Chapter 144 Fly

Spring is coming, the fields are green, and the trees are pulling out new branches. New buds appeared on the leaves on both sides of the road. The warm sea breeze blowing from the southeast blew the land of the mouth of the Yangtze River, reviving everything on the earth.

On both sides of an asphalt road built by an industrial company, it is bustling with people. Unemployed workers, middle-level employees, technicians of the company, and Chinese people who come from all sides naturally have the shadow of foreigners, and several hand-cranked cameras on the roadside truthfully record the rare bustle of Pudong.

In the middle of the asphalt road, a "thing" with blue and white wings on the fuselage attracted everyone's memory. If it hadn't been for the police with the police in the outer layer of the Pudong Police Department standing there with batons, and dozens of self-reliant soldiers standing with guns and live ammunition on the inner layer, those Chinese people who love to watch the bustle would have squeezed in and looked carefully. This "airplane".

Zhang Zhidong, who was wearing an antelope and a first-class official uniform, walked back and forth next to the "airplane" twice. If it hadn't been for the saneness of the official, I'm afraid that he would really want to go into the cabin and have a look. "Such a big scene, but this plane can really fly!"

With a hand arched, Chen Moran said it truthfully.

"Your Excellency, this plane will definitely get up!"

Turning around, Zhang Zhidong looked at Chen Moran, who was dressed in a leather jacket, which would give rise to some feelings of admiration for him. There are several rich people in this Qing Dynasty who are willing to try such dangerous things.

"Yes, I thought that you would take me to see the car when I came to Shanghai this time. I never thought that you would welcome me with this plane. It's beyond my reach of Dianzhuang's knowledge and spirit!"

Staring at Chen Moran, Zhang Zhidong used Fan Yizan Yiyang's words. The reason why he also belongs to the two rivers is that one is "duty", and the other has something to do with a letter written by Liu Li before his death. Until his death, Liu Liyi was most worried that the future governor of Liangjiang regarded Chen Moran as a fat sheep, so he asked Zhang Zhidong to take care of him.

"... The capable people of the world, the heroes of the situation... If you reuse this son, with this son's power, it will certainly extend the fortune of 50 years of the Qing Dynasty! ... If you are forced by officials, you can die in the Qing Dynasty for several years! ......"

When staring at Chen Moran, Zhang Zhidong couldn't help thinking of a few words in Liu Li's letter. In the past two days in Shanghai, although he deliberately covered it up, he also saw Chen Ranzhi's hard bones. This man may be forced, I'm afraid it will be another one... It has been May since he took over the two rivers. In the past five months, Zhang Zhidong has been Observing this "first person in Daqing Industry", watching his steel mill getting bigger and bigger, watching his Pudong become more and more prosperous day by day, and the handwriting of "one yuan a day" after the same year made Zhang Zhidong understand that it was time to see this "Cao Jian".

Listening to Zhang Zhidong mention Liu Liyi, Chen Moran's expression showed some sadness. Maybe Liu Kunyi had his own intention, but in any case, without his help, how could he achieve today's industry?

Chen Moran's face was pale and all fell into Zhang Zhidong's eyes. Now he nodded with satisfaction. Chen Ranzhi had a bit of conscience.

"Please take care of the industry today. Silently, we will never live up to Lord Liu's expectations and make the industry the largest enterprise in Asia!"

"Just take this heart! Let's fly this plane first, let those foreigners see it, and show our face to the Qing Dynasty like a horse car that day!"

He straightened his chest and raised his chin slightly towards the consuls of more than a dozen countries who "joined in the fun". When Zhang Zhidong said these words, he showed a few Qing-style arrogance, "Yes! My lord!"

After Zhang Zhidong walked towards the spectator beside him and sat down, Chen Moran boarded the plane. Sitting in the cockpit of the plane, he first looked around. Today, almost everyone in Pudong came over, even those Jews who tried every means to block the construction of the Huangpu Bridge, which had begun to lay the bridge.

