Go back to the past and be a schoolboy

Chapter 239 Japanese Visit

"Cheng Jun, I heard that your country is preparing for the construction of a [-]-ton giant ship. As a good neighbor with a narrow strip of water, I extend my sincere greetings to you on behalf of the Great Japanese Empire!"

Just as Cheng Nuo was about to go to Jiangnan Shipyard to negotiate with their chief engineer, Morgan.

A Japanese man got the news about him from nowhere, and with his subordinates and bags, he rushed to block Cheng Nuo at the door of his residence before he set off.

Respectfully handing over a business card, the Japanese ghost Iwasaki Hideo bowed slightly, and opened his mouth to speak proficient Mandarin: "Let me introduce myself, my humble Iwasaki Hideo is an engineer at Mitsubishi Nagasaki Shipyard. It's a pleasure to meet Mr. Cheng!"

Cheng Nuo didn't take the business card in a hurry, but narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at the other party: "Mr. Iwasaki, we haven't met before, have we?"

Iwasaki Hidero still maintained the posture just now, motionless: "Mr. Cheng, before this visit, we did not meet each other, but I believe that after this incident, we will maintain a friendly and close relationship with each other. Please accept my business card."

Before he could figure out the other party's intentions, Cheng Nuo decided to adopt the strategy of staying the same, and flipped through the business card in his hand, "Mitsubishi Nagasaki Shipbuilding, Director of Nagasaki Steel... There are quite a lot of positions, so tell me, what can you do with me, I have an appointment here in the afternoon, as for the intimate relationship, we will talk about it later."

Iwasaki Hidero smiled slightly, raised his head and said politely: "Mr. Cheng, there is a Chinese saying that goes, 'If you have nothing to do, go to the Palace of Three Treasures', the purpose of this visit is to reach cooperation with each other and seek a great cause together!"

Cheng Nuo folded his arms in front of his chest, and said in a humorous tone: "Let's listen, I also want to know if there is any cooperation between us? Do you want to buy our synthetic ammonia? If so, then you have found the right one." People, we are very happy to plant the flag of the 'China Brand' on the land of the island country."

Hideo Iwasaki's face was a bit cramped: "I don't know anything about chemical engineering, but I'm very happy to help Cheng Jun and our local companies to connect, but the premise of all this is that we can reach a consensus on this cooperation first."

Cheng Nuo became interested in this, and pinched his chin curiously and said, "I want to hear the content of the cooperation first. As for the consensus issue you mentioned, it depends on the content."

Hideo Iwasaki flashed a flash of joy, and then quickly introduced: "Cooperation is naturally a win-win situation. It is written on the business card that I am the director of Nagasaki Steel Works, which produces high-quality steel. I heard that your country is going to build a [-]-ton giant ship. In congratulations and Apart from being envious, as a good neighbor, we naturally have to think a lot about East Asia as a whole.

We deliberately introduced our advanced steel technology to you to help complete this batch of large orders, so as to promote our East Asian brand and let these Westerners know that we also have top technology in the Far East! "

What he said was high-sounding, for the good of East Asia, but in fact, Cheng Nuo had already seen through the little things in the Japanese heart before he even finished listening to the words.

What an excellent craft, the factory has not been built yet.

What are East Asians, the order is nowhere in sight.

What win-win cooperation, the Japanese won twice.

Like the aforementioned Qiuxin Shipyard, during World War I, the development of Japan’s machinery industry also encountered the embargo of European and American raw materials, and the situation between the two countries was basically the same.

It is precisely because of this situation that Mitsubishi Nagasaki Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. agreed with us to expand into the steel industry to get rid of the problem of steel procurement.

It is a pity that when the Nagasaki Steel Works is completed next year, the First World War is over. This will undoubtedly bring huge pressure to Mitsubishi. By then, the steel products produced by Nagasaki Steel will not be able to compete with Western rivals in terms of technology or price. , Under the dumping of commodities, how to survive is a problem.

Although the First World War is not over yet, and Japan has not sent workers to support it, they have also sent female nurses there. The Prophet of Spring River Plumbing Ducks can naturally smell some unusual smells in advance.

"Mr. Iwasaki, I'm afraid I'm going to disappoint you. We've already placed an order for the steel products. It's not wise to suddenly break the contract at this time, not only damage the reputation of my steel factory, but also make a large amount of compensation. Give it!" Cheng Nuo shook his head, rejecting the Japanese proposal.

"Mr. Cheng, if you make an agreement, it is natural to realize its value by breaking the contract. Although you temporarily lose some business reputation, you can also gain the friendship of our Great Japanese Empire. Friendship is priceless." Hideo Iwasaki wrote lightly, It seems that obtaining Japanese friendship is something extraordinary.

