1855 United States Tycoon

"Where is MacDonald?" Takahashi asked again.

"The interest that MacDonald requires is 4.5%, but they require us to use Taiwan's land or minerals as collateral. Moreover, they also require a lot of collateral. They all exceed three percent of the value of the loaned funds. It’s more than doubled. If we lose the war and don’t have the money, I’m afraid that Taiwan will become Macdonald’s Taiwan. Just like Alaska. This condition is a bit too harsh, but as long as we can win, we will It's not a problem." Kawaguchi replied.

"The problem is not only here." Takahashi took a sip of wine and said, "The United States guys are not good things, especially those who are rich. The richer they are, the less they are. The annual interest rate is 4.5%. It is indeed not high. But if we really borrow a large sum from him, then we really may not be able to come out."

"How come? It's only four and a half percent." Kawaguchi didn't understand yet.

"The interest rate of 4.5% is naturally not high, but those United States guys don’t just think about such a small amount of money. They have a big appetite. Believe it or not, if we borrow a large sum according to their wishes, one When they turn their heads, they will immediately find the Russians and use lower interest rates to provide them with funds to make them beat us, and then he will make a lot more." Takahashi sneered, "When the time comes, we will first Defeated by Russia, then naturally there is no strength to resist United States again. At that time, whether United States or Britain, it will change face to us immediately, and then the empire will once again fall into the situation of the black ship. Their calculations are really clever, but they think we are too savages who don't know anything, right?"

To be honest, Kawaguchi really didn't think so much before Takahashi sneered and exposed his intentional conjectures about McDonald. So he straightened up, and said to Takahashi Masaki sternly: "I didn't expect that there would be such a trap here. Fortunately, there is also Takahashi-san, who can see through the tricks of the United States at a glance. Hey, the country is like this. It’s hard, it’s like sailing against the current..."

"Kawaguchi-kun, what was the result of your contact with the United States Jews?" Takahashi asked again.

"I have had some contact with Mr. Jacob Schiff. He is very interested in this transaction. However, the situation is similar to the previous one. He also requires us to pay higher interest, either in North Korea or Taiwan. Lease certain land to him as compensation in addition to interest." Kawaguchi said, "Mr. Jacob Schiff requires that the land can be leased for a long time, and they can be allowed to autonomy. He told me that he hopes to build there. An autonomous city belonging to the Jews. If we can agree to such conditions, he can help us contact Jewish bankers around the world, and the amount of interest and loans are easy to say. But I don’t think this is necessarily a good idea. Let’s go here. It is tantamount to betraying the country. I don’t want to be punishable by people as soon as I return to Japan. Secondly, the Jewish consortium really wants to have such an autonomous city in the Far East, which is not necessarily a good thing for us. What do you think? "

"What you think makes sense, his asking price is indeed too high. Well, let's not mention these first, let me talk about some of the economic situation of the United States since the recent period." Takahashi said. Before any actual action, the more information you know, the better.

"The President of the United States was assassinated some time ago and Vice President Roosevelt succeeded. There is nothing for the time being." Kawaguchi thought for a while and replied, "But there are also rumors that Roosevelt intends to control the monopolies of big companies. If President Roosevelt really had this Thinking, I’m afraid that United States will be troublesome for some time in the future. Then, after the president’s assassination, the United States Midwest Banking Union was greatly affected and almost collapsed, but Mr. Jacob Schiff sold it. own many assets, bought a lot of stocks in related banks, thus stabilizing the situation. Now the Midwest Banking Union has stabilized and has become a very powerful trust. Mr. Jacob Schiff dare to say Neither the interest rate nor the loan amount is a problem. His confidence is probably here."

"Do you know what percentage Jacob Schiff occupies in this league?" Takahashi asked, frowning.

"Takahashi-kun, we really don't know this. And we also lack the means to discover such secrets." Kawaguchi replied.

Takahashi listened carefully, nodded, and said: "Kawaguchi-kun, this is indeed an excessive demand. This level of secrets is indeed not possible with our ability. United States people seem to be able to get it. It’s not meticulous, but they have always done a very good job of keeping secrets of key issues. At least, they are much better than Qing or Russia, and even better than us, especially trade secrets. However, the things in intelligence depend on collection on the one hand, and analysis on the other. Kawaguchi-kun, can you help me collect the relevant reports of the president and the more influential newspapers before and after, I I want to see."