In addition to the lively Chinese people, consuls and businessmen of various countries, the most eye-catching ones are the officers of the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Germany, Japan and other countries sitting on the platform. Among these officers, there are military officers of various countries stationed in Shanghai, as well as naval officers on the [***] ships on the Huangpu River. They also came with curiosity.

"Curiosity! This plane... I won't sell one!"

As an employee turned the propeller hard, the seven-cylinder star engine turned, and a stream of gasoline tail smoke spewed out of the engine's head exhaust pipe. Zhang Zhidong sitting on the table, but he looked at the swirling wind getting stronger and bigger and became a little nervous.

"Lord Zhang, in fact, even if you don't fly, you don't have to..."

Just as the British consul in Shanghai was about to open his mouth, he saw that the blue and white two-color plane was taken off under the wheel, and then he glided forward. The speed of the plane was getting faster and faster, and slowly the front wheel of the plane gently left the ground.

"Flying!"

At the moment when the plane left the ground, Zhang Zhidong suddenly stood up and shouted regardless of his manners.

At the moment when the plane left the ground, there were cheers in Chen Moran's ears. After taxiing for nearly 200 meters, the plane took off without any obstruction. The original plane flew up gently like a bird, in the cheers of people.

Looking down, Chen Moran could clearly see the surprised and excited compatriots standing among the compatriots who were also surprised, but also clapped their hands. Maybe the car was invented by them, but in this time and space, the first plane was invented by the "Chinese".

Just this plane is enough to make it history!

Pulling the vertical pole, the plane flew higher and higher, from the first dozens of meters to hundreds of meters, until the building on the ground turned into squares, and the man became a dot. Chen Moran began to circle in the air. Under his vertical, the plane flew over Pudong and flew into the Huangpu River.

When flying through the bottom of the Huangpu River, Chen Moran could clearly see the people on the Bund and the sailors on the ships in the river. They looked into the air. They looked at the plane flying at an altitude of dozens of meters in surprise. When they skimmed over the [***] ships, they looked at the warship with colorful flags. Chen Moran's The face changed slightly.

"I have to kick you all out sooner or later!"

Due to the demonstration, when flying the plane over the top of the warship, looking at the foreign sailors chasing the plane, Chen Moran showed a little complacency. With this plane, these warships are nothing!

Looking at the plane that had disappeared, the British consul opened his mouth, but saluted Zhang Zhidong.

"Lord Zhang, congratulations, the Qing people are the first people in the world to conquer the sky!"

Zhang Zhidong, who had a colored face, listened to such praise, but he straightened his expression, revealing a bit of the pride of the Qing Dynasty.

"That...that's natural, just like our Tianma carriage conquered the English road!"

Finally, a few minutes later, the plane hovering in the air, appeared again in the sight of people. After the plane shook its wings twice, the police of the Pudong Police Department on the ground waved batons and shouted loudly to clear the asphalt road as a runway.

At the moment of landing, despite the obstruction of the police, almost when Chen Moran jumped off the plane, he was immediately raised and thrown up by those excited foreigners and Chinese people.

At this time, Zhang Zhidong, who was originally a little excited, looked at Chen Moran, who was thrown at people and frowned. Chen Moran really couldn't see through it.

"Car, a ocean, an airplane, a foreign-style house..."

Zhang Zhidong, who was thinking about it in his heart, turned his eyes to some people in the crowd. Although there were not many people, they were very eye-catching. They were Chen Moran's followers. Are those people so simple to follow? He cast his eyes on the self-improvement soldiers who came to Shanghai with him, and then looked at the policemen, but their eyebrows were tighter.

At this time, he agreed with Liu Li's second half of his words... I hope... Zhang Zhidong in his heart and Chen Moran, who was being thrown by people in the air, did not notice that in the ceremony, several people looked at the plane with bright eyes.

