Volume 2 King of the Northwest Chapter 5 Stability (V)
"Supervisor, there are two people outside who claim to be your brothers. They came from Beijing and Shanghai after receiving your invitation. Here are their business cards."
Sima stood respectfully in front of Dai Jiliang and handed him two business cards.
"Zeng Zhisheng from the Ministry of Transport, Gu Changqing from Shanghai Yexin Shipyard."
Dai Jiliang picked it up and took a look, a smile appeared on his face.
"Yes, these are my two sworn brothers. Send someone to greet them immediately. No, I will go myself."
Dai Jiliang stood up. He had sent out the telegram the day after he captured Xi'an. Now there has been no news for more than a month. He never expected that two people would come together. These two bastards will definitely be in trouble soon.
With this thought in mind, Dai Jiliang followed Sima out of the office quickly and appeared in the front lobby of the Copper Coin Bureau.
"Changqing, Zhisheng!"
However, when he saw two guys standing side by side and observing the situation in the Copper Coin Bureau, Dai Jiliang couldn't help but put his previous thoughts behind him. He laughed and walked forward to embrace the two men in his arms.
"You two brats, did you plan to piss me off together?"
"No, we heard that Big Brother became the governor of Shaanxi, so we hurried to meet him in Lingtong. If Big Brother doesn't want to see us anymore, Second Brother, why don't we just leave?"
Zeng Zhisheng spoke in a slick tone, making exaggerated facial expressions as if he had suffered a great injustice.
"Brother, congratulations!"
It seems that Gu Changqing has become much more stable in the past two years due to his wealth and status.
"It's been less than five years since we returned to China. I never expected that!"
"Come on, stop blocking the door, let's go in and talk."
Dai Jiliang suppressed his excitement and patted his two brothers on the chest.
"Tonight, let's sit down and talk about what has happened since we separated over the past two years."
"Brother, tell me, what's the matter that you called us here this time?"
Back in Dai Jiliang's office, the orderly brought tea and everyone else left. Only then did Gu Changqing speak.
"Oh, yes."
He first handed over a check from his briefcase.
"Here is 200,000 yuan, which is my brother's dividend for the past two years."
"Two hundred thousand in dividends?"
Dai Jiliang looked at Gu Changqing in confusion.
"Isn't it you, the second brother, who is subsidizing me?"
Dai Jiliang shook his head and pushed the check back.
"As the Shaanxi post-war supervisor, I don't lack for small amounts of money."
They are all brothers, so Dai Jiliang does not hide anything.
"Changqing, I don't want this money. I have two things to ask you. Can you agree to them?"
"Go ahead, big brother."
Gu Changqing did not take the check, but answered casually.
"I will definitely promise you if I can do it, big brother."
“That’s good!”
Dai Jiliang rummaged through the table, then looked on the antique display case behind him, before he pulled out a stack of papers from a drawer.
"This is the agreement I reached with the Shaanxi business community. We're going to order a total of nearly two million machines. Please find a way for me in Shanghai and Tianjin. It would be best if all of them can be delivered to Xi'an within this year."
"Textile machines, looms, flour mills, and cement factories. Big brother really wants to make a big splash in Shaanxi."
Gu Changqing looked through the order in his hand and smiled.
"For such a big business, I'm afraid I'll have to find some ways with the foreign company. Thank you very much, brother. I can make a lot of money from this business. No problem, I'll ask my uncle for you as soon as I return to Shanghai."
Speaking of this, Gu Changqing seemed to remember something.
"It's not enough to just have machines. We also need some skilled workers and machine technicians. This is a bit more difficult. After all, not many people are willing to come from the glamorous world of Shanghai to your remote Shaanxi."
"It doesn't matter. I've pressured the factory owner to agree."
Gu Changqing is really different from before, Dai Jiliang sighed, but despite his sigh, he immediately stretched out two fingers.
"The starting salary is 20% higher than that in Shanghai. As a shipyard tycoon, do you think it's enough to hire people?"
"Twenty percent? That's no problem. Workers, you need to make a living anywhere. If I could live better in Shaanxi, I would come here too."
Gu Changqing nodded.
"Don't worry, bro. I will make arrangements and will definitely go to Shaanxi with the machine."
"Okay! But Changqing, I can't give you your commission in cash. There's no other way. All this money has to be turned into machines."
Dai Jiliang reached out to stop Gu Changqing from making excuses.
"But I won't let you work in vain. So, after each factory is built, you will have one share. What do you think? By the way, Zhisheng, I will give you one share too. Brothers, we can achieve great things when we are united!"
"It's not good to accept a reward without any merit, brother?"
Before Gu Changqing could answer, Zeng Zhisheng spoke first.
"I do not want it!"
"I don't want it either! I was just joking just now, don't take it seriously, big brother."
Gu Changqing also refused.
"No, you must! I will be relying on you in the future. If you don't want me to do it today, how can I, your elder brother, ask for it in the future?"
Dai Jiliang insisted that even brothers should settle accounts clearly, and he didn't want others to say that he only took advantage of their sworn brotherhood.
"Okay, it's settled!"
"Brother, didn't you say two things? What's the other thing?"
Gu Changqing looked at Zeng Zhisheng standing beside him . Zeng Zhisheng shrugged indifferently. Gu Changqing couldn't refuse and had to change the subject temporarily.
"Changqing, I want you to sell the shipyard!"
Gu and Zeng were both shocked and listened to Dai Jiliang continue talking.
"I want to open a bank in Shaanxi. How about you come and be my general manager?"
"Brother, this?"
Gu Changqing's shipyard was thriving thanks to the European war, but Dai Jiliang wanted him to give up, and he was unable to come to terms with it for the time being.