"Hi, there is no problem." Kawaguchi replied.

...

A few days later, Takahashi came to New York Harbor again, but this time, he did not want to leave United States, but to board a legendary yacht, the Viking. This is also the first time the Japanese have boarded this legendary yacht.

At the pier, Takahashi first met Jacob Schiff.

"Hello, Mr. Schiff, it's nice to meet you." At the recommendation of Kawaguchi Ryuyuki, Takahashi first greeted Jacob Schiff.

"Mr. Takahashi, welcome." Jacob Schiff is also very enthusiastic.

"Mr. Schiff, thank you for helping me find an opportunity to participate in such a gathering." Takahashi said sincerely.

"Mr. Takahashi, it's okay. This is mainly for business. I know that you have a big deal to talk to us. In addition to me, there are actually many other businessmen who are also interested in this business. On this boat , You will have the opportunity to meet the most important figures in the United States economy. In addition, to be honest, whether you can succeed in business is one thing. As long as you can cause trouble to the Russians, I will be very happy... Ah, we Get on the boat first," Jacob Schiff replied.

Morgan did not appear in this rally. This time it was his son Morgan who appeared as the host. In a sense, the Viking was handed over to his own son, which also symbolized that his son will gradually take over his class. It is precisely because of this meaning that this rally is valued more by those in the economic world. Many people have brought their own son with them, so that they can get to know the people in the economic circle who are destined to call the wind and rain in the future. This also made the number of places for this party very tight. To be able to participate in this gathering, Jacob Schiff really contributed.

On board the ship, no one was talking about anything serious. They were talking about eating, drinking, and having fun. During this process, Jacob Schiff took Takahashi and met Jr. Morgan and Greystone. .

During the first day on the ship, Takahashi did almost nothing. However, Takahashi is not in a hurry. Since he is on the ship, there is always time to talk about things.

Sure enough, after a night of revelry, the waiter came to inform Takahashi the next morning that Mr. Jacob Schiff invited him to the deck.

"Mr. Morgan and Mr. Macdonald are also there," the waiter reminded in a low voice.

"Thank you," Takahashi said, and handed a dollar to the waiter. Then, facing the mirror, he tidied the own instrument at a very fast speed. In the room where Takahashi lives, there are two entire walls of mirrors, but the curtains are usually drawn. Last night, in accordance with the general treatment of the visitors who came on the boat, Little Morgan asked the dwarf to send two golden cats, and then Takahashi found that they were facing each other without turning off the lights. Playing with the mirror and the golden cat is really...so fun and exhausting. To say that people from United States can really play, in comparison, the level of layout of those customs and industry places in Japan is really far worse. Moreover, compared to the Japanese women, the two golden cats are even more, well, anyway, it made Takahashi even once had an illusion-as if he had been smashed by others.

Out of the cabin and on the deck, Takahashi felt that Own's footsteps were slightly unstable, and he didn't know if it was because the ship was swaying slightly in the sea breeze or because of something else.

"Mr. Takahashi, here." Jacob Schiff saw him from a long distance and waved at him enthusiastically.

Jacob Schiff is not a good-tempered and enthusiastic person, and to be honest, neither are Jr. Morgan and Greystone. But when anyone has money to make money, they will become enthusiastic and their temper will improve.

Takahashi walked over. On the wide rear deck, parasols, tables and chairs were already placed, and a few people were there. Takahashi walked over and greeted several people there.

"Sit here." Little Morgan said to Takahashi, pointing to an empty chair.

"Mr. Takahashi, when is your country going to go to war against Russia?" When Takahashi sat down, Morgan asked straightforwardly. If you change to the average Japanese, you will probably not get used to Morgan's too straightforward way. However, Takahashi has no such problem. It is not the first time that he has dealt with these impolite and uncultured United States people.

"It depends on the fundraising situation and the situation of the Russian railway construction." Takahashi also answered directly without any concealment. Although this answer is not Japanese style, but to convince those United States people, they must adopt a more acceptable way.

"Mr. Schiff attaches great importance to supporting the fight against Russia, so he has been agitating us to provide you with support. However, you should understand that the Russians are white after all, and the whites have not lost to the colored people in the war. . Therefore, supporting you is a high-risk business. High-risk must have high return. I think you should understand this truth." Little Morgan said with a smile.

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