1928: The rise of giant merchants

"Thank you, Sixth Commander, for your kindness." Ye Luo cupped his hands and then smiled bitterly, "It's a pity that a good woman can't make a meal without rice. I'm afraid I'm powerless."

"Why do you say that?" Han Qing stepped onto the car with his right foot and then retracted it.

Ye Luo looked around, then made a gesture of invitation: "We were told in the car that it's inconvenient here."

"Okay!" Han Qing nodded slightly, turned to Zhao Yidi and said, "Xiang Sheng, you and Miss Shu go and sit in another car. I have something to talk to A Luo."

"Yeah!" Zhao Yidi's eyes were all about him now. Knowing that he and Ye Luo had men's topics to talk about, he obediently got into her Chevrolet 490 with Xiao Aqiao.

Rolls-Royce Phantom 1, rear seat.

"What do the Sixth Commander think of the disarmament plan proposed by the National Disarmament Conference some time ago?" Ye Luo asked in a low voice.

Han Qing was stunned for a moment. Wasn't he talking about industry just now? Why did he suddenly talk about disarmament again?

But he still answered truthfully: "If the disarmament plan is very fair, of course I will strongly support it. Under the current situation, the principal is only for his own selfish interests. Even if I am willing to cooperate, it will be difficult for other warlords to agree."

"Even if it is unfair, the disarmament of the three eastern provinces is inevitable." Ye Luo sighed, "With the current financial situation in the north, it is difficult to support so many soldiers. The military is the same as education. Without money, It will be difficult to move forward. Li Shi once vigorously promoted the university system in an attempt to change the current education system, but what was the result? Everyone shouted and opposed. Why is this? It is not because of lack of money."

"The same goes for doing business. Businessmen pursue profit, and no one is willing to do anything without profit." Ye Luo looked at him and said calmly.

Han Qing's face changed slightly and he asked calmly: "Aluo, are you like those comprador groups who only care about the small profits in front of you and don't care about the prosperity of the country?"

"Sixth Commander. The most important thing for me is money, and I don't have much desire to make money." Ye Luo smiled and shook his head, "But I don't lack it, which doesn't mean that my subordinates and my family don't lack it. Businessmen pursue profit. Part of it comes from oneself, part from the company, and part from the family. These vacant light industrial factories in the north are likely to suffer losses for many years. Let alone profits, they may not even be able to recruit workers. Without solving the financial problem, they want to directly engage in industry , is nothing more than a fool’s dream.”

"It's true. If a businessman doesn't have money, he will have to worry about his wife and children, and his employees will change jobs. It's just like our warlords who don't have money. Their soldiers may not treat you well. If you don't pay attention, it's not as simple as a workers' strike. It is very likely to breed mutiny.”

Han Qing also sighed. At first, he just wanted to reciprocate the favor, thinking that Ye Luo's business ability was so outstanding that he might be able to revitalize the factories in the north.

But now that they talked, he knew that it wasn't that Ye Luo didn't want it, but that he couldn't afford it.

The cost of a textile factory is two to three hundred thousand oceans. If it starts to recruit people and consumes various resources, it will cost at least half a million oceans a year.

Such a factory can swallow millions of businessmen's funds every year, but it may not be able to give back much money.

If all the idle factories in the north were given to Ye Luo, his annual expenses might exceed tens of millions! Such a large size may not be something Ye Luo can afford now.

And there are more serious problems.

He is engaged in industry and makes no money at all.

The cost for Ye Luo to set up a film company is only 300,000 yuan, and the stable profit can be over one million or even millions a year.

If Han Qing had made the choice himself, he would not want to go into industry.

"Having said that, I still want to give it a try." Ye Luo looked at him with a smile, and then his face gradually became serious, "Sixth Commander, do you know why I started doing business with great fanfare as soon as I returned to Shanghai in March?"

"Oh? Is there any deeper reason?" Han Qing asked curiously.

He only learned through the Ye's Charity Foundation that Ye Luo arrived in Shanghai in March, and now at the end of September, in just half a year, he had started from scratch, with tens of millions of liquidity and a dozen well-established companies.

As for why Ye Luo gave up the relationship with Lu Yongxiang and decided to do business, he really didn't know.

