Volume 3: The Richest Man in the World Chapter 5: Some are happy, some are sad
Everyone changed their tone again. This time they didn't dare to exaggerate, fearing that Wu Chengjian would not help. They all said less of their losses. If they had exaggerated the actual losses by three or five times, they would only say six or seven percent of their losses. The difference between the two was seven or eight times. Of course, the amount of loss they mentioned was within their tolerance range - if Wu Chengjian could help within this limit, then they could get through this difficult time.
After hearing this, Wu Chengjian said, "If that's the case, then I have another idea, but I don't know if it will work."
Merchant Pan said hurriedly: "Everyone in the Thirteenth Line knows that Hao Guan is a natural talent. As long as it is Hao Guan's idea, it will definitely succeed!"
Liang Shangzhu said: "Not bad, not bad. The masters of Guangxiao Temple all said that Haoguan, you are a wise man from your previous life. You have had your third eye since childhood. You can predict the future 500 years in the past and 500 years in the future. As long as you are willing to help, we can all be saved!"
"What wisdom!" Wu Chengjian said with a spit, "That old monk is trying to trick me into becoming a young monk! If my old man hears you saying that, be careful or he'll slap you in the face."
Mr. Liang hurriedly said, "Oh, look at my mouth, I'm just talking nonsense! How could I take Brother Guoying's joke seriously! I deserve to be beaten, I deserve to be beaten." As he said that, he lightly slapped himself twice.
Liang, the merchant, was of Wu Guoying's generation. He was so self-deprecating to protect his family and property. Wu Chengjian didn't take it too seriously and said with a smile, "Alright, alright. Actually, after the fire, I have been worried about how to get through this difficult time. There are only nine of us left in the Thirteen Hongs now. We were either relatives or old friends. We all prosper together and suffer together. This fire has dragged everyone into it. So to get through this difficult time, we must not only save ourselves, but also help everyone escape from the sea of suffering together."
Pan Yiliang and Ma said in unison: "What Haoguan said is very good! That's how it should be."
Even Lu Guanhuan said: "This is a fair point! Now we are all in the same boat, we can only work together to save ourselves and others, and we can't just think about saving ourselves."
Recently, there have been some bad news coming from Beijing. There is some instability in the situation of the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi, so Lu Guanhuan's originally straight back shrank back again.
"The fire was so severe this time that it was difficult to save ourselves, and it would be even more difficult for everyone to get out together." Wu Chengjian said, "But I held on to this idea and discussed it with Qi Guan and Da Guan for a long time. Finally, we came up with a solution. However, this solution requires the concerted efforts of all the people in the Thirteen Hongs. If everyone has ulterior motives and is indecisive, then this matter will not be accomplished. It is better to do nothing and let everyone go their separate ways and wish each other good luck."
Pan Yiliang and Ma had both been shouting in high pitches just now, but they had no idea what advice Wu Chengjian was going to come up with. Now that the time had come to see the real deal, they didn't dare to say anything.
Lu Guanhuan was bold and kept silent when others were vying to flatter him. When everyone was quiet, he took the lead and said, "Official Hao, just tell us the solution. As long as this solution can really save us all, even if there are any difficulties, we can work together to overcome them. As long as the solution is the right one, I, Lu Guanhuan, will stick to it from beginning to end and help make this happen!"
Apart from Pan and Wu, he is the most powerful person in the Thirteen Hongs. He is also trustworthy and keeps his word. When he said this, it means he has absolute support.
Wu Chengjian bowed to Lu Guanhuan and said, "With what you said, I feel reassured." He looked at Pan Youjie and said, "Qiguan, although I came up with this idea, you have to take the lead."
Pan Youjie said, "The Pan and Wu clans have been friends for three generations, and you and I are as close as brothers. Why are you being so polite to me? Just tell me. As long as it's your idea, it's mine."
Ye Dalin also said: "Yes, Xingchenghang is the same."
Cai Shiwen opened his mouth but said nothing in the end.
"Okay." Wu Chengjian said, "I have negotiated with the East India Company and raised two points. First, the double compensation . For those who have received advance payments from the East India Company but cannot deliver on time, the East India Company will be exempted from the extra compensation according to the contract. For the burned goods, if the merchant can replenish the goods from other channels in the near future, the East India Company will still purchase them at the original price. If it cannot replenish the goods, the advance payment will be returned or other negotiations will be held."
Pan Yiliang Ma was delighted when he heard this. If he could get this double compensation waived, his own losses would have been reduced a lot.
Wu Chengjian continued, "This clause must be agreed upon by all the Thirteen Hongs. We cannot negotiate independently, otherwise we will be forced to lower the price by the foreigners. So if everyone agrees, we will sign and pledge our names, the general merchant will guarantee it, the Supervisory Office will add the seal, and send someone to negotiate as the general agent. Once we have an agreement with the East India Company, we can continue to negotiate with other foreign trading companies and ask them to agree to the same terms."
