Chapter 253 Fengtian Chamber of Commerce
It was not dark yet, and the setting sun was still there.
The entrance to the Haicheng government office was already crowded with people and vehicles. Countless landlords and merchants in silk jackets came in a hurry. Some of them had worries on their faces, while others looked indifferent.
At the entrance of the government office, Yan Dunyuan and Zhang Zuolin stood with smiles on their faces to welcome guests. In addition, there were several soldiers standing motionless with blank expressions, which was quite interesting.
Zhang Zuolin's business was getting bigger and bigger now. Changfeng Escort Agency was no longer an escort agency in the original sense. It was developing towards the integration of security companies and logistics companies. It not only transported precious goods, but also ordinary goods, and guaranteed the delivery at low freight rates.
Some smart people understood Zhang Zuolin's background and knew that he had worked in the Weizi Army before, so he must have the support of the marshal behind him. The fact that he stood at the door to welcome guests today further proved this point.
Since Wei Jichen sent all the invitations to landlords, gentry, and merchants three days ago, they were all worried, unable to sleep at night, and unable to eat, fearing that the Liaodong general would set up a Hongmen Banquet and start to fleece the sheep without money.
So, they all had smiles on their faces that were uglier than crying.
"Mr. Zhang, you are here, please come in quickly." Yan Dunyuan smiled and greeted people again and again, inviting them in.
One of the landlords snorted coldly when he passed by Zhang Zuolin, and Zhang Zuolin looked a little embarrassed, because this person was his Taishan Zhao Zhanyuan. Zhang Zuolin did not even let his father-in-law go, and also handed in the list, so that Wei Jichen sent out the invitation.
"Damn it, make way, why are you guys so slow." Not long after, more than 20 sturdy men with sturdy figures and fur coats came to the door on horseback.
Seeing this, the other gentry frowned, disdaining to argue with them, stepped aside and made way. These people were "diggers" and "headmen", who made their living by digging ginseng, catching minks, fishing, collecting pearls, and panning for gold. Although these industries were highly profitable in the Northeast, they were also very dangerous, so these people spontaneously formed organizations. These twenty men were the leaders of each organization, and they all had considerable armed forces under them.
Yan Dunyuan invited these people in without changing his expression.
"Brother, what do you think Wei Jichen sent us this time to invite us?" One of the diggers asked softly.
The leader no longer had the arrogant expression he had when he was outside, and said helplessly: "How can I know what's going on? The taxes that should be paid are not less, and the silver that should be paid is not less. I don't know what this gentleman means."
"Let's wait and see. If it doesn't work, we'll spend money to avoid disaster." The other few people also shook their heads helplessly. Every time a new official takes office, everyone will pay some tribute.
Wei Jichen's indifference to them these days made everyone think that he was different from others. Now it seems that he wants to do it all at once.
At this time, the people who came to the banquet had more or less prepared some silver and were ready to bleed once.
When these diggers and headmen walked into the hall, they were secretly shocked. They saw that the hall was already full of no less than four or five hundred people, from all walks of life. Everyone sat together clearly. If the atmosphere in the hall was not a little depressing, they would definitely talk happily, but at this time, most of them were silent or whispering.
Zhao Zhanyuan was so depressed. He didn't expect his son-in-law to be so outward. In Zhao Zhanyuan's mind, as long as it was a matter of the government, it must not be a good thing. He saw Zhang Zuolin working in the Weizi Army before marrying his daughter to him. Unexpectedly, now he can't help at all.
Everyone didn't want to drink tea. They waited anxiously for Wei Jichen to appear until it was just getting dark.
First, Yan Dunyuan and Zhang Zuolin walked in with a smile, and no one came to the door anymore.
Then a deep shout came: "General Wei is here!"
I saw Wei Jichen wearing a yellow jacket and a double-eyed peacock feather on his head, walking in from the side door at a leisurely pace.
Behind him were several cold-blooded personal soldiers.
"Everyone, everyone, thank you for coming to the banquet on time." When Wei Jichen walked to the door, he had already clasped his hands and clasped his fists to express his gratitude.
Wei Jichen's smile, like spring breeze, made everyone feel a little relaxed.
"General, it's a blessing for us to meet you."
"That's right, I've wanted to meet you for a long time, but unfortunately I haven't had the opportunity."
"The general is so powerful, and he has tried his best to protect my Liaodong land. I admire him."
The hundreds of people in the hall stood up at once, hurriedly returning the greetings and praising him. For a while, the scene was very lively.
Wei Jichen nodded and bowed all the way until he reached the front desk, then he stopped.
"Everyone!" Wei Jichen's sharp eyes swept over hundreds of people, and he spoke slowly and loudly.
The audience suddenly became silent, and everyone looked at Wei Jichen with a serious face, wanting to know why he had gathered so many people this time.
"China is worrying!" Wei Jichen first sighed heavily, forcing everyone to follow his mood, and the expression on his face changed from cautious to solemn.
"The Treaty of Shimonoseki allows Japan to invest and build factories in China. Now, the great powers have cited the clause of sharing benefits and have rushed to open factories in various parts of our country."
Wei Jichen paused slightly to give everyone some time to think.
Then he continued to say seriously: "The opening of a large number of treaty ports and the exemption of all miscellaneous taxes on the products of various countries have enabled the great powers to seize a large amount of wealth from our country through trade and economic aggression. There are also many people who are doing business and setting up factories. People must know that the great powers have taken advantage of the convenience of machines, making the production cost of their goods low, and gradually squeezing out our own products.”
