Yunnan.

"The governor of Yunnan and the chief of civil affairs of Yunnan, Tang Du, has arrived!"

A Chinese dressed as a businessman and a foreigner stood up and nodded to Tang Jiyao, the governor of Sichuan, and saluted: "Good governor!" ”

"Ah, sit, sit." Tang Jiyao waved his hand and let the two sit down: "I heard that you are looking for me?" Haven't asked yet? ”

The Chinese merchant hurriedly handed over a piece of paper.

"General Manager of Sino-American Xinlong Co., Ltd., General Agent of Rand Industrial Company of the United States of America in Sichuan, General Agent of Oss Industrial Company of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Sichuan Zhang Nanhe." Reading the long list of titles on the film, Tang Jiyao couldn't help but be in awe: "It turned out to be General Manager Zhang, disrespectful and disrespectful!" ”

Zhang Nanhe said politely: "Tang Du is polite, this is Mr. Davis, the general counsel of the company." ”

"Hello Mr. Dai." Tang Jiyao greeted according to the rules of the Chinese, and then turned to Zhang Nanhe: "I don't know what happened to General Manager Zhang coming to my Yunnan?" ”

"Contemptible people are here, so naturally they are here to do business." Zhang Nanhe smiled slightly.

"Oh, what business can I do in Yunnan?" Tang Jiyao was a little curious.

"Business is everywhere." Zhang Nanhe waved his hand a little exaggeratedly: "Yunnan has always produced copper and tin, especially copper, and the annual output of more than 10 million catties in the former Qing Dynasty was prosperous, accounting for more than ninety and five percent of the country's copper. The company specializes in mineralization, so it is here for copper and tin. ”

"General Manager Zhang, your news is outdated." Tang Jiyao smiled bitterly: "Yes, copper production in Yunnan was indeed very prosperous for a period of time, and it was the raw material base of the national coinage industry. But that was based on strict management, and the former Qing Dynasty even established a copper government for this purpose. At that time, Cai Yutang, the governor of Yunnan and Guizhou, carried out investment mining on Yunnan mines, charged 20% of taxes, and set incentive methods, and the products were sold by the people. At one time, there were many businessmen from all over the world who came to invest. However, later, the governor of Yunnan and Guizhou, Bei Henuo, suggested that the Qing court implement the policy of buying surplus copper by the government, except for the second percent of the copper, the surplus copper was purchased by the government compulsorily. In addition, the government will issue the official book, which will be withheld and returned when the copper is handed over next month, and the businessmen and people who do not borrow the official book must also transport the copper to the official copper shop and hand it over to the official for purchase. The official closing price is three to four taels per 100 catties of silver, less than half of the market price. He also sent officials to supervise production in the factory and set up patrols to patrol smuggled copper. The merchants could not bear the harshness, and most of them fled to the mountainous border areas for private mining, private refining and even private casting. Because the Qing court needed copper for coinage, Yu Yongzhengyuan ordered Yunnan to rectify the copper politics and accumulated defects, and ordered that in addition to the tax and the government to buy the coins for the province, the surplus copper was sold by the people. From the fourth to the thirteenth year of Yongzheng, the annual copper output increased from more than 2 million catties to 6.5 million catties, which was the highest peak in the history of Yunnan mines.

said and sighed: "It's a pity that during the Xianfeng period, the Hui uprising and the Ailao Mountain uprising broke out in Yunnan, and the Qing court closed all the mines. In the tenth year of Guangxu, the Qing court ordered the organization of Yunnan Mining Investment Promotion Bureau, raised commercial shares in Shanghai, acquired foreign machinery, and used new mining methods. After three years, it was fruitless. In 13 years, Tang Jiong was appointed to supervise the mining affairs in Yunnan, and in 15 years, 1 million taels were allocated by the Ministry of Household Affairs as the official capital. Tang Jiong's special committee Tianshunxiang firm for China Merchants to raise shares, and hired the miner to explore, but no result, to Guangxu 24 years, China Merchants lost too much, and finally closed. Until the death of the Qing Dynasty, the annual output of Yunnan copper was less than one-tenth of what it was at its peak. In addition, there were many incompetent officials in the Qing court who handled copper politics, embezzlement and extortion, transfer and sale, and had nothing to do. The official revenue policy is a particularly bad source. For example, when Cen Yuying restored the major factories, the market price of Yunnan copper was 15 to 18 taels per 100 catties, while the official price of copper was only about 10 taels, resulting in unprofitable production. Coupled with the outflow of silver, silver is expensive and copper is cheap, the price of copper can no longer be increased, and production can only stop. Where is the current Yunnan mine? I'm afraid that General Manager Zhang has come for nothing. ”

Zhang Nanhe listened to him with a slight smile: "Yes, having said that, there are always copper mines operating there in Yunnan, right?" ”

"Yes, yes." Tang Jiyao hesitated: "But most of them are private mining, and I don't hide it from the two of you, you can't collect a few dollars from this copper tax." And Yunnan has few bonanzas, so "

"There are also those who can't receive it." Zhang Nanhe didn't seem to care: "I want to ask Tang Du to post a notice in the name of the chief of civil affairs to collect copper, fifteen to eighteen yuan per hundred catties of ocean, after the purchase is completed, I will buy it from Tang Du, twenty-one yuan per hundred catties, what does Tang Du think?" ”

Tang Jiyao really thought that he had heard it wrong, and there was such a good thing? Can you earn three to six yuan for every 100 catties that change hands?

This is a pencil bag that cannot be accompanied! It's just that whether what the other party said is true or false, it's not easy to say.

