Chapter 1718 It’s not easy to enter the industry
The cruelty on the intelligence front is not much worse than the real battlefield where the two armies are fighting. Sometimes it even tests human nature even more. Especially the intelligence personnel working on the front line will be very difficult if they do not have a strong will. It is difficult to persist for a long time. Whether these people Cheng Dapeng recruited from Xingdao can be used, their will quality is also a condition that must be tested in school. If they can't withstand even a few bloody scenes, then if they are caught by their opponents in the future, they will definitely be tortured a little. I will recruit everything I know.
In arranging this execution scene today, Cheng Dapeng also wanted to test the psychological quality of these people, but the rookies' reactions seemed to be pretty good, at least no one immediately fainted and vomited on the spot. Although some people still had serious physiological reactions afterwards, in Cheng Dapeng's view, it was already excusable. Thinking about the first time he saw an execution scene, his reaction to that cruel scene was much more violent than that of Qin Huacheng and others.
As an intelligence officer who has been working for many years, Cheng Dapeng has directly or indirectly learned about many cases of betrayal of intelligence personnel. For example, Li Qingyang, the director of the Ming Dynasty Department of the Ministry of Security in charge of intelligence affairs related to the Ming Dynasty, was once a hundred members of the Jinyi Guards of the Ming Dynasty. He was later captured by mistake while sneaking into Sanya, and finally defected and joined the Haihan Security Department. Li Qingyang did not shy away from this period of history, and used his own understanding of Jin Yiwei to help Haihan win many battles with Jin Yiwei on the intelligence battlefield. Even the operation plan of the Ministry of Security's intelligence personnel who later instigated rebellion against the Ming Dynasty was personally formulated by Li Qingyang.
In terms of his qualifications for joining the Haihan Security Department, Cheng Dapeng is considered a junior of Li Qingyang. He has also read the rebellion plan written by Li Qingyang, which can be summed up in just four words - coercion and inducement. Such operations are not only used to instigate enemy intelligence personnel, but can also be used as a training program for our own intelligence personnel to increase their loyalty.
The execution arranged by Cheng Dapeng today was a means of "coercion" strategy, but it only had a psychological impact and did not pose a substantial threat to Qin Huacheng and others. And the corresponding "induce" methods are actually being launched against these people. The unlucky guy who was ordered by Cheng Dapeng to chop off his hands was the serious consequence of being unable to restrain his greed.
As for Qin Huacheng and others, nothing happened. It was not because of how strong their resistance was. It was just that they were in different environments. Some people had not yet encountered the opportunity to be greedy for money. For example, Qin Huacheng has been at Dacheng Rice Store for the past few days and is still receiving training on grain trade. He has not really had the opportunity to make money delivery, and naturally there is no talk of corruption. However, since Cheng Dapeng wanted to conduct comprehensive training for them, he naturally arranged many corresponding means to test them.
After Qin Huacheng returned to Mihang, although he felt a little uncomfortable, in order to avoid attracting other people's attention, he insisted on continuing to work after changing his clothes. The job assigned to him by Dacheng Rice Shop is actually quite easy, which is to assist the manager, Shopkeeper Wang, in handling some contract documents for grain sales, so that Shopkeeper Wang can explain to him at any time some of the things that require special attention in this industry.
Qin Huacheng is not good at handling contract documents, otherwise he would not have suffered a big loss in the cooperation in Manila, but now this is his ability to make a living. Even if it gives him a headache to see these things, he still has to endure it. on the scalp.
What Shopkeeper Wang handed him today were three local grain contracts. Two were for buying and one for selling. The contents of each of them needed to be reviewed, and then Shopkeeper Wang would come forward to sign the contract with the other party. What Qin Huacheng has to do is to check for any inaccuracies in the contract. If there are loopholes, he must find them in time to prevent Mi Xing from suffering unnecessary losses during the transaction.
Although Qin Huacheng was a rookie, after he carefully looked at these parts of the contract, he still found some irregularities in it, so he went to shopkeeper Wang to ask what happened.
"Shopkeeper Wang, I'm afraid the prices marked on these contracts are a little wrong." Qin Huacheng pointed out his findings to him: "Why is the price of the purchased grain almost the same as the selling price? Then isn't this transaction about rice? If we do this, not only will we not make any money from it, but we will also have to pay for the shipping costs.”
