1928: The rise of giant merchants

October 18, the seventeenth year of the Republic of China (1928).

After all, Morishita Hiroshi didn't dare to bet that he could kill Ye Luo if he grabbed the gun.

What if the gun is out of bullets?

But he couldn't figure out why taking out the letter from Ambassador Chongguang completely angered Ye Luo.

And the reason why Ye Luo suddenly targeted Suzuki Hospital.

But these things are no longer important today.

Five days have passed, and the campaign to ban traditional Chinese medicine led by Zhang Dingyao has intensified, and the dispute between traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine has evolved into a battle to defend traditional Chinese medicine.

Even worse was Ren Dan at Suzuki Hospital.

Ye Luo kept his word and used all means to block the sales and promotion of Rendan.

The big weapon he used was a series of secret codes on Rendan's advertising posters that were closely related to the Japanese invaders and militarists.

Rendan's advertising poster shows a portrait of a Japanese military officer with a mustache. Under the bust of the officer is the word "Rendan" in large letters.

On both sides are promotional slogans with exaggerated fonts.

Because Rendan advertising posters have been in use since the early years of the Republic of China, the public did not pay much attention to the large number of "Rendan" advertisements and did not know the secrets at all.

Ye Luo pointed out the mystery in the advertising poster, and specifically asked Shenbao, Xinwen and other newspapers to broadcast the headlines to warn the people and officials.

"Everyone, please see, the beards on both sides of the character in the Rendan advertising poster actually indicate the direction of the nearby route. The upward curling of the beard means that the road is open and can be passed. The drooping beard means that the road is impassable and another one needs to be passed. Find another way. The beards on the left and right represent the left and right directions. If the beard on the left side of the character is upturned and the beard on the right side is drooping, it means that you can find a way out by going to the left, and you will find a dead end by going from the right. Vice versa. Same thing."

A fresh declaration was thrown on Zhang Dingyao's desk. The reporter who reported the matter was Chen Ruiqiong, who has become famous in the press recently. She became famous for reporting on the lottery news on the day the Chevrolet 490 arrived in Shanghai. Later, the Ye Charity Foundation, Ye Articles related to Guangming Cinema, Ye's Big World, Black Cat Dance Hall, etc. are all written by her.

Although she is a reporter highly related to Yip's Investment Company, her writing style is calm and the content of her reports is fair and impartial, making her very popular among readers.

Some time ago, she also published several reports, condemning Ye Luo for making money in the entertainment industry without any intention to save the country through industry. You must know that in Shanghai now, Ye Luo almost monopolizes the right to speak in newspapers and other media. She can still write such an article under high pressure, which shows that her pen only tells the facts and does not look at the target.

After reading the recent newspapers, Zhang Dingyao also sent someone to carefully study Rendan's advertising posters.

Indeed, these posters look the same, but there are some differences in the beards of the characters and the strokes of the word "ren" next to them.

"There is also a problem with the word 'Ren'. You see, the horizontal line above the word 'Ren' sometimes bends slightly downward at the right corner. This means that the road on the right is blocked. The principle is the same as the character's beard."

Bai Xiongqi pointed at the writing on the poster,

"I have sent people to check a large number of propaganda posters. This is not an isolated case. Indeed, many of them have such road hints. What is even more frightening is that the roads with these posters are in line with the meaning of the paintings. This is a dereliction of duty on my part. , everyone, I’m sorry!”

After saying that, Bai Xiong stood up and bowed, but everyone present waved their hands and did not accuse him.

"How long has Boyan been the Minister of Military and Political Affairs? Rendan posters have been posted on the streets of Shanghai Beach for almost ten years. It's not Boyan's fault." Zhang Dingyao coughed a few times and waved his hand, "Besides, it's your brother-in-law who is responsible for this. I discovered it, and speaking of it, you still have some merit.”

At the mention of brother-in-law, everyone present chuckled, and Zhang Qun and others gave Bai Xiongqi envious expressions.

Ye Luo, the second young master of the Ye family.

When Lu Yongxiang lost power, the Ye family's labor union plummeted, and Ye Yuqiao huddled in the British Consulate General in Shanghai, not daring to go out. Everyone thought the Ye family was doomed, but unexpectedly a Ye Luo appeared on the way!

Ye Luo has never participated in any political affairs, but he has hit the right target every time, and has used this as a cornerstone to successfully build one big business after another. In half a year, he has gone from zero assets to one of the richest people in Shanghai.

Who wouldn’t love having such a brother-in-law as support and backing?

Nowadays, the Jinling National Government is being reorganized, and the structure has been initially decided. If you have money and connections, you will definitely be able to get a better position. This is also the best opportunity for everyone present to take a further step.

Everyone knows that Zhang Dingyao has been doing a lot of things recently because someone touched her back.

