Guangzhou, the recently rising new thirteen lines of commerce.

President Ye Yongtai held a cigar in his hand, staring at a telegram in front of him through the rising smoke, and did not blink for five minutes.

Just now, a director surnamed Pan hurriedly sent this telegram, dropped two sentences and ran away as if fleeing for his life, without explaining it to him clearly from beginning to end.

However, Ye Yongtai read a heart-pounding taste from the concise text of the telegram, the revolutionary military government in the north seems to be about to make some big move!

"Could it be that the Navy is going south?"

Ye Yongtai's heart was beating a drum, when the really powerful navy moved across the sea to come, he was afraid that the warships of the entire Liangguang region would have to flee from the wind. These new comprador businessmen who have made a fortune by pouring things for foreigners are afraid that they will be liquidated!

The New Thirteen Lines Association is not the old Thirteen Lines in Guangzhou, which was completely defeated by a fire a few decades ago. The surnames Ye, Pan, Lu, Wu and other big names who operate this official import and export trade have not really ruined their families because of this. Their family, which has been involved in international trade for hundreds of years, has spread all over the world. For example, Wu Bingjian, who has the largest scenic spot, can even be ranked among the richest people in the world.

The thirteen lines are rich and famous, and they are the first merchant gang in China. But their reputation is not good, especially at the beginning of this century, because they secretly colluded with foreigners to smuggle opium to the harm of the Chinese people, and openly shielded British opium dealers, and it is difficult to describe the crimes of the year.

At first, Lin Zexu banned smoking and seized opium dealers. Blockade of its trading premises. The lack of food and water forced them to comply. Wu Bingjian actually privately supplied food and drinking water to foreigners, such an act can be called lawless!

With the outbreak of the Opium War, several fires destroyed their business premises; The British strategically moved north to the Yangtze River, the rapid development of Shanghai, Hankow, and Tianjin concession ports, and the rise of new comprador forces, etc., gradually replaced their original position. If this continues, perhaps the Thirteen Lines will slowly become a historical term like the history of this world.

Unexpectedly, feng shui took turns, but I didn't expect many years later. With the rapid rise of the revolutionary army in the north, the great powers were driven out by Yang Hao and had to return to the southern ports, so the trade in Guangzhou recovered strongly again, and many old customers who had been cut off from contact reappeared.

Ye Yongtai was not originally a descendant of the famous Ye family, he has been mixed in the Guangzhou business district for decades, and there are many people who know the three religions and nine streams, but he does not have enough capital to mix in the increasingly huge import and export business.

The northern commercial groups monopolized most of China's import and export trade, and Guangzhou could only get a share of a few provinces where transportation was inconvenient to travel the Yangtze River. However, after the outbreak of the war, most of the merchants in the north did not dare to go south. There's room for pondering.

After all, Ye Yongtai was born in a business family, with a keen sense of smell and a flexible mind. The first batch of people came forward to try to raise funds, chartered a merchant ship to the north, and the first ship of northern foreign goods was pulled back, earning a net profit of millions of dollars, which caused a great sensation when it landed!

But when the other merchants saw the opportunity to rush to the front, he used the dividends to buy off several famous foreign companies that had shifted the focus of trade to Guangzhou, and reached secret trade agreements with them. One is to continue to engage in the business of importing opium from Southeast Asia and monopolize the huge profits from smuggling into the hinterland; The second is to negotiate a special collection of things that are prohibited from being exported to the outside world in the north, including all kinds of technology, equipment, machinery, weapons, and even talents who have mastered the trade secrets of the Yang Group!

A slap is not loud, and there are many merchants in the north who are used to doing comprador business. They were not happy to be led by the Yang family to engage in industry, so they hit it off with Ye Yongtai, who came to contact, and the two sides worked together to quickly organize several batches of advanced machines and important technologies that only the partners of Yanhuang Commercial Group could get.

Foreigners have always been generous, happy to give money, and escorted by foreign warships, so within a few months, Ye Yongtai quickly upgraded from a well-known nouveau riche to a business leader who oversaw the power of foreign businessmen. He reorganized the Thirteen Chambers of Commerce, and recruited some people who originally had the same surname or some relationship, and became a powerful force that everyone looked at.

This time, Yang Hao disclosed a series of good things such as advanced steam turbines, and the partners of the new thirteen lines in the north immediately smelled the huge potential benefits, and immediately decided after telegram communication, and concentrated tens of millions of funds to boldly cover the first batch of orders!

