"You still have a great contribution to Shanghai!"

Wang Hengyue suddenly changed his words: "Or not just Shanghai, but in promoting the economic development of the whole country, you all have contributed." ”

The president's tone suddenly softened, which made Yu Qiaqing and the others a little uncomfortable.

"Back then, Zhang Jian put forward the slogan of industrial salvation, and he really did it, and then drove a large number of people to start the road of industrial salvation." Wang Hengyue said calmly:

"You are credited to the development of Shanghai to where it is today, but the road is indeed very bumpy. You have to find ways to survive surrounded by foreign companies, and you have to deal with threats from foreign powers, gangs, and so on. But you can't blame you, our government is very weak, and the means of running the country are very weak, and we have not given you the greatest help, so that you have to rely on yourself, and you have to try to survive while dealing with the forces of all sides. ”

Wang Hengyue's words made several representatives of Shanghai's industrial and commercial circles very grateful. The President spoke their minds.

In fact, when they founded the industry, most of them had the idea of saving the country through industry, but the poor living environment made them sigh and be disheartened.

"Industry has not succeeded in saving the country, at least Zhang Jian has failed." Wang Hengyue groaned: "If you want to say that the biggest impact on Zhang Jian's career is not a certain person, but a country, Japan, Zhang Jian went to Japan for 70 days. After returning to China, he summarized Japan's successful model as the way of the holy king plus the study of machines, and under the guidance of this idea, he began his huge career in Nantong. For Japan, Zhang Jian not only admires it, but also has always been more energetic. There is a big businessman in Japan, Shibusawa Eiichi, I think you all know, right? ”

Several merchants nodded.

Wang Hengyue continued:

"Zhang Jian and Shibusawa Eiichi have similar experiences, similar economic ideas, and similar social roles, and both serve as a bridge between the government and businessmen during the country's transition. Shibusawa Eiichi's public image is one with the Analects in one hand and an abacus in the other; While Zhang Jian's creed was still Confucian, China's Zhang Jian failed, and Japan's Shibusawa Eiichi succeeded. But in my opinion, the question is not why Zhang Jian failed and Shibusawa Eiichi succeeded, but why did China fail and Japan succeeded?

As a backward country that has also suffered from external shocks, why did China lose to Japan? I think there are only four words, the lack of national spirit. Traditional China is a society that only has the idea of the world and no concept of the country, and Shibusawa Eiichi widely promoted the concept of national affairs in Japan after the Meiji Restoration, and it is very important that I run this business not as a personal request, but as a requirement for the development of the country! ”

Wang Hengyue took a look at the merchants:

This may seem like a slogan, but it is almost as important as Protestant theory in the West. On the other hand, in our country, in addition to the lack of national spirit, the more important reason lies in the lack of system, and the lack of national spirit is to some extent because of the lack of system. After the Meiji Restoration, Japan underwent institutional reform, which was a fundamental reform of the social system. During the same period, China's Westernization Movement was only an adjustment of policy within the system. There are very few successful industrialists in China, and this is due to institutional reasons.

This institutional deficiency lies in the misunderstanding of the system. During the Manchu Qing Dynasty, the Westernists established the Shanghai Steamship China Merchants Bureau, and the joint-stock company was set up, and its institutional provisions basically met the foreign standards for joint-stock companies. But at that time, there was no company law in China at all, and it was all explored by itself. In Li Hongzhang's eyes, he probably thinks that the joint-stock system is the same as guns, and it can be used when it is used, but it is wrong, he equates the introduction of the system with the introduction of optoelectronics. The joint-stock system is an advanced system, and there are many things to learn and master. At that time, what was the lack of understanding of the shareholding system? The bonds issued by the state were called stocks, and the Manchu Qing Dynasty did not even distinguish between bonds and stocks. ”

Yu Qiaqing and Zhu Bao laughed, indeed, these things done by the Manchu government back then were ridiculous to the extreme, and it was really a big joke when it looks like now.

However, Wang Hengyue couldn't see any smile on his face:

"The Manchu government turned a blind eye to the actions of the industrialists. A typical example is that when we encounter a crisis, the government simply ignores it, which will lead to the complete collapse of the work that you have devoted your life to. In my government, such a situation will certainly not arise! ”…,

These words immediately caught the attention of these merchants.

Wang Hengyue's tone was still so calm and calm: "Once a crisis occurs in the future, then my government will take large-scale emergency relief measures to provide economic loan assistance to various industries to help you get out of the predicament!" ”

The merchants' faces were beaming with joy. This is the first time that a Chinese head of government has publicly stated that he will give full support to the business community. Regardless of whether the words of the president are true or not, at least his statement has made these businessmen see hope for the future.

