Under Wu Chunyang's inquiry, Francois Huang introduced in detail the impact of the black market on mountain cities and the previous government's crackdown on the black market from the perspective of black market practitioners and ordinary people at the bottom.
According to him, the black market existed before the war, but as the current situation changed, the authorities' punishment of black marketeers had traces of the emergency period during the war, and the penalties were very severe.
Since the smuggling of enemy goods floods the rear area and affects the stability of the economic order, last year, the national government formulated the "Regulations on the Prohibition of Japanese Goods" and the "Regulations on the Prohibition of Articles Prohibited by the Enemy".
“If embargoed items are discovered to be sold privately to the enemy, those with solid evidence will be punished by death or life imprisonment, and the goods and fines will be confiscated and paid to the wounded soldiers and refugees.
If there is evidence of connivance or other malpractice among those who enforce the ban, they will also be sentenced to death or life imprisonment, and their property will be confiscated. "
The promulgation of a series of regulations such as the "Measures for the Implementation of Gold Collection" and the circulation of large-denomination promissory notes are also aimed at ensuring the uniqueness of the central bank's listed price standards and curbing the prevailing speculation.
The Central Bank also stipulates that all commercial banks, banks, and banks that exchange balances with it must fill their positions on the same day. Otherwise, they will be insolvent and will be declared closed for liquidation and their licenses will be revoked in accordance with the decree of the Ministry of Finance.
Many banks went bankrupt based on this, and their general managers and managers were all imprisoned on charges of financial disruption. Officials who provided official protection for the banks were also severely punished. This incident caused quite a stir at the time.
A local police officer was charged with the crime of extorting property. After verification by the prosecutor, an opinion was attached, and the case was sent to the Military Justice Department for trial and clarification. He was sentenced to five years in prison and deprived of public rights for five years.
Speaking of this, Francois Huang looked helpless. When doing business in the Republic of China, he had to be exploited by white people, and he had to be constantly careful about the other party's betrayal. It was difficult to use their heads on their necks to ask for rewards from the top.
Of course Zuo Zhong and Wu Chunyang knew what he said, but the government has always had policies from above and countermeasures from below. The legal provisions are one thing, but how the people below implement them is another.
Take that bailiff as an example. Can a small bailiff protect so many banks? Obviously impossible, this person is just a scapegoat, and the real black hand has already removed him.
Francois Huang's intention in saying this is also very simple, that is, he wants to truly connect with the military commander. Compared with local officials, the military commander has greater power and better credibility.
However, Zuo Zhong laughed and did not express his position. It was not until François Huang's wife Weng Wenpei informed everyone that they could dine that they stood up with a smile and walked out of the living room to the dining room.
The restaurant is not large in size. A set of Western-style mahogany tables and chairs looks a bit out of place in a room decorated in Chinese style. The table is filled with southwestern dishes and a bottle of Maguo red wine.
"Sir Zuo, please take a seat." Francois Huang opened the chair and respectfully asked Zuo Zhong to sit down. Then he and Wu Chunyang sat down on the left and right sides.
As for Weng Wenpei, according to the rules of the old Republic of China, women and children were not allowed to serve at the table. After serving the food and wine, she took her young child to the kitchen, while other spies stood warily around the restaurant.
At the dinner table, Francois Huang stood up and poured a glass of red wine for the three of them, said a few words of thanks again, and then drank the red wine in his own glass.
He knew that with the spy's suspicion, if he didn't drink it first, the other party would not drink it, just like the tea and cigars just now, and he would have lost an excellent opportunity...
Sure enough, seeing that he didn't have any abnormal reaction after drinking, Zuo Zhong and Wu Chunyang looked at each other and took a small sip. It was not just the two of them, but with their status, drinking with a small businessman was already a sign of respect.
If the other party had not helped them when they were in Jiangcheng, it would have been impossible for an intelligence officer to have dinner with unknown persons, especially if it involved suspects who were investigating cases.
Although the colorless and odorless delayed poison is a fantasy in the storybook, be careful in sailing the ship for thousands of years. If you don't have this vigilance in this industry, you will fall into trouble sooner or later.
Francois Huang didn't mind when he saw this. Instead, he picked up the food on the table and put it into his mouth one by one to prove that the food was not poisonous.
Wu Chunyang was still worried, so he picked up a piece of meat before Zuo Zhong and tasted it. After a long time, he pursed his lips, nodded with satisfaction and praised his good workmanship.
The atmosphere suddenly relaxed. The three of them chatted while eating. Then Francois Huang talked about Xu Enzeng under the guidance of Wu Chunyang. The "banana man" talked angrily about the exploitation of him by the Central President.
"Two officers, you don't know that Xu's hands are very dark. If they want to do business safely in the gold black market, they will take one-third of our profits.
Not only that, we also have to prepare generous gifts for Xu’s birthday, his Gaotang’s birthday, his wife’s birthday, his child’s birthday, and his sister-in-law’s birthday.
At least half of my hard-earned money went into the other party's pocket. I didn't expect that even so, he was not satisfied and actually suggested that the government crack down on the black market. Bah! "
Speaking of being angry, Francois Huang raised his head again and drank up the red wine. Judging from his expression, if Xu Enzeng were here today, he would tear him alive.
Wu Chunyang's heart moved, and he pretended not to care and asked: "How did you give money in the past? Xu Enzeng couldn't see you collecting money one by one, right?
