Chapter 65: Gypsy Cab

Chen Guangliang personally came to the Transportation Bureau to deliver the "dividend" and asked Smith about the issue of subsequent licenses.

Three months had passed since the last batch of licenses issued by the Transportation Bureau (sixty major licenses), and although the Yangtze Rickshaw Company had managed to acquire seventy licenses from the "Wang Family Rickshaw Company" through various means, Chen Guangliang still felt that the pace of development was too slow.

Moreover, although the Yangtze Rickshaw Company seemingly owned 175 rickshaws, Chen Guangliang's equity stake was still less than 40 percent.

Therefore, how could Chen Guangliang not want to continue expanding?

"Mr. Chen, the current problem is that traffic in the concession is already quite congested, so we are quite cautious about issuing rickshaw licenses. Not only that, rickshaws failing to obey traffic rules and obstructing the operation and development of public transportation are quite serious problems. Therefore, it is not that I do not want to continue cooperating with you, but under the current general environment, I cannot issue any new licenses, at least not this year."

Smith formally informed Chen Guangliang of this, shattering Chen Guangliang's plans.

"Mr. Smith, is there truly no other way?"

Smith shook his head. Although he also wanted money, he still had to abide by the laws and regulations of the Municipal Council and could not arbitrarily issue new licenses.

Seeing this, Chen Guangliang could only say, "Very well, let us strive to cooperate again next year. Rest assured, I will deliver the dividend punctually every month."

Smith replied, "Good, you are a man of your word. And since you are Li Chao's friend, you are also my friend."

It seemed that Li Chao was beginning to gain importance within the Transportation Bureau.

This was a good thing for Chen Guangliang!

On his way back, Li Chao chased after him and asked, "Do you know how many unregistered black-market rickshaws there are in Shanghai right now?"

Chen Guangliang did not know what he meant, but replied, "There should be quite a few..."

The Yangtze Rickshaw Company also had seven unregistered rickshaws, but the "licenses" for these unregistered rickshaws were relatively authentic, so the probability of them being discovered was low.

Throughout Shanghai, rickshaw licenses were divided into various categories:

Major Licenses: For example, licenses issued by the Municipal Council allowed the holder to pull passengers not only in the International Settlement, but also in the French Concession and the Chinese-administered territory, hence they were called "major licenses."

Minor Licenses: The counterpart to "major licenses," these could only be used in the French Concession and the Chinese-administered territory.

Others: There was another type of license that could only be used within the Chinese-administered territory, and even the Chinese territory licenses themselves were divided into those permitted to run in Zhabei and those permitted in Nanshi.

Aside from the aforementioned licenses, there were a considerable number of "unregistered black-market rickshaws."

After all, an inferior rickshaw cost only fifty or sixty silver dollars, while a brand-new rickshaw barely exceeded one hundred silver dollars.

Assuming one used a rickshaw costing fifty or sixty silver dollars to run as an "unregistered black-market" vehicle, without paying rent, the capital could potentially be recovered in a little over a month.

Under such circumstances, many people naturally chose to take the risk.

Li Chao stated, "In the concession, there are nearly 10,000 public rickshaw licenses and nearly 8,000 private rickshaw licenses (non-operating), while the number of unregistered rickshaws is roughly 10,000, and it is still increasing... Public rickshaw licenses have been controlled under 10,000 since 1924; however, private rickshaw licenses have continued to increase, and unregistered rickshaws are growing increasingly rampant..."

Private rickshaws were those purchased by wealthy individuals for their own use, distinguished simply by their black paint. These rickshaws were mostly used to transport the male master to and from work, and children to and from school, with limited running time on the road each day.

A thought stirred in Chen Guangliang's heart as he said, "You mean to have the Yangtze Rickshaw Company increase the number of 'unregistered rickshaws' to expand our scale?"

Li Chao nodded and said, "Precisely. You now have our Transportation Bureau covering for you, plus you have connections with the patrol police, giving you more advantages than other unregistered rickshaws. To take a step back, even if they are discovered, the vehicles would only be confiscated, and the loss would not be significant at all."

Indeed!

He had been too conservative and failed to think of increasing the number of unregistered black-market rickshaws.

In fact, five years from now, the number of unregistered rickshaws in the concession might increase to 20,000.

On the other hand, neither the Transportation Bureau nor the patrol police felt any "aversion" to unregistered rickshaws, because unregistered rickshaws also served as a source of extra income for them. When the patrol police caught an unregistered rickshaw, they could extort money from the owner, making it practically a "cash cow."

"You are right. It seems expansion at present can only be done this way!"

Li Chao added, "Well, I will find a way to get you another batch of licenses and strive to make them look authentic enough to pass for real ones."