These Yamaguchi soldiers are always immersed in an illusion: he found that he also owns a big company like those Jewish rich men in the concession, and he also has accumulated a lot of deposits, market bonds and stocks in the bank. Dividends and dividends come from. When he walks on the street, every time he walks In a few steps, someone will bow to him and say respectfully, "Mr. Yamaguchi!"

But as soon as he walked into the club in Hongkou, the illusion disappeared without a trace. Whenever he entered this foreign business, he suddenly became an ordinary businessman. His income was not qualified to be respected as "Mr. Yamaguchi", and even together with the workers of those industrial companies, he earned more than him every month.

"If it really doesn't work, go to the industrial company to apply for a technician!"

Thinking of the technical personnel of the industrial company and the salary of 200 yuan a month, Yamaguchi Bingsaki couldn't help comparing his salary of 120 yuan a month.

I am a graduate of the Mechanical Department of Tokyo Imperial University. Why should I waste my youth in the company? Thinking about this question, he remembered those industrial workers who wore bronze medals of industrial companies on their chests. In Shanghai, the bronze medal was a symbol of identity, which was enviable and enviable.

Anyone who wears that bronze medal and walks on the street can always attract everyone's attention. In Shanghai, with that brand, you will have a reputation and a guarantee of life. This is a kind of pride, so many workers wipe it brightly and wear it on their chests, looking at the workers in other factories with envy.

Even a cartoon was published in the English newspaper "Linxi Daily" of the concession: a worker of an industrial company was dressed in a work jacket, with money that could not be loaded in his pocket, staring at the shelf marked "high-end goods". Industrial workers are undoubtedly the luckiest workers in Shanghai.

"Airplane! "Airplane!"

When entering the ocean, Yamaguchi Bingsaki thought about the plane flying in the sky a few days ago. The plane invented by Mr. Chen, the chairman of the industrial company, not only shocked Shanghai and Qing, but also shocked Japan, and even the whole world was reporting the "Flight One".

Yamaguchi heard that in Japan, some people were even extremely angry because the plane was invented by the Qing people. They even argued in the newspapers that the plane would never be invented by the Qing people, on the grounds that there were thousands of foreign technicians in industrial companies, and maybe they were invented by those Europeans and Americans.

"Ouch!"

A helpless look appeared on the face of Yamaguchi Bingsaki.

"I really can't imagine what those people think. The reality of Ma'anshan steel factory is dozens of times higher than that of Japan. Can't they see it? A group of ronin immersed in beautiful dreams!"

Thinking so, Yamaguchi Bingsaki went to his office and began to prepare for today's work. This is not his foreign bank. He is just an employee in it, although he is a senior employee.

"...buy a few planes!"

The faint voice from next door only shocked Yamaguchi Bingsaki. Isn't that the office next door the president's office? Who is he talking to? Buy a plane?

"Yes, Mr. Zoten!"

Wearing an army uniform, Aoki Yoshikawa sat in front of Sakujiro and said in an unquestionable tone.

"Zoteng Company has a close commercial relationship with the industrial company, and you and Mr. Guan Mingtang, the manager of the industrial company, are good friends again! I believe you can help!"

Aoki looked up at Zuo Teng at the same time, and suddenly added a sentence seriously.

"Mr. Zoteng, this is a plan for the future scientific and technological development of the empire. I hope Mr. Zoteng can put state affairs first! Buy a plane for the Empire!"

Colonel Aoki's words only gave Zuo Teng a sense of mission.

Zuo Teng may not know what the plane means, but Aoki Yoshikawa, who, as a military officer stationed in China, set up an intelligence agency for Lu, knows it very well. Aoki, who presided over the intelligence work for Lucia, came to Shanghai this time to discuss how to hire foreign personnel for the empire. The continent is engaged in intelligence work.

But the day after he came to Shanghai, he witnessed the test flight of the industrial company "Flight One". Almost when he saw the plane passing from the air, Aoki believed in the role of the plane in the future war. If he had an aircraft, he could fly the plane to scout the movements of the Russian army, and even Lushun can be scouted in the future, and aircraft are far more effective than balloons.

