1928: The rise of giant merchants

On a brand new Chevrolet 490.

Zhang Anyi played with the small gift he had just received, a green porcelain bowl with "40000" and a patriotic slogan printed on it, and felt that his little head was greatly shocked.

The driver and co-pilot in the front seat were wearing suits and hats, and they were vividly introduced to the "Dragon-Tiger Fight" between Second Young Master Ye Luo and President Galt these days, which shocked the Shanghai business community——

From the second young master's press conference where he threatened to start a car rental business and compete with foreign companies, to the Automobile Trade Association, it started to cut prices and use small tricks, and even teamed up with Yu Likui to suppress Yip's Automobile Company, and then the "40000" reservation number turned out to be After being born, patriotic slogans became popular in Shanghai, and finally there was a money-burning war between the two sides these days.

As for the result, it is now difficult to see Yunfei, Tailai and other foreign car dealers doing business outside the concession.

The calling number 40,000 when going out, the calling number 40,000 when there is a happy event or a funeral, and the calling number 40,000 when there is an emergency have become etched in the bones of the people in Shanghai.

And it only took Ye Luo ten days to do all this.

"Has the Automobile Trade Association really given in?" Zhang Mouzhi felt as if he was listening to fantasy. Having started his career as a comprador and built houses for foreigners, he knew better than anyone else the power and tyranny of foreign capital in the country.

Even in Jiujiang's construction industry, foreign companies are still very powerful and receive various preferential treatment and policy preferences. The only one that can compete with them is the Zhang family, which has already had a near-monopoly.

Zhang Mouzhi would not even dare to think about taking a share of the industry monopolized by foreigners, let alone defeating them openly in a business war.

Zhang Mouzhi became increasingly curious about this famous second young master.

At Ye Qingqing's wedding that day, the tycoons all focused their attention on Ye Yuqiao and Ye Hao, the eldest son of the Ye family. Ye Luo, the second young master who had returned from studying abroad and was only famous in Shanghai Beach's romantic scene, was not favored by everyone.

Unexpectedly, everyone saw it wrong.

"Bosses, it's not very peaceful in Shanghai recently. Since you are the second young master's guests, just call this number if you have anything to do. Our people will be here soon." The suit hat handed over a business card.

Zhang Yuanbei took it and took a look: "Ye's Security Company, the helpline is '995995'. Isn't that a homophone of 'Help me, help me'? It's quite easy to remember."

"Yes, the second young master said that once a person is really in danger, there are not many things he can think of. It is instinct to save lives. This kind of number is easier for others to remember." When the suit top hat talked about Ye Luo, he had a serious look on his face. Reverence and admiration.

Obviously many of his ideas have gradually influenced the people below.

Ye Luo's original intention to establish Ye's Security Company was to have a commercial security company that would take into account many functions such as "firefighting, security, and public security management." After all, there is no clear fire protection system now, and the so-called public security management authority lies in Songhu. It is in the hands of the Police Department and the Concession Patrol Office, but both of them are just doing nothing, and cannot play a real role in public security management.

In particular, gang members harass people and street fights harm innocent people. Such things are common in Shanghai at night, and someone needs to take care of them.

But the people from the Songhu Police Department and the patrol room did not dare to fight for their lives against this group of desperadoes, even if they had pokers in their hands.

Ye's Security Company, controlled by Ye Hao, came into being. Now with the support of Zhang Dingyao, some of the key members went to the Songhu Police Department to study and build good connections, while some stayed in the company to work hard and gain experience.

In the future, it will definitely become a powerful armed force under Ye Luo.

During the Republic of China, the economy still needed a certain amount of armed forces to protect it.

Ye Gongguan has arrived.

The Ye family, which used to be a bustling family, is now destitute, which makes Zhang Mouzhi sigh and sigh constantly.

Zhang Yuanbei was more concerned about the Ye family's magnificent mansion. From his perspective as an architect, he also felt that this mansion was impeccably built and must be very expensive.

I heard that Ye Mansion is not among the top ten luxury houses in Shanghai, which shows how amazing other luxury houses are.

When the butler Fu Bo saw a guest, he quickly called the maid Xiaoli to come with him to greet him.

The second young master said early in the morning that the uncle from Jiujiang was coming to visit and he should not neglect it.

Zhang Anyi followed Xiaoli, who was about the same age as him, into the lobby of Ye Mansion and was startled by the deserted atmosphere inside.

She thought that the Ye family, like her own family, hired at least a dozen servants.

"The Japanese ambassador to China denied sending people to assassinate Marshal Zhang, but his ambition is well known to everyone. Now the domestic public opinion is in an uproar, and major newspapers and radio stations are rushing to report. Even Britain, the United States, France and other countries are paying great attention to this matter. . It exerted tremendous international diplomatic pressure on the Japanese government. The defeat of the Japanese Kwantung Army was expected, but this incident also sounded the alarm to the people! Foreigners are like wolves and must be guarded against!"

