Chapter 60: The Military Empire Sets Sail!

  If Du Haisheng's previous mention of selling arms made Fu Hong unaware and shocked, then the change in history that came out of his mouth was astonishing, leaving Xiaoyao's heart shaken.

  Selling arms can at most make one a hero, but changing history is a different matter. It can be great or small, and it's possible to be a great man of the generation or a sinner in history. Loyalty to the king can change history, but treacherous and deceitful people can also do so, just in different ways. She firmly believes that Du Haisheng is destined to be a loyal subject, but being a loyal subject is no easy task.

  The world is divided into several parts, the National Government is full of internal contradictions, warlords are in power, each doing their own thing, and there's also the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army led by Zhu and Mao, how can he have a place among them.

  Moreover, it is easy to establish an army, but to keep an army alive and go to war, that's extremely difficult. Military pay, food, weapons, none of these can be missing, all of which require strong financial backing.

  She thought Du Haisheng was a bit too self-deprecating and blindly arrogant, now that he's poor and penniless, he wants to change history, isn't that just a fool's dream?

  It's great that people have ambitions, goals and dreams, but if their dreams and goals are far beyond their abilities, they become mere fantasies, or even a joke.

  Thinking of this, Fu Hong said with some worry: "You want to change history? How easy is that? I..."

  "I know what you're trying to say!"

  Du Haisheng interrupted Fu Hong's words and continued, "I didn't say I'm going to change history now. My own strength is still clear to me, and if I were to do it now, wouldn't that be like covering one's ears while stealing a bell or a moth flying into the fire? So, I'll start by selling arms. To be honest, on the day I saved you, I also confiscated the weapons of the soldiers from the Garrison Command, hiding them in a safe place. When Ma Yongzhen wakes up, I'll let him take them back. When the time is ripe, I'll sell them to Zhao Tianming's Hu Ren gang. That way, it can be considered as repaying Wei Er's kindness for saving my life."

  "What? You've already thought of a plan."

  It's not surprising that Fu Hong didn't know, if Du Haisheng hadn't said it today, he wouldn't have known that the man in front of him had so many secrets hidden deep within his heart. Not to mention other things, just these two things - selling arms and changing history - would be enough to shock everyone who heard them, let alone now when he is a penniless, powerless, and rightless person.

  Once he has grasped the perfect timing, geographical advantage and harmony with others, what other shocking and heaven-defying things will he do? At this thought, Fu Hong's heart skipped a beat and his hair stood on end.

  He wanted to sell the batch of military supplies he had collected last time to Zhao Tianming, which was also justified. After all, when he came to Shanghai and had no way out, with no one to rely on, the Zhao father and daughter took him in.

  But to think that one can start selling arms with just this capital seems a bit too fanciful. In Shanghai, even a small gang has more than that amount of money. If measured by his standards, then countless people, families and gangs would be selling arms, but the key issue is the channel for purchasing arms, sales channels, and the required capital and resources.

  Fu Hong, although a young woman, has been deeply influenced by the first commercial family of the Republic of China since childhood and has a profound understanding of business, being extremely proficient.

  Doing business, selling arms, the environment needed is roughly the same, first and foremost it's about having a good reputation, with a good reputation you can at least guarantee making money, or at the very least not losing money. Next is capital operation, confirming a project, start-up funds are crucial, without start-up funds all efforts are in vain. Then there's resources, including human resources, product resources, and natural resources, resources are indispensable, having funds but being unable to buy things is also a sad thing. Finally, it's the individual's operational problem, and very obviously, in Fei Hong's eyes, Du Hai Sheng doesn't possess any of these qualities.

  "Yes, the plan is still not mature enough. These start-up funds are like a drop in the bucket and far from achieving the effect I want."

  "Oh!"

  Hong nodded and thought to herself, it seems he hasn't completely lost himself. Then she said: "Since the start-up funds are scarce, what do you plan to do?"

  "I've thought it through, let's talk about it in two days!"

  Du Haisheng smiled mysteriously and replied with confidence, as if everything was under his control, extremely self-assured.

  "You don't want to go and collect weapons from those people again, do you?"

  "It's not necessarily so, take it one step at a time, anyway I've already reached the goal, even if I hit my head and bleed, I'll still give it a try."

  Du Haisheng indeed had such an idea, and his idea was far more crazy than Fu Hong's guess. He wanted to establish his own strength, get the resources he wanted, expand his connections, and Ma Yongzhen had already been included in his camp. The next one might be Wu Tianyun, Wang Chong, as long as they were useful talents, he would try his best to absorb them.

  Rome wasn't built in a day, likewise, the formation of a business empire isn't something that can be conjured up out of thin air either. Establishing one's own sphere of influence is already pressing.

  "If possible, I can help you get in touch with them. There are several students who returned from studying abroad and they are all top-notch students majoring in weapon manufacturing. Not sure if you need their help or not."

