministry of Finance to investigate smuggling and tax evasion matters.
Dai Li also served as director, and anti-smuggling offices were established in all provinces and cities.
The work of the Anti-Smuggling Department will be expanded to two departments: "Materials" and "Taxation" within half a year.
Since Shanghai is an important transit point for smuggling across the country, we took the lead in conducting experiments in Shanghai and established the Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai Anti-Smuggling Office.
Meng Shaoyuan, the director of the Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai Supervision Division of the Military Unification Bureau and the mayor of Shanghai District, also serves as the director of the Anti-Smuggling Division.
This kind of appointment really makes people speechless.
Dai Li worked hard and built his own huge smuggling empire, but he happened to be the director of the Anti-Smuggling Agency.
As for Meng Shaoyuan in Shanghai, he is a famous smuggling king. He actually served as the director of the Anti-Smuggling Department!
It was not that no one objected, saying that there had long been rumors that Meng Shaoyuan was engaged in smuggling in Shanghai and made huge profits.
This opinion was even placed on the chairman's desk.
The Chairman’s answer was:
"Xue Yuegang talked to me on the phone. He received a batch of supplies and medicines from Shanghai. They were all medicines! Xue Boling's voice was trembling on the phone. He said that with so many medicines in his hand, it was even more... He is confident to defend Changsha. He would rather lose one army to get these medicines! He also said to me, Meng Shaoyuan, Shanghai, has done a great thing this time!
I checked and found that from the beginning of the Battle of Songhu, Meng Shaoyuan began to provide medicine and other assistance to the army regardless of cost. Where did he come from? Smuggled in! We also want to buy, but firstly, the government's finances are tight, and secondly, we are unable to purchase medicines and other in-demand materials on such a large scale. Big smugglers like Meng Shaoyuan are different from other smugglers. The more, the better! "
Of course, this is what the Chairman said privately to his close associates.
Mingli, the Chairman personally sent a telegram to Meng Shaoyuan. The telegram contained stern words, instructing Meng Shaoyuan not to have any selfish motives in this anti-smuggling campaign, and to strictly implement government orders and investigate to the end. Otherwise, he would be the first to be taken to the hospital. It's him, Meng Shaoyuan!
"I'm getting rich!"
When he received the appointment, Meng Shaoyuan's eyes flashed: "This time, we are really going to make a fortune. The time has come to unify the smuggling industry in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai!"
Holy shit!
One can imagine the disdain in Wu Jingyi and others' hearts.
Since the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, smuggling has been rampant in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai.
Civilian smuggling, official smuggling, and military smuggling.
There are all kinds of people.
This time, giving him the position of Master Meng means that he can publicly use the name of the government to eliminate dissidents and consolidate his position as the smuggling king!
I don’t know what the above thought.
It would be enough to appoint him as the director of Shanghai's Anti-Smuggling Department, but actually leave all the anti-smuggling operations in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai to him?
"Don't be too happy too soon." Wu Jingyi rolled her eyes at him: "Because our place is a test site, in order to ensure success, the Ministry of Finance sent a deputy director named Pang Pengde to serve as the supervisor of the Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai Anti-Smuggling Department to assist you work."
"What kind of assistance work? It's used to monitor me." Meng Shaoyuan said with a smile: "This anti-smuggling department, everyone is watching, and the Ministry of Finance will also keep a close eye on it. How can you let it go so easily? What is this Pang Pengde? backing?"
"I'm going to investigate now." Qi Xuezhen said hurriedly.
"No need, I have checked the information with the Chongqing authorities as soon as possible." Wu Jingyi said immediately: "Pang Pengde, forty-seven years old, a senior financial official, is said to be an upright man, unsmiling, and clean, so he is a good person until now. The deputy director of the oil and water department is not usually very gregarious, and I don’t know why it was his turn this time.”
"I know why." Meng Shaoyuan said with a stern look: "There is someone in our Ministry of Finance. I think there is a good chance that he was sent here specially."
Well, I have helped Kong Xiangxi so much, so it is Kong Xiangxi’s turn to repay him, right? Maybe Miss Kong also played a role in it.
Kong Xiangxi and Miss Kong understand this virtue of their own very well.
Send a down-and-out official who doesn't fit in with the crowd here?
Isn't that a little sheep entering the tiger's mouth?
Speaking of which, I haven't seen Miss Kong for such a long time, and I still miss her a bit.
Another point, I'm afraid it was precisely because Pang Pengde was unsociable and violated taboos that Kong Xiangxi sent him to Shanghai like this, right?
"Qi Xuezhen, being an assistant seems simple, but in fact there is a lot of knowledge in it." Meng Shaoyuan suddenly pointed the finger at Qi Xuezhen: "When a person who doesn't fit in with us arrives in Shanghai, we must grasp his habits, hobbies, and temperament immediately. You should never cram into something. You have to learn this from Secretary Wu."
"Yes, I understand."
Qi Xuezhen also knows that compared with Wu Jingyi, there is still a big gap between herself and Wu Jingyi.
Pang Pengde only went to investigate after being ordered by his superior, but Wu Jingyi had already done his homework in advance.
"For those of us going to Chongqing this time, we should buy more gifts." Meng Shaoyuan thought for a while there: "Both Minister Kong and Miss Kong will receive double gifts, and other departments must also take care of them. I am the anti-smuggling department. Director, more and more people are staring at me. The fewer people who say bad things about me, the better.
By the way, send me a hundred pairs of nylon stockings, ten bottles of French perfume, and British bath powder to Miss Kong. The little money we spend is not looked down upon by others, but this is the real intention. Tell the Qiu family again to always pay attention and don't ask for things when others are in need. That would be bad. "
Qi Xuezhen memorized everything.
It's not easy to be this commander. Not only do you have to deal with enemies and puppets, you also have to consider too many things.
The fact that Master Meng is able to stand firm in Shanghai is inseparable from the things he usually does.
Wu Jingyi also understood that Meng Shaoyuan kept sending gifts because he did not have any ill thoughts towards Miss Kong.
He has evil intentions but no courage.
Even if he had some courage, he wouldn't dare to touch Miss Kong's bad ideas.
The key is that many times, Miss Kong's words can have a big impact.
"The Anti-Smuggling Division will be officially operational from now on." Meng Shaoyuan said enthusiastically: "Wu Jingyi, I appoint you as the deputy director of the Anti-Smuggling Division."
"Farewell." Wu Jingyi quickly refused: "I am too busy with my current work, and it will be too much for me to serve as the deputy director of the Anti-Smuggling Division."
This is why Wu Jingyi is actually responsible for the operation of the entire Shanghai area.
Meng Shaoyuan frowned and thought for a while: "Fa Zheng, by the way, that Fa Zheng!"
During the Changshu Mutiny, Fazheng first emerged and showed his abilities.
Moreover, this was the talent He Ruyi recommended to him.
Meng Shaoyuan also personally "inspected the goods" and found that this person could still be reused.
"Have Fa Zheng come to my place to report immediately." Meng Shaoyuan made a decision.
