After two days in Washington, Hu moved out of the slightly shabby Qing Legation and stayed at the best hotel in Washington, D.C., at a time when the United States had begun to adopt new construction techniques of reinforced concrete, which was the first hotel of its kind in DC, with six floors and two novel elevators.

Hu Chuyuan ordered three of the best luxury suites, and another six high-end rooms for his entourage to live in.

From here that night, he also set off to the private residence of John Sherman, the current chairman of the Republican Party of the United States.

In last year's election, the Chinese Association donated $5,000 to John Sherman's personal campaign, and in the subsequent campaign, they donated $60,000 to James Garfield through John Sherman.

That's a lot of money.

Even for this reason, John Sherman had to accept Yung Hong's arrangement to meet Hu Chuyuan at his residence.

It was just a very simple family dinner, and John Sherman invited a Republican Senator, Dix Sherman, his cousin, and their wife.

Hu Chuyuan brought Rong Hong and Wu Shuzhen.

John Sherman wasn't actually a "good-looking" person, in his fifties, short and stocky, with Scottish ancestry.

Unlike the late poor governor James Garfield, he was a wealthy man who inherited a large fortune from his grandfather. Among those who benefited from him was his cousin, Dix Sherman.

This wealth allowed them to get a good education, graduated from Yale University together, and entered politics.

The arrogance of the Americans is interesting, and it was not until before the banquet that John Sherman learned from his wife who Hu Chuyuan was, as the New York Times had already reported, the richest man in the Qing Dynasty, earning more than two million pounds a year.

Oh yes.

Damn it.

John Sherman realized at this time that he was somewhat negligent, and he finally understood where the funds of the National Chinese Association came from.

Sitting down in his position, Hu Chuyuan did not rush to talk about the anti-Chinese turmoil, but really talked about the warship business.

However, John Sherman was taken aback by his arguments, and he demanded that the United States have a large-scale warship manufacturer in the San Francisco Bay, as well as supporting steel and other industrial factories, and that the U.S. Navy must buy several warships at this shipyard, and then he will buy warships at this shipyard and start a long-term cooperation that includes sending technical personnel to the United States for further study.

After hearing his words, the Sherman brothers were stunned, and even their wives were a little speechless.

I've seen it horizontal, but I've never seen it like this.

The two sides were silent for a while before Wu Shuzhen showed a charming smile and said, "Two gentlemen, please don't worry, we have a clear answer to the investors in the shipyard and other industries. At the same time, Hanhua Bank and Mr. Hu will personally provide sufficient financial guarantees, and Fuzhou Shipping Administration is also willing to transfer some of the technical information we currently have obtained to the United States. ”

"What?"

John Sherman, who could barely believe his ears, asked, "You guys transferred the technology to us?" ”

Hu Chuyuan replied very seriously: "That's true, in my negotiations with Britain and France, we did get a lot of technical assistance, the problem is that we can't digest it. We are willing to share these technical secrets with the American side, on the condition that the American side helps us digest them slowly and gradually get rid of our traditional dependence on Britain and France. ”

"...... this?"

John Sherman realized that the United States was likely involved in an international dispute, but the benefits were real, and since the end of the Civil War, the United States had not built a single warship to absorb the effects of Civil War bonds.

The current US naval construction has lagged behind the advanced level of Europe by a large margin, and the House of Representatives also intends to pass a new budget to support the reconstruction of the US Navy.

At this time, their wife was clever enough to get up and take her leave, and took their young children out of the dining room.

Hu Chuyuan said to John Sherman in detail: "Our contract includes technologies such as hybrid iron armor, three-expansion steam engine, and the overall skeleton design of the Central Fort battleship. It was determined that it would be impossible for us to digest these technologies in a short time, and in order to avoid French competition, the British side was particularly generous in the transfer. ”

At this moment, the Sherman brothers couldn't help but glance at each other.

The United States, which is founded on manufacturing, also does not bother to spend a lot of money to buy technology, and if they are given five years, they can make it themselves.

If you get it for free, they're even happier.

John Sherman thought for a moment and asked Hu Chuyuan, "Mr. Hu, for the sake of secrecy, can we talk alone for a while?" ”

Hu Chuyuan basically didn't want to eat it, and to be honest, Mrs. John Sherman's craftsmanship was indeed not worthy of compliment.

He nodded slightly, got up with John Sherman and left the dining room, and entered John Sherman's study one after the other.

After Mrs. Sherman gave a pot of brewed black tea with special enthusiasm, after John Sherman closed the door, he invited Hu Chuyuan to sit down more warmly and poured a cup of tea for Hu Chuyuan himself.

After taking a sip of tea, John Sherman and Hu Chuyuan asked, "Forgive me for taking the liberty of asking, in what way do you plan to carry out such cooperation?" ”

Hu Chuyuan sat on the sofa, supporting his cheeks with his hands, drinking tea, and reminiscing in his heart.

