Gao Shutong smiled bitterly when he heard this: "I don't know very well, Seven Star Company's business in Sichuan has always been not smooth, and there was still some business before the establishment of the Material Bureau, but now there is almost no business." ”

It's okay that he didn't mention the Material Bureau, as soon as he mentioned this, Kong Xiangxi was as uncomfortable as eating a fly, in this matter he completely made a wedding dress for people, after Zhang Lisheng came to power, he stuck almost all the transactions of Qixing. In fact, it is not difficult to understand this reason, Chen Lifu and Chen Guofu secretly established a company called Huamei under the Central Party Department, which took over most of the business of Seven Star Company.

In other businesses in Sichuan, there are Guangmaoxing and Xiangji Company established by Song Ailing to take over, of which Guangmaoxing is mainly engaged in grain, vegetable oil and salt, and Xiangji Company is mainly engaged in cotton cloth, cotton yarn, tung oil and other businesses, in addition, his son Kong Lingkan serves as the executive director of the Central Information and Translation Bureau, which is specifically responsible for purchasing weapons and ammunition from abroad, so the Seven Star Company does not have much business in Sichuan except for the accident of the Sichuan Development Company.

There is also a layer of resentment in Gao Shutong's words, complaining that Kong Xiangxi and Song Ailing have restricted the business development of Seven Star Company, but they don't know that Song Ailing has already planned.

"Rumu, the name of Seven Star Company is too big and too attention-grabbing, so it's better to close it here." Xu Kan added on the side, when he was in Shanghai, this Gao Shutong thought that he was relying on Song Ailing, and he was arrogant and looked down on them a little, until he became the vice minister of finance, but this beam has already been settled.

But Xu Kan's words are not nonsense, after ending the matter of Seven Star Company, Kong Xiangxi discussed with him after he lost his hand in the Materials Bureau, and he proposed at that time that it was better to close it than to reluctantly maintain it. When Xu Kan proposed the closure of the Seven Star Company, he mentioned a reason that Kong Xiangxi ignored, and the reason why Chiang Kai-shek did not hand over the Material Bureau to him was probably to express his dissatisfaction with the Seven Star Company and use this as a warning to him. Kong Xiangxi felt that there was some truth after thinking about it, so he discussed with Song Ailing and decided to end the Seven Star Company, but Gao Shutong had not yet been notified of this decision.

After Song Ailing hung up her coat, she returned to the main seat of the sofa, she was exactly fifty years old this year, her figure had been fat, and there were many wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, but her demeanor was still so dignified and elegant.

"I don't think Zhuang Cultural Revolution is a drunkard who wants to drink," Song Ailing said calmly: "Food control is just a reason, the real focus is still on the Ministry of Finance of the Executive Yuan, Yongzhi, you have to be careful, the third sister has a word, recently those political counselors in the Senate and the inspectors of the Ministry of Supervision have begun to brew some impeachment again, I think they are still coming at us." ”

Luo Longji, Zhang Jiluan, and Zuo Shunsheng of the Youth Party joined forces to impeach the press system of the three southwestern provinces, believing that this system restricts Ming Boil, and requires the opening of the press, and these people are the guns of others." Kong Xiangxi said and touched his pocket, he wanted to smoke, but he looked at Song Ailing next to him and let go again, Song Ailing did not allow him to smoke at home, nor did anyone smoke in front of her.

"Oh," Song Ailing was a little surprised, she went to Shangqiu with Song Meiling and Song Qingling during this time, and something like this happened not long after she came back: "But be careful, this Zhuang Cultural Revolution is not safe there." ”

"Madame is right," Xu Kan nodded, "There has long been a debate about wartime economic policy, and I estimate that Zhuang Wenge's move has two purposes, one is to restore the chairman's trust in him; The other forces us to come up with wartime economic policy. Madam, Dean Kong, I thought this was an opportunity. ”

"Oh, what chance?" Kong Xiangxi was a little surprised, but also a little expectant.

"Since food can be controlled, then other materials can also be controlled, especially foreign exchange, the country is in urgent need of foreign exchange, and foreign exchange can be freely bought and sold in major banks, this power should be taken over to the central bank, and private foreign exchange trading is prohibited." Xu Kan pondered and said: "In addition, the management of imported materials should be strengthened, and the Ministry of Finance should manage them in a unified manner, and the specific approach is to designate or set up one or two companies by the Ministry of Finance, and these companies will be responsible for import trade." ”

Kong Xiangxi was not only a little hesitant when he heard this, he was not unaware of the huge benefits, but this move endangered the interests of many businesses, and the opposition he would encounter could be imagined.

"Good idea, it's not a financial expert," Song Ailing nodded and smiled: "Such a policy for the benefit of the country and the people should have been implemented a long time ago, Keting, you should plan it well, see how to do it, and submit a plan as soon as possible." ”

Xu Kan was overjoyed in his heart, since Song Ailing agreed, Kong Xiangxi could not object, there are two people in this world who dare not oppose the decision, these two people are Chiang Kai-shek and Song Ailing, especially Song Ailing, she can not only veto Kong Xiangxi's decision, but even Chiang Kai-shek has to give her three points of face.