Shopkeeper Wang glanced at him and saw that his confused expression didn't seem to be fake, so he explained to him: "You can see clearly the two people we are buying grain from."
Qin Huacheng nodded and said: "Both families are local farms in Batavia. I can see clearly."
"Then do you know who the owners of these two farms are?" Shopkeeper Wang continued to ask.
Qin Huacheng frowned, thinking that this was probably the reason for the weird price, but he still shook his head honestly and said, "I don't know, so please ask the shopkeeper for advice."
Shopkeeper Wang said: "The owners of these two farms used to be old guys from Mihang. Do you understand?"
Qin Huacheng said: "The reason why Mihang purchased grain from them at a high price is not just to take care of their business, right? It's just that the villain is stupid and still can't figure out the key."
Shopkeeper Wang said: "This truth can be understood once you put it down. The purchase price of grain is high because it is for outsiders to see. Dacheng Rice Shop is the largest local grain merchant in Batavia, and our purchase price is the market guide price. , after raising the market price, they can never let us sell the grain at a loss. At most, we will make no profit but give it to them. But it seems that we are not making money, but in fact we still make money. Do you understand? ?”
These words were quite convoluted, and it took Qin Huacheng a few seconds to understand what Shopkeeper Wang meant. According to the agreement between the two parties, the grain sold by Dacheng Rice Bank to the East India Company could only be sold at market prices, so the rice bank would hardly make any money. However, the rice bank deliberately asked the local farms to increase their field purchase prices. The market price has also risen in recent years. Even if it is sold to the Dutch at the field purchase price, the rice bank will still make a profit.
Qin Huacheng said: "Then why don't the Dutch bypass the rice bank and directly purchase from these farms? That way they can lower the price."
Shopkeeper Wang said: "There are two reasons. One is that these farms will not sell grain directly to the Dutch. Even if they are not taking orders from us, they will worry that we are deliberately suppressing grain prices. Don't forget that Mihang also operates a good business under its name. The annual output of thousands of acres of grain fields is enough to affect the local grain market. If anyone wants to bypass us and trade with the Dutch, we will lower the market purchase price until he loses money. We have abundant capital and can afford to lose money. The farmer can’t keep up, so he can only act according to our arrangements.”
Qin Huacheng nodded and agreed with Shopkeeper Wang's explanation.
Shopkeeper Wang continued: "Secondly, the Dutch who are responsible for purchasing food will not take the initiative to bypass us. You can always figure out the reason for this, right?"
Qin Huacheng had heard Shopkeeper Wang say earlier that the Dutch would receive kickbacks from grain transactions, and he immediately nodded and said, "I understand, if I buy from another grain dealer and lower the price, I will make a small profit, then there will be nothing left." The money can be used to pay tribute to the Dutch who handle the procurement." Qin Huacheng couldn't help but remember that before this, shopkeeper Wang kept telling himself that the rice bank would not make much money selling grain to the Dutch, and it was just in exchange for East India. Certain franchise rights granted by the company. However, after seeing these three grain sales contracts today, shopkeeper Wang obviously could not continue to justify himself, so he confessed to himself the methods adopted by Dacheng Rice Bank in the grain trade. And through these means, seemingly unprofitable transactions will actually make considerable profits. However, the outside world may not be able to figure out the business methods of Dacheng Rice Bank, and those who know the inside story are all vested interests, and they will not know at all. Take the initiative to break the rules of the game.
Shopkeeper Wang said: "Even if the Dutch know that grain prices may be manipulated by us, they will deliberately pretend not to know for the sake of market stability. As for the specific standard at which the annual grain price is set, it will ultimately depend on that year's It depends on the grain output. The price in this contract is the market reference price, but the final execution price has to be negotiated with the Dutch.”
Qin Huacheng raised the contract in his hand and said: "Since the execution price has to be finalized, doesn't this thing have no practical use?"
Shopkeeper Wang responded: "Of course it works. The price in this contract is the market price that Rice Bank is prepared to control. If the other party is evil and wants to take more kickbacks, then Rice Bank will raise the market price further on this basis. And this The grain delivery time and payment method are usually agreed upon in the contract first, and no major changes will be made. ”
Qin Huacheng suddenly said: "I see, then the villain has read these three contracts, and there should be no other questions."
