Years of the Republic of China 1913

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Shanghai*Shanghai, Huizhong Hotel.

Fang Zida rushed to Shanghai*shanghai immediately after receiving the telegram. When he arrived in Shanghai, he did not go directly to the manufacturing bureau, nor did he go to the garrison camp. old friend.

"Marcos, thank you for your hard work." In the luxurious suite on the fifth floor of Huizhong Hotel, Fang Zida opened his arms with a smile and hugged his old friend Marcos who was waiting for him.

"Fang, you vampire, you have to know that I have traveled almost all over the world in the past six months." Marcos joked with a smile.

"However... the harvest is also great, isn't it?" Fang Zida winked his eyes on purpose and asked knowingly.

Marcos nodded with a smile: "Yes, there are great gains. I can't believe it, Fang, I think your prophecy is about to come true. I'm curious, how did you guess it?"

"The one who is one step ahead is the genius!" Fang Zida spread his hands and shrugged, and said easily: "Actually, Europeans are blinded by the immediate interests, and some problems are not difficult to see. To be honest, there was a big reason for me to go back to China. It is also for this reason that I am not optimistic about the current Europe, and war will inevitably break out in a short period of time!"

"You're right." Sitting down, Marcos nodded solemnly: "Britain, France, Germany, Russia, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire...these countries have been frantically expanding their armies and preparing for war recently, and the shadow of war has shrouded Europe. , the war is inevitable."

At home, Fang Zida was a bit closed to the specific situation in Europe. He asked carefully about the situation in Europe. According to Marcos, since the second half of last year, various countries have started a more intense arms race. So far, Germany has expanded its army by 40, and France The military expansion was 30. As for the military expansion of the Tsarist Russia, it was even more crazy. It was as high as 150 million, which is unbelievable.

"It's crazy!" Fang Zida shook his head and sighed, and couldn't help but think of an old saying, "If God wants to perish, he must first make him crazy."

After lamenting the tense situation in Europe, Marcos and Fang Zida talked about his progress in the past six months.According to the plan formulated with Fang Zida, Marcos immediately operated through a series of financial means after returning to Europe, and began to borrow a large amount of money from European countries. A large number of machinery and equipment, including machinery, military, chemical, textile, etc., and recruited dozens of professional workers.

"So much loan? How does it work?" Fang Zida's original plan was only 300 million pounds, but he didn't expect Marcos to double his expectation. He couldn't help but asked in surprise.

"Fang, don't forget that I am a Jewish businessman." Marcos joked with a smile, and then told Fang Zida frankly that he not only used European industries as collateral, but also directly obtained loans from the central banks of various countries through the Jewish business group. Loan approval was not difficult, and after a series of ingenious financial means and repeated operations, it finally exceeded expectations.

Speaking of which industry is the easiest to make money in the world?Neither traditional business nor opium drugs, but the huge business opportunities brought about by the war.Even after a hundred years, arms trading is the most profitable industry in all industries, and it is the same today.What's more, Fang Zida did not worry about the loss of Marcos for the large amount of loans. The tragedy and duration of the First World War were unprecedented. The Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Ottoman Empire were even more disintegrated, Britain and France would also be severely damaged, and the world structure would bring about tremendous changes.

"Good guy! The funds have been exchanged for 600 million pounds?" Fang Zida asked happily.

"Of course, most of them have been exchanged into gold and silver as planned. Fang, fortunately, we moved quickly. If we exchange them now, we will definitely lose a lot."

Fang Zida breathed a sigh of relief. With such a large amount of financial support, he can do more things.In fact, he was more concerned about the machinery and equipment he entrusted Marcos to purchase and the professionals he recruited, so he asked carefully about this.

Marcos took out a list and pointed to the densely packed lines on it to explain. Fang Zida listened very carefully. Although these equipments are not the most advanced at present, what Fang Zida needs most is also the most suitable for China, and those dozens of professionals It is even more precious wealth. With them, Fang Zida can finally show his talents.

"I will find someone to do the chemical and textile industries, but Marcos, I suggest that you cooperate with Chinese businessmen when building factories in China and participate appropriately. What we are after is to build more factories in China as soon as possible and produce as soon as possible. products, thereby promoting the development of China's industry and commerce. However, the right to sell products in Europe must be firmly grasped, which is very important!"

"Are you worried about the national sentiment of your Chinese people?" Marcos said with a smile, "I can understand this."

"However, there is a business that you can operate alone. If it is done well, it will be more profitable than opening a dozen factories." Fang Zida smiled as he lit his cigar.

Raising his eyebrows, Marcos asked with great interest: "What business?"