He was still thinking about how to transfer to Jinling and how to get rid of the Gui family label, but someone brazenly set fire to or even poisoned him in front of his house. Isn't this looking for death?

On the contrary, Bai Xiongqi, who is now the fifth in command in Shanghai's military and political circles (the first four being Zhang Dingyao, Zhang Qun, Xiong Shihui and Wang Hu), has prospered and is well received.

He has good friends with people from all walks of life in Shanghai, and he is very slippery in his work without showing off his edge. He really lives up to the saying, "After the fish jumps over the dragon gate, the sky is high and the birds can fly, and the sea is as wide as the fish can jump!"

Hearing the words "brother-in-law", Bai Xiongqi also smiled faintly, waved his hand and said: "Aluo and Xiuzhu's wedding is scheduled for December 5th. You must come to support it then!"

"That's natural."

"sure."

Everyone laughed in response.

After chatting for a while, the topic returned to the Rendan promotional poster.

"This matter is not trivial. I have sent people to Jinling to report secretly to the principal. It is estimated that there will be a result in a few days. In the meantime, Commander Xiong and Director Wang Hu, you guys must not act rashly, lest we damage our and friendship with the Japanese Consulate.”

Zhang Dingyao knew that this matter was closely related, but the Japanese aggressors had a good relationship with the Nationalist government, so they took rash actions and caused a diplomatic dispute. It coincided with the time when tariff autonomy and consular jurisdiction were being discussed. He could not afford to take the blame.

But as long as the news is successfully delivered to the principal, he cannot escape his credit.

Thinking of the unintentional words between Ye Luo and Lin Ruxian at the wedding of French Consul General Verdy that day, which made him gain such a big fish, Zhang Dingyao felt more and more that his choice of Ye Luo was the right decision.

Since they are determined to bring Ye Luo to the top, Yongxing Company, which has a hard time dealing with him, must suppress its arrogance.

The current difficulty is still the relationship between Huo Tianhong and Jinling.

There are also many people from the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce who are from the Jiangsu and Zhejiang consortium. They are the major financial backers of the two Northern Expeditions. They are the principal's pocketbook and Song Ziwen's close friends.

If these people were to pursue Ye Luo, it would be difficult for him to win over Ye Luo.

The more he thought about it, the more headache he got. Zhang Dingyao planned to punish Suzuki Hospital first and then said: "Okay, this is the case now, but the matter is very important. Director Wang Hu, please send someone to temporarily control Suzuki Hospital. They are not allowed to continue operating during these days. All Everyone must stay in the hospital and be on standby!"

Although they are all thinking about their career and future, when it comes to issues of home and country, these people still have a bottom line.

the other side.

Ye Luo is assisting Lin Zhenbin and Lu Meiseng at Ye's Advertising Company to publish a series of billboards for the new drugs of Sino-French Pharmacy.

Every time Ye Luo came over, Lin Zhenbin knew that there was a big job. He asked all the employees to work hard and was also curious about the second young master's business goal this time.

A while ago, they produced a large number of billboards featuring all kinds of stunning dancers. Suddenly, the reputation of Yip's Advertising Company reached its peak, and the factory was scheduled to receive orders until the year after next!

But as long as there is work for Ye Luo, Lin Zhenbin will ask everyone to stop what they are doing and help the second young master deliver the goods first.

The billboard to be built this time is not unfamiliar. It is a modification of the already-precedented monthly billboard to promote various products of the Sino-French Pharmacy.

Unexpectedly, after the dance business, the second young master’s next stop would be the pharmaceutical industry, which was monopolized by the Japanese invaders!

Thinking of the recent Rendan incident, Lin Zhenbin took a breath of air. Looking at Ye Luo, who was smiling and smiling like the big brother next door, he always felt a chill running up his back.

Fortunately, I am from Ye's side.

Lin Zhenbin has been in business for many years and is used to seeing tycoons and foreign companies with all kinds of ruthless tactics, but few can compete with Ye Luo in business wars.

He was sure that Jing Ruishan's death, Zhang Dingyao's drug scandal, and the Rendan incident were all related to Ye Luo, but no one could find evidence.

I can only watch helplessly as he eats away at his own industry and everything step by step.

despair!

Lin Zhenbin could even imagine how desperate and painful it would be to be Ye Luo's opponent.

"Brother Luo, isn't the Sino-French Pharmacy the property of Boss Huang? Have you bought him?" Lu Meiseng asked casually while he was busy.

Lin Zhenbin was also curious, but he was not as careless as Lu Meiseng and asked directly.

What if I ask about taboos?

"It's almost time. I guess Huang Chujiu won't be able to stand it any longer in just a few days." Ye Luo lit up a cigarette and replied with a smile, "By the way, do you know anyone who is particularly good at advertising on calendar cards? I plan to follow the trend. To launch a new health-care drug to replace Rendan, your assembly line advertising here is a bit crude and not refined enough."

