area51novel Chapter 155 What sacred alliance is there when interests are at stake!
Chapter 155 What sacred alliance is there when interests are at stake!
January 8nd, 9:00 AM.
The Chen Mansion in Shanghai, the secret underground room.
Mo Huixin sat behind a huge mahogany desk, dozens of documents spread out in front of her. These documents were stamped with a bright red "Seizure" seal, each representing a foreign power's enterprise in China that had been frozen.
The underground chamber was dimly lit, with only the desk lamp casting a soft glow. Mo Huixin, dressed in an elegant cheongsam, remained calm, as if handling routine matters. But the seals on the documents spoke of a silent financial war raging beneath the surface.
She picked up a document that read "HSBC Shanghai Branch - Seizure". This is one of the largest British financial institutions in China and a key target of these countermeasures.
Just days earlier, French Consul Marcel had arrogantly demanded that Chen Zijun reclaim the French concession and, in conjunction with Britain and the United States, impose economic sanctions on him. Chen Zijun refused on the spot and announced countermeasures—freezing all assets of foreign powers in China, halting the export of raw silk and steel to the West, and ceasing the supply of special steel.
Upon receiving the order, Mo Huixin acted immediately. Within three days, she directed her subordinates to seize dozens of foreign companies operating in China, freezing over four million pounds in assets. The foreign powers, having been hurt, were now becoming increasingly uneasy.
"Sister Huixin," an adjutant hurried in, "HSBC's Shanghai branch has been completely sealed off. According to statistics, the branch's total assets in Shanghai, excluding depositors' savings, amount to approximately £6.92 million, all of which have been frozen. Furthermore, their vault has also been sealed off, and all cash and precious metals have been seized."
Mo Huixin nodded slightly and picked up a document, glancing at it.
"Six million nine hundred and twenty thousand pounds?" she said casually. "Looks like HSBC isn't doing very well in Shanghai."
The adjutant said, "Yes, and this is just the Shanghai branch. They also have branches in Hangzhou, Ningbo, Fuzhou, and other places, with total assets estimated to exceed £15 million. In addition, several large textile and tobacco factories under the British and American Chamber of Commerce have also been seized. Due to our seizure and freezing measures, they have been forced to cease production. The owners of those factories are extremely anxious and are causing trouble at the Chamber of Commerce every day."
"It's alright. Now is a good opportunity for our national capital to seize the market. We have already informed Mr. Li Pingshu, Mr. Sun Mengjin, and Mr. Yu Xiaode. They know what to do."
Mo Huixin put the document aside and picked up another one.
"Let them make a scene. The bigger the better. Let them know who really calls the shots in Shanghai. It's not like we have to eat hairy pigs just because Zhang the butcher is gone!"
The adjutant nodded: "Yes, sir!"
Mo Huixin said, "Continue the seizures. According to the Young Marshal's orders, not a single asset of any foreign power in China should be spared. Banks, factories, mines, businesses, land—oh right, isn't the wife of the British Consul General in Shanghai, Baldon, from the Hardoon aristocracy? They're not in the real estate business, so seize them first, saying the land deeds belong to the public. Seize everything else as well."
"Yes!"
After the adjutant left, Mo Huixin picked up the phone and dialed Chen Zijun's private line.
The call was quickly answered, and Chen Zijun's voice came through.
"Young Master," Mo Huixin said, "HSBC's Shanghai branch has just been seized, freezing assets totaling £6.92 million. Several factories belonging to chambers of commerce from Britain, France, and the United States have also been seized, forced to cease production due to our countermeasures. Furthermore, the British and American chambers of commerce sent representatives to protest yesterday, but I directly drove them out."
Chen Zijun's voice came from the other end of the phone: "Well done. Let them know that sanctioning me comes at a price."
Mo Huixin said, "Young Master, I think the British and American sides are starting to get restless. Yesterday, people from the American Chamber of Commerce came to me saying they wanted to protest, but I kicked them out. But this morning, I received a message from the British Consulate saying that the British consul wants to meet with me privately."
Chen Zijun sneered: "Trying to negotiate privately? Looks like they can't hold out any longer."
Mo Hui thought to herself, "Young Master, would you like to see him?"
Chen Zijun said, "I'll see them. I'll let them know that in Shanghai, I'm the one who calls the shots."
"clear."
Mo Huixin hung up the phone, a slight smile playing on her lips.
The consular corps of the great powers, who were so arrogant just days before, are now actually taking the initiative to seek peace. The young marshal's countermeasures have indeed hurt them.
At 2 p.m., on the Bund in Shanghai, in an inconspicuous teahouse.
This teahouse is located in a secluded spot and is rarely visited. But today, a woman of extraordinary elegance was sitting by the window on the second floor.
Mo Huixin sat there, a cup of tea in front of her. She wore an elegant cheongsam, her expression serene, as if she were just an ordinary noblewoman who had come for tea. But things were different now. With the young master's marriage, she had also started to dress like a married woman, her hair styled in an updo. Although she hadn't officially entered the family yet, the young mistress had already agreed, and the young master wasn't indifferent to them. So, how far away could that day be?
