Among the people who understand Long Qian's painstaking operation of civil industry, Fang Shengyuan is one. But he still attributed Long Qian's intention to build an industrial base in Shandong to "holding money". The textile (including garment), iron and steel, explosives, western medicine, glass, vehicles, furniture, paper and other enterprises under the two major industrial groups have brought huge financial resources to Long Qian, effectively making up for the lack of military spending and the development and production of weapons.

Long Qian wanted to seize the Qing Dynasty, and he couldn't build a strong army. Building a strong army cannot be done without a strong arms industry. Relying on civilian products to make money to arm the army is a clever and reliable thing in Fang Shengyuan's opinion, so Fang Gaoshen devoted himself to it with great enthusiasm.

After investigation and research, Senate Fang found that whether it is Huayuan or ZTE, the market in Shandong is indeed too small for the rapid development of the industrial scale. Since Long Qian talked to him about the leading role of the market in products and output, Fang Shengyuan suddenly felt that it was not enough to bury himself in technology, product research and production! The main work is to expand the market!

How to expand the market? Where to expand the market? What industries are prioritized? These are all issues that need to be carefully studied. Fang Shengyuan found Zhou Xuexi and others to discuss repeatedly, believing that selling Shandong's civilian products to Jiangsu and Zhejiang was the only feasible plan. Since the Southern Song Dynasty, Jiangsu and Zhejiang have replaced the north as China's economic center of gravity, especially in the Ming and Qing dynasties. If you don't occupy the Jiangsu and Zhejiang markets, it is equivalent to losing the commanding heights of the industry! Originally, I was aware of this problem, but the depth of understanding was not enough, and the method was too simple. Opening up and occupying the market is a highly technical thing that needs to be taken seriously.

Go without saying. Huayuan and ZTE have gathered a large number of outstanding talents in today's China, and for such a new topic as marketing, they have made a name for themselves in the promotion of the association!

Fang Shengyuan's plan is to invite business celebrities from Jiangsu and Zhejiang to Jinan through some connections, and show them all the civilian products of Huayuan and ZTE (including those that are under research and not yet on the market), so as to gain their approval and achieve the goal of opening up the mainstream market sales channels in Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

Long Qian immediately affirmed Fang Shengyuan's idea and made additions. First, agents can be set up, that is, the products will be handed over to merchants in Jiangsu and Zhejiang in batches at prices lower than the market price. We don't have to go to Jiangsu and Zhejiang to fight the world in person; Second. It is allowed, no, to invite merchants from Jiangsu and Zhejiang to invest in Shandong and attract a large amount of funds there. Cooperation is not limited to the field of sales of goods. It can be extended to the field of production.

Fang Shengyuan immediately realized the benefits of Long Qian's suggestion. The establishment of an "agent" is obviously smarter than going to Jiangsu and Zhejiang for its own enterprises. Wealthy businessmen from Jiangsu and Zhejiang are allowed to take shares. It will pull the social power of Jiangsu and Zhejiang into the Shandong camp!

The power of capital is huge, and Fang Shengyuan can be regarded as having seen it. If there is no Huayuan and ZTE, Shandong officialdom. In particular, the mainstream of Jinan, Yizhou, Yanzhou, Wuding, and other prefectures with strong military strength in Mengshan will never ignore the general practice of officialdom and stand on the opposite side of the new governor. If the officialdom of Jiangsu and Zhejiang is pulled into the camp of the Mengshan Army through commerce, it will be a big deal!

Fang Shengyuan still underestimated Long Qian, or seriously misunderstood Long Qian. Long Qian does have the intention of using this to win over Jiangsu and Zhejiang, but his main thing is how to make a big Chinese-funded industry. Fang Shengyuan was based on how to seize the country, while Long Qian clearly knew that the Manchu Qing was just struggling to catch his breath, and he was more concerned about how to clean up this piece of ruins.

Back to the point. The key to holding the investment promotion conference is to attract merchants from Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Xu Wenfu has unexpectedly played an important role in this regard. As mentioned in the previous document, Xu Wenfu has a son named Xu Yong, who has married and stayed in Suzhou, and did not come to Jinan with his parents to work. Xu Yong worked in the Sulun yarn factory of Lu Yanzhen, a wealthy businessman in Suzhou, and was quite respected. Since last year, Sulun Yarn Factory has been severely hit by the cotton yarn produced by the textile mill under Zhongxing Industry and is struggling. Xu Yong thought that this was an opportunity to save Sulun Yarn Factory, so he told the boss Lu Yanzhen about the cause and effect, and Lu Yanzhen contacted Zhang Jian of Dasheng Yarn Factory, who attached great importance to it.

