Chapter 313: Robbery of the Gold Ship

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Old Mr. Situ regarded Hardy with a mix of surprise and admiration. Some of Hardy's thoughts aligned with his own, while others were entirely unexpected.

"Are these all your own thoughts?" Mr. Situ asked.

Hardy smiled. "The Hardy Group has its own think tank. Much of what I've said comes from their analysis of the international situation and data. With enough information, you can make reasonable predictions about the future."

"It was my decision to invest in Hong Kong because I believe the leader of the North is a wise politician who will consider Hong Kong's role."

"Of course, there was an element of risk. If I won the gamble, the profits from Hong Kong could be substantial."

"And did you lose the gamble?" Mr. Situ inquired.

"I'm willing to take the loss," Hardy replied with a smile.

Mr. Situ nodded in approval. "Hardy, in all my years, you are one of the few young people I've met who are both capable and courageous."

With a wealth of experience, Mr. Situ had interacted with figures like Roosevelt and President Chang, as well as numerous businessmen and politicians. His praise was a significant endorsement of Hardy's capabilities.

Han Yezhen, smiling at the praise, served tea to her grandfather and Hardy. Mr. Situ took a sip and nodded in satisfaction. "Yezhen's tea is excellent."

Setting down his cup, Mr. Situ turned to Hardy. "I'll be heading north soon and might stay there for a while. Is there anything you'd like me to convey?"

Hardy considered the question. "No, nothing at the moment."

Mr. Situ chuckled. "Very well, then."

A few days later, Mr. Situ departed for the north.

Inland warfare was progressing rapidly. By early May, the army had approached Shanghai, creating a stir. As an oriental metropolis, Shanghai was renowned, even more so than capital cities like Beijing and Nanjing. Hong Kong was even more popular.

With assets in Hong Kong becoming increasingly available and their prices falling, the Hardy Group seized the opportunity to acquire numerous industries. Simultaneously, some entrepreneurs from the interior, fleeing the turmoil, brought substantial sums of money, including gold and silver.

Among the notable banks in Hong Kong at the time were HSBC, Wells Fargo, and Citigroup. HSBC and Wells Fargo had absorbed significant amounts of deposits and precious metals, with their deposits continuously growing.

Many newcomers carried antiques, which Hardy's Auction Company took advantage of, purchasing a substantial number of exquisite pieces at very low prices.

One evening, Mr. Xu, who had been in contact with Victor, sought him out urgently. "Mr. Victor, there's an important matter to discuss."

"Oh? What's the matter?" Victor asked.

"Shanghai is currently under siege," Mr. Xu said. "The central bank treasury in the south is located there. Now that Shanghai is surrounded, the south plans to ship the last batch of gold from the treasury to the island. They intend to smuggle it using civilian cargo ships as they lack warships."

"We have detailed information about this, but we don't have the capacity to intercept them. The higher-ups want to collaborate with you on this. We'll provide the exact information you need, and you'll get a share of the loot."

"The debt we owe you will be deducted from your share, and any excess will be converted into cash and deposited in your bank to facilitate future purchases."

Victor was taken aback. "This is a huge national-level operation. I can't decide on this alone; I need to consult with my boss."

"Please don't delay. The ship is already in Shanghai and might set sail as early as tomorrow morning," Mr. Xu urged.

"How much cargo is there?" Victor asked.

"Approximately 10 tons of gold, 15 million silver dollars, and various other valuables like antiques, jewelry, and pearls. The total value is difficult to estimate," Mr. Xu replied.

At that moment, Hardy was asleep with Han Yezhen in his arms. The phone rang suddenly.

Hardy answered, and Victor's voice came through. "Boss, sorry to disturb you. I have an urgent matter to report."

"What's going on?" Hardy asked, now fully awake.

Victor explained the situation, and Hardy was surprised. He knew that during the evacuation, the bald head had taken away a substantial amount of valuables, including 150 tons of gold and tens of millions of silver dollars. They had also looted the Forbidden City, taking countless antiques and relics.

Hardy calculated that the gold alone was worth about $13 million, the silver dollars roughly $3.5 million, and the antiques and jewelry around $20 million. The total amounted to $20 million, which Hardy considered worth pursuing.

Although his warships were too far away and there wasn't enough time to call them, Hardy decided to act. The split proposed by the North was unfair, but he agreed, as they owed him a substantial amount and he could recover some of it from this operation.

"Victor, tell them we'll take on this job. I'll have the security company and intelligence personnel locate you now. Mobilize several freewheelers with weapons to intercept the ship at sea."

"Also, use my plane for maritime patrols to search for the target. The intelligence team will handle the rest."

"I understand, Mr. Hardy," Victor replied.

Mr. Xu was thrilled when he received Victor's confirmation. "I'll return now and keep you updated with more precise information."

"Okay, we'll prepare accordingly."

Late at night, Hardy's security team assembled and headed to the dock. Four freewheelers, equipped with heavy machine guns, rockets, and M-2 mortars, were ready. The crew set sail immediately, racing to intercept the ship before it could reach its destination.

Two hours later, Mr. Xu delivered the latest update. "We've learned that the ship in question, Number 069, is a 5,100-ton cargo vessel with 260 guards on board. It's carrying gold, silver, antiques, and essential machinery from Shanghai companies."

At dawn, a B-29 bomber took off from Hong Kong Airport, equipped with a high-power radio for continuous communication.

The freighter, Ship No. 069, had loaded its cargo and obtained approval to set sail. As it left Shanghai, the B-29 surveyed the area, sending a report to Hardy's fleet before returning to Hong Kong for refueling.

The next day, the plane set off again, locating Ship No. 069 and guiding Hardy's fleet to intercept it. The crew on the freighter saw the bomber again, this time understanding that something was amiss. 

The plane, flying overhead, communicated with the freighter, claiming to be a U.S. military aircraft escorting them. The freighter's officers, convinced of the authenticity, welcomed the "escort."

Hardy's fleet, now positioned strategically, closed in on Ship No. 069. The intelligence team, posing as U.S. military, boarded the vessel and took control, confining the crew below deck.

The freighter, now under Hardy's control, was rerouted to Hong Kong. The captured soldiers, stripped of their weapons, were kept onboard.

Upon arrival in Hong Kong, the gold, silver dollars, and antiques were swiftly unloaded. The captured crew was retained, and the ship was repurposed with a new identity. It was then sent to Lianyungang.

When the principal of the south learned that the ship had disappeared, he was furious and demanded an investigation. The ship's unexplained disappearance was baffling, and the loss was significant.

As for Hardy, the operation was a success. He acquired valuable resources, replenished supplies, and ensured the captured crew was well managed. The secrecy surrounding the operation was maintained, as per the agreement.