African Nationhood

Chapter 150 Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company

The ship Sir Freire was talking about was an "industrial miracle" that had long been famous in Europe and ridiculed for a long time.

This is a large ship with three power sources: paddle wheel, propeller and sail.

The ship has a length of 211 meters, a width of 36 meters, a maximum draft of 9.2 meters, a displacement of 27700 tons, and an operating speed of 14 knots.

When this ship was designed, it was intended to sail directly from the United Kingdom to Australia.

Therefore, it was designed to carry 15000 tons of coal, and 200 coal loaders were required to work day and night to maintain the operation of this giant ship.

In addition to the coal, it can carry 6000 tons of cargo and 4000 passengers.

这艘船在1854年2月开始建造，直到1858年1月30日才成功下水。

Its builder, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, was a talented and proud engineer who never saw his masterpiece crossing the ocean until his death.

This masterpiece was plagued by accidents since its construction. When it was dismantled in 1889, it was discovered that there were two bodies inside the ship's double decks.

Therefore, people speculated that the reason why the ship was in constant misfortune was because of the two evil spirits.

Shi Jintang did not think of this ship because Sir Frere did not mention its name.

If he mentioned his name first, Shi Jintang would trigger memories in his mind because of this name.

Naturally, he was very grateful to this ship.

Due to a series of misfortunes on this ship, people were afraid to ride on this giant ship.

Therefore, she was sold to the Atlantic Telegraph Company in 1864 and used as a cable ship until 1874, when the ship was idle.

In 1885, a British department store thought that the ship was huge and could be used as an advertising sign, so it bought the ship to hang advertisements.

But it only lasted a few years. In 1889, the ship was finally sold for scrap metal and spent 2 years being dismantled into scrap metal.

That was the year the Great Eastern was dismantled (1890), and a larger and faster cruise ship "Ocean" was built.

……

If we take over this large cruise ship that was built more than 30 years ago, we must modernize it, otherwise it will only be a waste of manpower and financial resources.

The sails and paddle wheel on this ship are outdated, and the cost of modification will not be cheap.

If you have this ambition, you might as well buy a new boat and train your own sailors.

All in all, this ship is worth the loss!

……

Therefore, after Shi Jintang expressed his attitude that this giant cruise ship was not needed, Sir Freire did not show any disappointment or surprise.

"Then how about I help you acquire the Peninsula and Oriental Steam Navigation Company?"

Hearing what Sir Frere said, Shi Jintang smiled on his face, "Well, I'm very interested in this topic."

Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, established in 1834.

It started out as a steamship company formed by a trio of shipbrokers, down-and-out sailors and an Irish captain who owned a steamship.

Initially they operated mail shipping services from the British Isles to the Ilea Peninsula and received subsidies from the British government.

Then in 1840, they merged with the Transatlantic Navigation Company and changed their name to the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company.

Mainly operating routes from the United Kingdom to Australia and Hong Kong. Their shipping has some overlap with Henry Shipping Company of Shi Jintang, but this shipping company owns far more steamships than Henry Shipping Company.

This shipping company has as many as ten steamships, large and small, with a total tonnage of more than 5 tons, and it has nearly a thousand employees.

Most of these employees are experienced sailors, navigators and captains.

The company's operating profits far exceed those of its peers because it has a monopoly on immigration transport services from the UK to Australia.

The Australian government will pay them £10 for every immigrant they transport.

This subsidy policy was not canceled by the Australian government until 1968.

It will not be easy to acquire this shipping company, and the cost of acquisition will not be low.

"Since you are interested, I will give you a promise. I can definitely make your wish come true." Sir Frere is so confident that Shi Jintang is naturally happy.

"Oh, tell me, where is your confidence?
  If you can help me achieve my goal, I will also give you a guarantee. His Royal Highness Prince Leopold will definitely write a letter of recommendation for you. "

When Sir Freir heard this, the smile on his face became more genuine.

“My father-in-law is a prosecutor, and he has evidence that the major shareholders of Peninsula and Oriental Company paid to commit murder.

As long as he is blackmailed with this evidence, he can buy 40% of the shipping company's shares from him.

At that time, you will be the company's major shareholder, and you will have the final say on the scope and direction of the shipping company's operations. "

After listening to Sir Freire's words, Shi Jintang frowned, "Only 40%. If other shareholders join forces, it won't count even if I say so."

Sir Freire was a little hesitant when he heard this, "You want to swallow this company whole, do you have so much capital?
  The company is worth at least £200 million. "

Two million pounds is nothing to Shi Jintang.

Not to mention the gold he collected from the Kingdom of Matabeleland, the interest-free loans and low-interest loans provided by the British government have not yet been used.

However, the scattered equity of this shipping company is not conducive to his operation, so it is best to acquire it wholly.

“No problem, I can borrow enough cash from somewhere else.

You first help me get the shares from the major shareholder, and then help me negotiate with other shareholders. You will be fully represented in this negotiation.

After the job is completed, I will give you 2 pounds as hard work fee and help you get a letter of recommendation. "

Sir Freyr immediately became excited upon hearing this, "No problem, I'll take care of it."

……

A few days later, the Times of London reported that William Brown, general manager of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, resigned as general manager of the company due to his own reasons.

At the same time, he has transferred all the company shares he holds to a mysterious company.

Then the top executives of the "Peninsula and Oriental Steam Navigation Company" resigned one after another, mostly for unknown reasons.

However, their equity holdings were also transferred out one after another.

About a month later, the "Peninsula and Oriental Steam Navigation Company" issued an announcement that the company's new general manager was Ms. Liv Underwood.

Since this lady is studying in school, the management and operation activities of the company are fully entrusted to a team of professional managers.

The head of the manager team is an Oriental named William Shi.

……

In the manor outside London, Shi Jintang personally handed Sir Freire a letter with Prince Leopold's personal emblem printed on it.

Standing behind him were Alice Underwood, who was stroking her belly, Liv Underwood, who was young and beautiful, and Shi Jinyong, who was smiling broadly.

After receiving the recommendation letter and the hard work fee of 2 pounds, Sir Freire left with a smile.

Shi Jintang pulled Alice and said to Shi Jinyong as he walked: "You have to work harder next. The new ship you ordered will still have to wait for a while. You first shoulder the burden of the shipping company.

After the conference in Berlin is over, we will discuss the introduction of those industries and companies. After all, our territory is too desolate. "

Shi Jinyong smiled and nodded, "Brother Wenyuan, don't worry, I will help you take care of these things. You can spend more time with my wife."

Shi Jintang glared at this guy, "You have to say, my woman will naturally feel pain."

This sentence was said in English, and Alice and her sister Liv both had sweet smiles on their faces.

In the not-too-distant future, a child will be born between them, and then the real sweetness will be!

Ps: Boss Shi’s first child, can any book friends contribute their talents and give it a nicer name?

It can be either a boy or a girl, use the one that sounds better, and the gender of the corresponding child will be determined.

　Please subscribe, vote monthly, recommend votes, and collect.

　　Thanks to book friend Hua Fan for your monthly ticket encouragement!
  　　
  　
  (End of this chapter)