  Since it's impossible to change a man's mind, then go all out to help him achieve his goals. This is the valuable advice that Pei Hong's mother once gave her, and Pei Hong has remembered it in her heart.

  After some thought, in terms of money, although her family has a lot of money, her monthly living expenses are very limited, barely enough for the daily expenses of one person, let alone having any leftovers. As for power and influence, she can't utilize them either. Her family's wealth is spread all over China, but how many people actually know this young lady? Even if her father went in person, it's unlikely that anyone would recognize him. So, she could only help him with military supplies.

  When Du Haisheng heard Fu Hong's words, he couldn't help but brighten up in front of his eyes. For a moment, he was so excited that he couldn't bear to stand up and patted Fu Hong's shoulders with both hands, looking at him with a hopeful face.

  "Sister, can you really introduce me to such a talented person?"

  "Really, although these few people are usually a bit arrogant, if I go out to plead with Zhao Wei'er together, the problem shouldn't be too big."

  Hong nodded, "Li Zibo, Jiang Yihao, Wu Qian, Zhang Han, and Fang Liang are all top students sent by the school to England to learn advanced weapon manufacturing experience. They're two years older than me, although we didn't interact much, but we've met a few times at school dances. On the surface, they seem aloof, but in reality, they're passionate young people who yearn to contribute their knowledge for the country and nation. You should know what to do next, right?"

  "En!" Du Haisheng nodded heavily, feeling great: "You first leak the wind to them, just say someone is preparing to build an arsenal, don't reveal who it is. For now, our strength is far from being able to openly build an arsenal, we still mainly focus on selling arms, this point can't be rushed."

  Du Haisheng has already thought things through, and now the top priority is to sell off those military supplies. If conditions permit, he will wipe out several notorious small-time gangs in Shanghai that have been causing trouble for the people, take over their resources, use their funds, and establish his own strength, laying the foundation for Ma Yongzhen to become a powerful figure.

  He didn't expect that what he wished for would really come true. He was originally worried about the lack of talent, but Pei Hong's words today made him see hope and he couldn't help but feel delighted.

  "Is there an arsenal here? Have you ever heard of it?"

  "An Arsenal?"

  Du Haisheng carefully recalled the memories in his mind, and suddenly realized, but still shook his head pretending to know nothing: "I haven't heard of it, how can Shanghai have an arsenal?"

  The predecessor of the Shanghai Arsenal was established in the 31st year of Guangxu and until the first year of the Republic of China as the Jiangnan Shipyard. The Qing government decided to separate the shipyard from the manufacturing bureau, establishing the Jiangnan Shipyard; another part of the manufacturing bureau became a specialized arsenal for producing military weapons, renamed Shanghai Manufacturing Bureau after the Xinhai Revolution. In 1917, it was renamed Shanghai Arsenal. Although the weapons produced by the arsenal were not particularly sophisticated, they could still be used. However, as they belonged to the Republican government, almost all of their military equipment was seized and controlled by warlord troops, making it impossible for private individuals to obtain them, even the powerful Green Gang couldn't get control over the arsenal's military supplies.

  "Ah!" Du Haisheng nodded and smiled, saying: "You little girl, how do you know so much?"

  "My father was a businessman and knew countless military personnel and merchants. Some high-ranking officials in the military and government would come to our home, so I naturally heard one or two things, but it wasn't anything unusual."

  Fu Hong was teased by Du Haisheng, her face blushed, and she smiled sweetly, like a peach blossom blooming, then explained.

  "As for the Shanghai Arsenal, let's put it aside for now and talk about it later when we have enough funds. Alright, I've told you all the secrets, how do you feel?"

  Her face flushed red, her small mouth pouted, but in her heart she was extremely satisfied. A man could reveal his secrets to a woman so thoroughly, which implied something that didn't need to be said. She wasn't stupid and naturally understood the meaning behind it. The problems that had been troubling her day and night all got answers today. She felt refreshed and exhilarated, as if a man had made a promise to a woman.

  "Well, okay, I'm a bit shocked, didn't expect you to have such thoughts in your heart, can't accept it for the time being, but no matter what, I'll support you and silently encourage you."

  This sentence is also a promise to Du Haisheng, silently supporting each other's people, apart from his woman, who else can it be? Du Haisheng also knew in his heart and smiled calmly.

  "You're such a good girl!"

  Du Haisheng gently stroked Fu Hong's soft and silky, long and black hair, admiring it from the bottom of his heart.

  While speaking, he gently wrapped his arm around Xiao Hong's shoulders, and the little girl was startled, wanting to struggle free, but her inner self reminded her not to do such a foolish thing, and finally emotions conquered reason.

  In a half-pushing and half-just interval, Feng Hong's head was deeply buried in Du Haisheng's chest, feeling the warmth on the man's body, her small face hot and scorching...