Spy game? Stop guessing, I really am an undercover agent!

Chapter 41 Taking office
Lin Xueyi hesitated and said, "This doesn't seem to follow the rules."

Chen Yang scoffed, "What rules? Your rules are still Boss Du's rules."

"Second Brother, giving the French Concession Municipal Council 30% is something we need their support for. If we don't give it to them, those French people will definitely find an excuse to take back the dock."

"Giving your mentor, Boss Cao, 10% is because we need his endorsement."

"If you give Boss Du 30%, shouldn't he also award you a certificate for being an honest and reliable young man?"

"As the old saying goes, 'A new emperor brings a new court,' and now you're in a position of power. Are you going to keep bowing and scraping to others?"

Lin Xueyi sighed and asked in a low voice, "Should we send a gift to Boss Zhang at the Xinkaihe Wharf? Although Xie Yuankui made the first move, it's still Boss Zhang's territory. Shouldn't we give him an explanation?"

"Explain to him? Are you out of your mind?" Chen Yang shook his head helplessly. "Second Brother, who do you need to explain to as someone who's in this business?"

"If Zhang Xiaolin really dared to make a move, would you have waited until now? Are you still planning to explain yourself to him? Wouldn't that be handing him over to take advantage of you?"

"Second Brother, your old ways of navigating the underworld are outdated."

“You have a gun now, and two docks, and there will be more docks to come. Don’t think of yourself as a lowly errand boy.”

"To be a big boss, you have to have the demeanor of a big boss. In this world, you rely on your background and your strength. Do you think you can live a peaceful life if you don't offend anyone?"

"That would only make people think you're easy to bully, so what kind of big brother are you?"

"I'll give you nine words: Build high walls, store up plenty of grain, and delay seeking hegemony."

"Think these words through first before you speak."

Although Lin Xueyi hadn't read many books, he still knew the nine-character mantra of Zhu Sheng's remonstrance.

In short, it's about telling him not to be too flamboyant and to build up his strength.

Lin Xueyi nodded and said, "I've got it. I'll head back now."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Xueyi seemed to remember something: "By the way, Chen Yang, there's something I want to ask you."

"The day before yesterday, a group of former soldiers came to the Xinkaihe Wharf. I heard their leader say that their unit seemed to have been scattered by the Japanese and they fled to Shanghai."

"I'd like to recruit these people. What do you think?"

Chen Yang smiled and said, "Second Brother, I won't interfere in the affairs of your gang. You don't need to report to me whatever decisions you make."

"All I want is for you to know what you should and shouldn't do."

"Alright, you should go home now."

What to do and what not to do.

Lin Xueyi was a little confused, but he could understand a little.

Chen Yang told him to do what he should do, and not to do what he shouldn't do.

He sounds like a puppet.

However, such a glamorous puppet would probably attract many people eager to become one.

"Then I won't bother you any longer, I'll head back to the dock first..."

The following day, in Shanghai, on Penglai Road, at the Shanghai Municipal Government Building.

After Shanghai was captured by the Japanese, most of the members of the city hall were appointed by the Japanese.

There are currently two mayors of Shanghai: Qian Dajun and Wu Xiaoquan, who was appointed by the Japanese.

Although both were mayors, their powers differed greatly. Qian Dajun had been appointed by the principal, and after the fall of Shanghai, his position as mayor was already a mere formality.

However, in order to appease people from all walks of life, the Japanese still appointed him as mayor, but secretly arranged for Wu Xiaoquan to preside over all the work of the city hall.

Besides the mayor, there are three vice mayors in charge of various levels of work. Chen Yang's Economic Department is under the Ministry of Finance and directly under the jurisdiction of the Jinling Reformed Government. To be precise, the officials of the city hall really have no jurisdiction over him.

At the entrance of the city hall, driver Uncle Qi dropped Chen Yang off and reminded him to call him after get off work so he could come pick him up.

Chen Yang nodded, got out of the car, and looked up at the huge building in front of him.

He tightened his Zhongshan suit; in this era, most civil servants wore Zhongshan suits or Western suits.

His outfit looked perfectly natural standing in front of the city hall.

Before he could even enter, a graceful figure jogged up to Chen Yang from inside the city hall.

"Hello, are you Director Chen, the newly appointed Director of the Economic Department?"

Chen Yang looked at the other person with surprise.

She wasn't very tall, and looked like a typical woman from Jiangnan, with a slender figure and watery eyes.

Her features cannot be described as beautiful; they can only be described as delicate and pretty.

Seeing Chen Yang scrutinizing him, the man said very respectfully, "Director Chen, I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself."

"I am Lieutenant Colonel Sonoda's secretary, my name is Li Ningyu, and I am responsible for assisting you with your daily work."

"I've been waiting for you at the door for a long time."

"By the way, this is your work schedule for today. You have two meetings this morning."

"One is a meeting with your colleagues. At 10 o'clock, an official from the logistics department of the Military Police Headquarters will come to discuss the issue of the supply warehouse with you."

"There are no plans for the afternoon, but I suggest you familiarize yourself with the procedures between the departments first."

"Now I'll take you to your office."

This girl speaks very quickly and acts with a decisive and efficient manner. Working with someone like her should save a lot of trouble.

Chen Yang extended his hand and said, "Secretary Li, I am new here, please take good care of me."

Li Ningyu was startled; she had never seen a superior treat a secretary with such courtesy as Chen Yang.

Li Ningyu shook hands with Chen Yang shyly, then quickly led the way, taking Chen Yang to a red-walled building on the left side behind the city hall.

This building originally belonged to the Ministry of Industry. Chen Yang's Economic Division included four departments: raising materials, allocating animal resources, and coordinating transportation.

As they walked, Li Ningyu explained the functions of the four departments to him.

The two did not linger on the first floor, but went straight to the second floor.

Originally, the Economic Department had a director and a deputy director, but now only Chen Yang is in charge of the overall situation.

Judging from Li Ningyu's words, the deputy director will be promoted from among the heads of the four departments to assist Chen Yang in his daily work.

Upon entering the office, Li Ningyu stepped forward first, took the briefcase from Chen Yang's hand, and placed it aside.

Then he poured boiling water for Chen Yang, and after finishing everything, he stood respectfully in front of the desk, waiting for Chen Yang's instructions.

Chen Yang raised his wrist and asked, "Secretary Li, you said there were two meetings this morning. What time is the first one?"

Li Ningyu opened her notebook and said, "Director Chen, the first meeting is a meeting between you and the heads of various departments. The meeting will start at 8:40 and is expected to last for one hour."

Just as Li Ningyu finished speaking, a series of urgent knocks sounded on the door.

A figure in a Zhongshan suit rushed in: "Sir, Secretary Li, something's happened!"

(End of this chapter)