Chen Han Wen was speaking the truth. The current KMT higher-ups had become rotten to the core. Everyone was grabbing and plundering, leeching off the National Government, the Kong family in particular. Kong Xiang Xi’s slogan, "It's better to buy than to build," had completely destroyed the industrial system that Chen Han Wen had painstakingly built.
The assets Chen Han Wen had donated to the KMT were more than the combined contributions of the Four Families.
Song Zi Wen was embarrassed to ask Chen Han Wen, but he was the biggest moneybags now. The Americans only recognized Chen Han Wen’s assets. What could he do?
"Ming Cheng, the KMT needs you."
Song Zi Wen couldn't persuade Chen Han Wen, so he continued to play the emotional card: "Besides, you can't mine those foreign mineral resources anyway. Leaving them untouched is a waste. Why not take them out to alleviate our immediate needs? Rest assured, the KMT will not forget your contributions. Your Principal will not forget either."
"Nonsense!"
Chen Han Wen still didn't budge. He lay in bed, his eyes fixed on the ceiling.
No matter how earnestly Song Zi Wen pleaded, Chen Han Wen remained silent.
Song Zi Wen talked himself hoarse, his throat practically smoking. Seeing that Chen Han Wen remained unmoved, he finally snapped: "Ming Cheng, you have to help, whether you want to or not! During your time in the Military Control Commission, you and your subordinate, Xu Zhong Yi, have taken quite a bit of advantage, haven't you? If we were to dig deeper..."
"Threatening me?"
Chen Han Wen looked at Song Zi Wen and said proudly, "Chen is most afraid of threats! You say that Zhong Yi Trading has made a lot of money, right? Alright! You pay back all the money the National Government owes Zhong Yi Trading, with interest! I'll give you every penny! That little amount of money isn't even enough to cover the interest."
“……”
Song Zi Wen was stunned. He asked puzzledly, "How can the National Government owe money to Zhong Yi Trading? That was a donation... No, those assets are for our use, but the ownership is still yours. Chen Han Wen... You're a sly one!"
"You're just as cunning!"
Chen Han Wen didn't show any anger. Instead, he said to Song Zi Wen, "Don't just keep picking on me. If you want to borrow money, go to the Americans. They're the suckers. And they've got plenty of money. Want my money? Dream on!"
Seeing that Chen Han Wen was unyielding and unmoved, Song Zi Wen had no choice but to sigh and say, "I came to see you because the Old Man ordered me to. I have an explanation if you don't give me anything, but the Old Man is coming to see you. Things won't be as simple as negotiating with me. Fine... I've said my piece. I'm leaving."
Before leaving, Song Zi Wen added, "Oh, about last night's assassination, the Japanese representative apologized to the Old Man this morning. They said it was a misunderstanding. Don't push your luck, kid. It's not good for anyone if things escalate."
Chen Han Wen said nothing. After Song Zi Wen left, he began to ponder.
Back then, Chen Han Wen had taken advantage of the financial crisis to fleece the Americans. He brought back some of that money, but he used most of it to buy machinery and land. Based on his past memories, he had purchased a lot of resource-rich land. Chen Han Wen didn't exploit these lands; he left them untouched.
Chen Han Wen was waiting for the American conglomerates to come to him.
Chen Han Wen knew that resource-rich land purchased under the noses of the Americans would inevitably be squeezed relentlessly if it wasn't owned by their own people. These lands were hot potatoes.
He bought these resource-rich lands as preparation for negotiations with the American government.
Would the KMT have been able to fund itself without Chen Han Wen’s contributions?
No.
Didn't America provide large-scale aid to the KMT in history?
In the face of national interests, Chen Han Wen’s meager assets were mere pocket change, not to be taken seriously.
Chen Han Wen was considering how to use these undeveloped resource-rich lands to generate more profit for himself.
Of course, Chen Han Wen also had the interests of the CCP at heart.
