1928: The rise of giant merchants

"Second Young Master, I really didn't let Feng Shaoshan and the others go! Those people from the Military and Political Department didn't even investigate, and they just spit on people! You must make the decision for me!"

After eating, Li Guojie gained some strength and cried bitterly, hoping that Ye Luo would help him.

The last time the Steamship Merchants Bureau was almost involved in a smoke transportation case, thanks to Ye Yuqiao leading him to find Ye Luo, the storm was settled. From then on, Li Guojie regarded Ye Luo as a life-saving straw and came to Ye's house every three days to ask for help. work.

Probably in his mind, after getting along with her for more than a year, he felt that his relationship with Ye Luo was very good.

"Mr. Li, it's not that I don't want to help you. This time the document was sent from the principal's office, and the Military and Political Department was just following orders. When the matter has reached this stage, I can't help you."

Ye Luo couldn't help but sighed and patted Li Guojie on the shoulder.

Li Guojie's heart suddenly dropped when he heard that even the second young master who was doing everything in Shanghai could not accomplish this matter.

"Then, what should we do? The principal said that he would be punished for treason, so..."

"This is a serious crime that needs to be taken out and shot." Ye Luo said, looking at him with pity in his eyes, "I heard that the Steamship Merchants Company will hold a public auction this afternoon. Mr. Li expresses his condolences."

"Ah! This is my Li family. The emperor gave me the assets of the Li family. Why should they auction them? I want to appeal. I want to go to the principal. No, I want to go to the British and American ambassadors to appeal!" Li Guojie's face turned red. , shouted incoherently.

"Mr. Li, the Manchu Qing Dynasty has been dead for more than ten years. If your words spread, it will not be as simple as treason." Ye Luo looked at him as if he was an idiot, "Actually, this matter is not to say that there is nothing wrong with it. Method."

"Is there a way?! Second young master, please tell me quickly. If there is anything I can do, Guojie is bound to do it!" Li Guojie was afraid of the principal and other new era warlords in his heart. He just had the poor pride of the Manchu nobles that kept causing trouble, even if He was very tough-talking even after being imprisoned, but if the butcher's knife really came down, he would be intimidated faster than anyone else.

"In the afternoon auction of China Merchants Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., we will first stabilize the assets and then start bidding at a low price. I estimate that in a normal auction, if you want to win more than 50% of the shares of China Merchants Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., it will cost tens of millions. But if you cannot hold more than 50%, % of the shares, you can’t keep your word in the Steamship Merchants Company.”

Ye Luo took out a pre-written contract from his briefcase and pushed it in front of him.

"Mr. Li, you don't want your Li family's assets to fall into the hands of the National Government's Ministry of Finance."

"The Ministry of Finance? Isn't it Song Ziwen's back garden? They just want to take the opportunity to embezzle my Li family's property, traitors!" Li Guojie was so angry that his teeth itched with hatred, but when he said these words, he obviously lacked confidence and his voice was extremely low.

Ye Luo ignored his incompetent rage and continued to speak leisurely: "Mr. Li, you hold 35% of the shares of China Shipping Merchants. If I buy another 32%, I can reach the absolute holding baseline of 67%. In this way, the Steamship Merchants Group can be saved, at least it will not fall into the hands of Song Ziwen and others."

"Second Young Master, what do you mean?" At this point, no matter how stupid Li Guojie was, he still vaguely guessed what Ye Luo meant.

Use 35% of your shares to buy a lifetime of peace, or choose to lose both your life and wealth.

"Sign this contract and transfer 35% of the shares to me for free. If I buy the China Shipping Merchants Company, at least I will not let it flow into the hands of the four major families. As for your situation, Mr. Li, I can also think of some ways to make it happen. You feel better."

Ye Luo pushed the contract forward.

Li Guojie pinched the contract, his knuckles turned white and his body trembled slightly.

After signing this, the Li family's assets no longer have anything to do with him.

He would not be stupid enough to think that Ye Luo would return the Steamship Investment Company. Although Ye Luo did not say it explicitly, everyone knew about his ambition.

"Er Yeluo, you are taking advantage of the situation." Li Guojie felt like his teeth were about to be broken. "35% of the shares, you know the money."

"I know that if you don't sign now, these shares will still belong to others tomorrow. Mr. Li, you are not so stupid as to think that the 35% of the shares can still rest safely in your hands while you are in prison, right?"

Ye Luo's words were so straightforward that they penetrated Li Guojie's chest like a sharp sword.

"Everyone is not guilty of carrying a jade. This is the biggest crime you have committed, Mr. Li."

"Oh, I forgot to remind Mr. Li. I got reliable news that Jinling is planning to kill chickens to scare monkeys. If Mr. Li doesn't plead guilty, he will most likely be shot in a week."

When Li Guojie heard this, his hands trembled even more.

No one is more afraid of death than him.

In the past, when Yuan was proclaimed emperor, he was targeted in various ways and had to flee overseas, living every day like a year.

After the principal came to power, life was not much easier. He was in constant fear of being dragged out and beaten again.

But he was unwilling to do so.

If my grandfather were still such a young man!

"After I smoke this cigarette, if Mr. Li still can't make a decision, then I can only give Mr. Li some better incense next year." Ye Luo lit a cigarette and started to smoke it beautifully.

After burning less than half of the cigarette, Li Guojie took the pen and signed the contract with all his strength.

One stroke after another, as if the force was about to penetrate the paper, venting his indignation and dissatisfaction.

Taking the contract from his hand, Ye Luo smiled contentedly.

Li Guojie looked at it with bloodshot eyes, gritted his teeth and asked, "I've also signed it, Second Young Master, what's the matter?"

"Mr. Li, don't worry. When I do business, Ye Luo pays attention to one word: integrity. You pay and I do the work. I'm honest."

After putting away the contract, Ye Luo stood up and stopped lingering. When he looked back at Li Guojie, the Manchu regent made no secret of his hatred and dissatisfaction with him, and had no hidden thoughts at all.

This man is too simple and too stupid.

Li Guojie thought he had escaped, but little did he know that his nightmare had just begun.

Thinking of his future life, Ye Luo suddenly sympathized with him.

If he really died at this time, maybe it would be a kind of relief.

After escaping from this disaster, Li Guojie remained stubborn and spent money like water. After he was heavily in debt, he began to think wrongly. After several years of sneaking around, he actually took back part of the power of the Steamship Merchants Company.

However, he started making money as soon as he took over, which made the principal very dissatisfied. During the 128th Battle, with a single order, he was killed and completely disappeared.

Of course, this is all for later.

Li Guojie was a little stupid, but if he was still valuable, Ye Luo would let him live a little longer.

After leaving the Songhu Police Department, Ye Luo immediately rushed to the City Hall Auction House with the contract in hand, determined to win over the Steamship Investment Company.

Whether it is shipping business, future shipbuilding or fleet building, or leaving Shanghai by sea after the war, the Steamship Merchants Bureau is an indispensable part.

It has been planned for a long time, and today, Ye Luo will not allow anyone to ruin his plan. (End of chapter)