After all, he is also the deputy director, and Pingshi is busy with official duties. Besides, it is inconvenient for so many people to send money there. Could it be that that guy has a special channel to collect benefits? "
It is not the military commander's style to be passively beaten. This time, throwing the blame for cracking down on the black market on Xu Enzeng's head is just a defense, and it is just the beginning. Xu must be taught a lesson through this incident.
What would Shangfeng think if he knew that Xu Enzeng was collecting money from the black market and proposing to crack down on the black market? No one would like this kind of double-faced person who can stab his partners at any time.
Zuo Zhong guessed what Wu Chunyang was thinking, and he was happy to see the outcome. After all, dealing with Xu Enzeng was an old tradition of the military, and it was time for Wu Chunyang to learn from Diao.
Over there, Francois Huang slapped the table and said with admiration: "Sir, you guessed it right. At the end of every month, we have to go to Meifeng Bank to deposit money into an account and add our names.
Xu Enzeng was very cunning, and would occasionally send people to check the accounts. Anyone who dared to hide his income would be arrested directly. I heard that no fewer than twenty people were killed because of this. "
As he spoke, he took out a stack of notes from his pocket and pushed it to Wu Chunyang: "This is the account and the receipt for each remittance. Sir, I am willing to come forward and report Xu Enzeng.
Please give me a chance. From now on, I, François, no, Huang, will definitely do the same thing as a horse and a dog. I know the rules and I will not lose a penny of the benefits I should give.
Don't worry, although Huang has not been in Shancheng for a long time, he has met many friends who have long complained about Zhongtong. I think they will be willing to cooperate with Juntong. "
This is to receive a certificate of investment.
Wu Chunyang was a little undecided. This gift was too big. It would not only turn Xu Enzeng into disgrace, but also steal the financial resources of Zhongtong's men, killing two birds with one stone.
It's just that Francois Huang's background is too complicated. He is from the Republic of China, has a nationality, is a former assistant manager of a foreign bank, and is now a black market businessman. He is afraid that the other party's background is not clean.
At this moment, Zuo Zhong, who had been listening, suddenly smiled, waved to the gate, and said kindly: "Come here, don't be afraid."
Outside the door, Francois Huang's son was looking inside with his little head stretched out. He hesitated after hearing his words, but still tiptoed in.
When the child stood in front of the table, Zuo Zhong picked up a chicken leg from the plate and handed it to the child with a smile: "Uncle and your father don't like chicken, you can eat it."
The young child looked at his father and saw that Francois Huang did not stop him. Then he bowed to Zuo Zhong, took the chicken leg, and ate it with relish.
It can be seen that Francois has a good upbringing. Even though it is difficult to eat meat at this time, the young child still chews it slowly, which also shows that there is no shortage of meat in his life.
According to past experience, this alone can rule out the possibility that Francois Huang is a dissident. The underground party is not willing to eat meat, even if there are children at home.
"hehe."
Zuo Zhong laughed, took out a handkerchief to wipe the oil stains from the corners of the child's mouth, and Wen Yan asked: "Is it delicious? Uncle asks you a question. If you answer it correctly, uncle will give you another chicken drumstick.
Have any strangers come to your home recently, especially those with strange things? Your school teacher must have taught you that good children must be honest and cannot lie, right? "
Wu Chunyang narrowed his eyes when he heard this, and glanced at François Huang who was as if nothing had happened. He slowly put down the tachyon in his hand, and stepped hard on the ground with his feet, ready to explode at any time.
The child on the other side raised his head and nodded innocently: "Yes, there are many uncles who come to our house with shiny gold things to exchange for money. Uncle, are you here to exchange for money too?"
"You are a kid." Zuo Chong was happy and touched the other person's head: "Yes, uncle is here to exchange things this time too. You don't have to worry about your father's safety in the future."
As the saying goes, children's words are unbridled. After hearing what the child said and the deputy director's hint, Wu Chunyang's tense body slowly relaxed, and after thinking for a moment, he put the piece of paper into his pocket.
Then he seriously warned Francois Huang: "Mr. Huang, as long as you don't cause trouble, the military commander will ensure your safety. Deputy, it's almost time, let's go."
"Well, let's go. Goodbye, kid."
Zuo Zhong, who did not express his position during the whole process, waved to the child, walked to the roadside and got into the car with Francois Huang, and then closed his eyes and stopped talking to him.
After the car started and drove a certain distance, he slowly opened his eyes: "Chunyang, how are you? Do you think this guy is trustworthy? If there is any problem, deal with it."
Wu Chunyang on the side frowned and answered cautiously: "It seems credible at the moment. Let's observe him for a while. If there is any problem, send him back to his hometown. If there is no problem, it would be better to have another intelligence channel."
"Okay, you make up your mind on this matter." Zuo Zhong neither agreed nor objected, and handed over the power of disposal to the other party. The only way to be a member of the Guo Party is to keep the cause and effect unaffected.
After saying that, he issued another order: "Isn't Meifeng Bank under our surveillance? Xu Enzeng will definitely not open an account for black market collection with his real name and identity.
Forcibly freeze that account, say that the transaction is suspicious and involves espionage, and you will make the confession. Go to the detention center to find a spy to sign and sign, and the matter will be dealt with cleanly. "
"Yes, Deputy Director."
Wu Chunyang bared his teeth and nodded. The military commander's action was very sudden. The bank or Xu Enzeng had no time to transfer the money. Old Xu was going to bleed heavily now.
While he was gloating about his misfortune, the Huang family was in a different scene. The three members of the Huang family hugged each other tightly. Weng Wenpei's eyes were full of excitement. Francois Huang smiled and shook his head without saying a word.