In May, Zhang Jian and Zhang Jizhi, who were born in the champion, convened a meeting of colleagues in the textile industry in Jiangsu in their hometown of Nantong, and informed their peers of the situation of Zhongxing Textile and the news that Shandong was preparing to hold a business promotion, "As far as textiles are concerned, I never thought that Shandong Province would come from behind, and it has come to the front of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces." Zhongxing industrial yarn, Huayuan textile cloth and garments, has entered Jiangsu and Zhejiang, I see that there are people here wearing Huayuan textile factory gowns, it is said that its main production of several types of clothing, become the most sought-after goods in Beijing, in short supply. Zhang Jian, who presided over the meeting, said with a heavy face, "When we are still working hard for spinning, Shandong has extended its tentacles into the upstream and downstream. Naturally, weaving and garments are weaving and garments downstream, while cotton is upstream. I heard that Shandong has vigorously promoted improved varieties of cotton this year, and the cotton planting area in Yizhou, Yanzhou and Caozhou has more than doubled last year. In addition, a new method has been adopted, and orders are placed directly with farmers. Moreover, Lu Province also ordered cotton from Yu Province. How to do it, Zhang can't say clearly. I heard Brother Lu from Sulun Factory say that Shandong is not trying to crush us, but to learn from each other's strengths and develop together. Therefore, the holding of the investment conference is not exchanged. Zhang greatly appreciated this suggestion, whether it is Shandong or Jiangsu, it is the industry of our Qing Dynasty, and it should be so. I mean to take a trip to Shandong. ”

"Ji Zhilao (Zhang Jianzi Ji Zhi) is very true! In my opinion, Huayuan Textile has very good intentions," Lu Yunzhen stood up to support, "I have a young man named Xu Yong, whose father is also a celebrity in my Jiangsu Province, and now he is the general office of Shandong University, and he has a lot of research on the industry of Shandong Province. This person's name is Xu Wenfu, the word is pure Confucian, he sent a letter to his son I have read, Mr. Chunru said in the letter, Shandong believes that as far as the whole country is concerned, our textile industry is not excessive, but insufficient production capacity. The prospects for development are extremely broad. This is even more true in other ways. Xu Chunru said well, the essence of the business world is mostly in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, if everyone can learn from each other's strengths and weaknesses, and be good at self-planning, they will definitely be able to expel foreign goods from the country! ”

"Brother Lu's words are very true." It was a businessman surnamed Yang who spoke, "Shandong Industry is not only in the corner of textiles. The glass they produce is of high quality and low price, and it is quite popular in Suzhou. It's simply in short supply. If you can set up a glass factory in Suzhou, you will definitely have a prosperous business! Since Shandong has such a generous heart, how can we not respond? ”

"Mr. Yang is thinking simply, right? If it is as you say, how will Shandong help you build a factory and sit back and watch their money-making products being squeezed out of your door? Someone immediately doubted.

Zhang Jian stroked his beard and listened to everyone's arguments, thinking in his heart, until Lu Yanzhen proposed to let him say a few words, Zhang Jian stood up, "Xu Wenfu's reputation Zhang has heard of it." Since Mr. Xu said that, he foolishly thought that he must have been hinted at by Huayuan and the leaders of Zhongxing. In recent years, foreign goods have entered China in a big way. There are a few local factories and businesses in a difficult situation. If the Chinese business alliance can be integrated, it will be a grand event. Maybe a new path can be opened. Therefore, everyone is sitting here and discussing, it is better to go to Shandong for a walk. ”

Everyone agreed. So Zhang Jian personally wrote a letter to Zhou Xuexi. He said that he would lead the business elites of Jiangsu Province to visit Shandong.

Zhou Xuexi's reply arrived soon. In the letter, he really complimented Zhang Jian. He said that the Shandong side will make proper preparations and make sure that the trip of the Soviet counterpart is worthwhile. In his heart, Zhou Xuexi also suggested that Zhang Jian and his counterparts from Zhejiang Province come to Shandong together. The business circles of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces have always been in the same spirit, since everyone wants to discuss the road of industrial salvation, it is natural that the more people, the better.