After a while, he replied, "I'll look for the right American investors to invest in a steel mill and shipyard in San Francisco, including other facilities and supporting facilities, and if there are some shortcomings, I will buy from the East Coast." I transferred the technical secrets to them through a third party, and all the U.S. Navy had to do was use the technology to build ships at this shipyard. In the meantime, you are to allow me to train my technicians and other Chinese workers at the shipyard. When the U.S. Navy ordered three or four warships, I would persuade the Qing court to buy warships from this experienced and reputable shipyard. ”

John Sherman silently drank his tea, and replied after a while: "There should be no problem with this, we are very willing to maintain such cooperation with your country for a long time, but I take the liberty of asking you, is this your personal intention, or the opinion of the upper royal family and the prime minister of your country?" ”

Hu Chuyuan said: "It is obviously my personal opinion, and I can assure you that at least in terms of shipping administration, my opinion will easily become a national policy." In addition, I need the US side to provide several guarantees: first, the US military academy must be open to Chinese, at least to the candidates I recommend; Second, before China procures other U.S. firearms, the U.S. side should also allow the transfer of relevant technology and provide stable technical assistance. In return, and as the owner of China's largest commercial company, I can guarantee that the long-term trade relationship between China and the United States will be stable, and that we will supply the United States with the tea and raw silk that you need, and the United States will export diesel and machinery and chemicals, among other industrial goods. ”

John Sherman exhaled a hot breath a little too much to bear.

He must admit that dealing with Hu Chuyuan is a magical thing, and it is a very good win-win deal that people cannot refuse.

After a long time in his mind, John Sherman said, "I don't have the authority to decide these things for the time being, but I can assure you that the United States is willing to make such a deal." Among the countries of Europe and the United States, the United States is one of the very few countries that has no interest in China, and we are China's best cooperative partner. ”

Hu Chuyuan nodded slightly and said, "I will definitely convey it, but before that, should we discuss the issue of your country's anti-Chinese turmoil?" ”

"This ......?"

John Sherman looked a little embarrassed and added: "You may not know much about American politics, in fact, although we Republicans are in power, the House of Representatives has been under the control of the Cookers. Even within our Republican Party, there is no consensus on this matter, and there are many members who support this bill. Now, the only thing we can hope for is that Mr. President can use his veto power to veto bills passed by the House of Representatives and Congress. ”

Hu Chuyuan hummed a few times and said, "Then let's talk about this headache-inducing legislative issue." From what I know about the politics of your country, the media always has a peculiar energy, so let's fight a war in the media and turn this situation around. ”

"Oh?"

John Sherman asked curiously, "So what are you going to do?" ”

Hu Chuyuan thought for a moment and said, "I have my plan, what I need is some official cooperation, and if I can, I want to hold an exhibition of cultural relics and artworks to help Americans better understand China." In addition, as far as I know, the Pacific Railroad caused the death of many Chinese workers during the construction process, and did not give contracts, and even deducted all the salaries of some of the dead Chinese workers. ”

"Oh."

John Sherman said: "I know a little bit about this, although I don't know much, but I support your appeal and am happy to provide some help in any way I can." However, it is still more troublesome to sue such a large company in the United States, especially if the case you are involved in is a class action lawsuit, which is more complicated and impossible without several years of preparation. ”

Hu Chuyuan said: "We will speed up the handling of this point." ”

John Sherman, who worked as a lawyer in Pittsburgh for six years before joining the Republican Party, reckoned that without four or five years of preparation, the collective mandate alone would be annoying, and it would take a lot of effort to actually get the right to go to court.

He just generously wished Hu Chuyuan and the National Chinese Association success in the United States.

After the two talked about this, they walked out of the study, and then talked semi-openly about some other issues, such as the location of the Chinese art exhibition hall and the specific opening date.

This is where the meeting with John Sherman comes to an end.

After returning to the hotel, Hu Chuyuan, contacted by Yung Hong, met with another person, Stillson Huggins, founder and editor-in-chief of The Washington Post.

After some talks, Hu Chuyuan bought the newspaper, which had only been published for less than four years and has sold only 4,000 copies per newspaper, for $70,000, and gave a long-term grant for 10 years to ensure that the Washington Post would continue to beat other newspapers in the surrounding area with a relatively low price, a larger layout, and a larger amount of information.

He retained all the staff and editors of the paper, maintaining the original idea of Stillson-Huggins - tracking and reporting on political events, analyzing every meaningful event, and at the same time making a supplement - deciphering the truth behind the events.

This is just the beginning, with the help of the Russell family, Hu Chuyuan has already founded the American News Newspaper Company in New York through Wanqi Foreign Company, and has won the "New York Times", "Boston Herald", and "Chicago Tribune" at a lot of prices, paying a total of 470,000 US dollars for this.

In the U.S. News Newspaper Company, Hu Chuyuan has provided a platform for the development of reading power for all newspapers, and has a relatively flexible share dividend system, retaining the original management style and reporting rights of each newspaper, and the original editor-in-chief is still responsible for everything.

In order to find the most suitable manager for the American News Newspaper Company, Hu Chuyuan decided to continue with the merger of a newspaper.

He chose someone who wouldn't let him down - Joseph Pulitzer, owner of the St. Louis Express Post.

"Pulitzer"!!

This surname is the best guarantee.

In order to complete his plan in the shortest possible time, and out of respect for Joseph Pulitzer, the father of modern journalism, Hu Chuyuan personally took the train to St. Louis, Missouri, accompanied by Wu Shuzhen, and Albert Samuel Russell, a fourth-generation member of the Russell family who had just arrived in Washington.

Albert Russell, a twenty-seven-year-old entrepreneur who was seen as the new hope of the old Russell family, was young and handsome, with chestnut-brown red hair, much like his great-grandfather Samuel Russell, with blue eyes, a good education, and a gentle conversation.

Although he was young, with the support of his parents, at the age of 21, he started his own bottle factory in New York, supplying glass bottles to the surrounding wineries, thus making a lot of money.

(To be continued)