I can't remember how long I ran, and when Dongfang Bai stopped, he felt that his underwear was soaked with cold sweat.

"Who was that sister just now?" Yang Zhaozhong, who was also too tired, gasped and looked at Dongfang Bai in confusion, "Why are we running?" ”

"You haven't seen her?" Dongfang Bai gasped and turned his head and asked.

"Nope." Yang Zhaozhong said.

"Great." Dongfang Bai nodded, at this time he had adjusted his breathing, he pulled Yang Zhaozhong over, looked around, and was relieved after making sure that the girl had not chased after him.

That night, Dongfang Bai had a lot of dreams, and in his dreams, he could always dream of those clear and bright eyes.

Dongfang Bai didn't know what the owner of these eyes would bring to his future.

Jiangxi, Nanchang, Xinyi Heng Bank Building.

At this time, in the noisy sound of gongs, drums and firecrackers, some guys were removing the gold-lettered signboard of "Xinyi Hengqian Bank" from the gatehouse and replacing it with a huge plaque of "China Hengxin Bank".

For the people here, the change from "money bank" to "bank" is just a change of name, but for China's financial industry and the leaders of the Fu family, it is a step towards history.

The transformation of China's traditional money banks into modern commercial banks is quietly accelerating.

In fact, China's money bank is the predecessor of the bank, the money bank has a long history in China, in modern China, the organization of the money bank can be divided into two categories, according to its business surname and credit ability, divided into the bank and the general bank. The remittance bank is called the big peer, that is, the big money bank, and their bills can be offset against each other. This kind of exchange bank has great power and has the strength to influence the market. Generally, the money village is called a small peer or has not entered the park, which is divided into four grades: Yuan, Heng, Li and Zhen. Yuanzi Qianzhuang is also known as picking and beating Qianzhuang, that is, carrying the money of the bank, because of the transportation of money in the past, it is called by people. Hengzizhuang is called "closing the door to pick and fight", and its daily collection and release are entrusted to the transfer of the village or the agency of the Yuanzi Zhuang. Lizizhuang is also called the exchange bank, does not do deposits, only wholesale exchange of currency and trading of gold and silver, but also do volume exchange. Zhenzizhuang is the smallest, that is, the cigarette exchange shop, also known as the cash exchange bank, the store money village, the cigarette paper money village, specializing in another exchange business and selling cigarette paper and groceries.

Due to the different origins of investors and managers, Qianzhuang has formed nine gangs in Shanghai, including Shaoxing Gang, Ningbo Gang, Suzhou (Dongting Mountain) Gang, Songjiang Gang, Zhejiang Nanxun Gang, Zhenyang Gang, Anhui Gang and Benbang (Shanghai Gang). Among them, the Shaoxing and Ningbo gangs are the most powerful. In particular, the Shaoxing Gang, when the northern ticket number prevailed, its power was able to prevent the northern ticket number force from crossing the Yangtze River.

During the Republic of China, the primary business of the money bank was to issue "Zhuang tickets" with the surname of exchange coupons.

The banker is a deposit receipt filled out by the depositor according to the depositor's depository, which is bearer, and can be circulated in the market. Later, it evolved into the issuance of a fixed form of bill, and the amount was filled in at any time and stamped. Finally, the money bank is printed into a certain amount of money or silver bills with various verification conditions, collectively referred to as bank bills, which can be used everywhere. The banknotes of China's bankers are highly creditworthy, circulate in the market, like cash, and are recognized by both Chinese and foreign traders, and are called "very valuable Chinese financial documents in trade" by foreign businessmen, and their role has been equivalent to paper money.

In addition to the business of issuing bankers' bills, China's money banks also operate "Yangli" and "Yincai". These are the two unique business methods of Qianzhuang Yinhao, which have played an important role in the development of Qianzhuang as a means to indulge in the financial market. The so-called foreign centi, that is, the "foreign market", that is, the market price of silver dollars expressed in silver taels. Commonly known as the silver dollar for foreign money or foreign money, at the end of the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China, a silver dollar in the treasury of flat silver seven coins and two cents or Caoping silver seven coins and three cents, as the basis of the market price, with the market up and down to the cent, so the name "foreign centi" or "centi". The interest rate calculated by silver taels is called "silver loan", and the interest rate calculated in silver dollars is called "foreign loan". In China's money industry, it is sometimes referred to collectively as silver interest or interbank interest. This is the interest rate at which money banks borrow money from each other, which is regulated by the money bank trade association (or money bank, money industry association).