"Don't worry, we can sign the contract." Zhang Nanhe seemed to see Tang Jiyao's thoughts, and said with a smile: "If we break our promise, we will lose the lawsuit wherever it goes." Besides, this is Tang Du's territory again! ”

Tang Jiyao nodded, what he said was true.

"Okay, this governor is the most supportive of businessmen, since the two are so sincere, this governor naturally has nothing to say, and he will post a notice and collect copper!"

"Thank you, Dondu!" After thanking him, Zhang Nanhe said: "There is another matter, we have a big customer in Europe who wants to buy a large amount of copper, so this is also the reason why we are here. Previously, we surveyed that there may be copper in Dahong Mountain in Gasa Town, Yunnan, so we want to lease Dahong Mountain! ”

"There is copper in the Great Red Mountain? Do you want to rent? Tang Jiyao was a little confused.

Zhang Nanhe nodded: "Exactly, all the machinery and equipment, and the cost of recruiting miners are paid by us, as for the annual rental fee, Dayang is 500,000!" ”

Tang Jiyao was completely stunned.

No profit, real no profit!

He didn't know if there was copper in Dahong Mountain, but even if there was a copper mine, what was the use? Yunnan has always had a lot of mines, but few rich mines, and it is not a big deal to find a copper mine.

500,000 in the ocean, this is not a small amount!

"It's not all." Zhang Nanhe said slowly: "In order to express our gratitude to Tang Governor for his support, we will pay another 100,000 tribute to Tang Governor every year. ”

Tang Jiyao stood up involuntarily, walking back and forth, stopping for a while to think about something carefully, and then taking a few steps forward.

After going back and forth for a while, Wu asked uneasily: "What you said is true?" ”

"Seriously, everything is subject to the contract!" Zhang Nanhe said without hesitation.

"Okay, sign the contract now!" Tang Jiyao was afraid that the night would be long and dreamy, so he hurriedly said.

"We're all ready for the contract."

Zhang Nanhe smiled and took out a thick stack of contracts from the bag he carried: "Tang Du, there are both Chinese and English contracts, Tang Du has a look, if you don't feel at ease, you can ask a translator to come over." ”

Tang Jiyao is a careful person, and he really invited a translator. The interpreter pointed to it and explained carefully. The general idea is what the responsibilities and obligations of both parties are, and how to compensate in case of breach of contract. On the amount of compensation, a terrifying amount is written, and any party who breaches the contract must compensate 20 million oceans for liquidated damages!

Tang Jiyao was overjoyed, he would never regret it, and of course the more compensation, the better.

picked up the pen to sign his name, but Zhang Nanhe suddenly said: "Please also ask Tang Governor to stamp the big seal of the Governor's Mansion." ”

Tang Jiyao was stunned for a moment, and then came to his senses, this is because they are afraid that they will not be the governor, and this contract will be invalid.

He also invited a gentry with a head and a face in Yunnan City to be a notary. Zhang Nanhe asked the general manager of a foreign bank in Yunnan to act as a notary.

The contract was signed, and Zhang Nanhe immediately paid a silver ticket of 500,000 yuan, and took a 100,000 yuan to Tang Jiyao as an advance payment for the next year.

Tang Jiyao was happy in his heart, it was really refreshing to do business with these people, the rent was paid in advance, and there was no need to worry about anything in the future.

I just thought it was a little strange that Davis, the general counsel, didn't say a word from beginning to end, like a puppet ornament. But if you want to be a consultant, that's what you do.

Zhang Nanhe did things very quickly, signed the contract, booked the restaurant, invited Tang Jiyao and those notaries, and when he arrived, he got up and said goodbye, saying that he was going to Dahong Mountain to meet the exploration team there.

This man is his own god of wealth, and he can't do anything. Tang Jiyao personally selected more than a dozen people from his own guard to be Zhang Nanhe's personal bodyguards, and repeatedly instructed that if General Manager Zhang was missing a hair, he would definitely ask them!

He hurriedly ordered notices to be posted all over Yunnan to collect copper on a large scale.

When Cai Yi was in charge of Yunnan, there were few people who issued patriotic bonds, but after he sat in this position, he made such a big business!

"Okay, Zhang Nanhe's done!" Holding the telegram in his hand, Wang Hengyue looked very excited: "Zhang Nanhe and Tang Jiyao have signed a thirty-year procurement contract, and Dahongshan is ours!" The copper mine is ours too! ”

Jiang Baili took the telegram and looked at it, and sighed: "If Songpa is still in Yunnan, he will inevitably see that there is a problem, but I am afraid that this contract will not be so convenient to sign." ”

"Yes, it is precisely because Cai Ye is gone that I can do this with confidence and boldness. Thirty years? Hey, good, good. Wang Hengyue said with a smile.

"Maybe Heng Shuai will soon become the lord of Yunnan?" Jiang Baili said half-jokingly and half-seriously, and then had some doubts: "Heng Shuai, is this big red mountain really copper?" ”

"Not only is it out, but there is also a lot of iron! I'm afraid that there are as many as 10,000 tons! Wang Hengyue was very excited: "These things, at least in the next few years, are enough for us." Tang Jiyao gave us a treasure! Hehe, this contract is in hand, even if Cai Ye comes back, I don't have to worry. ”

"What? Will Songpa come back? Jiang Baili was stunned and asked, "How did Heng Shuai know?" ”

Wang Hengyue hurriedly smiled to cover up: "With a talent like Cai Du, Yanjing City can be trapped!" ”

(To be continued)