"Hehe, you don't feel cold, I still feel ashamed. I didn't say it, we must speed up the sale of cloth, and for this reason the price can be lowered, and any of you who has a way can come up with an idea.

If it really works, it will definitely be a big bonus in the future. ”

"Okay, the owner wants to get the money back soon, so let's try our best. The shopkeepers replied with a grin.

Zhao Dagui couldn't help but sigh secretly when he saw this, everyone was made to lose their vigilance by today's good situation, only saw the prosperity in the market, and didn't notice the hidden crisis.

Beginning the next day, Zhao Dagui frequently visited Consul Bafur and other foreign bank staff who had moved to the Gu family compound.

From February 1844, the British Consulate moved from the original Yao family courtyard to the Gu family compound in Yaojia Lane in the west of the east gate, which was much closer to the Zhao family courtyard and the Zhao family compound where Zhao Dagui was located.

Consul Bafur paid an annual rent of 640 taels for renting this Gu family compound, which was much more than when he was in Yao's house, but this Gu family compound had dozens of clean rooms, four two-story buildings, wells and independent toilets, etc., and everyone from the consul to the ordinary attaché was very satisfied.

When he met with Consul Bafour, Zhao Dagui loudly praised Britain's industrial civilization and praised Britain's strength and wealth, and when the consul showed a happy demeanor, he expressed his hope that British industrial civilization would be introduced to China.

"Britain is the most powerful and civilized country today, and all nations on earth have to learn from it.

If nothing else, the rail transport and shipbuilding industry in the UK alone is enough for us to learn for a lifetime. Zhao Dagui patted his ass and said.

"You are so right, comprador Zhao, if all Chinese are as enlightened as you and willing to accept British science and technology and civilization, common development, coexistence and common prosperity, how good it would be." "Bafur is actually a very straightforward person, and he is very happy to hear a few words of praise.

It's just that Zhao Dagui felt a little awkward when he heard this, this style of painting is wrong, if you want to suddenly appear at this time East Asia co-prosperity or something, I don't know how to pick it up.

Shaking his head, Zhao Dagui threw all the unreliable thoughts in his heart out of his mind.

"Because of this, I want to ask you for your help in building a railroad in the magic capital, what do you think?"

"Of course, well, what, you want to build a railroad?" said Bafour, who suddenly understood, and cried out in a lost voice.

"Yes, I think the most lucrative business of our time is the rail industry, and we should try to get involved. ”

"That's good, but it costs a lot of money to build a railway, do you have that much money?" said Bafour, a little excited, and a little confused.

"I know railroads are a very money-burning business, but as you know, I'm also a rich businessman.

I thought that to build the railway, the initial start-up capital would need about 2 million silver dollars, and with the strength of my noble firm, it would not be difficult to make up one million yuan.

The remaining 1 million yuan can be raised from Chinese and British businessmen, and I think there will be many people who dare to be interested. ”

"Well, since you have a million silver dollars, it's unimaginable, just eight or nine months ago you...

Well, if you're really willing to invest in these two businesses, we can add them together. ”

Bafur was a little incredulous about Zhao Dagui's wealth, but he was relieved to think that the compradors who were currently engaged in trade were so rich that Zhao Dagui was the first to intervene in this industry, and he has always been the best at doing business, and he is faintly the leader of the compradors in the magic capital, and he should make so much money.

It's just that thinking that his annual salary is only a damn few hundred pounds, even if he does business and introduces business to the business house during this time, he only earns tens of thousands of yuan, which is much worse than this nominal subordinate, Bafur faintly feels a liver pain.

However, the British of this era were indeed very interested in building railways in China, and knowing that the profits of this matter were difficult to estimate, Bafur decided to greatly assist Zhao Dagui.

After consulting with Bafur for a long time, and getting the desired answer, Zhao Dagui went to visit other foreign people and Chinese compradors in the magic capital, and vigorously advocated the benefits of the railway.

It didn't take long for all the British merchants and Chinese compradors in the magic capital to know that Zhao Dagui was actually going to build a railway, from the magic capital all the way to Suzhou or Huzhou, and if he could, continue to build to Hangzhou.

What is the railway, the Chinese compradors are still confused, and the well-informed British businessmen have already boiled, and the words of praise come out as if they don't want money, and they also vigorously inquire what Zhao Dagui's specific plan is.

A few days later, Zhao Dagui invited Consul Bafur to hold a banquet and invited all the foreigners in the magic capital, including consulate attachés, foreign merchants, and merchant captains, and more than a dozen compradors, to enjoy fine wine and food while announcing the so-called "2 million investment plan".

According to this investment plan, Zhao Dagui needs to invest about 2 million yuan in the early stage to build the railway, half of which is 1 million yuan, which will be provided by Dagui Commercial Bank, and the other 1 million yuan will need to raise funds from other businessmen or compradors.

"Dagui Commercial Bank has the ability to come up with a million yuan?" asked Wu Jianzhang, a big businessman, curiously.

"Oh, just by selling the inventory in my hand, I can raise more than a million yuan.

My plan is to raise another million dollars in the base damage, make up two million dollars, and then go to the UK in person and buy all the locomotives and rails I need. Zhao Dagui replied.

"You still want to go to England, so what about the business in the magic capital now?"

"Dagui Commercial Bank is already on the right track, and I will come back from going to the UK for about a year, which should not affect the development of the commercial firm.

Of course, during that period, I also have to take care of all the friends in the business community of the magic capital. ”

After listening to Zhao Dagui's words, Wu Jianzhang nodded silently, thinking in his heart, whether Zhao Dagui suddenly wants to build any railway, or he wants to stay in the UK for a period of time, it is very important news, which is bound to have a huge impact on the business community of the magic capital, especially the comprador industry, and it is necessary to think carefully about its impact.

Fortunately, no one had much experience with railways, and neither foreign businessmen nor Chinese compradors considered that the Qing government would resist the construction of railways.

Isn't it just to build bridges and pave roads, the people spend their own money to build roads, and the imperial court is still supportive, that is, the common people praise the rich and don't they also praise the good people who build bridges and pave roads.

Everyone present could not have imagined that more than 20 years later, when the first railway was built in the magic capital, the officials of the Qing court would be so opposed, almost the whole country opposed its construction, and finally even spent hundreds of thousands of taels to buy the railway, and then dismantled all the built railways and transported them to Dayuan Island with machine parts.