Just when Song Biao felt that the development of railways in the three eastern provinces might be slower than he expected, a good news came. At the suggestion of US minister Rock Hill, American railway tycoon Conns Vanderbilt II

Finally, I decided to visit the three northeastern provinces in person to inspect this emerging market.

Everyone loves to meet celebrities.

The reason why Conns Vanderbilt decided to come to China in person was not only to discuss business, but also wanted to take the opportunity to meet General "Baio Vladimir Song".

In addition to huge commercial and military assets worth 100 million silver, the Russo-Japanese War brought to Song Biao also the reputation that was difficult to estimate. Fame is another kind of wealth, the best reputation. Compared with those unknown people,

People are willing to work with famous people.

After the two sides communicated several times through telegrams, Conns Vanderbilt hurriedly arrived in Dalian on a giant cruise ship from the family business, while Song Biao took the train to Dalian's Kanto Hotel three days ago, and he would be here.

The railway tycoon was accompanied by the two men, including the American Minister Rock Hill, Song Biao's accompanying translator and consultant Zhang Kangren, and Miss Shu Xuan, as well as the other lady, who was also accompanied by Conns Vanderbilt.

I brought my family here and wanted to spend a holiday in Dalian and the three eastern provinces.

For Song Biao, this is a great thing.

On July 24, 1906, Conns Vanderbilt and his wife arrived at Dalian Port. Accompanied by American ministers Rockhill, Rong Xingqiao and Zhang Kangren, he took a carriage to the Kanto Hotel under the name of Far East Trading Company.

At this time, the Kanto Hotel was a four-story red brick building with a traditional eaves design. Even if it was a very exotic building for foreigners, the old hotel was transformed into a more oriental one.

A garden-style hotel is used to receive more high-quality guests who are willing to spend money to enjoy.

Song Biao welcomed Conns Vanderbilt and the US Minister Mr. Rockhill. When the other party's carriage gradually drove into the garden and stopped in front of a royal welcome building, Song Biao took him with him.

Miss Shu Xuan hurried out of the Welcoming Building accompanied by soldiers from the guard camp.

Among the people who walked out of the carriage, Minister Rockhill was an old friend Song Biao was already familiar with, and the one who walked out of the carriage with his wife. He was over thirty years old with brown hair and blue eyes from the foreign country with brown hair and blue eyes

The gentleman is unfamiliar to Song Biao.

Zhang Kangren and Li Enfu, who have lived in the United States for many years, also accompanied these people. The American couple, who were dressed in an elegant manner and had a slightly arrogant manner, walked all the way to the Welcome Building accompanied by Minister Rockhill and Zhang Kangren.

As a friend of both sides, Minister Rockhill stepped forward and took off his hat and saluted: "Governor General, please allow me to introduce this guest from the United States, Mr. Conns Vanderbilt, and his beautiful wife, Mercelyn.

.Mrs. Vanderbilt.”

Song Biao roughly observed the Mr. Conns Vanderbilt in front of him. He didn't see that he was very special, he was not tall, and he looked a little bloated and clumsy because of his weight, but he was indeed a billionaire who was just like a fake one.

He owns huge assets of more than 100 million US dollars, in other words, he is about three times richer than Song Biao.

Song Biao reached out and shook hands with Conns Vanderbilt. He also shook hands with his wife, nodded to pay tribute, and did not deliberately apply Western etiquette. He seemed very reserved overall, after all, he was the governor of the three eastern provinces.

The same goes for Conns Vanderbilt.

In fact, they all have a strong interest in each other. Conns is interested in Song Biao's general deeds, as well as his rights and status as the governor of the three northeastern provinces, while Conns Fan De is interested in Song Biao.

The huge banknotes in Bilt's hand.

The two had a brief and friendly conversation, and Song Biao immediately invited Vanderbilt and Mrs. Rockhill to enter the welcome building, where he had prepared a room and a welcome dinner.

Song Biao's English proficiency at this time was not enough to deal with business and political conversations. Therefore, he had to rely on Shu Xuan as an interpreter, and Zhang Kangren, Li Enfu and Rong Xingqiao were also accompanied.

When Song Biao introduced the current development status of the new policies of the three eastern provinces, as well as the future development potential and space, Minister Rockhill and Vanderbilt listened carefully.

After Song Biao roughly introduced the situation in the three northeastern provinces, Conns Vanderbilt asked Song Biao more seriously: "Dear Governor, I personally say that I am very good at the majestic plan of the railway in the three northeastern provinces."

Admiration, I regret that I have always had too much worry about this business, so I missed the best opportunity to intervene. Judging from the current market division, the most commercially valuable railways are almost all in the hands of the French.

