1928: The Rise of Giants

Maybe he was really pushed into a corner.

Zhou Longguang works faster than those chamber of commerce compradors.

Within an hour, the documents related to railway construction rights, coal mining rights and mining shares were approved and sent to Ye Luo's villa one after another.

Chen Zhen, Huo Tingen and others who had just gone out returned in less than ten minutes and informed Ye Luo of the good news.

After the patrol team was disbanded on the spot, the original security team has been reorganized, and a large number of patriots imprisoned in prison have been released in an orderly manner.

When they came back, they brought a few people to express their gratitude. They were all famous scholars and university professors in the north.

Some of these old scholars are pedantic, some are progressive, and some are wavering, but when faced with major issues of right and wrong, they are more resolute than ordinary people and have a stronger sense of patriotism.

In the previous plainclothes riots and this time's tram fare increase, these people were at the forefront, speaking for the people and denouncing the inaction of the city hall and the arrogance of the foreigners.

Ye Luo thanked them one by one, and then sent someone to secretly escort them away.

He himself wasn't sure whether there were any members of underground organizations among this group of people, but it would always be a good idea to make some good friends.

Looking at these patriots, Ye Luo felt deeply moved.

Who would have thought that a hundred years later, these people who were supposed to represent public opinion and voice would become the running dogs of capitalists, so-called public intellectuals, speaking nonsense that they themselves did not even believe?

"Second Young Master, everyone from the Tianjin Chamber of Commerce is here." Shi Jianqiao reported from outside.

Ye Luo nodded: "Let them all come in. Oh, and call Ling Jun to listen as well."

"Got it." Shi Jianqiao turned and left.

After a while, Kong Lingjun, looking reluctant, came in first, carrying a small stool and holding a pen and paper.

Seeing her like this, Ye Luo felt happy that she looked like a student who was assigned a lot of homework by her teacher on the weekend.

"Just sit still for a while, watch, listen and think more. I will test you after this." Ye Luo rubbed her little head.

Kong Lingjun said "Oh" and his face became even worse.

In a few minutes, a group of middle-aged men wearing long jackets, Qing-style clothes and pants, and felt hats came in one after another.

"My name is Wang Zhulin. I am honored to be elected by everyone and am now the president of Tianjin City Chamber of Commerce." The short, rat-eyed middle-aged man clasped his fists towards Ye Luo, with the demeanor of an old man from the Qing Dynasty.

He looked around and found that there was not a single stool. There was only a girl of about twelve or thirteen sitting obediently on the side. He was very puzzled and looked at Ye Luo again.

The same was true for the others. After greeting them, they didn't see any maids or servants coming to serve them, nor were there any seats or tea.

"What does the second young master mean?" Wang Zhulin asked again, suppressing his displeasure.

Ye Luo picked up the teacup, took a sip, and looked at him sideways.

Wang Zhulin is the number one local Chinese businessman in Tianjin. Before Ye’s investment, his Wang’s Commercial Company was the dominant force in Tianjin’s business community. All merchants had to give him face for anything.

He was also one of the compradors who cooperated deeply with the Belgians. He had a fortune worth tens of millions of dollars and was able to call the shots in several nearby cities. He was very capable.

Of course, he has an even more famous story.

After the full-scale war of resistance broke out in 1937, the city of Tianjin fell. In order to develop his own status and power, Wang Zhulin defected to Japan and became a traitor. He joined the pseudo TJ City Local Security Maintenance Committee organized by Gao Lingxuan, served as a member and concurrently served as the chairman of the Tianjin Material Countermeasures Committee, and engaged in treason and surrender to the enemy.

On December 1938, 12, in front of the Fengzeyuan Restaurant in the French Concession of Tianjin, the bullet of justice took away his sinful soul. The businessmen who could follow Wang Zhulin were either compradors or traitors. How could Ye Luo treat them well?

"I don't have any other intention. I called Boss Wang here this time just to talk about the recent stalemate over the tram fare increase."

Ye Luo said calmly.

Wang Zhulin frowned: "This is a conflict between the Belgians and the City Hall. It has nothing to do with us, right?"

"Oh, really? Why after I came to Tianjin City, I heard that it was Boss Wang who deliberately instigated the tram company workers to attack the pickets, and the matter became more and more serious?" Ye Luo glanced at him. This old dog is quite pretentious.

Wang Zhulin raised his hand and wanted to slam the table, but then he realized he was standing. He could only hold back his anger and said, "Nonsense! How could a person like the Second Young Master actually believe in rumors?"

"I don't believe anything anyone says. I only believe the information provided by my employees of Ye's Investment." Ye Luo chuckled, and felt more relieved when he saw that this group of people began to stagger after standing for a while.

Old dogs usually indulge in alcohol and sex, and their bodies are hollowed out.

"Haha, when did Ye Investment change its line of business to do intelligence business? The Second Young Master specially called us here today. There are no seats and no tea for us. So this is how the No. 1 tycoon in Shanghai treats his guests. We have seen it today. If there is nothing else important, we will take our leave first!"

Wang Zhulin thought that this was the territory of Tianjin City, and no matter how powerful the other party was, they could not defeat him, so he waved his sleeves and prepared to leave.

"Then you can go without saying goodbye. I hope President Wang won't regret it in the future." Ye Luo smiled and didn't try to keep him.

"If I come back in the future, I will be a dog!" Wang Zhulin replied sinisterly, "I hope the Second Young Master's business in Tianjin City will become more and more prosperous."

Wang Zhulin left with a large group of people.

Kong Lingjun's little head was full of question marks. She originally thought that the teacher called these compradors over because he must have a plan to restrain them.

But it looks like they were just threatening each other.

"Lingjun, who do you think is right and who is wrong in this matter?" Ye Luo turned his gaze towards Kong Lingjun.

Kong Lingjun knew that the question-and-answer session was about to begin, so he sat up straight and said, "The tram fare increase is simply due to the greed of the foreigners. Of course, they are wrong and we are right."

"So now, who has the upper hand?"

"Uh, foreigners." Kong Lingjun scratched her head. Before Ye's investment got involved, the city hall, the people of Tianjin and the foreigners were 90% to 90%. Even a child like her could see that the situation was not good.

"This is the first lesson I want to teach you." Ye Luo slowly stood up, rubbed her little head vigorously, and said with a smile, "Business struggle is not a military war. We don't care about right or wrong or justification. It's meaningless. The core of business war is the only concept, which is to see who consumes more energy."

"Why do foreigners dare to be so arrogant? Because they have the support of their own countries, and the governments of the Republic of China are all weak in diplomacy. The reason why the great powers are called great powers is that they are 'rich'. Similarly, Wang Zhulin has been operating in Tianjin for decades. He is the 'great power' in the business community of Tianjin. Naturally, he is not afraid of the city hall and ordinary people."

"Well, then how should we fight them?" Kong Lingjun asked immediately.

Ye Luo looked at her with a smile: "It's very simple, 'burn money'."

"Burning money?" The scene of large amounts of money and banknotes falling into the brazier emerged in Kong Lingjun's mind, making him even more confused.

"Yes. Our goal in doing business is to make money, and the ultimate goal is to monopolize a market. How to monopolize a market is to eliminate other competitors by burning money first."

Ye Luo smiled and nodded.

"You must always remember that as long as you can monopolize, any price is worth it. Because after that, you will be the 'power' of the industry, and no one can resist you. At that time, you have the final say on how much money to make and how to make it. The previous costs will always come back." (End of this chapter)