In short, starting in June, all import and export businesses throughout the Amur Oblast, with the exception of the Zhao Import and Export Trading Company and the Bushikam Trading Company, which shortly thereafter became a subsidiary, had ceased to operate. Pressure from all sides, particularly railroad blockades, had caused all trading companies to experience sluggish cargo flow and operational difficulties. Faced with this situation, all trading company owners understood that the Zhao Trading Company was targeting their uncompromising rivals.
But then again, what could they do now that they knew? This time, the Zhao Trading Company had clearly planned their actions carefully. They had woven a web of connections, from the government to the Ministry of the Interior to the Security Commission. They had filed a complaint with the Ministry of the Interior, but the complaint had sunk into oblivion, with no further response. All they got in return was a harsher crackdown from all sides.
For Rilke, everything that was happening in the Amur Region was well within his expectations. He simply hadn't imagined the sheer power that the Zhao Trading Company could mobilize. Therefore, for a Jew of limited status to begin with, all Rilke could do now was feel grateful and hopeful. He was thankful for the right choice he had made and looked forward to a true partnership with the Zhao Trading Company.
At the same time, the changes in the Amur Oblast in the Far East also attracted the attention of Leopard Brother in China.
As one of Zhao Xiaohai's earliest partners and a major shareholder in Zhao's Import and Export Trading Company, Brother Bao had harbored no good intentions from the outset, constantly striving to seize control of the company. As his partnership with Zhao Xiaohai unfolded, Brother Bao's goal of seizing control of the company expanded. To be frank, his ambitions now went beyond simply seizing control.
According to Brother Leopard's idea, after arranging the finance department into the company, he would try to further contact Zhao Xiaohai's trade channels in the Far East. He believed that with his own capital, he should have the opportunity to seize Zhao Xiaohai's entire set of trade channels and then make this hateful "little fox" obedient.
During this period, Brother Leopard had abandoned all his current tasks and frequently traveled between Heihe and Yanji. He wanted to first understand who was responsible for handling the company's lucky goods in North Korea and the Far East. After completing this task, he planned to venture into the Far East and directly access Zhao Xiaohai's core business secrets.
But just then, a piece of news arrived that made Leopard's eyelids twitch. The Soviets had virtually cut off border trade in Amur Oblast. Goods originally belonging to various Soviet-owned trading companies were unable to pass Soviet checkpoints at ports like Heihe. Meanwhile, Zhao's Trading Company's goods flowed freely. Under these circumstances, many cargo traders began to target Zhao's transportation department. They paid large bribes to Zhao's drivers to smuggle their own goods through customs, even painting their trucks with Zhao's logos and then sneaking into convoys to follow them through customs. This tactic proved incredibly effective. At Soviet checkpoints, Zhao's convoys were spared the necessary inspections. They had their own dedicated lanes, and the Soviet soldiers responsible for anti-smuggling checks at the checkpoints didn't even bother to check the number of vehicles in the Zhao's convoys, simply opening and closing them.
Upon hearing this news, Brother Bao was instantly filled with worry. However, his concern wasn't whether he still had a chance of seizing Zhao Xiaohai's trade channels. His primary concern was that this "little fox" was playing with fire. Based on their time together, Brother Bao felt that this "little fox" was definitely not the type to bully others by taking advantage of his power. So, what had happened to him in the Far East that had caused such a major upheaval? Brother Bao was worried, and he planned to go to the Far East to take a look.
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