Here's a point.

The fire brigade in the French Concession belongs to the Fire Administration Department of the Ministry of Industry.

Because the Shanghai concession was so large before the expansion, the foreigners cooperated with each other.

They designated the entire French Concession as the Third Fire District.

Fire protection issues are handled by the Fire Administration Department of the Ministry of Industry.

What the public board of directors needs to do in this regard is to subsidize the Ministry of Industry and the bureau of 1,000 taels of silver every year.

But today, Devimen sent a letter saying that the budget of the Fire Administration Department is too small, and the total fire expenditure for this year should be 20,000 yuan.

Historical statistics show that fires in the French Concession account for a quarter of the total.

Therefore, the French Concession should give the Ministry of Industry a subsidy of 5,000 taels this year.

This product has been frenzied to increase the cost of the French Concession by five times!

But this money is public money, even if he knows that Deweimen is playing a scoundrel and disgusting person, no one in the Ministry of Industry will speak for the French Concession.

And if the matter is not resolved for a day, what if there is a fire in the French Concession?

To put it mildly, as long as Devimen presses his fire brigade to set off to rescue later, the losses of the French Concession will be lost.

When Fei Volli and several public directors were in a state of affairs over the matter, Melo quietly made a phone call to Han Huaiyi.

"Charlie, what do you think should be done about this?" Melo asked.

"Self-reliance is the only way to be self-reliant, can't you buy more water dragons and gather some workers if you have five thousand taels of silver?"

"However, if you keep people all year round, this expense...

"We don't bother with calculating how much a commercial building, such as a hotel, will bring you income. And the benefits brought by the opening of 10 buildings and 100 stores. ”

Han Huaiyi then asked him: "How many people are there in the fire brigade in the concession now?" ”

"39 people."

Han Huaiyi hadn't cared about this question before, and when he heard the answer, he was taken aback, there were 39 firefighters in the entire French Concession, and these people were still voluntary and not official?

He also served these management of the public board of directors, and if this is the case, then what is there to discuss.

The ruthlessness of fire and water is a truth that everyone knows.

Han Huaiyi immediately said: "Merlot, it is not enough to rely on righteousness and bravery, there must be formal professional training firefighters on standby at any time." Think about the blueprint I've told you, think about our big world and our clubs, can't we afford to pay taxes to support a firefighting team? ”

"I see what you mean Charlie, it's just that we don't have enough money right now." Merlot then told him the real situation of the board of directors.

In the past, no matter how close he was to Han Huaiyi, he would not have said this to him.

In 1903, the nearly 800 French expatriates in the French Concession were in some respects xenophobic.

But now his relationship with Charlie is different, and his body and spirit belong to the Great Brotherhood.

It turned out that the expenses of the Board of Directors last year were too large, and there was no money on hand this year.

That's right, the dignified public board of directors can't take out even a thousand taels of silver in the public account now.

In 1902, the Board of Directors received a total of 370,000 taels of silver through various financial revenues such as local tax collection.

However, the construction of an iron bridge across the pidgin and a new police building has led to expenditures exceeding revenues.

After hearing this, Han Huaiyi suddenly said: "Then you go and tell Fei Volli now, I am personally willing to donate an electric pumping machine to the Public Board of Directors, and I will also donate to my friends, and gather three times as many people within three days, and bring money to the account together to support the French Concession authorities to establish their own firefighting team." ”

"Really, Charlie?"

"Now is the time for Fevoli and you need help, and it is my duty as a brother to protect our future business places such as the big world."

Great World will have a business area of 15,000 square meters.

After the opening, there are many businesses inside, and there will be an endless stream of tourists.

If there is no coordinated management of patrols and consumer hygiene, it is equivalent to a big bomb.

Accidents can happen anytime, anywhere.

Compared with hidden dangers in public security and health, fire safety is the most important.

Because once the fire goes off, it will inevitably cause huge casualties.

Therefore, Han Huaiyi raised his hands in favor of the French Concession having its own firefighting team.

Merlot's heart warmed when he heard him say so categorically.

At this time, Baochang, a public director in the French Concession, was complaining about Fei Volli.

He said: "Mr. Fivoli, I have to say that as far as I understand you had a clash with Devemon last night, and then today he targeted us. ”

Several other directors, such as Bouvier of the Board of Education, wondered what had happened last night.

Bao Chang said: "When Mr. Fei Volli and Charlie Han went to the Public Concession together, there was an incident with Deweimen... ”

There are disputes everywhere, and Fei Volli's biggest opponent in the board of directors is Baochang.

This bastard from Lyon has some affinity with the governor of Indochina, so he has been thinking about the location of Fivoli.

It is precisely because of this background that he has no scruples about Fivoli.

There he beeped and continued with the directors: "Mr. Feivoli's support for Charlie Han is greater than I imagined, but is it worth paying for a Chinese who doesn't know what his origin is? The most obvious consequence is that we now have to spend an extra 4,000 taels of silver a year, otherwise, if there is a fire in our French Concession, will it be up to that Chinese to save it? ”

Fevoli looked at him with a grim face, about to have a seizure.

Merlot pushed the door open and said to Mr. Fervoli in an exaggerated tone of surprise, "Sir, I have just received a call from your friend Mr. Charlie Han. He decided to personally donate an electric pumping machine to us and called in three times as many firefighters to support our work within three days. ”

There was silence in the room.

Bao Chang's face turned black to the bottom of the pot, but Fei Volli had a smile on his face.

The other directors all sat up straight after hearing Melo's report, and Boseman of the Real Estate Committee had a good personal relationship with Melo, and he thought to himself that Melo must have taken the initiative to call Charlie Han, but Charlie Han was able to agree so happily, which also shows that he is indeed a good person as Melo described.

Fei Volli seized the opportunity to sarcastically say to Bao Chang: "It seems that you are really a great prophet, well, Merlot, is there any other good news?" ”

"Mr. Charlie Han made a suggestion in passing."

Melo was ready to express Han Huaiyi's opinion, but Baochang said first: "A Chinese's opinion is not worthy of this kind of meeting." ”

He said this in this situation, it was too unlevel.

Fei Volli immediately asked him aggressively: "You mean to say that you want to refuse Charlie Han's donation and help, right?" Isn't it! ”

Bao Chang was suddenly unable to answer, as long as he dared to say Fei Voli, he dared to sue.