Song Xiaofei took the account book handed over by Sheng Xuanhuai and flipped through it, which recorded in detail the military materials purchased by Hu Xueyan during Zuo Zongtang's four or five years of Zuo Zongtang's Western Expedition.

Song Xiaofei flipped through the account book, thought for a while, and said: "War loans are not as good as doing business, the interest can be high or low, and at that time, foreign banks may not be able to be sure that Zuo Zongtang will win, and the risk is high, so it is not surprising that the interest rate may be higher, and it is difficult for us to convict Hu Xueyan based on this." In the first war between China and France, Lord Zhongtang also borrowed more than 12 million taels from foreign banks such as HSBC, and the interest was not low; As for getting kickbacks for the purchase of arms and machinery, everyone does this kind of thing, and it is not easy to put it on the table. To deal with Hu Xueyan, you can't start from this aspect, otherwise you will lose both. ”

Sheng Xuanhuai said: "That's true, we can start with Hu Xueyan's bank." Hu Xueyan's other main means of making money is Fukang Qianzhuang, which now has more than 20 branches in Shanghai, Yanjing, Zhejiang and other places, and the 'westward expedition loans' of the imperial court and various foreign banks are all received and managed by Fukang Qianzhuang, and is also responsible for repaying the principal and interest. The repayment will be shared by the provinces, and the money will be remitted to Shanghai on schedule, which will be collected by Shao Youlian, and then handed over to Fukang Qianzhuang to pay to foreign banks. Ming said that a repayment of 800,000 taels of silver was due soon, and although Hu Xueyan's 15,000 bags of raw silk were sold and the loss was not heavy, the money was recovered from the foreign bank, and I learned that it would take about 20 days. If Lord Shao can find a reason to delay for 20 days and not pay the levy to Hu Xueyan, the foreign debt is a matter of national decency, and it cannot be delayed for a day, Hu Xueyan will definitely pay 800,000 taels in advance from Fukang Bank, and then Hu Xueyan's money bank will definitely be short of money, and I will take the opportunity to let out the wind according to his caliber, saying that he has suffered a huge loss of more than 10 million taels of silver in the silk business, and the imperial court wants to punish him for his crimes, and instigate some officials to withdraw money, and his money bank is already chaotic and has a huge deficit loophole, so it will inevitably close down. ”

When Song Xiaofei heard this, this Sheng Xuanhuai was really a business wizard, the money bank is like a bank now, the liquidity is limited, and he is most afraid of a run, and most of the deposits in the Fukang money bank are the money of high-ranking officials and nobles. In order to make friends with the powerful, Hu Xueyan deliberately paid high interest to these special depositors, Sheng Xuanhuai's trick was a trick to draw salary, and Hu Xueyan was in a catastrophe! But Song Xiaofei was not at ease and asked Zhang Jian: "You said that Hu Xueyan's family business has 30 million taels, even if there are 5 or 6 million taels of silver for raw silk that have not arrived, can't he get 800,000 taels of silver from his family?" ”

Zhang Jian said: "Your Excellency can rest assured, his family will definitely not be able to take out 800,000 taels of silver." The 30,000,000 taels of silver I mentioned is just a legendary family business, not cash. Moreover, Hu Xueyan has spent money like flowing water in the past ten years, and has purchased mansions extensively, with pavilions and pavilions readily available, and most of the pillars are high-priced royal special golden silk nanmu, and expensive imported colorful glass is also used, and a mansion in Hangzhou alone costs three million taels of silver. He also spent a lot of money on women, Hu Xueyan once passed by a ready-to-wear shop and saw a slender girl standing against the door, quite attractive. The girl noticed that he was rude and peeked, closed the door and entered, Hu Xueyan was furious, and sent someone to propose a heavy amount of money, and accepted him as a concubine, on the night of marriage, Hu Xueyan entered the cave room, made the woman lie naked, and ordered the servant to take a candle to examine it all night, and then gave her 20,000 gold, let her remarry, like this, all those who bought and spun off, hundreds of people. He likes to watch plays, often appreciates plays, and often uses baskets to hold a thousand taels of silver, pouring it like rain, and squandering it like a gambler. In addition, he bought a large number of coal mine stocks, which have recently hit rock bottom. It must be difficult for him to come up with so much white money at once. ”

