"The colleagues of the Cantonese Entrepreneurs Autonomous Association will actively represent the business community in political struggles, such as helping businessmen of all sizes to avoid bullying by foreigners or officials, saving businessmen from losses, and solving many practical problems......

Listening to Huang Jingtang's introduction, Chen Wenqiang nodded ambiguously and did not express his opinion easily. Huang Jingtang's idea www.biquge.info Pen Fun Pavilion is good, but the establishment of the Cantonese Entrepreneurs Autonomous Association is undoubtedly a challenge to the Guangzhou General Chamber of Commerce, how can the conservative gentry and businessmen tolerate it?

Moreover, the constitution of this Cantonese Merchant Autonomous Association clearly expressed a strong demand for political participation, and stipulated that it should have the right to supervise officials and not have to obey the orders of the government.

Of course, if the ideas and actions of the Cantonese Merchants' Autonomous Association can win the enthusiastic support of the broad masses of businessmen, if it can withstand the difficulties, control, and sabotage of the conservative gentry and businessmen and the government, and if it can have strong enough economic strength, it can also make use of the means of economic struggle to make a difference.

Moreover, since Huang Jingtang proposed it to Chen Wenqiang, he already has a certainty, and it is not impossible to do without Chen Wenqiang. Chen Wenqiang is still relatively clear about this.

In other words, Chen Wenqiang is a strong voice and popularity, as a representative of overseas Cantonese businessmen, Huang Jingtang's influence is still very great. He was also very active in the construction of the railway, taking the lead in subscribing for 100,000 shares, and the Guangdong branch was able to quickly raise more than 40 million yuan, and his leading role was also indispensable.

"Although Brother Chen has an official status, he is more of a businessman. Moreover, both in terms of prestige and strength, they are among the few in the country. If Brother Chen can succumb to the position of honorary president of the Autonomous Chamber of Commerce, the Autonomous Chamber of Commerce will be stable. Huang Jingtang looked at Chen Wenqiang with some expectation.

Needless to say, prestige, strength. Not only Chen Wenqiang already has large enterprises and factories in his hands, but also business groups and railway patrol police. Chen Wenqiang may not have fully estimated that his strength is already quite strong, but others treat him as a big tree.

"Brother Huang is too uplifting a brother." Chen Wenqiang had already thought about it, and nodded with a smile, "So sincere, but my brother is disrespectful." I accepted it. However, I'm busy with affairs, so I'm afraid I'll only be able to name it. ”

"I don't dare to work Brother Chen for the cumbersome affairs in the meeting." Huang Jingtang saw that Chen Wenqiang agreed, he was in a good mood, and said with a smile: "It's just that this business group needs Brother Chen's help!" ”

"That's fine." Chen Wenqiang pondered for a moment and said, "In my opinion, if the Autonomous Chamber of Commerce strongly supports the constitution, there may be a few heavyweights in the Constitutional Friendship Association. It will be more convenient to do things in the future. ”

Huang Jingtang thought about it and understood. Constitutionalism is the trend, and the constitutionalists are gaining momentum, especially in the south, where the provincial constitutional friendship associations and comrades' associations are moving toward unity. If the Autonomous Chamber of Commerce takes on the name of the constitutionalists, it may receive Austrian aid from other provinces, and the government will not dare to suppress it easily.

"Everything is a good start, and this autonomous chamber of commerce must be established. Do you want to make a noise? Chen Wen asked emphatically.

"Of course." Huang Jingtang smiled, his face solemn. He said: "The incompetence and weakness of the Guangdong naval division made the British use the pretext of the unstable law and order of the Xijiang waterway to send warships deep into the Pearl River to seize the right to arrest the Xijiang River. After the establishment of the Autonomous Chamber of Commerce, the brothers called on their business colleagues to oppose it and urged the government to uphold national sovereignty. Brother Chen. What do you think? ”

Chen Wenqiang thought for a moment and nodded vigorously, "Okay." The British have always been arrogant, and this move can increase the morale of our people and increase the prestige of the autonomous chamber of commerce. Brothers will definitely support it. ”

The Autonomous Chamber of Commerce was dispensable for Chen Wenqiang, but Huang Jingtang was so radical that Chen Wenqiang changed his mind. Speaking of which, there are two kinds of businessmen, conservative businessmen and patriotic businessmen. Especially in the movement to the United States and Britain, Chen Wenqiang has discovered the differences and differences between the merchant class. If, as Huang Jingtang said, the establishment of the autonomous chamber of commerce is progressive, patriotic, able to speak up, act impartially, and united, Chen Wenqiang hopes that they can develop and grow.