The first batch of stock is not in large quantities, and it is basically a product of a Chinese factory, and in good conscience, the quality is really not very good. After all, steam turbines are epoch-making products with extremely high requirements for workers' craftsmanship, and precision impellers cannot be manufactured with advanced machine tools alone. There are no shortcuts to accumulating experience, and it will take much longer to reach the level of the Western industrial powers.

Although there are such and such small problems, all in all, it is still a rare good thing in this era. Ye Yongtai and others ate boldly, and as expected, before they could wait for the goods, they received a high-price purchase intention from foreigners. They made twice as much profit without much effort!

It is not only a simple profit, but also an all-round collection of naval intelligence, especially a piece of news about a warship with only vague pictures, and foreigners promise heavy profits. In addition, there are a large number of orders for Chinese machinery and industrial products worth hundreds of millions of dollars, all aspects of which revolve around metallurgy, chemical industry, steel, machine tools, machinery, shipbuilding is the car industry, how much, how much!

The deal is too big, and the partners are a little worried, after all, Yang Hao is so disgusted with compradors who sell national interests, which is already well-known throughout the country.

Ye Yongtai disapplauded: "Don't listen to how loud he shouts, it's just an excuse to monopolize foreign exports, even if his Yang family has become the emperor, doesn't it depend on us to maintain business?" Since ancient times, the heavenly family and the gentry have ruled the world together, and it makes no sense that he can change the rules alone. Business is done, money is made! ”

Soon, trouble came.

The news of the smuggling of the first batch of machines was leaked out somehow, and the New Thirteen Lines Chamber of Commerce was named and criticized by Yang Hao, and was jointly fined by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce and the Coastal Anti-Smuggling Bureau. on this. Ye Yongtai didn't care. However, despite the persuasion of partners, millions of fines were paid. After all, he was also a little worried. really provoked Yang Hao, and it was very likely that the naval warships would be driven to Guangzhou and bombed them into scum.

Chinese businessmen are monkey spirits, they are accustomed to seeing the wind and the rudder, and they know best that the forces that are in the stage of strong rise must not openly provoke confrontation, otherwise they will inevitably be killed and made an example.

The fine was paid. But it is far less than the profits from smuggling. Ye Yongtai and others acted as usual, placed larger orders to the chamber of commerce and manufacturers, and prepared to play a big ticket.

At this time, Yang Hao released the news of publicly exporting ship equipment, construction facilities and materials to countries around the world. The thirteen banks, who had already paid a huge amount of advance payment, were panicked, but soon they knew that this batch of export orders would fall behind the domestic orders, and it would take at least half a year to implement them, and some might even drag on until two or three years later.

Time difference is money!

Ye Yongtai almost screamed: "God wants me to get rich!" ”

For half a year, foreign devils can't wait at all! He was well aware of the eagerness that the foreign businessmen he approached could not hide. You can take advantage of the fierce competition between them and make a lot of money by taking advantage of the east wind to suppress the west wind!

Ye Yongtai personally presided over it. Mobilize the cooperation forces from all over the country, come up with a high price to buy every recently supplied list, and completely control this first batch of business in your own hands!

The results were encouraging. After all, in this era, steam turbines are high-precision products, except for the construction of power plants, commercial ships are not used by them at all, and there are few people who know how to operate and assemble and maintain, basically, this is a gimmick.

Ye Yongtai almost got ninety percent of the spot and the equipment and spare parts to be produced within half a year, and the first batch was loaded and shipped to Guangzhou after the first batch was summarized, and then transferred to Hong Kong Island and Vietnam respectively.

The scheduled celebratory banquet had not yet taken place, and suddenly a telegram corrupted his feelings.

On the telegram, it is the decision just made by Yang Hao on behalf of the military government, the Chinese Navy will launch patrols on the country's maritime borders from now on, and without permission, warships of any country are not allowed to approach China's coastal waters without permission.

Not only patrolling, but also anti-smuggling and anti-narcotics! Yang Hao openly announced that he would completely ban the poison of foreign opium and return the people of the whole country to a prosperous future.

What Ye Yongtai is worried about is that the navy will take advantage of this to further interfere in the shipping between Guangzhou, Guangzhou, and Guangzhou, and when the time comes, if the warships really stop in the port and sweep across the South China Sea, then their smuggling business will really not be able to do it!

