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In mid-October, the long-awaited license for the business group was completed. The US Consul Ou Dunsi came forward to apply for the business group in the name of protecting the property of US and German citizens in China and preventing bandit robbers. The Qingdao Jiaoao authorities were worried that Ou Dunsi and others would re-mentioned the robbery of Laoshan, and fully cooperated with the establishment of the business group mentioned by Ou Dunsi. In the end, a "Sihai Business Group" with 600 people was approved. As for personnel, weapons and equipment, Sihai Industry and its shareholders would resolve it themselves, but it must be registered with the authorities.

After obtaining the license document for establishing the business group, Lieutenant General Zhao Zhen, Lieutenant General Li Laodao, Li Tongsheng, Kuang Zhenjue, Zhou Tian, ​​Zhou Hao, Kuang Guilin, Li Yunhai, Liu Chengshan and others gathered together to explain the matter of establishing the business group.

After hearing this, Li Laodao said hesitantly: "Brother Zhao, is it necessary to do this? Isn't it too eye-catching?"

"Master, we founded Sihai Industry here, and there is Sihai Restaurant in the city, which is already eye-catching enough. There are garrisons and foreigners in the city, and bandits generally cannot cause trouble in the restaurant. But this is different. Nan Kiln can be said to be surrounded by water on all sides, and there is no dangerous terrain. Bandits and pirates can easily come up to attack and loot. Although we have a 100-person guard and a 120-person guard team, the surrogate team cannot let outsiders know that the remaining surrogate guard team must guard the mountains, Nan Kiln and restaurants, and they can't take care of them at all. Besides, now bandits dare to kidnap foreigners, let alone here? We can set up as many teams as possible to at least guard against bandits and pirates."

After a moment of pause, Zhao Zhenzhong continued: "We now have several industries and have taken in so many children. In this chaotic era of rampant soldiers and bandits, if we do not have enough power to protect ourselves, no matter how big the industry is, no matter how many children we take in, facing warlords, bandits, and powerful men armed with guns, it is like a house made of sand on the beach, and nothing will be left after the sea water rushes."

After hearing this, Old Dao Li thought about it and then heard Zhao Zhenzhong continue to say it.

"This time we can get a 600-person business group organization. With the original 100-person escort team, we can have up to 700 armed personnel on the surface, which should be enough to defend the existing and industrial sectors. However, I will recruit the staff without any preparation. I will recruit 500 people for training first. Finally, the business group will leave 300 people, and other qualified personnel will be arranged to work in factories or other places. It will also reassure those who are interested in us. Then I will continue to recruit and train while changing personnel, and give priority to the ranger team in the secret."

"By this time next year, we will have 100 guards, 300 merchant gangs, 300 Rangers, and 500 trained candidates. Except for the Rangers, we can select some teenagers from the orphans taken in, we will select young people between the ages of 16 and 20 from the refugees to enrich them. The trained candidates can enter Sihai Industrial as workers, and can be pulled out and expanded into the team when needed."

"The training will be carried out by the Rangers, with 50 people from Li Yunhai, Liu Chengshan, Zhou Hao, Jiang Yishan and Gu Haichuan each leading 10 people to be responsible for a company-level training of a hundred-person team. The training content is queue, internal affairs, discipline, shooting, and physical fitness, and the standards are in accordance with the standards of the guard team. Other subjects will not be involved in this training for the time being. As for the establishment of the business group and the candidates for the person in charge, it will be announced according to the situation after the training is completed."

Everyone then dispersed and worked hard according to their own duties. Zhou Tian and Zhou Hao knew that the purpose behind Zhao Zhenzhong's preparation for the business group this time was to make full preparations for the formation of his own armed forces in the future.

Although Shandong in 1923 was not as affected by a large-scale disaster in the province as in the previous two years, there were still four counties including Pu County, Fan County, Shouzhang, and Yanggu, which cut corners and fed their private bags in the construction of river embankments, causing the Yellow River to breach, and the lives and property of the people in the four counties suffered heavy losses.

In addition to the people who fled after the disaster last year, the number of refugees in Shandong is still quite large, and there are also many homeless and beggars in Qingdao and nearby areas. When the Sihai Industrial Factory started construction on the first day of the summer, it took 400 young and strong refugees and their families in the name of recruiting workers. Although it is now necessary to recruit more than 500 strong young people, it is not difficult. It is just winter is coming, and with the orphans and refugees who are preparing to take in this year, we must prepare a place of residence for nearly a thousand people in advance.

While everyone was busy taking in orphans and refugees nearby, Zhao Zhenzhong came to see Lord with a few drawings he drew. After some greetings, Zhao Zhenzhong expressed his intention: "Mr. Luode, we are now going to set up a business group to protect the interests of the four seas. I want to buy some guns and ammunition through Lulin."

