The building scale of China Merchants Building is quite large, the height is second only to the Oriental Building in Tianjin New Area, but the podium covers an area of no less, with more than 30 floors of towering main body facing the broadcast signal tower that runs straight into the sky, and the body of more than 100 meters can be called a giant in the Far East.

At a time when there were no tall buildings, this skyscraper on the banks of the Huangpu River became an icon of Shanghai, and anyone who came from afar could see its spectacular influence and feel awe.

In any era, tall buildings represent the benchmark of industrial technology. There is no doubt that when Shanghai is only open to traffic between other countries, the China Merchants Building will inevitably attract the attention of everyone.

This unprecedented bidding conference was set up here, and the guests who entertained the bidding from all over the world were also treated here with the best hospitality in the world. Countless good things poured from this world filled every space, dazzling all the merchants of various countries who claimed to be well-informed, and it was really impossible to estimate how much it was worth.

In the banquet hall, the representative groups of various countries and provinces were clearly dispersed, each forming a small group, or around the large round table, or wandering around the open buffet area with wine glasses in hand, whispering about what they had seen and heard in the morning, exchanging their own analysis and information, and preparing for the more fierce competition that would ensue.

◆ The British delegation not only had a large number of visitors, but also had a very high position. Led not only by the conscientious Minister Sadaoyi, but also by a well-known figure -- William, the current chairman of Jardine Matheson, is not only the conscientious minister, but also the current chairman of Jardine Matheson. Kaisax.

On the surface, his surname was Caesarke, but in essence he was a branch of the Jardine's family that founded Jardine Matheson. The founder of the future Jardine Matheson Empire, who will go down in history - William. Jardine's even created the notorious "gunboat diplomacy".

In his own words: "You took my opium. I take your island as revenge. So we are equal. Since then, if you let us live in friendship. You can't protect your coastline against pirates. I can, so let's understand each other and learn to promote our mutual interests. ”

In William. With the support of Jardine's campaigning and construction, the British navy destroyed many coastal cities of the Qing Dynasty with naval guns, until the Qing government was forced to submit and sign an unequal treaty that humiliated the country.

For the British, this is a great achievement. For the Chinese, it is an eternal scar.

Yang Hao's revolutionary army was equally unreasonable. It has defeated the British-led navies and land forces of many countries several times in a row, forcibly recovered the concessions, and forcibly restricted the navigation and stationing of ships of various countries along the coast of China. Such a change once made countries very uncomfortable.

Jardine Matheson has huge interests in China, and they are simply parasitic on the bloated and tired old empire, vampires who eat meat and drink blood. However, the good business that should have doubled year after year was disrupted by Yang Hao and his gang.

Today, Jardine Matheson's business in China is nine times gone, shipping has completely collapsed, and imports and exports have come to a near standstill. Don't even think about smuggling arms and opium. What was once a commercial network along China's coast is now left with only a handful of agencies left to survive.

Hong Kong Island, which represents the Jardine's family and Jardine's achievements. was even forced to retract by Yang Hao with battleship artillery.

The British could not be willing to admit defeat, and the greedy foreign merchants led by Jardine Matheson never forgot to take revenge. The connections they have accumulated over half a century are still working, and the comprador servants who were frightened by Yang Hao's hot hand are still secretly reporting the news that will not be fatal.

This investment conference was regarded by the British as a symbol of further understanding Yang Hao's details and future trends. So, here comes Sadaoyi, William. Despite his age, Kaisark also traveled tirelessly from dormant Hong Kong Island to Shanghai.

For several days, he secretly met with many of his former subordinate Chinese Taipan, thinking that he had enough information. However, when the bid was officially opened in the morning, he remained cautious and never rushed.

The cold food area is large enough to have more than 100 kinds of elaborate and beautifully shaped foods, filled with shiny mirror-like stainless steel cutlery. Westerners who are not accustomed to using chopsticks and are tired of eating Chinese food with dripping soup and full of color and flavor are more willing to use it freely and freely. Many people carry a large plate produced in Jingdezhen, and use a shiny fork to quickly eliminate small pieces of bacon and fruit in their mouths. A wide range of fine wines are available to satisfy their appetites to the fullest.

