At the end of November, Xiao Zhenlei convened all the high-level personnel of Zhenhua Company to hold a meeting on the preparation for the construction of a steelmaking plant, in which Xiao Zhenlei gave an example of the lack of its own steelmaking plant in the embarrassment of steel raw materials must be controlled by others, and now Western countries are engaged in an arms race, except for the United States, basically no other country has excess steel sold internationally, and even if there is, the shipment volume is pitiful.

Now the steel used by Zhenhua Company is basically purchased by Hanyang Iron and Steel Plant, and a few are imported from abroad, but foreign imports are far from meeting the demand, and the steel that Hanyang Iron and Steel Plant can sell to Zhenhua Company is also limited, why? Because the Daye Iron Mine, the iron ore source base of the Hanyang Iron and Steel Plant, has been fully controlled by the Japanese, and the coking coal used in the steelmaking of the Hanyang Iron and Steel Plant must purchase how many tons of coking coal from Japan per year according to the contract.

On January 5, 1904, Sheng Xuanhuai signed the "Daye Ore Purchase and Transportation Advance Loan Price Contract" and three annexes with the representative of the Japan Iron Works, the Japanese Consul General in Shanghai, Oda Kiri, and the director of the Industrial Bank of Japan. The contract stipulates that Daye Mining Bureau will borrow 3 million yuan of Japanese gold from the Industrial Bank of Japan for a period of 30 years at an annual interest rate of 6%; Daye Iron Mine's existing and future mines; The mining railway, mine crane, vehicle, house, repair machine factory (land machine factory) to receive the exhibition shall be the loan guarantee; repay the principal and interest at the price of the ore, and shall not repay the cash; First-class ore is 3 yen per ton, and second-class ore is 2.2 yen per ton. The mine price is negotiated once every 10 years.

The contract also stipulates that iron ore is outside. Its ancillary railways, buildings and machinery must be used as collateral for the loan and within the above-mentioned period. The above-mentioned collateral shall not be assigned or pledged to the governments or private persons of other countries. At the same time, it is also necessary to ask for the consent of the other party to hire a Japanese technician. During the negotiations, Sheng Xuanhuai asked for money to renovate and expand the iron works, and most of the conditions put forward by Japan were accepted. He only raised objections to the hiring of Japanese technicians, and the Japanese side explained that the Japanese technicians belonged to him in moderation, and he agreed. He didn't know at the time that it was a Japanese ploy. After the signing of this contract, Japan took full control of Daye Iron Mine, which became the ore base of Japan's Yawata Iron Works.

Think about it. The two main raw materials needed for steelmaking, one is iron ore and the other is coking coal, both of which are controlled by the Japanese. It was not until last year that Sheng Xuanhuai merged Hanyang Iron and Steel Plant, Daye Iron Mine and Pingxiang Coal Mine into Hanye Ping Coal and Iron Works and Mines Co., Ltd., and changed the official supervision and commercial office to a completely commercial company.

It is also the incompetence of the Qing government if the country is strong. It is completely possible to violate this contract, and if this unfair contract is not performed, the Japanese can only stare dryly, but because the Qing court is incompetent. Sheng Xuanhuai later found out that it was too late to regret it after he fell for the Japanese, and he didn't dare not fulfill the unfair contract.

Xiao Zhenlei said at a high-level meeting of Zhenhua Company: "The steel we can buy from Hanyang Iron and Steel Plant is no longer enough to meet our company's needs, and at this stage we can only buy from the international market. But the price is much more expensive, but there is no way to do it. So in order to solve this dilemma, we have to build our own steel mill. Steelmaking coking coal can be purchased from Pingxiang Coal Mine, now this coal mine has not been controlled by the Japanese, the iron ore needed for steelmaking, we can replace it with cheap scrap steel, or import from the United States, South America and Australia, to solve these problems, we also have to buy steelmaking furnaces, as far as I know, the Western powers in the world have used new steelmaking converters. In addition, we also require the technical personnel of iron and steelmaking, the first few problems are easy to handle, as long as the money can solve the problem is not a big problem, but the last point, we lack technical personnel, this is the most difficult to solve! ”

At this time, the general manager, Belgian Hall, said: "Mr. President, if you don't mind, I recommend to you a metallurgical technical engineer, he is Dutch, his name is Williams, he is my classmate when he was studying in England, he used to work in the iron and steel metallurgical industry in Germany, and now he is at home, if you don't have other suitable candidates, I think he should be able to help us!" ”

Xiao Zhenlei thought for a while and asked, "Is he willing to come to China?" ”

"I think I can convince him!"

"So what about his character? Forgive me for being rude, the reason why I ask this is because once it is determined that he is the talent we need, then I want to entrust him with the purchase of steelmaking equipment, you must know that this is a business involving millions of taels of silver, and I don't want my money to be cheated out of anyone! ”

Hall understood and replied, "Of course, I can vouch for him to be a loyal and reliable friend with my personality!" “

Xiao Zhenlei took a few puffs of cigarette and said: "Okay, after the meeting, he will contact him, at the latest two months, I will leave for Europe, then I will meet with him, if it is determined that he is the person we need, then I will entrust him with the purchase of steelmaking equipment, now Western countries are blocking our technology, I will buy this equipment, the seller may set up technical barriers for us, but it is different for Westerners to buy."

Hall agreed, "Okay, I'll get to work on this soon!" ”

A few days later, Xiao Zhenlei got a news that Hanyeping Company was about to hold the first shareholders' meeting in Shanghai, and Sheng Xuanhuai presided over the shareholders' meeting.

