From Chief to Ball

The news that Chen Jian was going to get involved in the iron smelting industry spread quickly in Fujian County. The reputation of which line of work he was in before had accidents made those workshop owners in the iron smelting industry nervous and restless.

It's not the same as it was a few years ago.In the beginning, Chen Jian was alone, but now there is a huge organization and sufficient capital behind him.Some people might have underestimated it a few years ago, but now the owners of these iron smelting workshops will choose to visit them immediately.

The example is vividly placed there. When the glass factory was first built, the families of those who resisted were destroyed and disappeared, and those who cooperated became shareholders and made money day by day.

What's more, even if you don't set foot in it yourself, but just show that you want to take action, the consequences are often very bad-the grass on the grave of the Cotton Spinning Guild in Min County is seven feet high.

With such a limelight at this time, the owners of the iron smelting industry in Min County immediately understood what to do.Small capitals and small workshops against big organizations and big capitals are just a matter of early death and late death. The best result is to become a vassal and a small shareholder who doesn't care about shit. If you fight, you can only die, especially if you don't have too much technology monopoly workshop.

The more people visited, the invitations were finally sent out, and most of the workshop owners in Min County's smelting industry came.When he was worried, Chen Jian said with relief: "I am here this time to give everyone a chance to make a fortune."

"Mr. Chen, if you want to give us a chance to make a fortune, you just need to transfer the shares of Nanyang Company in your hand to us. None of you here can compare to those people. Many things are traded in secret. We have some money in our hands, but there is nothing we can do about it." All of them were exchanged for the shares of Nanyang Company.”

"Yes, we also know that many industries make money nowadays. But except for the Nanyang Company's stock, the rate of return is not too high. If you are engaged in other industries, you have never been involved in it. If you invest in it, you will be able to make money. The water is floating..."

Speaking of this, someone finally said cautiously: "I also ask Mr. Chen to give me a way to survive."

Chen Jian said with a smile: "What I said sounds like I am domineering. If someone who doesn't know it, they will think that I am a bully when they hear this."

Everyone also felt that this was inappropriate, but the matter has come to this point, there is really no way out, so they can only bite the bullet and say: "Of course Mr. Chen is not a bully, but the capital in Mr. Chen's hands is swallowing people. A monster that doesn't spit out bones. Nowadays, countless people in Min County get rich every day, and many people become ruined every day. We really can't do anything else except this line of work."

Chen Jian shook his head and said, "I didn't say I wouldn't let you continue to do this job."

"Mr. Chen is wrong. Let's not mention that if you want to get involved in this industry, you will definitely be able to build a large factory like a glass factory or a spinning factory. Even if you can't build it just by relying on the current workshop model, we will I can’t beat you. Money is one aspect, if you build it and hire workers to rush towards you, we can’t bear it..."

There was some irony behind these words, but Chen Jian didn't care, and just asked, "Then are you doing it for making money or for this industry?"

"What do you mean? Of course it's for making money. If we can do other things and earn more than this, we won't come today. Since Mr. Chen is involved, we will collect money to do other industries. However We don’t know how to do other things, we have some money in our hands but we know how much it’s worth, and we can’t compare to you, and we can’t exchange it for the Nanyang Company’s stocks that are sure to make a profit, so there’s nothing we can do about it, right?”

It's not really impossible. For example, if you go to a tropical island controlled by the Nanyang Company, the return on investment in plantations is also very high.

But after all, these workshop owners are used to their old profession, and it is really hard to accept that they are suddenly asked to do other things.Chen Jian made such a gesture, so these people couldn't help but think about it.

"Everyone, let's put it this way, I, or our organization, is indeed planning to work in the iron industry. Otherwise, it would be impossible for everyone to gather here today. But it is not as scary as you say. Look at the glass industry Aren’t the people living well? Isn’t the annual dividend income less than when I opened a small workshop?”

One person shook his head and said, "Mr. Chen, let's explain. One moment, another moment. At that time, you were just starting out, and how much money did you have? How many people in Minjun knew you? On the one hand, it is impossible to offend the entire industry. What about now? Let alone the present, let’s talk about the situation of the cotton spinning industry in those days? Now there are big hydraulic workshops, and how many old faces from the original cotton spinning guild?”

"That's right, Mr. Chen, we really have to be afraid. Although this industry is making some money now, how can it compare to other industries? Mr. Chen has a wide network of contacts, and there are hidden dragons and crouching tigers in your organization. Why do you have to keep an eye on our industry?" You don’t make much money, do you?”

"Even if Mr. Chen is against slaves and withdraws his shares from Nanyang Company. But there are many industries that don't touch the bottom line, please ask Mr. Chen to raise his hand and do something else."

Some people who came with Chen Jian just wanted to laugh. Chen Jian also held back his laughter, knowing that the amount of iron consumption has not yet reached a stage of huge increase. In the short term, there is no such thing as war. The market seems to be so big. These people are inevitably worried.

At this time, the distribution of funds in the society was extremely uneven. Several giant joint-stock companies absorbed part of the funds, and the rest were invested in various emerging industries, but most of them were still idle.

