Great Entrepreneur of the Universe

Chapter 228 It’s not too little, it’s too much

Since Wang Shouliang arrived in Foshan, a new busy period has begun. Whether it is to expand the recruitment of the escort agency branch or to build a steel plant and recruit workers, it is no small job.

He also wants to arrange for people to go to Shaoguan to get the iron ore.

Regarding the various factories and team building projects on the road in Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong Island, Wang Shouliang could only ask his subordinates to frequently come to Foshan to report for instructions, or occasionally use telegraph to communicate.

This made him extremely nostalgic for the development of communications in the 20s.

But in Foshan in this era, let alone mobile phones, there were no landline phones. You must know that the Yangcheng telephone exchange was only established in 1903.

At present, many of Wang's factories exchange information by shipping, land racing or bicycles, coupled with auxiliary means such as homing pigeons.

Time flies by. On September 9, the large framework of Foshan was gradually completed. The steel plant buildings were rising from the ground. A figure rode a bicycle and quickly arrived at the Sihai Escort Bureau branch. The joy on his face was almost overwhelming. Can't hold it down.

When he arrived outside the main hall and saw two men in blue guarding the door, he exclaimed, "Great shopkeeper, good news, good news!"

"Luo Biao tried his best to collect three island country passenger ships."

Wang Shouliang, who was sitting in the living room working, was stunned. He looked up at the young man wearing the uniform of the escort agency with two star epaulettes on his shoulders. He smiled and waved, "Come in and talk."

Currently, the Sihai Escort Bureau has seven levels, from first-person to junior high-level escort master, to head escort, to chief escort, and then to him, the boss. The corresponding epaulettes range from one star to seven stars.

Two stars are official escorts and squad leaders.

In addition, there is also a crescent moon emblem embroidered on the left chest of the young man, which represents communications and is dedicated to the communications and liaison office of the Sihai Escort Bureau.

Without such a uniform, it would be difficult for the opponent to run directly in front of him without being blocked.

The young man quickly entered the door. Wang Shouliang asked the maid to pour tea for him. After the maid also poured the tea out, the young man said, "Congratulations to the boss. Mr. Luo was following the Nanhai's coaching team to familiarize himself with the sea conditions in the southern Fujian waters. He encountered three ships by chance. Island merchant ships.”

"Then the escort ordered the three island ships to stop for inspection on the grounds that two sailors were missing from the Sihai."

"After some friendly negotiations, our missing sailor was indeed found on the merchant ship, so the merchant ship was seized."

"Three ships, two steam-powered and one sailing ship, carried a total of 500 tons of natural rubber."

Wang Shouliang was stunned, then overjoyed, "500 tons of natural rubber? Well done!"

Needless to say, the importance of rubber resources. Even if this is not the era when Europe and the United States have become countries on wheels, it is still early. The most used rubber in the world is bicycles, tricycles, four-wheeled carriages, etc.

Cars and trucks are still in their infancy.

But it has to be said that in Europe, carriages with rubber tires are not used by the aristocracy and the rich. As early as 1825, there were public carriages traveling between different cities in Yilun, which were commercially operated.

In the mid-19th century, a carriage ride in New York cost about 12.5 cents, equivalent to a quarter of an ordinary worker's daily wage.

This price is not cheap, just like a migrant worker with a monthly salary of 21 yuan in the 3000st century, a long-distance ride will cost 25 yuan, but it is definitely cost-effective for traveling between different cities.

By the end of the 20th century, public carriages were common in major cities in Europe.

Also in 1895, brothers Edward and Andrew Michelin used the pneumatic tires they researched and equipped them on a racing car they designed. They successfully completed the Paris-Bordeaux-Paris race and caused a sensation in Paris.

From 1900 last year to the founding of the Republic of China in the future, these ten years are the era when Michelin tires are famous in the world!

The automobile industry in Europe and the United States is in its infancy, but the island country is also brewing. In 1907, a manufacturer in the island country produced 10 gasoline-burning cars.

These all illustrate that natural rubber is setting off a new round of wealth storm around the world. To be more specific, the famous rubber stock crisis that broke out in Shanghai in 1910 in the late Qing Dynasty was due to the birth of the automobile in the 19th century.

In 1908, the Ford Model T began to become popular among middle- and lower-class families.

The era of wheels is brewing, causing rubber to explode in the capital market. There is constant speculation, and rubber-related companies have driven countless capital and stock investors crazy.

For example, in February 1910, Langezhi Company's stock was listed in Shanghai, with an issue price of 2 taels of silver. By March 100, the price had soared to 3 taels of silver.

It has increased more than fifteen times in more than a month.

Then in the early 20s, the bubble burst and there was a big crash.