Chinese money banks also operate foreign exchange deposits, discounts, exchange and other credit businesses. Money banks mostly absorb deposits from merchants and collect bills on their behalf; A part of the public funds of the political axe are also deposited in the silver number, which are all current deposits. The loans operated by credit lending, mortgage lending, short-term interest rate, etc.; The main objects of the loan were firms, and a large amount of money was paid annually to various export industries, which played a positive role in promoting the development of China's national industry and commerce, which was just emerging at that time.

The bank also deals in raw gold and silver, appraising the fineness, weight, authenticity and authenticity of gold, silver, silver dollars and various metal currencies, and verifying their prices. Some well-capitalized bankers also attached to or controlled silver furnaces, silver houses, and gold shops, and minted and traded gold and silver ornaments. Qian Zhuang not only took advantage of its special position of exchanging money left and right to hold the market price of silver and silver dollars for a long time, but also speculated in securities, public bonds, flower gauze, and so on.

In the early days of the Republic of China, the money transfer business was rapidly developed and penetrated into the mainland. For example, the money banks in Shanghai have established business networks with money banks in Wuhan, Guangzhou, Ningbo, Shaoxing and other places, and have joint numbers and agency relationships, and penetrate into the hinterland through these areas. Under the auspices of foreign banks and foreign banks, the port money houses supported the mainland money banks with funds, handled foreign exchange transactions according to contracts, and entered and exported tens of millions of yuan every year, effectively controlling the financial affairs of the Chinese mainland and acting as compradors for foreign businessmen to purchase and dump raw materials and commodities in China. Most of Shanghai's money banks are controlled by the Jiangsu and Zhejiang chaebols, and they have great influence in Shanghai's financial circles and have a decisive influence on the country's financial market.

Due to the increasing frequency of commercial transactions in Chinese mainland, Qianzhuang operates business items such as remittance, conversion, foreign currency, silver splitting, and ticket application, and has become a link between Chinese and foreign businessmen. Qian Zhuang has a close relationship with merchants, through depositing, lending, remitting, issuing bank bills and exchange business, financing funds, adjusting positions, clearing accounts, so that they can flexibly turn around and continue to operate, and play a particularly huge role in communicating the financial and commercial relations between China's coastal ports and the mainland, so Qian Zhuang has become an important factor in controlling China's business community.

In the process of war and instability, in order to survive, the money bank continued to speculate and resell, trying to make huge profits, often in the foreign banks contracted loans and the money was tightened, the trend of debt reversal occurred, and the merchants owed the money to the bank huge amount of money and could not repay, forming a large number of bad debts, thus affecting the collapse of a large number of money banks. This situation continued to occur in the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China, and its impact was great, often leading to heavy losses.

Establishing a well-organized and well-managed bank is the way forward for the future development of Qianzhuang.

In order to restructure China's financial sector and adapt it to the booming Chinese economy due to the lack of time for Western powers to look east during World War I, Yang Shuoming began to look for ways to promote China's financial reforms, and the transformation of the money bank controlled by the Fu family into a real bank was an important part of his plan.

Nanchang and the western Jiangxi region can be regarded as the place where Yang Shuoming started, because of his good management, the number of people who come to Nanchang to operate business activities has increased, and the demand for financial institutions has also increased, and the reorganization of the money bank into a bank can not only expand the scale and scope of operation, increase efficiency, but also obtain more abundant profits, so it is imperative for "Xinyi Hengqian Bank" to become "China Hengxin Bank".

"In the future, we must increase our efforts in the area of deposits," Fu Xiaowen put down the telegram in his hand, looked at the lively crowd outside, and said, "Absorbing deposits is the main business of the bank, and the development of various businesses of the bank is inseparable from funds, especially the funds for our loan business, most of which come from the deposits absorbed, and the amount of deposits absorbed is directly related to the amount of profits, so we must pay close attention to it." ”

"In order to solicit deposits, we have contacted a number of newspapers and magazines to advertise more to demonstrate the credit and strength of our bank. I believe that the results will be seen soon. Niu Jingye said, and handed a prepared advertising statement to Fu Xiaowen for a look.