Lu Guanhuan said: "Okay, that's what we should do! When the terms are drawn up, I'll be the first to sign!"
After thinking about it, Pan Yi, Liang Ma and others felt that this was a good idea and they all agreed.
Wu Chengjian continued, "Secondly, I plan to ask the East India Company to help me borrow some money from a European bank. In this fire, all banks suffered huge losses and their money supply is tight. If we can borrow this money, we can use it to pay for goods that we cannot pay in the future to ensure that the upstream supply chain will not be broken next year. Secondly, we will have a foundation for the post-disaster reconstruction of Baietan and Shamian next year."
When this clause was proposed, the insurance dealers present were all excited, but also worried.
Lu Guanhuan pondered and said, "Officer Hao, it's not easy to get the money from the barbarians. I don't know how much money I can borrow, how much interest I will get, and what kind of collateral I will need."
Wu Chengjian clapped his folding fan in his left palm. Shopkeeper Yao Si came in. Wu Chengjian said, "This is the loan process, mortgage method, guarantee method, and expected interest that I discussed with Qi Guan."
Shopkeeper Yao Si distributed several pieces of paper to the eight major insurance merchants. Each person received a different piece of paper. Only Pan, Ye and Cai had blank papers in front of them. Pan and Ye did not even look at them, but when Cai Shiwen saw that it was a blank paper, his face turned as pale as the paper.
Pan Yiliang took a quick look at the loan process, mortgage and guarantee methods, and found them all acceptable. Then he looked at the interest rate and was shocked. He couldn't believe it and said, "This, this, this..."
That interest rate is not too high, but too low!
Lu Guanhuan folded up the paper and said, "Officer Hao, can you really help us get a loan of this amount at this interest rate?"
Wu Chengjian said calmly: "We need to discuss further, but if everyone here can fully support me, I am 80% sure."
Lu Guanhuan slapped the armrest and shouted, "Okay! If it's this process, this number, this interest, Haoguan, Guangdong Development Bank will leave it to you!"
Pan Yiliang Ma also hurriedly said: "Yes, yes, we will also entrust you with your full authority."
Wu Chengjian looked at Pan Youjie and said, "Qiguan, what do you think?"
Pan Youjie smiled and said, "This is great news. I told you it would work." He clapped his hands. Manager Liu came in. A servant brought a desk and left. Manager Liu took out a document and said, "This is the agreement. Please read it carefully. If you have no objection, please sign it. After signing, we will move forward and retreat together. No objection is allowed."
Pan Yi, Liang, Ma and others usually boasted and flattered without hesitation, but this time it was about their own interests, so no one dared to take it lightly. They stood up and reviewed all the clauses word by word. Although Pan Yi, Liang and Ma behaved like clowns when facing Pan Youjie and Wu Chengjian, when it came to this critical juncture involving money, they were as shrewd as foxes and as ruthless as tigers. Within half an hour, they put forward twenty or thirty opinions, big and small, many of which even Wu Chengjian and Pan Youjie had never thought of.
All the insurers discussed the matter together. Some accepted it, some made changes, and the agreement document was covered with ink.
After the last clause was agreed upon, the secretary of the meeting rewrote a copy, Manager Liu read it out in public, and the various insurance merchants reviewed it one by one before the agreement document was finalized.
It was already past noon, more than two o'clock according to Western timekeeping, but no one present felt hungry.
As expected, Lu Guanhuan was the first to come forward, signing his name, stamping his seal, followed by Pan Youjie, and then Wu Ye, Pan Yi, Liang Ma also followed.
During the whole process, Cai Shiwen seemed to be ignored. After the eight guarantors finished signing, he gritted his teeth and wanted to step forward. Hutabu suddenly said, "Mr. Cai, someone has reported you to the Supervisory Office. The Supervisor has said that you cannot participate in this matter before it is resolved. Otherwise, after the case is handled, you will not be able to fulfill the responsibilities of this document and delay this important matter."
Cai Shiwen's eyes suddenly turned red. In the fire more than a month ago, Wanbao Bank's warehouse was also affected. Of the goods that had not been delivered, less than two or three tenths were rescued from the fire. If the double compensation could not be exempted, the compensation would drain the Cai family's cash flow. If the goods could not be delivered and there was no payment to replenish the cash flow, the upstream merchants would press for payment, and the Cai family's financial resources would be cut off!
Once they are forced to sell their property, the hungry wolves all over Guangzhou will pounce on them. What happened to the Xie family last year is an example for the Cai family.
If you don't let me sign the agreement at this time, it would mean forcing the Cai family to die!
He had been enduring it, but he could not bear it any longer and knelt down in front of Hutabu: "Manager Hu! Please forgive my mistakes and give our Cai family a way out." As he said this, he disregarded his dignity and kowtowed to Hutabu.