"Zhao, I heard from my American friend that I want to prepare to set up a 600-person business group. How many weapons do you need?"

"Mr. Lord, although we have obtained a 600-person license, it is impossible to find a satisfactory 600 people. I plan to recruit 300 people for training before the end of this year, and to recruit some of them next year according to the situation. And we must continue to survive the fittest and retain the best personnel to form a four-hailing business group. So, I plan to buy 400 Mauser rifles and some Mauser pistols I want."

"However, this time I hope to get this Mauser pistol that I have improved." As he said that, Zhao Zhenzhong took out a few drawings and handed them to Lord.

"Zhao, except for the relatively large changes in the loading method and capacity of this type of pistol, there are not many changes, and it should be able to be produced. Does this improvement require a patent application?" Lord asked after reading the drawings.

"I don't need the patent anymore. If Mr. Lord is interested, he can apply for it and discuss it with Mauser. However, I hope Mauser can provide 400 Mauser rifles and corresponding bullets at the best price in view of this drawing. There are 400 Mauser pistols that have been improved with 20 round magazines, each with 4 20 round magazines."

The improved Mauser drawings drawn by Zhao Zhenzhong are actually the famous twenty-shot Mauser pistols in history. They were originally an improved Mauser pistol launched by Mauser in 1932, but are now designed nearly 9 years in advance.

"It's okay. Zhao, you always think very thoughtfully." Lord was very happy to hear Zhao Zhenzhong transfer the rights to himself of this improved design.

"By the way, Mr. Lord, I heard that the German Zeiss company once produced a scope that can be installed on a rifle. I want to buy 30 this time. There are 30 pairs of Zeiss made of high-power telescopes."

"400 Mauser rifles and bullets; 400 improved Mauser pistols and magazines, bullets; 30 rifles with scopes; 30 pairs of Zeiss high-power telescopes." Lord said while listing the list of materials mentioned by Zhao Zhenzhong in detail: "I think these materials should not be a problem. For the sake of these improved drawings, Mauser will give a satisfactory price."

After leaving Lord, Zhao Zhenzhong went to the US Consulate to visit Odunsi and Newber, and expressed his gratitude to them for successfully completing the business group license.

After the greetings, Newber said, "Zhao, you came so coincidentally. I happened to have something to look for you."

"Oh? Mr. Newber, please tell me if you have anything."

"That's right. After the license to set up a business group, I don't know how you are going to solve the equipment problem? If necessary, Courtman and I can help. We have a friend in the United States who does this business, and may be able to help you solve some problems."

Although Newber said it very tactfully, Zhao Zhenzhong still understood that this foreigner wanted to do arms business with him.

"I am very grateful to Mr. Newber for his concern. The establishment of a business group does require some equipment. But is it not contrary to the US foreign policy?" Zhao Zhenzhong's words referring to the arms embargo agreement signed and entered into force a few years ago by the Western powers.

Article 5 of the "Xin Chou Treaty" signed by the Eight-Nation Alliance invaded China after the invasion of China, the Qing government stipulated that it prohibited the transport of arms and raw materials for arms manufacturing to China for two years. If necessary, several more two-year embargo periods could be extended.

At that time, the Western powers insisted on an embargo on China's weapons. The reason was that during the Sino-French War, the French army was defeated by the regular Qing army armed with advanced weapons from Britain and Germany and fled in panic.

During World War I, China joined the Allies, and the Western powers were focused on Europe, so the arms embargo on China was left unresolved. But shortly after the war, the old affairs of the Western powers were re-proposed and the arms embargo on China was re-established, and the arms embargo on China was finally signed and took effect in May 1919.

Hearing Zhao Zhenzhong's questions, Newber shrugged, sighed, and said, "Zhao, although it is a full of loopholes, as a diplomat of the US government, I can only abide by it."

Then, Newber continued with a smile: "However, we are not providing equipment to the Chinese central government, nor to local forces. We are providing equipment to self-defense forces that protect the lives and property of American citizens."

"It can be said that we use it ourselves, and we have not provided equipment to any Chinese forces." Newber then added emphasis.

"I understand. Thank you very much for Mr. Newber." Zhao Zhenzhong had already experienced the foreigner's hypocritical appearance but greedy and profit-seeking character. He continued with a smile while complaining, "What decision does Mr. Newber have to do with regard to the details of price, quantity, delivery time, etc."

"Oh, no, it's not my decision. I'm a diplomat in the US government, so it's hard to come forward to discuss these things. I'm just providing you with information. You have to discuss specific things with Courtman. The other party is my mutual friend of Courtman and I, who happens to be engaged in equipment-related business in the United States." Newber pushed the matter to Courtman.

Zhao Zhen secretly scolded this guy in the center for not only doing that but also setting up a archway, but he smiled and expressed his understanding.
Chapter completed!