Eighteen American GIs, tall and tall, Tony-style bowls, steel helmets, khaki uniforms, suede boots, and rifles with bayonets, walked straight inside, not taking these hundreds of Shanghai underworld thugs seriously at all.

If such a small group of American soldiers faced such a huge number of Jianghu figures in the northern region of China, they would definitely be frightened and retreat, and the north had a Boxer Fist and a large-scale battle with Yangmaozi, and the northerners were rude and heroic, and they didn't care about their temperament, and they would kill them.

But Shanghai is different, this is the earliest place for foreigners, the concession has a history of nearly 100 years, from a wilderness to today's China and even the Far East the largest and most modern city, thanks to the construction of foreigners, the core of Shanghai is the concession, foreigners are the sky.

The so-called tycoons such as Huang Jinrong and Zhang Xiaolin also came by running errands for foreigners, and their backers were the patrol houses in the concessions, and it was okay to bully and bully the Chinese, but they would never dare to offend foreigners.

The maintenance of law and order in the concession depends on the patrol house and the international merchant group, but the real guarantee that can make the foreigners feel at ease is the Anglo-American and French garrison, the world is big, the foreigners are the largest, and the army of the foreigners is even bigger!

Eighteen American soldiers, in the momentum completely subdued the hundreds of thugs summoned by Zhang Xiaolin, no one dared to step forward to stop them, on weekdays, those hooligans who were rampant between the docks, inside and outside the alleys, under the majesty of the foreign people, deflated in three things, regardless of the usual horizontal masters, when encountering foreigners, they also had to be soft-legged, Chinese and foreigners are like the relationship between cats and mice, don't care how big the mouse is, it will be deflated like a natural enemy.

Halfway through, neither Zhang Xiaolin nor Du Yuesheng expected the Americans to intervene in this matter, they both have been in the French Concession all the year round, they can speak two sentences of pidgin French, and they don't understand English, facing the heavily armed Major Allen, they can only greet each other with a smile and nod their heads.

Although the status of the two tycoons is high, their social status is very average, even if Huang Jinrong, the head of the three tycoons, is present, he is just the head of the French Concession Bao to inquire, and in front of the American military major, he is not even a fart.

Major Allen didn't pay attention to them at all, and he was relieved to see that Chen Zikun was fine: "It seems that I didn't come late." ”

Chen Zikun was full of spring breeze, put away his two guns and shook hands with him and said, "Thank you, Major, you came at a good time." ”

Major Allen looked at the gun he was hanging on, and said with a smile: "I hope my arrival has not interrupted your plans, these rascals dare to go against a general, I think they are impatient." ”

The two talked and laughed in English, as if there was no one around, Zhang Xiaolin's face was blue and white for a while, and the foreigners were all out of the horse, so he had to admit it.

"Envoy Chen, the days are long, we will have a period later." The only way to stay any longer is to bring humiliation on himself, Zhang Xiaolin hugged his fists and walked away.

Du Yuesheng also stood up: "Then I will also leave." ”

Chen Zikun said: "Du Yuesheng is slow. ”

Du Yuesheng, who had already walked to the door, stopped and said with a smile: "What's the matter?" ”

Chen Zikun arched his hand and said, "Thank you for today's matter." ”

Du Yuesheng returned the salute and floated away.

The No. 100 thug downstairs and the two or three hundred people on the road outside saw that the two tycoons were gone, and they also dispersed in a hurry, and the Jubao Tea House returned to calm.

President Li Yao let out a sigh, his back was all soaked, although he had been on the beach for a long time, and he had seen all kinds of wind and waves, but it was the first time he had seen this kind of big scene where the two tycoons had appeared today, and he could sit at a table with Zhang Xiaolin and Du Yuesheng to eat and talk about tea, and it was also a seniority to pass it on, but at this moment his back was all soaked.

Major Allen shrugged and said, "It was Mr. Mu who called me to inform me that someone was going to assassinate you in the Jubao Teahouse, but depending on your preparations, I don't think they will succeed." ”

Chen Zikun stretched out his hand to Mu Yichen: "Thank you." ”

Mu Yichen said: "Senior, you're welcome, you're my gold master, you can't have anything to do, then again, you're really too hard." ”

Chen Zikun smiled self-deprecatingly: "Playing is life." ”

The crisis was lifted, and everyone was about to leave, when suddenly a team of patrol officers from the South City Police Station arrived at the scene, and Major Allen stepped forward to negotiate in a hurry, saying that he was ordered to escort the goods to the warehouse of the British merchant Taikoo Foreign Company at the 16th Shop Wharf, but it was just passing through the Chinese border.

Chen Zikun's ambush in the vicinity of the strange soldiers quietly withdrew, he took Major Allen's car back to the concession, the public concession security can still be guaranteed, borrowed Zhang Xiaolin a few courage did not dare to make trouble on the foreigner's territory.

In order to thank Major Allen and Mu Yichen, Chen Zikun decided to invite them, Major Allen readily agreed, but said that he would bring a few more ladies to liven up the atmosphere, and Chen Zikun naturally said yes.

……

The dinner was set up in the banquet hall of the Huizhong Hotel, because it was a formal dinner, the guests were required to wear evening dresses to attend, Chen Zikun and others did not prepare evening dresses, and rented a set in a special store to wear.