William. After all, Caesark was old, and after a simple meal of a tender veal steak, he pushed away the cutlery, shook the goblet filled with mineral water lightly, and took a small sip from time to time.

Sa Daoyi, who was next to him, had a good appetite, and he wiped out several large pieces of five-ripe tender chops in a row, and devoured a whole lobster neatly, and finally served half a plate of fruit platters to accompany the meal. When he felt satisfied with his appetite, he drained the whole bottle of Bordeaux red wine at the same time, and then he put down his knife and fork without getting enough of it.

Finding that Kaisark paid attention to his eating appearance, Sa Daoyi shrugged with a smile after wiping his mouth with a napkin: "Please forgive me for my bad eating appearance, I haven't eaten a good meal in recent times, and the food provided by the Chinese is really delicious." ”

Kaisark shook his glass disapprovingly: "The Chinese have a saying, 'being able to eat is a blessing', which means that you have an enviable good appetite, and at the same time have extraordinary vigorous energy and fighting spirit." This will be crucial for the fierce confrontation we are about to have. ”

"Thanks for the compliment."

Sa Daoyi also changed a glass of water, rinsed his mouth carefully, leaned comfortably on the back of the chair, turned his gaze to the slightly noisy and lively southern business group at the other end, the corners of his mouth were slightly upturned, and said meaningfully: "In the morning, our friends were very eager, and it seems that they trust that Mr. Yang very much. ”

A cold light flashed in Kaisark's gray eyes, and he said lightly: "They are even more afraid of the ruthless Commander-in-Chief Yang." I'm afraid this is what they call 'casting a name', planning to exchange some money for their own safety, and at the same time to test out the truth for us, selling benefits on both sides, and the intention is very good. ”

"But it's good for us after all, isn't it?"

Sa Daoyi smiled silently, then leaned his upper body forward, stared at Kaisark and asked, "So." Dear Directors, Do you already have a clear judgment? Continue to wait and see in the afternoon? Or join the competition? ”

Kaisax did not answer directly. Rhetorical ask: "What, is this important to Mr. Minister?" ”

"Very important!" Sa Daoyi put away his smile and nodded slowly and solemnly, "In fact, this will directly affect our series of layouts and operations in the Far East. In the long run, it could affect the diplomatic relations between the British Empire and the new Chinese regime. ”

Kaisark's eyebrows raised, "Oh, it seems like there's something really going on." But I don't care too much about it, Jardine Matheson's decision. It's all about the business benefits that can be obtained. So....... ”

The gray-haired old guy shrugged his shoulders lightly and had a good demeanor.

Sa Daoyi nodded disappreciatively: "Our purpose is the same. ”

The two cunning guys raised their glasses at the same time and reached an unspoken agreement.

Of course, they both know how true or false each other's words are. For example, Caesarke, absolutely did not believe that the genius opposite him, who was already famous in the field of world diplomacy at a young age and was even more talked about by many big figures in China, would really need much help from businessmen who were almost bankrupt. When it comes to grasping the situation in the Far East, they are more professional.

Sa Daoyi also did not believe that Caesark really only cared about commercial interests. On the contrary, the Jardine family and those guys led by Jardine are all greedy and unbridled madmen. For the sale of opium. They were able to persuade the British Parliament to send their navy to wage war, and that was for the sake of money, daring to trample on any moral justice. Yang Hao made them suffer so much loss. How could he honestly follow the path he had drawn?

Of course, both sides were very surprised and surprised by Yang Hao's open way of attracting investment.

According to the common practice in the West, after a colony like the Philippines actually controls such a large territory, they will definitely monopolize the benefits, and it will never be possible for outsiders to get a piece of the pie. Did Yang Hao feel that he couldn't hold the Philippines, so he simply used commercial bidding to pull everyone in? Obviously, judging by the great force it possesses, it is absolutely impossible.

Well, there are a lot of unknowns here. Both Sadaoyi and Kaisax want to know.

In business, Caesarco is indeed in urgent need of a new market to support the survival of Jardine Matheson. The huge power they have accumulated over the years must be resettled in a large enough place, and Chinese mainland has no hope for the time being, but the appearance of the Philippines is very timely.

