Wild North America 1846

Chapter 248
"Welcome back with honor, Your Majesty the General." Ye Xuanping, the manager of the Veraque Bruce Port Company, held up champagne to express his high regard to Brigadier General Fan Pengfei.

He was the upper class person with the highest status at the reception. The mayor of the local Veraque Bruce and the chairman of the city council in Mexico could only stand on the outer layer of the Chinese upper class and echoed, with a humble look like a servant.

After the conclusion of the "Treaty of Friendship between Tang, Mo and Jinling", many countries' sovereignty was lost. Mexico has actually become a subsidiary country of the Tang Kingdom, and the two are deeply bound together.

but otherwise

Perhaps the current Mexican puppet government has already been defeated by the rebellious Aztec Republic in the south, ending the civil war and forming a unified Mexican situation.

For the Tang Kingdom, this is absolutely not allowed to happen.

It is a pity that even though the current Mexican government army is well-equipped, it is always defeated by the rebels armed with spears and swords and outdated muskets, and has become a stable channel for delivering weapons and equipment to the southern rebels.

Mud can't support the wall!

As a last resort, the Tang Kingdom could only go to battle in person...

The port company is affiliated to the Royal Pacific United Shipping Company, which is regarded as a royal family enterprise with positive roots.

In the past two years, the company became famous for being the first to discover New Guinea Island (Paradise Island). It is also the largest and most powerful ocean shipping company in the Kingdom, and its investment ports are all over the country and overseas.

The special mission of welcoming and arranging the return of the expeditionary force cannot be carried out by any private enterprise. The Royal Pacific United Shipping Company has a semi-official status and shoulders the responsibility of the mission.

The captains and sailors of the ocean shipping companies in this era have additional missions such as exploring and exploring the unknown, collecting intelligence information, spreading culture and religion, and radiating the influence of the kingdom, which is not that simple.

When necessary, it is the navy to pick up guns and equip artillery.

As the highest official of the welcome banquet, Brigadier General Fan Pengfei held up the champagne glass in his hand and said solemnly; "All glory is due to His Majesty and to the Kingdom. Let us raise our glasses together and wish His Majesty peace."

"Congratulations to Your Majesty!"

All the people at the reception raised their glasses high in unison, and drank them down in one gulp after blessing.

At this moment

Fan Pengfei's expression calmed down, and he said with a smile on his face, "Manager Ye, on behalf of the third batch of returned soldiers, I would like to thank your company for your proper arrangement. The so-called closeness to the hometown is timid! After three years of separation, I will return to the kingdom's territory. , Hearing this familiar voice, why doesn't it make people feel deeply moved?"

"Your Excellency, General, you are welcome. The soldiers of the Expeditionary Army are fighting bravely on the front line to add luster to the glory of the kingdom. We are just doing some small things within our capabilities, which are not worth mentioning."

"Hahaha... Manager Ye is too modest."

Brigadier General Fan Pengfei raised his glass with a smile, took a shallow sip of champagne, and chatted happily with some senior military officers and local Chinese business leaders around him.

In the brightly lit manor
Well-dressed gentlemen and well-dressed ladies communicated and chatted happily. The common language is Chinese. Those local Mexicans with heads and faces couldn’t get in their mouths. They could only stand by and laugh like fools. .

I don't understand the language, how can I talk?

after half an hour
Colonel Lin Feng came over with two middle-aged businessmen and joined the small circle that was chatting with Brigadier General Fan Pengfei.

When Manager Ye Xuanping saw them coming, he greeted them politely first, and then said with an apology on his face;

"Your Excellency, your rich military experience in Europe can be written into a wonderful book. I happen to know a few great Confucian scholars from China who are knowledgeable. I hope to pay a visit to you if I have time. You have a new friend here. We Don't bother."

After speaking, he left with a few people around him.

"Brother Pengfei, this Mr. Ye is quite good at building relationships. What kind of book do you and I as martial artists publish?" Colonel Lin Feng sneered and said carelessly.

Brigadier General Fan Pengfei didn't take it seriously, and replied calmly with a champagne glass in his hand; "There are thousands of people in society, and there are always people who like and don't like to talk about. Besides, being arty is not a bad thing. After all, you and I are High-ranking military officials should not behave as casually as they used to, and should not be proud of their rudeness. It is better to respect the true Chinese scholars."

"Okay, brother Yu has been taught."

After being told by Fan Pengfei, Colonel Lin Feng could only secretly think that he was unlucky, and then a flattering smile appeared on his face, and he pointed to the two businessmen who came with him and said;
"Brother Pengfei, these are the two owners of Maochanghang in Seattle, Mr. Tian Mingjian and Mr. Tian Mingxue. They are businessmen in the aquatic products and canning business."