The teahouse was not crowded. A few customers were talking in hushed tones. No one noticed that this seemingly ordinary noblewoman was none other than Mo Huixin, who now made the entire Shanghai business community tremble.
The Huangpu River shimmered outside the window, and the distant sound of ship horns could be faintly heard. Mo Huixin gazed at the scenery outside, but in her mind, she was calculating her next negotiation strategy.
A moment later, a middle-aged man in a suit walked up. He wore a top hat pulled low, clearly not wanting to be recognized. After glancing around to make sure no one else was around, he quickly walked over and sat down opposite Mo Huixin.
"Miss Mo." The person who came was none other than Barton, the British Consul General in Shanghai. It seemed that the British consul had prepared his own identity and had not come.
He lowered his voice and said, "Thank you for agreeing to see me."
Mo Huixin slightly raised her eyes and said calmly, "Sir Barton, you are about to take office as the Straits Governor of Singapore. All of this was given to you by my young master. You don't need to get involved in the French's foolishness, but my young master still wants to hear your opinion. Please speak."
Bardon wiped the sweat from his brow, looking somewhat nervous. He hadn't expected Mo Huixin to be so calm, as if she didn't take him seriously at all.
"Ms. Mo, I know there have been some misunderstandings between us recently. Actually, the British side doesn't want to strain relations with Mr. Chen. The sanctions are mainly due to France's insistence on a hardline stance. Britain has significant interests in China, and we hope..."
He paused, then tentatively said, "We hope Miss Mo can help lift the freeze on our British assets. We are willing to negotiate with Mr. Chen separately to restore trade relations."
Mo Huixin picked up the teacup and gently blew on it.
"A separate negotiation?" she said calmly. "British Consul, aren't you betraying your ally?"
Barton's face stiffened, and he quickly explained, "No, no, no, this isn't a betrayal. We just... we just feel that these sanctions are a bit excessive. France's interests in China are mostly physical assets, such as the French Concession, while Britain's interests are mainly in finance and trade. Of course, they can hold out. But Britain has huge investments in China, and if the sanctions continue, our losses will be too great."
Mo Huixin put down her teacup and looked into his eyes.
"Sir Barton, are you aware of the young marshal's attitude?"
Baldon shook his head: "I don't know."
Mo Huixin said, "The young marshal said that our countermeasures will not stop until the great powers lift the sanctions. Britain wants to negotiate alone? Fine. But the prerequisite is that Britain must first withdraw the sanctions and issue a public apology."
Bardon's expression changed: "This..."
Mo Hui thought to herself, "What? You can't do it?"
Bardon gritted his teeth: "Miss Mo, I need to consult London. But I can assure you that the British do indeed wish to ease tensions."
Mo Huixin said calmly, "Then come back after you've finished asking for your instructions."
Bardon hurriedly got up to say goodbye, his back looking particularly disheveled. He almost bumped into the waiter at the bottom of the stairs as he left, attracting the attention of several tea drinkers in the teahouse.
Mo Huixin watched his retreating figure, a slight smile playing on her lips.
Less than half an hour after Barton left, the U.S. Consul General in Shanghai, Cunningham, also quietly arrived at the teahouse.
Cunningham became even more cautious. He wore sunglasses and changed into casual clothes. He walked very quietly upstairs, afraid of being recognized.
"Miss Mo," Cunningham said, her expression even more tense than Balton's after she sat down, "I heard the British have come looking for you. Actually, the Americans have the same idea."
Mo Huixin said calmly, "Mr. Cunningham, the young master and you are friends. For so long, we have felt that the relationship between Shanghai and the United States has been very close, including government-funded student exchanges, technology transfer, and our economic and trade relations. But this time, the United States' actions have greatly disappointed our friend..."
Cunningham gave a wry smile: "Ms. Mo, please don't say that. We just... we just feel that this round of sanctions is unwise. The US has many factories in China, and if the sanctions continue, we will suffer significant losses. We hope Ms. Mo can help lift the sanctions on American-owned companies."
Mo Huixin said, "Mr. Cunningham, you and Sir Barton sound exactly alike."
Cunningham said, "This...it's because our positions are indeed aligned. France's interests in China are mainly in the French Concession, which is large, has a long history, and its interests are stubborn; of course, they will stand firm. But Britain and the United States have huge investments in China, mostly in finance and trade, which are legitimate bilateral trade. What you're doing...we simply cannot afford such a loss."
Mo Huixin asked, "Then what can you do?"
Cunningham said, "I can ask Washington to withdraw the sanctions. But I need Ms. Mo's help to lift the seizures on American companies first."
Mo Huixin shook her head: "No. The young marshal said that the countermeasures will not stop until the major powers lift the sanctions. The United States wants to negotiate alone? Fine. But the prerequisite is that the United States must withdraw the sanctions first."