"Yes! Please rest assured that I will do my best to fight for it! I'll visit Mr. Guan in the afternoon!"

Seeing the president send a colonel out of the office through the glass window, Yamaguchi Bingsaki couldn't help feeling a little strange. Why did this Aoki ask the president to help him buy a plane? Why does the army need airplanes?

"What, I said Zotten, what is there to be grateful for? Three million yuan of steel has been imported in three years. Of course, there is no problem with this business.

Gang Mingtang put down the document in his hand with a smile and looked at Zoteng with a smile.

"Three million yuan of steel!"

Although this is nothing for industrial companies, it is definitely a big deal for Zoteng, who is not rich in financial resources.

Gang Mingtang, with a smile, picked up the phone on the table, ordered the secretary to prepare the contract, and then looked up at Zoteng.

"Mr. Zoteng, everything is done!"

"Mr. Guan, I'm so sorry to trouble you again!"

Zoteng quickly got up and made a 90-degree bow. Three million yuan of steel could make him make a profit of more than 200,000 yuan. All walks of life in Japan need steel, and the steel produced by Hachiman Iron Factory cannot meet the needs of Japan at all.

And the most important thing is that Colonel Aoki promised to buy one million yuan of steel.

It's "this set" again, Guan Mingtang smiled.

"Zo Teng, you are so polite!"

He has known Zoteng for almost half a year. Zoteng was the first Japanese businessman to import Ma'anshan steel, and naturally became his friend.

"This is what it should be! It always causes you a lot of trouble every time!"

Zo Teng said respectfully.

"Mr. Guan, I don't know when your company's car has any plans to be sold to Japan."

Although the purpose of coming is not for steel or cars, Zoteng knows that it is not the time to lift the plane.

"Mr. Zoteng, you know"

Guan Mingtang grinned as he spoke.

"Now the production of Mustang cars is not enough for the orders of the United States, France and the United Kingdom. Even if I want to buy a Mustang car, I have to wait in line, but you don't have to worry. When the car factory expands and the output is raised in the future, you will definitely get what you want!"

"Thank you, Mr. Guan!"

Zo Teng once again got up and bowed. If Chen Moran saw this scene, he would be very surprised. Now I am far from being domineering in more than ten or twenty years later. Now he has just abolished extraterritoriality. These people who do business in China know what to use to win the favor of the Chinese people in order to be a hostage. The average quantity of this product opens up the market.

After simple politeness, the two sat on the sofa and chatted kindly. From time to time, Guan Mingtang would also pour tea for them in person. For Guan Mingtang, regardless of the size of his business partners, he has always been treated equally, especially for those businessmen who came to the market to be explored.

"Mr. Guan, now the world knows that there is an industrial company in China, and the Mustang cars of industrial companies have been sold all over the world, especially you have even invented airplanes. Now this is really raising the ambition of East Asians!"

"There and there! The plane is just a new thing for the chairman!"

Perhaps after staying in the United States for a long time, Guan Mingtang even shrugged his shoulders slightly.

"Mr. Guan, since I saw the plane show, I thought that if I held a flight show in Japan, I might be able to make a sum of money!"

Zuo Teng said in a semi-temporary tone, and then before he wanted to go on, he was interrupted by Guan Mingtang.

"Mr. Zoteng, I'm afraid you're disappointed. Now the plane is just a test flight, and there are still many places to be improved, and what about our chairman? Usually, I am entangled by the company's affairs. There is too little time to improve the plane. I think at least until the plane is perfected, the company will not produce the plane!"

Guan Mingtang laughed and laughed at Zuo Teng's thoughts. In the past few days, not everyone in Zuo Teng came here to buy a plane. Among the foreigners who came to buy a plane, there were businessmen, speculators, enthusiasts and soldiers, but the chairman made it very clear that he did not sell it!

(to be continued)