New medicine to replace Rendan?

Lin Zhenbin was shocked. It seemed that the truth of the matter was very similar to what he had guessed.

It's just that he doesn't know what medicine Ye Luo will use to replace Rendan and monopolize this good business that makes people drool.

Rendan has become popular all over the country because of more than ten years of word-of-mouth and extremely high cost-effectiveness. Not to mention the past few years, even in the current environment of boycotting Japanese goods due to the massacre in the capital of Shandong Province, many people still stock up on it. There are many benevolent elixirs, but who can make them extremely effective and cheap?

It is necessary to turn around the reputation and sales of Rendan in a few days, and then replace it with the same product.

This is something only a madman would want to do.

And now, this madman was standing beside him.

"Calendar advertisement? I know a master who painted this. He caused a lot of trouble before and was ordered by the painting industry and the publicity department to stop writing and undergo reform." Lu Meniseng looked at it, wiped his sweat, and took out a cigarette. , clicked it and took a sip, "Brother Luo, why don't I introduce you to him?"

"What did he commit?" Ye Luo did not rush to agree, but first asked the other party's details.

Lu Meiseng gave a wry smile, took out his cigarette case, and pointed at the brand "Hardman": "Brother Luo, do you know the monthly advertisement for this cigarette?"

"Hadmen? You mean that?" Ye Luo frowned, as if he had an impression, but couldn't remember it.

The main reason is that he smokes Hardman too few times. This kind of cigarette is more popular among ordinary people and the middle class. Ye Luo's social circle is too upper-class. If he goes out and takes out this kind of cigarette, it is easy for the other party to think it is insulting.

"Just the advertising slogan 'suck it around, it's better for him'." After Lu Meiseng said this, Lin Zhenbin remembered it, "The master you are talking about is Zheng Mantuo?"

"Yes, yes!" Lu Meiseng couldn't help but nod, "Actually, there's nothing wrong with Hardman's advertisement, but the slogan he published was a big taboo in the past few years. This 'he' is not 'it' , was immediately criticized by the literary and painting circles for spreading pornography, Mi Mi Zhi Yin, the matter got worse and worse, and he had no choice but to be ordered to shut down his writing."

The name Zheng Mantuo is very familiar to Ye Luo.

Six years ago, he went to study abroad. At least half of the overwhelming monthly advertisements in Shanghai were created by him. He was also the founder of the erasing brush painting technique for advertisements and was the most outstanding innovator of advertising paintings during the Republic of China.

In the third year of the Republic of China (1914), he drew the first calendar card "Evening Wear Picture" for the Aesthetic Library, which also had a poem written by Gao Jianfu, a painter of the Lingnan School.

Later, at the request of his clients, he successively created "Concubine Yang's Bathing", "Shadows of the Four Seasons", "Drunken Flower Branches", "Dance", "On the Sea Ship", "Chatting on the Green Pine", etc. depicting historical figures and Modern women's life, works with rich makeup.

Many of the works featured women in semi-nude or fully nude poses, which aroused a lot of criticism at first. However, during the Beiyang Warlord period, there were constant melees, and no one had the time to care about this little painter.

At that time, the local emperor in Shanghai changed every few months, and he wished he could make more money, but who cares here.

But after the situation gradually stabilized, the relevant departments focused on Zheng Mantuo. It can be said that the "Hard Gate slogan" was just a trigger. Without this excuse, there would be other excuses to force him to shut down his writing.

"He is indeed the most suitable person. The advertisement for the Sino-French Pharmacy was painted by him himself." Ye Luo nodded, and immediately looked at Lu Meiseng, "Where is Master Zheng Mantuo now? Is it convenient to meet me?"

"He lives in an old bungalow in the county town now. If you want to go, Brother Luo, I can show you the way. He is very familiar with me." Lu Meniseng scratched his head, "Brother Luo, if you ask for cooperation, he will definitely be willing. But...the propaganda department."

Ye Luo understood and said with a smile: "Don't worry, as long as he is willing to come out to help me, no one will dare to stop him."

Zheng Mantuo's forced closure was a ploy used by Zhang Dingyao's predecessor Huang Yong to scare the monkeys.

There are three fires when a new official takes office, and this fire just happens to burn on his head.

Zhang Dingyao is now in charge, and with the relationship between Ye Luo and him, there is no problem in letting Zheng Mantuo go.

To be on the safe side, Ye Luo was still going to talk to Bai Xiongqi first. After all, Zhang Dingyao was probably worried about Ren Dan's advertisement at the moment, and it would be easy to arouse his resentment by bothering him over trivial matters.

After thinking about these problems, Ye Luo gave up the idea of ​​going to Zheng Mantuo tonight, and instead planned to go to the suburbs to see the Dragon Tiger Man Pill produced by his pharmaceutical factory, and then go to Bai Xiongqi to discuss it.