Chapter 1072
The Real Glutton? No! Taken from the people, used for the people!
Seeing Comrade Li's smile, Zhang Anping suddenly thought of Comrade Li's seniority and immediately smiled as well:
"Haha, you can't see the true face of Mount Lu because you're in the mountain yourself—Commander, it's my fault, it's my fault. How about I punish myself with three cups?"
Comrade Li smiled knowingly:
"Alright, stop fooling around. Your actions lately have kept our Comrade Chai Ying on edge. If you want to punish yourself with three cups, then when the whole country is liberated, you can personally punish yourself in front of Comrade Chai Ying."
Chai Ying joked, "Chief, it's a deal! You must be the witness!"
"Haha, I'll be the witness! I'll definitely be the witness—Comrade Chongwen has said more than once that you two are being tormented by Anping in turns."
Chai Ying nodded in deep agreement, and Zhang Anping's old face fell: "Sister Chai, you shouldn't be so blunt."
"Hahahaha," Comrade Li laughed heartily, "Don't say that Comrade Chai Ying is undermining you—I've been in Nanjing these past few days, and your actions have been so frightening that I'm sweating bullets. I really don't know how Comrade An Yan and Comrade Chai Ying have managed to get through all these years."
Comrade Li arrived in Nanjing before the Lunar New Year.
Before things settled down in Beiping, he had already left the city.
His purpose in coming to Nanjing was for united front work.
Comrade Li's words, while sounding like he was saying Zhang Anping's work was "adventurous," were actually all affirmations of Zhang Anping's abilities. He suppressed his cheerful smile and earnestly said to Zhang Anping:
"Comrade Anping, many of your plans, although they always made people nervous when they were being implemented, always left people with a lot of feelings when they were in retrospect after everything was settled. In the end, my trip to Nanjing this time is all thanks to you."
Zhang Anping asked in confusion, "Commander, what's going on?"
"With the three major battles over, the Kuomintang is beyond saving—we are now focusing our main efforts on united front work."
Comrade Li explained:
"Only now do we realize that you laid a very good foundation for our united front work, a truly solid foundation!"
United Front work involves many tasks, but the most difficult is dealing with the veterans of the Tongmenghui.
They may not have held any real positions in the Nationalist government, but their names were all very prestigious.
After Comrade Li focused his main energy on united front work, he was surprised to find that the work he thought would be difficult was actually being carried out very smoothly. After reviewing each successful step, he found that many of the smooth progress was related to Zhang Anping's earlier arrangements.
Zhang Anping solemnly replied, "You flatter me—I couldn't have done all this by myself. The main reason I can do it is because I have many like-minded comrades around me!"
These words were not just a pose he was putting on.
On countless nights when he faced choices, he knew better than anyone that the reason his seemingly wild ideas were able to take root was not because of his own brilliant planning, but because of the huge network of Intelligence Group No. 2.
Every connection he made online was a living comrade—they shared in his misjudgment and amplified his brilliant maneuvers. The deeper he went into the covert operations, the more he believed:
History is never an epic of lone heroes, but a resonance of countless steadfast individuals.
Comrade Li, deeply agreeing, patted Zhang Anping on the shoulder, indicating that Zhang Anping didn't need to be so polite, and then sat down with Zhang Anping:
"I met with Comrade Qiu Ning with Comrade Chai Ying earlier—"
Comrade Li chuckled and said, "Our Comrade Qiu Ning is really worried about you, this 'big spy'! He even said you've caused trouble again—you better explain this 'trouble' to me."
After saying that, he gave Zhang Anping a meaningful look.
Comrade Li, being experienced, met with Qiu Ning along with Chai Ying. During their subsequent conversation, he discovered something:
Zhang Anping is deceiving Chai Ying again!
According to Chai Ying's previous report, Zhang Anping intended to rescue key members of our Party who had been arrested in the Nanjing prison system.
The prerequisite for this has already been proven by facts:
The Kuomintang would release ordinary underground party members, but never thought of releasing key members!
However, after meeting Qiu Ning, Comrade Li discovered a "blind spot":
Zhang Anping wanted to save more than just the key members arrested in Nanjing!