Wang Hengyue breathed a sigh of relief gently:

"China used to be a big and powerful country, but now it is only a backward country. For backward countries, there are so many things to learn and too many things to change. But the government's thinking of supporting the economy will not change, I will give you the greatest and most direct help, and you must also give me the greatest and most direct help! ”

As he spoke, he directly called Yu Qiaqing's name: "Boss Yu, you are known as Brother Ade in Shanghai, and you are admired, and I have heard your name many times in Guangzhou." When you were working as a comprador for a foreign company, a Cantonese woman, Li Huang, was arrested by the British on charges of being a human trafficker and carrying more than a dozen maidservants through Shanghai. At the beginning of the trial, the British Vice Consul De Weimen reversed black and white, arbitrarily judged and judged, and aroused public indignation. Seeing this, Boss Yu stood up and fought hard in the public court, speaking out for the dignity of the Chinese, and was deeply praised by all sectors of society. ”

Listening to the president talk about his pride, Yu Qiaqing was a little proud and grateful.

Wang Hengyue smiled slightly: "I also deeply admire this, but when Boss Yu founded Siming Bank and Sanbei Steamship Company, he borrowed the power of gangs to attack his peers, making his relatives painful and his enemies fast, and at the same time developing and expanding himself, a large number of Chinese industrialists were ruthlessly squeezed out and hit China's industry, Boss Yu, do you make sense of what I said, right?" ”

Yu Qiaqing nodded again and again: "Ashamed, ashamed." Some of the things that have been done in the past are indeed debatable. ”

"And you, Zhu Baosan, Boss Zhu." Wang Hengyue set his eyes on Zhu Baosan again: "The consuls of various countries in Shanghai are domineering, but they are only courteous to you, Boss Zhu." In the fourth year of the Republic of China, the United States restricted the entry of Chinese workers and abused Chinese workers, and all walks of life in Shanghai launched a struggle to boycott American goods and recover the rights of the Jiangsu-Zhejiang railway. It also drew up a telegram to the 35 ports of the country. At that time, as the assistant director of the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, Boss Zhu united with the representatives of the business community in other industries in the struggle against the abuse of Chinese workers by the United States, and firmly stood on the side of Zeng Zhu, the premier of the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, and behaved very actively. Very active, meritorious to the country. ”

With the lesson of Fang Cai Yu Qiaqing, Zhu Baosan did not dare to be too proud.

Sure enough, Wang Hengyue's tone changed: "But later, Boss Zhu changed a little." At the beginning of this year, in the capacity of president of the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce, and Shen Lianfang, vice president of the Shanghai General Chamber of Commerce, sent a telegram to the Beijing government, disregarding the strong demands of the people of the whole country to directly return Qingdao, which had been forcibly occupied by Germany, to China and to cancel the 21 articles and various secret treaties signed with Japan. You are confused, Boss Zhu! ”

Zhu Baosan took out a handkerchief to wipe his sweat again and again, this is indeed the most confusing thing he has done!

Wang Hengyue shook his head slightly, and sighed: "You have made great contributions to the country's economy, but these foolish things have greatly damaged your own reputation and national interests, you shouldn't, you shouldn't." ”

The merchants were silent.

Although the president Wang Hengyue is young, he knows everything that has happened, and he also has a good grasp of China's businessman status and institutional problems.

It was no accident that he was able to acquire this country.

Wang Hengyue's tone became a little softened: "However, the past has passed, the country is not strong enough, let you do something against your will, you can't be blamed all, the government is also responsible." But now that won't happen again, the government will give you the greatest help! ”

Yu Qiaqing opened his mouth and said: "President, to be honest, before we came here, we had concerns in our hearts, and we were also skeptical of you and your government, and the purpose of this time is more to probe using. ”

Wang Hengyue smiled indifferently, this is the truth.

Yu Qiaqing continued: "But your words just now dispelled our concerns, and the foolish things we did before really shouldn't be very deserved." But now I, Yu Qiaqing, would like to put a sentence here, the president values us so much, and from now on we will wholeheartedly support the national government, support your leadership, and resolutely work hard for the country's economy. ”

This is not a polite or flattering remark, but a very serious one.

Wang Hengyue arched his hand and said:

"Then I will thank you here, the country's economy cannot be done by me alone, and your personal strength, the dream of saving the country through industry can only be a dream, and we have to rely on our people to work together!"