Fu Xiaowen took the manuscript and looked at it, only to see that it was written in upright brush italics: "The Bank is located in the center of prosperous residence, a place where businessmen and ladies must pass, and it is very convenient to deposit and disburse", "Can earn but not accumulate, a lifetime of futile labor, the Bank's savings department gives generous interest and does things carefully, and those who are beneficial to depositors do not do their best to do it", "The world is changing, but the savings are enough to cover it." The Bank handles savings carefully and thoughtfully, and everyone knows that if there is a balance, come and save" and other advertising slogans about promoting bank deposit business.

"The issue of banknotes is more profitable, and it can't be loosened." Fu Xiaowen nodded with satisfaction, and then said, "There are also foreign exchange and securities businesses, which should be treated equally. ”

"I understand." Niu Jingye replied, "You can rest assured." ”

As a profit-making institution specializing in financial business, modern banks did not operate as diverse financial products as in later generations, and the main business of banks in this period was to issue banknotes, deposit money, exchange money, and buy and sell securities, and provide customers with various financial services for a fee. The issuance of banknotes and the absorption of deposits are important means of raising funds for banks in modern times, among which the issuance of banknotes is more profitable than the absorption of deposits, and it is the most profitable business of banks. Because banks need to pay interest to customers to absorb deposits, and the issuance of banknotes can save interest expenses, is a profitable business, banks issue banknotes, not only expand working capital, earn high profits, but also can establish a wider range of credit, consolidate their own position.

Compared with the issuance of banknotes, the absorption of deposits is the main liability business of banks, and banks absorb idle social funds with their own credit. In fact, the development of various business operations of banks completely depends on the amount of capital, and in fact, it mainly depends on the capital raised by absorbing deposits and other means. In particular, most of the funds for a bank's lending business come from the deposits it can absorb, and then through low-interest deposits and usurious loans, banks can make profits from them, so the amount of deposits absorbed is directly related to the amount of profits made by the bank.

Dealing in foreign exchange and securities business is also an important business for banks in this era. With the continuous development of modern China's economy, the commercial ties between various places are getting closer and closer, but at that time, China's currency system was extremely complex, and the currency used in various places was very different, and merchants held local currency to other places, they had to exchange it for foreign currency before they could use it, which brought great inconvenience to the trade, and foreign merchants especially felt headache for this, so China's financial circles began to operate the exchange business very early, so that merchants could avoid the risk of transporting cash and the pain of exchange of exotic transactions. The bank ticket number can also earn remittance (remittance fees), and the emergence of real banks has further expanded this traditional business.

Fu Xiaowen did not fully agree with Yang Shuoming's request to reorganize the bank into a bank, because there would be many technical problems involved, but now, he has understood that the young junior's approach is completely correct.

"Have you found out the identity of the woman surnamed Lu?" Fu Xiaowen turned his head to Niu Jingye and asked.

"After checking clearly, she is a member of the Lu Guangli Consortium and has considerable strength among overseas Chinese businessmen." Niu Jingye said.

"Lu's Guangli Consortium?" Fu Xiaowen's face looked a little gloomy, "Why have I never heard of it?" ”

"According to the information provided by the Wu family, their Lu family was also a merchant back then." Niu Jingye replied respectfully, "The Lu family ranked second among the thirteen lines in Guangzhou that year, second only to the Wu family, and ahead of the Pan family. ”

"I remember! She should be the descendant of Lu Maoguan's 'Guangli Xing'! Fu Xiaowen was shocked and said, "They even thought of going to him!?" ”

The name of "Thirteen Elements" has a special meaning in the development of the Qing Dynasty. The First Opium War in 1840 and the Second Opium War in 1856 had a great deal to do with the overseas Silk Road trade of the Thirteen Lines, which also implicated the British, French, American, Sweden and other national ports to China's "Kanyu", and even formed a world-class financial war. At that time, 40% of the Qing Dynasty's annual tax revenue was extracted from this "Southern Treasury of the Son of Heaven", which was almost half of the Qing Dynasty's treasury. At that time, the port of Guangzhou "inside and outside the Pearl River, the masts are lined up, the colorful flags are flying, bustling, a bag of silk satin, tea, ceramics are piled up, and there are dozens of Danish, Sweden, Dutch, Brazil, Russia, and Portugal who come and go." These trade wealth were also taxes and tributes that made the Qing emperor's hands and feet tremble, and in the Qianlong period, the thirteen lines of maritime silk trade were gradually formed.