Buying cultivated land is not the first choice for capital flow at this time, especially the capital in Minjun, a large port.

Those who are ambitious and daring invest their money in those small joint-stock division workshops, overseas plantations, etc., or get rich overnight or become poor overnight.

However, there are still some people who are cautious and cautious. Even if they have the desire to make a fortune, they don't know where to use the spare money except for a few big companies such as banks, Nanyang Company, and shipping insurance.In particular, some workshop owners are the main class. Out of tradition or habit, most of them still do their own business, and some industries have not yet reached the stage of large factories and workshops.

What Chen Jian is focusing on is the idle capital of these people, and the impact of these people's traditional changes on the ideology of the bystanders, and the use of their capital to influence some future situations.

Chapter 19 Overseas Investment

"Mr. Chen, what exactly is your party going to do? You are obviously not doing these things to make money. Making money is only a necessary means for you to do things. But we are different. We just want to make money. So, we might as well give in to each other. We earn money, but we will donate part of it to charity, or directly provide it to you, so that you can do what you want to do. Anyway, your purpose is not to make money, but to do things. In this way, the best of both worlds, isn’t it? Isn't it beautiful?"

As soon as the words were finished, everyone sitting next to Chen Jianjian laughed.Now it's the funniest joke they've ever heard, but seven years ago they might have really been tempted.

Chen Jian laughed, and after waiting for a long time for the laughter to stop, he shook his head and said, "It's not like we haven't done this before, to be precise, the time before the old Mexican Party became a loose progressive alliance, We were still very naive, and we did think so and did so. However... When it was really necessary, didn’t a few people from the Progressive League go to the capital to petition with full of ideals? The result? Several people were hanged. Such a big mouth is drawn into our faces, if we don’t wake up, then won’t we never grow up?”

The man hurriedly said: "It's because they are looking for the wrong person, but Min County has its own special situation, and it's different here."

"It's nothing different. Let's not talk about eating people with short mouths and short hands. Let's say that today we sit on the left, and you sit on the right consciously. Why? Do you really think it's because of our reputation? Or say I, Chen Jian, have the prestige of keeping my name in the academy and sailing around the world? In fact, you all know that it is not at all. It is because we have sufficient capital, large workshops and industries belonging to our party, and our organization You see, the last time the miners moved, the organization raised a large amount of strike funds, and I was supported by a few large monopoly workshops behind me. Wouldn’t this be the case? If not, I’m afraid grass will grow on my grave. It is true that money is the means we need, but we must keep it in our own hands."

The workshop owners and small factory owners on the opposite side were a little embarrassed. After the miners incident, they knew that the group of people from the Mexican party was the most abominable, but because of all kinds of inextricable relationships, it was impossible to turn their faces completely. The disgust is temporarily hidden in the bottom of my heart-the coal mine owners who made concessions at the beginning are now the largest coal mining industry in the coastal counties. It was the strikes instigated by the Mexican Party that forced these stubborn coal mines to fail, and they could only be merged into the established coal mining groups.

In order to strengthen the determination of these people that he could not give in, Chen Jian said again: "You also know that the Progressive Alliance has officially disintegrated, and the people who used to talk and laugh together are now frequently scolding each other in street newspapers. Indeed, there are still people As you think, what they have to do is to change morality. When doing charity becomes right and not doing charity will be cast aside by everyone, their way will be cleared. But in the end, they are just telling some people: Take these cats and dogs as individuals and pity them. Because they acquiesce in not needing to make any political changes, all they need is to be morally sure of what is right."

Wei Wei spread her hands and shrugged: "Obviously, you know that we never deny that we want to make political changes and ownership changes. Why do we have to treat cats and dogs as human beings? Why can't we make them human beings? You must like it." Those who parted ways with us, because they didn't touch your roots, they just helped you paint. Some of our ideas sound like they want to touch your roots, so we are terrible. You see, now we are not touching Your roots are just planting a big tree next to you, and you are so frightened that you want to choose the method they proposed."

The opposite side smiled awkwardly, and didn't know how to answer. After a long time, someone said: "Mr. Chen, it's like this now, the big fish eat the small fish, and the small fish eat dried shrimps. Compared with the guild that eats secretly, we originally liked this situation. Because We are climbing the ladder more easily than before, so we applaud your criticism of the guild system and the free competition proposed by some in the original Progressive League."

"But now you suddenly come out, such a huge monster, such a big fish, we want to eat dried shrimps, but don't want to be eaten by the big fish, what should we do?"

Chen Jian clicked his tongue and said: "Material is indestructible. You let the big fish eat it, become the meat of the big fish, and become a part of the big fish. This is the solution. This is the best of both worlds, isn't it?" Beautiful."

These workshop owners who came here understood what Chen Jian meant, but they didn't know what expression to use to face this statement.

"I'm afraid the pond is too small to hold such a big fish."

"The sea is wide enough to jump out of the pond and go to the sea. Isn't it enough?"