Faced with Comrade Li's meaningful gaze, Zhang Anping gave a wry smile and then explained his entire consideration:
"Currently, the Guangxi clique is using this situation to force the chief aide to step down, but the Guangxi clique itself only achieved its goal by taking advantage of this situation, and Xikou has never relinquished its control over core power—"
"Furthermore, although the Guangxi clique is very sincere in its peace talks, their bottom line is obvious—I think it's impossible to expect them to relinquish power and stand with the people based on their own awareness!"
"Therefore, I believe that the peace talks will ultimately fail because of their selfish motives."
Zhang Anping first explained the background before proceeding to explain his considerations:
"In conclusion, I believe that the present moment is an extremely rare window of opportunity. Since the Guangxi clique is willing to release arrested progressives and members of our party as a sign of sincerity, we should take advantage of this opportunity and strive to rescue all the arrested comrades."
“I’m worried that if we miss this opportunity, and the war breaks out again, the Kuomintang will definitely raise their swords during the fall of the city. At that time, rescuing these comrades will be extremely difficult…”
After listening attentively, Comrade Li asked, "So, you plan to achieve this goal through Qiu Ning?"
Qiu Ning has just received a task from Zhang Anping:
They secretly identified key members of the underground Communist Party arrested in various places and secretly transferred them to Chongqing.
If Chiu Ning, who orchestrated all of this, "betrays" the party, the Kuomintang will have no choice but to release him due to public opinion and sunk costs.
Zhang Anping chuckled twice, acknowledging Comrade Li's judgment.
Comrade Li said with a regretful tone, "If I had known it would turn out like this, I should have communicated with you more beforehand!"
As Zhang Anping looked on in confusion, Chai Ying interjected with a smile:
"Anping, you probably don't know, but the acting chief of the Imperial Guard's office was able to come up with this plan thanks to Comrade Li and the comrades from the Municipal Party Committee working together!"
Comrade Li waved his hand: "It's all thanks to the efforts of the comrades in the Municipal Party Committee, don't include me! Speaking of which, I completely agree with what Comrade Anping said earlier:"
We were able to do this because we have so many like-minded comrades around us!
After he finished speaking, he said, "I previously thought that the foundation of Intelligence Group No. 2 was in the spy system and intelligence system, and that it was not appropriate for you to get involved in this kind of thing."
It seems I underestimated Intelligence Group Number Two!
"The transfer and concentration you've implemented is excellent! Excellent!"
After saying that, he changed the subject: "However, Comrade Anping, you should also pay attention to your way of doing things. Victory is imminent, and if you keep bringing 'blood debts' upon yourself, even if you are later exonerated, it will easily cause controversy, do you understand?"
Zhang Anping did not defend himself—compared to the lives of his comrades, which was more important, criticism or the lives of his comrades?
He understood the leader's protection, but he also had his own principles of conduct.
He chuckled and said:
"Sir, now that you're here, I'll just pass this 'troublesome matter' to you to worry about."
Although Comrade Li knew Zhang Anping was joking, a phrase couldn't help but come to mind:
Often, what is said in jest is the truth!
So—the trouble this guy is talking about is probably quite serious!
He adopted a solemn expression, adjusted his glasses, and casually placed his hand near his temple, preparing for a headache, before saying, "Go on!"
Zhang Anping deliberately muttered, "Commander, you don't need to be so on high alert, do you?"
"Tell me while I'm ready!"
After speaking in a deliberately serious tone, Comrade Li laughed, made a gesture of invitation, and adopted a listening posture.
Zhang Anping said solemnly:
"You should know about what happened to global trade before the new year, right?"
Comrade Li countered, "Are you talking about the bank run?"
"Ah."
"I've heard about this. I remember the final result was that global trade was eventually settled in a unified manner?"
Zhang Anping added, "It was indeed redeemed, but a 30% handling fee was deducted."
The "bank run" and "redemption" mentioned by Zhang Anping and Comrade Li refer to the redemption event of the global trade financial package.
In later generations, financial management is everywhere, but in this era, financial management packages are not so common.
In this era of extremely low interest rates, global trade has launched a high-interest wealth management package.
The core assets of this investment package are the various factory shares pledged by Zhang Anping.
At first, Zhang Anping didn't "play" on a large scale, and in the end, he only "made" tens of millions of US dollars.
But later, the section chief got tempted and took the lead in establishing a National Assets Committee. Through Zhang Anping's connections, he pledged a large number of various shares, road rights revenues, etc. to Global Trade, and obtained hundreds of millions of US dollars.