China Merchants Shipping Bureau Building.

"My lord, a young man outside claims to be Xiao Zhenlei, the president of Zhenhua Company, he wants to see you, this is his famous thorn!" An attendant took out a gilded name card from his sleeve and handed it over with both hands.

"Xiao Zhenlei? I've heard of this young man! Sheng Xuanhuai took the famous thorn and looked at it, and said with some surprise: "Isn't he Cai Naihuang's person?" Why did you come to visit the old man? ”

Sheng Xuanhuai is not a person who is closed to information, he knows very well what is happening in Shanghai and all over the country, and although he and Lao Yuan are both from Li Hongzhang's disciples, but the two are a little bit incompatible, Cai Naihuang is Lao Yuan's person, and Xiao Zhenlei is Cai Naihuang's person, he can still tell who is the enemy and who is the friend, what is this obviously the opposite person looking for? I just wanted the entourage to refuse not to see him, but after thinking about it, it was better to see him, so he ordered: "Let him in!" ”

"Yes, sir!"

Soon, Xiao Zhenlei was led by his entourage to Sheng Xuanhuai's office, which was decorated in an antique style, with Chinese elements but also Western decorations.

"Xiao Zhenlei, the twenty-third standard commander of the twenty-third mixed association of the new army, and the forty-sixth standard, see my lord!" Xiao Zhenlei wore a new army uniform and gave a military salute instead of kneeling.

"Hahaha, no courtesy, Xiao Biaotong really looks like a talent, he served as the 46th standard commander of the New Army at a young age, and also founded a huge Zhenhua company, the future is immeasurable!" Sheng Xuanhuai said as he stretched out his hand to let Xiao Zhenlei sit down.

After the two sat down, Xiao Zhenlei smiled and said: "This achievement of the kid is nothing compared to the grand master, it is not worth mentioning, it is not worth mentioning!" ”

The entourage quickly brought up the tea, and Sheng Xuanhuai held the teacup and asked, "What is the matter with Xiao Biaotong's visit to see the old man this time?" ”

Xiao Zhenlei just took a sip of tea, and when he heard the words, he put down the teacup and said, "Come to save Han Yeping Company!" ”

Sheng Xuanhuai almost squirted out the tea he had just drunk in his mouth when he heard this, forcibly swallowed the tea or wiped the corners of his mouth with a handkerchief, and said with a smile: "The young man's tone is not small, Han Yeping is so dignified, why do you need to save it?" ”

Xiao Zhenlei shook his head and said: "Lord Sheng, let's not talk darkly, in February 1899, you signed the "Coal and Coke Iron Ore Mutual Sales Contract" with Wada, the director of the Japanese Iron and Steel Department. The contract stipulates that Nippon Steel will purchase 50,000 tons of iron ore from Daye Iron Mine in the first year, and the amount after the second year will be determined after the approval of the House of Representatives in March this year; Hanyang Iron Works buys at least 30,000 or 40,000 tons of Japanese coal and coke per year, and the price is negotiable; In addition to the Hanyang Iron Plant's own use, if there is any other market, it must first supply 50,000 tons to Japan, and if Japan wants to buy more ore, it must do so. It also stipulates that Daye Iron Mine is not allowed to sell iron ore to iron factories with foreign shares in other local governments, and Nippon Iron and Steel is to appoint two or three members to be stationed in Daye Lime Kiln and Tieshan.

In 1900, according to the contract, Japan sent Kimio Nishizawa to be the superintendent of Daye Iron Mine, and built two Western-style houses by the lime kiln river as offices. In addition to Kimio Nishizawa, the number of Japanese stationed at the lime kiln was far more than the number stipulated in the contract, including Matsuo Shigero, Naozo Kato, Ishiban Matsutaro, Ono Yuo, Matsudaira Uzaburo, Ura, and Fureng Karin. Since then, Japan has implemented the control of Daye Iron Mine.

Also, in 1904, you signed the "Daye Ore Purchase and Transportation Ore Pre-borrowed Ore Price Contract" and three annexes, I will not talk about the content, you are the person who signed the contract, you should know the specific terms, the signing of this treaty directly led to Japan's comprehensive control of Daye Iron Mine.

These terms make the two major raw materials needed by the Hanyang Iron and Steel Plant all controlled by the Japanese, so the Hanyang Iron and Steel Plant will not be able to make a profit even if it renews its steelmaking equipment, right? You can see that you have been tricked by the Japanese, so the Daye Iron Mine, Hanyang Iron and Steel Plant and Pingxiang Coal Mine were merged, integrating resources and reducing waste, which made Hanye Ping Company have a slight surplus, I heard that you are preparing to hold a general meeting of shareholders to build a new iron plant near Daye Iron Mine to specialize in pig iron, and to recruit 15 million taels of business shares from merchants, I said that you are going to kill those merchants! ”

When Sheng Xuanhuai heard this, he saw that Xiao Zhenlei had broken through the mess that he had been cheated by the Japanese, and he was immediately annoyed in his heart, and said angrily: "Bastard boy, the purpose of offering shares to merchants is to further expand the production scale of Hanyeping Company, how can this be a pit business?" If you don't make it clear to the old man today, the old man will not spare you! (A pie-in-the-sky event, cool phones are waiting for you!) Follow from ~ Dian/Chinese network public account (WeChat add friends - add public account - enter ddxiaoshuo), participate now! Everyone has a prize, now pay attention to ddxiaoshuo WeChat public account! (To be continued......) R1292