Respectfully

In the sixth year of the Republic of China, on June 1915, 6 in the Gregorian calendar, Guanbei Department Store was officially established. This is the third Chinese-funded department store in China after Xianshi Department Store and Yongan Department Store.

Guanbei Department Store is called a department store. In fact, its operating mode is more similar to that of a supermarket in later generations. Except for important commodities, the prices of other commodities are all lower than those of ordinary stores, and most of them are left to customers to choose.This business model is 15 years earlier than the earliest supermarket in the world, the King Cullen United Store in New York State, USA.

It was Ren Wuchu, director of the Finance Bureau of the Six Northern Provinces who first proposed this business model. After Li Jinyan obtained Ren Wuchu's consent, he proposed to the General Chamber of Commerce of the Six Northern Provinces that he intends to set up a department store and open at least ten branches in the Six Northern Provinces.

"This is just a preliminary plan." After successfully arousing the interest of Boss Du and others, Li Jinyan made the key point, "You can also buy shares if you are interested."

Since most of the banks in the six northern provinces changed their operations and became sub-colons of the official banks of the six northern provinces, their business has been stable and their profits have been high. Many of the sub-colons are settled at the end of the year, and their profits are at least [-]% higher than in previous years.This made Boss Du and others convinced Ren Wuchu, the director of the Finance Bureau.

"Boss Ren and the third young master are both optimistic about the business, and they can't go wrong." Boss Du, who is much richer than before, said with a smile: "What do you want us to do, the third young master just speak up."

The rest of the bosses also nodded in agreement. Who in the six northern provinces would not admire Li Sanshao's business skills?When you mention Li Jinyan, you definitely get a thumbs up.

Although they have never been in contact with department store business before, as long as they go through Li Sanshao's hands, there is no non-profitable business.In addition, Director Ren, this is a good thing to send money to the door, push it out?Unless the brain gets kicked by a donkey.

Opinions were quickly reached, and a quarter of the people were interested in taking shares, and many of them could also become suppliers of department stores.After initially confirming the cooperation intention, everyone discussed the details of establishing a department store, and asked in detail about the plan jointly formulated by Li Jinyan and Ren Wuchu. Boss Du and the others put forward some suggestions based on their own experience, some still need to be considered, and some are very feasible .

The meeting, which should have lasted no more than half an hour, dragged on until before the sun set.

Not only Boss Du and others, but Li Jinyan also has some unfinished business experiences. Li Jinyan benefits a lot from exchanging business experience with these old fritters in the mall every time.

After saying goodbye to several bosses in front of the teahouse, Li Jinyan returned to the Marshal's Mansion by car. He originally planned to go to the food factory, but it was too late, so the trip had to be canceled temporarily.

For the next period of time, apart from routine factory inspections and occasions that must be attended, such as the wedding of the Shen and Yang families, Li Jinyan devoted all his energy to Guanbei Department Store. Pulled the young man.

"Director Ren, you were the first to propose this business, so you can't leave it all to me in the end."

Ren Wuchu shrugged his shoulders, "I'm really busy these days."

From July 1914 to June 7, the armies of the six northern provinces were never idle. They either fought against the Japanese or the old Russians. Like Changqing, he went to the commander-in-chief's mansion every three days to cry poorly. Li Jinyan almost forgot how terrible and astronomical the military expenditure would be for so many large-scale military operations.

"Third Young Master, don't worry." Ren Wuchu saw that Li Jinyan's expression suddenly became serious, and instead smiled, "Now the six northern provinces are different from the past, and it is not difficult to raise military expenses. But the issue of paper money that I mentioned with Third Young Master earlier, I don't know Three How about taking it easy?"

"I'm not in charge of this matter. I'm going to ask the young marshal. Besides, it's not appropriate for the official banks of the six northern provinces to bypass the National Bank and issue banknotes on their own?"

At present, the currencies in circulation in China are mainly ocean and copper coins, and there are also a small amount of European banknotes.In addition to the Huaxia National Bank, including the official bank accounts of the six northern provinces, the official bank accounts of some provinces are also minting coins, but the mints are always real gold and silver, at most, the quality of the ocean is not enough.

Issuing banknotes is different. Huaxia now has a unified coalition government and a national bank. According to Li Jinyan's concept formed by later generations, only the central bank has the power to issue banknotes. If the official banks of the six northern provinces open this hole, things may happen can become troublesome.

