With Wu Jianzhang's support, Wu Chaoyue, who was not very enthusiastic about opening a factory, finally came to the interest, and began to devote energy to the implementation of this matter with the intention of taking the opportunity to get some land in Shanghai even if he failed.

Although neither the British nor the French side took the initiative to ask Wu Jianzhang for cooperation, as a traverser, Wu Chaoyue of course knew very well who had the thickest thighs in this era, so Wu Chaoyue still took the initiative to go to the British and French foreign banks to negotiate and ask for advice, and directly told the other party his specific plans and investment scale.

As Wu Chaoyue expected, he was also warmly welcomed by the British and French foreign companies, and Billy, the British boss of Baoshun Foreign Company, also personally came forward to receive Wu Chaoyue, and directly told Wu Chaoyue, saying: "Dear Wu, you took the initiative to contact me, it is a very smart choice, when it comes to the textile industry, when our British textiles sell well all over the world, European countries have not even succeeded in imitating Jenny spinning machines. In my opinion, you don't have to contact businessmen from other countries, just work with me, and I'm very interested in setting up textile factories in China. ”

Of course, Wu Chaoyue knew that Billy was telling the truth, but in order not to be unilaterally controlled by the British, and in order not to offend other Western powers who took the initiative to ask for cooperation, Wu Chaoyue still politely declined Billy's kindness, but only understood Billy's equipment quotation, parameters and operation requirements, and compared the equipment situation with other Western countries.

The most advanced steam spinning machine in this era is not only expensive, but also complex to operate, and it is difficult to train skilled technicians; Although the spinning machine operated by human is relatively simple in operation and much cheaper, the output is small and the product quality is poor. After thinking about it again, Wu Chaoyue gritted his teeth and decided to purchase a steam spinning machine to build a factory.

"! Anyway, it is the introduction of equipment, if you want to buy the best, let the Chinese people open their eyes to see that the steam engine is also a good thing, I don't believe that the Chinese in this era are really stupid enough to not even operate the steam engine, spend more time and slowly cultivate the silver! ”

With this idea, Wu Chaoyue immediately began to calculate and plan the scale of the factory, and to Wu Chaoyue's joy, his old friend Father Martin did not know where he heard the news, and took the initiative to tell Wu Chaoyue, saying that he was often in contact with the textile industry in the United States and knew the textile factory very well, and volunteered to help Wu Chaoyue plan. Wu Chaoyue was overjoyed when he heard this, and hurriedly thanked Martin for his kindness, and respectfully asked Martin for detailed guidance.

With Martin's help, Wu Chaoyue did take many detours, and soon came up with a fairly detailed factory construction plan. Then, without hesitation, Wu Chaoyue immediately printed a number of copies of the plan and sent them to various foreign firms, inviting businessmen from various countries to bid for the joint venture at the cost of 49 percent of the shares, purchasing a complete set of equipment, and hiring technicians, explaining that the reserve price of the investment in cooperation with him was 50,000 taels of silver, and whoever was willing to invest the most money and the cheapest equipment price would cooperate with whomever he wanted.

The investment of 150,000 taels of silver is not a small amount, China's huge consumer market is an indescribably large piece of fat, and then see Wu Chaoyue's very sincere cooperation conditions to make huge concessions, the Western businessmen of the major foreign banks are of course like flies smelling blood, and they rushed to Wu Chaoyue to submit a letter of intent for cooperation, and also issued various preferential conditions, and the United States is the most sincere, not only promising to invest 85,000 taels of silver, but also lower than any country in terms of equipment quotations - of course, This also has to do with the fact that Father Martin is aware of offers from other countries.

Only the British side never responded, but on the afternoon of the last day of the bidding period, the British businessman Billy suddenly appeared in front of Wu Chaoyue with a smile, promising to invest 88,000 taels of silver into the shares, and made an equipment offer that was one percent lower than that of the American side. Father Martin, who had received a secret order from the American consul, regretted it, and hurriedly went to contact the American foreign bank, but the time had already passed the bidding deadline, and Wu Chaoyue, who secretly admired the intelligence ability of the British side and the scheming Wu Chaoyue, did not hesitate, and immediately agreed to build a factory in partnership with the British businessman Billy.

British businessman Billy is also very cooperative, Wu Chaoyue, who did this kind of thing for the first time, for the sake of prudence, asked Bi to use the investment he promised to purchase equipment and recruit skilled workers in advance, and then pay the shortfall after the industrial equipment was shipped to Shanghai, but Billy not only quickly agreed, but also did not even collect the deposit from Wu Chaoyue, just signed a contract with Wu Chaoyue - this is also because the British side is very aware of the economic strength of the old Wu family, and also knows that the old Wu family does not have the courage to rely on this account.

