The arrogance started from Chinatown

Chapter 296: Even without signing the contract, you still want to leave San Francisco?
"Finally back!" Wen Bingzhong stood at the bow of the ship, looking at the port ahead, and burst into laughter.

"Boss Wen, this is San Francisco! It looks much better than Iquique!" The Chinese people around Wen Bingzhong looked into the distance with some longing in their eyes.

"Of course!" Guan Qianbo said with a smile.

"There is everything here, from food to entertainment. Most importantly, Chinese people have a place here!"

This is the most important point. When you are in a foreign country, the most important thing is to have status. Otherwise, people will bully you wherever you go.

Thinking back on the past, he doesn't know how he managed to survive in San Francisco.

Soon, the news was delivered to Chen Zhengwei's office.

Chen Zhengwei was talking to A'long, who had just returned from the farm. He was now darker and thinner than before.

"Those who know me think I'm asking you to reorganize the troops, while those who don't think I'm asking you to go mining!"

"It's just that the sun is a little stronger, and I got a little darker. There's not much to do over there. I just go to bed early and get up early every day, and the other thing is to listen to them talk about the war in the past!" Aaron said with some pride.

Aaron has been reorganizing the people on the farm recently and has learned a lot.

Especially the deployment of troops.

Although the Taiping Army still used the musket method of shooting in lines.

At the beginning of the American Civil War, the soldiers also lined up to shoot. However, as the war progressed, the smooth-barreled muskets were replaced by rifled guns, and the Americans began to use tactics such as bunkers and trenches.

The Taiping Army still used the old methods, and many of them even had experience in using spears and battle formations.

But Aaron still learned a lot of useful things.

After all, those people's experiences were gained at the cost of human lives.

"All their stuff is outdated! They are still lining up to use muskets and being shot." Although Chen Zhengwei looked down on the Taiping Army's tactics, he was relieved about Aaron.

Aaron may look rough, but he is actually very smart.

"One day I'll have someone get the textbooks for the West Point Military Academy!" Chen Zhengwei not only planned to get the textbooks for the West Point Military Academy, he also wanted to send people to West Point Military Academy.

Entering the West Point Military Academy is extremely difficult for ordinary people. It is not something that can be admitted through examination. Instead, one needs the nomination of the President of the United States or a member of Congress, and after graduation, one will serve in the military.

Generally, presidential nominations are reserved for children of military personnel, while seats for members of Congress are easier to handle, and Chen Zhengwei can get people in by spending some money.

But it couldn't be a Chinese. He planned to find a reliable foreigner and send him to West Point Military Academy.

While we were chatting, the henchman knocked on the door:

"Brother Wei! The ship to Panama is back!"

"You're back!" Chen Zhengwei smiled after hearing the news. This was good news.

Although so many people came to San Francisco, a lot of money was thrown away.

But what is the most important thing these days?

Someone has a gun!
"Just like last time, let them get off the ship at the port and Fisherman's Wharf respectively."

"Ah Long, go find Ah You, and tell the customs that they can go off duty, then take the people to Chinatown, have them clean themselves up, and then send them to the farm!"

"Just wait for them to come back!" Aaron immediately stood up with great interest.

The previous group of people selected 3000 people, and this group of people will select another 2000 people.

Soon, groups of Chinese appeared at the port and were then taken to Chinatown.

……

Benjamin Arnott sat in the carriage, opened the window and asked the driver: "What's going on up ahead?"

"Sir, they are Chinese!" the coachman turned around and said, then whispered, "A group of ragged Chinese people, I don't know if they are from the Qing Dynasty or somewhere else!"

Without him saying anything, Arnott had already seen a group of ragged Chinese people walking through the street.

"Looks like someone from a primitive tribe..." Arnott muttered.

There are more and more Chinese people in San Francisco...there are damn Chinese everywhere.

In fact, it is because before this, Chinese people were almost all in Chinatown and factories, and were rarely seen outside.

Nowadays, you can see Chinese people everywhere, so it naturally feels that there are more and more Chinese people.

"Fortunately, I'm about to leave this damn place!" Arnault quickly smiled. He had sold almost all of his properties and was living in a hotel these days.

We will be heading to Chicago in a few days.

He had already deposited all his money in the Bank of California, and then withdrew it in Chicago, for which he spent a huge amount of handling fees, $5, equivalent to % of his total assets.

In this day and age, if you deposit money in a bank, you have to pay the bank, and if you withdraw money on the East Coast, the amount is even higher.

If a large amount of funds is involved in the transfer, this price will have to be increased.

……

After arriving in San Francisco, this group of Chinese stayed there for two days and were then sent to a farm.

On the farm, a large number of wooden houses have already been built, which are large enough to accommodate them and allow them to rest there before moving on to different destinations.

2000 strong and brave men were selected to stay in the security company, while the rest, the remnants of the Taiping Army, were left on farms to farm, in wineries and in the weapons factory to be established.

The Chinese workers who were sold as piglets to Peru to mine were sent to iron mines.

Although it was still mining, the treatment there was much better, and there was a salary to be earned. After paying back the boat fare, food and lodging money owed to Chen Zhengwei, he could go to Chinatown to find a job if he wanted.

At the same time, Alexander Graham Bell, the founder of Bell Company, and William H. Forsyth, the president of the telephone company, came to San Francisco.

"Alexander, this meeting is very important! That Chinese man is very rich! And they don't understand technology or science. Whatever you say is the truth, understand?" William Forsyth kept instructing Bell along the way.

"If he can invest hundreds of thousands, our company's development will be greatly accelerated!"

