After the British East India Company withdrew from the trade in Guangzhou, these three foreign firms were the largest among the British and American retail merchants.

Yan Shikuan was quite hostile to the trio of British businessmen who cleared up the debts of Xingtai Bank, and he was very worried: "The third brother should not be really interested in this upside down, right?" ”

"Of course I'm interested." Yi Zhizhi said: "Jardine's and Baoshun will be our strong opponents in the future, how can we not be interested in them?" What does Sun Tzu say about the Art of War? Know each other and know yourself, and you will not be defeated in a hundred battles. ”

"Contentment, why do you want to elevate these two British and foreign firms like this?" Wu Changqing said with some disdain: "What are the three major foreign companies, they are just putting gold on their own faces, but they are actually the three major crows. Piece smugglers, once the imperial court strictly banned smoking, cut off crows. piece smuggling,

It is no more difficult to crush them than two ants. ”

"That's a relief." Yan Shikuan echoed and said: "The sesame seeds are bigger, and they dare to be called the three major foreign companies, but in fact, they are not worthy of lifting shoes for our thirteen banks." ”

Yi Zhizhi smiled contentedly, Wu Changqing's words were not arrogant, if the two foreign companies of Jardine and Baoshun only relied on the trade of tea and raw silk to maintain, the Wu family could destroy these two foreign companies with a word, the problem is that the crow. Smuggling is not prohibited at all, and these two foreign companies are completely smuggling crows. Films are the main business.

He didn't want to say more, glanced around the hall, took out his pocket watch and looked at it, and when he saw that it was only half past seven, he said, "Can you ask someone to serve a few cups of tea first?" ”

"Here comes tea." A person outside the door smiled heartily, and then saw Pan Shiming pacing in, followed by two servants holding the tea tray, after bowing his hand, Pan Shiming smiled: "I originally wanted to meet you in Tianhai Pavilion, but I didn't want to be a step late." Saying that, he looked at Yi Zhizhi and said: "The matter of the newspaper, contentment can't be left alone, I heard that the address of Yixue and the watch factory has been selected, where is this newspaper located?" ”

Yi Zhishu smiled and said, "Is the Western-style movable type printing press down?" ”

"How can it be so fast." Pan Shiming said with a smile: "I heard that Macao is using Western-style movable type printing presses, and I have sent people to Macao to inquire about the news, but I heard that 20 years ago, the British proposed to build a printing factory in Guangzhou, but the Guangzhou officials refused..." ”

"Twenty years ago, things are no longer the same, don't worry." Yi Zhizhi said disapprerovingly: "Newspapers are not as good as printed books, once they encounter breaking news, they must be revised immediately, and engraving printing cannot adapt to them." ”

After a pause, he continued: "The address of the newspaper is not suitable for commercial and residential areas, the location of Tianbao Watch Factory is good, it is convenient to enter and exit, and there is also vacant land around, so let's just build it together." ”

"That's what I mean." Pan Shiming said with a smile: "The main consideration is to be content and be able to take care of both. ”

Hearing this, Wu Changqing said: "Look at this situation, let's buy a yard in Mashacang." ”

"That's a good idea." Pan Shiming also echoed.

"Okay, I'll have time to go around and see if there's a suitable one."

Yan Shikuan likes to be lively the most, and immediately volunteered: "This matter is on me." ”

"What are you talking about? So lively? With the words, a white and thin young man with big eyes walked in, glanced at the situation in the room, and said with some restraint: "Brother Cheng, Brother Wu, Third Brother ......." ”

This is Wu Yundong who is the same as Shunxing, the second child of the Wu family, nicknamed the big-eyed boy, Yi Zhishu has already met with him several times, and said with a smile: "Sit casually, don't be restrained." ”

Wu Yundong smiled and said, "My father is in the back." ”

As soon as they heard this, Yi Zhizhi and several people hurriedly stood up and looked at the door, wearing a robe and a horse coat, with a goatee, and a slightly thin Wu Tianyuan slowly paced in with his hands behind his back, and several people hurriedly bowed their hands.