After the KMT lost the war and retreated to Taiwan, the CCP, after establishing its government, faced restrictions on all sides. It was not an exaggeration to describe the situation as difficult. If not for generations of CCP members sacrificing themselves, there wouldn't be the prosperity and strength of eighty years later.
What Chen Han Wen wanted to do was make the CCP's initial years a bit easier.
Chen Han Wen had his eyes on Japan and the Indochinese peninsula.
He wanted to gain his profits from these two places!
Three days later, the military police guarding the confinement room disappeared. Chen Han Wen left the confinement room and returned home. After a moment of intimacy with Lin Tao, he called Chen Nade and spoke about managing his overseas assets.
Chen Nade was overjoyed. In Chongqing, apart from acting as a bridge between the KMT and the United States, he also served the interests of the tycoons. The overseas assets in Chen Han Wen’s possession were the most crucial task entrusted to Chen Nade by the tycoons.
Over the years, Chen Nade had been trying to gauge Chen Han Wen’s stance, but Chen Han Wen completely ignored him. Chen Nade had been unable to accomplish the task, leaving him anxious and worried. Now that Chen Han Wen finally spoke, how could Chen Nade not be thrilled?
The two agreed to meet at the Cloud Peak Road Hua She Western Restaurant. Chen Han Wen took his time getting ready, called Xu Zhong Yi to pick him up, and then waited at home for Xu Zhong Yi.
As for Chen Nade... He could just stay at the Western Restaurant for a while and calm himself down.
After a while, Xu Zhong Yi arrived at the front door, a look of guilt on his face. After Chen Han Wen got into the car, Xu Zhong Yi said, "Chief, I'm such a useless person. Something so big happened at Yu Hua Terrace, and I had no idea. I... Sigh, I've let down your trust."
Chen Han Wen didn't take it to heart. He said to Xu Zhong Yi, "It's alright. You don't need to prove your loyalty in this way. Just do your business honestly."
Hearing Chen Han Wen say this, Xu Zhong Yi felt even more guilty. "Should I get you some bodyguards? I can pay someone from outside, or we can pick some from our bureau."
Chen Han Wen said, "No need."
Seeing that Chen Han Wen refused, Xu Zhong Yi realized there was no point in saying more. He closed his mouth and drove Chen Han Wen to Cloud Peak Road in silence.
As they approached Cloud Peak Road, Xu Zhong Yi suddenly said to Chen Han Wen, "Chief, look... It's Zheng Yao Xian."
Old Six?
Chen Han Wen looked out and was immediately interested.
Wasn't that Cheng Zhen Er from the Central Control Commission?
When Chen Han Wen and Lin Tao were eating together, they had accidentally bumped into Cheng Zhen Er. Lin Tao had told Chen Han Wen that Zheng Yao Xian had been pursuing Cheng Zhen Er, but he had never succeeded.
However, Chen Han Wen knew that Cheng Zhen Er was outwardly a clerk in the Central Control Commission’s Communications Department, but she was actually an undercover agent working for the CCP. Zheng Yao Xian’s pursuit of her was just a cover. They had known each other for a long time and were even a couple, but because they were on opposite sides, they had to pretend to be enemies.
Zheng Yao Xian’s pursuit of Cheng Zhen Er was real, but he also wanted to use this opportunity to make contact.
Chen Han Wen looked at the three people on the street, a smile spreading across his lips.
Old Six, Old Six, you're trying to make contact, but there's a pair of Central Control Commission eyes watching Cheng Zhen Er.
Chen Han Wen told Xu Zhong Yi to pull over but didn't get out immediately. He leaned back in his seat, pondered for a moment, and then got out of the car and walked towards Zheng Yao Xian.
He stood beside Zheng Yao Xian and put his hand on his shoulder. He teased him with a laugh, "Old Six, you're quite the playboy! Flirting with a beauty in broad daylight... And it's a flower from the Central Control Commission. Interesting."