, followed by German companies, and finally the railway in Heilongjiang Province that British companies may obtain. The share currently allocated by the United States is only from Dandong to Jinzhou. Even if it is this section of railway that lacks commercial value, American businessmen

We also have to face competition from the British. From the perspective of return on capital alone, it is hard for me to believe that there will be large investors involved in the construction of railways in this area."

Song Biao nodded slightly, and did not deny this, and Minister Conns Vanderbilt and Rockhill explained: "The first phase of the railway plan of the three eastern provinces is very large, and it can be officially divided into Jinzhou to

Jinfeng Railway in Shenyang, Jinchi Railway from Jinzhou to Chifeng, Fengdan Railway from Shenyang to Dandong, Fengfu Railway from Shenyang to Fuzhou, Fengji Railway from Shenyang to Jilin, Danjin Railway from Dandong to Jinzhou, and Jilin to

Jitong Railway in Tonghua, Jiyan Railway from Jilin to Yanji, as well as Harbin to Jiamusi, Yichun, Qiqihar to Xing'an League, Shenyang Qifeng Railway, and Changchun to Jilin Changji Railway. These railways will be completed and opened to traffic within five years according to the plan.

The total investment is expected to be as high as £37 million. Except for purchasing railway trains from foreign countries, the rest of the expenses are paid entirely by tickets, that is, at least 300 million Kanto silver coupons must be paid. With the large-scale opening of the railway, the total number of the three eastern provinces is

The population will increase from the current 15 million to 30 million within five years. The main new population comes from Zhili, Shandong, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Henan, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Huguang areas within the Guan area, and also includes foreign populations. We currently expect the five

Within the year, foreign citizens in the three northeastern provinces may increase to a scale of one million.5 million. In this five-year plan, the economies of the three northeastern provinces will face very rapid development, including marine shipping trade volumes in the three northeastern provinces and at home and abroad.

It will also increase greatly. At that time, we will see a very prosperous and huge new market."

Speaking of this, Song Biao paused for a moment and officially answered Conns Vanderbilt's question, saying: "I personally think that the United States will be the real biggest beneficiary in the development of the three northeastern provinces. This is mainly

Depending on the convenience and low cost of Pacific transportation, as well as the low price and moderate quality of American goods. For example, we are currently considering unified procurement of trains, which may be to be unified in bidding to the international market. Now American merchants are investing in trains in the three northeastern provinces.

Industry. Import some important spare parts from the United States and assemble trains locally. Including the problem that Danjin Railway is not profitable, in the long run, it will definitely make money. It is a reality that the return on investment is not too high.

Question. Why do we hand over the main railway sections and projects to France and Germany? The main reason is that the return rate of railways is not high. No one really places all hope on these railways. We are concerned about the overall

Sexual development and more related interests. French and German railway companies are state institutions, and they focus on long-term interests. In the railway competition in the three northeastern provinces, British and American companies are relatively at a disadvantage. Including us

A very realistic problem. Although the UK has provided a loan to Far East Railway Corporation through Standard Chartered Bank, the loan is not preferential and the total amount is not large. In comparison, the conditions provided by Deutsche Bank are very preferential.

of."

Finally, Song Biao and Conns Vanderbilt concluded: "Humans are all pursuing interests and surviving. You may think that the opportunities I have given to British and American railway companies are very poor, and the real fact is France and Germany.

The two countries have provided more benefits than me. In terms of overall interests, we are more willing to cooperate with the United States, which is. I have had many in-depth conversations with Minister Rockhill, but the reality is cruel and the United States cannot gather.

Becoming a whole provides more help to the three northeastern provinces, so they can only be ranked behind France and Germany. The interests are always mutual. When you cannot provide me with what I need, I cannot provide you with you either.

What you need is reality, and I can only feel deeply regretful about it.”

Song Biao said a lot, and it took Shu Xuan a long time to translate it to three Americans for him.

After Shu Xuan's translation was over, Minister Rockhill said: "We are working hard to make regrets turn into past. American political circles and entrepreneurs are very interested in the opening up of the three northeastern provinces, which is also Conns Van De

Why Bilt came here.”

To be honest, Song Biao really hopes that the Vanderbilt family's railway company will participate in the railway construction in the three northeastern provinces, but one of his more embarrassing aspects is that he has no license to play. (Net.)

He is a person who doesn't like nonsense. He said so much nonsense today, but he just hopes to exchange for investment from others at a very small price.

Unfortunately, investment always has to be rewarded.

Song Biao's statement obviously cannot satisfy Conns Vanderbilt. Of course, these are very big businesses. A decision may affect the company's development in the next few decades. Conns Vanderbilt also

Not in a hurry to make a decision.

Song Biao's idea of ​​the five-year railway plan of the three eastern provinces made Conns Vanderbilt more interested. He had a premonition that if the five-year plan was successfully implemented, there would be many business opportunities in the three eastern provinces in the future.