Zhang Jian also has this intention. He immediately thought of a person, although he was not very old and was not in the business world, but he had a great reputation, he was Zhang Shizhao, the protagonist of Su's report last year. So Zhang Jian immediately sent a letter to Zhang Shizhao.

Zhang Jian was undoubtedly a heavyweight in the officialdom and business circles of the late Qing Dynasty. Cixi's 60th birthday (1894) Enke champion, Zhang Jian and Zhang Jizhi, who founded the Dasheng Yarn Factory in Nantong. This year, Lao Zhang Xuan was fifty-one years old, which was the golden age of politicians and industrialists.

Everyone in the world knows the glory of Zhang Jian's champion and the first, but they don't know that this Haimen farmer's son has had the frustration of failing the township exam five times and the loneliness of teaching in his hometown. In the Enke Middle School, which was opened to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Cixi in the first year, Zhang Jian, who respected his father's order to go to the examination room again, was like a divine helper, and he actually passed all the way and won the 60th place in the Ministry of Rites examination, and won the 10th place in the first class in the re-examination, and obtained the qualification for the palace examination. The four questions asked in the temple examination are the canal, the scriptures, the election, and the salt and iron. Zhang Jian has his own views on the way of economy, but he did not express his mind directly, but honestly responded to Zhu Zi's theory. Seven of the eight ministers agreed to list Zhang Jian as the first place. In the end, Emperor Guangxu also agreed to this ranking, and as a result, Enke's new champion was born.

That year, Zhang Jian was forty-one years old.

The ensuing Sino-Japanese War and the signing of the Treaty of Shimonoseki the following year shattered Zhang Jian's dream of officialdom, but the champion, who had a deep interest in politics, embarked on the road of industrial salvation.

Like flying immortals out of the sky, a large number of enterprises suddenly appeared in Shandong, a neighboring province in the north of Jiangsu, and the momentum chased after the three towns of Wuhan, whose cotton yarn cotton cloth and ready-to-wear cloth were cheap and good, not only squeezing out of Shandong's products, but also marketing outside the province, and even Shanghai had Meihua brand cotton yarn cotton cloth. Zhang Jian, who was very sensitive to the market, immediately sent someone to investigate, and came back to report that the factory was located in Lunan and there was no trace of foreigners - at first Zhang Jian suspected that the Germans were playing tricks.

This can't help but arouse Zhang Jian's interest. Since the 28th year of Guangxu, this province that had fallen into the range of German power in Zhang Jian's eyes has been full of vitality, a large number of new objects related to people's livelihood have been put on the market, which are quite popular with the Chinese people, and the so-called heavy industry (this term is from Shandong) has also begun to show its appearance, power plants, steel mills, machine factories, which are not easy in Zhang Jian's view, have sprung up in the land of Qilu. I can't help but let Zhang Jian, who has experienced the difficulty of running an industry, cry out incredible.

Zhang Jian's establishment of Dasheng Yarn Factory can be described as a series of twists and turns, and there are four major hurdles that almost cut off this commercial enterprise that has basically stood on its feet. In the twenty-first year of Guangxu (1895), Zhang Jian won the support of Zhang Zhidong, ran to Tongzhou, Haimen, Shanghai and other places, and contacted Pan Hua, Guo Xun, Liu Guixin, Fan Fenyin, Shen Xiejun, Chen Weiyong and others to form a board of directors to prepare for the establishment of a yarn factory, raising a total of 600,000 taels of shares. Among them, Pan Hua, Guo Xun, and Fan Fen are responsible for raising shares in Shanghai, accounting for two-thirds of the total share capital, and Liu Guixin, Shen Xiejun, and Chen Weiyong are responsible for raising shares in Tongzhou, accounting for one-third. Zhang Jian took the lead and was responsible for the contact with the official, mainly to get the approval of the imperial court. The plan was quickly approved by Zhang Zhidong.

In the spring of the following year, Zhang Jian selected Tangjiazha, 45 miles west of Tongzhou City, as the factory site, and immediately began to buy land and build houses. It turned out that Pan Hua, Guo Xun and others were not actively raising shares at all, and seeing this scene, Fan Fenyin and Chen Weiyong retreated and broke the contract.

Get off the wrong foot. The spinning machine has not been purchased, and the initial shareholders have run two, and ordinary people have long been discouraged, but Zhang Jian, who has a tough personality, is firm in his confidence and insists on running the yarn factory.

