Capital operation, financial control, currency wars. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

These terms are either there or not, but they are not as profound as Chen Wenqiang's degree of attention. The Qing court, in particular, as well as the local government, did not know the cost of acquiescence.

With the construction of the railway, and with the operation of Chen Wenqiang, the banknotes issued by the joint venture bank are being circulated in the form of quasi-official currency. With a strong currency value and good reputation, with the expansion of business outlets, the joint venture bank continues to squeeze the living space of the old bank, and is gradually accepted and recognized by the people.

The development of joint venture banks has once again verified this truth.

First, the official banks of Hunan and Hubei were deposited in the bank to enrich the reserves for issuing banknotes; Then there is the people's absorption of savings, including the deposits and loans of merchants, the savings of the people, and so on; As the war in the southwest continued, the joint venture banks borrowed generously, and under the appearance of supporting the imperial court, the circulation of money suddenly expanded to several provinces; In order to spend the money, the local government has to acquiesce in the value of the banknote and the nature of the quasi-official currency.

The more abundant the reserves, the more banknotes will be issued, and although the exchange is guaranteed, the amount of money that comes in and the amount that goes out is too much, and the accumulation of hard currency gold and silver, and the operation of increasing capital and shares, have made the strength of the joint venture bank grow rapidly.

The milestone event was the acceptance of the Deutsche Hua Bank, followed by the merger with the Rili Bank opened by Teo Rong Xuan and Teo Pitt Shi in Java, and then the establishment of branches in Singapore, Malaya, Siam and Borneo.

In order to facilitate expansion in Nanyang, the joint venture bank was renamed again and called "Bank of China". The name is very domineering and is more likely to be recognized by overseas Chinese.

Chen Wenqiang was elected as a special director by the Bank of China because of his great contributions to the bank, such as his key role in the expansion of Hunan, Hubei and Guangdong, and his rapport with overseas Chinese in Nanyang. It's not just the right to speak that adds weight. There is also an interest-free and unsecured loan right with a limit of two million.

For the loan of 2 million yuan, Chen Wenqiang temporarily only used part of it, which was invested in the synthetic ammonia fertilizer plant and the expansion of production in the synthetic pharmaceutical factory. The remaining quota is intended by Chen Wenqiang as working capital. to cope with unexpected expenses.

In fact, as far as Chen Wenqiang's entire industry is concerned, due to the use of modern management methods, the many preferential policies he has sought, and the supply of raw materials (mines, etc.) that he has mastered, there is no such situation as "poor management" that was common in the late Qing Dynasty.

Therefore, the iron and steel mills, textile factories, chemical factories, pharmaceutical factories, cement factories and so on set up by Chen Wenqiang are all profitable. If it were not for the large amount of money and materials to support the revolution, if it were not for the cost of organizing and training the new army, if it were not for the investment in the Whampoa Shipyard and submarine manufacturing, which had a large investment and slow results, if it were not for the large-scale construction of railways. Chen Wenqiang's assets and money have reached a staggering figure.

See, whether the products of the arsenal were given to the revolutionary army or used to train the new army, they were not immediately visible, and even most of them were gratuitous; Most of the steel rails produced by the steel mills are invested in the railways, which have become a backlog of capital, and only the rails purchased by other railway companies and the civilian products of the steel mills can bring visible economic benefits; What about the railways, borrowing loans. It doesn't take a year or two to recoup your investment......

“…… I owe a lot of debts, so Governor Zhang can go. I have been burdened with a bunch of burdens, and just organizing and training the new army and supporting the war in the southwest have overwhelmed me and are on the verge of bankruptcy! Seeing Zhang Zhidong, Chen Wenqiang was an endless bitter water and an endless bitterness.

Zhang Zhidong rolled his eyes as he listened. In the end, there is self-cultivation, and he waited for Chen Wenqiang to finish speaking, and then slowly said: "The Guangshao line is open to traffic, the railway from Wuchang to Chenzhou has also begun to operate, and the completion of the Guangdong-Hanzhou railway is just around the corner. It's a pity that the main department has to return to Beijing by order. I'm afraid I won't see this day anymore. ”

"Your Excellency can wait for some time, and the lower officials will step up their supervision, and strive to complete the whole line within a year, so as to fulfill the wishes of the adults." Chen Wenqiang said euphemistically: "Huguang's economic development is changing with each passing day, and if the governor is changed, I am afraid that it will fall short." ”

"Change course, people will die?" Zhang Zhidong pondered for a moment and said, "The headquarters is also worried, so I just summoned you here, and we must make proper arrangements." ”

"It is the best arrangement for adults to sit in Huguang." Chen Wenqiang frowned and said, "The pool in Beijing is muddy, do you have to go there?" Could it be that in the capital, you can rest assured that your decades of construction achievements and hard work have been ruined by mediocrity? ”