Wu Tianyuan waved his hand with a smile, looked at Yi Zhicontent, and said with a smile: "Good boy, the older you are, the more handsome you are, you haven't decided to marry yet, right?" The old man has a niece, who is born with flowers and moons... ”

As soon as he heard about the family affairs, Yi Zhishu suddenly felt that his head was big, and he hurriedly said: "Wu Shibo, don't make fun of the kid." ”

"Hey, the old man is not joking." Wu Tianyuan said: "Another day, ask Yun Dong to accompany you to take a sneak look?" ”

"Okay, you Wu Ashuang, you are not afraid to teach your own juniors." With the scolding, Xie Youren, who was obviously in good shape, walked in quickly, and he was followed by a somewhat shy young man, easy to remember, this person's name is Xie Anzhou, and the amount of alcohol is very good.

Everyone inevitably saw a salute again, there were many people, everyone spoke a little restrained, and then people came in one after another, Yi Zhicontent is undoubtedly the most concerned, almost everyone who came will say hello to him, he also took the opportunity to sit down one by one with the thirteen lines of merchants, connecting people and names.

At eight o'clock, Wu Shaorong, Pan Zhengwei, and Lu Jiguang came in neat official robes, and a group of merchants also wore official robes for the three of them, Wu Changqing reminded softly: "The three of them are cleaning up the debts of Xingtai Bank together with the British businessmen. ”

Wu Shaorong exchanged pleasantries with everyone, then looked at Yi Zhicontent, looked up and down, nodded slightly, and said, "Today is not a business meeting, everyone does not need to be formal." Saying that, he said to Yi Zhicontent: "We still have an errand, so let's start." ”

Yi Zhizu bowed slightly, got up and walked to the middle of the hall, glanced around at everyone, and said loudly: "Everyone here is a shareholder of Qianzhuang, and if you have any questions, you can answer them one by one." ”

Seeing his calm demeanor, everyone couldn't help but secretly praise, the most concerned problem of the merchants is to borrow, now is the peak season of sea trade, it is the time to need silver turnover, take out 50,000 silver dollars into the bank, they can't wait to be able to borrow 100,000 yuan immediately.

Rong Kunyi of An Cheong Hong was the first to speak: "I wonder how long it will take for Qian Zhuang to start a lending business?" ”

Yi Zhishu nodded at him and said: "From the date of the opening of the bank, within half a month, all shareholders are temporarily allowed to borrow 100,000 yuan at low interest, and if they have more deposits in the future, they can continue to borrow." ”

As soon as the words fell, there was immediately a discussion in the hall, even if the Wu family, the Pan family, and the Lu family did not borrow, the remaining ten would have to borrow one million, with a principal of only 650,000, and they would have to open a bank, that is to say, within half a month, the bank would raise at least 400,000 silver dollars!

This Haikou is a bit exaggerated! You must know that there are a lot of money bank ticket numbers in Xiguan and Guangzhou, and most of them have a large amount of silver in their hands, and most of them invest in the money bank ticket number to eat interest, and a newly opened money bank will raise 400,000 silver dollars in half a month, which is nothing less than a fool's dream! Unless it is the Wu family and the Pan family secretly helping.

Someone then asked: "How long will it take to prepare for the opening of the bank?" ”

"Three or five days." Yi Zhi's contentment said without hesitation.

Can you complete the preparation in three or five days? Everyone was stunned for a moment, and the quick response was already asking: "But buy other money banks?" ”

"Not bad." Yi Zhizhi said: "In the peak season of sea trade, you are in urgent need of silver turnover, why don't you know it?" Therefore, even if it is a price higher than tens of thousands of yuan, it is not necessary to buy a large-scale money bank, right now, time is silver! ”