Global trade packaged these collaterals into investment schemes and sold them to the super-rich, high-ranking officials, warlords, and the four major families.
In theory, this is a typical financial operation, but in reality, it is a Ponzi scheme!
It's hard to know when you'll break even just from the stock profits, not to mention that Zhang Anping has poured nearly half of the money he got from the mortgage into the Special Weapons and Traffic Police.
This is almost equivalent to losing the basic ability to redeem.
But people in this era have never been "trained" by a Ponzi scheme. Faced with the prestigious reputation of global trade, coupled with the vague endorsement of the department head, the investment packages were sold off cleanly!
Then, three major battles took place. The core assets of the investment package were the pledged shares, and the conclusion of these three battles meant that many assets may have already fallen into the hands of the opposing side.
And so, a bank run occurred!
From anyone's perspective, once a bank run occurs, global trade will be beyond saving—after all, it involves a massive cash flow of hundreds of millions of dollars, and global trade will certainly be unable to make payments.
But global trade has actually paid out!
However, global trade does not involve blind redemption; instead, a 30% penalty is deducted, and there is no interest whatsoever.
Everything was done in accordance with the contract.
Amid the run on banks, various "experts" were heartbroken by the 30% default penalty, but fearing that their investment portfolios would become worthless in the end, they could only grit their teeth and accept their fate.
Surprisingly, global trade actually completed the payment.
The 30% penalty for breach of contract and the unpaid interest are equivalent to global trade making a hundred million dollars out of hundreds of millions of dollars for no reason!
Comrade Li couldn't help but gasp when he heard about the 30% penalty for breach of contract:
"I knew you were good at making money, but I never imagined it would be this easy for you!"
"You kid..."
Comrade Li secretly clicked his tongue in amazement; Anping's ability to make money was truly first-rate!
But Zhang Anping wasn't trying to boast. After touching his nose, he said:
"Sir, this payment from Global Trade is like buying a horse's bones with a thousand pieces of gold—now, with the KMT-CPC peace talks imminent, many people are optimistic that the overall situation of dividing the country along the Yangtze River has been settled."
Comrade Li hesitated for a moment, then said in an incredulous tone:
You mean—
"You still want to sell investment packages?!"
Zhang Anping corrected: "It's global trade! Not me!"
Comrade Li stared at Zhang Anping speechlessly. After a long pause to process what he had just said, he asked curiously:
"You still want to charge a penalty for breach of contract?!"
To his knowledge, global trade has "harvested" default penalties twice.
The initial penalty for breach of contract wasn't very high, with the total amount seemingly only around ten million US dollars, and it was applied to the four major financial giants.
The second basic credit limit was outrageous.
Unexpectedly, Zhang Anping became addicted and even wanted to come a third time!
"This time, I..."
Zhang Anping touched his nose again: "What I want to collect is the principal."
Comrade Li's eyes widened suddenly, while Chai Ying, standing to the side, rubbed her forehead, thinking to herself, "No wonder Zhang Anping didn't hesitate when he faced the global trade crisis and had to go bankrupt to deal with the run on the bank last time..."
"What...what do you want to do?" Comrade Li stammered, a rare occurrence for him.
Zhang Anping explained awkwardly:
"Don't think that Global Trade made a fortune just because it collected 30% of the default fees to deal with the previous run on the bank. In fact, Global Trade was almost bankrupt in order to deal with the run on the bank. Even so, we were very grateful for Comrade Mingjing's financial support, which stabilized the situation."
The core asset of Global Trade's wealth management package is collateral—collateral that Zhang Anping and the section chief pledged to Global Trade, which then repackaged it into wealth management packages for sale.
To cope with the global trade run, since they couldn't get money from Zhang Anping and the section chief, they had to bleed money out of their own pockets!
The collateral can be used as collateral for other foreign banks and Chinese banks, but when competitors take advantage of the situation, the already inflated collateral can only be mortgaged for at most 20% of its original value.
Therefore, the gap is enormous!
Global Trade, with its own existing resources and the financial support from Mingjing in the United States, finally completed the repayment. Looking back now, it's clear that Zhang Anping had the foresight to control the total amount of the wealth management package.