"Yes, friendship is priceless, and compensation is priceless." Cheng Nuo was not polite about this at all, and said, "Even for our factory, it is very painful to spend this extra money. "

Iwasaki Hidero shook his head and continued to persuade: "Before this, we have already inquired about the prices of some steel factories in your country, which seem very tempting, but in front of us in Nagasaki, it is not enough, as long as you are willing Cooperate with us in Nagasaki, time will give you rich profits."

Cheng Nuo couldn't help laughing when he saw the other party making up nonsense, "Mr. Iwasaki, I don't know if you have heard the saying, 'Science has no boundaries, but patents are different'. Japan is willing to support its own companies, why are we not willing to support our own things?"

Unexpectedly, Iwasaki Hidero said seriously at this time: "Because your officials have no spirit of sacrifice, but we are different!"

Hearing this, Cheng Nuo completely suppressed the smile on his face: "The spirit of sacrifice? If we didn't have the spirit of sacrifice, how would the Manchu Qing Dynasty be overthrown and the Republic of China be established?"

Hideo Iwasaki shook his head again, with unprecedented fanaticism in his tone: "Compared with your corrupt officialdom, we are obviously more sacrificing.

Our officials can achieve strong nationalism that uses economic development as a means of strengthening the army. All immoral behaviors that hinder the development of the national economy are not allowed, and limited resources can be forcibly transferred to strategic industries... I want to ask, you Which official can do it? "

Although Cheng Nuo didn't want to admit it, the facts were in front of him. The Meiji Restoration of the other party was even more successful. While the bureaucrats were advancing their great cause of nation building, Japan's machinery industry was developing by leaps and bounds, and it was now at the forefront of the world.

Even before the outbreak of World War I, Japan already had several powerful leaders in military industry, shipbuilding, railway vehicles, and electrical machinery.

What's more, the current window of time when European powers are busy fighting wars is not only open to us China, but also to Japan. After a few years, it is even different.

But because of this, it was even more impossible for Cheng Nuo to outsource the steel.

"You have your Japan, and I have my motherland. Import substitution itself is not a purely economic consideration, but often contains nationalist elements to develop its own industry. Only considering making profits through innovation is not the first choice of our factory, Iwasaki Sir, you should understand what I mean, right?"

Hideo Iwasaki's face froze, and he opened his mouth to continue persuading, but he thought of his family's experience in developing industries, sighed, and then said with a serious face: "Our family's family motto is to use the concept of the country to govern all businesses. I will never forget the sincerity of the public, and I feel the same way in this regard.

However, our family also believes in the principle of 'repaying the country in case of any kind'. Since we cannot cooperate with each other normally, we will be competitors in the future. Mr. Cheng, I hope you are ready! "

The change was so fast that Cheng Nuo didn't react for a while. Before he could say a few words, he watched Iwasaki Hidero turn around and take his subordinates away without delay.

"This little devil has a lot of personality!" Cheng Nuoxin said.

……

On the other side, Iwasaki Hidero was walking back with his subordinates, thinking about how to defeat Cheng Nuo in the subsequent business war.

At this time, the subordinate who had been silent just now suddenly spoke up: "Iwasaki-kun, this and that person are too ignorant of flattery, we cooperate with them, we think highly of them, but they refused, it is an insult to us, we must let them nice!"

Iwasaki Hidero frowned and said: "Iwasaki Hiroshi, this is an internal matter of our factory. I have made my own arrangements. Father asked you to come here to learn, not to direct me to do something! Don't forget, I still Your brother, stop walking with those soldiers!"

Iwasaki Hiroshi's eyes flashed a trace of contempt, but he hid it well: "Don't worry, I seldom contact those friends after I came to China. Experts have learned a lot, don't you really need to try? My dear brother!"

Hidero Iwasaki refused without thinking, "I believe in the technology of our Nagasaki Steel Works!"

After all, he turned and left without looking back.

Hiroshi Iwasaki, who stayed where he was, snorted coldly, turned his head and clenched his fists in the direction where Cheng Nuo lived. It was obvious that the matter did not end with him.

"Cheng Nuo, I remember you!"

……

In the yard, while Cheng Nuo was checking Hideo Iwasaki's business card, Jiang Jiangzuo came over with an apple in his mouth, leaned half of his body and said curiously:
"Why do you still have to leave? Didn't we all make an appointment with that foreign guy? Why, we changed our tactics. Are we going to show Morgan off and let him show off his prestige?"

Cheng Nuo pinched his business card and said, "That's not the case. You still have to have the respect you deserve. Don't look at that person who always has his nostrils upturned. In fact, his subordinates still have some skills, and some arrogance is understandable."