Allan. Jin brought his wife and Miss Emily to the dinner, Mr. Officer wore military dresses, Lady and Miss wore floor-mopping dresses, and Jian Bing and Yao Yilei wore well-fitting cheongsams, showing the lines and charm of oriental women

The dinner was sumptuous, with a French dinner and fine red wine, and when the purpose of Chen Zikun's visit to Shanghai was discussed, he told his American friends without concealing that he had come to purchase arms.

Major Allen immediately raised his eyebrows: "Of course, the rifle is the best in Springfield, although its rotary rear pull bolt is from Mauser, but you have an old Chinese saying, blue out of blue is better than blue, isn't it." ”

Springfield is the U.S. Army standard rifle M1903, Chen Zikun used it when he was at West Point, this gun is much shorter than the Mauser Type 98, more light and convenient, and it is indeed a good gun.

"Of course, I also know a story that during the European War, Sergeant York from Tennessee used a Springfield and twenty rounds of ammunition to kill twenty-one German soldiers and capture one hundred and thirty-two German soldiers, and won the highest medal of the United States, the Congressional Medal of Honor." Chen Zikun talked eloquently, and everyone agreed.

"So, how many dollars does an M1903 cost?" Chan asked.

Major Allen shook his head: "It's a matter of the quartermaster, I just know it's a good gun." ”

Chen Zikun knew that the warlords of all walks of life used a variety of weapons, Feng Zhang used the Japanese golden hook and the Russian water beads, the southwest Lu Rongting Tang Jiyao mainly used the French Lebel, the direct line used the Hanyang factory of the national Qijiu and part of the imported German Mauser, and the arms used by other small warlords were more complicated, such as Carcano in Italy and Manlixia in Austria, but there were really few people who used American weapons.

The domestic arms market is dominated by various old foreign companies, and although the US fire manufacturers are strong, they are often reduced to the role of OEM, producing water and beads for Russia and Li for Britain. Enfield, that is, its own products can't be sold.

Chen Zikun had an idea: "Allen, last time I heard you say that you are ready to retire and return to the United States, I don't know what your plans are?" ”

Alan said: "I'm going back to my hometown in Texas to open a livestock farm. There was a sense of frustration in his words. He is no longer young, and he has not yet been promoted to major after fifteen years.

Chan said, "Are you interested in doing business in partnership? ”

Before Alan could speak, Mrs. King's eyes lit up, and she pouted and said, "I'm not happy to go back to Texas to milk cows every day, I've been in Shanghai for a long time, and I don't want to go anywhere." ”

Alan hesitated: "I'm a soldier, I don't know how to do business." ”

Chen Zikun said: "It doesn't matter, we do arms trading, and the business is right. ”

At this time, Alan became interested, straightened his buttocks, rubbed his hands and said, "How much money do you estimate you can make a year?" ”

Chan Zikun understated it: "That's millions of dollars." ”

"Oh God, Alan, did you hear me, a few million dollars, you can't make that much money raising cows for the rest of your life." Mrs. Kim was excited.

Major Allen also looked eager to try, but after thinking about it, he said, "But what can I do?" ”

Chen Zikun said: "We have partnered to set up a foreign company, acting as an agent of the United States, you are the general manager, I will send someone to be your deputy, supply and marketing, make half of the money, China has been fighting wars all year round, and arms are not sold, isn't it." ”

"Yes, yes, Alan, you can say yes quickly." Mrs. Kim said, shaking her husband's arm.

Alan thought for a moment and said, "Okay, I accept it, but I can't take up my new post until I go through the retirement procedures." ”

Chen Zikun stretched out his hand: "One word, my general manager, I suggest that the name of this company be called Springfield, the Chinese name is Spring, take the paraphrase, what do you think?" ”

"Honestly, it's pretty good." Major Allen seemed to be in a good mood, shook hands with Chen Zikun and said, "So, you are both a partner of the company and the first customer?" ”

Chen Zikun said: "That's right, I am going to purchase 10,000 Springfield rifles, and this business will be handed over to you." ”

He said to Mu Yichen again: "You will be the deputy general manager of the foreign bank." ”

Mu Yichen's heart fluctuated and his ambition was intense, and he became a senior manager of an American foreign bank in one meal, and his first business was also available, or it wouldn't be long before he could get ahead and have a lot of money!

"Qiu Ling, wait for me!" A voice sounded in Mu Yichen's heart.

"However, 10,000 rifles require at least 800,000 oceans, where will this money come from?" Gong Zijun brought up this frustrating practical problem at the right time.

Chen Zikun smiled wryly, stopped talking, he had no money at all, and what he did was the business of empty gloves and white wolves.

Allen's eyes widened: "Chen, I think I need to state that my assets are only a few thousand dollars, I'm afraid I will disappoint you, Springfield & Co., I can only enter dry stocks." ”

Chen Zikun had no choice but to tell the truth: "Okay, in fact, I'm pretty nervous now, and I only have ...... About 100,000 yuan. ”

Li Yaoting picked up a napkin and wiped the corners of his mouth, pretending to be very busy, it was not that he didn't want to participate in the shares, but he really had no funds, the opium business took up a lot of capital, and he could only get it for tens of thousands of yuan.

It's a joke that a bunch of poor people still have to open a foreign bank to make millions of dollars a year, and when she was embarrassed, Emily, who had not spoken, spoke:

"My father owned a bank in Boston, Massachusetts, and I thought maybe I could help."