Cunningham's expression changed: "This..."
Mo Hui thought to herself, "What? You can't do it?"
Cunningham gritted his teeth: "Ms. Mo, I need to consult Washington. But I can assure you that the United States does indeed wish to ease tensions."
Mo Huixin said calmly, "Then come back after you've finished asking for your instructions."
Cunningham quickly got up to take his leave, his back looking just as disheveled as the British consul's.
That afternoon, at the French consulate.
Marcel sat in his office, his face grim. He had just received news that the British and American consuls had both secretly gone to the Chen residence to negotiate with Mo Huixin.
"Damn it!" Marcel slammed his fist on the table. "They betrayed me!"
French Consul General in Shanghai, Mr. Villeneuve, entered, looking tense: "Consul, we have received news from the consular corps that the British and American consuls have requested an emergency meeting."
Marcel sneered, "An emergency meeting? Are they going to announce their surrender in public?"
"Consul," said Wilhelm, "are you going?"
Marcel stood up and straightened his suit.
"Go ahead. I want to see what kind of nonsense they have to spout."
The atmosphere was tense inside the consular corps meeting room.
The British and American consuls sat to one side, looking somewhat embarrassed. Marcel sat opposite them, his face grim and his gaze sharp as a knife.
"Mr. Marcel," the British consul spoke first, "we feel that these sanctions... may be a bit excessive."
Marcel sneered, "Excessive? You're the ones who've gone too far! You actually went to negotiate with Mo Huixin in private? You're betraying your allies!"
The British consul's face stiffened. "Mr. Marcel, please don't say that. We just... we just feel that these sanctions are too much of a loss for Britain and the United States. France's interests in China are mainly in the concessions, so of course it can hold out. But Britain and the United States have huge investments in China and cannot afford such losses."
Marcel slammed his fist on the table and stood up: "You betrayed the alliance for profit!"
The American consul also stood up: "Mr. Marcel, please calm down. We are not betraying them, we just... we just feel that the British side's intentions are our intentions."
Marcel pointed at them, trembling with rage: "You...you..."
The British consul said, "Mr. Marcel, we hope you can understand. We are also acting in the interests of the British Empire."
Marcel sneered: "National interests? The national interests of your British Empire are to betray France?"
The American consul said, "Mr. Marcel, we hope you can understand."
Marcel took a deep breath and suppressed his anger.
"Very well," he said. "Since you wish to surrender, then surrender. But the noble Gauls never surrender!"
He turned and left the meeting room, his back view appearing exceptionally lonely.
That evening, at the Chen Mansion.
Mo Huixin went into the study and reported the afternoon's events to Chen Zijun.
"Young Master," Mo Huixin said, "both Britain and the United States have approached me, hoping to negotiate separately to lift the sanctions. Following your instructions, I refused them and demanded that they withdraw the sanctions first."
Chen Zijun sneered, "Looks like they can't hold on any longer."
Mo Huixin said, "Yes. Moreover, Marcel already knows about the private negotiations between Britain and the United States. This afternoon at the consular meeting, Marcel had a huge argument with the British and American consuls. The British and American consuls said that France's interests in China allowed them to hold on, but they couldn't let Britain and France suffer such huge losses as well. Marcel was so angry that he slammed his fist on the table, accusing them of betraying their allies."
A hint of interest flashed in Chen Zijun's eyes.
"Oh? Internal strife?"
Mo Huixin nodded: "Yes. Cracks have appeared in the alliance of the great powers."
Chen Zijun walked to the window and looked out at the Shanghai Bund.
"Good," he said. "The infighting among the great powers is an opportunity for us. We can exploit this rift and defeat them one by one."
He turned around and looked at Mo Huixin.
"Sister Huixin, keep an eye on the UK and the US. If they're really willing to withdraw the sanctions, we can offer them some incentives. But we can't back down with France."
Mo Huixin nodded: "Yes!"
Chen Zijun said, "Furthermore, you should have Moranzhi intensify intelligence gathering. Marcel has suffered such a huge loss; he certainly won't let it go easily. He might take even more extreme measures."
Mo Huixin nodded: "Yes!"
Late that night, at the French consulate.
Marcel sat in his office, his face ashen. The argument at the consular meeting had laid bare the true colors of Britain and the United States—they would not hesitate to betray their allies for their own interests.
"Damn it," Marcel gritted his teeth. "If diplomacy isn't working, let's use something more direct."
He picked up the phone and dialed a mysterious number.
A deep voice came from the other end of the phone: "Feed?"
Marcel said, "I need to see that person."
There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone: "That person?"
Marcel said, "Yes, it's the one who can help us."
The person on the other end of the phone asked, "Are you sure?"
Marcel said with a grim face, "I'm sure. Since diplomacy isn't working, let's use a more direct approach."
The person on the other end of the phone said, "Okay. See you at the usual place tomorrow night."
Marcel hung up the phone, a ruthless glint in his eyes.
"Chen Zijun, you wait."