The atmosphere in the flower hall immediately dropped to the freezing point. The servants waiting in the back garden of Lotte Mathematics all looked at each other in fear. Who would have thought that Zhang Xiaowen would launch an attack here.
Xiao Letian tapped the table lightly with his fingers. After a long time, he smiled and said to Zhang Xiaowen, "Your name is Zhang Xiaowen. You are very courageous. Do you know that the Ryukyu law follows the Ming Dynasty law? Even if the people sue the officials, you win." He's also going to be exiled... What's more, accepting bribes is a crime, but giving bribes is not a crime. After all, you gave me the money with your own hands."
"Prime Minister." Zhang Xiaowen said with a look of sorrow and indignation, "We are just businessmen, powerless businessmen. Do I dare to refuse when an official like the Minister of Household Affairs asks me for a bribe? It is not easy for Fukang Company to operate in Ryukyu. What can I do if I am squeezed out?" Worthy of the great shopkeeper."
"People say that the Prime Minister is fair and honest. Are they all false? Is it true that Ryukyu is just like the Qing Dynasty, with a brocade quilt covering everything but filth..."
"That's enough." Hu Xueyan slapped the table, "Zhang Xiaowen, get out of here. I, Hu Xueyan, don't have a disobedient second shopkeeper like you. You should leave Ryukyu immediately..."
After speaking, Hu Xueyan bowed to Xiao Letian and said, "Prime Minister, please calm down. This is because I am not strict with my subordinates. I will give an explanation to the Prime Minister and Mr. Lin...Old shopkeeper, please give me a nice word."
Fan Yan's face at the wine table also darkened, but they did not persuade Xiao Letian. Instead, they took a cup and took a sip of Huadiao and said quietly, "I have never said these words to you, uncle. You are already tired enough from being busy with military affairs." , I don’t want to distract you too much…but it’s time for the local officials in Ryukyu to take care of it, they are all getting rich and dying.”
"Oh, my father-in-law has known these things for a long time." Xiao Letian asked.
"Not just Xueyan's Fukang Company. Ever since you became famous in Europe, even Western businessmen have kept a low profile. Anyone who dares to cause trouble in Ryukyu, this group of dirty officials will not even let foreigners go, asking for money... "
"Don't tell me that those foreigners who were so arrogant in the Qing Dynasty actually paid for it. They are really a bunch of bitches..."
Xiao Letian smiled, but this time the smile was not very pretty. Anyone who knew her well knew that this was a sign of anger. "Where are my soldiers? Since no one is greedy, all my officers have become rich."
Mr. Long stepped forward with his chest held high behind him, "The proud new army disdains dirty money. The Prime Minister has given us enough military pay. Anyone who dares to touch this dirty money will have only one end, to be shot."
"Okay, with your guarantee from Mr. Long, I feel more at ease. The army must not be in chaos at any time, let alone have a dirty heart..." After saying this, Xiao Letian personally helped Zhang Xiaowen up.
"I have heard your grievances. Give me a few days to investigate carefully. I am not a person who gets hot when I slap my forehead. If I am really so arbitrary and reckless, you will not believe me. Come on, come on, drink. Bar……"
"This is just a small interlude. It won't affect the reception. Come and have a full drink..." After a glass of wine, Xiao Letian looked at Hu Xueyan with lingering fear and smiled. "On the cool summer night, there are not only butterflies and bees, but also butterflies and bees." There are flies and mosquitoes, and the rippling blue waves of the bay are not only rich in seafood, but also man-eating sharks... The world is not perfect to begin with, so if you find problems, solve them."
"I admire the Prime Minister's big heart. To be honest, I actually prepared a gift for the Prime Minister, but after going through this incident, I was too embarrassed to show it..." Hu Xueyan said with a smile.
"Hahaha, take it out and take a look. As long as it is an open and honest exchange of interests and not a secret exchange of interests, there is nothing I dare not accept." Xiao Letian looked at the piece of paper placed on the table by Hu Xueyan and said doubtfully, "It looks like a land deed."
"That's right, this is the land deed in Yuanbao Lane at the foot of Wushan Mountain in Hangzhou. A total of twelve acres is still vacant... They say that Suzhou and Hangzhou are paradise on earth. The dignified Prime Minister Xiao of Donghai must have a good residence..."
"As long as the Prime Minister likes it, I will take care of the garden construction."
A flash of light flashed through Li Mi's eyes. How could he not know the name of Yuanbao Lane? Hu Xueyan's most glorious period began in the 11th year of Tongzhi. It took three years and three million taels of silver to complete the construction. good.
Darling, Hu Xueyan is giving a gift with the foundation of his future garden. This is too heavy.
"A gentleman does not take away someone's love. This gift is too heavy..." Xiao Letian pushed away the land deed. Unexpectedly, Hu Xueyan was indeed a giant businessman with a very good psychological quality.
"Prime Minister, this property is not for you, but for the forces under your command. You must know that Jiangnan is the lifeblood of China's economy. It would be shameful for the Prime Minister not to have an office here. I know where the Prime Minister is in Shanghai. I have bought a piece of land by the Huangpu River and want to build a building, but after all, it is the land of foreigners..."
"I heard that the Prime Minister and Marshal Zeng have a good personal relationship. In the future, you will have your own real estate in Hangzhou, which will also make it easier for you to get closer to Marshal Zeng, hahaha..."