"I make money just to have the capital to acquire and operate some light industry factories that are on the verge of bankruptcy. If I manage them properly, I will be able to move into heavy industry on my own in less than five years." Ye Luo looked at Han Qing and said word by word. , "Sixth Commander, if industry does not prosper, the nation will not prosper; if heavy industry cannot prosper, the country cannot prosper. Light industry is just the beginning, and the development of heavy industry is the foundation of a country. You are in the north, so you should know a lot about the Soviet Union. They Only by using the whole country to achieve heavy industry can we become a strong country that will not be coveted or bullied by other powers."

"If industry does not prosper, the nation will not prosper; if heavy industry cannot prosper, then the country cannot prosper." Han Qing thought about his words, slapped his thigh suddenly, and couldn't help shouting, "Well said! We shouted at the beginning The slogan of saving the country through industry is just to hope that business people will be more aware of this problem like you and bring hope of revival and progress to our country. It’s a pity.”

"The years of warlord war have not only failed to revitalize the national industry, but have even regressed back to the level before the late Qing Dynasty." Ye Luo took over his words, and the two of them were speechless and fell silent.

"Arlo, your road is really difficult. I know that making money is not difficult for you, and your willingness to invest money in industry is a great thing that benefits the country and the people! But the current situation, I'm afraid we can only wait. Only with independent tariffs can domestic products have room to rise. Don't worry, I will try my best to negotiate with Jinling in this regard. As for those factories, since you put your words here, I will also put down your words, as long as your original intention remains unchanged. , I have been retaining these properties and helping you maintain them, waiting for the day you take over!"

Han Qing held Ye Luo's hand tightly, with an excited expression and a surging heart.

"Okay! With the words "Six Commanders", I boldly promise that at the end of next year, I will personally come to the north to take them all under my command!"

Ye Luo also smiled, squeezed his hand and couldn't help but remind him,

"As for disarmament, I hope the Sixth Commander will be cautious in dealing with it. The main force of the Northern Army must not be laid off, and we must always be on guard against the Japanese Kwantung Army!"

"I understand." Han Qing nodded.

Ye Luo could only say this much, hoping that he would be wiser and not let the tragedy happen again.

Marshal Zhang entered the Pass twice to fight for the world, not only smashing the north to pieces, but also dragging down his own finances. During the Northern Expedition, Marshal Zhang had to support his own Northern Army and allocate funds to support the troops of warlords such as Sun Chuanfang. Military expenditures often amounted to hundreds of millions.

After the commander-in-chief was assassinated by the Japanese invaders, the young Han Qing took over the position. He seemed to be in a good position, but in fact he was financially strapped and very uncomfortable.

This also led to the subsequent incident that shocked China and foreign countries.

At the same time, Paramount Ballroom.

Victor Sassoon, the "cross-legged Sassoon" on crutches, walked alone to the No. 1 music house in the Far East invested by his son without any servants this time.

Edward was his eldest son and was supposed to inherit the Sassoon family's property. However, he had an impetuous temper and especially liked to hang out with women. There was a lot of opposition within the family.

The last time he invested in New World Amusement Park, although he nominally made hundreds of thousands of dollars, he actually lost all his money and the amusement park closed down not long ago.

Paramount was an important investment that Edward touted everywhere. His collaborators included Lu Yusheng of Yongxing Company, a very powerful Chinese businessman.

Other collaborators include celebrities from all walks of life in Shanghai, as well as important military and political figures.

The momentum was so great that even Victor Sassoon was quite curious.

He would like to see whether this magnificent transformation of the Majestic Hotel can truly monopolize Shanghai's dance business as Edward said.

But Victor Sassoon couldn't even get through the door.

"Boss, do you have an invitation?" The waiter at the door saw that he was a foreigner and asked with a smile.

Victor Sassoon shook his head: "Do I need an invitation to come to your place to dance?"

"Today is the opening day, the dance floor is full, and you are not allowed in without an invitation." The waiter's eyes kept staring at his lame leg intentionally or unintentionally.

The waiters at the door are all transferred from the Dahua Hotel. They maintain their original work habits. When observing guests, they will pay attention to their clothes, the woman in their car and other things that can symbolize their status.

This lame foreigner got off the rickshaw without a dance partner and was dressed in ordinary clothes. The key is that he is lame!

Lame people come to dance too?

"In addition, when you come to dance at our Paramount, guests need to bring their own dance partners." The waiter's English was pretty good, but his eyes and tone clearly looked down on Victor, and he stretched out his hand to block him from the door, "Sorry , please leave."

Victor felt uncomfortable with his eyes, angrily thrust his crutch into the ground and left without saying a word.

This little episode didn't create much of a stir.

Edward, who was so drunk in Paramount, had completely forgotten about his father's visit.

