Third-floor conference room, Osaka Chamber of Commerce.
The conference room’s decor was relatively simple. The only striking feature was the round conference table in the center, large enough to seat a dozen or two people.
The round table was a deep red, clearly carved from precious rosewood at a glance. However, this was the conference room of the Osaka Chamber of Commerce; mere rosewood seemed to count for little in their eyes.
With the Huaxia year-end drawing near, it was the peak season for the sale of all kinds of goods. But this year was different from previous years. The Osaka Chamber of Commerce’s sales performance in Huaxia had plummeted in a straight line.
The entire market seemed to be, whether consciously or unconsciously, boycotting Japanese goods. Even fast-moving products such as matches, canned food, and cotton cloth had suffered severe declines in sales.
At the head of the round conference table, Tanaka Ichiro, director of the Osaka Chamber of Commerce’s Longguo Business Division, looked at the latest transaction report that had been submitted. His face was so gloomy it seemed water might drip from it.
The dozen or so chamber elites seated below saw Director Tanaka’s man-eating expression and were so frightened they did not even dare breathe loudly.
“Inoue-kun, I would like to know what explanation your sales department has for the decline in performance.” Director Tanaka’s voice slowly rang out. Though his tone was as calm as ever, anyone could hear the anger within it.
“Director Tanaka, I can explain this matter.” Inoue Ryoichi hurriedly rose and said, “Director Tanaka, this cannot be blamed on us. The Empire has launched military operations against Huaxia, and now all Huaxia people are extremely hostile toward us.”
“The Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, headed by Yu Qiaqing, has publicly declared that they will not sell any supplies provided by us.”
“If he says they won’t sell, then they won’t sell?” Tanaka Ichiro said angrily. “Shanghai is such a large market. Even without those trading firms, you could still cooperate with department stores.”
Inoue Ryoichi said with a bitter expression, “Director Tanaka, we have already tried to think of ways.”
“We have approached the department stores in Shanghai, including Longhua Department Store, Songshan Department Store, and even Hezi Department Store under Watanabe-kun’s name.”
“At present, only Watanabe-kun can still help sell some goods. We simply cannot get in anywhere else.”
“Director Tanaka, I believe perhaps we should adjust the price. Compared with the prices offered by trading firms from other countries, our current supply price has no price advantage whatsoever.”
“The Huaxia people often say that merchants have always chased profit. If these trading firms cannot taste any benefit, they will not relent.”
“Nonsense. War has broken out everywhere now, and every region needs supplies. The white sugar, grain and oil, canned food, cotton yarn and cloth in our hands are all hot-selling goods.”
“Even if I agreed to lower the price, headquarters would not be willing.”
“If those above truly hold someone accountable, will you take the blame, or will I?”
“No matter. I agree to lower the selling price by twelve percent.” As soon as Tanaka Ichiro finished speaking, a clear, hearty voice sounded from the doorway.
Chen Yang pushed open the conference room doors and strode straight inside.
Tanaka Ichiro’s expression changed, and he said angrily, “Who are you? How can you barge into the Osaka Chamber of Commerce’s premises at will?”
“Someone, someone!”
“Stop shouting.” Chen Yang scratched his ear and walked directly up to Tanaka Ichiro. “Director Tanaka, if I remember correctly, three days ago you should have received a telegram from the homeland.”
“A telegram from the homeland.” Tanaka Ichiro frowned slightly, as if thinking of something. He looked Chen Yang up and down suspiciously. “You are?”
Chen Yang reached into his clothes, took out a sheet of paper, and handed it to him.
Tanaka Ichiro respectfully accepted the paper from Chen Yang. After unfolding it and sweeping his eyes over it, his expression abruptly changed. In front of everyone in the conference room, he bowed forty-five degrees to Chen Yang.
“Special Assistant Chen, I apologize. I did not know it was you. I thought you would not arrive in Shanghai for at least another two days. I never imagined you had already set out as soon as the telegram was sent.”
Special Assistant Chen? Everyone in the conference room exchanged glances, not knowing when the Osaka Chamber of Commerce had gained a Special Assistant Chen.
“Director Tanaka, I did not come up here to obstruct your meeting. However, if you truly had any ability, the board of directors would not have made me travel day and night to Huaxia to clean up this mess for you.”
Chen Yang’s words could be said to give Tanaka Ichiro no face at all, yet Tanaka Ichiro did not dare refute him by even half a sentence.
“Everyone, starting today, the goods in the Osaka Chamber of Commerce’s hands will be sold at reduced prices according to a certain ratio. We must recover the majority of our funds before the Huaxia Spring Festival ends.”
“Which of you here is the head of the sales department and which is the head of the finance department?”
“I’ll give you ten minutes to hand over the sales data and financial data from the past half year.”
“I will be waiting for you in Director Tanaka’s office.”
“Director Tanaka, please.” Before Tanaka Ichiro could speak, Chen Yang had already risen and made an inviting gesture.
“Everyone, do as Special Assistant Chen says.”
“Special Assistant Chen, this way, please.” Tanaka Ichiro smiled like a lapdog and hurriedly led the way in front.
The people attending the meeting were utterly bewildered. This Special Assistant Chen was clearly a Huaxia man, so why did Director Tanaka seem so afraid of him?
Just what was this man’s background?
Third floor, office.
Standing before the window, Chen Yang looked into the distance and suddenly asked, “Tanaka-kun, do you know what the homeland’s assessment of you is?”
“This…” Director Tanaka hemmed and hawed, unable to answer. Judging from his dejected appearance, he clearly understood that the homeland’s evaluation of him could not be too favorable.
“My teacher said that you are more than capable of maintaining what already exists, but lack the drive to advance. If placed in a relatively stable environment, you might be an outstanding manager.”
“But once an unexpected change occurs, such as here in Huaxia, where war suddenly breaks out, your performance is exactly as he predicted.”
Chen Yang turned around and said, enunciating each word, “Utterly useless.”
“I am sorry, Special Assistant Chen. I have disappointed Mr. Fujiwara.” Tanaka Ichiro bowed in fear and trepidation.
Chen Yang walked behind the desk and sat down. “Teacher ordered you to clear out the inventory in the supply warehouses as quickly as possible and recover the funds. Behind this lies an extremely vast plan that requires a large amount of financial support.”
“Director Tanaka, there are still six days until the Spring Festival. I hope you can dispose of half the inventory within six days. I will take care of the remaining half.”
“Do you have any problems with that?”
Dispose of half the goods in the Osaka Chamber of Commerce’s warehouses in six days—do you know how much money that represents?
After pondering for a moment, Tanaka Ichiro braced himself and said, “Special Assistant Chen, I do not know whether you are aware of the current inventory figures in the Osaka Chamber of Commerce’s supply warehouses.”
“However, I believe your proposal is truly somewhat difficult to carry out.”
“Right now, all the major chambers of commerce and civilian organizations in Shanghai are boycotting goods produced by the Empire.”
“Even if we sell at reduced prices, I feel it would still be extremely difficult to clear out half the inventory in just six days.”
“Difficulty is not a reason.” Chen Yang walked to Tanaka Ichiro’s side and very considerately brushed the dust from his shoulder, then said slowly, “Six days. You have only six days.”
“The next time I come here, I hope to see a sales statement that satisfies me. If not, Director Tanaka, write your own resignation letter and leave it on the desk.”