Nowadays, his monthly dividend amounted to half a year's salary, and coupled with acting as the go-between for the cooperation between the Transportation Bureau and the Yangtze Rickshaw Company, he was also heavily favored by the section chief.

Therefore, since both his official career and wealth were prospering, he naturally began to pay close attention to the affairs of the rickshaw company.

"Very well, I'll count it as a 20 percent silent stake for you."

"Ten percent will do, and I will also invest my own money. That is how a proper partnership should work."

"Very well, then."

This business was not a venture without capital; if they operated "unregistered rickshaws," the risks would increase correspondingly.

Of course, in operating this batch of "unregistered rickshaws," Chen Guangliang would not stage a grand ceremony; instead, he would put them into operation in low-profile, staggered batches.

........

Upon returning to the Yangtze Base (Yuyuan Road), he saw Inspector Gao chatting with Zhou Xinggao!

Although Zhou Xinggao was Chen Guangliang's "head bodyguard," he did not need to stay by Chen Guangliang's side at all times. Under normal circumstances, Chen Guangliang only brought two people when traveling.

"Inspector Gao, what brings you here?"

To win over Gao Hu, Chen Guangliang had given Gao Hu all the remaining tens of silver dollars per month after mortgage payments from that batch of twenty fraudulently acquired rickshaws.

Twenty vehicles normally yielded a monthly rent of 600 silver dollars, and after deducting thirty percent for operations and other expenses, as well as the "500-dollar vehicle installment (for ten consecutive months)," there would still be sixty to seventy silver dollars left over.

Chen Guangliang did not keep this portion of the money, instead giving it all to Inspector Gao for tea money.

Having witnessed Chen Guangliang's methods and having received his favors, Inspector Gao naturally took good care of the Yangtze Rickshaw Company and even introduced some personnel from the patrol squad to Chen Guangliang.

Gao Hu smiled and said, "Knowing that Brother Zhou likes guns, I managed to acquire two Luger pistols and some ammunition specifically to bring to him."

He understood Zhou Xinggao to a certain extent, knowing that he had previously served as a soldier in the Beiyang Army, possessed extraordinary courage, and could be considered a fierce general under Chen Guangliang's command.

Based on this, Gao Hu believed that Chen Guangliang's strength was immeasurably greater than that of other rickshaw companies.

Chen Guangliang watched as Zhou Xinggao took out the two pistols. Zhou Xinggao then introduced them, saying, "The guns brought by Inspector Gao are imported Lugers, eight-round single-row insert magazines... and they are completely brand new."

With guns in hand, Zhou Xinggao seemed like a changed man.

If he hadn't been Zhou Xinggao's "savior," coupled with the fact that Zhou Xinggao now received hundreds of silver dollars in dividends every month, Chen Guangliang would never have dared to keep such a ferocious man around.

Because as far as he knew, among the kidnapping cases of this era, the probability of bodyguards committing crimes against their employers was quite significant.

"Store your self-defense tools properly; do not take them out to show off casually... By the way, did you give the money to Inspector Gao?"

Zhou Xinggao hurriedly said, "Inspector Gao was only willing to accept 100 silver dollars for the cost price. Originally..."

Gao Hu smiled and said, "It is just helping out between friends; covering the cost is enough!"

A Luger pistol cost around forty silver dollars, and with the cost of ammunition included, Gao Hu truly had not charged extra.

However, Chen Guangliang did not touch the guns from beginning to end; after all, he still needed to guard against Gao Hu.

Although carrying guns was not illegal in this era, and most wealthy individuals owned firearms for self-protection—with Lugers being best suited for businessmen and military officers—Chen Guangliang would not put his full trust in anyone.

For instance, he now had a "security squad" consisting of four men in total. Although Zhou Xinggao served as the captain, and two of the rickshaw pullers had been selected by Zhou Xinggao himself, Chen Guangliang had still arranged for his underling Lin Feng to join the squad and learn skills under Zhou Xinggao.

Balance was very necessary!

After drinking tea with Inspector Gao for a while, Chen Guangliang had Zhou Xinggao see him off.

Shortly after, Zhou Xinggao handed Chen Guangliang a pistol, saying, "Boss, take this one!"

Chen Guangliang instead toyed with the Luger in his hand, then said, "Give it to Lin Feng. Teach him how to use it."

Zhou Xinggao nodded and said, "The kid is not bad. He has some physical strength and spent a few years learning some superficial martial arts. He is good material for a bodyguard."

"Then as his master, you should teach them well. I will need to use a lot of people in the future!"

"Rest assured, Boss, I guarantee I will train a formidable bodyguard squad for you."

Working under Chen Guangliang, Zhou Xinggao did not feel he was "compromising himself," but rather that he had truly found a good boss. This boss developed rapidly, acted with supreme cleverness, and undoubtedly had a very bright future ahead.