Chapter 36: The Counter-Espionage Stratagem

Rows of brand-new rickshaws were lined up in an endless display on the open ground outside the Yangtze Rickshaw Company, and all one hundred and eighty rickshaw pullers had arrived. The lively scene created quite a stir, drawing the attention of everyone in Fanguan Lane and the surrounding areas. Some were even there to take photographs; Chen Guangliang had invited someone from Wang Kai Photography to capture the moment as a keepsake for the future.

Training for the pullers was delegated to He Xiangdong and his team. Although Chen had decided to claw back the "commodity profits," he still felt it necessary to train the men to avoid alienating customers.

"Move out!"

At Chen Guangliang's loud command, sixty rickshaws filed out of Fanguan Lane, heading off in different directions to pick up passengers across the concessions. In less than three months, Chen had managed to grow his fleet from a mere three rickshaws to one hundred and five—a truly monumental achievement. The pace of development was staggering.

Of course, Chen did not feel "proud." After all, his average equity stake was only around 40 percent, and that was without even mentioning the mountain of debt he was currently shouldering. Consequently, he remained cautious and meticulous, ensuring every detail was handled perfectly to avoid any mishaps.

"Boss Chen, Mr. Li, congratulations! You’ve bought so many new vehicles."

"Oh, Inspector Gao! My apologies for not welcoming you sooner."

Seeing Inspector Gao arrive alone, Chen did not lower his guard. He politely invited him into the office, with Li Chao accompanying them. After serving tea and exchanging brief pleasantries, Inspector Gao got to the point. "Boss Chen, I’ve come today to inquire about a few things. I hope it’s not an inconvenience."

Chen replied immediately, "Please, go ahead."

Inspector Gao asked, "I heard that the Yangtze Rickshaw Company recently issued shares to help purchase these new vehicles. I’m curious, among your shareholders, are there any rickshaw pullers who have suddenly struck it rich?"

Chen laughed, then replied with ease, "Inspector Gao, if a puller could strike it rich, you truly wouldn't understand their crushing poverty. There were ninety pullers who participated in the offering, and each invested only twenty silver dollars—money that represented their entire life savings..." Speaking of the pullers, Chen’s voice was filled with genuine sympathy.

Inspector Gao feigned a look of embarrassment. "I see, my apologies for the unfounded rumor." Changing the subject, he asked with curiosity, "With sixty rickshaws, you only raised 1,800 silver dollars. How did you pull that off, Boss Chen?"

Li Chao chimed in from the side, "This involves the private affairs of our Traffic Department. You aren't planning to investigate us, are you, Inspector?" He knew that if the police station could extort the lower classes to make extra money, the Traffic Department could certainly build its own small slush fund.

Inspector Gao quickly clarified, "Mr. Li, you misunderstand. My point is that even if the Traffic Department provided the licenses, those sixty rickshaws would still cost 6,000 silver dollars. Your methods are so brilliant, Boss Chen, that I’m hoping to learn from them. Who knows? Maybe one day I’ll resign and go into business myself."

Seeing that Gao was beating around the bush, Chen realized exactly what he was after. "Business requires leveraging banks, Inspector; otherwise, where would I find so much capital? All my money was borrowed from the Shanghai Commercial Savings Bank. Don't be fooled by the number of rickshaws at the Yangtze Rickshaw Company; in reality, it’s all just debt."

Inspector Gao nodded. "I’ve learned something today. Being able to borrow that much money is a skill in itself. I’m enlightened!" With his doubts dispelled, he felt ready to return and report back.

However, as he was leaving, Inspector Gao threw out one more thing: "Boss Chen, the Wang Family Rickshaw Company is liquidating twenty of their rickshaws. Would you happen to be interested?"

*The dog-brained fool, he still hasn't given up!*

Chen chuckled lightly. "I am interested, but I don't have the cash on hand right now." He shifted his tone. "Could it be that you are acting as the agent for this deal, Inspector?"

Gao, not wanting to reveal his true motives, replied vaguely, "You could say that. I’m just asking on behalf of the Wang Company; after all, the man in charge isn't around right now."

It was clear to Gao that Chen’s operation was airtight, and he intended to let the matter drop. After all, looking at the current situation, Chen Guangliang had a much brighter future, while Wang Chengyun was nothing more than a crippled man.

But then, Chen’s next words left the Inspector stunned.

"If you’re looking to get rich, Inspector, I have a plan. Would you like to hear it?"

Thinking that Chen was finally offering him a stake in the rickshaw business, Gao said happily, "Please, enlighten me, Boss Chen!"

Seeing he had taken the bait, Chen continued, "Since you have the trust of the Wang family, why not obtain a letter of authorization? You could manage the sale of these twenty rickshaws, setting the price at 5,000 silver dollars. Then, you hand the fleet over to me for management. As for the 5,000 dollars, I’ll pay it back to the Wangs in installments over ten months. That way, you get a 50 percent cut of the benefit, and the rest is mine."

Inspector Gao listened, dumbfounded, and a chill ran down his spine. He couldn't help but believe that Chen had played a hand in the Wang family's current ruin. Now, Chen was looking to finish them off entirely.

Li Chao added, "Inspector, the Wangs aren't losing anything. They’ll still get their 5,000 dollars, just in installments. You, on the other hand, get a long-term income. After ten months, you’ll be pulling in 250 silver dollars a month. And I might as well tell you, the value of rickshaw licenses is going to skyrocket."

At that moment, all Gao could think about was the 250 silver dollars a month—wasn't that far more profitable than running errands for the Wangs?

"Are you serious, Boss Chen?"

Chen extended his hand. "From now on, we’re friends. I love making money with my friends. But tell me, can you really secure the Wang family's trust?" He asked the last part deliberately.

"I have no doubt about it!" Gao replied. With the intellect of Wang Chengyun's wife, Li Yan, he knew he could easily manipulate her.

After seeing Inspector Gao off, Chen said to Li Chao, "The usual rule—you still get your five percent equity."

Li Chao looked at him, and Chen felt a momentary flicker of anxiety, fearing Li was dissatisfied with the cut. But while Li was nominally the second boss, he didn't participate in the daily management of the company, and five percent was already a generous sum.

"I feel undeserving of even that. But I’m thinking, you see through human nature all too clearly. How did you know the Inspector would flip?"

*Ah, so it wasn't about the money.*

Chen replied, "I was just testing him. I had nothing to lose. I just don't know why human nature is so fragile when put to the test." He sighed. "Fortunately, the people around me are true of heart and stand with me. That is my good fortune."

Li Chao said thoughtfully, "I suppose it’s a case of 'like attracts like'."

"Indeed."

Take Li Chao, for example. When Chen first entered the Traffic Department, everyone else ignored him, but Li Chao was the only one willing to receive him. When Chen faced setbacks—like hearing the licenses were fixed—Li Chao provided him with the necessary channel.

As for Inspector Gao, Chen knew he was insatiably greedy and simply used him as a tool. If he managed to "trick" those twenty rickshaws away from the Wangs, Chen only needed to arrange the management to gain 50 percent equity for free (including Li Chao’s share).