This is the highest level of bribery. It is so fair and upright that no one can say anything.
"Well, it's better to be respectful than to obey, but I won't take this gift in vain. I have a big business that I want to partner with Xue Yan. Do you have any interest?"
"Oh, tell me..." Hu Xueyan's eyes suddenly lit up. The business that Xiao Letian needs to complete as a joint venture must be very big.
A huge map of East Asia was hung on the wall, with Ryukyu as the center line and two black lines, one leading to Shanghai and the other to Fuzhou.
"The straight-line distance between Ryukyu and Shanghai is 820 kilometers, and the straight-line distance between Ryukyu and Fuzhou is more than 840 kilometers. I want to build two submarine cables under these two waterways, and my business is the telegraph business..."
"Now the construction of the cable from Ryukyu to Kyushu, Japan, has started smoothly. It will definitely be completed in the summer. Later, I will also build telegraph lines to North Korea, Jinzhou, Jiaodong, and Tanggu..."
"Not only that, it is only over 660 kilometers from Fuzhou to Hong Kong. It is not difficult to lay telegraph lines at all... If such an information network is successfully built, we will have to die from paying telegraph fees every year in the future."
"Not only that, since then the commodity price fluctuations in East Asia have been completely in our hands. What is the price of rice in Japan, how much has the land price in Hong Kong increased, and when will the wood from outside the customs arrive... Oh my, at that time That’s the real thing that circulates goods all over the world.”
Hu Xueyan has always had close relations with the foreigners in Shanghai. Of course he knew the benefits of the telegraph. It was an important weapon for the military and business. As long as he dominated the intelligence network, no businessman in the world could compete with him.
In the future, Lotte Foreign Company and Hu Xueyan's Fukang Company will definitely be the two overlords in China's business circle. By then, even foreigners will have to bow their heads and submit. Not to mention that after the telegraph line is completed, it will become a cornucopia of money. It will cost you three times to send a telegram. Four oceans is not much, right. Ten oceans is not a problem at the beginning, one word is worth one gold.
"Prime Minister." Hu Xueyan bowed and saluted, "I am extremely grateful for the Prime Minister's love. May I ask how much money the Prime Minister needs? I have to do this even if my family is broken..."
"Very good. The total budget of the entire submarine cable network is five million taels, half of which is half for your family. But I want a controlling stake. This is not because I, Xiao Letian, are unreasonable. It's because the telegraph line can also be converted into military use, so I have to consider it. To the issue of national security..."
"One half of the family, I hold 51% of the shares, what do you think?"
"No problem. The Prime Minister will give me half a year. I will raise the funds in three batches. Is it too late?"
"Haha, discuss the specific matters with my father-in-law. I don't care about these details. Anyway, the sooner the better... drink and drink."
The atmosphere in the flower hall immediately became lively, and now Zhang Xiaowen was also in admiration. He had just given the prime minister a shame, but instead of being annoyed, the prime minister even gave him such a big deal.
Xiao Letian was still willing to help Hu Xueyan emotionally, even though he was a very traditional Chinese businessman. At that time, he dared to engage in a raw silk war with British businessmen, which showed that he was a patriotic national businessman.
This kind of people don't say that they will transfer their money abroad. What they consider is to go to war with foreign businessmen and bring the money into their own country. They are also money-makers, but their realm is different.
While blushing, Xiao Letian took Hu Xueyan's hand and said, "Don't forget our identity. When you are a businessman, don't forget our nation. If you make money, you should spend it in the country. Don't give it to foreigners. It's a foreign country." No matter how good it is, it is still a foreign country, and the land of ancestral blood cannot be lost..."
Hu Xueyan didn't know why the Prime Minister reminded him of these words, but he would firmly remember "Prime Minister, don't worry, Xueyan will never betray the land where the souls of his ancestors live. The Prime Minister's teachings will never be forgotten for the rest of his life."
Hu Xueyan is really grateful to Xiao Letian, because he knows very well that this kind of big business cannot be done without the protection of the army. Foreigners are not fools. They invented the telegraph line, and they must know how high the profits are. .
This kind of business can only be done by the imperial court and Xiao Letian. If an ordinary businessman collects millions of silver taels to carry out such a project, let alone whether the imperial court agrees or not, those foreigners will cause trouble.
Without the protection of strong military power, those foreign devils would not let the Chinese monopolize such important dual-use projects, wouldn't rich people make money?
Secretly cut your cables, put pressure on the court, and ask the government to suppress you. Anyway, they will definitely intervene with this kind of military weapon. How can the great powers watch you and China become stronger.
Hu Xueyan has the will, but he has no power. His protective umbrella is the Hunan Army, and he is still a part of the Hunan Army. He still has some influence in Jiangnan, but if he really reaches out to the sea, he will be nothing.
Xiao Letian's olive branch today was like the rain coming after a long drought. Hu Xueyan was so excited that he almost cried.
Just when the atmosphere of the banquet was boiling, Xiao Letian's internal review in Ryukyu had actually begun. Xiao Hexin became the commander-in-chief with a cane. In front of him, countless squad leaders, platoon commanders, and company commanders were waiting for orders.
In the dark night scene, groups of new troops politely invited out the frightened Ryukyu officials, until finally Luo Huo personally led the team to surround the house of Lin Yuanmiao, the minister of household affairs.
