Australian Storm 1876

  Chapter 109 High Social Circle

Several people talked about it, and Xin Changjun and the others left contentedly. Li Fushou not only arranged sufficient funds for them, but also arranged carriages and guards for more than ten people in each team. The guards can also be used as translators, which is greatly convenient. Inspection trip.

  Since the plan was agreed, everyone began to prepare for the trip.

  The three gentlemen have just left. It is so convenient for him to do it alone. He really has a keen interest in naval fleet command. It is nothing more than expensive tuition if he wants to enter the Manchester Naval Academy with Geng Baogui and others.

  Li Fushou of course allowed his request. As long as money is involved, it is not a problem, but an experienced naval commander cannot be easily cultivated, even if it is worth casting a net all over the sky.

  Next day

The people who arrived in Portsmouth separated. Xin Changjun, Pan Shoudao, and Wu Mozhou led 31 Jiangnan students. They had to spend a few days in this British port city to gain a deep understanding of social life and military background and personally. Feel the social changes brought about by the steam industrial revolution.

Several German officers left the team at the same time and embarked on a liner to their hometown after a long absence. Mr. Kestner left with a group of more than a dozen people. They will be the pioneers of Huitong Bank in Europe and set up offices in major cities. Gradually develop and enrich the banking business.

  He Fang, together with Geng Baogui and others, after dealing with the trivial matters on the Taishan wheel, they rode a carriage to Manchester to complete the rest of their studies. He Fang joined the Naval Academy as a new student to continue his learning journey.

  Li Fushou and his entourage took their own guards, maid and a staff of entourage, all together more than 40 people, took 6 carriages northward to London, and arrived in London on the evening of March 9, 1879.

  The day after arriving in London

  Li Fushou felt extremely uncomfortable in his mouth and nose. Compared to Portsmouth with blue sea and blue sky, London is now a haze city.

  Along the way from the outskirts of the city into the urban area, there are tall chimneys everywhere, and thick black smoke is constantly erupting, and there is a smell of burning sulfur everywhere, which is almost disgusting.

  The power of steam industry civilization is fully revealed.

The tall figure of London Bridge by the Thames is looming in the thick fog, and the streets are constantly coming and going. It is about 9:00 in the morning. It should have been sunny weather, but London is shrouded in a thick, cold and humid fog. There are even street lights on the street below the hotel.

  Learning that Li Fushou and his entourage had arrived in London, Mr. Hills came to visit the first time and complained loudly as soon as he walked in;

"Lee, I'm so fed up with these arrogant British upper-class people. They look at you as if there is bull dung on my feet. God testifies that I have never grazing in my 40 years of life. One day of cattle." Mr. Hills patted his forehead with an annoyed look, and watched Li Fushou suddenly wake up and exclaimed excitedly; "Oh, by the way...I was talking to Australia's biggest rancher. God, when we show up together, we must be marked with a clear sign. Look, the two guys with cow **** and goat urine on their feet are here again."

  "I think the British gentlemen are right. A freighter carrying 220,000 bushels of pure wool yarn in the Red River Valley has just arrived in the industrial town of Belfast and is unanimously welcomed by the local garment industry."

Li Fushou showed more calmness, and continued calmly; "This is the fourth trading port we have opened in the British Isles. To be honest, the British market has very high demand for agricultural and livestock products such as wool and milk powder. Great, the high-quality wool from the Red River Valley is very popular here..."

"For God's sake, can we stop talking about wool." Mr. Hills interrupted Li Fushou's words with a black thread, lit a cigar, took two deep breaths and then comfortably exhaled light blue smoke, and continued Vent their dissatisfaction;

  "I have been here for half a month, but the days I saw the sun did not add up to a week. There was smog from burning low-quality coal everywhere. To be honest, I really don't like this city.

  But what can you do?

The most powerful people in the world live in this city. From here, they give orders to the world. If you want to make your business in Europe, you have to come here for a pilgrimage, at least in the upper-class circles. .

  As long as a powerful figure in London sees you not pleasing to your eyes, you are basically destined to roll back to North America or your Australia. This is a cruel reality. "

  "Where are your MP friends?" Li Fushou asked curiously.