Gao Shutong was a little worried: "Madam, although this method is good, there are too many people involved, except for the Southwest Development Team, Chen Lifu, Du Yuesheng, Zhang Jingjiang, Yu Qiaqing, Long Yun, and Song Ziwen, they are all engaged in import and export trade, madam, I am afraid it will be difficult to sweep them all at once." ”

Xu Kan's face was expressionless, but he was secretly happy in his heart, who was right in Gao Shutong's opinion, but it was not the right time to mention it, isn't it to say these things to Mrs. Luo's face at this time. Xu Kan knew that although Song Ailing didn't say anything about Sichuan's move, he was secretly angry, otherwise he wouldn't have called them in such a hurry.

Sure enough, Song Ailing's face sank, and she said coldly: "Manager Gao, it's just right, hugging the grass and beating the rabbits, saving the family from cleaning up." In times of national crisis, the only way to do this is to make drastic reforms. The front-line soldiers are empty, hungry, and the wounded are short of medical care, why? Because the treasury has no money, we can only print more money, but as a result, prices have skyrocketed, the people have complained, and those political suffocators have come to accuse us without knowing the inside story. In that case, it is better to simply do it thoroughly. ”

Kong Xiangxi saw that Gao Shutong's face turned pale, so he laughed and said: "Madame is right, is this good, Lao Gao, you and Lao Xu go down to discuss, come up with a specific plan, and then talk to Mingsheng and them, and then hand it over to Madame for review." ”

Xu Kan knew that this was an eviction order, so he agreed to stand up and say goodbye with Gao Shu. After they left, Kong Xiangxi restrained his smile and said to Song Ailing: "Madam, don't be angry, Lao Gao's concerns are not unreasonable, especially Ziwen, although he is in the United States, he always has to come back." In addition, there is the Zhuang Cultural Revolution.... ”

"I don't think you have the courage to look forward or backward! If you don't dare to do it, don't do it, but this executive dean! Song Ailing didn't wait for Kong Xiangxi to finish speaking, then stood up and interrupted him: "You said Zhuang Cultural Revolution, look at him, what dare not be done, from rent reduction and interest reduction to grain control, nothing has been done, let me tell you, those who are timid will not be able to achieve any climate!" That Gao Shutong is already old, shut down the Seven Star Company, and set up two other companies to specialize in import business, let Ling Wei and Ling Kan do it, hear clearly. ”

"Okay, okay, madam, stop being angry, stop being angry, just do as you say." Kong Xiangxi nodded, stepped forward to calm Song Ailing's anger. Song Ailing glanced at him, brushed his hand away, and turned to go upstairs.

Xu Kan's actions were fast, and it took only two days to draw up a report and hand it to Kong Xiangxi, according to which the Ministry of Finance would order the cessation of foreign exchange transactions in all banks, and foreign exchange business should only be carried out by the central bank. The management of import business is subject to an import licensing system, any business must be approved by the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Finance appoints two companies to implement the ...... of expensive luxury goods.

After Kong Xiangxi saw it, he was very satisfied, the cleverness of Xu Kan's plan was that he did not cut off other people's livelihoods, and implemented licenses on ordinary materials, so as to leave a gap, and implemented a monopoly on luxury goods with significant profits. Kong Xiangxi has been in business for so many years, and he understands such a truth, don't even eat the meat and soup together, it is easy to attract jealousy. Kong Xiangxi thought about it, picked up this plan and came to Chiang Kai-shek.

During this time, the front line was generally calm, the two [***] teams were in the process of adjustment, the army was greatly expanded, a large number of soldiers were transferred from the country, Xuzhou, Henan, Nanjing have increased their troops, and there are also troops arriving one after another, all kinds of materials in Shanghai, Qingdao and Tianjin, and then quickly transported to the front line.

The squadron was also rapidly adjusting, and the troops heading south filled each carriage, passing through Wuhan and transferring to Anqing, Jiujiang, and all kinds of materials were transported to Hankou through the Yangtze River, and then sent to Zhengzhou, Shangqiu and other places. The troops of the Fifth and Ninth Theaters have absorbed a large number of new recruits and are stepping up training, and the tanks, artillery, and other materials from Soviet Russia have been transported to Wuhan along the Xinlan Highway, and the 200 Divisions have quickly recovered their strength, and Chiang Kai-shek has just ordered the 200 Divisions to be expanded into the Fifth Army and establish China's first mechanized army.

It was not a coincidence when Kong Xiangxi arrived, Chiang Kai-shek was listening to the reports of Wang Xiaoshan and Dai Li, and after Wang Xiaoshan arrived in the attendant's room, he was still in charge of intelligence work, and Chiang Kai-shek was very satisfied with him, and specially ordered him to be added to the Whampoa Military Academy, and he was recorded in the roster as a student of the sixth batch, and at the same time appointed him as deputy director of the Military Command Bureau.

Information from Shanghai indicates that Vice President Wang's representative has met with Shadow Akira, but no formal negotiations have yet been held.

As for the direction of the next operation, there was a disagreement between the North China Front and the headquarters of the Chinese Dispatch Army, and the North China Front believed that it would not attack Wuhan for the time being, but should first conquer Henan and eliminate the threat of our First Theater and Fifth Theater. The headquarters of the Chinese dispatch army believes that Wuhan should be included in the combat target and attack Wuhan in three directions.

The First Army moved south from Henan and attacked Wuhan along the Pinghan Road; The Second Army marched west from Xuzhou and attacked Wuhan from the north bank of the Yangtze River; The Eleventh Army attacked Wuhan ...... from the south bank of the Yangtze River. ”

After the Second Jinpu Road Campaign, Ligao was promoted to chief of the Operations Division, responsible for assisting the chief of staff of the North China Front Army in commanding the entire North China Army.

(To be continued)