Natural rubber was something that the Pearl River Bicycle Factory itself was in urgent need of buying from various plantations in East and Southeast Asia. Luo Sanpao continued to learn and train with Yulun sailors and gunners, and took advantage of the opportunity to rob three island merchant ships? ?

These are really good guys. Two steam merchant ships, whether they are ironclad or armored ships, whether they have artillery or not, encounter the Sihai with a displacement of more than 7000 tons, and a large number of Yalun officers and soldiers are guest coaches...

All I can say is that this Sanpao’s excuse is too bad.

We are sailing on the sea, and you stop the other party from trying to inspect the ship. The reason is that there is a missing sailor on your ship? ? What sailor can travel between different ships across the water?

Be more careful next time and think of a good reason.

The next moment, Wang Shouliang asked curiously, "How much does a ton of natural rubber cost in Southeast Asia now?"

He remembered that before coming to Foshan, he entrusted Kevin, Cliff and others to go to Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia to buy rubber. The guys from Nima offered a price of 500 pounds per ton. He also consulted Zhou Yongling, and Lao Zhou said that small quantities should be purchased from Malaysia. Purchased from other places, it costs about 440 pounds per ton.

This is normal. You must know that in the era when there were only bicycles, rickshaws, and horse-drawn carriages, the price of rubber was basically 400 pounds per ton.

It was with the emergence of the automobile industry and competition with each other that the price rose.

In a few years, the mid-to-late 20s will be the era when rubber prices continue to rise.

The Second Bodyguard took another sip of tea and said with a smile, "Headguard Luo said that the Japanese purchase price was 455 pounds per ton, and 500 tons cost nearly 23 pounds."

"With the additional costs of running competitions and stuff, it's £25."

Wang Shouliang took a breath and laughed, "Great job!"

25 pounds doesn't sound like much, but Mr. Wang's purchase of 1000 Lee long rifles and 12 million rounds of ammunition only cost 2000 pounds. This is guns and million rounds of ammunition.

25 pounds is basically equivalent to 190 million taels of silver.

This is more than enough to buy a new Sihai! !

Damn, this Ah Pao did a great job.

As we all know, before the war of aggression against China, the island country could gradually become such a great power and possess such national power. One of the sources of its wealth was the indemnity from the Sino-Japanese War of 21-, the Xinchou Treaty, Article , etc., as well as the burning, killing and looting from Wanwan. .

But there is another important pillar of wealth, which is to transport a large number of wives and girls from island countries to sell themselves around the world to make money.

Thinking of this, Wang Shouliang smiled and said, "You communicate with Hong Kong and Kowloon. This is a big deal. Rubber worth 25 pounds. I can give 20 pounds to the Yilun ghost soldiers on the Nanhai."

"This also includes bonuses for Kevin, Cliff, Joseph and others." "Let them study it and take away this scapegoat..."

The second escort hurriedly saluted, "Yes, the big shopkeeper!"

When he saw that Wang Shouliang had no more instructions, he said, "There is one more small thing. The construction of the five-story residential building in Yau Ma Tei started in April. The first one has been completed, and the others are still under construction."

"The director of Zhujiang Construction Factory asked the big shopkeeper for instructions. Will you go back and preside over the completion ceremony, including allocating houses to senior executives and employees of various companies..."

Wang Shouliang was stunned, thought for a few seconds and nodded, "It's time to go back. I will go back to Kowloon the day after tomorrow at the latest."

Only then did the Second Escort Master take the order and exit the office.

Mr. Wang was drinking tea and thinking. He had no shortage of British pounds, U.S. dollars, or Japanese yen. He was also not short of rubber. He wanted to make rubber from the 1994 plane, whether it was natural or synthetic. Where could he not make it?

But it made the island country lose 190 million taels of silver, and it was worth losing such a large amount of supplies!

He can bear the blame himself, and he is not afraid that the navy of the island country will come to the waters of Hong Kong Island to start an island-level national war with him... He is just a bodyguard. If he loses, he can just buy a new ship.

But the sailor gunners are still learning from their coaches.

The human resources of the hundreds of good men who are not afraid of water, seasickness, and waves, and the hundreds of senior pirates under Luo Sanpao are more important than the big ship, and they have only studied for a month and a half.

It would not be a bad idea to throw out a sum of money, pounds, yen, or marks, and let Joseph and the Yalun ghost soldiers take the blame.

That's £20!

There is no need to give Wang Shouliang 2000 guns and million rounds of ammunition, nor do he need to give him a new Sihai and Nanhai, just take the blame?

The ghost guys can't resist this temptation.

........................

September 9, Yau Ma Tei.

When Wang Shouliang arrived at the five-story building area built facing the street a few hundred meters away from the Zhujiang Instant Noodles Factory and the Garment Factory, there was already a sea of ​​people here. Many of them were employees of each factory, including some from other places who came to watch the excitement. of.