If the limit were higher, even if Mingjing filled it in, it still wouldn't be enough!
Comrade Li seemed to understand: "So, the current global trade is all show and no substance?"
“It’s more than just outwardly strong but inwardly weak.” Zhang Anping looked worried. “It can be said that the money earned from global trade over the years has basically ended up in the hands of the section chief.”
Comrade Li gave Zhang Anping a strange look, as if he really thought I hadn't understood?
The section chief should have the lion's share, but you don't have a small share either!
And a significant portion of what you have has ended up being returned to the US...
Yes, this is a classic example of wealth not disappearing, but only being transferred!
"I think I understand what you mean—you're setting a trap, aren't you!"
Comrade Li stared intently at Zhang Anping: "You anticipated the Kuomintang's defeat long ago, which is why you've been controlling the amount of the investment package. You did this to prepare for a run on the bank!"
"And the real purpose of dealing with the run on the bank is to continue to lay the bait, right?"
Since Comrade Li has seen through it all, Zhang Anping will stop pretending:
"Correct!"
"In our country's past history, no matter how much of the people's hard-earned money was consumed, it would all flow back after defeat."
"But times have changed now—the Kuomintang has finally collapsed, but the wealth and resources of the people that those gluttons in it have not returned to the people, but will be transferred overseas."
"Overseas, they will continue to recklessly enjoy the hard-earned money of the people, a money stained with blood and tears!"
"This shouldn't be happening!"
"The people's hard-earned money cannot be allowed to be enjoyed by gluttons and parasites with impunity!"
Zhang Anping slammed his fist heavily on the table:
"Therefore, I will keep all this hard-earned money of the people!"
Comrade Li pondered whether Zhang Anping's actions were against the rules. After thinking for a long time, he asked:
"I know the sales standards for global trade financial packages, and this entry qualification can prevent innocent people from getting involved, but consider this possibility:"
Could some people repackage these so-called financial products and then sell them to people at the bottom of society?
"I can accept you taking back the people's hard-earned money through such dishonorable means, but the people's blood, sweat, and tears must never be affected!"
Zhang Anping said:
"Don't worry about that. The investment package is sold to a specific group. Only those who sign it are eligible to redeem it with a voucher. If it is to be resold, it must be approved by global trade authorities. This will prevent them from selling it directly to the general public."
Secondly, the global trade operation is still within the domestic sphere! If ordinary people are indeed scammed, the global trade system has a basic compensation limit, which can be used to legitimately compensate ordinary citizens.
Hearing Zhang Anping say this, Comrade Li felt relieved—psychologically speaking, he agreed with Zhang Anping's plan.
It's not about money, but about preserving basic industries!
The core assets of global trade's financial packages are mortgaged factory shares, etc.
Among the cities that were liberated earlier, there were factories whose shares were pledged as collateral. When the Kuomintang retreated, they planned to blow them up, but the underground party forces in various places were limited and could only prioritize factories that provided essential services, such as power plants and waterworks.
Other factories are difficult to defend due to manpower constraints.
However, once shares of these factories were pledged to Global Trade, Global Trade could openly protect them, and the Kuomintang's demolition teams dared not act for fear of harming the innocent—as a result, many factories were spared.
Based on this alone, he would support Zhang Anping.
Not to mention that Zhang Anping's actions also left behind a large amount of the people's hard-earned money!
Chai Ying, who was standing to the side, listened with great pleasure.
She remembered clearly that when Japan surrendered, a large number of traitors and family members of Japanese officials were secretly transferring their wealth—Zhang Anping had laid out plans early on and reaped enormous riches.
The initial funding for the American-style military factories in Northeast China today all came from this money.
Now, he's going to replicate this move again!
One word:
Absolutely!
After acknowledging Zhang Anping's idea, Comrade Li jokingly remarked:
"At first, that 30% penalty for breach of contract made me think you were the real glutton, but now I understand—"
"This is taken from the people and used for the people!"
"Go for it! Right now is a great opportunity!"
Comrade Li's words had a double meaning.
Greedy and optimistic, they fall into the trap because they want interest, to recover their losses, and to recoup their "sunk costs".
There are also some people who clearly understand the situation and want to take this opportunity to transfer assets, even if it means losing 30% of the penalty for breach of contract.
And now, they are all...fish in Zhang Anping's pond! (End of Chapter)