The warlords fought in chaos, and the warlords in various places issued banknotes and military tickets indiscriminately, which made the people suffer and the people were in dire straits. It is by no means alarmist.Even if the current Huaxia should not have developed to this stage, it is necessary to prevent the incipient progress.

In the face of interests, it is difficult to guarantee that no one will be tempted.

Li Jinyan is not proficient in financial matters. Compared with Ren Wuchu and Bai Baoqi, he is not even half-baked.But he has his own insistence on issuing banknotes.

"Third Young Master is a discerning person." Ren Wuchu knocked on the table, "For the six northern provinces alone, it is a little inappropriate to continue to use metal currency. But if the official bank of the six northern provinces issues banknotes, and this hole is opened, it will be difficult to deal with it in the future. I discussed it with Brother Bai, and Brother Bai is also in a dilemma, after all, the bill he proposed is still suppressed by Congress."

Since you think this is troublesome and it doesn't work now, why not mention it to him?

"It is always necessary to mention it. Although the Congress is now suppressing the bill, it will be passed one day. Preparing in advance can also save time and hassle."

Li Jinyan nodded, and immediately said: "Let's leave this in advance, let's talk about the department store, I can't do it alone."

Ren Wuchu: "..." He managed to divert the topic away... Does Li Sanshao have to arrest him as a strong man?

It is not only Bai Baoqi, the head of the Huaxia National Bank, but also Tao Chengzhang, the minister of education, that has been shelved by the Congress.

Minister Tao is not someone who will give up easily. Ever since the proposal to set up schools across the country was shelved, the old gentleman is still running around, and even visited the six northern provinces in person. Many people rushed into the schools in Guanbei.

From elementary school, novels, middle school, to the newly established colleges and universities, it was like passing through a sieve, and none of them were left behind.If it weren't for the strict management of the three military academies, Minister Tao was not very enthusiastic about running the military academies, and he might have to break in to take a look at the guard's gunpoint.

Scholars and educators in this era have an admirable tenacity and indomitable spirit. This kind of determination to never give up is not for themselves, but for the future of this country and for the future of the country. It can cultivate talents who can support the backbone of this nation.

Such people are the real scholars and educators, not some self-proclaimed brick-and-mortars and beasts in later generations.

Before the Ministry of Education team was about to return to the capital, Li Jinyan paid a special visit to Mr. Tao. After some earnest talks, Li Jinyan patted his chest excitedly and assured that Mr. Tao would definitely support him in running a school!

If you want money, you need money, and you need to work hard!

Minister Tao twitched his beard and smiled kindly, like a scholar, but for some reason, Li Jinyan suddenly had a bad premonition in his heart.

Delusion?

Soon, Li Sanshao learned that his premonition was correct. Not long after Minister Tao returned to Beijing, President Lou Da sent a telegram to Young Marshal Lou. The telegram listed fifteen or sixteen names, all of whom were in One of the teachers who teach in various schools in Guanbei is the vice principal of Guanbei Children's Primary School. It was also stated in the telegram that these people were requested by the Minister of Education by name.

"Father said that you personally agreed to Minister Tao."

Young Marshal Lou also seemed puzzled, how could Li Jinyan be so "generous".In order to find teachers for the various schools in Guanbei, he spent more energy than when he set up the factory.

"Young commander, I said that I don't want to be so generous at all, do you believe me?"

"I believe."

"..." Why is he even more depressed?

At this moment, Li Jinyan really regretted it so much that his intestines were green.

How silly of him, really!I just thought Mr. Tao was a scholar who was obsessed with education, so I never thought that a Jinshi who passed the Qing Dynasty, studied in Europe, experienced the founding of the Republic of China, the confrontation between the North and the South, and now the coalition government. people?

This is simply poaching a corner in an aboveboard manner, but he, the one who was poached, is a dumb man who eats Coptis chinensis. Who told him to personally agree to Tao Lao, that he has the money to contribute, and the ability to contribute?

Young Marshal Lou patted Li Jinyan on the shoulder as a consolation, and went back to his study to continue dealing with business, leaving Li Sanshao depressed to the telegram alone.

After reading the names on the telegram three times, Li Jinyan's depression gradually dissipated.

Minister Tao purposely sent these people away, not for the purpose of letting them work in the Ministry of Education, it was probably related to the school running bill that had been shelved before.