"Xiang Zhuang dances the sword, which is intended for Pei Gong? Or is it the darkness of the plank road? Or is it a way to cut down ......? ”

Thirty-six tricks and various means went back and forth in his head, and he couldn't figure out which trick it was for a while. Ye Yongtai even boldly guessed that this might just be a knock on the mountain and a tiger, judging by the naval strength provided by the foreigners, they simply did not have the strength to patrol the entire sea frontier. Being able to protect the East China Sea and go south to Fujian is already the limit.

The director who came to deliver the letter just now should have been frightened by Yang Hao's prestige, so he panicked, and it is estimated that he will terminate his activities immediately after he goes back, and even withdraw from the Thirteen Lines, in order to dissociate himself from this matter, right?

"Hmph, a bunch of cowards!"

Ye Yongtai finally chose to believe in his luck and bold judgment, crushed the cigar fiercely, and rang the electric bell on the table.

Not long after, a middle-aged man with a melon skin hat came in with a hunched waist and asked softly, "Master, what do you command?" ”

Ye Yongtai leaned back, his smoky and scorched index finger tapped on the table, stared at him and asked, "Lao Cai, did you accept the things that you were asked to send to the Governor's Mansion the day before yesterday?" ”

The middle-aged man blinked his triangular eyes and replied with a smile: "Master, what you said, what you gave your face, can they either?" To this day, he didn't say to send it back, so naturally Governor Tan recognized it. ”

"Well, that's a good job."

Ye Yongtai praised lightly, thought about it and said: "I heard that Tan Yanmin, the third son of the governor, was recently admitted to Tianjin Beiyang University, and he will go north to report in two days." You send another Cheng Yi over, and by the way, inquire if the Governor's Mansion is interested in opening the port to the navy. Or, cooperate with them to engage in anti-smoking and anti-smuggling. ”

The middle-aged Lao Cai hurriedly agreed, bowed and withdrew.

Ye Yongtai stood up and came to the window to look at the busy ships on the sea in the distance. Thinking about the batch of equipment that will be sent to foreigners. How much money can be made.

He was sure of it. It is impossible for Tan Zhonglin, the governor of Liangguang, to cooperate with Yang Hao to impose a sea ban. Governor Tan was a hardcore old-fashioned court conservative, loyal to the Empress Dowager of the West, and vigorously opposed things that were bad for the foundation of the ancestors. Abnormal scheme and anger at the blatant destruction of the millennium rites and religion, the decency of the officials and gentry trampled into the mud. Therefore, even if he knew that the navy was strong and the revolutionary army was in full swing, he would never cooperate and refuse the foreigners. Until now, the emperor has changed a puppet in the two palaces. When the other governors were in disobedience, he was still respectful and obedient.

Now, Yang Hao issued this announcement like an order, Tan Zhonglin is tired, it is strange that he can cooperate.

"Hmph, those cowards don't dare to ask for it, and I will unceremoniously swallow this dividend."

Ye Yongtai's face showed a touch of pleasure, and he felt that the hot flashes blowing outside did not smell so bad.

A few days later, Ye Yongtai's judgment was confirmed. The Governor's Office issued a decree declaring Liangguang to be the land of the imperial court. Since you should abide by the agreement between the court and the nations, you must not submit to the rebels. A flagrant violation of international conventions should trap trillions of people in the land of injustice.

To put it bluntly, your surname Yang sent a notice thousands of miles away, and my dignified governor of Liangguang was obedient and obedient, so what kind of person did I become!

Ye Yongtai laughed loudly when he heard this, and then couldn't wait to load all the embargoed goods organized on the ship, and drove out of the port with a big smile, going to Hong Kong Island and Vietnam respectively.

Unbeknownst to him, all the operations were under the covert supervision of the intelligence services in Guangzhou. On the same day that Yang Hao's order was issued, a special operations group of up to 100 people headed by Ma Yang arrived in the local area and established a new foreign firm, but secretly took over the supervision of the local business and government circles.

As soon as Ye Yongtai's ship set off, Ma Yang sent a telegram with a wicked smile. Soon after, a warship cruising on the waters of the South China Sea quietly tore off its camouflage, changing from its original posture of carefully avoiding incoming ships to openly displaying its existence. The First Squadron headed by the "Zhenyuan" has been large and small, and the ships of the past ten days have been showing their fangs and sharp teeth!

The frigate "Weihai" commanded by Sa Zhenbing took the lead, rushed into the Wanshan Islands with full power like a sharp sword, and accurately intercepted the cargo ship that was transferred to Hong Kong Island!