It was only the beginning of the 20th century, and there were not many five-story buildings on Hong Kong Island.

Even on the top and bottom of Victoria Peak, in Central and Sheung Wan, there are still only three-storey buildings at most.

It is a five-story building with a few meters between buildings. Across the spacious road are one- and two-story commercial shops, ranging from daily necessities and grocery stores to various bicycle and rickshaw repair, hardware stores, teahouses, restaurants, and mahjong parlors. , clothing stores have everything you need.

The first building, which has been under construction for more than five months, has been completed, and the exterior walls are beautifully painted.

There are many street lamps, telephone poles, and some trees dotting the streetscape. At first glance, it is more beautiful, grand, and upscale than the Central and Sheung Wan neighborhoods.

After Wang Shouliang arrived, he saw Luo Sanpao taking Li Chujiu and the chief, deputy directors and directors of various factories gathered in front of the corridor to chat and chat. He also got out of the car with a smile and said, "Sanpao, do it." It’s beautiful and the first building was completed today.”

"You don't have to rush to move in right away, but of all the houses in the building, you will be picked first, and Chujiu will be the second."

"The chief and deputy directors of each factory will follow in the third sequence, and the rest is to select the senior escorts!"

Luo Sanpao and others also quickly visited and greeted Mr. Wang. After some polite remarks, everyone stopped refusing and went into the corridor to look at the environment with a big smile.

The houses here are simply decorated, with only whitewashed walls and no furniture, but electric lights and flush toilets are installed.

After all, it lasts for more than 150 days. There are not many construction machines, but there is a lot of manpower! !

In this era, if you want to work as a hard laborer or move bricks, there are so many disaster victims and refugees rushing to work and make a living. The more people you have, the more power you have.

Wang Shouliang has never been short of money, and he doesn't care about giving stuttering food to more victims. He doesn't have enough mechanized equipment, so he can use human power, such as pulleys and cranes.

When Luo Sanpao chose a room with three bedrooms and one living room on the fifth floor, he smiled happily and said, "I live high up here, and I feel like I can see far away. What I like most is the flush toilet. It's much more convenient to take a bath."

The next moment, he looked at Mr. Wang curiously, "Shop manager, can I ask a little question about life?"

Wang Shouliang laughed, "You ask."

Sanpao then said, "I heard that many Yalun ghosts use gas stoves to cook at home. It seems to be more convenient than the briquette and coal stoves you introduced?"

"Can we do it here? I can't cook, but Chujiu has found a stable wife, and her cooking skills are not bad. If we have dinner at home and have home-cooked meals, can we try a more convenient gas stove?"

Gas stoves Gas stoves have developed relatively slowly in China.

However, in the European and American world, the French invented gas lighting, heating, cooking and other uses as early as the 19th century. Coal-burning steam engines allowed armored and ironclad ships to sweep the world.

It is not too late to use it for people's livelihood. As early as 1836, there were factories and enterprises specializing in the production of gas stoves in Yilun. After the mid-19th century, gas burning equipment and stoves gradually entered a large number of households in Europe and the United States.

This is indeed a great convenience compared to wood-burning stoves, matchmaking stoves, charcoal stoves, etc. in the late Qing Dynasty. Wang Shouliang's promotion of briquettes and coal stoves without making any big changes is already a step forward across the ages.

Original trajectory Until the 20s and s, briquettes still existed in large quantities in China, and were used everywhere for cooking and heating.

At these words, Wang Shouliang was a little dumbfounded, "You can use it if you want. Don't think too much about small things."

The gas stoves of this era are still very different from the gas tanks of the future.

It is more complicated than a gas tank, but it does not require laying natural gas pipelines. It is better to use a gas stove and stove combination than briquettes.

Why do we need to ask for instructions on the little things in daily life? The next moment, Wang Shouliang diffused cigars for several people, and said, "This time we robbed 500 tons of rubber. I will give a total of 100 million taels of silver reward to all the Sihai Escort agents and escorts on your ship."

"any questions?"

Luo Sanpao was confused, "Huh? Boss, didn't you already give the ghost guy 20 pounds to take the blame?"

The next moment he also scratched his head, "If I were still the same person before I took refuge with you, even if I grabbed this vote, not to mention how many people would die in the process, how would I be retaliated afterward."

"It's hard to say how to sell this batch of goods. If someone can give me a 25% discount on pounds of rubber, I should be very happy."

The money that Wang Shouliang, the big shopkeeper, gave them was not too little, but too much! !

It's a very simple truth. There must be rules for robbery. If you rob a country's resources, how can the other party take less revenge? Who dares to buy this hot product? A 30% discount is a dream.

Yalun ghost took the blame and took away 80% of the cash!

(End of this chapter)