"Bristles! Do you know bristles?"

Marcos' eyes lit up immediately: "I see! This is indeed a good idea!"

Fang Zida nodded: "Bristles are almost discarded waste in China, but they are necessary for industry and military supplies. Once the war starts, the demand for bristles in Europe will be extremely huge. Marcos, this business As long as you do it well, it is enough to make huge profits."

"That's right!" Marcos waved his fist and said excitedly: "Bristles from all over China can be purchased, and a factory can even be built in Shanghai*Shanghai for processing. At that time, its profits will be enough to make people rich, my God! How wonderful! The plan, Fang, I have to thank you!"

"You're welcome, actually helping me is helping myself. I only hope that when you make money, you can bring corresponding benefits to my country. I'm very satisfied in this way."

"You are a noble person, Fang." Marcos was slightly taken aback when he heard this, and gave a thumbs up in admiration.

"Hehe, where are the truly noble people in this world? It's just that sometimes you have to do things to be worthy of your own conscience." Waving his hand, Fang Zida smiled lightly, and then he asked Marcos to hand over all the machinery and equipment related to the military industry to him as soon as possible. He, in addition, also includes relevant technical personnel, and he plans to use these to reorganize the Shanghai Manufacturing Bureau.

"Fang, why don't you rebuild an arsenal yourself? I've heard of the Manufacturing Bureau in Shanghai, but it's a pit that can't be filled!" Marcos asked suspiciously.

"You don't understand, Marcos, manufacturing bureaus are different in the hearts of Chinese people." Fang Zida shook his head bitterly.

Shanghai * Manufacturing Bureau, the full name is Jiangnan Machinery Manufacturing Bureau, also known as Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau, Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau and Shanghai*Shanghai Machinery Bureau, etc., was established in 1865 and is the largest and most important military enterprise in China.Now, this military industrial enterprise has become the property of the central bank, and it is also Fang Zida's most valued industry. However, the problems he faces are also very serious.

The Manufacturing Bureau is divided into three parts, one is the Jiangnan Steel Works, the other is the Jiangnan Shipbuilding Institute, and the third is the Shanghai Naval Machinery Factory.These three pieces constitute the entire core of the Manufacturing Bureau. It can be said that China's first self-made steel, the first self-made steamboat, the first self-made rifle and the first self-made bullet all came from here. Dreaming of a strong China and great pride.However, due to poor management, backward efficiency and corruption, the manufacturing situation is deteriorating. The cost of such a huge arsenal remains high. Whether it is ships or steelmaking, the cost is often more than twice that of direct purchases. Even ordinary weapons are naturally expensive. It can only manufacture 50 bullets, 200 landmines, and more than 2400 rifles in a year. These figures are so shocking. It is unbelievable that the number one arsenal in the Far East at that time produced only such a small amount.

Fang Zida found out about the situation of the manufacturing bureau before he arrived in Shanghai, and he couldn't believe his eyes when the data came up.Confirming again and again that this is indeed the case, Fang Zida couldn't help sighing that the manufacturing bureau had almost reached the point of dying.

State-owned enterprises are overstaffed, inefficient, with many idlers, high costs, poor product quality, operators charge reckless kickbacks for food and cards, and serious corruption... These situations can be seen everywhere, so how can the manufacturing bureau do well? ?

But in any case, the rectification of the Manufacturing Bureau must be carried out.Now with the good news brought by Marcos, Fang Zida is a bit more confident about the rectification.To put it bluntly, the key to the manufacturing bureau's problems lies in people. As long as the problem of people is solved, everything will gradually improve.

However, this problem is not so easy to solve. The personnel problem of the manufacturing bureau is not as simple as he dealt with Cheng Dequan, Zhao Hengti and others in Nanjing.Cheng Dequan vacillated during the second revolution, and even abandoned his subordinates to escape to the concession to save his life. His ass was no longer clean. No matter the Beiyang faction, KMT or the Revolutionary Party faction, they were particularly dissatisfied with his double-faced behavior. Taking him down decisively with national law now may seem reckless, but in fact it has no effect on the overall situation. No one will stand up for an incompetent governor who has lost power.

As for Zhao Hengti, it is even simpler. The Eighth Division was originally a KMT unit, and with the support of Yuan Shikai and Song Jiaoren behind, Zhao Hengti, who had lost control of the military, had no power to fight back. Compared with these two, the manufacturing The personnel affairs of the bureau are much more difficult to handle. The interpersonal relationship in the manufacturing bureau is intricate and involves a lot of ups and downs. Fang Zida wants to attack the manufacturing bureau, which is definitely more difficult than cleaning up the Eighth Division.