And in the vague information of the investment announcement in the early stage, Caesar and other foreign businessmen also keenly analyzed that it seemed to contain some great business!

The gentlemen's conversations are always shrouded in cryptography, and it takes a lot of effort to guess to get the truth. As a result, lunch time is unusually short. Just when everyone was filling their stomachs and preparing to recuperate their spirits to fight in the second half, Yang Hao suddenly appeared in front of a large group of people.

"Mr. Yang is here!"

The sharp-eyed man at the door noticed him appearing and exclaimed in surprise.

The people behind him didn't know why, and said blankly: "What's the fuss about Mr. Yang coming?" Do we have less to deal with him these days? ”

"It's not Mr. Yang...... Oh, it's Mr. Yang, look at it! ”

Mr. Yang Da has almost become a code name for Yang Hao among businessmen, and now apart from him, few people with the surname Yang dare to add a "big" word to the end.

So an exclamation stirred up a thousand waves, and everyone who turned their heads to look at the news suddenly saw the tall figures surrounded by a large number of guards in the open and in the dark. That young but amazing smiling face is not His Excellency Commander-in-Chief Yang Dingshi, who has made countless heroes around the world bow their heads!

"Hello Mr. Yang!"

"Why did you have to be here? What a ......! ”

Many people in the front position were close to the water and the building was the first to get the moon, and they looked at Yang Hao almost face-to-face, as if they were excited to see the emperor. Those who clenched their fists with both hands, those who wanted to shake hands but didn't dare to hold up, and those who subconsciously wanted to get close but were blocked, all kinds of gaffes.

It's not surprising to think about it, the Qing Dynasty is still there now, no matter how many high-ranking officials there are in the family, a businessman himself is the last of the four people after all, and he can't be on the stage. Although today's revolutionary government stresses equality for all, the concept of thousands of years of accumulation is deeply rooted in the bone marrow, and businessmen dare not cross that boundary.

Yang Hao smiled kindly and waved his hand gently, and said loudly: "You don't have to be polite. Yang suddenly came and disturbed everyone's meal. It's time for me to say sorry. ”

Who would dare to say yes. Several leaders of the Chamber of Commerce, who had a good relationship in the past, hurriedly came out of the crowd. Clenched his fists and saluted: "This is absolutely unacceptable." It's a great thing that you can take the time out of your busy schedule to come and cheer us up as businessmen! Do you think that's the reason? ”

"Exactly! Precisely! ”

"Mr. Yang Da can be seen in person, we can be regarded as reassuring in our hearts, and we will do our best to repay!"

There was a lot of noise, all of them patting their chests and expressing their determination, for fear that they would be recorded in a small black book after being left behind.

Yang Hao raised his hand and pressed down, immediately stopped the commotion of everyone, and looked around at the rich people in the hall with his height. He said sincerely: "I came today to personally thank you. We have concluded a friendship with the new Philippine government and need to provide considerable industrial and commercial support to show our sincerity. However, the government's ability to do so alone is limited, and your strong support at a critical moment will not only benefit the people of the Philippines, but also greatly promote China's historic cause of becoming a leader in Asia. Your contributions will be celebrated for all ages. ”

The merchant in the hall listened with a red face, not to mention more refreshment. Listen, how beautiful people say this! Originally, he dragged everyone together to make a fortune, but it was said that he supported the country's diplomatic relations. For the benefit of the public, Xuanwei and abroad!

A humble compliment. Sadaoyi and Kaisax slowly squeezed in from behind.

The British were as surprised by Yang Hao's suddenness, but they felt that this time it was coming. As the leader of the British merchant group, Caesarke had an unshirkable responsibility, and the gentleman greeted Yang Hao with full courtesy, and then asked in stiff Chinese: "May I ask Mr. Yang, does the business support you just mentioned mean that the investment in the Philippines is mainly to contribute to the political interests of the two countries, and the possibility of profit will actually be very small?" ”

Many Chinese businessmen panicked when they heard this, they were really afraid of Yang Hao's heart. The Qing Dynasty has formed a practice for hundreds of years, and when the government and nobles ask you to "repay", it is really possible to make you bankrupt and sell yourself into slavery.