Zhang Zhidong shook his head with a wry smile and said, "Lianzhan, I don't want such a reputation. As for your concerns, Motobu understands and will do its best to arrange for you. After a pause, he said quite confidently: "The headquarters has been running Huguang for more than ten years, and the protégés and officials are all over Huxiang, not that a change of governor can abolish all the established regulations of the headquarters and destroy the hard work of the headquarters for more than ten years." ”

"Love stacks are love stacks, adults care too much about personal reputation, but don't think about subordinates." Chen Wenqiang said angrily: "The governor is the governor, and his name is in his hand, if he is not allowed to pinch and flatten, what kind of crime cannot be added?" Anyway, Wen Qiang has already decided that as soon as the adults leave, the Hanyang Iron Works and the Hubei Arsenal will be sold or moved, and the Huxiang positions will be returned together, and from then on, they will be based on Qiongzhou or Guangdong, and no longer care about Huxiang affairs. ”

The relocation of the factory is not all Chen Wenqiang's casual remarks, compared with Hubei, his strength in Hunan is greater, and the relocation of the Hubei Arsenal to Hunan is also conceived and planned.

As the railway entered Hunan, especially as far as Chenzhou, Chen Wenqiang's eyes were set on the mineral resources there. In order to monopolize the iron ore in Xiangtan and the rich mineral resources in Chenzhou, Chen Wenqiang secretly hired Chinese engineers who studied in the United States and Germany to quietly conduct mineral exploration near Chenzhou. So far, in addition to the existing coal and tin mines, exploration engineers have also discovered zinc and silver resources.

It can be said that a cornucopia has been half-embraced in Chen Wenqiang's arms. As long as he works harder, with the arrangement of Zhang Zhidong's departure, Chen Wenqiang will strive to hold it in his hands. As for the development funds, more than one million interest-free loans can be invested immediately. If it's not enough, it's perfectly okay to take out an interest-bearing loan and make a huge profit.

"Why are you so anxious, you listen to the arrangements of the headquarters first, and then make a decision." Zhang Zhidong knew that Chen Wenqiang was angry, and patiently persuaded: "In Guangdong." Yuan Shuxun, as the governor, doesn't he have to give you three points? Why are you in Huxiang, but you don't have that self-confidence? ”

"Guangdong is Guangdong, Huxiang is Huxiang, how can it be generalized." Chen Wenqiang shook his head and did not agree with Zhang Zhidong's statement.

"The strength in Huxiang is indeed not as good as in Guangdong." Zhang Zhidong stroked his beard and said, "In Guangdong." You are the general office of the patrol police, and you are responsible for maintaining law and order and suppressing bandits and clearing the township, and you have done a pretty good job. That Wu Luzhen's relationship with you is also extraordinary, from Qiongya to the military road, and then promoted to the land governor of Guangdong Province, it is also recommended by your movement. Coupled with the rebellion of the Southwest Revolutionary Party, Yuan Shuxun can indeed only rely on you to raise money and food, organize and train a new army, and clear the township to quell the chaos. If the ministry also gives you great power. Coupled with the help of the protégé of the old official, I don't think the new governor will dare to touch you easily. If the factory industry will not be affected, and the regulations for the construction of railways and the formation and training of the new army can still be implemented, what are your concerns? ”

"The power can be given, can't the new governor take it back?" Chen Wenqiang sighed and said, "The adults have taken care of it hard, but it may not be as the adults wish!" ”

"But it doesn't have to be as serious as you think." Zhang Zhidong smiled faintly and said, "Bandits are rampant in Guangdong. There are also many parties in Hunan, and you have done a good job in Guangdong. The headquarters will entrust you to patrol the police road, and work with the railway patrol police to maintain law and order, suppress bandits and quell chaos. In addition, the pace of training of the new army of the two standards in Hunan will be accelerated. Until now. You don't have a lot of input! Do you have other thoughts and worries? ”

"What the adults expected, Wen Qiang does have concerns." Chen Wenqiang said calmly: "Wu Luzhen has a good friendship with me, and I will pay for and arm him to help him enrich his force." I'm not afraid that he will be unfavorable to me because of the temptation of the official. I know too little about the two new troops in Hunan, and the title of the general office of the coaching office actually has no effect. In normal times, when I need my funds and weapons and equipment, I will naturally be polite and respectful; But if the court or the new governor induces me to be promoted, I can't guarantee that they will defend me. ”

Zhang Zhidong frowned, Chen Wenqiang was right, this is human nature, people's hearts, and there are so many people who forget their righteousness when they see profit. Let's talk about the Hubei army, he should trust Zhang Biao, the commander of the Eighth Town, and Li Yuanhong, the commander of the Mixed Association, but he does not dare to absolutely guarantee that these two people will act completely according to his orders after he leaves, even if it angers the court and offends the new governor.