Equipment and skilled workers have Billy to worry about, but buying land in Shanghai to build factories and recruit workers must be Wu Chao responsible, and at this time, Wu Chao's Chinese identity also reflects a special advantage, the purchase of land does not have to be as troublesome as foreigners to go through the consent of the Manchu court, casually sent a master to come forward, bought 120 acres of land next to the concession in the north of Shanghai, and got the title deed on the spot, and did not have to bother to apply for a change in the use of cultivated land - this era has not yet broken the rules, deliberately bought next to the concession, of course, is also because Wu Chaoyue knows that Shanghai will have the fastest land appreciation there in the future.

After the land was successfully bought, because the equipment could not be in place for the time being, Wu Chaoyue, who had been very busy for a while, also became idle again, and only then did he take time to go to the foreign wharf again to learn about the workers' Bible study.

With the cooperation of the major gangs in Shanghai, the missionary work of the foreign priests on the dock went more smoothly than Wu Chaoyue imagined, and it became the norm for the dock workers to recite for a period of time before each boarding the ship to work, and there were also some dock workers and gang thugs wearing crosses. Wu Chaoyue saw it in his eyes, and immediately had the idea of instigating Father Yang to establish a church school - Wu Chaoyue didn't mind being a little accomplice who helped Western culture invade China, but while being a little accomplice, Wu Chaoyue, whose conscience had not been eaten up by dogs, still wanted to fight for a little more collateral benefits for his compatriots.

is destined to be fate, last time Wu Chaoyue just had the idea of instigating foreigners to build a school, and immediately ran into Zhou Lichun's daughter who almost rolled the sheets with himself legally - Wu Chaoyue already knew that her name was Zhou Xiuying. And this time it turned out to be the same, Wu Chaoyue just wanted to talk to Father Yang, when his footsteps just moved, Zhou Xiuying's slender back appeared in the crowd in front of him, at first Wu Chaoyue didn't want to look for trouble, but when he noticed Zhou Xiuying's slender legs, Wu Chaoyue, who was not a gentleman in this regard, inevitably had some itching, and couldn't help but walk behind Zhou Xiuying, opened his mouth to say hello, and said, "Shimei, why haven't you returned to Qingpu yet?" ”

Zhou Xiuying, who heard the voice, turned around in surprise, but when she saw that the person behind her was Wu Chaoyue, Zhou Xiuying's pretty face suddenly covered with frost, and she snorted heavily. Wu Chaoyue didn't mind, and said with a smile: "Don't be like this, our affairs have passed, don't keep it in mind." Anyway, from Uncle Yuan, you and I have always been brothers and sisters, so it's not strange to say hello when we meet, right? ”

"The greeting is over, if it's okay, you can go." Zhou Xiuying finally spoke, and her expression was still very cold.

Wu Chaoyue's dislike of Zhou Xiuying the most is this, he raised his legs and wanted to leave, but as soon as his footsteps moved, Wu Chaoyue remembered one more thing, hesitated, and said: "Shimei, there is something that says in your heart, I plan to build a textile factory in the north of the city, didn't your father say that there are a lot of idle laborers in Qingpu last time?" You tell your father that if he wants, I can hire his fellow villagers as workers at that time, and the treatment will be no worse than loading and unloading at the dock. ”

The reason why Wu Chaoyue said this is mainly because the workers under Liu Lichuan are too busy with the business of the wharf alone, for the convenience of hiring workers, and also in order to be a favor to Liu Lichuan, his right-hand man. As a result, to Wu Chaoyue's surprise, after Zhou Xiuying heard this, she showed a surprised look and asked, "Textile factory?" When you bought land in the north of the city, didn't you want to start some weaving and dyeing workshop? How did it become a textile mill again? ”

"How did you know I was going to open a workshop?" Wu Chaoyue asked in surprise.

"I heard what Uncle Yuan said." Zhou Xiuying replied truthfully and said, "Uncle Yuan drank with my father the day before yesterday and told me about you buying land and building a workshop in the north of the city. ”

"It's really well informed." Wu Chaoyue smiled, didn't mind Liu Lichuan's big mouth, and said casually: "Workshops and textile factories mean the same thing, they all hire workers to spin and weave cloth and sell it for money, because this textile factory is a partnership between me and foreigners, so I deliberately called it a workshop, so as not to be known by outsiders." ”

Zhou Xiuying nodded as if she didn't understand, although she didn't understand why she could avoid trouble by calling it a workshop, but she didn't want to be too entangled with Wu Chaoyue, so she casually said that I would tell my father, and then took the initiative to walk away. After Wu Chaoyue shrugged his shoulders, he went straight to Father Yang to discuss the construction of the school.