Coincidentally. Before Zhang Jian set up the yarn factory, the Nanyang Textile Bureau under Zhang Zhidong, the governor of Liangjiang, had purchased more than 40,000 spindles of textile machinery from the Swiss comptoir. The textile machines and boiler engines had already arrived in Shanghai, but they had never been opened. By the time Liu Kun succeeded Zhang Zhidong as the governor of Liangjiang, these machines had been shelved in Shanghai for nearly three years, and they were severely corroded by wind and rain. Therefore, Liu Kun ordered a Taoist surnamed Gui of the Commerce Bureau to dispose of these machines at a discount.

Gui Daotai heard that Zhang Jian was raising funds to set up a yarn factory, so he found Guo Xun and asked him to say that Zhang Jian would buy this batch of equipment, Zhang Jian considered that it was not easy to raise shares, and if it could not be done for a long time, the people's hearts would be scattered, so he resolutely changed the business office to a joint government and business, and took this batch of machines as an official contribution, discounted by 500,000 taels. In the autumn of that year, Zhang Jian signed an agreement with Gui Daotai, which can be regarded as the implementation of the much-needed machine.

However, the flow of capital is still unsettled, Pan Hua and Guo Xun have repeatedly broken the contract, and the fund-raising in Shanghai in charge of them has repeatedly failed, which has caused dissatisfaction in Tongzhou, and finally Guo Xun and Pan Hua have withdrawn from the board of directors, and Zhang Jian has personally assumed the responsibility of fund-raising. On the one hand, he wrote to Liu Kunyi, the governor of Liangjiang, and Zhang Zhidong, the governor of Huguang, asking for help, and on the other hand, he asked for loans from the society. even found Sheng Xuanhuai to help. During this period, it experienced three major crises before gradually setting up the yarn factory. Before and after the calculation, it took more than three years, until the twenty-fifth year of Guangxu (1899), the yarn factory was officially completed and put into operation, fortunately the sales were strong, and it maintained its operation with the money sold, making the Dasheng Yarn Factory the most famous textile enterprise jointly run by the government and business at that time, and effectively resisted the invasion of foreign capital.

Now Zhang Jian, whose identity is neither the champion, nor the boss of the Dasheng battlefield, has now undergone a great change in his thinking, and has become one of the earliest figures in China who advocates constitutional monarchy. This change was made possible by his visit to Japan last year, which lasted for more than 70 days. And Zhang Jian's reputation and political stance gave him a rather prominent title, that is, the third-rank first-class advisor of the Ministry of Commerce awarded to him by Cixi.

Zhang Jian readily accepted the appointment to the imperial court, which he believed would help him promote his political ideas. The dream of saving the country through industry did not fade after he returned to officialdom, because Zhang Jian personally experienced the difficulties of setting up a factory, so he was very curious about the textile industry that suddenly appeared in Shandong. Worried, I really want to see with my own eyes how Shandong's yarn factories are doing, since Shandong holds a business promotion, Zhang Jian decided to personally investigate.

In fact, Zhang Jian's main interest in 1904 was no longer in business and running factories, but in industry to save the country. Where can industry save the country faster than a constitutional monarchy? Zhang Jian, who is far more interested in politics than in economics, has already united with Zhang Zhidong and trusted Zhou Fu, the governor of Liangjiang, and is ready to write to the imperial court to advocate political reform. The purpose of the constitutional reform was to establish a constitutional monarchy. Looking at Japan, his neighbor to the east, Zhang Jian firmly believes that only a constitutional monarchy can save the country. Zhou Fu came to Liangjiang and ignored Zhang Jian's suggestion, Zhang Zhidong was an old friend, but he instructed him to contact Yuan Shikai, the governor of Zhili, first. Zhang Jian did not know Yuan Shikai, as early as 1882 in North Korea, he became friends with Yuan Shikai, who was six years younger than him. However, Yuan Shikai, who has always been good at observing words and feelings, has an ambiguous attitude towards Zhang Jian's political ideas. Zhang Jian then thought of Shandong, and had long heard that Admiral Long Qian, who was in charge of Shandong's military power, was a close confidant of Cixi and had returned from overseas, so it was reasonable to advocate political reform. So, take this opportunity to go to Shandong and talk to the young admiral. (To be continued......)

PS: I was temporarily caught on a business trip, or take the car away, I can't update, I hope you understand!