章 234: Chapter 234: Goods Arrived in Hong Kong Smoothly
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In a few days, Luo Jincheng arrived at Bill's manor again, bringing a substantial order with him.
Hardy reviewed the details and noted the impressive figures: South Africa, $2.63 million; Brazil, $1.98 million; Malaya, $3.42 million; Thailand, $1.65 million; and Vietnam. The total came to $75 million.
This amount was based on Hardy's base price, but with price inflation, the actual revenue would be at least doubled and potentially tripled. This wasn't a case of unfair pricing but rather a reflection of market conditions.
The order included a significant quantity of guns and ammunition. Although some countries had restrictions on firearms, Hardy was unconcerned, as Hongmen would handle any regulatory issues. The military's sale regulations allowed for the sale of weapons to these countries.
China was not on the list, but Hardy estimated that Hong Kong alone required over $4 million worth of goods. The final destination for these goods was evident.
"Alright, I'll instruct the military to start stocking and deliver directly to the docks," Hardy confirmed.
Luo Jincheng, clearly excited, knew the importance of this large deal and was confident that the shipment would yield significant profits.
Back in Los Angeles, Hardy met with Colonel Beech and handed over the order details. "Prepare the materials according to this catalog, send them to the Port of San Francisco, and then ship them directly."
Colonel Beech was thrilled. "Mr. Hardy, this is an impressive deal—$75 million!"
"You haven't seen the money yet. It will only be earned when sold," Hardy reminded him.
"Don't worry about payment; just focus on selling," Beech said with a grin.
"We need to track this shipment closely. Send five staff members to handle sales and feedback. The ownership of these goods remains ours until they are sold," Hardy instructed.
Beech agreed and began preparing supplies and organizing shipments to the port.
The Los Angeles Shipping Company, having received 50 freighters, urgently recruited captains and crew. Many of the previous crew members had retired, but Hardy, aware of their military backgrounds, offered them high salaries to return.
With the post-war job market tight in the U.S., many ex-soldiers accepted the opportunity to work on freighters for significantly higher wages than other available jobs. The recruitment drive was successful, and the new crew members, having served recently, required minimal training.
The freighters were loaded with goods and weapons. During an inspection with Bill and the shipping company president, Hardy expressed concern about piracy.
"Reports indicate pirates in West African waters, the Gulf of Guinea, the Strait of Malacca, and Southeast Asia, with the situation being particularly severe in Southeast Asia," the president noted.
"Half of our ships will navigate Southeast Asian waters. We need to be cautious," Hardy said.
He planned accordingly. "Each ship will be equipped with 10 M2 heavy machine guns, ample ammunition, submachine guns for every crew member, and 100 bazookas. If pirates attempt to approach, the captains should fire without hesitation. I'll take responsibility for any issues."
The shipping company president was taken aback. "Boss, are you turning our freighters into armed merchant ships?"
"If it weren't for time constraints, I would also equip these freighters with close-in defense weapons. Pirates are not to be underestimated; it's best to deal with them decisively," Hardy said.
"Understood. I'll arrange for training once the weapons arrive. The captains and crew have military backgrounds, so the training should be straightforward," the president replied.
Two weeks later, all materials and weapons were loaded onto the ships. The freighters set sail for their destinations.
With excess crew available, Hardy's shipping company began operations, either receiving shipping business or leasing the ships to other companies. Within a month, the ships were fully operational.
The freighters sailed through various ports. One cargo was quickly delivered to Cuba, where it passed through customs and was unloaded without issue. In Brazil, which was free from conflict, the cargo was handled without any concerns about weaponry.
The goods—canned food, clothing, and boots—were prominently displayed in stores. Canned food was especially popular, with American military brands attracting attention. The price was lower than regular canned goods, drawing many customers.
Clothing stores showcased American military uniforms, field jackets, and boots, which were well-received due to their quality and affordability. The trend of wearing U.S. military attire became popular, and sales improved significantly.
In Malaya, the freighter avoided regular ports and instead docked in a remote area under the guidance of local contacts. Guns and ammunition were discreetly offloaded.
The captain was puzzled. "We have official documents from the U.S. military. Is this not considered smuggling?"
The steward explained, "The government doesn't allow firearms to be offloaded at regular ports. Once the firearms are removed, you can proceed with standard procedures for unloading the rest of the cargo."
With dozens of large packages of firearms and ammunition successfully offloaded, the freighter continued to its destination, while the weapons were stored in a local warehouse.
Elsewhere, those receiving the weapons were excited. A young leader declared, "The Malays oppress us. We Chinese make up one-fifth of Malaya's population and deserve a proper status."
"Power comes from the barrel of a gun. If we organize and arm ourselves, we can demand respect," others agreed.
With 5,000 rifles, 2,000 submachine guns, and hundreds of thousands of bullets, they were prepared to form a substantial armed group.
Two cargo ships arrived in Hong Kong, carrying the largest shipment. Hardy had instructed them to wait in the port and not rush back. The freighters were positioned 50 nautical miles apart, sailing calmly in favorable weather.
The crew was relaxing on deck when someone spotted two approaching vessels.
"They look like fishing boats," someone observed.
The crew quickly went on alert. The first officer ordered, "Prepare for potential pirates. Inform the captain and gather everyone. Get the weapons ready."
The crew acted swiftly, taking their positions.
As the two fishing boats drew closer, it became clear they were pirates. The freighters' crew prepared for a confrontation.
When the fishing boats attempted to attach themselves to the freighters, several heavy machine guns emerged, and a barrage of bullets was unleashed.
The pirates were caught off guard, with many struck by the gunfire. A few managed to hide, but rocket launchers were soon deployed, causing explosions that set the fishing boats ablaze.
The victory ship later inquired via telegram, "Do you need assistance?"
"Everything's under control. The pirates are dealt with," came the reply.
The captain of the victory ship wished he had encountered the pirates himself for some excitement. The freighters continued their journey, successfully arriving in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong, two days later.
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