Besides, even if these two people did not forget the favor of the old master, but what about the officers under them, was no one tempted by the official to turn to the new governor to compete for favor?

"Moreover, as soon as the lord leaves, the court or the new governor orders the transfer of troops, and the tacit understanding between the previous officials and the lord is difficult to guarantee." Chen Wenqiang continued: "There is no force to ensure that the property of the lower officials will not be disturbed, and the first to bear the brunt is the Hanyang Iron Works and the Hubei Arsenal. There is also the income of the railway that has been built, which is related to whether the Guangdong-Hanzhou railway can be completed within the time limit. Originally, the lord had given a grace period of several years to pay taxes, but if the new governor took office, if he directly reached out on the grounds of financial constraints, the lower officials would not be able to protect them with the number of railway patrol officers. And ......"

Zhang Zhidong bowed slightly, and had to admit that Chen Wenqiang was reasonable, and he was not unnecessary. Pacifying the rebellious party in the southwest is the most important task of the imperial court, and in order to achieve the goal, who will take into account the "Company Law" and who will protect the legitimate rights of merchants. Whether it is borrowed or requisitioned, with Chen Wenqiang's current strength, it is indeed difficult to compete with the powerful. If you put up tough resistance, isn't that a rebellion?

"And what do you think of the arrangement?" Zhang Zhidong consulted Chen Wenqiang's opinion.

"The court is afraid of foreigners." Chen Wenqiang said with some contempt and some mockery: "I can make an illusion and turn Hanyang Iron Works into a joint venture, that is, pretend to sell shares, and I will find a reliable foreigner as a shareholder." In this way, the imperial court did not dare to touch it easily. As for the Hubei Arsenal, Xiaguan decided to relocate it to Hunan, or Chenzhou, or Xiangtan, where there is coal, iron, and railways, and production will not be affected, and it can even be expanded. ”

"What about the two new armies in Hunan?" Zhang Zhidong naturally knew that Chen Wenqiang still had a plan to ensure that he would not be disturbed in Hunan.

"The standard of the new army, the new name of the garrison." Chen Wenqiang talked eloquently and said all the thoughtful arrangements, "Together with the patrol police, we will sweep and clean up the Hunan Hui Party, and we will also take the opportunity to stay in the place for a long time." The garrison army stationed in Hengyang, the lower officials thought it would be better to replace it with Cai Yi. As for the Eighth Town and the Mixed Association, it is not something that the lower officials can arrange. ”

"Cai Ye is quite reliable." Zhang Zhidong pondered for a moment and said, "You want to befriend him, just like Wu Luzhen?" ”

"Although the lower officials have this intention, I don't know if it can be done." Chen Wenqiang did not evade, and said frankly: "Xia Guan has met him several times, and I think he is ambitious, quite talented, and has a personality, but he is not like a person who tends to be inflammatory, sees profit and forgets righteousness. ”

"When it comes to training and governing the army, Cai Ye is indeed extraordinary." Zhang Zhidong smiled and said, "The main hall also noticed him because of you and sent someone to observe him. He trained in Changsha, gave incisive explanations, was skilled, and had strict requirements, and was deeply admired by the officers and soldiers! He also examined Chinese and foreign laws and regulations, formulated and promulgated 47 articles of the "Concise Military Law", and wrote it to the main department, which was deeply praised. Hehe, you, the head office of the New Army Coaching Office, can be seen to be incompetent! ”

"This, Xia Guan is busy with Guangdong affairs, and he is indeed negligent and slack."

This is good, if Chen Wenqiang and Cai Yi have a bad relationship, Zhang Zhidong may have other suspicions. And this somewhat alienated relationship has dispelled a lot of suspicion.

Another important factor was Chen Wenqiang's suppression of bandits in the Qingxiang Township in Guangdong, which made Zhang Zhidong and others believe that Chen Wenqiang was not involved with the Revolutionary Party, but was an enemy. In addition, Chen Wenqiang wants to attack the Hunan Hui Party, and it is even more confirmed that he will have nothing to do with the Revolutionary Party.

Of course, Chen Wenqiang is proficient in foreign affairs, but he is not proficient in military affairs, so he can only win over and form good alliances with generals in the army to protect his own interests. This is also the reason why Zhang Zhidong is more relieved.

"Wen Qiang, you are decisive and resolute in Guangdong, but you have really offended a lot of reckless and revolutionary party bandits." Zhang Zhidong did not immediately agree to Chen Wenqiang, but instead reminded with concern: "Those people are all outlaws, and they should be more careful when they show up and walk outside in the future." ”

"Thank you for your concern." Chen Wenqiang smiled disappreciatively and said, "There are patrol police in the lower officials, and there are Xingyitang in the dark, are you still afraid of them?" If they don't come, they will all be ghosts under the sword of the lower officials. ”

………… (To be continued.) )