Since ancient times, the rulers of all dynasties have treated merchants as fat pigs that can be slaughtered at any time, can the new dynasty be an exception? No one knows the bottom of their hearts.

Yang Hao knew Kaisark, and Jardine Matheson was also at the top of his list that must be liquidated. In the face of the old British guy with a deep face, he smiled unusually kindly, and replied: "In my opinion, there is no contradiction in itself in supporting strategic actions at the national level in the form of commercial investment and obtaining sufficient benefits. I believe that Mr. Kaisark and the business elites of all countries present here know better that with the backing of strong national power, your business investment behavior is less risky and the returns are more abundant. ”

Kaisark was old and sophisticated, but his face was still slightly tight. He didn't think Yang Hao's implied sarcasm was so unbearable, in fact, it was subtle enough. As a matter of fact, the businessmen of the Western powers were clearly the vanguard officers and warmongers of colonial aggression, and the national armed forces were their accomplices and thugs. Nominally, they are bravely charging into battle for the interests of the country, but in fact, none of them are making a lot of money, but at the same time, they are full of blood debts, and it is difficult to write!

On the other hand, Chinese businessmen have always been accustomed to being exploited and oppressed by their own government, and there have been many times in history when merchant capital has been used to influence the government, but most of them have no good end. It is really the power of the state to support them, rushing out of the country to open up a vast commercial market, this kind of thing is really new and unfamiliar.

But more than that, it's heart-wrenching excitement!

Several representatives of the Chamber of Commerce immediately shouted flattery: "Sir's words are too good! We believe that the government will not harm its own people. With a new dynasty and a new atmosphere, this investment in the Philippines will definitely be profitable. This is a rare good thing in China for thousands of years, and we must do our best to support it. The big guy said, isn't it?! ”

"That's right! Right! Be sure to support! ”

"Mr. and the government helped us open up financial resources, and I don't know if we seize the opportunity, and if we want to think about it, that's a phlegm!"

"Mr. Yang Da said it himself, do you still need to doubt it? Just follow it and make money! ”

A stack of turbulent sounds suddenly completely overwhelmed the foreign devils who were trying to provoke.

Kaisark shrugged his shoulders slightly in disapproval, but continued to ask when the noise stopped for a while: "I believe that the junta will act in the interests of its own businessmen, but I have to ask clearly, how can you allow businessmen from all countries to participate in it?" After all, relations between our countries are so tense. Are you interested in borrowing the hands of business associations from various countries to support the market? Or are you not sure about the unfamiliar areas where many of the projects in the Philippines are located, and you need the help of previous experience in other countries? ”

His words were informative, and their suspicions were legitimate.

Since investing in the Philippines can make money, the Chinese business group can concentrate at least a billion yuan (silver dollars) of huge capital, which is enough to support all investment. So, why do you want to cheap foreigners for nothing? Is it to lure foreigners to work as nurseries to raise prices, but in fact, to squeeze the money of domestic merchants?

On the other hand, China has only just taken control of the Philippines, while the great powers have been operating in Southeast Asia for hundreds of years. In the Philippines alone, the British surveyed the local resources with great care, even more than the Spaniards. Many of the land plots announced by Yang Hao are barren and remote on the surface, with little mining value, but they are listed as large blocks with a capital of tens of millions, is this a mockery of the powers?

Or is it necessary to pull a group of great power enterprises to go to the mines and use the information in the hands of various countries to help them do the most difficult work? Wait for the later development and exploration to have a clear result, and then rush back?

In this era, it is common for governments to have no credit, countries to have no integrity, and businessmen to have no morality. Yang Hao dug a big pit for them and forced them to jump in, which was not strange at all.

But Caesar didn't think about it, Yang Hao reacted extremely violently to this! Putting away the smile on his face, his eyes pierced his pupils like a knife, and said word by word: "Mr. Kaisark, the Chinese are not as shameless as you British!" Your so-called experience and information are not as useful as you think they are! (To be continued......)