"Changqing, I know what you are thinking. Since the shipyard is so profitable, wouldn't it be a pity to give it up?"
Dai Jiliang stood up and poured tea for the two people.
"The European war has been going on for more than two years. Although the Central Powers have not shown any signs of decline, the Allies' advantage is still obvious. We don't know when this war will end, but once it ends, the Great Depression will be just around the corner."
Dai Jiliang's words were sincere and earnest. It was impossible for him to reveal all the history he predicted, otherwise he would not be able to explain it. However, his deductions from general economic theory were irrefutable facts.
"Once all the surplus materials enter the civilian market, do you think your shipyard can compete with the big ones in Europe, America and Japan? In my opinion, it is better to quit while you are ahead."
"Brother."
Although Gu Changqing found it difficult to accept Dai Jiliang's inference, his reason told him that Dai Jiliang was right.
"Let me think about it."
Gu Changqing definitely could not make a decision on such a big matter alone, so it was inevitable that he would return to Shanghai to discuss it with his father-in-law Xie Zhigeng.
"Okay!"
Dai Jiliang understood that this would take time, so he turned to face Zeng Zhisheng.
"Zhisheng, I need your help with something!"
"Me? How can I help, big brother? Tell me."
Zeng Zhisheng looks so nonchalant and definitely doesn't look like a serious railway engineer.
"I'm definitely a gang member to the end."
"You are already in your thirties, and you are always so disheveled. Why don't you change it?"
Dai Jiliang looked at Zeng Zhisheng helplessly, and subconsciously he really regarded him as his younger brother.
"Go ask the Ministry, if Shaanxi borrows money to build the railway, will the Ministry agree?"
To get rich, one must first build roads, and Dai Jiliang certainly understands this truth.
"Building railroads with debt."
Zeng Zhisheng straightened his back suddenly.
"Whose debt is this? Where does this road start and end?"
"We have to borrow both domestic and foreign debts."
Dai Jiliang looked at Gu Changqing.
"Changqing, when you return to Shanghai, please contact the European and American companies for me to see if they are interested in co-investing in building a railway in Shaanxi. Tell them that I will not give up the right of way, but I can give them the lion's share of the dividends."
Seeing Gu Changqing nod in understanding, Dai Jiliang continued to speak to Zeng Zhisheng.
"The Ministry of Transportation has already borrowed foreign debt from the Belgians for Xitong Road. I can't build this idea, but I have a chance on other railways in the province, right? I plan to try it on Xi'an Yaozhou Road first. If it works, Xi'an Shangnan Road, Lantian Ankang Road, Hanzhong Ankang Road, in short, I want to build a large railway network in Shaanxi."
Dai Jiliang was truly ambitious. One has to know how many railways were built in the entire Republic of China. Yet, he, as a local government, actually planned thousands of miles of railways. It is not an exaggeration to describe it as a great leap forward.
"Don't worry, if the department has any requirements, you can come and tell me."
Dai Jiliang certainly knew how powerful the Communications Clique was. It was a tenacious political force that existed from Beiyang to Nanjing. He had decided to pay the necessary price.
"As long as you help me get things done in the ministry, I'll leave this construction office to you."
"Brother, I'll take charge of this."
Zeng Zhisheng stood up with a whoosh.
"I'm sorry, brother. I have to go back to Beijing first. Please wait for my good news on this matter."
After saying this, he turned around and was about to leave but was stopped by Dai Jiliang.
"Zhisheng, don't be so confident. We haven't even started yet. Don't get excited. We three still need to discuss the IPO plan, equity distribution, dividend payout ratio, circuit design, etc. I'm still confused about how to do it. You guys need to help make it look better."
A good plan is the beginning of success, and Dai Jiliang naturally understands the principle of being prepared.
"Okay, big brother, you are the exploiting class. You called me and my second brother here just to exploit us."
Zeng Zhisheng also came to his senses, and suddenly returned to his old ways.
"No, you have to invite us to visit all the famous restaurants in Xi'an one by one, such as the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda, and the Huaqing Hot Spring."
"well!"
Dai Jiliang raised his hands in surrender.
"I accept the punishment, I accept the punishment!"
"Report!"
While the brothers were having fun, a report was heard outside the door.
"Come in!"
Dai Jiliang straightened his military uniform and spoke majestically. Then the door was pushed open and Song Cheng, the communications staff officer of the Shaanxi Army, walked in.
"Report and supervise, urgent telegram from the State Council in Beijing."
"read!"
"Dai Jiliang is hereby appointed as General Hanwu, Lieutenant General of the Army, and appointed as the Military Governor of Shaanxi. Prime Minister and Minister of the Army Duan."
"Congratulations, big brother!"
Gu and Zeng immediately burst into laughter.
"Song Cheng, send a telegram to the Prime Minister and write just eight words."
Dai Jiliang stood up and turned around before giving the order.
"Once you give me an order, I will obey you!"
Since the Anhui faction will have absolute advantage in China in the next four years, Dai Jiliang doesn't mind selling himself for a good price.
"yes!"
Song Cheng stepped back.
"By the way, Zhisheng, please help me do something when you return to Beijing."
Only then did Dai Jiliang realize that this matter could be handed over to Zeng Zhisheng.
"This is the address of the residence of Xu Shuzheng, Secretary General of the State Council."
Dai Jiliang took out a pen and paper and wrote down a row of addresses.
"Go to my brother-in-law on Meishi Street and get 5,000 yuan. If it's not enough, I'll wire it to you. Remember, you have to beat Xiao Xu to death with money!"