The story of the cross-footed Sassoon being rejected by Paramount due to contempt for his lameness will slowly ferment in the near future.

As a result, another dance hall was born that competed with Paramount for business——

Symphony Ballroom.

October 2, the seventeenth year of the Republic of China (1928).

Hanqing and his wife, who had stayed in Shanghai for many days, boarded the ship to Xiangjiang.

I don't know if the death of the Marshal brought him some haze. He did not choose to take the train back to the north. Instead, he took a detour to Xiangjiang and returned to the Northeast just like when he came.

There were countless people who saw him off, all of whom were business celebrities and military and political figures.

Ye Luo stood in the crowd and looked out, but when the ship left, he caught a glimpse of Han Qing who kept waving to him.

He raised his hands high and spread all his fingers, as if to say, "The ten factories are reserved for you, don't break the promise."

Ye Luo clenched his right fist, raised it high, and responded to him.

Seeing Ye Luo's actions, Han Qing smiled faintly, then moved his hands and said goodbye to him.

Lu Yusheng's group of people couldn't understand his movements and thought it was some new farewell etiquette, so they imitated it, making Ye Luo dumbfounded.

The night before Han Qing left, Ye Luo called him, hoping that when he returned to Tianjin, he could take care of Meng Xiaodong, who was singing and performing there.

After all, Sun Chuanfang was also working as an apartment keeper in Tianjin. He used any means to get Meng Xiaodong, which caused the Winter Emperor to leave the stage for a year. Now that the situation in the north is stable, these warlords are starting to make moves again, and it is inevitable that they will use some crooked ideas.

Depart Shiliupu Pier.

Ye Luo looked at the frowning Ding Li and laughed loudly: "Ali, I bought you a new car, aren't you happy? I gave the car to my little mom that day, and she was laughing from ear to ear."

"Second Young Master, please stop teasing me. I've always wanted to be a little bodyguard by your side. What about the Nitrate Mine Management Bureau? Do you think I look like that?" Ding Li looked at the new car beside him and was filled with excitement. His face was bitter.

"Yongzhen was not happy when he went to the Songhu Police Department. Look, isn't he doing a good job now?" Ye Luo looked at his deflated look and felt infinitely relieved, "And now that you're gone, isn't there something else? Is Jianqiao here? Are you still worried about her skills?"

"Miss Shi can't drive, Second Young Master." Ding Li thought hard about his irreplaceability.

Ye Luo blinked at him: "She has been learning to drive these days, and she will start driving soon. After she can drive, you will go to work at the Nitrate Mine Management Bureau. This is an order, do you hear it?"

"Yes!" Ding Li stood up straight. Since it was an order, he must obey it.

The two got into the car.

After leaving the outside world, Ye Luo suppressed his smile and revealed the truth: "Ali, don't think that I arranged for you to go to the Nitrate Mine Administration Bureau just to put on your shoes."

"I didn't think about it that way, Second Young Master! I know you do it for my own good!" Ding Li shook his head quickly.

"I arranged for you to go because I hope you can help me." Ye Luo looked forward and lowered his voice, "Qin Tongli, the director, will not last long. But the Nitrate Mine Management Bureau is a unit that is very helpful in developing industrial business. After you go there, you must first get to know your colleagues there and understand their working methods and daily life. After you get along with them, you must carefully observe and record where the saltpeter mines passing by Shanghai Beach have gone and what they have become. Dayang, how many forces are involved in this must be detailed, and the intelligence must be researched, and report to me once a week."

"So it's to spy on intelligence!" Ding Li suddenly became more energetic, "Second Young Master, don't worry, I'm good at this. Are there any other jobs?"

"Yes. Find out the ins and outs of the saltpeter mine business for me, then record it all, and slowly take it into our hands. Qin Tongli's father will lose power soon, and I don't ask you to sit on it after he is transferred. His position, but you must at least hold an official position and hold real power. This is very important to my future business, and I need a trustworthy person to do it, so I sent you there."

"I understand, Second Young Master." Ding Li felt comfortable.

It turns out that the second young master really didn’t put his own shoes on because of Lu Xiaoman’s matter.

"Otherwise you think I'm so stingy?" Ye Luo couldn't laugh or cry. Ding Li was still a little too naive compared to Ma Yongzhen. He hoped that this trip to the Nitrate Mine Management Bureau would sharpen his temper. "Okay, let's turn around and go to No. 32 Xiafei Road. , it’s time to go and hear about the business situation of Black Cat Dance Hall these days.”