In fact, after the company was founded, Alexander Graham Bell gradually withdrew from its operations. After all, his interest was not in business.

The Bell Telephone Company has also grown slowly, and its main business today is renting out telephone lines and phones.

This time, William Forsyth also dragged Alexander Bell from home for Chen Zhengwei's money. "I heard they eat rats!" Alexander Bell said casually.

"You'd better not say that in front of him. That Chinese man is very powerful in San Francisco! You have to remember that we are here for money!" William Fox warned.

"Look, there are Chinese everywhere! They look no different from us." After the two arrived at the dock, William Fox pointed to the distance and said.

Bell had to nod, indicating that William Fox was right.

At the dock, Chinese people can be seen everywhere, and many of them are wearing decent gentlemen's suits.

"Their hats look a little weird!" Bell said.

The head of the California branch of Bell Telephone Company came up to the two men at this time.

"Mr. Fox, Mr. Bell!"

"Let's take a rest first. We will visit the Chinese man tomorrow. It's a good opportunity for you to tell us about the situation!" said William Fox.

Before, he only learned a little through telegram, but the messages that could be sent by telegram were too few after all.

In the hotel, the person in charge of the branch said to the two people: "Mr. Chen is very rich and powerful in San Francisco. So when you meet him, you must not be rude, and you must not show any negative attitude towards Chinese people..."

"This is the West, it's different from the East. It's more chaotic here, people are murdered every day, if you anger him, it will be troublesome."

"The FBI doesn't care?" Bell asked in surprise. In fact, before he came here, he always thought that the Chinese were the lowest class in San Francisco.

After all, that's what's in the newspapers.

"To the people in the Investigation Bureau, this Mr. Chen is more powerful than the Director of Investigation! If the Director of Investigation makes him unhappy, he will die in a corner that night!"

"Sounds like a dangerous person!" William Fox couldn't help but say.

Bell's headquarters is in Boston, where the security is also poor.

But it sounds like the security there is much better than here.

"Yes! He is rich, but also dangerous!" the branch manager agreed.

The next afternoon, the branch manager brought two people to the club to visit Chen Zhengwei.

After all, everyone in San Francisco knows that China Chen can only be found in the afternoon.

Only very rarely, such as once a month, would China Chen appear at Grace Cathedral at the foot of Nob Hill on weekend mornings.

The three waited for a while on the first floor of the club before being taken to Chen Zhengwei's office.

When I entered, I saw a tall woman with dark brown hair and eyes, and a somewhat cold and distant temperament walking out of the office.

"Mr. Chen!" The three saw Chen Zhengwei behind the table, his collar was loose and there was a red mark on his neck.

But even so, several people could feel the sense of power and oppression coming towards them.

"Mr. Chen, this is Mr. William Fox, the president of Bell Telephone Company. This is Mr. Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone."

"Sit down!" Chen Zhengwei took out a cigar and lit it, then stood up and walked to the sofa opposite them and sat down.

"How much is Bell Telephone Company worth now?" Chen Zhengwei asked while crossing his legs.

"One million dollars, or even more! The telephone represents the future. It allows two people to communicate directly across distance as if they were face to face." William Fox said immediately.

"I mean, how much is Bell Telephone Company worth now!" Chen Zhengwei said impatiently, staring at Fox and Bell.

"Just tell me the answer! You answer whatever I ask!"

"The company is still in its infancy, but we have received quite a few orders... The company is now worth $40, but the telephone patent is worth $60..." William Fox tried to make himself sound confident.

However, under Chen Zhengwei's gaze, it seemed somewhat unnatural.

In fact, Bell Telephone Company's assets are only $25, but Bell Telephone Company still has patents.

"Does the patent for the telephone belong to you or to Bell Telephone Company?" Chen Zhengwei looked at Bell again.

"I have transferred the patent to Bell Telephone Company, and now the company has the patent rights to produce and sell telephone equipment." Bell said.

"How much money do you need? How many shares can you give me?" Chen Zhengwei asked again.

"30, 15% of the shares." Bell said.

"30, 30%!" Chen Zhengwei thought for a while and said.

Although he knew how big the future market for telephones would be, and that no matter how much money he spent, he would be able to make it back at least a hundred times, he never had the habit of buying things at high prices.

"That's impossible..." Fox bargained subconsciously.

"Your technology is still at its most primitive stage. How many telephones can your switch connect? There are only 21, and it still requires manual transfer to other telephones."

"With your current technology, the application range of telephones is limited to a small area, such as a building or a block. The limitation is too large and the market is limited."

"When you can create an automatic switch that can connect thousands or even more telephones and form a large telephone network, this technology will be valuable for application!"

Chen Zhengwei said lightly.

William Fox was suddenly speechless, Bell also looked surprised, and then began to think.

This is exactly why the telephone market has not been able to open up.

I didn't expect that this Chinese person would point it out so accurately.

Automatic switchboard, connecting thousands or even more telephones?
William Fox turned his head and looked at Bell. He felt that what Chen Zhengwei said was right.

Maybe he and others should go back first. If they can invent an automatic switch, the value of the company will definitely increase.

"Mr. Chen, you want too many shares. It's beyond our plan. We need to think about it!" William Fox pulled Bell, then stood up and wanted to say goodbye.

Chen Zhengwei showed an expression that was neither smiling nor laughing.

When William Fox turned around, he saw two Chinese youths standing behind him.

"Do you fucking think I'm stupid?" Chen Zhengwei sneered, then leaned forward, stared at the two men fiercely and said, "30, 30% of the shares, I'll have a lawyer make an agreement, and then you sign it!"

Without signing the contract, you still want to leave San Francisco?
(End of this chapter)