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After a brief thought, Conns Vanderbilt asked Song Biao: "As far as I know, you have implemented a financial policy similar to the United States in the three northeastern provinces, allowing private banks to follow the governments of the three northeastern provinces.

I have a very special interest and shares in the Bank of New York. If you permit, I would be happy to support the Bank of New York in the Three East Provinces, which will help further development of the Three East Provinces in the financial market. And,

With the support of the Bank of New York, we will successfully complete the construction of multiple railways according to your plan, even if these railways are almost impossible to make money."

Song Biao seemed to think seriously for a moment before answering: "The financial policies implemented by the three northeastern provinces are still very different from those of the United States. First, the three northeastern provinces have government-owned agency banks, and secondly, we are in the field of financial franchise.

With stricter approval, only a few banks have the right to issue currencies in the three northeastern provinces. Currently, only two commercial banks have such qualifications. In the future, we will consider increasing to four, five, or even six.

However, it is already the limit that the six commercial banks have the right to issue money, and it is impossible to increase further. Generally speaking, we require this bank that has been open for a long time in China. We have rich management experience. Secondly, we require this company to

Banks have very high registered assets and reputation. I feel very unfamiliar with what you mentioned in New York Bank. Obviously, they do not meet these two conditions. I suggest you invest more in shipping trade in the three northeastern provinces and domestic and foreign countries.

It will be a very promising market. Another suggestion I suggest that only investing in railways in the three northeastern provinces is really difficult to make money. What is needed is a complex and diverse investment. Participate in the construction of the three northeastern provinces, such as in finance, shipping and other fields.

I did consider allowing a US commercial bank to participate in issuing banknotes in the three northeastern provinces, but for now, Deutsche Bank, Oriental Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and HSBC are relatively closer to the remaining two seats, even if

We will increase the issuing banks in the three eastern provinces to six, considering retaining another place for one local Chinese bank, and the Bank of New York will also face competition from more than six foreign banks at the same time."

The issue of the issuing bank is definitely something that Conns Vanderbilt cannot reverse. The financial control of the three northeastern provinces is better than the railway rights is a truth that all countries understand, given that the Northeast Bank and the Far East Bank are governor Song Biao.

The special value of the country is not too much objection to the ministers and financial oligarchs of various countries. Instead, they are generally more satisfied with the existing vested interests.

Taking advantage of today's opportunity, Minister Rokeshire and Song Biao suggested: "I think the more commercial banks have the right to issue money, the more dispersed the power of each commercial bank, which is more beneficial to the Northeast Bank for the entire East.

Monitoring and management of the banking system of the three provinces!”

Song Biao insisted on his own idea and waved his hand. He said, "It's not good to have too many. I think the more reasonable way is that there are only four commercial banks. One of my suggestions now is that France and Russia have the equity of China-Russia Daosheng Bank.

Conduct negotiations, and no longer give Oriental Huili Bank the right to issue money, only one British bank will be added, and Deutsche Bank and China's local financial industry jointly operate a new bank. If my current suggestions don't work, or it doesn't reach the best

The effect must be increased to six banknote issuing banks, and this competition will actually be more complicated. At present, Japan's Yokohama Bank, Deutsche Bank, Oriental Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and HSBC are all quite concerned about this.

There is a trend of winning, and the problems in the United States are still the same as before, and there is no unified long-term development situation in the three northeastern provinces. I personally consider establishing a joint East American Business Investment Association of the three northeastern provinces and the United States to coordinate this matter in a favorable way.

, reverse the weakness of US commercial capital in the three northeastern provinces. This is an important thing for the United States, and it is also very important for me and the three northeastern provinces."

Minister Rockhill agreed: "I fully support your point of view. Are you considering letting the Bank of New York, or other American banks and local Chinese financial institutions jointly operate a bank, and have the right to issue money in the three eastern provinces?"

After a brief pause, he continued: "Governor General, I promise that if you are willing to accept this proposal, considering the threat posed by the Japanese Navy to the United States in the Pacific and Russia's special expansion momentum in the three eastern provinces, the United States will fully support it.

We will give you and your New Deal in the Northeast, especially in financial and railway rights. In terms of education, the cooperation between the United States and the three northeastern provinces, as well as China as a whole is very broad and has a deep foundation.

As far as I know, the officials you appointed in the three eastern provinces and the large number of managers within the Far East Consortium have received modern education in the United States, which is an important foundation for our deepening of cooperation."

Song Biao must consider such a proposal.

Song Biao thought about it for a while and realized the mutual benefit of this kind of cooperation, but he was not in a hurry to give an answer.

For such significant cooperation and investment, especially the investments of the Vanderbilt family in railways, shipping and finance in the three eastern provinces, these will not be solved by one or two meetings and meetings, and Song Biao is not in a hurry to achieve success.

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To be continued...