Counting the time, it has been a year since the last Congress was officially held. Of course, the "going through the motions" that Minister Zhan and foreigners said does not count.A new Congress will be convened soon, and the bill that was shelved last time will be brought up again if nothing unexpected happens.

At present, the construction of railways and highways in various provinces has achieved initial results, and the construction of some public infrastructure is also in full swing. After Wu Song returned to the six southern provinces, he sent several telegrams to Li Jinyan one after another. Song Zhou had already agreed to the cooperation plan with Li Jinyan. The economic zones of the six southern provinces are being planned for construction.

When Europe was in a mess, Huaxia was busy with infrastructure construction, expanding the scale of arable land, and setting up factories and mines. Many of the products of the factories were sold to another continent by hitchhiking from the six northern provinces, in exchange for a lot of real money. gold and silver.

In history, it was the United States and Japan that took advantage of the windfall during the European War to strengthen their strength. In this time and space where history has turned a corner, Huaxia also seized this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

If this momentum of development is to be maintained, one prerequisite is not to get involved in this war before the blood in Europe is shed.

The future direction of Huaxia cannot be decided by Li Jinyan alone. What he can do in the end is to influence the thoughts of people around him. Fortunately, this person is Lou Xiao.

Withdrawing his thoughts, Li Jinyan turned his attention back to the telegram. Since the president has spoken, these people have to give it.Thinking about it carefully, it is also a blessing to be able to promote the school-running model of the six northern provinces and contribute to China's education.

As for how to make up for the vacancies after these gentlemen left, we can only think of a way.In any case, people always come up with the solution, and Li Jinyan can only comfort himself in this way.

While Li Sanshao was sighing at the telegram, Marshal Lou was arranging the next battle plan for the Far East and North Korea.

The situation in North Korea has fallen into chaos as originally planned. Siberia is not the best time to do it yet. The troops from the six northern provinces have captured Khabarovsk, and the next attack target is Vladivostok.

The villages and towns along the way from Khabarovsk to Vladivostok were successively stationed by the Chinese army. When encountering Russian soldiers, all resisters were killed, and all those who surrendered were sent to prisoner-of-war camps.

Khabarovsk has built a formal prisoner-of-war camp, where apart from the Russian army there are some civilians, most of whom are residents of Khabarovsk.Due to various considerations, these people cannot leave the prisoner-of-war camp until Vladivostok is captured.

The wooden houses and surrounding fences in the prisoner-of-war camp were built by Russian prisoners of war.From being captured to the present, their performance is amazing.They didn't try to escape, didn't resist working, and lined up on time when it was time to eat. Several lieutenant officers even asked the soldiers who knew Russian for cigarettes, and even asked for a few decks of poker, saying it was for entertainment.

"These old men really don't look like they were arrested after losing a battle."

The soldier distributing the potatoes looked puzzled at the obediently queuing Russian soldiers in front of him. In the end, he could only tell himself that as long as these people don’t cause trouble and don’t run away, they can do whatever they want.

The plan to attack Vladivostok was scheduled for the end of June. Although this gave the Russian army in Vladivostok more time to prepare for the war, it was also necessary for the Chinese army.

Vladivostok has more and stronger bunkers than Khabarovsk. The Chinese army attacked Khabarovsk suddenly, and there was no chance for the Russian army to react. Even so, the loss is not small. The Russian army's fortress guns are powerful. Not to be underestimated when a shell hits it.

In addition to the fortress artillery, Vladivostok also has a cruiser fleet. When attacking, the Chinese army will inevitably face the bombardment of naval artillery, which is completely different from the two old Japanese warships.

War is cruel. Once on the battlefield, casualties are inevitable. How to minimize casualties is a problem that qualified commanders must consider.

"The day of attack is set for June 28." Qian Boxi immediately held a military meeting after receiving the telegram from Young Marshal Lou, "Young Marshal's independent brigade and the newly established chariot battalion will arrive on the 25th. Everyone, let's encourage each other." !"

"Yes!"

On June 21, Marshal Lou led an independent brigade and a chariot battalion to the front. Li Jinyan specifically asked Jiang Yulin, the head of the logistics department. Biscuits, candies, and all kinds of food, but those produced by food factories and convenient for transportation, none of them were left behind.