At this time, Chinese business was still based on small workshops and handicrafts. Only in a few coastal cities were some large comprador merchants using modern machines. Naturally, these small workshop-style factories could not withstand the dumping of goods from various countries, and countless people went bankrupt. , which was also one of the reasons that led to the outbreak of the Boxer Rebellion later.
My dear, there will be more after this chapter^.^,
Some of the gentlemen and businessmen below heard what Wei Jichen said was reasonable and nodded in agreement.
Wei Jichen continued: "The imperial court has realized that if this continues, foreign goods will become popular, and China will become a commodity dumping ground and a raw material and mineral extraction area for various countries. Foreigners only need a set of machines to use Chinese labor and use Chinese raw materials, and then take away the wealth of the Chinese people and take away the gold and silver. The wealth that China has accumulated over thousands of years will be swept away by foreigners like the autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves. The ores and coal left by our ancestors will also be swept away by foreigners. Dig it out.”
Wei Jichen first explained the truth, then changed the subject, his face became slightly clearer, and said: "Fortunately, the imperial court issued an edict: the foundation is to support businessmen and workers."
Afraid that everyone would not understand the meaning, Wei Jichen explained briefly: "It means that we Chinese should be encouraged to open our own companies and factories and engage in business wars with foreigners. But how to conduct business wars specifically?"
Wei Jichen asked a question and slowly looked at the crowd. Seeing that some of them also looked like they were thinking, he couldn't help but feel a little better.
"You must all have no idea. The slogan of learning from the foreigners and gaining skills to conquer the foreigners has been chanted for decades. Now I, Wei Jichen, repeat the old slogan, which is to purchase advanced machines from foreigners, reduce commercial production costs, and produce products with high quality and low prices. "
Only then did everyone suddenly realize that they wanted us to buy machines and open a factory.
Some people still had doubts. After Wei Jichen finished speaking, a gentleman and businessman stood up and asked: "General, although we have only a partial understanding of what you said, we can understand it. It is to compete with foreigners for profits, but only for our funds." "You can't afford machines at all, and you can't resist the oppression of foreign business forces."
Some other people were just like him, looking helpless.
Wei Jichen smiled slightly, glanced at the people below, and then said in a sonorous voice: "That's why I called you all here to discuss the establishment of our Fengtian Chamber of Commerce. Through the Chamber of Commerce, we will be organized to be jointly organized by government and businessmen, or The completely commercial form allows everyone to organize themselves, raise funds to participate in setting up factories, and jointly resist the economic invasion of foreigners. "
There began to be discussions among the people below about pooling everyone's funds and using them together, and the government was also involved. How to ensure their own interests has become the focus of everyone's worries.
It is not uncommon for businessmen to be swallowed with their skins and bones by officials.
Wei Jichen's assistant stood up again and spoke out everyone's thoughts: "I know that the general is clean and honest, but I cannot guarantee that others will have selfish motives and embezzle everyone's money."
Wei Jichen smiled faintly and said calmly: "My father-in-law's concerns are very reasonable. Therefore, the role of the Fengtian Chamber of Commerce comes into play. The Chamber of Commerce is only semi-official. Everyone has a say in the Chamber of Commerce, and the government We will only guide people to set up factories and mines. As for the specific business matters, they will be completely left to you. Of course, in view of the lack of experience of some people, the newly opened company factories can hire professional consultants from the chamber of commerce. These consultants only provide professional opinions. Helping everyone get the company's factory on track without any other real power."
When some people heard what Wei Jichen said, their eyes lit up and they began to think about the gains and losses.
"Everyone, if you want to be alone and live in your own home with three acres of land, it is not feasible in this era. In the end, it will only be defeated by foreigners one by one. Therefore, I took the lead and asked us Chinese businessmen to unite and speak to the outside world. , I also ask everyone to trust me, Wei Jichen, if you have any selfish intentions, you will make me die badly." Wei Jichen even swore a poisonous oath. In fact, he really didn't have much selfishness in doing this. , he can also start these factories and mining companies by himself, because he has a system to purchase machinery and does not need to worry about capital at all.
However, this will only make him a wealthy businessman and a monopoly comprador, and will not have much effect on the rise of national capitalism as a whole.
Wei Jichen believed in his heart that he only needed to be a few leading enterprises.
"Furthermore, in order to encourage the establishment of industries, General Shengjing Yiketang'a has discussed with me. In view of the chaos in taxation, unified taxes will be formulated, miscellaneous taxes will be reduced, and escorts will be provided for everyone to open factories." Wei Jichen dropped again. Bombshell.
The biggest fear of starting a company and setting up a factory is not the fear of no sales, but the fear of exploitation by the government. Various donations and filial piety discourage many people. When Wei Jichen said this, everyone was excited.
Tuo spoke again, and this time he asked: "General, you said that I am very excited. I just want to invest all my property in starting a factory and running a company. However, I don't have much knowledge. Not only does I have no way to buy machines, but I am also afraid of it." The machine I bought is old.”
"You don't have to worry about this anymore." Wei Jichen smiled broadly and said calmly: "The procurement of machines can be left to us. In order to make everyone feel at ease, all machines will be used only after you have verified that they are qualified." If you are not satisfied with the payment, you can return it on the spot, and the cost will be borne by the government.”
Yan Dunyuan promptly told the story below that Wei Jichen saved the life of the British princess and was now able to purchase the machine through the British princess.