Shopkeeper Wang said: "You will take this contract tomorrow and go to the transaction party to confirm the contents and agree on the signing time. Are you okay with this job?"
Qin Huacheng pointed to his nose in disbelief: "The shopkeeper wants me to handle this matter alone?"
Shopkeeper Wang said: "Otherwise, how many people do you need to go? Do you still need to mobilize people to do this? Then can you do it? If not, I will arrange for others to do it."
Qin Huacheng responded quickly: "If you can, I should do my best to handle this matter."
This was the first time Qin Huacheng had encountered this kind of opportunity to go out alone to do business after coming to Batavia. Naturally, he didn't want to miss it easily, so he accepted it first and then talked about it. If this errand can be done well, Qin Huacheng feels that he may gradually have the authority to act alone in the future, which is of course very important for him who has always longed for freedom.
Seeing Qin Huacheng leaving quite excitedly, shopkeeper Wang smiled imperceptibly. This arrangement was not his intention, but Cheng Dapeng's order. Although he didn't know why Cheng Dapeng put the newcomer to the test so quickly, but if this guy was deflated outside while doing errands, Wang The shopkeeper is also happy to watch the excitement. You must know that the next few clients he is asked to visit are not easy to deal with. If Qin Huacheng is not careful, he will easily be plotted by the other party.
Qin Huacheng didn't know that he was about to face a test. What he cared about was whether he could get more attention from Cheng Dapeng after completing this errand. Now that only five of the six people from the Xingdao Hard Labor Camp remain, Qin Huacheng seems to be facing less competitive pressure, but he wants to complete the training as soon as possible, because only in this way can he become a formal employee of the Security Department and gain more freedom to act. permissions.
The next day, Qin Huacheng followed the arrangement of shopkeeper Wang and took the contract to meet with relevant people to confirm the transaction contents. The two farms that supply food to Dacheng Rice Bank are both located on the plain south of Batavia City. After Qin Huacheng left the city, he walked for more than half an hour before arriving at the first farm. After Qin Huacheng registered his identity, someone took him to meet the farmer.
The farmer’s name is Chu Huo, who is in his forties. He was very enthusiastic after meeting Qin Huacheng, and he did not shy away from calling him brother: “Brother Qin just recently came to work at Mihang? No wonder there was nothing there just now. Impression... But it doesn’t matter, we will keep in touch with each other in the future. Brother, I used to work for Mr. Cheng in Mihang, so I can be considered your senior!”
Qin Huacheng chatted with Chu Huo for a while, and then he carefully mentioned the purpose of his visit: "Brother Chu, I came here today to make trouble. I want Brother Chu to take a look at the drafted grain sales contract. If there is no need to do anything else, After making the changes, the signing can be arranged.”
Chu Huo took the contract handed over by Qin Huacheng and read it for a while, then said thoughtfully: "There are no big problems, but there is still a small place. Brother Qin will see if it can be changed."
Qin Huacheng quickly asked what else needed to be changed, and Chu Huo said: "The local area has been dry and dry since the beginning of this year. The rice grown on my farm has to hire people to water the ground day and night with water trucks to resist drought and protect seedlings. The cost of this kind of food It is at least 20% more than in previous years. I am afraid that the previously agreed price will not work. If I sell it to the rice bank at this price, I will lose a lot of money."
The grain price in this contract is the summer grain purchase price jointly agreed upon by the rice bank and the farm when sowing in spring. It is not impossible for one of the parties to change the price, but it is definitely not something Qin Huacheng can decide, so he can only say that he will ask Wang The shopkeeper reflected what Chu Huo meant.
Chu Huo said: "Since Shopkeeper Wang sent you here, he must have great trust in you. We might as well open the skylight and speak openly. If Brother Qin can facilitate this, I will not let you work in vain. Two hundred silver coins As a reward, what do you think, Brother Qin?”
Qin Huacheng thought that it was not easy to increase the price of food, and there was such an operation. However, he did not dare to agree casually. He immediately said that shopkeeper Wang still needed to make a decision on this matter. He was just an errand boy and could not count his words.
Chu Huo said: "I will naturally prepare a proposal for Shopkeeper Wang, so there is no need to worry about it. Brother Qin, I intend to make you a friend, won't you give me this face?"
(End of chapter)