Seeing that the newly filled warehouse was about to be emptied again by Li Jinyan, Manager Feng of the food factory wanted to cry.Who dares to talk too much when Li Sanshao sends things to the front line?As for the orders that cannot be shipped on time... it should be possible to transfer the goods from the outsourced factory in time.

Li Jinyan sent not only food to the train, but the warehouse of the western medicine factory was also searched by Li Sanshao. In addition, the new radio station developed by Mr. Zou was also secretly transported on the train.

Eight Ugly Type III tanks and seven armored vehicles were transported to the front line together. After actual combat in Khabarovsk, the masters of the arsenal have begun to develop Ugly Type IV tanks.Compared with the ugly monsters that are about to be equipped with long-barreled artillery, the British tanks in the experiment are still in the stage of being surrounded by armor and erecting machine guns.Many British officers still considered this future king of land warfare to be a useless "toy".

After Khabarovsk, the battle in Vladivostok can no longer avoid the eyes of other countries. The exposure of ugly monsters is a matter of time. If the power of tanks and armored vehicles is known to the European battlefield, it is difficult to guarantee that the process of World War I will not be disrupted. .But without tanks and armored vehicles, Chinese soldiers would have to pay a huge price in casualties if they wanted to break through the machine gun fire in the Russian bunker.

Under the balance of the two, Li Jinyan can only hope that after Young Marshal Lou personally goes to the front line, the secrecy work will be more in place than before.

All the best is just auspicious words most of the time.

On the platform, the train whistle sounded. Besides Li Jinyan, there were many family members of soldiers who came to see him off. They had pride on their faces, but they also had worries. All that was left was an excited smile.

An old man in a long gown stood with his head held high among the crowd and said loudly, "My son, my father is proud of you!"

"Come back after winning the battle!"

"Shuanzi, I'll make hot noodle soup for you when you get back!"

"Kill a few more old men to avenge your uncle's family!"

The voices of the people were gradually lost in the sound of sirens and the click of wheels, and many people still chased after the distant train until they could no longer see the shadow of the train.

The reporter in the crowd recorded this scene with a camera. The same scene also appeared in the movie "Soldier" shot by Guanbei Film Company.

For the family, for the country, for the people.

Six words, everything is said.

The day after Marshal Lou left, the Li family sent someone to send news to Li Jinyan that Li Jinhua would return to Chahar with her husband.Li Jinyan just asked the butler to send a message to Li Jinhua and his wife, wishing them a smooth journey, and did not personally send them off.

Li Jinhua and his wife didn't say anything, Mr. Li San felt a little regretful, but Mrs. Li's expression was much more relaxed.

No matter how generous she was, it was impossible for her to treat Li Jinhua and Li Jinshu equally. It was one thing to find a good friend for Li Jinhua, but another to help her extra.The third wife also saw that Li Jinhua's husband-in-law was not a simple person. With such a husband's family, if Li Jinyan favored him again, how would Jinming and Jinshu deal with each other in the future?

She is the wife of Master Li San and the current mistress of the Li family, but she is also a mother.She would not intentionally embarrass Li Jinhua, but she would not go out of her way to help her either. No one would blame her for this matter.What's more, on the day of Li Jinhua's wedding, Mrs. Bai's relatives also made Mr. Li San and her lose face. One of the concubine's brothers opened his mouth and called him brother-in-law?Don't be afraid of the wind flashing your tongue!

During the meal, I honestly stayed in the backyard, and when the guests left, Aunt Bai ran up to her and cried, saying that she was the girl's uncle after all, and the third wife was so angry that she was the natal family of an unworthy concubine. What kind of serious relative? !

Also because of this incident, on the day Li Jinhua returned home, the third lady did not act too warmly, and Master Li San didn't think she was too much.

On the way back to Chahar, Li Jinhua’s husband-in-law rode in a carriage, pointing out the scenery on the road to Li Jinhua who was by the window all the way, seeing Li Jinhua’s eyes widened by his words, his chest trembled, and his chest trembled. bursts of laughter.

"Ma'am, when I get back to Chahar, I'll take you to hunt on the grassland, and if I catch a prairie wolf, I'll make you a wolf-skin mattress for your feet."

Li Jinhua leaned against the car window, looked at his side face quietly, listened to his loud voice, turned his head slightly, and smiled calmly, like a silent painting of a lady.