Then he turned to face the two of them again, and said with a serious expression; "I recommend to you the star of the expeditionary army, General Fan Pengfei, who has great martial arts skills. This time, he will be summoned by His Majesty when he returns to his homeland. Rewarding the noble title is a certainty."

Tian Mingjian and Tian Mingxue didn't dare to neglect, they both saluted respectfully with both hands; "Caomin has seen Your Excellency the General."

The status of merchants in the Tang Kingdom is far higher than that of Shenzhou. When His Majesty inspects various places, he will often call merchants together for discussions, talking and laughing.

This invisibly greatly elevated the status of Chinese businessmen and capitalists, and the right to speak in various town councils and society has greatly increased.

What is good at the top will be effective at the bottom!

Brigadier General Fan Pengfei nodded back with a reserved expression, but looked at Colonel Lin Feng with a questioning look, why did you bring these two businessmen here?

Colonel Lin Feng chuckled, leaned over and said, "Brother Pengfei, Seattle Maochang is a big player in local marine fishing. It owns more than 27 offshore fishing boats, ranking sixth in terms of scale. It exported salted fish and fish to Europe last year. The salty goods amounted to more than 6 tons, and he was a very powerful businessman.

Since the development of the canned food industry, the Tian brothers have been keenly aware of the opportunity for development. Following the upsurge, they built a canned food processing plant in Seattle, specializing in the production of canned seafood with various flavors, which is in short supply in the European market.

There are already two canning plants under the Mau Cheong Hong umbrella, and now the Tian brothers are looking to replicate Seattle's success in Wellack Blues.

The warm Mexican coast is rich in aquatic resources, and there is great potential for offshore fishing. Seafood processing plants and canning factories have been established to serve as bridgeheads for exports to Europe. The distance is closer and the transportation is more convenient.

Even if the market is saturated in the future, the canning factories in the Gulf of Mexico can continue to thrive by virtue of their geographical advantages and cost advantages.

They have no roots here, so..."

Colonel Lin Feng didn't say the rest, of course Brigadier General Fan Pengfei could hear the implication.

As a businessman, of course it is to hug your thigh!

After all, this is the territory of the Mexicans. Don't look at the mayors and speakers of Mexico, as well as the top figures in the city, who are obsequious and look like pissed off daughter-in-laws.

In fact, these Mexicans have n ways to play with the Chinese businessmen who have no roots, which greatly affects their operations.

After all, they are local snakes, and the Tian brothers will face many difficulties if they want to flex their muscles if they only set up obstacles in recruiting local Mexicans to work.

Both fishing and food processing factories require a lot of manpower, often 2000 or even more. It is not realistic to recruit all Chinese workers here, and more cheap Mexican workers are used.

With a military background, it's different. They don't dare to set up obstacles for the Mexicans. This is the power of the foreigners.

Brigadier General Fan Pengfei frowned. He was a person with quite traditional ideas. He looked down on merchants from the bottom of his heart, and he was unwilling to associate with them.

While preparing excuses to evade, Colonel Lin Feng tugged his sleeves, leaned over and whispered;
"The Tian brothers are willing to take out 15% of the shares, give you 10%, give me 5%, and guarantee that the annual income will not be less than 2 yuan, and your share will not be less than 4 yuan. I will help you agree."

After finishing speaking, he made a "you know" look.

Although he felt dumbfounded, in front of outsiders, Brigadier General Fan Pengfei didn't want to embarrass his brother, so he asked after a moment of pondering; "When you are in business, how can you ensure that you don't use the military's signboard to bully the market and behave in a well-behaved manner?" business?"

The two businessmen, Nakata Mingjian, are older, obviously they are the managers of the firm, he bowed respectfully and said;
"Returning to Lord General, even if you lend us your courage, we don't dare.

The Tian family has been in business for more than 200 years, and the family motto is "Being a human being before doing business, and no one will deceive you".

Adhering to the ancestral precepts, all the children of the Tian family started as salesmen. Those who have misconduct and unfair dealings cannot be big shopkeepers, let alone allow such people to tarnish the reputation of the Tian family.

The grassroots guarantee their lives and family assets, and they never dare to commit crimes in business and affairs, commit crimes and do some illegal things.

It is the original intention of Maochang Trading Company to operate according to the law and to do business in a well-regulated manner. It is worshiped under the general's family, just hoping not to be bullied by its peers and local Mexicans, that's all. "

"So, you are a regular businessman." Brigadier General Fan Pengfei nodded, but did not comment.

Colonel Lin Feng was about to speak, but he raised his hand to stop him.