"Hmm, woo woo~"

It's a pity that all Cheng Nuo answered were whimpers, which made him very puzzled. He shifted his gaze from the business card to Jiang Jiangzuo's face. He didn't expect this guy to notice the business card while eating an apple, and he was also very curious about it. .

"Woooooo~"

"Spit out the apple and speak human words!" Cheng Nuo couldn't help laughing when he saw his friend like this.

"Ah~ it suffocates me." Only then did Jiang Jiangzuo realize that there was an apple in his mouth, and he quickly took it down and wiped his saliva: "I mean, this business card is Japanese? Then Zhiyuan you But be careful, none of these bastards is a good person, and their stomachs are full of bad water."

Cheng Nuo smiled: "Of course I know this, but, in some respects, Japan is worth learning from."

Jiang Jiangzuo swallowed his saliva and asked, "I know that some of your mathematics are passed down from Japan, and even some new vocabulary in Mandarin are taken from Japanese."

"You are right, but today we are talking about the machinery industry, especially the shipbuilding industry we are doing. Its success or failure is related to the future industrial prospects of our country." Cheng Nuo nodded, and then added : "The Japanese came here today, no matter what they say, they just reminded me."

Jiang Jiangzuo asked: "Why wake up?"

Cheng Nuo put away his business card, bowed his head and said, "That means we have to step up our pace, the faster we go, the more obvious this large-scale military factory has played a role in promoting the development of the industry.

Taking Japan as an example, their machinery industry started at Yokosuka Shipyard, and then Akabane Works, Nagasaki Shipyard, Tokyo-Osaka Artillery Factory, Onahama Shipyard, etc. were built one after another.

The employees trained by these military enterprises entered the later established large enterprises such as Ishikawajima Shipyard and Kawasaki Shipyard, and occupied the main positions, and the employees of these new large enterprises later spread to other large and small factories, which in turn produced enough to affect the whole of Japan. Chemical reactions in mechanical industry. "

Jiang Jiangzuo took advantage of the situation and said, "You mean that the origin of Japanese machinery manufacturing technology is mainly in large arsenals?"

Cheng Nuo nodded: "Especially in the early stage of the development of the machinery industry like our country, military enterprises can play an important role in spreading advanced technology and supplying technical personnel. That's the truth."

If we look at the development trajectory of the machinery industry alone, Meiji Japan and the Manchu Qing Dynasty have great similarities, but why Japan rose later, and our development slowed down, a large part of the reason is that most of the Chinese elites are literati. Lack of strategic vision.

In other words, the Qing Dynasty did not provide sufficient support for such strategic industries.

Although Japan also lacks advantages in developing these strategic industries, they are willing to adopt new tariff rates and subsidies to support them.

For example, the formerly powerful Mitsui Zaibatsu established the Ministry of Industry in the early years, but only the textile factory has developed among its subsidiaries, and Shibaura Seisakusho (to be Toshiba in the future) in the heavy industry sector has continued to lose money, and it is getting worse day by day.

But the Japanese government is willing to spend money to support it step by step.

Later, Japan not only exported mechanical products to us, but also became an important source for us to introduce mechanical technology.

When the Qing Dynasty fell, Japan’s machinery industry had already established its initial advantage over our same industry, which in turn affected the macro-historical process of East Asia thereafter.

"Then tell me, what does this little devil mean by coming here this time? To show off that they have a mature supporting industrial system?" Jiang Jiangzuo took a look at the business card and said thoughtfully.

Cheng Nuo smiled: "Maybe not, it's another form of declaration of war."

"Then you have to be more careful. A while ago, Japanese wanderers ran rampant in the streets and made trouble in the Hongkou vegetable market. Although two dog thieves were killed, our Huazhu also injured four. Seeing that this matter is endless, but Don't let people make a fuss here."

Cheng Nuo nodded: "I'll be careful. I can take this opportunity to transfer the guards we trained earlier to test their effectiveness in actual combat."

After the discussion between the two, Cheng Nuo got into the car and was about to go to Jiangnan Shipyard.

On the way, I carefully recalled the details of the meeting with the Japanese Iwasaki Hidero, to see if there was anything I didn’t notice at the beginning, and at the same time, I was thinking in my heart:
“In Japan’s industrialization led by state investment, the required funds were mobilized from small farmers in agriculture and household industries, and the nationals borne heavy national debts and military expenditures, and the burden was passed on to tenant farmers in particular.

The western countries are passing it on to the colonies, and we will have to go this way in the future, but it will be hard for the farmers, and the synthetic ammonia fertilizer alone is not enough.

Harper, Harper, if your days are easier, it's harder for us! "

(End of this chapter)