allonlinenovel Chapter 1117 It's worth it even if it costs a little more money.
Chapter 1117 It's worth it even if it costs a little more money.
“It’s not about eliminating traitors, it’s about weapons!” Xu Zhongyi shook his head, lowered his voice, tapped his fingertips unconsciously on the edge of the table, and quickly glanced out the window to make sure no one was eavesdropping before continuing, “Ogura Daichi confided in me that the Kwantung Army’s mobilization at the front was chaotic.”
Someone in the Kwantung Army's logistics department secretly seized a batch of standard weapons and equipment, intending to exchange them for cash through the military police headquarters.
I asked carefully and found that there were quite a few: more than 3,000 Type 38 rifles, more than a dozen Type 96 light machine guns, 200,000 bullets, and even more than 20 boxes of melon grenades.
It's about the price...
"Such a large quantity this time!?" Chen Ming slammed his teacup down on the table with a thud, spilling a few drops of tea, but he didn't care. He turned sharply and exchanged a glance with Yu Xiuning, both of them showing an undisguised shock and elation.
We are at war now, and weapons are our lifeline.
Smuggling weapons and equipment was the main task that Chen Ming and his wife, along with Xu Zhongyi, were assigned to when they were transferred from Northeast China to Tianjin.
Previously, the quantities were all small-scale; I never expected it to be over three thousand spears at once this time.
"What is the exact quantity? How much will it cost? Is there a reliable delivery channel for this batch of goods?" Yu Xiuning was the first to recover from her elation. She put down her needlework and asked in a calm tone.
As the logistics supervisor of Tianjin Station, she was in charge of all the expenses at home and outside the station, as well as the allocation of funds. She calculated every penny clearly, whether it was daily expenses or mission funds. Her sensitivity to money and materials far exceeded that of Chen Ming.
"Xiao Cang gave me a figure, which is about two hundred thousand US dollars." Xu Zhongyi held up two fingers and added with a serious expression, "Moreover, the other party has strict requirements. It must be a cash transaction, cash on delivery, no credit, and no bartering."
Ogura also said that the other party was worried about things getting complicated and hoped to finalize the deal as soon as possible, giving us a maximum of three days to consider.
"Two hundred thousand? My God! Isn't this robbery?" Chen Ming almost spat out the mouthful of hot tea he had just drunk. He blurted out in Tianjin dialect, his tone full of shock and distress. He slammed the teacup heavily on the table: "Where would our station come up with so much cash?"
In the past few months, we've been dealing with weapons and equipment, and the special funds allocated by headquarters have been almost used up.
"Brother, let me tell you something: we only have $100,000 left!"
Yu Xiuning also frowned, her fingertips unconsciously tapping the table, her face full of thought: "It is indeed a large sum of money, and the price is a bit high."
According to black market prices, over three thousand rifles plus ammunition, and even including machine guns and grenades, would cost at most $150,000, but they're asking for $200,000...
Even if we pool all the available funds in our station, plus the profits your trading firm made recently from reselling grain and silk, and the station's own working capital, we can only raise a maximum of 50,000. That's still a shortfall of 50,000, which is no small amount.
Xu Zhongyi sighed and said, "I also spoke with Ogura, but the Kwantung Army is asking for 150,000, not a penny less. And the Military Police Headquarters can't cut their 50,000 service fee either."
Chen Ming immediately became anxious: "Doesn't the Military Police Headquarters have a share? The Kwantung Army is supposed to give the Military Police Headquarters a share anyway, so could you perhaps give us a smaller share? Could you talk to Ogura and ask him to make up for it next time?"
"Station Chief... we can't lose anyone. We can't lose anyone else's share, otherwise this whole system will be in trouble!" Xu Zhongyi said anxiously. "The 50,000 is only what the Military Police Headquarters is entitled to. We also need to prepare another set and send it over to them, and smooth things over with everyone..."
Chen Ming sighed heavily, leaned back in his armchair, and slumped down, his face full of worry: "I really have no money left!"
Boss Dai had already given a strict order: whatever weapons and equipment could be obtained, no matter the cost, they had to be acquired; this was a crucial mission.
I'm really unwilling to give up the Kwantung Army's standard equipment that's being delivered to my door in such large quantities.
But without money, nothing you say will help! You can't exactly rob a bank, can you?
"How about we quickly send a telegram to Boss Dai for instructions?" Xu Zhongyi pondered for a moment and tentatively suggested, "After all, it's a large sum of two hundred thousand US dollars, and there are so many scarce weapons. If the higher-ups find out, they might approve another round of funding."
"Boss Dai has always valued weaponry and equipment; he'll probably consider it."
Chen Ming pondered for a long time, his fingers tracing circles on the table, before finally nodding: "That's the only way."
However, as you know, Boss Dai's approval process for funds is always incredibly slow and cumbersome. From submitting the application to receiving approval, it can take at least ten days to half a month.
Now that Nanjing has fallen again, and the Military Intelligence Bureau has just moved to Wuhan, everyone is in a state of panic. This is the busiest time of year, and whether or not approvals will be granted, and when they will be, are all unknowns.
He looked up at Xu Zhongyi and said earnestly, "Brother, you should go to the Military Police Headquarters more often recently. Find more opportunities to drink and play mahjong with Ogura Daichi and that Fujisaburo. Talk to them properly and ask them to give us a few more days."
If all else fails, offer them some benefits, like getting Ogura two jars of top-quality Moutai and finding Koteng Saburo a decent piece of Hetian jade, just to keep things stable and prevent them from selling the weapons to others.
Xu Zhongyi hesitated for a moment, then added, "By the way, Ogura Daichi also gave me a heads-up, saying that after spring, a large batch of guns and heavy equipment will be released, supposedly from units that were phased out by the Kwantung Army. There are mortars and Type 92 infantry guns, all of which are capable of fighting tough battles."
He asked if we could finish the food; if so, the price was negotiable.
Before Chen Ming could speak, Yu Xiuning interjected, her tone resolute: "We must win!"
Zhongyi, go back and tell Ogura Daichi that we should take all weapons and equipment, whether they are light or heavy!
Money is not a problem; tell him to put his mind at ease.
She paused, then said with a determined look in her eyes, "The North China Front Army is now stirring up trouble, and it looks like a major battle is about to break out in Xuzhou sooner or later. Getting more weapons and transporting them there now would be a great achievement, whether it's to support the front-line troops or to arm our guerrilla brothers behind enemy lines."
This is not only an achievement of our Tianjin station, but also an achievement of Boss Dai.
Boss Dai values these things the most and would never skimp on spending money on weapons.
Remember this: in this day and age, being able to buy weapons is a skill, and being able to keep them is a merit; even if it costs more money, it's worth it.