Ye Yongtai was on the ship, and he originally planned to go out in person, so as to explain to the foreigners in detail how difficult it was for this batch of goods to come, and he wanted to knock out a little more benefit from it. But I didn't expect that as soon as this came out, I ran into hard stubble head-on!

The flag of the Chinese Navy fluttered in the wind, the muzzle of the black hole pointed at it from afar, and the owners and sailors of the freighter were so frightened that they almost peed their crotch!

Ye Yongtai couldn't believe that they really dared to come, and he was so frightened that he couldn't possess his body! But when he thinks about it, the things on this ship are almost all his net worth, and if he doesn't fight, he will be completely finished!

He turned his head to look at Hong Kong Island, which seemed to be within reach, gritted his teeth and ordered: "Ignore him, speed up with all your might, rush to Hong Kong Island, and Lao Tzu will buy you the money for a new boat!" ”

The owner of the ship will not do it! Yang Hao's prestige and fame, even foreigners dare not provoke, who doesn't know that sooner or later his old man will have to sit in the dragon court and call himself a lonely widow? At this time, wring the warship with him, that's looking for death!

Ye Yongtai was also ruthless, and immediately ordered more than a dozen of his guards to take out their guns and point at the captain's head to force him to turn and escape.

The loud loudspeaker of the "Weihai" thought for a long time, and found that the cargo ship actually made a gesture of wanting to escape, Sa Zhenbing sneered: "They have all been caught, where do you want to run?!" Gun warning! ”

The bow 127mm gun trembled slightly, and a shell exploded a column of water a few hundred meters in front of the freighter! This time, no matter how strong Ye Yongtai was, the guards were all intimidated. The famous boxer in Guangdong, led by him, hugged him regretfully: "I'm sorry Boss Ye, we are also in the Chinese Warriors Association now, and we can't really fight against Yang Ye." We're done with this job today, and we'll send you compensation when we get back. ”

With a wave of his hand, everyone put away their guys one after another, no matter how Ye Yongtai scolded him, the slightest intention of resisting was gone.

How did Ye Yongtai know that now with the support of Yang Hao, the Chinese Warriors Association formed on the basis of the northern martial arts has unified the people who practice martial arts across the country, and has found a livelihood for them to support themselves at multiple levels. High-end ones such as Li Shuwen and Sun Lutang have become national-level consultants and military instructors, while Huo Yuanjia and others have participated in the huge national fitness research association, and have become fitness consultants for officials at all levels. After training, the general martial artists became the backbone of the national logistics company and the escort group, and there was no danger to their lives and they had a good income.

The youngest, after vocational training, become a physical education instructor in thousands of newly built primary and secondary schools, or go deep into institutions at all levels to serve as a private sports and fitness instructor, which is a good job that you can't dream of! The income is stable, and there is no delay in martial arts training, and there are also systematic opportunities for upgrading exercises and further education!

Most of the people in the southern martial arts have better backgrounds and more flexible minds, and they know very well that this general trend can only be reversed. Even if Yang Hao's forces haven't come over yet, it will be sooner or later. Therefore, no one would be stupid enough to come out against the Yang family.

So it didn't take much effort, the freighter was forced to stop by the frigate, and Ye Yongtai was stolen. Then came the news, and the other one was also caught. Immediately, the navy openly drove into Guangzhou Bay, and a marine corps landed ashore to carry out an encirclement and suppression of the entire smuggling gang like an autumn wind sweeping away the leaves according to the results of the investigation!

The New Thirteen Chambers of Commerce have only been thriving for more than a year, and then they suddenly collapsed and failed!

With this vote, Yang Hao seized a total of 40 or 50 million in wealth and fines, almost uprooting Ye Yongtai and his gang who were colluding together. Later, how to clean up those who eat inside and outside the north is a later story.

On the island of Hong Kong and Vietnam, Britain and France received notices from the junta at the same time, and Yang Hao harshly criticized them for their blatant violation of China's coastal defense and commercial regulations, and considered excluding them from trading and cooperation.

After receiving the notice, the new British minister Sadaoyi sighed helplessly and issued an order: "To generate electricity in China, we should start formal commercial negotiations according to the requirements of the Chinese." ”

In August 1896, after several tosses, the ship equipment business between the great powers and Yang Hao officially kicked off.

At the same time, various warship drawings urgently updated by various countries were also placed in front of the navy. British Chief Designer William. Sir Wright, who came up with an avant-garde design with two four 305mm guns and ten 233mm secondary guns, caused a heated debate. (To be continued......)