The crystal radio was turned to the maximum volume. Ye Luo was sitting on the sofa listening to the radio. Ma Yongzhen stood aside, while Xiao Aqiao leaned on him and massaged his thighs and hands. The two of them behaved intimately, which Zhang Mouzhi could see as he walked over. I was stunned for a moment.

I never heard that the second young master of the Ye family has a wife!

"Brother Luo, Zhang Shibo is here." Xiao Aqiao's face still had a faint blush. She was obviously four years older than him, but she was forced to call everyone "Brother Luo" before and after her. She was always trying to be a bitch when she got up in the morning. After tossing myself, my legs are still soft now.

After admitting the relationship in front of Ye Yuqiao, Ye Luo no longer concealed it, and made a big deal to let Xiao Aqiao move into Ye's house, which turned out to be the room of his third concubine, Peifen.

Now Ye Yuqiao and others are living in the Consulate General again, and there is no one in the Ye family. Ye Luo gives "experience" to little Aqiao when she has nothing to do, so that the love she has lacked in the past six years can be made up for at once.

"Zhang Shibo, thank you for coming all the way. I've been busy with business at the car dealership recently, so I couldn't come to the train station to greet you. I'm sorry." Ye Luo smiled and stood up to shake hands with Zhang Mouzhi.

He glanced at Zhang Yuanbei and Zhang Anyi who were carrying suitcases behind him, and asked with a smile: "Shibo, who are they?"

"This is the dog, the fourth eldest, Yuan Bei, and this is the little girl, the sixth eldest, An Yi." Zhang Mouzhi also looked at the little A'qiao and felt that he looked very familiar, but he couldn't remember who it was, "Is this your lady?"

"Yes, but we haven't had time to hold the wedding yet. Qiao'er, go to the study to get some gifts I brought from England for Yuanbei and Anyi." Ye Luo nodded.

Hearing the word "Qiao'er", Zhang Mouzhi remembered that the person in front of him was the famous Fengminglou eldest sister, Xiao Qiao?

A promiscuous woman? Is that my aunt?

Thinking of this, Zhang Mouzhi's mind became active again.

The two sat down hand in hand. Xiao Aqiao took a music box and a pen and gave them to Zhang Anyi and Zhang Yuanbei respectively, and then quietly led Zhang Anyi to the second floor.

As soon as the women left, Zhang Mouzhi let go and took out Song Ziwen's letter of introduction and handed it to Ye Luo.

Ye Luo had just received a call from Song Ziwen.

He was also startled.

There are not many things related to Song Ziwen in his plan.

The four major families of Jiang, Song, Kong, and Chen are the top wealthy families that will rise in the next few years, and they were also the four most powerful chaebols before liberation. It has been less than three years since Song Ziwen became the Minister of Finance. Because the Northern Expedition has not ended, there has been little progress. Big move.

In the future, they will gradually begin to encroach on the domestic economy, and are likely to become a powerful opponent of Yeluo's giant merchants.

The most important thing is that Ye Luo feels that he should not make Song Ziwen suspicious.

Later, when I got a call, I found out that he was on the list of members of the new General Chamber of Commerce Committee. Naturally, he caught the eyes of those big guys. Such young businessmen are rare.

Probably after asking around and understanding his situation, he made a special call, hoping that he could take care of his father-in-law, Zhang Mouzhi, who came from afar.

But speaking of it, this Jiujiang construction tycoon can indeed help Ye Luo a little.

He also doesn't mind being a favor and stabilizing his current position in the General Chamber of Commerce.

"Not to mention Minister Song, Zhang Shibo has a sworn relationship with my father. If Shibo wants to come to Shanghai to do business, I will naturally do my best to help." Ye Luo smiled and glanced at the letter of introduction. It was quite formal, "But Shibo also read it Here we are, the current situation of our Ye family."

Zhang Mouzhi was also beating a drum in his heart, but he was sure that no one who could be valued by Song Ziwen would fall in this turmoil.

"Aluo, I feel guilty for not being able to help you in time, Uncle Shi." Zhang Mouzhi asked Zhang Yuanbei to take out a large bag of money that he had prepared and gave it to Ye Luo, "I heard that you are short of dollars now. Here are some 10,000 U.S. dollars is a little bit of Shibo’s kindness.”

Ye Luo raised his eyebrows. He is indeed a rich man from Jiujiang. One gift can cost 24,000 yuan!

"Okay, if that's the case, I'll accept it, thank you Shibo." Ye Luo took the paper bag directly, "It's time to take care of it. I happen to have a lot of construction business to be entrusted to others, so I'll trouble you, Shibo."

"Haha, that's good, that's good, Yuanbei, from now on I will follow your brother Luo and do a good job. Whatever he says, you do. Watch more and learn more." Zhang Mouzhi smiled and patted his thigh.

At this time, he didn't know what Ye Luo meant by saying it was over.

He just felt that this young man was different from the businessmen he had come into contact with.

This kind of gift-giving used to involve some pushing and shoving to show one's magnanimity and humility, but Ye Luo didn't hesitate at all and took it as long as he had the money.

This looks like greed, but it gives Zhang Mouzhi a heroic temperament!