When Song Xiaofei heard this, this is exactly what God wants Hu Xueyan to perish, so let him go crazy first, so arrogant and extravagant, spending money like flowing water, it's no wonder if he doesn't fall. But Song Xiaofei still had doubts and asked Sheng Xuanhuai: "If Hu Xueyan borrows money from foreign banks or other ticket numbers and borrows chickens and eggs, what is it?" ”

Sheng Xuanhuai said: "Now the most powerful ticket number in China is the Shanxi ticket number, the recent silk price plummeted, a large number of silk merchants cut their positions out, the silver is tightening day by day, it is impossible to come up with so much silver to help a competitor." I happen to have a good friend named Xi Zhengfu, who not only speaks at HSBC, but also says nothing about the money bank ticket number in Shanghai. As long as Master Shao can delay for twenty days, I can ask him for help and let the foreign banks collectively refuse to help Hu Xueyan. ”

"I can also go and talk to my friends and ask them not to lend money to Hu Xueyan," Margery said. ”

Sheng Xuanhuai's move is indeed clever, and Song Xiaofei has confidence: these 800,000 taels of silver will be the last straw that crushed Hu Xueyan, a camel that became rich. He turned his head and asked Shanghai Daoist Shao Youlian: "Lord Shao, what do you mean?" Can you delay for twenty days and then allocate 800,000 taels of silver to the west? ”

Shao Youlian heard Sheng Xuanhuai at the wharf of the Huangpu River say that Li Hongzhang intended to cultivate Song Xiaofei as his successor, at this moment he opened his mouth, how could there be any reason not to agree, he patted his chest and promised: Even if Zuo Zongtang asked people to put a knife on his neck, he would never allocate 800,000 taels of repayment to Fukang Qianzhuang.

Song Xiaofei nodded and said: Lord Shao laughed, Zuo Zongtang is the governor of Liangjiang, you are Shanghai Daotai, and it is not under his jurisdiction, you are not not paying, just delaying for a few days, what can he do to you? Nakado-sama will support you. Don't worry, I estimate that Hu Xueyan won't last three days, don't believe it and wait and see! ”

Shao Youlian said yes again and again, saying that he was also serving the country and would never give up. Song Xiaofei stretched his waist and said, "The hour is not early, you guys will rest early tonight, and tomorrow will act separately according to the meaning of Master Shan." ”

Back in the bedroom, the red candles were shining in the large suite, Rong Rong hadn't slept yet, she was reading a foreign novel, and when she saw Song Xiaofei walking in, she asked with concern, "Are things done?" ”

Song Xiaofei said: "Sheng Xuanhuai and Shao Youlian are both equivalent to the third-grade Daotai, and I, the second-grade martial arts general, am just here to be the coordinator." It's much simpler than expected, so let's just wait and see the big show. In the past few days, I will accompany you to have a good walk in Shanghai. ”

Rong Rong yawned and asked, "Are we going to sleep together tonight?" ”

Song Xiaofei said: "Shao Youlian probably treats us as a couple. However, we are both engaged, so you can be accommodating, and it is not good for me to go to them again in the middle of the night to ask for a room. ”

Rong Rong smiled: "You want to be beautiful, it's just engagement, and there are people abroad who are engaged and divorced." Be honest, if you don't marry me, go to sleep in the living room. ”

Song Xiaofei said: "What if I'm not honest? You're not afraid of me sleepwalking at night and sneaking in. ”

"You dare?" Rong Rong put down the book, her face turned red with shyness, and she changed the topic: "You say that if it's okay, accompany me to pick out a wedding dress." This is the main reason why I came to Shanghai this time. ”

Song Xiaofei was stunned: "What wedding dress?" ”

Rong Rong said, "We're going to the church to have a wedding in the future." Why, you don't want to? You used to say that you were busy, when would you be free? ”

Song Xiaofei said hesitantly: "I'm willing, let's wait for a while." ”

That night, it rained outside the window, crackling and smashing on the ground, and the bamboo in the courtyard swished in the wind. Song Xiaofei couldn't sleep, he wanted to confess to Rong Rong before he got married, but he didn't know if Rong Rong, who was Westernized, could accept his other women. Those women of his, Qiu Yi got along well before she met Rong Rong, she didn't make any mistakes, and it was impossible to take a break casually. And Yu Xiaowan has also shared hardships with him, and she can't give up from the beginning. He has been wondering, are men inherently different from women? How many women do you have to like in your life to be enough?

Love, what a puzzling thing!;