"Mr. Chen, the business of smelting iron is different from others. Iron is iron, which is different from glass before. Glass can improve technology, so as to obtain a bigger pool. But what about iron? Iron is not steel, I think Mr. Chen can clearly distinguish this point, because you monopolize the steel ingots in Min County. If Mr. Chen comes up with a steelmaking method that is more suitable for large workshops and factories, it must not be our turn to blend in. , the profit here is based on the current capital and industry of your party and Mr. Chen, and there is no need for help from others."

The speaker glanced at Chen Jian, and seeing that Chen Jian did not refute, he mustered up his courage and said, "But iron is not steel, iron is iron, no matter how you smelt it, it is still iron. The production and technology of iron in some places in the north are no worse than here. Especially near the old capital, iron has been smelted since the founding of the country, and the families there are deeply intertwined, and we have no ability to get iron elsewhere."

Chen Jian nodded and said: "You are right. If there is something new, we will not be able to find you to cooperate. The smelting industry is indeed special, but you still think that the sea is broad, and the sea is broad. What’s more is beyond the sea. Of course, it’s better for us to unite in the domestic iron smelting industry, and you’ve seen the Nanyang Company, so which small maritime merchant can compete with Nanyang Company overseas?”

"Mr. Chen was joking. How can marine companies compete with Nanyang Company overseas now? It is inseparable from the relationship between marine insurance and banks. To put it bluntly, now that Mr. Chen has withdrawn shares, even if Mr. Chen and Gui Party members who want to get involved in overseas trade may not be the opponent of this behemoth now. But Nanyang Company is not willing to export a large amount of iron. Compared with other things, the profit of iron is too low..."

"Yes, this is indeed the case. When I say Nanyang Company, I don't mean to expect them to help export, but to say that we can also use this method. Making money overseas may not only be a matter of trade. It is not profitable for them to depend on shipping. Definitely not a choice, but what if the iron is not far from where the demand is high? Isn’t this a way to make a lot of money?”

The words that jumped out of the small space in Min County or the country immediately excited the workshop owners present. The previous successful business activities endorsed Chen Jian's credibility, and everyone rekindled hope.

"You all know that I withdrew from the Nanyang Company. Apart from my disapproval of investments like slaves and occupation to collect land rent, there is another reason. Nowadays, a lot of money is flowing overseas, islands, plantations It is very profitable for parks and short-term exports. But it is difficult for some industries that are not very profitable to raise enough funds.”

"When I left Min County, I thought that there might be a second commercial canal. After all, I have proved that it is profitable. But I didn't expect that I went around the earth and it was still the same. One. People who need it are scattered and it is difficult to gather enough money; a large amount of funds accumulated from land rent are not willing to invest in this industry that is profitable but not the most profitable.”

"It's like those iron ore producing areas in Min County. You smelt iron for a living. Don't you want to build some infrastructure to reduce your own costs?"

After questioning, many workshop owners were a little shy and said: "No one is taking the lead in this matter. Now everyone's eyes are on those industries with high returns, and we are still responsible for them. Things like building canals cannot be raised by one or two people. It’s about working capital. Besides, the workshops are scattered, and the canal may have something to do with me, but it may not have anything to do with the other workshops that are not nearby, so this matter has been delayed.”

Chen Jian said again: "That's right, so scattered small workshops can't do many things. In China, you have always known that we support large workshops and factories, and we have a basis for cooperation. Overseas, the capital that everyone gathers together Maybe Min County really can't accommodate so much copper and iron, but there are still many profitable investment directions overseas, and it's your line of business. One person is weak, but it's okay to have more people to spread the risk. Since the Nanyang Trading Company can monopolize the trade, so that no one can compete with it, why don’t we bypass the trade and invest in industries that have no competition with the Nanyang Company.”

The workshop owners finally breathed a sigh of relief, and thought about it secretly.

Not to mention that overseas investment is led by Chen Jian, who seems to have never lost money so far. Even after the integration of the smelting industry in Min County, the construction of a canal connecting the iron mining area and the coal mining area is a huge cost reduction. .

What I was worried about before was that the pond in Min County was too small, and the profits after being eaten were too small.However, Chen Jian said something about overseas investment with confidence, which rekindled different hopes in their hearts.

"Everyone, overseas, to be precise, in Europe, that is, where the Nanyang Trading Company has the closest business relationship, there is a small country in the extreme north. But this small country has high-grade iron ore that our industry is envious of. , and a large number of copper mines. Now Spain is minting copper coins, and Europe is also full of war clouds. Whether it is copper or iron, it is a very profitable industry."

Chapter 20 Overseas Investment

"It is impossible for us to share some monopolized and technologically innovative industries with others. However, this kind of investment can also obtain not low profits, but the initial investment is a bit large. Although we have money, the place where the money is used Too much, if you really take your time, it will take too long to squeeze you out with capital, and we can't wait. So after thinking about it, after discussing it, we decided to cooperate with you and share the profits together. This is a win-win situation .”

"The iron mines in this country are excellent. I can confirm and guarantee this. There are also a lot of copper mines. But the technology in this country is extremely backward, and a huge part of the tax is still tax in kind. You can imagine."