However, with this move, he also completed his global shipping network.
The companies that had signed contracts with him now received orders for parts from Arican factories. Even after accounting for transportation costs, these parts were still much cheaper than producing them in the U.S.
Factories reopened.
Workers received wages.
Everyone had smiles on their faces.
At last, they could afford a proper al.
Japan had already felt a noticeable change in just the one month Hardy had been there. It was no longer as lifeless as before; now it was bustling with vitality.
A large number of Japanese companies, especially those producing consur goods, were working day and night to et production demands. The products they made were shipped to the U.S., where they were often processed further or simply labeled before being re-exported to Europe. The U.S. made a profit from the price difference.
Factories producing chanical parts had also reopened, signing contracts with Arican machinery companies to supply cheaper components.
One day, a Japanese newspaper published an article titled, "A Record of Hardy’s Fifty Days in Japan and the Huge Changes He Brought!"
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The article detailed everything Hardy had done since arriving in Japan.
He had acquired factories, rehired workers, and resolved the employnt issues of millions of people. These workers were the breadwinners of their families, indirectly solving the livelihood problems of millions more.
The docks were working around the clock, trading goods in exchange for more food.
The article ended with lavish praise, elevating Hardy to the status of a savior for Japan.
MacArthur was currently in Osaka, near a military base by the coast. When he saw the article, his expression darkened.
Previously, the Japanese had praised him in the sa way, but now they had turned to worship Hardy instead. This made the proud MacArthur uncomfortable.
"The economic savior, how laughable. If it weren’t for the fact that I have stationed tens of thousands of troops here, and for all the groundwork I laid earlier, could he have achieved such results?"
Still, MacArthur was sowhat perplexed.
He had seized those military factories, yet Hardy had remained calm and hadn’t approached him again, which he found strange.
Initially, MacArthur had planned that if Hardy ca to him, showed humility, and recognized his place, he would give Hardy a lesson to teach him who was really in charge of Japan. Then, he would hand over the factories.
After all, it was Congress’s decision, and he couldn’t block it forever.
But Hardy had only approached him once. After that, there had been no further contact. Instead, Hardy had focused on acquiring Japanese companies, making great strides in that area.
In reality, MacArthur wasn’t as composed as he appeared. After all, those assets weren’t just Hardy’s—they belonged to the seven major conglorates. Offending them would be difficult for him to bear.
The current situation left MacArthur in an awkward position. Hardy hadn’t sought him out, making it hard for him to backtrack.
But seeking out Hardy himself would be a blow to his pride. All his earlier efforts would have been for nothing, and it would reveal that he was afraid. So, things remained at a stalemate.
...
In the eting room of the Imperial Hotel.
Everyone was in a good mood. A large number of companies had resud operations, significantly reviving Japan’s economic activities. They were seeing profits, especially now that they controlled a vast number of enterprises across various sectors in Japan, effectively forming a monopoly.
Hardy glanced around the room and said, "Next, we will focus on dismantling Japan’s banking, financial, and insurance sectors."
"I’ve reviewed the data. We haven’t acquired many banks, financial firms, or insurance companies yet. It’s clear that Japan is still trying to maintain the independence of its financial sector, which is unacceptable."
"Now that we control the majority of industries, I believe restructuring those financial companies won’t be too difficult."
"I’ll highlight a few key directions for everyone to focus on. First, all factory and business funds, including workers salaries, must be transferred to banks we control, draining those other banks of their capital."
Initially, Hardy didn’t impose strict limits on these companies, and many banks used their connections to pull in funds. Hardy had been observing from the sidelines, but now that their industrial plans were complete, it was ti to cut off the lifeblood of the other banks.
In reality, controlling the banks wasn’t as difficult as it seed—provided you had enough capital and power.
"Second, all factories must provide insurance for their workers, as required by law. But those insurance policies must be processed through the insurance companies we control."
"Third, all financial services must be transferred to financial companies under our control."
Everyone in the room chuckled.
Many of them were financial experts, and they understood all too well the devastating impact these tactics would have on the banking, insurance, and financial sectors.
They knew the banks would quickly submit.
This was the advantage of a unified effort. When they acted, resistance was futile.
For example, Toyota Motor had kept all its funds in Sakura Bank, including its working capital and payroll accounts. But that day, Toyota representatives suddenly showed up, requesting to transfer all the funds and stating that they would no longer use Sakura Bank’s services.
Sakura Bank was the core bank of the forr Mitsui conglorate.
This move alard the Sakura Bank executives, who imdiately contacted Kiichiro Toyoda. Toyoda had previously been close to the Mitsui family, and the two families had even strengthened their relationship through marriage. At that ti, Toyota was seen as part of the Mitsui conglorate.
After the war, the Mitsui conglorate was broken up, with so military-related enterprises confiscated and others spun off as independent companies. The Mitsui family was left only with its financial assets.
Before, Japan’s economy had been on the brink of collapse, and financial institutions were struggling. Recently, with large Arican investnts, many companies had reopened, and Mitsui Financial saw an opportunity. Through their connections, they reached out to companies that had previously belonged to the Mitsui conglorate, encouraging them to deposit their funds at Sakura Bank.
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