"He is just a civilian member of the House of Commons. He can only represent himself in this city where the power is concentrated. He can't even influence his neighbors. Our business must be close to a big man, the kind that has influence in the aristocracy. A powerful man." Mr. Hills shrugged, and said in a bitter tone; "Even if my pocket is full of pounds and dollars, those high-class gentlemen are still reluctant to look at me directly, and always maintain a minimum of ten. The distance of miles, for fear that the cow dung on my body will affect their noble taste."

   "In other words...you haven't gotten anything for half a month?"

"Yes, I can swear to God that I have done my best, but the reality is..." Mr. Schells spread his hands and said; "We can't fit into the circle of high-class gentlemen, and we were kicked as soon as we stepped in. Came out."

"Hmm, it sounds quite interesting." Li Fushou nodded interestingly. He didn't believe that the magic of money could not impress noble English gentlemen. He just needed a suitable entry point, so he thought about it and asked; What about George Sturgers, a senior member of the British House of Lords? I remember that he had shown great kindness and seemed to be short of money."

"That's the history. Now, Earl George Sturgers is not short of money. He only spent £4,200 and bought more than 60 acres of coastal land in Upper New York, which has now been converted. The cruise ship docks at the dock for the transoceanic flights of Cunda and White Star Cruises, and can earn at least £15,000 a week."

"so much?"

“It’s true that there are more than 300 horse-drawn carriages at the docks alone, which need to be handed over to the docks for £9 a week. There are also huge cruise ship docking fees and water pumping by the dock vendors. Mr. Earl is not short of money now, so He threw me aside like trash, and he didn't want to meet each other."

  Hills is a North American partner in which multiple companies under the Red River Valley have cross-shareholdings. The business interests of both parties are the same.

  Talking for a while, Li Fushou keenly discovered the problem;

  Mr. Hills lacks a guide who is weighty enough. His civilian councillor friend is not a member of the upper-class aristocratic circle, nor does he have the power to influence the arrogant upper-class aristocracy.

  It can only be looked down upon simply relying on oneself to rub the heat.

   "Do you have any idea? Anyway, I have nothing to do." Mr. Hills seemed to have been hit hard and became disheartened.

  Li Fushou said; “This matter can only be discussed in the long term. Fortunately, we still have time in London. Maybe at the awards ceremony we can get to know a powerful person who is willing to be our referral to the upper class.”

   "It's impossible, I tried it all."

"That may be because your method is wrong, or you didn't find the right person." Li Fushou smiled meaningfully. Seeing Hills's dissatisfied eyes glaring over, he said unhurriedly; "We were able to Find Earl George Sturgers, and now you must find another Earl George Sturgers who is short of money. You must know that this is London where nobles gather. It takes a lot of money to maintain a decent life and is willing to be low on it. Noble head, we only need to find this person, money is not a problem."

  Hills took a deep sip of his cigar, nodded thoughtfully, and said; "Lee, you are the most cunning guy I have ever seen."

  "Mr. Hills, please forgive me for still not being able to adapt to the way Americans praise it. This makes me not feel successful."

"Come on, Lee, you will soon become Lord Lord. It is not difficult to enter the upper circles of London. I can only stand outside and look at you enviously. The thought of this makes me crazy." Hills As an American, it is impossible to get the title of nobility from the British. It is only some medals to encourage him to put on a halo of honor, which is better than nothing.

  In this era of European feudal monarchy, even rich merchants do not have the lofty social status of aristocrats, which makes Hill's jealous eyes red.

  Li Fushou smiled faintly, he didn't need to show superiority in front of his partners, it was really unkind.

  The two have discussed a way, and then we need to collect information through multiple channels to delineate the big man who is short of money.

  The time is very close to the award ceremony, but the dresses for the grand ceremony have not yet arrived. This needs to be customized in a famous tailor shop in London.

  The problem that can be solved with money is not a problem. A lot of pounds are scattered. The famous Lawrence tailor shop in London arranges 6 experienced tailors to come and tailor the clothes. They work overtime to make the dresses to ensure that they will not delay attending the grand ceremony.

  As one of the royal tailor's shops, Lawrence Tailor has a history of serving the royal family and the upper class for more than 200 years. The service is first-class, and the charges are also first-class.

Li Fushou and his female family members have customized as many as dozens of dresses and skirts in the store. In addition to himself, they have customized eight sets of dresses for each season for Gu Liuyan alone, plus Fiona and Xiangniu. There are two sets for each of you and Sweet Girl, which cost a lot of money.

  Only this item cost more than 6,000 pounds, which is simply staggering.

  (End of this chapter)