Although Wu Chaoyue took the initiative to give priority to the employment of idle laborers in Qingpu, it was a good intention, but what Wu Chaoyue never expected was that although Zhou Xiuying, who almost rolled the sheets with him legally, relayed his words to Zhou Lichun, but after Zhou Lichun repeatedly asked for specific details, not only did he not consider taking the olive branch handed by Wu Chaoyue, but on the contrary, he immediately ran to the county office and told the news of Wu Chaoyue's partnership with foreigners to Yuan Zuyi, the old Wu family's rival! As a result, Yuan Zubi was immediately ecstatic.

"Really?" Yuan Zubi asked in disbelief and surprise: "Is the news exact?" The little cub of the Wu family bought land in the north of the city, not to build any workshop, but to build a foreign factory in partnership with foreigners? ”

"It shouldn't be true." Zhou Lichun replied truthfully: "It was that little cub who told my daughter personally, and wanted me to help him hire workers from Qingpu." ”

Yuan Zuying had already seen Zhou Xiuying once, and said that Wu Chaoyue, who was famous for liking sleeping flowers and willows, coveted Zhou Xiuying's beauty, and in order to please Zhou Xiuying, he inadvertently said that he leaked his mouth, so Yuan Zubi was suddenly even more happy, and said: "Okay!" Good! This time, this official can finally take revenge on the last arrow! Wu Ah Shuang, you are dead! ”

"County Zun, do you have a way to bring down Wu Ashuang?" Zhou Lichun asked in surprise.

"Of course." Yuan Zubi said proudly: "Lichun, thanks to the blessing of your daughter, this official finally got the ironclad evidence to bring down Wu Ashuang." This old dog's precious grandson is also helping foreigners spread foreign religion on the dock, luring workers to believe in foreign religion and Jesus, and helping foreigners buy land next to the concession, and partnering with foreigners to build a foreign cloth factory, which is suspected of secretly helping foreigners expand the concession. ”

Zhou Lichun was overjoyed when he heard this, and hurriedly asked Yuan Zubi when he would act, and Yuan Zubi picked up the brush and said with a cruel smile: "When will you do it?" Now, of course! The teacher has already sent a letter urging me to hurry up and collect evidence of Wu Ashuang's crimes, I will write an excerpt and send it to Suzhou now, and the mentor will definitely send a fast horse to the capital to report to the imperial court. ”

After all, Yuan Zubi really wrote a bullet to impeach Wu Jianzhang, exaggerating Wu Jianzhang's crime of conniving with his grandson to collude with the spread of foreign religion and defrauding the purchase of land by a hundredfold, and asked the Manchu court to strictly investigate and deal with it, and immediately sent someone to Suzhou by speedboat to submit it to Yang Wending, the governor of Jiangsu. Then Yuan Zubi ordered Zhou Lichun to continue to make false relations with Liu Lichuan, pretending to help Wu Chaoyue hire workers, and take the opportunity to collect evidence that Wu Chaoyue partnered with foreigners to build a factory. In order to replace the Bird Party and make a fortune at the Shanghai dock, Zhou Lichun also agreed, and immediately contacted Liu Lichuan according to the order, but he didn't know that Yuan Zubi had already calculated his beautiful daughter, and planned to force Zhou Lichun to marry his beautiful daughter to Yuan Zubi as the ninth concubine after overthrowing Wu Jianzhang.

The power of revenge is infinite, and after just over a day, Yuan Zubi's recital was sent to Suzhou and reported to Yang Wending, the governor of Jiangsu. And Yang Wending, who is notoriously cautious, has long known the truth about the foreigners' petition from his protégé, and has long hated Wu Jianzhang's grandson who colluded with foreigners to embarrass him. Then he sent his fold together with Yuan Zubi's fold to the capital for 600 miles to be sent to the capital and submitted to the military aircraft department!

"Wu Jianzhang, bastard! Dare to instigate foreigners to come to the governor's governor of Suzhou to make a big fuss, this time the official not only wants you to lose your official position, but also wants you to fall to the ground! Yang Wending Governor Yang said so viciously in his heart.