"Brother Chen's words are enough." Huang Jingtang said meaningfully: "Brother Chen's attitude towards the British is not a secret, last year's Shanghai trial case spread and expanded, but the British were very embarrassed!" Pro-German and British, although a little helpless, is not a bad way. ”

"British and French capital have coveted the railway for a long time, if they don't set off some trends, how can they resist it justly?" Chen Wenqiang smiled faintly and said: "Germany is a new power, and if it wants to compete with old powers such as Britain and France, it is natural to lower its profile and not mention or mention less harsh terms. The lesser of two evils is also the helplessness of the weak country. ”

"yes!" Huang Jingtang sighed with deep sympathy and said: "But Brother Chen has made great achievements in both science and industry, and it is not an exaggeration to say that he has overwhelmed foreigners, which can be said to greatly increase the morale of the Chinese people and the prestige of the country." ”

"Brother Huang has won the prize." Chen Wenqiang waved his hand humbly and said: "There is great power in numbers, and this small achievement of brothers depends on the support of colleagues." Speaking of protests and opposition, I think that the protests against the United States seem to be more vocal than the Protests to the United States. The fact that the British trade in opium alone is an excellent reason. Not only the Chinese people have suffered greatly, but there are also more and more opposition voices in the international community. In addition, the anti-smoking edict promulgated by the imperial court last year is not only justified, but may also be supported by the government. ”

The influx of opium not only caused the health of the Chinese people to deteriorate, their will to decline, and some even seriously lost their labor force, but more importantly, a large amount of silver outflow, and the country was poor and weak. In this regard, the "Zhongwai Daily" at that time published an article pointing out: The poison of opium is an unprecedented disaster in China; The ban on smoking is also an unprecedented event, and China's future depends on the ban.

With the increasing awareness of anti-smoking in all parties, Guangxu officially promulgated the 10-year ban on smoking and drugs in 1906, starting the first nationwide vigorous anti-smoking campaign launched by the government in the Qing Dynasty in the 20th century.

The dumping of opium in the Far East has also led to serious social problems in some Western countries.

Huang Jingtang actually didn't have such a big idea, but he hated the harm of opium, not to mention boycotting British goods, or boycotting all foreign goods. For the majority of national capitalists and industrialists, it is advantageous. After all, in the field of competition in industry and commerce, national capital is still in a weak position.

For Chen Wenqiang, banning opium is what he wants, and boycotting foreign goods is also profitable, and Rade's suppression of Britain is a strategy he has always maintained.

"I think—" Huang Jingtang was still more cautious. He groaned and said: "There is no need to make a big deal about the movement to arrive in the UK, and the business colleagues will work together in private, put it into practice first, and then slowly expand it, can it also achieve practical results, right?" ”

"That's the way to go." Chen Wenqiang smiled and agreed, "In this regard, my brother has some experience, and he may be able to give some advice." ”

"In Shanghai, it's really good." Huang Jingtang smiled heartily. arched his hand and said: "Then there is Brother Lao Chen." ”

"You're welcome." Chen Wenqiang returned the salute, talked with Huang Jingtang about some details, and then left.

…………

Influence, attract, co-opt, gather...... Chen Wenqiang's strength is getting stronger and stronger, and the radiation energy is getting wider and wider. This is not necessarily his own power, but a large network that can be woven through various relationships that can play as much as possible according to his intentions.

Chen Wenqiang stayed in Guangzhou for a week, and according to his previous telegram notice, the Hunan and Hubei branches of the Guangdong-Hankou Railway, the Hanyang Iron Works, the Daye Iron Works, the Hubei Gun Factory, and other factories and enterprises had sent managers or deputy managers. I came to report with my information. And Chen Wenqiang, the patrol police officer of the three provinces recommended by the Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway Patrol General Office, also rushed to report to him.

This is the disadvantage of spreading too much, and Chen Wenqiang can't do everything himself. It is even more impossible to inspect the work in person every time. As a leader, Chen Wenqiang has mastered some tricks. Coupled with his special ability, as long as people are in front of him, it is very difficult to deceive him.

Judging from the report, it is very certain that the Guangdong-Hanzhou Railway will be completed within five years. In three years, it is a very difficult task, but it is not an impossible task. More than half of the Wuchang section (Wuhan to Changsha) has been built, and it will be opened to traffic in at most half a year; The survey of the Changsha-Zhuzhou line (Changsha to Zhuzhou) is basically completed, and the construction will start after the design is determined.

Co-ordination of construction, segmented contracting, shift reversing, and crowd tactics have played a great role in it. Chen Wenqiang also purchased advanced machinery for mountain opening and road construction from Germany, and the speed can be greatly improved. Although the upfront investment is huge. However, the early completion of the early income, and the continuous improvement of the progress of the project, also created good conditions for raising funds.