The Thirteen Lines of Guangzhou are a special product of the development of the commodity economy of China's feudal society and the foreign trade policy of the Qing Dynasty, but they have not received due attention and are even desirable. Because the Qing court wanted not only to "strictly defend Huayi", but also to ensure foreign trade transactions, so that the silver dollar would enter the imperial treasury like flowing water, so the governor of Liangguang organized and designated personnel to be in charge of Guangdong's foreign import and export trade, saying that it was designated, but many of them were sent by the imperial court's internal affairs office to supervise the Guangdong customs, and they had the right to plunder the thirteen merchants"The outflow of silver dollars.

Due to the increasing number of domestic and foreign commercial goods shipped to Haikou, Guangdong, in order to strengthen management, meet the needs of foreign trade that has developed after the switch, and ensure the collection of tariffs, the Qing court issued a proclamation in the form of a decree on "separate residence and goods tax", stipulating the scope of activities of merchants engaged in domestic coastal trade and merchants engaged in foreign import and export trade. For example, "to Guangzhou Province local sales, all landed goods, respectively, tax declarations, are invested in the gold silk line, to the tax department to pay taxes, the foreign sellers to the goods and trade goods, divided into the line of tax declarations, all to foreign goods stores, when going to sea, foreign businessmen go to the 'Guangdong' customs department to pay taxes. After that, the public bank charges according to the trade volume, which is used as a public bank fund to pay off the debts of the merchants, such as arrears, fines, and losses. These strict merchant undertaking systems of the Qing court gradually placed the commercial capital of the Thirteen Lines under the control of the feudal power of the Qing Dynasty, and at the same time, because of business, the East India Company "borrowed" to buy products, which actually could not prevent "razing", which made the Thirteen Banks decline rapidly after the Opium War.

The question of the whereabouts of the property of the Thirteen Merchants is still a "suspense" until now. Among the thirteen merchants of that year, the most wealthy and powerful were Pan, Wu, and Lu. In the 14th year of Daoguang (1834), Wu Bingjian, a merchant of Jardine Matheson, declared to foreign merchants that his assets were "worth about 26 million yuan (silver dollars)". Pan Qiguan, who was also written in the same book, was described by French magazines as "richer in property than the estate of a king", with a huge sum of about 100 million francs and an annual consumption of 3 million francs. Most of the merchants were ornate and luxurious. According to foreign merchant records, the merchant Pan "had 50 wives and concubines, 80 servants, and 30 gardeners and servants." "His home is poor and extravagant, with marble as the ground and gold, silver, pearls, jade, and sandalwood as the walls. Outside the women's boudoir there is a vast theater that can accommodate hundreds of harlequins, so it is not difficult for women to have entertainment from time to time. There is also a nine-storey pagoda made of marble and sandalwood. The rest of the rare birds and treasures are beautiful. And what about the Lu family's "Guangli Xing"? Foreign businessmen have always been surprised to call them "huge wealth", "never know how much Lu Maoguan's family property is, and when asked about the amount of their wealth, they always smile and refuse to disclose it." ”

After the Opium War, most of the merchants led by the Wu and Pan families moved overseas to develop, while the Lu family seemed to evaporate, except for a few assets in China, the rest were nowhere to be found.

And now, this mysterious Chinese family has once again appeared in Chinese mainland in a mysterious way.

"This shows that Hanzhi's current reputation is quite loud among overseas Chinese businessmen." Niu Jingye said.

"I'm afraid the Wu family will run into an opponent this time." Fu Xiaowen got up and paced, and said in a deep voice.

(To be continued)