Shiliupu Wharf, a corrugated-metal shed.
Cao Bin was having a late-evening drink with a small plate of peanuts and half a pot of strong liquor. His eyes lit up when he saw Chen Fan come in, and he waved him over to sit.
Chen Fan sat down casually across from him. "Second Brother, something's happening tonight. I'd like to borrow some men..."
"There's a shipment coming out of Hongkou tonight. It needs to go out on a boat from Shiliupu."
"I need laborers to do the hauling, plus ten double-row carts."
Cao Bin paused. "How much cargo?"
"Three thousand bolts of cotton cloth. Loading, unloading, and getting it aboard-two or three hours' work."
"The men have to be reliable. Once they take the money, they can't talk."
"If word leaks out, I can't say what the consequences will be."
"Don't worry. Every trade has its rules. You can trust my men. If there really is a problem, you won't have to do anything. I'll handle it myself." Cao Bin paused. "But let me make this clear first: I don't have many men willing to do shady work. Twenty-odd is the most I can arrange."
Chen Fan considered for a moment. "Twenty-odd should be enough."
"All right. Once the goods reach the destination, I'll get the men to load the boat." Cao Bin sipped his liquor. "My end only covers loading and unloading. You'll have to arrange the escort in between yourself."
"This is a rush job. My men get two silver dollars each, paid when the work's done. No delays, no outstanding wages."
"As for my share, pay me whatever you think fit once it's done."
Chen Fan nodded. Cao Bin's price was reasonable enough. The usual rate was one silver dollar per job, so asking only two was fair, considering Chen Fan had conditions of his own...
"Deal." Chen Fan took a roll of silver dollars wrapped in red silk from inside his clothes and set it on the table. "The deposit. The rest once the cargo's aboard."
Cao Bin put the silver dollars away without asking where the goods came from or where they were going.
Anyone who had spent long enough working the docks knew that every extra question was asking for trouble.
He asked only one thing. "When?"
"Ten thirty tonight. I'll send someone to tell you when the goods reach the warehouse."
"In short, when the carts arrive, the men unload them. Once the goods are loaded, the men go with the carts. At the wharf, they unload and get everything aboard."
"As for where the boat will be, I'll let you know once that's settled tonight!"
Cao Bin nodded. "All right. I can't vouch for everything at Shiliupu Wharf, but when it comes to loading boats and shipping cargo, I call the shots."
Chen Fan nodded, inwardly letting out a breath of relief.
Smuggling was nothing unfamiliar to a merchant like him, who had traveled far and wide with his father since childhood. The goods would be loaded aboard in Shanghai, taken by sea to Guangzhou, legitimized through the Canton Thirteen Hongs, then resold inland.
The foreign trading houses of the Guangzhou Thirteen Hongs had stacks of blank bills of lading and customs documents. As long as the goods reached them and the money was sufficient, they could turn anything into "legally imported merchandise." With a foreign trading house's stamp on it, the cargo could travel anywhere without obstruction.
Loading boats and unloading cargo was not difficult. The greatest concern was the stretch from Hongkou to Shiliupu, the most dangerous link in the entire chain.
Hongkou was Japanese territory. Patrols and military police filled the streets, and inspections were particularly strict.
Three thousand bolts of cotton cloth loaded onto carts would be far too conspicuous. If they were stopped on the road, no explanation would suffice.
That was why the escort had to be capable.
By the time Chen Fan left the corrugated-metal shed, it was completely dark.
Scattered lights had come on along the wharf. The night-shift laborers were starting work, carrying burlap sacks back and forth over the gangplanks.
Chen Fan followed the familiar route along Shiliupu Wharf to the entrance of the Old Gu Eatery and spotted Brother Bao at once.
Brother Bao was eating dinner, a bowl of offal soup with two large steamed buns. Seeing Chen Fan enter, he stuffed the remaining bun into his mouth in two or three bites and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
Chen Fan sat across from him and said quietly, "We're moving goods tonight."
"Three thousand bolts of cotton cloth, from Hongkou to Shiliupu."
"I need you to take some men and escort it all the way. If there's an inspection on the road, you step in."
"No need to fight. Just hold them up."
Brother Bao was still chewing, and his answer came out muffled. "Sure. I'll bring four men. Five, including me."
Chen Fan gave a slight nod. "Five will be enough."
"Boss Chen, business is business." Brother Bao wiped his mouth and said in a low voice, "Hongkou is Japanese territory. Cotton cloth might not be especially eye-catching, but if the patrolling military police stop us, my men will get caught up in it too."
"Even if their lives aren't in danger, they won't escape a vicious beating."
"So let's get the unpleasant part out of the way first. If anything happens to my men, you'll have to pay extra."
Chen Fan nodded. "Reasonable. How about this: two hundred silver dollars for the job. I don't care how you divide it. If anything happens-if anyone gets arrested or injured-medical expenses and living expenses will be paid separately."
"Straightforward!" Brother Bao stood, set his bowl and plate on the stove counter, and clapped Chen Fan on the shoulder. "I'll go get the men."
"Right. Eight thirty. Meet me at the back door of the Dalong Native Bank in Hongkou."
"The Dalong Native Bank?" Brother Bao paused, seemingly unable to understand why Chen Fan had chosen that meeting place.
Chen Fan did not explain. He had already contacted Manager Lü of the Dalong Native Bank and arranged to withdraw the money tonight.
Moving over ten thousand silver dollars in cash out of a bank would be too conspicuous and could easily attract unwanted attention.
A private native bank like this was out of the way and charged an additional handling fee, but its advantage was discretion.
It was less likely to leave loose ends...
At eight twenty that night, in a quiet alley in the HK District.
This was the back entrance of the Dalong Native Bank. With a cigarette between his lips, Chen Fan took a pocket watch from inside his clothes, checked the time, and put it away.
At eight thirty, footsteps sounded in the alley. Brother Bao arrived with four men.
All five had changed into short work clothes, wearing gray cloth jackets. Their waists bulged, apparently with weapons such as short knives and hatchets tucked into their waistbands, concealed from outside view.
"Boss Chen, we're not late, are we?"
"Right on time." Chen Fan nodded slightly, turned, and knocked on the back door of the Dalong Native Bank.
The back door creaked open. Several clerks looked around, and the steward at their head glanced at Chen Fan and waved a hand...
The men behind him immediately brought out several chests. Once opened, they revealed silver dollars wrapped in red paper, still in rolls of fifty. Three chests, roughly fourteen or fifteen thousand!
"Boss Chen, everything is here. Please inspect it!"
Chen Fan casually picked up a few rolls and weighed them in his hand, then cupped his hands in greeting. "Everything's in order. Thank you, Manager Lü!"
"You're most welcome..." the man replied with a smile before shutting the back door.
"Pick up the chests. Let's go..." As he spoke, Chen Fan started walking and took a folded slip of paper from inside his clothes, unfolding it to read.
Old Knife Handle had sent the note over a little later. It bore an address: Gate Seven, Section C, Jiuyuan Warehouse, East Hengbang Road, HK District.
Chen Fan put the note away and instructed them quietly, "We'll go on foot. Once we get there, we'll scout the place first."
Brother Bao nodded and had the men pick up the chests and follow Chen Fan, making their way through the dark alley toward East Hengbang Road.