After the completion of the comprehensive transformation, Hanyang Iron Works, not only the quality of steel is stable and reliable, the output has also increased significantly, the iron production has exceeded 100,000 tons, the steel output has reached 50,000 tons, in addition to the supply of rails and parts required by the major domestic railways, as well as the raw materials of the Hubei Gun Factory, Shanghai factories and mines, Australia, Hong Kong, Nanyang Islands have also come to Han to order.

The infrastructure construction of Daye Iron Plant is nearing completion, and the blast furnace invested by the German side has arrived, and it is expected to be put into operation in two months, and the prospects are promising.

For these two steel plants, Chen Wenqiang feels that there is still potential to be tapped. Not only steelmaking and ironmaking, but also vigorously cultivate technical personnel and develop into the machine manufacturing industry. He has already reached cooperation agreements with German companies to move towards deeper industrialization.

The production and manufacturing of Mauser rifles in Hubei Gun Factory has been stable, with a daily output of 100 guns and more than 10,000 bullets. If two shifts are implemented day and night, the output can be increased by two-thirds. Chen Wenqiang instructed that the production of guns should continue as usual, that bullets should be manufactured overtime and hoarded for sale, and that the remaining production capacity should be invested in the manufacture of artillery and shells.

The railway patrol sub-bureaus in the three provinces have been set up, and the patrol police have basically been recruited, which may be the only industry that cannot produce benefits. Well, it's not accurate to say that the industry is not accurate. However, Chen Wenqiang classified it into the railway companies, and as the force that the railway companies could rely on, he was able to use only half of the funds to support them.

The directors and shareholders of the companies did not complain too much about this, because after all, with the railway patrol police, they were not too worried about the government's difficulties and oppression, and they were not too afraid of the obstruction and destruction of the railway construction by the local foolish people.

On the whole, the operation of various industries still makes Chen Wenqiang very satisfied. This is inseparable from the care and support of Zhang Zhidong and other local officials, Chen Wenqiang's knowledge of people and good duties is also very important, and it has a lot to do with the new policy of the Qing court.

Due to the financial constraints of the Qing court at that time, developing the economy and making the cake bigger became a top priority. As a result, many people of insight, especially industrial theorists such as Zhang Qian and others, spoke out and demanded that the imperial court formulate policies to reward industry and support industry and commerce, but fortunately, this call was responded to in a timely manner. The establishment of the Ministry of Commerce can also be said to be an important symbol of the transformation of the Qing court's economic policy.

At that time, the Ministry of Commerce ranked second only to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the central administrative system, which also showed the importance and expectation of the Qing court to revitalize industry and commerce and develop industry. The purpose of the Ministry of Commerce is to protect and open up industrial and commercial industries, which is also the first time in Chinese history that the government has openly played the role of advocating and rewarding industries, creating a precedent centered on economic construction.

The successive promulgation and implementation of the "Company Law", "Bankruptcy Law", "Articles of Association for the Trial of Company Registration", "Articles of Association for the Trial Application of Trademark Registration", "Articles of Association for the Oath of Mining", "Concise Articles of Association for the Reformulation of Railways", "General Regulations for Merchants", "Concise Articles of Association for the Chamber of Commerce", etc., have legally confirmed the social status and legitimate rights and interests of industrial and commercial persons, provided a legal basis for resolving industrial and commercial disputes, and laid a good institutional foundation for the development of industrial and commercial economy.

This was despite the fact that there were many other constraints to economic development, such as the presence of strong and privileged foreign capital, excessive taxes and other taxes, and corruption of government officials. However, the Qing government no longer foolishly insisted on the monopoly economy run by the government or the government-supervised business-run economy, so as to support and reward private capital and establish a free market economic system, coupled with low wages and raw materials, and a vast market, these favorable factors largely offset the adverse factors brought about by other institutional defects (such as corruption and extremely inefficient government).

The Qing court's change in economic reform was warmly welcomed by people in the business circles. Under the vigorous propaganda of the great development of the private economy and the theory of national salvation by industry, the Chinese people have gained a completely new understanding of industrial and commercial industry, and "the people are invested in industry," and the social status of industrial and commercial people has also been greatly improved.

The establishment of chambers of commerce in various places (with a growth rate of about 100 per year) has made businessmen more and more developed into a social force that cannot be ignored. Because they not only have money, but also armed merchant groups to rely on. This is even more important when the local guards of the Qing Kingdom are empty.

………….. (To be continued.) )