Brigadier General Fan Pengfei pondered for a while, and said in a serious tone; "Whether this is feasible or not needs to be verified. Brother Ah Feng, send a telegram to the Seattle Garrison Headquarters through the military telegraph line tomorrow, asking about Maochanghang's local reputation and Deal with people and situations, and then make sense in the next step.”

Fan Pengfei has always been a prudent person, and it is impossible to listen to one-sided words. The Seattle Garrison Command has many brothers who were former pro-guards, and the truth will be revealed when you ask.

It doesn't take much effort, so why take the risk?

He didn't say anything serious, but the crime of defrauding a brigadier general is not trivial, and it is definitely not something the two Chinese businessmen in front of them can afford.

After all

The Tang Kingdom is a kingdom centered on the feudal aristocratic system. Although it implements an enlightened constitutional monarchy in name, this constitutional monarchy is not the other constitutional monarchy. In fact, it is the autocratic government of His Majesty the King.

Preferential treatment of businessmen, it is impossible to allow businessmen to run amok on the head of the military nobles, what is that?
According to the criminal law of the Tang Kingdom;
Privileged classes such as government officials and military aristocrats are not allowed to use their positions for personal gain, and offenders will be severely punished depending on the circumstances.

But this is not to say that government officials and military aristocrats cannot invest rationally, and the money can only be kept at home to rot, and they can't do anything.

This is both unreasonable and unreasonable.

Many government officials and military aristocrats of the Tang Kingdom invested in shops, fields, factories, docks, railways or various industries. It is normal asset allocation to obtain reasonable returns based on investment and shareholding.

Is there any use of job influence in this?
There are more or less, for example, in the companies where the big nobles have shares, ordinary people are afraid to eat and get cards, and the business of the big companies with strong roots is booming, and they can be unimpeded in any province. some background.

But there must be a sense of balance in this. The first is not to occupy a controlling position, generally 5% to 10% of investment shares, occupying a board seat, but not a controlling position.

The second is to avoid sensitive areas. For example, if the Minister of Communications Viscount Huang Yuanjia invests in a company, it cannot be involved in the transportation industry, such as cement, steel, construction industries, etc. It is no problem for him to invest in the petrochemical industry or food processing. It counts as taking advantage of one's power for personal gain and fraud.

The third point is to disregard the relationship. You cannot appoint immediate family members to take up corporate positions. The nature has changed again. It is no problem to just charge a reasonable return on investment.

Turning back to the military, many senior military generals also invest in local industries. As long as they have nothing to do with the military and are not within their own jurisdiction, then there is no big problem.

For example, Mao Changxing, recommended by Colonel Lin Feng, intends to develop offshore fishing and canning factories in Veraque Bruce City. This place belongs to Mexican territory and cannot be compared with the Royal Army, so it is a reasonable investment.

Even if the lawsuit came to the Military Law Department of the General Staff Headquarters, Colonel Lin Feng was not at all afraid.

Colonel Lin Feng is not a brainless person who can become a senior officer at the field division level. It is too late to close the relationship between the two sides. How could he bring Brigadier General Fan Pengfei, who is about to become an officer, into the ditch?

The reason why he dared to agree on behalf of Brigadier General Fan Pengfei was that he had carefully verified that the Tian brothers' Maochangxing was strong and had a good reputation, and there was another way to make a fortune along the way.

The higher you go, the more expensive it is.

The aristocratic class of the Tang Kingdom was not formed for a long time, but it was inevitably influenced by the luxurious life soon. This is because the set of things advocated by the aristocratic class was also deeply influenced by the European aristocratic class.

With the title of nobility and fiefdom, can it be done without a decent manor castle?
His Majesty the King is building the Daming Palace. Castles and manors built by nobles all over the country have sprung up like mushrooms after a spring rain. There are Chinese style, English style, French style, and expensive and labor-intensive Gothic castles. There was a fad.

Anyway, it's my own money to build on my own fiefdom, and no one else has anything to do with it.

With a manor, a castle, and a family temple, the deep-rooted concept of spreading branches and leaves in the bones of the Chinese will inevitably emerge. Marrying wives and concubines is an indispensable thing.

Once there are more wives and concubines, there will be more children. It is not a small expense for a large family to eat and drink.

Then it is not enough to rely on the output of the fiefdoms alone to participate in the gatherings of the upper-class nobles and maintain the necessary decent life. Buying shops, real estate buildings, and investing in some factories and enterprises to achieve a reasonable allocation of assets has become an inevitable choice.

With the right bootstrapping, that's not a bad thing.

The thriving development of various enterprises in the Datang Kingdom cannot do without a large amount of capital injection from the nobles, and when everyone has a strong foothold, it becomes an inevitable choice to abide by the rules of the game.

(End of this chapter)